Ideal pick for every team in NFL Draft, no matter the round

The NFL Draft is a three-day puzzle in which teams try to match need, value and timing. But beyond the obvious fits, every franchise has an ideal target — the player who best aligns with its roster, philosophy and long-term plan.

Below, Yardbarker NFL writers highlight those ideal picks for every team, regardless of round. (Draft round and position are in parentheses. The draft is Thursday to Saturday in Pittsburgh.)

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS | Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height (Third, No. 92) | Dallas may be in line to make a big trade to jump closer to the head of the line in the first round, meaning the picks they retain in later rounds will be important. Height, who is not an imposing presence at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, is a pass-rusher they can’t lose out on in the third round as the Cowboys look to continue to add depth to their line. He came into his own in 2025, recording 10 sacks for the first time.

NEW YORK GIANTS | Ohio State DB Caleb Downs (First, No. 5) | From Ed Reed to Kyle Hamilton, HC John Harbaugh’s defenses have been defined by having an All-Pro safety as the linchpin. Downs (6-foot, 205 pounds), the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award winner for best defensive back in college football, can easily be that linchpin for a team in desperate need of a difference-maker in the backfield. Per ESPN Analytics, Downs has a less than 10% chance to be available at No. 10, where the Giants will also be picking, so New York must make sure it doesn't miss out on him early.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor (First, No. 23) | There shouldn’t be too much thinking when the Eagles' number is called in the first round; it’s time to find a replacement for All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson, and Iheanachor (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) is exactly the kind of lineman they like to work with. He would give the Eagles an extra boost in jumbo packages or as a swing tackle.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (First, No. 7) | Reporting suggests Love (6-foot, 214 pounds) may not drop past the first five picks, but trades at the top of the draft order could end up sending the best running back in the class into the laps of the Commanders. Love is exactly the player they need to bolster their offense behind quarterback Jayden Daniels. He'd immediately give them a ground game to lean on and become a potential every-down target for Daniels. — Conor Killmurray 

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Alabama QB Ty Simpson (Second, No. 34) | The Cardinals have needs at multiple positions, but with the likelihood that they select an offensive lineman or pass-rusher with the third overall pick, Simpson (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) could be a good fit. The Cardinals may need to move into the first round to get him, but with Simpson’s athleticism and arm talent, this selection makes sense for a team with a questionable QB room following Kyler Murray’s departure to the Minnesota Vikings.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | USC WR Makai Lemon (First, No. 13) | The Rams have depth issues, including at WR after the Miami Dolphins signed Tutu Atwell in free agency. Lemon (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) had the eighth-most receiving yards in college football last season (1,156) and would provide insurance as a slot-only WR who can give QB Matthew Stafford another weapon downfield. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Central Florida EDGE Malachi Lawrence (Second, No. 58) | As 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams recovers from a torn right ACL and the 49ers deal with the shocking retirement of Bryce Huff, pass-rush is an area of need. After leading Central Florida with seven sacks last season, the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder has the physical tools and athleticism. The 49ers only had 27 sacks last season, so the addition of Lawrence alongside a healthy Williams and Nick Bosa would be a huge boost. 

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr. (Second, No. 64) | After losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, the Seahawks need depth at running back as Zach Charbonnet recovers from a torn left ACL. Washington (6-foot-2, 223 pounds), who is also dangerous as a wide receiver, could be an ideal fit for Seattle, which may trade out of the first round. — Colby Colwell 

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman (First, No. 25) | The Bears must rebuild at safety after watching Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker leave in free agency, so Thieneman should be their No. 1 target in the first round. The 6-foot-0, 201-pound defensive back broke out in 2025 with 95 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups. Thieneman is a willing tackler and an exceptional athlete. 

