{"id":7154,"date":"2026-03-26T05:10:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T05:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/?p=7154"},"modified":"2026-03-26T05:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T05:10:17","slug":"the-daily-briefing-wednesday-march-25-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/the-daily-briefing-wednesday-march-25-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Briefing Wednesday, March 25, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AROUND THE NFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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NFC SOUTH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>NEW ORLEANS<\/strong><\/strong>Nick Underhill hears that QB ZACH WILSON is heading to New Orleans: @nick_underhill<\/em><\/em>Saints are signing QB Zach Wilson, according to a source. Adds a veteran presence and some competition to the QB room behind Tyler Shough. Wilson, 26, was the No. 2 pick in 2021. He gives New Orleans a third quarterback with starting experience.<\/em><\/em> This will be four teams in four seasons for Wilson \u2013 Jets, Broncos, Dolphins and Saints. <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>TAMPA<\/strong> BAY<\/strong><\/strong>And yes, the great LB LAVONTE DAVID is retiring.  Grant Gordon of NFL.com<\/a>: After a staggering 1,714 tackles and 215 games — all as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer — Lavonte David is calling it a career.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The 36-year-old David, a one-time Super Bowl winner, All-Pro and Pro Bowl linebacker, announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 seasons in the NFL.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“Fourteen years of playing football, to come to this moment, I never thought I’d be in this situation,” David said at his retirement news conference. “I never thought I’d be here. Growing up, playing the game of football at 6 years old, I always did it for the fun of it, did it for the love of it. Never cared about what came with it just because it was built in me a different way. … My 14-year career has come to an end. I feel it’s time to move on and find a different path. … At the end of the day, I’ll always be a Buccaneer. As always, it’s Bucs for life.”<\/em><\/em> <\/em>David started all 215 games he played for the Bucs since he was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Just how long David would keep playing has long been an offseason quandary. In the spring of 2025, he inked his third straight one-year deal with Tampa Bay.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>This time around, David won’t be signing another one-year pact.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Instead, he’ll bid adieu to a career that boasts 12 100-tackle seasons, a franchise-record 33 forced fumbles, another club-best of 21 defensive fumble recoveries, 14 interceptions and 42.5 sacks.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC WEST<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>LOS ANGELES RAMS<\/strong>Did WR PUKA NACUA bite a woman a few hours after making a vulgar anti-Semitic comment?  TMZ.com<\/a> A woman in Los Angeles claims Puka Nacua made an antisemitic comment, and later bit her so hard he broke her skin … allegations the Rams superstar says are total BS.<\/em> <\/em>The alleged victim, in an application for a temporary restraining order, lays out what she claims happened on December 31, 2025, after a group outing in Century City.<\/em> <\/em>The woman says the night got off to a rocky start after the 24-year-old allegedly said, “f*** all the Jews” during dinner, which distressed her.<\/em> <\/em>Unfortunately, the woman says the remark was just the “first act in what became an escalating course of rude or vulgar, threatening, violent, and harassing conduct” by Nacua.<\/em> <\/em>After eating, the woman says she and her friend, along with Puka and others, got into a Sprinter van when he became “touchy-feely.”<\/em> <\/em>She says Puka, out of nowhere, “dropped his head into [her] girlfriend’s lap and crotch area and bit her thumb so forcefully that she screamed in acute pain” … before turning to her and biting her left shoulder and breaking skin, leaving a circular imprint of his teeth.<\/em> <\/em>The woman included a photo of her alleged injury in her TRO application.<\/em> <\/em>The alleged victim says she went to the police a day later and filed an incident report.<\/em> <\/em>Unfortunately, she claims the story doesn’t end there.<\/em> <\/em>In March 2026, she says a mediation conference was convened, where attorneys for both sides, along with a crisis PR team, were set to discuss what allegedly went down months earlier.<\/em> <\/em>The woman says Nacua’s team threatened to “contact TMZ and other press and media outlets and to disseminate false, inaccurate, and\/or deliberately exaggerated public statements about the events of December 31, 2025.”<\/em> <\/em>Nacua’s attorney, Levi McCathern, says the whole claim is nothing more than a shakedown attempt … and he says the woman has asked for millions.<\/em> <\/em>McCathern says the group was partying, and there was some horseplay … resulting in the bite, which left nothing more than a temporary mark.<\/em> <\/em>As for the remark at dinner, the attorney says it’s complete nonsense … telling us he’s spoken to (sober) witnesses who claim they never heard Puka utter those words.<\/em> <\/em>A judge in Los Angeles denied the woman’s request for a restraining order … at least for the time being.<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
