| It’s Schedule Week! Some of the bigger games will leak out between now and Thursday night. The first shoe to drop is kind of boring. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The NFL will reveal the full schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday night, but they have announced one marquee Week 1 game on Monday. The first Sunday Night Football matchup of the season will see the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to face the Giants on NBC on September 13. It will be the eighth time in 15 seasons that the two NFC East clubs have faced each other in Week 1. It’s the second straight season that the Cowboys will find themselves in a featured game in the opening week. They were in Philadelphia for the first game of the 2025 season. We also know that the Cowboys will be in Rio to face the Ravens in Week 3 and they will be at home for their customary Thanksgiving game. The NFL plans to announce all of this year’s international matchups on Wednesday and there will likely be a trickle of other games to prime the pump for Thursday’s big reveal. That said, the 2026 edition of the Giants is the most anticipated version in several years. FOX was able to wrest two games away from the streaming services. Mike Florio: The five-game package that at one point seemed to be headed for YouTube will instead be split between Netflix and Fox. Per multiple reports, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Monday that the company will add a pair of nationally-televised games to its existing Sunday afternoon package. One of the games will originate in Germany, giving Fox the first-ever tripleheader of games on a single day on broadcast TV. That game will be hosted by the Lions. That game will be played on Sunday, November 15. The other game will be played on the Saturday of Week 15, in December. Earlier this year, the NFL invited partners to bid on a five-game package. After YouTube emerged as the favorite, it changed to YouTube getting nothing. The other two companies that were among the three finalists — Netflix and Fox — will divide the quintet of standalone games. Netflix has three (giving it five for the season), and Fox has two. |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTAQB J.J. McCARTHY – “So, you’re saying there’s a chance.” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The Vikings have added quarterback Kyler Murray to a depth chart that includes 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy. So who will win the starting job? It’s all TBD. “They envision it being a true competition: Kyler Murray versus J.J. McCarthy,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network recently said on The Rich Eisen Show, via NFL.com. “And both these guys are going to go into this believing they’re gonna win this job. I don’t know frankly how friendly that quarterback room is going to be. It’s going to be a very competitive quarterback room. “From everything that I’ve understood, it is truly wide open. They’re keeping an open mind as a coaching staff.” A “true competition” favors Murray, in our view. He’s more accomplished. More proven. All things equal, he should be able to win the job. For McCarthy to win it, he’ll need to step up. Ball out. Outplay the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. The player who was named offensive rookie of the year before making it to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2021. Even if McCarthy wins the job, he’ll need to hold it. That means staying healthy. He has missed all of his rookie year due to a preseason knee injury. In 2025, he missed seven games. A “true competition” will help both get ready to play. Chances are they both will. The question becomes when the competition will end. At some point, the Vikings need to get their starter ready for the regular season. Which means getting him all of the first-team practice reps, sooner than later. And one key factor in the competition is the opinion of the locker room. If one player stands out over the other, the rest of the players will know. And they’ll expect that guy to be the guy. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONABefore his first snap is taken, RB JEREMIYAH LOVE has $53.5 in NFL money in the bank (plus whatever his Notre Dame NIL might have been). Grant Gordon of NFL.com: Yet to take an NFL snap, Jeremiyah Love has already made league history. The Notre Dame running back, taken third overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, signed his four-year, $53 million rookie contract on Friday. The deal features the most guaranteed money ever paid to a running back in NFL history. Love’s $13.25 million average per year ranks seventh among current running backs. “It’s very life-changing. That amount of money would change anybody’s life,” Love said Friday as Arizona kicked off rookie minicamp. “For me, personally, it doesn’t change my mindset. Obviously, I’m only getting that much because … I’m the third pick in the draft. Every high pick is gonna get a lot of money. I still haven’t done anything at the end of the day. I’m coming into the league with a mindset. I’m ready to work, ready to earn the things that I’ve been given. “I’m here to play football. You get paid a lot to do it, but at the end of the day, I’ve still got to perform on the field. The money is there, which is a blessing. It’s a lot of money.” When the Cards took Love at No. 3, it was the highest a running back had been taken since the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley second overall in 2018. Consequently, Barkley’s $31.8 million guaranteed with his rookie contract was the previous NFL high prior to Love inking his pact. The contract numbers were among the reasons the Cardinals’ selection was scrutinized. Furthermore, for a team coming off a 3-14 season, conventional wisdom suggests Arizona has holes aplenty to fill. The RB room wasn’t exactly seen as one of them with James Conner and Trey Benson returning and the free-agent addition of Tyler Allgeier. In the end, general manager Monti Ossenfort and rookie head coach Mike LaFleur just couldn’t pass on such a special talent as Love. Over his last two seasons at Notre Dame, Love produced an FBS-leading 40 touchdowns with 3,014 scrimmage yards and 7.2 yards per touch. Love’s selection matched that of Garrison Hearst (No. 3; 1993) as the highest-drafted RB in franchise history during the Common Draft Era. Just the sixth running back taken in the top 10 of the last 10 drafts, Love will have to make an argument for positional value with his skills, while also looking to lift the Cardinals out of the cellar and live up to sky-high overall expectations. One thing he won’t need to concern himself too much is paying the bills. The 20-year-old took care of those in historic fashion already. |
