With the 2026 NFL Draft right around the corner, every fanbase is wondering who their team is going to select. There’s an age-old argument between taking the best player available and going with a positional need. We’re looking at the latter in this series, exploring every NFL team’s biggest need, and who would be the best fit. First on the list is the NFC East.
The Cowboys traded away star pass-rusher Micah Parsons ahead of the 2025 season, and his absence was felt from the top down. The team struggled in all phases, but they felt it even more in the secondary.
Dallas ranked dead last in the NFL last season in pass yards allowed per game (251.5). They gave up 35 passing touchdowns, ranking 31st, ahead of only the New York Jets. It doesn’t matter how good CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are; no offense can get over that hump.
The Cowboys hold the 12th overall pick in the Draft and will likely use that pick on the secondary. Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is the expected pick here, but if LSU’s cornerback, Mansoor Delane, falls here, they’d be foolish not to take him.
Delane and Thieneman are day one starters, so there’s no wrong choice if they’re both there at 12. Whichever one Dallas ends up with, they’ll see an immediate improvement in the secondary.
The Giants have multiple needs to address in this Draft, and not enough capital to do it. They have two picks in the top 100, so they’ll be searching for mid-round gems. The fifth-overall pick is the most important here.
New York’s defense was among the worst in the NFL last season. They ranked 16th in pass yards APG (214.2), 31st in rush yards APG (145.3), and 26th in points APG (25.8). The biggest issues for them were a poor scheme under former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen and poor tackling.
While it’s entirely likely the Giants select Ohio State’s standout linebacker Sonny Styles, going to the secondary may be a better move. Styles’ teammate, safety Caleb Downs, is one of the best pure athletes in the Draft.
Downs immediately fills a need at safety for the Giants, and he’s a tackling machine. In 44 games at Alabama and Ohio State, he recorded 164 solo tackles and 257 combined tackles, along with 16 tackles for loss (TFL). Styles would be a fantastic pick, but the secondary needs more help.
The Eagles don’t have many immediate needs in this Draft. If they trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown, it likely won’t be until June, when his cap hit decreases. It is possible to see them take a wide receiver here if they intend on moving the 28-year-old, but the offensive line is more important.
The Eagles’ offense is extremely run-heavy. They won Super Bowl LIX on the backs of Saquon Barkley and their offensive line. Injuries played a large role, but the lack of creativity under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo torpedoed their season.
During Philly’s Super Bowl run in 2024, Barkley rushed 345 times for 2,0005 yards and 13 touchdowns, all career highs. 2025 saw him rush 280 times for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns. He played 16 games in each season, but the dropoff had little to do with him.
The Eagles’ star offensive tackle, Lane Johnson, is nearing the end of his career, and finding a successor will be a top priority. With the 23rd overall pick, Utah’s Caleb Lomu, Clemson’s Blake Miller, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor could be on the wish list here.
If somehow Georgia’s Monroe Freeling falls to 23, don’t be surprised if the Eagles are quick to take him. General manager Howie Roseman famously likes drafting Georgia Bulldogs, and Freeling is one of the best tackles in this class.
The Commanders’ biggest need right now can be described in one word: youth. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is entering his third year, and he’s surrounded by several veterans who are seemingly past their prime.
It’s vague to say Washington just needs offensive weapons, but they’re thin at wide receiver, tight end, and running back. Terry McLaurin is the clear WR1, but Deebo Samuel is a free agent, leaving the former without a duo.
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz suffered a torn ACL in Week 14, and at 35 years old, he won’t be the same player he once was. In the backfield, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the number one option. He was a rookie last year, but fell short of expectations.
If somehow Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love falls to the seventh overall spot, he’ll be a Commander. That seems improbable here, and taking a tight end in the top 10 isn’t a common move, no matter how good Kenyon Sadiq looks.
Carnell Tate is the consensus top wide receiver in this year’s class. While Washington can look toward its many defensive needs, the Ohio State wideout might be too good to pass up if he’s available.
Every team in the NFL is looking for its next superstar. The NFC East is one of the most competitive divisions in the league, and the gap between the four teams seems to be closing. I’ll be highlighting every division in this series leading up to the Draft, with the AFC East coming up next.
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