NFL Confidential: Execs Make Sense of Rams' Simpson Pick, Draft's Top Steal, More

The 2026 NFL Draft might not have had the juice that some other recent draft classes have had, but there were still several enticing storylines that developed around the league over the three-day event this weekend. No storyline had people around the league buzzing more than what the Los Angeles Rams did with the 13th overall pick, though. After the Rams surprisingly took Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with their first-round pick, we asked several people around the NFL why the move could've made sense for Los Angeles. We also asked our sources across the league who they think won the draft, which pick was the biggest steal and what might come next this offseason. So, here's what we learned after speaking with executives, scouts and even a player. *** Why Ty Simpson pick makes sense for Rams Eric D. Williams: Sean McVay was not his usual chipper self when addressing reporters after the Los Angeles Rams selected the heir apparent to MVP Matthew Stafford with the surprise pick of the draft. In a much better mood on the second day of the draft, McVay acknowledged he was "grumpy." And for good reason, having to tell Stafford the Rams were taking a quarterback in the opening round instead of an impact player that could help the Rams in their quest to win another Super Bowl as the current betting favorite to win the big game. "Let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team," a stoic McVay said on Thursday night. While acknowledging that Stafford wasn’t necessarily thrilled by the selection, McVay said the No. 13 pick was essentially an extra pick achieved by trading down last year with the Atlanta Falcons so they could take edge rusher James Pearce Jr. in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams moved down to the second round and selected tight end Terrance Ferguson, who McVay said they would have taken in the first round had they stayed and picked. "To move back and to still get the guy that we wanted, and then to basically be able to get an extra pick," McVay said. "And then oh by the way, with your original one, go get a player like [cornerback] Trent McDuffie. … We’re always going to make decisions that we think are best for the short and the long term. We will be excited to be able to get to work with him. That’s where we're at." League sources I spoke with agreed that the move was prudent for the Rams, selecting a potential quarterback of the future in the first round when considering Stafford’s age and injury history. However, those sources also had concerns with how Stafford would react to the situation, similar to a prickly Aaron Rodgers dealing with the Green Bay Packers selecting Jordan Love in the first round, and the opportunity cost lost by not selecting an impact player who can help the Rams chase a Super Bowl now, like USC receiver Makai Lemon. "They gave him a heads up it could happen," an NFL personnel executive who has been in a similar situation told me. "It’s a good roster-building move when you have a 38-year-old quarterback with an unpredictable back." The personnel executive also pointed to the Rams using their original first-round selection, along with third, fifth and sixth-round picks, to secure Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in a trade before the draft, an obvious need where the Rams struggled in the NFC Championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks. "They got McDuffie," the personnel executive said. "He will help much more right now than a rookie at any position." *** NFL player wonders what Rams' pick of Ty Simpson means for Sean McVay Williams: An NFL player I spoke with not only wondered about the impact the drafting of Simpson will have on Stafford, who still has one year left on his contract at $40 million this year and is currently in negotiations working on extending a new deal, but also for McVay. "The McVay angle is interesting, because if he is not planning on sticking around, this is essentially a pick for the next head coach," the player said. "But maybe this is a way to get him excited about staying and not riding off into the sunset with Matthew." McVay, 40, has publicly flirted with retirement in the past. There were multiple offseasons following the Rams' Super Bowl-winning 2021 season in which his future seemed to be uncertain, but he and general manager Les Snead signed extensions in February. As for the Rams' long-term plan at quarterback, McVay said the 38-year-old Stafford is his quarterback for as long as he wants to play. McVay wanted Jimmy Garoppolo to return as the team’s backup, but he’s mulling retirement. McVay said Simpson will compete with Stetson Bennett for the backup job. While