| SEATTLEAccording to this report from Chris Cwik of YahooSports.com the market for the Seahawks is “soft” despite their Super Bowl win – they may only go for $9 billion. The Seattle Seahawks might be coming off a Super Bowl victory, but that hasn’t led to extreme interest from buyers looking to purchase the franchise. With the team officially up for sale, the Seahawks reportedly haven’t drawn as much attention as the NFL had hoped now that the franchise is on the market, according to ESPN. Multiple sources, including an anonymous team owner and various other football executives, told ESPN that interest in the Seahawks was “soft.” “It’s soft,” a team owner said of the market for the Seahawks. “There isn’t as much action as there was with Denver and Washington,” another executive said, referring to the most recent past two franchise sales. That doesn’t mean the franchise has no buyers. Canadian Steve Apostolopoulos — who made his money in real estate — is reportedly among the potential buyers, per ESPN. Apostolopoulos was also mentioned as a potential buyer when the Washington Commanders went up for sale in 2023. In addition to Apostolopoulos, Aditya Mittal and Wyc Grousbeck, minority owners of the Boston Celtics, are reportedly preparing a bid, as is Vinod Khosla. Mittal is the CEO of a steel manufacturing company. Khosla is a limited partner of the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN. Despite the perceived lack of buyers, however, those who spoke with ESPN said they still expect the Seahawks to sell for around $9 billion, which would be an NFL record. Those executives originally thought a bidding war would the Seahawks’ cost into the $10-$11 billion range, which is why an anonymous club owner called interest in the team “soft” despite the potential for a record-breaking sale. The Seahawks put the team up for sale due to a directive in late-owner Paul Allen’s will. When Allen died in 2018, he specified that he wanted his sports holdings sold, with the proceeds going toward philanthropic efforts. Trail Blazers, which Allen also owned, followed that directive in 2025, going up for sale that May. The team sold for $4 billion a few months later. Allen’s estate seemed far less willing to part with the Seahawks. Under NFL rules, an estate is not allowed to own an NFL team. The league gave the Seahawks some leeway in the years following Allen’s death, but wound up reportedly fining the team $5 million this year after it denied reports suggesting it would go up for sale following the Super Bowl. (The league denied that it fined the club.) Shortly after the reported fine, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl and went up for sale. While there’s concern over the ultimate price at which the team will sell, the Seahawks are expected to set a record once they are bought. We don’t know that the current political climate in the City of Seattle and State of Washington – which unbelievably has driven Starbucks to move to Tennessee – might be contributing to the softness. |
| AFC WEST |
| DENVERSean Payton with an update on the health of QB BO NIX per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com: – Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said Saturday that quarterback Bo Nix is on track to participate on a limited basis in the team’s minicamp next month and will be “full speed” by the time the team’s training camp begins this summer. Nix, who suffered a fractured right ankle this past January in the Broncos’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round, had a second follow-up surgery on the ankle days before the draft. During draft weekend, Payton had termed Nix’s follow-up visit to Dr. Norman Waldrop III, who performed Nix’s initial surgery in January, in Birmingham, Alabama, a “recheck” and said there “was nothing to report.” News of Nix’s second surgery surfaced days later. On Saturday, during the Broncos’ rookie minicamp, Payton offered a more specific update on Nix’s progress. “He’ll be well ahead of time for training camp,” Payton said. “… We’re going to be the ones kind of holding him back if you will.” Asked what that would mean for Nix’s potential participation in the Broncos’ OTA practices during the first two weeks of June or the team’s mandatory minicamp in the third week of June, Payton added: “He’s going to want to push that earlier, but I’m probably, you know, we’ll be smart … you’ll see him probably in [the mandatory] minicamp — probably. He’ll be full speed throwing, everything, in July before we get back here. He’s doing good.” Nix sustained the injury Jan. 17 during the Broncos’ game-winning drive of a 33-30 overtime victory over the Bills. Nix had his initial surgery two days later, on Jan. 19, in Birmingham. The week after the surgery, Nix expressed optimism about his recovery, saying “it’ll be absolutely no issue this offseason, I’ll be able to actually start training back when I was going to start training so don’t miss any time there. I’m going to train really hard.” Payton said Saturday that the follow-up surgery for Nix “was not a surprise” and “we feel real good about where he’s at, you guys will have a chance to see it here in a few weeks. Clearly full speed by training camp. We just want to be smart relative about holding him back a little [in OTAs and minicamp].” Nix has been rehabbing daily at the Broncos’ complex during the offseason. He has had several ankle operations, going back to high school, including one following his rookie season with the Broncos. “He’s doing great with it, the communication, none of that has been an issue,” Payton said Saturday. “… He’s good.” Payton said the Broncos may consider bringing in an additional quarterback for OTAs and minicamp, but he believed the two other quarterbacks on the roster — Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger — most likely would handle the work in June. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSTE DAVID NJOKU, a career-long Brown, is heading west. ESPN.com: The Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku on a one-year deal worth up to $8 million, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Njoku, 29, became a free agent after his contract voided on Feb. 10. Over the entirety of his nine-year career, all in Cleveland, Njoku ranks second in Browns history in touchdown catches (34) and receptions (384) for a tight end, only trailing Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome. However, Njoku has missed 11 games due to injury in the last two seasons. His production also dipped in 2025; although he caught four touchdown passes, he recorded 33 catches for 293 yards. Njoku’s 8.9 yards per reception were the lowest in a season since he was limited to four games in 2019 because of injury. Njoku joins a Chargers tight end group headlined by Oronde Gadsden, who had 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season. Los Angeles also has blocking tight end Charlie Kolar on its roster. The addition of Njoku provides another target for Chargers franchise quarterback Justin Herbert and allows first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to use formations with multiple receiving tight ends. Njoku was named to the Pro Bowl in 2023 after recording 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns, all career-best marks. The Browns selected Njoku with the 29th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHThe visit of QB AARON RODGERS to the Steel City has yet to include any conversations with Steelers coaches or execs. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Yes, Aaron Rodgers has returned to Pittsburgh. No, he has not yet returned to the Steelers. Via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rodgers “has been in town for a couple days.” However, he has not met with the Steelers. He also has not made an appearance at the team’s facility during the weekend’s rookie minicamp. (There had been at least one report that he wanted to get to know the new players.) Instead, the Steelers have been talking to Rodgers’s agent. Despite persistent claims that Rodgers’s potential re-signing isn’t about money, there’s nothing to discuss in a veteran contract except money. He had a base salary of $13.65 million last year, a very low rate relative to the market at the position. This year, the ultimate question is the amount he wants, the amount the team will offer, and whether (and where) the two positions will overlap. Meanwhile, coach Mike McCarthy met with reporters on Saturday. On the possibility of Rodgers officially joining the team before OTAs begin on May 18, McCarthy said, “Three quarterbacks is the normal. Four would be awesome.” With Rodgers doing his Man of Mystery thing, the Steelers are talking up rookie QB DREW ALLAR. Eva Geitheim of SI.com: Quarterback Drew Allar is among the Steelers taking part in the team’s rookie minicamp this weekend. Allar comes to the NFL after a tough final season at Penn State which culminated in him sustaining a season-ending ankle injury. Once viewed as a future first-round pick, he was taken by Pittsburgh in the third round two weeks ago. The Penn State product was the only rookie quarterback the Steelers brought to minicamp, allowing him to take on a lot of reps in his initial NFL practice. He was seen going through drills, including taking snaps under center and working on his footwork. New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said Allar “made a very good first impression” and “did a hell of a job” handling the workload they gave him. “To go 35 snaps in a team drill, that’s pushing it, but he handled it,” McCarthy told reporters. “Everybody else knowing their assignments, defense getting their communication is important for us offensively to really push the envelope in the pre-snap component of it. To make sure the defense is seeing the four to five different personnel groups and those types of things, because that’s what defense needs. They need the formations, they need the motions, they need the communication, and they need to make the adjustments. If your quarterback can’t handle it, then you don’t get to go to the speed and the tempo and the pre-snap that we were able to go.” McCarthy has had success over the past two decades working with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. McCarthy calls Allar a “gifted thrower of the football,” and has been pleased to see how he’s responded to the coaching and work they’ve done with his fundamentals thus far. “We’re teaching him different than the way he’s played before,” McCarthy added. “He hasn’t spent a lot of time under center. He’s a run-and-shoot guy in high school. He’s played from nine yards deep. So, there’s just a lot of newness to him. … It’s really the same type of stuff we went through with Will [Howard] four weeks ago. These are two young guys that have a lot of football in front of them, got a lot of work to do, but gosh, they’re definitely wired the right way, and they bring an excellent physical skill set.” Allar said of his experience with McCarthy at minicamp, “I feel like I’ve grown a lot and really just understand his philosophy a lot more the last two days. I know what I need to work on and how to work on it. I’ve just got to be intentional with doing the same routine every day and making sure I’m staying on top of the little things.” Next week, Allar will be joined by Howard and Mason Rudolph as the Steelers enter the second phase in their offseason program. The question remains if they will be joined by Aaron Rodgers. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW YORK JETSRB BREECE HALL gets a huge deal to remain a Jet. Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com: Two months after receiving the dreaded franchise tag, New York Jets running back Breece Hall has agreed to a three-year deal worth $45.75 million, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones confirmed. Hall, who turns 25 later this month, is now the NFL’s third-highest-paid running back in average annual salary. Only Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million) and Christian McCaffrey ($19 million) make more than Hall, who is now set to earn an average of $15.25 million per season. While the Jets have struggled throughout his time in the Big Apple, Hall has still proven to be a productive player. The former second-round pick has averaged 978 rushing yards over the past three seasons. In 2025, Hall ran for a career-high 1,065 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. In addition to his rushing prowess, Hall has also proven to be a valuable asset in the passing game. He has averaged 56 receptions per year over the past three seasons. In 2023, his second season with the Jets, Hall set career highs with 76 receptions for 591 yards and four touchdowns despite starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffering a season-ending injury in Week 1. Hall’s new contract will undoubtedly have ripple effects on upcoming deals for other notable running backs, specifically Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who both have two years remaining on their rookie contracts. Robinson, in particular, appears in line for a massive payday after breaking the Falcons’ single-season record for total yards during the 2025 campaign. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| TRUMP AND A PAY-TO-VIEW NFLThe President of the United States is no fan of The Commish’s pursuit of every TV dollar the NFL can find. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The on-again, off-again tension between the National Football League and the nation’s leader has landed on pro football’s pivot to streaming. In an interview with Full Measure, President Donald Trump was asked if he thinks the NFL is engaged in “price gouging” by putting games on paid platforms, and whether the federal government should do something about it. “It’s tough,” Trump said. “You’ve got people that love football. They’re great people. They don’t make enough money to go and pay this. It’s tough. And they could be killing the golden goose. I mean, they have that stupid kickoff thing that you can’t watch. It’s unwatchable. I hate the games where they, you know, they have the new phony kickoff. I don’t think it’s any safer. I hope college football doesn’t do that.” It’s no surprise that Trump found a way to bring up the NFL’s two-year-old alternative to the traditional kickoff formation. He often does, even if he doesn’t seem to realize that the new formation leads to far more returns than the prior formation did. The next question brought the topic back to the migration of games to paid platforms. “They have to be careful because, you know, others have tried this, and all of a sudden you don’t have a sport anymore. Probably will. . . . There’s something very sad when they take football away from many, many people. Very sad. I don’t like it.” So does he think the government will intervene? “I don’t know,” Trump said. “But I don’t like it. I don’t like it. They’re making a lot of money. They could make a little bit less. They could let the people see. You have people that live for Sunday. They live — they can’t think about anything else, and then all of a sudden, they’re gonna have to pay $1,000 a game. It’s crazy. So, I’m not happy about it.” Obviously, no one is paying $1,000 per game. He likely meant to say that it costs nearly $1,000 per season to watch all games. Either way, the issue is on the President’s radar screen. It comes at a time when the NFL has been attempting to get the free, over-the-air networks to pay more for broadcast contracts that run through 2029. And when the networks, with Fox owner Rupert Murdoch at the helm, are pushing back by pulling any and all available levers within the political system. |
