The NFL Draft is a time of the year where NFL teams get better or worse in the matter of a few days. It is a pivotal moment in the offseason for all NFL teams. It can make or break their future and chance to hoist the next Lombardi Trophy. One draft selection can make or break a whole team’s future. Here below are the list of winners and losers post NFL draft.
Winners:
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have a strong defensive focused draft after trading out of the tenth pick with the Giants for Dexter Lawrance. The Bengals finished with an overall solid class. Considering they had the worst rated defense in the NFL last year, upgrading the defense was a huge need. Their biggest additions included edge rusher and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Cashius Howell. Another good addition was cornerback Tacario Davis, both of whom are expected to help improve a defense that needs help badly. They also added offensive line depth, showing a clear effort to protect Joe Burrow better and balance the roster. Overall, their draft grades out as above average because they addressed key needs, especially on defense.
New York Jets
The New York Jets’ draft after the NFL Draft centered around building around their defense and trying to stabilize the offense around their young core. They prioritized adding athletic, high-upside players who can contribute in multiple roles, especially on defense where they continued to invest in pass rush and secondary depth. Those players include edge David Bailey, second overall. They also held the sixteenth and thirtieth pick, both being offensive picks TE Kenyon Sadi. They focused on protection and weapons to support their quarterback situation, aiming to protect quarterback Micheal Penix Jr. and improve consistency. Overall, the Jets’ class is viewed as solid but not impactful right away; it’s more about adding depth and potential starters rather than landing immediate superstars. Their success will depend on how quickly their new pieces develop and whether the offense can finally take a step forward.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had a more traditional “best player available” style draft, continuing their trend of prioritizing talent and upside. They added, in my opinion, what will end up with the best player in the 2026 NFL Draft. That player is Caleb Downs, a safety out of Ohio State. Downs is a downhill hard-hitting safety with generational upside. The Cowboys also had a focus on reinforcing their defensive line and adding depth to their offense. While they didn’t make any major headline trades, their selections were seen as consistent and high-upside picks that fit their roster strengths. Overall, the Cowboys’ draft was solid and helped maintain their status as a competitive playoff-level team, even if it didn’t dramatically change their roster.
Losers:
The Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons came out of the NFL Draft looking like one of the bigger losers because of their confusing overall strategy. They selected their star corner AJ Terrell’s brother, Avison Terell. Already committing significant money to a veteran quarterback in Kirk Cousins, they still used a high draft pick on another quarterback, which many analysts saw as a poor use of valuable resources. Instead of addressing more immediate needs like defense or the offensive line, they invested in a position that may not contribute right away. This creates uncertainty about whether the team is trying to compete now or build for the future, which can affect both team chemistry and planning.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers had a disappointing showing in the 2026 NFL Draft because they didn’t do enough to meaningfully improve their biggest weaknesses. Instead of walking away with a clear game-changing player, they focused mostly on safe, system-fit selections and depth pieces that don’t move the needle right away. For example, De’Zhaun Stribling, wide receiver out of Ole Miss, is an example. While those types of picks can help long-term stability, a team in a win-now situation needs at least one or two impact players who can contribute immediately at a high level. On top of that, they passed on several higher-upside athletes like Colton Hood out of Tennessee. This left fans questioning their draft aggressiveness, especially after signing wide receiver Mike Evans this past offseason. In a competitive NFC where small margins matter, an unspectacular draft can feel like a missed opportunity, especially for a team like the 49ers expected to compete for a championship.
