| NFC EAST |
| PHILADELPHIAThe Eagles exercise a pair of fifth year options. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: The Eagles are exercising the fifth-year options on the contracts of defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith, the team announced. Carter’s will pay him around $27 million for 2027 and Smith’s is worth around $13.7 million for 2027. Carter, 25, was the ninth overall pick in 2023, and he has made the Pro Bowl each of the past two seasons. He has totaled 108 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hits, 13 passes defensed and four forced fumbles. Smith, 25, was the 30th overall pick in 2023. He has totaled 91 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.– – -Dan Graziano of ESPN.com points out that the Eagles will face a much improved collection of NFC East foes in 2026: The Eagles’ two-year NFC East title streak will end in 2026You also knew we had to trot out this old chestnut. The 2025 Eagles repeated as division champs, ending a stunning 21-year stretch in which no team won the NFC East in back-to-back years. Can they make it three in a row? Absolutely, they can. The Eagles spent the past couple of days adding a first-round receiver in Makai Lemon (USC), a second-round tight end in Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt) and a third-round offensive lineman in Markel Bell (Miami). They also acquired edge rusher Jonathan Greenard in a trade with the Vikings on Day 2 of the draft. A productive-looking draft weekend for the Eagles as usual. But they’re also expected to trade their best wide receiver, A.J. Brown, to the Patriots after June 1. They’re changing offensive coordinators for the fourth year in a row — this time to Sean Mannion. And quarterback Jalen Hurts will enter the 2026 season under a microscope as the offseason has raised fresh questions about his role in the team’s 2025 offensive struggles. Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION This point of this annual exercise, of course, is that the other teams in the division have reason to believe they got better, too. The Giants received a ton of praise for their Day 1 haul, which saw them land Ohio State edge rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese and Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa in the top 10. They drafted Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood in the second round and traded up for wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third. With new coach John Harbaugh and hopes high for second-year QB Jaxson Dart, the Giants could be in for a big leap in 2026. The Commanders, who were Philly’s opponent in the NFC Championship Game two seasons ago, hope to rebound from a down year with QB Jayden Daniels now healthy and first-round linebacker Sonny Styles on board to shore up the defense. And the Cowboys had their usual impressive, workmanlike draft, adding safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence in the first round and Michigan edge Jaishawn Barham in the third in the hopes of finally fixing a defense that fell off a cliff last year. The Eagles might still be the favorites to repeat, but repeating is always hard in this division, and there are plenty of reasons for the other three teams to think they’re closing the gap.– – -“Retired” line coach Jeff Stoutland calls out fired OC Kevin Patullo (or whoever was calling the plays) for the Eagles offensive struggles in 2026. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Longtime Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland retired from the team after 13 years this offseason, and he says bad play calling made for a frustrating final year in Philly. Stoutland appeared on Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce’s podcast and said that what went wrong for the Eagles’ offense last year included not calling the right play against the right defense. “I think any time things don’t go well, and I don’t want to sound like I’m on an interview, but it’s the truth — it’s execution, it’s calling the right play at the right time, and not running bad plays into bad defenses. I mean, it ain’t that hard — that’s pretty much it,” Stoutland said. The Eagles fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after the season, and while Stoutland didn’t mention Patullo by name, it’s impossible to hear those comments and not think Stoutland was frustrated with Patullo’s play calling. As was much of the city of Philadelphia. Since the OC can’t know for sure what defense is going to be called it would seem to also require a well-executed system with another play to get out of the jam that the quarterback recognizes at the line and switches out of. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSQB TY SIMPSON did indeed have conversations with Coach Sean McVay prior to the draft. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: After he was drafted by the Rams, quarterback Ty Simpson said he had only a “brief” meeting with Rams scouts at the Alabama Pro Day workout. On Monday, Simpson amended that answer. Via Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Simpson told Ian Fitzsimmons of ESPN Radio on Monday that he had a “secret meeting” with Rams coach Sean McVay before the draft. “We tried to keep this under wraps as long as we could,” Simpson told Fitzsimmons. “It was something to where I knew they were interested, but they wanted to make it private and didn’t want people to know that they were interested. “So, I had some secret meetings with Coach McVay, and I just was trying to be on script and do what everybody told me and not to tell anybody.” Simpson later said he had one “secret meeting” with McVay, and they talked “for hours and hours” about football. “I was told to not say anything,” Simpson said, “you know, because they didn’t want anybody to know.” If word had gotten out that the Rams were looking seriously at Simpson, the Rams would have been vulnerable to someone trading up in front of them. And someone may have done it. The perception that McVay believed in Simpson (McVay’s post-selection demeanor notwithstanding) could have morphed into the reality of other teams deeming him to be more desirable. So why would Simpson let the cat out of the bag now? For starters, it doesn’t matter — the Rams got him. At another level, however, Simpson is surely aware of the belief that McVay may not have been all in with the decision. This additional fact could dull the narrative that was created the moment McVay, while sitting next to G.M. Les Snead, crammed his hands into the pockets of his pants and seemingly sulked. Does it matter where the meeting was with teams limited to 30 official and listed visits to the facility? Was McVay impressed with Simpson after the secret meeting? It’s possible he was not. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASDan Graziano does not believe the Raiders can contend in 2026, despite their obvious improvements: The Raiders can be legitimate AFC West contenders in 2026Las Vegas, with yet another new coaching staff, used the No. 1 pick on Heisman Trophy winner and CFP champion Fernando Mendoza, hoping he’s the guy who can stabilize the Raiders at the most important position and lead them into a highly successful future. They had what looks to be a very strong draft even after that. The Raiders landed Arizona safety Treydan Stukes in the second round and Auburn edge rusher Keyron Crawford in the third. They took a flier on ubertalented but injured Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy and drafted well-regarded Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. later in the fourth round. They made eight total picks in the first five rounds and still had two left. After an active free agency that followed the hiring of Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their head coach, there’s excitement for the future in Las Vegas. Verdict: OVERREACTION This is more than a one-year rebuilding project, and the Raiders know it. It’s one of the reasons they felt it was worth the risk to stop McCoy’s fall at No. 101 on Saturday afternoon. If he can get healthy, he’s potentially a high-impact defensive playmaker on a team that has been short on those. Mendoza has the traits to make you think he can be a franchise QB. The Raiders’ offseason has been a good one. But come on. They play in the AFC West, where one team was the AFC’s No. 1 seed last year, another made the playoffs for the second year in a row and the other missed the playoffs but had appeared in the previous three Super Bowls. The Raiders could be a dramatically improved team in 2026 and still find it hard to compete with the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs. You can make a solid case that the future is bright for the Raiders. It’s a lot tougher to make the case that the future is now. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDThe Browns have drafted well the last two years – and this inside look from Jori Epstein of YahooSports.com makes you understand why. It’s 8:38 p.m. on Thursday in the Cleveland Browns’ draft room and general manager Andrew Berry stands up, grabs a water bottle, then sets it down to take out his phone. It’s the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Browns have already traded the sixth overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for picks 9, 74 and 148. Now two more NFC teams are calling with offers they hope will compel Cleveland to move down, yet again, from the ninth overall pick. The first team relays its offer to Ken Kovash, the Browns’ vice president of player personnel process and development. Kovash, along with assistant general managers Glenn Cook and Catherine Hickman, are designated phone operators for Browns trade considerations. And the Browns have a lot of trade considerations. The second NFC team’s general manager calls Berry directly. Would the Browns move off No. 9 and risk losing one of their top targets? “Depends what’s on the board — what are you thinking?” Berry asks. He scribbles in his notebook: “I’ll think about it once we get on the clock.” Both trade offers enter a Browns database that assesses their value. An analysis appears on the third of five large screens canvassing the Browns’ draft room walls. Each of the five displays gives Cleveland’s executives a different lens into the high-stakes decision-making process upon which they’re embarking. Each display is programmed to update within five to 10 seconds of every pick in the draft. “OK, obviously we got some trade activity,” Berry tells a room full of his vice presidents, scouts and team ownership. “Everyone’s still trying to do cut-rate market pricing, so I’m not optimistic. If we pick at 9, it’ll be Spencer first … ” Berry pauses to type furiously on his phone, still standing in an otherwise seated room. To his right, team owner Jimmy Haslam confers with head coach Todd Monken. Berry’s eyes move from display to display, his arms folded. Then his phone lights up from his left side and he smiles. It’s good to smile in high-stakes and high-pressure moments. It’s good, too, to covet an offensive tackle first and foremost in this draft. Because at 8:48 p.m., the New Orleans Saints select Arizona wide receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick, making official the Browns’ chance to begin the run on offensive tackles. Berry turns to national scout Zach Ayers: “This was your orange dot, buddy. Tell us what we like about Spencer Fano.” From the two rows of scouts’ chairs near the entrance to the draft room, Ayers begins to explain why he designated the Utah offensive tackle an “orange dot,” which in Browns scouting parlance means Fano has elite character and makeup. “We’re getting the best tackle in this entire draft,” Ayers says. “This kid’s rare combination of athleticism, quickness, strength, and his ability to excel on pass protection, is truly something special. He’s an excellent run blocker. He’s gritty, he’s tough, he’s rangy. And the most important thing: This is the best person in the entire draft. This is one of the highest-character guys I’ve done in the 10 years I’ve been on the road. And whatever goal or expectation we have of Spencer as a person, his goals and expectations are going to be higher than ours. “This guy fits us beautifully.” West Coast Area scout Josh Cox follows. “The twitchiest, quickest offensive tackle in the draft,” Cox says. “He