This is a look at the first-round order for the 2021 NFL Draft heading into Week 15 of the NFL season, along with the top three 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). Keep in mind -- teams 19-32 would make the playoffs if the season ended today and are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
Biggest needs: QB, edge rusher, CB
This week's game: at Rams
Sam Darnold had a chance to make a case for why he should keep his starting job heading into 2021 when he returned from injury in Week 12 with a healthier supporting cast around him. Thus far, he's not making a compelling argument. Darnold is third-to-last in passer rating over that span (min. 50 attempts) and has more turnovers than touchdowns.
Biggest needs: QB, CB, OT
This week's game: at Ravens
Among the pressing tasks for the Jaguars' next GM is establishing some consistency at cornerback. It's been a month since Jacksonville last started the same tandem at the position in consecutive weeks, and two of their top players at the position (D.J. Hayden and Sidney Jones) are due to become free agents in 2021.
Biggest needs: OL, edge rusher, CB
This week's game: vs. Steelers
The Bengals have the fourth-lowest QB pressure rate (21.9%) and have allowed the second-most sacks in the league (46). They're going to have to reverse these trends to find their way out of the cellar.
Biggest needs: OL, TE, CB
This week's game: at Raiders
It would be surprising to see the Chargers let Hunter Henry walk. He's Justin Herbert's second-favorite target and there's no one waiting in the wings to replace him. But until they get a deal done with the pending free agent, there's a home for tight end on the needs list.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, DB, QB
This week's game: vs. Buccaneers
Since Week 8, the only quarterbacks with a lower passer rating than Matt Ryan are Jake Luton, Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold and Mike Glennon (min. 100 attempts in that span). With a 4-12 season and top-five pick looking very realistic for the Falcons, it's going to be awfully tempting to select selecting Ryan's heir apparent in 2021.
Biggest needs: QB, OL, CB
This week's game: at Packers
When you combine Teddy Bridgewater's less-than-inspiring play with the Panthers' current spot in the draft order and daunting remaining schedule, you get a situation conducive to Carolina drafting a QB with its top pick in 2021.
Biggest needs: CB, OL, LB
This week's game: vs. 49ers
Drafting the top cornerback or linebacker available might be an attractive option as the Cowboys try to rebuild a broken defense (dead last in points allowed).
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE HOUSTON TEXANS
Texans' record: 4-9 (.550)
This week's Texans game: at Colts
See the playoff teams section for analysis of the Dolphins' needs and the bottom of this article for analysis of the Texans' needs.
Biggest needs: OG, LB, CB
This week's game: at Cardinals
The offensive line looked a lot better with Jalen Hurts than it did with Carson Wentz, but we're not going to shake up the needs outlook here after only one start, albeit an impressive one.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, CB, OT
This week's game: vs. Browns
A limited Daniel Jones didn't help matters, but Sunday's sack outburst by the Cardinals did offer a reminder of the work that needs to be done on the Giants' offensive line. Left tackle Andrew Thomas is tied for the league lead in pressures allowed (51), per PFF, and there doesn't appear to be a long-term answer at right tackle.
Biggest needs: WR, DL, LB
This week's game: at Titans
It's the same old story for the Lions' porous defense, which has allowed a league-high 117.3 passer rating since Week 11. Detroit recorded zero sacks and only one QB hit against Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
Biggest needs: CB, OL, edge rusher
This week's game: at Cowboys
Re-signing Trent Williams figures to be a top priority for GM John Lynch, but will he be in the market for help on the interior O-line? Ben Garland, Tom Compton and Hroniss Grasu have deals that expire in 2021 and Laken Tomlinson has only year left on his contract.
Biggest needs: CB, edge rusher, QB
This week's game: vs. Bills
It will be interesting to see just how big a void there is to fill when it comes to the Broncos' pass rush. Three of the Broncos' five leaders in sacks this season are in a contract year, and there's uncertainty about Von Miller's future with the team.
Biggest needs: OL, DT, edge rusher
This week's game: vs. Bears
Mike Zimmer will have to add some disruptors to a defense that ranks dead last in pressure rate (19.9%).
Biggest needs: QB, OL, WR
This week's game: at Vikings
Mitchell Trubisky had a great afternoon against the Texans on Sunday and was good against the Lions last week (until he gave the game away at the end). Should these developments significantly alter anyone's opinion of what the Bears need to do at quarterback this offseason? Remember, Houston and Detroit have two of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Biggest needs: DL, WR, QB
This week's game: at Dolphins
We are ending our holdout and adding QB to the needs list this week. Who knows what the future holds for Cam Newton, but it's a strange place to be when your quarterback has thrown twice as many INTs (10) as TDs (5) entering Week 15 and your coach is committed to sticking with that QB as the starter. He has run for 11 scores, though.
Biggest needs: DT, OL, edge rusher
This week's game: vs. Chargers
The Raiders can't stop the run or get to the opposing quarterback right now, so the defensive coordinator change is understandable. What will Mike Mayock do in the offseason to spark a pass rush that has produced the second-fewest sacks in the league (15)?
