| It seems like this might be the draft where the abundant NIL money is keeping CFB stocked while limiting the options in a subpar NFL Draft. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: College football players who are good enough to turn pro are increasingly choosing to stay in college, where their NIL paychecks can rival what they’d be making in the NFL. Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach said now that the NCAA allows players to make money off their names, images and likenesses, players aren’t entering the draft because of the money they can make in college. Veach said that the Chiefs already had an early version of their draft board set before the deadline for players to enter the draft, and a large proportion of the Chiefs’ top prospects decided to stay in college. “When the official decision date for the underclassmen came, I believe we moved over 25 guys off our board that we had Top 75, Top 100,” Veach said. “So it’s really impacts, I think, the draft, and then you’re getting older, older prospects as you go on. I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon and I think that’s something we have to adapt to.” The Chiefs are now finding that the draft is dominated by older players who have fully exhausted their NCAA eligibility — meaning they’ll be drafting some players who are older than players currently on the Chiefs’ roster. “You see their birth dates and then you look at the roster and a lot of our guys are as young as these guys,” Veach said. Veach said where he really sees it is on Day 2 of the draft, which used to have a lot of talented prospects who hadn’t played a lot of college football. Those players are typically transferring to other schools now rather than moving to the NFL. “Typically, the second and third round would be those guys that maybe they didn’t play a lot, but they were young,” he said. “Well, now these guys are just bouncing and getting paid by another school and getting paid and playing. So Round 2, 3, 4, the younger developmental guys who haven’t scratched the surface yet, you’re getting more finished product so that’s challenging, but that’s what we have to adapt to and how we position our board.” The transfer portal and NIL have fundamentally changed college football. Which means they’ve fundamentally changed the NFL draft as well. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASThe Cowboys are willing to pay PK BRANDON AUBREY the most money any kicker has ever received. Aubrey wants more. Carter Bahns of CBSSports.com: Star kicker Brandon Aubrey is scheduled to become a restricted free agent in March, and the Dallas Cowboys appear poised to pay up and fend off other teams from stealing the three-time All-Pro standout from their grasp. The Cowboys offered Aubrey a contract that would make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, according to ESPN, but Aubrey’s agent seeks an even larger deal. Harrison Butker set the league record with a $6.4 million annual salary with the Kansas City Chiefs. Aubrey is poised to earn at least that much if he re-signs with the Cowboys, but his agent has reportedly asked for a contract closer to the $10 million mark. The sides have disagreed on a number in their negotiations for months. “We’ve been in talks with Aubrey [since] before the season started,” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said. “It’s been a journey, but we haven’t been able to get to a point where we can all agree, so it hasn’t gotten done, but we’d love to get him done.” Coming to terms on an extension before free agency opens on March 11 would eliminate the risk that Aubrey leaves this offseason. But even if the sides cannot reach an agreement on a long-term deal, the Cowboys have a number of options that would potentially keep Aubrey in town for at least the 2026 campaign. One of those options went out the window when Dallas confirmed it intends to use the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens. But the Cowboys still have the ability to place a one-year tender on Aubrey in restricted free agency. The first-round tender (estimated to be priced at $8.02 million) would be the most likely to dissuade suitors from poaching the star kicker. Aubrey extended his reign as arguably the NFL’s most valuable kicker during his third season in Dallas. He connected on 36 of his 42 field goal attempts to convert at a 85.7% clip and nailed a season-long of 64 yards. He became the first player in league history to drill three 55+ yard field goals in a single game when he did so on Dec. 4 against the Detroit Lions, and he is now the NFL career record holder for 60+ yard field goals with six. The 2025 season marked the third consecutive time to open Aubrey’s career that he earned All-Pro honors. He picked up second-team selections each of the last two years and was a first-teamer as a rookie in 2023. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCOHe is under contract for another year, but QB MAC JONES could be quite an asset for the 49ers in a trade. Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com explores what he might bring in: The NFL has seen a number of instances in recent years where once highly touted quarterbacks turned castoffs have revitalized their careers and become high-level starters for various organizations. No greater example comes to mind more than Sam Darnold, as the former first-round pick in 2018 just led the Seattle Seahawks (the fifth team he’s played for) to a win in Super Bowl LX. Along with Darnold, the likes of Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith are some other recent examples of quarterbacks who have resurrected themselves. And could Mac Jones be next up? After flaming out with the New England Patriots, who selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, Jones has bounced around the league, first making a stop with the Jacksonville Jaguars and most recently playing for the San Francisco 49ers. In both instances, Jones was the primary backup but found himself with an opportunity to start for the Niners last season with Brock Purdy sidelined due to injury. Over his eight starts in 2025, Jones led San Francisco to a 5-3 record, while completing 69.6% of his passes, averaging 268.9 passing yards