With the NFL Draft approaching in April, teams are beginning to finalize their big boards after the combine. Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be selected first overall, according to most places to bet in the U.S., but the rest of the draft looks far less predictable than in recent years.
Some teams will prioritize drafting for fit, while others will focus on selecting the best player available regardless of position. Both strategies have produced success and failure over the years, and this draft will likely be no different. There are always teams that strike gold with their selections, and others that look back wishing they had gone a different direction.
Let’s take a look at projected landing spots that make sense, and a few that don’t.
Makes Sense: Sonny Styles to the Giants
The Giants have a lot of directions they could go here.
They have a handful of exciting young pieces, and Styles would be another. While receiver is a need, there isn’t one in this class worthy of being a top-5 pick. With Styles, the Giants would be going for upside. With a stacked defensive line and a solid set of safeties, adding a dynamic off-ball linebacker could turn this Giants defensive unit into something scary.
After an incredible combine, Styles makes a lot of sense for John Harbaugh’s team.
Doesn’t Make Sense: Carnell Tate to the Browns
To clarify, Tate only doesn’t make sense for the Browns with the No. 6 overall pick.
Cleveland owns two first-round selections this year thanks to the Travis Hunter trade, and their priority should be addressing the offensive line. The drop-off in talent between the linemen available at No. 6 and those likely to be there at No. 24 is significant compared to the receiver class. They should still be able to land a very talented receiver later in the first round. For now, the bigger priority is protecting whichever quarterback they decide to start this season before adding a flashy weapon to the offense.
Makes Sense: Jeremiyah Love to the Saints
The Saints caught fire late last season, and it looks like they may have found their quarterback in Tyler Shough.
Now the focus should shift to surrounding him with more talent. While some analysts still hesitate to take a running back this high, Love would be the clear best player available at this spot. With Alvin Kamara entering the later stages of his career, the Saints could reload with their running back of the future and stabilize the backfield for years to come. The rest of the league may also be hoping New Orleans doesn’t pass on him at No. 8, simply to avoid the possibility of Love falling to the Chiefs at No. 9.
Doesn’t Make Sense: Makai Lemon to the Rams
This isn’t meant as a knock on Lemon, who should develop into a very good receiver at the NFL level.
The idea of pairing him with Puka Nacua as the Rams’ top two wideouts is exciting on paper and would give Sean McVay another dynamic weapon in his offense. However, Los Angeles can likely get at least one more productive season out of Davante Adams as the No. 2 receiver. Because of that, the Rams may be better off addressing a bigger positional need.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq could essentially function as another receiving option for Matthew Stafford while strengthening a position that lacked a true standout last season. The Rams rotated through a committee at tight end in 2025, and while the group was serviceable, adding Sadiq would represent a more meaningful upgrade than drafting another wide receiver.
Makes Sense: Olaivavega Ioane to the Chargers
If the Chargers have any concern that the Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane won’t be available at pick No. 22, they should move up to get him.
They easily had the worst interior offensive line in the NFL last season, and just released guard Mekhi Becton. Ioane is the clear best guard in the league and would be a great addition to a line that is getting two Pro-Bowl level tackles back.
The Chargers went skill position last year in the first, but it’s time to go back to focusing on the line.
Doesn’t Make Sense: Malachi Fields to the Bills
Drafting a big, physical receiver in the first round backfired badly for Buffalo last time.
The Bills need someone who can stretch the field for Josh Allen, instead of relying on an old Brandin Cooks to do so. While Fields put on a show at the Senior Bowl, failing to run a sub-4.6 40-yard dash should scare the Bills away here. Khalil Shakir is a good possession receiver, but the Bills have been missing the big-play downfield guy. If they do go with a receiver with this pick, KC Concepcion makes more sense here.
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