This is where things get… awkward.
Teams picking ninth through 12th usually don’t expect to be here — and for franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys, selecting this high signals a season that fell short of expectations.
These aren’t rebuilding rosters (other than the Miami Dolphins).
These are teams with established franchise quarterbacks, strong cores, and playoff aspirations. But something broke — whether it was injuries, defensive regression, cap strain, coaching turnover, or roster imbalance.
That’s what makes this range fascinating.
These front offices aren’t drafting for survival. They’re drafting to recalibrate. The goal isn’t to build a foundation — it’s to fix what prevented a deep playoff run.
And unlike the teams at the very top, these organizations must balance immediate impact with long-term cap sustainability. Extensions are looming. Core players are aging. Windows don’t stay open forever.
In this batch, we break down:
- The biggest roster holes for each franchise
- Contract situations and future cap implications
- Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
- Potential fantasy football implications
These are the teams that don’t want to be here — but could use this draft slot to reload in a big way.
Up next: the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys.
Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.
- Fantasy Football Research & Advice
- Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- 2026 NFL Mock Drafts
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Dolphins
2026 Free Agents:
- RB: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders
- WR: George Pickens, Jalen Tolbert
- OL: G Robert Jones, LT Hakeem Adeniji, C Brock Hoffman (RFA), G T.J. Bass (RFA)
- EDGE: Dante Fowler Jr., Jadeveon Clowney, Payton Turner, Sam Williams
- LB: Kenneth Murray, Jack Sanborn
- CB: C.J. Goodwin, Corey Ballentine, Reddy Steward (ERFA)
- S: Donovan Wilson, Juanyeh Thomas (RFA), Josh Butler (ERFA)
- ST: Brandon Aubrey (RFA)
2027 Free Agents:
- QB: Will Grier
- RB: Malik Davis (RFA)
- WR: Jonathan Mingo, Parris Campbell, Ryan Flournoy (RFA)
- TE: Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford (RFA)
- OL: G Nick Leverett
- EDGE: James Houston
- DL: Solomon Thomas, Perrion Winfrey (RFA)
- LB: DeMarvion Overshown
- S: Malik Hooker, Alijah Clark (ERFA)
- ST: Bryan Anger
Team Needs: RB, LB, CB, S, EDGE, WR, OT
The Dallas offense was a wagon in 2025. But they have key pieces from last year’s unit that are hitting the open market between George Pickens and Javonte Williams.
Pickens is the priority, and I think it’s more likely than not that Dallas finds a way to keep him around, even if they use the franchise tag to buy more time to construct a long-term deal.
Williams had a renaissance with the Cowboys in 2025, but Big D has had major issues with paying RBs since Ezekiel Elliott. They let guys like Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle walk.
If Williams is let go…they will need to bolster the RB room.
On the offensive line, all five starters are back from last season. In fact, the offensive line is intact for the next two seasons with so many guys on lower-cost rookie contracts. Big D continues to build a strong offensive line.
RT Terrance Steele is really the only position Dallas might look for a future replacement for. LT Tyler Guyton has also not lived up to his first-round expectations since being drafted in 2024.
But the defense is hardly in good shape. Particularly the secondary.
Daltas’ defense flashed with some of its young pass rushers in 2025, such as Donovan Ezeiruaku.
But they are losing a lot of edge rusher depth between Dante Fowler Jr., Jadeveon Clowney, and Sam Williams
Acquiring Quinnen Williams was also a huge boost to the defensive interior alongside Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa.
But the secondary was routinely shredded by opposing passers. Rookie CB Shavon Reveal was coming off an injury, so there’s still time for him to contribute in his second season (first full season healthy).
However, safety Donovan Wilson led the team in snaps played and needs a new deal. Malik Hooker is in the last year of his deal. According to The Athletic, cutting him would free up to $6.8 million in cap space.
LB Kenneth Murray was also awful in 2025. He needs to be replaced.
Dallas has two opportunities to help their defense in the first round of this year’s draft with picks 12 and 20. But note that Dallas could very well be a team that trades back, given that it does not have any picks in Rounds 2 or 3.
New and first-time defensive coordinator Christian Parker will need to be up for the challenge. Parker is coming over from the Eagles after serving as the Broncos DBs coach from 2021 to 2023.
Coming from Philly, nobody should be surprised if Dallas looks to follow in the Eagles’ drafting footsteps by selecting former Georgia Bulldogs.
The new linebackers coach for Dallas spent his last three seasons with Georgia. C.J. Allen, you are a Dallas Cowboy.
Also FWIW, the new Cowboys secondary coach, Ryan Smith, recruited Mansoor Delane at Virginia Tech before he transferred to LSU.
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