Day: February 19, 2026

The NFL Scouting Combine hasn’t even happened yet, but we already have a good feeling of who’ll be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the other 256 selections seem up for debate as the football world descends upon Indianapolis next week. Will a quarterback emerge as the clear second-best player at the position and turn into a top-10 pick? Is Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese the clear top non-quarterback prospect in this year’s draft? We’ll have a better understanding of the answers to those questions soon enough. For now, though, let’s predict how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will go before the fun gets going in Indy next week and free agency in a couple of weeks. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Geno Smith is 35 years old and coming off a season in which he threw 17 interceptions to just 19 touchdowns. Mendoza has exhibited all the tools you want to see in a top QB prospect: elite arm strength, the ability to throw into tight windows, and sneaky mobility for a 6-foot-5 signal caller. The Heisman winner leads all of FBS with 41 passing touchdowns this season, which is also the Indiana single-season record. He’s a near lock to be a Raider. 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State With Dante Moore returning to Oregon, New York will likely take the best player available here. A big riser on draft boards over the past few months, Reese has cemented himself as the clear-cut best linebacker in this draft. Due to his elite speed for his size, he can drop back into coverage as an off-ball backer or line up on the edge and rush the passer. Reese had 6.5 sacks and two passes defended on the year, and 112 total tackles in two seasons for the Buckeyes. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) Arizona allowed 59 sacks this year and needs a right tackle to pair alongside Paris Johnson. Mauigoa is a blue-chip prospect with freakish tools for an offensive lineman. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he’s given up just three sacks in 1,099 pass blocking snaps over the past two seasons — and in 2023, he was a freshman All-America selection. He can also move into the interior with his frame and agility, and has dominated throughout Miami’s CFP run. 4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain, edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) Bain might have the best film of any edge player in this draft, dominating teams like Notre Dame, Florida, Texas A&M, and Ohio State. In that first round CFP game, he had a whopping three sacks against an Aggies offensive line that had given up just 12 in 12 games. Bain is also an elite run stopper and can move inside when needed. According to PFF, he’s the only edge player in FBS to have over 500 pass-rushing snaps with a pass-rush grade over 90. He also has the fifth-highest run defense grade (87.1) of any edge rusher with at least 200 run defense snaps. 5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Downs might be the smartest football player in this draft, having lined up all over the field during his time at Alabama and Ohio State. This past season, he played 44 snaps on the defensive line, 241 in the box, 146 at slot corner, nine at wide corner, and 240 at free safety. For his career, he’s totaled 256 tackles, 163 solo tackles, 10 passes defended and six interceptions. There is nothing Downs can’t do, and whatever team gets him is landing a perennial Pro Bowler. 6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah At 6-6 and 308 pounds, Fano is another new-era offensive tackle with incredible athleticism for his size. In three seasons, he’s given up just three sacks and seven QB hits, highlighted by a 2025 campaign in which he didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass blocking snaps (according to PFF). Regardless of who is under center for the Browns, this is a step in the right direction for Cleveland to build around him. Fano and Mauigoa are the 1A and 1B offensive tackles in this draft. 7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Easily the best receiver in this draft, Tate is next in the long line of pro Buckeye receivers. At 6-3, 195 pounds, he’s a big receiver who can dominate in the red zone while also serving as a deep threat. This year, he’s one of 12 Power 4 receivers to have nine receiving touchdowns and over 800 receiving yards. He is an instant offensive boost for an offense that struggled without Jayden Daniels last season. 8. New Orleans Saints: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson While Clemson had a down year, Woods has too many tools for any team looking for a dominant defensive lineman to pass on. At 6-3, 315 pounds, he’s reported to have a lean muscle mass percentage of 77%. He’s also another player who was a freshman All-American in 2023 and posted a dominant follow-up campaign in 2024 while playing both defensive end and tackle for the Tigers. Woods finished 2025 with a career-high 30 tackles along with two sacks. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame The Chiefs rank in the bottom eight of the league in rushing at 106.6 yards per game. Love has 35 rushing touchdowns since 2024, which is the most of any player in that span, and has averaged 6.9 yards per carry over the last two seasons with a whopping 2,497 rushing yards. Love would be a massive boost for a KC team that will need to establish the run more as Patrick Mahomes returns from a torn ACL. 