Race for the No. 1 Pick of the 2026 NFL Draft:
New York Giants:
At 2-10, New York is on pace to land the No. 1 pick. 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.
Las Vegas Raiders:
The Raiders are dealing with the ramifications of years of bad management by Mark Davis. After Davis allowed the NFL league office to bully him into blowing up the playoff team that had been built by Jon Gruden, Davis has made a number of terrible hires at head coach and general manager. The Raiders roster has a serious lack of talent, and it would be surprising if they won another game this year. Las Vegas needs the Giants to get a win to move into the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans:
Tennessee lost control of the No.1 pick, but they have a shot at getting back. 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 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
- Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
- Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Head Coach Hot-Seat Tracker:
- Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon
- Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles
- Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski
- Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor
- Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
Philadelphia Eagles: Zion Young, DE, Missouri 
The Eagles’ defense was incredible, holding the Raiders to only 72 yards on Sunday. The ageless Brandon Graham had multiple sacks, and Philadelphia dominated Kenny Pickett and a terrible Raiders offensive line. This offseason, the Eagles could look to get some long-term help at end as Graham can’t play forever, Za’Darius Smith retired from the team this season, and Josh Sweat left in free agency. Philadelphia needs more edge rush youth.
Young has 38 tackles with 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes batted thus far, and has been among the nation’s leaders in pressures. In 2024, Young had 41 tackles with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Young has good size, length, and upside to develop. While Young has good size, he is also quick to close and shows good instincts as a rusher. Young could be a riser throughout the 2026 draft process, and he would be a good fit in the Eagles’ defense.
Atlanta Falcons: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville 
Kirk Cousins has been a Buccaneers killer in his career, and he did it again with a comeback win on Thursday Night Football. Atlanta got a huge game out of Kyle Pitts as the talented tight end showed what he is capable of when the Falcons call plays and feature him. It will be interesting to see if the Falcons re-sign Pitts this offseason, but even if he comes back, they could use more receiving talent to go with Drake London and Darnell Mooney. Adding a receiver like Bell in the second round could be a steal for Atlanta.
In 2025, Bell had 72 catches for 917 yards and six touchdowns but suffered a torn ACL late in the season. 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 would be a great second-round pick for Atlanta, as they would be getting a first-round caliber player that just slid because he is coming off an injury.
Houston Texans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State 
The Texans continued their hot play with a win over the inept Cardinals. Houston got a big day out of Nico Collins and Jawhar Jordan to lead them to 40 points. The Texans’ defense has been superb of late, but they did allow Trey McBride (12-134-2) and Michael Wilson (5-54-1) to do some damage. Houston could consider adding some linebacker talent to help defend receiving tight ends.
In 2025, Styles had 81 tackles, three passes defended, one interception, .5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Styles (6-4, 243) has a lot of talent and started to play up to his potential during the 2024 season. He finished with 100 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble, and five passes broken up. In 2023, he recorded 53 tackles, two sacks, and one pass batted, plus he has been very good in pass coverage. Styles started out as a safety, but was eventually moved to linebacker. Given his size, he fits best as a linebacker in the NFL. Syles is fast, athletic, and versatile. He could be a valuable zone coverage linebacker who is also a sideline-to-sideline run defender. Styles could be a good first-round pick for the Texans.
Washington Redskins: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Redskins got their fourth win of the season despite the defense having some issues defending Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., and tight end Theo Johnson. Washington has a lot of needs on their roster, including safety. A safety like Downs would help Washington defend a running quarterback, a back, and a receiving tight end. Depending on what happens in front of them, Washington might get a shot at Downs.
In 2025, Downs has 60 tackles with two interceptions, one pass broken up, and one sack. 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) would be a nice first-round pick for Washington.
Baltimore Ravens: Damon Wilson, DE, Missouri 
The Ravens got a big road win over Cincinnati to stay within reach of the Steelers in the AFC North. Baltimore shut out the Bengals, intercepting Joe Burrow twice, including a back-breaking pick-six. The Ravens’ defense still struggled with Ja’Marr Chase, and Baltimore has sunk a ton of resources into their secondary. They need more young pass rushers to pair with Mike Green and help them get more quick pressure on the quarterback.
In 2025, Wilson has 20 tackles, nine sacks, and one interception thus far. Wilson was a rotational backup at Georgia in 2024, totaling 22 tackles with three sacks and two forced fumbles. He transferred to Missouri after the season, and Wilson has been impressive with the Tigers. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Wilson has quality size with speed off the edge. Sources say he has good character as well. He could be a good fit for the Ravens in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson 
The Chargers got a big win towards eliminating their division rival by dropping the Chiefs 16-13. It was an impressive road win for Los Angeles, and their edge rushers sacked Pat Mahomes five times. Los Angeles also held Kansas City to only 21 yards rushing. This offseason, to help their defense, the Chargers could use some interior defensive line youth that is capable of putting some pressure on the quarterback. Woods would be a great scheme fit for Los Angeles.
