| The game from Down Under will go down on Netflix. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The first game of the 2026 season will be televised by NBC, on Wednesday, September 9. The second game of the 2026 season will stream. According to The Athletic, the 49ers-Rams game from Australia will be televised by Netflix. It becomes the third Netflix game of 2026. Currently, Netflix handles two Christmas games. The move meshes with Netflix’s desire to handle big events. With the NFL reportedly splitting four games it absorbed from ESPN between Netflix and YouTube, Netflix will be in line to get one more game for 2026. The biggest new event for 2026 will be the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game, which is expected to debut this year. |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTASad to hear of the passing of former Vikings TE Joe Senser. From the Philadelphia area, Senser came to the Twin Cities in 1979 to play for the Vikings and never left. After his playing career ended, he was a Vikings broadcaster and part of owner of sports bars.. |
| NFC EAST |
| WASHINGTONBryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com on why Commanders fans should be optimistic: Washington Commanders Significant offseason upgrades After a disappointing 2025 season, the Commanders put themselves in position to mirror the success they had in 2024, when they advanced to the NFC title game. Washington overturned its defense this offseason. Six defensive players acquired during free agency are projected starters. They then hit a home run during the draft when they selected linebacker Sonny Styles, whose brilliant play at Ohio State helped the Buckeyes capture a national title in 2024. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINABryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com on why Panthers fans should be optimistic: Carolina Panthers Monster offseason While it somewhat went under the radar, the Panthers nonetheless had one of the NFL’s most successful offseasons. In free agency, they acquired several notable players, including Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips. During the draft, they acquired one of the top-ranked offensive tackle prospects in Monroe Freeling, a potential defensive anchor in defensive tackle Lee Hunter and another target for Bryce Young in Chris Brazzell II, whose nine touchdown receptions for Tennessee last season led the SEC. One big question in Carolina, however, is whether or not Jonathan Brooks can fill the void left by former 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle’s departure. Brooks, a 2024 second-round pick, missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL in Week 14 of his rookie season. |
| NEW ORLEANSBryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com on why Saints fans should be optimistic: New Orleans Saints A promising young offense The decision to draft Tyler Shough with the 40th pick in last year’s draft paid instant dividends. Shough played so well last year that general manager Mickey Loomis started the offseason by declaring Shough as his quarterback moving forward. With his quarterback in tow, Loomis built around Shough, specifically with the free agent signing of Travis Etienne (who will be paired with former Pro Bowler Alvin Kamara), drafting three receivers (starting with Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick) in addition to former Georgia tight end Oscar Delp in the third round. The Saints also added to their offensive line during the draft with the selection of former guard Jeremiah Wright in the fourth round. |
| NFC WEST |
| SAN FRANCISCONick Wagoner of ESPN.com looks at the 49er to do list: With a couple of notable exceptions, the San Francisco 49ers have completed their most important offseason roster maneuvering. It included veteran additions in free agency as well as an NFL draft in which the Niners selected eight players, all taken between Rounds 2 and 5. Despite those moves, the Niners still have lingering questions about receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s future, the starting left guard job, potential safety help and whether a Bosa brothers team-up could be in the offing. Here’s a closer look at what the 49ers still have to do between now and the start of training camp in July. What will happen with Brandon Aiyuk?While the 49ers haven’t wavered from their desire to part ways with Aiyuk, they haven’t yet released him. The Niners have held out hope that they can trade Aiyuk and recoup something, even a late round pick, for a player once viewed as a future franchise cornerstone. The thought, according to Niners general manager John Lynch, was that offseason benchmarks, such as the league meetings in March and draft in April, might spur some kind of action. But San Francisco has found no takers for Aiyuk or really even gained traction toward a deal. Asked at the end of the draft whether Aiyuk’s seemingly inevitable release would be forthcoming, Lynch again kicked the can down the road. “No new update right now,” Lynch said. “We’re available. Give us a call. I think it’s the prudent thing to do. He’s an extremely talented player. He’s been an extremely effective player in our league. The situation didn’t work itself out here. That’s not to say it can’t be rekindled somewhere else. And we’d be happy to do something with anyone if the opportunity presented itself.” There aren’t many obvious inflection points in the coming weeks. June 1 could be a logical target to release Aiyuk to provide some salary cap relief (his dead money would be split over two years after that date), but the Niners have had the ability to designate him a post-June 1 release for almost two months and haven’t done it. Around the league, the expectation is that Aiyuk prefers to play with the Washington Commanders and quarterback Jayden Daniels, his close friend. That idea isn’t lost on the Niners, who believe a trade would benefit both sides in that they’d get value for Aiyuk while also allowing him time to acclimate back to football in Washington’s system. What’s more, Aiyuk’s standing on the Niners’ reserve/left team list could turn into a spot on the reserve/did not report list and subject him to fines of up to $50,000 per day without counting against the 90-man roster if Aiyuk does not report for training camp. Which means, unless Aiyuk shows up at some point, the Niners can continue controlling his rights without owing him any money. For the Niners, such a situation seems like an unnecessary distraction, but until Aiyuk shows up, they can hang on to him as long as they’d like. Who’s in at left guard?With the exception of injury-related uncertainty, 10 of 11 starting spots in San Francisco’s offense are settled. The open job? Left guard. In 2025, the Niners rotated among the trio of Ben Bartch, Spencer Burford and Connor Colby; from that group, only Colby remains on the roster. Although Colby had some good