Love will enter a crowded backfield alongside trusted veteran James Conner and free agent signing Tyler Allgeier. Love’s draft capital and his standout ability will give him a good shot at taking on lead back duties to start the 2026 season, though Allgeier and Conner will be involved. Love will be running behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. A two-year starter for the Fighting Irish, 21-year-old (in May) Love (6’0/212) was without peer in this year’s running back draft class. Totaling 40 touchdowns in 28 games over the past two seasons, Love’s explosiveness is unmatched. His 52.9 percent breakaway rate in 2025 ranked No. 1 in the power four conferences, while his average 4.50 yards after contact trailed only one player nationally. Those fancy stats underscore a rare blend of vision, burst and contact balance. Although Love is indeed a home run hitter, he’s also a complete offensive weapon. His final year in South Bend saw him add to his ground statistics with 27 receptions for 280 yards and three scores, posting a superb 1.83 yards per route run. It was production that stressed linebackers in space. Love’s overall elusiveness spike from 2024 to 2025 reflects a runner who not only dodges the first hit but finishes with authority, combining lateral twitch with downhill violence.
Although he never reached 1,000 yards during his three years in the Buckeyes’ perennially loaded receiver corps, Tate (6’2/192) emerged as one of college football’s cleanest perimeter separators last season. The now 21-year-old turned 67 targets into 51 receptions for 875 yards (17.2 YPR) and nine touchdowns with a 76.1 percent catch rate. That’s eye-popping efficiency. Tate was particularly lethal downfield, converting 11 deep receptions into six scores, posting a zero percent drop rate in the process. Tate’s ability to consistently create explosive gains was reflected in his 85.7 percent contested-catch rate and top-tier 147.7 passer rating when targeted deep. He provided true three-level value. Tate also showed strong situational reliability, posting 35 first down conversions on 51 receptions, a 68.6 percent chain-moving rate. On the whole, he averaged a stellar 3.03 yards per route run, torching man (3.12 yards per route run) and zone coverage (2.71) alike. With polished ball skills, pro-ready route pacing, down-field economy, and no glaring usage red flags, Tate projects as a high-floor, high-efficiency NFL X/Z hybrid who can immediately step into a starting role to help Cam Ward and an offense that finished 30th in scoring last season.
Reese (6’4/241) is perhaps the most toolsy hybrid defender in the 2026 class, pairing rare height/weight/speed traits with true alignment versatility after logging snaps both on the edge and off-ball for the Buckeyes. Reese delivered a well-rounded 2025 campaign with a 75.8 overall grade, elite 86.5 run-defense mark and 85.6 tackling grade while generating 27 pressures, eight sacks and 34 defensive stops across 651 snaps. His production profile underscores a high-floor run defender who rarely whiffs (just a 6.0 percent missed tackle rate in 2025) and consistently leverages his length and violent hands to stack, shed and control the edge. As a pass rusher, his game is still rooted in athleticism and closing burst rather than sequencing, but his ability to bend short corners and generate pressure from multiple alignments. Reese projects as a multi-faceted chess piece with three-down potential whose elite physical tools, tackling efficiency and run-defense reflects an upper-tier starter profile as his pass-rush plan continues to mature.
The Chiefs gave up pick No. 74 and 148 to move up. A three-time All-ACC performer at Virginia Tech, Mansoor Delane (6’0/190) put together a sensational 2025 season as LSU’s top cover corner, earning elite PFF marks with a 90.7 overall grade and 91.0 coverage grade to go with a 74.4 run-defense and 76.4 tackling grades. Over 339 coverage snaps, he was targeted only about one in every ten snaps, giving up just 10 completions on 36 attempts for 119 yards with zero touchdowns allowed, recording two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a microscopic 3.9 QBR. He choked off big plays on the perimeter, allowing only a single completion of 20+ yards, just 3.3 yards per target and 0.35 yards per coverage snap, numbers that sit firmly in shutdown-corner territory. In run support, he added 35 tackles (20 solo) with an 83.3% tackle rate and 13 total havoc plays, showing he was more than just a cover specialist. The consensus All-American is instinctive, fluid and a relentless ball hawk who stands to parlay a standout four-year collegiate career into NFL gridiron success. After trading away Trent McDuffie and letting fellow corner Jaylen Watson walk, the Chiefs had to address this position. Delane will be tasked with CB1 duties right away.
