Race for the No. 1 Pick of the 2026 NFL Draft:
Miami Dolphins:
The Dolphins were blown out and embarrassed in Week 1 at Indianapolis, but played much better in a loss to the Patriots and Bills over the next two weeks. There has been a lot of talk about Miami having problems with its culture in the locker room and organization. That could lead to a toxic environment that leads to losses and trading away veterans during the season. If the Dolphins land the No. 1 pick, they may need to consider drafting a quarterback and starting a rebuild.
New Orleans Saints:
The Saints are in rebuilding mode, whether they like it or not. While they seem desperate to stay competitive and avoid another era of being the ‘Aints, New Orleans has an aging roster in need of difference makers and long-term starters. The Saints will find out this season if Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough can be the long-term starter, but if they land the No. 1 pick, they should probably target a franchise quarterback to build around.
New York Jets:
The Jets have some talent on the roster, but they are 0-3 and are rebuilding under Aaron Glenn. New York is going to win some games this year and I do not think they will be in serious contention
Tennessee Titans:
The Titans could land the No. 1 pick for the second straight season. If Tennessee gets the No. 1 pick, it would make sense to auction the pick to load up on draft picks to rebuild the Titans’ roster.
Top General Manager Candidates:
- Notre Dame general manager Mike Martin
- Atlanta Falcons vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers senior personnel executive Byron Kiefer
- Detroit Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew
- Detroit Lions director of college scouting Brian Hudspeth
- Houston Texans assistant general manager Chris Blanco
- Former Indianapolis Colts chief personnel executive Morocco Brown
- New England Patriots senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith
- Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray
- Las Vegas Raiders vice president of player personnel Brandon Hunt
Top Head Coach Candidates:
- Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman
- Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden
- Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley
- Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken
- Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard
- Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
- Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
- Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson
Head Coach Hot-Seat Tracker:
- Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel
- New York Giants: Brian Daboll
- Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan
- Dallas Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer
- Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
Atlanta Falcons: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M 
The Falcons got back on track in Week 4 with a home win over Washington. Atlanta enjoyed the fruits of getting the ball to Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. With Jayden Daniels out, Marcus Mariota started, and he was able to keep his team in the game. Atlanta has a lot of good young talent on both sides of the ball, but what the Falcons could use more of is cornerback talent to pair with A.J. Terrell.
To open 2025, Lee has 21 tackles and two passes broken up. Lee is a tall corner with excellent length and size for the NFL. He could be a good fit as a press man corner. In 2024, Lee totaled 42 tackles with two interceptions, 10 passes broken up, and one forced fumble. He had 42 tackles with two picks and six breakups in 2023. If Lee shows speed to run deep with fast receivers and the twitch to handle quickness underneath, he could skyrocket. Lee could be a nice addition for Atlanta in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia Eagles: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech 
The Eagles’ offense struggled in Tampa Bay as Saquon Barkley (43 yards rushing, 31 receiving), DeVonta Smith (2-29), and A.J. Brown (2-7) were all held in check by Tampa Bay. Bucky Irving ripped the Eagles’ defense, and Philadelphia almost allowed the Buccaneers to pull off another comeback victory. Philadelphia had two sacks and their defense lost a lot of talent from the defensive line in the offseason. The Eagles could use more defensive line talent in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey is a fast edge rusher. In 2024, he recorded 31 tackles with seven sacks and five forced fumbles with Stanford. Thus far in 2025, he has 3.5 sacks and eight tackles. Bailey was not impressive against Bailey could be a riser through the 2026 draft process. The Eagles could use a replacement for Josh Sweat, and Bailey could give them a dynamic speed rusher to go next to Jalen Carter.
Houston Texans: Ola Ioane, G, Penn State 
Houston got their first win of the season with a 26-0 shutout of the Titans. Houston did not have a prolific game on offense, but with the Titans’ completely inept offense, the Texans pulled away with 20 points in the fourth quarter. C.J. Stroud has not looked the same this season and last year compared to his superb rookie season. The Texans must continue to invest and upgrade their offensive line to give Stroud clean pockets and less of a beating.
