Updated 3/21/26

1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

It seems likely that the intrigue in this draft won’t start until the second pick, as the Raiders need a quarterback and Fernando Mendoza is by far the best quarterback available.

2. New York Jets – DE Arvell Reese (Ohio State)

The Jets might have hinted at their intentions with this pick by trading Jermaine Johnson instead of extending him ahead of the final year of his contract, freeing up a spot for a premium edge rusher. The free agent signings of Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare probably don’t preclude the Jets from using this pick on an edge defender because they are rotational players. The Jets have several good options here, but Arvell Reese has the highest upside of their options.

3. Arizona Cardinals – OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)

This was a tough pick for me to figure out. The Cardinals’ biggest need by far is right tackle, but Francisco Mauigoa, the best right tackle in this draft, is probably a little bit of a reach here. However, I don’t think he is such a reach that the Cardinals would take a player at a different position that they don’t need as badly. The calculus would change if the Cardinals end up trading Josh Sweat or one of their edge defenders, in which case David Bailey would make more sense, but their need at right tackle is way bigger than edge defender as of their current roster construction.

4. Tennessee Titans – DE David Bailey (Texas Tech)

Jeremiyah Love has been frequently rumored to be the pick here and he would make a lot of sense if the Cardinals take David Bailey, but I don’t think the Titans did enough to upgrade their edge defender room in free agency for them to pass on Bailey for a player at a less premium position.

5. New York Giants – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)

If Love doesn’t go to the Titans, it sounds like the Giants would be ecstatic to have him. Cam Skattebo showed a lot of potential last season as a rookie, but he is coming off of a major injury and none of the other running backs on the roster are good enough insurance. Love would give them a true feature back and push Skattebo into a change of pace role.

6. Cleveland Browns – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State)

The Browns did a lot of work to improve their offensive line this off-season, but they didn’t address their receiving corps at all. Carnell Tate would immediately be their #1 receiver. They still need a left tackle, but there isn’t one available worthy of being drafted this high. If Mauigoa falls to them, this would be a lot more interesting of a decision because he is more of a right tackle than a left tackle, but the Browns could talk themselves into him anyway. However, with Mauigoa off the board, Tate seems like an obvious choice, with the Browns then targeting a left tackle with their other first round pick.

7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

This would probably be the dream scenario for the Commanders, who have one of the worst safety rooms in the league. Downs is arguably the best player in the draft, but safeties are rarely selected high and, as a result, he could be available for the Commanders at 7.

8. New Orleans Saints – DE Rueben Bain (Miami)

The Saints are in a good position because their biggest needs are edge defender and wide receiver and they will likely have either Carnell Tate or one of their top-3 edge defenders available to them when they draft. In this case, it is Rueben Bain who is available and the obvious choice. He would be a big upgrade for a Saints team that is thin at the edge defender position because they did not retain veteran Cameron Jordan this off-season.

9. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Spencer Fano (Utah)

The Chiefs released Jawaan Taylor, who was a massive disappointment. Jaylon Moore is currently penciled in as the starting right tackle and he wouldn’t be a bad option, but he’s also a career reserve with 18 starts in five seasons in the league and he is in the final year of his contract, so he is probably not the long-term solution.

10. Cincinnati Bengals – LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State)

The Bengals had arguably the worst linebacker room in the league last season. Styles is a rare off ball linebacker prospect who could go in the top-10. He could play every down at a Pro Bowl level as a rookie and would be a huge upgrade immediately.

11. Miami Dolphins – WR Makai Lemon (USC)

The Dolphins had a desperate need at wide receiver even before trading Jaylen Waddle. Now it’s their biggest need, despite massive needs across the roster. They are likely targeting either Carnell Tate or Makai Lemon, one of whom is likely to be available at 11 overall.

12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)

The Cowboys added Cobie Durant in free agency, but he is only on a one-year deal and the rest of the Cowboys’ cornerback room is dependent on Daron Bland and Shavon Revel, who both have significant injuries and are coming off of poor seasons. The Cowboys are still likely to look for a cornerback with one of their two first round picks and Delane makes sense at 12.