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee If he didn’t tear his ACL back in January and miss the entire 2025 season, McCoy might go even higher. He was a first-team All-American last season, finishing with four interceptions and seven passes defended while also holding opposing QBs to a 53.6 passer rating (PFF). He’d be a huge addition to Cincinnati’s secondary. 11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU No cornerback in the Power 4 had a higher pass coverage grade on PFF than Delane at 90.9. In 357 coverage snaps, he gave up just 13 receptions for 147 yards and no touchdowns with opposing QBs sporting a 26.7 passer rating when targeting him. Miami needs immediate help at the position, with four cornerbacks on injured reserve at the end of the season. Delane should be an instant starter for them. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn Faulk is a monster at 6-6 and 288 pounds, and he displayed an incredible ability to blow past offensive tackles in the SEC over the past two seasons. He posted 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 45 total tackles for the Tigers in his true sophomore season in 2024. Despite less production in 2025, he’d be the perfect player to add to a defensive line that already features extremely athletic defensive linemen like Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Matthew Stafford is the reigning MVP with no signs of slowing down. At 38 years old, everything the Rams do from a roster construction standpoint should and will likely be with the intent of winning a Super Bowl immediately. Proctor is a specimen at 6-7, 366 pounds and has given up just five sacks in the last two seasons (according to PFF). Rob Havenstein is 33 years old and dealing with injuries, making this an ideal fit for Los Angeles. 14. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech Bailey is tied for the FBS-lead in sacks at 14.5 and leads all Power 4 players, as well. Even looking back at his three seasons at Stanford, he’s had consistent production, totaling 28 sacks from 2022 to 2025, the third-most of any player in that span. He’s a bit undersized at 6-3 and 250 pounds, but there’s no denying his bend and burst off the edge. He should be a huge help to a Ravens defense that has struggled all season. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia The heartbeat of Georgia’s defense this year, Allen is a tenacious tackler who thrives in the run game and can also cover receivers in the slot. Lavonte David is 36 years old and this is a good chance for Tampa to replace him with a high-IQ player to prevent explosive plays at the second level. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Allen totaled 205 tackles, 117 solo tackles, 10 passes defended, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State If it weren’t for Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles would be getting a lot more recognition as a Buckeye linebacker. In his past two seasons at Ohio State, he’s totaled 183 tackles, 95 solo tackles, eight passes defended, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. He hits like a truck and can move well in space. He’d be the most talented linebacker on the Jets depth chart and a Day 1 starter. 17. Detroit Lions: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson The brother of All-Pro corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon has had a ton of production in three seasons at Clemson, recording 25 passes defended, 125 total tackles, eight forced fumbles, four sacks, and three interceptions in 1,860 defensive snaps played in that span. Avieon will be a great compliment to a secondary already featuring Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State Ioane might be the best guard in the draft and would provide immediate help to a Minnesota offensive line that needs help in the interior. This season, he was one of two Big Ten guards to play 300+ pass blocking snaps, record a pass block grade over 87 and not give up a single sack or QB hit. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Sadiq is the best tight end in the draft, and it’s not close. He can run, block well and has great hands. His eight receiving touchdowns were the most of any tight end in FBS, making him a big-time red zone threat, as well. Carolina could go with a defensive player here, but quarterback Bryce Young has taken a huge step this year. A lot of that progress has to do with the addition of wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan in last year’s draft. Expect the Panthers to continue to give their young QB offensive weapons. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami Mesidor really bolstered his stock in his final year of eligibility, recording 10.5 sacks on the year and dominating offensive lines throughout Miami’s CFP run. The only edge rusher that’s played 400 pass rush snaps and has a higher PFF grade than him is Rueben Bain Jr., who we have going seventh overall. Mesidor also played in the interior last year, making him a versatile option for a Cowboys defense that was one of the worst in the league. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Simpson is the clear No. 2 QB in this draft. He’s had a mix of incredible games along with some terrible ones, but his decisiveness and accuracy are tools teams can work with. He threw for over 3,500 yards, 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also took down a vaunted Oklahoma defense on the road in the first round of the CFP, before sustaining an injury in the quarterfinals against Indiana. Regardless of whether the Steelers re-sign Aaron Rodgers, they’ll need to draft a quarterback at some point in this draft. Simpson would be a good pick, and Pittsburgh would be a solid landing spot. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: R Mason Thomas, edge rusher, Oklahoma Thomas is one of three SEC players to have recorded over 15 sacks and three forced fumbles in the last two seasons, and has demonstrated elite speed off the edge. While he’s a bit undersized at 6-2, he’s an ideal fit for a Chargers defense that needs a speed-rusher. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Yup, Fano isn’t the only stud offensive lineman for the Utes. Lomu gave up just two sacks in 807 pass-blocking snaps over the past two seasons and is a high-ceiling prospect, having just 28 collegiate games under his belt. Despite Lane Johnson’s dominance, he’s 35 years old and likely doesn’t have too many years left. Lomu is a more game-ready version of Jordan Mailata, who the Eagles drafted in 2018 as a project player and made first-team All-Pro last season. 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Tyson could easily go top 10 or 15 in this draft, depending on how badly teams want a receiver. Cleveland desperately needs an offensive boost and a weapon on the outside. Tyson is a big-bodied receiver at 6-2, 200 pounds, and he catches everything thrown at him. In two seasons with ASU, he’s caught 136 balls for 1,812 yards and a whopping 18 touchdowns. 25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State McDonald was an absolute monster in the middle of Ohio State’s defensive line, which held opponents to 9.3 points per game and 89.4 rush yards per game. The 6-3, 326-pound defensive tackle has three sacks and two forced fumbles on the year, and would be a huge addition to a defense that won 11 games and lost in the Divisional Round. 26. Buffalo Bills: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina Cisse is a tough corner who isn’t afraid to tackle and has 10 passes defended over the past two seasons, and he gave up just 18 receptions and one TD in 2025 (PFF). He’d be a good replacement to a 31-year-old Tre’Davious White in Buffalo’s secondary. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC With Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and Brandon Aiyuk’s status with the team uncertain, San Francisco needs a go-to receiver. Lemon won this year’s Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best wide receiver in college football. He can also play in the slot and is tough to tackle, having also rushed for two scores on the year. In fact, he’s the only player in all of FBS to have caught 10 touchdowns and have multiple rushing scores, as well. 28. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida It’s not often you see an interior lineman lead your team in pressures, but that’s just what Banks did for Florida in 2024 with 29. He also added 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He only played three games this season due to injury, but he has all the tools to dominate at the next level with his 6-6, 330-pound frame. This would be a steal for the Texans to add to a defensive line that was incredible this past season. 29. Los Angeles Rams: LT Overton, edge rusher, Alabama Overton fits the mold of all the past Alabama defensive linemen over the past decade in that he’s incredibly athletic, nasty, physical and relentless. At 6-5, 283 pounds, he can play inside and can thrive in multiple schemes. Los Angeles can get a true game-wrecker here if he’s available. 30. Denver Broncos: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon There isn’t much the Broncos need, but Pregnon could be a steal in the interior, especially considering Ben Powers is entering the final year of his contract. He recorded a pass block grade of 88.2 on the year, the seventh highest of all FBS guards with at least 300 pass blocking snaps. 31. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, edge rusher, Texas A&M Howell ranks fourth in FBS in sacks since 2022 with 27 to his name in that span, but he’s a bit undersized at 6-2, 248 pounds. Still, he has an incredible burst off the edge and would be a great addition to Mike Vrabel’s defense. 32. Seattle Seahawks: T.J. Parker, edge rusher, Clemson Like most of Clemson’s stars this season, Parker had a less productive 2025, only finishing with five sacks and 37 tackles. His 2024 tape is undeniable, though, with 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. He’s showcased above-average bend during his time at Clemson and can also drop in coverage. Parker’s 12.5 tackles for loss in 2023 were also a school record for a true freshman. He’d be a great supplement to 33-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence, who has two years left on his contract with Seattle.