Top Targets for Teams Without a 1st-Round Pick in Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft will commence April 23 in Pittsburgh without five teams participating. Those organizations made their decisions. Fortunately, the event goes beyond one round, with plenty of quality options available well into event's second and the third days.

Of those aforementioned organizations:

The Indianapolis Colts traded away their 2026 and '27 first-round picks to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner.

The Atlanta Falcons made a draft-day deal last April, surrendering their '26 first-round selection to the Los Angeles Rams, to trade up and choose James Pearce Jr.

The Green Bay Packers surrendered a pair of first-round picks (along with Kenny Clark) to obtain Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys.

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to the second overall pick in 2025 to select Travis Hunter.

The Denver Broncos just acquired Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins for this year's 30th overall selection.

An argument can made made whether they were smart deals or not, but they're sunk-cost. It's now time to look at what options should still be available to them once they're finally on the clock after seeing how everyone else did in B/R Scout Department's post-free agency mock draft.

Indianapolis Colts

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Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr.

Initial Draft Selection: 47th overall

Need Areas: Linebacker, pass-rush, wide receiver and safety

The Indianapolis Colts took their shot last season before everything went terribly wrong. The team's historic collapse over the second half of the 2025 campaign placed the organization is a difficult position. Everyone within that building knows the upcoming season is make-or-break, from the front office down to the last man on the roster.

The biggest improvements can be made on the defensive side of the ball, which continually let the team down last year. The squad's linebacker setup currently has a major void, even after signing Akeem Davis-Gaither as a free agent. The team's other off-ball linebacker spot lacks a legitimate starting option.

In a best case scenario, either Cincinnati's Jake Golday (already off the board) or Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez are available when the Colts select. However, both tested extremely well and could easily come off the board much sooner. Texas' Anthony Hill Jr. is another excellent option and may be the best situational fit for Indianapolis.

Hill entered the 2025 as a highly regarded prospect and a potential first-round projection. However, Texas didn't vary his usage as much as many expected, and he suffered a hand injury that cost him two games. Still, the 21-year-old prospect is a tremendous athlete, who posted a 9.93 relative athletic score, per Kent Lee Platte. (The Ballard signal has been lit.) His arms measure over 32 inches, which the Colts prefer at the position. Plus, Hill has the potential to wear the green dot as a rookie after being the defensive play-caller at Texas.

If Chris Ballard would rather invest in his pass-rush again, the trio of UCF's Malachi Lawrence, Penn State's Dani Dennis-Sutton and Illinois' Gabe Jacas should be strong options. North Dakota State's Bryce Lance, Ole Miss' De'Zhaun Stribling and Georgia State's Ted Hurst certainly fit the size and athletic profile the Colts like when looking at wide receiver options.

Atlanta Falcons

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Louisville wide receiver Chris Bell

Initial Draft Selection: 48th overall

Need Areas: Wide receiver, cornerback, defensive interior, edge-rusher

A fresh start in Atlanta brings the Falcons a new general manager, head coach, offensive staff and quarterback. They'll do so without placing a stamp on the franchise with a first-round pick of their own. Instead, they'll be forced to wait and see A) how James Pearce's off-field transgressions play out and B) who will be available once they're finally ready to select.

Logically, wide receiver or cornerback should be the primary Day 2 targets, because the Falcons moved on from Darnell Mooney, still need to upgrade nickel corner and those two position groups tend to be the deepest in each and every draft class, with this year being no different.

Considering new head coach Kevin Stefanki also served as an offensive play-caller during the last eight season and just came from a situation where his unit lacked weaponry at wide receiver, the position is a great place to start.

With Drake London, Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson already on the roster, the Falcons could use another big-bodied target with some juice. The team could potentially get a top target at a discounted price in Louisville's Chris Bell.

Bell continues to recover from a torn ACL. However, the 21-year-old prospect is a 6'2", 222-pound receiver with excellent ability to create after the catch. In some ways, he brings traits similar to AJ Brown. Bell can be worked in slowly, not asked to take on a huge role once he's in the lineup and can be presented as a bigger piece of the puzzle as time progresses.

Similarly, Ole Miss's De'Zhaun Stribling already understands what it means to work his way into a system, not be the No. 1 target and still find ways to contribute, particularly as a blocker.

Indiana's Elijah Sarrett immediately brings a distinct skill set to complement the team's group of receivers, as a money-down/red-zone option who uses his body extremely well to fend of defenders and make tough catches when needed.

On the other side of the ball, the Falcons can look toward South Carolina's Jalon Kilgore, Miami's Keiontae Scott or safety Bud Clark as options to immediately take over slot coverage.

Green Bay Packers

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Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun

Initial Draft Selection: 52nd overall

Need Areas: Cornerback, defensive interior, edge depth, offensive line depth

Jonathan Gannon has taken over the Green Bay Packers defense after previous coordinator Jeff Hafley left to become the Miami Dolphins' new head coach. Hafley's background was as a defensive backs coach. He could hide some things when it came to coverage plans. Gannon can do the same based on his defensive approach, which emphasize light boxes and dropping as many into coverage as possible. Even so, the Packers don't have a legitimate bookend starters at cornerback despite finishing 11th in pass defense last season.

