| Mike Florio on the known and unknown of the schedule and its release date: Now that the NFL draft has come and gone, there’s one key date left on the league’s offseason schedule. Even if we don’t know what that date will be. The schedule release is coming. In May. When in May, we don’t know. Last year, the full regular-season schedule was released on Wednesday, May 14. In the preceding days, a handful of games were announced by the various broadcast partners. That makes the week of May 11 the most likely target for the 2026 schedule release, as to the entire slate of 272 regular-season games. Like every year, the “who” and the “where” of every game became known the moment the prior regular season ended. The formula is tied to division membership (six games), the AFC-NFC full-division rotation (as to eight games), and final finish in each team’s given division (three games). But the “when” remains a mystery, for all but two games. To date, the league has announced that the Rams will “host” the 49ers in Melbourne on Thursday, September 10 (Friday, September 11 at the site of the game) and that the Cowboys will “host” the Ravens in Brazil on Sunday, September 27. As to the other 270 games, nothing has been announced. The act of adding the “where” to the “who” and the “when” will be a major sports story, overshadowing the other major sports that are, you know, playing games. It’s another tangible example of the extent to which the NFL stands out in the American sports landscape. We’ve suggested in the past that the league could, and perhaps should, make it a multi-day exercise, with the prime-time games unveiled on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of schedule-release week and the rest of the games announced on Thursday. Why not commandeer the full week, instead of taking over only one day? The experience has now been supplemented by a competition among the teams to come up with the best and most creative schedule-release videos. Some teams do it better than others, with the Chargers typically having the most edgy and humorous offering. As a result, some teams have arguably pushed the limits, to the point where it makes sense for the league office to sign off on any videos that could become problematic once they debut. That could be a particularly good idea this year, for any team that has the Patriots on the schedule. Especially the Chargers, who are indeed slated to host New England in 2026. ALSO TODAY – THE QUARTERBACKS OF 2027 CHAD BRINKER OUT IN TENNESSEE |
| NFC NORTH |
| GREEN BAYWe missed that the Packers appear to be going with much-traveled QB DESMOND RIDDER to replace QB MALIK WILLIS as QB JORDAN LOVE’s backup. Andrew Hughes of DairylandExpress.com is aghast: The Green Bay Packers lost Malik Willis to the Miami Dolphins in free agency this offseason, opening up the QB2 role behind Jordan Love. It seems that after the 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone, the job is Desmond Ridder’s to lose. Ridder seems to be the guy, barring a dramatic jump from two quarterbacks who took a while to develop at the collegiate level, former Syracuse Orange and Ohio State Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord, and undrafted free agent Virginia Tech Hokies product Kyron Drones. Besides Ridder, no QB in the room has any NFL experience or came out of college football with much hype. McCord was arguably the biggest reason the Buckeyes didn’t make the 2023 College Football Playoffs. A transfer to Syracuse revived his career and got him on the Philadelphia Eagles’ radar during the 2025 draft. Philadelphia took McCord with the No. 181 overall selection, but he didn’t make it to the start of the regular season. Drones, meanwhile, had one winning season in Blacksburg, Virginia, over three years as the Hokies’ starter. His 55.8 percent completion rate last season looks like a bigger red flag than it is, since he faced pressure on 39.8 percent of his dropbacks. Still, it was puzzling to see the Packers give Drones a top-30 visit during the predraft process. Barring exploring the market for cuts over the next few months or angling for a trade, Ridder is their guy. And that’s, well, just a bit of a shocker. One Jordan Love Injury Could Thrust Packers Into Ridder DisasterA player like Ridder is probably best used as a practice squad body. He led the Cincinnati Bearcats to a four-team CFP in 2021, proving his ability to run the show against lesser competition in what was then known as the American Athletic Conference. Despite that collegiate success, Ridder has struggled mightily thus far in the NFL. During his lone season as the Atlanta Falcons’ starter in 2023, Ridder threw 12 interceptions and fumbled the ball 12 times across 15 games. Ridder has two more touchdowns (16) than interceptions (14) and has put the ball on the ground 18 times in 25 career appearances. As Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst enter what will be an all-important year in their respective tenures, it’s shocking they’d rely on Ridder to man the ship if Love goes down. It is too early to say whether Green Bay has another trick up its sleeve, but if they don’t, then Gutekunst and LaFleur will have to answer for this decision early and often. Barring an unforeseen move to shore up the QB position behind Love, this draft oversight could be revisited if the worst-case scenario plays out in Green Bay this coming fall and Ridder is forced into action. |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThe Giants have traded DT DEXTER LAWRENCE, then drafted well by most accounts. So what next for the shotgun marriage of Coach John Harbaugh and inherited GM Joe Schoen? Dan Duggan in The Athletic: When John Harbaugh was hired as the New York Giants coach in January, he didn’t have a preexisting relationship with general manager Joe Schoen. The two got along well enough during the Harbaugh courtship that the coach was content to work with the embattled GM, who had overseen a 22-45-1 mess the previous four seasons. Harbaugh wasn’t expecting to get fired after 18 successful years in Baltimore, so he didn’t have a plan for a GM to accompany him to his next job. As one league source said at the scouting combine in February, the major roster-building events of free agency and the draft would serve as a trial for Schoen and the rest of the front office. That four-month trial period ended Saturday with the Giants wrapping up a seven-player draft class that included two top-10 picks. It has been an eventful offseason for a team in flux. The Giants spent $173 million in free agency — eighth-most in the NFL — to overhaul the roster to fit Harbaugh’s vision, including the signings of five former Ravens. Meanwhile, some of Schoen’s biggest draft hits left in free agency, with four members of the 2022 class combining to earn $143 million elsewhere. Then there was the messy situation with All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. When Harbaugh was hired, he couldn’t have imagined that within months he’d be trading away a player he described as a “cornerstone.” Despite a down 2025 season, Lawrence is still viewed as the best nose tackle in the NFL and someone Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson planned to build their defense around. But discontent that preceded Harbaugh’s arrival led to Lawrence’s public request for a trade when the offseason program began three weeks ago. The situation got so ugly that the New York Post reported that Lawrence’s agent, Joel Segal, didn’t want to deal with Schoen, so co-owner Chris Mara and Dawn Aponte, who was hired as senior vice president of football operations and strategy shortly after Harbaugh’s hiring, had to get involved. The Giants were saved from an extended standoff when the Bengals, desperate to make a Super Bowl push in quarterback Joe Burrow’s prime, offered the 10th pick for Lawrence. That provided an off-ramp that Harbaugh described as “a win for everybody.” But the path to that outcome raised questions about Schoen’s status around the league, with the breakdown in the relationship with a star player not reflecting well. Schoen’s status has been a topic of interest among executives from other teams and agents throughout the offseason. Many observers were surprised Schoen survived Harbaugh’s hiring and have questioned if he will remain after the draft. There have been no indications from