17. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
The Dallas Cowboys still very clearly need help defensively, and at all three levels.
It's going to be a work in progress this season for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose proximity to Vic Fangio has maybe put some unfair expectations on just how fast he would be able to take the Cowboys from one of the league's worst defensive units to an actually competent one.
The defensive backfield was addressed in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft with Caleb Downs coming in, and he looks like a star in the making. The Cowboys could get another budding star for their secondary with 6-foot-3 cornerback prospect Ashton Hampton, a former receiver whose athletic traits are off the charts.
18. Minnesota Vikings: KJ Bolden, SAF, Georgia
The Minnesota Vikings were preparing for the 2026 season as though they wouldn't have Harrison Smith around, but the franchise legend was called out of retirement just before the start of the regular season.
If nothing else, that gives a bit of an indication that the Vikings don't really feel like they have solutions in-house right now at the position. That defense was revamped in the 2026 offseason, but you can't address everything in one offseason.
KJ Bolden is one of a wide variety of Georgia defenders who will be coveted by NFL teams, and maybe especially so by Brian Flores. He's fast, physical, and can be moved all over the defensive formation like a chess piece.
19. New England Patriots: Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Mike Vrabel is a linebacker by trade, so when he sees one like Sammy Brown coming along, he's not going to be able to resist.
The Patriots have an easy out of Robert Spillane's contract after the season. He's set to count $13 million against the 2027 salary cap with just $3 million in dead money. With no guaranteed money left on his deal after this season, we could see the Patriots hit the reset button at the linebacker position.
The NFL needs playmakers at linebacker like Brown, who has the size and toughness to play the run, but also the range and athleticism to be on the field all three downs.
20. Detroit Lions: OJ Frederique Jr., CB, Miami
The first two weeks of the season have revealed what the entire NFL world already knew about their defensive backfield: It's not good.
The Lions have gotten absolutely thrown all over in the first two weeks of the season, first by Tyler Shough of the Saints, then by Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. In their first two games of the season, they've allowed an egregious 63 first downs.
We're not going to pretend that OJ Frederique Jr. is going to completely turn the tide for the Detroit defense, but they have to start somewhere. The cornerback position needs to be a priority.
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