Overview of 2026 Team Draft with Mike Golic Jr.
In this annual Mina Kimes “team draft,” Mina and Mike Golic Jr. draft all 32 NFL teams for the 2026 season based on projected wins, playoff advancement, and Super Bowl upside. The conversation centers on roster strength, coaching stability, schedule difficulty, and injury concerns, with both hosts constantly reacting to each other’s strategy in real time. Mike ultimately felt he won the “front half” of the draft, while Mina believed she owned the middle rounds.
Draft Format and Scoring Changes
The pair revisited last year’s scoring system after Mike’s back-to-back win, which Mina felt was too heavily weighted toward postseason results.
Scoring adjustment discussed
- Still: 1 point per regular-season win
- Adjusted playoff scoring:
- 5 points for making the playoffs
- 5 points for reaching the division round
- 5 points for reaching the conference championship
- 5 points for making the Super Bowl
- 5 points for winning the Super Bowl
The goal was to make the regular season matter more and reduce the “backloaded” effect that had benefited Mike last year.
First-Half Picks and Early Strategy
Mike Golic Jr.’s first half
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Buffalo Bills
- Denver Broncos
- Baltimore Ravens
- New England Patriots
- Houston Texans
- Dallas Cowboys
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- San Francisco 49ers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New Orleans Saints
Mina Kimes’s first half
- Los Angeles Rams — no, Mike opened with these; Mina instead started with:
- Seattle Seahawks
- Buffalo Bills
- Denver Broncos
- Baltimore Ravens
- New England Patriots
- Houston Texans
- Dallas Cowboys
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- San Francisco 49ers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New Orleans Saints
- Chicago Bears / then she pivoted later in the second half
Key early themes:
- Mike leaned into elite coaching + ceiling with the Rams, Bills, Ravens, and Chiefs.
- Mina leaned into schedule value and strong fundamentals with the Seahawks, Broncos, Patriots, Cowboys, and Jaguars.
- Both hosts repeatedly emphasized that playoff upside mattered more in this format than just regular-season competence.
Key Team Arguments and Notable Takeaways
Teams Mike was especially high on
- Rams: “too big to fail,” loaded roster, though depth and cap questions remain.
- Bills: offense already strong; defensive reset with Jim Leonard was a major swing factor.
- Ravens: bullish on a healthier Lamar Jackson and a defense ready to bounce back.
- Texans: loved the defense and the direction of the offense line-wise.
- Chiefs: Mike loved buying low on a team with elite postseason pedigree.
- Bengals: saw real value in the easiest schedule and a line that’s better than its reputation.
Teams Mina was especially high on
- Seahawks: liked the defense, special teams, and Mike Macdonald’s influence.
- Broncos: praised the trenches, depth, and coaching continuity.
- Cowboys: thought the offense is top-tier and the defense could be much improved.
- Lions: loved the schedule and the offense, despite some defensive concerns.
- Jaguars: one of her favorite “very good across the board” teams.
- Chargers: trusted the offense and top-end QB play despite interior O-line concerns.
- Vikings: saw them as the most balanced team in a volatile division.
- Packers: liked the stability and upside if the offense and defense stay healthy.
- Patriots: thought the reaction to New England was too negative given their talent and QB baseline.
Biggest preseason/injury-driven concerns
- Saints: Mina cooled slightly after the Jordan Tyson injury.
- Chargers: interior offensive line injuries were a real concern.
- Titans: preseason struggles from Cam Ward weighed on Mike’s confidence.
- Falcons: defense/pass rush concerns made the preseason feel shaky.
- Dolphins: offensive creativity was intriguing, but the defense looked too thin on talent.
Final Team Results
Mike Golic Jr.
- Rams
- Bills
- Ravens
- Texans
- Eagles
- Packers
- Chiefs
- Bengals
- Saints
- Bears
- Colts
- Commanders
- Panthers
- Jets
- Titans
- Browns
Mina Kimes
- Seahawks
- Broncos
- Patriots
- Cowboys
- Lions
- Jaguars
- 49ers
- Buccaneers
- Chargers
- Vikings
- Steelers
- Giants
- Cardinals
- Raiders
- Falcons
- Dolphins
Final Verdict
Both hosts agreed the draft had a clear shape:
- Mike won the front end with several premium, high-ceiling teams, especially the Chiefs and Bengals at unusually favorable draft positions.
- Mina won the middle rounds, where she landed several teams she felt were undervalued, including the Chargers, Vikings, Raiders, Cardinals, and Panthers.
- The draft was heavily influenced by:
- schedule difficulty
- coaching stability
- offensive line health
- defense/regression concerns
- playoff upside
In the end, the draft served as both an NFL preview and a strategy exercise: which teams are safest, which have the most upside, and which are being underrated by the market.
Show and Podcast Notes
Mike plugged his return to ESPN Radio with The Golic Family:
- Weekdays, 10 a.m. to noon ET
- Available on ESPN Radio and via podcast
Mina also promoted her other podcast coverage and thanked Omaha Productions and the production team.