They say you can't evaluate a draft class until after three seasons. Unfortunately, it's 2026, and no one has that much patience anymore, so how about we do it after one week? As always, the caveat is: this is one game.
This is not the end-all, be-all. But with most things, it's better to look good early on than bad. These are the top-five draft classes after the first week of the season.
Highlight: Peter Woods rare athleticismLowlight: Mansoor Delane's shoulder injury There were whispers about Brett Veach having another masterclass draft last April, and they've now turned into roars. Peter Woods was already making special plays as a pass-rusher and in the run game. He also chased down a running back from behind on a flat route.
His addition will allow Steve Spagnuolo to be more measured with how many snaps they give to 32-year-old Chris Jones going forward. Peter Woods with one of the most athletic recoveries vs. a double team you'll ever see from a DT pic.twitter.com/CdMDIiJ7CB Top-10 corner Mansoor Delane unfortunately left the game after three snaps with a shoulder injury, but the injury occurred on a play where he ran a dig route for Courtland Sutton and picked off a pass. Mansoor Delane Every Snap in NFL Debut vs Broncos pic.twitter.com/0rrFJYFzhS Then there was second-round edge rusher R Mason Thomas, who had a crucial sack in a two-minute drill before the half, where he teleported underneath Mike McGlinchey with a spin move.
Rookie R Mason Thomas with the spin move right into a sack 💪DENvsKC on ESPNStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/mVVJ07s2NB Oh, and then Day 3 running back Emmett Johnson made as many people miss on two catches Monday night (six) as Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt on 37 combined catches last season. It's hard to swing and hit harder than the Chiefs did with their first three picks, at least in Monday night's win. Highlight: Austin Barber locking down right guardLowlight: KC Concepcion's ball security Lost in the ugliness of the Browns quarterback position was the fact that the Browns look like they've clocked yet another impressive draft haul.
The Browns have four starters on offense from the 2026 draft class in Spencer Fano, Austin Barber, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston, with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren filling in for 14 snaps defensively. While they weren't as obviously slam dunks as the Chiefs, there were big-time flashes for all of the offensive starters. Concepcion, in particular, already looks like the Browns' best playmaker.
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