NFL Team Needs: Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Titans (2026)

NFL Team Needs: Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Titans (2026)

The first four picks of the NFL Draft don’t just shape individual franchises — they shape the entire board.

These teams finished at the bottom of the standings for a reason. Whether it’s quarterback instability, trench issues, defensive breakdowns, or roster-wide depth concerns, each organization picking inside the top four enters draft weekend and 2026 NFL free agency with major decisions to make.

But “worst record” doesn’t always mean “worst roster” (although sometimes it very much does). Some teams are a quarterback away. Others need foundational pieces on both sides of the ball. And in a draft where positional value, long-term vision, and coaching timelines all collide, these picks carry outsized importance.

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 will dictate the tempo of Round 1 and during the free agency FRENZY.

Let’s start at the top of the board with the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans.

Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.

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Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders

2026 Free Agents:

2027 Free Agents:

Team Needs: QB, OL, EDGE, WR, CB, LB

No sugarcoating the Raiders’ two biggest needs: quarterback and offensive line. Those positions were dreadful for the Black Hole in 2025, and it’s exactly why they find themselves holding the No. 1 Overall pick.

Conventional thinking holds that Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be selected No. 1 overall by the Raiders in this year’s draft.

However, this doesn’t mean Geno Smith is completely gone for 2026. Could very much serve as a bridge QB in Las Vegas. New Raiders HC Klink Kubiak was initially drawn to Seattle because of Smith.

But before that even happens, Kubiak, second-year GM John Spytek, and partial owner Tom Brady need to devise a way to fix this offensive line.

Bringing Kubiak’s offensive system is already a big upgrade, given how well he has coached less-than-elite offensive lines over the last two seasons with the Saints and Seahawks.

I looked at this from a betting perspective before the season. Essentially, what was the correlation between preseason OL rankings and win totals? Long story short, analysts have done a decent job pinpointing bad offensive lines during the preseason… which has led to more underwhelming win totals.

Well, until this season, LOL. Seattle and New England were both inside the bottom 5. Seattle was bottom-5 for the third consecutive season….

Sure, the tackles stayed relatively healthy, and Grey Zabel was a great first-round draft pick. But I think Kubiak’s scheme played such a big role in the offensive line’s improvement to 15th overall (per PFF).

The interior was definitely its weakest part in Seattle, and it’s similar in Las Vegas.

I want to point out that it’s more about the interior offensive line needs than tackle, given the team already has OT Kolton Miller, who was just injured last season (limited to just four games).

Why is this so critical to call out? Per PFF, Miller was arguably the best left tackle in the league before his injury, as he earned an 89.5 PFF pass-blocking grade.

OG/center Jackson Powers-Johnson was also hurt last season (7 games).

Still, nobody will argue against another offensive tackle. Per PFF, the two starting tackles from last season ranked first and second in sacks allowed.

Just getting healthier across the offensive line will see this unit play dramatically better in 2026. Add Kubiak’s scheme, and we could really see Ashton Jeanty shine in Year 2. Brock Bowers might get the JSN treatment.

The run-blocking was terrible in 2025, ranking near the bottom of the NFL (30th-32nd) in win rate and yards per attempt. The line struggled to create space, resulting in rookie running back Ashton Jeanty being hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on nearly 50% of his carries during his rookie season.

OG Alex Kappa also figures to be a potential salary cap cut candidate, further bolstering the need for more blocking depth.

WR Tre Tucker is entering the last year of his contract, but it remains to be seen how this new coaching staff views him. Neither rookie WR, Jack Bech nor Dont’e Thornton, flashed enough to justify bringing back the same veteran wide receiver corps from 2025 with a rookie QB under center.

Can’t rule out free agent WR Rashid Shaheed following Kubiak to the desert.

And if the team does trade Maxx Crosby, they will definitely need to bring in some pass-rush juice with the draft-pick compensation (to go with the second-most salary cap space). Malcolm Koonce is also a free agent.

No.1 CB, Eric Stokes, is also an impending free agent.

An interesting coaching note: the Raiders’ current RB coach is Deland McCullough, who spent 2022-2024 in the same position at Notre Dame. Not to say that Jeremiyah Love will be taken first overall…but don’t completely rule out an Ashton Jeanty/Jadarian Price tandem in LV (although I am already preparing my pitchfork).

