Ben SolakApr 16, 2026, 06:35 AM ETCloseBen Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.Multiple Authors
play1:02Giants view Jeremiyah Love as ‘offensive weapon’Jordan Raanan reports on how the Giants view Jeremiyah Love ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
play1:17What holes do the Bears need to fill on defense?Courtney Cronin breaks down the Bears’ picks in Mel Kiper Jr.’s and Field Yates’ three-round mock draft.
play0:5949ers add defensive depth ahead of draftNick Wagoner breaks down the signings of DE Cam Sample and CB Jack Jones.
play1:14How vital is the NFL draft for the Dolphins?Kimberley A. Martin and Harry Douglas break down how vital the draft will be for Miami with De’Von Achane not available for a trade.
play1:46Why Schrager feels Jets are targeting David Bailey at No. 2Peter Schrager tells Pat McAfee that he expects the Jets to select David Bailey with the second pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
play1:02Why Tannenbaum says Steelers should draft Ty SimpsonMike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
play1:07Why Schrager has ‘most polarizing prospect’ going to Chiefs in his mock draftPeter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
play1:54Jordan Rodgers: Cousins signing with Raiders is best thing for MendozaThe “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
Ben Solak: Kenyon Sadiq can be a ‘George Kittle-style’ TE unicorn (0:30)Ben Solak breaks down Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq as an NFL draft prospect comparable to George Kittle. (0:30)
Giants view Jeremiyah Love as ‘offensive weapon’Jordan Raanan reports on how the Giants view Jeremiyah Love ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
What holes do the Bears need to fill on defense?Courtney Cronin breaks down the Bears’ picks in Mel Kiper Jr.’s and Field Yates’ three-round mock draft.
Courtney Cronin breaks down the Bears’ picks in Mel Kiper Jr.’s and Field Yates’ three-round mock draft.
49ers add defensive depth ahead of draftNick Wagoner breaks down the signings of DE Cam Sample and CB Jack Jones.
How vital is the NFL draft for the Dolphins?Kimberley A. Martin and Harry Douglas break down how vital the draft will be for Miami with De’Von Achane not available for a trade.
Kimberley A. Martin and Harry Douglas break down how vital the draft will be for Miami with De’Von Achane not available for a trade.
Why Schrager feels Jets are targeting David Bailey at No. 2Peter Schrager tells Pat McAfee that he expects the Jets to select David Bailey with the second pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Peter Schrager tells Pat McAfee that he expects the Jets to select David Bailey with the second pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Why Tannenbaum says Steelers should draft Ty SimpsonMike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
Mike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
Why Schrager has ‘most polarizing prospect’ going to Chiefs in his mock draftPeter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
Peter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
Jordan Rodgers: Cousins signing with Raiders is best thing for MendozaThe “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
Have you ever clicked on an NFL draft grades piece, scrolled down to your favorite team and been stunned by the terrible grade given to your squad? Doesn’t the analyst get that all these picks will hit?!
Of course, to achieve such a piece, I had to write it a week before the NFL draft and make all the draft strategy and trades myself. This isn’t a mock draft — I don’t make every pick for every team. Instead, it’s a rubric each team should follow to address their particular short- and long-term needs while acknowledging their likelihood of competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.
It’s a fun exercise made totally null by April 23, when one surprising faller can shake up the entire board and all the draft strategies hit the fan. Until then, this is how every team get “A” grades from me when the dust finally settles.
The Cowboys fielded the league’s worst defense last season (by EPA per play, explosive plays allowed and points per drive), but an A+ draft class should change that.
Let’s start in the trenches and work backward. They need an additional pass rusher badly, as Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku are useful players but not every-down dominators. Could the Cowboys package pick Nos. 12 and 20 to move up into the top five for Arvell Reese (Ohio State) or David Bailey (Texas Tech)? Or would they instead play the patient game, either to wait for Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) or go another direction in Caleb Downs (Ohio State safety) or Sonny Styles (Ohio State linebacker)?
Because the Cowboys have two top-20 picks then no selection until 92, how they address their needs is highly conditional on the players and trades available. They should be an active trading team, and whether it be up or down depends on how the board falls.