AFC WEST<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 LAS VEGAS<\/strong>Veteran coach Mike Sullivan will be tasked with molding rookie QB FERNANDO MENDOZA. The Raiders didn\u2019t name a quarterbacks coach when they announced their staff on March 1. They have one now.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Mike Sullivan is joining the Raiders to work with presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Sullivan was serving as a senior offensive assistant at Rutgers.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>He has had four other stints as a quarterbacks coach. Sullivan served in that role twice for the Giants (2010-11, 2015) and for the Broncos (2018) and Steelers (2021-23).<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Sullivan also was an offensive coordinator for the Bucs (2012-13) and Giants (2016-17).<\/em><\/em> <\/em>He began his NFL career in 2002.<\/em><\/em> Offensive specialist Klint Kubiak is the head coach and Andrew Janocko is the offensive coordinator.   Janocko has been an NFL quarterback coach in each of the last five seasons for four different teams.  After two seasons in that role with the Bears (2022-23), he has spent the last two seasons with Kubiak \u2013 first at New Orleans, then with Seattle last season. <\/td><\/tr>
AFC NORTH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>CINCINNATI<\/strong><\/strong>QB JAKE BROWNING is in Tampa, clearing the way for the return of popular JOE FLACCO.  Nick Shook of NFL.com<\/a>: Joe Flacco is giving it another go in the AFC North.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The 41-year-old quarterback is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year, $6 million deal with the potential of $3 million more in incentives, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Flacco spent the majority of the 2025 season with the Bengals following an in-season trade with the Cleveland Browns, completing 61.7% of his passes for 1,664 yards and a 13-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in nine games (six starts). Despite signing 39-year-old quarterback Josh Johnson in March, retaining Flacco remained a priority for Cincinnati in the 2026 offseason, per Pelissero.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Cincinnati accomplished that goal on Tuesday, convincing Flacco to come back to the Queen City. Pelissero reported earlier this offseason that if Flacco couldn’t find a potential starting job, his preference was returning to the Bengals.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>An 18-year veteran who has spent the majority of his career with the Ravens, Flacco returned to Cleveland to stabilize the position in 2025 but struggled to recapture the magic that saw him lead the Browns to the postseason in 2023. With the Bengals in need of help following Joe Burrow’s significant toe injury and after three miserable weeks spent with backup Jake Browning under center, Cincinnati dialed its AFC North rival to acquire Flacco in a move of desperation that netted the Bengals a win in just his second start.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>It would be the only game Flacco won as a starter in 2025, but his experience and demonstrated ability to sling the football to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins assured the Bengals that Flacco was worth a roster spot behind the oft-injured Burrow.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>After watching their season enter a tailspin following Burrow’s injury in Week 2 of 2025, the Bengals aren’t interested in carrying any vulnerabilities under center into 2026. Flacco and Johnson provide Cincinnati with two proven veterans who possess extensive experience gained on NFL fields.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>If all goes well, they won’t need either. But they’re preparing accordingly just in case.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>PITTSBURGH<\/strong><\/strong>When he resigned after the season, there were those close to Mike Tomlin who believed he just wanted to relax in 2026.  But now comes word, he has a new agent for possible television work. Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is moving closer to taking the TV plunge.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Front Office Sports reports that Tomlin has hired Sandy Montag to represent the 19-year head coach in his consideration of roles in television.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Montag and former sportscaster Alex Flanagan will represent Tomlin. He\u2019ll surely draw interest from every NFL broadcast partner. The ultimate question will be fit \u2014 and finances.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Montag represented the late John Madden. Tomlin could have a similar impact, frankly. He speaks in compelling and memorable sound bites. He\u2019s direct, pointed, entertaining. When he speaks, people listen.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>But first, Montag and Flanagan will be listening to offers for the Super Bowl-winning coach who\u2019ll stop coaching for at least a year and maybe longer.