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Only one NFL team finished the season truly happy, and even the Seattle Seahawks understand they have work to do for 2026. For everyone else, the work is already underway as they try to fill their biggest holes and fix their greatest flaws before next season begins. And what are those big holes and flaws? What is the most important thing each team must address in the coming months? Here is the biggest question each NFC team will have to answer before training camp starts in July. RELATED: The Biggest Question Facing Each AFC Team Arizona Cardinals What are they going to do with QB Kyler Murray? They are at a quarterback crossroads after the 28-year-old Murray played just five games last season due to a foot injury. He’s owed $36.8 million for 2026, and if he’s still on the roster on March 15, another $19.5 million becomes guaranteed for 2027. So Decision Day is coming for new coach Mike LaFleur. But will he opt for another year of Murray, one last ride with Jacoby Brissett, or dip into the thin crop in free agency or the draft? The decision could shape the entire LaFleur Era. Atlanta Falcons Are they counting on a healthy Michael Penix Jr. or do they have a Plan B at QB? The most optimistic timeline for Penix’s return from his torn ACL would be right around the start of next season, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be fully healthy by then. Even if he is, his offseason practice time would be almost non-existent. So will head coach Kevin Stefanski just hope his QB returns, or will he hedge his bets? And if so, how? The options range from a veteran stopgap QB to another young QB that can also be competition. It’ll be a fascinating and risky decision for Atlanta’s new head coach. Carolina Panthers Can they find an elite pass rusher? They’ve jettisoned Brian Burns and Jadeveon Clowney over the past couple of years and don’t have much of a pass rush left to show for it. They didn’t have a single player with even six sacks last season and the team recorded 30 overall — their third straight year in the NFL’s bottom three. The Panthers are having enough trouble squeezing enough offense out of erratic QB Bryce Young. Even if he continues to grow, they still need to find a way to disrupt opposing quarterbacks if they want to rise above mediocrity. Chicago Bears Will they get some help for edge rusher Montez Sweat? All those comebacks last season sure were fun, but it would’ve been a heck of a lot easier for the Bears and their fans if they didn’t keep digging themselves into holes. They have a dynamic and electric offense and a quarterback coming into his own, but they had one of the worst defenses in the league. That could change if they could find someone other than Sweat to disrupt opposing quarterbacks and give the pass rush a little teeth. Sweat had 10 of the Bears’ 35 sacks. They’ve got to find someone to complement him. Dallas Cowboys Can they replace what they lost in Micah Parsons and fix their awful defense? Jerry Jones is really pleased at the return he got for Parsons — especially in DT Kenny Clark. And he loves that he was able to acquire DT Quinnen Williams, too. That’s swell, but neither of them are the kind of impact player that Parsons is. Also, beyond those two DTs, the defense is extraordinarily weak. This can’t be said enough: The Cowboys have the makings of a championship offense, but they have the exact opposite of that on defense. They need to focus all their attention on adding defensive playmakers and depth. Otherwise, they’ll be in a lot of shootouts that they probably can’t win. Detroit Lions Can they fix their aging offensive line? They missed center Frank Ragnow so much last season they tried to unretire him. Interior lineman Graham Glasnow turns 34 in August, while left tackle Taylor Decker turns 33. The Lions need an influx of youth and they need it quickly because the line’s struggles last year were why the offense’s dangerous run game struggled, especially late in the season. Yeah, they missed former OC Ben Johnson as well, but they still could’ve been good enough to thrive without him with better blocking. They need to add at least two pieces this offseason. Maybe even three. Green Bay Packers Will they add or develop a No. 1 WR to pair with QB Jordan Love? Love had an oddly low-production season last year for a QB with so much talent. And a big reason for that is this: He’s surrounded by a group of No 2 receivers, at best. Much like the Bills with Josh Allen, the Packers have consistently failed to give him what every QB needs — an elite receiver to make his life easier. Romeo Doubs led the Packers in receiving, with a mere 55 catches for 724 yards. Christian Watson was always hurt. Maybe Matthew Golden, last year’s first-rounder, will be that guy eventually. But he was barely noticeable as a rookie (29-361-0). The Pack’s second-leading receiver was a running back. It’s past time for an upgrade in weapons. Los Angeles Rams Can they plug enough holes in their defense for one last run at a title? The Rams’ biggest issue is going to be whether QB Matthew Stafford can duplicate his stunning MVP season at age 38. They believe he can, which means they have to load up for an all-or-nothing Super Bowl run, and their Achilles heel is clearly their 17th-ranked defense. They have a strong pass rush up front, but the defense gets worse with each ensuing level. The secondary in particular was exposed in the playoffs, especially versus Seattle