We’re almost at the end of a long, winding, and surprisingly wild path to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The path for the Giants started when Brian Daboll was fired in November, and continued through the stunning hire of former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh. Since then, the Giants have given their organization a much-needed facelift and navigated a free agency period that was more about “tinkering” with a roster Harbaugh believes is ready to compete.

Now we, and the Giants, are on the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft, and a new era of New York Giants football.

Nothing happens in a vacuum, and the draft is no different.

The context

(Note: Please read this before jumping to the picks. This is essentially a “Philosoraptor’s Corner” and a mock draft in one. I’m incorporating a lot of piece-fitting with regards to the Giants’ coaching staff and free agent additions.)

The Giants’ free agent signings appeared to be more about plugging holes and setting the stage for the draft. 

So before we get to my mock draft, I want to look at how the stage was set. 

Team needs: WR, iDL, OG depth, CB depth

Defensive tackle depth was always a need for the Giants, however the trade of Dexter Lawrence promoted it from a need to a priority. I am, and have been, of the opinion that wide receiver is the single biggest need on the roster, even after signing Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. 

Any faith in the Giants’ receiving corps rests upon the return of Malik Nabers. However, the fact that he needed a full meniscus repair in addition to repairing his torn ACL complicates matters. He should be cleared to return in time for the season, but we just don’t know whether he’ll have the full measure of his athleticism back. Likewise, we don’t know if the damage to his meniscus impacts his long-term prognosis.

In my view, the Giants can’t simply assume Nabers will return and everything will be fine.

Turning to the cornerback and interior offensive line positions, I suspect the Giants may be more confident in their work there than many on the outside seem to be. 

The Giants signed former first-round pick Greg Newsome II to compete with fellow former first rounder Deonte Banks for the starting cornerback job. One-year contracts can’t be viewed as fliers in the modern NFL. Players and agents have realized just as well as teams that the salary cap is rising, and players preferring short-term contracts to give them greater access to a market that keeps rising. 

I also want to call attention to the fact that Dennard Wilson is a disciple of what Cody Alexander (of the excellent MatchQuarters substack) has dubbed the “Baltimore 2.0” defense, perfected by Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald. One of the hallmarks of that defensive scheme is aggressive cornerback play and a high rate of “step coverage”. That is, coverage in which the cornerback is just a step or two away from the receiver and the goal is to force tight window throws. Newsome II has shown upside in man coverage with the Browns, while Banks was one of the best corners in forcing tight window throws. 

It’s also worth noting that the Giants hired former Denver Broncos cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch and Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Donald D’Alesio. Both defenses have excelled at developing young cornerbacks as well as employing aggressive man coverage. 

Improved coaching and a better scheme could help the Giants’ young DBs (Newsome, Banks, Dru Phillips, and Tyler Nubin) to play up to the potential we saw from them earlier in their careers.

The Giants signed a bevy of players to compete for their right guard job. 

Daniel Faalele started every game over the last two years for Harbaugh with the Ravens. At the same time, the Giants also signed Evan Neal and Joshua Ezeudu, and Harbaugh told both that they’d have the opportunity to compete. 

The Giants might not view right guard and cornerback as glaring needs. 

Trades

It’s been widely speculated that the Giants could trade down early in the draft, at least if they found the right partner. I don’t think the trade of Lawrence for the 10th overall pick changes that calculus. The Giants don’t have a pick between 37th and 105th overall after sending their third-round pick to the Houston Texans as a part of the trade to acquire Jaxson Dart. 

We have talked a lot about Harbaugh bringing aspects of the Baltimore Ravens’ culture to the Giants. While the Ravens are certainly excellent at identifying talent, their real super power has been their patience. They’re patient in waiting for the draft to come to them and are patient in how they develop the players they acquire. I believe the Giants will trade down from one of the fifth, 10th, or 37th picks to afford the team the time and opportunity to be patient, as well as acquire more young players to build going forward. 

Which pick will likely depend on how the board breaks ahead of them and the trade package offered.

(As usual, I’m using PFSN’s mock draft simulator)

First round

1. Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
2. David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
3. Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State)
4. Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)

Round 1 (No. 5) – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

[Prospect profile]

This pick makes sense from three different perspectives: Player, Analytics, and Person. 

One of the other aspects of the “Baltimore 2.0” scheme is the use of highly athletic and versatile defenders to disguise their plays and dictate terms to the offense. In Seattle that was Nick Emmanwori, while Kyle Hamilton filled that role for the Ravens. Styles is a former safety who has spent the last two seasons as a linebacker in a sophisticated NFL-style defense. 

He brings prototypical linebacker size with truly elite athleticism. He has the ability to come down and flow to the ball in the run game, match up with tight ends and running backs in coverage, drop back into deep zones, and rush the passer. 

Next, I want to call attention to the fact that while many have focused on Dawn Aponte’s role in  managing the salary cap, she also heads up the Giants’ bolstered analytics department. Harbaugh was one of the first NFL head coaches to fully buy into the use of analytics, and data analysis played a significant role in just about every part of the Ravens’ operation.

Styles has an excellent 2.2% missed tackle rate, which is a third of the Giants’ own 3rd-ranked 6.8 percent missed tackle rate. Styles excels at preventing “leaky yardage”, and he ranks second only to Jacob Rodriguez among top linebacker prospects in Coverage and Run stops. Styles also pressures the quarterback at a similar rate as teammate Arvell Reese. Styles has had 143 pass rush snaps, producing 31 total pressures (7 sacks, 1 hit, 23 hurries), while Reese has had 122 pass rush snaps, producing 30 total pressures (11 sacks, 3 hits, 16 hurries). 

Finally, Styles is highly regarded as a young man. He reportedly “crushed” his interviews and is regarded as a leader and tone-setter in the Ohio State locker room. Harbaugh wants players who are committed and love every aspect of being a football player, and Styles certainly seems to check those boxes.

My personal comparison for Styles is another freakishly athletic safety-turned-linebacker: Brian Urlacher.

Round 1 (No. 10) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

[Prospect profile]

This is a pick I was heavily conflicted about making. Partly because of the uncertainty around the player, but also because I was confronted with a very tempting trade scenario.

First about the player; I have no qualms about taking Tyson at 10th overall if he’s healthy. He is absolutely worth that pick thanks to his combination of size, speed, agility, quickness, and the skill with which he uses those traits. Adding a receiver of Tyson’s caliber both splits the load with Nabers and would truly unlock the Giants’ offense. 

NFL defenses have largely pivoted to split-field coverages, using two deep safeties to cap explosive passing games in the wake of the early dominance of Pat Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. In doing so, they also ceded the underneath area of the field to running backs, slot receivers, and tight ends. That’s the reason for the return of the running game to prominence. 

As things stand now, the Giants don’t have a second receiver who can force opposing defenses to pick their poison. And within their own division, the Giants don’t have a player who can consistently beat Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, or Cooper DeJean in 1-on-1 coverage if Nabers is double-covered. 

Adding Tyson would allow the Giants to force the Eagles into two double coverages, leaving a neutral or light box to defend the run (again, I’m presuming the Giants have more faith in the right guard position than fans or the media), or to be carved up by Isaiah Likely, Mooney, Tyrone Tracy, Cam Skattebo, or Theo Johnson. 

I do believe the reports that Tyson is The Giants’ Guy. Never mind what people say – they lie all the time, especially this time of year. But a general manager isn’t flying out to Arizona to have dinner with a prospect a week before the draft just to establish a smoke screen. 

And that brings me to the trade offer. 

The Kansas City Chiefs traded back from 9th overall to 24th overall with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns took Carnell Tate No. 6 overall, then jumped back up to 9th to take Francis Mauigoa (which is a home run first round for them). 

The Chiefs, in turn, are offering me 24th and 29th overall. I’m rejecting the offer because a compound trade scenario like that is a bit too unrealistic (or perhaps unlikely). However, it does show that this pick is an absolute wildcard. I believe this pick is up for sale if Tyson is gone or the Giants aren’t quite as convicted (to use a Schoenism) on him as I believe. 

Round 2 (No. 37) — TRADE! 

As I said, I expect the Giants to trade out of one of their first three picks, and this is it. 

Giants get: Picks 53 and 76
Pittsburgh Steelers get: Pick 37

Round 2 (No. 53) — Caleb Banks, iDL, Florida

[Prospect profile]

I’m wary of taking two players with significant injury histories. But this is another case where, if the Giants’ medical staff is fine with it, then so am I. 

As I wrote when Lawrence requested his trade, Banks is the only defensive tackle in this draft class that has the potential to actually replace Lawrence. He has, easily, the most upside of any defensive tackle in the draft, and might have the highest upside of any defensive tackle since Jalen Carter. Humans who are 6-foot-6, 327 pounds with 35-inch arms, a 32-inch vertical, and a 5-second 40 just don’t come along every day.

He is an absolute game wrecker when he is healthy and playing up to his potential – Just ask Jaxson Dart, considering Banks sacked him 2.5 times when Ole Miss played Florida in 2024.

The foot problems worry me, but the fact that he still put up a historic workout with a fracture is “Julio Jones” levels of absurd. This is a calculated risk, but I’m betting on Harbaugh’s coaching staff to have a plan to develop him as well as keep him healthy. 

Also, I’m not done yet. 

Round 3 (No. 76) — Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

[Prospect profile]

This is a slight reach according to PFSN’s big board, with Orange ranked 85th, so I was confident he would be there. This is also why I restrained myself and accepted only picks 53 and 76 in exchange for 34th overall. I know I could have gotten the 85th pick (also owned by the Steelers) plus a Day 3 pick, but I wanted to make sure I could get Orange. 

‘Big Citrus’ is my insurance policy for Caleb Banks. Big Citrus presents a high-floor nose tackle to be the dependable rock if Banks’ injury concerns rear their ugly heads. But not only that, being able to rotate the young defensive tackles keeps snaps off of both of them and helps to limit Banks’ risk of injury. I also want to keep as many of my big defenders as fresh as possible for late in games, considering how often the Giants looked gassed in the five losses in which they led by double-digits last year.

Following up high-ceiling skill position players like Styles and Tyson in the first round with linemen on Day 2 also conforms to the Baltimore Ravens’ drafting habits.

Finally, the Front 7 of Darius Alexander, Domonique Orange, and Caleb Banks, surrounded by Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Tremaine Edmunds, and Sonny Styles (as well as Kayvon Thibodeaux if the Giants extend him) would be the most freakishly terrifying defensive front in the NFL if they all hit their ceilings. 

Round 4 (No. 105) — Fabechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma 

The Giants have a bunch of young players competing for the right guard position, and I do believe they’re comfortable with their baseline play they can expect from the group. But I also strongly believe that the Giants will invest in at least one developmental interior lineman. 

My other consideration here was Kentucky guard Jalen Farmer due to his immense upside. However, Nwaiwu visited the Giants on a Top 30 visit, so I suspect he’s higher on their radar. The Giants will likely use a downhill power run game based on man-gap principles thanks to Greg Roman’s presence, and Nwaiwu fits that well. 

He also offers three-tool versatility after a promising showing in an unplanned move to center in the College Football Playoffs due to injuries. The Giants probably like his willingness to do whatever his team needed, as well as his willingness to take any opportunity to compete.

From PFSN: 

“Febechi Nwaiwu is one of the most compelling Day 3 offensive line targets if you’re seeking reliability and positional versatility on the interior. A former walk-on at North Texas, Nwaiwu built himself up over a five-year collegiate career, and ended up being the only Oklahoma OL to start every single game across 2024 and 2025. Early in the season, Nwaiwu anchored at guard — sometimes switching between left and right guard in a pinch within games — before transitioning to center for the CFB Playoffs in the wake of injuries.

At center, Nwaiwu is still balancing snapping the ball and making swift hand contact, but he assuredly has the natural leverage, baseline flexibility, and anchor strength to potentially stick at the fulcrum. Meanwhile, at guard, Nwaiwu has the lateral mobility, heavy hand power, and clean technique to hold strong in pass protection, and he presents solid range, angle IQ, and ruthless driving physicality in the run game. At times, Nwaiwu displays moderate hip stiffness and peak athletic limitations, but his floor is exceedingly high, and he provides three-position flex inside.”

Round 5 (No. 145) — JC Davis, G, Illinois

I hadn’t intended to double up on developmental linemen and I was targeting Ephesians Prysock (CB, Washington) here. However, the Cardinals took him two picks prior. So, it’s on to Plan B.

Davis played tackle for Illinois but his future is inside at guard. He’s another swing at finding a developmental offensive interior lineman to establish a pipeline for the future, as well as bolster depth. 

Davis not only visited the Giants, but he already has experience working his way up and paying his dues. Davis started his college career at the JuCo level, where he transitioned from defensive tackle to offensive tackle (similar to Tyler Linderbaum), before transferring to New Mexico, and finally Illinois. He distinguished himself and earned First Team All Conference honors at all three levels. 

Davis is a big, powerful lineman at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, with 34-inch arms, which should also appeal to the Giants. 

From PFSN: 

“Davis is a bear in close quarters, with heavy hands, a strong anchor, good natural leverage and knee bend, and a wide frame that helps him control positioning. He’s relatively slow-footed and lacks high-end flexibility, and could end up seeing out a transition to guard as a result.

He also experiences lapses in upper-lower synergy with premature extensions at times. Still, Davis’ extensive collegiate experience has yielded him a strong operational floor, as well as great two-phase awareness. Immediately, he projects as a strong depth piece in gap and inside zone schemes, and he has a degree of starting upside at both tackle and guard, as a relatively immovable presence with line-resetting hand power and physicality”

Round 6

My plan for the sixth round is to select high-upside players who can at least be good special teams contributors and trust Harbaugh’s coaching staff to get the most out of them. If even one hits, it should be a home run.

No. 186 – Daylen Everette (CB, Georgia) 

I considered Everette with the 145th pick, so it’s (almost) a no-brainer to take him here. My only temptation is tight end Sam Roush, who I think Harbaugh would love. But, I do want to find a developmental cornerback, and Everette brings high athletic upside, a knack for making plays in big moments, and experience in a sophisticated defense against top competition. 

No. 192 – Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

Once again, I’m doubling down on developmental prospects in an area of potential future need. Fuller is a high-upside player with good size (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) and an explosive lower body. He has upside in man coverage, and the Giants are likely already familiar with him after scouting and drafting former teammate Darius Alexander. 

No. 193 – Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati

[Prospect profile]

Someone is going to take a swing on Caldwell, and I suspect it will be earlier than this. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Caldwell is still raw as a receiver, but his athletic upside can only be compared to the likes of Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones. 

Harbaugh spoke about building a “dynamic” offense around Dart, and the potential represented by him hitting and playing up to his ceiling is worth the swing. Even if there’s only a 5 percent chance of him realizing his potential, it’s well worth the flier at this point in the draft, and I probably wouldn’t even be upset with it in the fifth round.

Immediately after last year’s NFL draft, in which the Rams came away with two first-round picks in 2026, coach Sean McVay put off any hint of anticipation about how the team might leverage their bounty in this year’s draft.

“One year’s like dog years to me in coaching,” McVay said, chuckling, “That’s a long way away.”

Not anymore.

On Thursday, the three-day draft begins in Pittsburgh.

The Rams already upgraded the roster that helped them reach the NFC championship game last season.

Read more:Rams coach Sean McVay says Puka Nacua is 'doing really well' after rehab stint

To a team that featured quarterback Matthew Stafford — the NFL most valuable player — star receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and Pro Bowl edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young, the Rams re-signed safety Kam Curl and added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

The Rams gave up the No. 29 pick in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for McDuffie, an All-Pro the Rams promptly made the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.

But they still have the No. 13 pick — acquired in the 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons — giving them a chance to supplement a roster that makes the Rams a favorite to play in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in February.

The Rams do not have a “void” or an immediate need for a rookie to replace a starter, McVay said, so there is no need to “press” with the No. 13 pick.

“That was accomplished and accommodated by the guys that we signed or re-signed, or that we have under contract,” he said, “so we feel really good.”

The Rams will go into the draft with one pick in the first, second and third rounds, one pick in the sixth round and three in the seventh.

Read more:Patriots coach Mike Vrabel says photos with Dianna Russini led to 'difficult conversations' with family, team

The Rams have not had a top-10 pick since 2016, when they selected quarterback Jared Goff No. 1. This is only the third time since they returned to Los Angeles from St. Louis in 2016 that they will go into the draft with a first-round pick. In 2024, they chose Verse with the 19th pick.

Is this the year that McVay, hired in 2017, finally gets a chance to draft an impact skill player on offense?

“We’re eager to add a really good player at [No.] 13,” he said, adding, “There’s skill players that I like, and that we like, and there’s a lot of positions of guys that we like in this class.”

General manager Les Snead has never been shy about attempting to trade up to select a desired player or back to acquire more draft capital. Last year, the Rams traded the 26th pick and a third-round pick to the Falcons for a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick, and the first-round pick this year.

Would the Rams trade up or back from No. 13?

“You’re happy at 13 but those options are always on the table,” Snead said.

If the Rams have a need, it is probably at receiver.

Adams is in the final year of the two-year contract the future Hall of Famer signed as a free agent before last season. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions, but was still discussed in trade talks.

Nacua, a fourth-year pro, led the NFL with 129 catches last season but has had off-the-field problems, including an alleged biting incident that led to a civil lawsuit. He entered a rehabilitation program in March but is participating in voluntary offseason workouts. Nacua is eligible for a massive extension, but the Rams are now taking a wait-and-see approach before making a long-term commitment.

The draft class includes receivers such as Carnell Tate from Ohio State, Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Makai Lemon (USC) among others.

Snead did not have to look far to evaluate Lemon, the Biletnikoff Award-winner as college football’s top receiver.

Snead’s daughter attends USC, and his son works in USC’s football front office.

Read more:NFL mock draft live: Team reporters make their first-round picks

“Lemon’s a fun player to watch,” Snead said, adding, “As a fan, as a father with two kids there, it was fun when you saw the ball go up and it was heading toward Lemon’s hands. You always felt like he’d bring it down.”

Offensive line and edge rusher are among other positions the Rams could explore, and quarterback is not off the table in later rounds.

Stafford is at the far end of his career, Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent contemplating retirement, and fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett has not played in a regular season game.

McVay said Bennett is “considered a backup,” a role he filled the first two games in 2024 when Garoppolo was suspended.

“That wouldn’t be something that we’d be afraid of,” McVay said.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Good morning Gang Green Nation!

Here are your links to your New York Jets this glorious Wednesday in April:

NewYorkJets.com – Analyst Dane Brugler: ‘To Me, Arvell Reese Is the Best Player in the Draft’

NewYorkJets.com – Deal Them In: Darren Mougey & Jets Are Ready to Spend Their Draft Capital

Jack Bell – Jets GM Darren Mougey: ‘We’re Talking Ceilings and Floors All the Time’

ESPN – 2026 NFL Nation mock draft: First-round predictions

Rich Cimini – Jets GM: Don’t read into canceled visit with DE prospect Bailey

Dylan Svoboda – Justin Fields reveals the Patrick Mahomes reason he wanted to be a Chief

Brian Costello – Jets seven-round NFL mock draft 5.0: Two trades shake things up

Brian Costello – Jets GM gives final comments before NFL draft with No. 2 pick coming down to one big question

Erich Richter – Jets’ No. 2 pick in 2026 NFL Draft has reporters, bettors clashing

Lucas Hutcherson – Everything you need to know about Jets and Giants potential target Tyson

Nick Wojton – 2026 NFL Draft: Who is the betting favorite for the Jets at No. 2 pick?

Kam Towle – Jets 2026 NFL draft target: Scouting report for WR Chris Brazzell II

Geoffrey A Knox – 2026 NFL draft: Surprise position named serious option for Jets at No. 16 pick

Sam Robinson – Some Teams Prefer Jordyn Tyson’s Upside To Carnell Tate’s; Giants, Jets Showing Interest

Zahid Rashid – Jets Predicted to Select ‘Micah Parsons-Ish’ Defender in 2026 NFL Draft

Jon Conahan – Jets not only looking for star edge rusher, but someone to pair with Garrett Wilson

Adam Schultz – Jets GM plays down David Bailey controversy

Matt Sullivan – Jets get 64% Arvell Reese prediction from ESPN for No. 2 pick

Matt Sullivan – Jets get solid 40% odds of one of two draft steals at WR to fall to 16th pick

Ricardo Sandoval – Jets predicted to land Joe Burrow if Bengals struggles continue

Matt Sullivan – Jets reportedly open to trading No. 2 pick in NFL Draft for one reason

Sayre Bedinger – Peter Schrager just dropped a major hint at Jets’ plans with 2nd overall pick

Pete Prisco – Prisco’s ‘What teams should do’ mock draft: Giants take Dexter Lawrence replacement, Cowboys add to defense

Mike Renner – Renner’s final NFL Draft big board: Ranking 250 prospects in a wild 2026 class

Joe Pantorno – Jets GM on canceled David Bailey visit: Don’t look too much into it

Henry McKenna – 2026 NFL Draft: 8 Prospects Who Will Make This Draft One to Remember

Rob Rang – 2026 NFL Draft: Rankings, Best Team Fits for Top-12 Quarterbacks

Charlie Baduini – Latest Breece Hall contract projection may make Jets hesitant to re-sign him

Charlie Baduini – Darren Mougey reveals why Jets cancelled Top 30 pre-draft visit with David Bailey

Charlie Baduini – Jets given alternate route to land wide receiver in 2026 NFL Draft

Charlie Baduini – Jets praised for keeping No. 2 overall pick unclear heading into NFL Draft

Mike Roberts – Jets Land SEC Cornerback in Latest Mock Draft

Michael Zimmelman – Arvell Reese or David Bailey? The Jets Must Decide Soon

David Latham – 3 Teams That Could Trade With Seattle Seahawks In 2026 NFL Draft

Matty Breisch – Why ESPN’s Jets insider is taking David Bailey over Arvell Reese in mock draft

Benedetto Vitale – Jets rumors: Insider reveals chances of drafting Ty Simpson, but not in 1st round

Douglas Fritz – Jets rumors: NFL insiders believe David Bailey visit cancellation says it all about No. 2 pick

Ben Strauss – Jets GM Darren Mougey breaks silence on canceling David Bailey visit

Jourdan Colson – 2026 NFL Draft: Top 150 Big Board

Here are your missed connections from yesterday.

The Odafe Oweh trade continues to pay off for the Chargers.

General manager Joe Hortiz’s midseason acquisition of Oweh reinforced just how much they needed a competent edge rusher last season. And when Oweh signed with the Washington Commanders in free agency, it gave the Chargers more clarity about their Day 1 NFL draft plans.

Although Hortiz told reporters last week he’ll take the best player available with the Chargers’ No. 22 pick in the first round Thursday night, it’s clear that pass rusher is among the team's biggest needs. Luckily for the Chargers, this year’s draft is expected to have several high-potential edge rushers available in the latter half of the first round.

Read more:NFL mock draft live: Team reporters make their first-round picks

If former Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. is still available at No. 22, he could be a Charger. Same goes for former Miami pass rusher Akheem Mesidor and Clemson standout T.J. Parker. Keldric Faulk (Auburn), Zion Young (Missouri) and Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) also could be first-round targets.

"The edge room, you're always looking to add in. I think the draft is really deep with edges, and there's some guys out there on the street that might be available after the draft," Hortiz said last week.

With standout pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu entering the final year of his rookie contract and veteran Khalil Mack taking it year-by-year on his future, Hortiz probably can't afford to pass up on an edge rusher in the first round — unless there's an offensive lineman higher on his draft board.

The Chargers' offensive line woes in 2025 were the weekly nightmare that culminated in Justin Herbert being sacked six times by the New England Patriots in another one-and-done postseason appearance. Injuries to offensive tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt sent the line into a tailspin.

The signing of free-agent center Tyler Biadasz should help, as will the expected returns of Slater and Alt. But in the wake of left guard Zion Johnson signing with the Cleveland Browns, the Chargers still need to find better protection for Herbert and insulate the unit better from injury.

Guard Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) and offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Francis Mauigoa (Miami) are no doubt on the Chargers' radar, but Horitz likely will have to trade up if he wants one of them. The more realistic options are offensive tackles Blake Miller (Clemson), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Caleb Lomu (Utah).

Which players could be next on the Chargers' list? They could try to draft a wide receiver or defensive tackle, but their options might be limited.

Read more:Arrest of ex-USC and Georgia star Zachariah Branch may not affect his draft status

Receivers Makai Lemon (USC), Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Denzel Boston (Washington) or KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) might persuade Horitz to temporarily forget about other needs if one is available. At defensive tackle, Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) or Peter Woods (Clemson) are pegged by most prognosticators as late first-round/early second-round picks that might be options.

Hortiz has eliminated some position groups from the first-round talent search.

"Probably punter or kicker. Long snapper," he said.

The Chargers have five picks in the draft. In addition to their first-rounder, they pick at No. 55 (second round), No. 86 (third), No. 123 (fourth) and No. 204 (sixth). They traded their fifth-round pick to acquire Oweh in October and gave the Tennessee Titans their seventh rounder in a 2024 trade for safety Elijah Molden.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

It’s time for one of my favorite traditions at Pride of Detroit. Going back 13 years, we’ve been doing an annual mock draft that is completely randomized?

Why? Well, initially it was done to see if Pride of Detroit founder Sean Yuille could draft better for the Lions by picking names out of a hat than Detroit’s former general manager Matt Millen. I still do it today, because it’s silly, fun, and just about as useful as any other mock draft out here. Plus, it gives me something else to root for on draft night: blindly getting a pick right simply by randomization.

Unfortunately, last year we struck out completely.

So this year, the tradition continues. I put 32 names—the top 32 players in Wide Left’s Consensus Big Board—into a hat, drew them one-by-one, and paired them with a team in chronological draft order.

Before we get into this year’s pick. if you’re interested in the results from previous years, here are backlinks all the way to the original concept:

• 2025 Random Hat Draft
• 2024 Random Hat Draft
• 2023 Random Hat Draft
• 2022 Random Hat Draft
• 2021 Random Hat Draft
• 2020 Random Hat Draft
• 2019 Random Hat Draft
• 2018 Random Hat Draft
• 2016 Random Hat Draft
• 2015 Random Hat Draft
• 2014 Random Hat Draft
• 2013 Random Hat Draft

Here are the picks this year:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
2. New York Jets: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
3. Arizona Cardinals: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame
5. New York Giants: G Vega Ioane, Penn State
6. Cleveland Browns: WR Makai Lemon, USC
7. Washington Commanders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
8. New Orleans Saints: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
9. Kansas City Chiefs: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
10. New York Giants: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
11. Miami Dolphins: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
12. Dallas Cowboys: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
13. Los Angeles Rams: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
14. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
16. New York Jets: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
17. Detroit Lions: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
18. Minnesota Vikings: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
19. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
20. Dallas Cowboys: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
23. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
24. Cleveland Browns: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
25. Chicago Bears: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
26. Buffalo Bills: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
27. San Francisco 49ers: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
28. Houston Texans: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
29. Kansas City Chiefs: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
30. Miami Dolphins: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
31. New England Patriots: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
32. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami

Starting with the Lions’ pick, there is no chance of that being right. Tate is projected by most to be the top receiver off the board, likely to go in the top 10 picks. It’s an interesting thought experiment to wonder if the Lions would pick him if he’s still on the board, but considering their heavy investment in their current top-three receivers, it would be a very strange pick. Unfortunately, I missed pairing the Lions with Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller by a single pick.

As for picks that have a chance of being right, Jeremiah Love to the Titans at fourth overall is looking very nice. He’s the most commonly mocked player to the Titans in ESPN’s mock draft simulator. Pairing the Cowboys with a cornerback is on the right track, although it’s unlikely to be Colton Hood, unless we’re talking about their 20th overall pick. Same deal with the Bills and a wide receiver. Good positional pairing, but Jordyn Tyson is likely to be gone by Pick 26. If they swing a trade up, there’s a chance of a match there.

Caleb Downs goes to the Browns with the 24th pick, and while that won’t happen, it’s possible he still lands in Cleveland with the sixth overall pick.

Another possible match is Denzel Boston to the Dolphins at 30. That’s around his projected draft spot (26th on the big board) and Miami could use a receiver or two after moving on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Which pairings do you like the best? Share your thoughts on this very important mock draft in comment section.

The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and for the first time since the legendary 2001 Miami Hurricanes walked into the 2002 draft and rewrote the record books, the program has a legitimate shot at placing 10 or more players in the same draft class. The floor for this group is somewhere around six or seven picks (including three or four in the first round). The ceiling – if the football gods cooperate – is twelve. That number would beat Miami’s modern-era record of 11 set in 2002, it would represent the most players drafted from any school in the history of the seven-round format.

The headliners are well established at this point. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. and OT Francis Mauigoa have spent the entire pre-draft process as consensus top-10 prospects, with multiple mock drafts projecting both inside the top five – which would make them the first OL/DL duo from the same school to crack the top five since Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams went third and fourth overall in 2010. EDGE Akheem Mesidor is a near-lock for the first round as well, and if both he and Bain are called on Thursday night, they’ll become one of the highest-drafted pair of defensive ends from the same school in NFL history – surpassing Jaelan Phillips (18th) and Gregory Rousseau (30th), the Miami duo from 2021 who themselves were the first since NC State’s Mario Williams and Manny Lawson in 2006. CB/S Keionte Scott – coming off a dazzling Pro Day performance and fielding numerous visits – has a legitimate late-first-round case and could make it four Miami players called on Night One.

Below that elite tier, the picture gets genuinely hard to predict, and that’s what makes this draft so fascinating for Hurricanes fans. The path to 10, 11, or 12 runs through players like OT Markel Bell, OG Anez Cooper, QB Carson Beck, S Jakobe Thomas on Day 2, and then a group of late-round wildcards -WR CJ Daniels, LB Wesley Bissainthe, DL David Blay, C James Brockermeyer – who collectively represent the kind of story that defines a historic class.

Recent history as to darkhorse Canes who get selected or do not hear their name called within seven rounds cuts both ways here. Jonathan Ford, DJ Ivey, and Jaden Davis all heard their names called when almost nobody expected it. Xavier Restrepo and Leonard Taylor, by most measures more talented than their draft-day outcomes, went all three days without a pick and signed as UDFAs. The draft is not a meritocracy at the margins. But there is a serious, grounded case to be made that 12 Hurricanes leave Pittsburgh as NFL players this weekend – and what follows is a final accounting of where each one stands going into the most consequential draft night for this program in over two decades fresh off a national championship appearance.

DE Rueben Bain Jr. (NFL Combine)
Height: 6’2”| Weight: 263 pounds | Arm Length: 30 7/8 | Hand: 9 1/8 | Wing: 77 1/2

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): 9, EDGE3 (1st round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 13, EDGE3 (1st round)

Pros

• Led all edge rushers with 83 pressures in 2025; collected 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 career sacks over 38 college games
• Elite motor — effort-based sacks that only show on full-game tape
• Explosive first step and violent hands at point of attack
• Won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year as a true freshman; repeated as DPOY in 2025
• Multiple teams reportedly willing to trade up into the top 8–10 to secure him
• Pro comp to Melvin Ingram

Cons

• 30 7/8″ arm length is a historic outlier – below average for the position by nearly 3 inches
• Short arms could create leverage problems against long NFL tackles
• Questions about scheme fit; best in wide-9 or 4-3 over — not a natural 3-4 OLB
• Missed four games in 2024 because of a soft tissue injury; torn left MCL in high school

Prediction: 1st round (9th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The arm-length debate has pushed him out of the top 5 but the tape and market demand keep him firmly in the top 12. His quote at the combine – “Like Mike Tyson, when you felt him, you felt him” – will be replayed on NFL Network when he walks to the stage.

OT Francis Mauigoa (NFL Combine)
Height: 6’5” 1/2 | Weight: 329 pounds | Arm Length: 33 1/4 | Hand: 10 5/8 | Wing: 80 3/4

40-yard: 5.13 | 10-yard: 1.78 | Shuttle: 4.59 | 3-cone: 7.77 | Vertical: 29-inch | Broad Jump: 8’10”

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): 11, OT2 (1st round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 7, OT1 (1st round)

Pros

• Durability: rarely left the field, starting all 42 college games
• Expected to be the first offensive lineman off the board
• 87.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025 – best among qualified right tackles
• Penei Sewell comp – recruited and developed the same way at Miami under Cristobal
• 33 1/4″ arms, 10 5/8″ hands, 80 3/4″ wingspan — elite physical tools
• Proven leader; started all 16 games in 2025 through a minor disc issue now resolved
• Mauler in space as elite run blocker with vertical push
• One of only two Hurricanes invited to attend the draft in Pittsburgh

Cons

• Minor back disc issue and potential herniated disc – teams requested additional imaging; some medical uncertainty remains
• Primarily played right tackle; teams needing a left tackle must project a position switch, and some predict guard
• Some scouts question his lateral agility against top-end speed rushers
• Mediocre arm length

Prediction: 1st round (6th overall) to the Cleveland Browns.

Mauigoa and Bain are likely to create the first OL/DL duo in the top 10 from the same school since 2010 Oklahoma. If both crack the top 5, it is automatically one of the great Miami draft nights in the program’s storied history.

EDGE Akheem Mesidor
Height: 6’2” 1/2 | Weight: 260 pounds | Arm Length: 32 1/3 | Hand: 10 | Wing: 80

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): 28, EDGE5 (1st-2nd round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 26, EDGE5 (1st round)

Pros

• Versatile – lines up inside and outside, scheme-agnostic value across multiple fronts
• Some NFL evaluators privately rate him above Bain
• 32 1/3″ arms and 80″ wingspan – significantly better length than his partner
• Motor and effort consistently praised by scouts reviewing all-22 film
• Coaching staff discuss leadership and toughness

Cons

• Older player who will be 25 on draft weekend
• Injury history – right foot injury and shoulder surgery during career
• Lacks elite athleticism testing compared to other first-round edge prospects
• Sometimes out of position

Prediction: 1st round (20th overall) to the Dallas Cowboys. 

If he and Bain both go in Round 1, they surpass Phillips (18th) and Rousseau (30th) as the highest-drafted Miami DE pair in program history (the last to do it). Mesidor may be the quieter pick but potentially the better long-term value.

CB Keionte Scott
Height: 5’11” | Weight: 191-pounds | Arm Length: 31 1/2 inch | Hand: 9 1/3 inch | Wing: 76 1/3 inch

40-yard: 4.33 | 10-yard: 1.53 | Shuttle: 4.59 | 3-cone: 7.70 | Vertical: 34-inch | Broad Jump: 10’3”

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): 53, S4 (2nd-3rd round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 46, CB8 (2nd round)

Pros

• 4.33 40-yard dash – likely even faster given his Cotton Bowl performance
• Extraordinary 2025 stat line: 5 sacks, 13 TFLs, 2 pick-sixes from the slot
• Schemes as nickel, safety, and outside corner – rare positional versatility
• Some of the nickel traits in the class
• Elite secondary blitzer, tackling like a menace

Cons

• Missed several games in 2025 with a foot injury – durability question mark
• At 5’11” / 191 lbs, lacks the size for a traditional in-the-box safety role
• Primary position classification (nickel vs. safety) creates draft-value uncertainty
• Age concerns – 25-year old rookie

Prediction: 2nd round (45th overall) to the Baltimore Ravens. 

Scott is the fourth Hurricane with a genuine first-round case (he made himself a lot of money with the Ohio State pick-six). His versatility will make someone look very smart at pick. A late-first surprise is absolutely on the table if a DB-needy team falls in love on Thursday night.

OT Markel Bell (NFL Combine)
Height: 6’9” | Weight: 346 pounds | Arm Length: 36 3/8 | Hand: 9 | Wing: 87 1/8

40-yard: 5.36 | 10-yard: 1.84

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): 97, OT10 (3rd-4th round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 118, OT11 (fourth round)

Pros

• Freakish size: 6’9″, 346 lbs, 36 3/8″ arms, 87″ wingspan — rare physical profile
• Healthy throughout career
• Prototypical length for a developmental NFL blindside tackle

Cons

• Questions about whether size translates to functional power or remains untapped upside
• Technically raw – game still developing at the college level with only one season as full-time FBS starter
• Inconsistent leg flexibility

Prediction: 3rd round (68th overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles.  

A team with a patient offensive line room invests in a project with arguably the best length in this entire draft class.

QB Carson Beck (NFL Combine)
Height: 6’5” | Weight: 233 pounds | Arm Length: 30 5/8 | Hand: 10

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): QB6 (4th-5th round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 131, QB6 (5th round)

Pros

• Three years of starting experience at Georgia and Miami – led both programs to CFP
• Genuine multi-team interest
• 6’5″ frame and 10″ hands fit exactly what McCarthy told reporters he wants
• Thin 2026 QB class elevates his projected slot organically
• Winner: 37-6 as a starter

Cons

• Inconsistent deep ball
• Projects as a backup with relatively low ceiling
• Decision-making under pressure has been documented in film study
• UCL injury in 2024

Prediction: 3rd round (70th overall) to the Cleveland Browns.  

After Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson the QB class is wide open and Beck is in the mix.

S Jakobe Thomas
Height: 6’1” | Weight: 214-pounds | Arm Length: 31 1/2 inch | Hand: 10 1/2 inch | Wing: 76 1/2 inch

40-yard: 4.57 | 10-yard: 1.63 | Shuttle: 4.32 | Vertical: 33-inch | Broad Jump: 9’11”

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): S11 (4th-5th round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 139, S11 (5th round)

Pros

• Physical, downhill box safety who plays with old-school run-stopping tenacity
• 1.57 ten-yard split is elite for the position – exceptional closing burst
• Multiple analysts predict teams will deeply regret not taking him earlier
• Skill set for special teams

Cons

• Leaves his feet and launches as tackler
• Average recovery speed
• Loses leverage in space too often
• Poor combine drills indicate some weaknesses and lack of fluidity

Prediction: 5th round (168th overall) to the Buffalo Bills.  

The quiet gem of this entire class. A classic pick-that-makes-a-team story waiting to happen.

OG Anez Cooper
Height: 6’5” 1/3 | Weight: 342-pounds | Arm Length: 34 1/4 inch | Hand: 10 inch | Wing: 84 1/4 inch

40-yard: 5.52 | 10-yard: 1.94

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): OG14 (5th-6th round)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 192, OG15 (6th round)

Pros

• Three years alongside Mauigoa; deeply understands what elite OL play looks like
• Steady starter throughout his career
• Physical tools provide high upside

Cons

• Limited versatility – a starts at Right Guard
• False start issues
• Beneficiary of overall strong offensive line more than individualized talent

Prediction: 4th round (135th overall) to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

A team drafting for development takes one of the physically best-tooled guards in the class. Time alongside Mauigoa is a resume line NFL line coaches notice.

C James Brockermeyer
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 298 pounds | Arm Length: 32 | Hand: 9 1/4 | Wing: 78

40-yard: 5.30 | 10-yard: 1.80 | Shuttle: 4.72 | 3-cone: 7.98 | Vertical: 28.5-inch | Broad Jump: 8’5” | Bench Press: 26 reps

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): C11 (7th round-UDFA)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 336, C11 (UDFA)

Pros

• Blue-chip recruit pedigree (Alabama, TCU, Miami) – arrived with high expectations
• Considered smart and leader at the position
• Durability playing all games past two seasons
• 26 bench press reps; genuine three-team visit interest late in the process
• Solid agility numbers (4.92 shuttle, 7.98 3-cone) for the center position

Cons

• No position versatility, all snaps at Center
• Broken right ankle in high school
• Underwhelming college career compared to expectations

Prediction: 6th round (194th overall) to the Tennessee Titans.  

Three-team visits this late usually result in a pick. Senior Bowl invite and athleticism indicate he’s a draft-worthy prospect. Titans could take a flier late

LB Wesley Bissainthe
Height: 6’1” 1/3 | Weight: 224-pounds | Arm Length: 32 inch | Hand: 9 1/2 inch | Wing: 77 1/2 inch

40-yard: 4.63 | 10-yard: 1.57 | Shuttle: 4.52

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): LB30 (UDFA)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 308 (UDFA)

Pros

• Quality experience on defense and special teams
• Leader with strong work ethic
• Loud and strong tackler
• Good range for his size at linebacker

Cons

• Lacks explosiveness (missed tackle on Mendoza fourth down run still stings)
• Strictly a box linebacker (just two INTs in career)
• Room for improvement

Prediction: UDFA to Dolphins. 

After an NFL Combine invite, Dolphins could make a meaningful local pick late on Saturday.

WR CJ Daniels
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 200-pounds | Arm Length: 32 1/3 inch | Hand: 9 inch | Wing: 78 1/2 inch

40-yard: 4.58 | 10-yard: 1.61 | Shuttle: 4.27 | 3-cone: 7.03 | Vertical: 34.5-inch | Broad Jump: 10’3”

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): WR46 (UDFA)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 361 (UDFA)

Pros

• One-handed pressure catch against Notre Dame shows what he is capable of
• SEC pedigree at LSU
• Good-sized frame and reliable hands
• Exciting player to watch

Cons

• Injury issues – knee and foot
• Lack of blocking on tape
• Limited special teams experience
• Route tree is not advanced; plays more physical than finesse

Prediction: 7th round (244th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings.  

The legitimate sleeper of this entire Miami class. His agility and acrobatic plays last year indicate he is worth a late round pick.

DL David Blay
Height: 6’2” 1/4 | Weight: 292-pounds | Arm Length: 32 inch | Hand: 10 1/8 inch | Wing: 78 inch

40-yard: 5.00 | 10-yard: 1.74 | Shuttle: 4.81 | 3-cone: 7.69 | Broad Jump: 8’2” | Bench Press: 27 reps

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): DT40 (UDFA)
Matt Miller’s Ranking (ESPN): 333 (UDFA)

Pros

• Led all Miami prospects with 27 bench press reps – elite functional strength
• Underrated interior disruptor inside Hetherman’s scheme
• 5.00 40 and 4.81 shuttle are functional and respectable for the position
• Workable frame

Cons

• DT40 ranking reflects a limited draft-day market for his specific profile
• Lacks overall repertoire
• Beneficiary of elite Miami defensive line more than individualized talent
• Better anticipation needed – five offside penalties
• Older prospect – 24 years old rookie

Prediction: 7th round (255th overall) to the Green Bay Packers.  

His bench press number alone earns him a camp invite at minimum. A team needing cheap interior depth on a rookie deal makes this pick Saturday afternoon. A Jonathan Ford-type story is entirely in play here.

WR Keelan Marion
Height: 5’11” 1/2 | Weight: 190-pounds | Arm Length: 30 1/2 inch | Hand: 8 1/2 inch |Wing: 74 1/3 inch

40-yard: 4.56 | 10-yard: 1.62 | Shuttle: 4.19 | 3-cone: 6.91 | Broad Jump: 9’6”

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): WR105 (UDFA)

Marion’s agility testing is solid – a 4.19 shuttle and 6.91 3-cone put him among the quickest receivers in this class in terms of change-of-direction. His speed (4.56 40) and short-area quickness give him a path as a slot receiver or special teams UDFA who could generate camp competition with multiple teams. That said, he was limited in production.

