| There will be Pro Bowl players this season, but no Pro Bowl game. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The NFL has had more than 100 Pro Bowlers in recent years because of players who were either too injured or disinterested in participating. Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who started only seven games and threw more interceptions than touchdowns, was a Pro Bowl replacement last season. The league announced Wednesday that it is doing away with the game. Instead, the NFL will name 88 Pro Bowlers it will honor in Los Angeles before the Super Bowl in February. Commissioner Roger Goodell explained the reasoning after NFL owners wrapped up their meeting in Atlanta. “I think this is something that we talked to our players about, the Pro Bowl players in particular,” Goodell said, via Mark Maske of Front Office Sports. “We had conference calls the last couple years: What’s working? What’s not? What would you like to see? And the number one thing that came out—and there were a lot of wonderful comments by the players—one is: ‘We want to be honored and celebrated as a Pro Bowl player.’ . . . It just opened my eyes. I never really thought about it in the context of that. It’s not honoring the replacement players. It’s honoring the guys who are selected by the fans, by the players, by the coaches. “And so that was really the core of it, is: How do we do this in the right way? And our players, you know, they did what they normally do. They had great recommendations on how to do that. And second, a willingness to lead that the all-star format doesn’t really work for our game. . . . It’s something that we felt strongly about. And I think our players, they deserve to be celebrated when they get the Pro Bowl honor.” Since 1951, the NFL has held an exhibition of the league’s all-star players in some form every year except 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The league switched from a Pro Bowl Game to the Pro Bowl Games — a non-contact flag football game — in 2023. It didn’t help with participants’ interest or fans’ interest. “I think we’ve been focused on the game,” Goodell said. “You’ve heard me say it for many years about the quality of the game in the Pro Bowl. I don’t think it’s up to NFL standards. And that’s why we changed to the flag game several years ago. So I’m not sure the last time you want to say we played a game in a football sense– – – Starting with the 2026 season, the NFL will focus discipline on on-field rules violations that are most likely to result in injuries to players. In a joint statement released by the league and the NFL Players Association on Wednesday, it was announced that a “greater emphasis” will be placed on five rules violations that affect player healthy and safety: Hip drop tackle Horse collar tackle Launching Hit on a defenseless player Blindside block Any players who commit three of these five offenses during a season will receive a one-game suspension. “There are some player safety fouls that really put the defender and his opponent at really high risk,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. “We don’t like to remove people from the team or the roster,” he added. “But we’ve had to put some measures in place to hold the player to greater accountability for himself and for his opponent.” Meanwhile, players who commit just one violation will get 50% of the amount they are fined back at the conclusion of the season. Players who commit just one offense in other eligible categories will receive the full amount of their fine returned to them at the end of the season. The NFL and the union said that all players will begin the 2026 season with a “clean slate” pertaining to these five offenses, but violations will carry forward to subsequent seasons. Owners were briefed on the changes at Wednesday’s league meeting in Atlanta while player leadership voted on the changes at a board of player representative meeting Tuesday. Also, coaches will now be required to join players who are approaching the suspension threshold in meetings with the NFL. In addition, teams that have excessive healthy and safety rules violations will have increased financial penalties. Former Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who played nine seasons in the NFL as a linebacker for the Chicago Bears, is also being added to the pool of former players who oversee discipline hearings. “This approach distinguishes between isolated mistakes and repeated conduct that jeopardizes the health and safety of players,” the NFL and NFLPA said in the statement. “Player safety is a shared responsibility. These changes focus on the techniques that create the greatest risk while ensuring player, coach, and club accountability. Together, we believe this approach will continue to make the game safer for all players.” We thought this means three total penalties in any of the five categories – either three launches or 1 hip drop, 1 horse collar and1 launching – means a suspension. But according to Mike Florio, we are wrong – The suspension applies only if a player commits three violations of the same rule. For example, three hip-drop tackles will trigger a suspension. Two hip-drop tackles and one horse-collar tackle won’t. So how would this new procedure have applied in recent years? Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFLPA informed players on Wednesday that one player would have been suspended in 2024, and one player would have been suspended in 2025. Players often view fines as the cost of playing football the way they believe football should be played. The possibility of a suspension should make them view it differently, because a third violation of the same rule will keep them off the field. So a defensive player could commit up to eight safety risking penalties – 2 hip drop, 2 horse collars, 2 launches, 2 defenseless players – and not receive a suspension. But 3 hip drops – you are out a game. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOThe Commish is not ready to let the Bears abscond to Indiana. Michael David Smith or ProFootballTalk.com: Despite the Bears saying last month that they are moving forward with plans to build a new stadium in Indiana, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says Illinois is not out of the running. Goodell told reporters at Wednesday’s owners’ meeting that the former racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois, that the Bears purchased in 2023 could still be the team’s next home. “There’s no specific timetable from my standpoint, other than we know that they are looking at the alternate groups, Indiana or Arlington Heights,” Goodell said, via Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “We want to make sure that Arlington Heights and Illinois have an opportunity, as well as Indiana, to put their best foot forward.” Goodell said he recently met with Illinois officials. Proposals for Illinois taxpayers to pay for infrastructure around the Bears’ new stadium haven’t gone anywhere, while Indiana is willing to spend tax money to attract the Bears. “I’m involved in a lot of stadium efforts,” Goodell said. “It’s not unusual for me to be involved in conversations with either public officials or others. Or our staff. There are important decisions, not just for the communities but for teams and the NFL. So these are important things for us.” Remaining in the city of Chicago, where the Bears have played for more than a century, does not appear to be an option. The question is whether the Bears will move to a Chicago suburb in Illinois or in Indiana. The Bears’ stadium saga has been going on for years, and the team’s recent comments seemed to suggest that Indiana would be the Bears’ next home. Goodell sounds more willing to give Illinois time to come up with a deal to keep the Bears in the state. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| TAMPA BAYEDGE REUBEN BAIN, Jr., widely expected to be a difference maker, should be back from a sprained knee for the opener in Cincinnati. A transcript of an Adam Schefter hit from YahooSports.com: Bucs first round rookie Ruben Bain Jr. Has been turning heads this preseason, but was not on the field for joint practice with the Jags today. Adam, back with us, here. What’s the latest on Bain’s availability? He’s been a human highlight reel at Bucs camp thus far. Yeah, he’s been great, and he will be a contender for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and it sounds like despite the fact that he suffered a sprained AC joint this week, that obviously got some attention, it doesn’t sound to be serious right now, although we’re not playing with that injury. And he is expected to be out there for the Buccaneers’ opening day game in Cincinnati against the Bengals, and they need him to be out there. They need him to be a factor. They need him to bring the type of pressure that this defense didn’t have in recent seasons. So again, I don’t know that he’s gonna be at full strength, but they are expecting him to be out there on opening day. And would love to see his impact, week one in Cincinnati, getting after Joe Burrow. Thanks very much, Adam Schefter. |
| NFC WEST |
| SEATTLEThe Khoslas are officially the owners of the Seahawks after paying a record price. NFL.com: NFL owners voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the sale of the Seattle Seahawks franchise to the Khosla family, led by Vinod and Neeru Khosla, from former owner Jody Allen, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced. The Khosla family entered into a formal sale agreement with the Paul G. Allen Estate on July 11 for a league-record price of $9.612 billion, ESPN reported. Allen’s estate announced on Feb. 18 it had begun the process of selling the team, which is coming off its second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. “How often do you get to buy a franchise that just won the Super Bowl?” Vinod Khosla said Wednesday, flanked by his co-owners, wife Neeru and son Neal Khosla, at the NFL owners’ meeting in Atlanta. “We are incredibly lucky and humbled by this gift, I would say, from the Allen trust.” Goodell joked the Khoslas have “great timing” in purchasing the reigning Super Bowl champs, adding, “I know, most importantly, with tremendous confidence that they will be tremendous caretakers of the Seattle Seahawks, the organization and the great partnership they have with the community.” The Seahawks had been in the Allen family since 1997, when Paul Allen bought the team for $194 million from then-owner Ken Behring. Allen was critical in keeping the Seahawks in Seattle, which is where the team is expected to remain. The Seahawks have a lease at Lumen Field that runs through 2032 with three 10-year options. Asked about his long-term plans for the stadium, Vinod Khosla called Lumen Field “iconic and very much a part of the Seahawks’ brand.” “Obviously, we’re not owners yet and we need to learn a lot more,” Khosla said, “but we will work with management and with others and with the community in Seattle to hopefully preserve this iconic brand.” Since Paul Allen, cofounder of Microsoft, died in 2018 from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma at 65, the Seahawks and the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers had been owned by his sister, Jody. The estate agreed in September to sell the Trail Blazers to an investment group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. The Trail Blazers will remain in Portland as part of the deal, which is awaiting final approval from the NBA Board of Governors. The last NFL team to be sold was the Washington Commanders in 2023. A group led by Josh Harris that includes Magic Johnson bought the team from longtime owner Dan Snyder and his family for a record $6.05 billion. The Seahawks beat the New England Patriots, 29-13, in the Super Bowl in February. “The task ahead is actually pretty simple,” Vinod Khosla said. “Keep the winning streak alive. Get another Super Bowl.” Who are these Khoslas and from where does their fortune arise? Vinod Khosla (born 28 January 1955) is an Indian-American billionaire, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist.[2] He is a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Khosla Ventures.[3] As of July 11, 2026, he entered into a binding agreement to purchase the Seattle Seahawks. Khosla made his wealth from early venture capital investments in areas including networking, software, and alternative energy technologies.[4] He has been described by The Information as one of the most successful and influential venture capitalists As of May 2026, Forbes estimates his net worth at $15.6 billion.[13] Vinod Khosla, 71, is an entrepreneur and “venture assistant,” and has a net worth of $13.7 billion, according to Forbes. He is the founder of Khosla Ventures and the co-founder of Sun Microsystems, a computer company that has been defunct since 2010. He was born in India and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology before coming to the United States and earning a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon. He then received an MBA at Stanford, after he initially was rejected twice from the school. According to his bio on Khosla Ventures, he founded his company to focus on “technologies that could meaningfully reshape society.” He is a proponent of AI and AI in healthcare, with Khosla Ventures becoming the first venture firm to invest in OpenAI. Vinod’s bio also lists that he has been married to his “childhood love”, Neeru, for 50+ years. She was also born in India and earned master’s degrees in molecular biology from San Jose State and in education from Stanford. She is the executive director and co-founder of the CK-12 Foundation, a non-profit that aims to provide free educational content and technology tools to help students “learn in their own way.” The couple has four kids, including Neal. Most recently, the Khosla family owns a limited partner interest of the 49ers organization, one of the Seahawks’ top rivals. As the NFL’s memo noted, the Khosla family would have to divest their interest in the 49ers if the sale goes through.Early life and education Personal lifeIn 1980 he married Neeru Khosla, his girlfriend since he was 16.[27][28] They have four children[29][30] and since 1986 they have lived at the same residence. In 2001, Khosla said he makes a point of having dinner with his family at least 25 times a month.[28][31] On most days he fasts until dinner because he says food slows him down.[32] Wikipedia doesn’t say, but his 40-year residency is apparently in Palo Alto, California. He was involved in a controversy when he tried to shut off public access to the beach near another residence in Half Moon Bay, California. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREMatt Verderame of SI.com sits down with S KYLE HAMILTON. While Hamilton is commenting on the challenges of playing NFL football, he also thinks the game will only demand more from players in the future: Kyle Hamilton expects the NFL to have a 20-game regular season within the next decade. And if he has his way, his future children won’t be playing 20 football games beyond the high school level. After Wednesday’s joint practice with the Commanders, Hamilton sat on a shaded bench and spoke with Sports Illustrated. The Ravens’ three-time All-Pro safety didn’t hold back on where he believes the sport is going in the wake of a jarring CTE study earlier this week. “It’s a dangerous sport, it’s a collision sport,” Hamilton says. “It’s something we all acknowledge. If I can put my future self, my future family, my kids and their kids in a position of success, and I sacrifice a little bit, I’m fine with that personally. I don’t know how I feel about my kids playing football necessarily; there’s so many other things you can do. But from my perspective, I see it as I fall on my sword for people who have provided for me and people that I will provide for.” Hamilton, entering his fifth season in the NFL, has seen plenty in a short time. Since entering the league as a 2022 first-round pick out of Notre Dame, he’s watched as fellow safety Damar Hamlin nearly died on the field during a game between the Bills and Bengals (Hamlin remains on Buffalo’s roster). He’s also a member of a team that recently mourned the death of O.J. Brigance, who died on Aug. 17 after a lengthy battle with ALS. Brigance played seven years as an NFL linebacker and won a Super Bowl with the 2000 Ravens. A recent study by Boston University and Mass General found that NFL athletes are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ALS, based on every player who was in at least one game between 1960–2019. “I’d probably push [my future kids] in a different direction,” says Hamilton of competing in football beyond high school. “But if they’re like, Dad, I love football and it’s what I love and what I want to do, then I’ll teach them about safety and all this other stuff. But there’s only one way to play football, and that’s physically.” In the meantime, Hamilton doesn’t see the physical demand on players slowing down any time soon. Those in league circles believe the NFL will push for an 18-game regular season at some point before the decade’s conclusion, giving each team nine games, both home and away (or perhaps giving each team an international game every season), while having two byes. Of course, there’s a ravenous appetite for more football as we’ve seen the league explore and exploit weekly schedules in recent years. For example, there are now annual Black Friday and Christmas games (with Netflix paying $150 million for the rights). In 2024, the Chiefs played on every day of the week save for Tuesday, including a stretch of three contests in 11 days in Weeks 15–17. Despite the NFLPA having a new executive director in JC Tretter, Hamilton doesn’t see much chance in the union slowing down the league’s plans, with 18 games being a road sign instead of a destination. “I don’t think it’s really realistic in terms of union versus shield power,” Hamilton says. “I think everything these days dilutes itself. … I think we’ll be at 20 games before we know it. I wouldn’t be surprised in the next 10 years or so if that happens. It’s about money at the end of the day.” Hamilton has some thoughts on how to reimagine the sport, including one he preempts as what could be a “terrible idea.” The notion? Two 45-minute halves with running clocks and extra time tacked on, mimicking soccer. Also, lowering the play clock from 40 seconds to 25. In that world, Hamilton believes the regular season could be extended to between 20 and 25 games. While Hamilton prepares for the 2026 season, he’s thinking about other things, including how to execute first-year coach Jesse Minter’s new defense and whether the Ravens can win the Super Bowl for the first time since 2012. As the 25-year-old noted, most league issues are above his pay grade. For now, Hamilton is playing the game he loves. He’d just prefer that when it’s time to choose a vocation, his children go in another direction. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONIt is not a major injury for Houston RT BRADEN SMITH. ESPN.com: Houston Texans right tackle Braden Smith, who was carted off the practice field Wednesday, avoided a long-term injury to his foot, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Texans did not disclose the nature of Smith’s injury Wednesday, but sources told Schefter and Rapoport that the nine-year veteran has a plantar fascia injury. Smith could miss a few weeks, a source told Schefter, but he avoided a major injury. Smith signed a two-year, $25 million contract as an unrestricted free agent earlier this offseason. He started 105 games during his eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, including 13 last year. Smith is currently battling for Houston’s starting right tackle job with Trent Brown after beginning camp as the favorite to start Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com on QB CJ STROUD’s new look: Stroud’s hard work this offseason and the results of it have been notable. “It’s not that he didn’t look healthy or not look in shape,” Texans wideout Xavier Hutchinson told ESPN. “But this is probably the best shape I’ve ever seen him from a physique standpoint.” Stroud became leaner by cutting sugar from his diet. He added muscle and improved his speed to be more of a dual-threat quarterback whenever he might need to escape pressure. But his lean look isn’t the only thing that’s caught attention this offseason. He also cut his signature dreadlocks. “People thought I was depressed or that I wasn’t doing OK,” Stroud said. “But I’ve been thinking about cutting my hair for a long time and I was actually going to do it months prior, but I just didn’t know how my helmet was going to fit. I’m kind of used to this haircut, it’s how I grew up, the dreads were kind of a new thing. “I hate how everything in my life is so public and people just have narratives, but it’s the life I’ve chosen to live, so it’s all good.” As far as the other changes to his body, Stroud has shown improvements in things besides scrambling throughout training camp. He has had plays where he successfully ran away from defensive end Will Anderson Jr. to keep a play alive before firing a pass down the field. “I do feel fast,” Stroud told ESPN. “You want to be explosive, but I also think it has to do with making sure you’re able to take hits.” The 2023 No. 2 pick wasted no time working on himself following a disappointing playoff run that ended in January with seven turnovers in two playoff games, including four first-half interceptions in Houston’s divisional round loss to the New England Patriots. The organization has seen the work ahead of a pivotal 2026 season, in which Houston has Super Bowl expectations — with general manager Nick Caserio saying, “It’s probably the best offseason he’s had since he’s been here.” Coach DeMeco Ryans has noted improvement in his quarterback’s pocket movement as well. “[Stroud] has grown from the aspect of being able to really maneuver in the pocket,” Ryans said. “Not just maneuvering, but it’s keeping two hands on the football, it’s securing the football, it’s stepping up in the pocket and still keeping his eyes downfield. Making the proper read, still throwing strikes, that’s what’s impressive about him. He’s not getting flustered if things break down, he’s still able to maneuver and make those plays on the run.” Ryans called Stroud’s ability to be accurate from the pocket and using his legs as “unique.” It’s what Texans quarterback coach Jerry Schuplinski calls a “coach’s dream.” “When you could kind of steal a first down or steal a gain off of something like that, it’s awesome,” Schuplinski told ESPN. “Now we got to work on getting down and protecting ourselves.” Schuplinski is referring to when Stroud suffered a concussion against the Denver Broncos in Week 9 last season that forced him to miss three games. Stroud scrambled on third-and-8 and slid short of the first-down mark, but Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine lunged into Stroud and the quarterback’s head hit the ground, knocking him out of the game. Stroud wanted to improve his strength to help him absorb hits and “keep ticking on” for when he takes off. “I’ve always kind of been quicker than people think,” Stroud said. “But it’s more about being stronger than anything. I have more of a quick twitch, but I think I’ve been able to kind of extend plays my whole career. But I definitely feel I’m stronger. I can, God willing, take more hits. And that was the point of getting leaner and losing fat mass.” But according to Lassiter, seeing Stroud on those torrid days of summer on the practice field wasn’t something that surprised him. “He’s not unathletic,” Lassiter said. “I feel like he’s always been fast. People just sleep on him.