the Giants that Schoen’s job is in jeopardy. Publicly, Harbaugh has consistently praised Schoen since getting hired, and that continued during a draft that has been lauded by analysts. Harbaugh complimented Schoen’s ability to read players’ draft value after trading up for wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round, something the GM did expertly last year when he executed the trade for quarterback Jaxson Dart. After the draft was completed, Harbaugh lauded Schoen and his staff. “Joe and I have been working together every single day,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, hours on end, whether it’s planning or organizing or just talking about players or watching tape again over and over again on these guys. I feel like it’s gone very well. I think if you look at the draft and you want to talk about results, we’ll talk about results down the road. We have to find out. We’ll see. It’s like all these draft classes. You don’t know until we get out there and start playing. On the surface right now, I feel great about it. I don’t feel we could have done any better.” Those don’t sound like the words of someone preparing to utilize his direct line to ownership to make a power play and replace Schoen. But if there is going to be a change, there’s precedent for it to happen following the draft. Schoen was the assistant general manager on a staff that took over in Buffalo when GM Doug Whaley was fired the day after the 2017 draft. The Jets fired GM Mike Maccagnan two weeks after the 2019 draft. Schoen is in the final year of a five-year contract he signed when he arrived with former coach Brian Daboll from Buffalo in 2022. If the Giants aren’t going to fire Schoen, it would be logical to signal their commitment by giving him an extension. But even Schoen has noted that an extension doesn’t provide much security. “In the nature of the business, I’m not sure how much it really matters how many years you have on your contract or not,” Schoen said after ownership announced he was being retained at the start of the offseason. The Giants could just let Schoen play out the final year of his contract and reassess the dynamic after his first season with Harbaugh. There’s no downside to a “lame-duck GM” — free agents didn’t avoid the Giants because of Schoen’s uncertain future — and it would keep ownership’s options clearer. Aponte looms as an intriguing figure in the new power structure. She has had an understated role outwardly in her first offseason with the Giants after a decade as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations, but she’s viewed by league sources as Schoen’s potential successor. But again, most of the questions about Schoen’s job security are coming from outside the Giants’ facility. If Harbaugh is unhappy with the partnership, he has done an impressive job masking his feelings. There’s no doubt who is the more powerful force in the relationship. Harbaugh’s larger presence was noticeable even when he was answering questions beside Schoen on stage throughout the draft. That may not be a bad thing. Schoen had more power with the inexperienced Daboll and the program was directionless. Harbaugh could provide a vision and structure to the operation that allows Schoen to play to his strengths of running the scouting department. Schoen wouldn’t be the first general manager to take a backseat to a powerful head coach and find success. George Paton’s tenure in Denver got off to a disastrous start in 2022, with the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as head coach and the blockbuster trade and massive contract for quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos hired Sean Payton as head coach in 2023 and he has reshaped the organization; Paton is now the GM of a Super Bowl contender. That’s where the Giants are hoping to get, even if it still feels a long way off. The vibes were predictably high around the team as Saturday’s draft ended and the Giants got As on all of the meaningless post-draft report cards. It all seems to bode well for Schoen as he awaits the final grade for his trial period. |
| WASHINGTONLB SONNY STYLES was a good get for Washington at #7, but what about upgrading the receiving room? John Keim of ESPN.com: Have the Commanders done enough around Jayden Daniels?Washington drafted receiver Antonio Williams in the third round. Williams mostly played in the slot at Clemson, but he showed the ability to win outside. The Commanders needed another playmaker and explosiveness alongside No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin. They could also eventually sign Brandon Aiyuk — though it remains uncertain when the 49ers will release him. And the Commanders did strengthen their defense, which will prevent the offense from needing to post big numbers every game. All of that will help Daniels, but until Williams proves himself, there will be questions. — John Keim |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSEven with the Rams presumably going all in for the Super Bowl title, they used the 13thoverall pick on QB TY SIMPSON, who is not going to see the field in 2026 barring a calamity. Sam Monson’s memory produces a similar example from recent history: @SamMonsonNFLWe talked about this on the show today a bit. The perfect parallel is when GB drafted Jordan Love. They could have had Tee Higgins. That year, they lost by 5 in the NFCCG when Davante Adams had 15 targets and the next GB WR had 6. Higgins had ~900 yards as a rookie. Would he have been the difference? Not sure, but you can’t definitively say no. That’s basically the debate each team had. Does this WR get us another ring while our old QB is still going vs will the QB secure the next decade after transition? I think arguing either side is reasonable. We would love to know if any other team valued Simpson anywhere near as high. Would Pittsburgh at #20 drafted him? |
| AFC WEST |
| KANSAS CITYFrom a prominent prospect to someone drafted in Brock Purdy territory, QB GARRETT NUSSMEIER has had quite the fall. But now, he gets to learn from Andy Reid and QB PATRICK MAHOMES. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: A year ago, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was widely regarded as a first-round draft prospect. So it’s understandable if he was disappointed not to hear his name called until late in the seventh round, when the Chiefs took him with the 249th overall pick. But when Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach called Nussmeier to let him know where his NFL home would be, Veach told him there’s no better place a quarterback can go than Kansas City. “I know it’s been a long day, but just know that you’re going to head to the best quarterback room in the NFL here,” Veach told Nussmeier, in video released by the Chiefs. “We’re going to turn this pick in now and make you the newest member of the Kansas City Chiefs.” Nussmeier will get to work alongside Patrick Mahomes, as well as Chiefs backup quarterback Justin Fields, and get coached by Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was UCLA’s offensive coordinator in 2024, when Nussmeier led LSU to a 34-17 win over UCLA by throwing for 352 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. “Last time I saw you, I was on the opposite sideline at UCLA,” Bieniemy told Nussmeier. “You had a pretty good game against us. I’m very proud of you and looking forward to having this opportunity to work with you.” Nussmeier knows he’s not going to a place where he’ll have any opportunity to compete for the starting job, but he’s going to a quarterback room where he’ll learn a lot, and hope to eventually show, somewhere, that he’s capable of being the NFL starting quarterback he was projected as being early in his career at LSU. