8 Teams Under the Most Pressure to Crush the 2026 NFL Draft

The NFL Draft is a time of great enthusiasm for fans—and tremendous pressure for the league's 32 general managers.

Mind you, the pressure has already been amped up for front offices—teams have been attempting to add players via free agency over the past month-plus. But now things kick into overdrive. Not only are the festivities in Pittsburgh an opportunity to plug holes, fill needs and bolster the roster, but it's a chance to do so with young players on rookie deals. There is nothing more important to building a successful team than hitting on draft picks.

However, while all 32 teams are under pressure in the draft, for some that pressure is crushing.

Some are franchises coming off disappointing seasons who have made coaching changes and expect a deep playoff run in the year to come. Others are teams coming off down years who foresee a rapid rebound. Others still are tomato cans trying to climb out of the basement and into the light.

For the braintrusts running those teams, the task at hand is simple. Crush the draft—or start perusing the want ads.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Gail Burton

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta

There's no question that the pressure has ratcheted up on Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta this year.

After an 8-9 season in which the Ravens failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2021, long-time head coach John Harbaugh was shown the door, replaced by first-time head-man Jesse Minter. DeCosta kept his job, but the word from on high was clear—eight wins and no playoffs isn't good enough.

By virtue of that down season, the Ravens have the 14th overall pick, although they nearly didn't—DeCosta shipped two first-rounders to Las Vegas for star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby before the trade fell apart due to a failed physical. Now, the Ravens have that pick back, and DeCosta told reporters that he feels like the Ravens are on a good spot on the board.

"Looking at the board, we see tremendous value [at] offensive line, receiver," DeCosta said. "I think D-line, outside linebacker, edge-type players as well. I feel like [No. 14] is a sweet spot for us."

DeCosta just rattled off a pretty complete list of the team 's needs, even after the signing of veteran edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency. DeCosta has been successful in past drafts as well—the past few years have brought in the likes of cornerback Nate Wiggins and wide receiver Zay Flowers.

But DeCosta needs to ace this draft potentially more than any that came before it. Because if the Ravens disappoint again in 2026, the first-year head coach isn't taking the brunt of the fallout.

The general manager is.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Bills GM Brandon Beane

If there's one general manager who can empathize with the situation Eric DeCosta finds himself in, it's Brandon Beane of the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills won 12 games and made the playoffs last year, but after coming up short of the Super Bowl once again, head coach Sean McDermott got the gate. Beane kept his job, but it certainly appears to be Super Bowl or Bust for the Fighting Josh Allens in 2026.

While addressing the media, Beane admitted that part of the blame for Buffalo's postseason shortcomings in recent years lies with him.

"I bear guilt, blame, responsibility. There's no finger pointing. I understand there's things I could have done better. And we're always looking to get better and that'll never change. If we don't win the Super Bowl next season and I'm up here explaining where we are and what we have to do," Beane said.

Beane has already made a draft pick—sort of. The Bills shipped their Round 2 pick to Chicago for wide receiver D.J. Moore. That deal leaves Buffalo with just two picks in the top 125 in this year's draft, and needs to fill on both sides of the ball.

Beane's recent history of first-round picks in recent years has been spotty—there have been some solid starters selected (Edge-rusher Greg Rousseau, tight end Dalton Kincaid), but also some major whiffs (cornerback Kaair Elam).

In Beane's first year as general manager, he selected cornerback Tre'Davious White at No. 27.

He needs a similarly spectacular selection at No. 26 in 2026.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/David Dermer

Bengals QB Joe Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals are not a franchise known for making rash decisions where coaches and the front office are concerned. So, despite their worst season since 2020 and missing the playoffs for a third straight season, Zac Taylor will be back for his eighth season as the team's head coach.

There has been scuttlebutt in the offseason that all the losing is wearing thin with quarterback Joe Burrow. That he might want out of the Queen City. But while appearing on  FanDuel TV's "Up & Adams", offensive tackle Orlando Brown said that he knows an easy way to make everyone all smiles in Cincy—win more games.

"At the end of the day, no matter where you are, winning cures all," he said. "These last three years, we haven't been in the playoffs, so of course that kind of buzz is going to come. I think that's part of the business. That's part of PR. That's part of drawing money and attention. Whether it's real or not, I don't think it's real. At the end of the day, Joe gives his all for the city and he loves being a Bengal. He loves what he's doing for a living. Like I said, it all comes down to winning. We get in the playoffs, and we start putting ourselves in position to play in February, I think a lot of that kind of stuff will die down naturally."

The key to a turnaround in Cincinnati isn't hard to figure out—the team has to fix a defense that was hot garbage in 2025. The team has eight picks with which to do so, beginning with No. 10 overall.

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 10 would be a great place to start.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard

Browns GM Andrew Berry

The Cleveland Browns have been a dysfunctional mess for years. This is the franchise that engineered the single worst transaction in the history of the NFL—the trade and extension for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

It has been another tumultuous offseason for the Browns as well. Two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski was fired after a 5-12 2025 campaign. There have been consistent rumors that new NFL single-season sack king Myles Garrett could be traded.

Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry has steadfastly denied those rumors, but after trading down in last year's draft (a trade that netted Cleveland defensive tackle Mason Graham, running back Quinshon Judkins and the 24th overall pick in this year's draft), Berry told reporters that he's not averse to another draft day trade in 2026—if the price is right.

"I love how everybody last year thought we weren't trading down and everybody this year assumes we are," Berry said. "I'd say this, every year is unique because the players change, your pick location changes, demand may change. So, the general answer to your question is yes, the dynamics are different, but even if we were picking two again this year, I'd give you the same answer."