per game, and registering a passer rating of 97.4. That strong play has now boosted Jones’ reputation back up to the point where teams are expected to call San Francisco this offseason in hopes of prying him away to make them their starter. But what could a Jones trade actually look like? Below, we’ll dive into four landing spots and detail what sort of compensation they may need to give up to land the 27-year-old quarterback. What could Mac Jones fetch on the trade market? Any team looking to trade for Jones will likely need to be prepared to pay a pretty penny. When asked about the possibility of moving their backup quarterback, 49ers GM John Lynch told reporters at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that it would take a “fairly strong” offer for the team to consider a trade. “He’s really good for us, and we value that,” Lynch said, via ESPN. “And so somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider (trading him). And then I don’t know what we do. Obviously, there’s always something that would make you (do it), but I think we’re a better team with him on it and we just like having him around.” There are two things to take away from Lynch’s comments. First, they aren’t just going to give Jones away, as it’ll take a sizable offer. Second, and most notably, he didn’t shut the trade talk down, so there is a price where they’d be willing to move him. That’s a bit of a different tune than a prior report from ESPN earlier this offseason that noted the Niners have no plans to trade Jones, so there may have been some movement in San Francisco’s line of thinking. “Fairly strong” is somewhat of an ambiguous characterization for what San Francisco is looking for in return for Jones, so let’s try to figure out a more specific asking price using some prior trades as a bit of precedent. Geno Smith (34 years old at the time) traded from Seahawks to Raiders (2025): Seahawks received: 2025 third-round pick (No. 92 overall)Raiders received: Geno Smith Carson Wentz (28 years old at the time) traded from Eagles to Colts (2021) Eagles received: 2021 third-round pick, conditional 2022 second-round pick (ultimately turned into a first-rounder) Colts received: Carson Wentz Sam Darnold (23 years old at the time) traded from Jets to Panthers (2021) Jets received: 2021 sixth-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, 2022 fourth-round pickPanthers received: Sam Darnold Jimmy Garoppolo (25 years old at the time) traded from Patriots to 49ers (2017) Patriots received: 2018 second-round pick49ers received: Jimmy Garoppolo If we’re being honest, it’s hard to find a perfect comparison to base a potential Jones trade off of. For starters, he’s on a remarkably team-friendly contract, making him very easy to absorb from a salary cap standpoint. While he’ll likely seek a revised deal if he is acquired by a team that wants to make him their starter, Jones is currently on the books for just $1.4 million in base salary for 2026 and has a salary cap hit of merely $3.07 million. That improves his value tremendously, and the 49ers are wise to that, further bolstering the price. It’s also worth noting that if San Francisco simply keeps Jones for 2026 and lets him walk away in free agency next offseason, they could be in line for a compensatory pick that’s as high as a third-rounder in 2028. With that in mind, the Smith trade of a year ago doesn’t seem to be a deal that would get the 49ers to bite. That trade fetched the Seahawks the 92nd overall pick at the draft last year. If Jones commands a third-round compensatory pick, it could land in the same range, just inside the top 100. Meanwhile, most teams in need of a quarterback this offseason have first-rounders who are too valuable to trade in a deal for Jones, and the 2027 NFL Draft is expected to be a loaded class. So, we probably won’t see any clubs be willing to throw out a top pick even under the conditional basis. The most comparable trade could be the one that involved the 49ers back in 2017, when they shipped a second-rounder to the Patriots in 2017 for Garoppolo. A premium Day 2 pick is probably what we can theorize for Jones this offseason, given his brief resurgence in 2025, his favorable contract, and the weak QB class both at the 2026 NFL Draft and in the free agent/trade market. 1. Minnesota Vikings49ers receive: 2026 second-round pick (No. 49 overall), conditional 2027 fourth-round pickVikings receive: Mac Jones, 2027 fourth-round pick The Vikings are in a precarious position at quarterback. They let Darnold walk last offseason to elevate 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to QB1, and it blew up in their face. That helped lead to the firing of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and leaves McCarthy’s status up in the air. At the NFL Scouting Combine, executive vice president of player personnel Rob Brzezinski said the team isn’t ruling anything out when it comes to their options at quarterback this offseason. Meanwhile, head coach Kevin O’Connell was a bit more ominous about McCarthy when asked Tuesday if he was still viewed as a franchise quarterback. “A lot of those feelings are still the same,” he said. “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was [in 2024].” Bringing in Jones could effectively spell the end of McCarthy’s run in Minnesota, but given how talented the rest of the roster is, it may be worth seeking a quarterback who is more ready to compete right now. The 49ers would get their “fairly strong” asking price by landing a second-rounder inside the top 50 this spring, and could recoup the fourth-rounder they attached to Jones for 2027 with that conditional fourth-rounder. In this hypothetical trade, the fourth becomes a third if Jones plays 80% of the offensive snaps next season. 