#2026-nfl-draft

#2026-nfl-draft

The Cowboys are primarily there to evaluate and interview players for the 2026 draft, where they hold two first-round picks, but there will be much more going on than that. The Cowboys will meet with agents for their upcoming free agents, including Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens. The new defensive staff, led by coordinator Christian Parker, will meet with prospects and also put together its playbook.

Peters thought he'd found Ertz's heir with Ben Sinnott. Two years into his NFL career, the jury is still out. John Bates is a blocking specialist, and nobody else has the tools to move the needle. Simply put, the Commanders need to find someone who can make it easier for quarterback Jayden Daniels to throw across the middle, a criticism he faced when healthy in 2025.

The Dolphins, under the guidance of new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new coach Jeff Hafley, have eight picks in the April 23-25 draft - one in the first round (No. 11), one in the second (43), three in the third (75, 87 and 90), one in the fourth (111), one in the fifth (149) and one in the seventh (227).

The Washington Commanders need more pop within the front seven moving forward. More production from the edge spot, more athleticism at linebacker, they need it all. With the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State's Arvell Reese could be the focus for general manager Adam Peters. Teams searching for help in the middle of their defense will prioritize Reese due to his size and athleticism. But the question is whether he lands as a primary pass rusher or off-ball backer on Sundays.

Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa on Thursday officially declared for the 2026 NFL draft, where he is expected to be among the first players selected. Mauigoa is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. in this year's draft. In his latest mock draft, Kiper has Mauigoa being picked No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.

The NFC South hasn't had a Super Bowl contender since the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers made back-to-back appearances in the 2015-16 seasons. The division hasn't produced a double-digit regular-season winner in three of the past four seasons, with the Panthers limping to a wild-card berth after the Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 regular-season finale, eliminating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the playoffs.

Would the Raiders entertain a trade for the No. 1 pick? I doubt it. It's hard to imagine the Raiders passing on Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, especially after ownership, including Tom Brady, attended the College Football Playoff National Championship. After Geno Smith's rough 2025 season, the Raiders need to bring in a young signal-caller who can grow with running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.

A lot can change between now and the start of the draft on April 23. For one, players from Indiana and Miami have until January 23 to declare for the draft. There are still predraft events, the combine and pro days over the next three months. We'll also learn more about lingering injury situations for a handful of top prospects.

With the 2025 NFL regular season coming to a close, the first 13 draft order slots for the 2026 NFL draft are set as we wait for the result of the AFC North showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. The Las Vegas Raiders will have the No. 1 selection, followed by the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. The rest of the order will shake out over the course of the NFL playoffs, ending with Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.

The New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders matchup in Week 17 features a pair of franchises looking to snap an extended losing streaks. While NFL teams are in the business of winning games, a victory doesn't do a lot for either of these franchises with two games remaining in 2025. Both squads have their eyes fixed on the 2026 NFL Draft where they will get the opportunity to add a high-end talent to their squads. New York has lost nine consecutive contests, but six of those contests were one-score final scores.