The first four weeks of the NFL season are in the books, and here's how every 2026 first-round pick fared in their debut month in the league.
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Raiders
Mendoza has yet to make his official NFL debut after starting the season behind veteran Kirk Cousins on the depth chart.
Grade: N/A
2. David Bailey, EDGE, Jets
Stats: 18 tackles (3 for loss), 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
We'd like to see more consistency and bigger plays from Bailey, but he's shown flashes while helping an improved Jets defense. Despite his unspectacular stats, the 23-year-old is tied for first in pressures and sacks among 2026 rookies.
Grade: B+
3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Cardinals
Stats: 55 carries, 223 yards, 1 TD; 11 catches, 36 yards, 1 TD
Love and the Cardinals haven't clicked; Arizona played Tyler Allgeier over the rookie at times in Week 4, and Love recently suggested he hasn't been fully healthy in his first NFL season. The Notre Dame legend has offered glimpses of his potential, but his pro career is falling short of expectations so far.
Grade: C+
4. Carnell Tate, WR, Titans
Stats: 22 catches, 268 yards
Tate's first big NFL moment finally came in Week 4 with a 145-yard outing - the most receiving yards in a game by a Titans rookie since A.J. Brown. However, he lost a fumble Sunday and has yet to score.
Grade: C+
5. Arvell Reese, LB, Giants
Stats: 34 tackles (3 for loss), 1 INT, 4 pass breakups
Reese was fairly quiet to start the season, but he's stepped up in the past two weeks, proving his all-around value for the Giants. On Sunday, he registered his first career interception and broke up three passes. The former Ohio State star is now the only non-defensive back with at least four pass breakups and one interception this campaign.
Grade: A
6. Mansoor Delane, CB, Chiefs
Stats: 20 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 INT
Delane's availability was an issue early on; he injured his shoulder in his debut after registering an interception and had to wait until Week 3 to play a full game. Now healthy, the LSU stud has been great, making an impact in pass coverage (46.5 passer rating allowed) and as a tackler (two tackles for loss).
Grade: A-
7. Sonny Styles, LB, Commanders
Stats: 20 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass breakups
The Commanders couldn't have asked for a much better first month from Styles, who's stood out with strong all-around performances. He's surrounded by a subpar Washington defense, yet Styles is already a front-runner for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Grade: A
8. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Saints
Tyson began the regular season on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury at training camp. He could still miss another month.
Grade: N/A
9. Spencer Fano, OT, Browns
Stats: 4 starts, 9 pressures allowed, 1 penalty
Fano's young NFL career includes two games with at least three pressures allowed, but he's also logged two contests with no pressures surrendered, including a rivalry win over Pittsburgh. The left tackle has only given up one sack, and he's done a decent job of run-blocking, according to PFF.
Grade: B-
10. Francis Mauigoa, OL, Giants
Stats: 4 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 1 penalty
Mauigoa has some work to do as a run-blocker, but he held his own through his first three games despite facing tough defensive fronts including the Rams and Titans. The Miami product allowed his first sack and five pressures in Week 4, but he's been a reliable blocker for New York.
Grade: B
11. Caleb Downs, DB, Cowboys
Stats: 27 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack
Although Dallas hasn't been able to fix its struggling defense, Downs isn't part of the problem. The rookie has been one of the Cowboys' best players, making his presence known everywhere on the field while playing 97% of the team's defensive snaps.
Grade: A
12. Kadyn Proctor, OL, Dolphins
Stats: 4 starts, 6 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
You may not hear Proctor's name often, but he's been a cornerstone of Miami's offensive line. While he still goes through some ups and downs, the Dolphins have seen solid signs from him in pass and run protection. The 6-foot-7, 360-pound lineman has played every offensive snap while allowing one sack, according to PFF.
Grade: B+
13. Ty Simpson, QB, Rams
Don't expect to see Simpson anytime soon. He started the season as the Rams' third-string passer, and he's a long-term project as Matthew Stafford's potential successor.
Grade: N/A
14. Vega Ioane, G, Ravens
Stats: 4 starts, 6 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
It feels like Ioane has been in the NFL for years. The Penn State product passed the test as a right guard through the season's first three weeks and then started at center to help an injury-plagued O-line. The result? He didn't allow any pressures and even won all nine of his matchups against Titans All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Grade: A
15. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Buccaneers
Stats: 1 tackle
Bain missed the last two weeks due to groin and shoulder injuries, and his first two NFL appearances weren't encouraging at all. The Miami stud recorded just two pressures with no sacks or quarterback hits.
Grade: D
16. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Jets
Stats: 12 catches, 143 yards, 1 TD; 1 TD run
Sadiq didn't register a single catch Sunday, and his stats don't leap off the page. Still, he became the first rookie tight end in the Super Bowl era with a rushing touchdown, touchdown catch, and 100-yard receiving game in his first three appearances.
