2026 NFL Draft Results

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Find out where USC wide receiver Makai Lemon went in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the only player in my top 10 to get picked in the back half of the first round.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 23, 2026.

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, RT, Clemson A+ Grade
    
    
    Detroit neeed a bookend right tackle to Penei Sewell. They drafted Blake Miller who I had a 91/99 on for potential on. I also had seven offensive tackles graded above Blake Miller.
    
    
    
    Detroit drafts a right tackle that can start on day 1. Clemson right tackle Blake Miller makes a lot of sense here. I got a third round grade on Blake Miller, but he does have a 91/99 potential with many projecting him in the first round.
    
    
    
    The 6-7 317 lb Blake Miller has the pass blocking, pass blocking strength, pass blocking footwork, run blocking, run blocking strength, run blocking, pancake blocking, pull blocking, and cut blocking. The only area of improvement with Blake Miller at right tackle is zone blocking.
    
    
    
    Detroit now has Penei Sewell at left tackle, Christian Mahogany at left gurd, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and Blake Miller at right tackle. If Blake Miller reaches his potential, this offensive line will have a lot of success with Jared Goff at quarterback and Jahmyr Gibbs at running back.
    
    
    
18. Minnesota Vikings: Carl Banks, NT, Florida B Grade
    
    
    Minnesota drafts a 3-4 nose tackle here. Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks can play anywhere on the interior whether that is at 3-4 right end, 3-4 nose tackle, or 3-4 left end. Minnesota drafts him to pair with Jalen Redmond at 3-4 right end with Javon Hargrave no longer on Minnesota at 3-4 nose tackle with Levi Drake Rodriguez, a 2024 seventh round pick currently starting at the 3-4 left end spot.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 327 lb Caleb Banks had 2 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 6 total tackles, and 1 tackle for a loss in 3 games in 2025 before a season ending injury. Caleb Banks dominated the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl to the poinnt where he got first round consideration. I love his pass rushing and run stuffing.
    
    
    
    
    
19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, LT, Georgia C Grade
    
    
    The 6-7 315 lb Monroe Freeling has the pass blocking, pass blocking strength, and pass blocking footwork. Monroe Freeling is a liability as a run blocker and his ceiling will max out at an 88/99. I'm laughing at every mock draft that has this guy ahead of Northwestern left tackle Caleb Tiernan whose just a far superior prospect on tape. Freeling has a good floor and he is one of the top 180 players in this draft. There's at least 178 players I like more though with an 89/99 potential or higher making Freeling a reach before this spot. He's also a one year starter as Georgia's left tackle.
    
    
    
    Ikem Ekwonu tore his ACL in the wild card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Ikem Ekwonu has a higher ceiling than Monroe Freeling, but after paying right tackle Taylor Moton and having to pay quarterback Bryce Young as well as left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, Carolina would rather pay Bryce Young and reload at left tackle even if that means having a significantly worse blindside for Bryce Young at left tackle.
    
    
    
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC A+ Grade
    
    
    Philadelphia got a top 10 player on my board. Now Howie Roseman doesn't have to draft a wide receiver in a very stacked 2027 first round. New England will probably offer a 2028 first and 2027 second or a 2027 first and a 2028 third Roseman wants a 2027 first and a 2027 second for A.J. Brown, but if he wants that first in next years 2027 NFL Draft, he's gonna have to bite the bullet and agree to Elliott Wolf's terms otherwise if he wants a first and second, that first will be in the 2028 NFL Draft with the second being in the 2027 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    The 5-11 192 lb Makai Lemon had 79 receptions, 1,156 receiving yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns in 2025. Makai Lemon ran all 30 routes on the route tree and won the Billetnikoff Award this past season as the top wide receiver in College Football.
    
