2026 NFL Draft Grades: AFC North

With the 2026 draft complete, theScore's senior NFL writer Dan Wilkins hands out his initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.

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Grade: B+

Olaivavega Ioane always seemed like a perfect fit for the Ravens in the first round. He's an ideal addition to shore up the interior offensive line following the offseason departure of Tyler Linderbaum. Zion Young is a prototypical Ravens edge defender who is, first and foremost, a high-end contributor in the run game. I think he's got some upside in the passing game, too, making him excellent value midway through the second round. I would have preferred to see the Ravens make a more aggressive move at receiver at some point in the early rounds, but I like taking back-to-back swings on Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. Both players have a chance to be the kind of big-body boundary target this offense has long been missing. I also like Chandler Rivers as an undersized but competitive corner, and Adam Randall's background as a receiver could make him a fascinating third-down complement to Derrick Henry. All in all, another really strong draft for an organization that tends to crush it.

Grade: B-

The Bengals didn't have a first-round pick after trading the No. 10 selection for Dexter Lawrence last week. That blockbuster move, along with drafting Cashius Howell at No. 40, should go a long way toward helping steady the ship defensively. Howell is explosive on the edge and will ideally contribute as a sub-package defender early on. While his size and lack of length might prevent him from making regular contributions in the run game, the Bengals could really use his speed and rush skills off the edge on late downs. Tacario Davis was a bit of a reach; the Washington corner was the No. 120 player on the industry Consensus Big Board. Personally, I preferred the idea of taking the value on Keionte Scott to add a playmaker in the slot. But Davis' rare combination of size and speed makes him worth a shot to add competition at corner. Connor Lew is also a solid addition as a developmental center behind veteran Ted Karras, potentially allowing the Bengals to build upon last year's improvements up front. The grade takes a bit of a hit because I think they missed a real opportunity to fill one of their needs with a deep linebacker class, but perhaps they'll make another move in free agency.

Grade: A+

Brace yourself: Unbelievably enough, this is going to make the Browns sound like a first-class organization. I think Andrew Berry crushed this draft. I admit I wasn't super high on the Spencer Fano pick at No. 9 - mostly because I tabbed Monroe Freeling as the ideal left tackle to round out this new-look offensive line. But Fano has the elite athleticism for that spot, and he can be an excellent guard if it doesn't work out. From there, Cleveland got steal after steal. KC Concepcion is one of my favorite players in this class. With his ability to create easy separation and make things happen after the catch, he ended up as my No. 14 overall player. Since the Browns need more than one big addition at receiver to create a favorable environment for a quarterback in next year's draft, I hoped they'd double down on the position on Day 2. Sure enough, they found a perfect complement in Denzel Boston, a contested-catch machine who checked in at No. 23 on my big board. And getting a first-round talent in Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at No. 58 was one of the best value picks of the entire draft. Cleveland also made a few nice additions in the middle rounds, and Taylen Green was the right athletic passer to take a swing on from this class. If the Browns manage to pull off one more draft like they ones they've executed over the last two years - ideally, headlined by a top young quarterback - this team could be back.

Grade: B

Two picks in, I thought the Steelers were well on their way to earning their annual A in my draft grades. This team has long shown a knack for ending up with some of my favorite prospects, and that trend held up with Max Iheanachor and Germie Bernard in the first two rounds. Given the necessary time to develop his rare athletic skills, I see Iheanachor as a potential star at tackle. And Bernard's do-it-all skill set out of the slot makes him an ideal player to add between DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. But then came the Drew Allar pick. I can always understand taking a swing on a quarterback - particularly when you're talking about a player with Allar's physical traits. If you're waiting around for a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers to make a decision, though, why not take a shot on a more pro-ready passer like Garrett Nussmeier? There's no sense in a QB-needy team like the Steelers spending a third-round pick on a quarterback who needs years of development. Daylen Everette and Gennings Dunker are both decent value plays at their respective positions, and I think Kaden Wetjen could be a star return man, so there's still a lot to like here. But the exhausting quarterback situation continues to loom over this organization.