NFL Draft Projections: Teams' Needs & Top Picks

0:00NFL stories making news on March 9th. The NFL Free Agency frenzy starts this week with all 32 teams, including the Chicago Bears, hunting for talent to fix their weaknesses. No squad is perfect, not even the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Ahead of the spending spree, experts have dropped a fresh projection for the first round of the 2026 draft. Teams that miss out in Free Agency will lean hard on the draft to fill gaps. A few handshake trades are already in place, but expect more wheeling and dealing soon. This mock has the Las Vegas Raiders swing big and number one for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as their franchise answer. Across the board, needs drive the picks, from past rushers and offensive linemen to weapons for young quarterbacks. The New York Jets grab a linebacker early, while the Arizona Cardinals and others boost their edges. Analysts see this as a deep class for trenches and skill spots. Chicago Bears fans note their team at 25, projected to add floored defensive tackle Kayla

1:02Banks for interior pressure. Powerhouses like the Kansas City Chiefs, Ayer Running Back, and the Dallas Cowboys, a wide receiver to A. Dak Prescott. Even the Seahawks cap it at 32, with Texas and M. Eddrusher Cassius Howe aiming to make their defense unstoppable. These projections set the stage as Free Agency heats up, what moves will shake up the order. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible, a pillow that plays your sound quietly, comfortably, effortlessly, built for nighttime listening, S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com.