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSKris Rhim of ESPN.com on the offensive line acquisitions: Did the Chargers do enough to protect Justin Herbert? This has been the biggest question for this team since general manager Joe Hortiz took the job in 2024. The Chargers drafted four offensive linemen, their most since 1991, led by second-round pick Jake Slaughter, a Florida center. L.A.’s biggest need was at guard, and Hortiz said the expectation is that Slaughter will compete to start at left guard. The only issue is that Slaughter never played a college snap at guard, but the Chargers are banking on him upgrading this line and keeping Herbert — the league’s most hit and pressured quarterback last season — upright in 2026. — Kris Rhim |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMORENearly a week after the draft, Vanderbilt QB DIEGO PAVIA finally has a deal. Scott Thompson of FOX: The Baltimore Ravens don’t need to see a tryout from undrafted Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. They’re giving him a contract. The polarizing Heisman Trophy runner-up reportedly inked a three-yeal deal with the Ravens, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He was scheduled to try out for the team this weekend, but Baltimore is signing him in advance. Two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson remains the team’s starter entering the 2026 season and beyond. However, the team had only Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on the roster before the deal for Pavia, who made unfortunate draft history over the weekend. Pavia was not expecting to go undrafted over the weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called through seven rounds in Pittsburgh Joe Rexrode of The Athletic says he is just misunderstood. Consider every actual thing Diego Pavia has done and said to hurt himself — not the fake things, one of which was shared Sunday by people who should know better — and apply them to a quarterback who is 6-foot-3 instead of 5-foot-10, with a powerful arm instead of an average one. None of those things matters at all. The “F the voters” post when the two-year Vanderbilt star finished second to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza for the Heisman Trophy. The occasional cocky statements or pregame “victory formation” practice. The friendship with Johnny Manziel. The 24-year-old’s decision when he was 21 and at New Mexico State to urinate on the practice field of rival New Mexico. That’s the list. That’s it. That was somehow enough for “character concerns” to be uttered at times about Pavia leading up to the NFL Draft. Balance that against Pavia’s production, extraordinary leadership skills and these imaginary traits, and he’s an imaginary contender with Mendoza to go No. 1 overall. Maybe he comes up just short again. Now flip it around and imagine Pavia as a mini-Mendoza, a guy who projects to spend quiet nights playing Clue with Kirk Cousins and his family in greater Las Vegas. An Eagle Scout. Pair that with the production, with the leadership, and also with the 5-10 frame and arm that The Athletic analyst Dane Brugler called “mediocre” in ranking Pavia his No. 16 quarterback and outside his top 300 prospects. Maybe he goes in the seventh round? Pavia’s personality is why a lot of people seem to be reveling in the fact that he went undrafted, but his physical limitations are why they have that opportunity. And why the story of a former zero-star recruit who led Vanderbilt — Vanderbilt! — to a 10-win season with video-game numbers will remain untouched as an all-timer in college football. Vanderbilt had one player drafted this year, tight end Eli Stowers in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles. Going back to the 2010 season, 59 SEC teams have won at least 10 games. Those teams had 6.8 players drafted on average. None had as few as one drafted. That, among countless other stats, clips and testimonials, is how good Pavia was leading Clark Lea’s team and running Tim Beck’s offense. It’s possible to be a great college football player and not a top NFL prospect. It actually happens all the time. But I am surprised Pavia has to go the minicamp tryout route with the Baltimore Ravens rather than getting a free-agent deal from a team. The difference there, from a signing or seventh-round flier to a tryout, might be where his personality played a factor. As Brugler wrote, the “life of the party” persona wasn’t for every team. And all of them probably considered the potential for distraction, the attention around a significant public figure who would be fighting just to make the roster. Maybe Pavia hurt himself in interviews. Certainly, he had some unimpressive public moments, and those are on him. But the Public Enemy No. 1 stuff is bizarre, even in the context of an NFL fan and media world that wastes no opportunity to go pig in slop at the first sign of someone else’s misery. I fully expected Tennessee fans to delight in Pavia’s plight — he’s their rival, he has said unflattering things in the past about Tennessee, and he destroyed the Vols on their home field last season. I did not realize some people who cover the NFL have him mistaken for a Bond villain. Or a clueless slacker. A prominent NFL X account, Mike Florio’s Pro Football Talk, posted to 1.9 million followers Saturday that Pavia doesn’t have an agent, citing an interview Pavia did with Jon Gruden, and suggesting that as a pre-draft misstep. Thing is, when Pavia told Gruden, “Ain’t nobody taking my money,” he was talking about the decision not to hire an agent while in college. He very much has an NFL agent. Which was cleared up weeks ago. Which somehow eluded Florio. Who never bothered to delete the erroneous post. But at least he didn’t share the fake post of a parody account on Sunday claiming that Pavia went on Instagram to say: “f___ the @nfl i write my own path.” The list of professional media folks who shared that as legitimate, or at least asked aloud if it was, is much longer than the acceptable number of zero. Maybe a little humbling is good for Pavia. There’s no need to create a fantasy world in which he threw it all away to do podcasts with Theo Von. The reality is, when NFL scouts came through Nashville in his breakout season of 2024, they asked about Pavia to be polite. In 2025, they asked with purpose, because his improvement forced them to pay attention. Playing off script too much is a popular Pavia criticism, but he took big strides as a senior in staying within the framework and lacing more singles and doubles. And I know character and leadership were seen as Pavia assets in some NFL buildings, in no small part because Lea and anyone else asked about the four-time captain would give them stories until the notebooks were full. That didn’t make Pavia any bigger. It didn’t add thunder to his right arm. I still think there’s a chance he’s Doug Flutie 40 years later, but maybe that’s more CFL Flutie than NFL Flutie. Boston College Flutie remains the most fun of all, and cemented in college football history, and so it will be with Pavia. |
| CLEVELANDWhat can we expect from all of the Browns offensive rookies? How quickly can the rookies on offense make an impact?Eight of the Browns’ 10 draft picks were on offense, and many should be poised for big roles sooner rather than later. No. 9 pick Spencer Fano will get a shot to be Cleveland’s franchise left tackle, and first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion could very well start opposite Jerry Jeudy in Week 1. Second-round pick Denzel Boston provides a unique skill set in the Browns’ wide receiver room as a big-bodied target, and though center Parker Brailsford was a fifth-round pick, he has plenty of experience (42 college starts) and could push for a starting role. — Daniel Oyefusi |