In 2025, Woods had 30 tackles with two sacks and a pass batted. Woods got his season off to a strong start against Georgia, and was disruptive for Clemson. In 2024, he had three sacks and 26 tackles. Woods (6-3, 315) has upside to be better as he gains experience. He could be a disruptive three techinque tackle for the Chargers and a worthy first-round pick.
Chicago Bears: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee 
The Bears got their 10th win of the season as Chicago’s defense intercepted Shedeur Sanders three times and held Cleveland to only three points. This season, the Bears’ defense has been phenomenal at producing turnovers and supporting Caleb Williams, so he does not have to be prolific. It will be difficult to duplicate the turnover ratio next year, and continuing to build up their pass coverage would help Chicago defend the dangerous receivers in their division. A corner like McCoy could be a steal late in the first round.
McCoy did not 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. He would be a nice addition to the Bears defense and help them defend their division rivals.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand regarding the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
New head coach Liam Coen has done a tremendous job leading the Jaguars in 2025. Coen should be a coach of the year candidate as he has gotten a lot more out of the roster that landed Jacksonville a top-five pick a year ago. With Coen and young talent on offense, the Jaguars should be a threat in the AFC for many years to come.
In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Jaguars taking Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr, and he would make sense to give them an interior disruptor and nose tackle. Jacksonville could use more interior talent on its defensive line, and there could be some quality second-round tackles like Jackson or Florida’s Caleb Banks.
Elsewhere on defense, Jacksonville could consider more cornerback help after trading Tyson Campbell. Some cornerbacks they could target include Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, Alabama’s Domani Jackson, Texas’ Jaylon Guilbeau, Colorado’s D.J. McKinney, and Indiana’s Amare Farrell.
Offensively, the Jaguars could consider adding some talent to the interior of their offensive line. They could consider a long-term starter at center with Florida’s Jake Slaughter in the second round. Auburn’s Connor Lew would have been a second-rounder before he tore an ACL in October, but he might be a nice value for the Jaguars in the third or fourth round. If they want to add a guard, Penn State’s Ola Ioane could be a good addition.
The Jaguars could also consider taking a running back in the second round. Travis Etienne is entering free agency, and even if he re-signs, they could use a back to pair with him. Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price would be a great addition to Coen’s offense. Price is a physical runner with speed, athleticism, and upside. He could be an excellent value for Jacksonville in the back half of the second.
Jacksonville has the talent to compete for the Super Bowl this year and for years to come. Adding some role players in the 2026 NFL Draft will help the Jaguars be more dangerous in 2026.
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts were the best team in the NFL in the first half of the season, but they have fallen back significantly over the recent weeks. They looked poised to be the No.1 seed in the AFC, but now they are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. Starting quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the season, and Indianapolis has been forced to turn to the retired Philip Rivers. Indianapolis is without its first-round pick for the next two years, thanks to the Sauce Gardner trade. Thus, the Colts need to draft well on day two to help them be more competitive next year.
In my latest mock 2026 NFL Draft, I have the Colts taking Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields to help Jones. It would be a huge surprise if the Colts did not re-sign Jones and build around him in 2026. After trading Adonai Mitchell to the Jets and having Alec Pierce enter free agency, Indianapolis could use more receiving talent for Jones. Fields would give them a big target and red zone weapon. It would be a nightmare for defenses to cover Fields, Tyler Warren, and Michael Pittman Jr. in the red zone. Other receivers they could consider in the second round include Alabama’s Germie Bernard, Clemson’s Antonio Williams, and Louisville’s Chris Bell.
Defensively, the Colts could consider adding more interior defensive line talent. Some second-day defensive tackles that would be nice additions to their defense include Florida State’s Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida’s Caleb Banks, Iowa State’s Dominique Orange, and Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart. They would be nice nose tackles to go with DeForest Buckner. A good plan could be to add a receiver like Fields or Bell in the second round and then a tackle like Capehart in the third.
Without a first-round pick, the 2026 NFL Draft may not provide a big bang to the Colts’ roster. However, they could add some role players who help them to be a better football team next season. Indianapolis has the talent coming back to return to their elite form from the beginning of the 2025 season, and if they can stay consistent, the Colts could be a true Super Bowl contender in 2026.