Might shed some light on some LV-ND player connections throughout the draft process. Fighting Irish to monitor include OG Billy Schrauth, TE Eli Raridon, and OT Aamil Wagner.

The Chiefs also requested to interview McCullough – he was the former RB coach for KC from 2018-2020. Perhaps KC is showing its interest in these Notre Dame RBs. I’m sure we can all stay level-headed when the Chiefs select Love 9th overall.

Pick 2: New York Jets

2026 Free Agents:

2027 Free Agents:

Team Needs: QB, RB, WR, DT, CB, EDGE, S, IOL

Sources told Tony Pauline that the Jets have let it be known they’d like to bring Tyrod Taylor back in 2026 in a similar role to the one he manned last season.

However, Justin Fields may not be so lucky. After a disastrous first year with the Jets, second-year HC Aaron Glenn might not feel obligated to return Fields as QB1 in 2026 (last year on his deal). This would be extremely telling about Fields’ status in New York if he is released, given that the Jets already have a ton of salary cap space (4th-most).

Frank Reich was brought in as the new OC after finishing last year as Stanford’s interim HC. Reich has been out of the NFL since he was fired by the Panthers in 2023 (just 11 games as HC). Carson Wentz could be a stopgap option for the Jets given his relationship with Reich. Or Andy Dalton. Reich typically wants a big pocket passer. Essentially, as far removed from Fields as possible. Derek Carr-Bill Musgrave reunite!?

Given that this is a one-QB class…The Jets are better off punting the QB position entirely with veteran options than investing in one with the second overall pick (or even the 16th overall pick). At least that’s one man’s opinion.

Breece Hall is one of the most highly-coveted RBs hitting free agency. Rumblings suggest the team wants to use the transition tag on Hall, according to NFL Insider Jonathan Jones.

Given that the Jets have so much cap space, it’s hard to see them just letting Hall completely walk without at least offering him something. However, given all the needs this team has during a full rebuild, it shouldn’t be surprising to see them allocate resources to younger assets who don’t play RB.

Also, does Hall even want to be a Jet? For lyfe?

Bodes well for third-year RBs such as Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis to see expanded roles. Also, keep an eye on rookie RB Jaydn Ott. Bill Musgrave (new Jets QB coach and certified Derek Carr stan) was his OC at Cal in 2022 during Ott’s true freshman season.

FWIW, Musgrave was the offensive coordinator at Cal when Fernando Mendoza was a freshman.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Because here’s the thing about the Jets – it’s not a completely terrible landing spot for a QB. You have a stud No. 1 WR in Garrett Wilson (but not much depth behind him aside from Adonai Mitchell). The offensive line is bookended by two young, promising tackles. The IOL needs some work, but I presume Gang Green can re-sign guys in FA.

Defense. Literally. Anybody who has ball-hawking skills. The Jets need to get defensive playmakers to force more turnovers after getting zero interceptions in 2025. Basically, they need to replace DT Quinnen Williams and CB Ahmad Gardner, who were traded last year before the trade deadline.

Luckily, they have all the draft capital they need, with four picks inside the top-44 (two in the top 20 at second and 16th, respectively).

fantasy football dynasty trade value chart

Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals

2026 Free Agents

2027 Free Agents

Team Needs: QB, RB, RT, IOL, EDGE, DT

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort did not completely rule out Kyler Murray returning as the team’s starting QB – given that he is still under contract (with a cap hit north of $50M). New HC Mike LeFleur (and the team’s new offensive play caller) also hasn’t technically ruled out Murray as a QB option for 2026.

NFL insider Dianna Russini said there’s a belief that Murray will be tried in 2026. This is a reversal from just a few months ago, when Russini reported that nobody would be surprised if the team moved on from the 28-year-old QB.

Simply put, Arizona would like to be compensated for Murray, given how many QB-needy teams there are.

The contract complicates things because he’s still owed $36.8 million in fully guaranteed salary and bonuses for 2026, per the Athletic.

The Jets, Browns, Dolphins, Vikings, etc. could be potential suitors for the former No. 1 overall pick, especially if Arizona is willing to take on part of Murray’s deal in order to complete a trade. Also, there is genuine interest in Malik Willis as a Cardinals’ target in free agency:

Jace on X did a great job of outlining the team/player connection:

Jacoby Brissett is under contract until 2027.