Prediction: UDFA to Panthers. 

TE Alex Bauman
Height: 6’3” 1/3 | Weight: 250-pounds | Arm Length: 33 1/4 inch | Hand: 9 1/4 inch | Wing: 81 1/8 inch

40-yard: 5.07 | 10-yard: 1.76 | Shuttle: 4.65 | 3-cone: 7.63 | Vertical: 26-inch | Broad Jump: 9’ | Bench Press: 12 reps

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): TE73 (UDFA)

Bauman has the size and length but his production was underwhelming at Miami. The final memory for Canes’ fans was Bauman’s bonehead missed block in the National Championship on a punt that altered the momentum significantly. He has an outside shot to be a UDFA candidate if a team sees his frame as a long-term investment.

Prediction: UDFA to Rams. 

K Carter Davis
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 218-pounds | Arm Length: 31 1/2 inch | Hand: 8 1/2 inch | Wing: 71 1/2 inch

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): K17 (UDFA)

Ranked 17th among kickers in this class by Dane Brugler, Davis is a UDFA target for a team needing camp competition at the position. He surprisingly won the kicker job over Texas transfer Bert Auburn and was pretty consistent throughout the season, minus a tough game against Texas A&M in windy conditions. He nailed a 64-yard field goal at Miami’s Pro Day which make him a darkhorse to be selected although it is relatively unlikely.

Prediction: UDFA to Patriots. 

LS Michael Donovan
Height: 6’1” | Weight: 193-pounds | Arm Length: 30 1/3 inch | Hand: 9 1/8 inch | Wing: 75 3/4 inch

Dane Brugler’s Ranking (The Athletic): LS22 (UDFA)

Donovan participated in Miami’s Pro Day but he is highly unlikely to be selected next week.

Prediction: UDFA to Dolphins. 

The bottom line: This projects 11 guys selected and five more camp invites.  The floor for Miami this weekend is six or seven picks. The ceiling is twelve – and there is a real, constructed argument for every single one of them. Three first rounders are near-certain. A fourth (Scott) is knocking on the door. Bell, Cooper, Beck, and Thomas give the class genuine Day 2 depth. And Brockermeyer, Daniels, Bissainthe, and Blay are exactly the kind of late-round stories that either haunt you or thrill you by Sunday afternoon.

The 2002 Miami class – Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis, and seven others – set the modern-era record at 11. The players currently in Pittsburgh, in hotel rooms and at team facilities doing last-minute meetings, have a chance to knock that number off the wall this weekend.

Whether they get to 8, 10, or all the way to 12, this is unquestionably the most important draft class for this program since Mario Cristobal arrived in Coral Gables and promised he was going to build it the right way – in the trenches, with elite talent fresh off a national championship with even bigger expectations in 2026, and with an eye toward exactly this kind of moment. It starts Thursday night. Count the Canes.

GO CANES!

Brandon Aubrey opens up about historic deal with hometown Cowboys – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com

In the end, this deal was great for Brandon Aubrey and the Dallas Cowboys

“I grew up here and I love the organization,” Aubrey said. “I wanted to be back.”

A dutiful reminder of Aubrey’s road to now is in order here, most certainly:

Nine years ago, Aubrey was playing professional soccer in Toronto.

Eight years ago, he was in Pennsylvania looking to extend his soccer career, but that didn’t go as planned either, and he wound up using his Notre Dame degree to become a software engineer.

Seven years ago, Aubrey heard four fateful words that changed his life’s trajectory, when he and his wife watched an NFL kicker miss a field goal only for her to turn to him and say, ‘You could do that.”

He went to a local football field, discovered he could make 60-yarders (easily), and linked with Brian Egan, former Mississippi State kicker and kicking coach, three times a week, for three years, before being brought on by the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions as their placekicker, the USFL scoring leader in the same season he was named to the All-USFL team (2022)..

That’s where John “Bones” Fassel, the special teams coordinator for the Cowboys at the time, discovered him and brought him home to Dallas — or, more accurately, to Southern California to compete with Tristan Vizcaino and Lirim Hajrullahu in training camp in Oxnard.

Hajrullahu was released, and Vizcaino eventually lost out to Aubrey and, four years ago, the young boy from Plano was heading back to Dallas, where the former NFL scoring leader (2023) has already become one of the league’s best kickers of all-time; and with only three seasons on his resume; and, one day ago (from this article being written), Aubrey made history, securing his family’s future in the process.

Joseph Hoyt’s final 7-round mock draft: Early trade leads Cowboys to instant impact players – Joseph Hoyt, Dallas Morning News

The mock drafts are starting to point in the same direction for Dallas.

Projected trade

Dallas receives: 6th overall, 39th overall

Cleveland receives: 12th overall, 20th overall, 152nd overall

Round 1, 6th overall (via Cleveland)

The pick: Ohio State S Caleb Downs

In this mock draft, just as we did with our full first-round mock draft the other day, we packaged the Cowboys’ two firsts and a fifth-round pick and traded it to the Cleveland Browns for the 6th overall pick and the 39th pick. I’m skeptical the Cowboys will actually move up, but there are only a handful of elite defenders in this draft for a defense that needs instant impact. 

Downs, in my opinion, is not only one of the best prospects in the draft, he might be a perfect extension of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Downs is smart, intuitive, and versatile — all things that Parker covets. They say the first pick of a head coach’s tenure can tell you a lot about their draft strategy. Maybe this year, the Cowboys’ first pick could tell a lot about the help they want to get their defensive coordinator. 

Downs could fall to No. 12. The same could go for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. The Cowboys might wait and hope one of them falls. I just don’t think it’s a risk they can afford to take. 

Round 2, 39th overall (via Cleveland)

The pick: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez

There’s a good chance that Rodriguez is gone by this point. There’s a chance other linebackers could go before him, however, like Georgia’s C.J. Allen or Texas linebacker Anthony Hill. I also think the Cowboys will be on the hunt for an edge early, which could change their thinking here. But Rodriguez just fits with the Cowboys. They have a need at the position. They need to force more turnovers, and no one forced more fumbles in college football last year. They went to dinner with him in Lubbock and got to know him through the draft process. If they can, and it makes sense, it’s hard for me to think they don’t end up with Rodriguez somehow. 

Don’t be surprised if the Cowboys’ ‘BPA’ strategy shows up in the first round – Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

If the Cowboys lose out on all their defensive options at No. 12, don’t be shocked if they pivot to offense.

For years, Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay has hammered the point of having to take the “best player available”, or “BPA”, when drafting rather than reaching for needs on a roster.

The perfect example is from 2025 when the Cowboys took guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick rather than a wide receiver such as Emeka Egbuka or Matthew Golden. Even though there was a case to be made to take a guard to slide in for the retired Zack Martin, wide receiver was by far and away the bigger need. But, BPA.

We’ve seen the concept show up more in the second round in recent years by selecting defensive ends Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland in the last two drafts even with Micah Parsons in the building (maybe they knew something) and other bigger needs existing.

Now, even in 2026 with ginormous needs at multiple defensive positions such as linebacker, cornerback and defensive end, this concept could still show up in the first round.

Let’s play out a theoretical scenario for a moment. Let’s say the premier defenders are off the board when the No. 12 overall pick rolls around (LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs), but a talented wide receiver in Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson or Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is staring down the pipe as a clear game-changing weapon in the pass game.

“I’m not saying we’re for sure going to pick defense,” executive vice president Stephen Jones said in the end-of-season press conference in January. “If CeeDee Lamb is sitting there again, you have to look at it.”

Lamb is possibly the best example of the Cowboys not reaching for need, taking the best player available and it working out pretty well for them in the end. Dallas had no expectation of Lamb making it all the way to the No. 17 overall selection in the 2020 draft, but it fell just right for the pick to be made. Even with Amari Cooper in the building and similar strong defensive needs prevalent in that draft as they are today, it was an easy pick for the front office.

Cowboys Predicted to Acquire $14 Million Pass Rusher – Nate Lunak, Athlon Sports

Would the New York Giants be willing to trade an edge rusher to a division rival?

The Cowboys’ biggest struggles last year came on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked 30th in total yards per game allowed (377) and 32nd in points per game allowed (30.1).

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones dove into the offseason looking to make improvements. Two of the biggest moves included signing safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal and trading a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for EDGE Rashan Gary.

However, with the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Cowboys may be looking to make another move. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay predicts Dallas will trade for New York Giants EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux.

“New York isn’t likely to garner any offers better than a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 pick for his services,” Kay wrote. “Dallas has several draft picks in this range it could use to make a run at Thibodeaux, including Nos. 92 and 112 overall… Trading for Thibodeaux is the type of gamble the Cowboys must make if they are going to make significant defensive strides in 2026 following last year’s abysmal showing.”

Thibodeaux appeared in 10 games for the Giants last season, racking up 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, 11 pressures and two pass deflections. It wasn’t an extremely productive year, but his 11.5 sacks back in 2023 do show the ability to have more of an impact.

As Kay noted, it likely wouldn’t take more than a mid-round pick to acquire him, making it a low-risk move. The Cowboys also wouldn’t be tied to the pass rusher long-term. Thibodeaux is set to hit free agency after the 2026 season, playing on a $14.75 million fifth-year option.

A move like this could give Dallas a much-needed boost off the edge, adding a young playmaker to their defensive front before the 2026 season.

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Daily Discussion Question: What are the circumstances where you would be okay with offense at 12?

Commanders links

Articles

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders NFL Draft big board: 24 potential fits spanning all 3 days

Day 3

The Commanders have four picks over the last four rounds: a fifth-rounder (No. 147), two sixths (187 and 209) and a seventh (223).

Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

Described by Brugler as “a low-calorie De’Von Achane,” Claiborne is a smaller back at 5-10, 188 pounds, but he has exceptional speed (4.37 40) and burst, and was a dual threat at Wake Forest. His play needs refinement, but his focus should be on ball security; he lost three fumbles and, according to PFF, had six drops last season.

Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana

A two-year starter who served as Indiana’s Mike linebacker after transferring from James Madison, Fisher is athletic and tough and could be a “low-end” starter like Drue Tranquill of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Brugler. Fisher totaled 215 tackles as a Hoosier and was the first linebacker in program history to earn All-American honors (he did it in 2024 and ’25).

George Gumbs Jr., Edge, Florida

Gumbs is tenacious against the run, but needs refinement as a pass rusher. His work ethic will help him get there, though; he began his college career as a walk-on receiver at Northern Illinois, then switched to edge rusher after his first two years.

Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan

Benny has the size, length (81 5/8-inch wingspan) and athleticism to intrigue, but he also has a lengthy injury history.

Collin Wright, CB, Stanford

Wright started three years at Stanford and checks a lot of boxes: he has the versatility to play inside and outside, is a tough tackler and was a team captain with a lauded work ethic. He also models his game after Byron Murphy, whom new Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones helped develop in Minnesota.

Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

Thomas plays fast and physical (at times getting him into trouble). He has only one year of starting experience at a Power 4 program — he began his career at Middle Tennessee State — but that one season was enough to garner attention from NFL scouts. Thomas had five picks, 11 passes defended, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Hurricanes last year.

VJ Payne, S, Kansas State

Payne was a three-and-a-half-year starter with experience at free safety, strong safety and nickel at Kansas State. He has good size (6-3, 206) and length (80 3/4-inch wingspan) with 4.4 speed to boot.

Commanders.com

Logan Paulsen’s tier-by-tier breakdown of 2026 NFL Draft

The opinions expressed in this article are based solely on Logan Paulsen’s opinions and expertise as a draft analyst and do not reflect those of the Commanders’ front office.

We’re inching closer to the NFL Draft, and many have finalized their draft boards to rank the top prospects available. However, finding the best players to add to a team’s roster is more complicated than that.

Earlier this week, Washington Commanders analyst Logan Paulsen provided his top 100 players. Today, he’s going further with his evaluation by breaking down where players land in his tier list. Let’s get to it.

Hogs Haven

Commanders Draft: Pick-3 Contest – 2026

So, how does the Draft P3 work?

Today, two days prior to the draft, Washington has 6 selections in the 7-round draft, which starts Thursday.

As has been true every year, each entrant in Draft Pick 3 is allowed to nominate three players for each draft pick that the team has at the moment.

One change this year is that I have added a BONUS pick that anticipates the possibility of a 2nd- or 4th-round pick acquired by trade. Each entrant will be able to nominate 3 additional players in each of those rounds (6 in total) who will come into play if the Commanders pick in either of those rounds by trading up or down. Your bonus pick players will only be considered if the Commanders a pick in the relevant round.

That means that each entrant can identify up to 24 players that he or she thinks might be drafted by the Commanders next week — your own “little board” in effect. If any player on your list gets drafted by the Commanders in the 2026 draft, you get points. The entrant with the most points wins. Simple!

ESPN

2026 NFL draft: Latest Washington Commanders updates, intel, buzz

Don’t expect a reach for need at No. 7

April 21: The Commanders have new coordinators in Daronte Jones on defense and David Blough on offense and both have changed the schemes Washington had run the past two years.

But general manager Adam Peters said the players they won’t be trying to fit square pegs into round holes when they draft at 7. It’s what excites them about this draft.

That’s why Washington has been linked to a number of players in the top 10, from linebacker Sonny Styles to corner Mansoor Delane and at times safety Caleb Downs. If an edge rusher fell to them at seven — whether Arvell Reese or David Bailey — they, too, would make sense. And running back Jeremiyah Love falls into the same category.

“There’s a lot of guys that will possibly be there in different levels of the defense, really every position,” Peters said, “that can really impact us in a real positive way…not only in 2026, but beyond. When you’re picking in the top 10 there’s not too many guys that aren’t scheme fits.”

Commanders Wire

Washington landed a 12-time Pro Bowler last time it picked No. 7 overall

Washington has picked in the No. 7 position three times. Let’s look at the results.

• 1952: Baylor QB/DB Larry Isbell
• 1963: Wisconsin TE/WR Pat Richter
• 1999: Georgia CB Champ Bailey

Obviously, one name stands out here: Bailey. An All-American at Georgia, Bailey was the No. 7 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft — the same draft where the New Orleans Saints traded all of their picks to the Redskins (plus a first and third-round pick in 1999). Washington then moved back up to No. 7, in a trade with the Chicago Bears, to select Bailey.

Bailey would spend the first five seasons of his NFL career with Washington, going to four Pro Bowls and earning second-team All-Pro honors twice. However, after a contract dispute with then-owner Daniel Snyder, the Redskins traded Bailey and a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Bailey. The rest is history. Bailey would play 15 NFL seasons, was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro, four-time second-team All-Pro, 52 career interceptions, a spot in the Broncos Ring of Fame, and was also named as one of Washington’s 90 greatest players.

The Athletic (paywall)

2026 NFL Draft hats explained: What’s inside each team’s cap

The Commanders cherry blossom design (by artist Chris Pyrate) didn’t make it onto their new uniforms that debuted last week, but this is another example of a Washington sports team taking advantage of the popularity of cherry blossoms on sports memorabilia in the Nation’s Capital.

Slogan inside the hat: “HTTC” (Hail to the Commanders)

Podcasts & videos

NFC East links

Big Blue View

NY Giants get free agent visit from another veteran defensive tackle

The New York Giants continued on Tuesday to prepare for life after Dexter Lawrence, hosting another veteran defensive tackle for a free-agent vist.

This time it was Benito Jones, a 6-foot-1, 335-pound six-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

The Giants previously hosted veteran defensive tackles Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader. They also hosted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this week for a visit that included a physical and a workout.

None of the veteran players have signed. It seems likely at this point that any signings would take place next week after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.

NFL league links

Articles

ESPN

Jets GM: Don’t read into canceled visit with DE prospect Bailey

Two days before the NFL draft, the New York Jets’ preference with the second overall choice is still shrouded in mystery. It’s expected to be either Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, whose scheduled top-30 visit last week was canceled by the Jets.

Don’t read anything into that, according to general manager Darren Mougey.

“In regard to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our 30 [visits] and how to use them,” Mougey said Tuesday at a predraft news conference. “I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there was other ones that we may have changed as well.”

The cancellation of Bailey’s visit fueled speculation that the Jets had settled on Reese. In fact, they already had enough information on Bailey, with Mougey noting they use the top-30 visits for a variety of reasons — medical checks, recruiting and an opportunity for departments such as sports performance to meet with certain prospects.

Front Office Sports

NFL Rookie Deals Will Top $50M for the First Time Since 2010

The first $50 million contracts will be signed this year by NFL draftees since the league’s rookie wage scale was implemented in 2011.

As the NFL’s annual salary cap continues to experience unprecedented growth—surpassing $300 million for the first time in 2026—rookies are also benefiting from the influx of cash, especially top draft picks.

The No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, widely assumed to be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, is projected to sign a four-year, $54.56 million contract. The total contract values of the second and third picks are also projected to top $50 million each.

Last year’s No. 1 pick, Titans quarterback Cam Ward, signed a four-year, $48.84 million deal.

All 32 first-round picks sign fully guaranteed four-year contracts, with team options for a fifth year. Picks in rounds 2-7 have some, but not all, of their money guaranteed.

The NFL implemented its rookie wage scale—effectively a salary cap for draftees—in 2011, after contract values for top picks had soared to unprecedented levels. 

Former Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, signed a six-year, $78 million contract, with $50 million fully guaranteed. The next season, with the new wage scale, 2011 No. 1 draft pick Cam Newton signed a four-year, $22 million deal with the Panthers.

Front Office Sports

Mike Tomlin Heading to NBC Sports as Studio Analyst

NBC Sports is hiring Mike Tomlin as its top NFL studio analyst, sources confirmed to Front Office Sports.

The hiring of the former Steelers coach will help fill the void left by Tony Dungy, who NBC let go of earlier this year after 17 seasons on the Football Night in America studio show.

NFL Gossip

ESPN

Mike Vrabel had ‘difficult conversations’ over Russini photos

Vrabel shared no details about what he called a “personal and private matter” or his relationship with Russini and the photos of the pair spending time together at an adults-only hotel in Arizona. He said he had conversations that were “positive and productive” with Patriots players when they reported for voluntary workouts Monday.

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people I care about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” Vrabel said Tuesday. “Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me.

“We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. There are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team. We’ll keep those private.”

Vrabel said he wanted to make a statement Tuesday so he could address the media before his players were asked questions about the story and to try to minimize distractions heading into the NFL draft this week.

A spokesperson for the Patriots did not respond last week to a question about whether the team would review Vrabel’s relationship with Russini.

From NFL.com:

The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it is not investigating Vrabel’s behavior. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.

Pro Football Talk

Mike Vrabel’s Tuesday press conference was unannounced and unexpected

Tuesday’s press conference from Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was a surprise to everyone. Including the reporters who cover the team.

As explained by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the notice sent by the Patriots on Monday did not mention Vrabel would be speaking.

Instead, the email sent at 4:35 p.m. ET on Monday said only that, on Tuesday at noon, “two players” would be available at the end of their workouts.

The approach ensured that the press room wouldn’t be swarmed by reporters who don’t regularly cover the team — reporters who would have no qualms about attempting to pepper Vrabel with questions after he made a statement that lasted a little longer than two minutes.

Volin explains that, after the statement was delivered, Vrabel was available for a “side session” with the reporters who were present. Per Volin, “reporters were ordered to turn off all cameras, including phones, and were told to ask only football questions.”

The strategy, which Volin dubbed a “sneak attack,” came after a report emerged on Sunday night that the Patriots tried to kill the initial publication of the photos of Vrabel and Russini by the New York Post. On Tuesday’s PFT Live, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston questioned whether the Monday morning leak to Adam Schefter of ESPN that a trade by the Patriots for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown is “likely” was aimed at changing the subject from the latest development in the Vrabel-Russini imbroglio to a football topic.

aBit o’Twitter

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, draft experts around the internet have tried to predict the outcome of the first round in their own unique mock drafts. Each expert has provided their own spin on the first 32 picks in this year's draft, and most of them have provided analysis while explaining their thought process for those picks.

But what if we pawned off all of that lousy "thinking" and "analysis" to a large language model (LLM) powered by AI? Can the chatbots come up with their own versions of a mock draft that compete with the accuracy and predictive analysis provided by real draft experts?

AI VS. EXPERT: How chatbot picks compare to expert predictions in 2026 NFL mock draft

Over the last month, USA TODAY Sports has consulted with five different AI chatbots, asking each one to come up with its own predictions for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. OpenAI's ChatGPT, xAI's Grok, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI and Google Gemini each put together its own mock draft.

Here is a full roundup of the results of AI mock drafts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft:

The latest

Bold predictions for Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft: Chiefs provide top-10 surprise; 3 receivers go early | NFL.com

Chad Reuter
Draft Analyst

Chiefs flip the top-10 script

A lot of mock drafts project Kansas City to take Francis Mauigoa in the top 10, but I predict the Chiefs select a different offensive tackle at No. 9 overall. Kadyn Proctor fits the team’s prototype for the position and could slip into the starting RT spot following the release of Jawaan Taylor. The gargantuan Alabama product could also stay on the blind side in a scenario where 2025 first-rounder Josh Simmons switches back to right tackle, where he started as a redshirt freshman at San Diego State.

What are the Chiefs thinking as NFL Draft 2026 approaches? Here’s what to know | The Kansas City Star

The Chiefs have a strong track record of first-round trades. Kansas City has made a trade involving a first-round pick in seven of the last 10 drafts, with mostly strong results — including the 2017 deal that landed Patrick Mahomes.

The No. 29 pick came from trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams in March. That deal also netted a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick.

Wide receiver could be the pick at No. 9. With Hollywood Brown now in Philadelphia and Rashee Rice entering a contract season, the position checks the boxes of team need, positional value and available talent — with Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson potentially on the board.

Edge rusher and cornerback are also major needs. Free agency departures including McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Mike Danna created holes. Many mock drafts project top edge rushers off the board before No. 9, which could push that position to No. 29.

Justin Fields sees similarity between Chiefs, Steelers after joining Kansas City | BolaVIP

Justin Fields has everything it takes to be a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs during this new stage of his career. During his early interactions with his teammates, he noticed a winning mentality that reminded him of his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Just the winning, to be honest, finding ways to win. Just having that culture, similar to when I was in Pittsburgh, just that winning mindset. You can tell why that happens,”

1 Prospect Each Team Must Avoid in 2026 NFL Draft | Bleacher Report

Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

The Chiefs haven’t picked in the top 10 of the draft since 2017. They took some guy named Patrick Mahomes.

If they play things right and get things back on track, this will be the last time they pick in the top 10 for a long time. That’s why rolling the dice on Jordyn Tyson is not a risk worth taking for Kansas City at No. 9.

Tyson is the ninth-ranked prospect on our big board and our top receiver by a narrot margin over Carnell Tate. But the injury risk has to be acknowledged.

Tyson has a concerning history of injury that needs to be considered. He tore his ACL, MCL and PCL as a freshman at Colorado and only played in nine games last season as he dealt with a hamstring issue down the stretch of his final collegiate campaign.

His skills will make him a tempting selection for a team that needs young playmakers to step up. However, needs at offensive tackle and edge-rusher should leave Kansas City with better, higher-floor selections.

Mansoor Delane would be a terrible top-10 pick for the Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Addict

Just to be clear, this isn’t about Mansoor Delane being overrated. Delane is 100% a first-round cornerback that feels like a very safe bet to be a quality cornerback from day one of his rookie season and should have a successful NFL career for years to come. The problem is that most experts agree he’s just shy of the true NFL shut-down corner tier prospect. If Delane was viewed as a Sauce Gardner/Jalen Ramsey/Darrelle Revis type of elite corner, he would be a surefire top five draft pick in a draft class that is seen as short on true elite talents, especially at the more premium positions.

Delane is incredibly fluid and excels in zone coverage and is very good in man coverage as well. He’s smart and has good technique. His size and speed are both good but fall just short of being ideal for a true shut-down corner that you can match up with any wide receiver in man coverage. While he ran an impressive 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro day, there are times on tape where really fast/twitchy wideouts can get away from him (KC Conception was one). While he plays physical, he isn’t overly strong, and his 30″ arms leave room for bigger/stronger wideouts to bully him a little at the catch point.

Greg Olsen On Travis Kelce’s Return, Why The Kansas City Chiefs Are Not An Automatic Playoff Team | Forbes

The Fox Sports commentator said a lot hinges on when Mahomes returns to the lineup and his overall recovery from the injury. Mahomes recently returned to the field for throwing work and Reid recently said there is a strong possibility that the star quarterback returns in time for Week 1.

“Can Steve Spagnuolo on defense continue to keep that defense rolling and carry the load with Chris Jones and some of those other good pieces? Sure,” Olsen said. “But make no mistake about it, your team is not as good without Patrick Mahomes than it is with Patrick Mahomes. The number one priority of that organization is getting him healthy on whatever timeline that is.

“If he’s not back for Week 1, so be it, because they got to ensure that when Patrick Mahomes is back, he is 100% the Patrick mahomes that we’ve seen for give or take a decade,” said Olsen. “They keep him lined up behind center, that is their two of their number one priorities this season. And from there, we’ll see how the draft goes. We’ll see. Can they continue to find some more offensive pieces to solidify the O-line? A couple other question marks that are out there, but never count out Mahomes, never count out Andy Reid. They’ve been doing it at a high level for a long time.”

Around the NFL

Patriots’ Mike Vrabel says he’s met with team, had ‘some difficult conversations’ after photos with Dianna Russini emerged | Yahoo! Sports

“I’ve had some difficult conversations with people that I care about, with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players,” said Vrabel, who earned his second AP NFL Coach of the Year award last season while leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance.

“Those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. Those are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team. We’ll keep those private and to ourselves.”

Notably, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN’s Ben Strauss that the league is not reviewing whether Vrabel violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which states that players, coaches and executives must not engage in “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL.

Vrabel started his Tuesday statement by thanking the assembled media for their patience in what he described as a “personal and private matter” for both him and everybody involved.

Jets GM: Don’t read into canceled visit with DE prospect Bailey | ESPN

Two days before the NFL draft, the New York Jets’ preference with the second overall choice is still shrouded in mystery. It’s expected to be either Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, whose scheduled top-30 visit last week was canceled by the Jets.

Don’t read anything into that, according to general manager Darren Mougey.

“In regard to David, we had good touch points with him at the combine, we went to his pro day, had a good dinner with him, and we were just kind of juggling our 30 [visits] and how to use them,” Mougey said Tuesday at a predraft news conference. “I wouldn’t look too much into a cancellation because there was other ones that we may have changed as well.”

Mike Tomlin to join NBC’s Sunday night NFL pregame show: Sources | The Athletic

Mike Tomlin, one of the most intriguing NFL TV prospects in years, is headed to NBC to be a top studio analyst on its Sunday night pregame show, “Football Night in America,” sources briefed on the move told The Athletic on Tuesday.

Tomlin, 54, has been eyed by sports TV executives for more than a decade because of his success as a Super Bowl-winning Steelers coach, his knowledge of the game and his unique phraseology.

Fox showed some interest in Tomlin, but NBC had the biggest need for his services. The network is reimagining its pregame show, a move that has already led to Tony Dungy’s dismissal after 17 seasons.

The roles of Rodney Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and Chris Simms are also in question as the network seeks more current star power and fewer people on the show. NBC Sports declined to comment.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Mock Draft Scenario: If an AP analyst was the Chiefs’ general manager

Trade up from pick No. 9 to pick No. 3: Arvell Reese, Outside Linbacker, Ohio State

Chiefs trade picks No. 9 and No. 29 to the Arizona Cardinals for No. 3 and No. 104

Kansas City is in a rare position as a perennial Super Bowl contender picking in the top 10 after a down season, while also holding extra draft capital from trading cornerback Trent McDuffie. With an already strong core in place, the Chiefs are one of the few contenders where moving up makes real sense.

The ninth pick offers a chance to secure a franchise cornerstone for the next decade, which should be the priority. Rather than addressing only short-term needs, the Chiefs should focus on sustaining the long-term championship window.

The biggest long-term concern is the defensive line. Chris Jones is 32 years old and nearing the later stages of his prime. Replacing his impact will only become harder when the team returns to drafting near the end of the first round. Acquiring that type of player later often requires multiple first-round picks for an older, more expensive veteran.

That makes trading up now the smarter move: give up less capital, land an elite talent on a rookie deal and develop him in-house through his prime years.

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One of the most underrated transactions of the offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals is re-signing quarterback Joe Flacco.

After starting six games in 2025, throwing for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions, Flacco has earned the respect of the entire team and the adoration of Bengals fans.

Flacco could have gone elsewhere to start this season, but he chose to stay with the Bengals and backup Joe Burrow.

In a recent interview with Front Office Sports, Flacco opened up about his decision to stay in the Queen City.

“It’s not like I didn’t have opportunities. At the end of the day, I felt like I made a decision that was best for me and my family and what my gut was telling me and all that,” Flacco said. “It wasn’t like I just had to make the decision to go back to Cincinnati.

“I gladly made that decision, but at the same time, I think you always feel that way as a competitor. You want to be the guy, and when you don’t really feel like you’re given as many opportunities as you would like, of course, you’re going to feel a certain way about it.

But you know, I kind of say that half-seriously, half-jokingly. You know, I was serious for sure. But I gladly made my decision to go back to Cincinnati, and I’m excited about that.“

Not only have the Bengals pushed their chips into the center of the table by trading for Dexter Lawrence, but they have also insured themselves with Joe Flacco, giving Joe Burrow an insurance policy. If the worst happens, the Bengals aren’t doomed. That’s a good thing. This is all the product of a very good offseason for the Bengals.

Almost three weeks ago, we asked Cleveland Browns fans to share with us in DBN’s Feed what they thought the worst-case scenario would be for the 2026 NFL draft. Three weeks later, and not much has changed for the Browns, or in the NFL besides the Cincinnati Bengals paying a steep price for DT Dexter Lawrence.

HC Todd Monken has gotten a chance to see his players on the field for the first time, including splitting up quarterback reps (with new cameras included), similarly to last year’s QB competition. Rumors continue to fly around the Browns potentially trading down, something that has been on the radar for months at this point in time.

We will save the best-case scenario and optimism for Thursday. Today, with the first day of the 2026 NFL draft just a day away, we come back to our DBN readers with the question of the worst-case scenario. While we want to be hopeful, there are some options that we will start you off with as possible answers to the question:

• Trading down from #6
• No WR picked in the first 2 rounds
• No OT picked in the first 2 rounds
• Picking a QB with one of their first-round picks

When we asked the question three weeks ago, we got some interesting answers. Jerry from Perry said:

QB would be a disaster. That includes trading 3 future 1st round picks plus more for Mendoza. Been there. Done that. Do it next year if you have to. There will be plenty to choose from that can see over the line.

Touchdownbrowns had a different take on the quarterback decision, but noted seeing two AFC North rivals snag players he is high on would be bothersome:

I’m so disagreeing with QB take! 😂😂😂 i really want us to take one! Hear me out though… I have to work backwards from my absolute worst-case scenario. I REALLY don’t want to see Watson on the field ever again. We are 1 Sanders injury away from that becoming a reality as of right now. So yes, taking Ty Simpson at 6 or 24 would not be worst case for me. Infact, it insures that my worst case never happens. The rest of the draft would be us consistently taking players that I’m low on when the other players that I’m high on are still available and then watching the ravens and Steelers take them.

Trading down was a concern for a couple of folks (Beast44 and tmartin5785):

Trading the #6 pick and passing on Downs.

Trading down from 6 too far and missing out on Freeling, Tate, Mauigoa, and Lemon while also not getting a 2027 1st in the trade

Now it is your turn, or theirs, to either change their choice or defend their almost month-old thoughts, in our comment section below.

What is the worst-case scenario for the Cleveland Browns in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft?

Just like in school, we've reached the final weeks until the end of draft season, as it culminates with three days of action from Pittsburgh. A total of 257 players will have their names announced at Acrisure Stadium.

Ahead of that version of prospect graduation, we're ready to hand out some superlatives. Instead of "class clown" or "most likely to succeed," these are more geared toward the NFL draft.

These are skewed more towards the top of the draft but we're including a few for the rest of the class to keep things exciting. Here are 10 superlatives for the 2026 NFL Draft:

The NFL draft is always full of surprises.

In 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a major move to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter No. 2 overall. A year earlier, the Minnesota Vikings made multiple moves up the first round to select quarterback J.J. McCarthy No. 10 overall.

Some of the surprises don't involve team trade-ups, though. Sometimes it's a highly-touted player falling far further in the draft than expected.

The story of the 2025 NFL Draft was quarterback Shedeur Sanders' fall from an expected first-round pick to the top of the fifth round. That's the highest-profile fall in recent memory; a generation ago, saw potential No. 1 overall pick Aaron Rodgers fall to No. 24 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Players can fall for myriad reasons, some more legitimate than others. Draft fallers often have some similar characteristics, though. Injury history can play a role, as teams may not want to spend a first-round pick on a player who missed significant time during their college career. Others may fall due to physical limitations. Teams may opt for specific body types at certain positions, limiting the number of potential landing spots for outlier players. Off-field concerns can also play a role.

The 2026 NFL Draft could see some surprise fallers among the top prospects in the class. Here are eight names that could hear their names called much later than their big board ranking would project:

​​Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View

• NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: Big Blue View Big Board
• NY Giants 2026 Draft: Is WR Jordyn Tyson worth the risk with No. 5 pick?
• NFL Draft rumors: Jeremiyah Love? Jordyn Tyson? Caleb Downs? What will Giants do?
• A trade with the Washington Commanders highlight’s Nick’s 7-round Giants mock draft
• NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: What is the best combination at picks 5, 10?
• Making the case: Better pick for Giants — OL Francis Mauigoa or RB Jeremiyah Love?
• NFL Draft rumors: NY Giants might prefer Jordyn Tyson to Sonny Styles
• NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
• NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: Prospect profiles
• Pro Day tracker: Schedule, results, Giants attendance, more
• NY Giants NFL Draft meetings tracker 2026: Players the Giants have met with

Other Giant observations

2026 NFL Draft: 10 Teams That Can Become Instant Contenders | FOX Sports

3. New York Giants. They are on the verge of a breakthrough anyway with young quarterback Jaxson Dart and new coach John Harbaugh. But they still have a ton of holes to fill. They need plenty of help on defense, especially after trading defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and another weapon on offense would be a big help, too. But they now have two top-10 picks (Nos. 5 and 10) after the Lawrence trade, and a high second-rounder (37), too.

That gives them a shot at three players who should step right in and help. They could add one of the two best receivers in the draft to pair with Malik Nabers and maybe a top safety or linebacker to strengthen the middle of their defense. And there figures to be some gifted defensive tackles available to fill Lawrence’s spot early in the second round. They need more talent overall, especially on defense, to make a really big leap. But they were 4-13 in a weak division last season. Strengthen their defense and add a little explosion to their offense, and they won’t challenge the Eagles, but a wild card is within reach.

One of last year’s first round draft choice

Pre-draft visits have been a Giants tell — here’s who they met with this year | The Athletic

Tracking pre-draft visits may not prove to be as helpful as past years, but that answer won’t be known until after the draft. It’s notable that neither Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles nor Ohio State safety Caleb Downs has visited. But they’re considered particularly “clean” prospects, so the Giants may have deemed a deeper dive unnecessary. Dan Duggan tracked down as many names as possible. Teams don’t broadcast their list of pre-draft visitors, so here’s the list of 20 visitors he was able to confirmed or were reported by a reputable source: RB Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame), WRS Carnell Tate, Ohio State; Makai Lemon, USC; KC Concepcion, Texas A&M; and Ted Hurst, Georgia State; OL Spencer Fano, Utah; Caleb Lomu, Utah; Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M; Travis Burke, Memphis; Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma; and J.C. Davis, Illinois;  DL Chris McClellan, Missour; Lee Hunter, Texas Tech; and Christen Miller, Georgia; LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri; and Arvell Reese, Ohio State;  and CB, Tacario Davis, Washington; Mansoor Delane, LSU; Will Lee, Texas A&M, and Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina.

NFL Draft 2026: Giants have already decided they won’t pick this fascinating prospect | NJ.com

It officially remains unclear who the John Harbaugh-led Giants will pick with the fifth and 10th overall selections Thursday night, when the 2026 NFL Draft begins. But multiple draft analysts — including NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah — are now saying it won’t be Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Here’s what Jeremiah said on Ryen Russillo’s podcast: “I was told [the Giants] were not going to take Styles. I was told that was not their guy. So that came from a couple of different places.”

Every NFL Team’s Most Important Roster Needs to Fill in 2026 NFL Draft | Bleacher Report

The Giants could use another offensive playmaker with Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers both recovering from significant injuries. Whether that comes in the form of a receiver like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate or an all-around weapon like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is irrelevant. New York also needs a starting-caliber interior lineman, though it probably won’t take one in the top 10. Prospects like Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge and Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis should draw interest if available early on Day 2.

The Giants also need help in the secondary, and they, obviously, now need a replacement for Lawrence. Don’t be surprised if they snap up a defensive back like Ohio State’s Caleb Downs or LSU’s Mansoor Delane early before coming back for a D-lineman like Georgia’s Christen Miller or Florida’s Caleb Banks.

Comp on future teammates?

Could WR Jordyn Tyson be a pick at No. 5? | ESPN.com

The smoke around Tyson keeps getting thicker. Multiple executives around the league seem to believe it’s real, not just for pick No. 10 but also potentially for No. 5. If the Giants are truly serious about landing Tyson they might need to take him fifth. He may not be there for their second selection in the first round.

The Commanders and Saints with the seventh and eighth picks, respectively, are threats for Tyson. The Jets are also a potential option in a trade-up scenario. So this is what the Giants might have to decide. Who has a better chance to being there at No. 10: Caleb Downs or Tyson?

Daily News’ 2026 Mock Draft: Wha¢t do Giants, Jets do with 2 picks each in first round?| New York Daily News

5. GIANTS: Sonny Styles, LB, Giants. Styles is arguably the best player in this year’s draft and the Giants get him at pick No. 5. There’s been a lot of chatter about whether an off-ball linebacker goes this early in the draft. But Styles would provide the Giants with versatility to line up in any formation, along with the ability to excel when he drops back into coverage.

10. GIANTS (from Bengals): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State. John Harbaugh planned to pick an offensive lineman here, maybe Utah tackle Spencer Fano. But Downs falling into their laps in the pick they acquired for Dexter Lawrence works out perfectly. They double up on Buckeyes standout defenders and help a unit that lost its best player after Lawrence’s trade to Cincinnati this month.

2026 NFL Mock Draft Top 16: Who will Jets and Giants pick? | SNY.tv

No. 5, New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State. One head coach selecting within the top five cut SNY off when asked about the Giants. “They’re taking Downs,” he said. The Giants have done a ton of work on wideout Jordyn Tyson, but those injury concerns make him such a risk this early. Carnell Tate is a far safer pass catcher, but more limited physically. “The problem with these two is it’s easy to see how it goes wrong,” a coach said. “Tate if he doesn’t develop, Tyson if he can’t stay healthy. You have egg on your face.” Give Downs to New York.

No. 10: New York Giants: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State. Ioane is far from a poor consolation prize for the Giants. Downs stabilizes their secondary. Ione fortifies their offensive line. Greg Van Roten started inside the last two years. That was always a Band-Aid patch. This is a mainstay for the next 10 years. “He’s a stud,” a general manager said. “Just a really, really good player.”

Mike Tice: Bisontis is as good as Ioane

Conor Orr’s NFL Mock Draft 2026: A Bold Trade Up for Jeremiyah Love | SI.com

5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State. With the Giants now also sitting at pick No. 10, John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen have flexibility. I don’t care that the Giants just signed Tremaine Edmunds; this draft is about honing in on someone—anyone—who would be good enough to be considered a top pick in another class. Styles is going to aid the Giants against the run, he’s going to help the team from leaking against the pass and is growing as an interior blitzer as well. 

10. New York Giants: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State. Fairway picks for the Giants. This is a Baltimore-like mock—think Tyler Linderbaum and Kyle Hamilton in 2022—without concern for who should be drafted where. Ioane may feel like a stretch, but the Giants are loading up on bruisers and trying to establish the run while also shutting it down on the opposite side.

The 5 best pick combinations for New York Giants at No. 5 & 10 | PFF

LB Sonny Styles at No.5, S Caleb Downs at No. 10. This is a dream scenario for Giants fans. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Downs had been gaining traction as a potential fifth-overall selection. If the Giants are now able to land two players they deem worthy of a top-five pick, they would walk away as one of the biggest winners on Thursday night.

Sonny Styles at No. 5; Jordyn Tyson at No. 10 If the Giants instead want to follow the path of the Jets in 2022 or the Texans in 2023 by selecting one offensive and one defensive player inside the top 10, this may be their best route.

Other players include Jeremiyah Love and Francis Mauigoa at 5 and Mansoor Delane and Olaivavega Ioane at 10.

Around the league

Cowboys could go in unexpected direction in first round | Blogging the Boys

What to expect from Eagles draft day trades | Bleeding Green Nation

Colts QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) throwing football nearly six months after surgery | NFL.com

Amp’d up Bengals players react to Dexter Lawrence trade: ‘He’s one of a kind’ | CBSSports.com

Justin Jefferson: With Kyler Murray in Vikings QB room, J.J. McCarthy ‘has to step it up’ | The Athletic

Todd Monken has communicated with still-absent Myles Garrett only through text | Pro Football Talk

Sources: Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike hopes to return in 2026 | ESPN.com

‘Hold on to your butts!’: Using ’90s movie quotes to scout 2026 NFL Draft’s top prospects | The Athletic

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On paper, the New England Patriots interior offensive line for the 2026 season seems set. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu will start at guard, Jared Wilson at center, and Ben Brown will serve as the primary backup. However, there are still considerable question marks.

Will Vera-Tucker’s body hold up given his extensive injury history? Will Wilson prove himself a viable option at center? Is pending free agent Onwenu headed out the door after the 2026 season? What about the non-Brown depth options? Obviously, those questions cannot be answered in this year’s draft. However, in light of them, he Patriots could very well decide to invest in the position both with the short and the long term in mind.

If they do, projected Day 2 selection Keylan Rutledge out of Georgia Tech — the keen-eyed observer recognizing it as the alma mater of former Patriots guard Shaq Mason — is a player to watch.

Hard facts

Name: Keylan Rutledge

Position: Guard/Interior offensive line

School: Georgia Tech (Sr.)

Opening day age: 23 (9/2/2003)

Measurements: 6’3 1/2”, 316 lbs, 33 1/4” arm length, 10” hand size, 5.05s 40-yard dash, 7.54s 3-cone drill, 4.54s short shuttle, 32 1/2” vertical jump, 8’8” broad jump, 27 bench press reps, 9.53 Relative Athletic Score

Experience

Colleges: Middle Tennessee (2022-23), Georgia Tech (2024-25)

Career statistics: 48 games (43 starts) | 3,019 offensive snaps, 175 special teams snaps | 36 quarterback pressures surrendered (3 sacks, 4 hits, 29 hurries) | 16 penalties (incl. 3 declined/offset)

Accolades: First-team All-American (2024, 2024), First-team All-ACC (2025, 2024), Brian Piccolo Award (2025), First-team All-CUSA (2023), CUSA All-Freshman (2022)

A Georgia native, Rutledge primarily lined up at tight end and defensive end during his time at Franklin County in Carnesville, GA. The three-star recruit received multiple scholarship offers toward the tail-end of his high school career, and he eventually committed to Middle Tennessee as one of a handful of FBS schools showing interest.

