Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Wily general managers attempt to sell their plan to select the “best player available” prior to every draft. But front-office personnel of teams drafting at the top are not fortunate enough to ignore roster needs if they’d like to stick around for next year’s draft.
With free agency all but in the books and a few straggling items still up for bidding on the trade market, here’s how we view the primary roster needs for all 32 teams before the 2026 NFL Draft begins.
Farewell to No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, which means the Cardinals can start at QB1 and work their way down if they want to rebound in the NFC West.
Position needs: QB, OT, WR, LB, EDGE
Without knowing the ultimate direction of the offense, we can say Kevin Stefanski and his QB1 to be named later would benefit from a polished offensive line and skill-position help.
Position needs: WR, OT, CB, LB
Not securing three-time Pro Bowl C Tyler Linderbaum might haunt the Ravens if they can’t find suitable starters at center and guard in the draft. Signing Trey Hendrickson can beef up the pass rush, but more premium talent is coveted on the edge.
Position needs: IOL, OLB, DL, WR, CB
Slings and arrows at Keon Coleman were not the ideal motivation for a draft-and-develop philosophy. Spending big at QB and RB tightens margin for error in Buffalo.
Position needs: WR, S, EDGE, LB, CB
Restocking the secondary and maybe even a third wide receiver in three years selected in the top 32 would be wins for the Panthers.
Position needs: CB, S, TE, OT, WR
Division and playoff push aside, the Bears didn’t sport a shutdown defense most of the year and survived on scraps and takeaways.
Position needs: Edge, DL, C, CB
Swapped the No. 10 pick for DT Dexter Lawrence. With a fortunate break they could still score a pass rusher in a draft with an abundance of options, even if no perfect fit for this defense.
Position needs: Edge, CB, OL, TE, LB
Your vantage point on the latest reset in Cleveland might add or subtract a position on this list.
Position needs: OL, WR, QB, CB, LB, EDGE
If only the Cowboys could find a versatile pass rusher like Micah Parsons, right?
Position needs: Edge, DL, LB, S, CB
No first-round pick, no problem for the Broncos. They’ve unearthed mid-round gems each year under the current regime.
Position needs: TE, LB, EDGE, DL
Pairing a speed demon with Aidan Hutchinson is the next-level move for Detroit’s defense.
Position needs: Edge, OL, LB, CB
Protect Jordan Love first, and that might require a premium pick. Then make sure he has ample receiving options at a position where injuries have been a hurdle. And fetch a pass rusher with Micah Parsons coming back from injury and Rashan Gary gone.
Position needs: OT, WR, Edge, DL, CB
Another 12-win season and a pretty productive offseason to date funnels the Texans into a draft where the focus is on offensive line and defensive line reinforcements.
Position needs: OL, DL, LB, DB, Edge
One of the sharpest offenses in the NFL the first half of last season crumbled down the stretch. GM Chris Ballard argues Sauce Gardner, acquired for Indy’s first-round pick at the trade deadline, is the Colts’ 2026 first-rounder. His job might depend on mining more gems in the middle of the draft.
Position needs: OT, WR, EDGE, LB, S
There is always a chance the leadership of the Jaguars makes a dramatic play on draft night. If an elite defender is falling Thursday, don’t be surprised to see the Jacksonville draft room pop up on your screen.
Position needs: DT, S, Edge, LB, CB
Good news: Two first-round picks (9, 29). Bad news: We count six positions where the starter is uncertain or replacement level and more with contextual question marks. The secondary makeover is incomplete with a legitimate No. 1 corner to replace Trent McDuffie.
Position needs: CB, Edge, OL, WR, DL
For all the Chargers have invested in the offensive line — draft capital and real dollars — it’s not there yet.
Position needs: OL, WR, Edge, DL, DB
Matthew Stafford is closer to AARP than his physical prime, which begs the question: How long can the Rams get away with not having a QB of the future?
Position needs: LB, QB, DL, S, Edge
No team drafts first overall without countless roster concerns to help put them at the bottom of the NFL standings.
Position needs: QB, OT, DT, WR
Can’t list everything on the shopping list in South Beach. Jeff Hafley and Jon Eric-Sullivan are in charge, have two first-round picks and more needs than Michael has Jordans.
Position needs: WR, CB, S, TE, Edge
The QB competition in the Twin Cities takes all the headlines, although attention and some assembly is going to be required for this defense to be up to snuff by September.
Position needs: LB, S, RB, DL, TE
Watching the Super Bowl, there were a few takeaways postgame well before anyone thought, “the Patriots will be back.” Maybe Mike Vrabel can just add magic and Drake Maye will resume plowing the MVP track. Or maybe New England excelled at covering up fatal flaws which were exposed by the Seahawks.
Position needs: OT, LB, Edge, WR, DT
Retooling on defense is a work in progress and if the Saints want Tyler Shough to take another step in his pro development, weapons are not in great supply at wide receiver or running back.
Position needs: Edge, CB, DL, WR, OL
John Harbaugh should see a lot to like with two top-10 picks. O-line and d-line are the likely highest priorities.
Position needs: DT, LB, IOL, WR, CB
How are we feeling about running it back with Geno Smith, Jets fans? That’s what we thought.
Position needs: QB, CB, Edge, WR
Philly always invests in the line, and if there’s a playmaker at safety that makes sense, this could be the year to jump the queue to go get him.
Position needs: Edge, S, WR, OL, TE
Make it six consecutive years an NFL team waits as Aaron Rodgers contemplates whether to return. But he’s 42, so even if we get Vintage Aaron one more season, a Plan B is a must for the Steelers.
Position needs: QB, OL, WR, TE, LB
Zero doubt GM John Schneider has called every team in the league offering to drop out of the first round to add to the team’s current haul of four total picks.
Position needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OL
Left tackle Trent Williams maintains dog status when he’s healthy. The offense, not just the line, isn’t the same when he’s unavailable.
Position needs: OL, WR, TE, S
Head coach Todd Bowles prefers a more dominant front seven to spearhead the defense.
Position needs: Edge, CB, WR, LB
We aren’t going to list running back because Tony Pollard was better-than-average last season. We would understand the rationale of selecting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love early, but if the Titans get a crack at a blue-chip pass rusher they can’t look away.
Position needs: Edge, WR, LB, OL, TE
Erasing last season is one thing, forgetting the why behind Washington’s decline would be another. Jayden Daniels rarely had enough playmakers on the field and even a spendy offseason on defense this spring hasn’t plugged all of the problematic leaks.
Position needs: WR, Edge, OL, DB, RB
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Apr 11, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; United States goalkeeper Claudia Dickey (1) secures the ball during the second half against Japan at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images 
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