NFL Draft: Best, most realistic top pick for every team post-combine

With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror, draft boards are sharper, risers and fallers are clearer and team needs are in razor-sharp focus. 

Here’s the best, most realistic top pick for every team heading into the NFL Draft (April 23-25, Pittsburgh).

The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs each have two first-round picks. Two selections were made for each of those teams. Green Bay, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Jacksonville do not have first-round picks, so second-round selections were made for them.

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | First-round pick (No. 12): Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy | Last season, the defense gave up a league-high 4,276 passing yards, so 2026 should be all about fixing the defensive backfield. McCoy is coming off an ACL tear in 2025, but with 16 passes defensed in his two seasons in college, his coverage skills are undeniable. 

NEW YORK GIANTS | First-round pick (No. 5): Ohio State LB Sonny Styles | The 21-year-old shot up big boards after his historic showing for a linebacker at the combine. The Giants need an electrifying player at the position. Pair Styles with outside linebacker Abdul Carter, and the long-term outlook of New York’s defense becomes formidable.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | First-round pick (No. 23): Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor | All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson, who turns 36 on May 8, is coming back for his 14th season after battling injuries that caused him to miss the postseason. Iheanachor could be a potential successor, as the latecomer to football has high upside given his fifth-highest athleticism rank among tackles in the draft, per NextGen Stats.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | First-round pick (No. 7): Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr. | Bain’s below-average arm measurement of 30 7/8 inches wasn’t enough to detract from the body of work he built at Miami. However, it might be enough to see him fall from the top five and into the laps of the Commanders, a team that desperately needs a young difference-maker on a defense that gave up a league-high 384 yards per game last season. — Conor Killmurray

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | First-round pick (No. 3): Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey | Although Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love’s stock continues to soar after his strong combine performance, Bailey (6-foot-4, 251 pounds) makes sense for a team that was tied for the third-fewest sacks (30) in 2025. The Red Raiders star was tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks last season and would inject a spark into a defensive front that desperately needs it.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | First-round pick (No. 13): LSU CB Mansoor Delane | Following their blockbuster trade with the Chiefs to acquire All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie, the Rams have only one first-round pick (via the Falcons). With it, the focus should still be on adding secondary help. Delane (6-foot, 187 pounds) had a career-high 11 passes defensed last season. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | First-round pick (No. 27): Utah OT Caleb Lomu | Known for his nimble feet and quick hands, Lomu (6-foot-6, 313 pounds) did not allow a sack in 2025. Guards Spencer Burford and Ben Bartch are entering free agency, while veteran left tackle Trent Williams is dealing with contract uncertainty. The priority should be on improving the offensive line, and that starts with a young talent like Lomu.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | First-round pick (No. 32): South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse | With CBs Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe entering free agency, it would make sense for the Seahawks to reload in the secondary after leading the league in scoring defense (16.9 PPG) last season. Cisse (6-foot, 189 pounds) could be a perfect fit for the Super Bowl LX champions. — Colby Colwell

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | First-round pick (No. 25): Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald | McDonald (6-foot-2, 326 pounds) is coming off a monster junior season in which he recorded three sacks, nine tackles for loss, 31 solo tackles and two forced fumbles. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound run-stuffer is exactly what the Bears need after ranking 29th in the NFL in yards allowed per rush (4.9) last season. 

DETROIT LIONS | First-round pick (No. 17): Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane | The Lions must get back to their identity as a dominant rushing offense that controls the line of scrimmage, and that all starts with the interior offensive line. Ioane (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) is a strong, physical guard who can jump in as a starter, which is exactly what Detroit needs to get its swagger back in the trenches.  

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Second-round pick (No. 52): Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds | The Packers don’t have a first-round pick because of the Micah Parsons trade, but they can grab a capable starter with the 52nd overall selection. Ponds is undersized (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), but he’s a confident, productive cover corner who was a big reason why Indiana won the national title last season. Ponds would bring athleticism and a dog mentality to a CB room that desperately needs both.  

