With each passing week of the college football season, we learn a little more about the prospects who could make up the 2026 NFL Draft class. And with each week of the NFL season, more is revealed about the teams who could be drafting those players.
There’s still a lot of football left, on both levels, but it’s never too early to look ahead — especially for those NFL teams struggling to stay afloat.
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Ahead of the NFL games on Oct. 19 and 20, The Athletic’s Playoff Simulator has the Jets, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Giants, Vikings, Saints and Cardinals projected to finish in last place in their respective divisions. How could those franchises take a step forward via the ’26 draft? Which prospects make the most sense for each of them?
Our NFL Draft experts, Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner, take a team-by-team look:
AFC
New York Jets (AFC East)
Currently in line to hold the No. 1 pick, the Jets — should they remain in that position — would have the opportunity to draft the best overall prospect in the class. But if they believe in any of these quarterbacks, that position has to be their pick.
This quarterback class is tough to assess. The first-round candidates are all underclassmen, and they all have a realistic chance of returning to school.
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