the player I spoke with believes Simpson was a first-round pick, evaluations were mixed on whether he could be a viable, long-term starter in the NFL. The player I spoke with thought No. 13 was a bit rich for Simpson and wondered about the impact the selection would have on Stafford’s long-term relationship with McVay and the rest of the organization. "I’m not surprised he was a first-rounder, but I am surprised they took him at 13," the player said. "Could they have traded down and picked him later? The thing that is clear is this: It’s the best thing that could’ve ever happened to Ty Simpson. He gets to have at least one season with Matthew Stafford and be coached by Sean. "I have to believe Matthew Stafford isn’t that excited about it, though. Nothing against Ty, but it sure would be nice to get a first-rounder that can help you go win a Super Bowl. It reminds me a little bit of how Steve Young probably felt when the 49ers drafted Jim Druckenmiller." Added another league source: "I think he will be a good backup or low-end starter. A lot like Drew Lock or Jacoby Brissett." The Rams also benefit from Stafford’s willingness to take less money than he’s worth. Stafford’s $40 million annual salary is 14th among quarterbacks. Part of the reason Stafford takes less is to allow the Rams to add more talent in their Super Bowl window. But how does Stafford feel great about the franchise using his financial flexibility in adding a backup quarterback in the first round instead of a receiver that can help him move the football on game days, particularly as he negotiates a new deal? "Given his experience in this league, he knows how it works and I think that’s really cool," said Tony Pastoors, the Rams COO and chief contract negotiator, when I asked about the flexibility that Stafford’s contract provides at the annual NFL owners meetings last month. "It does allow us to do some things – add Trent McDuffie and some of those things – because Matthew understands the mechanisms. He’s willing to work with you to help create that flexibility because Matthew wants to win. His goal is no different than ours, and that’s to bring another Lombardi back to L.A." *** Same old Jets? Or can another ‘great’ draft finally lead to some wins? Ralph Vacchiano: The Jets had a strong draft that got good reviews, especially in the first round, where they likely landed three starters and likely impact players. Maybe that’s enough to finally jump-start their rebuilding project and make them competitive. Then again, haven’t we heard all this before? "The problem with the Jets is we say the same thing every few years," one rival NFL executive told me. "They have a transformative draft. They get some serious players. Then, a few years later, they blow it all up and start over again." Case in point: The 2022 Jets draft, which netted them cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson in Round 1 and running back Breece Hall in Round 2. That was supposed to be their core of the future. But they’ve gone 22-46 since then, and a new general manager and coach traded Gardner and Johnson away. Will it be any different with the Jets’ Class of 2026, which included three first-rounders — edge David Bailey (at No. 2), tight end Kenyon Sadiq (No. 16) and wide receiver Omar Cooper (No. 31), plus cornerback D’Angelo Ponds in the second round? "It’s hard not to do well when you have high picks, and when you trade away a lot of players for more picks," one scout told me. "But I do like that group. With those four and all the changes they made on defense in free agency, they have the pieces to be competitive. "But they also have the same problem they always have: No quarterback. Until they solve that position, they won’t get anywhere. *** How much did the Giants love Jeremiyah Love? Maybe enough to take him at 5 Vacchiano: The Giants were surprised that edge rusher Arvell Reese was available for them to take with the No. 5 pick in the draft. They expected him to go in the top four, in part because, as GM Joe Schoen revealed, he was the top-rated non-quarterback on their draft board. But not by much. Running back Jeremiyah Love, who was taken by the Cardinals at No. 3, had "basically the same grade" as Reese, a team source told me. So what would’ve happened if both Reese and Love had been available at 5? We may never know, but the internal debate in the run-up to the draft had been fascinating. Love obviously had some strong support in the Giants organization, and Harbaugh was believed to be one of his biggest boosters. The coach had a powerful rushing attack in Baltimore behind Derrick Henry, and he wants to rebuild that kind of offense in New York. But there are others in the organization who believe strongly in "positional