13. Los Angeles Rams – WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)

Davante Adams had a great season in 2025, but he’s going into his age 34 season and a contract year in 2026. This is a luxury pick, but the Rams don’t have a lot of needs after addressing their cornerback room in a big way via trade and free agency, so they could add a wide receiver who can give them a talented third option in the short-term and a long-term complement opposite Puka Nacua long-term.

14. Baltimore Ravens – G Vega Ioane (Penn State)

The Ravens had poor guard play last season and all they have done so far this off-season is replacing free agent Daniel Faalele with free agent John Simpson, which isn’t a significant upgrade. Vega Ioane is the top guard prospect in the draft and would make an immediate impact for the run-heavy Ravens.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn)

The Buccaneers signed Haason Reddick to a one-year deal in free agency last off-season to upgrade their edge rush, but he didn’t do much and is now a free agent who is going into his age 32 season. The Buccaneers will need to find another option this off-season. They signed Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had a good season last year, but he is going into his age 31 season with an inconsistent history.

16. New York Jets – QB Ty Simpson (Alabama)

The Jets lost out on the #1 pick on a tiebreaker and, as a result, don’t get by far the best available quarterback in this draft, but they will have to take a shot on a quarterback at some point, with Geno Smith currently penciled in as their starting quarterback.

17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)

The Lions surprisingly released left tackle Taylor Decker after being unable to come to an agreement on a long-term contract with him. They may be targeting his replacement at 17. Freeling is the best true left tackle in the draft and this is probably his floor, even though he was a one-year starter in college.

18. Minnesota Vikings – DT Peter Woods (Clemson)

The Vikings released both of their aging defensive tackles, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, in a cost saving move and now are thin at the defensive tackle position. Woods would fill that need if still available at 18.

19. Carolina Panthers – TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

The Panthers somehow haven’t had a tight end with over 400 receiving yards since Greg Olsen in 2016. They could look for one early in the draft to give Bryce Young a much needed weapon over the middle.

20. Dallas Cowboys – S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)

The Cowboys upgraded one safety spot in free agency with Jalen Thompson, but could still use an upgrade over the aging, injury prone Malik Hooker, whose play has slipped in recent years.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)

It will be interesting to see where Jermod McCoy gets drafted because he has top-10 talent, but is coming off of a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2025 season. The Steelers signed Jamel Dean and re-signed Asante Samuel in free agency to go with Joey Porter at cornerback, but Dean and Samuel have significant injury histories and Dean is going into his age 30 season, so they still need additional help at the cornerback position. McCoy could give them insurance as a rookie and develop into a high end starter long-term.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)

The Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack in free agency, but Mack is going into his age 35 season and Odafe Oweh was not retained, leaving them thin at the position behind Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. Mesidor would give them needed depth in the short-term and a starter in the long-term.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)

The Eagles lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and currently have Michael Carter penciled in as the starter. Carter would likely be a liability and McNeil-Warren would give them an immediate upgrade over both Brown and Blankenship, who was a liability last season.

24. Cleveland Browns – OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama)

The Browns addressed their wide receiver need with their early first round pick and now they get their long-term left tackle with their later first round pick. 

25. Chicago Bears – CB Aveion Terrell (Clemson)

The Bears should get better cornerback play in 2026 if Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are healthy, but if either one misses time, they won’t have any reasonable insurance options after letting Nahshon Wright and CJ Gardner-Johnson leave in free agency. Terrell is a great value at this point in the draft and, even if everyone is healthy, he could push the underwhelming Tyrique Stevenson for a starting job.

26. Buffalo Bills – LB CJ Allen (Georgia)

The Bills’ plan at linebacker over the past few seasons has been to hope that Matt Milano would stay healthy, but that never happened and now Milano is not on the roster. The Bills could target a new top linebacker early in the draft.

27. San Francisco 49ers – OT Caleb Lomu (Utah)

There is talk that the 49ers could move on from Trent Williams for salary reasons and, even if they don’t, they have to be thinking about the future of the left tackle position, with Williams going into his age 38 season. Lomu could be their long-term left tackle of the future and, if Williams returns, he could also fill a hole at guard for the time being.