Schefter broke the news moments after the Giants drafted Ohio State LB Arvell Reese with the 2026 NFL Draft’s No. 5 overall pick. Reports from earlier this offseason indicated Thibodeaux was available via trade, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that a trade was “considered less likely” after the team traded away DT Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. A shoulder injury sidelined Thibodeaux from Week 11 and on last year. He totaled 32 quarterback pressures and three sacks before that.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was reportedly a big fan of Styles. Washington got their man with the seventh overall pick. Styles should be an immediate upgrade for a Commanders defense that allowed the NFL’s second highest EPA per play in 2025. A former safety prospect, Sonny Styles (6’5/243) thrived as an off-ball linebacker in 2025 and immediately became one of the most versatile centerpieces of the Buckeye defense, finishing with 71 tackles, 47 stops, and one forced fumble while earning an 88.5 PFF Defensive Grade across 316 snaps. His efficiency in space stood out, posting a 91.6 Tackling Grade with only 2 missed tackles (2.2%), and he added disruptive flashes as a rusher with 15 total pressures, 2 sacks, and a 69.5 Pass Rush Grade despite rushing only 50 times the year prior. In coverage, Styles was quite efficient, on 34 targets he allowed just 29 receptions for 183 yards (6.3 Y/Rec) with a 86.9 PFF Coverage Grade, forcing 1 INT and 3 PBUs while holding opposing QBs to a 0 TD / 1 INT line and an 86.6 NFL passer rating. His play recognition showed up in early-down efficiency metrics as he ranked near the top of the Buckeyes in run defense grade (87.4) and in total Havoc plays (12), pairing both stop production and positive play rate. He then proceeded to record one of the most impressive Combine performances in history with a near perfect 9.99 RAS. The full statistical profile—elite tackling, strong run fits, low-volume yet effective pressure, and above-average coverage acumen solidified Styles as one of college football’s most well-rounded modern “moneybackers” and a tantalizing hybrid NFL projection entering 2026.
Tyson (6’2/203) barrels into the top 10 as a risk/reward pick with a lengthy injury history but tantalizing physical skill-set. He was also a consistent producer when he managed to take the field in Tempe, turning into a high-volume perimeter target. He commanded 100 2025 looks despite playing just seven full games, turning those opportunities into 61 catches for 711 yards and eight scores. He did so while splitting reps between the outside (56 percent) and slot (39 percent), reflecting formation optionality. Although Tyson seems capable of lining up just about anywhere, he won most consistently in the intermediate and deep areas of the field. Also lauded for his ball skills, Tyson rarely drops passes despite consistently working through traffic and contact. From the jump, Tyson projects as a timing-based Z/slot hybrid who thrives on intermediate breaks, digs and posts. He is a reliable separator with projectable route pacing, ball skills, and formation flexibility. Although he’s not the fastest, Tyson’s versatility and fluidity make him a potential fantasy producer right off the bat, provided he keeps his durability issues at bay. Tyson will give second-year QB Tyler Shough another tremendous talent on the outside as the Saints look to build on a strong first season under head coach Kellen Moore.
Howie Roseman, working the phones? You don’t say. The Eagles’ general manager is always on the lookout for a smart trading opportunity. His team holds the No. 23 overall pick, the No. 22 pick in Round 2 and the Nos. 3 and 34 picks in Round 3. The Browns are set to pick sixth and 24th in Round 1, seventh in Round 2 and sixth in Round 3. The Titans hold the fourth, third and second picks in Rounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Fowler’s phrasing is unclear, but it sounds like all three teams could be seeking to move Day 2-plus picks to sneak into the back end of Day 1.
Pickens signed his franchise tag a little over an hour ago, prompting trade speculation. The Cowboys were unable to move him if he remained unsigned. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones shared yesterday that the team had decided not to pursue a long-term deal with Pickens at this time. If they do indeed keep him, he will make $27.3 million this year. That said, things can change quickly, and Rapoport said nothing about the Cowboys’ plans for tomorrow.
Per Schefter, Caserio has executed 25 draft trades the past five years, including seven last year, and is always “looking to move around the draft.” The Texans possess the No. 28 overall pick and are slated to pick three times tomorrow, including two second-round picks. Caserio’s Day 2 picks might be able to get him an extra selection on Day 1.
Per Rapoport, the Raiders want Cousins to mentor impending No. 1 overall pick, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, all season as the starter, before turning the offense over to Mendoza in 2027. That said, Rapoport rhetorically asked viewers how long Cousins’ starting stint might last this year before saying, “we simply don’t know.” Mendoza could absolutely end up under center this season.
The Giants are currently slated to pick at No. 5 overall—and again at No. 10 overall. Tyson has previously been linked to the Saints at No. 8. Both the Browns (No. 6) and the Commanders (No. 7) are in the market for a wide receiver, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper mocked Tyson to the Chiefs at No. 9 roughly one week ago. As long as Tyson’s injury history is acceptable, he seems likely to be drafted in this range.