Frankly, it doesn't really matter if Cleveland trades back some 1.06, although to be fair the Travis Hunter trade last year was. This is a team with a myriad of needs, with wide receiver and left tackle the most glaring.

As things stand now, Cleveland has four picks in the top-75. The quarterback situation likely won't be solved in 2026, but Berry needs to hit on those picks.

Or any 2027 capital he might add in the draft will be used by the next general manager.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones

We can say one thing with absolute certainty—no matter what happens with the Dallas Cowboys in 2026, the team will not fire its general manager.

But the Cowboys have been making annual appearances on lists like these for many years now. This is a franchise that annually fashions itself a Super Bowl contender. And a team that hasn't made it to the NFC Championship Game in over three decades.

All the way back In January, Cowboys grand poobah (and guy who won't get fired) Jerry Jones made it clear to reporters that the team's lofty goals haven't changed even a little.

"My goal in life is to retire as the owner that won the most Super Bowls," Jones said. "That's my goal. To be retired in the NFL as the owner that won the most Super Bowls. We've got three. How many more do I have to go as a single owner? So, I got work to do. Got work to do. But at least I'm up to the second rung in the ladder."

Um, you need three to tie and four to take the lead, Jerruh. Good luck.

A tricky cap situation made it difficult for the Cowboys to be uber-aggressive in free agency, although Dallas did add edge-rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with Green Bay. But the Cowboys have eight draft picks, including a pair in the top-20.

There has been speculation that Dallas could package No. 12 and No. 20 to move up in the 2026 draft. But given that Dallas has needs all over an abysmal defense, the smarted play may well be the stand pat and draft two youngsters who could Day 1 starters—especially with the Cowboys' next pick not coming until late on Day 2.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Ryan Sun

Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Full disclosure time—this analyst may be overestimating the amount of pressure on the Detroit Lions this year. After all, general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell took a franchise that was a perennial tomato can and turned them into the most successful regular-season Lions team and the NFC's No. 1 seed as recently as 2024.

But with success comes expectations, and last year the Lions failed to meet them—a 15-win season two years ago turned into an 8-9 campaign in 2205 in which Detroit missed the playoffs altogether.

While addressing the media, Holmes rejected the notion that Detroit's Super Bowl window was closing as quickly as it opened.

"I understand the situations, like yeah, you get that close to making it to the big game, and then you don't make it that close again, okay? The easy narrative is okay, it's closing because you missed your shot," Holmes said. "That's not what we believe. We still believe that our window's open. Really, the way we operate is that we want to avoid windows. So, we actually do the best that we can to avoid windows."

To be clear, the Lions are replete with offensive firepower. When healthy, Aidan Hutchinson is one of the NFL's best edge-rusher. And the silver lining of that disappointing season is a decently high pick in Round 1—No. 17 overall.

But Detroit also has just two picks inside the top 100. A major need at left tackle after Taylor Decker's release. And a pass defense that has been below average (at best) the past two years.

If the Lions don't rebound in 2026, the grumbling in Motown is going to grow louder.

And there won't be any overestimating the pressure on the Lions in 2027.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Well, this is weird.

For years, there may not have been a team under less pressure than the Kansas City Chiefs. The team would win the AFC West. Host the AFC Championship Game. Maybe win the Super Bowl.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

But last year, everything unraveled. The close games the Chiefs won in recent years turned into defeats. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL. When the dust settled, the Chiefs were 6-11—their worst season since 2012.

Now the Chiefs head to Pittsburgh under a cloud of uncertainty. There's the health of Mahomes. A secondary that was ravaged by personnel losses in free agency and the trade that sent cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles. And an offense that has struggled to move the ball vertically the past couple of years.

That trade earned the Chiefs a second first-round pick (No. 29) along with the top-10 selection the team already had by virtue of last season's faceplant. While talking to reporters, general manager Brett Veach said the team is entering the draft with a flexible philosophy.

"I don't know if I have a blueprint for that," Veach said. "It's just exhausting all the information with each player, identifying your team needs, (and) working with the coaching staff. We're at 215 (prospects on their draft board this year). You're going to have 10-15 guys that you really want to get. It's just trying to work the board and trying to find out how many of those 10-15 guys that you have in that really-want list can you position yourself to get."

With four picks in the top-75 (and three in the top-40), the Chiefs are well-positioned to make significant additions in the draft.

That's a good thing—because this is a team that will be expected to make a rapid return to prominence.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Jets GM Darren Mougey

For most of the teams in this column, the need to crush the 2026 NFL Draft is borne of pressure to not only make the postseason but make a run once they get there.

To be clear, the New York Jets aren't going to do either of those things this year. the Jets won just three games last year in Aaron Glenn's first season as head coach. The Jets traded veterans like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. And despite having the second overall pick in 2026, the team will probably be rolling out Geno Smith at quarterback because the draft class at the position is blah behind Fernando Mendoza.

While talking to the media, Glenn told reporters that he's looking forward to April 23—in part because the Jets have a pair of first-rounders at No. 2 and No. 16.

"Draft day, I love that day, I really do, because you just never know what's going to happen," Glenn said. "You hear all these guys that are going to get drafted in these certain spots and it's never that, so to me that's the exciting part of it and I love every part of it. Hell, I was a part of that when I came out. Shoot, I thought I was going to be the sixth pick, and I wound up going 12, so that's how it happens."

The Jets have even more firepower in the 2027 draft—in addition to their own first-rounder, they also have the Colts' first pick and either the Cowboys or Packers (whichever is higher).

The problem is that unless the Jets show tangible progress in 2026, Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey won't be around to make all those picks.