Rutledge spent two years with the Blue Raiders, starting 17 games and twice earning All-CUSA recognition. After head coach Rick Stockstill was fired, however, he decided to enter the transfer portal and returned to his home state by enrolling at Georgia Tech. Even though he missed spring practices in 2024 while still recovering from a car crash the previous December — he flipped his car multiple times while avoiding an oncoming vehicle — he eventually ended up starting all 26 games between his junior and senior campaigns.

Along the way, Rutledge became the Yellow Jackets’ first non-specialist since the aforementioned Shaq Mason to earn first-team All-American honors. He actually did so in back-to-back years to end his college career on a high note.

Draft profile

Projected round: 2-3 | Consensus big board: No. 60 | Patriots meeting: Senior Bowl

Strengths: Rutledge is a throwback player at the guard position, who likes to get physical and just mess up whoever is in front of him. Far more often than not, that is exactly what happens. He mugs defenders with a combination of power and grit both in the run game and as a pass protector. He uses his strong upper body to simply shove defenders out of the way to clear run lanes, and also has a devastating strike when faced with defensive linemen 1-on-1; his punch allows him to redirect rushers and get them off balance but he also has the grip strength to sustain blocks.

He also is a very good natural athlete and efficient mover, who has both the long speed and quickness to get to the second level or work on pull and stretch blocks. He can just as easily be employed in gap and zone schemes, and brings the blue-collar mentality to put the work in regardless of role. In general, he was noted for his leadership — he was named a captain at both Middle Tennessee and Georgia — and toughness.

Weaknesses: Rutledge’s timing and footwork tend to get messy when going up against quicker defenders, with his lower and upper body not staying in sync when asked to readjust his positioning. His feet don’t always go where the rest of his body does. He also tends to lose his leverage by getting too tall, exposing his chest and giving defenders a wider area to attack. His reactionary speed on line games needs to improve as well.

Patriots preview

What would be his role? Entering the NFL with extensive experience at right guard, Rutledge projects to play that same role at the next level. The question would be whether he would begin his pro career as a starter or a backup. Considering the current state of New England’s interior offensive line, the second option seems more realistic. However, the longterm plan would be for him to eventually take over one of the three interior spots.

Does he have positional versatility? Based on his college usage, the answer would be no. While there are a few snaps at left guard, left tackle, and inline tight end on his career résumé, a vast majority of his action — i.e. 98.3% 0f snaps — came at the right guard position. That said, he did take some center reps at the Senior Bowl and has the functional athleticism to find success at more than one spot if that’s what a team wants.

What is his growth potential? Rutledge already is a well put-together player at the right guard position, but he needs some more technical fine-tuning to become a trustworthy option at the next level. If he can get it and properly continue his development, he has all the makings of a multi-year starter in the NFL.

Why the Patriots? Even though their starting lineup for 2026 seems set, Rutledge would give the Patriots a potential replacement should Alijah Vera-Tucker continue to struggle with injuries or Mike Onwenu walk as a free agent in 2027. Adding him to the mix, frankly, would mean that one of the two would not be back next season. As for the player himself, he checks plenty of boxes in terms of size, strength, mindset, movement skills and scheme flexibility.

Why not the Patriots? Given their recent investments along the interior offensive line and the fact that the top four at the moment look set, the Patriots might feel no need to draft an offensive lineman with one of their first three picks in the draft. They also might be on the lookout for more versatility, particularly with Vera-Tucker’s health always being a concern.

One-sentence verdict: Keylan Rutledge following in Shaq Mason’s footsteps and joining the Patriots would make plenty of sense from the team’s perspective, and give them a tone-setting future starter.

For more information about Keylan Rutledge and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.

Also, what do you think about Rutledgeas a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Bengals News

Trade grades: Evaluating the Bengals-Giants deal for Dexter Lawrence

The 2026 NFL Draft just became a whole lot more interesting.

Bengals Not Done? NFL Insider Hints at More Moves After Blockbuster Trade

The Bengals made a splash when they traded for Dexter Lawrence II this week. Surely they’re done making big moves, right?

Amp’d up Bengals players react to Dexter Lawrence trade: ‘He’s one of a kind’

The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off the most shocking trade of the offseason over the weekend with the addition of Dexter Lawrence, and the electricity was still in the air on Monday when the team opened up its offseason training schedule with its first workout session.

Amarius Mims Reacts to Bengals Dexter Lawrence Trade

Amarius Mims Reacts to Bengals Dexter Lawrence Trade

Bengals Get Concerning Rams Prediction Involving Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow is no stranger to random takes about his future with the team. After missing the playoffs for the past three straight seasons, it shouldn’t be surprising.

NFL News

Mike Tomlin joins NBC as NFL studio analyst, sources confirm

For the first time in two decades, Mike Tomlin won’t be on an NFL sideline this fall.

Every NFL team’s best draft class of the 21st century

Free agency, since its inception in the early 1990s, has played a significant role in the success (or failure) of NFL franchises but the NFL Draft also plays a large part in helping determine which team is crowned league champion on a yearly basis. Simply put, teams that consistently draft quality players have generally been in a position to win one or more championships. In contrast, teams that struggle to select the right prospects perennially find themselves with one of the top picks in the draft.

Projected top pick Fernando Mendoza reveals why he’s skipping NFL Draft

Heisman Trophy winner and projected top pick Fernando Mendoza revealed why he won’t be attending the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Patriots’ Mike Vrabel has had ‘difficult conversations’ after publication of photos with NFL reporter

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff and players, following the publication of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.

NFL Security, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials detail NFL Draft security plan

The NFL, along with Pittsburgh Public Safety, are providing information on how they’ll be working together to keep visitors safe during NFL Draft week.

Good teams in the NFL have some semblance of culture in their locker room. A camaraderie exists that ties the players together and lends the benefit of brotherhood to the team, top to bottom.

The Denver Broncos, under Sean Payton’s leadership, have reestablished team culture in Denver, and that weighs heavily on who they will draft this week. No matter what the draft boards say about a player’s athleticism and talent, their fit in the locker room has to make sense, or they won’t be lucky enough to call themselves Denver Broncos.

One of the coolest things to hear from the team throughout many of their interviews last season was how they were playing for each other. This Broncos team believes in each other to make great things happen. They believe this coaching staff has answers. The coaches believe these players can execute and win every game.

This is the way winning happens.

Whatever players get drafted this week will need to be able to fit into this locker room, be smart enough to handle the playbook, and bring talent to help this team make plays if and when they get sent out to the field of play.

I can’t help but wonder about how Mike Vrabel’s recent scandal will impact the Patriots’ locker room. Just because many would judge his actions as unethical doesn’t mean his players will be impacted. But I can’t help but wonder how many in the locker room will lose respect for him as a leader.

Broncos News:

Broncos officially re-sign Dondrea Tillman to exclusive-rights deal

Other NFL News:

Patriots’ Mike Vrabel has had ‘difficult conversations’ after publication of photos with NFL reporter

Daniel Jeremiah’s top 150 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class

Browns QB Shedeur Sanders embracing ‘new vibe,’ opportunity under HC Todd Monken

Mike Tomlin joins NBC as NFL studio analyst, sources confirm

Rams’ Sean McVay: Puka Nacua ‘doing really well,’ at OTAs

Justin Fields: I wanted to join Chiefs to learn from Patrick Mahomes

Will Anderson Jr. Reacts to Becoming the Highest-Paid Defensive Player in NFL History

Justin Jefferson Got Brutally Honest on Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy QB Competition

On Dec. 15, 1947, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the upcoming NFL draft for the 1948 season would be held in Pittsburgh, although the exact date was unclear. The publication could only determine that representatives from 10 teams would gather sometime that week at the Fort Pitt Hotel, the de facto headquarters of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 2026 draft, the first time the event has returned to Pittsburgh since, will be much more noticeable this time.

“We had to really work with the NFL to kind of figure out ‘How do we build this draft into a very dense downtown?’ … which is not easy to do,” president and CEO of Visit Pittsburgh Jerad Bachar told USA TODAY Sports by phone last week.

For three days, not only will Pittsburgh be the confluence of three rivers, but a melting pot of NFL fandom. Indeed, the NFL’s takeover will dominate the north shore of the by the Steelers’ home, Acrisure Stadium. The main entrance to the primary draft grounds is located about 200 yards away from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home stadium, PNC Park.

Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman relocated this offseason to downtown Pittsburgh after being traded by the Indianapolis Colts. Every time he drives home, he said, another structure related to the draft has been built.

“It’s already getting crazy down here,” Pittman told USA TODAY Sports.

He added: “More and more people are coming. The city is already super sports-themed, so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like on the weekend of the draft. It’s gonna be nuts.”

The latest Cleveland Browns coverage from Dawgs By Nature:

• ‘It was probably the most advanced in football’ (Thomas Moore) Paul DePodesta’s time in Cleveland was polarizing. But could his approach have worked if only people listened?
• Browns news: 11 free agents tryout at minicamp, including a former 2nd round pick (Jared Mueller) At Cleveland Browns minicamp, the team worked out 11 players including former 2nd round pick Josh Paschal
• Browns ‘26 QB competition starts a lot like ‘25’s with an interesting addition (Jared Mueller) Like last year, the Cleveland Browns have a QB competition, with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, with helmet cams added
• Browns draft: New trade down option rumored; CLE mock draft after adding ‘27 pick in deal (Jared Mueller) Cleveland Browns draft rumors will flow for the next 2 days, especially on trade downs. Could the Rams trade up?
• NFL draft superlatives: Expert says which WR has best hands, top talent, boom/bust, more (Jared Mueller) The Cleveland Browns should be looking at top WR prospects in the 2026 NFL draft. Best hands? Boom/Bust? Route runner?
• NFL draft: Top CB has injury concern, could fall out of 1st round (Jared Mueller) Could the Cleveland Browns take a risk in the 2026 NFL draft? 1st round talent CB Jermod McCoy could fall due to injury
• Browns schedule: Big day for Todd Monken, QBs just 2 days before the NFL draft (Jared Mueller) The NFL draft is two days away but new HC Todd Monken will see Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson hit the field for 1st time
• Browns NFL draft: Return of the fullback has options (Barry Shuck) The Cleveland Browns under Todd Monken are likely to get their fullback return. A few NFL draft prospects fit the bill
• Browns draft: Final call, select best player available or position of need? (Abby Mueller) With significant draft capital, the Cleveland Browns will need to decide what to prioritize in their selections.

From the Feed:

We are one day away from the start of the 2026 NFL draft, which could be the perfect time to watch “Draft Day.” Is that a love or hate kind of movie for you? tmartin5785 asks you to join DBN’s Feed conversation about it:

More Cleveland Browns news:

• Observations from Day 1 of voluntary veteran minicamp | OTAs & Minicamp (clevelandbrowns.com) “The Browns kicked off their voluntary veteran minicamp on April 21, which will take place from April 21-23. It’s the first time the Browns’ new coaching…”
• Shedeur Sanders Thriving Under Todd Monken’s Early Approach With Browns (Sports Illustrated) “Tuesday marked another new era of Cleveland Browns football as new head coach Todd Monken started his quarterback competition. Shedeur Sanders, who finished…”
• Should Browns draft WR with 6th overall pick or wait until 24th overall pick? | ‘Path to the Draft’ (NFL.com) “The “Path to the Draft” discuss if the Cleveland Browns should draft wide receiver with 6th overall pick or wait until 24th overall pick.“
• Cleveland Browns 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft (OBR) “This Cleveland Browns 2026 mock draft features the Browns picking up some extra picks while bolstering their offensive line, adding some receiving weapons,…“
• Brook Park City Council unanimously approves key pre-development plan for new Cleveland Browns stadium (WKYC) “BROOK PARK, Ohio — Brook Park City Council has approved a pre-development agreement with the Cleveland Browns that marks a crucial step forward in the…”
• Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel talks after practice (Akron Beacon Journal) “Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel talks after the team’s voluntary practice on April 21, 2026, in Berea.”
• 3 Cleveland Browns’ draft predictions that could come true later this week including an unexpected change in direction (A to Z Sports) “The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching and it’s an important one for the Cleveland Browns. Here’s a trio of things I think happen for Cleveland later this week.”
• Cleveland Browns: Was Paul DePodesta destined to fail? (Yahoo Sports) “CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 17, 2017: Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta of the Cleveland Browns stands on the field prior to a game on December 17,…”
• How will Browns use their two first-round NFL draft picks? (ESPN) “Cleveland’s front office is seeking “difference-makers and elite-level talent” at the No. 6 and No. 24 picks.“
• Shedeur Sanders enters Browns QB battle with a new mindset as Deshaun Watson returns with something to prove (Marca) “Now, with Todd Monken taking over as head coach of the Cleveland Browns moving on from Kevin Stefanski the quarterback room suddenly feels different.”
• Looks like Shedeur is QB1 (1st day of minicamp) (Youtube) Quincy Carrier reacts to the latest

In Columbus, and for the Ohio State Buckeyes football program, wide receiver excellence is not an exception. It is the expectation.

From Garrett Wilson to Chris Olave to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the program has become a pipeline for polished, NFL-ready talent. Now, the next name in that lineage is Carnell Tate. And what separates Tate is not just production.

It is how he produced, steadily, efficiently, and in ways that translate directly to NFL Sundays.

A three-year climb from depth piece to featured weapon

Tate’s Ohio State career followed the exact arc NFL teams want to see.

As a freshman in 2023, he entered one of the deepest receiver rooms in college football and still carved out a role, finishing with 18 receptions for 264 yards and a touchdown while appearing in every game. That early contribution mattered, not because of volume, but because it showed he could earn trust in a crowded, elite room.

By 2024, his role expanded significantly. Tate became a consistent part of the offense, posting 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns, while contributing to a national championship run. He was no longer a rotational player. He was a reliable option in high-leverage moments, including the postseason.

Then came the breakout. In 2025, Tate elevated into one of the most productive receivers in the country, recording 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging over 17 yards per catch. Despite missing time with injury, he still produced multiple 100-yard games and became one of the offense’s most explosive threats.

Across three seasons, the resume is clear, 121 receptions, 1,872 yards, 14 touchdowns in 39 games. That kind of steady progression is not accidental. It is development.

The production profile: Elite ball skills, zero drops, and winning through contact

What makes Tate’s production truly compelling is not just the volume. It is how clean and translatable it is.

Let’s start with the efficiency. Tate averaging over 17 yards per catch in 2025 is a reflection of explosive downfield playmaking. He consistently won on vertical routes and intermediate concepts, turning opportunities into chunk gains rather than simply moving the chains.

But the most important part of Tate’s profile shows up in two areas NFL teams value heavily, contested catches and reliability.

Tate has developed into one of the best contested-catch receivers in the country. According to PFF, Tate had a 85.7% contested catch rate in 2025, consistently converting throws in tight coverage and winning at the catch point. His combination of size, timing, and body control allow him to play through defenders and finish plays that many receivers simply cannot.

That trait translates immediately to the NFL. When separation shrinks on Sundays, receivers who can win in traffic become invaluable. Tate already operates comfortably in that environment.

Then there is his hands. In 2025, Tate recorded zero drops, a statistic that reinforces what shows up on film. He is a natural hands catcher who consistently plucks the ball away from his body, maintains focus through contact, and finishes plays in critical moments.

That level of reliability is rare. Many receivers offer explosiveness. Others offer consistency. Tate offers both, and that combination is what elevates his projection. He is not streaky, he is stable.

More than a WR2: Why history says Tate can be a true NFL WR1

One of the laziest ways to evaluate receivers coming out of Ohio State is by labeling them based on their role. Tate was often viewed as a “WR2” within the Buckeyes’ offense. But at Ohio State, that label means something very different than it does elsewhere.

Being a secondary option in that system does not limit NFL projection. It often enhances it. Just look at Terry McLaurin, who was never a featured WR1 in college but became one of the most consistent and productive receivers in the NFL. Or Chris Olave, who shared targets in a loaded room and still translated into a high-level NFL playmaker.

Ohio State’s receiver room is built on distribution, not force-feeding. Tate’s production came within that structure. He was not schemed touches, he earned them. And when opportunities came, he maximized them.

That is exactly what NFL teams want to see. Because the transition to the league is not about being the only option. It is about being able to operate within a system, earn trust, and expand your role over time.

Tate has already done that. And that is why the ceiling is higher than many realize. He is not just a complementary receiver at the next level. He has the tools to become a true WR1, and the type of player who can lead a passing game, win against top corners, and produce consistently against elite competition.

What Carnell Tate brings to the NFL

Tate enters the NFL as one of the most polished and complete receivers in his class. At 6′ 2 1/4″ and 192 pounds, he brings ideal size and catch radius, allowing him to win both in space and in contested situations. His route running is advanced, built on timing, leverage, and an understanding of how to manipulate defenders.

He can line up outside, beat press coverage, operate in the intermediate game, and threaten vertically. That versatility makes him scheme-flexible, capable of fitting into multiple offensive systems.

But the most important trait he brings is trust. Quarterbacks trust receivers who are where they are supposed to be, who catch the ball when it is thrown to them, and who make plays when things break down. Tate has built his entire game around those principles. And that is why his transition projects so cleanly.

The bottom line

Carnell Tate is not built on hype, he is built on traits that translate. Consistency, ball skills, reliability, and physicality at the catch point.

At Ohio State, he proved he could develop, adapt, and produce within one of the most demanding environments in college football. He showed he could win without being the focal point, and still deliver when called upon.

In the NFL, that profile tends to scale. That is why Tate is not just a safe projection, he is a high-ceiling one. And if his development continues on its current trajectory, he will not just follow the path of past Ohio State receivers.

He will join them, not as a role player, but as a true No. 1 option at the next level.

The 2026 NFL Draft is a day away as the New England Patriots continue the process of finishing their board. Things will look quite different for the team this draft picking 31st overall after back-to-back years selecting in the top-five. After spending two draft picks on specialists last season, New England may be looking to add more competition this go-around.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for the Patriots at the position.

Patriots’ current specialists situation

The Patriots dipped into the draft twice last year to upgrade their specialists group. That began in the sixth-round with kicker Andy Borregales, who finished his rookie season strong making 27-of-32 attempts in the regular season. Borregales is set to enter the year as the unquestioned starter. Seventh-round pick Julian Ashby now faces competition at long snapper, however, after the team signed Niko Lalos in free agency. Ashby, who started every game for the Patriots his rookie season, would still be considered the odds-on favorite.

Any addition in the draft would likely come at the punter position, as Bryce Baringer enters the final year of his rookie contract. While Baringer has had plenty of strong moments, some continued inconsistency may result in the team bringing in competition.

Patriots NFL Draft fits on special teams

Brett Thorson (Georgia): Last year’s Ray Guy Award winner as the best punter in college football, Thorson will likely be the first punter off the board. The Australian recorded 23 punts i20s last season in comparison to just four touchbacks, while his 8.7 percent return rate was the third lowest in the FBS. | Consensus ranking: 275

Ryan Eckley (Michigan State): Taking over for Bryce Baringer in 2023, Eckley has handled punting duties the last three seasons for the Spartans. His 2025 campaign was perhaps his best as he increased his average hang time and kicked just one touchback while 20 punts were downed inside the 20. | Consensus ranking: 344

Jack Stonehouse (Syracuse): One of the highest graded punters last season, Stonehouse ranked in the top-15 in yards per attempt and fair catches as his average hang time increased for the fourth consecutive season. His six touchbacks were a career-worst, however. Jack’s cousin, Ryan, served as Mike Vrabel’s punter in Tennessee. | Consensus ranking: 407

Tommy Doman (Florida): Beginning his collegiate career as a kicker, Doman switched to punting in 2023. He led the FBS in average hang time last season (4.52s) but must continue to improve his accuracy and touch. | Consensus ranking: 499

In addition to those prospects, others to watch include: Tyler Perkins (Iowa State), Ross James (Oregon), Wes Pahl (Oklahoma State), Cole Maynard (Western Kentucky), and Keegan Andrews (UMass).

How 49ers can improve pass rush in the draft after they got exposed in 2025 (Paywall) 
“Malachi Lawrence (Central Florida) has a No. 39 consensus big-board ranking via NFL Mock Draft Database, an aggregation of publicly available big boards and mock drafts, but “the Beast” author Dane Brugler of the Athletic recently mocked Lawrence at No. 26. Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) appears in similarly unpredictable territory. Howell is No. 35 on the consensus big board but landed at No. 26 on a mock draft by NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. Welcome to the season of guesswork, folks. 

Lawrence and Howell are twitchy athletes with good get-off. Lawrence has longer arms. Howell has better bend. Lawrence shows a higher floor against the run, based on Brugler’s assessment of both. From a production standpoint, Howell was a consensus All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.”

Kawakami: The Trent Williams plan and more 49ers pre-draft positioning (Paywall)
“I’m sure other 49ers assistants have been enthusiastic about draft prospects and livened up the building in general, but it seems like Morris — one of Shanahan’s best friends in coaching — is already in a class of his own. 

“He’s a bundle of energy. He’s curious. He’s insightful,” Lynch said. “We always talk about there’s guys who drain a room and then there’s guys who give life to a room; he gives life to a room. He’s funny. 

“His whole thing is, ‘If we draft this guy, I’m throwing a pool party.’ We’re hoping we’re having a lot of pool parties with Raheem.” 

Matt Maiocco’s NFL mock draft 5.0: 49ers select UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence
“Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek values quickness at the snap of the ball. And that is exactly what Lawrence brings to the table. Lawrence is a true edge with tremendous upside to play opposite of Nick Bosa in passing situations.”

49ers mailbag: Why Kenyon Sadiq might fall; will team double up at edge? (Paywall)
“I know we’ve been beating this drum all offseason, but it still feels like Mac Jones could be traded. The Arizona Cardinals, for example, don’t even have a starting quarterback on hand for their offseason program (Jacoby Brissett is staying away because he wants starter-level money.) If they miss out on a top quarterback in the draft, would they be interested in a trade, or are they merely positioning themselves for a quarterback in the 2027 draft?

The other spot the 49ers seem to have some overflow is at cornerback. They signed two in free agency, Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs.” 

Hutchinson: This is my one and only 49ers Mock Draft (Paywall)
“Why he’s available: Frankly, I think people overrate (negatively) the weird system at Tennessee in which he stayed on the right side of the formation, never went in motion, and was coached to be lazy. He also struggles to keep his feet in bounds and had some drops. 

Why the 49ers will like him: He’s a 6’5” receiver who moves like a gazelle, with unfathomable deceleration and route-running craft at his size. Elite physical talent and tools who won’t have to produce Day 1 and gets to learn from Mike Evans. They have used this year-early model before with Ricky Pearsall. Remember, Evans could be a one-and-done, and neither Christian Kirk nor Demarcus Robinson are signed after this year. Brazzell is all upside with the runway to learn, without pressure on his shoulders. 

What I think of this pick: My #2 receiver in the class. He’s special, or at least should be. I don’t like how he can’t drag his toes, but I do not care about the Volunteers’ ugly offense. The drops don’t bother me. He did it all at Tulane, and frankly, he blocks his tail off. He’s a rare guy who can truly be a star X receiver.”

The NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow night and as of right now, the Miami Dolphins will be making two selections during the first round. With needs all over the roster, the Dolphins can go in any direction with their picks. It’s up to the new regime to reload this roster with some new talent and players with the right mindset. It will be interesting to see how Jon-Eric Sullivan approaches the draft. Will it be similar to how the Green Bay Packers did things?

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

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Here’s what Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley need to acquire in the NFL draft — players with the right attitude, guys who have a winning mindset.

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When watching film of offensive players in the next NFL Draft, Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, understandably, asks his defensive-minded head coach, Jeff Hafley, for thoughts.

Under the radar 2026 NFL Draft gems that the Miami Dolphins should be eyeing late in this week’s action
There has been no shortage of speculation on what the Miami Dolphins should be doing with their early draft selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. But what names should we be keeping an eye on as potential gems for later?

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It’s NFL Draft week, and it’s also a very important time for the Notre Dame football program. In a lot of ways, the draft is a validation of a healthy program — although it’s not always the case (see the Miami Hurricanes for most of the last 20 years).

Throughout the draft process after the Super Bowl, we mostly gravitate toward the bigger numbers concerning Notre Dame and the NFL Draft. Notre Dame has had the most picks in NFL Draft history with 538 and is tied for 2nd all-time for the most No. 1 overall picks.

As a die-hard Notre Dame fan, I look at the draft in a number of different ways when it comes to Fighting Irish players, but lately it’s been about the massive amount of talent the Irish have sent to the league since 2000. So… let’s make an All Notre Dame NFL Draft Team since 2000. We’re keeping it simple and right at 22.

OFFENSE

QB — Brady Quinn (2007)
RB — Julius Jones (2004)
RB — Kyren Williams (2022)
TE — Kyle Rudolph (2011)
OL — Zack Martin (2014)
OL — Quenton Nelson (2018)
OL — Jeff Faine (2003)
OL — Joe Alt (2024)
OL — Ronnie Stanley (2016)
WR — Golden Tate (2010)
WR — David Givens (2002)

DEFENSE

DE — Justin Tuck (2005)
DT — Trevor Laws (2008)
DT — Stephon Tuitt (2014)
DE — Anthony Weaver (2002)
LB — Rocky Boiman (2002)
LB — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2021)
LB — Jaylon Smith (2016)
CB — Mike Richardson (2007)
DS — Harrison Smith (2012)
DS — Kyle Hamilton (2022)
CB — Benjamin Morrison (2025)

NFL draft 2026

Venue: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Dates: Thursday, 23 April - Saturday, 25 April Start: 20:00 EDT (01:00 BST, Friday)

The NFL features more than 2,200 players across the league's 32 teams and most are recruited via the NFL draft each April.

Every year thousands of players in the US collegiate system become eligible for the draft but the total number of selections is limited to about 250.

Although players who go undrafted can still be signed later, most future stars are picked up during the three-day event.

But early draft picks can often flop in the NFL while some chosen late become greats - Tom Brady was selected 199th overall in 2000 yet went on to win a record seven Super Bowls.

Which team gets the first pick?

The draft is divided into seven rounds - the first taking place on a Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday and four to seven on Saturday.

All 32 teams have one pick in each round, going in the reverse order of the previous season's standings, unless they have agreed trades.

There have already been trades for seven first-round draft picks this year, meaning six teams will get two first-round picks and six others will have none.

The Las Vegas Raiders had last season's worst record so they will go first with the Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks, going last.

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How do trades affect the draft?

Instead of paying transfer fees, NFL teams trade future draft picks and/or current players to acquire players from other teams or move up in the draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, traded away three picks in 2017 to climb into position to select current star quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

In 2023, the Carolina Panthers traded up to take the first pick from the Chicago Bears and select quarterback Bryce Young.

In this year's draft, the New York Jets will have the second pick due to their poor record in the 2025 season, plus the 16th pick via a trade.

Teams may negotiate trades at any time before and during the draft.

How many players get picked?

The number of players selected varies slightly each year and this year there will be 257 picks.

NFL teams scout players at college and then assess them during the NFL Combine, a week-long event in February featuring physical and mental tests where teams can also interview prospects.

Each college/university holds a Pro Day, where draft hopefuls have another chance to showcase their skills, and they may also visit teams for more tests and interviews.

Then comes the draft.

Each pick will not necessarily be the best player still available, they may be the player which that team feels best suits their needs.

The total number of picks varies each year as teams are awarded compensatory picks for players they lost in free agency.

They are also rewarded with picks for developing minority candidates for head coach/general manager positions, while teams may have to forfeit picks for breaching NFL rules.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.

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The Dallas Cowboys brass had already interviewed eight defensive coordinator candidates in short order. Energy was fading as they prepared to meet candidate No. 9.

Then a candidate 21 years younger than any of the Cowboys’ last three coordinators presented his vision.

Christian Parker knew how and when he wanted to coach cornerbacks on the nuances of press coverage and how today’s corner can integrate safety and linebacker responsibilities. Parker knew how and when he wanted to feature five-man fronts to smother quarterbacks, and he understood the nuances of third-down responsibilities from his most recent responsibilities as Eagles defensive pass game coordinator.

And Parker wasn’t afraid to shake up a Cowboys scheme and personnel group that has rooted its identity in a 4-3 base (four defensive linemen, three linebackers) for the last 13 seasons.

“Whenever you form a defensive structure, it’s about the players that you have,” Parker said at his introductory news conference. “So core principles, we’ll be a 3-4 by nature. But 4-3 spacing will be appropriate — 4-2-5 in nickel. Different front structures, coverages behind it.

“I would say being multiple is probably the most important thing.”

Parker was resolute — if not quite as cavalier as Bill Parcells 20 years ago, who “walked down the hallway and said, ‘Boys, we’re switching,’” then-Cowboys quarterbacks coach Sean Payton remembers.

Then-defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, whose background was in the 4-3, was becoming a 3-4 play-caller.

“It wasn’t much conversation,” Zimmer told Yahoo Sports.

This Cowboys shift is different, coming from the coordinator up rather than the head coach down. 

Nonetheless, two decades after the Cowboys took two seasons to feel like their personnel makeup and player buy-in could successfully green-light the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, Dallas is at it again.

The 34-year-old who has coached under top defensive minds Vic Fangio, Vance Joseph and Ejiro Evero plans to blend a background in exotic fronts and shutdown secondaries as he aims to compel a struggling Cowboys defense to threaten like its potent offensive counterpart. 

Cue the addition of some key personnel, the evolution of some returning players and a step-by-step development plan? The Cowboys are banking on the combination to help them contend in 2026.

The next step in that process comes Thursday night, when the Cowboys currently own the 12th and 20th picks in the NFL Draft.

Jerry Jones did not promise Parker both first-round picks would go to defense when he was hired. But Parker was asked at his Feb. 18 introductory news conference whether he would advocate for that.

He didn’t hesitate: “Absolutely.”

It will not be surprising if he wins his case.

New Cowboys DC: ‘Sometimes, players got to touch the stove’

The 3-4 defense has surged in recent years, responding in part to offensive principles from the Shanahan-McVay system that emphasizes outside-zone runs. Twenty NFL teams are currently employing 3-4 base defenses, an NFC talent evaluator who tracks schematic trends told Yahoo Sports. Twelve are running a 4-3.

Neither scheme is inherently or indisputably dominant, coaches and evaluators say. But 4-3 defenses, which front two defensive tackles and two defensive ends, tend to create more pressure on the quarterback and allow players to penetrate more simply in order to generate maximum pressure.

Meanwhile, 3-4 defenses tend to front bigger and stronger players as the three defensive linemen are often asked to defend two gaps (two spaces between offensive linemen) each, thus requiring more size and stoutness.

Coordinators implementing a 3-4 prefer bigger players as well as players who can read and react sharply, given the complexities of accounting for two gaps and determining exact responsibilities after the snap requires a high level of communication and processing in order to fulfill assigned responsibilities before it’s too late.  

Parker has explained that vision and those needs to the Cowboys' draft room in recent weeks, sources said.

“He’s so detailed when it comes to explaining things,” one Cowboys front-office member told Yahoo Sports. “It's the best I've been around as far as communicating what he wants, what his vision is for the guy.

“Right now, we're like in a honeymoon period. But it's been amazing.”

Like in his initial Zoom and in-person interview, Parker has walked evaluators through the traits he values and his plan to develop prospects. In three seasons with the Denver Broncos, Parker helped develop defensive backs including two-time All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II. In Philadelphia, he tutored Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into All-Pro honors within their first two pro seasons.

Parker helped DeJean grow in his spatial awareness and route feel at nickel cornerback, an Eagles colleague told Yahoo Sports, while helping Mitchell learn press coverage and refine both his transition footwork and his combativeness at the point of attack. Parker, the Eagles’ defensive backs coach as well as defensive pass game coordinator in 2024 and 2025 under Fangio, instilled confidence in each player. Parker wasn’t afraid to give them extra quizzes or footwork drills outside of practice when he thought it’d help.

“You have to know the student first and foremost,” Parker said of his teaching philosophy. “What might hit one player’s brain is going to hit different than another. So being thorough and detailed, being very clear and concise in terms of your messaging and when to correct, when not to correct.

“Sometimes players got to touch the stove. You just want to do it in a controlled environment.”

The Cowboys’ front seven, making a major transition, may need a couple extra touches this spring.

Will 3-4 help Cowboys D more against run or pass?

Transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4 can sometimes take longer than the opposite direction, coaches say, because of the size required to make that transition.

Edge rushers in a 4-3 system don’t need to drop in space and coverage as much as outside linebackers in the 3-4 system. Front-seven length is key to help ward off blockers on screens as well as to tackle. Whereas 4-3 defenses often value speed and twitch up front, 3-4 defenses prioritize strength and stoutness against the run.

“You’re changing your F1 car’s body type,” Payton told Yahoo Sports. “The Cowboys' race is that: the transition from an even to an odd front.”

A transition was needed after the Cowboys followed up three top-10 scoring defenses under now-Commanders head coach Dan Quinn with cellar-dwelling units in consecutive seasons. After allowing the second-most points and fifth-most yards in 2024 under Zimmer, the Cowboys' defense allowed the most points and third-most yards last season under Matt Eberflus.

Losing Micah Parsons a week before the season opener didn’t help matters. But Parsons’ absence was far from the only problem for Dallas’ defense last year. The Cowboys hope their new scheme will make them sturdier against the run, thus leaving teams more one-dimensional.

“You affect the quarterback by stopping the run,” Parker said. “Sometimes affecting the quarterback comes through pressure, sometimes it comes through disguise, sometimes it comes through just the talent that you’re able to have and the ability to play the play style.

“If you can stop the run, you can get teams in predictable downs.”

Expect the Cowboys also to bring their outside linebackers to the line of scrimmage routinely, presenting five-man fronts that muddy quarterbacks’ defensive reads.  

The Cowboys have already shifted some personnel to anchor the transition. The Cowboys dealt the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Parsons to the Green Bay Packers last August in exchange for two first-round draft picks and 6-3, 314-pound interior defender Kenny Clark.

The Cowboys then dealt first- and second-round picks and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to acquire 6-4, 303-pound defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets at the trade deadline. They traded a fourth-round pick for 6-5, 277-pound edge rusher Rashan Gary last month. And for a third-round pick, the Cowboy sent the 49ers the 6-2, 280-pound Osa Odighizuwa and his $20 million per year salary in a move that returns Odighizuwa to a 4-3 front where his size and speed can offer maximum value.

“We’ve made a conscious decision to be a blend of the equivalent of the 3-4,” Jerry Jones said. “The 3-4 concept can give you a better run support. And the question is, can that outside guy do a little pass covering, cover a little space, plus give you the pressure on the outside?

“When you see a player [who can] get some pressure on the outside, slide out in that flat and to cover that flat for you, that's a rare dude. He's important. And it's hard to do.”

But there are players on Thursday night who can help.

Cowboys’ new vision changes how they value draft traits

Right now, the Cowboys’ projected starters at outside linebacker would be 2024 second-round pick DeMarvion Overshown and 2025 second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku. 

Zimmer touted Overshown’s acceleration as a trait that will help him with sideline-to-sideline pursuit at outside linebacker. Jerry Jones said last month that Cowboys decision-makers agree Ezeiruaku should have played more last season than he did, the franchise confident in his ability to create more pressure and pass rush than he’s shown so far.

With the trade of Parsons, as well as the midseason death last year of 2024 second-round defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, expect the Cowboys to target additional edge rushers in the draft.

Front-seven help could come as early as Thursday night, the Cowboys more malleable than usual with the 12th and 20th overall picks that could land two immediate contributors or be packaged to move up for one of the best defenders in the draft.

“You can’t go wrong taking big, long, athletic guys,” one Dallas evaluator said. “That’s what we want to get back to.”

There are players who would have fit the Cowboys regardless of their scheme. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, Ohio State versatile linebacker Arvell Reese and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (evaluators consider his quick hands and lower-body strength sufficient to compensate for his lack of length) are talented enough to transcend any system and elevate a defense regardless of base front.

Inside linebacker, often the irreplaceable defensive quarterback and top communicator, is a glaring need for the Cowboys to fill either in the draft or free agency. (When asked if he would be comfortable with a rookie leading Cowboys defensive communication, Jones said “yes, yes, a big yes.”) And the Cowboys value more depth at corner, both for the ability to play nickel and because of Parker’s track record developing the position. 

As the draft goes on, there are some players whose value to the Cowboys have changed because of their schematic shift.

Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, for example, would have been valued more highly under the Cowboys' 4-3 system. Yahoo Sports draft expert Nate Tice rated him 36th on his overall big board, but he fits the Cowboys less than he once did.

Texas Tech edge rusher Romello Height, on the other hand? The 66th player on Yahoo Sports draft expert Charles McDonald’s board would have been considered too light for the Cowboys’ ideal 4-3 defensive end profile but could now offer more value as a stand-up outside linebacker.

The Cowboys’ young coordinator with a shoe collection that has left impressions in buildings across the NFL will influence who leaves the board at 12 and 20 on Thursday night — if not sooner, should the Cowboys choose to package the picks and trade up.

And if the Cowboys can pair an improved defense with an offense that last season ranked seventh in scoring and second in yardage?

Expect Parker’s stock to continue to boom.

“He has a great chance to look good because he’s not coming in with a Super Bowl defense,” Jerry Jones said. “Should he end up with one, then he’ll look like one of the greatest defensive-minded coaches there is.”

The 2026 NFL Draft is in less than 48 hours and the picture of what could happen before the L.A. Rams are on the clock at pick 13 is becoming a little bit more clear. Although nothing is more than a rumor at this point, the consensus on what is expected to happen in the first dozen picks is far ahead of where it was a week ago.

And the Rams might want to trade up if they want to land a blue chip prospect this year.

1. Raiders, QB Fernando Mendoza

Nothing to say here.

2. Jets, EDGE David Bailey or EDGE Arvell Reese

Nobody knows who the Jets are going to pick outside of the top few people in the franchise and even they could be changing their mind. Todd McShay has changed his prediction to Reese, but the entire CBS Sports crew thinks it will be Bailey.

For the purposes of this article it does not really matter because both Bailey and Reese are expected to go off in the top-5 picks.

3. Cardinals, trade back/RB Jeremiyah Love/Reese or Bailey

Arizona wants to move back, according to everybody, but does anyone want to move up? Is it worth it to trade up for a running back? The Chiefs are rumored as a team that could be interested in moving up for Reese.

4. Titans, Love out, Styles in?

After days of speculation that Tennessee will take Jeremiyah Love, Peter Schrager insists that the Titans absolutely will not take Love.

The CBS crew believes Sonny Styles is Robert Saleh’s “Fred Warner” but Love is still the betting favorite to go to the Titans now.

5. Giants, WR Jordyn Tyson/Carnell Tate or S Caleb Downs?

After acquiring a second top-10 pick over the weekend, the Giants are believed to be leaning towards a receiver, specifically Tyson, at pick 5. Tyson had dinner with the Giants brass last week and reports from his private workout at ASU were all positive regarding his health. Tyson is the favorite to be the first receiver drafted, however that could still be Carnell Tate and Tate could be the Giants pick here instead.

If it is a receiver to New York, there could be a run on receivers in the top-8 that ends up wiping all the first round options off the board for L.A. and that could be why we keep hearing rumors that the Rams want to trade up for a receiver, such as Tyson. Could the Giants be trying to trade back with L.A. by sparking rumors of interest in Tyson?

Beat reporter Connor Hughes insisted that it is Caleb Downs, however.

And McShay is certain it’s not Styles.

6. Browns, will work hard to trade back (OT and WR)

Let’s say that the first five picks are Mendoza, Bailey, Reese, Styles, and Tyson. Where does that leave the top prospects remaining at six? Love, Tate, Downs could all go in the first five picks. Everybody else left on the board here is not as surprising, including tackle Francis Mauigoa, a probable pick if Cleveland doesn’t trade down.

Adam Schefter hears that the Browns are dying to trade down. Will this be where the Rams could trade up?

If the Browns are dying to trade down then the cost to move up couldn’t be that bad. To go from 13 to 6, would it really cost next year’s first round pick? And who would the Rams be trading up for?

If Jeremiyah Love is available at 6, is he good enough for L.A. to trade pick 13, 93, a 2027 second rounder, and Blake Corum to go up for? I don’t even know if that’s realistic. Do the Browns need those extra picks that badly?

They might insist on pick 61 and that could be too rich. But don’t put anything past Les Snead.

Even though some injury concerns reappeared this week on his back, I’m going to push Mauigoa here if the Browns don’t find a trade partner. But maybe the Giants would come up here for Love and then they’d be giving Jaxson Dart two new weapons.

7. Commanders, WR Tate or RB Love or LB Styles

Schrager isn’t the only one who has heard that the Commanders want Carnell Tate, but he also mentioned that GM Adam Peters, a former 49ers guy, could be enamored with Sonny Styles.

But Adam Schefter has said that pick 7 is “the floor” for Love, implying that Washington will run to the podium if he falls this far.

8. Saints, Not OL, but any WR or S Downs or CB Mansoor Delane

Schrager says there’s a 0% chance that the Saints pick an offensive lineman here. They’ve been linked to Tate and Tyson, as well as Downs and cornerback Mansoor Delane. In this scenario though, Jeremiyah Love could be available at pick 8 if teams are wary of positional value. However, Schrager notes that he’s been told to “throw positional value out the window this year” by an executive.

Okay, but it’s not that hard actually to see Love get past the Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Browns, and Commanders, is it? He could go third overall or he could drop to this pick. And if he does, Love could be the best all-around player in Kellen Moore’s offense, somewhat similar to Bijan Robinson in Atlanta.

If Tate and Tyson are off the board, do the Saints like Makai Lemon enough to take him this high and if not, perhaps Caleb Downs is off here. He could go as high as 5.

9. Chiefs, trade up or take BPA

Earlier I said a top-5 of Mendoza, Bailey, Reese, Styles, and Tyson. Then we could theorize Mauigoa, Tate, and Downs as the next three picks. There is talk of Kansas City being interested in moving up for Arvell Reese. If that happens and the Cardinals move down to three, imagine their luck of JEREMIYAH LOVE falls to pick 9. They’d get the guy they wanted at 3 all the way down at 9.

If that trade doesn’t happen though, do the Chiefs draft Love after they just signed Kenneth Walker? Probably not. Here the Chiefs could take Rueben Bain or Delane or Lemon or they might just shock everybody with a surprise pick that nobody is expecting to go this high like Dillon Thieneman or Cashius Howell or Kenyon Sadiq. You just never know until you know.

At this time though, maybe the safest bet if the Chiefs are on the clock at 9 with this board is Lemon or Delane or Baine. But I don’t know. If it’s the Cardinals and Love has made it this far, then it has to be Love.