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| THE 2027 DRAFTDane Brugler of The Athletic has his top 50 prospects out of what he says is a stacked class, not just at quarterback. A summer draft board is based on past tape with projection built in, which means there will be natural fluctuation in the rankings once we get new tape throughout the season. There’s also no guarantee that even the most intriguing prospects heading into September will even be part of the draft class come April. In fact, two members of last year’s preseason top 10 (Arch Manning and LaNorris Sellers) are back on this year’s board after opting to stay in school. Over the past several weeks, my position previews ranked hundreds of draft-eligible players ahead of the 2026 season. Here, I’ve narrowed those lists down to these prospects: 1 Jeremiah Smith WR Ohio State Jr.We are all guilty of falling into the evaluation trap of overexcitement about prospects, which leads to hyperbolic scouting statements and unattainable expectations. But the boundless praise for Smith is absolutely warranted based on his first two seasons at Ohio State. Smith is a special player and enters the 2027 NFL Draft process as the clear No. 1 prospect in a loaded class. When talking to scouts around the league, you hear lofty player comparisons, including to Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, who are both enshrined in Canton. I have been scouting for almost two decades, and Smith has a decent chance to finish with the highest grade I have ever given to a wide receiver. 2 Leonard Moore CB Notre Dame Jr.With five interceptions and 12 passes defended over 10 games in 2025, Moore emerged as a consensus All-American and will enter his third season as arguably the best defensive player in college football. Moore thrives on an island. According to PFF, he lined up in man coverage on 57.6 percent of his defensive snaps in 2025, the highest rate in the FBS. He is a long, smooth athlete who processes confidently and decisively to stay a step ahead of the action. He lines up primarily outside, but he had no trouble moving inside to shadow former USC standout receiver Makai Lemon. Moore brings consistency to a position that is inherently volatile. 3 Arch Manning QB Texas R-Jr.Manning is not without flaws. However, his issues are mostly experience based, and his progress last season will encourage evaluators that continued growth is coming. Better timing with his receivers and upgrades to the depth chart (hello, Cam Coleman) also should translate to better play. Drafting a quarterback high in the NFL Draft is a substantial bet, without guarantees. But based on the promise of his tape and traits, Manning looks like the type of prospect worth the gamble. We’ll see if his 2026 tape builds on that optimism. 4 Dylan Stewart Edge South Carolina Jr.His production dipped as a sophomore (4.5 sacks in 11 starts), but Stewart was routinely disruptive despite being hampered by a back injury over the back half of 2025. Stewart thrives on his raw physical traits: explosive athleticism, bendy body length and special twitch. While he isn’t the most refined pass rusher at this point, NFL teams will be happy to bet on his upside, as his foundational traits are incredibly impressive. Stewart is a blue-chip prospect and should be one of the first players selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. 5 Cam Coleman WR Texas Jr.Frustration. That was the main takeaway when watching Coleman’s 2024 and 2025 tape, as he was regularly squandered in the Auburn offense. That shouldn’t be the case in 2026, now that he’s in a Texas offense set up to feature him as the No. 1 target for quarterback Arch Manning. In the mold of an A.J. Green type of pass catcher, Coleman has freaky ability and can be a top-10 draft pick in the 2027 draft class, if he continues to develop as a junior. 6 Dante Moore QB Oregon R-Jr.A five-star recruit out of high school, Moore was the No. 3 quarterback (behind Manning and Nico Iamaleava) in the 2023 recruiting class and a top-five overall recruit. He was a huge get for UCLA — and started right away — but spent just one year with the Bruins. Prior to the 2024 season, Moore transferred to Oregon, where he backed up Dillon Gabriel before emerging as one of college football’s top quarterbacks. Had he declared, Moore would have been drafted very high in the 2026 NFL Draft — likely No. 2 by the New York Jets. However, he wanted one more year of college experience to continue developing mentally and physically. 7 Colin Simmons Edge Texas Jr.The No. 2 edge rusher in the 2024 recruiting class (behind Stewart), the former five-star quickly became a starter and flashed dominance during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Although he isn’t the top-ranked edge on my preseason list, Simmons is a more complete player than Stewart right now. He has the talent to supplant Stewart atop the rankings before draft weekend. 8 Trevor Goosby OT Texas R-Jr.He was thrown into the fire late in 2024 because of injuries on Texas’ roster, and he started his first two games in the SEC championship game and a College Football Playoff win over Arizona State. Goosby replaced Kelvin Banks Jr. as the full-time left tackle last season and separated himself as one of the best linemen in the SEC. There were six offensive tackles drafted in the first round in April — it likely would have been seven had Goosby elected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. But he returned to Austin for his fourth season in the program, and he now has a chance to make himself a top-10 pick and the first lineman drafted in 2027. 