in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams should focus their money and top draft picks on the cornerback position, and load up as best as they can there. Minnesota Vikings Are they completely committed to J.J. McCarthy at QB? Boy, did they miscalculate letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency last year so they could turn over a team that went 14-3 in 2024 to essentially a rookie QB. McCarthy wasn’t ready. He also wasn’t completely healthy. He played only 10 games and, at his best, was just OK. Now he’s entering his third NFL season, but with only those 10 games of experience. The Vikings must decide whether to continue exploring what they got in McCarthy while potentially wasting another season, or exploring the market — via trades or free agency — for something better, or at least someone a little more ready. New Orleans Saints How many weapons can they get to help QB Tyler Shough? The 26-year-old rookie showed a lot of promise down the stretch of last season, giving the Saints hope that maybe they’ve found a QB they can win with. But he’ll only be as good as the weapons around him. WR Chris Olave is great, but he’s in the last year of his contract. TE Juwan Johnson is 29. RB Alvin Kamara is 30 and declining. They need to load up on young, dynamic offensive players. The more they can get to help Shough out, the better. New York Giants Are the pieces really there for a strong defense, or do they need more? The fact that the Giants’ defense was statistically one of the worst last season was confounding, given the talent they have. They’ve got a front that includes Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter and Dexter Lawrence, a solid middle linebacker in Bobby Okereke and a veteran secondary. On paper, they shouldn’t stink. But they did, which raises the question: Can John Harbaugh and new DC Dennard Wilson coach this unit into what it should be, or do they need a talent overhaul? Chances are it’s a little of both, but they need to figure out how much more they actually need. Philadelphia Eagles Can the offensive line thrive without OL coach Jeff Stoutland? Perhaps the biggest earthquake in years in the NFC East came from a social media post that ended with “Stout Out.” Stoutland is one of the finest offensive line coaches ever, and he’s a big reason why the Eagles’ line has been dominant for years. It did regress a bit last season, though, and key players such as 35-year-old right tackle Lane Johnson are getting older and more fragile. Normally, they would have just trusted Stout to figure it out and kept the conveyor belt of talent rolling. But with the revered coach out, can they still piece things together? Because, at heart, the Eagles are a running team. Without a strong front, they won’t be the same. San Francisco 49ers Can they fix the defense now that coordinator Robert Saleh is gone? Saleh rightfully got credit for holding the Niners’ defense together with duct tape, but in the end, they were still ranked in the bottom half of the league, they barely generated a pass rush and they were exposed in the playoffs. Now Raheem Morris takes over as DC and they can’t just hope that Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both return to health from ACL tears. They need to reload while they’re learning a new scheme, particularly up front. They obviously need to add a little overall depth, too, but if that pass rush isn’t much improved, Morris won’t have much of a chance. Seattle Seahawks Are they good enough on offense to withstand the loss of OC Klint Kubiak? He was the “hot coordinator” this offseason for a reason. In his first year as the Seahawks’ OC, the 39-year-old helped turn them into a top-10 offense and keep QB Sam Darnold playing at an elite level. Oh, and they won a Super Bowl, after which Kubiak left to become the head coach of the Raiders. So, was Seattle’s offensive surge all about Kubiak? Can new OC Brian Fleury recreate the magic? If the Seahawks aren’t completely sure, they might need to think about adding some weapons to help Darnold and Fleury out. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a great receiver, but he was basically Seattle’s only one. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will they find anyone who can actually rush the passer? When healthy, the Bucs seem to have more than enough offensive firepower, but it’s still hard for them to keep up because of their leaky defense. And a lot of that is because opposing QBs get awfully comfortable in the pocket against them. Their top pass-rushers (YaYa Diaby) had just seven sacks and the team had only 37. They thought Haason Reddick would be the answer, but he cashed out with 2.5 sacks. A big upgrade at edge rusher would seem to be a priority. It also might give the Bucs just enough of a boost in their weak division. Washington Commanders Can they completely overhaul their defense in just one offseason? Dan Quinn, a former defensive coordinator himself, demoted his DC and took over the playcalling, and it still didn’t help last season. The Commanders had the worst defense in the league thanks to an invisible pass rush, terrible tackling and a porous secondary. There are so many holes it’s hard to know where to start, but they better figure it out fast. If QB Jayden Daniels is healthy again, they’ve got the offense to be a contender. But that defense, if it’s not totally redone, is destined to keep dragging Washington down.