There are just four weeks left in the 2021 NFL season, and while some teams are thinking about making the playoffs, others are looking ahead to the 2022 NFL draft. So, let's turn our attention there for a moment.
The ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) projects the Lions and Texans to pick 1-2 in April, with the Jaguars, Jets and Giants not far behind. The Jets and the Giants, by the way, each have two first-round picks that are projected to be in the top 10. The Eagles, meanwhile, have three first-round picks thanks to the Carson Wentz trade. And even the Buccaneers, the FPI's favorite to win the Super Bowl, have an eye to the 2022 draft class.
We asked our NFL Nation reporters for early insight into every team's draft plans. What position(s) should each team focus on as a result of the 2021 season? Will we see trades involving picks for quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson?
There is still a bunch of time between now and when Round 1 begins on April 28, but let's start the draft conversation with the AFC East.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
Projected first-round pick: No. 23
The Bills prioritized the pass rush in last year's draft, but this season has shown that the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines could use some help. On the D-line, there are multiple older players whom the team might choose to move on from, and the O-line could use upgrades after recent draft picks haven't worked out thus far, including 2019 second-round pick Cody Ford. Getting bigger up front on both sides of the ball should be a priority heading into the draft. -- Alaina Getzenberg
Miami Dolphins
Projected first-round pick: No. 21
Once upon a time this season, it appeared the Dolphins made a horrible mistake by trading their first-round pick to the Eagles. But after this five-game win streak and the pick projected to be No. 10 overall, that decision is a lot more palatable.
Miami still owns the 49ers' first-round pick and needs help on the offensive line, but it also will be flush with cash this offseason, and it might be wiser to solve the problem through free agency. Don't be surprised to see general manager Chris Grier take a linebacker or simply the best player available when it comes to the Dolphins' first selection. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
New England Patriots
Projected first-round pick: No. 29
After trading Stephon Gilmore and with his replacement, J.C. Jackson, scheduled for unrestricted free agency, the Patriots should have cornerback high on their priority list.
And from a big-picture standpoint, after hitting on several picks in the 2021 draft -- led by quarterback Mac Jones, defensive tackle Christian Barmore and running back Rhamondre Stevenson -- the team must continue to feed the pipeline as it rebounds from a few subpar drafts from prior years. -- Mike Reiss
New York Jets
Projected first-round picks: Nos. 4, 9
The Jets have nine picks total -- including four in the first two rounds -- so this has to be a franchise-altering draft. They are currently projected to wind up with two top-10 picks for the first time in the common draft era (since 1967), so it's a great opportunity to address their historically poor defense.
The Jets need a lot of help on the second and third levels, but they could end up with an edge rusher if it's the best player available. -- Rich Cimini
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Projected first-round pick: No. 22
The Ravens could draft a defensive lineman in the first round for just the second time in team history. It looks like Baltimore will have to rebuild its defensive front, because DT Brandon Williams is a free agent and DE Calais Campbell could potentially retire. The other starter, Derek Wolfe, is 31 years old and has missed the entire season with a back injury. The Ravens can only hope they can find the same success as they did in 2006, when they drafted future Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. -- Jamison Hensley
Cincinnati Bengals
Projected first-round pick: No. 17
Cincinnati bolstered its passing attack over the past two seasons with premium first-round picks. After taking quarterback Joe Burrow in 2020 and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase in 2021, the Bengals might look at using their first pick at improving an offensive line that has been bad for multiple seasons. Cincinnati also could look at improving its secondary and drafting a long-term cornerback to pair alongside Chidobe Awuzie. -- Ben Baby
Cleveland Browns
Projected first-round pick: No. 19
Since Week 5, the Browns have scored over 20 points just twice and are in desperate need of some firepower at wide receiver. Odell Beckham Jr. was supposed to be that big-play threat. But with him now long gone, the Browns will have to take a hard look at addressing their need downfield offensively, including with their first-round pick. -- Jake Trotter
Pittsburgh Steelers
Projected first-round pick: No. 12
The Steelers need a quarterback. Whether through free agency, a trade or the draft, there will be a new starting quarterback next season. Their first-round pick is currently projected to come in the middle of the round. And with a thin quarterback class, the Steelers are in an interesting spot. In addition to QB, the offensive line is once again a top priority, as is the D-line.