| INTERNATIONAL GAMESThere are nine international games this year – and we guess we missed the news that CBS will be doing the Week 3 game from Rio de Janeiro between the Ravens and Cowboys. And we know the 49ers will be “at” the Rams in Melbourne in Week 1 on Netflix. John Breech of CBSSports.com with an outline of who might be playing in the other seven: When the 2026 NFL schedule is released on May 14, it will include a record-setting nine international games. The slate will include three new NFL cities, with Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Melbourne (Australia) all hosting an NFL regular-season game for the first time. The NFL will also return to Mexico City and Munich this year, two cities that didn’t host a game last year but have hosted in the past. Of the nine games, we know two matchups so far: Melbourne in Week 1 (Sept. 10): 49ers vs. Rams, 8:35 p.m. ET (Netflix)Rio de Janeiro in Week 3 (Sept. 27 ): Ravens vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)In the other seven games, we know who the home team will be, but we don’t know who they’ll be playing. With that in mind, we’re going to try to predict the visiting team for the seven international games where the matchup is still up in the air. Falcons in MadridPossible opponents: Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers, Bears, Lions, 49ers, Ravens, Bengals, ChiefsPrediction: Bears or Chiefs Three teams — the Dolphins, Chiefs and Bears — currently have marketing rights in Spain. The Dolphins went to Madrid last year for the NFL’s first-ever game in Spain, and this year, it would be logical for the NFL to send one of the other teams with marketing rights. Fortunately for the league, Atlanta plays both the Chiefs and Bears at home this year, so it seems highly likely that one of those two teams will be sent to Madrid with the Falcons. The favorite in the clubhouse is probably Kansas City. The Chiefs have made it clear to the NFL that they want to be the visiting team. “We’ve been very open and aggressive with the league — as we have been since the beginning — that we want to play in Spain this year,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting in March. “We think it would be a great market, game [and] matchup.” If the NFL sticks to the same plan as last year, this game will likely be played in early November. Lions in MunichPossible opponents: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Patriots, Jets, TitansPrediction: Giants or Buccaneers There’s a report that the Giants will play an international game this year, and this one would certainly make the most sense. The Giants hold marketing rights in Germany, so they would likely be on board if the NFL decides to send them to Munich. This one isn’t a lock, but it would be a mild surprise if the Giants aren’t the opponent. The argument against the Giants is that they played in Germany in 2024, so the NFL might be interested in sending another team. If that’s the case, then the Buccaneers could make sense. Tampa Bay played in the NFL’s inaugural Germany game in 2022, but hasn’t been back since. Two teams you can eliminate are the Packers and Vikings. The Lions protected both of those games, according to the Detroit Free Press, which means they can’t be moved overseas. Jaguars in London for two gamesPossible opponents: Texans, Colts, Titans, Browns, Steelers, Patriots, Commanders, EaglesPrediction 1 (AFC): Browns or Titans | Prediction 2 (NFC): Eagles or Commanders The Jaguars will head to London for two games. The twist is that they’ll be the home team for both, marking the first time in NFL history a team has served as the home team in back-to-back international games. This will mark the third time the Jaguars have played back-to-back games in London. On the two previous occasions, the NFL had Jacksonville face one AFC team and one NFC team, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the league once again goes that route. On the NFC side, there are only two options: the Eagles or Commanders. Although Washington is already set to host a game in London this year, the NFL could have the Commanders play back-to-back games there, with one as the home team and one as the visiting team. As for Philadelphia, the Eagles have only played two international games in franchise history, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league, so the NFL could send them abroad. On the AFC side, let’s start with the Titans. The NFL usually tries to avoid sending divisional games overseas, but it has happened before. As for the Browns, they’ve never played an international game as the visiting team, so this would break new ground. One team that likely won’t be sent to London is the Steelers because the Jaguars have protected that game, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Commanders in LondonPossible opponents: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Rams, Seahawks, Falcons, Texans, Colts, BengalsPrediction: Bengals or Texans There are only five teams that have not played an international game this decade, and the Bengals and Texans are on that list. Of the other three teams that haven’t gone abroad since 2020 — the Cowboys, Lions and Raiders — we know at least two of them will be sent overseas this year (Dallas, Detroit), so it seems like the NFL is trying to distribute international appearances more fairly. If that’s the case, then sending Cincinnati or Houston to London to face Washington would make sense. Neither team has played internationally since 2019. If the NFL has a sense of humor, the league will definitely send the Bengals, mainly because this season marks the 10-year anniversary of the infamous 2016 London game between Cincinnati and Washington that ended in a tie. If the Commanders end up playing the Bengals again, I’ll definitely be rooting for another tie. Saints in ParisPossible opponents: Falcons, Bucs, Panthers, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, Browns, Steelers, RaidersPrediction: Browns or Raiders A French media outlet has reported that the Browns will face the Saints in France. This is the same outlet that originally broke the news of the Paris game in January, so it’s certainly possible Cleveland could be headed there. If the Browns do get sent, they could conceivably play the Jaguars in London one week and then the Saints in Paris the following week. The NFL did that with the Vikings last year — sending them to Dublin and London in back-to-back weeks — so it’s certainly possible the league could do the same with Cleveland. If the Browns don’t go, then the Raiders could make sense. Las Vegas has played five international games in franchise history, which is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. Mark Davis never turns down an opportunity to take the Raiders brand global. If the NFL asks, his team would likely be more than willing to take part in the league’s first-ever game in France. 49ers in Mexico CityPossible: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Eagles, Commanders, Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, DolphinsPrediction: Broncos or Dolphins Of the six games the NFL has held in Mexico City since 2005, two have involved the 49ers facing the Cardinals, but it doesn’t feel like the league will go that route again this year. With San Francisco already playing the Rams in Australia, it seems unlikely the NFL would want to move two divisional games overseas. With the Cardinals likely out, it feels like the NFL will make this an NFC-AFC matchup, which has become popular for international games. If that’s the case, the Dolphins or Broncos would make sense because both teams have marketing rights in Mexico. The Raiders also have marketing rights in Mexico — and have even played two games there — but it would make more sense to keep that matchup at Levi’s Stadium since Las Vegas still has plenty of fans in the Bay Area thanks to the franchise’s long run in Oakland. |
