2026 NFL DRAFT REVIEW: TEAMS IN TRANSITION

 

TEAMS IN TRANSITION

These teams are either hoping to make a playoff push or may be coming down from a run. Several have new staffs (Giants, Steelers, Falcons), others have questions at quarterback due to injuries (Commanders and Colts) or inexperience (Saints and Vikings).

One of these teams may end up in the Super Bowl while another could end up with the first pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

New York Giants (7 picks)

Round 1, pick 5: Arvell Reese-LB/EDGE-Ohio St

Round 1, pick 10: Francis Mauigoa-OT/G-Miami

Round 2, pick 37: Colton Hood-CB-Tennessee

Round 3, pick 74: Malachi Fields-WR-Notre Dame

Round 6, pick 186: Bobby Jamison-Travis-DL-Auburn

Round 6, pick 192: J.C. Davis-OT-Illinois

Round 6, pick 193: Jack Kelly-ILB-BYU

Plug and Play Starters: Arvell Reese-LB, Francis Mauigoa-RG

Opportunity to Start: Colton Hood-CB, Malachi Fields-WR

Best Value: J.C. Davis-OT +40

Strategy and Trends: Versatile players that have elite athletic traits  

The Giants used their draft capital very wisely getting four guys that could potentially start this season. They had a perfectly balanced draft. They went defense-offense-defense-offense-defense-offense-defense. They went speed-trenches-speed-size-trenches-trenches-speed. They really valued speed on defense (Reese-4.46, Hood-4.44, Kelly-4.57).

 

Washington Commanders (6 picks)

Round 1, pick 7: Sonny Styles-LB-Ohio St

Round 3, pick 71: Antonio Williams-WR-Clemson

Round 5, pick 147: Joshua Josephs-EDGE-Tennessee

Round 6, pick 187: Kaytron Allen-RB-Penn St

Round 6, pick 209: Matt Gulbin-C/G-Michigan St

Round 7, pick 223: Athan Kaliakmanis-QB-Rutgers

Plug and Play Starters: Sonny Styles-ILB, Antonio Williams-Slot WR

Opportunity to Start: Matt Gulbin-C/G

Best Value: Joshua Josephs-EDGE

Strategy and Trends: Impact players with major college production

Washington let the draft come to them and were able to get Styles at pick number 7. He has a great chance to be an instant impact player and a favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Williams gives them a versatile player in the slot and a replacement for Deebo Samuel. The Commanders need a healthy Jayden Daniels if they are to get back to the playoffs. Dan Quinn is not on the hot seat YET, but he will be with another 5-12 season.

 

New Orleans Saints (8 picks)

Round 1, pick 8: Jordyn Tyson-WR-Arizona St

Round 2, pick 42: Christen Miller-DL3T-Georgia

Round 3, pick 73: Oscar Delp-TE-Georgia

Round 4, pick 132: Jeremiah Wright-IOL-Auburn

Round 4, pick 136: Bryce Lance-WR-North Dakota St

Round 5, pick 172: Lorenzo Styles Jr.-CB/S-Ohio St

Round 6, pick 190: Barion Brown-WR-LSU

Round 7, pick 219: TJ Hall-CB-Iowa

Plug and Play Starters: Jordyn Tyson-WR

Opportunity to Start: Christen Miller-DL3T, Bryce Lance-WR, Oscar Delp-TE, Jeremiah Wright-RG

Best Value: Bryce Lance-WR +36

Strategy and Trends: Give Tyler Shough weapons to see if he is a franchise QB

The Saints offseason strategy seems very simple. They added offensive pieces in free agency and the draft. In free agency they added running back Travis Etienne and guard David Edwards. In the draft they added Tyson as an instant impact starter. The Saints expect Shough to lead them to the playoffs in 2026. If he doesn’t meet expectations, they will look to draft a quarterback in the 2027 draft.

