With the NFL offseason underway, the 2026 NFL Draft is coming into clearer view. Now the work of figuring out who will fill those 32 first-round slots takes center stage. Here's the current order for Round 1 (April 23-25 in Pittsburgh), along with the top five needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers).
Strength of schedule: .538
Biggest needs: QB, WR, OL, DL, CB
While there’s a lot of time between now and draft day, it certainly feels like a fait accompli that the Raiders will pick a quarterback in the first round for the first time since 2007.
Strength of schedule: .552
Biggest needs: QB, Edge, WR, CB, OL
The Jets tore things down to the studs at the trade deadline and now have a pile of draft assets to help them reset, including four of the top 50 picks.
Strength of schedule: .571
Biggest needs: QB, OL, Edge, DL, S
It looks messy in Arizona after the team’s collapse following a 2-0 start to the season. The first priority has to be charting a path forward at the quarterback position with the Cardinals releasing Kyler Murray.
Strength of schedule: .574
Biggest needs: Edge, OL, WR, RB, LB
GM Mike Borgonzi has his work cut out for him. In addition to strengthening Cam Ward’s supporting cast on offense -- a must to set a foundation for the 2025 No. 1 overall pick -- he’ll need to tighten up one of the league’s worst defenses.
Strength of schedule: .524
Biggest needs: WR, OL, CB, DL, LB
Netting the first pick could have led to a franchise-altering windfall for the Giants, but back-to-back wins to close the season dropped them four spots in the order. The organization can focus on building around a promising young passer in Jaxson Dart.
Strength of schedule: .486
Biggest needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, Edge
With Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel ranking last and second-to-last in EPA per dropback (min. 200 dropbacks), the Browns’ search for an answer at quarterback continues.
Strength of schedule: .507
Biggest needs: WR, OL, CB, RB, Edge
Things fell apart in an injury-plagued year for Jayden Daniels, and now GM Adam Peters has to pick up the pieces. Giving Daniels more help will be essential, but Dan Quinn will need to fix a defense that hasn’t finished in the top half of the league in scoring on his watch.
Strength of schedule: .495
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, CB, DL, OL
There are plenty of needs on both sides of the ball, from surrounding Tyler Shough with more playmakers to adding juice on the defensive line.
Strength of schedule: .514
Biggest needs: CB, WR, Edge, LB, DL
The Chiefs, holding a top-10 pick for the first time since they traded up to draft Patrick Mahomes, have some major question marks to address, including cornerback after trading away Trent McDuffie.
Strength of schedule: .521
Biggest needs: DL, OL, CB, LB, Edge
Cincinnati is holding its highest pick since drafting Ja’Marr Chase fifth overall in 2021. Will the Bengals use it to shore up the Joe Burrow-led offense or fill a hole in a defense that sank in 2025?
Strength of schedule: .488
Biggest needs: WR, CB, Edge, OL, S
The Dolphins brought in Malik Willis at quarterback. Now the work of surrounding him with a solid supporting cast begins.
Strength of schedule: .438
Biggest needs: Edge, LB, DL, CB, OL
With two first-round picks in 2026, the Cowboys have a chance to rebuild a defense that resides at the bottom of the league.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE ATLANTA FALCONS
Falcons' record: 8-9
Strength of schedule: .495
Rams' biggest needs: OL, WR, Edge, LB, DB
The Rams have been aggressive this offseason, filling holes before the official start of free agency. They could still use more depth on the offensive line after the retirement of right tackle Rob Havenstein, though.
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Falcons' needs.
Strength of schedule: .507
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, WR, DL, CB
GM Eric DeCosta has to reestablish the Ravens' identity on both sides of the ball, especially in the trenches.
Strength of schedule: .529
Biggest needs: Edge, DL, CB, LB, OL
For the first time since the 2019 season, the Buccaneers missed the playoffs. Now they’re faced with replacing some core contributors.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Colts' record: 8-9
Strength of schedule: .540
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Colts' needs.
Strength of schedule: .490
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, LB, CB, DL
Former strengths turned into weaknesses for the Lions in 2025. GM Brad Holmes has work to do in the trenches, including finding an edge-rushing complement for Aidan Hutchinson.
Strength of schedule: .514
Biggest needs: S, OL, WR, DL, CB
The Vikings were tremendous on defense, especially down the stretch, but the team’s most pressing needs are on that side of the ball. Harrison Smith could be headed for retirement.
Strength of schedule: .522
Biggest needs: OL, S, WR, CB, DL
The center position and overall depth up front are the first areas Carolina should be looking to upgrade on offense.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE GREEN BAY PACKERS
Packers' record: 9-7-1
Strength of schedule: .483
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Packers' needs.
Strength of schedule: .503
Biggest needs: QB, OL, WR, DB, DL
After a ninth straight year with no playoff wins, it’s soul-searching time in Pittsburgh. Will Aaron Rodgers reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy? If not, who replaces him at quarterback?
Strength of schedule: .469
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, DL, CB, S
Reinforcements are needed in the trenches -- on both sides of the ball -- for a squad that prides itself on winning at the line of scrimmage.
Strength of schedule: .476
Biggest needs: Edge, TE, OL, S, WR
What does GM Howie Roseman have up his sleeve this offseason? He’ll have significant holes to fill with Jaelan Phillips and Reed Blankenship among the Eagles heading elsewhere.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jaguars' record: 13-4
Strength of schedule: .478
See the bottom of this article for analysis of the Jaguars' needs.
Strength of schedule: .458
Biggest needs: S, Edge, DL, OL, WR
Chicago’s defense has lost some key pieces in the offseason, with the roster churn in the secondary looking especially impactful.
Strength of schedule: .471
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, DB, LB, DL
Surrounding Greg Rousseau with complementary pieces off the edge has to be a priority with Joey Bosa and A.J. Epenesa on the open market. So far, only Bradley Chubb has been added to the mix.
Strength of schedule: .498
Biggest needs: OL, Edge, WR, S, CB
San Francisco figures to be keeping an eye out for help at guard, but the bigger issue might be at left tackle, where Trent Williams' future with the team is suddenly looking uncertain.
Strength of schedule: .522
Biggest needs: OL, DL, Edge, LB, DB
Once again, the Texans are in the market for offensive line help. They had one of the league’s worst O-lines in 2025, and then traded away Tytus Howard.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Rams' record: 12-5
Strength of schedule: .526
See Pick No. 9 for analysis of the Chiefs' needs and Pick No. 13 for analysis of the Rams' needs.
Strength of schedule: .422
Biggest needs: DL, TE, WR, RB, LB
Denver should be eyeing potential replacements for DL John Franklin-Myers while continuing to bolster Bo Nix's weaponry.
Strength of schedule: .391
Biggest needs: Edge, DL, WR, TE, OL
As Super Bowl LX showed, the Patriots need to give Drake Maye a stronger supporting cast.
Strength of schedule: .498
Biggest needs: RB, CB, OL, Edge, WR
With Kenneth Walker III moving on and Zach Charbonnet coming off an injury suffered in the postseason, the Seahawks must reload at running back.
Teams without a 2026 first-round pick
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Biggest needs: DL, WR, Edge, CB, RB
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE DALLAS COWBOYS
Biggest needs: CB, DL, Edge, OL, LB
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE NEW YORK JETS
Biggest needs: Edge, OL, S, LB, WR
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
Biggest needs: LB, S, DL, Edge, CB