| PITTSBURGHBrooke Pryor of ESPN.com with an update on QB AARON RODGERS and the Steelers: – In something of an insurance move, the Pittsburgh Steelers placed the rarely used UFA tender on Aaron Rodgers before Monday’s postdraft deadline. The UFA tender preserves the Steelers’ right to receive a compensatory draft pick in the event Rodgers signs with another team while also limiting his ability to sign with another team once training camp begins. The Steelers will have exclusive negotiating rights for Rodgers if he does not sign with another team by July 22 or the first day of Pittsburgh’s training camp, whichever is later. Another condition of the tender is that Rodgers can also accept a 10% raise off last year’s salary, which would pay him about $15 million this season. Despite using the tender on him, the Steelers remain confident Rodgers will ultimately sign with them, and the move is considered a “procedural” one, one team source told ESPN. The tag is rarely used because there aren’t often unrestricted free agents of Rodgers’ caliber — ones capable of having a significant impact on a team’s compensatory picks — available at this point in the league year. A year ago, Rodgers waited to sign until early June, signing his one-year deal with the Steelers just before mandatory minicamp. At the NFL scouting combine in February, Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan was confident this year’s saga wouldn’t be a repeat of the 2025 offseason. With new head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers’ offseason schedule is different from a year ago. The Steelers are set to have their first voluntary OTA session on May 18, while mandatory minicamp is slated for June 2-4 with more voluntary OTAs scheduled afterward. As they await Rodgers’ decision, the Steelers proactively added to their quarterbacks room by drafting Penn State product Drew Allar in the third round. McCarthy, though, said adding Allar to a room that also includes Will Howard and Mason Rudolph had no bearing on their situation with Rodgers. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONDJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com on the immediate futures of the two top draft picks: When will top picks Keylan Rutledge and Kayden McDonald become starters? Houston’s first- and second-round picks have mostly started in Week 1 in recent years. Since 2023, Houston has drafted tackles Blake Fisher and Aireontae Ersery, along with guard Juice Scruggs, wideout Jayden Higgins, quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson and cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Over that span, only Fisher and Scruggs weren’t immediate starters, largely because Scruggs was injured and Fisher was behind two tackles on high-priced contracts at the time. So it shouldn’t take long before Rutledge, a guard, and McDonald, a defensive tackle, earn starting roles. — DJ Bien-Aime |
| TENNESSEEWe thought Chad Brinker was calling the shots in Tennessee. If he ever was, he isn’t anymore. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com: Titans executive Chad Brinker has tendered his resignation. “It has been an honor to serve as president of football operations of the Tennessee Titans,” Brinker said in a statement. “Over the years, I’ve understood and embraced my role as the leader of the football strategy, but as I’ve spent less time in personnel, I have a renewed conviction that it is time to return to what I love and move towards my next chapter. I’m grateful for Amy [Adams Strunk’s] understanding in my decision, and for allowing me to pursue other opportunities. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done over the past three years — under challenging circumstances — to begin the process of getting the Titans football organization back on track, not the least of which was last year’s General Manager search. I believe the Titans have exceptional people and long-term stability at the General Manager position and throughout the scouting department. While there is work to be done, I believe we’ve laid the foundation to restore the Titans to their rightful place as a sustainable, winning program. “My family and I will always be grateful for Amy’s belief and trust in me, and for our time in Tennessee.” Brinker joined the Titans in 2023 as assistant General Manager, and a year later, the team promoted him to president of football operations. Brinker provided executive leadership and direct oversight for the entire football staff, and he reported directly to Strunk. During his time with the Titans, Brinker also reshaped and refined the foundation of the team’s analytics department while playing a role in the offseason strategies for player acquisitions in both free agency and the draft. “When we first met Chad, it was clear he was an exceptional talent with deep knowledge of the game and the ability to connect big-picture strategy to execution,” Strunk said in a statement. “While it is difficult to lose him, I understand his decision and will do whatever I can to support him. I wish he, Rachelle, and their family the absolute best as they prepare for what’s next and thank them for their dedication and loyalty to the Tennessee Titans.” Brinker previously spent 13 years with the Packers in a variety of roles as a talent evaluator and strategic counselor to Packers leadership. We missed this in January – from the AP story on his resignation. In January, the Titans streamlined the roles for Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi as the team prepared to hire Robert Saleh as head coach. Borgonzi led the search that culminated in hiring Saleh. In a message to fans at the time, controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said Borgonzi would serve as general manager “in the most traditional sense — pick and support the players, oversee the coaching staff — while Chad will continue to lead everything else about the football team.” After you take out what Strunk gave to Borgonzi, there wasn’t much to “everything else about the football team.” |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDThe affair Russini has put Mike Vrabel, and his wife, Jen, as targets of paparazzi. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: On Monday, the New York Post published photos taken of Patriots coach Mike Vrabel during the third day of the 2026 NFL draft. On Tuesday, TMZ took it to another level. TMZ has posted a video taken by a “photographer” (who isn’t a TMZ employee), which included a stream of increasingly aggressive questions directed to Vrabel at the Salt Lake City airport on Saturday. Here are the questions, regarding the aftermath of the publication of multiple sets of photos featuring Vrabel and NFL reporter Dianna Russini: “How are you holding up, man?” “Look, there’s been just a lot of talk that there’s just a little bit of a double standard here, and I just wanted your take on that.” “Are you doing alright?” “Are you powering through?” “Are you and your wife hoping to work it out, Mr. Vrabel?” “Look, I’m just gonna — I’ve got to say that there’s some talk that maybe you should step down. It’s a distraction to the Patriots. I wanted your opinion on that, sir.” “What does accountability look like for you at this point? Sir? Head coach of the Patriots. Big distraction here. Sir, is there any comment at all?” “Sir, do you have the support of the Patriots? Full support? Any comment? Anything to say to Patriot Nation, at all?” Vrabel said very little during the exchange. The “photographer” was clearly trying to bait Vrabel into a verbal confrontation, or maybe more. The message is that this may be the new normal for Vrabel, at least for now. His wife, Jen, has become a target for the paparazzi, too. TMZ, in a separate item, has posted photos of her, taken Tuesday at the Salt Lake City airport. Three weeks to the day after the initial photos of Vrabel and Russini were published by the Post, the situation continues to generate headlines. The initial denials surely fueled the effort to get more information. At some point along the way, it crossed over into something that will attract significant attention — unless the story finally fizzles out. So we know the Vrabels were together, somewhere in the West (Montana would be a guess) during the counseling weekend.- – -Mike Reiss of ESPN.com speculates on what a trade for WR A.J. BROWN might cost the Patriots: What will the draft compensation be if the Patriots, who didn’t select a wide receiver, trade for A.J. Brown? No two trades are the same, but one of the most recent high-profile receiver deals was for Jaylen Waddle, who was acquired by the Broncos in exchange for a package that included a late first-round pick. So it makes sense that the Eagles might hold out for a first-round pick, even if it means waiting for 2028 or the pick is conditional on Brown reaching certain performance-based markers. The Patriots, however, could point to the 2024 deal that sent Stefon Diggs from Buffalo to Houston in a package that included a second-rounder as the top chip. — Mike Reiss |
| THIS AND THAT |