| ROSTER HOLESWhere all 32 member clubs could really use an upgrade from Aaron Schatz of ESPN.com: AFC East Buffalo Bills – Left guardAfter David Edwards left for the Saints in free agency, the Bills have a few options at the position but no clear starter. One possibility is veteran Austin Corbett, who dealt with injuries in 2023 and 2024 but started 11 games for Carolina last season. Another possibility is third-year lineman Alec Anderson, who played the role of extra tight end in six-lineman sets for the past two seasons. The Bills also used a fourth-round pick on Jude Bowry, and some are projecting that he’ll switch from tackle to guard in the pros. If the Bills want to add one more veteran free agent who can play left guard, a great option would be Joel Bitonio, who spent his entire career in Cleveland and might be willing to sign for less money with an opportunity to pursue a Super Bowl title in Buffalo. Miami Dolphins – SafetyThe Dolphins have plenty of positions where there isn’t really a hole, per se, just a collection of uninspiring veterans and middle-round picks. The one that stands out most is safety. Currently penciled in to start at safety are veteran Lonnie Johnson Jr., who is 30 and has started only three games in the past four seasons, and Dante Trader Jr., who started just three games as a fifth-round rookie in 2025 but managed to make 55 tackles. Behind the starters, fourth-round pick Kyle Louis (a linebacker-safety hybrid) and fifth-round pick Michael Taaffe are next in line. The available safeties in free agency include Donovan Wilson (31 years old), Xavier Woods (31) and Taylor Rapp (29). New England Patriots – Cornerback depthNo starting position is a problem for the defending AFC champions, but there are areas where depth could use bolstering. Cornerback stands out behind starters Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones. The top backup is Kindle Vildor, who is on his sixth roster since 2022. Vildor has played only 23% of defensive snaps in games where he was active over the past two seasons. Fifth-round rookie Karon Prunty was seen as a reach by consensus boards, and Scouts Inc. didn’t even rank him among their top 300 players for this year’s draft. Charles Woods, the backup nickel, played 117 snaps for the Patriots last season. Veterans such as Adoree’ Jackson and Rasul Douglas would be interesting choices for depth. New York Jets – Wide receiverThe Jets have a star pass catcher in Garrett Wilson and brought in first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr., but right now, the third starting wideout is set to be Adonai Mitchell. The Jets brought him over from the Colts in a trade last year, and while he has a ton of talent, he hasn’t developed in the NFL. Mitchell had just 33 catches for 453 yards and two touchdowns last season in eight games for the Colts and Jets. Behind the starters, the Jets have 2025 fourth-round pick Arian Smith, return specialist Isaiah Williams and a bunch of past UDFAs with little NFL experience. AFC North Baltimore Ravens – CenterThe Ravens were unable to retain Tyler Linderbaum, and now have a major hole at the center position. Corey Bullock, a 2024 UDFA, has played a grand total of 13 offensive snaps during the regular season. Jovaughn Gwyn has played 11 snaps in three seasons with Atlanta. The alternative might be to move over a guard such as Andrew Vorhees. Available veterans on the free agent market include Ryan Kelly, Ethan Pocic and Liam Eichenberg. Cincinnati Bengals – Wide receiver depthObviously, the Bengals are in serious trouble if Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins goes down, but frankly they aren’t really in a great position if they lose slot receiver Andrei Iosivas either. Right now, the top outside backup is fourth-round rookie Colbie Young. The top slot backup is Charlie Jones, who has caught just one regular-season pass over the past two years. There are a number of veteran receivers still on the market; Deebo Samuel might be a little costly for a fourth receiver, but the unrelated Curtis Samuel might be a good choice. Cleveland Browns – QuarterbackThe Browns have three quarterbacks who will battle for the starting job in 2025, but it’s hard to pretend that any of them have been good. Last season, as rookies, Dillon Gabriel had a QBR of 31.4 and Shedeur Sanders was at 18.9. The season before, veteran Deshaun Watson had a 21.0 QBR before tearing an Achilles. Cleveland might have to wait for the 2027 draft to select its future franchise quarterback. Pittsburgh Steelers – Wide receiver depthIf we assume that Aaron Rodgers is returning to play quarterback, then Pittsburgh’s two-deep depth chart is pretty solid. There are plenty of average players, but it’s hard to find places where the Steelers need to go from bad to average. The biggest question might be what the Steelers will do if a receiver suffers an injury or if rookie Germie Bernard struggles. Roman Wilson barely played in his rookie season and had just 12 catches in 2025, his second season. Ben Skowronek can be a useful jack-of-all-trades but has only nine receptions over his two seasons in Pittsburgh. Fourth-round pick Kaden Wetjen is primarily a return specialist. AFC South Houston Texans – Edge rusher depthThe Texans’ starting edge rushers are outstanding, with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter combining for 27 sacks last season. However, edge rushers don’t play every snap on defense. Last year, Anderson played 67% of defensive snaps, while Hunter played 70%. And the depth chart behind Anderson and Hunter is weak now that Derek Barnett and Denico Autry are gone. Dominique Robinson, who signed in free agency, had just 1.5 sacks in 12 games last season with the Bears. Dylan Horton has only a half sack over three seasons in Houston. The Texans are the perfect landing spot for a veteran pass rusher who can play a rotational role, whether that’s Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa or Leonard Floyd. Barnett and Autry are also still unsigned. Indianapolis Colts – Wide receiverThe Colts handed Alec Pierce a huge new contract but forgot to get a good receiver to play across from him. The second outside receiver penciled in is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who had just 11 receptions for 89 yards last season in Miami. His career numbers are juiced by nine touchdowns in 2024, but Westbrook-Ikhine has never topped 500 yards in a season. Behind him are veteran Ashton Dulin, who has seven catches over the past two seasons, and third-year receiver Anthony Gould, who has three career catches. Seventh-rounder Deion Burks could play a role. Obviously, tight end Tyler Warren plays a huge part in the Colts’ passing game, and Josh Downs is strong in the slot, but it’s still a good idea to upgrade at wide receiver. Jacksonville Jaguars – Edge rusher depthJacksonville needs a veteran rotational edge rusher behind starters Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. The third edge rusher is B.J. Green II, a 2025 UDFA, who had two sacks as a rookie. The other rotational edge rusher will be 2026 fourth-rounder Wesley Williams. Yes, Arik Armstead could sometimes kick out to the edge, but