2026 NFL DRAFT REVIEW: NFC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
NFC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
These teams were either in the playoffs or
just missed the playoff last season. These teams added in the offseason and
should be in the hunt again this season.
San Francisco 49ers (8 picks)
Round 3, pick 70: Romello Height-EDGE-Texas
Tech
Round 3, pick 90: Kaelon Black-RB-Indiana
Round 4, pick 107: Gracen Halton-DL3T-Oklahoma
Round 4, pick 127: Carver Willis-OT-Washington
Round 4, pick 139: Ephesians
Prysock-CB-Washington
Round 5, pick 154: Jaden Dugger-LB-Louisiana
Round 5, pick 179: Enrique Cruz
Jr.-OT-Kansas
Plug and Play Starters: NONE
Opportunity to Start: NONE
Best Value: Gracen Halton-DL +27
Strategy and Trends: Draft Winners and players that fit scheme
Much to the ire of
fans and pundits, GM John Lynch does not draft
off of consensus draft boards. They took Stribling and Black much higher than expected. I will give him the benefit of the
doubt here. Both are good players that played their best in the College
Football Playoff. Height is smaller for an edge rusher, but he is a freak
athlete that really knows how to rush the passer. Halton fits the same profile
as an athlete. He is smaller for a defensive tackle, but super disruptive.. Willis and Cruz provide needed
depth to the offensive line.
Philadelphia Eagles (8 picks)
Round 2, pick 54: Eli Stowers-TE-Vanderbilt
Round 3, pick 68: Markel Bell-OT-Miami
Round 5, pick 178: Cole Payton-QB/HB-North
Dakota St
Round 6, pick 207: Micah Morris-G-Georgia
Round 7, pick 244: Cole
Wisniewski-S-Texas Tech
Round 7, pick 251: Uar Bernard-DT-Nigeria
Round 7, pick 252: Keyshawn
James-Newby-EDGE-New Mexico
Plug and Play Starters: Makai Lemon-WR
Opportunity to Start: NONE
Best Value: Cole Payton-QB/HB +42
Strategy and Trends: Get playmakers and long-term projects
GM Howie Roseman did it again. He traded up
IN DIVISION with Dallas and got the playmaker he wanted with Lemon. This likely means that AJ Brown will be traded very soon. Roseman then got
another offensive weapon in Stowers. After that it was about projects and
versatile players. Payton is more of a gimmick player with running skills than
traditional quarterback. Bell has rare height and length but needs development.
Bernard was the only non-college player drafted as the Nigerian is from the International
Player Pathway program. His story is what makes the draft interesting.
Chicago Bears (7 picks)
Round 2, pick 57: Logan Jones-C/G-Iowa
Round 3, pick 69: Sam Roush-TE-Stanford
Round 3, pick 89: Zavion Thomas-WR/KR-LSU
Round 4, pick 124: Malik Muhammad-CB-Texas
Round 4, pick 166: Keyshaun Elliott-LB-Arizona St
Round 6, pick 213: Jordan van den Berg-DL-Georgia Tech
Plug and Play Starters: Dillon Thieneman-S
Opportunity to Start: Logan Jones-C/G
Best Value: Malik Muhammad-CB +48
Strategy and Trends: Draft Elite Athletes
The Bears got a day one starter in Thieneman in the first round. He is an elite athlete with 4.35 speed and a 41" vertical jump. Muhammad has 4.42 speed and a 39" vertical jump. Jones was the most athletic center in the draft. Roush ran a 4.7 and had a 38.5” vertical at 267 pounds. He will be the number 3 TE as the Bears look to use more 13 personnel. Thomas is an undersized blazer with 4.26 speed. He will be used as a return man and 5th WR.