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>THIS AND THAT<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>COMPETITION COMMITTEE RULES PROPOSALS<\/strong>Nothing too radical in the five proposals from the Competion Committee that will be voted on at the Owner\u2019s Meeting: The NFL Competition Committee has proposed five rule changes for the 2026 season that will be considered by NFL owners during next week’s Annual League Meeting. Each change would need at least 75% approval to take effect.<\/em> <\/em>Composed of several NFL coaches and executives, the Competition Committee will present the following possible rule changes to teams next week:<\/em> <\/em>Permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game.  <\/em><\/strong> <\/em>This would be a significant change. Currently, only trailing teams can attempt an onside kick. Teams still would not be permitted to attempt a “surprise onside” or stack one side of the field to increase their odds of recovery.<\/em> <\/em>While these changes have undoubtedly made onside kicks safer, they have also led to an alarmingly low success rate. That lack of success has led to rumblings about alternative options that could increase conversions while adding more excitement to the game.<\/em> <\/em>Eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>In addition to closing a loophole in the rule book, this would keep teams from bypassing the league’s revamped kickoff setup while improving competitive balance.<\/em> <\/em>Dallas tried to take advantage of this loophole last season against the Chiefs by intentionally kicking the ball out of bounds to pin Kansas City at its own 25-yard line.<\/em> <\/em>Modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team in the setup zone.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>In an effort to get kickoff returns back in the game, the NFL implemented its “dynamic kickoff” in 2024 before making it permanent in 2025. This proposal tweaks how the receiving team lines up — mainly adjusting how many players are on the restraining line and how the rest are spaced — while keeping most players deeper until the ball is kicked or lands. The goal is to improve safety and make returns more competitive.<\/em> <\/em>Allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called onto the field.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>This proposal might be a response to what occurred last season when Steelers receiver DK Metcalf was not penalized after an altercation with a Lions fan on Pittsburgh’s sideline. Metcalf was eventually suspended for two games, but he played the remainder of the Steelers’ 29-24 win that contributed to the Lions missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>For 2026 only, allow the NFL Officiating Department to correct clear and obvious misses by on-field officials that impact the game in the event of a work stoppage involving officials represented by the NFL Referees Association.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>This is likely an attempt to avoid what transpired the last time the league used replacement officials in 2012. While officiating was spotty during that period, the most blatant gaffe occurred at the end of a Monday night game between the Packers and Seahawks, when Seattle was awarded a touchdown after one replacement official signaled a touchdown while another signaled an interception.<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>DAN ORLOVSKY AND FERNANDO MENDOZA<\/strong>ESPN\u2019s Dan Orlovsky has bucked conventional wisdom with his clear preference for Alabama QB TY SIMPSON over Indiana\u2019s FERNANDO MENDOZA.  Daniel Chavkin ofYahooSports.com<\/a> says some have noticed the Simpson and Orlovsky share the same agent: While most NFL analysts believe Fernando Mendoza is the best quarterback in the 2026 draft, Dan Orlovsky disagrees. The ESPN analyst believes that Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this year’s class, going against the grain from most other draft evaluations.<\/em> <\/em>Orlovsky has been so staunch in his defense of Simpson that it has confused many fans online, who now believe that Orlovsky’s evaluation isn’t honest. Instead, these fans believe that Orlovsky is defending Simpson because the analyst has the same agent as the Alabama prospect and a different agent than Mendoza.<\/em> <\/em>Orlovsky went on the Pat McAfee Show and vehemently denied that CAA was forcing him to hype up Simpson.<\/em> <\/em>“The agents work for us, not the other way around,” Orlovsky said. “They’re employed by us, respectfully, that’s how the business model is. CAA is a very big agency, they have a lot of people…I’m not nearly important enough to CAA financially for them to pay me to say something about a guy who might be the 20th pick in the draft.”<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>What did Dan Orlovsky say about Ty Simpson?<\/em><\/strong>Dan Orlovsky has Ty Simpson as the best quarterback in the class of 2026 even though most evaluators have Mendoza in that spot. Orlovsky watched taped of both of them before coming to this conclusion.<\/em> <\/em>Orlovsky believes that Simpson had to carry the Alabama offense more than Mendoza had to with the Indiana offense, which is part of his evaluation.