2. Pittsburgh Steelers49ers receive: 2026 second-round pick (No. 53 overall)Steelers receive: Mac Jones This deal is a little more straightforward as it’s a simple player-for-pick swap, reminiscent of that Garoppolo trade in 2017. The Steelers are once again in a QB conundrum as they await word on whether or not Aaron Rodgers will come back for a second season in Pittsburgh or opt for retirement. In the event that Rodgers returns, that would effectively eliminate them from contention in any sort of Jones trade. Under that scenario, Pittsburgh likely wouldn’t bring in Jones in a backup role as the heir apparent to Rodgers, nor would Jones likely want to do that either. The Steelers would probably address their long-term quarterback needs either in the 2026 NFL Draft or in some capacity next offseason. If Rodgers walks away now, however, Jones could make sense. They were a playoff team in 2025, so Jones wouldn’t be walking into a locker room that is rebuilding, albeit with a first-year head coach in Mike McCarthy at the helm. Pittsburgh also has $44.9 million in available salary cap space, so they could not only figure out a long-term deal with Jones this offseason, but also have enough room to continue adding pieces. 3. New York Jets49ers receive: 2026 second-round pick (No. 44 overall)Jets receive: Mac Jones, 2027 third-round pick How desperate are the New York Jets to find a quarterback? The franchise has endured 10 straight under-.500 seasons and is fresh off a 3-14 campaign in 2025 that saw them finish last in the AFC East for the seventh time in the last decade. For a minute, it looked like their quarterback issues would be solved after landing the No. 2 overall pick. However, after Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to go back to school, there is now no viable option for them to take at that spot. That could force them into the trade market for a player like Jones, and, depending on the urgency the Jets regime of head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey feels, they could be willing to make a splash. If they dangled the 33rd overall pick, the 49ers would have to pounce, but that seems unlikely. However, the Jets do have another second-round pick they received from the Dallas Cowboys that sits at No. 44 overall. That would certainly be premium enough to catch the attention of John Lynch, and could give them some stability at quarterback if Jones carries over the momentum from last season to the Big Apple. 4. Miami Dolphins49ers receive: 2026 third-round pick (No. 75 overall), conditional 2027 third-round pickDolphins receive: Mac JonesThe Dolphins have started to rip the roster down to the studs this offseason, moving on from players like Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. They are also seemingly set to part ways with Tua Tagovailoa, but it’ll come at a tremendous cost. At the moment, the team is looking at $99.2 million in dead cap money with Tagovailoa for 2026, meaning they’ll need a cheap option at quarterback if/when they cut ties. That’s where Jones slides in quite well with his minuscule $3.07 million salary cap number for next season. Given their cap constraints and the No. 11 overall pick not projected to have any viable quarterback options available to them at the moment, dealing for Jones could be the most prudent option, even if that means parting with multiple draft picks. For the sake of diversifying these mock trades, we’ll forgo Miami giving up the 43rd overall pick in the second round. Instead, the Dolphins will send San Francisco their top pick in the third round (No. 75 overall) along with a conditional third-rounder in 2027 that improves to a second-round pick if Jones plays 80% of the offensive snaps next season. Jones would also make sense in Miami’s new offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, who comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, so Jones should be able to transition somewhat seamlessly. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASWould the Raiders trade EDGE MAXX CROSBY? Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.comhears the answer is “yes” – if they get a MICAH PARSONS deal? Will the Raiders trade defensive end Maxx Crosby? Yes, if they get what they want for him. Per a league source, the Raiders are looking for two first-round picks and a player for the 28-year-old edge rusher. That’s what the Cowboys got for Micah Parsons in August, with the player being defensive lineman Kenny Clark. The quality of player the Raiders want wasn’t specified. Presumably, it’s a starting-caliber contributor. Another factor surely will be the position of the first-round pick. Two ones from a perennial playoff team are obviously not the same as two first-rounders from a chronic also-ran. Still, it shows that there’s a price. That Crosby isn’t untradeable. That a deal will happen if a team makes an offer the Raiders will accept. After seeing Parsons go down with an injury (as well as CB SAUCE GARDNER with the Colts), would any team still make such a deal? Probably. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREThe Ravens are seeking better attendance at their voluntary sessions. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: Last week, new Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle sent a message to the team’s players (and specifically to quarterback Lamar Jackson) regarding attendance at voluntary offseason workouts. On Wednesday’s Chris Simms Unbuttoned, head coach Jesse Minter was asked about the voluntary nature of the sessions and the importance of volunteering to participate. “First of all, I do have total respect for the rules that it is voluntary,” Minter said. “Totally understand that. And Lamar has had unbelievable success doing it both ways. And so there’s certainly a balance there. But I think it’s our job to create an environment and a learning opportunity where they feel like it’s really important to them to want to be there.” Basically, the players need to think they’re missing something useful if they don’t show up. “Just like they’re like, ‘Man, this is high-level stuff. And this stuff’s going to help us,’” Minter said. “I think, like, the feeling of what we’re doing now will pay off in September and October and November versus, ‘OK, we’re coming in and we’re kind of doing the same routine.’ It just needs to be an environment that they really feel the importance of it.” As the Ravens install a new offense, it’s obviously important for the players to be there. In 2024 and 2025, Jackson didn’t believe it was important enough to attend sufficient offseason workouts to unlock an annual bonus of $750,000. Whether that changes for 2026 remains to be seen. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| TENNESSEEA pair of 2025 starters are sent packing, one with an injury designation. Turron Davenport of ESPN.com: The Tennessee Titans released starting center Lloyd Cushenberry III and starting safety Xavier Woods on Wednesday. Cushenberry was released with a failed physical designation. A seven-year veteran, Cushenberry played in 23 games for the Titans over the past two seasons. He was entering the third year of a four-year, $50 million deal he signed with the Titans in 2024 after spending the first four years of his career with the Denver Broncos. The deal made him one of the highest-paid centers in the NFL. Cushenberry was limited to eight games in 2024 after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 9. Before the injury, Cushenberry gave up one sack and had an 89% pass block win rate that season, according to Tru Media. After starting last season’s training camp on the physically unable to perform list, Cushenberry was activated in August and played 15 games. Woods signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Titans last March after previous stops with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers. He started 11 games before his 2025 season was cut short because of a hamstring injury. Woods posted 39 tackles, one sack and two interceptions last season. Tennessee will turn to second-year safety Kevin Winston Jr. to start alongside veteran Amani Hooker at safety this season. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| TRADE CANDIDATESDan Graziano and Ben Solak of ESPN.com have put together a list of 15 NFL vets who could be traded, including WR DK METCALF who was traded just last year: National NFL reporter Dan Graziano and NFL analyst Ben Solak worked together to stack the 15 best players who could be traded this month. This ranking is based on each player’s value to a new team, tying in what he brings on the field and his current contract situation. It is not a ranking of the players most likely to be dealt (though we did include a rough estimated percentage chance for each of the 15 players to change teams). In other words, Kyler Murray is ranked higher than Spencer Rattler here because Murray would bring more to a roster, but Rattler has a higher likelihood of actually getting moved. For each player, we also have what we’re hearing, what we see on the tape and some team fits that might make sense. We begin with a talented 2024 first-rounder who might need a change of scenery. 1. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville JaguarsThe contract: 2 more years for a total of $4.9 million, plus a fifth-year team option for 2028 The buzz: A first-round pick two years ago by the previous Jaguars administration, Thomas struggled enough throughout his second season that the team needed to trade for Jakobi Meyers at the deadline then signed him to a long-term deal. The Jaguars also got an impressive season out of Parker Washington. And while the new plan for Travis Hunter might be to focus on the cornerback position, Jacksonville still expects him to contribute something as a wide receiver. There has been no indication that trading Thomas is something the Jaguars are planning, but there are teams monitoring the situation in case the hypertalented LSU product has fallen far enough down the Jacksonville depth chart that the front office would consider a move. — Graziano The tape: The expectation for Thomas entering his sophomore season was WR1 production. But he struggled with drops and contact to start the season and ended up in more of a WR3 field-stretching role by season’s end. If another team wants to spend big draft capital on Thomas in the hopes that he returns to his rookie form in a new zip code, I’d get it. Thomas was better as a prospect than any wide receiver in the upcoming 2026 class. He had 707 yards and two scores in 2025, but he went for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 20%Potential team fits: Patriots, Bills, Steelers, Raiders 2. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami DolphinsThe contract: One more year for about $5.9 millionThe buzz: The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild, which means they’re getting calls on all of their star players. My sense is that they’re far more likely to extend Achane’s contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings. So, call any Achane trade a significant long shot that would take an awfully enticing package to get done. — Graziano The tape: The Dolphins valued Achane highly at the trade deadline, and they will likely do so again. The 24-year-old running back has game-breaking speed, high-volume receiving ability and much better toughness and tackle-breaking skills than his slight frame might suggest. He’s a better — and younger — talent than anyone in the loaded free agent RB market. Achane ran for 1,350 yards and eight scores last season, and his 5.7 yards per carry ranked first in the NFL. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 10%Potential team fits: Chiefs, Texans, Vikings 3. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami DolphinsThe contract: Three more years for a total of about $57.3 million, with $16.6 million fully guaranteed for 2026The buzz: There were whispers of a potential Waddle deal at the trade deadline in October, but those might have been generated from the interested teams rather than from the Dolphins. With Tyreek Hill released, a Waddle deal would represent a significant reset in Miami. And if the Dolphins are going to handle a $99.2 million dead money hit for Tua Tagovailoa, they are going to have to cut costs somewhere. (On the third day of the league year, $15.2 million of Waddle’s $23.39 million 2027 salary will become fully guaranteed too.) But as I said on Achane above, my sense is that the Dolphins see Waddle as a building block who’s under contract and aren’t eager to move on from him. They’ll get calls, no doubt, but it would take a lot for them to deal him. — Graziano The tape: Waddle has multiple seasons of cost-controlled play on his existing contract, is only 27 years old and can be both a yards-after-catch slot option and a downfield vertical threat. He doesn’t have the frame to be a high-volume WR1, but he would be an excellent, explosive half of a league-leading tandem at wide receiver. He caught 64 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns last season. