The 2026 NFL Draft is a crucial matchmaking event for teams seeking prospects that align with their goals. Teams like the Seahawks and 49ers illustrate the varying outcomes of draft strategies.
Key points
NFL draft is a matchmaking exercise for teams.
Teams assess prospects to fit current and future goals.
Past drafts show varying success rates for teams.
2026 draft features players ideal for specific team needs.
First three rounds are crucial for immediate impact.
Seattle SeahawksSan Francisco 49ers
At its core, the NFL draft is a matchmaking exercise. Teams employ scouts and general managers to determine the who best fits the franchise's current and/or future goals and make moves to secure those players.
Sometimes it pans out. Last year the Seattle Seahawks traded up to select safety Nick Emmanwori. His mix of size and speed meant the team could more freely play with nickel personnel without losing much ground against the run. That unlocked the rest of the defense as the Seahawks earned a second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
Sometimes things don't work out as planned. The San Francisco 49ers traded away future draft capital to move into the top three picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. They selected Trey Lance who went 2-2 as a starter before the team moved on from him - though Brock Purdy's emergence helped cover for that outcome.
There are certain players who fit specific teams' needs better than others and in a way that franchise historically has addressed the position in every draft class. The 2026 group of players is no different with specific players looking like ideal fits for specific teams throughout the first three rounds.
This list skews more in the first-round but there are others outside of the top 32 who could be great fits for specific teams. Move over Hinge, Tinder, and Bumble, it's our turn to play matchmaker for all 32 NFL teams.
Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Q&A
Which players are ideal fits for the 2026 NFL Draft?
Specific players are identified as ideal fits for various teams based on their historical needs and the current draft class.
What lessons can be learned from past NFL Draft outcomes?
Past drafts, like the Seahawks' success with Nick Emmanwori and the 49ers' struggles with Trey Lance, highlight the risks and rewards of draft strategies.
How do NFL teams determine which prospects to select?
Teams use scouts and general managers to evaluate prospects that best fit their franchise's current and future goals.
What is the significance of the first three rounds of the NFL Draft?
The first three rounds are critical as they often contain players who can make an immediate impact on their teams.
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This one is a pretty direct mix of need and fit. The Raiders need a quarterback more than almost any other team in the league and Mendoza is the best fit possible. He’ll start a new chapter for the team at the most important position and give Klint Kubiak a good quarterback to begin his head coaching career with.
New York spent a lot on defense in free agency to lift the floor of the unit as a whole but still need productive edge rushers. Bailey’s as good as it gets in this class as far as getting to the quarterback goes and would instantly help a turnaround for the Jets’ pass rush.
Arizona has plenty of needs but the biggest one would be certainty at offensive line (after quarterback). Fano is the best offensive lineman in this class and could realistically line up at any spot in that group. He started at right tackle for the Utes but teams have worked him out at either guard or even center leading up to the draft.
Tennessee built up the defense through free agency but we’re sure Robert Saleh would like to find his own Fred Warner in Nashville. Reese may never reach those high standards but he’s an incredible athlete who improved to become one of the top prospects in the class regardless of position.
The Giants are building around quarterback Jaxson Dart in Year 2 as a starter with a new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh. Another top wide receiver from this class would be great in Round 1 which leaves the Giants open to getting help protecting Dart in Round 2. Bisontis should be available there with a great background at tackle before moving inside to guard for the Aggies.
Cleveland’s offensive line got a massive overhaul ahead of 2026 with free agent additions in Tytus Howard, Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins. That unit could use a young player, though. Freeling is one of the top tackles with experience on the left side and is one of the top athletes at the position in this class. He could grow into a long-term starter at one end of the line for the Browns as they transition away from their old identity under Kevin Stefanski.
The Commanders need a lot of help on defense but spent money to build up that unit. Now, they need to add a dynamic player to the offense. Concepcion is one of the best open-field threats in the class and could create space for Jayden Daniels, something Washington’s aging wide receiver room lacks.
It was between the top two edge rushers in this class for New Orleans to get a boost to their pass rush. The Saints need more than just Chase Young getting after opposing quarterbacks. Bain was one of the more productive edge rushers in the country in 2025. Yes, his arm length is a big question mark but he’s a powerful presence ready-made to contribute on the edge.
Yes, the Chiefs could use an edge rusher and cornerback help after free agency losses, but there’s something intriguing about giving Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes an outlier athlete at tight end to succeed franchise icon Travis Kelce. He’s young enough to grow into a featured role for the Chiefs as Mahomes looks to return to the AFC QB throne.
Cincinnati signed Dalton Risner to help shore up the interior of the offensive line but Ioane could be an even better option. He’s a plug-and-play starter who would give the Bengals’ offensive line an edge immediately with his power and movement in the run game. They need a lot of help on defense but this would be an incredible fit for the offense.
Jeff Hafley oversaw a defensive improvement in Green Bay and got the most out of free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney at safety. The Dolphins’ secondary needs a lot of help, and while one player alone can’t do it, Downs could come close. The Buckeyes’ product is a versatile piece who would lift the floor of the entire secondary and bring the Dolphins’ defense closer league-average.
Speaking of competence on defense, Styles would be an incredible fit for the Cowboys. This unit needs more overhaul from 2025 than most any in the league and dropping one of the most dynamic defensive players in the class would go a long way to remedy that. Styles would immediately turn around a weakness on the Cowboys’ defense and maybe make it a strength.
This is one of the least likely pairings but, if it came true, this would be perfect for a team going all-in to win the Super Bowl in 2026. Los Angeles has one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL, an MVP quarterback and one of the best play-callers in the league. Adding in a dynamic threat at running back could make them a truly unstoppable force.