<\/em> <\/em>“I think when we look at the body of work and what was asked of these two quarterbacks, you have to start with the question, ‘Who needed to do more to carry their football team to play well?’ Ty Simpson, and it’s not close between those two quarterbacks,” he said.” Who took more games over throughout the course of the season? Ty Simpson, and it’s not even close.”<\/em> <\/em>Orlovsky then went into depth on what Simpson does better than Mendoza, including being more stoic in pressure situations and making more “NFL” throws.<\/em> <\/em>“What do you do in moments of panic with the football? Because that’s really what separates good to great. I would tell you that Ty Simpson is more consistent in that regard. There’s not a ton of moments of panic out of Fernando Mendoza, and then there’s moments where he immediately drops his eyes and becomes a runner,” he said. “What guy was asked to do more NFL throws?…Ty Simpson, and it’s not even close in that regard.”<\/em> <\/em>Who is Dan Orlovsky’s agent?<\/em><\/strong>Orlovsky is represented by the Creative Arts Agency, which also represents many college and NFL players and coaches. CAA has its hands in many different sports industries, so it’s not a surprise that the company has one of the top NFL analysts as its client.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>Who is Ty Simpson’s agent?<\/em><\/strong>Ty Simpson is also represented by CAA, as he signed with the agency just before the NFL Combine.<\/em> <\/em>CAA client list<\/em><\/strong>CAA has a large client list in the NFL, which includes many of the best players in the league. Here’s a look at some of CAA biggest clients, per Spotrac:<\/em> <\/em>Josh Allen<\/em>Dak Prescott<\/em>Matthew Stafford<\/em>Drake Maye<\/em>Sam Darnold<\/em>Bryce Young<\/em>Bo Nix<\/em>T.J. Watt<\/em>CeeDee Lamb<\/em>A.J. Brown<\/em>Patrick Surtain II<\/em>Saquon Barkley<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>2026 DRAFT<\/strong>The Athletic<\/em> has its beat writers do a Mock Draft. With the rush of free agency mostly behind us, the 2026 NFL Draft is just over a month away, and teams\u2019 draft needs are becoming clearer.<\/em> <\/em>Two teams in the top 10, the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 and the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9, signed big-ticket veteran running backs last week. Does that mean they expect Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love to fly off the board early? Or could it mean one of the draft\u2019s top prospects will slide out of the top 10? That\u2019s what happened when our NFL beat writers gathered virtually this week for their second simulation of next month\u2019s draft, which saw plenty of changes from the first edition.<\/em> <\/em>Those changes included two in the draft order, as the Los Angeles Rams (to the Chiefs) and Denver Broncos (to the Miami Dolphins) each traded first-round picks away since our last beat writer mock draft.<\/em> <\/em>One thing that didn\u2019t change? Only one quarterback was selected. That\u2019s where we\u2019ll start with the first pick.<\/em> <\/em>1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana<\/em><\/strong>I got a call from a GM offering two first-round picks for the No. 1 pick. I countered and asked for their 2027 first-round pick as well, but didn\u2019t get a response before the clock wound down. I\u2019m not sure if I\u2019d pull the trigger anyway \u2014 I just wanted to see how desperate they were. Also, I needed something to spice it up, having the most obvious mock draft pick this year. The Raiders\u2019 free-agent signings, and new coach Klint Kubiak, might mutiny over a trade because they likely chose Las Vegas with the promise of playing with Mendoza. \u2014 Ted Nguyen<\/em> <\/em>2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State<\/em><\/strong>The Jets\u2019 goal in free agency was to raise their floor by bringing in capable, veteran players \u2014 and they accomplished that. They filled a lot of needs, and their roster is undoubtedly better. The goal for the NFL Draft, especially for the first round, should be to raise their ceiling \u2014 to find prospects with star potential. Reese feels like a no-brainer. He\u2019s arguably the highest-ceiling prospect of any in this entire class. Maybe it\u2019s partially a projection because he didn\u2019t have many sacks in college \u2014 but if there\u2019s a chance Reese becomes the next Micah Parsons, the Jets obviously will take that. They need blue-chip players on defense in the worst way. \u2014 Zack Rosenblatt<\/em> <\/em>3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami<\/em><\/strong>The Cardinals have an identity problem \u2014 they do not have one. What is it they do well? They are positioned to begin next season with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew at quarterback. They lack playmakers. They are not expected to contend in the rugged NFC West. That gives them time \u2014 and a clear objective: Keep building the offensive line. Stop trying to piece it together during free agency. If GM Monti Ossenfort can trade back a few spots and still get Mauigoa \u2014 something we considered \u2014 do it. But the priority should not change. \u2014 Doug Haller<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech<\/em><\/strong>There\u2019s a lot of buzz about the Titans using this pick to take Jeremiyah Love after a