excels in pass pro. Great feet. And in the run game, you see the athleticism show up there as well. He can open his hips, he can pull—” RING RING. Cox continues as the landline phone on the boardroom table rings. “This dude is so versatile—” RING RING. “I mean, he’s a slam dunk.” RING RING. Berry reaches for the phone while instructing his colleagues, “Let’s hold for a second, please.” The room dissolves into laughter over the rapidly changing realities of the NFL Draft during which scouts can celebrate the newest roster member during the mandatory four minutes a team must wait to submit its first-round selection … only to then encounter an opponent giving a last, best shot to reverse that outcome. Berry isn’t compelled. “That wouldn’t really work for us,” he says into the phone. “I appreciate you, though. All right, best of luck.” After hanging up, Berry brands the offer: “Not enough.” With a general manager as comfortable trading as Berry is, they believe him. Yahoo Sports embedded with the Browns for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, observing and listening as the team levied its 2026 draft capital into 10 rookies, two 2027 fourth-round picks and one former first-round veteran in offensive tackle Tytus Howard. The Browns agreed to six trades during draft weekend alone (plus prior trades involving the capital) thanks to a scouting and strategy process designed to root real-time decisions in evidence and reason rather than emotion or panic. In the first round, the Browns accepted one trade and turned down at least half a dozen other offers. The result: The club that ranked 31st in scoring offense and passing offense last season secured a starting left tackle and starting receiver in the first round — only to double back in the second with a receiver and safety they believe are also starter quality. Luck helps in any draft. Also helpful: the Browns’ assignment of value diverging from their counterparts on some players in this class. “In recent years, it’s felt like the draft has gone very efficiently across the league where, early on, boards are maybe more similar than they’d been in the past,” Berry told Yahoo Sports. “This year was a little bit different.” How decision-making, maneuvering led Browns to Spencer FanoAs the NFL Draft crept closer, the Browns’ top decision-makers debated dozens of scenarios and preferences. They considered how to weigh risks against upsides and how to value production against traits. For a team that won just five games last season and three the year before, how should Cleveland value talent against addressing needs? Browns talent evaluators assigned numerical grades and color equivalents to prospects reflecting the scouting staff’s 2,914 reports. They assigned players colors to discern difference-makers with the chance to be the best at their position from potentially Pro Bowl-caliber starters, and quality, solid starters from rotational players, backups and developmental players. Anchored by those grades, the Browns set goals. “Around player quality, positional selections, resource management and then honestly even just operation in the room,” Berry said. “And we were able to hit the five goals that we outlined.” Determining how to maximize the value of every draft pick — which is to say, to leverage draft picks to acquire rookies, veterans and additionally useful picks — dictated in-depth debates among a group that blends perspectives from longtime scouts to cutting-edge strategists. Berry has hired scouts with more than 25 years’ experience like Jimmy Raye III and Chris Polian, as well as 12-year NFL general manager Tom Telesco, who recently joined the Browns as a consultant. Vice president of research and strategy Andrew Healy’s MIT economics Ph.D. shapes the Browns’ analytical bend while vice president of football research and strategy Dave Giuliani integrates perspective from playing baseball at Stanford while earning his economics degree. Holding two first-round picks — which the Browns, and five other teams, did — created an unusual level of flexibility this draft. Think about exchanging coins for a dollar: The more quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies you have, the more likely you are able to procure exactly 100 cents. The Browns’ bevy of mid- to late-round picks functioned similarly, creating more avenues to execute fair trades. For pick No. 6, the Browns considered pre-draft offers from three teams that were “heavily interested” in trading up, pending their target player still being on the board. Desiring Fano aligned best with the Chiefs’ offer. After the Commanders extended five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and the Saints spent their 2025 first-round pick on offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., Cleveland worried less about tackles leaving the board at seven and eight. The Chiefs confirmed they were not targeting a tackle in the trade-up. Berry and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach agreed to a trade framework. “There’s a lot of trust between the two front offices, which always helps with these trade conversations,” Berry said. “We felt like we were able to move down from six to nine, get one of our top three targets … [and] pick up some extra draft capital that we could both use and deploy to maneuver around the board.” Maneuver the Browns do. As the Las Vegas Raiders select quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the New York Jets take edge rusher David Bailey and the Arizona Cardinals draft running back Jeremiyah Love, the early board falls just as the Browns anticipate. Enough defensive talent remains to maintain trade interest from the Chiefs, who need a cornerback after losing their top two corners, via trade and free agency, to the Los Angeles Rams. So when Tennessee selects Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate fourth overall, a chorus of “whoas” breaks out but Browns executive vice president and partner JW Johnson recognizes: “That probably helps us, right?” Berry nods. Then Berry jokes: “I feel bad for the little girl who gave me the note.” A Brook Park Elementary student, at the Browns’ service event a day prior, had approached Berry as soon