Before compensatory picks, the Steelers have just six picks and lack selections in the fourth and fifth round. General manager Kevin Colbert needs to get the most out of every single selection to avoid a complete rebuild. -- Brooke Pryor
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Projected first-round pick: No. 2
The Texans should have a top-five pick, and that's even before the team possibly trades Deshaun Watson. The biggest question is whether Houston decides to use that top pick on a quarterback.
Tyrod Taylor is on a one-year deal, and rookie signal-caller Davis Mills is inconsistent and hasn't won a game in his seven starts this season. Does Houston go with a veteran option at quarterback, give Mills another chance or draft the player they hope is the QB of the future? -- Sarah Barshop
Indianapolis Colts
Projected first-round pick: None
The Colts' first-round pick will go to Philadelphia as part of the Carson Wentz trade last winter. But the two most glaring needs for Indianapolis are at left tackle and wide receiver.
Veteran left tackle Eric Fisher has been the weak link on the offensive line after coming over from Kansas City to replace the retired Anthony Castonzo. Fisher will be 31 years old when the 2022 season starts. The Colts also need a No. 2 receiver to play alongside Michael Pittman Jr., because veteran T.Y. Hilton, the team's longtime No. 1 receiver, is 32 years old, and there's been no indication he'll play beyond this season. -- Mike Wells
Jacksonville Jaguars
Projected first-round pick: No. 3
The Jaguars likely will have a top-five pick, and they have a long list of needs: wide receiver, pass-rusher, offensive tackle, tight end, linebacker -- pretty much everywhere but quarterback and cornerback. But if the approach is to build around Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars could and should go heavy on offense. If they're in the top three -- and getting the No. 1 pick isn't out of the question -- then grabbing the pass-rusher first would be the best approach. -- Michael DiRocco
Tennessee Titans
Projected first-round pick: No. 26
The Titans will be picking toward the bottom of the first round and need to add a vertical playmaker to their offense. A speedy deep threat who can play the slot -- such as Penn State's Jahan Dotson, who went No. 29 in Todd McShay's latest mock draft -- would be a perfect fit. The Titans also should benefit from an ample tight end class. -- Turron Davenport
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Projected first-round pick: No. 18
The Broncos' biggest draft question is exactly the same as it was last April: What, exactly, is the team's plan at quarterback? The draft strategy will revolve around whether to attempt to sign or trade for a veteran quarterback. They will have the cap space to do whatever they want in free agency, and they already have 11 picks -- including five in the top 100 -- in April's draft.
General manager George Paton, approaching the end of his first calendar year on the job, has repeatedly said how much he covets more draft picks instead of less. So, it's unclear if he would consider a trade of multiple first-round picks to acquire a top-tier quarterback, if that's the route the team takes. -- Jeff Legwold
Kansas City Chiefs
Projected first-round pick: No. 28
The Chiefs have mostly drafted for value rather than need the past couple of years, and they might want to continue that philosophy because it has served them well. The team again faces a tight salary-cap situation in 2022 and will have to rely more on the draft than free agency for impact players. That effort will be aided by merely having a first-round draft pick; the Chiefs have traded theirs in three of the past four years. -- Adam Teicher
Las Vegas Raiders
Projected first-round pick: No. 11
How about a little bit of everything? The Raiders have had seven first-round picks since 2018, and only one -- running back Josh Jacobs -- has been named to a Pro Bowl.
Left tackle Kolton Miller is just the third Raiders first-rounder since 2005 to be signed to a second contract by the team, defensive end Clelin Ferrell is a special teams ace as a No. 4 overall pick and safety Johnathan Abram is a hit-and-miss defender. Meanwhile, both wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and cornerback Damon Arnette are gone. And rookie offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood had to be moved from tackle to guard; he is one of the lowest-graded linemen in the league while being one of the most penalized. The Raiders are staring at a potential total rebuild. Yikes. -- Paul Gutierrez
Los Angeles Chargers
Projected first-round pick: No. 24
The Chargers are fortunate to have a pick in every round in April's draft. They might want to find a better complement to Joey Bosa and fix their run defense by drafting an edge rusher. They allow the NFL's second-most rushing yards per game, ahead of only the 2-10 Texans. The defensive line -- and offensive line too -- will be a priority this offseason. -- Shelley Smith
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Projected first-round pick: No. 27
The Cowboys' first six picks in 2021 were on defense, highlighted by Micah Parsons. They might need to take an early look at the offense in 2022, notably at every position along the offensive line.