defense-heavy free-agency period, but most of those signings are solid, complementary pieces. It\u2019s much more difficult to find a game-wrecking edge than it is a productive running back. The reigning Super Bowl MVP is a running back who just left his team. Yes, Cam Ward needs more skill around him, but the Titans can do that starting with the next pick (and preferably in the form of a pass catcher). Affecting the other quarterback is the move here. \u2014 Joe Rexrode<\/em> <\/em>5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State<\/em><\/strong>With no interest from teams looking to trade up, the Giants had to stick at No. 5. There were plenty of appealing options on the board, but no slam-dunk pick. Styles emerged as the selection because of his combination of talent, potential and fit. The Giants can put Styles next to veteran Tremaine Edmunds in the middle to significantly upgrade their run defense. \u2014 Dan Duggan<\/em> <\/em>6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia<\/em><\/strong>Like the team\u2019s quarterback situation, whether the Browns are playing for 2026 or building for 2027 and beyond is up for debate. In either case, there\u2019s a screaming need at left tackle, and Freeling is a left tackle who\u2019s been generating a bunch of pre-draft buzz. The 21-year-old is not a finished product, but his athletic traits fit the mold of Browns GM Andrew Berry\u2019s past picks. The Browns are open to trading down and then taking the best available wide receiver or left tackle. In this exercise, no trade came to fruition, and Freeling became the next key piece of the Cleveland rebuild. \u2014 Zac Jackson<\/em> <\/em>7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State<\/em><\/strong>The Commanders still need a true No. 2 receiver to complement Terry McLaurin, and they could use a more explosive running back alongside Jacory \u201cBill\u201d Croskey-Merritt. But struggles on defense, especially in the secondary, cost them games the past two seasons. Plus, GM Adam Peters addressed many holes in free agency, giving him the flexibility to choose the top talent available and not simply for positional need. Washington is revamping its defense under first-time coordinator and play caller Daronte Jones, who has spent most of his career coaching defensive backs. Downs would give him a potential star-in-the-making to mold. \u2014 Nicki Jhabvala<\/em> <\/em>8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State<\/em><\/strong>The arrival of running back Travis Etienne made this decision tougher because Jeremiyah Love seemed like a no-brainer pick before free agency. But the Saints possess a glaring need at wide receiver, and Tate feels like a good complement to fellow Ohio Stater Chris Olave. The Saints have already inked viable offensive pieces like Etienne, guard David Edwards and tight end Noah Fant. Tyler Shough should be happy once again with the Tate selection. I pondered edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and cornerback Mansoor Delane as well. Tate feels like the most sensible pick, even though Bain or Delane would work. \u2014 Larry Holder<\/em> <\/em>9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami<\/em><\/strong>The draft board fell perfectly for the Chiefs here with two offensive linemen going early. That left plenty of options at edge rusher and receiver \u2014 the team\u2019s two biggest needs remaining \u2014 and also provided Kansas City an opportunity to fill a premium position with Bain. At the combine, Bain shared that he believed he had a \u201cstrong\u201d formal interview with the Chiefs. His pass-rushing juice, football intelligence and inside-outside versatility would immediately boost a defensive line in need of reinforcements. \u2014 Jesse Newell<\/em> <\/em>10. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee<\/em><\/strong>With Downs, Bain Jr. and Styles all plucked, the Bengals investigated trading out but couldn\u2019t find takers. It would have been ideal to move back, pick up another Day 2 pick and likely still snag McCoy, but the Bengals have never been shy to stick to their evaluation and take their best player at a premium position. McCoy\u2019s ball-hawking ability separates him in the Bengals\u2019 eyes and fills a thin position around DJ Turner and Dax Hill. All of this comes under the assumption that he tests well at his pro day and looks fully recovered from his January 2025 ACL tear. \u2014 Paul Dehner Jr.<\/em> <\/em>11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah<\/em><\/strong>The Dolphins will be living the \u201cbest player available\u201d mantra for the foreseeable future after trading Jaylen Waddle. Considering their best player might already be a running back, it\u2019d be reckless to go with Love. Delane was a stronger consideration than Love, but Fano shapes up to be a bona fide franchise tackle. The Dolphins aren\u2019t passing up that type of opportunity at No. 11. \u2014 Jeff Howe<\/em> <\/em>12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU<\/em><\/strong>In just about any other year, the Cowboys would not pass on Love in this situation. They were faced with something similar in 2020 when edge rusher K\u2019Lavon Chaisson would have filled a bigger need, but wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was higher on their board. They made the right decision. But the