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 10%Potential team fits: Steelers, Chiefs, Raiders, Ravens 4. Maxx Crosby, Edge, Las Vegas RaidersThe contract: Four more years at about $29 million per year, with $30 million fully guaranteed for 2026 The buzz: Last season ended badly for Crosby and the Raiders, as the team put him on injured reserve with two games left even though he felt healthy enough to play. There has been a ton of chatter around this situation though no public proclamations from Crosby about wanting out. And general manager John Spytek said at the combine Tuesday he expects Crosby to play for Las Vegas next season. Unless Crosby forces the issue and tells the Raiders he doesn’t want to play for them anymore, it’s hard to see the team moving him. But if that does happen, there would be a ton of interest. — Graziano The tape: The value proposition on Crosby is obvious. One of the league’s best three-down defensive linemen, Crosby is an iron man who creates tackles for loss in the running game and can beat even elite offensive tackles in one-on-one pass-rush situations. Crosby will turn 29 before next season and still has two years of guaranteed money on his deal, so he could be the crowning jewel of a contending defense. He had 10 sacks in 2025. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 60%Potential team fits: Bears, Patriots, Commanders 5. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia EaglesThe contract: Four more years at $28.25 million per year, with $29 million fully guaranteed for 2026The buzz: Brown made no secret of his frustrations with the Eagles’ offense in 2025. Heck, he made no secret of them in 2024, when the team ended up winning the Super Bowl. Philadelphia has learned to live with Brown’s grousing because of his production. So, the questions are whether he’s unhappy enough there to force the issue and whether the Eagles want to move on from the situation. — Graziano The tape: Brown’s individual play seemed to fall off a touch last season, but it’s fair to believe his frustration with the offense led to some disinterested play. An acquiring team is risking that Brown is beyond his athletic prime (he will turn 29 this summer), but he has only one year of guaranteed money on his deal, so it would not be too big of a commitment. And the recent ceiling of Brown’s play has been top-five receiver level. He had 1,003 yards last season, and he has tallied at least seven touchdowns in each of the past four campaigns. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 60%Potential team fits: Patriots, Bills, Ravens 6. DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh SteelersThe contract: Four more years at $28.75 million per year, nothing guaranteedThe buzz: When he signed his deal last spring, Metcalf’s $25 million in 2026 salary was fully guaranteed. But his two-game suspension at the end of the season for an in-game altercation with a fan voided that guarantee and could in turn make Metcalf easier to trade, if the Steelers are so inclined. They’ll be installing a new offense under new coach Mike McCarthy, and while dealing Metcalf would weaken them at a spot where they’re already thin, the wideout could end up on the market if he’s not a fit for the scheme. — Graziano The tape: Metcalf is a team-specific player; not all systems will endure his limited route tree. Those teams that already have a dominant route runner or can feed him a steady diet of vertical routes will value a player who is still under 30 and has a unique blend of size and speed — especially when we consider how much team control he offers. He logged 850 yards in 2025, and he exceeded that number in each of his six prior seasons. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%Potential team fits: Patriots, Commanders, Bills 7. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona CardinalsThe contract: Two more years at about $39.4 million per year, with $36.8 million guaranteed in 2026 and a team option for 2028The buzz: The Cardinals would love to trade the contract, but with that huge guarantee this year and another $19.5 million of 2027 money that fully guarantees on the third day of this league year, it’s going to be tough to find a taker. If Arizona is willing to pay down a big chunk of the money, that could help; but odds are Murray ends up getting released before that 2027 guarantee kicks in next month. — Graziano The tape: While Murray isn’t as exciting as recent QB trade candidates such as Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, he’s still a starting-caliber passer under 30 years old. Murray has guaranteed money in 2026 and might have some in 2027 depending on when he is traded, so this wouldn’t be a small commitment for any acquiring team. But it’s a shallow offseason at quarterback, and Murray has a high ceiling as a rehabilitation project given his quickness and live arm. He was limited to five games in 2025 with a foot injury, but he threw 21 touchdown passes and ran for five scores in 2024. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 5%Potential team fits: Dolphins, Jets, Vikings 8. Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit LionsThe contract: One more year at about $5.8 millionThe buzz: The Lions have four 2023 draft picks they want to extend — LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell and Brian Branch — and there are people around the league who wonder whether they’ll be able to get all of those deals done or if they’d have to trade someone. Even if the Lions can’t extend LaPorta, I think the odds of them trading him are extremely thin, as Detroit still sees itself in a win-now window. — Graziano The tape: LaPorta had back surgery this past season (489 receiving yards, three touchdowns) and hasn’t looked as explosive as he did as a rookie (889 yards, 10 scores in 2023), but he remains one of the most exciting young receivers at the position. Teams looking for a high-volume receiving tight end might be willing to spend a draft pick now on LaPorta, instead of risking a bidding war in free agency in 2027 should he come back to form. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 10%Potential team fits: Chiefs, Ravens, Texans 9. Renardo Green, CB, San Francisco 49ersThe contract: Two more years at a total of $3.04 million, nothing guaranteedThe buzz: He is still only 25 and would have value in a trade. The Niners have a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, and Green might not be a scheme fit. The 2024 second-round pick has just one interception in two NFL seasons, and he seemed to fall out of favor a bit with the coaching staff at times last season. — Graziano The tape: Green isn’t a particularly big outside corner, but he makes up for it with quickness and aggressiveness. Double-digit pass breakups in each of his first two seasons is a testament to that. The coaching staff got frustrated with mental lapses and unnecessary aggressiveness last season, and teams will call accordingly to see if Green has run out of time in San Francisco. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 80%Potential team fits: Cowboys, Falcons, Eagles 10. Spencer Rattler, QB, New Orleans SaintsThe contract: Two more years at a total of $2.27 million, nothing guaranteedThe buzz: Rattler started 14 games for the Saints during his first two years in the league, and New Orleans lost 13 of them. He has 12 career touchdown passes and 10 interceptions, and he has been supplanted as the starting quarterback by promising 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough. But Rattler showed the Saints enough the past two offseasons that they were willing to give him a shot, and there could be teams out there that think enough of his talent to bring him in to see if they can coach him up into a more consistent starter. — Graziano The tape: The Saints don’t want to trade a young quarterback on a rookie contract who improved as a sophomore, but teams need developmental passers, and Rattler is the best candidate this spring. Rattler excelled as more of a quick-distribution point guard last season, but he also showed good creation ability on longer, movement dropbacks. He could fight — and easily beat out — a free agent veteran in training camp for a rebuilding team. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 70%Potential team fits: Dolphins, Chiefs, Rams, Raiders 11. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Miami DolphinsThe contract: One more year at $15.6 millionThe buzz: He is 29 years old and definitely slowing down, but he has plenty of high-level experience and a reputation as a strong locker room leader. The Dolphins have a new coaching staff and will be installing a new defense under incoming coach Jeff Hafley. It’s possible they’d need to pay down some of the salary to make a deal work, but they also could do the kind of player-for-player deal that brought them Fitzpatrick last summer. — Graziano The tape: Fitzpatrick will turn 30 next season and his best play is behind him, but he’s still an impactful single-high coverage defender with enough size and coverage ability to step into the box. Fitzpatrick has one year left on his deal and is only attractive as a mercenary option for contending teams, but the floor and ceiling of his play are high enough to demand solid return. He registered 82 tackles and an interception last season. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 65%Potential team fits: Bills, Cowboys 12. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami DolphinsThe contract: 3 more years at about $47 million per year, with $54 mil guaranteed for 2026 The buzz: Benched at the tail end of last season for Quinn Ewers, Tagovailoa no longer looks like the future in Miami. The Dolphins have a new GM and a new coach, and they could turn over the roster significantly this offseason. The problem is that $54 million guarantee, which would transfer to whichever team trades for Tagovailoa and likely prevents any deal from getting done unless the Dolphins are willing to pay down a massive portion of it. More likely, Miami will end up having to cut Tagovailoa and swallow $99.2 million in dead money cap charges as a result of a long-term extension that looks extremely ill-advised in retrospect. — Graziano The tape: The strengths and limitations of Tagovailoa’s play are clear at this point, so it’s unlikely a team trades for him as a long-term starting option. But as a bridge, his quick release and pinpoint accuracy in the run-pass option work well for a team looking for an easy identity on offense. So long as the Dolphins work with the contract to make it more palatable, Tagovailoa should have a solid market. He threw 20 touchdown passes and a career-high 15 interceptions last season. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 5%Potential team fits: Vikings, Falcons, Cardinals 13. Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia EaglesThe contract: One more year at $1.9 millionThe buzz: The Eagles think very highly of Jalen Hurts’ backup QB, and that opinion is well-known around the league. Do they think highly enough of McKee to extend him? Would McKee even go for that? Or does he want to play this deal out, go somewhere else and see if he can be an NFL starter? If the Eagles feel as if it’s the latter, they could look to get something for him from a team seeking an affordable upside solution at the QB position. — Graziano The tape: McKee looks like a young quarterback worthy of development in his preseason and late-season starts. I see good size, good accuracy and comfort reading the field to make aggressive throws from the pocket. McKee has only one year left on his deal, so a trade would only make sense with a team that would start him now to determine if he’s worthy of an extension. He has five career touchdown passes across appearances in six games. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 20%Potential team fits: Dolphins, Jets, Vikings, Chiefs 14. Nate Hobbs, CB, Green Bay PackersThe contract: Three more years at about $9.9 million per year, nothing guaranteedThe buzz: Hobbs was a free agent signing for Green Bay just last year. But he dealt with injuries in 2025 and bounced between slot corner and outside corner duties when he was on the field. He seems better cast as a slot corner, but the Packers aren’t short on those, and it’s possible they could see him as a valuable trade candidate who could help them pick up an extra draft pick or two. He has a $6.25 million roster bonus due on the third day of the league year, so if a deal happened after that, it’d be even cheaper for the acquiring team. Green Bay wasn’t the only team interested in Hobbs during free agency last year, and if there’s a slot corner market out there, it might make sense for the Packers to see what they can get. — Graziano The tape: Hobbs never settled into either the slot or the outside spot in Green Bay’s defense. He is a better fit in the slot and has a good nose coming downhill in zone coverage. But there are a lot of good slots available in free agency and the draft this offseason, which might limit interest in Hobbs’ services. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 50%Potential team fits: Lions, Dolphins, Panthers, Bills 15. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York GiantsThe contract: One more year at $14.75 millionThe buzz: The Giants have a surplus of impact defensive linemen with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, and it seems more likely they’ll try to find a trade partner for Thibodeaux than extend the 2022 first-round pick ahead of his fifth-year-option season. The question is whether the Giants can find a taker for him at that salary in a deep offseason edge rusher market, but the chatter at the combine indicates they’re going to try. — Graziano The tape: Thibodeaux’s motor can run hot and cold, which makes him a difficult player to trust on a down-to-down basis. But a contract year could light a fire under Thibodeaux, who generates quick pressures with hand usage and a killer first step. He posted 2.5 sacks last season but also had 11.5 in 2023. That sort of production can keep a guy in a designated pass-rushing role for a long time in this league. But it’s a loaded offseason for edge rushers in free agency, which might temper Thibodeaux’s market. — Solak Predicted chance of getting traded: 70%Potential team fits: Chargers, Bengals, Bears Honorable mentionsJordan Davis, DT, Philadelphia EaglesTyson Bagent, QB, Chicago BearsWill Levis, QB, Tennessee TitansAnthony Richardson Sr., QB, Indianapolis ColtsDJ Moore, WR, Chicago BearsKeon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills |
| 2026 DRAFTDane Brugler of The Athletic has identified 21 of the 318 prospects at The Combine with a lot on the line: The NFL Scouting Combine often gets mocked with negative connotations, such as calling it the “underwear Olympics.” But I always go back to the line by legendary NFL scout and one of my mentors, C.O. Brocato: “Those who don’t value the combine don’t know how to properly use it.” The combine gives us context — that is the value. Whether it is athletic testing, medical feedback or other information, I always learn more during my week in Indianapolis (this will be my 16th straight combine trip) than any other stretch of the year. There will be 318 NFL prospects in Indianapolis this week, and all 318 have something to prove. But I’m especially interested in these 21 prospects — and for different reasons … Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi StateMy pick for the fastest 40-yard dash at this year’s combine, Thompson is small (he’ll probably measure in at 5 feet, 9 inches and around 170 pounds), but size doesn’t matter much if no one on the field can catch you. Thompson ran a 10.18-second 100-meter dash in high school, and you can see that speed in his game. He led the FBS with five catches of 50-plus yards in 2025 — and he would have doubled that number with decent quarterback play. I’m setting the line on Thompson’s 40 time at 4.28 seconds. Others in contention to run sub-4.35 in the 40: Barion Brown (LSU), Chris Hilton (LSU), Deion Burks (Oklahoma), Eric Rivers (Georgia Tech), Desmond Reid (Pittsburgh) and Malik Benson (Oregon). Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio StateRight now, Tate is the favorite to be the first wide receiver drafted, but will that still be the case leaving the combine? I think so. Tate is deceptively fast because his long strides allow him to gain ground quickly. It won’t be surprising if his 40 time is closer to 4.4 than 4.5. Dillon Thieneman, S, OregonWith his scheme versatility, Thieneman can bring all kinds of value to a defense. He can make plays over the top in coverage or downhill as a run defender with his speed and athleticism. I am eager to see how that range manifests itself in his athletic testing numbers. Will his performance be enough to punch his ticket for a top-25 selection? Ty Simpson, QB, AlabamaSimpson could be the 13th pick; he could be the 53rd pick. Neither outcome would be all that surprising. The combine will be a pivotal week for him, starting with getting his verified height, weight and hand size. Then, he’ll need to pass his medicals to ensure whatever issue he was dealing with late in the season isn’t a concern moving forward. And scouts will want to see his passing skills when QBs work out. The only area that shouldn’t be a concern for him is the team interviews — as a coach’s son, Simpson ought to ace that part of the combine test. Rueben Bain Jr., edge, MiamiBain had dominant moments on his 2025 tape. He is also a polarizing prospect among scouts. With his non-traditional body type and shorter arms, some teams view his skill set as a better fit inside as a three-tech rather than as an edge. Will his verified measurements and athletic testing answer some of those questions? Or will they make him even more polarizing? Akheem Mesidor, edge, MiamiOften labeled the “other” Miami pass rusher, Mesidor played his way out of Bain’s shadow this season. But scouts are eager to see his testing numbers and how they compare with the tape that says he is a first-round pick. Mesidor has had multiple injuries to his feet, so his medicals will be critical. Brandon Cisse, CB, South CarolinaAlthough the tape is uneven, I felt comfortable including Cisse in my midseason top 50, primarily because of his athletic upside. He plays with quick-twitch and easy speed, which should translate to a 40 time in the 4.3s and 40-plus-inch vertical explosion numbers. Cisse should put on a