10. Giants, Offensive Line (G Ioane?)

If the Giants don’t trade up for Downs or Love to pair them with their pick at 5 (Tyson or Tate), the general expectation is that they want to come out of this first round with an offensive lineman. It’d be hard to resist the temptation for a Tyson/Downs or Tate/Love draft or some combination of those two.

If Mauigoa has not made it to pick 10, then there’s a debate between Monroe Freeling and Spencer Fano as the next-best tackle. However, wouldn’t it be just like John Harbaugh to draft Penn State guard Vega Ioane?

Unless New York just sees a higher ceiling with Fano or Freeling or even Kadyn Proctor, then Ioane could be their safe home run pick. But maybe the Giants can secure their top-2 choices at pick 5, which might be Downs and Tyson.

Imagine if Cleveland and New York trade places (so the Giants take Tyson and Downs back-to-back) and the Browns come down to 10. Then Cleveland might actually still get Mauigoa at 10.

11. Dolphins, Mauigoa or BPA

It’s hard to find anything about the Dolphins that isn’t related to Mauigoa, so if he falls because of his back then Miami might trade up for him with the Browns at 6 or the Saints at 8 if they have to do that. It wouldn’t be that hard to do because the Dolphins have the most top-100 picks in the league by two whole picks:

If the Dolphins don’t trade up for Mauigoa or he doesn’t fall to them at 11, then they have needs that could mean anything for them, including Fano, Freeling, Lemon, Keldrick Faulk, Bain, Delane, etc..

In fact, I’ll project that Miami does trade up for Mauigoa and this pick ends up being the Browns or Saints and they take Makai Lemon.

12. Cowboys, trade up (Downs, Bain)

McShay has hesitantly cited Dallas as a team that could move up but hedged his bets by saying that that is so unlike the Jerry Jones family to do in the draft. If they move up, the two most rumored names are Downs and Bain, but couldn’t they also be just as interested in Tyson or Love? If the Cowboys are really desperate for a blue chip prospect, why not just move all the way up to 3 for Reese or Bailey?

If we theorize a world where Dallas trades up for Arvell Reese at pick 3, then Cardinals move down to 12 and then they select … QB Ty Simpson?

I don’t know but they are a team rumored to be interested in moving back into the first round for Simpson in the 20-32 range. Well, given that it’s the Cardinals, can we rule out that they’d take Simpson a lot earlier than people expect him to go? Not really.

Even so, a possible top-12 picks: Mendoza, Bailey, Reese, Styles, Tyson, Tate, Downs, Love, Mauigoa, Lemon, Bain, and Delane. I’m just saying, it’s possible those are the first 12 picks.

Where does this leave the Rams at 13?

The best available players per big boards:

• OT Monroe Freeling
• OT Spencer Fano
• TE Kenyon Sadiq
• G Vega Ioane
• EDGE Keldric Faulk
• EDGE Akheem Mesidor
• CB Jermod McCoy (injury issues could drop him to round 2)
• WR Omar Cooper
• S Dillon Thienemann
• DT Peter Woods
• OL Kadyn Proctor

Hmm, I wonder if this is why we keep hearing that the Rams want to trade up.

It’s feasible that all three receivers and Love are all off the board in the top-10 picks. Should the Rams trade up to secure a play maker on offense or be patient and hope a star falls in their laps?

Schrager has had Makai Lemon going to the Rams in his mock draft throughout the entire process, but now says he is changing that away from Lemon at the last minute. What does he know?

The Rams might move up for a player, but will it be Lemon? Could it be Tyson or Love? Maybe Mauigoa?

With how the board appears to be falling in the days before the draft, he might have to.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Legion of Boom Comes Back to Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL Draft coming off a Super Bowl victory, their second in franchise history.  Their previous ultimate victory, which most probably do remember, was a blowout win over the Denver Broncos in 2014, or Super Bowl XLVIII, 43-8.  While the newest win will settle the hearts and minds of Seattle fans for a while, at least until September, there are other things happening within the NFL offseason that require a team’s attention.

Under normal circumstances, teams enter the NFL Draft with an eye focused on the immediate future.  Thirty-one teams, in fact, come into the draft with the intention of making a Super Bowl run, themselves.  That one lucky team coming off a win in February doesn’t have the luxury of resting, necessarily, but they do have the luxury of some of that pressure to win entering a relaxation period.  The burdens levied upon their backs to reach the apex of the sport are lifted.  For now.

That said, the 2026 Seahawks come into the draft in a perhaps somewhat rare position.  They are returning the vast majority of their championship squad for the next season.  As we will see, a lot of personnel is due to come off their books in 2027, which positions this draft for Seattle as a rather important one looking into the short-term future.  There are only so many opportunities to replenish the stockpile.  While Seattle wasn’t required to do that during the most immediate free agency period, the future of their team, with its empty pages of payroll, beckons.

The most notable concern for Seattle might be a simple lack of draft picks, in total.  They have only four picks, one each in rounds one, two, three, and then six.  Those picks are numbered 32, 64, 96, and 188, respectively.  So few selections will, on its face, hamper Seattle’s ability to plan around their roster needs coming into the not-too-distant future.  One might expect, then, that Seattle will have to find alternatives.  Those alternatives may mean trading single picks for multiples, or maybe even trading some of the expiring payroll for picks in return.

Stating the obvious, I’m not Seattle’s General Manager, so thankfully, it isn’t my job.  What is my job, at least in this particular instance, is finding someone for Seattle to take at #32 that fits their needs, or better yet, is the best player left in the 2026 NFL Draft.  If you’re not interested in learning more about Seattle as a team (or are already familiar), you can skip down to the “prospect pool” or “pick” sections and read more about the specific player(s) involved.  If you want to hang in for the duration of this thesis, to better assess the Seahawks’ needs, let’s see how Seattle performed during the 2025 season.

Offense

Seattle’s offense in 2025 was, by most every measure, a Top-10 offense.  They weren’t necessarily the flashiest or most prolific offense in the league, but they were easily above average and balanced enough to handle most situations.  Seattle finished 8^th in total yards at the end of the campaign.  They were 8^th in passing yards and 10^th in rushing yards.  They scored on 45.9% of their offensive drives, which was 6^th-best in the NFL.  By comparison, since I know many might be curious, the Eagles were 26^th at 35%.

The Seahawks also managed the 3^rd-most points in the league, behind only Los Angeles (Rams) and New England, their Super Bowl opponent (with their Charmin-soft schedule).  Seattle generally did this with remarkable efficiency, as they were a mediocre 21^st in total offensive plays but led the league in points-per-play.  What really made their offense pop, though, was complementary football from the defense, as Seattle led the NFL in point differential at +191 through the regular season.  Combined with wins in the playoffs, Seattle had a league-best +12.3 average scoring margin, almost +4 better than the next closest team (the Rams and the Patriots).  The Seahawks also led the league in total DVOA at 41.2%, with the offense ranking 10^th (8.5%) and the defense ranking 1^st (-24.2%).

It wasn’t all “rainbows and sunshine” with the offense, however.  There are places where Seattle can legitimately improve.  One of the big sticking points was the turnover department, as the Seahawks’ twenty-eight (28) offensive turnovers was 2^nd in the NFL.  That included leading the league in fumbles lost with thirteen (13).  The main culprit was, unfortunately, Sam Darnold.  While his overall redemption story is captivating, he was beyond sloppy with the ball in 2025.  He threw fourteen (14) interceptions and had eleven (11) fumbles, six (6) of which he lost.

Seattle also struggled in a couple other key areas: 3^rd-down conversions and in the red zone.  They were a rather pedestrian 16^th on third downs at 39.6%, and their red zone TD scoring was good enough for 22^nd in the NFL.  The offense was quite efficient through the air with an EPA per pass of 0.11 (ranking 8^th), but they were markedly less efficient on the ground, as their 4.1 yards-per-carry was tied for 24^th (by comparison, they were second in net yards-per-attempt and first in yards-per-completion).  Seattle’s marginal efficiency, overall, settled in at 15^th in terms of Total EPA and EPA per play (0.02).  It was mostly pulled down by said inefficient rushing attack that was ranked 29^th in EPA per rush (-0.07), somewhat of a surprise given their personnel.

What likely helped Seattle in the passing game was the pass blocking up front.  Darnold was sacked a mere twenty-seven (27) times during the season, the 4^th-best rate in the league.  Compare that to last year when Darnold was sacked forty-eight (48) times, and Minnesota’s offensive line has only gotten worse with sixty (60) sacks allowed this year, second-worst in the NFL.  That’s a sack rate improvement for Darnold from 11% to 5%, and aside from the Super Bowl win with his new team, all the more reason to be happy he signed elsewhere.  The low sack rate coincided with a low scramble percentage of 2.68% (6^th lowest).  Not too shocking.

In terms of production on the offensive side, Seattle is getting back the vast majority of their offensive statistical leaders.  The aforementioned Darnold is coming back for at least one more season, on the books for another two.  Backup Drew Lock barely played, and the rookie (Milroe) didn’t have to suit up once.  At running back, Seattle did lose their rushing leader in Kenneth Walker, opting to let him do as his last name suggests – straight to Kansas City.  He split duties with Charbonnet, who has a much different running style and injured his ACL in the playoffs.  That leaves Seattle with almost zero returning rush production to start the season, absent some kind of advanced healing timeline for Charbonnet.

On the receiving side, everyone who caught a ball will return to the Seahawks, excepting Dareke Young, whose two receptions and three targets in 2025 will likely not be difficult to replace.  He left for the gambling Raiders.  The leading receiver, Smith-Njigba, was signed to a healthy extension.  Old man Kupp is also set to return with another two years on his contract.  Special teams ace Rashid Shaheed was likewise extended, and a number of depth guys were re-signed.  The tight end position will look much the same, as well.  Except for Saubert, who is 32, the average age of Seattle’s tight ends is 24, so they should be in fair shape for a while.  Fourth-round pick from 2024, A.J. Barner, led the group in receptions and yards, which meant the rookie Arroyo didn’t have a lot to do.

With pretty much all the production coming back for another run, that leaves a gaping hole at running back, in comparison.  Seattle did sign Emanuel Wilson away from Green Bay, and he’s the presumed starter for the time being, but that’s not his typical role.  He was a backup to Josh Jacobs in Green Bay the past two seasons.  He was a depth undrafted free agent his rookie year.  He has had more than twenty carries and one-hundred yards in only one game, Week 12 of 2025 against Minnesota, when he nabbed 28 carries for 107 yards.  That production was based on game flow and a missing Josh Jacobs.  It is unlikely Seattle expects him to be the primary runner all season, which would require some level of projection.

All that means is Seattle will likely draft at least one rookie running back, and/or bring in an undrafted free agent or two to help matters.  That said, the Seahawks may already be looking at a case of quantity over quality, so I’m not sure how much help they will get this route absent using a premium-rated pick on a back.  There are some questionable names available still as free agents, but we’ll get to those ideas later.  With the rest of the offense largely set, we’ll move on to analyzing how the defense performed in 2025.

Defense

Seattle’s defense is a major reason why they were the Super Bowl champs.  The offense performed well in most areas, yes, but it was the defense that held things together when the offense wasn’t operating at full capacity.  Like the offense, Seattle’s defense was also a Top-10 ranked unit under most measurements.  They finished 6^th in total yards allowed and takeaways.  The eighteen (18) interceptions were good for 5^th-best in the NFL.  The defense was 10^th in passing yards allowed and 3^rd in rushing yards.  As previously mentioned, they were #1 in DVOA and tied for second in “Havoc” rating (41.8%) with Denver, behind only the Texans.

Allowing only nine (9) rushing touchdowns all season was second-best in the league, behind only the eight allowed by the Rams of Los Angeles.  The 3.7 yards-per-rush was number one, while the 5.1 net-yards-per-pass was second behind Denver.  Those numbers against a backdrop of opponents passing the 5^th-most against the Seattle defense, most likely because they were, more often than not, behind on the scoreboard.  They had the 4^th-fewest rushing attempts against, which seems to confirm that suspicion.

Of course, Seattle’s defense being their core strength shouldn’t be surprising.  They hired Mike Macdonald in 2024, and he has quite the defensive background, coming from esteemed programs such as Georgia, Michigan, and the Baltimore Ravens.  That philosophical pedigree clearly translates into one of the best defenses in the league.  Only 28.7% of Seattle’s opponent’s offensive drives ended in a score, which again was second-best in the NFL.  Naturally, the 292 points they allowed in 2025 was a league-leading statistic.

The Seahawks also led the NFL in opponent third-down conversion percentage at a mere 32.71%, which unsurprisingly translated to point scarcity for opponents over the course of the season.  They were good for seventh on the fourth-down rate, which while isn’t as spectacular, it’s also a much smaller sample size, so it’s not quite as relevant.

Combing through the rest of the data and it’s difficult to find an area where Seattle’s defense truly struggled.  As previously mentioned, they were Top-10 in almost every conceivable statistic.  Seventh in completion percentage allowed.  Ninth in total sacks.  Sixth in pressure percentage.  The list goes on and on in terms of accolades.  There’s really no finding of a weakness here.

They had the 7^th-lowest blitz rate, not surprising given Macdonald’s tendencies, and blitzing less while maintaining a high pressure rate is absolutely ideal, so this – again – isn’t a weakness.  They were second in overall hurries, to boot.  Finishing tied for seventh in sacks with forty-seven (47) might be considered a slight loss given their other defensive dynamics, especially when considering how many pass attempts they faced, but we’re really stretching to find somewhere to improve.

To be fair, Seattle did allow the second-most yards after catch on completions, a stat at least partially driven by pure volume.  However, that’s legitimately one issue to resolve.  Obviously, that alone didn’t hurt them much, if at all, but it’s an interesting outlying statistic given the strength of the defense in all areas.  In contrast to that stat, Seattle didn’t really allow nearly as many air yards, finishing a middling 14^th (but again adjusting for volume).  They were fifth in opponent target depth, which merely confirms teams were throwing short and then running up bigger numbers after the catch.  That could very well be a circumstance of playing deep zones with a lead and nothing more grievous.  More context never hurts.

Seattle was also, negatively, 10^th in missed tackles.  Going against the 10^th-most plays, you might say that’s a consequence of higher defensive volume.  By comparison, however, the Eagles faced the 6^th-most plays yet were tied for 14^th in missed tackles.  Seattle’s 9.68 ratio of plays-against-to-missed-tackles was actually 11^th-worst, or expressed another way, they had a missed tackle on 10.3% of their opponents’ offensive plays.  Plotted against the entire league, only one team in the bottom ten of that stat had a winning record – Pittsburgh at 10-7 – which puts Seattle next to some unscrupulous company.

If you’re curious, Cincinnati was by far the worst team in missed tackles at 16.2% (or a ratio of 6.16).  Washington was the only other team above 12%.  On the other end, Detroit, New England, the Giants, Kansas City, and the Rams all were below the 8% threshold (ratios over 13).  The Eagles were in the middle at 17^th.  The stat clearly correlates to winning and losing, but there remain some distinct exceptions, such as Seattle and then the Giants on the other end.

Suffice to say, we have managed to find a couple real areas that Seattle can improve, despite their overall defensive prowess.  They need to clean up the missed tackles and do a bit more to limit yards after the catch – two stats that are, perhaps unsurprisingly, closely associated.  It’s likely no accident Cincinnati leads the league in YAC allowed and Detroit has the lowest YAC allowed, the worst and best in number of missed tackles, respectively.

In production terms, like on offense, Seattle does return most of their statistical producers.  Still, they had two big losses in the secondary, which creates an obvious area of need.  They lost two of their 47 combined sacks in Boye Mafe, and while he may have been a nice rotational piece, that’s not the biggest void to fill on paper.  On the other end, Coby Bryant’s four interceptions flew to Chicago, and Woolen’s lone interception is now in Philadelphia.  Woolen did, more notably, provide twelve (12) swats, a.k.a. passes defended, so his lack of true picks is slightly misleading in terms of his value.  That was tied for the team high with starter Josh Jobe.

When you consider the players that have left as a percentage of total defensive tackles, Seattle lost 11.8% of their total tackles on defense.  That’s not an insignificant portion, but it’s also feasible for Seattle to find that amount of production through the draft or through internal promotions and development.  All-in-all, Seattle is poised to return one of the best defenses in the league at nearly the same strength it was last year.

Free Agency and Draft Needs

With the current state of the team well covered, we look to what Seattle has done in free agency to address any outstanding needs heading into the draft.  We can start with the offense, again, and truth be told, there hasn’t been a lot of movement or requirements.  Let’s look at the state of the roster as it stands now:

As we’ve already partially discussed, the Seahawks didn’t lose a lot of players to free agency on offense.  The biggest loss was starting running back Kenneth Walker.  He signed with Kansas City after entering free agency, which wasn’t much of a surprise considering his talent.  It didn’t make a lot of sense for Seattle to commit big money to either partner in a split-field rushing tandem.  The only other mover was wide receiver Dareke Young going to Las Vegas.  He had minimal production with Seattle, so that’s not a massive loss to overcome.

The biggest name they signed on offense was Emanuel Wilson to replace the departing Walker.  He’s not figuring to be the guy in Seattle and is much closer in style to Zach Charbonnet.  However, Charbonnet will miss at least part of the 2026 season, in all likelihood, because of that ACL tear in the playoffs.  In the meantime, Seattle has a lot of names at the RB position, but not a lot of quality, and you’ll also notice – at present – they all come off the books at the end of next season, Wilson included.  It is possible one or more of those players wows in 2026, but if not, Seattle gets a clean slate to re-work the position.

What does that mean for the draft at running back?  Seattle figures to target one or two guys, I would presume, but given the depth they already have, it is fair to wonder what adding more unproven talent will really do for them.  I think it makes more sense to target a premium talent at the position, and this draft isn’t loaded with those kinds of players, so it might require a premium pick.  Kenny McIntosh does return from injury for this upcoming season, a draft pick from 2023 who has much to prove.  There do remain some interesting names in free agency still, including Joe Mixon and Najee Harris.

Mixon, of course, missed all of 2025 with a foot injury, and the Texans released him outright.  He ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024, so it is possible there’s still some decent production left in him, but who knows if he is the same player after that injury and missed time.  Austin Ekeler and Antonio Gibson are two other guys that missed 2025 with injuries and are still available.  Harris might not be the best fit for Seattle who is probably now looking for a contrasting style to Wilson and Charbonnet, someone more quick, agile, and top-end speedy.  I’m not sure how any of the others might fit in, either, but they are there if Seattle wants a cheap veteran.

Seattle is pretty well set at quarterback.  Darnold and Milroe are locked into for two and three more years, respectively.  I am unsure if they consider Milroe the future, but this isn’t the best draft for finding a franchise quarterback, either.  Elsewhere on offense, Seattle is well established, too.  The tight end core is young and developing.  Along the offensive line, Seattle played pretty well in 2025.  They finished 5^th in the league in pass blocking metrics, but a more modest 17^th in run blocking, which is where they can seek clear upgrades.  The used just three combinations last season, which meant they were fairly healthy, as well.

The biggest need is inside.  Zabel at left guard was a premium selection in the first round just last draft.  Cross at left tackle was another first-round pick for Seattle, and they extended his contract this offseason for another four years.  However, there remain question marks at center and right guard.  Jalen Sundell was a UDFA signing and played to a fairly average level last season (19^th of 40 qualified centers according to PFF), better at pass blocking than in the run game.  Right guard Anthony Bradford, however, played poorly on his accumulated 98% of offensive snaps.  He finished 76^th of 81 qualified guards in pass blocking (PFF), and 57^th in run blocking.  Bradford allowed 28 total pressures, and his 5% pressure rate was 22^nd among starting right guards.  That said, he improved significantly during the latter half from his atrocious start to the year, so it’s possible he can continue an upward escalation.

By comparison, both of the Eagles’ guards sat above 6% pressure rate on the season, Landon Dickerson at 30^th (6.84%) and Tyler Steen at 29^th (6.11%), which makes Seattle’s interior tandem sound amazing, relatively speaking.  Zabel managed 11^th as a rookie and should only improve, but Seattle does have some work to do along the line, either by developing their talent in-house, or finding other solutions in the draft.  As you can see in the above graphic, it will be a final evaluation for Sundell as Bradford as they’re both set to be free agents next year.  Maybe the rookie Bryce Cabeldue makes a push to start, instead.

Finally are the receivers.  Seattle extended their head honcho Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a further four years, but beyond him, there is depth over pure quality.  Kupp is no longer the premier receiver he once was, and Shaheed has always been more of a special teams’ producer than a relied-upon receiving threat.  He had both a punt return and kick return touchdown last season, but his receiving production was limited to fifteen (15) catches and a tepid 188 yards on twenty-six (26) total targets.  Horton was a rookie out of Colorado State that had some upward trajectory before missing half the year with injury.  It’s possible he emerges as a #3 or even #2 threat in 2026.

Seattle has done well to limit an obvious need at these positions heading into the draft, but evaluating what they have as a #2 receiver is a bit more difficult.  Most everyone is signed for at least another two years, so they don’t have a ton of flexibility, though it is possible Seattle looks for another young wide receiver to take over Kupp’s role in the future.

As for the defense, there likewise wasn’t much turnover relative to last year, and Seattle hasn’t made a lot of signings that move the needle.  See below:

As you can tell from the graphic, a lot of money comes free after this upcoming season (much like the offense).  Only two 2025 starters moved on to other pastures (one literally greener in Philadelphia), Woolen at corner and Bryant at safety.  Seattle did sign a trio of safeties and one corner in free agency to help replenish some depth.  However, none of these signings were major starters or contributors to their former teams’ defenses.

Bell and Thomas played more on special teams, 66% and 61% of their respective teams’ snaps.  Bell played only 11% of the combined defensive snaps for Carolina and Seattle, while Thomas played 13% for Indy.  Noah Igbinoghene was a bit more involved defensively for Washington, playing 37% of snaps, but that was down from 76% the year before.  It’s possible Seattle projects one of these guys to spot-fill or maybe even start, but I think it’s more likely these are “just in case” signings as Seattle looks to find better talent in the draft.  Certainly, none of those additions are as capable as the players that left.

Furthermore, Seattle utilizes a healthy rotation of defensive backs, and prizes positional versatility, so look for them to target players with that kind of profile in the upcoming draft.  The top-six guys in this rotation all played at least 78% of the defensive snaps, with Bryant playing the most at 95%.  That means they lost a considerable chunk of their secondary snaps and production.  Even Ty Okada signed in for 66% of the defensive plays.  Losing Woolen means they’ve lost a good bit of length on the outside, too, as backup Josh Jobe is listed at 5’11” to Tariq’s 6’4” frame, and fellow starter Devon Witherspoon is six feet even.  That might mean the longer corners in the draft are higher priority for the Seahawks.

The only other personnel loss was backup outside backer and rotational pass rusher Boye Mafe going to Cincinnati.  Seattle has not yet made an obvious signing to fill this role.  Starter Uchenna Nwosu comes off the payroll in 2027, and he’s already a lean thirty years young, so it’s quite clear Seattle has a need to add to their rotational pass rush and linebacker depth.  That is a possible target in the draft; there are a handful of players that could fill such a role at the end of the first round or into the second.

Elsewhere, given the upcoming need to add or re-sign players along the line, pretty much all the defensive line spots require attention.  Lawrence has two more contractual years but is now thirty-four (34) years old.  Williams and Reed along the interior are both 30+, while Seattle has a couple younger nose tackles.  Seattle’s defense did share the load when it came to pressure with three players getting seven (7) sacks, then adding Lawrence with another six (6).  The edge players didn’t provide as much production outside of Lawrence and Nwosu, however.  Hall played 46% of snaps and added just two (2) sacks after having eight (8) the year before.  Mafe had another two (2) on 50% of the snaps.  Ivey played in all of two (2) games.  None of this yet considers the injury history of these players and the potential of Lawrence retiring.

Even if Seattle decides it can afford to extend Williams another year or two, I think they need to look inside to find some younger talent besides Byron Murphy.  They likely need to find more rotational pass rush strength, as well, as Lawrence is aging up, and the current edge talent outside Nwosu isn’t all that productive.  Going back to that missed tackle statistic, Derick Hall had a missed tackle rate of nearly 19%, up from 5% the previous year when he also played more snaps.  That could mean multiple things, but regardless of context, an opportunity is presented during the draft for Seattle to find upgrades here.

Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas look entrenched as the long-term starters at linebacker, and they were the team’s two leading tacklers in 2025.  Drake Thomas had a missed tackle rate of 12%, which isn’t ideal, but he was a good find for an undrafted free agent and should continue to improve with more run.

With all that in mind, on both sides of the ball, Seattle perhaps has the most pressing need in the defensive backfield.  They signed some depth, but no one with a history of heavy defensive usage outside Igbinoghene in 2024.  It was an area where they lost two clear starters, while on offense, only one starter matriculated elsewhere, period.  Eyeing the future, the defensive line and pass rush is the next place to start.  Production and age are the biggest question marks for that group.

On offense, the needs are probably less urgent and less certain.  I think they can improve on the inside of the offensive line, and with no obvious starter at center or right guard signed beyond this 2026 season, they’ll need to find answers soon.  The next position of highest urgency is running back, where Walker’s departure will leave the biggest hole, and Seattle has a bunch of bodies but little in the way of qualified, premier talent.  This isn’t the ideal draft for finding that sort of aptitude; nonetheless, Seattle may seek out one of the best in the group.  Again, no one in the room is signed beyond this season, but it’s also arguably the most fungible of positions.

There are lesser needs at wide receiver and (eventually) quarterback.  The long-term outlook at QB for Seattle is somewhat murky, but much like the running back position, this isn’t really the best draft to find pure talent.  However, they could potentially find another QB to groom and compete with Milroe for the long-term spot.  That said, Darnold is still only 29, and could find himself in the starting role for a while if he plays well enough.  I think Seattle also needs a second receiver as Kupp ages out of that role.

I would categorize Seattle’s needs going into the draft as follows: defensive back (both corner and safety), defensive end slash rotational edge rusher, SAM linebacker, interior offensive line, interior defensive line, running back, wide receiver.  (CB, S, DE, SAM, G, C, DT, RB, WR)

Draft Strategy

The next crucial assessment for Seattle is what kind of draft strategy they can employ.  It’s important to note they have only four (4) picks in the upcoming draft, one in each of the first three rounds and then a pick in the sixth round (188 overall).  Ignoring future picks for the time being, then, Seattle doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room to maneuver.  That mainly refers to a move upward in the draft, which costs what it costs, and from the outset, I’d say that means it is more likely Seattle moves down, if at all.  However, as we take into account future picks, Seattle does look to have twelve (12) in 2027, and given their payroll situation, they’ll need most of them.

The last pick of the first round is a typical trading post, though, as teams look to move up and snatch a player before day two begins.  The 32^nd pick has been moved three of the last four years, and with Seattle having only four picks this year, I could certainly see them moving down and getting some more tickets to the show.  For this exercise, that’s not an option, and I’ll have to select the best available talent, regardless, but it’s something to consider for the real thing.

Seattle could choose to stand pat, of course.  Maybe they move down from their second and/or third pick, instead.  There is quite the premium on good pass rushing talent.  Moving down may limit their options at that spot or take them out of the running for a guy they prize.  The same usually goes for good cornerbacks, and with needs at those two positions, it may better suit the Seahawks to stay put and take the best of either spot.

As any general manager, you’re left to balance three primary tenets of drafting: (1) drafting the best overall talent; (2) drafting the best schematic fit; and (3) drafting the highest team need.  How much weight the coach has in your personnel department can also factor into that equation, as they may prefer taking ready-made players to fit their individual scheme(s).

Seattle’s in a unique position coming off a Super Bowl win where the pressure for immediacy is reduced, and they can take their time to develop the right players.  Given that circumstance, Seattle largely has the freedom of choice to do as they please.  They could take the best pure talent or hedge a little and focus on a need/scheme combination fit.  Of course, the balancing act of these three tenets is largely a subjective exercise, as opinions will vary on what aspect is the most important, especially when considering the surrounding context.  Sometimes, you just can’t ignore the needs you have.

I think in real-time, Seattle has a high chance of moving down to accumulate more draft selections and quite low odds of moving up given their payroll situation and lack of picks in 2026.  I’ll say a 55% chance of moving down, a 40% chance of making their 32^nd pick, and a 5% chance of moving up in the first to nab someone they highly covet.

If Seattle decides to make their pick, as I have to do here, that leads me into the only remaining piece of analysis: what kind of schemes does Seattle run on both sides of the ball, and how will that influence the player they select, if at all?

Seattle has employed a variety of offensive and defensive schemes en route to the Super Bowl victory.  On offense, at least in 2025, Seattle used a version of the West Coast offense under Klint Kubiak to great effect.  Seattle was well balanced between the pass and the run (51.3% pass to 48.7% run), opting to snap mostly from under center (52.6%), the second-highest rate in the league.  A great deal of what they did was predicated on play action efficiency, even though it wasn’t necessarily called with regularity (14.1%, ranking 22^nd in the league).  Kubiak learned under his father, of course, and spent time in San Francisco with his replacement in Seattle, Brian Fleury, as Kubiak has opted to take the head coaching job in Las Vegas.

Because Seattle will have a new, first-time offensive coordinator in 2026, we don’t yet know the exactitudes of the offensive layout.  Fleury has promised to continue a lot of what Kubiak already established, and they do come from the same general coaching tree with heavy influence from Mike and then Kyle Shanahan.  What that includes is a fair amount of outside-zone run with quarterback rollouts and pocket movement.  With Seattle’s lack of efficiency in the run game despite an emphasis on it, this is one key area they’d probably like to improve, but I think we’d be remiss to not contextualize that run game, often used to close-out games when Seattle has the lead and the defense expects the run.

One area we might speculate, given Fleury’s history as a tight ends coach with San Francisco, is an emphasis on utilizing that position to its fullest.  The 49ers, of course, had their own All-Pro tight end in George Kittle, who broke out back in 2018 while Fleury was still with the Dolphins.  Seattle has a bevy of tight ends to employ in the various facets of a Shanahan offense, known for their prolific tight ends going back to the days of Shannon Sharpe.  Seattle’s group all provide something a little different, so the personnel are already in place.  Look out for a variety of 12 and even 13 personnel deployments.  In 2025, Seattle was an 11-personnel based offense, as with most of the rest of the league.  That was a shade above 60% of the time.  They rounded that usage out with a good amount of 12 and 13 personnel, as you might expect, and not too much else of note.

Seattle is also one of the few remaining teams to roster and use actual fullbacks.  Yes, some of you might remember those, the stout guys sitting in the backfield in front of the runner waiting to block, or in less common instances, carry and even catch the ball.  As we know, Kyle Juszczyk has been a staple of the Niners offense since Kyle Shanahan came on as head coach.  Seattle’s Russell mostly played on special teams, but the rookie Ouzts was involved in 27% of offensive snaps, and if they find a comparable athlete to Juszczyk, we could see real production from the position in the future.

On defense, Seattle is led by their head coach, a defensive mastermind, himself.  They do have an independent defensive coordinator in Aden Durde, but it’s likely most of the defensive commandeering is done by Mike Macdonald.  As we’ve already covered, Seattle’s defense was one of the best in the NFL last season, if not the best by composite.  As for what makes Seattle’s defense great is a combination of elements, mostly led by a shell defense that wants to generate pressure through a front four.  It’s a fairly familiar pattern across the NFL, nowadays, with an emphasis on the defensive line and limiting big plays via disguised zone, causing general confusion.

First, looking at what’s happening up front, Seattle relies on manipulating the protection schemes, and what happens there enlightens the rest of the defense.  How do they do that?  Using loaded fronts with mugs and/or alternate alignments, as well as the employment of stunts or games.  As I mentioned, Seattle doesn’t blitz much (24.8%, 25^th in NFL), so one of the ways they generate pressure is by maneuvering the opposing offensive line.  They are 3rd in the league in stunt usage (24.5%).  A couple concepts they use on stunts (or otherwise) include “pick” pressures and “tag” pressures, both of which involve drawing linebackers into gaps and using them to facilitate the defensive line’s involvement.  Some of those pressures include late-read corner and safety blitzes, as well as defensive linemen dropping back into coverage.

The biggest issue Seattle had with pressures was open receivers.  They led the league in Open Percentage at 47.2%, which means a receiver was open about half of the time when it came to Seattle’s true called pressures.  However, the flipside of that was effective quarterback corralling, with a hit rate of 22.8% (tied for third) and a pressure rate of 50.3% (tied for first).  Seattle’s eleven (11) sacks from blitzes led the league.

Second, on the backside, Seattle mostly relies on high shells such as Cover-2 and Cover-3.  As is the trend, the Seahawks are a base Nickel defense now, to the tune of the second-highest rate in the league (77.3% last season).  Their other primary alignment was Dime coverage 14% of the time, which meant Seattle was only in a more traditional “base” defense 6% of the time (excluding a couple percent for other alignments).  Seattle used Cover-2 at 31% (3^rd) deployment, Cover-3 at 24.8% (22^nd), and Cover-1 at 17.4% (25^th).  Otherwise, they used little quarters or Cover-4 (27^th in rate), but a higher relative rate of Cover-6 (8^th).

Seattle did slightly favor more MOFO (middle-of-the-field open) coverages, opting to use zone defense at a 71.7% rate, but given that their usage rates of both zone and man sat towards the middle of the league (13^th and 20^th, respectively), they didn’t lean as heavily in either direction compared to other teams that were a bit more specialized.  A lot of credit goes to the personnel being able to play, competently, both styles of coverage.  Seattle’s EPA, however, in MOFO coverages wasn’t as impressive as one would expect, hovering around the middle of the league’s defenses (13^th).  Their MOFC coverages were much more efficient, with a 2^nd-best EPA over a 29^th-ranked usage rate.  Perhaps a case of a smaller sample size leading to skewed results, but Seattle’s defense was, at times, quite boom or bust.

Looking more specifically, Seattle’s EPA was best in Cover-3 (4^th) and Cover-2 Man (3^rd), the latter being a variation on the more regularly run Cover-2 Zone consisting of underneath zone instead of the corners playing in man/press.  Seattle was 9^th in 2-man usage.  The biggest area where the Seahawks can improve on defensive efficiency is in their most-used Cover-2 where they surprisingly rank 20^th in EPA.  Minnesota is one of two teams to run Cover-2 more often than the Seahawks, and they led the league in EPA in this category, so it’s not always the case of bigger samples correlating with less effectiveness.

Now that we understand what Seattle wants to do both offensively and defensively, it is time to look at the prospects and see the potential targets at the end of Round One.

The Prospect Pool

In the past, I generally led off with the pick and then briefly touched on some alternative prospects that could fit.  This time I wanted to try something different and look at the potential targets coming in at #32, at least the way this specific draft fell.  Obviously, in real life, the draft results are going to be wildly different.

To quickly sum it all up, Seattle has needs to balance mostly along the defensive and offensive lines, in the secondary, and at running back (top priority).  There are some other spots they can look to add, as well, like SAM or wide receiver.  We now know on defense they mostly run a zone cover scheme with some man mixed in, and it’s a relatively even blend of MOFO and MOFC coverages.  On offense, they’re mostly reliant on 11-personnel with some heavier tight-end packages thrown in (12 and 13), leaning solidly on a zone running scheme with play action and pocket movement.

This particular draft wasn’t as kind of the Seahawks as it could have been, but that’s somewhat expected when you’re drafting last in the first round.  All the blue-chip and surefire first-round talents are gone.  You’re left sorting through the bigger clusters of 1.5 and 2-tier prospects, absent any players falling for injury or character concerns.  This is where drafting the “best player available” becomes trickier because you have stacks of guys that are harder to delineate from best to worst.

So we come back to the equation from earlier, balancing a duty to grab the “BPA,” a duty to fill roster requirements, and a duty to tie players to schemes.

The Case for Caleb Banks

I’m giving myself away here, but Caleb Banks was my initial pick in this spot before it was confirmed that McNeil-Warren remained available.  Perhaps I’m guilty of overthinking in managing this pick, as I reckon there’s a case to be made of Banks having the highest upside of the remaining pool.  Banks is a bear-sized defensive tackle out of the Gainesville swamps.  He offers a highly intriguing size-to-speed element, bringing the NFL’s growing desire for pass rush out of the middle of the defensive line rather than from a wide end.  He’s kind of a blend between Dexter Lawrence and Chris Jones in terms of his size and athletic profile, and the ceiling for him is very likely the latter of those two Pro Bowl players.  Jones, of course, similarly fell in his draft because of concerns over effort and endurance.

And therein lies the rub with Banks.  He has tape inconsistencies, himself, but perhaps the bigger concern is over his injury history.  He’s injured the same foot on three separate occasions.  Banks missed the Gasparilla Bowl in 2024 and a couple early games of 2025 due to an offseason foot surgery.  He came back briefly in the early part of the 2025 season only to end up requiring surgery again.  He returned once more near the end of the 2025 season and was healthy up until the combine, when he re-injured the same foot and had another surgery on it.  At this point, you have to wonder if his case was managed properly or if there was ever a problem with the first or second surgeries.  If not, then you get into the proposition that his anatomy is an issue.  Maybe he’s still growing, and his body will eventually adapt to his size.  Maybe he has a permanently damaged foot now.  These are the considerations that NFL teams will have to weigh when deciding whether to draft Banks, move him down the board, or pull him off the board, altogether.

What makes this scenario interesting for Seattle is that, as I mentioned before, they are in the unique drafting position of having just won the Super Bowl and return the vast majority of that team.  They don’t need an immediate fixer, even with what amounts to their most valuable pick of the draft.  Seattle can slow play their rookies and let them develop over the next year (or two) depending on their position.  That’s what makes Banks an intriguing choice for the Seahawks.

If the ‘Hawks believe Banks has the most potential upside of the remaining draft pool at 32, then I think they would pick him, unless the medical advice they have runs contrary to the belief that he will eventually heal.  Because of Seattle’s position, they can draft Banks and let him redshirt his rookie season, using that time to simply get healthy and do all the things his foot needs to heal.  Get him proper nutrition and physical rehabilitation.  There’s no need to rush him.  It also gets ahead of their defensive tackle needs a year early, with a player that offers a high-value skill (interior pass rush) and all-pro upside.

Banks reminds me a bit of Jordan Davis only with an inverted skillset.  Davis was a run stuffer and gap specialist with limited pass rush, while Banks provides more value in pass rushing and needs to improve his run defense.  Like Davis, Banks may need time to really acclimate to the NFL, rounding his body into shape for the rigors of the NFL schedule.  Besides his foot health, Banks does need to improve his stamina, too, as he noticeably tires as games progress.

I do sense, then, that Seattle has an opportunity if Banks falls to 32 or beyond.  There is a chance enough teams have removed him from their boards that Banks could fall even further, say into the late 2^nd or 3^rd rounds, maybe further.  This is one of the reasons I decided not to draft Banks in this spot: a (perhaps misguided) belief that the Seahawks may still be able to get him later in the draft while nabbing one of the less risky prospects up front.  One’s tendency towards risk-aversion will likely color how you view Banks as a first-round pick.  While Seattle can likely afford to play a riskier game in this draft, the balancing act becomes difficult if other players you like, with less red flags, are still available.

Banks fills a lot of those buckets for Seattle.  He can potentially solve their long-term defensive tackle issues.  He can provide the up-front pass rush that Seattle needs for their defensive success.  If you believe in his upside and talent, you may think he’s the best player available, too.  But it’s a risk, perhaps a risk you’re more comfortable taking outside of the first round, especially if one of the other players you get has similar potential.  Maybe someone like Peter Woods from Clemson could hit some of the same boxes as Banks without the long-term injury risks, but Woods isn’t quite the same athlete or size as Banks, and his pass rush ability is a bigger projection, which perhaps limits his overall potential compared to Banks.  Nonetheless, he is another consideration for Seattle at pick thirty-two.

The Corner Group

Another interesting layer to this draft is the rather congested group of corners taking up space around the borderline first-to-second tier of players.  This group consists of Avieon Terrell, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse, and Chris Johnson.  They are clearly a half or full tier below the top two corner prospects of Jermod McCoy and Mansoor Delane, who were taken at 20 and 13 in this draft, respectively.

If Seattle preferred to target a defensive back that offered higher man-cover potential, or rather the more traditional cornerback skillset, this is another way they could go in the first round.  I consider this cluster all around the same level of intrigue, but which player you prefer is more about parsing flavors rather than trying to decipher who is better.  It’s a similar conundrum to the edge or defensive end class in this draft, which I’ll discuss later.

For Seattle, a big reason I didn’t choose one of the aforementioned corners is a lack of, in my humble opinion, ideal fit.  With Tariq Woolen departing in the offseason, I’m of the expectation that Seattle will look to replace him with a similarly framed and tooled player.  Really, the quartet here are not ideal substitutes if that’s the underlying assumption.  There is mixed opinion on whether Terrell is a nickel only, and if you think he is, then I don’t believe he’s an ideal target for the Seahawks.  His draft stock is likely bolstered a little by the bloodlines, too, but his size is tough to reconcile even if you think he can play outside, which Seattle has covered between Witherspoon and Jobe.

It is true that Jobe is around the same size as Terrell, but Jobe is locked into the boundary corner starting role because of his unique arm length and wingspan, which makes him play much bigger than his height suggests.  Jobe’s arm length is in the 87^th percentile, measuring 32 58 inches, which is a half-inch longer than even McNeil-Warren (who is four inches taller).  Starter Nick Emmanwori played a good bit in the slot last season, and thus Seattle isn’t forced into looking for a pure nickel corner at the moment, unless they believe Terrell is the best player left.  Terrell also feels a bit redundant in terms of size and athletics to another Seattle corner, Devon Witherspoon.  Maybe having two of him isn’t the worst idea, really, but if Seattle wanted to diversify their corner profiles, Terrell isn’t an ideal choice.

Colton Hood is another flavor of corner, perhaps the most adept press-man corner of the lot.  Seattle, however, doesn’t play much man coverage, and even less press, so drafting Hood would require a bit more projection into Seattle’s scheme than taking one of the other corners here.  If they felt they needed more of this skillset in their defensive backfield, however, then it would make a lot of sense for Seattle to target Hood here.  Perhaps grabbing a press corner offers them the potential to add extra diversity into the defensive scheme.

If not, that leaves Cisse and Johnson.  If I was going to project a corner into Seattle’s fit, and the corner I considered the most here, Chris Johnson is perhaps the target.  He already has experience playing in a 4-2-5 defense at San Diego State, and the Seahawks are basically using that formation (either nickel or the triple-safety version) as their base defense.  Johnson is more at home in a zone-coverage scheme.  He’s a little longer than the other three corners in this group, so he can probably offer more versatility in playing the field or boundary.  He’s more than adequate athletically.  If I had to pick one corner in this group, I think Johnson is it.  