Cowboys need defensive help even more this year, so it\u2019s highly unlikely they\u2019d go with Love here. Delane fits a major area of need, giving Dallas a Day 1 starting cornerback to pair with DaRon Bland, Shavon Revel and recently signed Cobie Durant. Had Delane been gone, this would\u2019ve been an ideal trade-back situation. \u2014 Jon Machota<\/em> <\/em>13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): Makai Lemon, WR, USC<\/em><\/strong>It was mighty tempting to go with Love for a Rams team obsessed with finding upgrades. But that would likely mean trading one of Kyren Williams or Blake Corum, and that\u2019s harder to work out in a mock draft. So the Rams fill their biggest actual need at wide receiver in Makai Lemon, who is fresh off a season with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon appears ready to assume a strong Year 1 role as a receiver and a blocker before elevating to replace Davante Adams as the Robin to Puka Nacua\u2019s Batman in Year 2. \u2014 Nate Atkins<\/em> <\/em>14. Baltimore Ravens: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame<\/em><\/strong>Remember the last time the Ravens were picking at 14 and one of the best players in the draft fell into their laps because of positional value? That was Kyle Hamilton in 2022, and I\u2019d say taking the best player available in that draft worked out pretty well for the Ravens. Love, another ex-Notre Dame standout, is too good to resist. Derrick Henry is 32, and the Ravens don\u2019t have his successor on the roster. Love is a home run hitter who will bring juice to an offense that will have a new look with Declan Doyle directing the show. \u2014 Jeff Zrebiec<\/em> <\/em>15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon<\/em><\/strong>In this scenario, with their best-player-available philosophy, the Bucs would have been very tempted to try to trade up for Love. Despite free-agent additions of Al-Quadin Muhammad, Alex Anzalone and others, the Bucs\u2019 greatest needs remain on defense, and an edge rusher would be welcome. But Sadiq is an offensive weapon unlike anything they have, and he could help replace Mike Evans and stress defenses in ways that would create opportunities for the remaining wide receivers, as well as running backs Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. \u2014 Dan Pompei<\/em> <\/em>16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State<\/em><\/strong>The only position the Jets didn\u2019t address in free agency was a glaring weakness heading into the offseason and remains so now \u2014 and, just their luck, one of the draft\u2019s best prospects at that position made it here. Tyson has some durability concerns, but his talent is undeniable, and he\u2019d slot in perfectly opposite Garrett Wilson. His presence would also give Adonai Mitchell, who showed promise after coming over in the Sauce Gardner trade, more room to develop as the No. 3 receiver. A room with Wilson, Tyson and Mitchell is a lot more promising than how the group looked at the start of last season. \u2014 Rosenblatt<\/em> <\/em>17. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah<\/em><\/strong>The Lions have boxed themselves into a bit of a corner this offseason. They released longtime left tackle Taylor Decker and replaced him with free-agent tackle Larry Borom \u2014 a low-end starting option. They don\u2019t usually have a need as glaring as this, but they\u2019re going to need a young tackle who can compete with Borom. I reached out to four teams about a trade-back into the 20s and received two rejections, one no-answer and an offer that would net us \u2026 a sixth-round pick. At No. 17, Blake Miller and Max Iheanachor were considered, but Lomu was the pick. An athletic left tackle with light feet, length and solid technique, Lomu\u2019s addition could keep Penei Sewell at right tackle, if that\u2019s what the Lions prefer. \u2014 Colton Pouncy<\/em> <\/em>18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thienemen, S, Oregon<\/em><\/strong>Will Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores want to use a first-rounder on a safety? Minnesota passed on Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori last year. The Vikings might have a bigger need this time around given what they saw from safety Theo Jackson last season, and considering Harrison Smith\u2019s future might be more uncertain. Thieneman has ball skills. His read-and-react ability would fit nicely in a system that often allows defenders to keep eyes on the quarterback. The Vikings could look for a defensive lineman at this spot, but it\u2019s difficult to settle on one who is a no-brainer type of fit. \u2014 Alec Lewis<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>19. Carolina Panthers: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama<\/em><\/strong>This mock didn\u2019t fall so great for the Panthers, whose talent evaluators likely winced watching Freeling go in the top 10 and Sadiq land with a division rival. Even if GM Dan Morgan wanted to give Bryce Young a first-round wideout for a third consecutive year, that plan was foiled when Lemon and Tyson were taken. Given the uncertainty surrounding Ikem Ekwonu after his knee surgery and Rasheed Walker\u2019s one-year deal, an offensive tackle still makes sense here \u2014 even if it\u2019s not Freeling. Proctor has all the size (6-7, 352) and