9 Charlie Becker WR Indiana Jr.This is a healthy ranking for a player with only 34 career catches, but Becker was a revelation over the final two months of the 2025 season. Would the Hoosiers have secured the Big Ten title and national championship without him? Maybe, but we’ll never know for sure. Every Becker catch felt incredibly impactful during the title run — 85.3 percent of his catches in 2025 resulted in a first down or touchdown. Even with a slight decline in quarterback play, “Big Play” Becker has the talent to punch his ticket for the first round next April. 10 Yhonzae Pierre Edge Alabama R-Jr.Pierre was a highly touted five-star recruit who stayed home to play for Alabama. He entered his redshirt sophomore season last year as a part-time role player, but he earned more playing time and emerged as arguably the Tide’s most impactful defensive player. Pierre flirted with leaving for the 2026 NFL Draft, where he likely would have been a top-40 pick. Instead, he returned to Tuscaloosa for his fourth season — and a chance to cement his status as a top-20 prospect. 11 Trey’Dez Green TE LSU Jr. 12 Ellis Robinson IV CB Georgia R-So. 13 Will Echoles DT Ole Miss Jr. 14 Trevor Lauck OT Iowa R-Jr. 15 Jordan Seaton OT LSU Jr. 16 KJ Bolden S Georgia Jr. 17 Kewan Lacy RB Ole Miss Jr.After a nondescript freshman season with Missouri, he hopped into the portal and ended up with the Rebels, for whom he finished top three in the FBS in rushing yards (1,567) and rushing touchdowns (24). The NFL desires several different qualities at the running back position, but above all, the league covets ball carriers who create explosive plays. Lacy (who turned 20 this summer) is arguably the most explosive back in college football. He has first-round talent. 18 Jamari Johnson TE Oregon R-Jr. 19 Sammy Brown LB Clemson Jr. 20 Tae Johnson S Notre Dame R-So. 21 Ashton Hampton CB Clemson Jr. 22 Chris Cole LB Georgia Jr. 23 A’Mauri Washington DT Oregon Sr. 24 Greg Johnson G Minnesota Sr. 25 Justin Scott DT Miami Jr. 26 Jadan Baugh RB Florida Jr. 27 CJ Carr QB Notre Dame R-So.After redshirting in 2024, Carr won the Irish starting job last season and almost immediately looked like he belonged. He finished with a 24-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and helped Notre Dame finish the regular season with 10 straight wins. Carr has good but not remarkable physical traits for the position, which is why some NFL scouts question his long-term ceiling while still liking his foundation. Notre Dame understandably relied on the run game last season (Carr ranked 84th in the FBS in pass attempts), but with running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price now in the NFL, more will be on the quarterback’s shoulders in 2026. 28 Kade Pieper C Iowa R-Jr. 29 Jaylen McClain S Ohio State Jr. 30 Drew Mestemaker QB Oklahoma State R-So.How do you properly rank a unique prospect like Mestemaker? His raw talent is incredibly enticing, but there is no substitute for experience at quarterback. Mestemaker was an all-district performer in high school — but at safety and punter. He was the backup quarterback, even as a junior and senior. Given his lack of experience, Mestemaker is a more realistic option for the 2028 NFL Draft. But he is draft-eligible now, and the buzz among NFL teams shouldn’t be ignored. I am eager to see his development against better competition, especially when Oregon visits Stillwater in Week 2. 31 Ahmad Hardy RB Missouri Jr. 32 David Stone DT Oklahoma Jr. 33 Jelani McDonald S Texas Sr. 34 Nick Marsh WR Indiana Jr. 35 Trinidad Chambliss QB Ole Miss Sixth-year Sr.Prior to the 2025 season, Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss with the expectation of being the backup behind Austin Simmons. However, Simmons injured his ankle in Week 2 — Chambliss grabbed his opportunity and didn’t look back. He became SEC Newcomer of the Year and led the Rebels to a 13-2 season, including two wins in the College Football Playoff. Chambliss has gone from fun story to a legitimate NFL prospect who will test the comfort levels of scouts to think outside the box. He will be a 25-year-old rookie; he stands under six feet tall; not everything on his college tape will translate cleanly to the NFL. But there is a place at the next level for an instinctive playmaker like him. 36 Ty Benefield S LSU Sr. 37 LaNorris Sellers QB South Carolina R-Jr.Sellers put himself on the NFL radar in 2024 with a standout redshirt freshman season, creating buzz among scouts that he could be a future high draft pick. His play fell short of those expectations last season, although the Gamecocks’ play calling, offensive line and receivers did their quarterback few favors. If Sellers struggles in 2026, it will be hard for NFL teams to buy him as an early-round option and future starter. But any degree of on-field progress and consistency will give them optimism that he is on the right track and there is more to be cultivated, which could land him in the first round. 38 Will Heldt Edge Clemson Sr. 39 Anthonie Knapp G Notre Dame Jr. 40 Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Edge Ohio State R-Sr. 41 Darian Mensah QB Miami R-Jr.Some scouts see Mensah as a future NFL starter because of his quick release and passing instincts; others aren’t sold that he has a starter-level ceiling because of his only-adequate physical traits (size, arm, speed) and see him as a Day 3 prospect. However, between the returning talent at Miami and a manageable schedule, the stage is set for Mensah to have a Heisman-worthy seaso 42 Kelley Jones CB Mississippi State R-Jr. 43 Boubacar Traore Edge Notre Dame R-Jr. 44 Zach Lutmer S Iowa R-Jr. 45 Jacarrius Peak OT South Carolina R-Sr. 46 Bryant Wesco Jr. WR Clemson Jr. 47 Clev Lubin Edge Louisville R-Sr. 48 Austin Siereveld G Ohio State R-Jr. 49 Ahmad Moten Sr. DT Miami R-Sr. 50 Ryan Coleman-Williams Alabama WR Jr. |