The Packers could upgrade over Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. The front office doesn't need to push to replace both, but it should bring in another defensive back capable of pushing for starting time as an outside corner.

As previously stated, the cornerback class is deep once again. Despite not selecting until the back half of the second round, Green Bay can find exactly what it needs.

South Carolina's Brandon Cisse, San Diego State's Chris Johnson and Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun are all graded just outside of the B/R's top 50-prospects. Realistically, Cisse and Johnson could go much higher than expected thanks to their respective skill sets and athleticism. Igbinosun is a fascinating option in this particular case, because he fits exactly what Green Bay wants, with the aggressive and collegiate starting experience to contribute immediately.

The 21-year-old Igbinosun started 53 of 56 collegiate games. He experiences lapses in coverage at times, but he's going to compete hard on every snap.

Cornerback may be deeper, but nose tackle is strong among this year's incoming crop. The Packers have moved on from Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton and Colby Wooden since the start of last year's free agency.

Green Bay could stand pat and wait until the third round if they really want to and still find a two-down run-stuffer to clog up the middle and make life easier on everyone else. Georgia's Christen Miller, Florida's Caleb Banks, Iowa State's Dominique Orange and Florida State's Darrell Jackson Jr. are all graded as solid Day 2 prospects.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson

Initial Draft Selection: 56th overall

Need Areas: Linebacker, defensive interior, pass-rush help, wide receiver

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the NFL's hottest team entering the 2025 postseason, but Liam Coen's squad couldn't get one last stop against Buffalo Bills and bowed out of the playoffs after only one contest.

Since the Jags' starting offense from a season ago is mostly intact, with only Travis Etienne Jr. leaving in free agency, Jacksonville can turn to the other side of the ball.

A strong argument could be made in Devin Lloyd's favor as being Jacksonville's best defender last season. But the multipurpose linebacker also left in free agency.

The Jaguars did sign Dennis Gardeck to offset Lloyd's loss, but he's better when he's asked to work over tight ends and rush off the edge. The soon-to-be 32-year-old veteran can't replace Lloyd's full skill set.

Interestingly, the Jaguars and the previously mentioned Indianapolis Colts have the same top need. Will Jacksonville try to trade ahead of the Colts if a linebacker it loves is available? Otherwise, the Jaguars could be looking at different names a little later in the round.

Deontae Lawson was a three-year starter in the middle of the Alabama Crimson Tide's defense and two-time team captain. His particular skill set can help offset Lloyd's capabilities in coverage. Lawson is comfortable working in space and understands his assignments. He may not snag five interceptions, as Lloyd did last season, but he definitely won't be exposed when dropping.

Missouri's Josiah Trotter is different in that he's a downhill destroyer with enough speed and instincts to play sideline to sideline. His skill set shouldn't be surprising since his father, Jeremiah, played 11 seasons in the NFL and his older brother, Jeremiah Jr., is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. The ability to play linebacker in their blood.

Lander Barton is another fascinating option, because he's a versatile defender who also played for Kyle Whittingham at Utah, as Lloyd did.

As for the interior, multiple names have already been mentioned in relation to other teams. Here's an interesting possibility, though: Penn State's Zane Durant is an undersized but explosive upfield defender. He doesn't have the length that Jacksonville usually prefers, but general manager James Gladstone came from the Los Angeles Rams where they had Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner.

Denver Broncos

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Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton

Initial Draft Selection: 62nd overall

Need Areas: Defensive line, tight end, offensive tackle

The Denver Broncos surveyed the incoming draft class and came to the (correct) conclusion that they wouldn't have been able to get a player as good as Jaylen Waddle with the 30th overall pick. Now, they'll have to be patient as the franchise that will have to wait the longest before it makes its first draft selection.

Broncos brass understands the team finds itself in a window to win now. Denver has an outstanding roster, and the incoming draft class may have a minimal impact on the lineup. Still, the Broncos can address specific areas where potential help could be needed.

The biggest offseason blip came when John Franklin-Myers signed with the Tennessee Titans. Franklin-Myers posted a career-high 7.5 sacks last season. He had the body type to play along the interior or 5-technique and rush the passer. The majority of this year's edge and interior options aren't built in the same manner.

However, Alabama's LT Overton is a fascinating option because he has experience working off the edge, while also playing a lot of 4i-technique. The 21-year-old prospect measures 6'3" and weighs 273 pounds. He was regularly viewed as a first-round possibility throughout the draft cycle but didn't dominate to expected levels. In some ways, he was hurt by the fact he needs to be in a specific scheme to maximize his capabilities. The Broncos need and fit Overton's skill set.

Iowa's Max Llewellyn is another possibility to mention thanks to his length and ability to serve both functions along the defensive line, though Day 2 may be a tad rich to select his services. Then again, the Broncos haven't been afraid to pull the trigger on prospects earlier than expected when they feel those individuals fit what they do.

Meanwhile, tight end has been a consistent curiosity regarding Denver's personnel, because Evan Engram turns 32 later this year and presents certain limitations. Baylor's Michael Trigg or Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers can do a lot of the same things in Sean Payton's offense.