DETROIT LIONS | Missouri EDGE Zion Young (Second, No. 50) | The Lions should do everything in their power to grab Young in the second round, even if they must trade up to make it happen. The 6-foot-5, 262-pound pass-rusher had 6.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles last season. He could make an immediate impact on a team that desperately needs pass-rush help opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (Second, No. 52) | The Packers don’t have a first-round pick, so they must nail their second-round selection. Dennis-Sutton (6-foot-5, 256 pounds) is a freak athlete who led all EDGEs in athleticism score at the NFL Scouting Combine. His size, toughness and great instincts would make him an ideal fit opposite Micah Parsons.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Florida DT Caleb Banks (Second, No. 49) | Banks (6-foot-6, 327 pounds) will likely slip to the second round after he underwent foot surgery this offseason. If the uber-talented defensive tackle drops to Minnesota’s range at pick No. 49, the Vikings shouldn’t hesitate to pick him. He is a great fit for Brian Flores’ defense because he knows how to blow up the line of scrimmage, and the Vikings need a DT after the release of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. — Jack Dougherty

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Alabama WR Germie Bernard (Second, No. 48) | Bernard (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) should be available when the Falcons make their first pick in the second round. He’d be an excellent complement to Drake London and give QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. another strong pass-catching option with running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts. 

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Auburn IOL Connor Lew (Third, No. 83) | With Austin Corbett and Cade Mays exiting via free agency, the Panthers must address depth along the interior offensive line. Lew (6-foot-3, 300 pounds), who tore his ACL in October 2025, should be available when Carolina picks in Round 3. Sports Info Solutions noted the junior lineman only four blown blocks last season, and he was an impactful run-blocker, with backs averaging six yards per carry (including 2.9 yards before contact) when rushing behind Lew in 2025. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | San Diego State CB Chris Johnson (Second, No. 42) | If the Saints address wide receiver with their first-round pick (No. 8), corner will be a priority on Day 2 with the team needing to replace Alontae Taylor, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Johnson (6-foot, 185 pounds) is one of the top mid-major defenders in the 2026 class and would be a seamless fit alongside New Orleans’ other ascending corners, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas (Second, No. 48) | The Buccaneers targeted defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 11.5 sacks for the Detroit Lions last season, in free agency to improve a pass rush that ranked No. 25 in pressure rate (19.8 percent) in 2025. Thomas lacks prototypical size at 6-foot-2, 249 pounds but makes up for it with excellent burst and a relentless motor. He would give Tampa more juice off the edge as it looks to return to the top of the division. — Eric Smithling 

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS | UConn WR Skyler Bell (Third, No. 91) | With the addition of DJ Moore (via trade from Chicago), the Bills are likely to hold off on another first-round receiver. This positions Bell (6-foot, 185 pounds) as an ideal target later in the draft. He would provide Josh Allen with a reliable option on third down. 

MIAMI DOLPHINS | Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (Second, No. 43) | Corner is a main need for rebuilding Miami. Ponds (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) would bring high upside, with the ability to excel in zone while offering man-coverage potential and nickel flexibility in a scheme that favors mixing coverages.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Duke OL Brian Parker II (Fourth, No. 125) | Parker (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) brings interior flexibility and long-term developmental upside and depth. He’s a strong asset in pass protection (a major struggle for the Patriots in 2025) and zone-blocking concepts. 

NEW YORK JETS | Penn State QB Drew Allar (Fifth, No. 140) | The Jets have no long-term solution outside of Geno Smith as their bridge QB. Enter Allar, who boasts prototypical size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds), elite arm strength and velocity. With Frank Reich as the new offensive coordinator, this could be a strong match for a developmental QB. — Colton Edwards 

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS | Navy RB/WR Eli Heidenreich (Fifth, No. 170) | Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s offense often features a “joker,” a versatile running back or tight end who’s a threat in the passing game. Heidenreich (6-foot, 198 pounds) fits that description. In 2025, he tied for 11th in the FBS in yards (941 receiving and 499 rushing) and tied for fifth in yards per reception (18.5). 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Tennessee CB Colton Hood (First, No. 29) | The Chiefs could take LSU CB Mansoor Delane (6-foot, 187 pounds) with pick No. 9, but they may take a wide receiver instead, perhaps Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 pounds). Hood (5-foot-11, 193 pounds) would be the next-best option for K.C., which is seeking a replacement for star CB Trent McDuffie (now with the Los Angeles Rams). Per Sports Info Solutions, he allowed zero touchdown catches and had 19 pass breakups in three seasons at Colorado, Auburn and Tennessee.  