    
    
    Jalen Hurts will have DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon on a rookie deal as his number two wide receiver. Philadelphia could draft a bigger target and move Lemon to the slot, but the 95/99 potential on Lemon is only 3 points lower than the 98/99 potential I had on DeVonta Smith in the 2021 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Ihenachor, RT, Arizona State Steel City Dry Cornbread Grade
    
    
    I had 270 players graded above Max Ihenachor. He was 271st on my big board. He maxes out at an 86/99 potential which is what Kenny Pickett maxed out at. Broderick Jones is dealing with an injury and if Pittsburgh does not want to extend Broderick Jones moving Troy Fautanu to left tackle and Max Ihenachor to right tackle is a possibility. That's a very short-sided move by Pittsburgh as Jones and Fautanu both have potential to be 90 overall tackles when healthy. Max Ihenachor is a good pass blocker, but he doesn't bring much else to the table and is super raw.
    
    
    
    I don't even have Max Ihenachor in my top 257 on my 2026 NFL Draft Simulator as he is ranked 305 on the simulator not because I dislike his tape, but because I like 304 players in this draft more than Max Ihenachor with a 87/99 potential while Ihenachor only got a 86/99 potential grade from me. Pittsburgh reached massively, but they did take a player with starter potential which is why they avoided an F grade.
    
    
    
    The 6-8 330 lb Max Ihenachor has the pass blocking, pass blocking strength, and pass blocking footwork. Max Ihenachor is awful at run blocking, zone blocking, pancake blocking, pull blockng, and cut blocking.
    
    
    
    The Pittsburgh Steelers get a Steel City Dry Cornbread grade. This is the type of Dry Cornbread that tastes like a Steel brick and causes your teeth to fall out with one bite.
    
    
    
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Ahkeem Mesidor, 3-4 LOLB, Miami FL B+ Grade
    
    
    Los Angeles has Khalil Mack starting at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Tuli Tuipulotu starting at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Ahkeem Mesidor will get reps as a situational pass rusher. I think when Mack's contract is up Tuli Tuipulotu will move to 3-4 right outside linebacker with Mesidor complimenting him. For now, Ahkeem Mesidor will be a situational pass rusher.
    
    
    
    The 6-3 259 lb Akheem Mesidor had 38 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, 63 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, and 4 forced fumbles in 2025. Ahkeem Mesidor has the pass rushing and run stuffing you want in a 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. Akheem Mesidor can line up at 4-3 right end, 4-3 left end, 3-4 right outside linebacker, and 3-4 left outside linebacker with his versatility.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence, RE, Central Florida C Grade
    
    
    The 6-4 253 lb Malachi Lawrence had 17 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, 28 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 3 deflections from pass breakups, 3 quaterback hurries, and 2 forced fumbles in 2025. His biggest strength is pass rushing and he's not a sack artist despite getting consistent pressures. He also needs to improve as a run stuffer too. He's a project, but has 89/99 potential and the Cowboys are hoping this guy is the next Micah Parsons, he's closer to Taco Charlton than Micah Parsons. I had this guy in the fifth round, but when you conside this is a need for Dallas this is a solid pick.
    
    
    
24. Cleveland Browns: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M B+ Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 196 lb KC Concepcion had 61 receptions on 101 targets, 919 receiving yards, and 9 receiving touchdowns in 2025. KC Concepcion ran 24/30 routes. KC Concepcion is my seventh best wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft and is fifty third overall on my big board. Cleveland could have drafted Elijah Sarratt, Denzel Boston, or Chris Brazzell II and they end up settling for a poor mans Christian Kirk who has character concerns.
    
    
    
    Cleveland will have Jerry Jeudy as their flanker wide receiver, Cedric Tillman as their secondary wide receiver, and KC Concepcion will push Isaiah Bond to be the slot receiver in training camp.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman, SS, Oregon A+ Grade
    
    
    Chicago needed multiple starting safeties. Chicago gets my twelfth best overall player at 25.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 201 lb Dillon Thieneman had 44 solo tackles, 52 assisted tackles, 96 total tackles, 5 deflections from pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack in 2025. I gave Dillon Thieneman an A+ in versatility, pass rushing, run stuffing, and zone coverage. I gave him a C in man coverage and press coverage. He does transition well from zone coverage to tracking the football on short passing plays. Dillon Thieneman also ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine. I feel like Chicago could upgrade both safety spots makig Dillon Thieneman a perfect fit here.
    