value" — particularly Schoen, who was assumed by most to favor Reese. The fifth pick in the draft will get a contract worth a guaranteed $47.8 million. That’s $11.8 million more guaranteed than any running back has ever gotten before. "It’s a terrible use of assets," one general manager told me. "Obviously, you can find 1,000-yard rushers for much less. You have to really believe [Love] is a Hall of Fame talent and can transform your team immediately. Because financially, you’re saying he’s 33% better than [Saquon] Barkley. And he’s not." "I don’t know what the Giants would have done," a scout told me. "But sometimes you just have to take the talent and ignore the cost. He’s a special running back. Forget the finances. It’s about: What can he do for you?" That’s probably the debate the Giants were having for weeks. The Cardinals prevented the world from finding out how it would have turned out. *** Cowboys might have gotten the ‘steal’ of the draft Vacchiano: Jerry Jones called safety Caleb Downs a "prize" that they couldn’t pass up when they saw him falling in the first round. That’s why he traded two fifth-round picks to the Dolphins to move up from 12 to 11 to get him. That was a small price to pay for a player that multiple NFL sources told me was a "steal." "I know he was the top [non-quarterback] on a few boards around the league," one scout told me. "I get that nobody wants to draft a safety high, but this dude is more than a safety. He’s a weapon back there. He’s Kyle Hamilton (the Ravens’ three-time All-Pro), only maybe more explosive." "They got some serious value that far down," a general manager told me. "I know you had to take the edge rushers first, but he’s more of a difference maker than Sonny Styles (the linebacker that went to Washington at 7). He can cover, he can blitz, he can play the run. You can deploy him like a corner or a linebacker. He can do it all. "I’m sure the Commanders and Giants are happy with who they got," an NFL defensive coordinator told me. "But they are going to hate having to play against this guy twice a year." *** Bye-bye A.J. Brown: Eagles draft made it clear they’ll be trading their No. 1 receiver Vacchiano: The A.J. Brown trade to the New England Patriots has been rumored for months, even as the Philadelphia Eagles have tried to downplay the possibility. They were dismissive of it when they signed veteran wide receiver Hollywood Brown. And they brushed it off when they traded for wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. But after they traded up in the first round to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, there’s almost no point in denying it now. "I guess the only question is what they’ll get," an NFL assistant general manager told me. "And maybe whether someone else, like the Rams, swoops in at the last minute and offers a better deal. "But I tell you what: It sure would be interesting if they don’t trade him. We know they can run. I’m sure the line will be better than last year. It’s the passing game that they haven’t really been able to work consistently the last few years. Some of that is because they’ve never had a reliable third receiver. It’s been all Brown and [DeVonta] Smith. "Well, now they’ve got Wicks, Lemon, maybe Hollywood to stretch the field. That’s more than enough without Brown. But they sure would be dangerous if they kept him." *** Garrett Nussmeier’s long wait might have a big payoff Vacchiano: Heading into the draft, it looked like LSU's Garrett Nussmeier would be the third or fourth quarterback taken. Some thought he had a chance to go as early as the third round. Instead, nine quarterbacks were taken before him, including Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. He wasn’t picked until the seventh round and with the 249th overall pick. But he may have landed in the perfect spot. He was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs, giving him a chance to learn from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. "If he has any ability to play in this league, that’s the place for him," one scout told me. "Nobody’s better than [Reid.] That kid will sit for four years, but he’s going to learn a ton." Nussmeier dropped in the draft mostly because medical tests at the combine reportedly revealed a cyst on his spine, which caused the oblique pain he played through most of last season. He may need a medical procedure, which will keep him out two-to-three weeks, but he’s expected to be ready to go for the start of camp. "I think the medical thing just put it over the top for a lot of teams," one general manager told me. "He had some mechanical issues and I heard some of his interviews weren’t great. Put that with his play last season and then the [cyst] and it gave teams a reason to pass."

