If the Premier League did an NFL-style draft, who would each team select?

7hSam Tighe4hLizzy Becherano3hESPN10hJames Olley4hChris Wright1dRyan O'Hanlon17hMark Ogden1dMark Ogden1dGraham HunterplayLaurens: Man City's win vs. Arsenal was the decisive moment in the title race (1:39)Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens preview the remainder of the title race between Arsenal and Manchester City. (1:39)Sam TigheApr 22, 2026, 06:48 AM ETCloseSam is a writer, broadcaster and podcaster for ESPN. He will write on the Premier League, scouting and transfers.This week, the 2026 NFL draft takes place in Pittsburgh. Across three days, all 32 teams in the league will load up on young talent, picking the best college prospects in the hope of securing elite difference-makers and fixing the holes on their rosters.To join in on the fun, we've created a Premier League draft. Here are the rules:Two rounds: After playing around with potential formats, we settled on a two-round draft, as it allowed a healthy mix between drafting for need and picking the best player available.Draft order: The table as of Monday has been flipped to create the draft order: 20th-place Wolves pick first, 19th-place Burnley second, and so on; first-place Arsenal pick last. We froze the table after Monday night's Crystal Palace-West Ham game.Draft pool: Only Premier League players under 23 are available. Given this is a bit of fun, these teams are not stealing each other's players. Just pretend these teams are adding their draftees to their existing rosters and everyone is getting stronger. To bring an element of NFL draft realism to the process, only players who are 23 or under as of April 1 are eligible to be taken. This is, after all, an exercise in choosing young talent.No trades: Again, it makes things very complicated. We tried that and it got really messy, really fast.We produced several mock runs of this draft, tweaking the rules as we went, to try to produce something realistic. The end result is something that really does deliver the roller coaster of the NFL draft, with surprise risers and fallers that capture the drama. Speaking of realistic, there were some last-minute injuries that threatened to shake up the order.Chelsea winger Estêvão will have been relieved to avoid serious injury on the eve of the draft -- the hamstring injury he suffered against Manchester United was a minor one. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike, who had an Achilles tear against Paris Saint-Germain last week and is set for nine months out. That injury is taken into consideration for the draft. He would have been in play for No. 1 overall. How far will he fall now?All right, enough small print. Let's have some fun!Premier League chief executive Richard Masters walks to the podium ... "Wolves, you are on the clock."Jump to: Round 1 | Round 2 Takeaways | Full draftROUND 11. WolvesEstêvão, FW, ChelseaWolves are bottom of the Premier League for myriad reasons, but chief among them is a lack of goals. They've managed a paltry 24 goals in 33 games, having failed to replace forward Matheus Cunha, who joined Manchester United last summer in a £62.5 million deal.This is their chance to draft a new X factor attacker -- one to build around now and in the future -- so teenage Chelsea star Estêvão is first off the board. He is an electric talent with world-class potential. He did get injured last weekend, but it wouldn't impact his first-overall status as it's not feared to be too serious.2. BurnleyCole Palmer, AM, ChelseaBurnley's story of struggle is the opposite of Wolves'. They've fared OK in front of goal; it's keeping them out at the other end that has been a problem. They have conceded the most goals (67) in the division and need to shore things up, but it makes sense to wait until Round 2 to address that.That's because with pick No. 2, they can choose between Palmer, Rayan Cherki and Florian Wirtz -- three superstars who would transform the face of their team. Manager Scott Parker would probably enjoy working with Palmer the most.3. Tottenham HotspurAdam Wharton, CM, Crystal PalaceSomehow, Spurs have found themselves in a situation where barely any of the team -- let alone the midfield -- can pass the ball well. It's a huge part of why their season has been such a failure and needs to be remedied immediately.Fortunately, the draft gives them a chance to do just that, and Crystal Palace's Wharton is the obvious pick. A 22-year-old homegrown pass master, he would change this team's fortunes in an instant.play1:16Laurens: Spurs showed more heart and intensity in Brighton defeatJulien Laurens says relegation-threatened Spurs' next fixture league against Wolves is "the must of the must-wins."4. West Ham UnitedRayan Cherki, AM, Manchester CityWest Ham have conceded 57 goals this season, third most in the league, but just 19 of those have come in the second half of the season, indicating a huge improvement.They need defensive help, especially as January addition Axel Disasi is only on loan from