The 2026 NFL Draft is still nearly two months away, but anticipation is growing by the day. With the NFL Combine now underway from Indianapolis, big boards and prospect evaluations should only grow more refined as draft weekend approaches.
Based on current draft order and pre-free agency team needs, below is a realistic three-round selection for every franchise. Note that while upward of 10 teams will want Fernando Mendoza, he isn’t a probable option for anyone except for the Raiders (barring a trade).
ARZ | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS
Arizona Cardinals: T Spencer Fano, CB Chris Johnson, S Zakee Wheatley
With no viable quarterback to pick at No. 3 overall, the Cardinals’ smartest option would be to take a starting-caliber right tackle. Arizona could pick between either Miami’s Francisco Mauigoa or Utah’s Spencer Fano, but Fano’s bigger build and more balanced play (80.0-plus PFF pass-and run-blocking grades) could make him the target for Mike LaFleur.
The Cardinals also need to fix a secondary that placed 25th in overall PFF grade last year. Johnson could be a great fit in defensive coordinator Nick Rallis’ zone-heavy scheme after leading the country with a 91.9 PFF zone coverage grade last year, forming a lockdown duo with Will Johnson. Likewise, with Jalen Thompson potentially leaving in free agency, Wheatley (83.5 PFF coverage grade) could be a natural replacement.
Atlanta Falcons: CB Colton Hood, LB Jacob Rodriguez
Even with A.J. Terrell returning, the Falcons should look to boost a cornerback room that slotted 30th in overall PFF grade last year. Hood would bring starting capability with his 80.3 PFF coverage grade and 91st-percentile coverage grade in single-coverage situations.
With Kaden Elliss’ future uncertain, Atlanta may target a linebacker in either the second or third round. Rodriguez would be a good fit with his well-rounded skill set, earning 92.3 grades or better in both run defense and coverage.
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., G Emmanuel Pregnon, Dl Gracen Halton
The Ravens desperately need to boost a pass rush that tied for 29th in PFF pass-rush grade. There would be no better immediate fix than adding Bain, the No. 2 prospect on the predictive PFF Big Board. Bain’s 2025 season (92.4 PFF pass-rush grade) mimics that of a top-five pick, but potential arm-length concerns could have him slide. Likewise, selecting Halton (76.9 PFF pass-rush grade) could help the team’s interior with Nnamdi Madubuike’s recovery from a neck injury ongoing.
Baltimore also must address its interior offensive line, particularly guard. Pregnon could start at either left or right guard and was masterful with Oregon last year, recording an 85.8 grade or better in both pass- and run-blocking.
Buffalo Bills: WR Denzel Boston, EDGE Romello Height, LB Kyle Louis
The fact that the Bills reached the divisional round with a receiving room placing 24th in PFF receiving grade is incredible, but the team must add to the group this offseason. At 6-foot-4, Boston would offer complementary size to Khalil Shakir while still being able to attack either vertically or horizontally. Further, Boston could be an above-the-rim option with a career 61.1% contested catch rate.
Even after ranking 13th in defensive EPA per play last year, expect the Bills to still prioritize that side of the ball after hiring Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator. Height (92.6 PFF pass-rush grade) could be a good secondary option to Greg Rousseau, especially if Joey Bosa departs. Further, Louis (73.1 overall PFF grade) would infuse life into a linebacker room without many long-term starters.
Carolina Panthers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, LB Jake Golday, C Jake Slaughter
The Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, but their defense needs major retooling at several levels. Carolina slotted 30th in pass-rush win rate at edge defender last year, and while Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen flashed, the team could use an instant-impact starter like Mesidor (92.5 PFF pass-rush grade). Further, Golday (82.4 overall PFF grade) could develop into a multi-year starter for a linebacker unit seeking growth.
The Panthers don’t face many key free-agent losses, but the team could be in demand for interior offensive line with both Austin Corbett and Cade Mays hitting the market. Slaughter earned a 79.3 overall PFF grade or better in both of the last two years, and his 86.0 PFF zone-blocking grade would align with Dave Canales’ offense.
Chicago Bears: Dl Peter Woods, S A.J. Haulcy, WR Skyler Bell
While the team’s offense blossomed under Ben Johnson, the Bears’ defense is still looking for upgrades at several positions. Chicago must add starters along its interior defensive line, and Woods would fit the bill tremendously with a 74.0 PFF pass-rush grade in 2024 and a 74.2 PFF run-defense mark last year. Further, with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker pending free agents, Haulcy (88.6 PFF coverage grade) could be a replacement at safety.