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2026 NFL Draft Winners and Losers: Jets, Giants Get to Work Changing Their Cultures

Those in the football world will wait at least two seasons before determining whether a drafted player is truly NFL-caliber. So grading draft classes in the days following the league’s annual player acquisition event often misses the mark. We have not yet seen the players put on the pads for their respective teams or gained insight into how the teams plan to utilize their new players. But one big reason the draft is so popular is because it gives fans hope, and first impressions matter on that front. With that in mind, here are the teams I think helped themselves the most and the teams that helped themselves the least. WINNERS New York Jets After a disappointing debut season, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is intent on changing the culture by bringing a collection of "winners" into the locker room. With their first four picks, the Jets took College Football Playoff participants from last season: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey (Round 1), Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (Round 1), Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Round 1) and Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (Round 2). These players will raise the standards and expectations around the building as well as fill pressing needs for playmakers at marquee positions. Florida State DT Darrell Jackson Jr. and Clemson QB Cade Klubnik are Day 3 gambles with significant ROI potential. If either prospect outplays his draft status, the Jets could rise up the charts as a competitive squad. With an impressive rookie class teaming with a new and improved veteran corps, the Jets are on their way toward climbing out of the AFC’s cellar. New York Giants There is no disputing new head coach John Harbaugh’s impact on the Giants’ draft philosophy, with the team prioritizing "ballers" in their early-round selections. The drafting of linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the team’s first two picks reflects the Giants’ commitment to dominating the trenches with physicality and toughness. While Reese’s role is a bit ambiguous due to the Giants’ deep and talented edge rusher rotation, the Ohio State standout could wreak havoc on opponents in a hybrid role that showcases his talents as an off-ball linebacker with pass-rushing skills. Mauigoa is slated to start his career as a guard before eventually taking over as an edge blocker on a physically imposing frontline. Tennessee CB Carlton Hood and Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields are potential starters with big-play potential in their respective roles. If the Giants also get key contributions from any of their Day 3 selections — Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, Illinois OT J.C. Davis and BYU LB Jack Kelly — the Harbaugh era will be off to an impressive start. Tampa Bay Buccaneers It is apparent that the Buccaneers look to reclaim their crown as NFC South champs, with the acquisitions aimed at upgrading their toughness and physicality on defense. Miami Edge Rueben Bain, Missouri LB Josiah Trotter and Miami DB Keionte Scott bring energy and edginess whenever they step inside the lines. They not only fill immediate needs at their respective positions, but they will also rekindle the hard-nosed approach that helped the Buccaneers claim four straight division titles before last season. While the team’s offensive selections (Georgia State WR Ted Hurst, Notre Dame OG Billy Schrauth and LSU TE Bauer Sharp) are projected as backups, Hurst could slide into departed veteran Mike Evans’ role as a vertical threat with the potential to hold down the "X" position as an eventual starter. Overall, the Buccaneers opted for an identity draft to help them get back to their rugged, winning ways. LOSERS Los Angeles Rams Time will tell if Les Snead was the smartest guy in the room when he handpicked Ty Simpson to be the Rams’ franchise quarterback of the future in a surprise selection at No. 13 overall. While the Super Bowl-winning general manager deserves credit for his conviction, the Rams’ 2026 class hinges on the success of an undersized, inexperienced quarterback with durability concerns. Despite his polished mechanics and spectacular flashes, Simpson must defy the odds to emerge as an elite quarterback in a league that chews up and spits out novices at the position. With the Rams bypassing a game-changing pass-catcher, pass protector, or pass rusher to select a QB3 for this season, the skeptics will not change their opinions despite the impact of the rest of the class. Although Ohio State TE Max Klare, Missouri OT Keagen Trost and Miami WR CJ Daniels are poised to make their mark as unheralded contributors, Simpson’s performance and production are all that matter in this evaluation. San Francisco 49ers The outrage of the 49ers’ faithful reached a fever pitch when the draft concluded on Saturday night. The puzzling Day 2 selections of Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height and Indiana RB Kaelon Black have drawn the ire of couch scouts who wanted brand names at those selections. Although Kyle Shanahan’s track record for coaxing production out of hidden gems should afford more grace from critics, the outrage continues the ongoing debate over the team’s ability to draft and develop effectively over the past decade. Given the heat on the 49ers following their daring decisions in the first two days of the draft, the team needs some of their developmental prospects — Oklahoma DT Gracen Halton, Washington OT Carver Willis, Washington CB Ephesians Prysock, Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger and Kansas OT Enrique Cruz Jr. — to pan out to extinguish the fires raging among 49ers fans. Tennessee Titans The 2026 draft