moments, he also struggled at times, which opened the job up to becoming an offseason question. Since, the Niners sought cost-effective depth and competition in free agency in veterans Robert Jones and Brett Toth and spent a fourth-round pick on offensive lineman Carver Willis, who played tackle in college but projects to guard in the NFL. Based on league experience, Jones could be first in line for the job if he proves healthy. He started 17 games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before a neck injury cost him all of last year. “He’ll be in the competition,” Shanahan said. “We’ll have a number of guys in that. … When we get to OTAs, hopefully we have a number of guys fighting for that spot.” Toth projects more as an interior swingman who can be the backup center, but he also figures into the competition, according to Lynch and Shanahan. He has started six games in his career, including two at left guard last year for the Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie, Willis will have the steepest learning curve, but he played in a scheme similar to the Niners’ at Washington which should help his transition. What about safety?The 49ers used their eight draft picks to address the majority of their most pressing roster needs. But in a draft with talent at the position, San Francisco ignored safety, a spot that has plenty of short- and long-term questions. In 2025, the Niners had four safeties — Ji’Ayir Brown, Malik Mustapha, Jason Pinnock and Marques Sigle — make at least seven starts each. Of that quartet, only Pinnock, who played as more of a third safety in “big nickel” packages, departed in the offseason as he signed with the New York Giants. While San Francisco didn’t directly address safety, it did sign defensive back Nate Hobbs in free agency. Shanahan has said he hasn’t thought of Hobbs as a safety, but it’s reasonable to think he could step into the hybrid role Pinnock occupied last season. The Niners have young, unproven safety options in Derrick Canteen, Darrick Forrest, Jalen Stroman and Patrick McMorris, though they also passed on some well-regarded draft prospects multiple times with their eight picks. “There were some guys that came off [the board],” Lynch said. “We’ve got a group that we really do like. But kind of the way the board fell, it just didn’t work out. And love what we were able to add. The work’s not over.” On paper, Brown and Mustapha, the duo that played together the most in 2025, should get another shot at winning the starting jobs with Sigle also pushing for snaps. But Brown is entering the final year of his rookie deal and Mustapha will be extension-eligible for the first time after the 2026 season. Which means the Niners will continue keeping an eye on possibilities that might come up between now and the start of the season and safety could become an even bigger need next offseason if nobody nails down those spots in 2026. Will the 49ers unite the Bosa brothers?In each of the past two years, veteran defensive end Joey Bosa has lingered on the free agent market as fans have clamored for Joey and Nick Bosa to join forces on the 49ers. At the league meetings in March, Lynch said it would “make Mama Bosa happy” if San Francisco signed Joey but noted that he didn’t know if the Niners can afford him. Since then, San Francisco has signed offensive tackle Trent Williams to a deal that reduced his 2026 salary cap number, restructured defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa’s contract to create more cap space and will gain more when it eventually moves on from Aiyuk. On paper, there’s enough money and cap space to add Joey, but the 49ers prefer to roll over significant cap space each year. They also have a glut of options at edge rusher, though only Nick comes with a résumé anything like Joey’s. Other options include Mykel Williams, Keion White, third-round pick Romello Height, Sam Okuayinonu and intriguing undrafted rookie Mikail Kamara. “I’ll never say never,” Lynch said. “We’ll never close the door to things like that. … He’s a heck of a player, but I think we’re at a place where we’re comfortable with what we’ve done.” If Joey remains available through the spring, it would at least give the Niners some time to evaluate what they have (albeit without pads on) and potentially revisit the Bosa brothers pairing again this summer. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHIan Rapoport of NFL Network broke the scoop that QB AARON RODGERS is going to visit Pittsburgh this weekend! @RapSheetFA QB Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to visit the #Steelers Friday and this weekend, will likely play for them in 2026, sources say. A deal is not done & there is always caution until things are signed. But Rodgers’ plan is to play for PIT & these are steps toward that end. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISWith WR MICHAEL PITTMAN gone, WR JOSH DOWNS could have a big year. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: Colts wide receiver Josh Downs will be squaring off against his younger brother at some point during the 2026 season, but that’s not the only thing he has to look forward to this fall. Downs posted career lows in catches and receiving yards in 2025, but said at a Wednesday press conference that “there’s probably more opportunities there for me” in the current Colts offense. Michael Pittman was traded to the Steelers this offseason, which leaves Downs and Alec Pierce as the top options at wide receiver for quarterback Daniel Jones. That uptick coincides with the final year of Downs’ rookie contract, which is something he admits has been on his mind even as he guards against making it the kind of thought that impacts his preparation. “Obviously, you think about it a little bit,” Downs said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to play football, you’ve been playing this sport your whole life. I feel like just going out there, putting in the work, and having fun with it. I was talking to [Jonathan Taylor] about it yesterday. JT was telling me ‘Don’t even think about it, just go out there and play. Keep doing what you’re doing.’ That’s the most important thing, not to think about chasing money. I feel like that’s when you lose yourself.” Pierce had the best season of his career under similar circumstances and he cashed in with a major payday this offseason. Downs could make it two in a row if all falls into place in a few months. |
| TENNESSEEBryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com on why Titans fans should be optimistic: Tennessee Titans Experienced leadership Tennessee’s rebuild is being led by second-year general manager Mike Borgonzi and new coach Robert Salah. Prior to arriving in Nashville, Borgonzi won three Super Bowls while serving in the Chiefs’ front office. Salah has 21 years of NFL experience, including two successful tenures as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. The Titans’ coaching staff also includes offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who led the Giants to their only playoff win since Super Bowl XLVI. Daboll also had a successful run in Buffalo while serving as Josh Allen’s first offensive coordinator. He will look to have similar success now with second-year quarterback Cam Ward. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDMike Florio studies the prediction markets and what they say about the future of Mike Vrabel as more news about the continued nature of his relationship with Dianna Russini drip out: News moves markets. Specifically, prediction markets. Five days ago, Kalshi had Mike Vrabel as having a 77-percent chance to be the coach of the Patriots as of Week 1. As of this posting, the number has plummeted to 64 percent. The dip has happened in the wake of the TMZ report that Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini rented a boat in Tennessee during June 2021, when she was pregnant. Wednesday’s news has not impacted the odds at Polymarket. The chances of Vrabel exiting by December 31 have actually dropped since May 1, from 23 percent to 19 percent. Since Tuesday night, the number has fallen nine points, from 28 percent. While it’s unclear whether this specific development will have any tangible impact on his status, it underscores the reality that there may be more developments. At some point, the next nugget could be the one that forces him to step aside. Not as a football matter, but as a family matter. With a decision to participate in counseling making him unavailable to the Patriots for the third day of the 2026 NFL draft, the situation could reach a critical mass at any time — one that could make his full-time, all-in employment as an NFL head coach unsustainable. Our guess (and it’s just a guess) is that Vrabel would, if/when it gets to be too much to continue, take a leave of absence for 2026, with the door open to a return in 2027. The Patriots clearly don’t want to lose him. At some point, however, the cascade of reports could make it in everyone’s best interests for Vrabel to step aside for a season, to do whatever is necessary to resolve the situation with his family, and to return with a clean slate next year. |
| NEW YORK JETSHow about this for a possible role reversal? QB RUSSELL WILSON could be the back-up in 2026 to his longtime fill-in, QB GENO SMITH. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com: Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson is weighing a contract offer from the New York Jets and a post-football career in network television. Wilson, 37, visited the Jets last week to discuss the possibility of becoming Geno Smith’s backup. “It was great,” Wilson told the New York Post on Wednesday at BTIG Charity Day in New York. “They offered me, and I’m trying to figure out what the next best thing is for me to do. I still know I can play ball at a high level, but I also have the opportunity to do TV, so we’ll see what happens.” Wilson is having talks with CBS Sports about becoming an NFL studio analyst, The Athletic reported last week. The Jets are looking to add experience to their depth chart. Their current backups are Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook, who have combined for only 13 career starts. They also have rookie Cade Klubnik, drafted in the fourth round. Wilson made $10.5 million last season on a one-year contract with the New York Giants, who benched him after an 0-3 start to the campaign. He’d probably make less than half that amount from the Jets. The Jets have made it clear that Smith is their starter. They solicited Smith’s input on potential backups, and he spoke highly of Wilson. They were teammates for three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. New offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Smith “fits perfect” for the Jets. “I feel his resilience, his toughness,” Reich said Wednesday on a videoconference — his first media availability since being hired. “We’re getting the best version of who he is,” Reich added. “And I think his best football’s ahead of him.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| IMPERILED VETERANSWhen rookies arrive, veterans might move out. Ben Solak of ESPN.com identifies 14 vets who could be facing a reduction in snaps or outright dismissal I highlighted 14 veterans who might be in jeopardy of a major role reduction — if not a loss of starting snaps outright — in 2026. While these losses might not be exclusively the result of the 2026 draft, I circled only those players with an obvious rookie waiting in the wings to replace them. I also focused solely on incumbent veterans: players who took at least 400 snaps for their team last season. It’s certainly the case that veteran receivers Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus might fail to keep Zachariah Branch out of the No. 2 receiver job in Atlanta, but neither Dotson nor Zaccheaus were with the Falcons last season. I consider that job neutrally up for grabs, rather than a veteran’s secured position suddenly being in jeopardy. In no particular order, here is my list of veterans on the hot seat this upcoming season now that the dust has settled from the draft. Broderick Jones, OT, Pittsburgh SteelersThis is an obvious one, so it’s a good place to start. Mere days before the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jones had suffered a setback while recovering from his neck injury, and that his 2026 training camp and Week 1 availability were in question. Then the Steelers selected Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round (admittedly after trying and failing to draft a receiver). One week later, the Steelers declined Jones’ fifth-year option. It’s not hard to read the writing on the wall here. Jones’ play was already shaky enough that an early pick on a developmental tackle would have been more than justified. His 85.0% pass block win rate was 65th among 68 qualified tackles last season. But now that his long-term health is in question, the Steelers urgently needed a succession plan. Assuming Jones’ neck injury remains a factor, Iheanachor will likely get first-team reps in training camp and accordingly an inside track to start in Week 1. If his play holds water, it would be surprising to see Jones get back on the field as the starter once he finally returns to health. Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina PanthersOutside of metropolitan Charlotte, Legette enjoys some cover from Buffalo’s Keon Coleman among disappointing receivers from the 2024 draft class (Coleman was benched last season and then called out in a news conference by owner Terry Pegula). But Legette’s inability to consistently catch the ball, especially up against the sideline, has frustrated Panthers fans over his first two years in the league. Legette was a late college breakout drafted largely for his size/speed profile. At first it looked like the Panthers’ receivers room would have plenty of space for his development — Legette was the Panthers’ leading target-getter as a rookie. But the emergence of undrafted free agent Jalen Coker and subsequent drafting of 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan pushed Legette down to No. 3 on the depth chart … and now Chris Brazzell II has entered the building. The Panthers made the Tennessee wideout the 83rd pick last month in large part because of his own size/speed profile. Brazzell is 6-foot-4 and 198 pounds, and he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. He is a raw route runner from a system that translates poorly to the NFL, so it’s unlikely he immediately excels at the next level. That gives Legette time to entrench himself as a more reliable option. But if he continues to lose targets, the Panthers will consider promoting Brazzell to that rarely targeted field-stretching role. Isaiah Pola-Mao, S, Las Vegas RaidersPola-Mao played more than 1,000 defensive snaps for the Raiders last season, and while defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has left for Pittsburgh, new coordinator Rob Leonard is an internal promotion. It’s rare to see a player used that heavily get completely benched for a rookie — and to be clear, I don’t think that will happen. But Pola-Mao played 861 snaps at a safety alignment last season via NFL Next Gen Stats, largely because the role of versatile box player was already occupied by Jeremy Chinn. Second-round pick Treydan Stukes played a ton of positions in college, but he finished his career at Arizona as a safety — and he was announced by the Raiders as a safety when he signed his contract. He can play the slot, but his body type and play style translates best to safety — specifically a deep middle safety. That’s Pola-Mao’s old job. I think the Raiders will end up in some sort of three-safety rotation, depending on how much time Stukes plays at nickel (with Taron Johnson also vying for snaps) and how often Chinn is at linebacker (now that Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean are in town). Put simply, there are a ton of snaps up for grabs in what was a poor safeties room last season, and Stukes might just be the best player in that group already. He’s certainly the future, as both Pola-Mao and Chinn are rising free agents. Stukes might lead the position in snaps by the end of the season. Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Chicago BearsA surprise faller to Day 3 of the draft was Texas CB Malik Muhammad. A multiyear starter and still just 21 years old, Muhammad has the profile of someone who gets drafted on Day 2. That’s especially true when you factor in his combine testing, where Muhammad had a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-11 broad jump, all at 6-foot with arms over 32 inches. I still don’t know how that skill set made it to Round 4. It was to the Bears’ benefit, as they snagged a potential day one starter with No. 124. Finding a depth cornerback to replace the outgoing Nahshon Wright was critical, as Stevenson’s volatile play alongside Jaylon Johnson’s injury history all but guarantees the No. 3 corner will see time in Chicago. Stevenson in particular struggled last season, his first under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen; Stevenson’s 9.8 yards per target allowed ranked third worst among all cornerbacks (minimum 50 targets). The Bears would much prefer Stevenson to play (and excel) over Muhammad. That would mean Stevenson could walk in free agency, sign a huge deal elsewhere and give Chicago a nice compensatory pick in return. But if Muhammad shines in camp, the Bears might struggle to keep him off the field while Stevenson gets targeted opposite Johnson. Mike Hughes, CB, Atlanta FalconsThe Falcons rewarded Hughes’ strong 2024 season with a three-year extension. In the first year of that deal, Hughes underwhelmed. His yards per coverage snap allowed leapt from 1.0 to 1.5, and poor tackling in run support glared on their opponents’ biggest plays. It’s fair to expect a bounce-back season — Hughes dealt with neck and ankle injuries — but it’s also fair to be dubious. Atlanta added an immediate contender for Hughes’ job in Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of incumbent star A.J. Terrell Jr. The younger Terrell is not a one-for-one replacement for Hughes, as he’s a smaller player who might be better destined for the slot. But 2025 fourth-rounder Billy Bowman Jr. was strong in the slot before a devastating torn Achilles during a November walk-through. If Bowman isn’t back to form, Avieon Terrell might instead man the nickel position and keep Hughes in the starting lineup in 2026. But Terrell in the second round was the earliest pick the Falcons had in the 2026 draft, and they had other more pressing needs on the table — that’s difficult to ignore. This isn’t some Round 4 toolsy prospect. This was a top-50 pick with already a ton of internal buy-in given his family name. I won’t be surprised when Terrell and Hughes are rotating first-team snaps in camp. Carrington Valentine, CB, Green Bay PackersValentine’s starting job was already in question before the draft, as a bad 2025 campaign invited the signing of free agent corner Benjamin St-Juste. The Packers were still live to take a cornerback, and they apparently ranked the need (or the player) so highly that they drafted South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse with the 52nd pick (the team’s first selection of the draft). The Packers are notoriously patient with rookies, and Cisse is far from a finished product. South Carolina rotated its corners, and Cisse often didn’t play full games, even in his final season. But the most favored outcome in the Packers’ cornerbacks room is certainly Cisse winning the job over Valentine, who surrendered a passer rating of 126.1 when targeted last season. Only five outside cornerbacks were worse. Even if Cisse doesn’t win the starting job outright, I would not be surprised to see him enter a rotation with Valentine (and St-Juste). Valentine struggles more with larger receivers, and Cisse and St-Juste should match up better. Cody Barton, LB, Tennessee TitansBarton played 1,061 snaps last season for the Titans — every single possible snap available to him. And now, he might be out of a job. He wasn’t terrible for Tennessee last season. His coverage metrics were actually quite good: 53.0 passer rating allowed and only 4.8 yards against per target. But Barton has always been more wily and assignment-sound than he is athletically talented, and the lack of speed impacted his ability to beat blockers to the point of attack and get involved in plays at the sideline. For new coach Robert Saleh, who needs his linebackers to flow fast, Barton’s current legs might be disqualifying. Second-round linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has that sort of speed, but critically, he was a multiyear signal-caller at the heart of the Texas defense. He