Updated 4/21/26

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 David Bailey (Texas Tech)

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. David Bailey and Arvell Reese are both strong options, but rumors are the Jets prefer Bailey a little more.

3. Arizona Cardinals – LB Arvell Reese (Ohio State)

The Cardinals’ biggest need is right tackle and Francis Mauigoa is a strong candidate here, but the Cardinals may prefer to add talent at a more premium position and take Arvell Reese instead, and then address the right tackle position at the top of the second round. This pick would become more likely if the rebuilding Cardinals trade veteran edge defender Josh Sweat before the draft, but even if Sweat remains on the roster, Reese would still add to their edge defender room and he has the versatility to play off ball as well.

4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)

The Titans’ biggest need is edge defender, but if both Arvell Reese and David Bailey are off the board, the Titans may just take the best available player, which could easily be Jeremiyah Love. He would be a significant upgrade over Tony Pollard, whose release would save the Titans 7.25 million.

5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State)

With the Giants acquiring the 10th overall pick by trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, the Giants can now draft the best available player at 5 and focus on bigger needs at 10, where the players that are good fits in that range better fit their needs. The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds to replace Bobby Okereke in free agency, but I don’t think that precludes the Giants from using this pick on Sonny Styles, who can start next to Edmunds and has a much higher upside than Edmunds.

6. Dallas Cowboys (TRADE) – S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

The Browns are looking to trade down, which makes sense, because they can address their pressing needs at left tackle and wide receiver later in the first round. Meanwhile, the Cowboys, who have extra draft capital from the Micah Parsons, are looking to move up to secure a defensive player who won’t fall to them at 12. The Cowboys can trade 12 and 20 for 6 and the Browns’ second round pick at 39 in a fair trade that would benefit both teams. Downs is an elite safety prospect who would be a massive upgrade at a position of weakness. Rueben Bain is another option, but the Cowboys are in better shape at defensive end than safety.

7. Washington Commanders – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State)

The Commanders depth chart at wide receiver is pretty bare behind Terry McLaurin, who is heading into his age 31 season. Tate could be a short-term #2 wide receiver and a long-term #1 wide receiver for Jayden Daniels.

8. New Orleans Saints – DE Reuben 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 the 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 Francis Mauigoa (Miami)

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. Mauigoa could slip a little bit because he doesn’t have left tackle experience or adequate arm length, but the Chiefs are looking for a right tackle anyway, so they would be thrilled to have the best blocker in the draft.

10. New York Giants – WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)

As I mentioned earlier, the players who fit the draft range at 10 better match the Giants needs than the players who fit at 5. Jordyn Tyson would give the Giants a much needed wide receiver, with Wan’Dale Robinson leaving in free agency and Malik Nabers coming off of a major knee injury.

11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano (Utah)

Right tackle Austin Jackson misses a lot of time with injury, missing 38 games over the past four seasons combined, and even when he is on the field he could be upgraded. He could also move to guard and be an upgrade there if the Dolphins take an early round tackle.

12. Cleveland Browns (TRADE) – OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)

Freeling is the best true left tackle in the draft, but is unlikely to go in the top-10 because he was only a one-year starter in college. If the Browns move down, he would make a lot of sense for them because they are desperate for help at the left tackle position.

13. Los Angeles Rams – WR Makai Lemon (USC)

Davante Adams had a great season in 2025, but he’s going into his age 34 season and a contract year in 2026. Lemon would give them a better #3 wide receiver in the short-term and a potential long-term replacement for Adams as the #2 receiver.

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

The Ravens guards were a weakness last season and they will be even further exposed in 2026 without center Tyler Linderbaum in between them. Ioane is the best pure guard prospect in the draft and would be a massive upgrade for the run-heavy Ravens offense.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)

Cornerback isn’t the Buccaneers’ biggest need, but Delane is too good to pass on at this point. He could easily go earlier than this, but I couldn’t find a good spot for him. The Buccaneers might be his floor and they would be very happy to have a future #1 cornerback, which they probably don’t have on their roster right now.

16. New York Jets – WR Omar Cooper (Indiana)

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.

17. Detroit Lions – CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)

DJ Reed, who the Lions signed to a big deal in free agency last off-season, is locked in as one of the Lions’ starting cornerbacks, but 2024 1st round pick Terrion Arnold has been injury prone and underwhelming this far in his career, while Roger McCreary, who they signed this off-season, is only on a one-year deal. The Lions could add another cornerback through the draft.

18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)

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. Thieneman is a strong fit if he is on the board 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. Cleveland Browns (TRADE) – WR KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)

Along with left tackle, wide receiver is a massive need for the Browns in the first round. If they navigate the first round correctly, they can get a left tackle and a wide receiver prospect they are happy with and pick up some additional draft capital in the process.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama)

Broderick Jones was drafted in the first round in 2026 to be the Steelers’ long-term left tackle, but that didn’t work out, as Jones has struggled throughout his three seasons in the league and now enters his fourth season in the league with an uncertain future due to a neck injury. The Steelers could look for a new left tackle early in this year’s draft.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn)

The Chargers brought back Khalil Mack this off-season, but he is going into his age 35 season. Meanwhile, their other free agent edge defender, Odafe Oweh, was not retained this off-season.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)

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.

24. Cleveland Browns – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)

The Browns need a better fifth defensive back in sub packages. The Browns could target a cornerback, but McNeil-Warren is a better value at this point than any cornerback and he would give them insurance if they aren’t able to extend Ronnie Hickman, who is going into a contract year.

25. Chicago Bears – DT Peter Woods (Clemson)

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.

