This is the sharp end of Round 1.
Picks 25 through 28 belong to teams that won double-digit games and fully expect to be playing deep into January again. The Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans aren’t looking for identity — they have one. They’re looking for reinforcement.
At this stage of the draft, the conversation shifts.
It’s no longer about fixing glaring weaknesses. It’s about strengthening pressure points before they become problems. Depth in the trenches. Secondary insurance. A rotational pass rusher. A long-term successor at a premium position.
For teams this good, the margins are razor-thin.
A missed tackle in the Divisional Round. A protection breakdown in the fourth quarter. A lack of depth when injuries inevitably strike. That’s often the difference between hosting a conference championship and watching it from home.
Late-first selections can also be strategic:
Planning ahead for looming contract extensions
Replacing aging veterans a year early
Adding cost-controlled impact talent to balance a top-heavy cap sheet
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 are already good.
The goal now? Stay that way — and get better.
Up next: Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans.
Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.
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NFL Team Needs: Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, Titans (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Giants, Browns, Commanders, Saints (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Chiefs, Bengals, Dolphins, Cowboys (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Falcons, Ravens, Buccaneers, Colts (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Lions, Vikings, Panthers, Packers (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Steelers, Chargers, Eagles, Jaguars (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Bears, Bills, 49ers, Texans (2026)
NFL Team Needs: Rams, Broncos, Patriots, Seahawks (2026)
Pick 28: Houston Texans
2026 Free Agents:
RB: Nick Chubb, Dare Ogunbowale
WR: Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios
TE: Harrison Bryant
OL: G Ed Ingram, RT Trenton Brown
EDGE: Denico Autry, Derek Barnett
DL: Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle, Foley Fatukasi, Naquan Jones, Kurt Hinish
LB: E.J. Speed, Christian Harris, Damone Clark
CB: Myles Bryant, Ja’Marcus Ingram (ERFA)
S: Jimmie Ward, M.J. Stewart
ST: Tommy Townsend
2027 Free Agents:
QB: C.J. Stroud (CLUB), Davis Mills
RB: Joe Mixon, British Brooks (RFA), Jawhar Jordan (ERFA)
WR: Justin Watson, Tank Dell, Jared Wayne (ERFA), Xavier Hutchinson, Josh Kelly (ERFA)
TE: Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan, Luke Lachey (ERFA)
OL: OT Tytus Howard, G Juice Scruggs, C Jake Andrews, G Jarrett Kingston (RFA), G Sidy Sow (RFA), C Jarrett Patterson, C Eli Cox (ERFA)
EDGE: Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson (CLUB), Dylan Horton, Xavier Thomas (RFA), Solomon Byrd (ERFA)
DL: Mario Edwards, Tommy Togiai, Junior Tafuna (ERFA)
LB: Azeez Al-Shaair, Jake Hansen, Henry To’oTo’o
CB: Tremon Smith, Brandon Codrington (ERFA), Alijah Huzzie (ERFA), Ajani Carter (ERFA)
S: Kaevon Merriweather
ST: Ka’imi Fairbairn
Team Needs: RB, OL, DT, EDGE, LB
Similar to the Chargers...we all know what the Houston Texans need to do this offseason. Improve the offensive line. Ripping it down to the studs last year did not result in positive results, specifically from a run-blocking perspective.
However, the pass-blocking wasn’t too bad, depending on the source. Per PFF, Houston’s offensive line gave up 156 pressures, including 17 sacks, on 644 pass plays. As a result, the group posted an 86.6 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating, which ranked fifth in the NFL this season.
However, the “effectiveness” of the Texans’ blocking is subject to debate based on the source. According to ESPN, the O-line was tied with the Lions’ for the NFL’s second-worst pass block win rate (55.5%).
GM Nick Caserio said at his opening NFL Combine Presser that “as it pertains to the offensive line, honestly, it’s probably one of the best years we’ve had since I’ve been here… Maybe I was watching different film.”
I’m in the camp that it wasn’t a great offensive line (especially in the postseason).
Caserio also mentioned being high on Jaylin Noel in Year 2 (don’t sell the stock quite yet!). Tank Dell will also return for the start of the offseason program.
But last year’s starting right side of the line is hitting free agency (Trent Brown only played 8 games). Two more starters will hit FA in 2027. Nearly every offensive line piece is in play this offseason. Upgrade the interior offensive line to help the run game in 2026.
RB needs to upgrade badly (specifically in creating explosive plays). The team is expected to part ways with Joe Mixon. Nick Chubb is a free agent. And Woody Marks? I’m not sold he is a feature back after the Texans took him in the fourth round of last season.
Marks was one of the least efficient RBs in football as a rookie. Bottom-10 in YPC (3.63), success rate, explosive runs, EPA per rush. Last among RBs in missed tackles forced per attempt. Worst RB in fantasy points vs expectation in 2025. And he was constantly leaving games with injury scares.
The second-year back looks like a placeholder back, not someone teams will hesitate to replace.
The Texans boasted one of, if not the best, defenses in the NFL in 2025. So it’s hard to fill too many non-existent holes. I’d say DT is an area they could use more juice.
They suffered some injuries to their defensive interior in 2025 (Mario Edwards, Tim Settle) that made them vulnerable against the run as the season progressed. Sheldon Rankins is also a free agent.
EDGE/LB aren’t glaring 2026 needs, but they might be in 2027, given the current structure of the roster/contracts. A depth EDGE signing would also make some sense with some guys leaving in free agency who are behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter on the depth chart.