Chelsea, but like Burnley, West Ham can afford to wait until the second round to plug that hole.And why in the world would the Hammers pass on a prodigious, ceiling-raising attacker like Cherki? He has the ingenuity and personality to carry the team in the final third. West Ham have a long history of maverick attacking talent, and Cherki would follow in the footsteps of Paolo Di Canio and Dimitri Payet, among others. With their latest No. 10, Lucas Paquetá, leaving in January, Cherki would slot right in.5. Nottingham ForestFlorian Wirtz, AM, LiverpoolNottingham Forest's lowly league position is less about the quality of their squad and more about the tumultuous way the club has been run. (Vítor Pereira is their fourth manager this season!) As a result, they really are in a position to simply draft the best player available.At pick No. 5, that looks like Wirtz. Attacking midfielder is hardly an obvious area of need given Morgan Gibbs-White has scored 12 league goals from there this season, but you would simply make adjustments. Either play him wide or move to a system with dual No. 10s.6. Leeds UnitedNico O'Reilly, LB, Manchester CityLeeds need a goalkeeper. They signed Lucas Perri last summer in a €15 million deal from Lyon, but he has struggled for form and been replaced by backup Karl Darlow. There's no need to act on that now, as one of three excellent young shot stoppers should be there for them in Round 2.So the Whites follow suit on drafting the best player available and take O'Reilly. Not only is he quickly emerging as one of the Premier League's better players, he also suits the tall, physical squad Leeds have built.7. Newcastle UnitedBenjamin Sesko, FW, Manchester UnitedNewcastle's dreadful season has exposed issues all over their squad. The most pressing of those concerns is probably at striker, where the attempt to replace Alexander Isak with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade has not worked.With the seventh pick, they take Sesko -- a player they originally chased to replace Isak last summer but effectively chose Manchester United over them. Finally, they get their man.play2:26Could Newcastle United's Saudi owners sell their share in the club?Gab Marcotti discusses whether the Saudi Public Investment fund could sell their majority stake in Newcastle United.8. Crystal PalaceElliot Anderson, CM, Nottingham ForestFor whoever replaces Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace manager next season, what a wonderful welcome gift Anderson would be: a center midfielder who can pretty much do it all.Given Daichi Kamada is set to leave this summer once his contract expires and Cheick Doucouré has been plagued by injuries, this solves a positional need and adds immense quality to the starting XI.9. FulhamMorgan Rogers, AM, Aston VillaFulham need a forward. Their on-again, off-again negotiations for PSV and USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi suggest this is clearly their area of focus, so they're not going to pass on the chance to draft one inside the top 10. With only one off the board so far, they find themselves in a good spot, too.This choice essentially boils down to Junior Kroupi vs. Rogers, two exceptional young talents who would add individual brilliance to the team, and it's the latter who lands at the Cottage. Manager Marco Silva would love his ingenuity almost as much as he loves his work rate -- he has covered the third-most distance (358.89 kilometers) in the Premier League this season, per Gradient Sports.10. SunderlandJunior Kroupi, FW, BournemouthSunderland are simply happy to take whichever forward Fulham didn't, which is Kroupi.The Black Cats have done brilliantly to comfortably stave off relegation this season but know there's more hard work ahead to do so again next term. Top of the agenda is finding more goals -- only three teams have scored fewer than their 36 this term -- and Kroupi's 10 strikes this season hint at a prolific career.11. EvertonJérémy Doku, LW, Manchester CityIf Everton miss out on European football this season, they will wonder what could have been. Could they have sustained the push had City loanee Jack Grealish not suffered a stress fracture in March?His absence has been felt, so why not use this opportunity to replace one phenomenal dribbler with another. David Moyes would love Doku's incisiveness and ability to drive up the pitch.12. Brighton & Hove AlbionRyan Gravenberch, CM, LiverpoolThere's arguably one hole in Brighton's roster, right back, but they should be confident of landing one of those in Round 2. With this pick, they address a more premium position with Gravenberch.With long-term questions hanging over central midfielders Pascal Groß (34) and James Milner (40), and established interest from Manchester United in Carlos Baleba, the Seagulls can future-proof the middle of the park somewhat by selecting the Dutchman.13. AFC BournemouthAbdukodir Khusanov, CB, Manchester CityThe second defender after Nico O'Reilly is off the board at pick No. 13. Khusanov is enjoying