The NFL Draft is a three-day puzzle through which groups attempt to match want, worth and timing. However past the apparent suits, each franchise has an excellent goal — the participant who greatest aligns with its roster, philosophy and long-term plan.
Beneath, Yardbarker NFL writers spotlight these best picks for each group, no matter spherical. (Draft spherical and place are in parentheses. The draft is Thursday to Saturday in Pittsburgh.)
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Texas Tech EDGE Romello Top (Third, No. 92) |
Dallas could also be in line to make a giant commerce to leap nearer to the pinnacle of the road within the first spherical, that means the picks they preserve in later rounds will probably be vital. Top, who is just not an imposing presence at 6-foot-3 and 235 kilos, is a pass-rusher they’ll’t lose out on within the third spherical because the Cowboys look to proceed so as to add depth to their line. He got here into his personal in 2025, recording 10 sacks for the primary time.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Ohio State DB Caleb Downs (First, No. 5) | From Ed Reed to Kyle Hamilton, HC John Harbaugh’s defenses have been outlined by having an All-Professional security because the linchpin. Downs (6-foot, 205 kilos), the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award winner for greatest defensive again in faculty soccer, can simply be that linchpin for a group in determined want of a difference-maker within the backfield. Per ESPN Analytics, Downs has a lower than 10% probability to be out there at No. 10, the place the Giants can even be selecting, so New York should be certain that it does not miss out on him early.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor (First, No. 23) |
There shouldn’t be an excessive amount of pondering when the Eagles’ quantity is known as within the first spherical; it’s time to discover a alternative for All-Professional deal with Lane Johnson, and Iheanachor (6-foot-6, 330 kilos) is strictly the sort of lineman they wish to work with. He would give the Eagles an additional enhance in jumbo packages or as a swing deal with.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (First, No. 7) | Reporting suggests Love (6-foot, 214 kilos) could not drop previous the primary 5 picks, however trades on the high of the draft order might find yourself sending one of the best working again within the class into the laps of the Commanders. Love is strictly the participant they should bolster their offense behind quarterback Jayden Daniels. He’d instantly give them a floor sport to lean on and turn into a possible every-down goal for Daniels. — Conor Killmurray
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Alabama QB Ty Simpson (Second, No. 34) | The Cardinals have wants at a number of positions, however with the chance that they choose an offensive lineman or pass-rusher with the third total choose, Simpson (6-foot-2, 208 kilos) could possibly be a very good match. The Cardinals may have to maneuver into the primary spherical to get him, however with Simpson’s athleticism and arm expertise, this choice is smart for a group with a questionable QB room following Kyler Murray’s departure to the Minnesota Vikings.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | USC WR Makai Lemon (First, No. 13) | The Rams have depth points, together with at WR after the Miami Dolphins signed Tutu Atwell in free company. Lemon (5-foot-11, 195 kilos) had the eighth-most receiving yards in faculty soccer final season (1,156) and would offer insurance coverage as a slot-only WR who may give QB Matthew Stafford one other weapon downfield.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Central Florida EDGE Malachi Lawrence (Second, No. 58) | As 2025 first-round choose Mykel Williams recovers from a torn proper ACL and the 49ers cope with the stunning retirement of Bryce Huff, pass-rush is an space of want. After main Central Florida with seven sacks final season, the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has the bodily instruments and athleticism. The 49ers solely had 27 sacks final season, so the addition of Lawrence alongside a wholesome Williams and Nick Bosa could be an enormous enhance.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. (Second, No. 64) | After shedding Tremendous Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in free company, the Seahawks want depth at working again as Zach Charbonnet recovers from a torn left ACL. Washington (6-foot-2, 223 kilos), who can be harmful as a large receiver, could possibly be an excellent match for Seattle, which can commerce out of the primary spherical. — Colby Colwell
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Oregon security Dillon Thieneman (First, No. 25) | The Bears should rebuild at security after watching Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker depart in free company, so Thieneman must be their No. 1 goal within the first spherical. The 6-foot-0, 201-pound defensive again broke out in 2025 with 95 tackles, two interceptions and 5 move breakups. Thieneman is a keen tackler and an distinctive athlete.
