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Analyzing the Needs of the Top Three Pick Franchises in the NFL Draft 2026
Photo: Nov 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Analyzing the Needs of the Top Three Pick Franchises in the NFL Draft 2026

By - Mila Roy

Another season of NFL football is almost behind us. As such, interest in the NFL Draft will start to generate more and more interest in the run-up to the 2026 edition, which will take place in Pittsburgh across April 23-25.

We know that the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, and the Arizona Cardinals will have the first three picks, but in which department do they need to strengthen most via the Draft?

Las Vegas Raiders

Cast your mind back to Week 1 of the 2025 season – September 7 to be exact – when the Raiders downed the Patriots.

Since then, the Raiders stunk the place out while New England went on to reach the Super Bowl – for which they were a +175 chance in the NFL betting market.

Those Super Bowl 2026 odds gave the Seattle Seahawks a -225 probability of lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy – fair enough, given their outstanding campaign.

All of which may leave Raiders fans – and Pete Carroll – wondering what might have been when casting their minds back to September.

Las Vegas had the tied-worst record in the NFL at 3-14, although Geno Smith didn’t play like a basement quarterback, however, the Raiders may use the Draft as a chance to freshen up their passing corps.

Smith set up 20 touchdown receptions, but it was the Raiders’ rushing division – which contributed just five TDs – that was a major letdown.

Perhaps moves for a fleet-footed QB and a new offensive lineman will be at the top of their shopping list.

New York Jets

It’s reset and rejuvenate at the New York Jets, who will enjoy four of the top 50 picks in the Draft.

One of them will almost certainly be a new quarterback, with Justin Fields’ catastrophic stint with the Jets seemingly over given that he was jettisoned to the bench halfway through the season.

They were only able to run in 15 touchdown receptions; the tied-worse record in NFL 2025. And so a freshen up on offence – with a wide receiver or two also coming in – is vital.

But, of course, this is a Jets roster with many unique needs. They shipped at a rate of 29.6 points per game on average in 2025, so GM Darren Moughey has the unenviable task of trying to improve his franchise in both halves of the pitch.

Arizona Cardinals

Jacoby Brissett performed a serviceable job after coming in as Kyler Murray’s replacement at the Cardinals, so you wonder if the 33-year-old will be given a chance as starting QB in 2026.

Arizona ran in 40 touchdowns last season, which is unusually high for a team with a 3-14 record, so it becomes pretty obvious that defensive line recruits should be the order of the day in the Draft.

A revamped edge defense would certainly be welcomed by new head coach Mike LaFleur, with the early draft projections suggesting that he – and other back office staff at frontend pick franchises – will have no shortage of talented young stars to target.