Night 1 of the NFL Draft always feels like a new beginning. For most teams, they're hoping their first-round draft pick is the next franchise savior, or the missing piece to a Super Bowl. However, not every team gets to enjoy the hope of drafting a first-round pick.
Eight teams did not make a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Six of them -- the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals -- entered Thursday night without a pick after previous trades.
That group grew during Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, when the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers traded back and out of the first round, leaving eight teams without a selection.
We're here to serve those fanbases, setting the table for the players they could target when they're finally on the clock Friday night. So let's break down each team's top needs and the players who should be in range on Day 2.
Day 2 picks: Round 2 (Nos. 33 and pick 58); Round 3 (No. 90)
The 49ers' pass rush last season was ... lacking, to say the least. They didn't have Nick Bosa, but finishing last in sack rate and second-to-last in pressure rate isn't going to get it done. Bosa is recovering from a torn ACL, as is last year's first-round pick Mykel Williams, who may be better suited rushing from the interior when healthy.
They need more juice off the edge, especially in a division where the offenses (outside of Arizona) can put up 30 points at the drop of a hat.
Top targets: R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), Cashius Howell (Texas A&M), Jaishawn Barham (Michigan)
The 49ers signed Mike Evans this offseason, but he's 32 and coming off a season in which he missed multiple games due to injury. Their WR2, Ricky Pearsall, played in just nine games in his second season because of injury. Behind them, Christian Kirk also has struggled to stay healthy, and a group that includes Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins and Demarcus Robinson doesn't inspire much confidence.
The 49ers need more depth in that room, both in the short term and as the offense begins to age.
Top targets: Denzel Boston (Washington), Chris Bell (Louisville), Germie Bernard (Alabama)
The Bills are changing defenses under new head coach Joe Brady. Jim Leonhard comes over from the Broncos to call the defense, which could mean a shift to a 3-4 base. The problem is the Bills don't have a true nose tackle on the roster to anchor the middle. Ed Oliver is 291 pounds and already deals with multiple injuries each season, and Deone Walker is more of a gap shooter than a double-team eater.
The Bills need someone who can occupy blockers and allow their linebackers to flow freely and make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Top targets: Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), Christen Miller (Georgia)
It appears Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson won't return to Buffalo, which leaves the room thin. Terrel Bernard hasn't played more than 13 games in a season since 2023, and Dorian Williams profiles more as a stopgap or depth piece than a true starter. The depth behind them is also lacking, so adding a linebacker from a deep class makes sense for a team that needs to get younger and more athletic at the position.
With questions up front, finding a linebacker who can navigate traffic and play off blocks would be especially valuable.
Top Targets: CJ Allen (Georgia), Josiah Trotter (Missouri), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)
The Bengals spent multiple picks in 2025 on the linebacker spot, adding Demetrius Knight Jr. on Day 2 and Barrett Carter on Day 3. The problem is that in 2025, Carter and Knight were one of the worst LB pairings in the NFL, either missing tackles (Carter and Knight missed 18 and 16 tackles last season, respectively) or being picked on in coverage (Knight gave up a 106.7 passer rating in coverage).
With the addition of Dexter Lawrence in the middle of that defense, the Bengals could use a quarterback on defense, someone who can make plays in coverage but also play cleanup behind Lawrence and the Bengals' revamped defensive line.
Top targets: CJ Allen (Georgia), Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), Keyshaun Elliott (Arizona State)