Dallas Cowboys (7 picks)
Round 1, pick 23: Malachi
Lawrence-EDGE-UCF
Round 3, pick 92: Jaishawn Barham-EDGE-Michigan
Round 4, pick 112: Drew Shelton-OT-Penn
St
Round 4, pick 114: Devin Moore-CB-Florida
Round 4, pick 137: LT Overton-DL-Alabama
Round 7, pick 218: Anthony Smith-WR-East
Carolina
Plug and Play Starters: Caleb Downs-S
Opportunity to Start: Malachi Lawrence-EDGE, Jaishawn Barham-EDGE, Devin Moore-CB
Best Value: LT Overton-DL +30
Strategy and Trends: Impact Defenders
The Cowboys used most of their picks to
upgrade the defense. Downs should immediately help the Cowboys as both a run
stopper and pass defender. Lawrence, Barham and Overton all provide different
value as defenders. Lawrence is a pure pass rusher; Barham can play off the
ball and as a pass rusher on 3rd downs. Overton is a power player
that should be great against the run. Moore is a long corner that was plagued
by injuries in his college career.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7 picks)
Round 2, pick 46: Josiah Trotter-LB-Missouri
Round 3, pick 84: Ted Hurst-WR-Georgia St
Round 4, pick 116: Keionte Scott-CB-Miami
Round 5, pick 155: DeMonte Kapehart-DL-Clemson
Round 5, pick 160: Billy Schrauth-G-Notre Dame
Round 6, pick 185: Bauer Sharp-TE-LSU
Plug and Play Starters: Rueben Bain Jr.-EDGE, Josiah Trotter-LB
Opportunity to Start: Keionte Scott-CB, Ted Hurst-WR
Best Value: Rueben Bain Jr.-EDGE
Strategy and Trends: Productive Impact Defenders
Tampa got the biggest steal of the first round by having Bain fall to them at 15. The All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year is a top 5 talent that fell because of concerns about his arm length. Trotter and Scott are both tackling machines. All of these guys are perfect fit for Todd Bowles. Hurst should be a solid number 4 receiving option.
Round 2, pick 44: Derrick Moore-EDGE-Michigan
Round 4, pick 118: Jimmy Rolder-LB-Michigan
Round 5, pick 157: Keith Abney II-CB-Arizona
St
Round 5, pick 168: Kendrick Law-WR-Kentucky
Round 6, pick 205: Skyler
Gill-Howard-DL-Texas Tech
Round 7, pick 222: Tyre West-EDGE-Tennessee
Plug and Play Starters: Blake Miller-OT, Derrick Moore-EDGE
Opportunity to Start: Keith Abney II-CB Jimmy Rolder-LB, Kendrick Law-WR
Best Value: Keith Abney II-CB +83
Strategy and Trends: Fill two biggest needs then add high IQ players
The Lions did exactly what people expected
them to do. They needed a starting offensive tackle and a starting defensive
end, and they got what they needed. Miller and Moore should start right away.
Abney has the IQ coaches love but dropped due to size limitations. Rolder and
Gill-Howard are high motor guys that Dan Campbell will love.
Carolina Panthers (7 picks)
Round 2, pick 49: Lee Hunter-DL1T-Texas
Tech
Round 3, pick 83: Chris Brazzell
II-WR-Tennessee
Round 4, pick 129: Will Lee III-CB-Texas
A&M
Round 5, pick 144: Sam Hecht-C/G-Kansas
St
Round 5, pick 151: Zakee Wheatley-S-Penn
St
Round 7, pick 227: Jackson
Kuwatch-LB-Miami (OH)
Plug and Play Starters: NONE
Opportunity to Start: Monroe Freeling-OT, Chris Brazzell II-WR, Sam Hecht-C/G
Best Value: Sam Hecht-C/G +64 Zakee Wheatley-S +63
Strategy and Trends: Add depth in the trenches, length on the perimeter
The Panthers used their first two picks in
the trenches then got a steal with Hecht falling to the 5th round.
Freeling’s pick suggest that Ikem Ekwonu may not be the long-term answer at
left tackle. Ekwonu is on his 5th year option but could miss the
entire 2026 season. He could be headed to play somewhere else in 2027. Hecht
has a real shot to challenge Luke Fortner at starting center. Brazell II should
give Bryce Young a deep threat to take his game to another level. Lee III and
Wheatley are both long athletic defensive backs.
Green Bay Packers (6 picks)
Round 2, pick 52: Brandon Cisse-CB-South
Carolina
Round 3, pick 77: Chris McClellan-DL5T3T-Missouri
Round 4, pick 120: Dani
Dennis-Sutton-EDGE-Penn St
Round 5, pick 153: Jager Burton-C/G-Kentucky
Round 6, pick 201: Domani Jackson-CB-Alabama
Round 6, pick 216: Trey Smack-PK-Florida
Opportunity to Start: Brandon Cisse-CB, Chris McClellan-DL5T3T, Dani
Dennis-Sutton-EDGE, Jager Burton-C/G
Best Value: Dani Dennis-Sutton-EDGE +48
Strategy and Trends: SEC guys heading north, versatile players
Five of the six picks played in the SEC. The
Packers filled their most glaring need at cornerback. Cisse is still developing
but has the tools to become a good starter. McClellan has great length and
power to play anywhere inside. Burton can play anywhere on the interior. Dennis
Sutton is a great athlete that is putting it all together as a pass rusher.
Smack has a big leg that will be needed in the frozen tundra of Lambeau.
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