The 6-foot-4, 334-pound Ioane is a strong blocker at the point of attack with the ability to generate movement in the ground game. He is also a reliable pass protector. Ioane is explosive, can mirror speed rushers, and plays with physicality with a nasty streak. Ioane looks like a guard for the NFL and probably does not have the length to kick outside to tackle. Ioane could be a plug-and-play starter and would be a good second-round pick for Houston.
New York Giants: Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU 
The Giants pulled off one of the most shocking upsets of the season with a win over the previously unbeaten Chargers. Jaxson Dart won his first NFL start and managed the game well. However, New York suffered a huge loss with Malik Nabers suffering a season-ending injury with a torn ACL. Next year, the Giants are going to need to help Dart with more playmakers and Nabers will be coming off this injury. Thus, it would make sense to get more receiving weapons in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In 2025, Anderson has 21 receptions for 293 yards. In the opener against Clemson, Anderson caught six passes for 99 yards. He has explosive speed, but is very undersized. Anderson (5-8, 187) is an extremely fast receiver who is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. In 2024, Anderson had 61 receptions for 875 yards and five touchdowns. Anderson has a lot of upside to develop and could be a Deebo Samuel type receiver in the NFL. Anderson could be a perfect complement for Nabers and a good value on the second day of the draft.
Detroit Lions: Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State
The Lions won their third straight game as they cruised over the Browns. Detroit held Cleveland to 10 points, and Aidan Hutchinson had multiple sacks. Defensive ends Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal are once again out with injury and both are free agents after this season. Adding an edge rusher to go with Hutchinson has to be a top priority for the 2026 offseason.
In 2025, Dennis-Sutton has 16 tackles with two sacks, two passes broken up, and two forced fumbles Dennis-Sutton (6-5, 272) is a big body at the point of attack, and he is a tough run defender. In 2024, he recorded 36 tackles, 6.5 sacks, three passes defended, and a forced fumble. He had 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2023. Dennis-Sutton is a good run defender who shows some variety in pass-rushing moves, some quickness to close, and is a tough presence to set the edge. Dennis-Sutton would be an excellent end to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee 
The Steelers won in Dublin, Ireland, despite the defense struggling to stop the Vikings’ passing offense. Justin Jefferson (10-126) and Jordan Addison (4-114) both produced well with Carson Wentz throwing for 350 yards. Pittsburgh has some veteran cornerbacks, but they could use a young No. 1 corner to match up against speed receivers.
McCoy has yet to play in 2025, but his 2024 tape was so good that he could still be a first-round pick. The 6-foot, 190-pound McCoy had an excellent sophomore season with 44 tackles, four interceptions, and seven passes broken up. He played well in 2023 with 31 tackles, two interceptions, and seven breakups. McCoy is an instinctive corner with good ball skills and a willing tackler. In the middle to back half of the first round, McCoy could be an excellent value for Pittsburgh.
Seattle Seahawks: Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina 
The Seahawks defense allowed Arizona to score 14 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20, but Sam Darnold led a field goal drive to get the road win. Darnold managed the game, but Seattle could use more receiving weapons for Darnold. Aside from Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4-79), no Seahawks receiver had five receptions for 45 yards through the air. Cooper Kupp (4-26) is a declining veteran and Seattle needs more weapons for Darnold.
Seattle probably won’t be picking high enough to land Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston, but Harbor (6-5, 241) is a big receiver who has sprinter speed and could be available in the mid to late first round. For years, scouts have been talking him up to me as a prospect with an elite skill set. He has 11 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown thus far. In 2024, Harbor had 26 catches for 376 yards and three scores. Harbor could be a perfect replacement for D.K. Metcalf and a mismatch receiver to go with Smith-Njigba.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand regarding the 2025 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Rams:
The Rams went a long stretch starting in 2017 and going through 2023 without a first-round pick. Los Angeles mortgaged the picks, trading for veterans, and it paid off with a Super Bowl championship. This year, Los Angeles once again did not take a player in the first round, but they did so to get two first-round picks for the 2026 NFL Draft in a trade down with the Falcons. The Rams are building a talented young team, and adding three players in the first rounds could really set up Los Angeles for a strong roster for years to come.
