Overview of Reese and Desist! The Winners and Woofs of the 2026 Draft
Mina Kimes and Ben Solak break down the draft classes they liked most and the picks that made them pause, focusing on fit, value, and how each team’s choices shape the next year or two. The conversation centers on how the Browns, Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Ravens, and Bills maximized their boards, while the Rams, Cardinals, Bears, Raiders, 49ers, and Steelers drew skepticism for different reasons. A recurring theme: good drafting is less about “best player” in isolation and more about building a coherent roster plan.
Biggest Winners
Cleveland Browns
The Browns were the clearest all-around winner because they attacked obvious roster holes with multiple premium swings.
- Offensive line overhaul: They added several linemen with versatility and starter traits, including Spencer Fano and Austin Barber, plus Parker Brailsford later.
- Receiver room rebuilt: KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston give them complementary skill sets — one more shifty/creative, the other bigger and more boundary-oriented.
- Best part of the class: They didn’t just draft for need; they drafted multiple answers at the same position groups, which gives them a real chance to fix the offense.
- Long-term outlook: The class looks designed to stabilize the roster enough to set up a future quarterback addition.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints were praised for consistently hitting value and fit rather than reaching.
- Jordan Tyson was the favorite pick because he pairs beautifully with Chris Olave as another separator who can work the middle of the field.
- Oscar Delp gives them a developmental tight end who fits with Juwan Johnson.
- Christian Miller and the rest of the defensive additions were viewed as useful “floor-raising” picks.
- The Saints’ class was described as a series of doubles, not flashy swings — but the kind that improve a young quarterback situation.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay found strong value in a class that matched Todd Bowles’ defensive preferences.
- Reuben Bain Jr. at 15 was the headline steal if he drops that far.
- Josiah Trotter helps at linebacker, where the Bucs needed help.
- Keontae Scott was one of the most surprising falls of the draft and feels like a perfect Bowles fit because of his blitz ability and physical style.
- Ted Hurst adds another big, fast receiver to a room that stays deep and rotational.
New York Giants
The Giants were praised for getting high-end talent at premium positions.
- Arvell Reese at No. 5 was the ideal example of taking the player, not overthinking the role.
- Reese gives them a versatile linebacker/pressure piece who can force offenses to adjust protection rules.
- Francis Mauigoa fills an immediate need on the offensive line, likely kicking inside to guard.
- Colin Hood and Malachi Fields add useful outside depth, with Fields especially seen as a strong fit next to Malik Nabers.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were lauded for adding multiple pieces that fit their identity and offensive evolution.
- Their first-round run blocker was an obvious fit for Baltimore’s identity up front.
- Zion Young helps early downs and run defense on the edge.
- Two big receivers — Jacoby Lane and Elijah Surratt — address the Ravens’ longstanding need for a reliable outside target who can win through contact and in contested situations.
- Chandler Rivers was singled out as a classic Ravens-style defensive back: smaller, aggressive, versatile, and relentless.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo got credit for trading back, accumulating value, and targeting players that fit Sean McDermott’s defense.
- TJ Parker was a strong value at edge and continues Buffalo’s emphasis on generating pressure with multiple rushers.
- D’Von (?) and later-round defensive picks reinforced a classic McDermott profile: smart, reliable, and scheme-flexible.
- Skylar Bell was a favorite because he brings after-the-catch juice and could function as insurance for the slot/receiver role.
- The Bills’ class was viewed as strong because they got more chances without forcing a first-round mistake.
Biggest Head Scratchers
Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson at No. 13
This was the most criticized pick.
- The issue wasn’t just Simpson himself — it was taking him at 13 instead of trading down.
- Mina and Ben argued he does not fit the “developmental quarterback with elite tools” profile.
- Their bigger concern: the Rams bypassed better value and forced a pick that looked early even if they liked the player.
- The class raised broader questions about how Los Angeles is managing its future QB transition and whether it ignored other roster holes.
Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiah Love at No. 3
The Cardinals’ selection of Jeremiah Love was heavily criticized as bad team-building.
- The core argument: running back is too low-impact to justify a top-3 pick on a rebuilding team.
- Arizona does not yet have the supporting cast or competitive window that would make an early RB pick sensible.
- The choice was framed as a misuse of a rare premium asset, even acknowledging that Love is a very good player.
- The broader concern: the Cardinals should have used that premium pick on a more foundational position.
Chicago Bears: Incomplete pass-rush plan
The Bears’ draft was described as strong in isolation but weak in addressing their biggest need.
- They needed edge and defensive tackle help, but didn’t clearly solve the pass-rush problem.
- Dylan Thieman made sense as a safety and Logan Jones fit at center, but the defensive line remained the major missing piece.
- The concern is that they may be good enough in the regular season but still lack the kind of difference-making pass rusher needed to survive the playoffs.
Las Vegas Raiders: Good players, wrong priorities
The Raiders’ issue was not the quality of the players, but the failure to support their young quarterback.
- The front office drafted several players Mina and Ben liked, but did not add enough at wide receiver.
- That was seen as a major miss for a team trying to build around a young passer.
- The criticism focused on roster construction: good picks, but not enough help where it mattered most.
San Francisco 49ers: Another middle-round running back
The 49ers drew familiar skepticism for continuing to draft running backs in spots where the team gets little value.
- Kaylen Black was selected as yet another mid-round RB despite the team’s history of missing on similar bets.
- The argument: San Francisco should have invested in interior line help or another area that would improve the run game more than another back would.
- It was viewed as a classic Kyle Shanahan/John Lynch decision that may not age well.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Allar in the third round
The Steelers’ quarterback pick was seen as too rich and too familiar a mistake.
- Allar was criticized for lacking the kind of high-end tools that justify that draft slot.
- Mina argued that if he were truly good enough, he would have shown it earlier in college.
- The selection felt especially painful because the Steelers had more compelling roster-building options and could have targeted a different QB type later.
Other Notable Draft Takeaways
Teams that earned quiet praise
- Patriots: Lauded for long-term thinking and drafting with 2027 in mind.
- Vikings: Strong class, especially Kayla Banks and Jaylen Goode, with good injury-risk management.
- Eagles: Intriguing class, though more debatable because it reflects a specific offensive philosophy shift.
- Chiefs: Several fun late-day additions, including Emory Jones and Nussmeier, though the bigger story is their ongoing habit of finding useful depth.
Big-picture draft themes
- Fit matters as much as talent.
- Multiple swings at a need are better than hoping one pick solves everything.
- Draft capital should be treated like a scarce resource, especially for teams still building.
- Good process often means boring, repetitive, and practical decisions rather than splashy ones.
Final Takeaway
Mina and Ben’s main point is that the best drafts were the ones where teams matched player traits to scheme, filled multiple needs with layered answers, and avoided forcing value at the wrong spot. The Browns, Saints, Bucs, Giants, Ravens, and Bills stood out for that reason. The Rams, Cardinals, Steelers, and a few others drew criticism for either overvaluing a player, missing a bigger need, or ignoring the opportunity cost of the pick.