DETROIT LIONS | Missouri EDGE Zion Younger (Second, No. 50) | The Lions ought to do every little thing of their energy to seize Younger within the second spherical, even when they need to commerce as much as make it occur. The 6-foot-5, 262-pound pass-rusher had 6.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and two compelled fumbles final season. He might make a direct influence on a group that desperately wants pass-rush assist reverse Aidan Hutchinson.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (Second, No. 52) | The Packers don’t have a first-round choose, so they need to nail their second-round choice. Dennis-Sutton (6-foot-5, 256 kilos) is a freak athlete who led all EDGEs in athleticism rating on the NFL Scouting Mix. His dimension, toughness and nice instincts would make him an excellent match reverse Micah Parsons.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Florida DT Caleb Banks (Second, No. 49) | Banks (6-foot-6, 327 kilos) will probably slip to the second spherical after he underwent foot surgical procedure this offseason. If the uber-talented defensive deal with drops to Minnesota’s vary at choose No. 49, the Vikings shouldn’t hesitate to select him. He is a superb match for Brian Flores’ protection as a result of he is aware of blow up the road of scrimmage, and the Vikings want a DT after the discharge of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. — Jack Dougherty
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Alabama WR Germie Bernard (Second, No. 48) | Bernard (6-foot-1, 206 kilos) must be out there when the Falcons make their first choose within the second spherical. He’d be a wonderful complement to Drake London and provides QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. one other robust pass-catching choice with working again Bijan Robinson and tight finish Kyle Pitts.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Auburn IOL Connor Lew (Third, No. 83) | With Austin Corbett and Cade Mays exiting through free company, the Panthers should handle depth alongside the inside offensive line. Lew (6-foot-3, 300 kilos), who tore his ACL in October 2025, must be out there when Carolina picks in Spherical 3. Sports activities Data Options famous the junior lineman solely 4 blown blocks final season, and he was an impactful run-blocker, with backs averaging six yards per carry (together with 2.9 yards earlier than contact) when speeding behind Lew in 2025.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | San Diego State CB Chris Johnson (Second, No. 42) | If the Saints handle vast receiver with their first-round choose (No. 8), nook will probably be a precedence on Day 2 with the group needing to interchange Alontae Taylor, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in free company. Johnson (6-foot, 185 kilos) is among the high mid-major defenders within the 2026 class and could be a seamless match alongside New Orleans’ different ascending corners, Kool-Help McKinstry and Quincy Riley.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas (Second, No. 48) | The Buccaneers focused defensive finish Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11.5 sacks for the Detroit Lions final season, in free company to enhance a move rush that ranked No. 25 in stress fee (19.8 %) in 2025. Thomas lacks prototypical dimension at 6-foot-2, 249 kilos however makes up for it with wonderful burst and a relentless motor. He would give Tampa extra juice off the sting because it appears to be like to return to the highest of the division. — Eric Smithling
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | UConn WR Skyler Bell (Third, No. 91) | With the addition of DJ Moore (through commerce from Chicago), the Payments are more likely to maintain off on one other first-round receiver. This positions Bell (6-foot, 185 kilos) as an excellent goal later within the draft. He would offer Josh Allen with a dependable choice on third down.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (Second, No. 43) | Nook is a foremost want for rebuilding Miami. Ponds (5-foot-9, 170 kilos) would deliver excessive upside, with the power to excel in zone whereas providing man-coverage potential and nickel flexibility in a scheme that favors mixing coverages.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Duke OL Brian Parker II (Fourth, No. 125) | Parker (6-foot-5, 300 kilos) brings inside flexibility and long-term developmental upside and depth. He’s a robust asset in move safety (a serious wrestle for the Patriots in 2025) and zone-blocking ideas.