Ultimately, though, I shied away from taking a corner because of the lack of a clean replacement for Woolen, and I just didn’t believe one of these four was the best player available, at least not outright.  I actually think Seattle might have better luck finding that replacement later in the draft, too.  I thought Julian Neal (Arkansas) or DaylenEverette (Georgia) were more of a fit-for-fit, and so I didn’t feel forced into choosing a corner right now.  There’s also a certain excitement factor in taking McNeil-Warren over Johnson.  While both are competent players and even if considered even in terms of talent, McNeil-Warren offers something extra that feels a bit intangible.

Defensive Ends and Pass Rush Specialists

As we all know, pass rushers have become a big component of NFL defenses.  Their value in the draft has reached a critical mass of sorts.  Like with the quartet of corners I mentioned, what you want from your defensive end is a bit like choosing your preferred flavor of ice cream.  Some people like vanilla, some like chocolate, but deciding what the best flavor is – objectively – is a lot more difficult, if not impossible.  This draft provides options for even the most discerning palate.

When Seattle comes on the clock at thirty-two, the true tier-one pass rushers will all be long gone.  Akheem Mesidor “fell” to 31 in this draft, but a lot of people believe he’ll go much higher, even with his potential red flags.  He’s probably a target for the Seahawks, regardless, but his selection made my decision tree have one less branch.  In terms of which players remained, I think the clear target for me was Malachi Lawrence.  Seattle lost Boye Mafe in free agency, but what he provided in pass rush was more along the lines of a twitchy, fast, finesse archetype.  That fits Lawrence’s profile.  He’s actually an interesting comp to Josh Sweat, which may mean he’s someone the Eagles target, but his athleticism is enticing, even if you think his tape doesn’t show enough, or his level of competition negates some of his production.

Another name that’s strongly linked to Seattle is R Mason Thomas, who is just about the only other pass rush specialist I would have considered in this spot.  Thomas has some more detractions, however, that I think make him a better target for the second or third round rather than taking him over the arguably better, perhaps higher-tier potential players.  It’s also possible Seattle could consider a linebacker-blend player like Anthony Hill Jr. and use them in a pass rush role with capacity for more variability in coverage.  It’s not the most obvious fit or most pressing need, so you’d really have to feel strongly about them being the best talent waiting.  Seattle’s MIKE and WILL linebacker roles are already quite established, and with them playing limited base (4-3 or 3-4) as it is, you’re drafting a would-be role player in the first round, and that’s not necessarily great value or strategy.  I should mention, interestingly enough, that converting Hill to a defensive end creates a fascinating athletic and size profile comparison to Haason Reddick.  Whether he can emulate that prototype is another question entirely.

Cashius Howell and Zion Young are two more pass rush options that could be available near the end of the first, but in this draft they were off the board at 29 and 25, so for me they were not viable considerations.

Then There’s the Offense

It’s not much of an accident I focused more on defense than offense thus far.  With Macdonald at the helm, a defensive coach himself, odds quite favor Seattle choosing a defensive player off the starting blocks.  There are a couple other reasons for that, as well, with the defense being a bit deeper on the front end of this draft, and Seattle simply has more needs on that side of the ball given their losses in free agency.  With all else being equal, then, the Seahawks seem poised to favor grabbing a defensive player to replenish their depth and worry about the offense later.  That said, there’s always the possibility the board falls a certain way, and there are a few places where Seattle can land on offense.

The most pressing needs here are certainly running back and guard.  There’s a very clear number one running back in this draft and that’s Jeremiyah Love, who I’m sure Seattle will covet but has limited likelihood of landing at position thirty-two.  After him, his running mate Jadarian Price is about the only back I would consider in this spot, but I believe selecting him here is more about reaching for a need than choosing the best player available.  There is also the matter of positional priority, and with the running back position being as fungible as it is, you must consider players graded or valued along the same tier at positions of higher priority.

It isn’t to say Price is a bad player, but Seattle has a lot of quantity in their backfield.  If they are going to add another player to that group, they must be certain it’s a player of real quality rather than just another guy to throw into the mix.  Price could be that guy, but I’m not entirely sold, and not when there are similarly rated players available at more important positions.

That leaves us with the interior offensive line, which is another clear area of need for Seattle.  Truthfully, there aren’t any centers to consider at thirty-two.  You can always ponder the idea of converting a guard, but that’s not an ideal scenario.  Beyond that, there are a handful of guards I would have considered here for the Seahawks.  Most of them were off the board.  Emmanuel Pregnon is one of the first names that comes to mind, taken at twenty-eight.  He’s well-rated in zone blocking and one of the more athletic guards in the class, which makes him a fairly ideal fit for Seattle.

Along those lines I would also consider Keylan Rutledge and Gennings Dunker.  Both players grade out strong in zone running schemes and have intriguing athletic profiles.  However, I’m not sure either is the best potential player in this situation, so again you get into the circumstance of reaching for need.  Dunker played tackle at Iowa, as well, so he’s more of a projection to the inside of the line, which isn’t always a perfect fit.  The other name that might come up here, largely because of his impressive athleticism, is Chase Bisontis.  While he’s an exciting prospect given his athletic profile, he performed rather poorly in zone at Texas A&M, which makes his fit seemingly much less certain.  The question becomes whether he can improve in such a scheme, and although his athletic profile suggests he can, it is far from a guarantee.  For that reason he’s not as clean of a fit in Seattle, but could be a potential developmental prospect.  

The good news for Seattle is anyone that may take at this spot can relax for a year and learn, barring injuries, but the long-term future is a question.  I personally think, seeing how much he improved over the course of the 2025 season after a comparatively disastrous start, Seattle wants Anthony Bradford to get another year to prove himself as the starting guard of the future.  Certainly, there’s another wrinkle or two to ruminate over otherwise.

The Pick

Now we finally get to the pick, and with Seattle on the clock, they select Toledo safety Emmanul McNeil-Warren with the final selection of the first round.  He’s a combination of schematic fit, team need, as well as potentially the best player left in the draft.  In determining how I came to this decision, we can examine each of those layers, individually.

The Best Player Available

The first and most pressing question in making this choice is determining whether McNeil-Warren is the best remaining player available.  I’ll try to answer that question as objectively as I can, but as we all know, talent evaluation is a highly subjective exercise.  One of the most efficient methods is looking at a consensus draft board that rates players based on an averaging of position across many such tables.  The consensus big board places McNeil-Warren at #23 overall, making him the highest-ranked player remaining after Mesidor (21) was taken at 31^st overall.  The highest ranked players still available behind McNeil-Warren are wide receivers Kevin Concepcion (24) and Denzel Boston (27), and Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods (29), which rounds out availability inside the top thirty.

Obviously, most draftniks and NFL teams won’t be able to parse players in a simple top-to-bottom format, and instead put players into tiers for ranking purposes, so this consensus big board has somewhat limited value.  Another potential tool is checking out mock drafts around the draft sphere.  I looked at fifty (50) mock drafts from all kinds of sources, and here is the result of those mocks for Seattle:

Based on the above table, you can see which players and positions were favored in these mocks.  My pick was taken in only two mocks of these fifty, but that’s almost entirely because he was already off the board by the time Seattle was making their pick, so that greatly influences how often he can be selected.  We can see corner was the favorite position, taken 19 times (38%), with Avieon Terrell leading the way.  That makes some sense as a BPA (at corner) selection, at least in terms of consensus.  The next favored position was at Edge, taken 15 times (30%), which again makes plenty of sense.  Howell was not available in this draft exercise for BGN, and only R Mason Thomas was, but I didn’t think he was your best available at thirty-two.

Running back rounds out the favored positional targets with six selections (12%), almost entirely Jadarian Price, excusing that one off-the-wall selection of Jadyn Ott.  Again, I put less value on the running back position, so for me – even if you think Price is on a talent level with some other guys – I don’t think that’s the best move in the first round.  It was surprising there weren’t more offensive guards or defensive tackles taken, but I think the question of value with the former lingers, while the question of immediate need with the latter means most drafters look elsewhere.  Team need emerges as perhaps the most relevant consideration for a lot of these mock drafters.

With McNeil-Warren not appearing as much in mocks, you might question fit or need, but the reality of him being off the board in all these mocks lends more validity to the idea that he was the best player available in this BGN draft.  I might agree, actually, that isn’t the most pressing need for Seattle, but with the departure of Coby Bryant, Seattle lost 95% of their defensive snaps on the back end.  Even if Ty Okada rotates into that snap count, that leaves another 66% of snaps unaccounted for, and it remains to be seen if Okada is an every-down type of safety.  None of the players Seattle signed in the offseason at safety indicate an obvious long-term solution, either, as mostly special teams’ predicators or practice squad novices on one-year deals.  Need remains an important consideration.

If we wanted to look at other sources for best player available assessment1, we could consider individual talent evaluators, as well.  Daniel Jeremiah, for example, has McNeil-Warren as number sixteen (16) within his Top 50 players, while he has one of my other potential targets in Caleb Banks at number forty-two (42).  McNeil-Warren was also among the best remaining graded players according to Lance Zierlein with a score of 6.39, a tie with four other prospects including Hill (LB), Terrell (CB), McDonald (DT), and Cooper (WR).  PFF and ESPN have him as the #21 player on their boards, CBS at #22, and The Athletic at #23.  That isn’t to say he’s this high on every individual evaluators’ board, of course, and there examples of him ranked lower (McShay at 32, Edholm at 33), but this analysis is truly more about a consensus of who is generally considered the best than individual opinions that vary.  We can’t assess those opinions until much later in a player’s career.

¹As an aside, I do want to acknowledge that group-think when it comes to talent evaluation is a possibility in a negative sense, but there are limited ways in which to objectively evaluate a player’s talent, and I think using a multitude of sources is one such way, even if the possibility exists some of the underlying analysis is corrupted by other variables.

With all that out of the way, I think there’s a decent case to be made that McNeil-Warren was the best player available, and I do think he fills both a team need and a schematic one for Seattle, so let’s dig into the player, himself.

Strengths

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has a variety of strengths.  He was a good fit for Toledo’s 4-2-5 defense that relies a lot on quarters and MOFO alignments, both of which translate well into Seattle’s common two-deep zone looks, base 4-2-5/nickel defense, and higher dime deployment.  Seattle did struggle a bit with effectiveness and efficiency in Cover-2 despite their usage rate, and I think drafting McNeil-Warren offers the upside of dramatic improvement in that area, even if some of the scouting of him requires a projection to a deeper-set safety alignment.  The reasons for that are three-fold: his length, athleticism, and instincts.

McNeil-Warren boasts a 6’3”+ frame with a wide wingspan and instinctive ball-seeking profile.  He’s not an athletic unicorn with an RAS of 9.01, to be clear, but he is well above average and has a similar athletic outline as Jessie Bates, a safety for the Atlanta Falcons that does well in his own right.  Moving McNeil-Warren to strong safety actually increases his athletic relativity, which is why I think projecting him there isn’t purely speculative.  A good example of his range is reflected in this interception against Central Michigan:

What McNeil-Warren does best, at least thus far in his career, is play downhill into the box.  He’s a prolific “peanut puncher” with nine career forced fumbles, to go along with five interceptions.  He’s highly effective against the run, an area where Seattle doesn’t need as much improvement, but he certainly won’t hurt the team in that regard.  What makes McNeil-Warren stick out a bit more is his “hit-stick” like abilities, as he’s often showcasing a tendency to heat-seek ballcarriers or passing targets and lay the wood.  He’s a bit reminiscent of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, in this regard.  Because of Emmanuel’s abilities in the box, Seattle could use him as an extra linebacker or rover or mug him up along the line as they so often do with their linebackers and corners on the edge.  He won’t be out of place there.  I think he demonstrates versatility which Seattle almost requires, and they can rotate him off the field in man scenarios if they find him too much of a liability.

I think this combination of size and playing style makes McNeil-Warren an especially intriguing fit for Seattle given their “Legion of Boom” history.  I alluded to this in the title, but essentially Schneider gets back to his roots under Pete Carroll with this pick, and Seattle fans are sure to love the idea of a large, dominating defensive backfield, even if the recent Super Bowl win means they don’t really need to relive any glory days of old.  Consider the culture or legacy here as a bonus point in Emmanuel’s favor regarding his fit in Seattle.

Weaknesses

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is not a perfect prospect, and certainly you won’t find such a thing at the top of any draft board, much less this late in the first round of a weaker graded draft.  Most of the consternation with Emmanuel comes from the analysis of his coverage traits and abilities.  Going back to his athletic profile, for instance, he doesn’t have truly high-end speed running a 4.52 40-yard dash, and his tape doesn’t belie his athletic testing in this regard.  The rest of his testing profile is good but it’s not necessarily great, and it’s certainly not exceptional, so you must adjust expectations a little.  Compare his RAS to Nick Emmanwori, for instance.

I don’t say that to minimize what McNeil-Warren can do, but it is important to understand he’s not the same athletic unicorn that Emmanwori is, and thus you probably can’t expect the exact same things from him.  There are elements that can reasonably be improved, though.  Same as with his weight, which is another concern for evaluators.  He does have a long, thin frame, and so there’s a question of exactly how much mass he can add while also maintaining his general range.  As a strong safety, for example, his weight would be considered below average.  He’ll need added strength to maintain his tackling abilities at the next level.

Speaking of which, the level of competition is another concern for Emmanuel.  Playing in the MAC isn’t exactly the most rigorous collegiate test.  There aren’t a lot of examples of Toledo defenders making noise in the NFL.  The counter to that, however, is the recent success of Quinyon Mitchell.  His success bolsters the expectations for players coming out of that same secondary, and McNeil-Warren spent all four years at Toledo, starting for three of them.  He was invited to the Senior Bowl, but he unfortunately missed out because of a lingering injury.

Despite his prowess around the box, McNeil-Warren may need to do more to clean up his tackling technique, especially for a Seattle team that already has a slight problem with missed tackles.  The departing Coby Bryant was not a great tackler, in truth (18.7% missed tackle rate in 2025), so when considering his replacement, you can’t necessarily do worse.  The shoulder lunges and ankle swipes from Emmanuel are less than ideal and are likely what caused him to miss time his junior season with a shoulder injury.  The ten missed tackles as a senior were higher than the previous two years, however, so it’s possible his mechanics can adjust as he builds strength, and he will need to get stronger.

As another bit of paradox, McNeil-Warren shows quick hips and a looseness in roaming the field, but his man coverage acumen remains a mystery.  Among the safeties in this class, for example, he received a grade of 59.0 in man coverage, second-to-last among the group of safeties in this class.

Granted, he played a lot less man coverage than most at just 25%, and while his skills in this area are more raw than polished, he looks like he has the movement skills to unlock a higher level of play.  This is where Seattle may be an ideal landing spot to teach him up, much like had Nick Emmanwori playing in the slot – where he performed quite admirably.  That said, there could be some debate about whether McNeil-Warren is redundant to Emmanwori, or rather if they’re too much the same kind of player to co-exist.

As we can see, McNeil-Warren at Toledo had a lot of the same defensive responsibilities as Emmanwori did at South Carolina.  Both played heavily in the box (>50%) in run support.  Both spent about a quarter of their deployment at free safety in run defense, and then closer to 40% in pass coverage.  Nick did have a lot more slot experience in college, in part due to his absurd athleticism, and that’s where I think the overlap generally ends.  Seattle doesn’t need Emmanuel to occupy the slot, though, because they already have a player that can do that in Nick, and Seattle would prefer the former to occupy open space further back, allowing his downhill instincts and range to cover more of the field.  Think of a basketball team prioritizing defense with length and you get the general idea of what he can do for Seattle.

Further Comments and Concerns

If he were to fall in the draft, I think the athleticism flags are the biggest problem, with scouts, coaches, or personnel departments concerned over strength and speed and an ability to add weight given his frame.  Your concern about playing him deep is getting overrun by faster players, and your concern about playing him low is getting blocked out or run-through by bigger, denser backs.  He’s also not a typical NFL prototype, and teams always prefer those kinds of players that fit neatly somewhere, but it is a copycat league, and teams may value the idea of copying what the Seahawks did with Emmanwori and trying McNeil-Warren in similar fits.  Say, maybe, Chicago that lost a facsimile in Jaquan Brisker.

This isn’t a knock on Emannuel, specifically, but a secondary reason that he may not appeal to Seattle is the idea of taking another safety this high in the draft back-to-back.  Especially after last year when Seattle traded up to select Nick Emmanwori at 35^th overall.  There’s a pretty good chance, if the board fell this way, I’d be trading back and out of the first round.  The Seahawks’ history of trading back in the first round is limited, but it happened on a few occasions: 

• 2019 – moving from 21^st to 30^th (Packers)
• 2017 – moving multiple times and out of the first round (26^th to 31^st to 34^th to 35^th)
• 2016 – moving from 26^th to 31^st (Broncos)
• 2014 – moving from 32^nd overall to 40^th and then 45^th (Vikings, Lions)
• 2012 – moving from 12^th overall to 15^th (Eagles)

It’s not a guarantee you win on those trades, either, but it is another option.  The

Seahawks have also favored going to the trenches on their first picks in drafts under Schneider.  Over sixteen drafts, a lineman has been selected first in ten (10) of them (63%), although a couple of those picks were in the second round rather than the first.  Nonetheless, there’s a clear lean towards the trenches for Seattle in the early stages of a draft.  That may sway Seattle were Emmanuel still on the board along with some other line players they value equally.

The Tape

Unfortunately, I once again didn’t get time to cut my own highlights, but I wanted to look at various tape to illustrate McNeil-Warren’s strengths and weaknesses.  If you simply want some quick highlights, pick out any of the videos below:

These videos provide plenty of examples of McNeil-Warren’s ability to support the run, with tackles in and along the line of scrimmage.  His ability to range in the defensive backfield, cover ground, and make plays on the ball.  His ability to take the ball away from offensive players, period.  He shows good willingness to mix it up and engage, refusing to shy away from contact, as well as the ability to make big hits and jar the ball loose from would-be receivers.  You also see his ability to read-and-react to a quarterback’s eyes as he looks for a receiver downfield.  His length means it’s a bit easier to recover from misreads and over-pursuits, as well.

We do see some good cover-man reps in there, as well, even out of the slot, but he’s going to pair better going against tight ends and backs as opposed to twitched-up or full-speed receivers, especially if he’s not affording any kind of cushion in coverage.  The first rep in this video is good context for his range:

He initially follows an inside post with a backpedal, but he reads the QB’s eyes and bails towards the outside corner where the ball is thrown and makes the interception.  You can see an effortless flip and transition, the way his hips open up as he changes direction.  In the second clip, he gets underneath and anticipates a block to make a play on the running back.

Here’s a longer-format video, with commentary, of his entire game film against Kentucky, which is product I don’t have access to as a nobody:

The video does have analysis attached, and most of that I would agree with.  The big critiques are McNeil-Warren’s long speed and idle movement that’s less constructive.  I wouldn’t say I love his tackling all the time, but he does show willingness which is a first important step.  Truth is, a lot of defensive guys lack proper tackling technique in the modern game, so you kind of need to adjust expectations.

Here’s an interesting breakdown from a Philly-centric source:

Barrett Brooks thinks he’s a third-round pick, so here’s an example of an outlier opinion on Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.  I do think he’s more of a 1.5-to-2-tier player as opposed to a traditional blue-chip or pure 1-tier player, but that’s generally what you find at the back end of the first round, anyway.  

Whether you agree with Brooks on that specific point or not, and it is certainly possible McNeil-Warren falls because of some of the weaknesses I discussed, it’s not hugely important.  Where I do agree is I’m not sure if he’s the right fit for Philadelphia, and I think Seattle is a much better spot for him to land.  He can play comfortably in a zone-heavy scheme, roaming the field, or sitting back and covering for deep threats and then running downhill when he needs to make a play or support.  It also would give him the freedom to make plays on the ball around the field rather than one-to-one, and I think that’s an ideal role.

Implications for the Eagles

As I continue to do for these writeups, I would like to examine what Seattle’s draft may mean for our hometown Eagles.  This is generally based on any prior trade history between the two teams and present general managers, how they may overlap in terms of positional need and scheme fits, and any other implications that Seattle’s draft may have on how the Eagles can approach their own.

Initially, we might look at prior trade history.  John Schneider has been with the Seahawks almost as long as Howie Roseman has been with the Eagles.  Schneider has held the GM role since 2010.  He’s been part of three Super Bowl victories now, his first when he was a scout with the Packers back in Super Bowl XXXI, and then twice with the Seahawks.  His trade history with the Eagles is much shorter than you may think.  The first trade occurred not long after he was hired in March of 2010, when the Eagles traded Chris Clemons and a 4^th-round pick for Darryl Tapp.  Later that same year, the Seahawks traded a 7^th-round pick to the Eagles for Stacy Andrews.

The next notable trade occurred during the 2012 NFL Draft, when the Eagles traded up into the 12^th spot for Fletcher Cox.  Seattle moved down three spots to select Bruce Irvin and added 4^th and 6^th-round picks in the process.  Another pick-related trade wouldn’t happen for another five years, when the Seahawks traded a 5^th-round pick for Matt Tobin and a seventh-round pick.  The following March, the Eagles would trade Marcus Johnson and a 5^th-round pick for Michael Bennett and a seventh.  And that’s it in terms of draft-related trades between the two teams – just four total trades.

Next, we can look at both teams’ positional needs.  The Eagles have had a good bit of attrition this offseason, a continuation from the prior season after winning the Super Bowl, themselves, and an unfortunate reality of their cap and contracts situation.  Philadelphia has a lot of similar needs on defense, including most notably at safety and along the defensive line.  Pass rushers will be targeted extensively by both squads.  The other clear defensive position of overlapping need is safety, but it’s possible the Eagles and Seahawks won’t value the exact same kind of safety based on their specific schematic needs.

There are probably three potential safety targets in the first round.  The 3^rd-ranked safety we already discussed with the Seahawks’ pick, while Caleb Downs of Ohio State and Dillon Thieneman of Oregon are both more likely to be selected earlier, perhaps even before the Eagles make their selection.  I do think McNeil-Warren could fit for either team, but it’s possible, given the Eagles propensity for using man coverage and true nickel (three corners), they may not value him in quite the same way.  That said, I do think either team could teach him as more of a center field strong safety type, it’s simply that his already demonstrated zone capabilities will be more attractive to Seattle.  The Eagles led the NFL in man-coverage rate at 44.1% and did most of that damage out of the true nickel base (74.9%, or 4^th in the NFL).

There’s not as much overlap elsewhere on defense.  The Eagles are pretty well set at starting cornerback now, not that their current personnel preclude them from trying to find more depth.  It is necessary to note that Woolen’s contract with the Eagles is only one year, so the team is still on the lookout for a long-term option there.  I think Seattle also has their starting outside corners, but they rotate Witherspoon both in and out, and while Emmanwori has shown himself to be a capable slot/nickel, Seattle may be looking to add at least one more corner that can either stick outside or flex inside to rotate Emmanwori around the shell.

Defensive tackle for the Eagles is settled with their youth in tow.  Jalen Carter is likely to get an extension before too long.  Where they diverge is Seattle’s issues beyond this upcoming year, with Williams and Reed both over thirty, and Pili getting just a one-year extension at nose.  Williams also comes off the books, so the Seahawks need to find longer term answers on the inside of their defensive line.  The same is partly true at SAM for Seattle, with Mafe’s move to Cincinnati and Nwosu, at thirty years old, set to be a free agent next year.  They don’t have much long-term security.  The Eagles are younger and have more depth here.

On offense, both teams are probably in the hunt for guard talent.  Seattle needs long-term answers at right guard, and while they have them potentially on the roster already, it is possible they look to add more depth.  The Eagles suddenly find themselves looking to improve their line, as well, and Dickerson may not be around much longer.  Steen isn’t as consistent on the right, but the Eagles have a higher priority, in many ways, at right tackle.  Seattle might have more desire to improve in the center, but this isn’t necessarily the best draft to fulfill that need.

There’s not too much overlap on offensive needs, otherwise.  Both teams are settled at quarterback.  Seattle needs a true number one running back, while the Eagles do not.  Wide receiver is a bit murkier for both squads.  I still think Seattle could look to improve their number two and/or three receiver situation.  The A.J. Brown rumors keep swirling for Philly, but thus far there’s no movement, and the Eagles have signed a couple more guys for insurance.  Seattle is much more settled at tight end long-term, whereas the Eagles will have to eventually find their tight end(s) of the future.

In summation, it looks like the Eagles and the Seahawks have primarily overlapping needs at defensive end (edge), safety, and guard.  While both teams will probably look at the same kinds of players at end to meet pass rushing needs, and perhaps even at guard, Seattle’s lighter zone coverage defense and more variable alignment structure may value a slightly different kind of safety than the one the Eagles are after.  Given the teams’ light trade history between Roseman and Schneider over the last sixteen years, it appears more probable that trend will continue, with the odds of the two teams trading on draft day on the lower end.  The Eagles don’t have a huge need to move back and add more picks, and Seattle doesn’t have a lot of picks to move up with, given their relative positions in the first round.

Conclusion

If you managed to read all this, first I want to say congratulations!  You certainly earned a prize and are likely one of a few.  Then I want to say thanks for sticking with me.  My goal with this was to essentially make you an expert on the Seattle Seahawks heading into next season.  As a member of the NFC, Seattle will be a hurdle the Eagles have to jump over if they want to return to the Super Bowl.  No matter what Seattle does in the draft, they have the league’s attention as reigning champions.  Certainly, it appears, their defense is going to be a tough out for some time to come.  And to whichever team drafts Emmanuel McNeil-Warren: you’re getting a ready and willing defensive menace.

2026 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Raiders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2) Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3) Cardinals (grantspectations): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
4) Titans (DrBubbles): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5) Giants (ablesser88): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6) Browns (kjb304): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
7) Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8) Saints (VetStadiumSection358): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9) Chiefs (Hoosinole): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10) Bengals (chuckelberryfinn): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11) Dolphins (phillyfan): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12) Cowboys (ejdubya): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
13) Rams (All_Hail_Howie): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14) Ravens (215T1LL1D1e): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15) Buccaneers (pascofljoe): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
16) Jets (Euegene11): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17) Lions (BCHaas): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19) Panthers (jaynase): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20) Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
21) Steelers (iam4theBirdz): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
22) Chargers (Aint1stULast): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
23) Eagles (Philly21): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
24) Browns (FierceDisc65): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
25) Bears (jazztafari): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
26) Bills (PhillyTexan): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
27) 49ers (granthill7): Omar Cooper Jr. WR, Indiana
28) Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut): Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29) Chiefs (z): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
30) Dolphins (Booth12): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
31) Patriots (Niels Rosenquist): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
32) Seahawks (J. Wil): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft

Now it’s YOUR TURN to vote for who you think should be selected with this pick.

1) Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2) Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese
3) Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa
4) Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love
5) Giants: LB Sonny Styles
6) Browns: WR Carnell Tate
7) Commanders: EDGE David Bailey
8) Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
9) Chiefs: S Caleb Downs
10) Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane
11) Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson
12) Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy
13) Rams: WR Makai Lemon
14) Ravens: OT Monroe Freeling
15) Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq
16) Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane
17) Lions: OT Spencer Fano
18) Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman
19) Panthers: OT Kadyn Proctor
20) Cowboys: EDGE Akheem Mesidor
21) Steelers: EDGE Keldric Faulk
22) Chargers: OT Caleb Lomu
23) Eagles: OT Max Iheanachor
24) Browns: OT Blake Miller
25) Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
26) Bills: DT Kayden McDonald
27) 49ers: WR Omar Cooper Jr.
28) Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29) Chiefs: CB Colton Hood
30) Dolphins: EDGE T.J. Parker
31) Patriots: EDGE Malachi Lawrence
32) Seahawks:

PITTSBURGH — A familiar face was on hand when the Rams opened the on-field phase of their offseason program on Monday. Puka Nacua, their star wide receiver, is taking part in the program after entering a rehabilitation facility last month.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Nacua will be a full participant in the program and that it was “Great to be able to see him.”

McVay did not delve much into Nacua’s situation or any conversations he and his wide receiver have had, but did say that he and Nacua “have a great relationship” and that he feels “really good about kind of the direction that we’re going.”

In many ways, though, Nacua’s presence at the club’s Woodland Hills practice facility is also a reminder of the long-term future of their wide receiver room. And how their first round pick in Thursday’s NFL draft, which lands at No. 13 thanks to a shrewd 2024 draft-day trade they made with the Falcons, can help enhance that position.

Assuming everything checks out with Nacua, who checked himself into rehab after a series of off-field incidents, he and the Rams are likely to extend their relationship on a long-term contract extension. Based on his on-field production, including the league-leading 129 catches he posted last year for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, he is on target to sign the richest wide receiver contract in NFL history.

Beyond Nacua, though, there is short-term and long-range uncertainty.

Davante Adams will turn 34-years old in December and is entering the last year of his contract. Finding a replacement for him is high on the Rams’ list of priorities.

But so too is adding someone who can slide in alongside Nacua and Adams and contribute as soon as possible.

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In present form, the Rams have a top-three NFL roster and legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. But they’d be even more formidable if McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford had yet another explosive playmaker to tap into.

That brings us to Thursday’s first round, and the very real opportunity the Rams have to add a player who fits that bill perfectly.

That is, provided things break right for them over the first 12 picks of the draft. If so, the Rams could be choosing among two potential day-one starting wide receivers and possibly three.

As McVay pointed out, the Rams “don’t control what happens in those 12 picks before.”

Nevertheless, the way the draft board is shaping up, the club could be deciding between Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, and at the very least, be in a position to draft one of them.

For different reasons, both would fit well in the Rams’ offense.

Tyson as a big, physical vertical threat, and Lemon as a stout, do-it-all weapon like Golden Tate or Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“We’re eager to add a really good player at 13,” said McVay. “Whether that’s offensive skill, whether that’s defensive guys. I think there are a lot of players that you look at that you feel really good about.”

Rams general manager Les Snead mentioned wide receiver as a possibility at No. 13, although he did say other positions would be in play as well.

“The sea shapes the ship,” is how Snead put it.

As it relates to wide receiver, though, the Rams have clearly done their homework.

Lemon, in particular, has been a person of interest for some time, given the proximity between USC and the Rams. In fact, Snead’s son and daughter are both students at USC, so he caught a bunch of Trojans games simply by being a dad.

“I’ve lived and died in Trojan football, so I can say this, as a fan, as a father with two kids there, it was fun when you saw the ball go up and it was heading toward Lemon’s hands,” Snead said. “You always felt like he’d bring it down.”

Playing alongside Nacua and Adams, Lemon would likely get a bunch of chances to do the same thing for the Rams.

According to longtime Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, he is hopeful about returning from a season-ending neck injury and ensuing surgery for the team’s training camp occurring in mid-to-late July (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder):

The 32-year-old veteran defensive tackle initially suffered the neck injury in Week 9 of last year on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fresh off of injured reserve, he would return 7 weeks later during Week 16 at home against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

However, Buckner didn’t exactly look right on the field and the neck injury still lingered, and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve soon thereafter before getting surgery on his balking neck.

As a consistent interior catalyst for the Colts defense, and arguably (and consistently) the team’s most valuable player up until his injury limited last season, Buckner is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded 47 tackles (30 s0lo), 9 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks during 10 games.

Along with veteran run stuffer Grover Stewart, when fully healthy, they form one of the better starting defensive tackle tandems in the league. The Colts did bolster their depth behind Buckner by acquiring former Green Bay Packers starting defensive tackle Colby Wooden and 4th-year defensive tackle Ade Adebamore also returns.

However, getting Buckner back and fully right would be a big boost for Lou Anarumo’s revamped Colts defense.

On Tuesday, the Chicago Bears honored linebacker T.J. Edwards and tight end Colston Loveland as their 2025 Brian Piccolo Award winners.

The Award is named after former Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who died from embryonal cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer, on June 16, 1970. Piccolo’s story, his fight against the illness, and his friendship with Gale Sayers were captured in the 1971 movie “Brian’s Song.”

The Brian Piccolo Award is voted on by the players, and it has been given to one rookie (since 1970) and one veteran (since 1992) who best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and sense of humor of the late Bears running back.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson presented the awards to Edwards and Loveland in a ceremony at Halas Hall earlier today.

Edwards has won the veteran Award all three years he’s been in Chicago, becoming the only player ever to win three consecutive seasons. He joins Charles Tillman, who also won three awards, twice as a veteran and once as a rookie. Olin Kreutz was honored with the Award four times.

“I do not take it lightly whatsoever to be associated with this legacy,” Edwards said via the team’s site. “I grew up here. I grew up watching what’s happening in this building, and to be a part of it, it means all the more.”

“Why I fell in love with this game was just the respect of my peers and the respect of my teammates,” Edwards said. “To get something that is solely based on what your teammates think of you, it’s incredible. I just try to try to be myself and try to talk to everyone because it’s nice to come into work when you actually know and care for the people around you. That’s the kind of place that’s been built here.”

Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards (713), receptions (58), and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (6).

“It really is an honor to accept this award,” Loveland said from chicagobears.com. “To be associated with a name that stands for courage, loyalty, and selflessness, that really means a lot. I feel like I have similar values. And to get it from your teammates, that means even more because you’re sweating with them, you’re bleeding with them, you’re crying with them.”

For more information about the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, you can visit this site: https://brianpiccolofund.org/

On Tuesday for his pre-draft media availability, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen provided an encouraging injury update on recently re-signed starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who’s apparently progressing well in his ongoing rehabilitation:

Specifically, per Steichen, the Colts’ new $100 million dollar man (*with earned incentives of course) is back to throwing and performing drop-backs just a few months removed from Achilles surgery.

After all, Jones suffered his torn Achilles in Week 14 of last season and underwent surgery shortly thereafter on December 9th of last year. He’s just a handful of months removed from that surgical procedure, but both Jones and the Colts seem highly optimistic that he could be ready for training camp at his current recovery pace—although no clear timetable has been placed yet on Indy’s QB1 and his eventual return.

Achilles tears are a significant injury, and often times, it can take at least a whole year to make a full recovery—and even then, a lot of professional athletes do not fully regain their prior explosiveness. Past Colts such as former running back Vick Ballard and defensive end Samson Ebukam didn’t make a full recovery in Indianapolis, but Jones is aided by the fact that he plays quarterback—although he does rely a great deal upon his mobility.

At any rate, Jones appears to be ahead of schedule right now regarding his Achilles recovery. The fact that the Colts gave him a 2-year deal too, indicates that 2026 could be more of a ‘recovery year’ too anyways, with the hope that he fully regains his prior physical form by the beginning of the 2027 campaign.

Still, it would be disingenuous to suggest that Indianapolis doesn’t expect a lot of good things from Jones next season at starting quarterback and going forward.

To the reader:

First, I’d like to start by saying this article is presented as a “conspiracy theory” because that’s how this series started. I noticed that general manager Chris Ballard didn’t lie in his press conferences. He usually gave winding vague answers but he never said one thing and then did another. Armed with this observation I set out to use those interviews to read between the lines and provide you with a conspiracy article for the ages. In the beginning that’s what this was: little more than a long conspiracy theory article. But something happened along the way, I started to notice real life patterns. And I now believe that I can make real predictions based off of those patterns, and frankly, anyone paying attention could do the same.

So while my methodology continues to evolve as the patterns unveil themselves some things never change. I’ve spent countless hours over the past few weeks doing research, listening to old pressers, and watching every relevant interview I could get my hands on. Taking notes on the new information we’ve been given, while going back over my notes from years past.

As I’m writing this letter to you this year, like every year, I have no idea what this article is going to say. I don’t have some grand idea I’m writing toward, all I know is that this has become my favorite article to write each and every year. It’s a lot of fun to see what I can gather from the information that has been put out and by the end of the day on Saturday, April 25th, we will all be able to sit back and marvel at how wrong I have most likely been.

So put on your tinfoil hat, pour your favorite drink and settle in to a comfortable chair for these next several thousand (or so) words, as I read through the lines, follow the money, listen to my gut and draw conclusions (that may or may not actually be there) all the way to exposing the Colts 2026 draft plans. This is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition. This is the dimension of imagination. Welcome to the Twilight Zone.

The History of this Series

For the past seven years, I have believed that I could piece together the puzzle that was the Indianapolis Colts 2019, 2020, 2021,2022,2023, 2024. and 2025 draft plans.In each of the past seven years, I’ve invested a lot of time and effort sifting through the clues to find possible answers to the question: what will the Indianapolis Colts do in the draft?

A question that I found some success in answering a year ago, which was a much needed bounce back from my complete whiff in 2024. Prior to 2024, however, I was on quite a run.

Both 2022 and 2023 were banner years for this series. In 2023 I hit on four picks. Correctly naming Anthony Richardson, Juju Brents, Darius Rush and Daniel Scott. In 2022 I was able to predict four of the first five picks, correctly naming Jelani Woods, Alec Pierce, Bernhard Raimann and Eric Johnson. I also listed UDFA signing Ryan Van Demark. I did name both Marcel Dabo and Dallis Flowers in the article as special teamers the Colts might be interested in- but I won’t give myself too much credit for those two, as they failed to make my final list of 14 names, so they don’t really count.

In 2021 I missed every single name, zero correct picks. 2020, I hit on Michael Pittman Jr.. And in 2019 I hit on Rock Ya-Sin and Ben Banogu. So from the start of this series I correctly predicted by year; two, one, zero, four, four names again, then zero and two.

What does it mean? I believe it means that the Colts have a fairly predictable process when it comes to the draft, in reality I think most teams likely do but it’s impossible for someone with a busy professional life, who maintains a social calendar, complete with a complex, albeit highly rewarding, full set of familial obligations, to organize, track, research, maintain and update (never mind actually doing anything with) the data of more than one team. And because the NFL draft, in it’s nature, is so unpredictable that even a predictable process can turn in unforeseen results. Leading up to the 2018 NFL draft everyone knew that the Cleveland Browns would be taking a quarterback with the first pick of the draft. Few people believed (until the day/night before the draft) that Baker Mayfield would be their pick. Mock drafts slotted a lot of other quarterbacks that year (Darnold, Allen and even Josh Rosen) into being the Browns signal caller of the future, but the few who slotted Mayfield into that slot were ridiculed for their prediction. So when the Browns selected Mayfield, it created a butterfly effect of sorts for the rest of the draft. Many people believed that Denver (who drafted fifth) would take a quarterback but what if the quarterback they wanted was Baker Mayfield? What if the Jets board had Sam Darnold as QB1 and Josh Allen as QB2? Does that mean that if the Browns would have taken Darnold, the Jets would have taken Josh Allen and the Broncos would have taken Mayfield instead of pass rusher Bradley Chubb? 2018 turned in another surprising pick from the Browns at number four overall, with their selection of cornerback Denzel Ward. Most expected them to draft Chubb and had they done so, does that mean the Broncos would have taken Quenton Nelson? Maybe linebacker Roquan Smith? How would those things have impacted every other teams strategy for the rest of the draft? It’s impossible to know but one single surprise has the potential to ripple in massive, unpredictable ways.

In 2019 we saw an even more surprising selection of edge defender Clelin Ferrell at fourth overall to the Oakland Raiders.

In 2020 the Green Bay Packers traded up to select quarterback Jordan Love. The Seahawks took linebacker Jordyn Brooks (who many believed would be a day two pick) and the Philadelphia Eagles selection of Jalen Hurts at 53.

2021 saw the San Francisco 49ers take Trey Lance third, instead of Mac Jones. Many people believed the Carolina Panthers would take a quarterback and selected cornerback Jaycee Horn with the 9th pick instead.

The next year, the Jaguars picked Travon Walker over Aiden Hutchinson and five defensive players went in the first five picks (the first time that had happened in more than 40 years). A.J. Brown was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles and Bill Belichick made it clear that his best days as a GM were far gone when he took Cole Strange at 29.

In 2023 the Texans traded back into the top five to pick edge Will Anderson Jr.. Many people expected the Colts to take Will Levis Jr. and few people expected the Atlanta Falcons to use a top 10 pick on running back Bijan Robinson, despite having second year back Tyler Allgeier coming off of a 1,000 yard rookie season.

2024 turned in one of the most shocking top 10 picks that I can remember when the Falcons selected Michael Penix Jr. after having just signed Kirk Cousins to a massive deal in free agency (as it turns out we were right to be shocked, it was an incredibly dumb move at the time and hindsight shows us we were correct to think so). That move coupled with six quarterbacks being picked inside the top 12 and no defensive players being selected until the Colts took Laiatu Latu with the 15th overall pick which probably only happened because the Raiders surprised everyone with their move to take tight end Brock Bowers, despite having taken Michael Mayer at 35th overall the year before.

And a year ago no one should have been surprised that the Chicago Bears took a tight end with the 11th pick, but many were surprised they took Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, which freed the Colts to sprint to the podium with their card (and despite what weird people on the internet will tell you, so far it looks like both teams made the right decision for them). The Jaguars made a seemingly insane trade to move up to number two overall to take Travis Hunter. And I understand why they did it. I don’t go to many college games in person. Maybe one every few years. But I sought out tickets to watch Colorado and Travis Hunter when they played the Kansas Jayhawks in Arrowhead Stadium (30 minutes from my house), I desperately wanted to see him play, live. The more surprising part was that the Browns made the move for what looked like the most exciting two-way prospect potentially since Deion Sanders. The Falcons make this list again by trading their 2026 first rounder to move back into the draft to take edge James Pierce Jr. (who has since been charged with three felonies and a misdemeanor for various domestic violence allegations) and just a year later the LA Rams will happily use the 13th overall pick they got from Atlanta.

And those things, those surprises and the things that ripple off of them more than anything else, is what makes predicting the Colts draft so difficult each and every year. Far more than predicting what positions the team will take, what types of players they desire and the priority they place on filling each position.

Last season this is what I said about the two players that were hits from THE List:

Tyler Warren Penn State- N/A RAS (did not test due to being good enough not to)- Just click on that link. It’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report for Warren. It reads like Steichen talking about his ideal tight end up above. Go find any scouting report you want from any reputable person who grades players year in and year out and you’ll likely find the same. Look, I get it. Everyone is tired of seeing mock draft after mock draft list Tyler Warren to the Colts. But rarely is there so obvious a player who so perfectly fits what a team needs, roughly in the area of the draft that it could all come together. My question isn’t “would the Colts draft Tyler Warren if given the opportunity” it’s “will they have the opportunity” and that’s a tough question to answer. He isn’t the prospect that Brock Bowers was a year ago, but 31 teams watched Bowers break records and 12 of those teams select before Indy this year. The Colts have a unicorn shaped hole in their offense and Warren is a unicorn.

Jalen TravisIowa State– 9.08 RAS Travis is a name to know for the Colts for a few reasons. First, Chris Ballard seems to have a thing for massive offensive linemen and Travis clocks in at nearly 6’8” 340 pounds. The last time Ballard drafted a prospect built in a similar way was 2017 and Zach Banner never panned out for Indy. The difference between Banner and Travis is that Banner’s RAS score was an astounding 1.45 with Travis, Ballard, has the opportunity to draft a massive human who is also a very good relative athlete. If you were to slide him in to guard Travis’ RAS jumps to 9.43. He started his college career at Princeton before transferring to Iowa State as a fifth year senior (I presume as a graduate transfer). He also won the 2024 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, an award that athletes from across all sports were nominated for. Interestingly his cousin is former Colts tight end Ross Travis, whom Chris Ballard brought to Indy from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. He is absolutely massive, has ties to Ballard, an RAS score over 9, very smart, very good person by all accounts. Look, I don’t know where he fits on the 2025 Indianapolis Colts, I just know there are a lot of arrows pointing at this guy.

