Five teams that must nail the 2026 NFL Draft

Several teams are counting down the days to the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled Thursday-Saturday in Pittsburgh.  

They know nailing the draft can change their fortunes. Look no further than the Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX after missing the playoffs in 2024 due in part to a strong draft class, headlined by safety Nick Emmanwori and guard Grey Zabel. NFL.com's Gennaro Filice ranked the team's 2025 draft class No. 3 in the league in a story published in February.

With that in mind, here are five teams that could be poised for substantial improvements if they nail the draft.

New York Giants

The Giants have found their quarterback in 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist Jaxson Dart and head coach in Super Bowl XLVII champion John Harbaugh. Now, they need to find the other pieces to put themselves in a position to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season. 

Last season, the Giants ranked 16th in the league in points scored (22.4 points per game) and 26th in points surrendered (25.8 PPG).

New York — which owns pick No. 5 in the draft — acquired more draft capital when it dealt defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals for pick No. 10 on Saturday. The first-round selections could help the Giants address their offensive and defensive issues. 

Tankathon's updated mock draft has the Giants taking Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles (6-foot-5, 244 pounds) with pick No. 5 and Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) with pick No. 10. Styles led the Buckeyes in tackles (83) last season, while Tyson tied for 23rd in the country in touchdown catches (eight).

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys missed the playoffs for a second straight season after going 7-9-1 in 2025, but there are reasons for optimism heading into 2026. If QB Dak Prescott (30 TD passes in 2025, No. 4 in the NFL) remains elite, Dallas should be in postseason contention next season. 

Retooling their 32nd-ranked scoring defense (30.1 PPG) would further increase the Cowboys' chances of making the playoffs.

Dallas—which holds picks Nos. 12 and 20—could stand pat or trade up, perhaps with the Arizona Cardinals (pick No. 3) or the Cleveland Browns (picks Nos. 6 and 24). With one of those selections, the NFC East club could target Ohio State LB Arvell Reese (6-foot-4, 241 pounds) or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs (6-foot, 206 pounds).

Reese tied for second on the Buckeyes in sacks (6.5) last season, while Downs tied for the team lead in interceptions (two). Both earned 2025 first-team All-American nods.

New Orleans Saints

Saints second-year HC Kellen Moore has made it clear he believes QB Tyler Shough is the guy after finishing second in 2025 OROY voting behind Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan. 

To help Shough, who ranked 10th in the league in completion percentage (67.6 percent) last season, reach his ceiling, the Saints must give him more playmakers.

Spending pick No. 8 on Buckeyes WR Carnell Tate (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) wouldn't be a terrible idea. The Saints already have a dependable target in fellow Ohio State alum Chris Olave (pick No. 11 of the 2022 draft). Tate may be an even better prospect than the 2025 second-team All-Pro.

He had 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine TD catches last season. Pro Football Focus also credited him with zero drops and an elite 85.7 percent contested catch rate.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are expected to take Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 pounds) with pick No. 1 in the draft. The 2025 Heisman winner flashed franchise cornerstone potential, leading the FBS in TD passes (41) and guiding the Hoosiers to their first national championship. 

Mendzoa, however, can't single-handedly change the course of the franchise. He needs a top supporting cast. 

Upgrading the offensive line would be a good place to start for Vegas. The Raiders signed three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, but that's not enough to improve a unit that surrendered a league-leading 64 sacks last season.

The Raiders should consider using pick No. 36 in the second round on Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Keylan Rutledge (6-foot-3, 316 pounds). Per Sports Info Solutions, he posted a stellar 0.7 blown-block percentage in pass protection last season.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans struggled once again in 2025, going 3-14, but second-year general manager Mike Borgonzi proved himself a solid drafter, providing hope for the future. Filice ranked the Titans' 2025 class No. 6 in the NFL. It featured WR Chimere Dike, who was named first-team All-Pro as a returner.

Another strong draft class would help QB Cam Ward build more momentum in his second season. The 2025 No. 1 pick steadily improved over the course of his first season, setting the franchise's rookie record for passing yards (3,169).

With pick No. 4, the Titans could land a player who could be an instant game-changer, perhaps Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (6-foot, 212 pounds).

Love won the 2025 Doak Walker Award as the best RB in college football after amassing the seventh-most yards (1,652, 1,372 rushing and 280 receiving) and third-most TDs (21, 18 rushing and three receiving) in the country.