NFL 2026 Top 5 Veteran Players Who Benefited From The 2026 NFL Draft

Cam Skattebo, Running Back, New York Giants

Who They Drafted:

The New York Giants had seven picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two in the top-10 of the first round.

• R1 P5, LB, Arvell Reese, Ohio State
• R1 P10, OL, Francis, Mauigoa, Miami
• R2 P37, CB, Colton Hood, Tennessee
• R3 P74, WR, Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
• R5 P186, DT, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Auburn
• R6 P192, OL, JC Davis, Illinois
• R6 P193, LB, Jackal Kelly, BYU

Most noticeably, the Giants did not pick a running back. They did sign an undrafted free agent running back, Damon Bankston, out of New Mexico. But Bankston, a five-year player (four years at Weber State and his last year at New Mexico), is a utility signing that adds depth to both the running back room and the kick return team. He does not appear to be a threat to Skattebo’s playing time.

How This Benefits Skattebo

Skattebo dislocated his ankle in Week 8 of last season. Before the injury, Skattebo had five rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns. On his 101 carries, he averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and on the receiving end, he had 24 receptions on 32 targets.

Per Ourlads, Skattebo is currently listed as RB1 in the Giants depth chart, with RB2 being Tyron Tracy, and Devin Singletary listed as RB3.

After talks of the Giants wanting Kenneth Walker and then Jeremiyah Love and getting neither, Skattebo is looking good.

Davante Adams, Wide Receiver, Los Angeles Rams

Who They Drafted:

The Los Angeles Rams had five picks.

• R1 P13, QB, Ty Simpson, Alabama
• R2 P61, TE Ma Klare, Ohio State
• R3 P93, OT, Keageb Trost, Missouri
• R6 P197, WR, CJ Daniels, Miami
• R7 P232, DT, Tim Keenan III, Alabama

The surprise in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was the Rams picking quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick.

The 33-year-old Adams was a red-zone beast last season. Among all wide receivers, he was second in red zone targets (32), fourth in red zone target share (35.6%), and first in total touchdowns (14).

The consensus was that the Rams would look for a wide receiver, for depth, and to provide some on-field relief to the aging Adams. USC’s Makai Lemon was still on the board. Lemon led the rookie wide receivers with a 53.8% red zone target share, which seemed like a good fit.

The Rams, in fact, did not draft a wide receiver until the sixth round. They then doubled down, and with their 18 undrafted free-agent signings, there was not a single wide receiver.

How This Benefits Adams

It appears the wide receiver room will remain status quo for the Rams. Adams’ 55.95% snap count was in 14 games, and yet he was second among the Rams’ wide receivers. Konata Mumpfield, again listed behind Adams, had a 33.04% snap count last season with a 3.7% red zone target share and one touchdown in 17 games.

Adams’ position as the red zone threat for the Rams appears to be solid.

Geno Smith, Quarterback, New York Jets

Who They Drafted:

The Jets had eight picks in the draft, including three in the first round.

• R1 P2, Edge, David Bailey, Texas Tech
• R1 P16, TE, Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
• R1 P30, WR, Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
• R2 P50, CB, D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
• R4 P103, DT, Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
• R4 P110, QB, Cade Klubnik, Clemson
• R6 P188, G, Anez Cooper, Miami
• R7 P228, S, VJ Payne, Kansas State

How This Benefits Smith

Smith was horrible last season in Las Vegas. He was 10th in interceptable passes thrown (15), 31st in first-down rate (30%), and finished the season with a 34.2 quarterback rating, which ranked 26th. He also played behind the 32nd-ranked offensive line, per Pro Football Focus, and his premier receiver was a tight end who only played in 14 games.

Smith is better by addition. Smith will be playing behind a better offensive line, and with the haul on draft night, he will have better weapons.

There was a big disparity between 2024 Smith and 2025 Smith. Look for Smith to be closer to the 2024 production.

Travis Kelce, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs

Who They Drafted:

The Chiefs finished the draft with seven total picks, including two in the first round.

• R1 P6, CB, Monsoor Delane, LSU
• R1 P29, DT, Peter Woods, Clemson
• R2 P40, Edge, R Manson Thomas, Oklahoma
• R4 P109, S, Jadon Canady, Pregon
• R5 P161, RB, Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
• R5 P176, WR, Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati
• R7 P245, QB, Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

How This Helps Kelce

The Chiefs didn’t even pretend to draft a tight end. And although they did add two “athletic freaks” in their undrafted free agent signings, wide receiver Jeff Caldwell and tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, they aren’t looking to (currently) replace Kelce.

Kelce was low-key good last season. Among all tight ends, he was eighth in first read target share (21.5%), fourth in targets (108), ninth in target share (19.7% and 14.5% red zone targets), fifth in air yards (735), and second in deep targets (10).

In addition to the Chiefs not signing a reputable replacement for Kelce, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is back. When Bieniemy was last seen on the Chiefs’ sideline, Kelce was first in targets (152), first in red zone targets (30), third in target share (24.9% and 28% red zone targets), and second in air yards (1053).

Kelce won by the Chiefs, electing not to participate in the tight end run portion of the draft, and with the return of Bieniemy. The only real question is Patrick Mahomes’ return from injury.

Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints

Who They Drafted:

The Saints had eight draft picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

• R1 P8, WR, Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
• R2 P42, DT, Christian Miller, Georgia
• R3 P73, TE, Oscar Delp, Georgia
• R4 P132, G, Jeremiah Wright, Auburn
• R4 P136, WR, Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
• R5 P172, S, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State
• R6 P190, WR, Barion Brown, LSU
• R7 P216, CB, TJ Hall, Iowa

How This Benefits Olave

On the surface, it is hard to imagine how someone who was statistically in the top-10 among all wide receivers could benefit from another wide receiver being selected. Olave dominated last season; he was fifth in targets (156), fifth in first read targets (7.4p/g), fifth in receptions (100), and first in air yards (1840), and the Saints still finished last in the NFC South with a 6-11 record.

Mainly because Olave was the only weapon the Saints had. Now with Tyson in the fold, the Saints have multiple weapons for Kellen Moore to scheme up.

Last season, Olave accounted for a 29.4% target share and a 27.5% target rate. With Tyson, that number will likely decrease, but that doesn’t mean it will affect Olave’s effectiveness. With Tyson, teams will now have to account for two good wide receivers, which could also result in fewer injuries for Olave.

Which brings us to the Who Dat, both Tyson and Olave need to stay healthy. A healthy Olave, not being the object of every defense’s attention, is not only good for Olave but great for the Saints.

Players Who Benefited From the 2026 NFL Draft

The Giants, Chiefs, and Jets will have new offensive coordinators this year (so will the Rams, but we all know that Sean McVay will be making the decisions). It remains to be seen if the new offensive coordinators are a benefit or detriment to their teams (yes, we are looking at you, Frank Reich and Matt Nagy). But their drafts helped solidify the positions of key veterans in key positions.