upside but needs refinement. He\u2019ll have the chance to develop for a year behind Walker and right tackle Taylor Moton. \u2014 Joe Person<\/em> <\/em>20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia<\/em><\/strong>There were several top edge rushers to pick from, making for a great trade-back scenario if things fall this way next month. But inside linebacker is clearly the Cowboys\u2019 biggest need right now. Allen would step in immediately as the green-dot quarterback of the defense. Dallas had interest in free agents Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker but lost out on both. Here, the Cowboys could get a different former Georgia standout to lead things in the middle. Whether they stay put or trade back, addressing the defense has to be the target with multiple Day 1 and Day 2 picks. The offense is a playoff-caliber group. It\u2019s all about closing the gap from having arguably the NFL\u2019s worst defense. \u2014 Machota<\/em> <\/em>21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State<\/em><\/strong>The Steelers traded for a WR2 (Michael Pittman Jr.), found a starter opposite Joey Porter Jr. at corner (Jamel Dean), rounded out their running back room (Rico Dowdle) and added safety options (Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage). The one glaring hole they didn\u2019t address was a replacement for left guard Isaac Seumalo. Omar Khan has made a concerted effort to upgrade the offensive line since he was promoted to GM in 2022, spending two first-round picks (tackles Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu), a second (center Zach Frazier) and a fourth (guard Mason McCormick) on this group. With yet another early-round pick on offensive line, the Steelers can take another big step toward their goal of dominating in the trenches. Given the uncertainty surrounding Jones\u2019 health after neck surgery, the OL becomes an even more important position to add to early. \u2014 Mike DeFabo<\/em> <\/em>22. Los Angeles Chargers: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson<\/em><\/strong>The first round almost unfolded perfectly for the Chargers, with Ioane falling into the 20s. The Chargers still have a glaring hole at left guard. I probably could have been more aggressive in moving up. But the Chargers are working with only five picks in the 2026 draft. I thought hanging on to capital was the prudent move. In the end, the Steelers took Ioane, and I pivoted to another pressing need: edge rusher. Khalil Mack is back, and Tuli Tuipulotu is under contract. Odafe Oweh left in free agency to sign with the Washington Commanders. The Chargers could use another piece to replace Oweh. My preferred option was Parker, who has length, physicality and polished hands. A defined plan in his pass-rush sequencing gives him the potential to make an immediate impact next to Mack and Tuipulotu. \u2014 Daniel Popper<\/em> <\/em>23. Philadelphia Eagles: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn<\/em><\/strong>Edge rusher emerged as a primary need for the Eagles after the Panthers lured Jaelan Phillips away in free agency with a four-year, $120 million contract. Retaining Phillips was a priority for GM Howie Roseman. But the Eagles weren\u2019t willing to exceed their budget. After Phillips chose Carolina, the Eagles came up short in a bidding war over Trey Hendrickson and considered a trade with the Vikings for Jonathan Greenard. Signing Arnold Ebiketie to a one-year deal did not fulfill the role the Eagles required. That Faulk fell to 23 was surprising. The front office had offensive tackle atop its wish list, but bolstering the defensive front with a talent ranked No. 15 by Dane Brugler matches Philadelphia\u2019s team-building strategy. \u2014 Brooks Kubena<\/em> <\/em>24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington<\/em><\/strong>The Browns have a bottom-three receiving corps and definitely don\u2019t have a true No. 1. Here, they resist the urge to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and instead turn to Boston, who\u2019s a red zone target at 6-foot-4 and has a chance to eventually become a true No. 1 outside receiver. The Browns value physicality and run-after-catch ability in their wide receivers, and though Boston might not possess top-end speed, he has a large catch radius and showed he can either drag or dodge tacklers for valuable extra yards after the catch. \u2014 Jackson<\/em> <\/em>25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo<\/em><\/strong>One thing has become apparent during all these pre-draft exercises: The menu of players available at No. 25 is consistently appealing. In this instance, the depth of the edge rusher class helps swing things in McNeil-Warren\u2019s favor, with the Bears adding another weapon to the back end of their defense. Speed: check. Size: check. Passion: check. Playmaking ability: check. General manager Ryan Poles has long contended that safety is the hardest position to evaluate for the draft. But energetic, productive players like McNeil-Warren make it easier. His physicality and fluidity will pair well with newcomer Coby Bryant. \u2014 Dan Wiederer<\/em> <\/em>26. Buffalo Bills: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M<\/em><\/strong>The Bills already made one move to get an edge rusher in Bradley Chubb and still have Greg Rousseau on the team, but if