the Jaguars need to consider the same veteran free agent edge rushers who are listed above for their rivals in Houston. Tennessee Titans – Right guardThe Titans have plenty of bodies to throw at this problem, but none of them are established starters. Former Bengals starter Cordell Volson missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, but before that, he ranked 61st out of 64 qualifying guards in pass block win rate in 2024. Jackson Slater, a 2025 fifth-round pick, didn’t start a game as a rookie, and the Titans didn’t select an offensive lineman in this year’s draft until Fernando Carmona in the fifth round. AFC West Denver Broncos – Right defensive endFirst-team All-Pro Zach Allen holds down the left end spot in Denver’s 3-4 base defense, but who will be on the right side? Eyioma Uwazurike is in his fifth season with the Broncos and has started only one game. He played 36% of Denver’s defensive snaps last season. Last year’s third-round pick, Sai’vion Jones, played only 2.9% of snaps. And this year’s third-rounder, Tyler Onyedim, might not be ready to play significant snaps for a serious playoff contender. Kansas City Chiefs – Wide receiverThe performance of the Chiefs’ wide receivers, according to ESPN’s receiver scores last season, were significantly bad. Rashee Rice is generally believed to be one of the league’s top slot receivers, but he scored just a 49 out of 100 in an off season. Tyquan Thornton had a 36 and Xaiver Worthy just a 25. The top player behind these three receivers is 2025 fourth-round pick Jalen Royals, who had just two catches in his rookie season for 4 yards. The Chiefs also have return specialist Nikko Remigio and fifth-round rookie Cyrus Allen. They really must add a veteran free agent here. Las Vegas Raiders – Outside wide receiverThe Raiders have wide receivers, but no one is established as a No. 1 option. (Yes, their No. 1 receiver is tight end Brock Bowers, but it is still good to have somebody drawing attention outside.) Tre Tucker is going into his fourth season and had 57 catches for 696 yards and five touchdowns last season, but he also had a score of just 29 out of 100 in the ESPN receiver scores. Jack Bech (20 catches for 224 yards) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (10 catches for 135 yards) underwhelmed in their rookie seasons. Dareke Young had just four receptions in four seasons with Seattle before signing with Las Vegas this offseason, and rookie Malik Benson is a sixth-round pick. Los Angeles Chargers – Right guardThe Chargers probably don’t believe this is a hole because they signed Cole Strange from the Dolphins and have Trevor Penning around as an all-purpose backup lineman. However, Strange underwhelmed as a 2022 first-round pick in New England, and even in his best season last year, he ranked only 40th among guards in pass block win rate and 48th in run block win rate. Penning washed out in New Orleans and would also make a below-average starter. NFC East Dallas Cowboys – Edge rusherThe Cowboys have a surprisingly solid two-deep across their depth chart. Edge rusher is a position that isn’t a hole, per se, but definitely has questions. Rashan Gary, acquired from Green Bay, didn’t have a sack in the final 10 games of last season. Donovan Ezeiruaku is coming off hip surgery and has been limited in the offseason. Sam Williams had just one sack in 2025. James Houston had 5.5 sacks but couldn’t play against the run. Marist Liufau is moving to the edge but hasn’t played the position before. And first-rounder Malachi Lawrence is a promising rookie, but he’s still a rookie. New York Giants – CenterNow that the Giants have signed Shelby Harris and DJ Reader to fill holes along the defensive front, they don’t have any glaring holes in the starting lineup. However, they do have weaknesses, and one of them is John Michael Schmitz Jr., who has never quite lived up to his second-round draft potential in the center of the offensive line. Last year, Schmitz ranked 23rd among starting centers with a 94.1% pass block win rate and 27th with a 65.1% run block win rate. The Giants brought in veteran Lucas Patrick to back up Schmitz, but Patrick played in only six games for the Bengals last season, partly due to a calf injury, and will be 33 years old this season. Philadelphia Eagles – Strong safetyAndrew Mukuba had an excellent rookie season at one safety position, but the Eagles have questions at the other with Reed Blankenship gone. The starter penciled in is Marcus Epps, who started four games last season after returning to the Eagles following two seasons with Las Vegas. If Epps were hurt, the Eagles might have to use a converted cornerback such as Michael Carter II or Jonathan Jones, or perhaps J.T. Gray. Gray is a former All-Pro special teams gunner, but he didn’t play a defensive snap in the 2025 regular season. Washington Commanders – Wide receiver There is a collection of players behind Terry McLaurin waiting for someone to break out. Is Treylon Burks ready to be a starter after three seasons of struggling in Tennessee followed by a few notable catches in 2025 for Washington? Can Luke McCaffrey expand past the 11 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns that he had in his second season? Or is rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams ready for the big time? The Commanders also have Jaylin Lane, who had 16 receptions for 225 yards as a rookie last season, and veteran Dyami Brown, who had 227 yards in Jacksonville in 2025. NFC North Chicago Bears – Slot receiverThe Bears use a lot of two tight-end sets. However, they still were in 11 personnel 52% of the time last season, so they need to have a third starting receiver to go with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Right now, that’s veteran Kalif Raymond, but Raymond is 31 and has had less than 300 yards in each of the past two seasons. The other alternative is third-round rookie Zavion Thomas. Deebo Samuel would be a really interesting free agent signing here. Detroit Lions – Right guard This isn’t a hole the Lions are going to try to plug because they’re counting on improvement from 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge. However, he was a real weakness last season. Ratledge’s pass block win rate of 87.4% ranked 63rd out of 65 qualifying guards, and his run block win rate of 69.9% was below average. Green Bay Packers – Edge rusherWide receiver depth is also an issue for the Packers, but at least their three starting receivers are all supposed to start the season healthy. What happens to the Packers’ defense if Micah Parsons, who suffered a torn ACL in December, is not ready for Week 1? The other starting edge rusher is slated to be Lukas Van Ness, who had just 1.5 sacks in nine games last season. The top backups are fourth-round rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton and Barryn Sorrell, who had 1.5 sacks while playing 16% of the Packers’ defensive snaps as a rookie last season. This is a team that really needs to explore the remaining free agents in the veteran edge rusher market. Minnesota Vikings – Wide receiverJustin Jefferson? One of the best. Jordan Addison? The Vikings happily picked up his fifth-year option. But what about a third starting wide receiver? Tai Felton, who had three catches as a rookie in 2025 is the option for now. There’s no depth here, either, as the Vikings don’t have another wide receiver who was either drafted or has ever caught a regular season pass in the NFL. Would Stefon Diggs like to return to where his career started? How