How strength of 2026 NFL draft class lines up with Cowboys needs

"If you want the perceived best quarterback in a draft class, you'll have to invest the number one pick - at least that's what teams have done in four of the last five drafts, and is also what's going to happen this year. If you average the draft positions of the first QBs taken in each of the last five drafts, you'll get an average draft position for the top QB of 4.8."

"The cascading color scheme in the table visualizes nicely which positions have received a lot of draft capital over the last five years, and which have received less. The blue cells mark the premium tier of positions that have been the focus of a lot of draft capital over the last five years, and where the 12th overall pick could still get the second- or third-best player at a given position."

NFL teams face critical decisions when selecting players of equal grade across different positions, requiring understanding of positional value in the draft. Quarterbacks consistently receive the highest draft investment, with top QBs averaging selection at pick 1.0 over the last five drafts (excluding 2022). By analyzing where the top four prospects at each position were selected over five years, clear tiers emerge showing which positions receive premium draft capital and which receive less. A color-coded system reveals that certain positions form a premium tier where even picks around 12th overall can secure second or third-best talent, while other positions require earlier selections to access top-tier players.

Read at Blogging The Boys