Minnesota Vikings (9 picks)

Round 1, pick 18: Caleb Banks-DL-Florida

Round 2, pick 51: Jake Golday-LB-Cincinnati

Round 3, pick 82: Domonique Orange-DL-Iowa St

Round 3, pick 97: Caleb Tiernan-OT-Northwestern

Round 3, pick 98: Jakobe Thomas-S-Miami

Round 5, pick 159: Max Bredeson-TE/HB-Michigan

Round 5, pick 163: Charles Demmings-CB-Stephen F. Austin

Round 6, pick 198: Demond Clairborne-RB-Wake Forest

Round 7, pick 235: Gavin Gerhardt-C-Cincinnati

Plug and Play Starters: Caleb Banks-DL, Domonique Orange-DL, Max Bredeson-TE/HB

Opportunity to Start: Jake Golday-LB, Caleb Tiernan-OT/G, Jakobe Thomas-S

Best Value: Caleb Tiernan-OT/G +28

Strategy and Trends: Fix the run defense

The Vikings surprised many by taking Banks in the mid first round. Many expected them to take a safety or corner. They decided to fill their biggest need and draft three players that are good against the run. Banks, Golday and Orange all will have opportunity to start early. Tiernan is a good insurance policy as a swing tackle. The Vikings have Christian Darrisaw and Will Fries coming off injuries and Brian O’Neill entering a contract year. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (10 picks)

Round 1, pick 21: Max Iheanachor-OT/G-Arizona St

Round 2, pick 47: Germie Bernard-WR-Alabama

Round 3, pick 76: Drew Allar-QB-Penn State

Round 3, pick 85: Daylen Everette-CB-Georgia

Round 3, pick 96: Gennings Dunker-OT/G-Iowa

Round 4, pick 121: Kaden Wetjen-WR/KR-Iowa

Round 5, pick 169: Riley Nowakowski-TE-Indiana

Round 6, pick 210: Gabriel Rubio-DT-Notre Dame

Round 7, pick 224: Robert Spears-Jennings-S-Oklahoma

Round 7, pick 230: Eli Heidenreich-RB/WR-Navy

Plug and Play Starters: Germie Bernard-WR

Opportunity to Start: Drew Allar-QB Max Iheanachor-OT/G, Gennings Dunker-OT/G, Daylen Everette-CB

Best Value: Gennings Dunker-OT/G +33

Strategy and Trends: Building for the future

The Steelers have a bunch of veterans in their prime and look to be in win now mode. These players include TJ Watt, Jalen Ramsey and Cameron Hayward on defense, DK Metcalf and Zach Frazier on offense. They are hoping Aaron Rodgers can play one more season. However, their draft strategy was about accumulation young players that need to develop. Bernard is the one player that should come in and produce from day one.

 

Atlanta Falcons (6 picks)

Round 2, pick 48: Avieon Terrell-CB-Clemson

Round 3, pick 79: Zachariah Branch-WR-Georgia  

Round 4, pick 134: Kendal Daniels-LB-Oklahoma

Round 6, pick 208: Anterio Thompson-DT-Washington

Round 6, pick 215: Harold Perkins Jr.-LB/EDGE-LSU

Round 7, pick 231: Ethan Onianwa-OT-Ohio St

Plug and Play Starters: NONE

Opportunity to Start: Avieon Terrell-CB, Zachariah Branch-WR

Best Value: Avieon Terrell-CB +19

Strategy and Trends: SHORT KINGS STAND TALL

Terrell is just under 5’11” and Branch is 5’9.” Both guys play bigger than their size and play with great physicality. Both should see the field early in Atlanta. Perkins and Thompson both measured under 6’2” Daniels is the outcast at 6’5” but he is also a tweener as a safety turned linebacker.

 

 Indianapolis Colts (8 picks)

Round 2, pick 53: CJ Allen-LB-Georgia

Round 3, pick 78: A.J. Haulcy-S-LSU

Round 4, pick 113: Jalen Farmer-IOL-Kentucky

Round 4, pick 135: Bryce Boettcher-LB-Oregon

Round 5, pick 156: George Gumbs Jr.-EDGE-Florida

Round 6, pick 214: Caden Curry-EDGE, Ohio St

Round 7, pick 237: Seth McGowan-RB-Kentucky

Round 7, pick 254: Deion Burks-WR-Oklahoma

Plug and Play Starters: CJ Allen-LB, A.J. Haulcy-SS-LSU

Opportunity to Start: Jalen Farmer-IOL, Bryce Boettcher-LB, Deion Burks-WR

Best Value: Deion Burks-WR +170

Strategy and Trends: Guys that can make tackles

The Colts traded their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for cornerback Sauce Gardner. They kept their two biggest free agents with quarterback Daniel Jones and wideout Alec Pierce. In the draft they took a bunch of guys with high college production on defense. Allen (88 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss), Haulcy (88 tackles), Boettcher (136 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss), Curry (16.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks). All will have a chance to make an instant impact for Lou Anarumo next season. Burks may be the best steal of any player in the draft as many projected him as a day two pick. He is one of very few 7th round picks that will have an opportunity to play as a rookie.