as he entered the school gym. With a hat tip to “Draft Day,” the 2014 movie centering the Browns’ draft process, she gave Berry her vote for the local college star: “Carnell Tate NO MATTER What!!!!!” She’ll have to settle for two other receivers the Browns select with their top-40 picks. After the Giants select Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5, Berry confirms the trade over his cell phone with Veach while vice president of football administration Chris Cooper calls in the terms of the trade to the league. On the digital draft board at the front of the room, projections update to reflect the odds each remaining player will be available at pick No. 9 rather than 6. Monken gives Berry a congratulatory pound. Berry finally sits. Within 20 minutes, Berry is telling Fano over FaceTime that “we think you have the potential to be a franchise left tackle for us” and Monken is joking about offensive line coach George Warhop “wearing us out” until the Browns drafted Fano. Haslam tells his scouts of Ayers’ and Cox’s pitch: “I was sold on him, but you pushed a little further.” “Now,” Berry says, “comes the hard part.” High-tech, real-time displays guide Browns during draftIn the Browns’ draft room, high-back leather chairs frame a square, dark wooden table. But the walls present the main event: five digital draft displays and a magnetized depth chart of the current roster. Look to the right upon entering the room, and you’ll see a wide screen featuring every NFL team in alphabetical order, their draft picks listed with the overall pick number to the left and the pick number in each round flanking names to the right. Every team’s top positions of need are listed. The position abbreviations fade, with a strikethrough, after the team addresses a need. The seven-column, league-wide draft board comes next, beginning with Round 1 on the left. A neon green border flashes the pick currently on the clock, as well as every later pick on that team’s docket. Cleveland’s picks are shaded orange — which is to say, the group of picks shaded orange at the beginning of each draft day does not exactly resemble the picks shaded orange at the end. For the fifth straight year now, the Browns have begun their trade activity with their first-round pick. Continuing down the wall, screen three flashes trade possibilities. What picks should Cleveland offer each coming team if they want to move up? How does the incremental cost shift position by position, as the Browns assess the odds that their most coveted players will last on the draft board? Algorithms calculate values in real time as Cook, Hickman and Kovash field calls and input offers. The system helps the Browns discern value more objectively. It helps approve one of the 10-plus floated trades Thursday night, some more realistic than others. The Browns decline offers to trade from 24, thanks also to the next display: their draft board. That spreadsheet, spanning center stage for Berry, Monken and Haslam to face head on, stacks players at each position based on evaluations from the scouting department guided by the two men who sit just in front of it: director of player personnel Adam Al-Khayyal and director of college scouting Max Paulus. Colors distinguish between tiers of players, even as some players at different positions earn placement in the same tiers. Notably, no player’s grade is assigned a round. The Browns do not equate their talent tiers to rounds as many teams do, in a league in which position supply and demand influences draft order each year just as film and traits do. A clock reminder ticks down on the top left corner, announcing how long in each first-round slot (down to eight minutes this year from 10) remains. And a draft dashboard rounds out the surround-table screens, displaying details of the last 15 picks, the next five, recent trades and, again, the time left on the clock. Can’t be too safe. Each time that the five displays update to reflect the latest draft pick’s input, director of football information systems Brad DeAngelis can exhale. He has printed copies of all materials in case of an outage. But while he did warn everyone in the room at 8:02 p.m. not to open attachments due to an NFL-wide phishing concern, the Browns avoid hacks and system outages through the round. Their high-tech draft systems are booted up as Johnson circles the room before the draft starts to give fist pounds, citing his pregame ritual. And the systems are ready as the Browns watch the broadcast in Pittsburgh — where Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt and defensive tackle Cam Heyward join commissioner Roger Goodell on stage, as if the Browns need any further reminder that they best bolster their offensive line. The trade proposal tool works later when Kovash gets a trade call from a later-Round 1 team during the Carolina Panthers’ window at 19, Haslam circling the table to view the top available players up close. And the tool holds as Cook fields still another swap request at 10 p.m., just after Berry nearly ends his recommended response to a call before adding an emphasized “please.” Monken chuckles at Berry’s niceties while Al-Khayyal continues a steady stream of tips on what positions teams on the board will draft. Johnson correctly reports a pick in advance as well. “Well done, J-Dub,” Berry responds, knowing that intel and strategic clues can only help the Browns. Multiple NFL teams praise Browns’ selection of ‘explosive and twitchy’ KC ConcepcionWith the Cowboys on the clock for the 23rd overall pick, Berry begins to announce the Browns’ plan for 24: “All right, here’s where we are —” He changes his mind. “Well, am I going to jinx this? We’ll wait.” Dallas has five of eight minutes left when Berry receives his seventh of 10 draft room calls on the night. “No, no,” he tells the caller, before alerting the room that unless the Cowboys take wide receiver KC Concepcion at 23 or the Browns receive “an offer we can’t refuse,” Concepcion — a very popular name in Browns predraft meetings — will be theirs at 24. Like he had with Fano, Berry continues the Browns’ new tradition of ceding the floor to the scout who did background work on the player. “KC is an explosive and