I can’t take too much credit for Warren, it was such an obvious pick and I really didn’t think he would be on the board when Indy selected. Jalen Travis, however, was about as firm as a hit as you’ll find. He ticked off every metric the Colts desire and was available in the fourth round, right about the time I believed Indy would be looking to find offensive line depth.

I also want to point out what I said about Wyett Ekler in last years article:

Wyett Ekeler, Safety, Wyoming- 8.5 RAS The brother of UDFA legend Austin Ekeler, Wyett is unlikely to be drafted, but this kid is going to be in someone’s camp. If not for his size 5’11” 199 pounds, his RAS score would have been well over 9, His nearly 42” vertical, almost 11’ broad jump and 6.8 second 3-cone are wild. Ekeler might not be a natural fit at safety but could potentially find a role coming downhill as a star defender eventually. But he will be able to help someone on teams from day one. In a draft that lacks star power, finding starters and contributors becomes the name of the game and with those athletic traits it would probably be a good idea for some team to nab him in the seventh so they don’t miss out on this kid.

The Colts didn’t draft Ekeler (or sign him as a UDFA post draft) but go ahead and click on this link. I can’t count it in any real way, but it’s hard to say I wasn’t right about the Colts likely having some level of interest in this kid.

In the history of this series I’ve gotten a lot of things right, but I’ve still missed on more than I’ve hit. A season ago I found some success but I need to improve. I’ll probably never get back to the success I had in ‘22 and ‘23 and that’s alright.

No matter what happens I’m still proud of that run.

But there’s still hope I can make it back.

I had a bit of success a season ago, but it wasn’t enough. And we can all laugh when I inevitably fail to get a single name right and I go right back to my 2024 ways. But I believe that this series has absolutely hit on something more than just luck. I still believe the clues are out there and I still believe I can find them.

But you don’t have to believe me. Let me show you, again.

What Went Wrong

2025 was, ultimately, a good year for this series. A hit is a hit, though predicting Tyler Warren was almost like predicting that I’ll wake up tomorrow and my grass will still be green. But my entire goal is to give you names on THE List that will be Indianapolis Colts come training camp and Tyler Warren counts all the same. Jalen Travis, on the other hand. That was a solid hit. I dug through dozens of offensive line prospects and I found a guy that I thought would be a Ballard pick. Turns out, I was right but the Colts made 8 picks last season and I only gave you two guys. That’s a 25% hit rate. The only way to do better is to figure out where I went wrong.

They didn’t prioritize linebacker.

Last year at the Combine, Chris Ballard was seemingly asked 500 questions about the quarterback competition. Meanwhile he was asked, what felt like, a throwaway question at the end of that press conference about a position that lost a starter and didn’t fill it in any meaningful way in free agency. Ultimately, I heard what I wanted to hear.

Pay attention to the very first words he said: “It’s um, I mean I know ya’ll think the sky (is falling) it’s a position we’ve been pretty good drafting and developing… we drafted JC that we thinks gonna be really good” he then went on to list all of the success they’ve had growing players from special teams contributors to starters at the position and it’s tough to argue with what he’s saying. He’s right, they’ve done a great job finding guys who grow into starting caliber linebackers (of varying quality). What I didn’t want to hear was that they were counting on a late day three converted safety to play a major role on the defense, and that’s exactly what he was saying here. While 2024 was the infamous “we like our guys” offseason, 2025 was undoubtedly the “we like our linebackers” season, which worked exactly as well as the “we like our guys” season. Ballard did a very good job adding competition last season in the secondary and it’s tough to say he didn’t add a lot to the defensive line (with less success, but the effort was there). But for a guy who wanted to add competition all over the roster, he failed to do so at linebacker. But he did say they would look to add depth and competition. I just mistakenly believed he would do so much earlier than he did.

Now, it is possible they were going to add someone earlier than Hunter Wholer (who was drafted as a linebacker) in the 7th and it just didn’t work out. Looking at the draft in the second round there’s no way they expected Carson Schwesinger or Jihad Campbell to be available at 45 and they obviously valued Tuimoloau more than Demetrius Knight who went 49th to the Cincinnati Bengals. In the third round the 49ers took Nick Martin five picks before Indy selected CB Justin Walley, but Martin (all 5’11” 221 pounds of him, complete with 31” arms) likely wasn’t very high on their board and Martin was the only ‘backer taken in the third round. The fourth round is where it gets interesting. The Colts originally had the 117th pick. Linebackers went with the 107th pick: Jack Kiser to Jacksonville, the 112th pick: Danny Stutsman to New Orleans and the 115th pick: Cody Simon to Arizona.

All three of those players are 6’2”or taller and weigh 230+. All of them have RAS scores of 8.35 or higher. Kiser was the only player who did the broad jump and the Colts seemingly have a 10’ threshold on the broad jump and Kiser’s was only 909. Coupled with his just over 30” arms, the Colts may have liked him but it’s entirely possible he wasn’t that high on their board. Stutsman tested far more athletically than he looked on tape. He looked like a downfield run stopper but his 4.52 second 40 yard dash time put that into question. But if they were interested in any of these players I think it was likely Cody Simon, and not just because he went two picks before they were scheduled to be on the clock. Simon was noted as being better (though still not great) in man coverage (valuable in Lou Anarumo’s system) and showed enough on tape to think he could improve in space over time. He put things on tape that Stutsman never did. Simon also racked up a host of awards for the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes as well as being a team captain.

Ultimately we’ll never know. It’s likely I overestimated how many players there were available that the Colts would view as early difference makers. It’s possible that the Colts did plan to add competition and depth earlier than they did. And it’s interesting the only trade they made in the draft came two picks after the potential best fit (at that point in the draft) was taken.

No matter what, I was wrong.

I listened to Shane Steichen

At the 2025 Annual League Meeting, Shane Steichen was asked about his defensive line. He mentioned that he felt good about the edges. So, I (like a moron) crossed edge off of my list- not completely but I wasn’t serious in taking a look at day two prospects.

All things considered the team was pretty set at edge. So when Steichen gave this answer it was all I needed to look the other way. What seems likely is that the front office was looking ahead to 2026 and after doing some math, they realized that Kwity Paye was unlikely to re-sign in Indy. So taking a replacement a year early isn’t the worst idea. Especially at a position that can always use fresh players to help with a rotation. That’s not exactly what they got out of Tuimoloau’s rookie season, but I understand if this was the thought process.

Had I had my eye on defensive ends (instead of linebackers), Tuimoloau is likely someone I would have gravitated toward. His 9.33 RAS, coupled with his nearly 34” arms would have gotten my attention and the scouting report looking a lot like a Kwity Paye clone, likely would have gotten him on my list.

This year I’ll be looking for potential future starters on day two.

They drafted a running back

This was my Mostly Unsubstantiated Theory, but I didn’t think they would prioritize running back because they signed Khalil Herbert in free agency. I believed Herbert was the sort of veteran coming off of a down year the team would feel good about coming off the bench to give Jonathan Taylor the occasional breather. Instead Herbert was cut after training camp and never appeared in a game for the Colts. Instead Indy drafted DJ Giddens in the fifth round. Giddens had a solid showing early on in his rookie season but ended up as a healthy scratch more often than not, likely due to his lack of special teams ability and liability in pass protection.

I would tell you that I’ll make my MUT more carefully this year but I won’t. That’s the whole point of the MUT. That said because it’s Mostly Unsubstantiated, I’ll likely do a better job of treating it as such once I get to THE List, this year.

So let’s get into the process.

How do they stack their board and what does “Best Player Available” mean?

Free agency and roster holes have always been very predictive of what positions Chris Ballard will look to draft. If you had created a checklist of the Colts biggest needs entering each draft since 2018, you would magically find that checklist filled in, almost always in order, by the players the Colts drafted. 2024 departed from this for the reasons listed above, but Ballard talked at his end of season press conference about doing more of the things they did in the past, alluding to having made mistakes in 2024.

It’s wild to me when I see people argue that Chris Ballard simply drafts the best player available. I think that term “best player available” means something very different to most, than it does to him. If you ask Chris Ballard if he drafts the “best player available” he’ll give you one of a couple different answers (he literally has). What “best player available” actually means, is complicated.

But the long and short of it is this: They don’t just stack their board vertically. They don’t just number their prospects 1-500 like all of the “draft experts” do. They don’t do it like I do. They grade the players and stack their board across all positions by round, too.

Why would they stack them by round?

Lets say the team has a draftable grade on 12 linebackers this year (I don’t know the actual realistic number I just pulled that one out of the air). Let’s say they have a first round grade on two of them. Now lets say they have a second round grade on two of them and a third round grade on three of them. The other five are sprinkled in on day three.

Now lets say the team has a draftable grade on six safeties. Let’s say they have none graded out as a first rounders, two are graded as second rounders, one graded out as a third rounder and the other three sprinkled in on day three with varying grades.

In this scenario the team has a need at both linebacker and safety. If using a vertical board the two linebackers with the first round grade would be higher on the board than any of the safeties. But if all of them made it to the Colts pick and the team takes the linebacker then the chances of completely missing out on one of the six draftable safeties goes up, significantly. Meaning that stacking the board horizontally allows teams to visually manage priority and risk much more effectively.

By organizing the board horizontally by position and round it allows teams to track the depth of the draft as well as the quality of the players that are currently being taken. Here is an example from Blogging the Boys back in 2013:

Back in 2013 this exact scenario played out for the Dallas Cowboys as they only had draftable grades on three centers. At the time the Cowboys took heat for trading back in the first round, passing on players with higher consensus grades to take center Travis Fredrick. It turns out the Cowboys actually did have higher grades on several players who were on the board with their initial pick but they did not want to miss out on one of the only draftable centers available. History looks favorably on this move. This story was made possible by the now defunct Inside the Pylon. RIP to Inside the Pylon- a website that fueled my football knowledge for the better part of a decade.

The Colts also compare draftable prospects against players currently on their own team. Why would they stack draftable prospects against guys currently on the roster?

Let’s say it’s the fourth round and the Colts are on the clock. They look up at their board and the highest rated player on their board is a cornerback. They believe he will compete for the third or fourth outside corner position in training camp and contribute right away on special teams. Their second highest rated player is a tight end prospect. They believe he will be the fourth tight end on the roster behind Warren, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree. Their third highest rated player is a running back. They believe he will be RB2 behind Jonathan Taylor.

If all three player grades are pretty close (not one of them is projected to be an impact player from day one) what player should they take?

If they draft pure “BPA” they take the cornerback and hope he’s good on special teams. If “best player available” actually means “best player available based on the situation” then you might draft running back given Jonathan Taylor’s injury history and the offenses reliance on running the ball. So “BPA” isn’t always what fans think it is and need is a heavy part of Chris Ballard’s drafting process. Although, Dayo Odeyingbo proves it isn’t absolute. Odeyingbo was likely, truly, the best player available on their board at the time they took him and they took him because they probably believed he was he best player available by a wide margin. He was in a different tier than everyone else. The same can likely be said for Latu in 2024.

To recap: need matters, the depth of the draft matters. If the team’s need is great and the depth of the draft is poor, the team will be more likely to fill the need early if the players there are all graded similarly.

I’m not trying to start any arguments, here, it’s just an observable fact of their process as shown over time.

What Year Is It?

Looking at Chris Ballard’s history as general manager the Colts drafts have had themes, especially in the early rounds.

In 2017 they took defenders with six of their eight picks.

In 2018 with a new head coach they took six players on offense and five on defense.

In 2019 they took seven guys on defense and three on offense.

In 2020 they went with five offensive players and four defenders (three defenders coming in the sixth round).

In 2021 they went with three defenders and four offensive players (three offensive players coming in rounds six and seven).

In 2022 they took four players on offense and four players on defense (two defenders coming in the sixth and seventh round).

In 2023 they took six players on offense and six on defense (three of the first four coming on offense. Only one defender was selected before day three.)

In 2024 they took four offensive players and five on defense (with four defenders coming in rounds five, six and seven.

In 2025 they took four offensive players and four guys on defense (three of the four offensive players coming on day three.

The numbers themselves might not stand out but aside from 2018 and 2023 the Colts, under Chris Ballard, have alternated priority on offense and defense early in each draft. In 2023 they should have been in line to draft defense early and often. But both times Chris Ballard has gone into a draft with a new head coach his draft strategy has differed. I want to focus in more so than I have on this aspect than I have in years past, so let’s just take a look at the first three rounds by year:

2017- three out of three picks (100%) went to the defense (one pick in each round)

2018*- three out of five picks went to the defense (Quenton Nelson at sixth overall and then four second round picks)

2019- three out of four picks (75%) went to the defense (three second rounders and one third)

2020- two out of three picks (66%) went to the offense (two second rounders and one third)

2021- two out of three picks (66%) went to the defense (one pick in each round)

2022- three out of four picks (75%) went to the offense (one second rounder and three thirds)

2023*- two out of three picks went to the offense (one in each round)

2024- two out of three picks (66%) went to the offense (one in each round)

2025- two out of the three picks (66%) went to the defense (one in each round)

the * denotes a year with a new head coach and also the only times Ballard has drafted inside the top 10

If this is a coincidence, it’s truly an amazing one. The only times Ballard has strayed from it are in ‘18 and ‘23 with the aforementioned circumstances surrounding those years and then the following year he falls right back into the pattern like nothing changed.

When the name of the game is making draft predictions, it seems silly to ignore this. The thing I’m less sure of are the drafts in ‘19 and ‘22. In each of those years the Colts had four premium picks and both times they kept the offense/defense ratio above 50% for the correct side of the ball for that year’s pattern. That said, I’m not entirely sure they would always stick to that. If they were to trade down at some point this year and pick up an extra day two pick, it wouldn’t be that surprising to see them even the ratio out and go two offense and two defense. We only have two data points (sans ‘18 which is unique for other reasons) so it’s hard to make a more definitive statement in years with more than three picks in those first three rounds. For years with only three picks, it seems obvious to point out, two of them will be on the “correct” side of the ball for that years pattern.

One thing that I’m just now realizing, when looking at these numbers (and I can’t believe I didn’t recognize it before year eight) is that when they go heavy on one side of the ball early, they usually go heavy on the other, late. I mean, I realized it (obviously, I wrote about it above) but I didn’t really consider what it meant. You can expect this years late round picks listed on THE List, to fall more in line with the other side of the ball. We’ll see how it goes.

Prediction #1

This is an offensive draft.

Yeah, I get it. I just used a whole lotta words to tell you why I’m making this prediction. But again, the name of this game is making predictions and this is one I think I’ll get right. So I am predicting that at least two of the Colts first three draft picks will be on the offensive side of the ball. It’s just the offenses year to get that infusion of talent.

Where this one gets tricky this year is that Indy only has two premiere (first, second and third round) picks. At present there are at least a handful of teams who draft after the Colts 47th pick, with the kind of draft capital it would take (a late 3rd rounder) for them to move up, while the Colts moved back picking up another top-100 pick in this years draft. But as things progress the number of teams with the ammo is sure to fluctuate. If the Colts want to trade back they need to find a team with both the ammo and desire to move up. Another thing to watch is that at the time of this writing, Anthony Richardson is still on the roster. Teams like the Eagles and Steelers have the kind of capital to make a move for a guy they really want and those teams may want a young backup QB with a lot of untapped potential.

Which brings me to my next prediction.

Prediction #2

The Colts will trade back

So there’s this answer and then there’s this answer:

And this

And of the seven or so interviews I’ve watched of Ballard leading up to this draft, he mentions trading back and acquiring more picks in most of them. Which makes sense. Chris Ballard had built a team full of good but not great players. Guys like Zaire Franklin (traded), Michael Pittman Jr. (traded), Kenny Moore (actively being shopped at the time of this writing), and those guys were leaders on a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in half a decade. This offseason is shaping up to be a soft rebuild, they’re jettisoning established starters and team leaders and while they’ve backfilled depth in some places, they haven’t added many starting caliber players in free agency. It’s fair to be skeptical of their plan to add those pieces via the draft (especially without a first round pick) but if the Colts believed it was time to move in a different leadership direction (it was) and that void couldn’t be filled via free agency (tall task), what other choice do they have but to try to fill it in the draft? The best way to potentially fill that void is to throw as many picks at the problem as possible.

Chris Ballard has gone into drafts without a first round pick three times and in each of those drafts he has had at least three, day two picks. In 2021 the team only had first and second round picks due to trading away their third for Carson Wentz – the only time the team has failed to have multiple day two picks. This was also the year Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo both fell into their laps as neither player was expected to be available when Indy selected them. I believe had they not had the opportunity to draft these players they would have worked hard to find a trade partner to add another top 100 pick. I could be wrong about this but the rumor at the time was that in the draft room Ballard had to be talked out of taking Odeyingbo in the first round while Odeyingbo was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. If that’s true, even if they were sticking and picking in the first, there’s absolutely no way Ballard was passing on Dayo in the second, regardless of how many top-100 picks he did or didn’t have that year.

This year he only has one second rounder and one third rounder. If he isn’t able to move a player for an additional day two pick (he won’t be unless he’s willing to move on from someone like Jonathan Taylor or maybe Deforest Buckner (in my opinion his contract, age and injury status would make this a tough sell for more than a late third at absolute best, I think he’s worth more to the Colts than he would be to any other team) his options for getting another day two pick are slim. His best bet will be a move back from 47. There may be a couple of options to move back from their pick in the third (78) to pick up two late third round picks but those seem like longshots and would likely require additional picks or players to make those moves happen.

Another scenario that I think has real legs is if Indy packages 47 with someone like Moore or Anthony Richardson during the draft to get one of those additional day two picks. The other (very real) possibility is that the Colts move Kenny Moore and Anthony Richardson before the draft for additional picks, but those players would likely net mid to late day three picks at this point.

Another scenario is that the Colts don’t want three day two picks and would be happy picking up additional third, fourth and fifth rounders, instead of targeting a trade back in the second, as Chris Ballard talked about where the strength of this draft falls here:

No matter what happens this prediction is almost sure to be correct given Ballard’s history and his repeated answers leading up to this draft.

Also, this is interesting to note, it doesn’t really fit here, but it doesn’t really fit anywhere else, either. But I still want to include it:

So we know Ballard thinks the strength of this class comes in the third, fourth and fifth rounds and he thinks linebacker, edge, receiver, interior offensive line and safety are deep this year. Interesting.

I wrote almost all of the above before Chris Ballard said this at his annual pre-draft press conference on Monday April 20th:

And this:

I think it’s safe to say the Colts are very open for business.

Prediction #3

The Colts will draft Edge help

“We still have work to do” and this:

Both of these interviews took place on the same day, both took place at the Owners Meetings and Ballard has on the same clothes so his talking points are largely the same. In the second video he does confirm that the Colts were in on Trey Hendrickson but that it didn’t work out. In both interviews he said that they like the pieces they’ve added for depth. Those pieces include Arden Key (DE), Michael Clemons (DE), Jerry Tillery (DT) Derrick Nnadi (DT) and Colby Wooden (DT) via the Zaire Franklin trade. On paper the Colts have added an entire defensive line so far this season. Fortunately for us, they view these four players as “depth” players. It seems like they don’t want to go into next season with these four as starters.

In the first interview he mentions “Jaylahn” (J.T. Tuimoloau) by saying “…having Jaylahn back, having Latu, we think, we think Latu is gonna take a whole ‘nother step.” and then you combine that with his belief that they’ve built a good foundation with depth and that they still have some time left, you can easily infer they believe they still need to add another player.

Then he said this at the pre-draft presser:

The important part for this prediction is what he says about J.T. Tuimoloau. Before he said this, I was sure they were hoping to find a starting edge prospect. Now, I’m not as sure.

And now I’m pretty sure they’re not looking for a starter:

At the start of the Josina Anderson clip, she mentions players like A.J. Epinessa, Maxx Crosby and Jadeveon Clowney and she’s absolutely right there are several decent options (likely more than she mentions here) that could be in play for Indy via free agency or trade. With that said, we know unequivocally, Chris Ballard wants to build through the draft. He has also drafted six defensive ends on day two of the NFL draft. He has drafted five wide receivers, four cornerbacks and three offensive linemen on day two as well.

So the Colts have a need at the position but it’s a need for a situational speed rusher, not a starter on the edge. Chris Ballard has taken Edge defenders on day two more than he has any other position, but will the value line up with the need, or will the need elsewhere trump the value?

Prediction #4

The Colts are going to draft offensive line

Chris Ballard drafting OL is a very safe bet.

Chris Ballard wants to win up front.

He’s drafted at least one offensive lineman every year he’s been in Indianapolis. So this isn’t as much about if he’s going to draft help on his front five but when will he do it?

If we are to believe that this is an offensive draft and I do, the Colts will look to the offensive line earlier than most people probably expect. And probably another on day three. Why do I think this?

This is a big part of it:

“…when Daniel got hurt it took away some things we could do from a mobility standpoint which I think effected it but that’s something we’ll dig into.”

The offensive line was good last year but Ballard is right, when Jones went down, teams shut down the run. Some of that was likely due to teams needing to defend against Jones rolling out of the pocket and just in general using his mobility to spread out the defense. Jones ability to move would often pull at least one defender out of the play and made blocking assignments that much easier. So with Jones back, the problem is solved, right?

Not based on this answer.

He starts by saying he’s never going to use injuries as an excuse. So if the team “need(s) to be able to run the ball, when they want to run it” and that means when Jones is playing or not, how can they ensure that happens?

One option is to upgrade the running back position. On a team starting Jonathan Taylor already, it’s almost impossible to upgrade there.

Option two, is to make sure your QB2 can do all of the same things Daniel Jones can do. If Daniel Jones is your unquestioned starter and you have a second QB who can do all of the same things Jones can do, Jones wouldn’t be your unquestioned starter. This probably isn’t realistic.

Option three, upgrade your blocking at tight end. The Colts used a first round pick on Tyler Warren last season, who had a great year taking snaps at multiple positions. His blocking was adequate but will likely improve as time goes on. The team also brought back Mo Allie-Cox and Drew Ogletree to likely fill that blocking role. Both Allie-Cox and Ogletree are good blockers at the position. While this isn’t out of the realm of possibility, I don’t think Chris Ballard was talking about needing better blocking from his TE2-4.

Option four, add to the offensive line. The Colts have to feel good about the play they got from Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini. That said Bortolini was the better player but both men were too often beaten when the Colts wanted to run the ball. Center is generally the more difficult position to play and Bort looks like he might end up being the kind of long-term starter teams search for at the position. Goncalves, on the other hand would seem to have some position flexibility and struggled in his first year at right guard.

Option five is to change your play calling to ensure you’re not using concepts that won’t work as well when that concept was designed to be used with other players in the game.

My bet, is that the answer will be a combination of options four and five. Shane Steichen talked about needing to do a better job making sure they can run it, so when they dug into it like Ballard said they would above, I’m betting they found some things they would like to do schematically. That said Indy will look for someone that can fill the void left by the departure of backup center Danny Pinter. Backup center has always been a priority for Ballard, having filled the position well with Pinter. Now that Danny is gone, he’ll want to have someone ready if Bort has to miss time. Finding someone with position flexibility up front is always valuable and could help the team in a multitude of ways. That said the team also lost Braden Smith to the Houston Texans. Jalen Travis played well a season ago and earned the opportunity to take over at right tackle, vacating the swing tackle spot he previously held. Which means Indy needs to find both a swing tackle and a backup center.

For these reasons I think the Colts will likely double dip at the position and it’s possible versatility will be important.

Prediction #5

If the Colts are going to draft a linebacker, it’ll be late.

Well, here it is. My annual linebacker prediction. Here’s why I believe, what I believe, this year:

Combined with this:

This one is important because he mentions Hunter Wohler. Combined with this:

When asked about linebackers playing in coverage, he mentions Wohler playing in that passing down role.

And this is what he said about linebacker in his pre-draft press conference last season:

I already covered how I believe the plan may have been to take a linebacker in the fourth round in 2025 and things just didn’t work out. “We got some young players we really like, so we’ll add some depth and competition hopefully in the draft.” But listen to that first video again. They like Akeem Davis-Gaither. There are free agents they’re still considering. They still believe in Jaylon Carlies. “We’re not afraid to go into this really young. And we feel good about the guys we have, some young players, but also some guys that are out there and plus the draft.”

So Akeem Davis-Gaither is a starter. They have hope for Jaylon Carlies. They believe Hunter Wohler can play for them on passing downs. They re-signed Austin Ajiake. They like some guys that are still free agents. And there are always some options in the draft.

The counter to this is that the Colts jettisoned Zaire Franklin, have not re-signed Germaine Pratt, and got rid of the young guys he said they really liked this time, last year. Are they really planning on replacing them with Akeem Davis-Gaither, Jalon Carlies, Hunter Wohler and Austin Ajiake? I know it doesn’t make sense. It didn’t make sense last year, either. But they did it. So this year, despite my belief that linebacker is a bigger need than defensive end, I don’t think they’re prioritizing linebacker early but I’ll probably have a couple day two prospects make THE List, anyway.

So now that I’ve come to this conclusion, they’ll absolutely trade up to take a linebacker with the 33rd overall pick, just watch. Chris Ballard won’t get my favorite team a division championship nor will he allow me to be right about a linebacker.

Prediction #6

The Colts will draft a receiver and probably early

I don’t have an accompanying clip because at the time of this writing no one has really asked Ballard, Steichen or Carlie Irsay-Gordon a question about the position since the Michael Pittman Jr., trade. I hope this changes during Ballard’s pre-draft press conference but as of now, no evidence exists. EDIT: not much was said outside of Ballard believing the draft was deep at the position. This is a prediction based mostly on logic which means there’s a very real chance I’m going to be completely wrong.

Ultimately, the move off of Pittman was likely the right decision. With a quarterback on a big deal, there’s only so much money to go around and Alec Pierce was the more explosive player with far more upside than Pitt. Ballard did mention, when talking at the Owner’s Meetings, that Pierce and Josh Downs would be expected to take on a bigger role and the team did sign Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to a one year deal. But he isn’t someone, anyone believes will be an impact player. He should make the roster and the team might be comfortable with a combination of Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould and Laquon Treadwell to fill that WR3 spot, but one thing to consider is that Josh Downs is headed into a contract year.

A season ago Indy opted to pre-fill the defensive end position via the draft and this year, given the hole left by Pittman, Downs’ contract status beyond 2026 unsettled and the fact that this is the year to add to the offensive side of the ball via the draft, now would be a great time to bring someone in with the hopes they could learn and develop into a contributor for 2027 and beyond.

_{Here’s the part where you complain about the Ad Mitchell trade.}

Prediction #7

The Colts will draft a Safety

Like receiver, the safety position hasn’t really been addressed in the media much beyond well wishes for Nick Cross, after leaving for the Commanders. The team has signed Juanyeh Thomas, Jonathan Owens and Nasir Adderley. I believe Owens will be a very good Rodney Thomas replacement on special teams and I think the team has high hopes for what Juanyeh Thomas can do at safety filling the role left by Nick Cross. Adderly has been retired for three years and I don’t see his addition being anything more than taking a flier on a formerly talented player. With that said I think it’s possible they add a player who can fill in behind Cam Bynum more completely and with more upside than Owens and who has played football in the last three years.

The Colts have drafted a day three safety under Chris Ballard in all but 2017, 2018 and 2020. In 2017, they selected Malik Hooker in the first round. In 2020 they drafted Julian Blackmon in the third. So if you’re keeping track at home, Chris Ballard has drafted a safety every year except for 2018. Investment at the position include one first round pick, three day two picks and six day three picks. It’s possible 2026 is the year they skip again given the Adderly, Thomas and Owens signings but they lost a starter who played 98% of the teams defensive snaps over the past two years, I have a hard time believing they only plan to replace him with someone who has missed a total of 14 games in that same span and a career special teamer. But I’ve always believed the same thing about the Linebacker position and yet here we are.

I believe the addition of Thomas will make them more comfortable using a day three pick to bring someone along, having him work into a rotation and grow into the kind of player they hope to have long-term at the position.

Mostly Unsubstantiated Theory

The Colts will draft a Quarterback (again)

So far the only quarterback questions that have been asked have been about Daniel Jones’ Achilles, Anthony Richardson’s trade and if they’re happy with Riley Leonard, all are fair questions. But a season ago we all saw what happened and if both QB1 and QB2 are hurt, Philip Rivers isn’t walking through that door (again). Based on what Ballard has said about Leonard, I don’t think they’ll look to add to the position early. Before I started my research this year, I knew it would be an offensive year and I thought that Quarterback had an outside chance to be a day two pick. After doing the work I no longer believe that, but my gut tells me they’ll want a young, third quarterback on the roster given the Richardson trade feels inevitable.

I still feel this is Mostly Unsubstantiated but Chris Ballard did say this at his pre draft presser:

Now we know he’s at least considering drafting a quarterback at some point this weekend.

Other Things We Know:

• Chris Ballard greatly values college all-star games, like the Senior Bowl.
• The Colts’ version of “Best Player Available” factors in team need:

• According to Ballard character concerns aren’t always a deal-breaker. And he’s tired of anonymous sources leaking “character concerns”. In fact he called it “f****** bull****” when people do it.
• Ballard and his staff obviously value length, placing an emphasis on long-armed defenders.
• Most Colts draft picks since 2020 have had high Relative Athletic Scores. The Colts probably don’t use RAS in their evaluation but it’s impossible to overlook the fact that Colts draft picks (with a few exceptions) have had a high RAS.
• They value high football character. Team captains are held in high regard.
• The Colts have “reached” on players like Darius Leonard and Julian Blackmon on day two of the draft. They don’t care when you think a player should be drafted and will reach to fill a hole if the draft is shallow at the position.
• Ballard wants to take players with high-end traits:

• This year, we can pencil in a lot of draftees with a lot of experience in college:
  

Casting a Wide Net

I am going to give you a position by position breakdown listing players at each position that, I believe, fit what the Colts might be looking for come draft day, before giving you my definitive list. I’m giving you both lists because frankly, it’s really hard to take 400+ players and whittle them down to the few most likely to fit what the Colts want and then predict who might, possibly, be available when the Colts make their selections. So I’m giving both lists, not as a way to increase my own ability to hit on a name, but it allows for additional analysis of each position that we already know the Colts want to add.

I won’t give myself credit for hitting on the players that don’t make THE List because I am giving you A LOT of names. That said, I’m not just throwing these names out, I have reason to believe each name on this list is there for a good reason.

Defensive End

Before drafting Laiatu Latu in 2024 the book on Chris Ballard at Edge was that he liked to take unrefined, athletic freaks at the position. By itself, it’s not a bad plan. You can always teach someone technique, you can’t teach someone to be bigger and faster than everyone else. Latu signaled a change. Latu was a fine athlete but he was a refined pass rusher who lacked power. He was the anti-Ballard defensive end and Ballard took him. J.T. Tuimoloau’s RAS was actually higher than Latu’s but his scouting report reads like a power rusher who lacked quickness. So how do we predict what kind of player Ballard might look to draft at the position?

“America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed” – Eleanor Roosevelt (according to Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights)

And this

So either Chris Ballard is pulling the rug out from underneath me at he’s talking about Linebackers here or he’s talking about Defensive Ends and he wants to get faster on the Edge. Which makes sense given that no one on the 2025 Colts had the kind of first step explosiveness that force Quarterbacks to step up into the waiting arms of someone like Latu, who wins not with speed and quickness but a well developed set of pass rush moves.

But wait, there’s more. I had written that before Chris Ballard said this on Monday 4/20/26:

Lou likes length and power but Ballard, the guy making the final decision, believes they need a “fastball” at edge.

He went on to say this about JTT, after just talking about how play on special teams can predict production on defense:

What this tells me is that they are very confident in JTT’s ability to start at defensive end opposite Latu. But he absolutely feels they need to add a fastball to the mix.

So with that (very limited) set of criteria in mind, let’s jump into who might be available when the Colts will pick.

Names to know:

Malachi Lawrence UCF- 9.95 RAS if you’re looking for speed off the edge (and I believe the Colts are) Malachi Lawrence has it. The book on Lawrence is that he’s a twitchy speed rusher with plenty of moves to go along with it. He’s inconsistent at best on run downs and will likely be limited early in his career to a role of pass rush specialist. This likely fits what the Colts want from the position given where they’re drafting. If Lawrence were a complete player, with those kind of testing numbers, he would be a high first round pick. As it stands I still believe Lawrence may hear his name called late on day one, just due to how freaky of an athlete he is at the position. If he’s on the board whenever the Colts pick, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in blue and white this fall. Lawrence went to the East-West Shrine Bowl on the West Team. He was coached by Colts Senior Assistant defensive line coach, Matt Raich during the week.

Jaishawn Barham Michigan- 8.82 RAS Barham transferred from Maryland to Michigan in 2023. He started 47 games in his college career. A converted off-ball linebacker, Barham’s RAS clocks in at 8.82 because he’s just 6’3” 240 lbs. Barham has the ability to play inside linebacker or rush from the edge and is explosive when on the line of scrimmage. He’s noted as playing with attitude and as Lance Zierlein called it “a salty demeanor”. What intrigues me the most about Barham is his positional flexibility. On early downs Indy can use him as a linebacker and slide him to the edge on passing downs to get that explosion off the edge. Lou Anarumo can probably think of all kinds of interesting blitz packages for a guy like Barham, as well.

Joshua Josephs Tennessee- 8.45 RAS the production from Josephs is lacking and the pass rushing burst isn’t always there on tape, but it does show up from time to time and it’s hard to call it anything other than explosive when it appears. His vertical jump (38.5) and broad jump (10’9”) bare that out. He is just 242lbs but he has 34” arms and Chris Ballard has to love that. The question becomes, do the Colts think they can get that burst, that jump off the line out of him consistently enough to give them the speed they’re looking for at the position? I can’t answer that question, I’ve only watched about 2.5 games of Josephs and I’d probably have to learn a lot more about Tennessee’s defensive system to be able to and I just don’t have time for that. I will say that he’s not my favorite realistic prospect at the position but if they do select him, I see the vision. Hopefully, if Indy takes him, the Colts staff has more ideas than I do about how to pull that burst out of him more than a handful of times a game.

Michael Heldman Central Michigan- 9.90 RAS I saw Heldman’s RAS score and I wanted to find a scouting report on the kid because I absolutely do not have Central Michigan tape from last season. And I couldn’t find a scouting report either. So I fired up the ole YouTube to find TV copy of Central Michigan games from 2025. The first game I turned on was Central Michigan vs. Michigan. I wanted to turn the tape on, see that he didn’t belong and then move down my list of prospects. Instead, Heldman showed a quick first step, good bend, solid hand usage to get off blocks and he held up well against the run, even stalemating a couple of double teams from the Michigan o-line. He not only belonged against that level of competition, he played well. So I fired up their game against Northwestern. It was a step down in competition, but still better than the rest of the MAC, and I saw the same thing (he did leave the game early due to injury, but point stands). Then I watched him against UMass and saw the same things as before. This kid is legit. He also stood out at the Hula Bowl, you can find several clips of him winning in full team drills on Twitter if you’re so inclined. He played more of a base end role last season and if the Colts are wanting to add a base end with the kind of first step and speed they’ve been talking about all offseason, rather than just a pass rush specialist, I think Heldman could fill the role really well. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him sneak into the back of the third round. I don’t know that he’ll ever be a 10 sack guy at the next level but the only reason he won’t be picked much higher than he is, is because he played at Central Michigan. Heldman played in the East-West Shrine Bowl on the West roster, he was coached by Colts Senior Assistant defensive line coach, Matt Raich during the week.

Keyron Crawford Auburn- N/A RAS Crawford transferred from Arkansas State to Auburn and became a productive player at their “Buck” linebacker spot. As I understand it, the Buck position comes with a lot of responsibilities, more than he is likely to have at the next level. He only played one year of high school football and the word on him is he’s still developing a feel for the game. He is also a highly athletic, twitchy rusher off the edge. As of the time of this writing he hasn’t done any athletic testing, I did find that he played through an injury in 2025, so one would assume he may have had offseason surgery and will be unable to test. Crawford profiles as a highly athletic, ascending talent that should be a better pro than college player.

Mason Reiger Wisconsin- 9.64 RAS if explosion grades told the whole story Reiger might just be the guy the Colts picked. I won’t lie, Reiger was a guy I was excited to watch, I turned on the tape and was disappointed by what I saw. I don’t think he has the kind of initial burst the Colts are looking for. With that said he looked quicker at the East West Shrine Bowl, both during the week and by racking up three sacks and earning himself the defensive MVP award in the process. Reiger is a Wisconsin guy and while I don’t think Ballard drafts from Wisconsin just to do it, it doesn’t hurt that it is Ballard’s alma mater. Reiger started as a walk-on at Louisville, before playing in 43 games at Louisville and Wisconsin (transferring in 2025). He did miss the 2024 season due to a knee injury that required a bone graft. Reiger played in the East-West Shrine Bowl on the East roster, he was coached by Colts assistant defensive line coach, Kalon Humphries during the week.

Keyshawn James-Newby New Mexico- 7.54 RAS his RAS score is low, I know. But James-Newby ran a blazing 4.53 second 40 yard dash and has 33” arms, which we know Ballard loves. He started his career at Montana Tech, then transferred to Idaho and then to New Mexico, and he was highly productive at each stop. He finished his college career with 247 tackles and 37.5 sacks. He also had two forced fumbles in each of his final two seasons. His RAS is what it is because he’s 6’2” 238lbs. Normally that would be somewhat of a dealbreaker but if the Colts are looking to double up at the position on day three, there are few prospects with more unteachable physical tools than KJN. James-Newby played in the East-West Shrine Bowl on the West roster, he was coached by Colts Senior Assistant defensive line coach, Matt Raich during the week.

Aidan Hubbard Northwestern- 8.76 RAS with his 6’4” 260lbs frame and 32” arms, Hubbard looks the part in uniform. His 40 yard dash time was slower than Indy would probably like to see, but his 38.5” vertical and 10’ broad jump likely go a long way in making up for that. Hubbard is a loose fit in that he doesn’t play the run well and his tape doesn’t exactly make him seem “twitchy” on the field. But once again Hubbard played in the East-West Shrine Bowl on the West roster, he was coached by Colts Senior Assistant defensive line coach, Matt Raich during the week. Hubbard is another “if they double up” candidate, late on day three.

Honorable Mention:

Cashius Howell Texas A&M- 8.11 RAS Howell has a lot of things going for him. Tons of experience, a finalist for a long list of defensive awards, highly productive, transferred from Bowling Green to the SEC, twitchy, bendy rusher- all good things. The reason he lands himself on the honorable mention list, and the reason his RAS is so low despite running a 4.59 second 40 yard dash is his size. Howell is 6’2” 253 lbs. But more than just that he has 30” arms which are 3” shorter than anyone Ballard has ever drafted at the position, regardless of skillset. It’s possible they fall in love with everything else but Ballard believes that the NFL is a big mans game and Howell doesn’t check all those boxes. His arms are only 1.5” shorter than some of the guys that made the lists above, but Howell could end up being an earlier day two pick and I just don’t see Ballard taking a swing on a size outlier at this position, that soon.

Dani Dennis-Sutton Penn State- 9.96 RAS with Dennis-Sutton’s height 6’6”, weight 256lbs and insane testing numbers (4.63 40, 39.5” vert, 10’11” broad jump) I was excited to turn on his tape. What I saw did not match those numbers. Dennis-Sutton’s first step and subsequent burst across the line of scrimmage, doesn’t look like someone who put up those kind of numbers. He’s not slow out of his stance by any means, but those numbers are deceptive compared to what the guy showed in game. Given his height, weight and testing, I expect him to be pushed up boards but I’m hopeful the Colts pass on him unless they’re wise to the fact that there’s something in the water in State College, PA as they always turn out players who test extremely well but their ability to actually play in the NFL doesn’t line up, and judge his testing numbers accordingly.

Final thoughts on the position:

This year the draft is incredibly deep with defensive end prospects. In other years guys like Dennis-Sutton might have gone late first, early second, this season he should be available in the third (unless teams are ignoring tape completely). I’m banking a lot on all of the speed talk we’ve heard all offseason. If I’m right on the type of player they’re looking for, I’ve got a chance. If I’ve evaluated these players differently than they have, well all bets are off. I will tell you I like the fit of Jaishawn Barham, with his first step quickness and his ability to play linebacker on early downs if that’s the direction the team wants to go. I think he kills two birds with one stone. I don’t know that Malachi Lawrence will even be available by pick 47 and the second round is probably too early for my favorite prospect of the group Michael Heldman. Predicting defensive ends has been hard to do of late and picking which flavor of defensive end the Colts want adds to the difficulty.

Wide Receiver

The wide receiver position has been a “tale of two coaches” for Chris Ballard, early on with Frank Reich at the helm, the team seemed to select big-bodied receivers with a penchant for contested catches and their ability to run block. During the Shane Steichen era, the team has focused primarily on smaller, quicker, polished route runners who have an ability to separate from defenders, getting open quickly against man coverage. After trading away Ad Mitchell a season ago and Michael Pittman Jr., earlier this offseason the Colts should look to add a player to produce and grow with their newly re-signed franchise quarterback (like it or not) Daniel Jones.

Like the Edge position, this year’s receiver class is deep. It lacks the star power at the top of the draft that recent drafts have had but this year is littered with future starters and contributors on each day of the draft. So who’s it gonna be?

Names to know:

Skyler Bell Connecticut- 9.83RAS the two biggest knocks on Bell are that his route running is too mechanical and he isn’t a natural hands catcher. But I do remember Reggie Wayne forcing a lot of body catches early in his career, as well. I’m not saying Bell is on par with Reggie Wayne as a prospect, but it is a similarity I remember from watching Wayne those first few years, believing firmly that Bill Polian has lost his fastball. His other knock isn’t that he fails to create separation or that he’s a bad route runner, just that he’s mechanical. These negatives may be overcome by his absolutely insane athletic ability. He isn’t the route runner (or playmaker) that Ad Mitchell was coming out of Texas, however Bell’s vertical and broad jumps are on par with the latest Chris Ballard day two pick at the position.

Germie Bernard Alabama- 9.06 RAS a vertical jump of 32.5” is really, really good for the average person you meet in your day to day life. For an NFL receiver, it’s not great. Outside of that vertical jump Bernard grades out as a very good athlete. His 4.31 shuttle time couldn’t get more average and his 4.48 speed isn’t elite, but it’s still very good. His broad jump, 40 time and 3-cone scores are in-line with Josh Downs, while being nearly four inches taller and weighing 35 pounds more than the Indy slot receiver. Bernard is considered a polished route runner who excels against zone coverage but struggles to separate versus man to man. He is a willing blocker and was used in a variety of ways in multiple roles at Bama. He also played in more than 50 games in college and Chris Ballard told us they’re looking for highly experienced rookies who can contribute right away. The two things that might prevent Indy from turning in his card are 1. he may not be available when Indy is on the board and looking for a wideout and 2. his inconsistency against man coverage. I think Steichen could use him in really interesting ways but we’ve only seen guys who win quick against man coverage get drafted early under Steichen the question becomes, are his strengths enough to overcome this deficiency?

