Ideal 2026 NFL Draft Prospects to Get Wild-Card Losers Over the Hump

Every NFL franchise strives to play in the postseason. Once in, anything can happen. While true, the league's expanded playoff format places teams in the playoffs that aren't capable of competing at the highest level, because they're missing something.

For example, the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers had to win a division title during the final week of the regular season just to earn a chance. Both teams got an extra game, but they're now sitting on the couch like their rivals that didn't claim the crown.

Each squad that bowed out this past weekend has flaws that led to those losses.

The NFL draft can serve as a lifeline to inject talent into those areas of need and potentially push them beyond the thought that just making the playoffs is good enough.

With six more franchises now home after a Grandpa Simpson-like appearance in the postseason, they can target a specific prospect in April's draft, who can provide the greatest impact and help elevate the squad.

Carolina Panthers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

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The Carolina Panthers should take a page out of the Los Angeles Rams' book and invest in the tight end position.

The Rams offense has evolved throughout Sean McVay's tenure from a unit that utilized the highest rate of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) at the onset to 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends and one wide receiver) this season.

As Carolina continues to build around Bryce Young with the hope of getting the most out of the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick, the front office must add the right weaponry to the offense and maximize what it does best.

Currently, the Panthers lack a legitimate threat at tight end.

Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans are all 25 or younger. They present upside, but they don't produce much. None of those options managed 30 receptions or 250 receiving yards during the regular season.

Tremble caught three passes for 22 yards against the Rams, but he contributed more than three catches in a game only twice throughout the entire season.

Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq is a complete tight end capable of creating chunk plays thanks to his athleticism, controlling the middle of the field due to a strong frame and serving as the tip of the spear in the run game as a blocker.

The last point is important, because Carolina's offense operates at its best when the run game gets going. Sadiq is a legitimate weapon when blocking out in space and in line.

A year ago, Carolina drafted Tetairoa McMillan to give its offense a No. 1 target. He didn't disappoint as the front-runner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Panthers can add Sadiq and further diversify the offensive scheme.

If the Panthers are going to evolve beyond a team barely capable of winning the division and backing into the playoffs, they must do everything in their power to ensure Young's success by making the offense more explosive to compete with the NFC's top squads.

Green Bay Packers: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

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Obviously, the Green Bay Packers weren't a team of destiny this season.

Sure, they traded for Micah Parsons and Jordan Love turned 27 (as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers both did when Green Bay won a Super Bowl), and a championship seemed like a foregone conclusion at the onset of the 2025 campaign. Instead, the season ended in the worst possible fashion, with a collapse against the franchise's archrival after holding an 18-point lead in the third quarter.

The impact of the draft could be lessened by the fact that Green Bay doesn't own a first-round selection thanks to the Parsons trade, but it can target a specific skill set to still improve at a critical area.

The Packers never really replaced Kenny Clark, who was sent to the Dallas Cowboys in the aforementioned trade. While Green Bay held up relatively well Saturday against the Bears' run game, it really struggled to defend the run toward the end of the regular season, which was highlighted by Derrick Henry's 218-yard, four-touchdown performance for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17.

A week earlier, Chicago ran for 150 yards at five yards per carry. A week later, the Minnesota Vikings churned out 137 yards despite issues at quarterback.

Texas Tech's Lee Hunter is a wrecking ball in the middle of the defense. While so much of the emphasis was regularly placed on the Red Raiders' uber-talented edge-defenders, David Bailey and Romello Height, and Butkus Award-winning linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, Hunter obliterated opposing offensive approaches, particularly late in the season.

At 6'5" and 330 pounds, Hunter is a tailor-made NFL nose tackle. He is big, strong and violent at the point of attack, but he's more than just a space-eater, with the ability to reset the line of scrimmage, shed blocks and make plays in the backfield. In fact, he registered 10.5 tackles for loss this past season and also flashed the ability to collapse the pocket.

Typically, nose tackles don't carry much value in today's NFL. As a result, the Packers can benefit by getting the ideal skill set to fit their specific need without spending a first-round pick to do so.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

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No participant was in a better position than the Jacksonville Jaguars entering the Wild Card Round after winning eight straight games to claim the AFC South, seeing quarterback Trevor Lawrence play his best ball and getting to host a playoff contest.

Despite all of that momentum, the Jaguars still couldn't handle Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and Jacksonville's front office shouldn't back off investing in its defensive front when it managed to hit Allen only three times.

However, the Jaguars don't own a first-round pick in this year's draft thanks to the trade-up to acquire Travis Hunter. Granted, getting Hunter back healthy after his rookie season ended on injured reserve essentially gives them that first-rounder back, but from there Jacksonville still has to address its anemic pass rush.

Liam Coen's squad finished among the league's bottom six in sacks. Josh Hines-Allen continues to carry the load, while Travon Walker hasn't lived up to his full potential.

The last part can still be said even after back-to-back 10-sack campaigns, because Walker doesn't apply consistent pressure. He's a far more physical base end who is going to set the edge, defend the run at a high rate and sprinkle in some sacks.

Jacksonville needs someone who can come screaming off the edge opposite Hines-Allen and be a nuisance whenever he's on the field. This approach allows Walker to slide inside as part of sub-packages and work over guards. However, it's difficult to address a premium position without a first-round selection since those talents tend to come off the board earlier.

Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas is the perfect solution.

He is easily among the 2026 class' most natural pass-rushers because of explosive first-step quickness, outstanding athleticism and the flexibility to bend the corner.

However, he's undersized at a listed 6'2" and 249 pounds, and he's not going to be an every-down defender due to a lack of length and lower-body strength. Similar things were once said about Nik Bonitto, who is now a two-time Pro Bowler after registering 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons.

