Taking a look at the top 18 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft order, along with each of the teams’ biggest needs for this pick.
The NFL regular season is in the books, which is a major bummer. However, this does mean two things are now set: the NFL Playoff schedule for Wild Card Weekend, and the top 18 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft order. For over half of the league’s teams, the focus shifts to how they can still be playing at this time next season. This starts with improving their team through key offseason moves.
They say you rebuild a team with draft picks, and you win a Super Bowl through trades and free agency. Let’s take a look at the draft order for the first 18 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, which does showcase a few shocking things. On top of that, we will list some of the biggest team needs for these teams heading into the offseason.
2026 NFL Draft Order and Team Needs
1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
Raiders Team Needs: OL, QB, WR, CB, EDGE
Maybe the Las Vegas Raiders should pull their head out of their asses and at least attempt to fix this offensive line. If they don’t, it doesn’t matter who is at quarterback or head coach. Tom Brady should be held more accountable if he wants the praise of being “in the building” as much as he is.
2. New York Jets (3-14)
Jets Team Needs: QB, OL, CB, DL, WR
The New York Jets’ team needs include every position, staff member, team owner and fan. While the Raiders piss me off, the Jets just make me embarrassed. It’s baffling how incompetent they are.
3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
Cardinals Team Needs: QB, EDGE, S, OL, DL
The Arizona Cardinals played competitive football this season, despite the record. Ship Kyler Murray to another planet and get this team healthier. To be the starting quarterback of this team will (or at least should) be a coveted position this offseason.
4. Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Titans Team Needs: WR, EDGE, OL, CB, S
The Tennessee Titans were irrelevant for nearly all of this season. They need a bit of everything, including a new owner and front office as well.
5. New York Giants (4-13)
Giants Team Needs: CB, S, WR, OL, LB
Joe Schoen is lucky he traded for Brian Burns, and his team owner has a bigger fish to fry. This team has good players, but they will need a good coach and talent on the offensive line and defensive backfield pretty badly.
6. Cleveland Browns (5-12)
Browns Team Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, LB
The Cleveland Browns let Kevin Stefanski fly free, and now this team has absolutely no direction. They can fully tear it down or add any position, and you could argue it’s the right call.
7. Washington Commanders (5-12)
Commanders Team Needs: EDGE, CB, WR, LB, TE
This Washington Commanders defense was unbelievably bad this season, but their position in the 2026 NFL Draft order should give them the opportunity to add a difference-maker right away.
8. New Orleans Saints (6-11)
Saints Team Needs: EDGE, WR, OL, CB, DL
Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints for playing themselves out of a great draft position down the stretch of the NFL regular season. They could have traded down from a top-four draft pick to eight and gained several other picks. Instead, they really taught the Buccaneers, Panthers, Jets and Titans a lesson during that four-game win streak. This coaching staff is bad, but the Saints’ ability to try and rebuild over the past several seasons is much worse.
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
Chiefs Team Needs: OL, TE, RB, WR, CB
Teams really let the Kansas City Chiefs get a top-10 draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft order. Of course they did. The Chiefs will be in a great position to fill key needs at offensive line and offensive skill positions.
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10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
Bengals Team Needs: EDGE, OL, CB, DL, S
The Cincinnati Bengals still need an edge rusher and plenty of talent on the offensive line. It will be fun to see how they avoid making good decisions here.
11. Miami Dolphins (7-10)
Dolphins Team Needs: QB, OL, CB, S, TE
The Miami Dolphins won enough games down the stretch this season to lose a top-10 draft pick and make many forget just how terribly built this team was. They are in a position where they need to tear everything down and start over, but they may not have that luxury.
12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
Cowboys Team Needs: EDGE, S, CB, LB, WR
The Dallas Cowboys played great offensive football, but struggled defensively this season. Still, there was plenty to feel good about, and now they have the draft capital and draft position to go get the players they want. At 12, they may even trade up for a top-tier offensive weapon.
13. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) — VIA TRADE ATL
Rams Team Needs: OL, CB, S, WR, QB
Thanks to a trade with the Atlanta Falcons, the Los Angeles Rams have two first-round draft picks, including picking 13th in the 2026 NFL Draft order. They could potentially go on a Super Bowl run, have an MVP quarterback retire, then reload with a rookie quarterback. Regardless of the direction they go, the Rams are positioned very well.
14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
Ravens Team Needs: EDGE, DL, OL, CB, S
The Baltimore Ravens missed out on the playoffs on the final play of the NFL regular season, but they get the 14th pick and know they have to add players to rush the passer this offseason.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Buccaneers Team Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, DL, TE
The collapse of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needs to be studied by people who like to watch really, really bad football. This team has drafted well, so we will see if they can hit a quick reset and get their mojo back next year.
16. New York Jets (3-14) — VIA TRADE IND
Jets Team Needs: QB, OL, CB, DL, WR
Would you rather have Sauce Gardner or the 16th pick in the NFL Draft? Of course, plenty more goes into that move, and they got more than this draft pick, but they will need to nail this pick to somewhat justify that trade. We’ll see.
17. Detroit Lions (9-8)
Lions Team Needs: OL, EDGE, DL, CB, S
The Detroit Lions fall from Super Bowl contenders to LAST in the NFC North. This interior offensive line may have been the worst in football this season, so trading back and addressing that early could be a strategy, but defensive talent is needed as well.
18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
Vikings Team Needs: S, CB, OL, WR, LB
The Minnesota Vikings won games down the stretch of the season to finish with a winning record and some good vibes. However, the jury is out on JJ McCarthy and this team is not built for the future. Can they reload and try to compete next season? They must nail this draft pick if they want any chance of doing so.