Antonio Williams Clemson- 8.58 RAS Williams stepped on campus at Clemson and at 18 years old, and instantly became The Guy in the receiver room reeling in a team leading 56 catches for 605 yards and 4 touchdowns. His sophomore year was derailed after five games with ankle and foot injuries. His junior year he was named to the first team All-ACC as a receiver catching 75 balls for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also named Honorable Mention All-ACC as a return specialist. His senior season he suffered a hamstring injury on the first drive, of the first game of the season against LSU. Despite missing multiple games he still led Clemson with 55 receptions for 604 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lance Zierlein describes his route running as containing a “freestyling” element, that helps him create separation from Cornerbacks. We saw similar qualities from Ad Mitchell. Like Mitchell, those freestyle routes may create timing issues between Williams and his quarterback. He’s noted as being a playmaker with the ball in his hands and someone who can run, pass the ball and catch, also similar qualities to Ad Mitchell. Where Williams falls short to the Mitchell comps (among other things) is that he isn’t nearly the athlete that Mitchell is. His 4.41 second 40 yard dash is excellent but, it’s still seven one-hundredths slower than the New York Jet and his broad jump a full foot shorter. Coupled with being three inches shorter and 18 pounds lighter, Williams doesn’t quite match up. However expecting anyone to matchup with Ad Mitchell as an athlete is absolutely asking for too much. I think Williams is a good candidate for Indy who just might be available when the Colts start looking for help at the position.

Deion Burks Oklahoma- 9.11 RAS if Burks lands in Indy he would instantly become the teams fastest receiver. Running a 4.30 second 40 yard dash at the combine. With that said, he didn’t consistently win on deep routes, not that he needs to as Alec Pierce has that role locked down for the Colts, it’s still interesting to note a guy with that kind of speed. Burks is noted as a good route runner and is good after the catch. Burks has short arms and might be a slot-only receiver at the next level but the route running and athleticism might be too much to pass up in the third round.

Ja’Kobi Lane USC- 9.39 RAS if Lane were a better route runner he would be a slam dunk for Indy on day three. That said if they want a Michael Pittman Jr. replacement, Lane is a great option. He does struggle to get off of press coverage, something Chris Ballard has talked about as being a detriment in the past and he doesn’t consistently create the kind of separation Shane Steichen seems to covet. That said, he wins a lot of contested catch situations and it highly valuable near the goal line. At 6’4” and 200 pounds he doesn’t have the bulk that MPJ had, but MPJ didn’t have the speed and acceleration JKL has, either.

Cyrus Allen Cincinnati- 8.69 RAS Allen is noted for being able to create separation with his speed and acceleration. He plays faster than his timed 4.49 second 40 yard dash and he grades out athletically similarly to Josh Downs (if you squint). Allen isn’t a polished route runner, but if he were he likely wouldn’t be a day three option. The real issue I see with the Cincinnati man is that while most of the other players I’ve listed so far have all had potential out wide and in the slot (due mostly to the potential of losing Downs in free agency after next season), Allen is mentioned as being limited to the slot receiver role. Chris Ballard has talked about Josh Downs having the ability to play outside, but in practice we’ve yet to see him produce much in that role. Taking someone like Allen signals the teams absolute belief that Downs actually can play outside and that they have plans to do so.

J. Michael Sturdivant Florida- 9.96 RAS we have arrived at the part of the article where we’re picking out traitsy, freak-show athletes who show just enough skill to maybe, kind of, fit what the Colts are looking for that the position. Sturdivant’s father played receiver at Virginia Tech and his uncle was none-other than Floyd Little. At this point he isn’t a great route runner but he isn’t limited physically in any conceivable way, so there is reason to believe this aspect of his game can improve. He has good footwork, tough over the middle and displays good ball skills working the sidelines. His biggest weaknesses can all be taught. Being 6’2” 207lbs, running a 4.40 40, having a 39” vertical and 10’11” broad jump, cannot. On day three you have to live with some warts and betting on a guy with Sturdivant’s physical tools in the middle of day three, is a pretty good bet to make. If he was a good- not even polished route runner, Sturdivant wouldn’t be a day three prospect.

Ted Hurst Georgia State- 9.90 RAS Hurst is another 6’4” receiver to make this list. Unlike Lane he isn’t a contested catch king. Instead he can create separation with good footwork and knows how to defeat press coverage. The biggest downside is that he doesn’t have much experience run blocking, something that we know Ballard likes from his receivers. He did transfer up in competition going from Valdosta State to Georgia State, but his level of competition was still poor. Hurst is an athletic freak with more developed skills than most athletic freaks that come out of places like Georgia State, but he may not be available when the Colts look to add to the position.

Honorable Mention:

Zachariah Branch Georgia 9.12 RAS athletically Branch is pretty similar to Josh Downs, only he’s more than a 1/10th of a second faster in the 40 yard dash. He’s better with the ball in his hands known for creating explosive plays. Where Branch and Downs really deviate is in how they go about actually getting the ball. Downs was a high level route runner, whereas Branch lived on screens and manufactured touches in the SEC. He was able to use his ability as a playmaker to pick up yards after the catch. Conversely, Downs lives over the middle, reeling in passes after making his defender look silly. Branch is another player most consider to be a slot only prospect. There are two reasons Branch finds himself in the Honorable Mention section of this article. The first is that I expect him to be gone long before the Colts are looking for receiver help and second, because, I just don’t see Chris Ballard rolling out a team with multiple sub 5’10” receivers making up it’s top three players on the depth chart. I don’t think the receiver they take this year needs to be the kind of 6’4” tower that they liked under Frank Reich, but successful 5’9” receivers are outliers and Ballard once said of size, if you draft a bunch of outliers, then you have a team of outliers. Branch might develop into a fantastic playmaker from the slot receiver position, I just don’t think he’ll do it in Indy.

Malik Benson Oregon- 6.05 RAS Malik Benson’s ability as a deep threat is heralded. In fact if DK Metcalf were 4” shorter and 30 pounds lighter, and his vertical jump were 8” shorter and his broad jump 12” less, then we’d be talking about practically the same player. Alright, so Benson and Metcalf aren’t really that much alike outside of their ability deep, their great play speed and their really bad agility testing. When looking through day three prospects, I wasn’t expecting to find a ton of guys who were finished products, especially not when it came to the more technical aspects of playing the position. What I was looking for were guys with some of the tools and the traits to succeed and grow into the type of player Shane Steichen could use in his offense. When I got to Benson I found a guy with track speed and the kind of size you would expect to see from a guy with some ability to develop those more technical aspects. Instead I found a guy who’s exceptional creating separation deep with all of the agility and explosion of a security guard at Greenwood Park Mall. With that said, he’s noted for having a big catch radius and playing with a lot of toughness over the middle. I don’t see the fit in Indy but I will understand the thought process for the team that takes him.

Final thoughts on the position:

Receiver is another position that has become somewhat tough to predict for Indy. In the past you found big prospects, who were productive and could block and if he was a good athlete, Bob’s your uncle. Now, despite having more data on Chris Ballard’s drafts, that data has only worked to muddy the water on the picture that is what the Colts will look for at the receiver position.

It’s entirely possible the Colts want a more direct replacement for Michael Pittman Jr. It’s possible they want another big bodied chain mover and if that’s the case, my list of players above is sure to be more wrong than right. With that said, let’s hope I’ve estimated correctly.

Offensive Line

Ah, here we go, a position group I’m confident I at least have a somewhat firm grip on what Chris Ballard and his staff will be looking for. Ballard has consistently looked for a few things along his offensive lines. First he needs you to be big, unless you’re playing center, then as long as you’re more well put together than the average guy in an I70 truck stop at 2 AM, you’re good to go. But otherwise, height and weight seem to matter. You also need to be an elite athlete, all of Ballard’s biggest day two and three hits along the offensive line have graded out as exceptional RAS athletes and I think they’ll continue to look in that direction unless the situation is juuuust right.

Historically the Colts have cared less about arm length on the edges, with Jalen Travis’ nearly 35” arms being the exception. Travis also boasted a 9.09 RAS score to go along with those long arms so when considering the preponderance of evidence, it’s tough think that Travis’ selection marks some sort of shift in philosophy, the way the philosophy has shifted at Edge and receiver in the past few years. That said Chris Ballard does have a history of drafting huge players for his offensive line and it’s hard to argue with his methodology at the position, finding good offensive linemen on all three days of the draft.

The challenge of the offensive line isn’t knowing what the Colts are looking for, it is always narrowing down the field of guys into a list and then picking the right ones for THE List. This year we believe the focus is going to be on finding depth and competition up front, specifically someone who can fill in at center and swing tackle. But I’m not going to completely ignore guards, either. So lets get into it and see what we come up with.

Names to know:

Brian Parker II Duke- 9.13 RAS Parker started most of his 40 games played at right tackle. He never played a game at center but the belief is, it will be his best position in the NFL. Part of the reason most are projecting him to the center position is his lack of arm length. That’s true for most NFL center prospects but at 32 7/8” arms, he measures identically to Bernhard Raimann. To be fair Raimann was a better, albeit older, prospect but my point is, while he is projected to move inside at the next level I don’t believe the Colts would mind kicking him out to right tackle in a backup role if the need should arise. He likely wouldn’t do much to push Goncalves but his addition would provide the team with a solid second option at multiple OL positions.

Travis Burke Memphis- 9.05 RAS Chris Ballard really does love massive offensive linemen and Burke fits the bill. Standing at nearly 6’9” tall and weighing in at 325 pounds, you won’t find many guys like him out in the wild. Oh except for Jalen Travis 6’8” 339 pounds with a 9.09 RAS. Burke isn’t going to fill the hole left by Danny Pinter’s departure, but he will fill the hole left by Braden Smith’s departure to the Houston Texans. The plan wouldn’t be to slot Burke into the starting right tackle but rather let Burke take over as the backup swing tackle if either Raimann or Travis has to miss any time at all. Previously Travis filled the swing tackle role but he’ll be a little preoccupied starting to worry about filling in at left tackle if the need were to arise.

Caleb Tiernan Northwestern- 9.37 RAS Tiernan is nearly 6’8” tall. Ultimately Tiernan may not fit the teams need for a backup center but he is exactly the kind of prospect Indy would be interested in on day two of the draft to fill in at swing tackle. A team captain who played in 52 games, making 43 starts. Most of his starts came at left tackle but he did start games as a redshirt freshman at right tackle. Tiernan’s biggest weaknesses are his 32” arms, which are surprising given how massive he otherwise is. Due to his arm length some people believe he’ll have success moving inside to guard at the next level, if he moves inside his RAS jumps from 9.37 to 9.66. Both scores are solidly elite but it’s tough to argue he has the size and athletic profile the Colts will be interested in.

Diego Pounds Ole Miss- 8.57 RAS Pounds is another large man at 6’6” 325 pounds. Athletically he’s not a perfect fit but he’s still a very good athlete for the position. He only played left tackle in college and he wasn’t a stand out run blocker either. That said if he continues to develop as a player you could do a lot worse than Diego Pounds as your swing tackle.

Jake Slaughter Florida- 9.97 RAS Slaughter is a centers, center who is unlikely to provide much help at guard and you can probably forget about tackle. Slaughter is a highly experienced center playing in 51 games for the Gators in his five years in Gainesville. He was a multi year captain, second team All American, first team All-SEC and was a Rimmington Trophy finalist. If Indy misses out on someone with more position flexibility, Slaughter has what the team is looking for, for depth at the center position.

Austin Barber Florida- 9.81 RAS another player nearing 6’7” makes the list as Barber checks the size box. He has started games at both right and left tackle in his college career. He is someone else on this list that may not be the best run blocker but has the athleticism time to improve all facets of his game and would fit nicely in Indy as their third tackle.

Jager Burton Kentucky- 9.88 RAS last year UK had a center I really liked named Eli Cox. Cox was an excellent athlete who I thought was better than the discourse around him leading up to the draft. The NFL disagreed with me and he went undrafted. He did latch on with the Houston Texans and is currently on their roster. In 2025 Burton took over the spot in the middle of UK’s offensive line and played well. Because of Cox’s play, Burton has started games at left guard, right guard and now center. I don’t like Burton’s tape as much as I liked Cox, but I do like him more as a guard than a center. Either way I think he could be the type of player the Colts take a shot on, on day three.

Trey Zuhn III Texas A&M- 9.99 RAS having started 50 games, 48 at left tackle and two at center, Zuhn is the kind of prospect Chris Ballard was talking about when he said that targeting experienced players could yield immediate results. Zuhn, when moved to center on the RAS website, has the second highest RAS score for a center of all time. The Colts value athleticism on the offensive line and Zuhn has it in droves. The general belief is that due to his shorter than ideal arms he’ll need to move inside in the NFL. The Colts generally don’t concern themselves too much with shorter armed tackle prospects but his potential to play at multiple positions on the line coupled with his ability to be the backup at center from day one may be too much for them to overlook. He played his entire career at left tackle, but if Indy believes there is any chance he could swing to the right side too, his value just goes up that much more. I’m not sure, yet, that Zuhn will make THE List at the end of this article, but this guy’s fit with what we believe the team wants is hard to ignore.

Riley Mahlman Wisconsin- 8.01 RAS Mahlman has the experience the Colts typically look for out of their offensive linemen, starting all four years at both right and left tackle. He is also 6’8”. He has room to add weight only tipping the scales at 308 pounds currently and notably lacking core strength. He is an effective run blocker but was beaten too often in pass protection that may have been due mostly to his shorter arms. Being from Wisconsin doesn’t hurt as Ballard himself was no doubt aware of Mahlman just from being a Badger fan. He may be a good option late on day three if the Colts miss out on a swing tackle prospect earlier in the draft.

Honorable Mention:

Conner Lew Auburn- N/A RAS Lew is considered by many to be the top center prospect in this class. With that said he was a true Junior who only started 25 games at Auburn and will be coming into his rookie year off of a torn ACL. Given the fact that he seems likely to go on day two of the draft and the uncertainty of when Lew will be ready to practice and play this offseason, I don’t think he is a great fit for what Indy is looking for at the position.

Pat Coogan Indiana- 6.80 RAS the only reason I’m including Coogan’s name in this article is because he is almost as Hoosier as it gets. He is from Illinois originally, but he went to Notre Dame as a freshman, played there for four years, transferred to Indiana, helped the Hoosiers win their first national championship in school history and was named the Offensive MVP of the Rose Bowl the first time the award went to an offensive lineman since 1944. Coogan better never pay for a drink in the state of Indiana as long as he lives. But having said that, he just doesn’t fit the Indianapolis Colts OL profile at all. His size is fine for the position, his short arms don’t matter, it’s his athletic makeup that prevents me from giving him the greenlight to be considered. It probably would have been better for him to not run the shuttle drill and his 10 yard split in the 40 yard dash was awful. His vertical jump and broad jump were fine but for a team with a GM who has famously said there’s a reason you test the players athletically, Coogan just doesn’t fit. IF the Colts do take Coogan, it will be because of everything else, not because of who he is as a player and I wouldn’t bet on that happening.

Final Thoughts on the Position:

The number of offensive linemen this year who fit what the Colts might be looking for is smaller than in years past. We’re looking for position flexibility and the ability to fill in at center. Those guys don’t grow on trees but they are easier to find than a day one starter at any offensive line position. If I’ve miscalculated the team’s need for their next offensive line draftee, then there’s a good chance none of the names on this list end up on the teams website on the evening of April 25th. But if that is the case, just know there are a lot of very good prospects who fit the Colts typical mold for OL available at every level of this draft.

Safety

Chris Ballard drafts a lot of safeties. On one hand it feels like he’s been trying to convert one to linebacker, successfully for a long time now. He tried to convert Marvell Tell III to cornerback, back in 2019 and that didn’t work out. But alas, each year (sans 2018) he takes a safety either for his defense immediately (Blackmon, Willis, Hooker) for development (Carlies, Cross, Thomas, Tell) or for special teams (Wohler, Scott). Sometimes he takes guys and I have no idea what the plan was supposed to be (Simpson, Davis).

You can argue that Blackmon was for the future, but at that point Hooker was going into the final year of his deal, had never played a full season and the team declined to pick up Hooker’s 5th year option a week after the 2020 draft ended. Hooker only played two games in 2020, but either way the writing was on the wall. They were looking for a replacement with Blackmon and they didn’t have much time to wait on development.

The investment at defensive back for the 2026 Colts has been substantial. They’re paying Cam Bynum, they’re paying Mooney Ward, they’re paying Sauce Gardner and while they’re currently seeking a trade, they’re paying Kenny Moore as a top-flight nickel corner. They’re spending a ton of money on the back half of the defense. So in that way it’s far different than it was in 2020. In other ways it feels very similar.

Going into the 2025 draft they didn’t have Sauce Gardner, they were paying Ward and Bynum, sure. But they didn’t know what they were going to do at CB2. There was every reason to let Nick Cross play out his contract, see if he continued to grow as a very young player, if his first year starting was an aberration or if 2024 was who he was. Once they determined if they wanted to bring him back, or rather what price to bring him back at, this time last year there was no way they could have known what was about to happen. We can debate good decisions versus bad decisions all day, but the fact of the matter is that’s what happened. It makes sense and this is where we find ourselves at the position. After bringing in the aforementioned free agents (all on one year deals) there are players in place who can take snaps this year but they’re all only here for a year and the most direct Cross-replacement has had serious injury concerns during his career.

And in that way it feels just like 2020. Since this is an offensive draft it’s safe to expect safety to come on day three and if I were a betting man, I would bet it would happen early on that third day. Let’s jump into the names to know.

Names to know:

Bud Clark TCU 8.90 RAS Clark is described by Zierlein as being a safety in a cornerback’s body. He’s also noted for being willing to come downhill and make plays in the run game, but at 188 pounds, you do worry about injuries from someone willing to get in there and throw their bag of bones around. Clark ran a 4.41 and posted great explosion scores. His scouting report and testing numbers read like a more athletic Kenny Moore. Clark also has the experience Ballard is seeking, spending six seasons at TCU and playing in 61 (not a typo, sixty-one) games. He was a three time team captain and had 15 interceptions over the course of his last four college seasons. Clark missed time in three of his six seasons at TCU and in Lou’s defense he might be more of a Kenny Moore replacement than a one to one replacement for Nick Cross. But Clark’s playmaking and athleticism might be enough for Lou to want to scheme around that loss rather than replace it directly.

A.J. Haulcy LSU- N/A RAS at nearly 6’ 215 Haulcy has the size to play in the void left by Nick Cross. He’s a noted playmaker and wood-layer willing to fill against the run and break up passes via violent contact. He’s the kind of guy you love to have on your team and hate on your opponent. Haulcy started his career at New Mexico before transferring to Houston and then on to LSU where he became a first-team All-SEC member in his only season in the conference. Not only is he a violent finisher he intercepted 8 passes total during his junior and senior seasons. He played in 48 career games and his football IQ seems to match that experience. He is noted as having deficiencies in man coverage and his acceleration and long speed are questionable.

VJ Payne Kansas State- 9.74 RAS playing in 52 games in a power four conference is something I’m used to seeing out of offensive linemen. It’s rare to see someone with that much experience at defensive back and it’s rarer still for someone with that type of experience to play that many games in a major conference that tests as a legitimate athletic freak and team captain. At 6’3” 208, running a 4.40 second 40 yard dash, a 10’7” broad jump and a 6.94 second 3 cone drill he has great long speed, acceleration and agility. Not to mention his nearly 34” arms (that Chris Ballard has to love). At K-State he was used in a multitude of ways, playing single high, split, in the box and man to man against tight ends. In fact he was very good against several very good tight ends his senior season. Payne isn’t a perfect fit, however. He isn’t a one to one replacement for Nick Cross. He doesn’t provide nearly the run support of Cross but Payne isn’t a liability either. He’s fine coming down hill to make a tackle. He doesn’t get around blocks consistently enough for my taste and in my opinion he didn’t play to his size against the run, while he absolutely does in coverage. Anaroumo will likely have to account for this change if Payne is on the field but it might be something they’re willing to deal with if they like his trajectory of development overall.

Kamari Ramsey USC- 8.48 RAS Ramsey’s biggest flaw is that he is said to have improved his tackling a lot in 2025 but still isn’t great against the run. He is, however, solid in coverage with experience playing all over the defense including in the slot. Outside of his run game issues, Ramsey has also only played in 35 games, missing six games over the past two seasons (though one game was due to food poisoning). Regardless no matter how good he is in coverage, no matter how versatile he is on the back end, the Colts will have to be sure they’re willing to sign off on someone who has consistently missed so much time while in college.

Robert Spears-Jennings Oklahoma- 8.92 RAS in 2024 RSJ forced four fumbles, had 2.5 sacks and an interception. He has played in a total of 47 games for Oklahoma and is a decisive run defender with good tackling technique. Zierlein states that he fills run lanes like a linebacker. He has the speed (4.32 40 time) to keep up with man but hasn’t developed this skill require to excel at it. His eagerness to fill run lanes combined with his downhill speed too often work against him running past his target and missing out on tackle attempts he could have had a chance to make. His agility testing matches his poor on field change of direction ability, compounding his lack of feel for angles. Spears-Jennings should be available well into day three and if not for the warts on the scouting report, he wouldn’t be. Ultimately he’s 6’2” 205 pounds and converts his 4.32 speed to power when tackling, and there aren’t that many guys available on day three that have those traits. If he can find a home on special teams he may develop into a quality starter in time.

Cole Wisniewski Texas Tech- N/A RAS Wisniewski made the fairly rare transition from linebacker to safety while at North Dakota State. He transferred to Texas Tech in 2024 and missed the season due to a foot injury. The reason he’s on this list at all is because he is 6’4” 220 pounds. His arms are short at 30.5” but as far as safety to linebacker conversion projects go, Wisniewski would be a good option. One concerning aspect is that he didn’t run the 40 yard dash but did the vertical (36.5”) and broad (10’2”) jumps. He is an interesting name to watch on day three of the draft just due to his unique path and size. He will likely have to make his way on special teams early in his career but I expect him to land in a camp somewhere.

Honorable Mention:

Treydan Stukes Arizona- 9.77 RAS a fifth year senior, former walk-on turned multiple time team captain, all of that makes for a great story. What makes for an even better story is when that guy, becomes a top draft prospect at his position. Stukes isn’t a downhill run stopper but he is a playmaker, noted hard worker and is said to possess “infectious passion” for the game. Stukes has the experience, character and speed the Colts would love to have. I just don’t think they would love to have it as early in the draft as he is likely to be taken. Stukes is a good enough prospect to be worked into the Indy back end despite his flaws as a run defender and with his blend of athleticism and work ethic, he will no doubt become a very good safety for someone in the NFL, I just don’t see it being the Colts.

Zakee Wheatley Penn State- 7.68 RAS noted for driving downhill and finishing plays and having played in 58 games at Penn State over the past five years Wheatley seems like just the kind of player the Colts would be looking for to replace Nick Cross. He is good enough now to earn playing time right away and could grow into a good starter at the position in time. The hang up for me is that for a guy that seems so set on adding speed to his defense, I don’t see any way Chris Ballard could take a safety who runs a 4.62 second 40 yard dash. And I’m not even saying that he will somehow be less than good because of his 4.62, that’s a completely fine time for a safety to run. There are safeties in the Hall of Fame who no doubt ran slower times. But the major talking point all offseason long has been adding speed. While it’s true they’re unlikely to improve on Cross’ 4.34 second 40 time (and play speed that matched) but you can’t preach speed and then draft a replacement (as early as they would have to take Wheatley) who ran nearly 3/10th’s slower.

Final Thoughts on the Position:

There are a lot of options to replace Nick Cross but few guys would be a one to one replacement for what he brought to the defense. Cross was very good coming down hill, but struggled at times in coverage. Many of the prospects listed above excel in coverage while having more to be desired against the run. It will be an adjustment to the back end of the defense but even if they don’t find someone to erase running backs in the hole, having someone who can erase elite tight ends and oversized receivers would be a welcome change for the Indy defense.

Quarterback

This one is tricky. On one hand if they move Richardson (which seems likely) they’ve never gone into a season with only two quarterbacks on the roster under Shane Steichen. So their options are roll with Daniel Jones fresh off of his Achilles tear and Riley Leonard as QB2, or sign a veteran to come in and compete with Leonard for his spot. That would make some sense, the team should have the cap room available and there will be several options available post-draft that have enough experience to make things interesting should the need arise.

But I think the most likely option is a day three dart thrown at a traitsy prospect that needs some time to develop and grow in an NFL program behind an established vet like Daniel Jones (cue the Anthony Richardson was mismanaged complaints). I am still going to include at least a couple of day two prospects in this one even though I really think it’s likely to happen on day three. The reason is, I could see a world where the team misses out on the receivers and offensive linemen they have graded out as being worth their third round pick. If that happens and they aren’t able to find a trade partner, because this is an offensive draft, there’s a real chance the highest ranked prospect on their board at the time is a quarterback.

It’s unlikely, yes. But far crazier things have happened during the NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at who might be on the Colts short list for Quarterback.

Names to know:

Drew Allar Penn State- N/A RAS Drew Allar has all of the tools you could want in a quarterback prospect. The issue is the production and play never aligned with his physical gifts. If a team brings Allar in and lets him get comfortable in the system and his role, he could improve his processing and his confidence and he could turn out to be a better pro than college quarterback. It’s a longshot, but every quarterback prospect is, and Drew Allar’s physical traits might make him a longshot worth betting on.

Garrett Nussmeier LSU- N/A RAS Nuss is small. He’s not quite 6’2” which isn’t terrible but he’s just 203 pounds and he has some injury history, which is less than ideal. He has a big arm and plenty of physical gifts even at his smaller size. His issue, like Allar, is mostly between his ears. His processing is slow as he struggles to see what defenses are giving him after the snap. One thing that Nuss has going for him is that his confidence never seems to wane. But that is a double edged sword as he truly isn’t ever afraid to make a mistake. Bringing in someone with Nuss’ skills, mindset and shortcomings to a QB room with a guy like Daniel Jones obsessed with film study, could lead to Nuss growing into the kind of pre and post-snap processor he needs to be to find success. My only hang up with him is the size and holding up to the rigors of the NFL.

Taylen Green Arkansas- 9.99 RAS having played in 53 games in college, Green is an experienced college quarterback with a lot of tools. His feet and eyes worked well when working his reads in the pocket (I watched one game so this isn’t gospel) but his throwing motion is a touch slow. If this can be cleaned up it might help with his accuracy which isn’t bad, just inconsistent. His arm isn’t massive but he can make all of the throws. He is a fantastic option for any team hoping to draft someone with a full bag of tools to develop long-term.

Mark Gronowski Iowa- 9.61 RAS Gronoski is the NCAA’s all time winningest QB, starting 68 career games and winning 58 of them. He received a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering with a 3.76 GPA and had a 4.0 GPA as an engineering management graduate student. He transferred from South Dakota State to Iowa for his fifth year. Gronowski won more awards than could possibly be listed in this article, was constantly recognized for his academic achievements and was a multi time team captain. He was also the Shrine Bowl offensive MVP. He is only 6’2” but he’s a solid 226, ran a 4.71 40 yard dash, had excellent explosion and agility scores. His 9.61 RAS is 45th highest for Quarterbacks all time. The downside is he doesn’t have the biggest arm and his production tanked the second he stepped on the field for Iowa- most of that is due to the Iowa offense but it is worth noting. Gronowski doesn’t even have a scouting report from a reputable analyst. I watched Iowa vs IU and what I saw was a guy comfortable in the pocket, scanning the defense, throwing to open receivers and taking checkdowns when he should. It’s tough without all-22 to give you a fair and complete evaluation but the only film I have on this guy is from 2022, when he was in the midst of leading the Jackrabbits to back to back FCS natties. But what I saw was an accurate passer with poise and enough athleticism to make the defense pay on scrambles and designed runs alike. Gronowski should be available late on day three and would be an excellent fit as QB3 in Indy.

Cole Payton North Dakota State- 9.87 RAS this draft class is full of late round, freak athlete quarterbacks and Cole Payton fits that bill. He only started for one year at NDSU but had a package of plays in each of his five seasons on campus. In 2023 he tied for the team lead with 13 rushing touchdowns and has started at running back. In 2025 as the teams starting quarterback he threw for 16 touchdowns and added another 13 on the ground. I’ll be honest, I don’t love Payton as a prospect. His arm is on the weaker end and he isn’t accurate, but he could improve both greatly. See, his throwing motion is what I would describe as “wild”. It’s bad, bad. And if the Colts believe their mechanics people can fix his mechanical issues, there’s potentially a lot of meat on the bone. But this is a complete teardown of both his upper and lower body as it relates to his throwing motion and the guy plays the only position where throwing motion really matters. That said he would provide a lot of value in a package of plays and potentially on special teams with his athleticism and seeming willingness to play other positions.

Haynes King Georgia Tech- 9.62 RAS a sixth year senior King started his college career at Texas A&M where he earned a starting role, only to lose it after losing to Appalachian State. He then transferred to Georgia Tech and went on to become a three time team captain. In his sixth season he set single season records for total yards of offense and completions and career records for completions and completion percentage. Most of his issues come down to footwork and ball security, both of which can be improved. In the right situation King could continue to grow as someone’s QB3 given his tremendous athletic potential and resilience to just keep grinding until he finally became a productive college player.

Honorable Mention:

Carson Beck Miami- N/A RAS after tearing his UCL in his throwing elbow, Beck’s arm strength seemed diminished. He has tremendous size and as much experience in big games as anyone you’ll find in the draft. With that said someone with his level of experience shouldn’t make the kinds of mistakes he consistently makes. With time and development, these things could improve but they are a concern. Also, he’s ending up on the honorable mention list mostly because… well have you seen him in interviews? There’s just something about this guy that rubs me the wrong way. I realize that’s not hard hitting analysis, but it’s true and this is my article, I can do whatever I want.

Final Thoughts on the Position:

What a weird year for quarterbacks. We have maybe two guys worthy of first round picks (don’t kill me but I don’t love Mendoza as a prospect) a handful of guys with tons of high level college experience, that just never developed into great players and a highly athletic group of late rounders with massive holes in their game. I wouldn’t blame Indy for passing this year on a prospect, but if they’re looking at the board in the sixth or seventh round and one of those athletes is still on the board, they’re just as good of an option as anyone else they could draft and you never know. Every pick is a lottery ticket.

Linebacker

I miss on linebackers every year and I’ve already predicted that they’re not taking one early this year which probably means they’ll trade up to take one. With that in mind I’m going to give you some names to watch both early and late in this years draft.

This is also an interesting nugget on what they have historically done at the position:

I’m going to post this one again because it is telling when it comes to the position:

Names to know:

Anthony Hill Jr. Texas- 9.81 RAS it feels like Chris Ballard was talking directly about Hill when he talked about passing up a special player for need. The one thing Hill doesn’t have going for him is that he is a true junior. He lacks the experience of some of the other guys on this list and we know that’s important to Ballard going into this season. With that said, Hill has absolutely everything the team could want at the position. He can run, he has the instincts, he seemingly has rare playmaking ability (eight forced fumbles, three interceptions, 17 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss all in just 32 starts at Texas). Athletically he’s as good of a fit as it gets and his size 6’2” 238 pounds with 32” arms are textbook Ballard traits for the position. Depending on who you listen to there’s a chance he’ll be available late in the second round. And if he is, there may not be a better fit for the 2026 Colts in this draft.

Jake Golday Cincinnati- 9.85 RAS Golday has it all for what the Colts seemingly need at the position. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s explosive and he’s coming to the NFL after an extensive and productive college career. There is a chance he’s gone before the Colts are on the clock at 47. But if he ends up being the pick it’s completely understandable.

Jaden Dugger Louisiana- 9.60 RAS Dugger is nearly 6’5” with 35” arms. He ran a 4.60 second 40 yard dash, had a 10’6” broad jump and posted the shuttle and three cone of a much smaller man. A converted safety, Dugger is still learning the position and isn’t a natural at taking on or getting off blocks. His measurables and tested athleticism make him an intriguing name to watch late on day three for the Colts.

Kaleb Elarms-Orr TCU- 9.33 RAS if adding speed is truly the name of the game for the Colts defense this offseason, they’ll need to look no further than KEO. He ran a blazing 4.47 second 40 yard dash and showed plenty of explosion with his 40” vertical and 10’4” broad jumps. KEO is noted for being beaten by play action too often and a lack of instinct for the position. On the upside he plays to his timed speed and acceleration and is an excellent blitzer, something that Lou would love. If the Colts want KEO there’s a slight chance he’ll be there on day three and they might consider him then.

Jack Dingle Cincinnati- 9.82 RAS Dingle started for three seasons at Cincinnati and yet seems like he hasn’t developed at all. He struggles with the finer points of playing the position and instead relied on just being a better athlete than everyone else. His way to a roster is going to be via special teams. If he plays well on teams there’s always a chance he can grow into a solid pro just due to his athletic gifts.

Jack Kelly BYU- 9.72 RAS I went back and forth on Kelly. I was going to add him to the article I just wasn’t sure if I should include him with the linebackers or at the end with the special teamers. To be completely fair I think Kelly would crack the linebacker rotation with Indy in his rookie season, maybe sooner than later but that’s more to do with how I feel about the Colts talent at the position and less to do with Kelly. Ultimately I think he could have a role early on as blitzer but he may need more time to develop into an every down player. In the meantime he should star on special teams.

Honorable Mention:

Eric Gentry USC- 7.74 RAS there aren’t a lot of NFL players walking around who are almost 6’7” tall with 35” arms and of the guys who are, almost all of them play offensive line. Gentry is a converted safety who struggles to bend and change direction in man coverage. Like Dugger, Gentry is still learning the finer points of football but at just 221 pounds I have serious questions about his ability to ever gain the weight and strength that would be needed to seriously contribute on defense. Conversely, I think he could become a professional kick blocker on special teams. Ultimately, if a team believes that he can develop into more than a sideshow act and someday play on defense, he’ll likely find an easy home on special teams from day one. For a Colts team that needs immediate help and is looking for experienced, pro ready players I just don’t see Gentry’s fit. He is too light for the position and will need a lot of development to be able to hold up to the rigors of NFL life as a down to down player in the defensive front seven. For those reasons I don’t think Gentry is right for the Colts in this draft at linebacker.

Final Thoughts on the Position:

This is a really good year for linebackers. Day two is littered with guys who could end up being really good starters for a long time. And early on day three you’ll have quite a few solid starters come off the board. With Lou Anarumo on board it does feel like they may not value the position as much as they did with previous defensive coordinators. Time will tell if I’m right and I know for a fact I would love to watch Jacob Rodriguez run around with a horseshoe on his helmet but I’m highly skeptical that’s going to happen.

Special Teams

This is a fun section. Pretty much anything goes down here, the only thing I’m looking for are late-round prospects with elite athletic testing, or unique traits and abilities. Not much else matters.

Chip Trayanum, Running Back, Toledo- 9.62 RAS described as a straight line pile mover, Trayanum is the kind of back that has excelled behind Jonathan Taylor. He has experience in all four phases of special teams and is a good pass catcher and blocker. He’s not the pure runner than DJ Giddens was a year ago but he does all of the things Giddens didn’t and Ol’ Chip could find himself active on gameday because of it.

Jordan Van Den Berg, Defensive Tackle, Georgia Tech- 10.00 RAS Van Den Berg’s story isn’t so different (at least not to the average NFL Draft fan) from Bernhard Raimann’s. Born in South Africa, played rugby growing up and didn’t play American football until he was a Sophomore in High School. He has the second highest RAS ever recorded for the position and his tape looks like it. His first step is so, so fast. He’s into the offensive lineman’s chest in a split second and then the problems start. He has seemingly no idea what to do after the ball is snapped. Very little hand fighting, doesn’t get off a block, almost always pushes forward taking away the middle of the pocket, but if he had any technique at all, he wouldn’t be a borderline draftable player. He also routinely stalemated double teams against Georgia, just stood two Georgia offensive linemen up eating both blockers. The physical tools are there and someone almost has to take a flier on this kid and hope they can teach him how to play football because if he ever figures it out, he could be a beast of a 3-tech. He was also a team captain his senior season.

Ja’Qurious Conley, Safety, Charlotte- 9.94 RAS Conley stands two inches shorter than Hunter Wohler, but his arms are two inches longer. He’s also faster and stronger than Wohler. He may not be the same hitter that Wohler is but it wouldn’t surprise me to see someone bring Conley in late to have him play in a third down linebacker role and play on kick and punt coverage.

Uar Bernard, Defensive Tackle, Nigeria (country not university)- 9.90 RAS the good news about Bernard is that he’s 6’4’ tall 308 pounds, has nearly 36” arms, 11 inch hands, ran a 4.63 second 40 yard dash, posted a 39” vertical and 10’10” broad jump. He is an extremely rare athlete. The bad news: he’s never played a snap of football. He is a prospect from the International Player Pathway program. He was found at a local (I assume to him) pro day hosted by the IPP. His inclusion on a roster won’t take up a roster spot as he essentially becomes an extra practice squad player. I don’t know if he’ll get drafted, but man, what a story.

Evan Svoboda, Quarterback/Tight End, Wyoming- 9.89 RAS Svoboda spent time at both Quarterback and Tight End but his position going forward will be at tight end. With elite speed, explosion and agility scores, someone might take a late round flier on him as he seems willing to do anything to continue his career. At 6’5” 250 pounds, I wouldn’t want to try to block him as he’s flying down the field on kick coverage.

Jaren Kanak, Fullback, Oklahoma- 9.70 RAS a converted linebacker, Kanak moved to tight end his senior season, before realizing a 6’2” 234 pound tight end with bad route running and questionable hands wasn’t going to cut it. He needs to improve as a blocker as well as at all of the other aspects of actually being a fullback but the good news is he has plenty of experience tackling people and he runs a 4.52 40 yard dash. The guy could live on punt and kick coverage teams while he learns the finer points of playing offense.

Malick Meiga, Wide Receiver, Coastal Carolina- 9.60 RAS first, I just need to say Meiga isn’t getting drafted. His production at Coastal Carolina was only barely better than mine. But prior to transferring, Meiga played at Penn State where he was a multi-time captain and was named by his teammates as their best special teams player. He might not make a roster, he may never play a down of football again, but his background on special teams may warrant a look in someone’s camp.

Kyle Dixon, Wide Receiver, Culver-Stockton- 9.42 RAS if you’ve ever watched an NAIA football game you will recognize quickly if someone on the field has a realistic chance at playing in the NFL, and watching Kyle Dixon it’s immediately apparent he is far and away the best player on the field. He was uncoverable at that level and his athletic testing showed why. He’s 6’2” 220 pounds ran a 4.50 second 40 yard dash and posted a 40.5” vertical and 10’11” broad jump. Dixon has since been invited to several top-30 visits. He’s either going to be drafted late or will be a priority free agent pick up for someone.

THE List

Going into the draft the Indianapolis Colts have seven picks. As is tradition, I will give myself 14 chances, two per pick, to hit on a name. I’m not listing them in any order, I think that the 14th name on this list is just as likely to be drafted by the Colts as the first.

Without further ado, here it is, the list of 14 names that this article will forever be judged on:

1. VJ Payne, Safety, Kansas State
2. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
3. Antonio Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson
4. Jaden Dugger, Linebacker, Louisiana
5. Anthony Hill Jr., Linebacker, Texas
6. Brian Parker II, Center, Duke
7. Jack Kelly, Linebacker, BYU
8. Mason Reiger, Edge, Wisconsin
9. Jake Slaughter, Center, Florida
10. Jordan Van Den Berg, Defensive Tackle, Georgia Tech
11. Deion Burks, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma
12. Robert Spears-Jennings, Safety, Oklahoma
13. Trey Zuhn III, Tackle/Center, Texas A&M
14. Caleb Tiernan, Tackle, Northwestern

THE Bonus List

1. Travis Burke, Tackle, Memphis
2. Drew Allar, Quarterback, Penn State
3. Michael Heldman, Edge, Central Michigan
4. Mark Gronowski, Quarterback, Iowa

What Is THE Bonus List?

Since 2017 Chris Ballard and his staff average more than 9 selections per year. His lowest total is seven (2021) his highest is 12 (2023). Therefore, I give myself two bonus picks (equaling four more names) to account for his average number of picks. But THE Bonus List has some rules.

First, this list is ranked.

Second, if the Colts finish with 7 total picks, THE Bonus List won’t count at all. If they finish with 8 picks, the last two names on THE Bonus List, don’t count. If Indy finishes with 9 or more, all of THE Bonus List counts.

Third, no I won’t be taking names off THE List if they finish with fewer than seven picks. THE List isn’t ranked.

There you have it, THE List is complete. 14 to 18 names to watch out for starting tomorrow night.

Where I Will Get It Wrong

This year the pre draft press conference helped to clear up a lot of questions I had while putting the finishing touches on this years set of predictions. But I still find myself guessing about safety. I’m guessing about quarterback. I’m guessing about linebacker, but that’s due to my own personal issues about never being able to sus out what they’re going to do at the position. I’m guessing they won’t look for a cornerback and I’m guessing they might like a running back late but Ballard did say they expect DJ Giddens to take a step forward, but they’re still down a proven 3rd down back, but I’m not confident enough to list any running backs anywhere but in my Special Teams section.

I know it seems like I’m complaining (I’m really not) and I know it probably feels like this is all one big guess so why am I complaining, anyway? But every year there are massive hints that are dropped for what the Colts are going to do early. All the way back to 2020 I felt like I had an idea the direction they were going to go and if I had that one clue, predicting the rest of it got a lot easier. This year I was guessing they were going to go edge early, Ballard’s interviews led me part of the way there sure, but more than anything his history drafting edge on day two is what led me to that place. Now after listening to his press conference I’m less sure. I think a linebacker, someone with special traits like Anthony Hill Jr. might be the play, especially if he’s available after a trade back in the second round.

This being an offensive year is odd too. It’s odd that they only have two premium picks. In the past when they traded away a first round pick, they didn’t count the players received as being in any way a part of their draft class but outside of the guy who will likely be at best the 4th receiving option behind Pierce, Downs and Warren and a couple of backups on the offensive line, they don’t have many needs on that side of the ball. Conversely on defense they need help, immediate help, on all three levels of the field.

So if I miss on their direction early, the way I did in 2023, THE List is useless. I’m confident I found some players the team will like, I’m just not sure they’ll end up being realistic options for them WHEN they’re ready to add to that position.

But that’s the name of the game, right? That’s what makes this thing so hard to do. Time will tell if I’ve pulled it off .

Final Thoughts

Thanks for coming along with me on this ride once again. We’re over 21,000 words. Earlier today my daughter asked me why I’m still writing in my office (I’ve been planted here for every second of free time I’ve had for the last month) and I told her I was basically writing a short book. According to Google an 80 page novel typically contains between 20,000 and 28,000 words. So thanks again for reading this novel.