twitchy athlete who’s got elite separation quickness,” national scout Chris Buford tells the room. “He’s a versatile player that not only can play in the slot, but also on the perimeter. He can score touchdowns on first, second, and third down, and even on fourth down as a punt returner. He’s a playmaker that has explosive playmaking ability anytime this guy touches the ball. On top of that: This guy’s tough, highly competitive. He’s one of the highest-output players that they have at A&M in terms of his overall practice habits. I think this guy’s going to fit in very nicely as a Cleveland Brown.” Berry asks Monken if he wants to add anything. “Absolutely not,” the head coach says, generating laughter. “He did great. Awesome.” The Browns FaceTime Concepcion as they did Fano, Buford introducing him to Berry, who reminds Concepcion what he told him during the draft process: “I hope you’re a Brown. If you’re not, I hope you’re in the NFC because I don’t want to play against you.” Concepcion emphasizes to Monken that “I’m ready,” to which Monken responded: “I know you are … [and] we’re fired up.” Berry gathers the room at 10:19 p.m.: “Let’s watch the board because there’s a chance we may not be done.” The group is still focused but beginning to relax. One round of laughter erupts when Ayers’ chair betrays him, sounding like it’s hiding a whoopie cushion. Another relieved chuckle comes when DeAngelis announces the Titans traded back to 31 to take Keldric “Faulk,” the competing sounds of the room making Faulk’s name sound instead like … sudden disappointment that their next target is gone. Again, it is good to laugh. The room considers additional trades, Berry directing Cook on one call: “Tell him our deal or no deal.” Ultimately, further rides up and down the board will wait until Friday. Before the Seahawks draft running back Jadarian Price to end the round, an NFC general manager texts Berry: “We were trying to move up for KC. Good pick.” And Al-Khayyal receives a message from an AFC team saying that “if they’d traded back, they would have taken KC.” Monken reaches his fist to Berry for a pound. “Good job,” head coach tells general manager. Berry claps. What does talent upgrade mean for Browns QB question?By weekend’s end, the Browns’ roster — and particularly their offensive cast — is deeper. Last Tuesday’s voluntary veteran minicamp feels like a bygone era. Reinforcements are on the way. An offensive line that last year ranked 20th in pass block win rate and 24th in run block win rate, per ESPN’s metric, will now welcome a first-round tackle in Fano, a third-round tackle in Florida’s Austin Barber and a fifth-round center in Alabama’s Parker Brailsford — atop the free agency and trade additions of Howard, left guard Zion Johnson and interior lineman Elgton Jenkins. An anemic passing attack now has Concepcion from the first round and Washington receiver Denzel Boston from the second to flash complementary speed and size. And the fourth-ranked defense in 2025 upgrades beginning with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who some predicted could leave the board in the first round. The Browns thus traded up into the later second round to select the Toledo safety at 58 overall. The Browns also selected Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson at 149, Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer at 170, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green at 182 and tight end Carsen Ryan at 248. Consider the group a balance of quantity and quality. “We don’t want volume for the sake of volume because the reality of it is most starters come in the top-50 picks in the draft, so we do care about that quality,” Berry said. “But volume allows you to have more lottery tickets and it also gives you more maneuverability up and down the board. “We had the quality going into it. I wanted to make a number of selections as we continue to get the roster younger. And so I think we were able to navigate that sweet spot well.” The question that will linger is the Browns’ answer at quarterback, as it does over every team in the league without a high-caliber player at the position who’s produced consistently and recently. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson split first-team reps at minicamp last week, Sanders receiving more snaps than Watson. But do the short- and long-term answers at quarterback lie either in their 2025 fifth-round pick or the returning-from-Achilles-tears quarterback on whom the Browns once spent three first-round picks, a third-rounder and a fourth to acquire? (The Browns’ 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel is also on the roster but did not receive first-team snaps in last week’s minicamp practice open to reporters.) The Browns weren’t ignoring the position in the draft so much as understanding the value of the draft relative to their evaluations and expectations of the board. Particularly after the Rams selected Ty Simpson 13th overall (and Haslam exclaimed to a surprised draft room, “Andrew knew that a week ago!”), the Browns joined 31 other teams in eschewing quarterbacks for the next 51 picks. Next, the Browns will evaluate how Sanders, Watson and Co. perform with an upgraded surrounding cast. “The way that we looked at our longer-term planning is No. 1, we want to see the players in that room operate under what I would say is like a healthier ecosystem for the position,” Berry said. “And then two, I think it also plays into prospect quality, where you have to select them, and which quarterbacks you have access to. I know going into this year, the thought would be that the ’26 class would be really strong at that position. It wasn’t as strong as probably most around the league anticipated. So you want to stay adaptable with that, and you don’t want to force it if it doesn’t necessarily line up with where your resources are positioned in a current year. “So we really focused, and particularly when Ty went off the board, we really focused on just the infrastructure around it, and we were really pleased with the players that we selected.” Browns decision-makers were pleased that they were able to get four of their highly discussed players in the top two