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | First-round pick (No. 18): Florida DT Caleb Banks | The Vikings are in danger of losing defensive linemen Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen and LB Jonathan Greenard this offseason, so they’d be wise to reload with a blue-chipper in the first round. Enter Banks, who stunned teams at the combine with his 6-foot-6, 327-pound frame, 85-inch wingspan, 32-inch vertical and 5.05-second 40-yard dash. — Jack Dougherty 

NFC South 

ATLANTA FALCONS | Second-round pick (No. 48): Alabama WR Germie Bernard | Without a first-round pick thanks to last year’s draft-day deal with the Rams, the Falcons will have a long wait until they’re on the clock, barring a trade. Atlanta’s depth at receiver is suspect behind Drake London, with the team expected to cut Darnell Mooney, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. If Bernard (6-foot-1, 206 pounds), who ran a 4.48 40-yard dash, slides to No. 48 in a deep receiver class, he’d be an outstanding second option on an offense replete with weapons. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS | First-round pick (No. 19): Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell | The 2025 consensus All-American had 11.5 sacks for Texas A&M last season, two years after leading the MAC in sacks (9.5) at Bowling Green. The productive edge-rusher posted the fifth-fastest 40 time at the combine, and Howell (6-foot-2.5, 253 pounds) would be an immediate difference-maker for the Panthers, who had the second-lowest pressure rate (16.5 percent) in 2025. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | First-round pick (No. 8): Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate | Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love appears increasingly likely to be off the board by the time New Orleans picks. But still expect the Saints to add an offensive playmaker with their first-round selection. Tate (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) would join a long list of former Buckeyes to be chosen by GM Mickey Loomis.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | First-round pick (No. 15): Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq | The top tight end in his class, Sadiq has the potential to go higher, but it’s hard to imagine him falling any lower. Tampa might need another receiving option if wideout Mike Evans and tight end Cade Otton sign elsewhere in free agency, and Sadiq, who ran a blistering 4.39 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds at the combine, would give the offense a dimension it has been missing. —  Eric Smithling 

AFC East 

BUFFALO BILLS | First-round pick (No. 26): Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. | The Bills have struggled with consistency and depth at the position recently. Cooper (6-foot, 199 pounds) could line up in the slot or outside against press coverage. With his athletic ability alone and contact balance post-catch, he could sneak into the first round.  

MIAMI DOLPHINS | First-round pick (No. 11): Miami OT Francis Mauigoa | Pass protection has been a devastating issue for the Dolphins. Mauigoa (6-foot-5.5, 329 pounds) would provide inside-out versatility, allowing him to be moved around as needed. With Austin Jackson’s inconsistency and Larry Borom heading to free agency, this is an ideal selection. 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | First-round pick (No. 31): Georgia OT Monroe Freeling | The Patriots could go multiple ways, including offensive tackle, edge-rusher and wide receiver. Freeling (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) has risen multiple draft boards because of his 4.93 40-yard dash, 1.71 10-yard split and 33.5-inch vertical jump. 

NEW YORK JETS | First-round picks (No. 2): Ohio State LB Sonny Styles; (No. 16): Washington WR Denzel Boston | Styles (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) was the talk of the combine after running a 4.46 40-yard dash and posting a 43.5-inch vertical jump. The Jets need a defensive overhaul, and Styles would provide versatility, athleticism and physicality. WR1 Garrett Wilson needs help, so Boston (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) makes sense. — Colton Edwards 

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | First-round pick (No. 30): Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion | Many mocks have the Broncos taking Georgia LB CJ Allen (6-foot-1, 230 pounds), but they should instead get another playmaker for QB Bo Nix, who didn’t push the ball downfield much in 2025, ranking 32nd among 42 eligible QBs in yards gained per pass attempt (6.4). Concepcion (6-foot, 196 pounds), who ranked fifth in the SEC in receiving yards (919) in 2025, would help Denver stretch the field. 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | First-round picks (No. 9): LSU CB Mansoor Delane; (No. 29): Clemson DE T.J. Parker | The Chiefs could select Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (6-foot, 212 pounds) with pick No. 9, but corner is a bigger need after they traded CB Trent McDuffie to the Rams. 2025 first-team All-American Delane (6-foot, 187 pounds) looks like a future lockdown corner after allowing a career-low nine receptions on 34 targets in 2025 (via Sports Info Solutions). Parker (6-foot-4, 263 pounds), meanwhile, would give K.C. another quality pass-rusher after he logged 21.5 sacks in three seasons at Clemson. 