Receiver is a wild-card position for the Bears, too. If D.J. Moore is traded, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Chicago draft a wideout — after all, the team double-dipped at pass-catcher last April. Bell enjoyed a career season with UConn, registering an 85.1 PFF receiving grade with 8.2 yards after the catch per reception while playing both inside and out.
Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, LB Jake Golday
With Trey Hendrickson a free agent yet again, the Bengals are staring down another offseason with a glaring hole at edge rusher. Even after picking Shemar Stewart in the first round last year, Bain would be a home-run selection — especially with his multi-faceted ability against the run, recording an 86.2 PFF run-defense grade.
Similarly, Cincinnati could fortify safety and linebacker units that ranked no better than 25th in overall PFF grade. McNeil-Warren’s coverage prowess (92.0 PFF coverage grade) would be welcome, and the local Golday (82.4 overall PFF grade) could join second-year linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr.
Cleveland Browns: WR Makai Lemon, T Monroe Freeling, LB Anthony Hill Jr., C Sam Hecht
Armed with two picks in the top 24, the Browns will presumably do heavy lifting to ameliorate the league’s worst offense by EPA per play. Lemon’s firepower (91.4 PFF receiving grade) would lift the sport’s second-lowest-graded receiving corps. Meanwhile, Freeling (85.6 PFF pass-blocking grade) has the frame and athleticism to round into a potential franchise tackle on an offensive line that could lose all five starters.
With the Browns’ other two selections in the first three rounds, they could target a linebacker like Hill (72.8 overall PFF grade) if Devin Bush leaves in free agency. Returning to the offensive line, Hecht ranked third among qualified centers last year in overall grade (80.0) and could fill Ethan Pocic’s shoes.
Dallas Cowboys: S Caleb Downs, EDGE Cashius Howell
One of several reasons why Dallas’ defense lagged in 2025 was its safety room, with the group owning the second-worst overall PFF grade last year. The team’s need at the position is only amplified with Donovan Wilson on an expiring contract. If Downs (87.6 overall PFF grade) somehow makes it to the 12th pick, Jerry Jones should sprint in the card.
With the Cowboys’ other first-round pick, Jones should stick on defense while keeping either linebacker or edge defender in mind. Assuming that Sonny Styles will be off the board, then Howell could be a good choice. Dallas needs more pass-rush juice on the outside with Jadeveon Clowney a free agent, and Howell (19.9% pass-rush win rate) would offer precisely that.
Denver Broncos: TE Kenyon Sadiq, RB Jadarian Price, Dl Skyler Gill-Howard
Although the Broncos were the AFC’s top seed last year, the team’s journey in bolstering its skill positions should be a multi-year process. With the Evan Engram experiment not panning out, Sadiq (70.4 overall PFF grade) could be both a field-stretching and sound blocking tight end. Meanwhile, Price (79.9 PFF rushing grade) would round out a committee backfield with RJ Harvey.
One position that Denver could also target is interior defender, where John Franklin-Myers may leave. If he does, Gill-Howard would slot in seamlessly to the team’s deep defensive line with his pass-rushing acumen (90.0 PFF pass-rush grade).
Detroit Lions: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, G Chase Bisontis
The Lions’ defense regressed down the stretch last season, with a lack of a secondary pass-rusher a major culprit. Even though he’ll be 25 on draft night, Mesidor would fit the Lions’ win-now mindset and form a dynamic duo with Aidan Hutchinson.
Detroit also should look into bettering its interior offensive line with an early pick. Bisontis (70.7 PFF pass-blocking grade) could compete with Christian Mahogany to start after the latter struggled in his second season.
Green Bay Packers: OL Caleb Tiernan, CB Chandler Rivers
Not picking until the second round, the Packers might prioritize their offensive line given the potential losses of Rasheed Walker and Elgton Jenkins. Tiernan, who played left tackle at Northwestern but may move inside, could be a fit. The former Wildcat permitted just 26 pressures over the last two seasons.
Green Bay’s brass seemed to express contentment with its cornerback room, but the bunch sat 13th in overall PFF grade, and both Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are 2027 free agents. Rivers could give the team inside-outside versatility after boasting a 74.5 PFF coverage grade or better in both man and zone last year.
