Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft

Jeff Reynolds|published: Sun 26th April, 13:32 2026

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.

We can't say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there's a lot to love about the Panthers' draft, too.

But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Jacksonville Jaguars

From all splash and sizzle in 2025 to ... what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can't say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night '25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can't say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting "culture" and we're anxious to find out how that computes year over year.

San Francisco 49ers

Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

A jumbo receiver who would've been on the board 20 picks later De'Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn't entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what's the reward with Stribling? This isn't a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would've been on the board later and he's a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.

Atlanta Falcons

Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it's fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer's remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn't deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment.

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