The real measure of the draft will be conducted by what they do in re-signing their own free agents, however. Defensive line and linebacker will be needs. In addition to the offensive line, wide receiver could be a top need. The past two drafts have produced high-end talents in CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Parsons. More of that will be in order, regardless of which side of the ball. -- Todd Archer
New York Giants
Projected first-round picks: Nos. 5, 7
So, here is perhaps the lone positive for the Giants heading into the offseason: They have a boatload of picks -- 10 to be exact -- in next year's draft. They are currently projected to have two picks in the top seven of the first round (theirs plus Chicago's), their own second-rounder and two third-rounders.
That's a lot of draft capital at their disposal for a potential new GM (if Dave Gettleman's time with the team comes to an end) to address the offensive line and find a high-end edge rusher. -- Jordan Raanan
Philadelphia Eagles
Projected first-round picks: Nos. 10, 14, 20
The Eagles are on track to have three first-round picks in April's draft. The biggest question in front of them is whether to use those assets to acquire a quarterback or roll with Jalen Hurts for another season and build up the talent around him. This is not considered a particularly strong QB class, but some notable veterans could be available by trade, including Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson. Expect Philadelphia to explore all options. -- Tim McManus
Washington Football Team
Projected first-round pick: No. 13
Washington likes quarterback Taylor Heinicke, but it will be on a serious quest to find a QB that it views as a stronger long-term solution. Heinicke's play means it doesn't have to force a pick, but there will be interest in finding someone with a higher ceiling. Washington won't have a high pick, but this is not a draft with top-end quarterback talent. The organization has sought a long-term solution for years, starting 31 different players at the position since Mark Rypien led them to the Super Bowl following the 1991 season.
If not a quarterback, Washington could use more help offensively, whether at guard (if Brandon Scherff leaves) or wide receiver. A middle linebacker will be a priority, as well. -- John Keim
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Projected first-round pick: None
The Bears sent their 2022 first-round pick to the Giants to move up last year to pick QB Justin Fields at No. 11, so Chicago won't be drafting until the second round in April. The offensive line needs a lot of work, and Fields needs receivers to throw to, so those positions are the ones Chicago will look to target early -- along with cornerback.
However, the number of areas that need work outweigh the number of draft picks the Bears have at their disposal with two selections in the first four rounds. -- Courtney Cronin
Detroit Lions
Projected first-round picks: Nos. 1, 25
At this point, there is a 57.4% chance that the Lions will get the No. 1 pick -- according to ESPN's FPI -- so they have to get this one right. With the top pick, it would make sense to go with an elite edge rusher who also fits the hard-nosed culture that coach Dan Campbell is trying to build in Motown. Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a Heisman Trophy finalist, and he makes sense from a football perspective (in addition to being a local product), as well as Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The No. 1 pick could be a foundational player for the Lions' future as they continue to rebuild, and they'll get another late first-round pick because they have the Rams' selection from the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade. Picking the right guys will be pivotal to the franchise. -- Eric Woodyard
Green Bay Packers
Projected first-round pick: No. 31
It all hinges on Aaron Rodgers. If he returns for another season, the draft is about surrounding him with the players who can make an immediate impact. If he's gone but doesn't retire, the Packers would then have a haul of draft picks via trade with which to rebuild. And they could even take another quarterback. Remember, when Rodgers was set to take over as the starter in 2008, Green Bay drafted two quarterbacks that year: Brian Brohm in the second round and Matt Flynn in the seventh. -- Rob Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings
Projected first-round pick: No. 15
Depending on how the rest of the season goes, Minnesota could be drafting in the top 15, which would be the team's highest pick since it selected cornerback Trae Waynes at No. 11 overall in 2015. Cornerback is once again a need for the Vikings, whose defensive retooling last offseason hasn't panned out the way the team expected.
A lot of Minnesota's offseason decisions hinge on quarterback Kirk Cousins' future and that of coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, but finding a cornerback and an edge rusher help will be a priority to help rebuild the defense regardless of who else stays or goes. -- Courtney Cronin
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Projected first-round pick: No. 8
The easy answer for the Falcons: They need, well, everything -- all the way from figuring out what the quarterback position will look like in the future down to the long-snapper. (Note: Don't use a draft pick on a long-snapper.)