Based on how last season ended and my current level of expectation for next season, I believe this will be our last Ballard Draft Leak article. I thought last years edition would be my last, too, but here we are. If it is, I’ll try my hand at something a little different next year. If Chris Ballard is back once again, well, then, we’ll do it all over again.

Enjoy the draft.

Endure the offseason.

The next wave of football warriors make their way to the pros when the 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday.

I draw a line through Round 1 with my newest NFL mock draft, connecting team needs, scouting reports, and the shifting NFL Draft odds and Kalshi’s prediction markets to single out the best fit available for all 32 NFL teams.

I did steer clear of predicting potential trades (I'm just not that fancy) and stuck with the current draft order. But you can be sure some teams will be wheeling and dealing come draft day.

Here's my 2026 NFL mock draft along with some of my favorite picks and predictions for Round 1.

2026 NFL Draft predictions and best bets

Pick	Price
David Bailey drafted No. 3	43¢ +133
first position drafted: OL	49¢ +104
first position drafted: DL/EDGE	59¢ -144
first position drafted: DB	50¢ +100
Makai Lemon drafted before Jordyn Tyson	20¢ +400

Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft 

Probabilities courtesy of Kalshi

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Probability to go No. 1: 99%

Fernando Mendoza has a 99% chance of going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. All the mock drafts concur, and outside of some light rumbling around trades, Mendoza is destined for this start-over in Sin City.

2. New York Jets: Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The Jets are forecasted to take an edge rusher, with either Arvell Reese or David Bailey heading to Gang Green. Oddsmakers have Reese as the odds-on favorite to go No. 2, with Kalshi even higher on the Buckeyes standout, giving him a 75% shot at landing with the Jets.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

If Bailey doesn’t go to New York, most mock drafts have him going to Arizona at No. 3. The Cardinals need a marquee game-wrecker on defense after sitting near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate the past three seasons. Trade rumors involving Kansas City are shifting the draft markets, with Kalshi slightly leaning toward Bailey at 43¢ to go to Arizona at No. 3 overall.

Bet to make: David Bailey to go No. 3.

4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Jeremiyah Love’s stock is sizzling the closer we get to the NFL Draft. Some mocks have him going inside the Top 3, but most models call for the dynamic running back to land in Music City, USA. Titans new OC Brian Daboll depends on play action and RPO, so a capable ball carrier is key. Kalshi markets agree, with Love listed at 46% to get selected by Tennessee.

5. New York Giants: Safety Caleb Downs, Ohio State

After the Dexter Lawrence deal, the Giants have the No. 5 and No. 10 selections. That means they can get their guy with this pick and take the best available talent later. In a division with Dak Prescott, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts, New York needs help protecting against the pass. Downs gives John Harbaugh a dynamic field general on defense. Kalshi gives Downs a 66% chance to be the first defensive back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

6. Cleveland Browns: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

No matter who’s under center in Cleveland, the Browns need to do a better job protecting their passer. Mauigoa is worthy of a Top-5 selection, but I have him sliding a bit. Todd Monken snatches up the versatile OL who can start wherever Cleveland needs him on the line. Kalshi gives Mauigoa a 16% chance of going to the Browns, while sportsbooks have him at +650 to be selected at No. 6.

7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

The Commanders could use some offensive help, but Styles is too good a player to pass up, especially considering the Commies gave up the fifth-most yards per carry. Styles was a star at the combine and has great instincts as a run stopper, as well as a coverage LB.

8. New Orleans Saints: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

According to Kalshi, Tate has a 15% shot at going at pick No. 8, while bookmakers are a little more optimistic at +400. New Orleans needs depth at receiver behind Chris Olave, and with Tyler Shough coming off a promising rookie campaign, the Saints have an incentive to select another Buckeyes target.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Off-field issues have Bain sliding to Kansas City, which has a 12% chance of drafting him at No. 9, according to Kalshi. The Chiefs need a retread on Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, and Bain’s pass-rushing prowess fits Spag’s schemes and is even more important as the AFC West gets better QB play.

10. New York Giants: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

The Giants invested in Harbaugh’s defense with the No. 5 pick and now look to protect Jaxson Dart with No. 10. Fano is the best OL left on the board at this spot, and his experience in zone blocking is an ideal fit.

11. Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

The Dolphins’ rebuild could start with a few options, but Delane is a smart selection considering Miami will face both Josh Allen and Drake Maye twice a season. New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has a nose for defensive backs, and while many mocks have the Fins chasing a WR at No. 11, there will be plenty of options there at pick No. 30.

12. Dallas Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

A lot of mock drafts have Jerry Jones trying to trade up for Sonny Styles. But with the Giants and Commanders pegged as potential landing spots, it’s tough to see those teams swapping selections with their NFC East rival. Dallas needs help in the secondary, badly. It gave up the third-highest yards per reception and topped the NFL in completions of 40+ yards against. McCoy would likely have been the first DB taken if not for missing 2025 with an ACL injury, and Kalshi has a defensive back as a 99% probability of being picked by the Cowboys.

13. Los Angeles Rams: WR Makai Lemon, USC

All signs point to Los Angeles adding a receiver—if it doesn’t deal the No. 13 pick. The Rams don’t have to look far, as Southern Cal’s shifty WR could be the perfect complement to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. At 5-foot-11, Lemon slides into the slot and follows the path of Cooper Kupp in Sean McVay’s offense. According to Kalshi, Lemon has a 16% shot at being the second WR selected in the draft.

Bet to make: Makai Lemon drafted before Jordyn Tyson

14. Baltimore Ravens: G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Investing at guard not only helps keep Lamar Jackson upright but also boosts whatever is left in RB Derrick Henry’s thunderous thighs. Ioane hasn’t allowed a sack in the past two seasons, which is a big plus when you have Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, and now Dexter Lawrence in your division.

Bet to make: Ravens first position drafted - OL

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami

Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht told reporters he’s not too sticky on age when it comes to draft picks, rather rating players on what they can do for the team—not for how long. That could tip his hand when it comes to selecting 25-year-old Akheem Mesidor. He gives Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy schemes a finisher on the edge. According to Kalshi, Tampa Bay has a 42% chance of drafting a DL/Edge rusher with its first pick.

16. New York Jets: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

A receiver at this selection is a safe bet for the Jets, but who will it be? Given that I have Tate and Lemon off the board, Jordyn Tyson heads to New York. Tyson impressed during his personal workouts, calming concerns around his durability. He has a 10% chance of being the third WR selected in the NFL Draft at Kalshi.

17. Detroit Lions: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

The Lions are going after an offensive lineman with pick No. 17, and Freeling gets the nod in my mock. Some draft projections have Freeling as a Top 5 pick, with a tremendous ceiling. He has great size and athleticism, and should he still be available here, Detroit will scoop him up. The Lions have a 70% chance of drafting an OL, according to Kalshi.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Safety Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

A couple of Ducks are on the Vikings’ radar at No. 18, but Thieneman is the safer selection considering Minnesota plays in an NFC North that features Jared Goff, Caleb Williams, and Jordan Love. Thieneman fits Brian Flores’ chaotic schemes and gives the Vikes a solution at safety should Harrison Smith pack it in. Kalshi currently has CB/S as a 62% probability for Minnesota’s first selection.

19. Carolina Panthers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

What better way to kick the tires on Bryce Young’s future than give him one of the most athletically gifted players in the draft? Sadiq “The Freak” may not slide this far back given his upside and the way tight ends have taken off. Young has been missing that safety blanket at TE that many other QBs enjoy. According to Kalshi, Sadiq has a 97% chance of being the first tight end selected, and the Panthers have a 30% shot at drafting a TE with their first pick.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

Dallas has two first-rounders thanks to the Micah Parsons deal, but won’t select again—barring a trade—until pick No. 92. The secondary is a sore spot for this team, giving up way too many big shots over the top. Using those two firsts on defensive backs isn’t a bad idea. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren visited the Cowboys, and his versatility fits new DC Christian Parker’s “Fangio-inspired” schemes as both a pass defender and run stopper.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

Most mocks have the Steelers selecting a receiver in the first round, and Kalshi shows a 40% chance of Pittsburgh picking a WR with its first selection. Cooper has a 31% edge over KC Concepcion (30%) to be the fourth WR selected, which is where he falls in my mock draft. He provides steady hands in the slot for whoever is making throws in Mike McCarthy’s offense this season.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

The Bolts could go o-line or d-line at this spot. Mocks are leaning toward the latter, but are split on who will head to L.A. Parker is a certified run stopper on the edge who plays with power and grit—something that will win over Jim Harbaugh and new DC Chris O’Leary. He also has a nose for the QB, but his sack totals dipped in 2025.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Blake Miller, Clemson

The recent A.J. Brown to New England rumors have the Eagles’ first-round selection swinging between WR and OL, currently sitting at 47% for an o-line to be that pick at Kalshi. But if Philly is going to continue to chew up the turf, it needs to restock the block. Miller can learn on the job from Lane Johnson and has the experience to start if Philly needs be.

24. Cleveland Browns: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Offense is the focus for the Browns in the first round. I have them beefing up the offensive line early and using this No. 24 selection on the receiving corps. Cleveland doesn’t have much beyond Jerry Jeudy, so adding a playmaker like Concepcion would be huge for a passing attack that boasted the third-fewest explosive plays. Concepcion has a 23% shot at being the fifth WR selected in the NFL Draft.

25. Chicago Bears: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

The Bears got bullied by opposing run games for five yards per carry. Drafting McDonald plugs up the interior and helps stop the bleeding on the ground. He’s regarded as the top DT in the draft, with many analysts expecting him to go in Round 1, and books have him as a -160 fave to go before fellow DT Peter Woods out of Clemson. Kalshi has DL/Edge being Chicago’s first selection at 58%.

Bet to make: Bears first position drafted - DL/EDGE

26. Buffalo Bills: Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF

The Bills generated OK pressure but couldn’t complete that pass rush with a hurry, QB hit, or sack. Lawrence is an explosive edge that utilizes speed to beat blockers and upped his draft stock with strong showings in the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine. He’s an excellent fit for new DC Jim Leonhard, who’s introducing a 3-4 scheme.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

The 49ers also need help getting after the quarterback. San Francisco produced the third-lowest pressure rate, along with just 20 sacks, the fewest in the NFL. The Niners are showing their age on defense and could use an injection of youth. Faulk has all the physical attributes in height, size, and arm length you want in a rusher. Kalshi gives San Francisco a 37% chance of taking a DL/Edge with its first pick.

28. Houston Texans: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

The Texans re-upped QB C.J. Stroud, which means they better invest in his protection. Houston’s offensive line has been horrible the past three seasons, but the big body of Proctor solves plenty of problems. At 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, he has freakish athleticism that can protect and run block. The Texans have a 70% chance of selecting an offensive lineman, according to Kalshi.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Protecting Patrick Mahomes isn’t a job taken lightly. The Chiefs need to shore up their offensive line after allowing their franchise QB to feel pressure at the seventh-highest rate among qualifying passers. Iheanachor is raw, but his athleticism stands out (9.87/10 in RAS), and Kansas City loves to take those combine freaks in the draft.

30. Miami Dolphins: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

With the Dolphins boosting their defensive backfield with the No. 11 selection, they flip the field and go with a WR at No. 30. Boston is a burly target that the Dolphins can move around and is a show of dedication to new QB Malik Willis, giving him a No. 1 option after the departure of Jaylen Waddle.

31. New England Patriots: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

After giving up 21 total sacks on Drake Maye over four postseason games, including five in the Super Bowl, the Patriots need to add some padding to the pass protection. Caleb Lomu is the best available OT on the board at this spot and specializes in pass protection. And with rumblings that New England is making a run at A.J. Brown, it would seem even more likely the o-line gets the nod in Round 1.

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

Tariq Woolen left a hole in the Seahawks’ championship secondary when he bounced in free agency. Hood finds himself going to Seattle in a number of popular mock drafts, especially considering the Seahawks only have four picks total. His tackling is what really appeals to Mike Macdonald’s defense. The Seahawks selecting a defensive back first has a 50% probability at Kalshi.

Bet to make: Seahawks first position drafted - DB

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The 2026 NFL Draft class is one of the more unique groups we’ve seen. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and some will see this in a positive light and others would flat out say this is not a great year in terms of the overall talent.

The class has blue chip talent. That is certain. However, the best prospects are concentrated in areas that would usually be considered lower value positions. The finite talent at premium positions could fly off the board, including at receiver and tackle.

We know the Los Angeles Rams are probably in the receiver market given that this is one of the remaining areas of their roster where they could use some more help. They are set at tackle for at least 2026. Could the Rams stand to benefit from the eventual run on tackles, which may happen even earlier than most are expecting?

Top tackles with consensus board rankings

From NFL Mock Draft Database:

• Francis Mauigoa, Miami (6)
• Spencer Fano, Utah (11)
• Monroe Freeling, Georgia (14)
• Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (19)
• Blake Miller, Clemson (25)
• Caleb Lomu, Utah (26)
• Max Iheanachor, Arizona State (30)

With the Rams picking 13th, that makes three tackles in the range of their pick. LA would probably love to see teams in front of them start the run on tackles and push talent at other positions further down the board.

Teams in front of Rams and in the tackle market

• Cardinals (3)
• Giants (5)
• Browns (6)
• Chiefs (8)
• Giants (10)

As a general note, we often see new regimes (whether head coaches or front offices or both) start out their first draft by focusing on the trenches in hopes of building an ecosystem for a quarterback currently on the roster or for one who could join soon. This thought applies to all the above teams with the exception of the Chiefs. Kansas City may look to reinvest on the offensive line following Patrick Mahomes’ injury given that they will want to protect him moving forward and he may be limited in 2026.

The Cardinals could be the first team to take a tackle in Mauigoa, though they’d probably like to trade down before doing so as they have plenty of work to do in order to make their roster more well rounded.

It’s worth keeping an eye on the Giants in the tackle market, though more likely for their second pick rather than fifth overall.

How many tackles will be taken before #13?

Mauigoa is the consensus first tackle. After that point teams will need to decide which style best suits what they are looking for. Fano is more of a power player and could be a guard at the NFL level. Freeling is athletic but considered more of a project.

If the Cardinals are unable to trade back and the first tackle comes off the board as early as the third pick, teams in the back of the top 10 picks could take the sure thing instead of gambling with a later round tackle. Their is depth in this draft class at certain positions such as receiver, linebacker, and defensive back. It’s easier to wait at these areas and talk yourself into coming back to them later.

If you need a starting tackle, you better take one early in the first round before the supply dries up.

Do Rams stand to benefit?

The most probable outcome is that two tackles are off the board by the time LA is on the clock at #13. Three is still reasonably likely.

In this scenario, who could surprisingly fall to Les Snead’s waiting arms? While Jordyn Tyson’s name is gaining steam in the lead up to the draft, he could fall down the order if the Chiefs instead opt to fill a need a tackle. Perhaps a versatile corner like Mansoor Delane could tumble and add more optionality to the Rams’ secondary that already features the do-it-all corner Trent McDuffie. It would take some creativity from Chris Shula to fit the pieces together, but it’s a great problem to have two very talented corners.

Which names do you think could fall if the run on tackles begins early? Let us know in the comments.

After taking four starters from the Giants in free agency, the Robert Saleh- and Brian Daboll-led Titans might finally give something back in the draft.

There is strong belief around the league that the Giants would be open to making a small trade down from No. 5 to acquire more second-, third- and fourth-round draft picks because they currently are off the board from No. 38 until No. 105.

And the surest way the phone will ring with offers is if one of the two premier edge rushers — Arvell Reese or David Bailey — is still available after the Titans pick at No. 4.

The likeliest path for that to happen involves the Jets picking one edge or the other (The Post’s prediction is Reese), the Cardinals taking running back Jeremiyah Love and the Titans going with linebacker Sonny Styles over an edge.

Ring! Ring!

Three NFL sources asked by The Post said Bailey would drum up more trade interest because he is a plug-and-play pass rusher (who needs to improve against the run), while one said Reese because of his versatility (despite being considered more of a projection).

Of course, it is possible that the Giants would stand pat and pick Bailey or Reese — the organization’s decades-old philosophy is you can never have too many pass rushers — while maybe jointly trading edge Kayvon Thibodeaux’s $14.75 million salary for a mid-round pick.

Which teams make sense as a trade partner at No. 5? And what might the return be?

Saints (No. 8): A replacement for free-agent franchise sacks leader Cam Jordan is in order. The Saints have early second- and third-rounders and extra fourth- and fifth-rounders.

For close-to-even value on the trade chart, the Giants could trade No. 5 for No. 8, a third-rounder (No. 73) and a fourth-rounder (No. 132).

Chiefs (No. 9): The Chiefs could throw cold water on this scenario by trading up to No. 3 or No. 4 (Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came from Kansas City) if the Jets leave their desired pass rusher on the board.

If that price is too steep, the Chiefs — armed with an extra first-rounder, one pick in each of the next three rounds and three fifth-rounders — could call the Giants.

An offer similar to the Saints’ would look like No. 9, a third-rounder (No. 74) and a fourth-rounder (No. 109) for No. 5. 

Or, because the Chiefs also have No. 29, they could make it more enticing with No. 9 and a second-rounder (No. 40) for No. 5 and a 2027 fourth-rounder.

In either case, the Giants would retain their two top 10 picks, plus add capital in what is thought to be the draft’s sweet spot. Then the Giants would have a chance to draft two of safety Caleb Downs, receiver Jordyn Tyson, cornerback Mansoor Delane, offensive guard Vega Ioane and receiver Carnell Tate.

And then there is the wild-card scenario:

No. 12 (Cowboys): Do John Harbaugh’s Giants have the intestinal fortitude to help the Cowboys land a pass rusher that could terrorize Jaxson Dart for a decade?

The rival Cowboys and Eagles famously swapped picks (DeVonta Smith for Micah Parsons) in 2021 to mess with the Giants plans in between. 

The leaguewide sentiment is that the Cowboys want to trade up for Styles or a pass rusher, but their goal is to hang onto their second first-round pick (No. 20). If two of Reese, Bailey and Styles are gone, and the Cowboys get desperate, a blockbuster could look like No. 12, No. 20 and No. 112 for Nos. 5 and 37.

The Giants suddenly would have three first-rounders (Nos. 10, 12 and 20) to address needs — Delane, offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and receiver Makai Lemon in one scenario — and no picks from No. 21 until No. 105.

NBC isn’t done shaking up its “Sunday Night Football” pregame show. 

Awful Announcing reported Tuesday that fantasy football expert Matthew Berry “is unlikely to return to ‘Football Night in America’ next season.” 

The outlet added that Berry’s “contract has not yet expired” and that there are still “ongoing” talks about a potential return to the show. 

Berry, who joined the network before the 2022 NFL season after 15 years at ESPN, appears to be the latest departure from “Football Night in America” amid a big overhaul of the program.

Last month, it was revealed that Tony Dungy wouldn’t be returning to the highly watched show after 17 seasons on air with NBC. 

“It’s disappointing news but I want to thank my NBC family for making the last 17 years so special,” Dungy wrote on social media. 

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Tuesday that the futures of “FNIA” personalities Jac Collinsworth, Chris Simms and Rodney Harrison are also up in the air, although host Maria Taylor and analysts Devin McCourty and Jason Garrett are expected to return. 

NBC executives are adding to the show as well. 

Marchand also reported that former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will be joining “FNIA” as a studio analyst.

Tomlin received interest from various television networks after stepping down from the job in Pittsburgh following 19 seasons at the helm, including from Fox, which had room for the Super Bowl-winning head coach on its “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show with Jimmy Johnson’s retirement.

Airing before often the most-watched game of the week, NBC’s “FNIA” is a hit among football fans, averaging 8.8 million viewers last season, its largest viewership ever, and was the most-watched sports studio show for the 20th straight year, the network said.

Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson each received work with the starters in team drills during the first meaningful practice under new head coach Todd Monken. Dillon Gabriel did not receive first-team snaps.

That structure was intentional, Monken said, and a recommendation from quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian that Monken approved.

Sanders received first-team snaps initially in 11-on-11 drills.

“He was first man up,” Monken said Tuesday afternoon. “The way it was going to turn out, Shedeur was going to get more reps, some of it in [seven on seven] some of it in [11 on 11]. Team periods were slowed down [and] set up in a way for us to get a look at all of them.

“The plan was to have Shedeur get a few more reps but have Deshaun and Shedeur both have reps with the ones.”

Monken said the distribution of first-team snaps will change throughout this week’s three-day voluntary minicamp. He pushed back on the characterization that Sanders and Watson are the two candidates with a chance to start.

“I wouldn't say it’s a two-man race,” Monken said. “I would just say that at every position, there’s competition. Irrespective of the reps they get, which I’ve said before, everybody ought to be competing.”

Monken praised Gabriel’s “professionalism” and “intelligence,” Gabriel saying he’s focused on controlling what he can control and running his own race.

The Browns selected Gabriel in the third round of last year’s NFL Draft and then selected Sanders in the fifth round. Cleveland acquired Watson in a trade from the Houston Texans in 2022. But since the Browns paid a handsome cost for Watson that included three first-round picks, Watson has sustained a shoulder injury and ACL tears that have sidelined him since October 2024. Between those injuries and his 11-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Watson has missed 49 of 68 regular-season contests in his four years as a Brown. 

Watson returned to practice in December after undergoing a second ACL repair in January 2025. Monken said he did not see rust from those injuries during Tuesday’s two-hour practice session.

“The ball’s coming out great,” Monken said. “I can’t get into his body to know how his body felt. But he moved around great and the ball came out great.”

Defense ahead of offense in Browns minicamp team drills

Sanders, Watson and Gabriel began practice by cycling through footwork drills and throwing routes on air. Watson’s movement was fluid during transitions and handoffs, and he spoke to players on the side after some reps, including advising a tryout receiver, Keith Kirkwood, after they shared the field during a second-team, 11-on-11 snap.

Sanders hit receiver Isaiah Bond in the flat during team drills on consecutive plays at one point.

The defense got a hand on a ball from each quarterback across seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, twice securing interceptions and once a pass breakup.

Linebacker Quincy Williams dove for a pass breakup of Watson during a first-team snap on which Watson targeted Bond. The next play, Watson hit receiver Malachi Corley in traffic on an intermediate route.

Corley had more trouble on a later seven-on-seven deep ball down the right sideline from Sanders, Corley slowing briefly along his route before speeding up too late. Cornerback D’Angelo Ross intercepted the pass. 

Gabriel’s interception came after safety Daniel Thomas batted a pass and tryout safety JT Woods then caught its deflection for the pick.

Sanders said the practice, including his throw to Corley, offered an opportunity for accountability. 

“I threw Malachi a go ball and he slowed down and I said, ‘Hey,’ I gave him that look [and] said ‘Bro, we can’t afford that,’” Sanders said. “So you give guys chances and some things go your way, some things don’t. But at the end of the day we had a serious, deeper connection ... So next time he got out there, lined up one on one and he was able to go get it.”

Monken acknowledged the need to improve ball security but praised the quarterbacks’ command at the line of scrimmage.

“I thought the quarterbacks functioned unbelievably today in terms of checking plays, getting us out of [audibled plays],” he said. “I thought they were in command. I never felt at one time like they were lost. I thought all the work they put in the last couple weeks leading up to today… to me, that’s the start of it. The start of it is how we function, how they lead, is there a belief system and who has the ball in their hands every play.”

What the Browns QB competition will consider

Browns general manager Andrew Berry has acknowledged the possibility the Browns draft a quarterback at some point this week. For now, Sanders and Watson appear to be the leaders in the clubhouse.

Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes in eight games, seven starts, last season. He threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in addition to rushing 21 times for 169 yards and one score.

The Browns won three of seven games he started.

The New York Giants continued on Tuesday to prepare for life after Dexter Lawrence, hosting another veteran defensive tackle for a free-agent vist.

This time it was Benito Jones, a 6-foot-1, 335-pound six-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

The Giants previously hosted veteran defensive tackles Shelby Harris and D.J. Reader. They also hosted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this week for a visit that included a physical and a workout.

None of the veteran players have signed. It seems likely at this point that any signings would take place next week after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jones, 28, has played 71 regular-season games with 38 starts for the Dolphins and Detroit Lions. He played in 14 games with eight starts last season.

Jones projects as a rotational piece on a defensive line that has lost Lawrence via trade, along with D.J. Davidson and Rakeem Nunez-Roches in free agency.

The Giants might be spending so much time assessing veteran options because the draft class is thought to have few impact defensive tackles.

After a lone season in Austin as the culmination of a successful career that began as a walk on for the California Golden Bears, Texas Longhorns tight end Jack Endries is preparing to hear his name called at the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. As a dependable tight end with solid hands and natural ball skills, Endries is expected to challenge NFL defenses as a pass catcher.

Endries’ career began as a three star prospect out of Danville (Calif.) with a commitment to Cal’s walk-on program. After redshirting his first year on campus, Endries burst onto the scene in 2023, starting all 13 games while tallying 35 receptions for 408 yards and two touchdowns. He was recognized as a Freshman All-American and became the security blanket for future Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Endries followed this campaign with an excellent season in 2024. Despite defenses placing a greater emphasis on shutting him down, Endries led the team with 56 receptions for 623 yards and two touchdowns. He had a particularly dominant three-game stretch during which he snagged two touchdowns and produced back-to-back 100-yard performances.

During his two seasons at Cal, Endries recorded 1,030 receiving yards, which was the most by any returning Power Four tight end entering the 2025 season.

After the 2024 season, Endries committed to Texas, a decision he has said paid dividends.

“The coaching staff,” Endries said. From my first game at Ohio State to my 13th against Michigan, I look totally different. Better technique.”

As a Longhorn, Endries recorded 32 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Despite a slight dip in production, NFL scouts remain excited about Endries’ hands, ability to find soft spots against zone coverage, and how he can stretch a defense vertically.

After watching Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helms, it was evident from the season opener that Sarkisian and company found another NFL-worthy tight end. In an offensive struggle against Ohio State, Endries led the Longhorns in receiving yards.

He followed up that performance by catching two touchdowns against San Jose State while grading at 80.8, according to Pro Football Focus.

As the season continued, Endries established himself as a pass-catching threat that can stretch defense vertically and carve out space against zone looks.

In February, Endries participated in the NFL Combine. Measuring at 6’5, 245 pounds, Endries uses his frame well to box out defenders and win contested catches. At the next level, he will likely need to add more strength to his frame as his blocking can be hit or miss.

Endries’ other measurements included a 4.62 40 with a 1.59 10-yard split, a 360inch vertical, and a 9’11 broad jump.

Compared to other tight ends, Endries’ physical attributes are relatively on par. He excels at using his body, but doesn’t possesses the quickness or top-end speed to generate many yards after the catch. His build-up acceleration was evident at Texas when involved in the screen game. When Endries got a head of steam, he was dangerous, but many screen attempts were thwarted before much success.

Endries’ hands remain a strength, although he did struggle at Texas with drops. In two season at Cal, Endries dropped a single pass on 94 targets compared to four drops on 51 targets at Texas. The spike suggests some inconsistency, but his overall body of work points to reliable mitts.

Throughout the combine, Endries reinforced what showed up on tape — natural space creation, good use of his body, and strong hands through contact. While his blocking skills still need improvement, Endries cemented his value as a quarterback’s friend that can move the chains.

Currently expected to be drafted in Pittsburgh as a mid-round selection, Endries has the skills to carve out a role in the right system with enough upside to develop into a multi-tool threat if he can improve his blocking.

In just two days, the Chicago Bears might find themselves debating the very choice ESPN’s Mina Kimes just posed to NFL draft guru Todd McShay: if given the choice between Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald or Clemson edge rusher T.J. Parker with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which do you take?

It’s a perfect question for a team and fanbase that are rightfully obsessed with upgrading the Bears’ defensive line, which was by far the worst aspect of the 2025 squad.

On paper, it’s hard to go wrong with either choice, according to McShay.

“Very similar grades on both of them—I actually think it’s identical grades,” he explained. “I like Kayden McDonald a lot. I actually think there’s a little bit more in that tank as a pass rusher. What I like about him is most of the time, the zero techniques, the nose tackle, are space eaters. This dude was like fourth or fifth on that defense in tackles. He finishes.” (McDonald was fifth with 65 total tackles. No other OSU defensive tackle had more than 26.)

That defense, of course, being Ohio State’s all-world defensive lineup that included Caleb Downs, widely considered a top-three overall player in this draft class, and his mutant linebacker teammates Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. In other words, McDonald’s no mere big man, in McShay’s eyes.

But that doesn’t mean he’s definitely the pick for the Bears at No. 25, even if the Bears do badly need defensive interior players.

“With all that said, Dennis Allen, I think he’s gonna be more like 300-310 pound defensive tackles,” McShay added. (For reference, McDonald checks in at over 320 pounds and is limited as a mover relative to other prospects.) 

That’s why Parker, a bigger edge whose foundation is length and strength, better fits the Bears’ prototype.

“Long arm, power. … I think that he’d be a really good fit. When you think about what the Saints had for years at edge, I think Parker would kinda fit that mold. I would take Parker there.” 

Therein lies the intriguing part when it comes to Parker, especially when you consider how much success a somewhat similar profile of player in Cam Jordan had under Allen in New Orleans. 

Parker, who racked up 16 sacks and 64 stops in his final two seasons, represents a balance between the Bears’ need for pass rush and run-stopping. Plus, his physical build fits Allen’s archetype for his position more closely than McDonald does at his. For the record, Parker would be this author’s pick in this scenario as well.

That said, either would be a welcome addition to a Bears defense in need of an upgrade up front. Let’s see if this is the choice that actually plays out.

Mike Vrabel didn’t say much in his first public comments since Page Six published photos of the Patriots head coach and The Athletic’s former NFL insider Dianna Russini at an adults-only resort in Arizona in March, but he doesn’t seem to find it as “laughable” as he did in his initial statement on the matter. 

Vrabel, who coached the Patriots to the Super Bowl last season, gave an on-camera statement to reporters at the team’s facility on Tuesday and then fielded questions off-camera, where he was asked about the situation with Russini.

One reporter asked the Patriots coach directly if he still felt that the implication of the photos was “laughable,” as he had said in his initial statement to Page Six, and Vrabel side-stepped the question. 

“I appreciate the question. I’m going to focus on our football team,” he responded, according to a transcript from 98.5 The Sports Hub. “I think I’ve addressed what I felt like was important. So, we’ll be focusing on our football team and the importance of teaching these guys, bringing a new team together, 13 new players.”

He gave similar answers when he was asked about his thoughts on Russini resigning from The Athletic amid the controversy. 

The publication of the photos, which show the two hanging out by a pool, and hugging and holding hands, set off a firestorm online and eventually led to the NFL insider stepping down from her job after The Athletic launched an investigation into her conduct. 

Vrabel and Russini both denied that anything improper when Page Six reached out for comment, insisting they had been there with friends who were not visible in the photos. 

In his initial statement, Vrabel said that the pictures “show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable. This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

When Vrabel spoke on Tuesday, he told reporters that he had “some difficult conversations with people that I care about.” 

“With my family, the organization, the coaches, the players, those have been positive and productive. We believe in order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions,” he said. “That includes me, that starts with me. We never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction. Those are comments and questions that I’ve answered for the team and with the team, and we’ll keep those private and to ourselves. Care deeply about this football team and excited to coach them. I also know that I’m going to attack each day with humility and focus.

“And what I can promise you is that my family, this organization, that the team, the staff, the coaches, everybody, our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward, and that’s what I know, and I’m excited to do that.”

The NFL is not planning on looking into Vrabel’s conduct, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN.

As we approach the big day, Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus has posted a last minute mock draft that has the Jets focused on defense.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

Reese was a unique player at Ohio State, splitting snaps nearly evenly between edge rusher and off-ball linebacker. He recorded 34 defensive stops and 27 pressures in his final season. The Jets defense wasn’t a strength last season, but the unit has already been reworked, with six potential new starters added through free agency and trades. Reese could become the center of that defense.

16 .New York Jets: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Jets traded away Sauce Gardner midseason, leaving them with the second-lowest team coverage grade. Brandon Stephens was the only Jets cornerback to play more than eight games last season. New York added Nahshon Wright in free agency after his one season as a starter with the Chicago Bears.

While the Jets could target a wide receiver, it is more likely they address cornerback here and save wide receiver for another round, given the depth at the position in this class. McCoy missed the 2025 season with an ACL injury but was excellent in 2024, earning an 89.6 coverage grade. He allowed a 50% completion rate when targeted against SEC wide receivers.

I would have to disagree that it’s “more likely” the Jets will wait until the second round to address wide receiver than at pick 16. Of course it’s possible, but receiver is a glaring need, and Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper are both on the board in this mock as the Jets make their selection.

Much of free agency was geared toward building the defense for the Jets. Of course so much depends on how the board falls, but I have to say I’d be a bit surprised to see them use both of their first round picks on that side of the ball as well.

I also think using the pick the team received from the Colts for Sauce Gardner on a cornerback propsect and one who missed the entire season with a torn ACL at that would raise some eyebrows.

In a post last week, I discussed the idea that some teams give up on players too early, only to see them go on to another team to either star or at least become solid players. I then asked the following question:

Which player or players do you believe the Miami Dolphins gave up on too early, only to see them go to another team to be a solid to great player?

Below are some of your thoughts and answers-

SuperG! has a few guys, including Van Ginkle, who I wish we still had.

Easy one. Minkah. (The first time, not the second time). Letting AVG walk was a dumbass move by the Dolphins. I would say Tunsil, but honestly, the trade easily made sense at the time.

Phoenix6 has a solid list.

Vontae Davis (CB): Traded to the Indianapolis Colts.

Became a top-tier cornerback.

Jarvis Landry (WR): Traded to the Browns.

Became a multi-time Pro Bowler.

Jay Ajayi (RB): Traded to the Eagles.

Became a key contributor to that Super Bowl-winning team.

MiamiItaliano is probably correct if for no other reason than that Grier should have been able to build a solid, winning team with the proceeds of that trade, along with our own picks, but instead failed miserably.

Tunsil, hands down. 5x pro bowler since he left Miami.

Reid_305 points to a guy who became a top star in the NFL after leaving.

Welker…

FinsSince70 points to a quarterback who went on to win a Super Bowl over us.

Joe Theismann. Drafted in 4th round in 1971. Didn’t want to sit behind Griese and went to the CFL. Traded to Washington for a 1st round pick in ’74 and beats us in SB XVII.

LSC20&Olney also see how damn good AVG has been for the Vikings.

AVG

davidson11 believes there will be regret about Tua.

Tua

miamimaniac is another who thinks the Dolphins should have just extended Welker before it even got to the point where the Patriots could literally steal him.

Welker!

JUK points to a couple of defenders.

AVG is an obvious one. Minkah is probably top for me though in recent times

PA phinphan points to a couple of guys that Shula gave up on too soon.

In the 70s, Leon Gary never played a down for the Dolphins but became an All-Pro for the Oilers.

In the 80s, Gary Fencik was also drafted by the Dolphins and never played a down. He went on to star for the Bears. He was an All-Pro as well.

krammm points to a guy who had some okay to solid years with the Titans.

Everyone kicked Ryan Tannyhill to the curb but when you gave him a running game and a defense he was almost the MVP of the league.

Running game and a defense. WHAT A CONCEPT.

Well, that’s our selection of comments for this evening. It seems when you look at the list in the entirety that the Dolphins giving up on guys too early has been going on for a very long time, and maybe it’s just one of those things that every team does, as you can not always predict what a guy might develop into given enough time. I have long wondered if the NFL had a legit way to run a minor league, what some of these guys who come into the league with a lot of promise but are out of the league in a couple of years could have become had they just been given more time to develop. I assume most would still fail, but somewhere in there would be some amazing stories of guys eventually proving that they belong at the NFL level. As always, thank you to each of you who join us each evening and join in our question of the day and the debate in general.

Just a quick and dirty roundup today. Not much in the way of news or rumors, just sitting here on the home stretch to the 2026 NFL Draft. I’m ready for Thursday, how about you?

Broncos daily recap

Horse Tracks: Draft priority is ‘good football players’
George Paton isn’t overthinking position needs heading into draft week. “It starts with just being a good football player,” the GM said, emphasizing that Denver’s coaching staff has earned his trust in developing high-trait players regardless of how NFL-ready they are on Day 1. Paton reiterated that he feels good about the talent available around pick No. 62 and with their pair of early fourth-rounders, pointing to the franchise’s recent second-round track record — Bonitto, Mims, Harvey, Sutton — as proof the front office knows how to find impact in that range.

5 defensive players the Broncos may draft in round two
The defensive side of the second-round board highlights Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr. as an athletic, rangy blitzer, and Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter as a stout run-stuffing DT who could help offset losing John Franklin-Myers. Safety also pops as a sneaky need — Brandon Jones is in a contract year coming off injury and PJ Locke left in free agency, leaving the third safety spot wide open. Despite Denver’s defense leading the NFL in sacks in back-to-back seasons, the piece argues there are still holes worth addressing with premium capital on Day 2.

Discussing expectations for the Broncos’ draft class
With no first or third-round pick, the MHR staff tempers expectations that this draft class will be an immediate needle-mover in Denver’s Super Bowl chase. The Broncos hold seven total picks — No. 62 in Round 2 plus six Day 3 selections — and while Paton insists expectations remain “very high,” the staff consensus is that the realistic goal is finding high-trait developmental players who can eventually grow into starters, not plug-and-play contributors across the board. The staff points to Denver’s experience navigating three previous drafts without a first-rounder as reason for cautious optimism.

Should the Broncos be aggressive moving up for their top-ranked players?
The MHR staff is split on this one. The “go get your guy” camp argues Denver is in a Super Bowl window right now and should be bold about trading up from 62, especially with a projected 10 picks in the 2027 draft giving them future capital to burn. The conservative camp prefers trading back to accumulate more selections, arguing that without a first or third-rounder you can’t afford to further thin out an already limited draft haul. The middle ground: be aggressive only if there’s a specific player the staff is in love with who another team is clearly targeting.

Denver Broncos 2026 NFL draft big board: Offense
MHR’s final offensive big board slots Georgia Tech OG Keylan Rutledge at the top as a Tier 1 prospect — a four-year starter and back-to-back First-Team All-American who models his finishing toughness after Quinn Meinerz and could pair with him to give Denver two mauler bookends on the interior. Tier 2 features TE Eli Stowers as the “Joker” piece Sean Payton covets, Max Klare as the best blocking-plus-receiving TE option, Northwestern OT Caleb Tiernan as a 6’8″ high-character tackle despite shorter-than-ideal arms, and NDSU WR Bryce Lance as a contested-catch Day 3 flier. The board is heavy on tight ends, reinforcing where Denver’s second-round pick likely lands.

NFL and Bronco Draft History
A deep dive into draft history and how it frames Denver’s 2026 approach. The piece notes that the No. 1 overall pick has been a quarterback in 19 of the 25 drafts this century, with the remaining six being edge rushers (4) or offensive tackles (2). For Denver specifically, the article tracks the Broncos’ recent second-round success — Bonitto at 64, Mims at 63 — against years of terrible second-round misses before the Paton era. The last time Denver entered a draft without a first-rounder was 2023, when they grabbed Mims and still came away with a productive class, setting the historical precedent for optimism this week.

Under the radar

Luca Evans from the Denver Post shared a thread on draft sleepers that have received some interest from the Denver Broncos.

From the FEED

Mike Klis of 9News dropped a list of players in play for the Denver Broncos. It’s a running back and tight end list only, apparently, but useful to discuss.

The question was about possibly trading back in the first round of the draft and John Harbaugh was bullish on the idea — to a point.

“I think there is no way you could ever say ‘Oh, no, we would never do that,’” Harbaugh said. “There might be a player you would never trade away from. That’s part of the strategy. You have got to kind of work the math out and all that.’’

This was said before the Giants poured fuel onto their first-round fire by adding the No. 10 overall pick to No. 5, which they already owned, in the trade that sent nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. This new scenario created the need to carve out more time to “work the math out’’ to determine if it is more prudent to stand pat or trade down.

For the first time, Harbaugh will be part of this mathematical formula with the Giants after 18 years running through scenarios as the Ravens head coach. There is little doubt when the Giants complete this NFL Draft and their eight picks are secured, Harbaugh’s fingerprints will be all over the selections and the roster will be shaped more closely in the image for what he wants this team to be.

Harbaugh was able to get a sense for how the Giants operate as free agency got rolling and it came as no surprise that four of the signings (tight end Isaiah Likely, fullback Patrick Ricard, punter Jordan Stout and safety Ar’Darius Washington) were players he had with him in Baltimore. That was an early indication of Harbaugh’s influence on the roster. The next examples will come during the three-day draft that opens up Thursday night.

This does not mean Harbaugh is making the picks. It does mean his voice will be heard loud and clear when the Giants are on the clock.

The buzzword in the building is collaboration. Harbaugh wants what he wants but is open to hearing about what he might not know and why other options might make more sense.

 “The early returns on that, it’s been great,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said. 

 “Coach Harbaugh is passionate about the draft. I’m passionate about the draft. My staff is passionate about it. Just the ongoing football conversations, sitting in the film room with him, whether it’s walking through the board or watching the film. It’s been a lot of fun. 

 “We’ve spent a lot of time together working through not just first rounders, second rounders. He’s passionate about it. He knows about fourth and fifth rounders. He’s sending me text messages asking me about maybe undrafted free agents, or he saw an article or an agent might have texted him. It’s been a lot of fun being in these meetings and watching film with him.

“It’s going to be a collaborative effort. We’re going to be on the same page. We’re working towards that.’’

That is the thing. It just does not happen. The organization has to work through it. Harbaugh was in the middle of it for nearly two decades with one franchise and, naturally, that is where his frame of reference comes from. Thus, it came as no surprise that when he speculated about draft-day trades, he brought up general manager Eric DeCosta, owner Steve Bisciotti and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome from his time with the Ravens when pointing out where he learned the need for patience, in terms of sometimes waiting for the phone to ring.

Harbaugh said he believes Schoen “will do an amazing job with his staff of figuring out exactly what the details are of what it would take to trade away from each person in each scenario for our team.’’

Each draft should, in some way, reflect the wants and needs the head coach relays to the front office. In 2022, the head coach, Brian Daboll, knew he had a place in his offense for a diminutive slot receiver. Schoen heard that and selected Wan’Dale Robinson in the second round.

Will Harbaugh do the same at pick No. 5 and advocate for taking running back Jeremiyah Love? That might reflect more on Harbaugh’s priorities than Schoen’s priorities.

 “Yeah, it’s pretty simple,’’ Schoen said. “We joke around, just good football players. Let’s not overcomplicate it, and we joke about that all the time. Just take good football players. Philosophically we’re aligned on that.’’

Given the tableau he formed with the Ravens, figure Harbaugh prefers big to small when assessing players. That could mean he prefers linebacker Sonny Styles to his Ohio State teammate, safety Caleb Downs. That could mean he wants a mauler-type guard rather than a technician. It all starts to reveal itself later this week.