rounds, and they were pleased that the board fell far more favorably to their preferences over the weekend than it did during a series of preparatory simulations they ran earlier in the week — which, in fairness, were about preparation rather than prediction. “When we do the scenarios or the simulations, we’re really trying to tease out preferences or like how you respond emotionally and strategically when things don’t go the way that you hope,” Berry said. “So I always joke it’s like, look: Everybody feels down and uneasy after the simulations, but it rarely ever goes, for lack of a better term, that poorly [on draft weekend]. It’s usually better than that. But I’ll be honest, this past weekend, especially early on, we did not think that, particularly with Emmanuel … that one really surprised me in a positive way.” The Browns hope their 2026 and 2027 performance can surprise positively, too. They’ll bank on whoever starts at quarterback feeling more comfortable with this upgraded offensive line and pass-catching group, and they’ll bank on Monken’s track record of offensive flexibility maximizing their new talent. The five digital displays, thousands of scout and executive evaluations, and countless hours in strategizing meetings landed the Browns where they wanted to be entering May. Before September, more work awaits. “I’m jacked,” Monken told Fano from the draft room. “We’re jacked.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
THE ULTIMATE DRAFT GRADE CHARTWe thank René Bugner for putting together this chart of 24 sets of Draft Grades. You can see the teams that fared the best and the “professors” that graded the hardest (Marcus Blumberg) and easiest (Chad Reuter). Here are the top 10 teams in larger type: Cleveland Browns 3.83Las Vegas Raiders 3.68New York Giants 3.68New York Jets 3.62Dallas Cowboys 3.55Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3.55Kansas City Chiefs 3.40Philadelphia Eagles 3.34Carolina Panthers 3.30Baltimore Ravens 3.28 And the bottom 10 from the bottom up: Jacksonville Jaguars 1.34Los Angeles Rams 1.79San Francisco 49ers 2.04Minnesota Vikings 2.32Arizona Cardinals 2.36Atlanta Falcons 2.41Denver Broncos 2.51Houston Texans 2.63Los Angeles Chargers 2.65Seattle Seahawks 2.71  |
| 2027 DRAFTDane Brugler of The Athletic offers a way-too-early Mock that does let us get to know some names to watch: “Just wait until the 2027 draft class.” I have heard that sentiment many times over the last few years, and with the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, we can officially start the countdown to one of the more anticipated classes in recent memory. Will it live up to the hype? Time will tell. Intrigue around the quarterbacks is driving most of the excitement, of course, starting with Arch Manning. But these quarterbacks will be drafted primarily based on how they perform in 2026. Will Notre Dame’s CJ Carr take the next step? Can Darian Mensah treat his transfer to Miami like a springboard, as Cam Ward did? Can Trinidad Chambliss do enough to force teams to look past his shortcomings and draft him in the first round? Advertisement There are plenty of questions that will eventually be answered. For now, here is a watch list of 32 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft, in a mock draft format: (Note: The order is based on current Super Bowl odds.) 1. Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, QB, TexasHad Manning been in the 2026 draft class, the Fernando Mendoza-vs.-Manning debates would have commanded all the pre-draft attention. If the Texas star continues to build off his improvements from the second half of last season, he will be the clear favorite to be 2027’s top pick. 2. Miami Dolphins: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio StateThis scenario reminds me of the 2004 draft — there were multiple quarterbacks in play at the top, but the Arizona Cardinals stayed put and drafted Larry Fitzgerald. A Miami native, Smith is too special a prospect for the Dolphins (or anyone) to pass on him here. 3. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, OregonThe Browns did an excellent job addressing offensive needs in the 2026 NFL Draft, setting up a scenario for them to grab a quarterback early next April and drop him into a ready-to-go offense. Assuming he continues to ascend, Moore will be in the top-three mix in 2027. 4. New York Jets: Leonard Moore, CB, Notre DameScouts think the only thing that could keep Moore out of the top five is the potential for so many quarterbacks to go early. A tall, athletic cover man, Moore blankets wide receivers — he’s combined for seven interceptions over his first two seasons in South Bend. 5. Tennessee Titans: Dylan Stewart, edge, South CarolinaAfter a Freshman All-America season in 2024, Stewart wasn’t as dominant on the 2025 tape. However, his athletic twitch at 6 feet 5 inches tall and 245 pounds is what NFL teams covet at the position. 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Coleman, WR, TexasAs special as Smith is as a prospect, Coleman isn’t too far behind. His inconsistent tape the last two seasons was more about the Auburn offense than anything else, and he should thrive with an upgrade at quarterback after joining the Longhorns. 7. New Orleans Saints: Colin Simmons, edge, TexasThe SEC sacks leader in 2025, Simmons announced himself as a future first-round pick as soon as he set foot in Austin two years ago. His burst and body control are outstanding, especially at his size (6-3, 245). 8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma StateA former walk-on, Mestemaker put himself on the NFL radar with his performance at North Texas last season. Now at Oklahoma State (with the same coaching staff), he has an ascending skill set that has scouts highly intrigued. 9. Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Seaton, OT, LSUHumans of Seaton’s size (6-5, 307) shouldn’t be able to move as he does. The Colorado transfer is in the best shape of his life and has a good chance to translate a productive 2026 season into being a top-10 pick next April. 