about some interest in Jauan Jennings or Deebo Samuel? The Vikings need a veteran receiver addition. Update: The Vikings agreed to terms with Jennings on Thursday night. NFC South Atlanta Falcons – Outside wide receiverSure, the Falcons could depend upon Jahan Dotson, who signed from the Eagles this offseason. But last year, Dotson had a 24 out of 100 score in ESPN’s receiver scores, nearly at the bottom of the league. Dotson had fewer than 300 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Atlanta’s other free agent signing, Olamide Zaccheaus, is more of a slot receiver, while third-round pick Zachariah Branch is strictly a slot receiver. Behind Dotson on the depth chart are Casey Washington and Deven Thompkins, who combined to catch just nine passes for the Falcons last season. Carolina Panthers – Running backThe Panthers let Rico Dowdle leave in free agency and are planning to start Chuba Hubbard, who was excellent in 2024 but last year had the lowest avoided tackle rate among backs with at least 100 carries, according to FTN charting. The top back behind Hubbard is Jonathon Brooks, who tore an ACL in 2023 and 2024 and has just nine carries over his first two NFL seasons. Trevor Etienne had 94 yards on 20 carries in 2025, while veteran AJ Dillon barely saw the field for the Eagles. Carolina ranked ninth in run offense DVOA for the first half of the season, but only 22nd from Week 10 onward. New Orleans Saints – ‘Elusive’ slot receiverWhat the Saints are missing is more about an archetype rather than a position. Their top receivers are all tall players who specialize in playing on the outside. Chris Olave is the shortest of the top four Saints receivers at 6-foot, but he’s certainly not an elusive slot guy. Rookies Jordyn Tyson and Bryce Lance are 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3, respectively. Devaughn Vele is a big slot at 6-foot-5. For a smaller, elusive slot receiver, the Saints have third-year player Mason Tipton, but Tipton had just 11 catches for 76 yards in 14 games last season. They also have sixth-round rookie, Barion Brown, but this is a place where the Saints could use another veteran. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Outside cornerback depthThe Buccaneers have plenty of options in the slot. Tykee Smith was a nickel a couple of seasons ago, Jacob Parrish was a nickel in 2025 and fourth-round rookie Keionte Scott is a great nickel/safety hybrid addition. But what happens if there’s an injury to one of the starting outside cornerbacks, either Zyon McCollum or Benjamin Morrison? The third outside corner is Josh Hayes, who didn’t play a single defensive snap last season. The fourth outside corner is Damarion Williams, who hasn’t played any regular season snaps since 2023. Veterans such as Trevon Diggs and L’Jarius Sneed make sense here if they can be signed. NFC WEST Arizona Cardinals – Wide receiverMy first suggestion was going to be center, but while Hjalte Froholdt was poor in pass block win rate (93.9%) last season, he was excellent in run block win rate (74.1%). Instead, let’s look at the wide receiver depth chart. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson are the top two here, but it will be interesting to see how much Kendrick Bourne can bring as a third option. He managed to make 37 catches for 551 yards last season in San Francisco, but he is 30. Then depth behind these three is an issue. Devin Duvernay is primarily a return specialist, Xavier Weaver had only seven catches in 2025, and players such as Andre Baccellia and Simi Fehoko have been bouncing between the practice squad and the roster for years. The Cardinals also have fifth-round rookie Reggie Virgil. Los Angeles Rams – Wide receiver depthThere are a number of players behind Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, but none of them particularly stand out. The Rams didn’t invest in a receiver via the draft until CJ Daniels in the sixth round. Deep threat Xavier Smith had 18 catches for 303 yards last season, while Jordan Whittington — well-regarded for his run blocking — had 18 catches for 171 yards. Konata Mumpfield had 10 catches for 92 yards with a touchdown as a rookie. The Rams can get value out of these players. San Francisco 49ers – Left guardThere are four players ready to compete for the position. The probable starter is Connor Colby, who started six games last season as a seventh-round rookie. The 49ers also signed Robert Jones, who started a full season for Miami in 2024 and then signed with Dallas but lost the entire 2025 season to a broken bone in his neck. The other two options are possible tackle-to-guard conversions from this year’s draft: fourth-rounder Carver Willis and fifth-rounder Enrique Cruz Jr. Both players were drafted higher than Scouts Inc. had them ranked for ESPN. (Willis was ranked 206th and went 127th, while Cruz was ranked 258th and went 179th.) Seattle Seahawks – Edge rusher depthThe Seahawks like to rotate their edge rushers, as their top four last season all played between 36% and 56% of defensive snaps. However, Boye Mafe left in free agency and was never replaced. DeMarcus Lawrence is 34, and Uchenna Nwosu will be 30 in December. Behind those two players and Derick Hall are Patrick O’Connell (one sack in three seasons) and Jared Ivey (only played in two games last season). This would be a good spot for a veteran who wants a shot at a ring, such as Joey Bosa, Haason Reddick or Leonard Floyd — or the Seahawks could go younger with AJ Epenesa or Mike Danna. The Seahawks helped fix this hole on Tuesday by signing veteran Dante Fowler Jr. |
| VALUE PICKSNick Baumgardner of The Athletic identifies “value picks” from the recent draft: Everybody loves a deal, and NFL teams are no exception. The true gold strikes at the bottom of the draft (see Brady, Tom) are extremely rare, but the league’s best front offices annually find value on Day 3, in some form or fashion — a surprise starter, a special teams ace, a versatile backup or a “glue” guy. Talent always slides, for one reason or another. With the help of “The Beast,” here’s a look at the 2026 NFL Draft’s best value picks by position: QB: Garrett Nussmeier, Kansas City Chiefs (pick No. 249)“The Beast” rank: No. 82 (third-round grade)There were pretty obvious health concerns with Nussmeier, and most teams preferred to take chances on other QBs ahead of him. But of all the potential future NFL backups in this draft class, I thought Nussmeier was the only one with a real shot to someday earn a starting job. There is plenty of Tony Romo in Nussmeier’s game. RB: Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders (No. 122)“The Beast” rank: No. 85 (third-round grade)An outstanding athlete at 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, Washington runs with tons of power, vision and speed. He’s a full-package athlete who has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and could blossom into a three-down weapon. He was also one of the fastest big athletes in the draft (4.33-second 40-yard dash). TE: Justin Joly, Denver Broncos (No. 152)“The Beast” rank: No. 93 (third-/fourth-round grade)Joly is a bit of a project — you might never get true first-down, run-blocking power out of him. But he’s a bit of a mutant athletically (6-3, 241), with great vertical speed and enough wiggle to separate at the top of routes. He could be a potential matchup problem in the NFL. WR: Elijah Sarratt, Baltimore Ravens (No. 115)“The Beast” rank: No. 69 (third-round grade)Classic Baltimore pick here. Sarratt (6-2, 210) is not an