| THE 2027 DRAFTJeff Howe of The Athletic notes that no one at last week’s draft offered to trade away a 2027 first round pick: This year’s NFL Draft has been an exercise in investing in the future without sacrificing it. There wasn’t a team in the league that showed significant interest in trading a 2027 first-round pick through the opening two nights, an indication of the shortage of difference-makers in this class and the snowballing intrigue regarding the 2027 crop of quarterbacks. The New York Jets are in position to control the 2027 draft after accumulating two additional first-rounders at November’s trade deadline, for cornerback Sauce Gardner (from Indianapolis) and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams (Dallas). This week, nobody was able to join them by tacking on those premium assets. “People are definitely holding on to those (first-rounders),” a team executive said, “because it could be an historic QB class.” Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin are the early headliners in the 2027 QB class, but there’s an extended tier of prospects behind them who could also make a jump. Of course, Manning, Moore and Sellers were all considered candidates at one point or another for the top pick in this draft, and they all returned to school to the delight of team executives who wanted to see more growth. There’s no guarantee that any of them pan out. “I think the ability of that class remains to be seen,” a coach said. “This past class was hyped extensively, and it didn’t turn out that way.” Notably, Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier were pegged as potential top-10 picks for a couple of years, but they were afterthoughts during Thursday’s first round. Allar went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (No. 76) while Nussmeier will still be available when Round 4 begins Saturday. Miami’s Carson Beck, who commanded a bright spotlight throughout his college career, went to the Arizona Cardinals with the first pick of the third round, which was viewed by many executives as his realistic ceiling. Looking ahead, Manning and Moore feel like safe evaluations, while Sellers has high-end traits across the board but needs refinement. Sayin, who will be draft eligible next year, will be under a microscope like never before. If they all materialize, the class could rival the 2024 group, which boasted Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix. Remember, Williams and Maye lived up to their massive hype campaigns, while Daniels enjoyed a meteoric rise and Nix steadily improved under a heavy spotlight for years. Fellow first-rounders Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy have yet to pan out in the NFL. “People say that every year,” a scout said of the QB hype. “You never know how next season plays out. All those QBs are ‘ifs.’” Regardless, those 2027 first-round picks feel like lottery tickets at the moment, and their value could skyrocket throughout the next college football season. Even for teams that don’t need a quarterback, they can auction a pick and recoup enough assets to reshape the future of an organization. It wasn’t worth burning that opportunity this week. Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars sent a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns to jump from No. 5 to No. 2 for Travis Hunter. The Atlanta Falcons shipped off a future first-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams to leap from No. 46 in the second round to No. 26 for defensive end James Pearce Jr. (the move was heavily scrutinized at the time by teams that had off-field concerns with the player). Nobody felt so opportunistic this week — not when Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese fell to the New York Giants at No. 5, or when the Cleveland Browns were shopping No. 6, not even with the Dallas Cowboys exploring their options to jump into the top 10. There was nothing even close to a future first on the table. The Kansas City Chiefs jumped from No. 9 to No. 6 by attaching third- and fifth-rounders in this draft. The Cowboys sent two fifth-rounders to Miami in their move from 12th to 11th. Of the six trades in the back half of the first round, no one spent more than the equivalent of a third-day pick to move up. “It’s more that this class isn’t talented enough to move up drastically,” another executive said. Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic looks at each of those touted Class of 2027 quarterbacks. The days of being able to claim that “next year’s quarterback class will be generational” are over. With college football firmly in its NIL era, many underclassmen are making more money playing an extra year of school than they’d be able to earn as NFL draft picks. So, though we can certainly suggest that the 2027 quarterback class might provide a once-in-a-decade type of haul, including several prospects worthy of being a top-10 pick, we cannot say that with certainty. That said, NFL teams are bracing for the possibility. Just two quarterbacks (No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and surprise No. 13 selection Ty Simpson) cracked Round 1 of the 2026 draft, and the fifth and sixth QBs off the board didn’t hear their names called until Nos. 110 (Cade Klubnik) and 178 (Cole Payton), respectively. If teams are waiting on the ’27 class, they’ll be hoping that most of the top-end talents decide to turn pro after the 2026 season. We’ll see. Here’s an early look at some of the quarterbacks who scouts will be tracking — and that QB-needy teams may be waiting on: Dante Moore, Oregon(Redshirt junior; 6 feet 3 inches tall, 206 pounds)Moore would’ve been a top-10 pick had he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, but the 20-year-old opted to spend another year at Oregon to further develop the finer points of his game. From poise and football maturity, Moore plays beyond his years (see his 2025 Penn State tape). With a sturdy frame and enough athleticism to make throws both on and off platform, Moore also has natural instincts as a pocket passer and delivers a generally accurate ball. He did have problems with pressure last season, often abandoning his process too early and running himself into trouble or rushing a throw. Moore also needs to show he can play with more consistent footwork on a snap-to-snap basis. Either way, he’ll be in the mix for QB1 when the year starts. Arch Manning, Texas(Redshirt junior; 6-4, 219)People tended to get in their feelings when talking about Manning’s performance last year. Regardless of where you land on all that, Manning would have been a first-round pick in the 2026 class if he’d declared. Considering Simpson’s draft slot, Manning might even have been a top-15 selection himself. His blend of elite arm talent and above-average athleticism is impossible to ignore. He is the most talented pure passer in the prospective 2027 class, even if he has plenty to prove. While playing his first full season as a starter last year, Manning looked like an erratic youngster for the first half of 2025, before eventually settling in and playing much better ball down the stretch. Manning needs to work on settling his feet and finding a more consistent overall throwing process — poor habits impacted his accuracy more than they needed to last year. It’s also no guarantee Manning declares for the 2027 draft, regardless of his performance this year. His situation is extremely unique, and he might decide to spend as much time as he can in Austin. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina(Redshirt junior; 6-3, 240)Physically, Sellers has everything you’re looking for — he’s a gigantic quarterback with a huge arm and more than enough ability as a runner. He’s also a much better processor from the pocket than his numbers last season showed while playing in a sloppy, inefficient South Carolina offense. Plenty of Sellers’ struggles could be pinned on offensive play calling and a lack of polished talent around him. The Gamecocks hired Kendal Briles from TCU this offseason to run their new offense, hoping for better results. Sellers still has work to do as a decision-maker from the pocket. Too many of the sacks he took last season were his fault, as he’s still affected by pressure more than you’d like to see. It also felt like he lost some confidence as a passer last season. If he gets it back, though, he’s another QB with top-15 potential. Julian Sayin, Ohio State(Junior; 6-1, 208)All the normal Ohio State caveats apply here: Sayin gets to play with the best wide receiver talent in America, behind one of the best offensive lines and in one of the best offenses. Still, he started as a redshirt freshman last year and looked like a fifth-year senior at times. His poise in the pocket, naturally calm feet and throwing process are all beyond his years. His accuracy last season was outstanding, as he earned the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year honor. Sayin is not a big quarterback, and he’s not really a runner. Things can look like a work of art when he’s protected, but I’m not sure we’ll see the same surgical numbers if he has to play on a team without as much relative talent, and perhaps behind a struggling offensive line. This is yet another potential top-15 prospect. Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech(Fifth-year senior; 6-3, 235)One of the most sought-after transfers this offseason, Sorsby is another huge QB prospect with really good athleticism and a big-time arm. He played the best ball of his career at Cincinnati last season and probably would’ve been drafted before the end of Day 2 had he declared for the 2026 draft. Instead, he’s earning good NIL money and will have a chance to show what he can do this season against a tougher schedule. Sorsby needs to work more consistently from the pocket and not have everything break down on him when he’s pressured. Those are frustrating questions to still have about a fifth-year player, but Sorsby could generate some first-round sizzle with a clean 2026 season. (Update: Texas Tech announced on April 27 that Sorsby will take an “immediate indefinite leave of absence” from the football program as he enters a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction.) Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss(Sixth-year senior; 6-0, 200)Chambliss fought the law and won, being granted an extra year of eligibility after electrifying Ole Miss’ offense following a transfer from Division II powerhouse Ferris State. He’s a small quarterback (who might need cleats to hit 6 feet), but he’s a terrific deep ball thrower with tremendous athleticism from the pocket. He’s been perfect for Ole Miss’ offense. Had he been forced into the 2026 draft, I think he would’ve been gone no later than the second round. We’ll see about next year, as another season of being able to pick apart flaws — like Chambliss’ work as a processor and that Ole Miss doesn’t run a pro-style offense — could impact his evaluation, especially if the 2027 class runs deep. This is a very talented player, however, and one to watch. Sam Leavitt, LSU(Redshirt junior; 6-2, 205)Leavitt missed the final month of the 2025 season after undergoing foot surgery, but his pure talent — both from the pocket and on the move — made him one of the most coveted prospects in this offseason’s transfer portal. A fluid, explosive athlete with plenty of arm talent, Leavitt plays a bit like a smaller version of J.J. McCarthy, as he can make any throw on the field, on the move and from multiple arm slots. He can also be pretty erratic with his process and decision-making from the pocket. Leavitt is still more a collection of tools than a finished product right now, but those tools have first-round upside, to be sure. CJ Carr, Notre Dame(Junior; 6-2, 210)Carr is a near-perfect on-field blend of his two grandfathers — former Michigan head coach (and college QB Lloyd Carr) and College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Tom Curtis. Carr is a natural athlete who moves like a great shortstop, and his ability to find cleaner throwing air out of the pocket — and his ability to make throws from multiple arm slots — is special. He delivers a catchable ball and is really accurate when he can get his feet set. He’s also still pretty young, on the small side and not really a scrambler. He ripped off more than his share of YOLO throws as a sophomore, too, and will have to be much more under control as a junior. Still, there are plenty of first-round-caliber tools here. Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State(Redshirt sophomore; 6-3, 211)Mestemaker followed former North Texas coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State this offseason, and he’ll now get to test his talent against much better competition. Like Carr, Manning and Sayin, Mestemaker might be in no rush to leave college, as he’s about to enter his second year as a starter (and just his third year in college). He’s an Air Raid quarterback with a ton of confidence and accuracy downfield, and he is also athletic enough to extend beyond the pocket. A former walk-on who was a zero-star recruit just two years ago, Mestemaker (a backup in high school) turned into a five-star portal prospect almost overnight. We still need to see more, but don’t forget this name. Others to watch for 2027: Darian Mensah, Miami; Josh Hoover, Indiana; Jayden Maiava, USC; John Mateer, Oklahoma; Byrum Brown, Auburn; DJ Lagway, Florida; Nico Iamaleava, UCLA The DB had to wonder about the “tougher schedule” reference for QB BRENDAN SORSBY moving to Texas Tech from Cincinnati – after all they are in the same conference. Texas Tech’s three non-conference games are Abilene Christian, Oregon State and Sam Houston. The Bearcats play Boston College, Western Carolina and rival Miami of Ohio. We don’t see any advantage in terms of toughness for Texas Tech. Turning to the Big 12 schedule – they play each other, which based on last year, makes Cincinnati’s schedule harder. They have four common opponents in the Big 12 – Arizona, West Virginia, Houston and Colorado. The four uncommon opponents are Utah, Kansas State, BYU and Iowa State for Cincinnati and Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Baylor and TCU. Not knowing what the outlook is for those teams this year, we kind of think UC’s slate is harder (Utah, BYU were tough last year) vs. Texas Tech’s (Oklahoma State was bad). If Texas Tech has continued to NIL players into coming to Lubbock, it actually might be easier for Sorsby playing with more talented teammates. But as far as “tougher schedule” – Baumgardner clearly erred. |
| BROADCAST NEWSFrom rivals to quasi-teammates. Mike Florio: One of the biggest questions for the merged NFL Network and ESPN (i.e., ESPNFL) has been answered. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, whose contract was expiring, is closing in on a deal with ESPN. Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports has broken the news that Rapoport is finalizing a multi-year deal. A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that it’s a four-year agreement. When ESPN acquired multiple NFL Media assets (including NFL Network) in exchange for the league getting 10 percent of ESPN, all NFL Network on-air employees were inherited by ESPN, subject to their current contracts. Upon expiration, those employees would be dealing with ESPN. Rapoport is the first to sign a new deal with ESPN. It converts Rapoport and Adam Schefter from rivals into partners. Given a prior report from FOS describing Rapoport as part of the succession plan for Schefter, that could get awkward. (Others have disputed that Rapoport will eventually replace Schefter, and Schefter has said he’s not going anywhere.) Much of how things proceed hinges on how ESPN will integrate, or not, NFL Network. If it continues to be its own operation, with its own original content, Rapoport can just stay there. If, for example, the Sunday pregame shows on ESPN and NFL Network are folded together, who knows how it will look? It makes sense for both networks to have their own pregame shows. They each had their own draft coverage, and it worked. They should each have their own Sunday morning shows. At some point, the beancounters may start spouting off about “economies of scale.” The retention of Rapoport, who does exactly what Schefter does, suggests that won’t be happening — for at least four years. Although others disputed it, we said in January that Mike Tomlin would be succeeding Tony Dungy on NBC’s Sunday set. We were correct. Florio: As expected, former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is joining NBC. The move was announced by Maria Taylor during Sunday night’s edition of NBA Showtime, with Tomlin in studio. “I just thought it would be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers,” Tomlin said. “I love to talk football. And so that’s just an exciting component for me. I’ve got to admit, though, there’s going to some anxiety about stepping into a new space. But good anxiety, you know? It’s good to be uncomfortable, the growth associated with that. And so, man, I’m fired up about it.” It also was confirmed by Maria that Football Night America will