Grade: B+
17. Blake Miller, OT, Lions
Stats: 3 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
Miller's recent Sunday Night Football performance - in which he allowed five pressures - was far from great. But the 22-year-old right tackle, who's missed a game due to injury, was solid before that, allowing three pressures and no sacks in his first two appearances, according to PFF.
Grade: B-
18. Caleb Banks, DL, Vikings
Stats: 8 tackles (1 for loss)
Banks has improved after a slow start, but he's not close to where Minnesota wants him to be as a top-20 pick. He's shown very few flashes and has been limited to 30 defensive snaps.
Grade: D
19. Monroe Freeling, OT, Panthers
Stats: 4 starts, 15 pressures allowed, 3 penalties
Freeling has been OK as a run-blocker, but he's allowed the fifth-most pressures in the league this season. Although his performance seemed encouraging in a tough Week 4 matchup against Detroit's edge rushers, a knee injury ended his night prematurely.
Grade: C-
20. Makai Lemon, WR, Eagles
Stats: 10 catches, 65 yards
Lemon has basically been a nonfactor. It's not all his fault - at times, he's created enough separation. However, the Eagles need more from their highly touted pass-catcher; he has yet to score a touchdown or top 30 yards in a game.
Grade: D
21. Max Iheanachor, OT, Steelers
Stats: 2 starts, 8 pressures allowed, 1 penalty
Iheanachor began the season as a backup but stepped in as Pittsburgh's starting right tackle in the past two weeks. While he held his own in his first start, Iheanachor struggled against Cleveland, allowing two sacks in a Thursday Night Football loss.
Grade: C+
22. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Chargers
Stats: 14 tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks
Mesidor quietly registered at least a half-sack in two of his first four games, and he's already notched a four-pressure outing. However, he's lacked consistency and game-changing plays, like most of his Chargers teammates so far this season.
Grade: C+
23. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, Cowboys
Stats: 10 tackles
Lawrence's arrival was expected to spark Dallas' defensive front, but the team still has one of the NFL's worst pass-rush units. He's been limited to five pressures in 42 snaps as a pass-rusher this campaign, according to PFF.
Grade: D
24. KC Concepcion, WR, Browns
Stats: 17 catches, 144 yards
Concepcion ranks third in receiving yards on the Browns and is tied for the team lead in receptions. He hasn't made explosive plays, but the 22-year-old is already an important member of Cleveland's offense, and his elite blocking skills have stood out.
Grade: C+
25. Dillon Thieneman, S, Bears
Stats: 30 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 1 INT
Thieneman will be a Defensive Rookie of the Year contender if he keeps playing like this. The 22-year-old was the Bears' leading tackler in all four of their games so far, and he's tied for the team lead in interceptions and pass breakups.
Grade: A+
26. Keylan Rutledge, OL, Texans
Stats: 4 starts, 14 pressures allowed, 2 penalties
Rutledge has been far from great, but the Texans' entire O-line seems broken in pass- and run- blocking. No guard has allowed more pressures than Rutledge, but at least he's only given up one sack.
Grade: C-
27. Chris Johnson, CB, Dolphins
Stats: 25 tackles, 2 pass breakups
Johnson's young NFL career has been a mixed bag. He struggled in his first two games but has shown improvement lately, allowing only 7 yards in pass coverage in Weeks 3-4, according to PFF.
Grade: C+
28. Caleb Lomu, OT, Patriots
Stats: 3 games, 2 pressures allowed
It's tricky to evaluate Lomu's first NFL month. He appeared in three games, but he only played four snaps in his debut. In Week 3, the backup right tackle logged extended playing time after the Patriots pulled their starters late. Finally, Lomu saw 20 snaps of action Sunday, though he mostly served as New England's sixth lineman.
Grade: C
29. Peter Woods, DL, Chiefs
Stats: 9 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Woods has shown encouraging signs as a run defender, but that's about it. He hasn't made a big impact as a pass-rusher while serving as a rotation piece in Kansas City's defensive front.
Grade: C-
30. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Jets
Cooper's first official NFL reception was a 30-yard catch-and-run, but he suffered an ankle injury in his debut that sent him to injured reserve.
Grade: N/A
31. Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Titans
Stats: 6 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack
Faulk isn't a starter in Tennessee, so his impact - much like his workload - has been very limited. In the only game in which he played more than 21 defensive snaps, the 22-year-old registered his first sack and QB hit.
Grade: C
32. Jadarian Price, RB, Seahawks
Stats: 28 carries, 119 yards; 4 catches, 21 yards
Price had a promising debut, averaging 5.2 yards on 10 carries, but things haven't gone to plan since. He fumbled in consecutive games, he hasn't been as elusive, and he has yet to score a touchdown. A chest injury kept Price out of Week 4 and forced him to go on injured reserve.
Grade: D
