I have a theory - the idea of first-round picks is a much more appealing thing than actually having first-round picks. What I mean by that is that in today's NFL, it is truly an insane challenge to hit on a first-round pick.
To an extent, it is a guessing game. Sure, there are some can't-miss, blue-chip prospects, but many front offices are truly just taking a shot in the dark. There are a good number of teams that have two first-round picks, which is awesome, but those picks are only as good as the front offices make them.
For example, the Miami Dolphins became the latest team in the NFL to snatch a second first-rounder, as they sent Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. However, how truly likely is it that the Dolphins will be able to use that extra first-round pick to find a player who will have as big an impact as Waddle did and will continue to have? In my opinion, it's not likely. Anyway, let's dive into the five teams that have multiple first-round NFL Draft picks this year.
Here is each team that has multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
New York Jets (2 and 16)
The New York Jets got to work during the NFL trade deadline in 2025. They traded Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. Not only do the Jets have two first-round picks this year, but they have three in 2027. Next year's class is expected to be a lot deeper at quarterback, too. The Jets, all of a sudden, have enough NFL Draft capital to finally put this franchise on a legitimate path to success.
Cleveland Browns (6 and 24)
Thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up back in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns have two first-round picks. General Manager Andrew Berry had a stellar rookie class in 2025, and if he can do the same in 2026, the Browns will absolutely be a lot better than you think.
Kansas City Chiefs (9 and 29)
The Kansas City Chiefs sent cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for, primarily, the 29th overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. To be fair to the Rams, LA needed someone like McDuffie and did get better. As for the Chiefs, the secondary got a lot weaker, and the roster has overall this offseason.
The Rams also signed Jaylen Watson, who was recently on the Chiefs. Kansas City is going backwards in 2026, as they threw a ton of money at Kenneth Walker III but have not done much of anything else. On paper, the Chiefs might be trending toward having the worst roster in the Patrick Mahomes era, but at least they have two first-round picks!
Given how poorly this front office has drafted in recent years, it's far from a guarantee that the Chiefs will make solid use of either of these picks.
Miami Dolphins (11 and 30)
The Dolphins sent Waddle to the Broncos and offloaded another veteran with a major contract. This is one of the more obvious instances in the NFL of a team that is truly not trying to win football games in 2026. However, Miami not only has two first-round picks, but they also now have seven picks in the first 100 selections.
The front office is building up the war chest for the future, and if you're not trying to win and contend, this is the path you should be taking as a team. I would not be shocked if the Dolphins floated stud running back De'Von Achane in trades as well.
Dallas Cowboys (12 and 20)
The Dallas Cowboys are undergoing a bit of a major shift on the defensive side of the ball, and the work clearly is not done yet. New, notable faces on defense include Rashan Gary and Jalen Thompson this offseason, and with two first-round picks in the first 20 selections, the Cowboys have a chance to actually field a legitimate, difference-making unit in 2026.