Thomas shouldn't automatically be lumped into the same category as one of the game's best defenders. The comparison simply shows the Jaguars could add an outstanding talent in the second round who doesn't fit prototypical standards yet addresses a specific area.

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

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Since a new coordinator can't be drafted, the Philadelphia Eagles must look at personnel changes to somehow get their offense back on track.

The Eagles' season ended in disarray with an offense that struggled throughout the campaign to string together complete efforts. Once again, Jalen Hurts and Co. went quiet during the second half of a game, which allowed the San Francisco 49ers to come back and win Sunday's Wild Card matchup.

A.J. Brown was often at the forefront of the perceived problems. Brown set four-year lows in receiving yardage and yards per reception, misplayed a pair of first-half deep passes against the 49ers and had a significant second-half drop, was seen in a verbal confrontation with his head coach and did not speak with the media after the loss.

The Eagles could look to move the 28-year-old target this offseason through a possible trade. Another wide receiver is necessary to help this Philadelphia offense.

The team could look toward the likes of Texas A&M's KC Concepcion or USC's Makai Lemon, who are both dynamic options, albeit with very different skill sets. However, neither brings the size the Eagles would need in return. They already have DeVonta Smith.

Washington's Denzel Boston is a 6'4", 209-pound target who excels in the exact areas Philly needs.

"Boston is known for his outstanding body control and ball skills, which enable him to consistently win contested catches," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote. "Boston tracks the football well as he works further down the field. He is a red-zone weapon on fade throws, getting his head and eyes around to the football quickly once he has gained upfield leverage on the defensive back. He is a savvy pass catcher who flashes his hands late as the football arrives.

"For a receiver of his size and stature, Boston is surprisingly quick. He runs efficient double moves, displaying his ability to sink his hips and drive out of the break to pull away from defenders."

Even if Brown returns, Boston provides another big body to offset the potential loss of tight end Dallas Goedert, who is set to enter free agency.

Los Angeles Chargers: OL Brian Parker II, Duke

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Something has to be done along the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive line after an abysmal season in which injuries and poor play nearly ruined quarterback Justin Herbert.

Obviously, Los Angeles cannot realistically prepare for the loss of both starting offensive tackles to season-ending injuries. Left tackle Rashawn Slater did not play a single game after suffering a torn patellar tendon during an August practice.

With Slater and Joe Alt out, the Chargers had to adjust. They didn't do so well since Herbert faced more pressure than any NFL quarterback. The New England Patriots sacked him six times Sunday, and they don't have a particularly potent pass rush.

Automatic improvement will occur when those offensive tackles are healthy and back in the lineup. Still, their returns aren't enough. Left guard and center are massive need areas. The team can go in either direction early in the draft. Though we're going to prioritize center in this instance.

With Zion Johnson set to enter free agency, the Chargers could easily select Penn State's Vega Ioane in the first round to give the team a big, rugged replacement and no one would argue with the selection.

However, the Chargers' season came to an end after veteran center Bradley Bozeman allowed the sixth and final sack during Sunday's contest.

He has pieced together a fine professional career as a starter for three different franchises. He turns 32 next season while entering the final year of his current deal. The Chargers can release him and save $3.1 million toward the salary cap, according to Over The Cap.

The real hang-up involves the center's diminishing performance. Bozeman pieced together arguably his worst season. Some of the issues likely stem from the instability found up front thanks to continual lineup changes. At the same time, a center is supposed to be the anchor making the calls and setting the table for the rest of the unit.

The Chargers will bring back Slater, Alt and Mekhi Becton. Left guard remains up in the air, but center should be the priority to set this group up for success.

Duke's Brian Parker II has played tackle throughout his collegiate career, but he's expected to move over the ball as a professional, much like Graham Barton did two years ago for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Parker already fits the mold of a Jim Harbaugh blocker as a "hard-nosed, athletic blocker with strong hands and excellent competitive toughness," according to B/R scout Brandon Thorn.

Los Angeles should consider double-dipping along the O-line by selecting both Vega and Parker.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck because the franchise forsook adequately addressing the game's most important position in favor of mediocrity.

The middle is the worst possible place for an NFL franchise to be. It's not good enough to win a championship and not bad enough to select a premium quarterback prospect. The Steelers reside here, hence why the organization lost its sixth straight playoff game Monday.

Pittsburgh desperately needs to rebuild and may finally consider the possibility after Mike Tomlin's resignation. Up to this point, the organization has had too much pride to do so despite the fact that it hasn't operated at a Super Bowl standard for almost a decade. Aaron Rodgers' addition this past season was nothing more than wishful thinking.

As such, the front office must take the biggest swing it possibly can based on its current position. The mistake of selecting Kenny Pickett in the first round of the worst quarterback class in recent memory can't sway the team's current direction.

Alabama's Ty Simpson did not end his final season on campus on the upswing. In fact, he was on the bench after being battered by the Indiana Hoosiers. However, he presents NFL-caliber traits that could shine in the right situation with proper direction.

"Simpson's nuance is beyond his experience," Parson wrote. "He utilizes eye manipulation to either hold defenders in place or displace them, creating open voids for his targets. Simpson's ability to control second and third-level defenders with his eyes is NFL-caliber.

"Simpson is a quick processor of pre- and post-snap information. ...

"Simpson is a highly accurate quarterback who fits passes between defenders. He throws with great pacing and placement to take advantage of a sliver of space between his target and the defense. Simpson layers passes with immense touch. He has a feathery touch to place the ball over the top of zone defenders."

The second-team All-SEC player grades as a fringe first-round option, and he sits a tier below the class' top QB options, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Oregon's Dante Moore. Something similar was said about Bo Nix before the Denver Broncos made him the 12th overall pick.

If the Steelers are a fan of Simpson (or any other QB prospect), they need to pull the trigger on a selection sooner rather than later.