pivoted when the Titans shocked the world with the Carnell Tate pick at No. 4 overall. Although most observers viewed the Ohio State star as the No. 1 wideout in the class, the decision to take a collegiate WR2 over a freakishly athletic pass rusher (Arvell Reese) and off-ball linebacker (Sonny Styles) has put Robert Saleh’s debut class under the microscope. Perhaps Tate will silence the critics by playing at a superstar level, but he will need to adapt to a new role and more responsibility as the WR1 for a team that lacks an elite supporting cast around him. The Titans traded back into the first round to acquire a big-bodied edge rusher, Keldric Faulk, with modest sack production. While there was plenty of love in the scouting community for the Auburn star as a run defender, the Titans are counting on the 21-year-old to transform into an Arik Armstead-type defender with inside-outside versatility. Considering how collegiate sack production typically translates into NFL performance, the Titans will need their second first-rounder to remake his game to match his draft expectations. With second-round pick Anthony Hill slated to be a Day 1 starter at middle linebacker, the Titans are counting on three developmental playmakers to fill voids on a squad looking to climb out of the AFC South cellar. *Jacksonville Jaguars Some of you may question why the Jaguars are not included among the bottom three on this list, even though they selected the most controversial player on the board, Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher, with their first selection (No. 56 overall). It is hard to attach significant expectations to a bottom of the second round pick when the value is that of a key contributor. While the Texas A&M standout was not on many media boards, the Jaguars’ selection pre-empted a Day 2 run on tight ends that might have left the team on the outside looking in when it came to their desired blocking tight ends. With the Jaguars following that selection with a highly-touted guard, Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon, who earned borderline first-round grades, it is hard for me to trash a draft class that would have been celebrated if the order of selections had been reversed.

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Cowherd: No Team Had a Better 1st-Round Pick Than Cowboys' Selection of Caleb Downs

Not only was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Dallas Cowboys clearly agreed. After unexpectedly sliding to No. 11 overall, Downs has quickly become one of the biggest storylines of the draft. Downs has had a wide range of comparisons, but on Friday morning, The Herd’s Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back, viewing the Cowboys as clear winners of the NFL Draft. It’s not just about Downs being a great player, but he believes he’s the steal of the draft. Cowherd didn’t hold back on his show, even drawing a comparison between Downs and former Baltimore Ravens safety and Hall of Famer Ed Reed. "You can not do better than what the Dallas Cowboys did with their first pick," Cowherd said. "I think he’s going to be the best Buckeye in the draft. … I thought last year, he was good enough to be a top-three pick in the draft. I think he’s an incredible Ed Reed-level player." Downs is coming off a strong junior season with the Buckeyes, recording 68 total tackles, 45 of them solo, along with two interceptions. He also forced two fumbles and added a sack, showcasing his versatility all over the field. He didn’t test as athletically as many of his Buckeyes teammates, but Downs has built his reputation on instincts, anticipation, and elite football IQ. Despite playing a position that is often undervalued, he became one of the most versatile defenders in the sport. That production and versatility have only reinforced the belief that he can immediately anchor a secondary at the next level. "He got overshadowed because they [Ohio State] have a couple of freaks in Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and they’re just physical specimens," Cowherd said. "Best football player is Caleb Downs. He is a great, great player, so Dallas hit an absolute home run." For Cowherd, Downs’ blend of production, instincts and versatility seems to make him a rare defensive addition capable of transforming a secondary from Day 1. In a Cowboys defense that struggled last season without a consistent game-changing presence, Downs could step in as that difference-maker. If he lives up to the billing, Dallas may have landed one of the defining picks of the entire draft. The selection of Downs wasn't the only way the Cowboys addressed their defense in the first round of the NFL Draft. They also selected UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick after trading down a few picks with the Philadelphia Eagles. Lawrence had been viewed as a potential second-round pick by most draft analysts. FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang actually had Lawrence ranked 50th on his big board. But Cowherd understood why Dallas reached to get him. "Their next pick was a reach, but I'm going to defend the pick," Cowherd said. "[Lawrence] is not for next season. When they traded Micah Parsons, the entire reason they did it was so that they could get four or five guys. Well, they traded Micah Parsons and they now have Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. They still have DeMarvion Overshown, who I like, but he gets banged up but he's good. This kid is not going to play a ton next season. That's OK. I can live with that." The Cowboys continued to add to their defense through much of the draft as well. They selected Michigan edge rusher Jaishawn Barham in the third round before adding Florida cornerback Devin Moore and Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton with the two fourth-round picks they acquired from the Eagles.

