The Herd with Colin Cowherd: The Tailgate Show
Episode 7: Updated NFL Draft Needs For Every NFC Team
Release Date: March 29, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tailgate Show, hosted by Joe Pisapia (Joey P) with analysts Derek Brown (Dbro) and Andrew Erickson, delivers an in-depth, franchise-by-franchise breakdown of the most pressing draft needs for every NFC team ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The hosts approach each roster with a “roster-maxing” mentality: which positions are must-fills, where is depth urgent, and how does each team’s off-season activity shift their urgent priorities?

For fans seeking a comprehensive, candid, and sometimes humorous assessment of the NFC landscape as draft season approaches, this episode is packed with insights, stats, and spirited debate.

NFC East: Team Needs Breakdown

Dallas Cowboys

Main Priority: Defense, defense, defense.

Key Points:

• Cowboys must bolster all levels of their defense after a porous 2025 season.
  • Linebacker, edge rusher, defensive tackle, and outside corner all identified as needs.
  • Dbro: “Did Siobhan Rebel show you enough as a rookie coming off an injury to be a long term answer?” (01:49)
  • Concern about sustainability of current D-tackle contracts. Kenny Clark's $22M cap hit in 2027 looms.
• Add WR to the shopping list, depending on Jerry Jones’ willingness to pay up for George Pickens after seeing the “JSN contract come down the pike.” (02:20)
• Andrew: “This is a great class to have a linebacker problem… C.J. Allen, spent Georgia linebacker – you know who the linebacker coach is for Dallas? Spent the last three years at Georgia.” (03:09)
• Notable stat: Dallas has spent a league-high 10 top-three round picks on trenches since 2021. (03:35)

New York Giants

Main Priority: Defensive tackle, wide receiver, guard, safety, running back.

Key Points:

• Offense: WR is urgent, especially with Malik Nabers on PUP to start the season and a “piecemeal” group of new one-year signings (Mooney, Austin, Hodgins).
• Defense: 2nd-worst run D in 2025; DT to pair with Dexter Lawrence (04:34), could be a mid-round focus.
• O-line needs a guard for stability; tackles are solid.
• Dbro: “The two biggest pressing needs… are guard, and honestly safety. Javon Holland and Tyler Newman have not been good. So Caleb Downs, come on down.” (05:53)
• Both agree: running back (Cam Scadaboo’s durability and off-field “goofy moments” a concern) could sneak into Rd1: “I think they’re probably the floor in the first round for Jeremiah Love.” (06:57)

Philadelphia Eagles

Main Priority: Edge, offensive tackle, safety.

Discussion:

• Dbro: Edge is top due to loss of Jalen Phillips, Ojalari, and Uche. Safety is right behind after losing Reed Blankenship. (07:29)
• Offensive line depth is crucial: Lane Johnson (age 36, frequent injuries) needs a successor at RT.
• Andrew: “Every time this Eagles offense has been dominant, it’s been for one main reason: the offensive line just kicked everyone else’s asses.” (08:33)
• Noted recent trade: Sidney Brown shipped out, further stressing the safety room. Likely to leverage premium draft capital on the trenches per annual Howie Roseman tradition.

Memorable Tangent:

• Flag Football Pro Bowl chat—NFL players “get wrecked”: “You’re burying the lead here, Joe. They got absolutely smoked.” (10:40)

Washington Commanders

Main Priority: Wide receiver, edge, corner, center.

Key Points:

• Terry McLaurin turns 30; WR room is paper-thin behind him (Ayuk and Deebo rumors, but little certainty). “The Brandon Ayuk thing, maybe he ends up going there, but we don’t know.” (11:41)
• Odd FA moves: overpaying injury-prone pass rushers (e.g., OA, Chason), still no long-term corner solutions.
• Dbro: “Dude, Adam Peters is quickly on the Kwesi train… Let’s go add all of them and just make the retirement home around Jaden Daniels.” (13:36)
• Center is a glaring need after releasing Tyler Biadasz. (14:00)
• RB room is deep in bodies, but “maybe Jeremiah Love will be there for us. Fingers crossed.” (15:46)

NFC North: Team Needs & Insights

Chicago Bears

Main Priority: Pass rush (Edge/DT), secondary (safety/corner), center.

• Joey P and Andrew point to a “backslide risk” on defense; turnover-driven success in 2025 isn’t sustainable.
• Andrew: “They finished 31st in pass rush win rate last year. That’s it, again.” (17:25)
• Bears lost four safeties (totaling 3,000+ snaps) to FA. Kobe Bryant added, but more needed at safety.
• Corner isn’t as dire due to recent injuries/returns but could gain urgency; Tyreek Stevenson “never been that good.” (19:22)
• Dbro raises the alarm about the stability of the secondary and center position post-Drew Dalman (17:01).

