2026 NFL DRAFT REVIEW: SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS

 

SUPER BOWL CONTENDERS

These are the favorites to play in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Seattle Seahawks (8 picks) +950 Super Bowl ODDS 

Round 1, pick 32: Jadarian Price-RB-Notre Dame

Round 2, pick 64: Bud Clark-S-TCU

Round 3, pick 99: Julian Neal-CB-Arkansas

Round 5, pick 148: Beau Stephens-IOL-Iowa

Round 6, pick 199: Emmanuel Henderson Jr.-WR-Kansas

Round 7, pick 236: Andre Fuller-CB-Toledo

Round 7, pick 242: Deven Eastern-DT-Minnesota

Round 7, pick 255: Michael Dansby-CB-Arizona

Plug and Play Starters: Jadarian Price-RB

Opportunity to Start: Bud Clark-S, Julian Neal-CB

Best Value: Andre Fuller-CB +30

Strategy and Trends: Replace players lost in free agency

Price was drafted in the first round to replace Kenneth Walker, Clark will replace Coby Bryant and Neal will replace Riq Woolen. Fuller is a sleeper as a long physical corner that fits what Seattle looks for. Seattle will need these young players to step up and provide depth if they are to make another Super Bowl run.  

 

Los Angeles Rams (5 picks) +700

Round 1, pick 13: Ty Simpson-QB-Alabama

Round 2, pick 61: Max Klare-TE-Ohio St

Round 3, pick 93: Keagen Trost-IOL-Missouri

Round 6, pick 197: CJ Daniels-WR-Miami

Round 7, pick 232: Tim Keenan III-DL1T-Alabama

Plug and Play Starters: NONE

Opportunity to Start: NONE

Best Value: Tim Keenan III-DL1T +100

Strategy and Trends: Building for the future

The Rams had the biggest surprise of the draft when they took Ty Simpson in the first round. This draft was about adding reserves for the future. Simpson will only play if Matthew Stafford gets injured. Klare is raw, but has the physical tools to become a quality starter. Daniels is the sleeper to get early playing time. They clearly focused on building their roster through free agency and trades. They upgraded their secondary by adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson from the Chiefs.  

 

 Buffalo Bills (10 picks) +1000

Round 2, pick 35: T.J. Parker-EDGE-Clemson

Round 2, pick 62: Davison Igbinosun-CB-Ohio St

Round 4, pick 102: Jude Bowry-OT-Boston College

Round 4, pick 125: Skyler Bell-WR-UConn

Round 4, pick 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr-LB-TCU

Round 5, pick 167: Jalon Kilgore-S-South Carolina

Round 5, pick 181: Zane Durant-DL3T-Penn St

Round 7, pick 220: Toriano Pride Jr.-CB-Missouri

Round 7, pick 239: Tommy Doman-P-Florida

Round 7, pick 241: Ar'Maj Reed-Adams-G-Texas A&M

Plug and Play Starters: NONE

Opportunity to Start: NONE

Best Value: Jalon Kilgore-S +75, Zane Durant-DL3T +70

Strategy and Trends: Draft Experience players from major colleges

The Bills had a very clear player profile that they followed. Parker, Igbunosun and Kilgore were all impact players as true freshman. Almost every other player drafted was a five-year college player. The Bills have a mature veteran locker room. They drafted guys that are experienced and understand they will need to compete to get on the field.

 

Baltimore Ravens (11 picks) +1100

Round 1, pick 14: Olaivavega Ioane-IOL-Penn St

Round 2, pick 45: Zion Young-EDGE-Missouri

Round 3, pick 80: Ja'Kobi Lane-WR-USC

Round 4, pick 115: Elijah Sarratt-WR, Indiana

Round 5, pick 133: Matthew Hibner-TE-SMU

Round 5, pick 162: Chandler Rivers-CB-Duke

Round 5, pick 173: Josh Cuevas-TE-Alabama

Round 5, pick 174: Adam Randall-RB-Clemson

Round 6, pick 211: Ryan Eckley-P-Michigan St

Round 7, pick 250: Rayshaun Benny-DT-Michigan

Round 7, pick 253: Evan Beerntsen-G-Northwestern

Plug and Play Starters: Olaivavega Ioane-LG,

Opportunity to Start: Zion Young-EDGE, Ja'Kobi Lane-WR, Elijah Sarratt-WR,

Chandler Rivers-CB

Best Value: Chandler Rivers-CB +79

Strategy and Trends: Give Lamar Jackson weapons to be the MVP again

The Ravens used the majority of their draft capital on offensive players. Ioane should instantly upgrade the interior offensive line. Lane and Surratt are both big targets. Baltimore will hope one of them can step up as the number 3 option behind Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. This could be the best chance in Lamar’s career to win a Super Bowl.

 

Los Angeles Chargers (8 picks) +1500

Round 1, pick 22: Akheem Mesidor-EDGE-Miami

Round 2, pick 63: Jake Slaughter-C/G-Florida

Round 4, pick 105: Brenen Thompson-WR-Mississippi St

Round 4, pick 117: Travis Burke-OT-Memphis

Round 4, pick 131: Genesis Smith-S-Arizona

Round 5, pick 145: Nick Barrett-DL-South Carolina

Round 6, pick 202: Logan Taylor-G-Boston College

Round 6, pick 206: Alex Harkey-G-Oregon

Plug and Play Starters: NONE

Opportunity to Start: Akheem Mesidor-EDGE, Jake Slaughter-G/C, Genesis Smith-S, Travis Burke-OT  

Best Value: Genesis Smith-S +40

Strategy and Trends: Address the trenches

Jim Harbaugh has been a success in his first two seasons as head coach. The Chargers have gone 11-6 both seasons. However, they have yet to win a playoff game and were physically dominated by the Patriots in the playoffs last season. Their draft strategy was simple, get tougher in the trenches. Mesidor, Slaughter and Burke are all older prospects that can make an immediate impact.  

 

Kansas City Chiefs (7 picks) +1600

Round 1, pick 6: Mansoor Delane-CB-LSU

Round 1, pick 29: Peter Woods-DL-Clemson

Round 2, pick 40: R Mason Thomas- EDGE-Oklahoma

Round 5, pick 109: Jadon Canady-CB-Oregon

Round 5, pick 161: Emmett Johnson-RB-Nebraska

Round 5, pick 176: Cyrus Allen-WR-Cincinnati

Round 7, pick 249: Garrett Nussmeier-QB-LSU

Plug and Play Starters: Mansoor Delane-CB, Peter Woods-DL

Opportunity to Start: R Mason Thomas- EDGE, Emmett Johnson-RB

Best Value: Emmett Johnson-RB +56

Strategy and Trends: DEFENSE WINS

The Chiefs waited until pick 161 to draft an offensive player. They were aggressive in trading up for the best corner in the draft in Delane. They added key pieces to the defensive line with Woods and Mason Thomas. Johnson will give them a great running back to pair with Kenneth Walker. The Chiefs want to take the pressure off of Patrick Mahomes as he will be coming off a major injury when he returns.