In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Rams taking Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. Los Angeles has drafted some young defensive line talent, and they could use more talent in the back seven. Reese could be a three-down starter and plug-and-play contributor. He would really help the Rams’ vulnerable run defense. Other early-round linebackers to consider include LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr., Pitt’s Kyle Louis, Alabama’s Deonte Lawson, and Utah’s Lander Barton.
Since trading Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have done a nice job of getting solid play out of cheap veteran and young players at cornerback. However, they have missed an elite No. 1, and that would upgrade their defense significantly for matching up against top teams in the NFC, including Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, and Tampa Bay. There could be some good early-round corners for the Rams aside from McCoy. Alabama’s Domani Jackson, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, LSU’s Mansoor Delane, and Texas A&M’s Will Lee are good options to consider. Adding a No. 1 corner in the first round has to be a top consideration for Los Angeles.
Offensively, the Rams are strong in the short term, but they will eventually need to prepare a new starting quarterback, given the age of Matthew Stafford. With an extra first-round pick, it could be a good year to take a quarterback and add a talented player to their defense. The Rams could consider potential long-term starting quarterback options like Oklahoma’s John Meteer, Indiana’s Francisco Mendoza, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Miami’s Carson Beck. Mateer would be a great fit for McVay if gets to one of their picks. Los Angeles has a long-term No. 1 receiver in Puka Nacua, while veteran Davante Adams is a short-term player at this point in his career. They could consider more receiver talent, and some day-two targets could include Ohio State’s Carnel Tate, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, and Oklahoma’s Deion Burks.
General manager Les Snead has drafted very well for the Rams, and he could set up Los Angeles to be a Super Bowl contender for many years to come if they nail the 2026 NFL Draft.
Arizona Cardinals:
The Cardinals were my pick for a surprise team that could make the playoffs as a wild card. After four games, Arizona sits at 2-2, but I have been mildly disappointed with how the team has played. I thought the offense would be better, but they have had quiet stretches and have not produced consistency in the passing attack. Arizona had a hot stretch in the middle of the 2024 season, so there is still plenty of time for the Cardinals to make a run at getting into the postseason.
In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Cardinals taking Alabama offensive tackle Kayden Proctor, and improving the offensive line could be the top draft priority next April. The Cardinals have veteran Jonah Williams at right tackle, but he could be upgraded, and they could save some money by moving on from him. If they keep Williams, they could draft a tackle and move him inside to guard to start his career. If the durability-challenged Williams gets hurt again, they could kick the rookie to the outside. Proctor would give them a large and athletic edge protector that can also help in the ground game. Aside from Proctor, there are other good tackle options in the first round, including Auburn’s Xavier Chaplin, Utah’s Spencer Fano, Oregon’s Isaiah World, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Alabama’s Kayden Proctor, and Boston College’s Jude Bowry. There is no doubt that adding more offensive line talent is a top priority for the Cardinals’ offseason, and they should target more talent at guard and/or right tackle.
Arizona’s defensive line has not been the unit they envisioned with first-round pick Walter Nolen starting the season on the PUP list. The Cardinals added some veteran edge rushers and brought back veteran Calais Campbell, but adding more talent to the defensive line has to be a consideration. They could target more pass-rushing talent in the early rounds of the draft with prospects like Stanford’s David Bailey, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Illinois’ Gabe Jacas. The Cardinals probably won’t be picking high enough to land Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, but he would be a great fit in the defensive scheme and a perfect understudy for Campbell.
Drafting for the trenches on both sides of the ball has to be the top consideration, but the other position that might be worthy of consideration is wide receiver. Marvin Harrison Jr. has been disappointing in the early going of 2025, and if he doesn’t turn into a true No. 1 over the 2025 season, then they would have to consider a receiver if a good one fell to their pick. In the first round, two really good receiver prospects to consider include Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston. While Harrison has gotten off to a slow start, it would not be surprising if he figures things out and has a big second half of the season. The Cardinals need it to happen, and if it doesn’t, they will have to consider whether Harrison is more of a No. 2, and they should target a potential No. 1 receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Cardinals have some promising young talent on their roster, and there is no dominant juggernaut in the NFC West. Another good draft could push Arizona into playoff contention.