Detroit Lions

Main Priority: Offensive tackle, edge, linebacker, defensive tackle.

• Massive hole at LT after Taylor Decker’s departure. Edge rusher needed to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, especially after losing Mohamed (12 sacks) to FA.
• Dbro: “For everything that’s holy and sacred in this world, Brad Holmes, please do not re-sign Marcus Davenport again.” (21:05)
• LB (Alex Anzalone gone) and DT (DJ Reader gone) are both needs; team must develop depth after annual injury woes.

Green Bay Packers

Main Priority: Offensive tackle, edge, center, cornerback, wide receiver.

• Dbro: “Losing Rasheed Walker, they have tackle issues. That’s my number one spot for them.” (22:16)
• WR room turns over in 2027 with expiring contracts for Watson, Wicks, Reed.
• Andrew emphasizes secondary overhaul needed: “Keyshawn Nixon, Carrington Valentine, both entering contract years.” (23:25)
• Center a need after Jenkins’ FA exit.
• The Packers have no first-round pick due to trade for Micah Parsons; will likely address needs on days 2/3.

Minnesota Vikings

Main Priority: Edge, DT, safety, OL (especially center, RT), RB, CB.

• Andrew: Defensive line decimated after cutting Allen and Hargrave; “Edge is where I start—Flores wants a rusher.” (25:42)
• RB is a future need with both veterans on expiring deals at year’s end.
• Dbro: “This roster is quietly terrible outside of a lot of stars… holes at safety, center, DT, right tackle.” (26:49)
• Joey P argues the system (Flores’ blitzes, O’Connell’s offense) masks deeper holes. Dbro says: don’t be fooled by record alone.

NFC South: Where Are the Holes?

Atlanta Falcons

Main Priority: Edge, cornerback, WR.

• James Pierce’s legal woes put pass rush back atop the needs pile. “Last year they actually had a pass rush for the first time since the Jonathan Abraham era… now it’s in limbo again because of the Pierce situation.” (32:59)
• Corner depth and boundary talent lacking; Billy Bowman is “okay,” but rest of room scares no one (32:19).
• WR is a shaky group after Drake London; “they’re gonna get so much cardio.” (32:31)

Carolina Panthers

Main Priority: WR, tight end, DT, offensive tackle, edge, CB.

• Andrew: “Still can’t stop the run… need another DT to pair with Derrick Brown (the ‘other’ Derrick Brown),” (34:12) despite multiple moves in free agency.
• Generating pressure remains elusive. Jalen Phillips helps, but team lacks “defensive oomph.”
• Weapon need: “I think at this point, we can all say that Xavier Legette was a big swing and miss.” (35:50)
• Dbro: “Kwanu’s injury is a coffin nail—OT quietly a big need.” (36:10)
• Secondary (Mike Jackson plus depth) is a need after recent injury trouble.

New Orleans Saints

Main Priority: Wide receiver, CB, edge, DT.

• WR urgent alongside Chris Olave (if they don’t get him a deal). Carnell Tate in play. (37:30)
• Depth at corner critical after losing Alontae Taylor: “Can you say Kool-Aid McKinstry is definitively a top guy? Quincy Riley played good, but…”
• Edge: Cam Jordan’s durability/age prompts succession planning.
• Andrew: Saints in “win-now mode,” can afford a luxury pick with WR/CB. (39:02)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Main Priority: Edge, CB, linebacker.

• “Copy and paste every year”—the Bucs need more pass rush talent. (41:45)
• Reddick’s departure (3 sacks), YaYa Diaby contract year, lowest pressure rates in NFL despite sky-high blitz rates.
• Secondary depleted after Jamel Dean’s exit; some internal optimism but not shared by the hosts.
• Levonte David retires mid-episode—LB now a glaring hole. (54:59)

NFC West: Closing the Show

Arizona Cardinals

Main Priority: QB, RT, edge, safety, CB.

• Both discuss Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew as only “placeholder” QBs.
• Right tackle (Jonah Williams gone) will draw premium focus; debate on whether #3 overall is too high for one.
• Secondary battered by injuries last year; may see improvement via health, but depth at CB and safety still a need. (43:51)
• Dbro: “Are we really going to war with Denzel Burke and Garrett Williams?” (43:35)

Los Angeles Rams

Main Priority: Offensive tackle, WR, CB.