The bottom line: Be flexible with trades and address the board as it comes to you. Defense, defense, defense.
Neither wide receiver nor running back need big additions, but don’t be surprised if either Carnell Tate (Ohio State) or Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) is the pick at No. 5. Cam Skattebo and Darius Slayton are not deterring John Harbaugh from taking a blue-chip talent if he sees one.
Defensively, there are more gaps. CB2 is a need after the departure of Cor’Dale Flott in free agency, and LB2 has been a big need for a while as Tremaine Edmunds has swapped in for Bobby Okereke. Again, neither spot is in so dire a need that it must be addressed early, but I’d expect the Giants to get a potential contributor at each spot. Like WR and RB, the Giants can let the board fall to them.
The true must-get: a defensive tackle with run-defending ability. The Giants’ defensive line is oriented toward penetration and pass rush, and they suffered with easy yardage on the ground accordingly. Even if Dexter Lawrence II stays, adding a rotational nose tackle is a wise proposition — but with Lawrence’s trade demand on the table, the need becomes even bigger.
The bottom line: Plug right guard and add to the defensive tackle room (especially if Lawrence might really leave). Go “best player available” otherwise.
Jordan Raanan reports on how the Giants view Jeremiyah Love ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
The driving force behind the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win was their offensive line, and that unit is suddenly in jeopardy. Left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens are both returning from injury-hampered seasons; right guard Tyler Steen is in a contract year; right tackle Lane Johnson is coming off an ankle injury and was reportedly mulling retirement. The Eagles need to invest in multiple offensive linemen to start in 2027 or earlier.
Defensively, the Eagles need a starting edge and starting safety, as both Jaelan Phillips’ and Reed Blankenship’s departures were met with meager depth additions. If this feels like too many needs for one draft to solve … it is. Whether the Eagles go O-line heavy or need-heavy will tell us if they’re vying for a Super Bowl in 2026 or setting up for a stronger push in 2027.
The bottom line: Weigh 2026 needs (safety, edge, WR) with big 2027 voids (offensive line, tight end) and try to split the difference.
If neither Caleb Downs nor Jeremiyah Love make it to No. 7, the Commanders should trade back. They’re missing both their second- and fourth-round picks as a result of the Laremy Tunsil trade, and they have more needs than their first two picks can address.
This is all well and good … but after the release of center Tyler Biadasz, the Commanders still need someone to fill those snaps. Jake Slaughter (Florida) and Connor Lew (Auburn) are two likely targets at No. 71.
The bottom line: Trade back to score an extra pick to address receiver, center and at least one of the two outstanding defensive needs.
The Bears should play the board carefully at edge rusher and consider trading up if someone is falling. Akheem Mesidor (Miami) might slide into range as a 25-year-old rookie, and the Bears need his type of speed opposite Montez Sweat. Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) is historically undersized and not at all a typical Dennis Allen defensive end, but again … the Bears have to swing for the fences here.
Chicago is only two years into Caleb Williams’ rookie contract, so it can still play the “best player available” game. With an extra second-rounder, it can load up on cost-controlled talent that allows the team to shed big veteran deals like it did this past season with DJ Moore and Tremaine Edmunds. But if the right player starts falling into range …
The bottom line: A lot of positions could use a developmental starter, so let the board fall to you — unless a splash player at defensive tackle or edge rusher is gettable.
Then the Lions still need to use another pick on the interior offensive line. Christian Mahogany is not a guaranteed starter at left guard and has missed time in both of his pro seasons. Cade Mays was a solid bargain signing in free agency but was a backup for most of his career in Carolina; the Panthers released him in 2024. Neither has a stranglehold on their position, and the Lions should hedge their bets with a middle-round pick accordingly.
More likely is a CB pick at No. 50, where Brandon Cisse (South Carolina) has the size and athleticism of a boundary corner. In the middle rounds, the safety position also becomes a target. Kerby Joseph was in and out of the lineup with a lingering knee injury from training camp; Brian Branch (still without an extension) tore his Achilles in Week 14 and won’t be full-go by Week 1. Also keep an eye on tight end, where a lack of depth behind Sam LaPorta has been prohibitive.