10. Carolina Panthers: A’Mauri Washington, DT, OregonIf he’d declared for the 2026 draft, Washington likely would have been a top-25 pick and had a chance to be the first interior defensive lineman selected. Another year of development in Eugene could get him in the top 15. 11. New York Giants: Charlie Becker, WR, IndianaDespite mass changeover on the Indiana offense, Becker is a key returning talent — he made several clutch plays last season. With his speed and catch radius, he is primed for a breakout season, which could be a springboard to a first-round selection. 12. Minnesota Vikings: Trevor Goosby, OT, TexasThe fourth Longhorn in the top 12, Goosby got better throughout the 2025 season. If he can continue to build off that production, he will be an easy first-round projection. 13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamari Johnson, TE, OregonKenyon Sadiq was the Ducks’ top tight end last season, but it was impossible not to notice Johnson and his impact catching the football. There’s a high chance Oregon will produce a top-50 pick at tight end for the third straight year. 14. Washington Commanders: Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, MiamiWhile Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor made their presence known, Moten was the Hurricanes’ most impactful defensive lineman in the national championship game. If he builds off that performance, you can pencil him in for the first round next April. 15. New York Jets (from IND): CJ Carr, QB, Notre DameThe Jets are set to pick three times in next year’s first round, and there’s an extremely high probability they use one of those picks on a quarterback. Carr produced promising tape as a redshirt freshman. If he takes the next step in 2026, we might be talking about him this early. 16. Jacksonville Jaguars: KJ Bolden, S, GeorgiaThe top-ranked safety at this point in the process, Bolden lacks ideal size, but he makes plays in the run game and in coverage (he also had a blocked punt in 2025). 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Jacarrius Peak, OT, South CarolinaA transfer from NC State, Peak isn’t the most polished lineman, but his talent is clear. Scouts will be watching his situation closely to see if he takes the next step in his development. 18. Chicago Bears: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi StateListed at 6-4, Jones has rare speed and ability for a player his size, which will draw obvious attention from NFL teams. 19. New York Jets (from DAL): Will Echoles, DT, Ole MissA smooth-moving big man at 6-3, 315, Echoles frequently made trips to the backfield last season. He is just scratching the surface of his ability. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Nick Marsh, WR, IndianaA transfer from Michigan State, Marsh (6-3, 215) is a good-sized athlete with playmaking potential. 21. Denver Broncos: Ellis Robinson IV, CB, GeorgiaA Freshman All-American last season, Robinson tied for the SEC lead last season with four interceptions and shows the physical traits that could make him a first-rounder. 22. Houston Texans: Jadan Baugh, RB, FloridaThe first running back off the board in this mock, Baugh brings size, strength and quickness to the position. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry last season and made his presence felt on third downs. 23. Detroit Lions: Jayden Maiava, QB, USCDespite losing Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, Maiava is in a situation to become a Heisman contender and push for a spot in the first round. 24. Philadelphia Eagles: Teitum Tuioti, edge, OregonIt was hard to study the Oregon defense last season without seeing No. 44 disrupting plays, using his blend of strength and swarming speed. 25. New England Patriots: Damon Wilson II, edge, MiamiMissouri’s leader in sacks last season with nine, Wilson has the unenviable task of filling the shoes of Bain and Mesidor — but he has the talent to make a name for himself. 26. Kansas City Chiefs: Ty Benefield, S, LSUA Boise State transfer, Benefield is a tall, long defender who topped 100 tackles last season, while making plays both downhill and in reverse. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Iapani Laloulu, C, OregonThe fifth Oregon prospect in this mock, Laloulu enters next season as one of the top projected interior linemen in the draft class. 28. Los Angeles Chargers: T.J. Moore, WR, ClemsonListed at 6-3, 205, Moore is a physical presence with strong hands and improved route running. He can land in the early-round mix. 29. Baltimore Ravens: Ahmad Hardy, RB, MissouriWith his physical run style, Hardy rushed for exactly 3,000 combined yards over his first two seasons in college (2024 at Louisiana-Monroe, 2025 at Missouri), and he averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season for the Tigers. 30. Buffalo Bills: David Stone, DT, OklahomaThe Sooners rely on a heavy rotation along the defensive line, but Stone consistently jumped off the film when studying the 2025 Oklahoma defense. 31. Seattle Seahawks: Will Heldt, Edge, ClemsonNFL teams focused on the Clemson defensive line last season to watch Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, but Heldt (a Purdue transfer) was the most consistent disruptor on the Tigers’ front. 32. Los Angeles Rams: Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, AlabamaColeman-Williams has electric ability that will get him into the first round if he shows improved concentration to be a better finisher at the catch point. |