It's still quite unclear where the Falcons will pick in the first round, but Atlanta's current roster construction will allow general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith to go to almost any position on the board to match need with draft value. It's an intriguing place to be for a team trying to replenish talent in so many areas while also cleaning up the salary cap. -- Michael Rothstein
Carolina Panthers
Projected first-round pick: No. 6
The Panthers have a lot of needs with few high draft picks to fill them with after giving up their second-round pick for quarterback Sam Darnold and third-round pick for cornerback CJ Henderson. They will likely have a top-10 pick, and deciding whether to reach for a quarterback in a thin QB class or begin rebuilding an offensive line that has only a couple of legitimate starters will be the big question.
Missing on Darnold was a huge mistake, and likely not finding his replacement with the return of Cam Newton magnifies that even more since Carolina will be stuck with Darnold's $18.8 million fifth-year option in 2022. -- David Newton
New Orleans Saints
Projected first-round pick: No.16
Quarterback will be an obvious consideration, since 2021 starter Jameis Winston is a pending free agent and is now rehabbing from a torn ACL. But it will be hard for the Saints to land a surefire QB prospect in the draft considering the talent pool and where they'll be picking.
So, perhaps they should focus instead on finding a desperately needed pass-catcher to help next year's QB. The Saints are one of the few teams who have missed out on the historic wide receiver draft classes over the past three years, drafting only one in Round 7. -- Mike Triplett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected first-round pick: No. 32
The Bucs will have 24 unrestricted free agents in 2022 -- including several starters -- and ESPN's FPI projects that they'll be picking 32nd, meaning they could go any number of directions and will take the best available player who fits some of their weaker areas.
They did themselves a favor last year by grabbing outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who has been terrific in their rotation and could take over for Jason Pierre-Paul. But there really isn't a set direction on needs right now. I think they'd be wise to inject some more youth in their defensive line, though. -- Jenna Laine
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Projected first-round pick: No. 30
The Cardinals will likely pick late in the first round. With that selection and two Day 2 picks, they can look to address a variety of positions that are scheduled to be hit hard by free agency, including running back, wide receiver, tight end and cornerback.
Arizona's top two running backs, Chase Edmonds and James Conner, are slated to be free agents, as are wide receivers A.J. Green and Christian Kirk, tight ends Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams and Darrell Daniels, and cornerbacks Robert Alford and Antonio Hamilton. More than a few of those players are likely to re-sign in free agency, but the Cardinals will have the draft capital to replace them, if needed. -- Josh Weinfuss
Los Angeles Rams
Projected first-round pick: None
The Rams will not make a first-round pick for the sixth consecutive year, barring a significant trade up. Their 2022 first-round selection was sent to the Lions as part of the package for Matthew Stafford. The last time the Rams made a first-round pick was 2016, when they selected quarterback Jared Goff first overall. The Rams also sent second- and third-round picks to the Broncos ahead of this season's trade deadline to acquire Von Miller.
Despite trading a wealth of picks -- with compensatory picks factored in -- general manager Les Snead said they should be making eight selections in 2022. -- Lindsey Thiry
San Francisco 49ers
Projected first-round pick: None
Without a first-round pick because they traded up in last year's draft for Trey Lance, the Niners will have plenty of needs entering the 2022 draft, namely at cornerback and on the offensive and defensive lines. But the most intriguing draft-related angle to watch in San Francisco is whether the 49ers add more draft capital via trade. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains a strong candidate to be dealt in the offseason, and though his value remains to be seen, the Niners would love to recoup some of the resources spent to move up for Lance by getting something back for Garoppolo. -- Nick Wagoner
Seattle Seahawks
Projected first-round pick: None
Picking near the top of the draft for a change would be a nice silver lining to this miserable Seahawks season, but they don't have a first-rounder for the second straight year because of the Jamal Adams trade. Draft capital and needs could change drastically if they deal Russell Wilson or make any other trade. For now, though, they have six picks (a second-rounder, third, two fourths, a fifth and a seventh).
Of all their needs (assuming quarterback doesn't end up being one of them), running back would be the most logical to address in the draft. Chris Carson will be coming off neck surgery, while Alex Collins and Rashaad Penny will be free agents. -- Brady Henderson