26. Arizona Cardinals (TRADE) – QB Ty Simpson (Alabama)

The Cardinals need a quarterback of the future and seem interested in getting Ty Simpson at the right price. They would probably need to move up into the late first round to secure him and doing so would give them the benefit of getting an extra first round pick, but the price to do so shouldn’t be too high and there are usually a lot of teams in the late first who are looking to move down.

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

It sounds like Trent Williams will be back with the 49ers in 2026, but 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, in the short-term, he could fill a hole at left guard.

28. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE) – WR Denzel Boston (Washington)

Most teams that take a quarterback in the first round use their next pick on another offensive player and the Raiders badly need a potential #1 wide receiver. The Raiders may need to move up to secure a top wide receiver prospect and the Texans have a history of trading out of the first round to accumulate extra picks.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – DE TJ Parker (Clemson)

The Chiefs need an upgrade at edge defender opposite George Karlaftis. This figures to be one of the positions they target early in the draft.

30. Miami Dolphins – CB Avieon Terrell (Clemson)

The Dolphins entered the 2025 season with one of the worst cornerback rooms in the league. Free agent signing Rasul Douglas proved to be a decent option, but he was on a one-year deal and has not been brought back this off-season. Even if he returns, the Dolphins don’t have much else at the position and Douglas is not a long-term solution anyway, going into his age 31 season.

31. New England Patriots – OT Blake Miller (Clemson)

The Patriots need a long-term right tackle, with Morgan Moses set to go into his age 35 season. Miller could also provide depth at left tackle and guard.

32. Seattle Seahawks – DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)

Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed are going into their age 32 and age 34 seasons respectively, so the Seahawks could use another defensive tackle to go with 2024 1st round pick Byron Murphy long-term.

33. New York Jets – CB Colton Hood (Tennessee)

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.

34. Buffalo Bills (TRADE) – DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)

The Bills signed Bradley Chubb to play opposite Greg Rousseau, but Chubb has an extensive injury history and their depth is lacking at the defensive end position.

35. Tennessee Titans – LB CJ Allen (Georgia)

The Titans could use an upgrade at linebacker next to Cedric Gray and Allen would be a good value at the top of the second round.

36. Houston Texans (TRADE) – OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)

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 at some point in the draft. Iheanachor is a versatile option with a high upside.

37. New York Giants – DT Caleb Banks (Florida)

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

38. Houston Texans – DE Zion Young (Missouri)

Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson are arguably the best edge defender duo in the league, but they lack depth behind them, which is especially a concern with Hunter going into his age 32 season.

39. Dallas Cowboys (TRADE) – LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)

The Cowboys desperately need to add to a linebacking corps that has no good options aside from the oft injured DeMarvion Overshown.

40. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State)

The Chiefs lost both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this off-season, so they will need to add a young cornerback at some point relatively early in the draft.

41. Cincinnati Bengals – CB Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)

Cam Taylor-Britt left as a free agent and the Bengals should take this opportunity to find an upgrade at the outside cornerback spot for a defense that has consistently been one of the worst in the league over the past few seasons.

42. New Orleans Saints – G Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon)

The Saints could upgrade on Cesar Ruiz at right guard and would save a lot of money by releasing him. Pregnon could be an immediate upgrade at a much cheaper price.

43. Miami Dolphins – WR Chris Bell (Louisville)

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.

44. New York Jets – G Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M)

The Jets could use a versatile offensive lineman like Chase Bisontis, who could provide depth at tackle and compete for a starting job at guard.

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 – DE Malachi Lawrence (UCF)

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.

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 – WR Germie Bernard (Alabama)

The Falcons signed Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency to give them more wide receiver options behind Drake London, but both are underwhelming options and the Falcons could look to upgrade in the draft.

49. Minnesota Vikings – DT Christen Miller (Georgia)

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.

50. Detroit Lions – OT Gennings Dunker (Iowa)

The Lions surprisingly released left tackle Taylor Decker after being unable to come to an agreement on a reworked contract with him. They may move Penei Sewell from right tackle to left tackle, but that would leave them in need of a new right tackle.

51. Carolina Panthers – DT Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)

The Panthers moved on from veteran A’Shawn Robinson this off-season and now are pretty thin at defensive tackle, so they will likely look to the draft to replenish depth.

52. Green Bay Packers – DE R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)

The Packers are thin at the edge defender position after losing Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare this off-season, which is especially a concern with Micah Parsons coming off of a torn ACL.

53. Pittsburgh Steelers – CB D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)

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.

54. Philadelphia Eagles – S AJ Haulcy (LSU)

The Eagles lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and don’t have a good replacement on the roster. They could address the safety position early in the draft.

55. Los Angeles Chargers – G Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech)

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 – CB Treydan Stukes (Arizona)

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.

58. San Francisco 49ers – WR Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)

The 49ers added Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, but both are on the wrong side of 30. Including DeMarcus Robinson, three of their top-4 wide receivers are 30 or older, 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 – 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. The Bears tried to trade for Maxx Crosby and, if a trade does not materialize before the draft, expect them to use an early pick on the position.

61. Los Angeles Rams – CB Keionte Scott (Miami)

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 – TE Max Klare (Ohio State)

The Broncos made a big financial investment in Evan Engram last off-season to try to improve their tight end room, but he showed his age, finishing with just a 50/461/1 slash line and, now going into his age 32 season, he’s unlikely to return to his prime form. The Broncos could look to the draft for a younger option.

63. New England Patriots – LB Josiah Trotter (Missouri)

The Patriots’ linebacking corps is pretty underwhelming after Robert Spillane and they could look to add another linebacker early in the draft.

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

With Kenneth Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet rehabbing a torn ACL that is likely to cost him much of the 2026 season, the Seahawks will be looking to add to their backfield relatively early in the draft.