NFL Draft Week 4 Review: Cam Ward needs Joe Brady; draft needs for Bears, Dolphins

Week four of the NFL season was full of storylines for teams and players who will shape the 2026 NFL Draft. Several winless teams earned their first victories, and other clubs highlighted pressing roster needs, from Chicago’s struggling run defense to Miami’s potential need for a new wide receiver.

This week’s NFL Draft recap focuses on those issues while also examining which coach could turn Cam Ward into a high-quality NFL quarterback and why New York Giants fans have reason for optimism with Jaxson Dart.

Cam Ward’s next head coach

First overall pick Cam Ward is facing his share of struggles this season in Tennessee. He has failed to lead the team to a touchdown in the last two games and currently holds a 23 QBR rating. While part of the blame falls on Ward, he isn’t getting any help from the Titans’ unimaginative offense, which ranks last in the NFL at just 12.8 points per game. The run game has been nonexistent as well, averaging only 87 yards per contest.

The man who could get Ward on track is Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who the Titans should make their top priority as the next head coach. Brady has done an elite job with Josh Allen, a quarterback whose game mirrors Ward’s. Both are gifted athletes who thrive with more freedom in the passing game than a traditional pocket passer allows.

Brady has also built a balanced, well-rounded offense that would immediately take pressure off Ward. The Bills currently lead the NFL in rushing at 163.5 yards per game, with James Cook establishing himself as a top-five back. Tennessee could complement Brady’s system in the 2026 NFL Draft by adding a running back like Nicholas Singleton, whose size and speed profile are similar to Cook’s.

The Titans may look like a long-term rebuild right now at 0-4, but landing Brady and building around Ward with a stronger run game could accelerate their turnaround and make them contenders within a couple of seasons.

Jaxson Dart’s First Start Shows Promise for Giants

While Cam Ward has struggled early, New York Giants first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart flashed plenty of potential in the team’s big win over the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers. The victory made Dart the first rookie quarterback since Phil Simms in 1979 to beat a team with a 3-0 or better record in his first career start.

The most impressive part of Dart’s game was his mobility. He carried the ball 10 times for 54 yards and a touchdown, showing he could create when plays broke down or pick up yards on designed runs. His touchdown came on a quarterback draw, where he displayed quickness and decisiveness. He also extended the passing game by throwing effectively on the move, giving the Giants more freedom with sprint-out plays.

As a passer, his best trait was poise, which stood out for a quarterback making his debut. The highlight came late when he hit tight end Theo Johnson for a game-sealing first down. On the day, Dart completed 65 percent of his passes for 111 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

There were still concerns. At times he looked too eager to run, leaving the pocket at the first sign of pressure instead of letting routes develop. His footwork was also inconsistent, with sloppy mechanics leading to accuracy issues. The deep passing game was absent as well — his longest completion went for only 18 yards.

Even with the flaws, Giants fans should be encouraged. Dart showed the tools and confidence to build on, and more importantly, he helped deliver the team’s first win of the season.

Bears must address defense in the first round of 2026 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears have not selected a defensive player in the first round since 2018, when they drafted linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth overall pick. After their recent game against the Raiders, it is clear the Bears must break that streak in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Chicago’s defense was gashed on the ground as rookie running back Ashton Jeanty nearly matched his total from the previous three weeks in one afternoon. Jeanty, who rushed for 144 yards in his first three games, exploded for 138 yards against the Bears, averaging a career-high 6.6 yards per carry. He also torched them through the air, scoring two receiving touchdowns and joining Bo Jackson (1987) and Marcus Allen (1982) as the only Raiders rookies since the 1970 merger to record both a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

The most glaring issue was the Bears’ inability to finish tackles. According to Next Gen Stats, Jeanty broke nine tackles and gained 140 yards after contact. That level of inefficiency exposed major flaws in the run defense.

One weak link was defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who posted a poor 37.2 run defense grade and looked like a major reach as a free agent signing. To fix this, the Bears should strongly consider drafting a defensive end in the first round. A strong option could be Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, assuming Chicago picks in the late teens. Faulk is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound defender with the power to consistently set the edge in the run game while also pressuring the passer.

The Bears would also benefit from upgrading their linebacker corps on day two of the draft. Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards have failed to play at a high level, and rookie fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite II has barely seen the field. A potential target is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, who brings athleticism and physicality that could bolster the middle of Chicago’s defense.

After years of prioritizing the offensive side of the ball, it is time for the Bears to reinvest in their defense. If they want to build a complete roster around Caleb Williams, addressing the front seven in the 2026 NFL Draft is non-negotiable.

Dolphins need to prepare for life after Tyreek Hill

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Miami Dolphins may need to move on from wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Off-field issues, including accusations of domestic abuse, combined with his behavior on the sideline and constant frustration with the team, have made him more of a distraction than a cornerstone.

If the Dolphins explore trade options before the deadline, they could likely land a mid-round pick in return, according to The Athletic. If they ride out the season with him, there is still a strong chance Hill could be released in the offseason, especially if Miami makes a head-coaching change. A new coach may not want the headaches that come with Hill.

That raises the question of who can replace him. While it is unlikely Miami will use a first-round pick on a receiver, the team does own three Day 2 picks and could look to reload there.

If they want a speed threat in the mold of Hill, Georgia’s Zachariah Branch makes sense. Branch is a true burner who won the Nevada Southern 5A Regional titles in both the 100 and 200 meters as a sophomore in high school. He has elite acceleration and ran a 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. His explosiveness shows up on the field as well, as 196 of his 216 receiving yards this season have come after the catch, and he is averaging 15.4 yards per reception.

If the Dolphins prefer size over speed, Washington’s Denzel Boston would be a strong option. At 6-foot-3, Boston is a physical receiver with some of the best hands in the 2026 draft class, having dropped only three passes in his college career. He excels in contested situations, hauling in over 54 percent of his targets in tight coverage over the last two seasons.

Whoever Miami brings in, whether through the draft or free agency, the expectation is simple: find a difference-maker on the field without the headaches off it.

Buccaneers punter replacement

One area the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have really struggled with this season is punting. In their loss to the Eagles, they had a punt blocked, their second of the year and the most in the NFL. The main issue has been Riley Dixon’s slow get-off time, which has left kicks vulnerable. On top of that, Tampa Bay ranks last in the league with just 40.6 yards per punt.

If the Bucs stick with Dixon for the rest of the season, it would make sense for them to make punter a clear offseason priority. A realistic path would be targeting one in the sixth or seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. One name to watch is Syracuse’s Jack Stonehouse, who is averaging an impressive 49.1 yards per punt.

Bucs punter issue slow one blocked… second blocked punt the Bucs have allowed this season. No other team in the league has more than one. Punter Riley Dixon also shanked a punt for 18 yards.