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | First-round pick (No. 1): Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza | This is a no-brainer. Vegas seems poised to move on from QB Geno Smith after he tossed a league-leading 17 interceptions in 15 starts in 2025. Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 pounds) flashed franchise QB potential at Indiana, winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy and leading the FBS in QBR (90.3).  

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | First-round pick (No. 22): Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane | This past season, the Chargers’ inability to protect QB Justin Herbert cost them in a 16-3 AFC wild-card round loss to the Patriots, in which he took six sacks. 2025 second-team All-American Ioane would bolster L.A.’s O-line, which allowed the second-highest pressure rate (28.5 percent) last season, per Pro Football Reference. Pro Football Focus gave the 6-foot-4, 320-pound O-lineman an elite 87 pass-blocking grade in 2025.  — Clark Dalton   

AFC North 

BALTIMORE RAVENS | First-round pick (No. 14): Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor | The Ravens have a lot of needs for a team that thinks it is a Super Bowl contender, and none of them are more pressing than their pass rush. The Ravens were 30th in the NFL in sacks in 2025, and they need more people who can disrupt QBs. Mesidor (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) is older than your prototypical rookie (he turns 25 on April 5), but he is a Day 1 difference-maker. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | First-round pick (No. 10): Ohio State LB Sonny Styles | The Bengals must do better protecting QB Joe Burrow, and they must do better defensively. With their first-round pick, they should address the latter, adding a potential leader and impact player to the middle of their defense in Styles. An off-ball linebacker this high is a risk, but he can reshape their defense.

CLEVELAND BROWNS | First-round picks: (No. 6): Ohio State WR Carnell Tate; (No. 24): Utah OL Caleb Lomu | The Browns defense is in mostly good shape, but they really need to work on all levels of their offense. With two first-round picks, they can acquire both a big-time playmaker on the outside (Tate, 6-foot-2, 192 pounds) and somebody to help rebuild their offensive line (Lomu, 6-foot-6, 313 pounds) to go along with recent trade acquisition Tytus Howard. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | First-round pick (No. 21): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson | There will be a temptation to take Alabama QB Ty Simpson, but the Steelers can't repeat the Kenny Pickett mistake and reach for a QB. They have ignored their No. 2 wide receiver spot for too many years and have a chance to get an impact player in Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) to pair with big-money veteran DK Metcalf. — Adam Gretz

AFC South 

HOUSTON TEXANS | First-round pick (No. 28): Clemson OT Blake Miller | The Texans are once again revamping their offensive line following their recent trade of OT Tytus Howard. Miller (6-foot-7, 317 pounds) made 54 starts in college and is one of the more experienced players in the draft. The two-time first-team All-ACC selection is an elite pass blocker who has the potential to be an immediate starter. 

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Second-round pick: (No. 47): Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker | The Colts struggled to get consistent pressure on QBs in 2025, and upgrading their pass rush will be an offseason priority. Parker (6-foot-4, 263 pounds) saw his stock dip a bit after he finished with five sacks this past season compared to 11 in 2024. That lack of production could benefit a team like Indianapolis and make Parker one of the steals of Day 2. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Second-round pick (No. 56): Arizona State CB Keith Abney | The Jaguars do not have a first-round pick, and Abney is the type of player they would love to have fall to them. Abney (6-foot, 190 pounds) is a physical defender who excels in man coverage. Even with Travis Hunter projected to play more on defense than offense in 2026, Jacksonville needs consistency at corner. 

TENNESSEE TITANS | First-round pick (No. 4): Ohio State WR Carnell Tate | The Titans must surround QB Cam Ward with difference-makers, and drafting the next great Buckeyes wide receiver would be a great way to accomplish that. Tate (6-foot-2, 192 pounds) excels at beating man coverage and can catch passes at every level. Tennessee can show its commitment to Ward’s development by landing a potential superstar wideout. — Steve DelVecchio