Young feels like the type of edge rusher the Ravens used to proritize a decade ago. He’s a long, powerful, high-motor guy at 6-foot-6 and 262 pounds. Jesse Minter and the Ravens staff have to find a way to generate a more effective pass rush in 2026 to contend. Young doesn’t have the same ceiling of David Bailey or another top-three prospect but his high floor would make him a good fit.
Tampa Bay lost Mike Evans in free agency this year. Why not give them a guy who plays a similar brand of football out wide? Boston is another big-bodied wideout with physicality at the catch point. Replacing Evans is no small task but the transition would be a bit easier with Boston in the building.
Detroit may have to move Penei Sewell to left tackle after parting ways with Taylor Decker. If that pans out, Mauigoa could slot in at right tackle for the Lions. He’d be a fit with his powerful frame and anchor as well as his mauling attitude in run blocking. Ultimately he may be best at guard but he’s a perfectly viable tackle option until proven otherwise.
It was between Downs and Delane for the Vikings here as Brian Flores would get a much-needed boost in the secondary. Delane is as ready-made to contribute from Day 1 as any cornerback in this class. He’s a long, technically sound cornerback who ran well in his Pro Day to dissuade any athleticism concerns.
Carolina spent massively in free agency to bring in Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to bolster the front seven on defense. Terrell upgrades the secondary to bring it more on par with the improvements up front. He could stick outside opposite Jaycee Horn or kick inside to the slot thanks to his smaller frame. EIther way, he’d be a force in run defense with an attacking attitude.
Ponds is undersized but tested as one of the most athletic cornerbacks at the NFL combine. At 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he could be a force in the slot for the Steelers’ defense. Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean look set on the outside. Ponds could thrive at the nickel alongside those two in an improved secondary.
The Chargers need more difference-makers on defense, especially in the pass rush, as they can’t rely on Khalil Mack continuing to produce late into his 30s. It may seem uninspired to pair a former Wolverine to Jim Harbaugh’s squad but Moore would be an intriguing option in Round 2 who wins with speed-to-power and an improving bag of pass rush moves.
Trade rumors around A.J. Brown likely won’t die down leading up to the NFL Draft or even into the regular season. Bell will fall in the draft due to his late-season ACL injury but at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds he offers dynamic after-catch abilities in addition to physicality against defenders. That’s not too unlike Brown and Bell could make for an eventual successor.
Chicago Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in free agency from their NFC North-winning defense. Both were key contributors. Coby Bryant was a solid signing but the need is still pretty glaring at the safety spot. McNeil-Warren is a long, fast safety with a thumping presence in the running game. Pairing him with an experienced player like Bryant could help him get up to speed.
Buffalo’s secondary could use some help but adding another young body up front could lift the unit’s floor as a whole. Woods is similarly sized to Ed Oliver and T.J. Sanders with plenty of potential that he flashed in Clemson that made him a potential top-five prospect coming into 2025. He could work out the holes in his game in a rotational role early before developing into a star later on.
San Francisco has immediate needs on the offensive line but this one would be too much fun to pass up. Stowers is second only to Sadiq as outlier athletes at the tight end position in this class. The 49ers lack a reliable field stretcher and Kyle Shanahan's creative enough to get it done with a tight end in performing that role. His inconsistent blocking would be less of a concern with Luke Farrell and Jake Tonges on the roster already.
Houston needs a big body in the middle of the defensive line to free up Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to wreak havoc on opposing offensive linemen. Banks brings size with impressive explosiveness for a player measuring in at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds. A foot injury at the combine could cause him to fall and the Texans may be able to sweep him up late in Round 1.
The Patriots’ offensive line was exposed in Super Bowl 60 and they have to find better ways of protecting Drake Maye. Iheanachor could be available in Round 2 and would be an intriguing option both short- and long-term for the Patriots. He played exclusively on the right side in Tempe and could be the eventual starter there from Morgan Moses. He’s full of tools worth investing in and could start on the interior at guard as he develops.
Seattle’s offense has a few question marks as the defending champions look to avoid regression. While running back is a big area of need, shoring up the interior could make things easier on the running backs already on the roster. Rutledge’s run blocking gives him a high floor with his hand usage and burst off the line. He could be available for Seattle at the end of Round 2 which is important given their limited draft resources.
The Colts spent in free agency to stock up in the secondary and the defensive line but the linebacking corps is lagging behind. Golday brings prototypical size to the position with great athleticism and fluidity to improve as a coverage guy. His hand strength makes him a solid run defender and help the Colts’ defense in both phases.
It’d be a surprise to see Johnson still available when the Falcons are finally on the clock in Round 2 but they’d jump at the opportunity. The San Deigo State star is a scheme-versatile cornerback who can take over on the outside opposite A.J. Terrell with the athleticism to fit in coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s zone coverages.
Green Bay is hoping Micah Parsons is fully healed up when he returns in 2026 to give them one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. The back end could use more investment, though, and Abney could be a fit either outside opposite Keisean Nixon or at nickel over Javon Bullard. His track background shows up on tape. He’s far more physical than his 5-foot-10, 187-pound frame would suggest.
Jacksonville lost Devin Lloyd in free agency and that leaves a massive hole at linebacker for the Jaguars. Getting the defending Butkus Award winner (given to the best linebacker in colelge football) is a great way to overcome that loss. Rodriguez showed off his athleticism at the NFL combine to boost his stock. He could be a starter from Day 1.
Denver has bigger needs than edge rusher but this fit feels too good to pass on. Thomas is in a similar mold to Nik Bonitto as an undersized rusher (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) who thrives as an instinctual rusher. He’s bendy and explosive and could join the Broncos’ rotation off the edge and continue their reign as one of the most productive pass-rushing units in the NFL.