take the show on the road every weekend in 2026, at the stadiums where the games will happen. And so there it is. After 19 years without a losing season, Tomlin will continue to be in stadiums every weekend — in a much different role. Chris Simms is collateral damage. Chris Bumbaca of USA Today: Chris Simms’ days on “Football Night in America,” NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” studio pre- and post-game show, are over. Simms announced he was leaving the “FNIA” April 27 during “Pro Football Talk Live,” a show he co-hosts with Mike Florio. NBC hired former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to join the desk as it revamps the show, which will air live from the stadium where the Sunday night game is being played every week of the NFL calendar in 2026. Former NFL head coach Tony Dungy was another high-profile departure from “FNIA” this offseason. “I just thought it’d be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives, and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment,” Tomlin, 54, said in an interview April 26 with Taylor regarding his new role. Tomlin added: “I just thought it’d be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers. I love to talk football. And so that’s just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety. It’s good to be uncomfortable, the growth associated with that. And so man, I’m fired up about it.” Simms, 45, played eight seasons in the NFL as a backup quarterback and joined NBC in 2016 as part of the network’s Notre Dame coverage. He moved up to the NFL ranks in 2019 and co-hosted post-game coverage on Peacock starting in 2021. He is expected to continue in his role as co-host the daily “PFT Live” show. Simms is the son of former NFL quarterback and broadcaster Phil Simms. |
| 2026 DRAFTMatt Miller of ESPN.com offers his list of “value” picks. He has 100 of them, we list have the top 20 below: Talent is a big factor in these rankings, but we dove deeper than that. We factored in value (where a player was drafted vs. where he was ranked predraft), scheme fit, how the selection addressed a need, what the prospect brings on the field and what draft assets were given up or added via trade in getting each player. Every round is represented, and 40% of this list consists of Day 3 picks. Which picks crack the top 10? What moves in Rounds 4 to 7 make the list? And which teams filled this list with multiple highly ranked additions? Let’s stack the best 100 picks of the 2026 draft, starting with one of the best defenders in the class. 1. Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys (Pick 1-11)My final overall ranking: No. 3My favorite pick of the draft, Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s scheme. A three-time All-American and a national champion, Downs’ work ethic and culture-setting ability are as important as his on-field skills. He has football savvy and a great feel for the game, which gives him alignment versatility and will allow him a faster acclimation than most rookies. The expectation is that he’ll become a high-end starter with All-Pro potential during his rookie contract. The combination of player, need and value made this the best pick of the 2026 draft. 2. Jermod McCoy, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 4-101)My final overall ranking: No. 10There’s always a really good player who slips due to injury. Ranked as my No. 10 overall prospect, McCoy fell to No. 101 based on concerns that a surgical procedure he had done following a January 2025 ACL tear might need to be redone. But McCoy was cleared to work out at Tennessee’s pro day and excelled with a 40-yard dash time of 4.38 seconds. Las Vegas aggressively attacked its secondary needs, but getting McCoy here could be the weekend’s biggest steal if he’s healthy. It was a smart bet to make and shows that general manager John Spytek is correctly thinking about risk, value and potential. 3. Mansoor Delane, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (Pick 1-6)My final overall ranking: No. 12Trading up from No. 9 to No. 6 to draft Delane was one of my favorite moves for a couple of reasons. With three Super Bowl wins and two more appearances since 2019, the Chiefs don’t pick this high very often, so I liked that they maximized this rarity and aggressively pursued the only corner with a Round 1 grade. And Delane could have easily been off the board had they waited, as the Commanders (No. 7) and Saints (No. 8) were realistic landing spots. The Chiefs also needed an impact corner after the offseason departures of Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, whom Delane reminds me of due to his ball skills, toughness and speed in-phase. 4. Makai Lemon, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (Pick 1-20)My final overall ranking: No. 8Lemon ranked as my top wide receiver in the class and was an exceptional value at No. 20, especially because predraft rumors had him going to the Rams at No. 13 or the Jets at No. 16. An added factor is the shrewd move by the Eagles to trade up and jump the Steelers — who were on the phone with Lemon telling him he would be their pick at No. 21. Draft-day drama involving trades is the best, and Philadelphia played the board brilliantly to secure a future running mate for DeVonta Smith. Even with A.J. Brown destined to be a Patriot once his contract is tradeable after June 1, adding a premier wideout in this class wasn’t expected. But it ended up being one of the best picks of the draft. 5. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets (Pick 1-29)My final overall ranking: No. 15I wasn’t shy about my love for Cooper, so to see the Jets trade back into Round 1 to select him was my favorite pick from a team that had so many great selections. Pairing Cooper with Garrett Wilson was discussed often in the run-up to the draft, but most expected the Jets to have to take him at No. 16. Getting Cooper 13 picks later and surrendering only a late fifth-round pick to move up from No. 33 was exceptional. What’s more interesting is that the 49ers reached for De’Zhaun Stribling to start the second round with the pick they got from New York. Why didn’t the 49ers stick and draft Cooper? 6. David Bailey, Edge, New York Jets (Pick 1-2)My final overall ranking: No. 6Here’s another Jet, which will be a theme. Choosing Bailey over Arvell Reese gets high praise, though I had Reese ranked higher. Bailey’s pro readiness is a major reason this pick ranks here. Unlike Reese, who will need to develop as a pass rusher after spending much of his college career at off-ball linebacker, Bailey is ready to step in right away as an edge rusher. The Jets need to show progress in 2026, and Bailey will help do that in ways Reese probably couldn’t in Year 1. Though predraft rankings and where a player is drafted factor into the order of this list, sometimes a team’s trajectory and a player’s fit are more important. 7. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals (Pick 1-3)My final overall ranking: No. 1My top-ranked player in the class, Love will make an immediate impact in Arizona. He should be the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and be the No. 1 pick in most dynasty fantasy drafts. So why isn’t this selection ranked higher? It boils down to money. Love will enter the NFL with the most guaranteed money ever paid to a running back at just under $53.9 million for four years. He will need to play like an All-Pro quickly, if not right away, to justify that number. He easily could — he was my top overall prospect, after all — but it’s a question of asset allocation for a franchise without a proven quarterback. But I still love this pick. 8. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, New York Jets (Pick 2-50)My final overall ranking: No. 36Three Jets picks in the top eight? What’s happening!? GM Darren Mougey was in his bag last weekend and stole one of my favorite players of the past few draft classes at this pick. Ponds is an enforcer and a fantastic blitzer on top of being a fast, feisty playmaker in coverage. Turn on clips of him running in-step with Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith — a likely top-five pick next year — and making plays on the ball despite being just under 5-foot-9 and you’ll see why Ponds is so beloved by scouts. And how great is it that he’ll join a team coached by Aaron Glenn — a former undersized cornerback who also excelled with toughness and timing? 9. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 1-1)My final overall ranking: No. 2The predraft process didn’t feature much buzz around Mendoza, with his selection at No. 1 a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, that led to too little talk about how talented he is. Mendoza’s poise, accuracy, decision-making and running talents are franchise-quarterback material, and his ceiling is closer to a top-10 quarterback in the league than many comparisons would indicate. My predraft comparison of Joe Burrow stands, and the team is building around him with offensive line additions and by cultivating a fierce young defense. Receiver is still lacking, so expect wideouts to be given to the Raiders in 2027 mock drafts. 10. Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants (Pick 1-5)My final overall ranking: No. 4The idea that Reese might fall to No. 5 wasn’t widely discussed. And when it was, the talk was that his upside as a pass rusher seemingly wouldn’t fit on a team that already has Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux on the edge. What we didn’t consider was that John Harbaugh might draft Reese to initially play off-ball linebacker while giving him a slow entry into a pass-rushing role. Expect to see Reese play in a role similar to what he did at Ohio State, where he primarily lined up at inside linebacker but added 97 pass-rush reps. Unlocking his ability as inside blitzer will give New York an even scarier pass rush. 11. Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears (Pick 1-25)My final overall ranking: No. 17The Bears’ offseason started with zero safeties under contract. GM Ryan Poles added Coby Bryant in free agency, but safety was a glaring hole we knew would get addressed in the draft too. What we didn’t know was that Thieneman would slip to them at No. 25. Being patient and playing the board paid off, as the Bears didn’t have to trade up to land a prospect who was frequently mocked to the Vikings at No. 18. Thieneman will be the point guard of the secondary, aligning at free safety but moving around the formation. With eight career interceptions, he is the playmaker Chicago’s secondary needs. 12. Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders (Pick 1-7)My final overall ranking: No. 5Styles is a future star at middle linebacker and one of my favorite picks now that we know he’ll be working in Dan Quinn’s defense. Styles’ range and aggressive ability in the backfield should give him a chance to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year in Quinn’s scheme, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he becomes the “green dot” linebacker, calling plays early in his career. My predraft comp for Styles was Fred Warner, and if he hits that ceiling the Commanders’ defense could become one of the league’s best in a hurry. 13. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Cleveland Browns (Pick 2-58)My final overall ranking: No. 20One of the major surprises of the draft was McNeil-Warren falling to the second round. Often slotted in the late teens or early 20s in mock drafts, teams pushed him down the board after an average combine workout (4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash). That, coupled with the annual slippage of safety prospects, left him available toward the end of Round 2. Safety might not have ranked as a cardinal need for Cleveland, but we can’t preach “best player available” and then not applaud when a team follows through. I have mixed feelings about the Browns’ draft, but getting McNeil-Warren 38 picks later than his ranking is a steal. 14. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Miami Dolphins (Pick 2-43)My final overall ranking: No. 37Dolphins fans are hoping this Texas Tech linebacker turns out like Hall of Famer Zach Thomas did. This was a fairly even play on value, but the need and scheme fit bump the pick into my top 15 selections. Rodriguez will join Jordyn Brooks (another former Texas Tech player) to form a linebacker duo loaded with playmaking ability. Watching Rodriguez force seven fumbles and intercept four passes last season made him one of my favorite players in the class, and that ability in space and coverage will be welcomed in Miami. And don’t worry, this isn’t the only Dolphins linebacker to make the list. 15. CJ Allen, LB, Indianapolis Colts (Pick 2-53)My final overall ranking: No. 41Linebacker was one of Colts’ biggest needs, and GM Chris Ballard added a downhill thumper with good coverage ability. Allen was once seen as a potential first-round talent, and Indianapolis hopes he’ll become its next Shaquille Leonard-level linebacker. To get a value of 12 picks only adds to the praise this selection should receive. Checking off a crucial need without a first-round pick, and doing so with a player many had in the top 32 when the season ended, is good drafting. Allen and fellow rookie Bryce Boettcher will be fun to watch develop, with Allen expected to crack the starting lineup early in the 2026 season. 16. Avieon Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons (Pick 2-48)My final overall ranking: No. 33I love this pick for football and human reasons. Terrell was seen as a potential Round 1 player through much of his career, but had a late slip due to a hamstring injury in the predraft process. That injury prevented him from working out for teams and answering questions about his speed, which is why he lasted 15 picks longer than where I ranked him on my board. Terrell will make an instant impact, likely in the slot. And he gets to join his older brother, star corner A.J. Terrell Jr., in Atlanta. How much fun is that? A lot … unless you’re an NFC South quarterback. 17. Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, New York Giants (Pick 1-10)My final overall ranking: No. 7The predraft discourse surrounding Mauigoa was about whether he would play right tackle or right guard at the next level. The Giants didn’t answer that question long term when selecting him, but they did give us a hint as to where he’ll begin his career. Mauigoa, who started three years at right tackle at Miami, will be the Day 1 right guard, with Jermaine Eluemunor entrenched at right tackle. We could see an eventual move to the outside — Eluemunor is 31 years old — but Maiugoa’s first home will be at guard, where scouts I spoke with believe he has high-end potential. 18. Brandon Cisse, CB, Green Bay Packers (Pick 2-52)My final overall ranking: No. 32The Packers needed length at cornerback while also getting younger and better at the position. Cisse is a press-man dream with 4.41 speed and 31⅜-inch arm length. With Keisean Nixon in the final year of his deal, Cisse could be in for an early starting role. Grabbing him 20 spots later than he was ranked shows that GM Brian Gutekunst is still one of the league’s best at attacking value and drafting high-leverage positions early. The Packers were limited on pick capital after the Micah Parsons trade, so this mix of need and value makes this one of my favorite Day 2 picks. 19. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Baltimore Ravens (Pick 1-14)My final overall ranking: No. 14Ioane to the Ravens was one of the most popular mock draft matches, and for good reason. He is a powerful, experienced trench player who was a perfect selection for Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta as far as fit and value. Although there were valuable prospects available at the Ravens’ other positions of need (WR and TE), the depth at those positions was superior to guard. In a draft in which the Ravens had 11 selections, they did great to walk out of the first round with an instant starter with All-Pro potential at a high-value position of need. That’s expert-level drafting. 20. A.J. Haulcy, S, Indianapolis Colts (Pick 3-78)My final overall ranking: No. 60All draft analysts have a player or two whose play they fall in love with. That was Haulcy for me. At 6 feet, 215 pounds and built like a linebacker, Haulcy looks like a safety who should be in the box on 90% of his snaps, but he dropped into deep coverage and picked off passes in pressure situations for LSU. He can also play in the box and stack up against the run. He’ll combine with Cam Bynum to form a reliable back-end duo with a ton of speed and big-play potential. |