NEW YORK JETS | Penn State QB Drew Allar (Fifth, No. 140) | The Jets don’t have any long-term answer exterior of Geno Smith as their bridge QB. Enter Allar, who boasts prototypical dimension (6-foot-5, 228 kilos), elite arm energy and velocity. With Frank Reich as the brand new offensive coordinator, this could possibly be a robust match for a developmental QB. — Colton Edwards
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich (Fifth, No. 170) | Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s offense typically contains a “joker,” a flexible working again or tight finish who’s a risk within the passing sport. Heidenreich (6-foot, 198 kilos) suits that description. In 2025, he tied for eleventh within the FBS in yards (941 receiving and 499 speeding) and tied for fifth in yards per reception (18.5).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Tennessee CB Colton Hood (First, No. 29) |
The Chiefs might take LSU CB Mansoor Delane (6-foot, 187 kilos) with choose No. 9, however they could take a large receiver as an alternative, maybe Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 kilos). Hood (5-foot-11, 193 kilos) could be the next-best choice for Okay.C., which is searching for a alternative for star CB Trent McDuffie (now with the Los Angeles Rams). Per Sports Info Solutions, he allowed zero landing catches and had 19 move breakups in three seasons at Colorado, Auburn and Tennessee.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge (Second, No. 36) | The Raiders are broadly anticipated to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 kilos) with choose No. 1, so their subsequent transfer must be giving him higher move safety. Vegas surrendered a league-leading 64 sacks final season. Choosing Rutledge (6-foot-3, 316 kilos) — who allowed no sacks in 2025, per Pro Football Focus — could be sensible.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Illinois edge-rusher Gabe Jacas (Second, No. 55) | The Chargers re-signed LB Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18M deal in free company, however that shouldn’t preclude them from investing in one other edge-rusher, particularly one with the scale and pass-rushing expertise of Jacas (6-foot-3, 260 kilos). In 2025, he tied for ninth within the FBS in sacks (11). — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane (First, No. 14) | Guards are not all the time checked out as nice worth picks, particularly within the high 15, however Ioane (6-foot-4, 330 kilos) could possibly be a star. That’s excellent news for the Ravens as a result of re-tooling their inside offensive line should be a precedence this offseason.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas (Second, No. 41) |
The Bengals already used their first-round choose, No. 10 total, to commerce for defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, leaving them with their high choose now at No. 41 total. That ought to nonetheless put them ready so as to add one other EDGE in Jacas (6-foot-3, 275 kilos). With that choose, the addition of Lawrence and free-agency additions, the Bengals might lastly have a formidable defensive entrance.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Ohio State WR Carnell Tate (First, No. 6) | The Browns have two first-round picks, giving them a whole lot of flexibility. Offensive deal with or vast receiver are on the desk for each, however the best choose right here could be Tate (6-foot-2, 191 kilos). The Browns desperately want extra playmakers on offense after their high vast receiver in 2025, Jerry Jeudy, caught simply 50 passes for 602 yards. He was the one vast receiver on the roster who had greater than 25 receptions.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson (First, No. 21) | Tyson lasting to this spot won’t occur, but when he does, the Steelers ought to dash the cardboard to the rostrum. Even after including DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman over the previous two offseasons, the Steelers nonetheless want one other playmaker at wideout, and particularly a younger playmaker. With out harm issues, Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 kilos) is likely to be a top-10 expertise. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Notre Dame RB Jadarian Worth (Second, No. 59) | Worth is a bit missed as Notre Dame’s second working again behind Jeremiyah Love, however he could have a excessive ceiling. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Worth averaged an eye-popping six yards per carry in three seasons with the Preventing Irish. The Texans want a alternative for Joe Mixon after failing to search out working sport consistency in 2025.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr. (Second, No. 47) | The Colts need to substitute beginning linebackers Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, and Hill is a participant who has been repeatedly linked to the group. It’s straightforward to see why, because the 6-foot-2, 238-pound former All-American is among the extra athletic gamers within the draft at his place. Hill would instantly step right into a beginning position and is able to taking part in on all three downs.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Western Michigan DE Nadame Tucker (Third, No. 88) | The Jaguars ranked close to the underside of the NFL final season with simply 32 sacks. They might handle their pass-rush early, however Tucker is a superb mid-round goal for a group missing a first-round choose. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder is a pure pass-rusher who had 14.5 sacks and 4 compelled fumbles in 13 video games as a senior.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Ohio State WR Carnell Tate (First, No. 4) | The Titans may be capable to commerce again a couple of spots and land Tate, however the projected high receiver within the draft would fill a serious want. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound Tate has an elite mixture of dimension and velocity and all of the makings of a real No. 1 vast receiver. Tate is the kind of participant who might turn into a dependable third-down choice for QB Cam Ward. — Steve DelVecchio