28. Houston Texans – DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)

The Texans kept Sheldon Rankins in free agency and signed Logan Hall to replace Tim Settle, but they could still use another defensive tackle long-term because Rankins is going into his age 32 season and Tommy Togiai is not a reliable option, even if he did have a decent season as a rotational player last season.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – WR Denzel Boston (Washington)

The Chiefs top-3 wide receivers right now are Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton, but Rice is a significant injury and off-the-field risk, Worthy has yet to live up to the billing as a 2024 1st round pick, and Thornton would be best as a reserve/insurance option. Denzel Boston would be a good value at this point in the draft and would give the Chiefs another much needed pass catcher.

30. Miami Dolphins – DE TJ Parker (Clemson)

Edge defender is another big need for the Dolphins, who have little on the depth chart behind Chop Robinson and the injury prone Josh Uche, who was only signed to a cheap one-year deal this off-season.

31. New England Patriots – DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)

The Patriots made the Super Bowl, but they had a below average 35 sacks this season, despite playing with a lot of leads and facing a weak schedule of opposing offenses. They figure to look for edge rush help early in the draft.

32. Seattle Seahawks – CB Colton Hood (Tennessee)

The Seahawks don’t have a lot of needs, but Tariq Woolen left as a free agent this off-season. They did re-sign Josh Jobe, but he is better as depth than as a starter.

33. New York Jets – WR KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)

The Jets were led in receiving last season by Garrett Wilson, who missed most of the season with injury and totalled just 395 receiving yards. The Jets need to invest in a better second option in the passing game.

34. Arizona Cardinals – DT Caleb Banks (Florida)

The Cardinals used their last two first round picks on defensive tackles in Darius Robinson and Walter Nolen, but Robinson has been a massive bust thus far, causing the Cardinals to rely on aging veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell, who were not kept this off-season. They should use another early pick on the position.

35. Tennessee Titans – CB Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)

The Titans signed Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott in free agency, but neither of them are a true #1 cornerback and they could still use another cornerback long-term.

36. Las Vegas Raiders – WR Omar Cooper (Indiana)

The Raiders need to add wide receiver help for their new quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Omar Cooper is arguably the best available wide receiver at this point in the draft and he happens to be Mendoza’s top target from Indiana.

37. New York Giants – DT Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)

Defensive tackle is arguably the Giants’ biggest need, but there isn’t one worth taking at 5. Instead, they can target defensive tackle help in the second round.

38. Houston Texans – OT Blake Miller (Clemson)

The Texans added Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith, and Evan Brown in free agency to try to improve their offensive line, which has been a liability for years, but those three are all on the wrong side of 30 so the Texans will still likely add a young offensive lineman

39. Cleveland Browns – CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State)

The Browns really lacked depth at cornerback last season after Martin Emerson got hurt. Emerson is unlikely to be retained as a free agent, so the Browns could target a cornerback early in the draft to give them a better third option behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell.

40. Kansas City Chiefs – DE Zion Young (Missouri)

The Chiefs were below average in sacks last season and only had one edge defender with more than 3.5 sacks. They need to use one of their early picks to add another edge rusher.

41. Cincinnati Bengals – DE R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)

The Bengals basically need help at every defensive position. The Bengals used their first round pick on Shemar Stewart last year, but he was a disaster as a rookie. Even if he is better going forward, the Bengals will need more depth behind him and free agent addition Kwity Paye.

42. New Orleans Saints – WR Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)

The Saints were left pretty thin at wide receiver this season after trading Rashid Shaheed. They need to find a long-term 2nd option opposite the injury prone Chris Olave.

43. Miami Dolphins – G Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon)

The Dolphins signed Jamaree Salyer in free agency and he is currently penciled in at right guard even though he has been a liability as a starter in his career. The Dolphins could look to upgrade on him early in the draft.

44. New York Jets – CB D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)

The Jets’ cornerbacks really struggled last season after trading Sauce Gardner. They added Nahshon Wright in free agency, but he isn’t a huge upgrade and he was only signed to a one-year deal.

45. Baltimore Ravens – TE Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

The Ravens love running two tight end sets and are now thin at the position after losing Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. They could look for a new #2 tight end in free agency and a potential long-term successor to Mark Andrews, who is going into his age 31 season and had a down year in 2025.