Biggest needs: WR, OL, edge rusher
This week's game: vs. Jaguars
This might come as a surprise given the reputation of the Baltimore defense, but the Ravens have posted four sacks since Week 9, which ties them with the Bengals for the fewest in the league in that span.
Biggest needs: QB, WR, OL
This week's game: vs. Seahawks
We hope Alex Smith doesn't miss any further time with his current injury and continues his remarkable comeback story for years to come. His efficiency has helped Washington rise to the top of the NFC East, but he's averaging 5.3 air yards per attempt, easily the fewest among QBs with 200 or more attempts this season.
Biggest needs: CB, edge rusher, interior OL
This week's game: vs. Eagles
After posting a franchise single-game record five sacks on Sunday, edge rusher Haason Reddick can probably bank on cashing in this offseason. Will it be with the Cardinals? He now ranks sixth in the league with 10 sacks and is in a contract year after the team declined to pick up his fifth-year option.
Biggest needs: WR, ILB, interior OL
This week's game: vs. Patriots
The Dolphins gave Kansas City a scare, but there was a stark contrast between the two offenses. Miami, which, in addition to this pick, is currently holding a top-10 selection via the Houston Texans, is lacking an explosive wide receiver who can blow up a defensive game plan. The Chiefs had three pass plays of 30 or more yards on Sunday. The injury-plagued Dolphins didn't have any.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, DT, WR
This week's game: at Falcons
Edge rusher seems as good a bet as any to top the needs list with Shaq Barrett playing on the franchise tag and Jason Pierre-Paul a year away from free agency.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seahawks' record: 9-4 (.447)
This week's Seahawks game: at Washington Football Team
See Pick No. 1 for analysis of the Jets' needs and the bottom of this article for analysis of the Seahawks' needs.
Biggest needs: QB, CB, edge rusher
This week's game: vs. Texans
The Colts were hoping former second-round picks Ben Banogu and Kemoko Turay would develop into reliable edge rushers, but it hasn't happened to this point. Banogu hasn't been able to earn playing time and Turay is being worked back into the rotation slowly after missing a full year due to an ankle injury.
Biggest needs: LB, CB, edge rusher
This week's game: at Giants
Monday night's game reinforced what we already knew: There are needs at every level of the Browns' defense. Cleveland has allowed 81 points in the last two weeks to playoff-caliber competition.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, WR, interior DL
This week's game: vs. Lions
The Titans' pass-rushing woes continue. They failed to record a sack on Sunday against a lowly Jaguars team that attempted 54 passes. Tennessee has just 14 sacks all season, the fewest in the league.
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Rams' record: 9-4 (.494)
This week's Rams game: vs. Jets
See Pick No. 2 for analysis of the Jaguars' needs and the bottom of this article for analysis of the Rams' needs.
Biggest needs: WR, CB, interior OL
This week's game: vs. Panthers
Jaire Alexander continues to play at an elite level. However, the Packers don't have another corner rated among PFF's top 95 players at the position and Kevin King is in a contract year.
Biggest needs: DL, DB, WR
This week's game: vs. Chiefs
There are a lot of questions awaiting the Saints in the offseason, starting at the quarterback position, but their biggest potential free-agent losses are on a defense that sprouted some leaks on Sunday.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, OL, CB
This week's game: at Broncos
One of the big decisions facing Buffalo this offseason will be whether to bank on significant Year 2 development from edge rusher A.J. Epenesa after a slow start or add more competition for him at the position.
Biggest needs: OT, edge rusher, CB
This week's game: at Bengals
How valuable is free-agent-to-be Bud Dupree? In Weeks 1-12 (with a healthy Dupree), the Steelers had a league-best 41.2 percent pressure rate. In the two games since he suffered a season-ending injury, Pittsburgh has a pressure rate of 26.9 percent (17th in the league).
Biggest needs: Interior OL, WR, edge rusher
This week's game: at Saints
The Chiefs have added a weapon for Patrick Mahomes with their top pick in each of the last two drafts (Clyde Edwards-Helaire, 2020; Mecole Hardman, 2019). Will they make it three in a row? Keep in mind that WRs Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are due to hit the market this offseason.
TEAMS WITHOUT A FIRST-ROUND PICK
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
Biggest needs: WR, CB, edge rusher
This week's game: at Colts
Guard is another spot pushing for a place in the top three needs. Right guard Zach Fulton is a cut candidate and Max Scharping has lost his starting job at left guard.
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Biggest needs: OL, edge rusher, LB
This week's game: vs. Jets
WR and TE don't crack the top three needs here because of the Rams' depth at those positions, but let's not underestimate the potential losses of pending free agents Josh Reynolds and Gerald Everett. They rank third and fourth on the team in receptions, respectively.
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE NEW YORK JETS
Biggest needs: OL, CB, edge rusher
This week's game: at Washington Football Team
Seattle's offensive line bounced back against the punchless Jets, but a vastly tougher test awaits in Week 15. Will Washington's supercharged front expose the Seahawks' vulnerability up front?
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