overly impressive athlete, nor does he have breakaway speed or eye-popping explosion. He is, however, one of the most disciplined receivers in this class. Nicknamed “Waffle House” because he’s always open, Sarratt was a contested-catch machine at Indiana. WR: Bryce Lance, New Orleans Saints (No. 136)“The Beast” rank: No. 90 (third-/fourth-round grade)Trey Lance’s younger brother, Bryce Lance was arguably the 2026 NFL Draft’s best pure deep threat at receiver. An elite athlete, Lance (6-3, 204) ran a 4.34 40, with a 41 1/2-inch vertical and an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump at the combine. His ball-tracking ability and confidence in the air could make him a big-play threat quickly. WR: Deion Burks, Indianapolis Colts (No. 254)“The Beast” rank: No. 99 (third-/fourth-round grade)Burks (5-9, 180) was never going to be for every team, but he was one of the most electric athletes in this class — he ran a 4.30 40, with a 42 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 10-11 broad jump at the combine. Burks plays with great hands and incredible burst in the open field, and he also could contribute as a kick returner. OT: Travis Burke, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 117)“The Beast” rank: No. 79 (third-round grade)A classic Jim Harbaugh offensive tackle prospect, Burke (nearly 6-foot-9, 325, with 34 1/4-inch arms) brings a downright nasty attitude in the run game. One of the most assertive run blockers in the 2026 class, Burke should be an immediate swing tackle and could develop into a future starter. OT: Dametrious Crownover, New England Patriots (No. 196)“The Beast” rank: No. 155 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)Another gigantic tackle, Crownover (6-7, 319, with 35 3/8-inch arms) keeps his massive frame under control off the edge and brings real potential as a run blocker. He’s another player who could perform immediately as a swing tackle before blossoming into something more. G: Billy Schrauth, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 160)“The Beast” rank: No. 109 (third-/fourth-round grade)A powerful, quick-footed guard, Schrauth (6-5, 310, with 32 7/8-inch arms) has enough power in the run game to potentially compete for a job during his rookie season. A former Notre Dame captain, Schrauth has had injury problems, but he’ll be an instant fit in Tampa Bay’s locker room. G: Logan Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 202)“The Beast” rank: No. 120 (fourth-round grade)A tackle-sized guard, Taylor (almost 6-7, 314, with 33 7/8-inch arms) is a limited athlete, but he’s a very powerful player at the point of attack and difficult to bully. Known for his maturity and work ethic, Taylor will turn heads in training camp with his attitude and consistency. C: Sam Hecht, Carolina Panthers (No. 144)“The Beast” rank: No. 92 (third-/fourth-round grade)A smart player who moves well laterally and has more power than you’d think, Hecht (6-4, 303) has starter potential — possibly as a rookie. He did not commit a penalty last season, and despite size concerns, he was one of the more durable linemen in college football, with 25 straight starts to close his career. Edge: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Green Bay Packers (No. 120)“The Beast” rank: No. 60 (second-/third-round grade)Dennis-Sutton is still more a collection of tools than a polished product, but those tools are pretty outstanding. The 6-foot-6, 256-pounder (with 33 1/2-inch arms) ran a 4.63 40 and posted a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-11 broad jump. Athletically, he shows some Aidan Hutchinson-like flashes. We’ll see about the rest, though. Edge: Max Llewellyn, Miami Dolphins (No. 238)“The Beast” rank: No. 130 (fourth-round grade)A high-energy edge rusher with a deep bag of tricks and a motor without an off switch, Llewellyn is a little stiff and only an average athlete, but his upper-body strength and rush approach will give him a chance. He’ll annoy tackles in training camp pretty quickly. DT: Rayshaun Benny, Baltimore Ravens (No. 250)“The Beast” rank: No. 130 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)Powerful, explosive and long, Benny (6-3, 298, with 33 3/8-inch arms) is a bit inconsistent. When things come together, though, he can be a dynamic interior pocket pusher. He’s an ascending talent who bloomed later in college and could truly find his groove in a familiar NFL system under Jesse Minter, his former defensive coordinator at Michigan. DT: Domonique Orange, Minnesota Vikings (No. 82)“The Beast” rank: No. 62 (second-/third-round grade)Most of the defensive tackles came off the board in the ranges we expected, but Orange felt like great value toward the bottom of the third round. Interestingly enough, the Vikings also snagged Caleb Banks in the first round — if that works out, Banks and Orange could be quite a force together. LB: Kyle Louis, Miami Dolphins (No. 138)“The Beast” rank: No. 75 (third-round grade)Another savvy pick by the Dolphins — and another defender who could be perfect for new head coach Jeff Hafley. Louis, an undersized linebacker who runs like a safety, is a hybrid defender who should be able to hold up in any situation the Dolphins throw at him. LB: Keyshaun Elliott, Chicago Bears (No. 166)“The Beast” rank: No. 83 (third-round grade)Elliott might not turn into a three-down, off-ball starter in the NFL, but it’s hard to see a world in which he won’t be at least an early-down rotational piece with starting upside. A powerful presence in the box who is very hard to fool, Elliott will add value on special teams — and anywhere else he gets an opportunity in Chicago. LB: Red Murdock, Denver Broncos (No. 257)“The Beast” rank: No. 138 (fourth-/fifth-round grade)If Murdock saw a human being carrying a football on Buffalo’s campus between 2024 and 2025, he tackled them. An old-school run fitter, he made more than 300 combined stops over his final two seasons and forced an FBS-record 17 fumbles. He’s an average athlete at 6-2, 232, but you’ll hear his name again. CB: Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 101)“The Beast” rank: No. 14 (first-round grade)If McCoy’s knee hadn’t been a question, he might’ve been a top-10 pick. And though the uncertainty surrounding his health is warranted, the potential payoff could make McCoy the steal of the draft. CB: Keith Abney II, Detroit Lions (No. 157)“The Beast” rank: No. 61 (second-/third-round grade)In a deep corner class filled with players straight out of central casting, the undersized Abney (5-10, 187) got a bit lost in the shuffle. He wound up being a great value pick by Detroit. A quick and physical defender with confidence in man coverage, Abney could compete for time in the slot immediately. S: Keionte Scott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 116)“The Beast” rank: No. 53 (second-/third-round grade)There are plenty of reasons to doubt a prospect like Scott — he’s small; he’s old; his injury history isn’t flattering. But then you turn on the tape, and you see him stand out as one of the most energetic defensive forces in college football last season. A perfect pick for Todd Bowles. S: Zakee Wheatley, Carolina Panthers (No. 151)“The Beast” rank: No. 78 (third-round grade)A jumbo safety who is quicker than fast, Wheatley (6-3, 203) has the size to be a potential box hybrid and the body fluidity to play either safety spot in the NFL — despite having less-than-desirable speed. If he can become a more consistent tackler, Wheatley could be a real difference-maker. |