| 2026 DRAFTField Yates has his five favorite picks from all seven rounds up at ESPN.com. We have his choices for the first three rounds below: Round 1Note: For the first round, I’ve focused on picks outside of the top 10, as the first 10 picks were all top-13 players on my final rankings. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)Baltimore’s long-standing “stick and pick” preference yielded another strong value in Round 1. Ioane fills a significant need and was the clear-cut best natural guard in the class (I do believe No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa will move from tackle to guard for the Giants). Ioane is nasty, tough, extremely reliable and disciplined. Monroe Freeling, OT, Carolina Panthers (No. 19)Freeling was the No. 11 player on my final board as he has the upside to become the best pass protector from this class. He has only one season of starting experience and needs to add more core strength, but Carolina affords him an ideal landing spot. With Rasheed Walker signed this offseason, Freeling has a chance to grow into a starting role at left tackle. In a year or two, this pick could look shrewd. Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (No. 25)The Bears had to remodel their entire safety room this offseason and have successfully done so with the addition of Thieneman and free agent signee Coby Bryant. Thieneman has the best ball skills in the class and can fly down into the box in run support. He should be a favorite of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Caleb Lomu, OT, New England Patriots (No. 28)Lomu finished at No. 23 in my final rankings, possessing a starter kit of NFL-level tools: excellent athletic ability, light feet and very good length. He didn’t yield a sack in 2025 and helped Utah finish with the highest yards per rush in the FBS (6.0). Lomu must add more mass to his frame, but he’s only 21 years old and can be used at right tackle or guard. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets (No. 30)The Jets traded back into the first round to land Cooper, completing a productive Thursday night that featured three picks. He is an instinctive run-after-catch player who has very good contact strength, vision and toughness. In 2025, Cooper did the dirty work as a blocker, hauled in 13 receiving touchdowns and made clutch plays when it mattered. Garrett Wilson will enjoy his new running mate. Round 2 Kayden McDonald, DT, Houston Texans (No. 36)After the Giants traded away Dexter Lawrence II, McDonald seemed like the perfect pick for them at No. 37. But Houston leapfrogged ahead of New York to get the best nose tackle in this class. Though Houston’s defense is already a top-three unit in the league, adding youth and long-term contract control was important at defensive tackle. McDonald is an immovable force who clogs running lanes and makes linebackers happy by giving them room to run. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 40)I was bullish on Thomas, as I thought he was a top-25 prospect despite some concern with his arm length. He is an explosive pass rusher who can bend and turn the corner against offensive linemen; he also has powerful and active hands that show up against the run. The Chiefs needed juice off the edge and could sacrifice size (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) for speed in the case of Thomas. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Miami Dolphins (No. 43)From the start of the 2025 CFB season to April 23, few players did more to bolster their case as a prospect than Rodriguez. The instinctive, disruptive linebacker forced seven fumbles in 2025 and scored touchdowns on both offense and defense. Then, he crushed the Senior Bowl and NFL combine. What Rodriguez lacks in size (6-1, 231 pounds), he makes up for in myriad ways. Miami’s linebacker duo of Jordyn Brooks and Rodriguez will be fun to watch. Josiah Trotter, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 46)Trotter has a throwback nature to his game as a downhill, physical linebacker who blends strong instincts and the ability to sort through traffic. He exploded in 2025 during his lone season at Missouri and projects as a starter the Bucs, whose star linebacker Lavonte David retired this offseason. Trotter is a reliable tackler in the running game. In pass coverage, he has good zone instincts and a feel for space. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Cleveland Browns (No. 58)The Browns had one of my favorite drafts across the board, hammering away at needs while not reaching based on consensus rankings. I thought McNeil-Warren could go 20 or so spots higher than this as the long, rangy safety showed up around the football and has excellent ball skills. Cleveland’s defense is already excellent, but safety was a need beyond 2026. Round 3 Carson Beck, QB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 65)The Cardinals knew they had to come away from this draft with a young signal-caller and made Beck the third one taken with the first pick of the third round. Beck is a battle-tested quarterback with a live arm and the mobility skills to impact the game with his legs on occasion. Scouts raved about his football intellect during the predraft process, and he’ll have a chance to vie for playing time as a rookie. Keyron Crawford, Edge, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 67)Crawford began his football career as a senior in high school, yet he has quickly figured out how to be an effective pass rusher. He was a more disruptive edge rusher in 2025 than Auburn teammate Keldric Faulk, who went No. 31 to the Titans. Though Crawford is still learning nuances of the position, his ability shines on tape. I am a big fan of Las Vegas’ picks to build around quarterback Fernando Mendoza and shore up the defense. Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders (No. 71)Tough, reliable, good after the catch, selfless and with strong hands. Those are among the ways to describe Williams, who gives the Commanders a potential WR2 next to Terry McLaurin. The rookie will take on a slot role for the Commanders, whose depth was immensely tested in 2025 amid injuries. Williams was No. 64 in my final rankings. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 88)If you’re looking to get more physical and tougher, Pregnon is your type of guard. He has heavy hands, broad shoulders and a bulldozer mentality in the running game. Pregnon will have to improve his quickness at handling pass rushers, but he has a good starter kit of tools to work with. He spent six years at the college level, finishing with one season at Oregon. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (No. 92)The weekend went very well for the Cowboys, including this selection of Barham. The former Maryland standout began his college career as a stand-up linebacker before moving to a hybrid role during his final season at Michigan. Barham has aggressive hands and is explosive when rushing the passer. Still, he needs to develop a better rush plan at the NFL level. |