show. Zachariah Branch, WR, GeorgiaAnother strong candidate for fastest 40 time, Branch should have no trouble running in the 4.3s. But he was a screen-pass merchant on his 2025 tape, so I’m more interested to see him track the football over his shoulders and show his athleticism as a route runner during position drills. Teams want to be convinced Branch is more than a gadget player, and the combine could help accomplish that. Domani Jackson, CB, AlabamaJackson was a record-setting high school sprinter in California and a former five-star recruit. But a major knee injury sidetracked his football trajectory, so scouts are eager to hear what NFL team doctors say about his health. How much of that world-class speed does he still have? Genesis Smith, S, ArizonaSmith is going to test evaluators’ limits of how much finesse tackling they are willing to stomach for true centerfield coverage skills. He won’t be able to answer the physicality question marks in Indy. But if he turns heads with his testing, it will nudge some teams to stop focusing too much on his shortcomings and instead start believing he could be this year’s version of Calen Bullock. Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeFirst and foremost, how is the health of his knee? He is more than a year removed from the ACL injury he suffered in January 2025, so teams will have a good understanding of his recovery. Is he far along enough in his rehab timeline to work out in Indianapolis? If not, will he work out at his pro day? The combine should provide answers to those questions about a player in the running to be CB1 in this class. Jack Kelly, LB, BYUA former national champion BMX racer at age 5, Kelly developed a fearless competitive streak very early. But even more impressive might be his explosive speed when chasing the football. At 245 pounds, Kelly has the juice to run in the 4.4s and jump over 40 inches in the vertical. I’m hoping to see him in the three-cone drill, too, because his change of direction was a concern on tape. Jaren Kanak, TE, OklahomaIn what should be a loaded tight end class on Day 3 of the draft, Kanak has a chance to separate himself by blazing the track at Lucas Oil Stadium. After three years at linebacker, he moved to offense for 2025 and was solid (44 catches for 533 yards), despite Oklahoma’s offense providing inconsistent quarterback play. But his speed at 230-plus pounds really pops, so it wasn’t a surprise to learn he ran a 10.37-second 100 meters in high school. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, IndianaThe size is the size — there’s nothing Ponds can do about that. An NFL scout told me during the season that Ponds stood 5-8 1/4 and 174 pounds with 29 5/8-inch arms, so I expect his combine measurements to be close. But I’m more interested in his on-field performance. He was a state champion in the 100 meters (10.37) and should perform well in position drills. Jaishawn Barham, edge, MichiganSomewhat of a tweener, Barham moved from off-ball linebacker to an edge role in 2025, which was the right change because the strength of his game is his twitchy burst. Setting an edge and sequencing rush moves are incomplete areas for him, but his explosive athleticism is the selling point — and it should show during drills. Scouts also want to learn more about him during interviews (one scout called him the “quietest” guy in his assigned area). Will Barham open up more during the process? Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota StatePayton is the unique case in which not transferring, but rather waiting to be a starter, probably hurt a prospect’s NFL value. He has just one season of starting experience, and it shows — he isn’t ready to face NFL competition. Realistically, he needs on-field reps to help him develop, which is what makes him such a fascinating prospect in a weak quarterback class. At 230-ish pounds, Payton should run in the 4.5s and be impressive across the board with his athletic testing. If he can be quiet with his mechanics and accurate with his throws on top of that, get ready for the Payton train to take off. Mike Washington, RB, ArkansasAfter Jeremiyah Love is selected somewhere in the top 10, it will be anyone’s guess as to the order of the next few running backs off the board. Washington was a projected undrafted free agent prospect over the summer, but he earned draftable grades from scouts with his play in 2025. He performed well at the Senior Bowl, too, and might turn some heads with his testing this week. Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia TechRutledge is an old-school, throwback blocker who wants to manhandle the guy in front of him. Scouts want to see how his testing numbers match up, but more importantly, they want team doctors to give two thumbs up on his medicals. After the 2023 season, Rutledge was involved in a serious car accident that required multiple foot/toe surgeries (doctors even considered amputation at one point). The injury didn’t stop him from becoming an All-American, so hopefully, there aren’t any long-term concerns. Jake Golday, LB, CincinnatiA top-50 prospect in my rankings since September, Golday pulled out of the East-West Shrine Bowl, so we haven’t seen him on the field in almost two months. But the buzz will really get loud for the 6-4, 240-pound linebacker if he comes anywhere close to the numbers listed for him on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” (1.54-second 10-yard split, 4.24 shuttle, 10-7 broad jump, 36-inch vertical). Kendrick Law, WR, KentuckyAnother gadget receiver, Law is explosive with the ball in his hands — his on-field mph numbers easily should translate to a 40 time in the 4.3s. In several ways, he reminds me of Kadarius Toney. There are plenty of question marks about Law, but his twitchy athleticism is enchanting and should be on full display in Indianapolis. Treydan Stukes, CB, ArizonaOne of the top nickel corners in this year’s draft class, Stukes is a former walk-on with playmaking instincts from different alignments. He should light up stopwatches in the 40-yard dash, although I’m more interested in his times in the three-cone and shuttles. He is a linear athlete with hints of stiffness on tape. We will see if that also shows in the testing. |
