2026 Draft is Functional, Not Generational
Nate Tice
I don't think useful is maybe the best word I could describe the players in this draft as opposed to maybe star power. A lot of useful, good players.
Context
Nate Tice's overall framing of the 2026 NFL Draft class. About eight true blue chips. Defense and offensive line drive the first round. Lack of elite consensus = more perceived surprises and trades, because so many guys are scheme-specific or role-specific. Landing spots matter more than usual.
Tier system: blue chips (true first), green chips (picks 20-40), yellow chips (40-65). Day-two edge rusher group has six guys with basically the same grade — hard to parse without a scheme.
Subject(s)
- 2026 NFL Draft class