| BIG NAMES ON THE BRINKCarter Bahns of CBSSports.com reads the tea leaves and senses the following veterans could be on the chopping block: When NFL teams trim their rosters to 53 players this weekend, most of the casualties will be journeyman backups, undrafted free agents and other youngsters who have not yet latched on with a franchise. But every year, a few big names get thrown into that category, too. Late-career veterans seeking one more season before hanging up their cleats are often just as vulnerable as unheralded first-year professionals. Here are 20 notable veterans at risk of being cut. WR Odell Beckham Jr. GiantsThe path for Odell Beckham Jr. to appear in regular-season games for the Giants for the first time since 2018 became clearer Tuesday when Calvin Austin III sustained a serious knee injury. It is still an uphill battle for the three-time Pro Bowler to stay on the right side of the cut line, especially since he is far from the same receiver who starred early in his career in New York. At 33 and nearly two years removed from his last NFL snap, he might not have much more to give. It would be excellent theater, though, for Beckham to close his career with one more season where it all began. IOL Evan Neal GiantsEvan Neal did not stick at tackle, where he arrived as the No. 7 overall pick in 2022. Instead, he is seeking to remake himself as a guard. The Giants declined the option in his rookie contract, but he ended up re-signing with them on a veteran minimum deal this spring. His value has tanked, and there is a new coaching staff in place, so it is entirely possible that Neal goes from a highly touted potential cornerstone tackle to an afterthought on the interior in just four years. TE Darren Waller PanthersThe unretirement tour continues for Darren Waller. Will it carry into the regular season, though? He joined the Panthers during training camp as another option in a tight end group that disappointed in 2025, but he does not bring much upside himself as a 34-year-old whose best season is now six years in the rearview. Tommy Tremble and Mitchell Evans are the top two options, so the question is whether there is room for both Ja’Tavion Sanders and Waller. WR Mecole Hardman Jr. BillsThree Super Bowl titles and an All-Pro selection as a rookie give Mecole Hardman Jr. an illustrious résumé for someone on the roster bubble. His prime was short-lived, though, coming in the first four years of his career. Hardman has not scored a touchdown since 2022 and played two games for the Bills last year only because they were desperate enough at wide receiver to elevate him from the practice squad. WR Sterling Shepard TexansThe Texans pulled off a masterful trade Monday for Kayshon Boutte, filling a major need in the receiving unit while also putting Sterling Shepard’s job at risk. Shepard arrived just a couple of days earlier as a potential replacement for the injured Jayden Higgins, who tore his ACL during a joint practice and is out for the year. Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and now Boutte are all ahead of Shepard in the pecking order, so his stay in Houston might be extremely short-lived. EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah ChiefsSeven years after he won a Super Bowl in Kansas City, Emmanuel Ogbah is back — for a couple of weeks during training camp, at least. The former No. 32 overall pick had a handful of nice years with the Dolphins following that championship season, including back-to-back campaigns with nine sacks. But even on a Chiefs team that needs to be better at pressuring the pocket in 2026, the summer acquisition is no guarantee to stick around into the regular season. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling CowboysThe Cowboys picked up journeyman receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling after the draft as a depth option in an already loaded receiving unit. His outlook as an impact player was bleak at the time of signing, given that he is coming off the worst year of his career — a 120-yard campaign over 10 games with two teams — and the Cowboys already have a clear top four in their wideout corps. There are probably not enough scraps left to pick up behind CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and the rest. WR Tim Patrick JetsBrutal injury luck disrupted Tim Patrick’s career. After he broke out with the Broncos with consecutive 700-yard, five-touchdown seasons, he missed each of the next two years with ACL and Achilles injuries. To his credit, he bounced back to play in 32 games over the past two seasons with the Lions and Jaguars. His comeback story might reach a roadblock in New York, but if it does, another team ought to grab him and see if there is anything left in the tank. DT Mazi Smith JetsDespite his status as a 2023 first-round pick, Mazi Smith is already on his second team and could shortly be searching for a third. The Cowboys made him a healthy scratch multiple times and moved on from him in just his third year when they traded him to the Jets as part of the Quinnen Williams deal. New York did not have much use for him, either. And following a host of defensive moves this offseason, the Jets have a new-look defense that might not include Smith. QB Will Levis TitansThere was a brief period when Will Levis was supposed to be the Titans’ franchise quarterback. Three years after Tennessee made him the first player off the board on Day 2 of the 2023 draft, he could be out the door. It comes down to whether the Titans will carry two quarterbacks or three. Cam Ward is the face of the franchise, and