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Only one NFL team finished the season truly happy, and even the Seattle Seahawks understand they have work to do for 2026. For everyone else, the work is already underway as they try to fill their biggest holes and fix their greatest flaws before next season begins. And what are those big holes and flaws? What is the most important thing each team must address in the coming months? Here is the biggest question each AFC team will have to answer before training camp starts in July. RELATED: The Biggest Question Facing Each NFC Team Baltimore Ravens Can they rebuild their offensive line? This is a team with both an elite quarterback that must be protected at all costs, and a powerful run game that needs some road-graders to lead it. The Ravens didn’t have that last season, which is part of why their season so quickly fell apart. They need to improve at both guard spots in any way possible, and they may need a new center too if they lose Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. To be a Super Bowl contender again, they have to keep Lamar Jackson upright, and they need big bodies to pave the road for Derrick Henry’s inside runs. Buffalo Bills Will they get Josh Allen a go-to receiver? The Bills are a bit cranky about this topic, but there’s no way around it. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL with possibly the strongest arm, and they have absolutely failed at surrounding him with enough talented weapons. Give him a true No. 1 receiver, no matter the cost, and imagine how good their offense could be. That has to be their priority this offseason. No hole is bigger or more crucial to fill. Cincinnati Bengals How will they replace Trey Hendrickson and add some teeth to their defense? The only difference-maker the Bengals have on a defense that’s been awful for a long time is Hendrickson, who seems almost certain to leave via free agency. The good news is the Bengals do have the money to replace him (or re-sign him, if so inclined). They should be in play for every pass-rushing end or tackle they can find and consider one in the first round of the draft, too. A healthy Joe Burrow gives the Bengals an elite offense, but they can’t count on winning every game 41-38. Cleveland Browns Is Shedeur Sanders their franchise QB, or will they look elsewhere? The polarization around Sanders last season was fascinating to watch. Most either really hated him or really, really loved him. But here’s the truth: He played like a lot of other rookie quarterbacks — that is, he showed some potential and lots of things he needs to fix. So, will new coach Todd Monken give Sanders a full season to seek an upgrade this offseason? Cleveland has internal alternatives — Dillon Gabriel and whatever’s left of Deshaun Watson. The Browns could also sign a free agent. But they need to settle on one strategy and not treat their quarterbacks like interchangeable yo-yos. Denver Broncos Will they get another weapon to help out QB Bo Nix? Courtland Sutton is pretty close to being an elite receiver, but what do the Broncos really have beyond him? R.J. Harvey could be a strong half of a rushing attack, but nothing else really jumps out. Nix is an emerging quarterback playing for an outstanding offensive mind in Sean Payton. Together, they could be dangerous, but only if Nix gets a couple of new weapons to help him out. One should definitely be a receiver, but even a dangerous, pass-catching tight end could also work wonders. Houston Texans Can they get some protection for QB C.J. Stroud? They overhauled their offensive line last offseason and the results were definitely mixed. Stroud’s sacks were greatly reduced, but he was still pressured enough to look rattled at times — a fact that became really clear when he was sacked six times and threw five interceptions over two playoff games. The Texans weren’t great in run blocking either and could use help in the interior and at right tackle if they want to take the next step as a team. Indianapolis Colts Will Daniel Jones be ready for the season, and will the Colts re-sign him? The Colts had plenty of flaws, but they showed loads of potential and looked playoff-caliber when Daniel Jones was healthy. Then came his torn ACL and the Colts’ season went with it. Jones is scheduled to be a free agent and is staring at a timeline that puts his return, optimistically, at some point in August. He also does not have a good history of returning to form quickly after an injury. So, does Indy bring him back? And at what cost? Either way, it’s a risky bet on an uncertain future for both the quarterback and the franchise. Jacksonville Jaguars What are they going to do with WR/CB Travis Hunter? They were so excited about the possibilities of this two-way superstar when they traded up to draft him No. 2 overall last year. But he was relatively unimpressive at both positions before he injured his knee early in the year. Now they are already talking about using him primarily as a cornerback, but it’s unclear if he’s a real difference-maker at either spot. He needs to be, given how high he was drafted. The talent he’s supposed to have is the kind that could make Jacksonville a contender. Kansas City Chiefs Can the Chiefs rebuild their defensive