Thanks to the Carolina Panthers ' stunning upset of the Green Bay Packers, the Cowboys' position in the 2026 NFL draft order improved. Dallas' first-round pick that previously belonged to Green Bay has jumped from one of the final three picks in Round 1 to inside the top 25.

As we pass the midpoint of the 2025 NFL regular season, teams and their fans are starting to cast an eye toward how the 2026 NFL Draft order is shaping up. With that in mind, I took a look at what the first round would look like if the season ended today - and which college football stars could fit the most glaring needs for each NFL team.

It's no secret that the Detroit Lions have kept one eye on the road and one on the quarterback situation in the NFL Drafts in recent years. Just last winter, they met with Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at the NFL Combine and talked to a few others as well.

Did the Cowboys give up too much for Quinnen Williams? Were the Jets smart to trade Sauce Gardner? We graded the top deals from the NFL's trade deadline day.

Bleacher Report suggested four potential landing spots for Meyers with the Bills atop the list. Citing a report by Jordan Schultz, who estimated the Raiders would consider a Day 2 draft pick, BR writer Alex Kay proposed a trade that brings Meyers to Buffalo for a 2026 third-round draft pick.

The NFL trade deadline brought about a flurry of action, with multiple star players unexpectedly being sent packing on Tuesday.

The Bengals made a deal on the Nov. 4 trade deadline day but not the blockbuster some pundits called for, which was to part ways with Hendrickson, one of the best pass rushers in recent years. Instead, the 4 p.m. deadline came and went Nov. 4 and Hendrickson was not traded.

When New Orleans goes on the clock in the 2026 NFL Draft, Shough will almost certainly become the latest high-round pick whose team uses an even higher-round pick 12 months later in the hopes of upgrading the position.