seems better suited to slide into Barton’s shoes at middle linebacker than Cedric Gray’s spot at weakside linebacker, but I would wager both jobs are up for grabs in different combinations as Saleh explores the best version of his roster in 2026. If Barton is indeed shelved for Hill, expect trade calls. Chamarri Conner, CB, Kansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs’ penchant for developing defensive backs from outside the first round is well known (Juan Thornhill, Jaylen Watson, L’Jarius Sneed, Bryan Cook). They’ve tried to do the same in the slot over the past few seasons with Conner, a 2023 fourth-rounder out of Virginia Tech who became the starter in 2024 when Trent McDuffie bumped outside. But over the past two seasons, Conner has surrendered 0.11 EPA per target in the slot (11th worst among DBs with at least 50 slot targets) and a success rate of 53.8% — only 2025 rookie Jacob Parrish was worse. Conner simply does not make enough plays at the catch point to play a permanent coverage role. Enter Jadon Canady. Like Conner, Canady is a fourth-round pick who spent time at safety in the college ranks. But his best play was in the slot, where he finished his career at Oregon. Canady had 19 passes defensed combined over his last two years and will — along with free agent signing Kader Kohou — immediately challenge for the slot job. Conner might not lose snaps so much as he could end up displaced into more traditional safety alignments; the Chiefs already started to do that last season. But with incumbent youngster Jaden Hicks and free agent acquisition Alohi Gilman, safety is also a crowded room. Conner’s 1,021 snaps from last season are unlikely to be repeated. Anthony Bradford, G, Seattle SeahawksAs the Seahawks’ Super Bowl season materialized, it looked like their Achilles’ heel might be the play of Bradford. He started the season unbelievably rocky, giving up seven quick pressures (pressures in under 2.5 seconds) in the first six games. He was steadier over the next seven games (one such pressure surrendered), but then the playoffs hit: nine quick pressures against in the last seven games. Highly volatile play is a bearable trait at other positions, but along the offensive line, it’s unacceptable. The Seahawks got by with Bradford last season and did not invest early or aggressively in the position during the draft. But eventually they did make a move, with Iowa guard Beau Stephens in the fifth round. That draft capital is insufficient for Stephens to immediately see first-team reps during training camp, so Bradford’s job is likely safe for Week 1. But if he continues to be the weak link in an otherwise solid O-line, the Seahawks will look into playing the rookie. Like most Day 3 picks, Stephens has unspectacular measureables. But like 2024 UDFA Jalen Sundell, who won a starting job at center in 2025, Stephens is a strainer with good hands and the upper-body power to survive just long enough against physically superior opponents. The issue with Bradford is the quick losses; Stephens’ losses tend to be much more laborious. Bobby Brown III, DT, Carolina PanthersBrown technically does not hit our 400-snap cutoff — he played only 370 last season. But the Panthers signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract in 2024 free agency, clearly with the intention of him stepping into a sizable defensive role. A’Shawn Robinson kept him stuck in the rotation, but then the Panthers released Robinson this offseason, so it seemed like Brown’s role would grow. Then the Panthers drafted the mountainous Lee Hunter out of Texas Tech with the 49th pick. And there goes Brown’s role again. Brown just does not have the range that modern defensive tackles need to create plays. He’s late getting off blocks and struggles mightily when tasked with beating reach blocks laterally. He doesn’t eat up the space a nose tackle needs to occupy to survive. Hunter has moments of remarkable first-step quickness and upfield disruption for a player carrying 320 pounds, and he still has plenty of room to grow in his frame. Hunter, Derrick Brown and Tershawn Wharton will almost certainly be the primary rotation of defensive tackles this season, with Brown once again struggling to see more than 40% of the snaps in a given game. Tony Jefferson, S, Los Angeles ChargersI hate to do it to Jefferson, everyone’s favorite veteran at the heart of the Chargers’ defense. He stepped up tremendously in 2024 (when injuries hit the safeties room) and 2025 (when the midseason trade of Alohi Gilman left a big void). But he actually retired in 2023 before returning! He’s 34 years old and returned on a one-year, $2 million deal. That isn’t starter money. Jefferson was fending off only RJ Mickens last year. But in the fourth round of the 2026 draft, the Chargers added Arizona’s Genesis Smith, a deep safety with speed for days. Smith simply covers far more ground than Jefferson does at this stage. While Mickens played well for a sixth-round rookie last season, Smith has superior range and ball tracking. If Smith gets the playbook under his belt quickly, it’s hard to see either incumbent safety keeping him off the inside track for day one starts in the deep middle. Tommy Togiai, DT, Houston TexansTogiai was a spark for the Texans’ defense in 2025. He earned his spot in the rotation over Tim Settle and Mario Edwards Jr., and when both were lost for the season (foot and pectoral injuries, respectively), he took on an increased workload with aplomb. NFL Next Gen Stats had Togiai’s 9.7% stop rate — that’s a tackle which ends in negative EPA for the opposing offense — as the highest among all defensive tackles last season. He was valuable, and I’m confident the Texans felt OK entering next season with Togiai and Sheldon Rankins as their starters, with perhaps a Round 3 or 4 rookie fighting for snaps behind them. Then Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald started to fall in Round 2. The Texans traded up, leapfrogging the Giants (who had just traded Dexter Lawrence II) to secure McDonald. Togiai was so good last year that McDonald might end up biting more into Rankins’ snaps than Togiai’s reps. But Togiai spent far more time lined up between the guards than Rankins did, and those snaps figure to go to McDonald, a premier run defender who will strengthen the spine of the Texans’ already ferocious defense. Togiai could in turn take some of Rankins’ snaps at 3-technique, but it isn’t guaranteed that he continues his shocking splash play from last season. Ideally, this is a rotation of three quality players, each with slightly different skill sets. Cesar Ruiz, G, New Orleans SaintsCount me among the big believers in Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright, who used a strong Senior Bowl to climb into early Day 3, where the Saints selected him with the 132nd pick. Wright split his time between the offensive and defensive lines for his first few years at Auburn and is accordingly underdeveloped technically. But when his hands land, they land with thunder. He has good flexibility for a 331-pound player and can uproot NFL-sized defensive linemen with rolling power. I’d want to run the ball behind this guy. The Saints’ offensive line has been reloaded into an ascending unit. With the addition of free agent guard David Edwards, this might be a top-five line should center Erik McCoy stay healthy (he has failed to finish the past two seasons) and right tackle Taliese Fuaga take the next step. The weakest point is Ruiz at right guard. He simply does not move people in the running game the way the other four starters do. Ruiz has struggled with inconsistent pass protection for his entire career, so there isn’t much payoff for his lack of power. If the Saints’ offensive coaching staff can get Wright up to speed quickly, I’d expect them to have a quick hook on Ruiz to finish the offensive line facelift and really start running people into the ground. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore RavensHumphrey has been a lifelong Raven and generally one of the most underappreciated defenders in football. But Humphrey turns 30 this summer, and with that age typically comes athletic erosion and limited roles. In three-cornerback sets last season, Humphrey bumped into the slot for the Ravens, playing 264 snaps at that alignment. Among slot defenders with at least 30 targets, he was third worst in coverage success rate. The Ravens need a better nickel option, and that’s Chandler Rivers, the fourth-rounder out of Duke. An undersized but feisty jitterbug cut from the same cloth as D’Angelo Ponds (now with the Jets), Rivers is exactly the sort of player who excels as a 10-year NFL slot corner. If he hits, he bumps Humphrey back outside, where the veteran was much stronger last season (61.5% coverage success rate relative to the 46.9% he posted inside). So Rivers is not exactly taking Humphrey’s job — just the half of it that Humphrey isn’t as equipped to do anymore. Humphrey wouldn’t compete with Chidobe Awuzie on the outside but would instead immediately slide into that full-time role. His play at his age, however, is something to watch closely. |
| BROADCAST NEWSNot that we need another reason to watch the World Cup this summer. Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com: Jameis Winston is going to eat a W this summer. Along with the rest of the letters that spell, “World Cup.” Fox has announced that Winston will serve as a correspondent for its coverage of the FIFA World Cup, to be played throughout North America in June and July. Winston, the first pick in the 2015 NFL draft, has gone from five-year starter in Tampa Bay to backup who periodically gets the call to play. From 2015 to 2019, Winston started 70 games with the Buccaneers. Since 2020, he has started 19 games while playing for the Saints, Browns, and Giants. On the media side, he first rose to prominence while working for Fox during the week of Super Bowl LIX. He also appeared on the Netflix broadcast of MLB’s opening night in 2026. Winston will be able to waltz into a media career, whenever he’s ready to make the transition. For now, Fox seems to be the favorite to eventually turn temporary assignments into something more permanent. |
| 2027 DRAFTOne year ago, you could have filed a bet on QB FERNANDO MENDOZA, in the process of transferring from Cal to Indiana, as the first overall pick in the draft at 40-1. The odds on the great QB ARCH MANNING are a lot lower than that to be the first off the board in 2027. One year after Fernando Mendoza was available at 40-to-1 odds to be the top overall pick — odds that ultimately cashed — a quarterback-heavy class leads the way for the 2027 NFL Draft, with a legacy name sitting atop all big boards. Arch Manning, the nephew of former top picks Peyton and Eli, returns to Texas and is the +250 favorite at both DraftKings and BetRivers (+180 at FanDuel) to be next year’s top overall draft pick. The Manning name sells itself, but the hype and talent appear to match the bloodline. “I think Manning is going to stay the favorite,” DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told The Athletic. “Dante Moore is a quality kid, and CJ Carr had a tremendous season. Those teams are all projected to do well this year, but I don’t think there will be any change before the season starts.” Oregon’s Moore is the second favorite with odds between +380 and +500 throughout the market, while Carr ranges from +500 to +650. Both, along with Manning, should have their schools in the championship mix again this year with high-profile games that influence NFL front offices. “Dante Moore is the trendy name with tools, but coming out of that offense, it would take a lot on and off the field to convince a team to pass on Arch,” longtime professional sports bettor and draft specialist Jay Romano said. “I really don’t see anyone making a ‘Golden Tempo’-esque run (Kentucky Derby winner) late to be the first pick.” Recent history says a QB has been selected first overall eight of the last nine years and is often the default choice. But all drafts involve a few signature wrinkles, especially given the unknown draft order. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the fourth favorite to go No. 1 with odds around +1000. The Buckeyes are the early national championship favorites, and Smith has easily the lowest Heisman Trophy odds of any non-quarterback. He led the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards last year, while playing alongside Carnell Tate, who was just drafted fourth overall. “Jeremiah Smith is seen as a generational prospect at WR who likely would have been the first WR taken in this past draft,” a FanDuel trader explained via email. “If a team were to get the No. 1 pick, who has a young quarterback in place, or all the top quarterbacks have down seasons, we would anticipate him being the best prospect.” Along those lines, a defensive prospect could also crash the party. Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s NFL Draft expert, projects South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart and Texas’ Colin Simmons as top-seven picks in his 2027 mock draft. They each have around 20-to-1 odds to go first overall. “Truthfully, a dominant pass rusher is more likely to emerge for the top pick than another quarterback,” Romano said. “If a star QB goes down like we’ve seen recently with Joe Burrow and the Bengals and a surprise team gets the No. 1 pick, then that team could go for a big-time pass rusher — especially when you factor in what they command in the trade market and free agency.” Plus, in 2004, the San Diego Chargers held the top overall pick, but Eli Manning and his father, Archie, openly criticized the front office and refused to play for the organization. Manning was ultimately drafted first as part of a later trade with the New York Giants, but the same powerful family could play hardball and flex its muscles again. “In the case of Eli Manning, he was still drafted first overall. We haven’t factored a scenario like that in too much, but if that becomes a possibility as the season progresses, we will adjust accordingly,” the FanDuel trader said. Performance during the college football season will certainly induce odds adjustments. Last year, after Indiana’s 4-0 start, Mendoza’s odds lowered to +700 at FanDuel. With so many signal-callers in the mix for next year, strong Septembers or deep playoff runs could even widen Manning’s competition. “I know there is so much hype regarding the eight to 10 quarterbacks in play for round one next year. However, I think a lot of this will sort itself out, and at least half of them won’t be in the conversation,” Romano said. “Whether it’s declining draft stock or the temptation of huge NIL paydays (to return to school), I’d guess only four are taken in the first round.” Lastly, NFL Draft markets are inherently reactionary and fluid. For example, immediately following an electric performance in Ole Miss’ upset of Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss became this year’s third favorite with +1000 odds after not even being originally posted. He is now returning to Oxford and has 100-to-1 odds at BetRivers to be the 2027 top pick. “You could’ve had Mendoza at 40-to-1 last year. There are some good payouts out there. Got to get lucky, pick a number, and the guy has to do well,” Avello said. “It only takes one guy to win it.”– – -Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com has a 2027 Mock Draft that does not start with QB ARCH MANNING: But before you go too far, it’s worth reframing what this actually is. Less a true mock draft and more a living watchlist — a snapshot of where things stand heading into the 2026 college football season. It’s a collection of names, traits and possible trajectories to track as the fall reshapes everything. So just a friendly reminder: It’s early. A lot will change. But if this snapshot holds, the 2027 draft, like the 2024 version, won’t just feature quarterbacks, it’ll be defined by them. (And in case you’re wondering, in looking back at my way-too-early 2024 mock draft, I had five QBs going in Round 1 — Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. … and Quinn Ewers, who ended up being a seventh-rounder. The two I missed on: Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy, which is also a good reminder that we’ll have 1-2 QBs come out of nowhere to make a first-round push by the time it’s all said and done.) Alright, let’s get to it! Note: The draft order was determined using FanDuel Sportsbook’s reverse Super Bowl odds. The Jets have three first-round picks: their own, the Cowboys’ from the Quinnen Williams trade and the Colts’ from the Sauce Gardner trade. The Cowboys have the Packers’ selection from the Micah Parsons trade. 1. Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, QB, OregonMoore would have been the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft had he not decided to return to Oregon. He plays with high-end pocket composure, handles pressure well — and once the play breaks down, is elite out of structure. He showed up in big moments throughout the ’25 season (until they ran into the Hoosiers in the CFP) and he’s my QB1 because he outplayed Arch Manning — and every other QB — in the ’26 class. 2. New York Jets: Arch Manning, QB, TexasManning got off to a sluggish start in 2025 but finished strong. If he picks up where he left off late last fall, he’ll be in the No. 1-overall-pick conversation. Again. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Jayden Maiava, QB, USCMaiava was one of my favorite players to watch last season; he’s a well built, big-armed QB who shows good touch on layered throws, but needs to play with more consistency from start to finish. 4. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio StateSmith is better than Marvin Harrison Jr. coming out of Ohio State. And I’m guessing we’ll be comparing him more to the likes of Julio Jones or Megatron by next spring. 5. Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, EDGE, TexasSimmons can win with power, speed and twitch — he was unstoppable for much of ’25 and I only expect him to get better this season. 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Trevor Goosby, OT, TexasGoosby, who would’ve likely been a first-rounder had he declared for the ’26 draft, has a huge frame and high-end athletic traits that allow him to anchor effectively against power, though he remains a raw prospect who can struggle with quicker pass rushers. 7. New Orleans Saints: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South CarolinaStewart uses his long frame, tenacity and overpowering strength to set the edge against the run. He’s also surprisingly twitched up as a pass rusher, consistently collapsing the pocket with an explosive blend of length and suddenness. 8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darien Mensah, QB, MiamiMensah is a sturdy, big-armed passer who has both touch and accuracy on deep throws, consistently layers the ball on second-level throws, can rip intermediate and deep throws out of structure and with accuracy, but he can also get himself into trouble when he tries to extend plays instead of taking what the defense gives him. He has a chance to be the latest Miami QB transfer to be in the Round 1 conversation, following Cam Ward and Carson Beck. 9. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre DameMoore is a fluid athlete who stays in phase and uses his length to be consistently disruptive downfield. His smooth change of direction allows him to play both outside and in the slot, which will make his transition to the next level even smoother. 10. Atlanta Falcons: David Stone, DT, OklahomaA high-motor D-lineman with quick feet who can get off blocks early in the rep to be a consistent disruptive presence in the backfield. Stone can line up anywhere along the D-line and often finds himself around the ball vs. the run. 11. New York Giants: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, OregonUiagalelei has an NFL frame who wins with power and a high motor, particularly when aligning wide. That said, he lacks bend and needs to add to his pass-rush arsenal. His 2025 tape wasn’t nearly as far along as Tuli Tuipulotu coming out of college and he was a second-round pick (54th overall) of similar age and with similar tools. Looking for a big leap in ’26. 12. Minnesota Vikings: CJ Carr, QB, Notre DameCarr is a Bo Nix-style game manager and I mean that in the most laudatory terms possible. He’s a steady-as-she-goes QB, who doesn’t make mistakes, shows consistently good touch on deep balls, can throw with anticipation on intermediate throws, has the athleticism to play out of structure and finds ways to make plays — and that’s all just from one year of starting experience. 