line? Their fate, for the most part, is tied to the recovery and health of QB Patrick Mahomes. But it was pretty clear last year that he can’t do it all alone. The Chiefs’ defense was a big disappointment despite ranking in the top 10 overall. In particular, their pass rush was non-existent, with just 35 total sacks (22nd in the NFL). Nobody had more than Chris Jones’ seven, and he’s about to turn 32. They need to add at least one strong rusher off the edge. Steve Spagnuolo runs a very aggressive scheme, but it can’t work if he doesn’t have the horses to ride. Las Vegas Raiders Can they fix their offensive line enough to give Fernando Mendoza a fighting chance? They are presumably going to draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza first overall, and once they do, their No. 1 job will be to not ruin him. That will be tough if the Raiders have a repeat of last season when their quarterbacks were sacked 64 times — an average of almost four per game. They have enough offensive weapons to help Mendoza, including a promising running back in Ashton Jeanty who simply needs more room to operate. It doesn’t matter if Vegas uses free agency or the draft. The line just has to look completely different than it did in 2025. Los Angeles Chargers Can they fix their line enough to keep QB Justin Herbert healthy? Speaking of teams with serious offensive line issues … the Chargers were right behind the Raiders in terms of lack of support for their QB (they allowed 60 sacks). It’s no wonder Justin Herbert had to play the last month of the season and the playoffs with a broken left hand. It’s also no wonder he ended up throwing 13 interceptions — 10 more than he threw the year before. Herbert is as talented as any QB in the league. If he’s given a chance, he could lead the Chargers a long way. But if they can’t keep him upright, his talent will continue to be undermined. Miami Dolphins What are they going to do with Tua Tagovailoa and his contract? Since he was the first $50 million quarterback to ever get benched, this decision is going to be expensive. It’s hard to imagine the new regime — GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley — will want to keep him. It’s also hard to imagine they’ll find a trading partner. And cutting him could result in a record “dead cap” hit of $99.2 million. Still, the Dolphins need to do something, whether it’s reluctantly giving him another shot or finding someone else to build around for the future. They just have to figure out which of the lesser options is worth the exorbitant cost. New England Patriots How can they fix an offensive line that was a playoff disaster? Drake Maye had a miraculous, near-MVP season and led the Patriots all the way to Super Bowl LX. But really, it’s a miracle he was still standing at the end. He was sacked 47 times in the regular season and 21 more over four playoff games, including six times in the Super Bowl. So, yeah, the Patriots need to fix that so they can protect their biggest asset and, more importantly, give them a fighting chance against what is guaranteed to be a much tougher schedule next year. New York Jets Again: Who is going to play quarterback? They have been asking this question for 50 years and every time they think they’ve found even a temporary answer, something happens to rip the rug out from under their feet. Justin Fields didn’t work out last season, but they also won too many games to land the top pick in what is viewed as a one-QB draft. So, now what? The Jets won’t run it back with Fields, so will they draft a lesser quarterback, maybe in a later round, overspend on a questionable free-agent class, or overpay in a trade for someone like Mac Jones? The possibilities are endless, but none of them are very attractive. At this point, they’re just killing time until the 2027 draft. Pittsburgh Steelers Are they really going to run it back with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers? New coach Mike McCarthy seems to think it’s worth it to reunite with his former Packers Super Bowl-winning quarterback. And to be fair, Rodgers showed last season he still has some skills and value. But he’s also clearly not close to the same as he once was. He barely dragged the Steelers to the playoffs. And who knows how much longer he can avoid breaking down? The Steelers desperately need a reset with a new franchise quarterback, but at the moment, they don’t have easy access to one. Rodgers can make them mediocre again. But all that will do is keep Pittsburgh out of reach of the best quarterbacks in next year’s draft, too. Tennessee Titans Is Brian Daboll the right OC to take QB Cam Ward to the next level? Given all their investment in the 2025 No. 1 pick, it was a bit of a surprise that the Titans hired a defensive-minded head coach in Robert Saleh. But he at least hired a respected offensive mind in Daboll to be his offensive coordinator. Daboll, after all, was once instrumental in the development of Bills QB Josh Allen. But that was before his four years as head coach of the Giants, when his offenses and quarterbacks were mostly bad. Tennessee can only hope that was because of a talent deficiency the Giants had, not because of Daboll’s coaching. The Titans need to make sure they’ve put their most prized possession in the right hands.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports