Race for the No. 1 Pick of the 2026 NFL Draft:
Tennessee Titans:
As the only one-win team in the NFL, 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.
New Orleans Saints:
For the time being, New Orleans is nipping at the heels of the No. 1 pick. The Saints will find out over the back half of the season if 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 Giants:
The Giants lost at home to the Packers, and New York stays in the third slot as of now. If New York gets the No. 1 pick, it could look to trade down and get a lot of picks to build around Jaxson Dart.
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns are currently slotted to have the fourth-overall pick, and Cleveland could lose out the rest of this season. If they do, they might land the No. 1 pick. The Browns need a franchise quarterback, so if they get the pick, they should target one of the top quarterback prospects.
New York Jets:
After trading Sauce Garder and Quinnen Williams, the Jets improved their chances of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. New York is now loaded with four first-round picks and three second-round picks in the next two draft classes. If the Jets land the No. 1 pick, they should target Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, Oregon’s Dante Moore, or Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
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 senior personnel executive John Dorsey
- 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
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard
- 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
Head Coach Hot-Seat Tracker:
- Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel
- Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville 
The Steelers got back on track and improved to 6-4 with a home win over the Bengals. Pittsburgh dealt with Aaron Rodgers getting injured, but they were able to cruise as Cincinnati only managed 12 points. Pittsburgh was led in receiving by backup running back Kenneth Gainwell and tight end Darnell Washington was their second leading receiver. Clearly, the Steelers need more receiving talent with they have Rodgers or someone else at quarterback in 2026.
To open 2025, Bell has 67 catches for 871 yards and six touchdowns. Bell (6-2, 220) was a solid receiver for the Cardinals in 2024, catching 43 passes for 737 yards and four touchdowns. With a strong build, Bell is physical and tough, but he also has good speed and runs well for a thick-built receiver. Bell could be a nice pick for the Steelers in the back half of the first round.
Los Angeles Rams: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU 
The Rams defense intercepted Sam Darnold four times, but they still almost lost the game to Darnold in a large fourth-quarter comeback. Los Angeles had some issues in coverage with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Rams have done a nice job of getting solid cornerback play out of veteran cheap free agents, and mid-round picks. The Rams could use more long-term answers and a difference maker at corner to help them take on elite receivers.
Delane has 40 tackles with two interceptions and 10 passes broken up in 2025. Delane is an instinctive defender with a quality skill set for the next level. In 2024, he had four interceptions with seven passes defended, two forced fumbles, and 54 tackles with Virginia Tech. In 2023, he had one interception, one pass batted, and 54 tackles. He had eight breakups with an interception in 2022 as a freshman. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder has good size to him with upside to continue to get better as he gains experience. Delane would be a nice pick with one of the Rams’ first-rounders.
Buffalo Bills: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State 
Even though he threw two interceptions, Josh Allen carried the Bills to a win over Tampa Bay with six touchdowns (three rushing, three passing). Buffalo struggled to stop the Buccaneers’ offense, and backup running back Sean Tucker had three touchdowns for Tampa Bay. The Bills could use more safety talent to help defend receiving backs and running quarterbacks.
In 2025, Downs has 46 tackles with two interceptions. In 2024, Downs had 76 tackles with six passes broken up and two interceptions. Downs was phenomenal for Alabama in 2023, recording 107 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up, and a forced fumble. After the season, he transferred to Ohio State. Downs (6-0, 205) is an excellent run defender, he is good in pass coverage, and is very instinctive. He would be a nice first-round pick for the Bills to pair with Cole Bishop.
Green Bay Packers: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State 
The Packers played a tight game against the Giants in New York and came away with the road win. Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran for 88 yards on 19 carries, and Devin Singletary had two rushing touchdowns versus Green Bay. The Packers had to include Kenny Clark in order to acquire Micah Parsons, and that has left a hole for a run-stuffing nose tackle. Green Bay could target a nose tackle on day two of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Thus far in 2025, Jackson has 31 tackles with one sack. In 2024, Jackson had a quality season for the Seminoles as one of the replacements for Braden Fiske. Jackson totaled 31 tackles with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. His 2023 season was lost to NCAA transfer rules after Jackson left the Miami Hurricanes for the Seminoles. He had 27 tackles and three sacks in 2022. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Jackson is a large nose tackle who is tough against the run and shows an ability to push the pocket as a pass rusher. He could be a good second-round pick for Green Bay as a replacement for Kenny Clark.
Chicago Bears: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami 
J.J. McCarthy was terrible against the Bears, throwing two interceptions and missing wide-open receivers with some inaccurate passes. Even with McCarthy struggling, the Bears had zero sacks against the Vikings. This offseason, Chicago needs to improve their pass rush talent across from Montez Sweat.
Bain has 31 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. Bain had an excellent freshman season for Miami, totaling 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 44 tackles. At the point of attack, Bain (6-3, 275) is strong and violent. He is tough to set the edge in the ground game, and Bain battles hard on every snap with relentless effort. In the pass rush, he shows some quickness and power, but some team sources feel that Bain is a tweener tackle/end. Bain was injured to start 2024 and didn’t debut until early October. He totaled 23 tackles with 3.5 sacks. Bain could make sense for the Bears in the back half of the first round.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson 
Jacksonville dominated the Chargers and got a much-needed win. The Jaguars’ defense was phenomenal as they held Justin Herbert to only 81 yards passing, and Los Angeles totaled 42 yards rushing. After trading away Tyson Campbell, the Jaguars could use more long-term cornerback options to go with Travis Hunter.
Terrell has 46 tackles with four forced fumbles, a sack, and nine passes batted. Terrell (5-11, 180) is a fast and fluid cover corner who is extremely adept at running the route to prevent separation. He has excellent ball skills, instincts, and plays bigger and stronger than his size. The size and future durability are the biggest concerns for the NFL. Terrell worked his way onto the field as a freshman and had five starts. He recorded 19 tackles with four passes broken up and an interception. In 2024, Terrell started every game and totaled 58 tackles with two interceptions, 12 passes broken up, three forced fumbles, and 4.5 tackles for a loss. Terrell is the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell. Terrell could be a nice second-round pick for the Jaguars.
New England Patriots: Will Heldt, OT, Clemson
The Patriots won on Thursday Night Football with New England cruising over the rebuilding Jets. New England’s defense put the clamps on the New York offense, and did so without much production from the edge rushers. In the 2026 NFL Draft, New England could take advantage of a deep class of edge rushers and land a starting end like Heldt in the first or second round.
Thus far in 2025, Heldt has 33 tackles with five sacks and has played well for Clemson. Heldt played well for Purdue in 2024, recording 56 tackles with five sacks. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder has good size, a surprising burst, and plays really hard. Heldt has upside, and he could be a nice value pick in the first or second round. Heldt would be a scheme fit to go across from Harold Landry.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand regarding the 2025 NFL Draft.
Denver Broncos:
The Broncos have been one of the best teams in the AFC this season thanks to a suffocating defense and efficient game management by second-year quarterback Bo Nix. With perhaps the best defense in the NFL, Denver is capable of going on a postseason run this season. Going forward, Denver needs to continue to build up their talent on offense in the 2026 NFL Draft to help Nix in his third season.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, the emphasis will likely be on building around Nix. In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Broncos taking Boston College offensive tackle Jude Bowry, and it would make sense to add more young talent to the offensive line. Bowry is a talented pass protector, and he could be an upgrade over right tackle Mike McGlinchey. McGlinchey could be deemed not worth his contract as he ages, and getting a young tackle in the first round would make sense. There could be some good tackle options in the first round, including Utah’s Spencer Fano, his teammate Caleb Lomu, Oregon’s Isaiah World, Alabama’s Kayden Proctor, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, and Bowry. Adding tackle talent could be a good foundational piece to add for the prime years of Nix’s career.
The Broncos have some quality receivers in Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims, but adding more receiving talent would not be a bad idea. Late in the first round, Louisville’s Chris Bell would be a great addition. Bell is a thick, quick, and dangerous run-after-the-catch receiver who would be a nice chain mover for Nix. Aside from Bell, Denver could consider Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson or Washington’s Denzel Boston. However, they probably won’t be picking high enough for Tyson. Other receivers they could consider include Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or South Carolina’s Nyck Harbor. Adding more mismatch weapons is a high priority for Denver.
Another intriguing weapon for Denver to consider would be Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. He is a freak with his speed, athleticism, and strength for his size. He would be a great fit and mismatch weapon in Sean Payton’s offense. Evan Engram has not had the impact that was expected, and Sadiq would be an upgrade.
The Broncos look like they are poised to be a top Super Bowl contender for many years to come. Continuing to build up their talent around Nix and their weapons on offense could lead to Denver winning another Lombardi Trophy.
Cincinnati Bengals:
Once again, the Bengals’ season went off the rails after an injury to quarterback Joe Burrow. When Burrow is on the field, Cincinnati is capable of beating any team in the league. However, when Burrow is injured, the Bengals struggle to win and stay in the playoff race. Burrow is signed long-term, and the Bengals have to hope that he will stay healthy in 2026. To help Burrow take them on a post-season run, Cincinnati needs to continue building up the defense so Burrow is not forced to win a shutout on a regular basis.
In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Bengals taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and that would be a great fit for Cincinnati. Downs is a phenomenal football player who is an excellent run defender, superb in pass coverage, and versatile. The Bengals’ defense has not been the same since Jesse Bates left in free agency. Downs could get them back to having a difference-maker on the back end. If they go a different direction in the first round, a good safety for them to consider on day two would be USC’s Kamari Ramsey.
More defensive line talent is the other big need on the Bengals roster. Along with Bates, the other veteran they have really missed since he left in free agency was nose tackle D.J. Reader. They have a young talent in Kris Jenkins, but could use more tackle talent next to him. In the first round, they could consider players like Clemson’s Peter Woods, Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington, or Alabama’s L.T. Overton. Some good day two tackles to consider include Florida State’s Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida’s Caleb Banks, and Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart. All three are big, heavy nose tackles, and Capehart looks extremely similar to how Reader played in his final season with the Clemson Tigers.
Losing Bates and Reader were painful, and the Bengals’ front office made big mistakes in waiting to sign Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to their big extensions this year. If they had done those deals a year earlier, they would have saved around $10 million per year, and that money would have been helpful for re-signing Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson could leave in free agency, and that would leave a big hole across from Shemar Stewart. In the first round, the Bengals could think of taking an end like Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, or Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. Other early-round ends that could make sense include Missouri’s Zion Young, Clemson’s Will Heldt, Missouri’s Damon Wilson, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Illinois’ Gabe Jacas, and Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei. Cincinnati really needs former first-round pick Myles Murphy to go on a heater to close out this season and take away the need to draft a defensive end early. If Murphy does not show improvement and Hendrickson leaves, an end to go with Stewart has to be a top consideration in the early rounds.
The Bengals have to accept a harsh reality that Burrow may not be built well enough to survive the NFL. While Burrow is superb when he plays, he has had major durability issues. Cincinnati could use a backup quarterback with upside to develop. On day two or the mid-rounds, the Bengals could consider adding a quarterback like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier or Penn State’s Drew Allar. Neither one impressed in 2025, but they had good tape at times in 2024. Nussmeier would be a nice scheme fit to develop as Burrow’s backup that might be able to keep the Bengals dangerous if Burrow gets injured again.The 2026 NFL Draft is going to be critical for the Bengals. They have spent heavily on their roster and may not be able to spend on top-tier free agents. Thus, they have to nail their draft picks. The time is now for Cincinnati to draft well and not squander the prime years for Burrow, Chase, and Higgins.