a glow-up 2026, and it won't be long until he is recognized as one of the best young center backs in the world.The Cherries will once again face questions in defense this summer as Marcos Senesi's contract expires, and he looks set to leave. Picking Khusanov gets them ahead of this potential issue.14. BrentfordHugo Ekitike, FW, LiverpoolWhat does a team that arguably needs nothing, operating so efficiently you'd be scared to change a thing, do in this position? It plays the long game.Ekitike could easily have gone first overall to Wolves had this draft come a month earlier -- he's that good. But a torn Achilles just before the big event harmed his stock, forcing goal-hungry clubs to look elsewhere. Brentford, though, don't need him right away and can wait for nine months for him to regain fitness and form down the line.play1:26Arne Slot: Hugo Ekitike has a bad injuryLiverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that Hugo Ekitike picked up a bad injury in their 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.15. ChelseaMax Dowman, RW, ArsenalChelsea have problems to solve all over their squad, but let's be honest: If Dowman is there at pick No. 15, they would take him.This is the sort of player Chelsea have become obsessed with to a fault under this ownership: someone who could turn out to be world-class. The fact that there are players left on the board who are much more established and could fill real positions of need is irrelevant.16. LiverpoolArchie Gray, CM, Tottenham HotspurLiverpool's midfield has been a significant weakness this season, with Alexis Mac Allister's form dropping off a cliff and Ryan Gravenberch looking increasingly miscast in a holding role.Picking Gray would go a long way toward stabilizing this area. The 20-year-old has excelled in a very difficult Spurs situation and, along the way, played just about every role bar striker and goalkeeper. That positional understanding and appreciation is exactly what the Reds need.17. Aston VillaAmad Diallo, RW, Manchester UnitedVilla's attack has huffed and puffed at times this season; their 47 goals is comfortably the fewest of anyone inside the top four, where Unai Emery's side have sat since November.Amad would bring much-needed speed, width and incisiveness in forward areas, while his experience playing wingback for Manchester United would stand him in good stead to carry out Emery's specific defensive instructions.18. Manchester UnitedCarlos Baleba, CM, BrightonManchester United have been tracking Baleba for over a year now, but Brighton's estimated £100 million valuation has understandably prevented any deal from advancing. With Casemiro departing at the end of the season, a combative midfield profile is urgently needed at Old Trafford.They'd have absolutely no hesitation picking him here; he's their draft crush.19. Manchester CityLewis Hall, LB, Newcastle UnitedSix months ago, right back was the biggest need for City, but Abdukodir Khusanov's rise and Matheus Nunes' improvement have changed things. Instead, left back is now emerging as a position to address, as Nico O'Reilly is so overwhelmingly good in center midfield, he might simply have to play there moving forward.That leads to City taking a dip in the left back pool and coming out with Hall, whose mix of comfort in possession and aggression off the ball has turned heads this season -- especially when he successfully marked Lamine Yamal out of the game when Newcastle faced Barcelona in the Champions League round-of-16 first leg in March.20. ArsenalRayan, RW, BournemouthDespite recruiting heavily in this area last summer, it's clear this Arsenal side still needs more attacking juice, and there is some available here at the turn. Ideally, that would be a left winger, but any forward with a high ceiling should be under consideration here.Rayan fits the bill perfectly. He has been in the league for only a handful of months, but everyone has already come to fear his cannonball of a strike. He can play either wing and could well develop into a No. 9 profile over the next few years.ROUND 221. WolvesRio Ngumoha, LW, LiverpoolWolves just keep on loading up on elite potential. Their squad is such a mess there's no point pinpointing specific positions with this pick; they just need to find great talent to rebuild with.Ngumoha and Estêvão as a wing partnership? Suddenly, the future's looking bright.play2:11Nicol: Rio Ngumoha must start for Liverpool moving forwardESPN's Steve Nicol has praised Rio Ngumoha's performance in Liverpool 2-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League.22. BurnleyJames Trafford, GK, Manchester CityA big argument erupts in the Burnley war room here as three players are debated. There's no doubt center midfield needs a revamp, and picking Alex Scott or Kobbie Mainoo would not only stabilize things, but also add a player able to bring Cole Palmer (their first pick) into play more.But they have to address the defensive unit, and the opportunity to bring Trafford -- whom they lost to Manchester City last