• Notable: Stafford’s aging body = must fortify with tackle help. Warren McClendon’s extension status in flux.
• WR room is thin—Puka Nacua and Davante Adams both on contract years: “Puka’s so excited about that JSN deal because he knows, ‘I’m gonna make a lot of freaking money.’” (48:03)
• Joey P and Dbro beg: No more tight ends drafted.
• Corner is a need behind recently acquired Trent McDuffie and Jalen Watson. Emmanuel Forbes haunts Dbro’s dreams (49:50).

San Francisco 49ers

Main Priority: OT (Trent Williams heir), OG, edge, linebacker, running back.

• Dbro: “Trent Williams cannot play until he’s 50.” (50:36)
• Guard spot unsettled; need injury flexibility across OL.
• Edge: 2025 pass rush was bottom-five by PFF/charting.
• LB injuries/age concern; must invest in depth.
• Andrew points to lost WR and RB depth—could be pressing if injuries strike again. (51:40)

Seattle Seahawks

Main Priority: RB, guard, edge, DT, CB.

• Iconic injury cluster at RB: Ken Walker (“gone”), Zach Charbonnet (tore ACL in Jan, likely out most/all of 2026). “Emmanuel Wilson is not the answer, long term.” (54:22)
• Interior OL weakened by Anthony Bradford’s imminent FA.
• Edge depth key after losing Boye Mafe.
• Dbro: “Remember, they don’t have a lot of picks—likely to trade down from round one, maybe multiple times.” (57:38)
• Cap realities: much ‘spoken for’ by extensions like JSN—that’s limiting maneuverability.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Eagles’ O-Line Dominance:
  “Anytime this Eagles offense has been dominant, it’s been for one main reason. It’s because the offensive line just kicked everyone else’s ass. Like, that’s why.” — Andrew Erickson (08:33)

• On Commanders Wide Receiver Room:
  “If [Chason] walks into any NFL team as the number two pass catcher for your offense, that should tell you all you need to know. You are in trouble, trouble, trouble.” — Dbro (14:00)

• On Bears’ Defensive Sustainability:
  “This was the team that was bad on defense and they made things good because of all the turnovers they were going to generate. Now if they try to bank on that year over year, that’s where you run into some issues.” — Andrew Erickson (17:50)

• On Saints’ Roster:
  “They just remind me so much of the Denver Broncos from last year… you feel good about the pieces around [the QB]… then, ouch.” — Andrew Erickson (39:02)

• On Dbro’s Consistent Skepticism of Corners:
  “We’ve learned that DBRO hates every cornerback room. That’s what we’ve learned in today’s…” — Joey P (49:50)

Concluding Thoughts (58:46–end)

• The NFC remains wide open—many teams (like the Saints, Bucs, Vikings, Seahawks, and Rams) could contend if they patch the right roster holes in the draft.
• Territorial debate continues: few are picking Seattle to repeat as NFC West champs despite being the reigning champions and having solved at least one major extension (JSN).
• Last word on betting markets: “I can’t see Seattle’s odds going for the division above plus-200… it’ll be tight.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:45] Cowboys’ top draft needs
• [03:03] Dallas linebackers—coaching and potential targets
• [05:50] Giants needs (DT, WR, Guard, Safety)
• [07:29] Eagles’ defensive (Edge, Safety) and offensive line needs
• [08:33] Eagles O-line as the offense’s foundation
• [11:35] Commanders’ remaining needs after FA
• [17:25] Bears’ pass rush issues and secondary exodus
• [20:03] Lions: LT and edge needs
• [22:16] Packers: OT, WR, Edge, Center, CB
• [25:42] Vikings: Defensive line, edge, RB needs
• [31:25] Falcons: Edge, corner, WR (and the James Pierce saga)
• [34:12] Panthers’ issues stopping the run, need for WR/TE
• [37:30] Saints’ urgent need for WR
• [40:37] Buccaneers’ annual edge/pressure crisis, David’s retirement
• [42:49] Cardinals: RT, QB, edge, and secondary
• [48:03] Rams: Stafford’s protection, future at WR
• [50:36] 49ers: Tackle/guard/edge
• [53:31] Seahawks: RB, interior OL, edge, CB, DT, limited picks

Final Notes

Overall Tone:
Conversational, candid, irreverent, with deep topical expertise and a touch of fandom-baiting (especially Dbro vs. every NFC secondary).

For Further Listening:
Listeners seeking direct AFC breakdowns should check the previous episode.

Contest Note:
Listeners who subscribe and comment may win a Saquon Barkley signed jersey. (00:42; 59:22)

This summary captures the spirit, analysis, and essential takeaways from The Tailgate Show's NFC team needs special—ensuring even non-listeners will grasp the key roster holes, debates, and intriguing dialogue leading into the 2026 NFL Draft.