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – G Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M)

The Buccaneers should have better health on the offensive line next season, but, even when fully healthy, they have a weakness at left guard, where Ben Bredeson is an underwhelming starter. They could look to upgrade on him early in the draft.

47. Indianapolis Colts – LB Anthony Hill (Texas)

The Colts have one of the thinnest linebacking corps in the league after trading away Zaire Franklin. They don’t have a first round pick, but they could still find an every down starting option in the second round.

48. Atlanta Falcons – LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)

The Falcons lost Kaden Elliss in free agency and replaced him with Christian Harris, which is a big downgrade. They could look for a new starting linebacker on day 2 of the draft.

49. Minnesota Vikings – S AJ Haulcy (LSU)

The Vikings like to use three safeties on the field at the same time in sub packages, but they are thin at the position with Harrison Smith expected to retire.

50. Detroit Lions – DT Christen Miller (Georgia)

Alim McNeill and Tyliek Williams are a solid starting duo at defensive tackle, but Levi Onwuzurike is their only reserve of note and he has had a lot of injuries in his career, including a lost 2025 season to a torn ACL.

51. Carolina Panthers – WR Chris Bell (Louisville)

Xavier Legette has been a bust since being selected in the first round in 2024. The Panthers could add another receiver in the draft to push him for his role as the #3 receiver.

52. Green Bay Packers – OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)

The Packers lost a pair of starters on the offensive line this off-season. They have a pair of recent high draft picks in line to take those starters roles, but they are thin on depth now. They could use another relatively early pick on an offensive lineman.

53. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Germie Bernard (Alabama)

Michael Pittman is a huge upgrade as the Steelers’ new #2 receiver, but the Steelers are still very thin behind Pittman and DK Metcalf, so they could still use a relatively early draft pick on another receiver.

54. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Malachi Lawrence (UCF)

The Eagles signed Arnold Ebeketie in free agency to replace Jaelan Phillips, but he was only signed to a one-year deal and they could still use more depth at the position.

55. Los Angeles Chargers – G Connor Lew (Auburn)

The Chargers’ offensive line will be better next season when Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater return from injury, but they still have a massive need at guard that they could address early in the draft.

56. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)

The Jaguars really lack depth on the edge behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker, the latter of whom is going into a contract year. They could address this need early in the draft.

57. Chicago Bears – DE Derrick Moore (Michigan)

The Bears edge rusher room is pretty thin after Montez Sweat. No one else had more than 4.5 sacks in 2025. 

58. San Francisco 49ers – WR Zachariah Branch (Georgia)

The 49ers added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, but both are on the wrong side of 30, as is DeMarcus Robinson. Of their top-4 wide receivers, only Ricky Pearsall is young, so they could add another young wide receiver through the draft.

59. Houston Texans – LB Jake Golday (Cincinnati)

The Texans have a great defense, but linebacker Henry To’oTo’o could be upgraded, so the Texans could add a young linebacker with one of their three picks in the first two rounds.

60. Chicago Bears – DT Domonique Orange (Iowa State)

The Bears signed Grady Jarrett in free agency last year, but he was a disappointment and he is now going into his age 33 season. He has too much guaranteed money left on his contract for the Bears to move on from him this off-season, but they need a long-term replacement who can reduce Jarrett’s role in the short-term.

61. Los Angeles Rams – CB Keith Abney (Arizona State)

The Rams added two big upgrades at cornerback this off-season in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, but they could add a new third cornerback to their overhauled cornerback room.

62. Denver Broncos – LB Josiah Trotter (Missouri)

The Broncos kept Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad in free agency this off-season, but they released the injury prone Dre Greenlaw, so they could still be targeting a linebacker early in the draft. Both Singleton and Strnad are on the wrong side of 30 and Allen has the upside to be much better than both of them.

63. New England Patriots – OT Gennings Dunker (Iowa)

The Patriots need a long-term right tackle, with Morgan Moses set to go into his age 35 season.

64. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)

Kenneth Walker left in free agency. Zach Charbonnet is likely to miss most of next season after tearing his ACL in the post-season. The Seahawks added Emmanuel Wilson in free agency, but they will likely still add another running back through the draft.