Mitchell Trubisky is the clear choice to be his backup given his familiarity with Brian Daboll’s scheme. If this first-year staff only wants two quarterbacks, the Levis experience is over. WR Laquon Treadwell ColtsHe never reached the level expected of him as the No. 23 overall pick, but credit Laquon Treadwell for partially reframing his narrative from draft bust to someone who put together a lengthy career. This will be Year 10 for Treadwell if he sticks with the Colts, but after he went back and forth between Indianapolis’ active roster and practice squad a year ago, there is already precedent for his release. Alec Pierce’s slow recovery from ankle surgery helps his cause, but the arrival of Keenan Allen does not. DT Jerry Tillery ColtsIt has been nothing but one-year contracts for Jerry Tillery since the Chargers declined his fifth-year option in 2022. The Colts are already his fifth team in four years. General manager Chris Ballard has to decide how much depth he wants to keep in the trenches because, while Tillery is arguably good enough to make the roster, there is only room for so many defensive tackles. The former first-round pick has been a part-time starter at all of his previous stops, though, so there is value in keeping him around. WR Phillip Dorsett RaidersThe final stages of Phillip Dorsett’s career have been as bumpy as the first. He was traded before the end of his rookie deal and had his fifth-year option declined. Fast-forward about a decade, and now he is fighting to make his first regular-season appearance since 2023. Dorsett spent the 2025 season on the Raiders’ practice squad and is likely destined for the same fate this year as Las Vegas seeks to put the best weapons in place around No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. RB Ameer Abdullah JaguarsAmeer Abdullah’s tremendous rookie year, in which he posted a career-best 597 rushing yards and led the NFL with 1,077 kick return yards, was no harbinger of stardom, but he carved out important special teams and backup running back roles with myriad teams over the ensuing nine years. The Jaguars are in a good place with their three-man backfield and would be hard-pressed to justify using a roster spot on Abdullah solely as a returner, so he appears destined for the practice squad. That is the role he held with the Colts for most of 2025. RB Dameon Pierce EaglesThe surprise 939-yard rookie season that made Dameon Pierce seem like a steal as a fourth-round pick feels far away. It was only four years ago, but since then, Pierce’s workload has diminished by the season, as he has made more of an impact on special teams than in the backfield. He spent a couple of weeks on the Chiefs’ practice squad last fall after the Texans released him, and now he is seeking to latch on with the Eagles. The problem is that Saquon Barkley exists, while Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley are already locked into backup roles. QB Cooper Rush FalconsFirst things first: The Falcons need to sort out the top two quarterbacks. The focus is less on whether Cooper Rush makes the team as the No. 3 and more on whether Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. will be under center come Week 1. Complicating things for Rush is the emergence of undrafted free agent Jack Strand, who dazzled in his first two preseason games as a relative unknown out of the Division II ranks. Rush remains among the NFL’s most respected backup quarterbacks but might have to sign elsewhere to have a chance at finding playing time. WR Van Jefferson CommandersNot long after he played a key role in the Rams winning the 2022 Super Bowl with career highs in receptions (50), receiving yards (802) and touchdowns (6), Van Jefferson was briefly the No. 1 receiver in Los Angeles. During a Cooper Kupp absence, Jefferson was supposed to take over as the top target, but Puka Nacua’s emergence derailed his Rams tenure. Since then, Jefferson has been a part-time starter for the Falcons, Steelers and Titans. He could carve out that same role with the Commanders, but it could be difficult considering the team’s wide receiver depth. RB Khalil Herbert 49ersAfter spending two years as a backup, Khalil Herbert finally got his chance to shine as the Bears’ starting running back to open the 2023 season. An ankle injury disrupted what could have been his breakout campaign, though, and the following year he totaled just 130 yards between the Bears and Bengals. Herbert was one of numerous additions to the 49ers’ backfield this offseason and looks to be one of multiple roster-limit casualties, as San Francisco can only carry so much insurance for Christian McCaffrey. IOL Trevor Penning ChargersThe Saints drafted Trevor Penning in the first round in 2022 with aspirations of making him their long-term left tackle. Recurring foot injuries during his rookie year delayed his development, and while he eventually settled in as the every-week starter by 2024, his New Orleans tenure came to a halt when the Chargers traded for him as an injury fill-in at guard. Los Angeles’ maligned offensive line is now mostly healthy and rebuilt, so there is less need for Penning, who would be nothing more than a second-teamer if he stuck on the roster. Considering all it cost to get him was a sixth-round pick, the Chargers can easily cut bait. CB Noah Igbinoghene SeahawksThe highlight of Noah Igbinoghene’s career came in 2024, when he served as a 10-game starter due to injuries elsewhere in the Commanders’ secondary. Outside of that run, the No. 30 pick in the 2022 draft delivered very little in the way of first-round production. He spent quite a bit of time as a special teams contributor during his stops in Miami and Dallas, but he might be able to secure a backup cornerback job in Seattle now that he has shown more ability to cover on the perimeter, not just in the slot. |