    
    
26. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, C, Georgia Tech B+ Grade
    
    
    He gave up 0 sacks in 2025 and Oren believes he can play all three spots on the interior at left guard, center, and right guard with his versatility. It is widely believed that Houston moved ahead of San Francisco to get him. I gave Keylan Rutledge 90/99 potential grade with Pro Bowl upside. The Houston Texans have the Georgia Tech right guard converting to center in the NFL.
    
    
    
    The 6-4 315 lb Keylan Rutledge has the pass blocking, pass blocking strength, pass blocking footwork, run blocking, run blocking strength, run blocking footwork, zone blocking. Keylan Rutledge needs to improve his pancake blocking, cut blocking, and pull blocking.
    
    
    
    Houston now has Aireontae Ersery at left tackle, Wyatt Teller at left guard, Keylan Rutledge at center, Ed Ingram at right guard, and Braden Smith at right tackle. That's not a bad start.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State B Grade
    
    
    The 6-0 193 lb Chris Johnson had 36 solo tackles, 13 assisted tackles, 49 total tackles, 9 deflections from pass breakups, 4 interceptions, 2 defensive touchdowns, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 sack,and 1 forced fumble in 2025.
    
    
    
    I gave Chris Johnson an A+ in man coverage, an A+ in zone coverage, and an A+ press coverage. Cornerbacks such as "Sauce" Gardner, Patrick Peterson, Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, and Benjamin Morrison were all players that received such an honor. He can play in a cover 0, cover 1, cover 2, cover 3, and cover 4 scheme. He's got excellent poise and change of direction ability. If Chris Johnson entered the transfer portal and went to a bigger school there's zero doubt in my mind he's the first cornerback off the board.
    
    
    
    Miami drafted Chris Johnson. Miami has their field cornerback of the future. Jason Marshall Jr. can compliment him at boundary cornerback this season.
    
    
    
28. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, RT, Utah B+ Grade
    
    
    You can give this pick any grade from an A+ to a C-. Caleb Lomu was 141 on my 2026 NFL Draft Simulator. New England Patriots General Manager Eliott Wolf believes he can play all five positions on the offensive line at left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, and right tackle. This is a way better pick than Max Ihenachor and Caleb Lomu will probably be the defacto sixth man on New England's offensive line when you consider that New England had a first round grade on Caleb Lomu.
    
    
    
    New England has Will Campbell at left tackle, Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard, Jared Wilson at center, Michael Onwenu at right guard, and Morgan Moses at right tackle. Caleb Lomu will be the defacto backup offensive lineman at all five spots on this depth chart. If anyone of New England's five best starters gets injured, Lomu becomes the sixth man that steps into New England's starting lineup.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 313 lb Caleb Lomu has the pass blocking, pass blocking strength, pass blocking footwork, run blocking, and pancake blocking you want in a left tackle. His run blocking strength, run blocking footwork, zone blocking, pull blocking, and cut blocking is a work in progress. He's the final player I had a fourth round grade on, but most people have him going in day 1 because they are prioritzing the 0 sacks allowed over the potential grade as I got Lomu maxing out at a 89/99, but he's got a great floor 79/99. His run blocking footwork versus Texas Tech was very choppy. This was going to be a C- grade, but Elliott Wolf breaking down his thought process behind drafting Lomu, who gave up 0 sacks, and that was enough to get me to give New England a B+ grade since Caleb Lomu showed the versatility to play right tackle at Utah's Pro Day when working out with the New England Patriots staff.
    