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge (Second, No. 36) | The Raiders are widely expected to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (6-foot-5, 236 pounds) with pick No. 1, so their next move should be giving him better pass protection. Vegas surrendered a league-leading 64 sacks last season. Selecting Rutledge (6-foot-3, 316 pounds) — who allowed no sacks in 2025, per Pro Football Focus — would be wise. 

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Illinois edge-rusher Gabe Jacas (Second, No. 55) | The Chargers re-signed LB Khalil Mack to a one-year, $18M deal in free agency, but that shouldn’t preclude them from investing in another edge-rusher, especially one with the size and pass-rushing skills of Jacas (6-foot-3, 260 pounds). In 2025, he tied for ninth in the FBS in sacks (11). — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS | Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane (First, No. 14) | Guards are not always looked at as great value picks, especially in the top 15, but Ioane (6-foot-4, 330 pounds) could be a star. That is good news for the Ravens because re-tooling their interior offensive line must be a priority this offseason. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS | Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas (Second, No. 41) | The Bengals already used their first-round pick, No. 10 overall, to trade for defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, leaving them with their top pick now at No. 41 overall. That should still put them in a position to add another EDGE in Jacas (6-foot-3, 275 pounds). With that pick, the addition of Lawrence and free-agency additions, the Bengals could finally have a formidable defensive front. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS | Ohio State WR Carnell Tate (First, No. 6) | The Browns have two first-round picks, giving them a lot of flexibility. Offensive tackle or wide receiver are on the table for both, but the ideal pick here would be Tate (6-foot-2, 191 pounds). The Browns desperately need more playmakers on offense after their top wide receiver in 2025, Jerry Jeudy, caught just 50 passes for 602 yards. He was the only wide receiver on the roster who had more than 25 receptions. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson (First, No. 21) | Tyson lasting to this spot might not happen, but if he does, the Steelers should sprint the card to the podium. Even after adding DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman over the past two offseasons, the Steelers still need another playmaker at wideout, and especially a young playmaker. Without injury concerns, Tyson (6-foot-2, 203 pounds) might be a top-10 talent. — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS | Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price (Second, No. 59) | Price is a bit overlooked as Notre Dame’s second running back behind Jeremiyah Love, but he may have a high ceiling. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Price averaged an eye-popping six yards per carry in three seasons with the Fighting Irish. The Texans need a replacement for Joe Mixon after failing to find running game consistency in 2025.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr. (Second, No. 47) | The Colts are looking to replace starting linebackers Zaire Franklin and Germaine Pratt, and Hill is a player who has been repeatedly linked to the team. It is easy to see why, as the 6-foot-2, 238-pound former All-American is one of the more athletic players in the draft at his position. Hill would immediately step into a starting role and is capable of playing on all three downs.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Western Michigan DE Nadame Tucker (Third, No. 88) | The Jaguars ranked near the bottom of the NFL last season with just 32 sacks. They could address their pass-rush early, but Tucker is a great mid-round target for a team lacking a first-round pick. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder is a pure pass-rusher who had 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 13 games as a senior.

TENNESSEE TITANS | Ohio State WR Carnell Tate (First, No. 4) | The Titans might be able to trade back a few spots and land Tate, but the projected top receiver in the draft would fill a major need. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound Tate has an elite combination of size and speed and all the makings of a true No. 1 wide receiver. Tate is the type of player who could become a reliable third-down option for QB Cam Ward. — Steve DelVecchio