13. Washington Commanders: Cam Coleman, WR, TexasColeman is a physically imposing wideout who pairs elite contact balance with the suddenness to make defenders miss in the open field. He runs routes with the nuance of a much smaller receiver and possesses the play strength to consistently punish DBs after the catch. 14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma StateMestemaker is a big-armed QB who layers the ball well on downfield throws but can also step on it when he needs to fit it in a tight window. He shows the ability to get through his reads while standing tall in the pocket, though he’ll need to limit his interceptions (he had 11 in ’25), some of which came on poor decisions, or throws in which he didn’t set his feet. He’ll see a step up in competition going from North Texas to Oklahoma State, and if he makes that jump, he’ll be a name to watch in the fall. 15. New York Jets (via Colts): A’Mauri Washington, DL, OregonWashington is a powerful, athletic defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket or blow up a run play when he fires off low and plays with leverage. He’s at his best attacking gaps, where his burst, strength, and motor let him disrupt plays before they develop. When he’s locked in, he looks like a true difference-maker who can overwhelm blockers with both quickness and power. 16. Cincinnati Bengals:John Henry Daley, EDGE, MichiganDaley wins through superior hand usage and a diverse pass-rush arsenal that includes an impressive spin move that often leaves OTs flat-footed. He also plays with the leverage and strength necessary to reset the line of scrimmage against the run. 17. Chicago Bears: Caden Green, OL, MissouriGreen plays with a sturdy anchor against power rushers, and while he needs to play with lower pads in the run game, his high-level awareness makes him a reliable blindside protector whose NFL future could be inside at guard. 18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jordan Ross, EDGE, LSUA powerful edge rusher who leverages a low center of gravity to collapse the pocket and physically overwhelm blockers. Ross displays impressive lateral agility to redirect in space; inline TEs will struggle to block him in the run game. 19. New York Jets (via Cowboys): Charlie Becker, WR, IndianaBecker didn’t see the field consistently unitl midway through the 2025 season when an injury to Elijah Sarratt led to more playing time. And he took full advantage; he’s a huge target who can win with speed and contested-catch ability — and he can also contort his body in ways to make the impossible catch look routine. 20. Houston Texans: Quincy Rhodes, EDGE, ArkansasRhodes offers a rare physical profile, combining massive size with the athleticism to serve as a versatile chess piece across the defensive front. He is immovable at the point of attack and generates significant power as a pass rusher. 21. Philadelphia Eagles, Carter Smith, OT, IndianaSmith is a high-level athlete at LT who shows natural talent for moving defenders in the run game and anchoring against power. While he needs to sharpen his technique against nuanced speed rushers, his physical tools provide a high floor for development. 22. Denver Broncos: Damon Wilson II, EDGE, MiamiAn explosive straight-line rusher who can close quickly on the QB because of his downhill juice. Though Wilson isn’t bendy around the edge, he wins through pure power and leverage. 23. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Kade Pieper, OL, IowaPieper is an athletic interior lineman who shines in pass protection and in zone schemes. As he continues to improve functional strength, he has the potential to become one of the best interior OL in the class. 24. New England Patriots: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, AlabamaColeman-Williams’ tape in 2025 looked nothing like what we all witnessed during his freshman season in ’24. If he can return to that player, he’ll have a chance to be a top-10 pick and battle Jeremiah Smith for WR1. 25. Detroit Lions: Clev Lubin, EDGE, LouisvilleLubin marries high-end power-rush capabilities with the discipline to shut down the run. His rare ability to drop into zone coverage makes him an ideal hybrid player in the ever-evolving defensive schemes that rely more and more on “positionless” play. 26. San Francisco 49ers: Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas TechCarter Jr. is a long-striding playmaker who threatens all three levels of the field and runs like a power back after the catch. While he struggles with focus drops at times, his combination of vertical speed and high-effort blocking makes him a dynamic weapon as offenses continue to use more multiple TE sets. 27. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSUThe Colorado transfer has an enormous frame with a thick build yet he plays light on his feet, has high-end lateral mobility and anchors well vs. bull rushers. Seaton plays with heavy hands and once he locks on, edge rushers struggle to disengage. Don’t be fooled by his size — his high-end athleticism shines, especially in space, where he can excel as a second-level blocker, and on the perimeter as a lead blocker. 28. Los Angeles Chargers: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, GeorgiaRobinson is a physical corner who excels at reading the QB and being consistently disruptive at the catch point. He plays with the confidence and technical traits to thrive on an island, whether in man or off-coverage. 29. Baltimore Ravens: Will Echoles, DL, Ole MissEcholes is a disruptive interior bulldozer who plays with a low center of gravity and also has surprising twitch that often finds him in the backfield making plays on the ball. 30. Buffalo Bills: Zabien Brown, CB, AlabamaA physically imposing cornerback who consistently puts himself in a position to make plays at the catch point, Brown’s ability to mirror receivers in man or react in off-coverage makes him a highly reliable presence in the secondary. 31. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Marsh, WR, IndianaMarsh transferred from Michigan State where he was targeted 102 times in 2025. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he looks like the natural replacement for Elijah Sarratt (and like Sarratt, he lined up outside about 95% of the time). Despite his size, Marsh can put his foot in the ground and get in and out of breaks, creating separation at the route stem. Like Sarratt, he won’t consistently create separation on vertical routes, but he has legit contested-catch and YAC ability, and he uses his frame to shield defenders. 32. Los Angeles Rams: Ahmad Hardy, RB, MissouriHardy is built low to the ground, runs with a low center of gravity, is incredibly difficult to get on the ground as a result, and has home run ability once he gets to the second level. He excels in outside/wide zone schemes that allow him to one-cut-and-go once he sees daylight. He didn’t give Mizzou much in the pass game last season — he was targeted just seven times and had six catches. |