there\u2019s one thing they still lack, it\u2019s speed, explosiveness and bend around the edge from their pass rushers. Howell changes that immediately. He tied for the quickest 10-yard split at the 2026 NFL Combine among edge rushers at 1.58 seconds. A consistent pass rush has been an issue for the Bills almost every year since Josh Allen became their quarterback. With new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard\u2019s scheme, they have every reason to try to finally fix that problem with Howell. \u2014 Joe Buscaglia<\/em> <\/em>27. San Francisco 49ers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami<\/em><\/strong>The 49ers like taking wide receivers and defensive linemen in the first round and \u2014 would you look at that! \u2014 those are among their biggest needs this year. We have the team going with Akheem Mesidor, a powerfully built edge rusher who had 12.5 sacks and 17 .5 tackles for loss last season and made his biggest marks against top-end talent in the playoffs. Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was oh-so-tempting at this spot, and it\u2019s entirely possible Kyle Shanahan would be unable to resist snagging him here (the 49ers will host Cooper on a visit next month). The rationale, however, is that there will be more enticing wideouts \u2014 Germie Bernard? Ted Hurst? Elijah Sarratt? \u2014 than edge rushers available when San Francisco\u2019s on the clock again late in Round 2. \u2014 Matt Barrows<\/em> <\/em>28. Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson<\/em><\/strong>The Texans continue their upgrade of the offensive line with Miller. Yes, they signed veteran right tackle Braden Smith in free agency, but the former Indianapolis Colt has battled injury in recent years, and Miller gives the Texans the long-term answer at the position. At 6-7 and 317 pounds, he has great size. He is a four-year starter and has great durability. Paired with 2025 second-round pick Aireontae Ersery, who starts at left tackle, Houston now has its bookends of the future to help keep C.J. Stroud upright for years to come. \u2014 Mike Jones<\/em> <\/em>29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State<\/em><\/strong>Man, it was difficult to pass on Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell \u2014 a Trent McDuffie clone who even said at the combine he models his game after the former Chiefs star. Then again, in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo the Chiefs trust, as he and defensive backs coach Dave Merritt have a long-standing history of turning less-heralded secondary players into stars. In the end, McDonald simply fits too big of a need to pass up at a premium position. He profiles as a disruptive early-down player who should help the Chiefs\u2019 run defense right away. \u2014 Newell<\/em> <\/em>30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson<\/em><\/strong>Terrell is Dane Brugler\u2019s 18th-ranked prospect, so the Dolphins bagged incredible value with their two first-round picks. Surely, it was tempting with KC Concepcion on the board, as the Dolphins should be wary of increasing the difficulty level on Malik Willis\u2019 season by too much after trading Jaylen Waddle. But this was about sticking to the highest-rated player on the board, and Terrell should be a welcome addition for defensive-minded coach Jeff Hafley. \u2014 Howe<\/em> <\/em>31. New England Patriots: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma<\/em><\/strong>With hopes still alive for an AJ Brown trade this summer, the Pats\u2019 priority with their first pick is likely edge rusher over wide receiver. They signed Dre\u2019Mont Jones in free agency, which gives them a big edge rusher with the versatility to slide inside if needed. In a lot of ways, Thomas is the opposite. He\u2019s slighter (241 pounds), and some teams might view him as too small, but he is a true speed rusher who would immediately boost the Patriots\u2019 pass rush. \u2014 Chad Graff<\/em> <\/em>32. Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State<\/em><\/strong>The Seahawks still have all three of their starting cornerbacks from the Super Bowl team (Devon Witherspoon, Nick Emmanwori, Josh Jobe), but losing Riq Woolen, who played 917 defensive snaps last season, is a blow to Seattle\u2019s depth. The current backup corners are Nehemiah Pritchett, Noah Igbinoghene and Shemar Jean-Charles. Johnson is No. 42 on The Athletic\u2019s consensus big board and No. 38 on Dane Brugler\u2019s list of the top 100 prospects after recording nine pass breakups and returning two of his four interceptions for touchdowns last season. \u2014 Michael-Shawn Dugar<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AROUND THE NFL NFC SOUTH  NEW ORLEANSNick Underhill hears that QB ZACH WILSON is heading to New Orleans: @nick_underhillSaints are signing QB Zach Wilson, according to a source. Adds a veteran presence and some competition to the QB room behind Tyler Shough. Wilson, 26, was the No. 2 pick in 2021. He gives New Orleans a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6,7,11,8,13],"class_list":["post-7154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-daily-briefing","tag-chris-myers","tag-chris-myers-sports","tag-daily-briefing","tag-fox-sports","tag-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7154\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}