    
    
    Elliott Wolf also felt there was a drop off at offensive tackle after Caleb Lomu too. New England can cut Morgan Moses to save $9 million in 2027 which means Caleb Lomu is probably a bookend to Will Campbell in a year from now with him redshirting as a sixth man on the offensive line in 2026, but he could alsp get an opportunity at left tackle if Campbell cannot hold down the left tackle spot and gets worse in his second season. I think it is more likely that Caleb Lomu is a right tackle on the New England Patriots. One left tackle with the same potential grade as Will Campbell in the 2027 NFL Draft is Carter Smith the Indiana left tackle that protected Fernando Mendoza's blindside. I feel like if New England wanted to move Will Campbell inside to left guard that's who they would target in 2027 while keeping Caleb Lomu at right tackle since I had a 96/99 potential grade on Will Campbell in the 2025 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson A+ Grade
    
    
    The 6-3 320 lb Peter Woods had 18 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 28 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 4 quarterback hurries, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 2024. Peter Woods had 10 solo tackles, 20 assisted tackles, 30 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 3 quarterback hurries, 2 sacks, 1 deflection frm a pass breakup, and 2 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Peter Woods is an elite run stuffer that will clog up lanes. Peter Woods reminds me the most of the two first round picks that Clemson produced on the defensive line at defensive tackle in the 2019 NFL Draft in Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. Kansas City can have Peter Woods compete wth Khyris Tonga for the second starting defensive tackle spot across from Chris Jones with Omarr Norman-Lott as the number four defensive tackle on Kansas City's depth chart. Kansas City got two of my fifteen blue chip players and was the only NFL team that came away with multiple blue chip players on my board in the first round.
    
    
    
30. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana C- Grade
    
    
    I had Omar Cooper Jr. at 109 overall on my 2026 NFL Draft Simulator. The New York Jets took the second best wide receiver on Indiana in Omar Cooper Jr. instead of taking Elijah Sarratt who is Indiana's undisputed best wide receiver.
    
    
    
    New York gets a wide receiver. I got eleven wide receivers with a 90/99 potential still on the board and the New York Jets traded up for the worst of those eleven wide receivers. Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is a guy I ranked at 109 overall, but he's gained even more traction then Elijah Sarratt. Omar Cooper Jr. will be a number two wide receiver next to Garrett Wilson on the New York Jets. Omar Cooper Jr. did crush it at Indiana's Pro Day though. Any wide receiver with a 90 potential or higher is a guy with borderline Pro Bowl upside.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 199 lb Omar Cooper Jr. had 69 receptions, 937 reciving ytards, and 13 receiving touchdowns in 2025. Omar Cooper Jr. can run 20/30 routes on the route tree. There's ten wide receivers I like more than Omar Cooper Jr., but with Indiana going 16-0, the New York Jets disregarded our rankings and took their guy. Omar Cooper Jr. is going to the Jets as a number two to Garrett Wilson which is the only reason why this may work. New York now has a wide receiver trio with Garrett Wilson at flanker wide receiver, Omar Cooper Jr. as the secondary wide receiver, and Adonai Mitchell as their slot receiver.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Tennessee Titans: Keldrick Faulk, RE, Auburn A- Grade
    
    
    Tennessee gets a 4-3 defensive end here. Keldrick Faulk is gonna be a plug and play starter on Tennessee's defensive line at 4-3 right end. I have a first round grade on him, but he's not a sack artist.
    
    
    
    Keldrick Faulk lined up at 4-3 right end, 4-3 left end, 3-4 right outside linebacker, and 3-4 left outside linebacker at Auburn this past season. Most had Keldrick Faulk as the second best pass rusher behind T.J. Parker, entering the preseason. His draft year was disappointing compared to his plus one draft year.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 276 lb Keldrick Faulk had 29 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, 45 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, 1 forced fumble, and 1 deflection from a pass breakup in 2024. Keldrick Faulk had 23 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles, 29 total tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 6 quarterback hurries, 5 tackles for a loss, 4 deflections from pass breakups, and 2 sacks in 2025.
    
    
    
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame C- Grade
    
    
    The 5-11 210 lb Jadarian Price had 113 carries, 674 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 6 receptions, 87 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 117 touches, 761 total yards, and 13 total touchdowns in 2025. Jadrian Price relies mainly on his speed. He's not a good pass catcher or a pass blocker. He could develop into a high end starter, but he's not a guy with Pro Bowl upside and the only reason Seattle drafted him is because they want a running back on a rookie contract.