Arizona will have to decide what to do with Murray by March 16th, because that’s when the Cardinals QB will be guaranteed his $19.5 million base salary for the 2027 season (per ESPN).

All the breadcrumbs suggest a trade is most likely, with many circling the Vikings as the premier landing spot for the short-statured quarterback. We know QBs want to go to Minnesota and play for Kevin O’Connell. Worked for all the other veterans.

Nevertheless, Murray is probably going to open as a Week 1 starter somewhere in 2026. Best ball drafters should take advantage of his ADP price outside the top-20 QBs.

Veteran James Conner is a legitimate cut candidate – 31 years old and coming off a season-ending foot injury entering the last year of his contract – and Trey Benson hasn’t been able to stay healthy in his two seasons.

Given both LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett’s ties to Breece Hall from their days with the New York Jets, the desert could be a sneaky landing spot if Hall doesn’t return to Gang Green. Keep in mind that one of Hall’s best seasons came with Hackett as the Jets’ OC in 2023 (Hall was fantasy’s RB2).

The offensive line has a ton of free agents over the next two seasons, with RT specifically the biggest immediate need (Kelvin Beachum will be 36 and is on an expired deal).

Defensively, the Cardinals need more pass rush juice, ranking 30th in PFF pass rush grade and 29th in pressure rate generated in 2025.

They have interior players, but it remains to be seen how second-year DT Walter Nolen will recover from his December Achilles injury. Calais Campbell will be 40 years old in 2026.

Then, considering all their 2027 defensive line free agents, Arizona may need to use 2026 to extend or replace core pieces early.

The secondary isn’t catastrophic, but they need to stay healthier than they were last season. Safety Jalen Thompson is also a free agent (second in defensive snaps played behind Budda Baker).

Pick 4: Tennessee Titans

2026 Free Agents:

2027 Free Agents:

Team Needs: WR, CB, IOL, EDGE, RB

Works in the Titans’ favor that they are the only team picking inside the top-4 without a dire need at QB. That should allow them to draft a top 3 player in this class.

Getting Cam Ward more weapons is a MUST. Hard to justify the Titans not coming away with one of the draft’s top WRs in this year’s class (or multiple shots in Rounds 2+3).

More weapons, Brian Daboll stepping in as the Titans’ new OC; don’t have to squint to see how Ward is poised for a massive Year 2 leap.

I could very much see FA WR Wan’Dale Robinson re-joining forces with Daboll in Nashville.

New HC Robert Saleh joins second-year GM Mike Borgonzi in Tennessee with more salary cap space than they know what to do with (most in the NFL).

Defensively, the team ranked dead last in yards per pass attempt faced (8.2) in 2025. But given how much Saleh’s presence boosts the performance of his defense, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans spend more on offense than defense in both FA and the draft.

That being said, hard to say no to a defensive-minded HC that wants to build his defense with a premier edge rusher. Somebody to pair with Jeffery Simmons. Would imagine any former Jets/49ers defensive linemen that played under Saleh might take their talents to Nashville during the FA period.

Not to mention three of the 5 top rushers from last season are impending FAs across the defensive line.

CB is probably the biggest need – and that’s where Saleh’s defense can be exposed the most by poor personnel. L’Jarius Sneed has been a mega bust since he signed with TEN two years ago. Good as gone

CB Jalyn Armour-Davis is also a free agent.

The same goes for Calvin Ridley. The Titans can save $13.43 million in cap space. And let’s not forget that Ridley broke his fibula in 2025, which is no easy injury to rebound from.

It’s a new HC and new OC coming in (worth noting that Brian Daboll coached Ridley at Alabama in 2017), so if they cut him… this certainly says something about Ridley’s remaining prospects in the NFL.

The team might kick the tires on some RBs with Pollard/Spears both entering the final years of their deals. The Titans can save over $7 million in cap space by cutting Pollard. He will be 29 years old just after the 2026 NFL Draft, which certainly puts him on the wrong side of the age cliff.

They also need another guard to replace the 36-year-old Kevin Zeitler. IOL between G/center.

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Andrew Erickson

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Andrew Erickson is a fantasy football analyst at FantasyPros. LFG.