NFC draft rankings: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles headline top 5
NFC draft rankings: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles headline top 5
Glenn Erby , Eagles WireTue, May 5, 2026 at 10:09 AM UTC
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The Philadelphia Eagles completed their 2026 NFL draft, making slight overhauls to Sean Mannion's unit by adding five talented, versatile offensive players to the roster. The first two picks are future stars and likely 2025 starters, while all five players offer elite skill sets and the potential to develop into critical starters. Further signifying a change is coming at wide receiver, Philadelphia traded up to add Makai Lemon, all but officially signaling the end of the A.J. Brown era.
That wasn't the only really good draft class. Whether it's the immediate impact talent added by the New York Giants, the balanced approach from the Dallas Cowboys, or the long-term roster building of the Philadelphia Eagles, this year's NFC draft cycle delivered intrigue across the board, with several teams excelling. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints also positioned themselves for both short- and long-term success, rounding out a group that could shape the conference hierarchy for years to come.
In no particular order, we're examining the five best draft classes in the NFC.
Giants
1
5
Arvell Reese
Edge
Ohio State
1
10
Francis Mauigoa
Miami
2
37
Colton Hood
Tennessee
3
74
Malachi Fields
Notre Dame
6
186
Bobby Jamison-Travis
Auburn
6
193
J.C. Davis
Illinois
6
193
Jack Kelly
A re-energized John Harbaugh traded Dexter Lawrence and landed pass rusher Arvell Reese at No. 5 overall, and the best offensive tackle in the draft in Miami Hurricanes stud, Francis Mauigoa, at No. 10 overall, giving the Giants two immediate starters. On Day 2 of the draft, the team selected Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood (No. 37) before making a trade to move into the third round in order to select Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields (No. 74).
The Giants wrapped up their draft class on Day 3 with three selections in the sixth round. The team first boosted the trenches, landing Auburn defensive lineman Bobby Jamison-Travis (No. 186) and Illinois offensive lineman J.C. Davis (No. 192) before adding BYU linebacker Jack Kelly (No. 193) with their final pick.
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Cowboys
1
11
Caleb Downs
Ohio State
1
23
Malachi Lawrence
Edge
3
92
Jaishawn Barham
Edge
Michigan
4
112
Drew Shelton
Penn State
4
114
Devin Moore
Florida
4
137
LT Overton
Edge
Alabama
7
218
Anthony Smith
East Carolina
The Cowboys landed the player every team on the board coveted, Ohio State's stud safety, Caleb Downs. After trading Micah Parsons, Dallas added two more prominent big-name pass rushers, adding Malachi Lawrence, Jaishawn Barham, and LT Overton. Lawrence brings immediate rotational value after posting an 89.5 PFF pass-rush grade last season. Fourth-round pick Devin Moore earned an 83.0 PFF grade in 2025 and offers the length and speed required for press-man coverage.
Buccaneers
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Rueben Bain Jr. (R) of Miami poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) after being selected fifteenth overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
1
15
Rueben Bain Jr.
Edge
Miami
2
46
Josiah Trotter
Missouri
3
84
Ted Hurst
Georgia State
4
116
Keionte Scott
Miami
5
155
Demonte Capehart
Clemson
5
160
Billy Schrauth
Notre Dame
6
185
Bauer Sharp
Rueben Bain Jr.'s arm length caused a notable slide, and the professional pass rusher slid into Todd Bowles hands. The Bucs added Bain Jr. in the first round, inside linebacker Josiah Trotter in the second round, receiver Ted Hurst in the third, defensive back Keionte Scott in the fourth, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart with the 155th pick in the fifth round, guard Billy Schrauth with the 160th pick in the fifth, and Sharp in the sixth. Scott has the versatility to play nickel, safety, or line up at outside corner. Hurst dominated the Senior Bowl and may have been a first-round prospect had he starred in the SEC rather than at Georgia State in college.
Eagles
1
20
Makai Lemon
2
54
Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt
3
68
Markel Bell
Miami
5
178
Cole Payton
North Dakota State
6
207
Micah Morris
Georgia
7
244
Cole Wisniewski
Texas Tech
7
251
Uar Bernard
Nigeria (Int'l Player Pathway)
7
252
Keyshawn James-Newby
Edge
New Mexico
The first two picks are future stars and likely 2025 starters, while all five players offer elite skill sets and the potential to develop into critical starters. Further signifying a change is coming at wide receiver, Philadelphia traded up to add Makai Lemon, all but officially signaling the end of the A.J. Brown era. Considered one of the top pass catchers in the draft, Lemon was the third wide receiver selected and went eight picks later than he was ranked. Lemon is a gritty running back who plays receiver and utilizes his 5-11, 192-pound frame to dominate in yards after catch. His positional versatility will allow Lemon to mesh well with DeVonta Smith, Dontayvion Wicks, and Hollywood Brown. The Philadelphia Eagles added Eli Stowers as a running mate for Dallas Goedert, and the NFL world is already buzzing about the potential impact of the move. The pick gives the Eagles an eventual replacement for Goedert, but for 2026, it adds another elite weapon to an offense set to lose A.J. Brown after June 1. Bell brings size, length, and developmental upside to a unit that has long been the foundation of Philadelphia's roster-building philosophy, but has seen a change with Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator and Jeff Stoutland out as offensive line coach. Bell allowed zero sacks in 558 pass pro snaps for Markel Bell in 2025.
Saints
1
8
Jordyn Tyson
Arizona State
2
42
Christen Miller
Georgia
3
73
Oscar Delp
Georgia
4
132
Jeremiah Wright
Auburn
4
136
Bryce Lance
North Dakota State
5
172
Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Ohio State
6
190
Barion Brown
7
219
TJ Hall
Iowa
The Saints picked stud wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the No. 8 pick. Tyson has an extensive injury history (hamstring, ankle, and knee injuries, and a broken collarbone). The 6-foot-4, 321-pound Miller can provide run support for a team that finished 19th against the run in 2025, and also an interior pass rush. Delp had a total of 70 catches over four seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs, but he's athletic and could see an uptick as a professional.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Five best NFC draft classes: Eagles, Saints among leaders
Source: “AOL Sports”
