For NFL general managers, accruing talent through the draft is inherently a long game. Decision-makers across the league warn about straying from the path of prioritizing value and instead seeking to patch up immediate areas of concern.
“If we went into the draft and filled every hole, we probably didn’t have a good draft,” Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman said after wrapping up his latest rookie class.
Still, holding firm and not forcing a pick at a particular position of need is easier said than done. With this year’s draft complete, however, several general managers managed to do just that – and still must deal with the ensuing fallout.
With the prime offseason window for adding premium talent now closed, front offices and coaching staffs must get creative in the search for solutions between now and the start of the season. At the center of any pursuit of quick fixes is sure to be the free agency market, which could ramp back up with signings now longer counting against teams’ compensatory pick formulas.
With plenty to be resolved in the coming months, here are seven teams that still have massive holes in the 2026 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals: Right tackle
Even in a draft class defined by bold early gambles at running back and quarterback, Arizona didn’t ignore its glaring weaknesses up front. The Cardinals pounced on Chase Bisontis in the second round to help lead the charge for a renewed run game.
While four spots along the front now can be considered resolved, the remaining spot could end up stirring plenty of discontent. Elijah Wilkinson has experience holding down a role after starting 17 games at right tackle with the Atlanta Falcons last season, but he didn’t inspire much confidence. In a division rich with talented linemen, the Cardinals might have trouble closing the gap on any of their competitors without a serious upgrade.
In all likelihood, however, that move is probably on hold until 2027, when Arizona is set to have a massive war chest for its forays into free agency.
Baltimore Ravens: Center
After losing three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, the Ravens seemed like a sure bet to bring aboard a mid-round rookie to take over at center. But 11 picks passed by without a single one addressing the pivot.
For Eric DeCosta, the alignment between need and value simply never coalesced. The Ravens general manager said he was drawn to second-rounders Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter, but both were claimed earlier than he anticipated. From there, the Ravens didn’t see anyone available at the position on Day 3 who would be “an impact player for us this year,” DeCosta said.
That abstention leaves Baltimore unsettled on the interior line, an area the team tried to solidify by taking offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane in the first round. Corey Bullock, Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter are now left to battle for the vacant first-string position. Even if a late add is necessary, DeCosta conveyed confidence that the matter would eventually be sorted out.
“I do think we’ll have a plan at the position. I feel confident in saying that,” DeCosta said in a news conference after the draft. “I think we have a couple guys here that will compete for that position. But as the Hall of Fame general manager (Ozzie Newsome) once said, ‘You don’t play games until September.’ And I think we’ll have a great offensive line at that point.”
Chicago Bears: Edge rusher
This might not constitute a true void comparable to the other selections on this list. Between Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears at least have reason to believe that the in-house options could prove capable of fixing the pressing problems with the pass rush.
But a leap forward isn’t guaranteed from either Booker, a 2024 fifth-round pick who has yet to become a consistent force, or Odeyingbo, who didn’t fare particularly well in his first season in Chicago before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 9. With Ryan Poles using all of his first three selections this year on offense, it leaves a heavy burden on Montez Sweat to prop up a group that last season ranked 27th in pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats.
Chicago doesn’t appear particularly likely to swing a substantive move to rejuvenate its pass rush anytime soon, as the franchise resisted pushing its chips in for a Maxx Crosby trade or other marquee acquisition at defensive end. That stance could always shift, though, if a compelling figure becomes available at a palatable price point.
Las Vegas Raiders: Defensive tackle
John Spytek had plenty of ground to cover in his second draft. With only so many early picks at his disposal after taking quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, the Raiders general manager was bound to leave at least one or two areas relatively unsupported.
Boosting the outlook at defensive tackle and wide receiver ended up taking a backseat to the effort to replenish the secondary. Yet whereas the pass-catching crew still has several recent mid-round selections the new coaching staff can try to bring along, there’s not a figure up front who looks in line for a breakthrough in new coordinator Rob Leonard’s scheme.
That dynamic could make things distinctly difficult for Maxx Crosby and Las Vegas’ splashy linebacker signings in Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. But with Raiders brass focusing far more on the long term after learning from last year’s missteps, it’s not an area that necessarily demands an immediate shift. The Raiders can try to transform the line next offseason, either with another high-priced free agent or an early pick in the draft.
New England Patriots: Nose tackle
Perhaps a true go-to receiver for Drake Maye might seem like the real missing piece for the defending AFC champions. It might only be a matter of time, however, before that deficiency is addressed with a post-June 1 trade for A.J. Brown finally coming to fruition.
Yet New England isn’t without some more minor short-term concerns elsewhere. After Khyiris Tonga departed in free agency, many assumed the Patriots would look outside in some form for a nose tackle, even if it didn’t make a premium investment in the position. Instead, it let the draft pass without adding competition for Cory Durden, who started Super Bowl 61 but remains largely unproven.
Unlike other teams on this list, New England might not feel compelled to take action on this front until much closer to the season at the earliest. With defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr showing a unique penchant for working around personnel shortcomings, the Patriots can see how Durden fares in training camp and the preseason before deciding whether it needs to take stock of other options. A more immediate move remains possible, but the team’s decision to focus on the future and not even take a Day 3 flier at the position spoke volumes.
New York Giants: Defensive tackle
When the Giants dealt Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of the draft, the move cratered a defensive line that already was in rough shape after conceding the second-most rushing yards of any team.
A run-stuffing defensive tackle seemed as though it would be on the agenda at some point on Day 2 or 3. The Houston Texans, however, made a point to jump ahead of New York early in the second round to grab Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. The Giants didn’t end up circling back to the position until the sixth-round selection of Bobby Jamison-Travis, leaving their front in a rather perilous position.
New coach John Harbaugh admitted as much but indicated additional moves should be forthcoming.
“It’s still something we have to continue to address,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not finished with that at all.”
Signing DJ Reader to replace Lawrence at nose tackle is a natural move – and an expected one, according to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. The Giants could continue to fortify their front by adding Shelby Harris or Benito Jones, both of whom visited with the team. No matter the solution, standing pat isn’t an option for an organization that has stockpiled talent at edge rusher and off-ball linebacker.
Washington Commanders: No. 2 wide receiver
The Commanders have a lot of pass catchers they can trot out to work alongside Terry McLaurin. None, however, is particularly threatening as a secondary option in a passing attack.
Even as Washington went full bore into the remaking of the defense this offseason, the receiving corps still was afforded some help. Third-round pick Antonio Williams could have a significant role right away as a slot target. Yet with new coordinator David Blough having made an avowed commitment to getting Jayden Daniels under center more often to create balance and boost the run game, there might only be so many opportunities for the Clemson product to get on the field.
A potential Brandon Aiyuk trade could continue to hover over the offseason for some time, with the San Francisco 49ers showing no urgency in offloading the mercurial receiver despite general manager John Lynch having made it clear there’s no route to return. Short of Aiyuk’s arrival, adding an veteran might not make sense for a position group already stuffed with middling options. But never count out Peters, who repeatedly has gotten aggressive in an effort to propel the Commanders into the NFC’s contending class.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL Draft: Seven teams left with massive roster holes