Vacchiano adds that the team knows they need a wide receiver and “did a lot of work on” Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. Both players took top-30 visits with the Commanders and are viewed as potential top-10 picks. The pick could simply come down to which player is on the board when the team picks at No. 7 overall. The Commanders focused on improving the pass defense in free agency, but they could still benefit from adding a player like Styles. Vacchiano notes, Ohio State S Caleb Downs “might be in the mix, too.”
Designating the trade as a post-June 1st transaction allows the Eagles to split Brown’s $40 million salary cap hit between 2026 and 2027 rather than taking it all on in one season. Nothing is guaranteed, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently reported that the trade “is now considered likely.” The move would reunite Brown and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who coached Brown from 2019-2021 with the Titans.
There is “an internal debate” in the Jets’ organization between drafting Reese or Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey. Bailey, 22, is generally regarded as the draft’s top pass rusher and is knocked for his run defense. Reese is a complete player and is currently just 20 years old. Hughes notes that current Jets EDGE Will McDonald is a great pass rusher, but can be a liability in run defense. McDonald and Bailey would form a potent pass rush duo, but could be a suboptimal tandem against the run.
Earlier today, NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said he was told that the Jaguars “may” be trying to trade up into the late-first round, and “the potential bait could include receiver Brian Thomas.” Thomas has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but in mid-March, general manager James Gladstone indicated that the team was not interested in “disrupting the momentum” by trading away their young wide receiver. Stay tuned.
Per Rapsheet, that’s what Snead told Simpson’s father when the Crimson Tide product was mulling leaving Alabama for the draft. We are getting a little into hearsay territory here, but it does raise the question of whether the Rams could be a dark horse contender for Simpson’s services. Coach Sean McVay has telegraphed for years he would like to draft Matthew Stafford’s successor, but aside from a Day 3 flier on Stetson Bennett, he hasn’t gotten around to it. Any Simpson/Rams selection, of course, would be highly unlikely to occur at No. 13, and would instead take place via some sort of late-first or early-second round trade up. Rapsheet does confirm despite this Rams nugget that the Cardinals and Jets remain Simpson’s most likely landing spots.
Connecting the dots of publicly available information, Wolfe points out the Jets gave Simpson a private workout and attended his Pro Day. They also reportedly had dinner together and have “liked what they have (seen)” in general. Simpson has little to no shot of going to the Jets at No. 3 or 16, but Gang Green also owns picks No. 33 and 44. New York and Arizona make by far the most sense for who seems to be the draft’s clear QB2. Although the Jets are undoubtedly dreaming of next year’s supposedly better quarterback class — a draft in which they have three first-rounders — a Day 2 Simpson flier would make a ton of sense.
From Rapoport, “Earlier today, Pearce entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that, if conditions are met, will result in all charges being dismissed.” Pearce was initially charged with a misdemeanor and three felonies: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. This deal would allow him to walk away with no jail time and no admission of guilt. The NFL could still suspend him at some point, but it does look like he has avoided career-altering legal trouble.
As Schultz notes, this will pay Flowers $28 million in 2027, and that is fully guaranteed. Flowers was already likely to have this option picked up before 2025. His 86-1,211-5 receiving line last year, good for WR1 fantasy numbers, ensured that the Ravens would lock him up for another year. Assuming Lamar Jackson is healthy this year, the Ravens’ offense should have no issues returning to form. That is especially true with Ben Johnson protege Declan Doyle taking over play-calling duties in Baltimore. A lack of passing volume will likely prevent Flowers from drastically improving his counting stats once again, but he should sit comfortably on the WR1/2 border for 2026.
Vrabel said he will be with family this weekend, though he is still expected to be with the team for the first three rounds on Thursday and Friday. He also told reporters he plans to seek counseling. This is all in relation to his alleged relationship with NFL reporter Dianna Russini, though Vrabel didn’t get into that level of detail. It’s already been reported that Vrabel won’t face any punishment under the league’s personal conduct policy, so missing the third day of the draft will be the only repercussion from him as far as his NFL duties are concerned.
The Lions have the 17th pick. Fowler notes that the Chiefs and Browns are teams that could be interested in trading back, giving the Lions or any other squad looking to move up a way into the top-10. Kansas City has the ninth pick while the Browns sit at sixth. Fowler also noted that the Cowboys are “looking at options to move up or down, potentially.” While that doesn’t actually say anything, it does ring true that Jerry Jones simply wants to make a trade, regardless of which direction he moves.
If the Jets select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey with pick No. 2, the Cardinals and Titans will both be considering Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love with their subsequent picks, according to Rapoport. Other teams picking inside the top ten will have interest in dealing for one of those picks and taking Reese. Rapoport mentioned the Saints and Chiefs as teams looking for an edge rusher that would be motivated to move into picks No. 3 or 4 should Reese fall past No. 2. The early pass-rushing selections are going to be “one of the biggest pressure points” of the draft in Round 1.