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2026 NFL Draft Undrafted Free Agents: Where the Top Names are Going

The 2026 NFL Draft is over, and 257 players — from first overall pick Fernando Mendoza to "Mr. Irrelevant" Red Murdock — had their names called this weekend. Many other notable prospects did not, though, and will have to find their first professional home through free agency. Shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft ended on Saturday, undrafted prospects began to find NFL homes. While undrafted free agents are typically less heralded, many have been able to have a successful career. There have also been undrafted free agents who've made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, like Kurt Warner and Antonio Gates. So, here's a look at where some of the notable undrafted free agents from the 2026 draft are going. Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions Kansas City Chiefs Jacksonville Jaguars Miami Dolphins Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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2026 NFL Draft: 1 Thing to Know About Notable Day 3 Picks

Yes, it's Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft and the picks fly off the board on what's the final day of the yearly spectacle. With that said, there are still plenty of star collegiate players taken on Day 3 that have a chance to start from the jump at the next level. Here's one thing to know about the top selections from Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy (pick No. 101 of the Las Vegas Raiders): Had four interceptions in 2024 If healthy, McCoy would've been a Day 2, if not a Day 1 pick. Why? Well, that's because he missed the entire 2025 college football season due to a torn ACL injury, with the former Volunteers and Oregon State Beavers (2023) defensive back potentially needing more surgery for the matter. In 2024, McCoy reeled in four interceptions, logged nine passes defended and racked up 44 combined tackles; the year prior, he had two interceptions. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik (pick No. 110 of the New York Jets): Was No. 1 QB recruit in Class of 2022 Klubnik was the consensus top quarterback prospect in the Recruiting Class of 2022, with him becoming the Tigers' full-time quarterback for the 2023 season. Over his three seasons as Clemson's starting quarterback (2023-25), Klubnik averaged 3,142.0 passing yards, 23.7 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 138.1 passer rating per year, while completing 64.2% of his passes. Kubnik's best season arguably came in 2024, as he threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns and rushed for 463 yards and seven scores, a season that saw Clemson reach the College Football Playoff. Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (pick No. 115 of the Baltimore Ravens): Played for head coach Curt Cignetti on two teams Sarratt was among the many players who followed Cignetti from the James Madison Dukes — with whom he played for one season after spending the 2022 season with the Saint Francis Red Flash — to the Hoosiers for the 2024 season. Last season (2025), Sarratt totaled 65 receptions for 830 yards and a Big Ten-high 15 touchdowns en route to Indiana winning its first National Championship in program history. Miami (Fla.) CB Keionte Scott (pick No. 116 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Had two pick-sixes in 2025 After two seasons at Snow College (2020-21) and three seasons with the Auburn Tigers (2022-24), Scott transferred to play for the Hurricanes in 2025, with Miami going on to reach the College Football Playoff National Championship. In his lone season at Miami, Scott reeled in two interceptions, running back both of those picks for touchdowns. He also tallied two forced fumbles and five passes defended. Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton (pick No. 120 of the Green Bay Packers): Had 23.5 sacks in college Dennis-Sutton was among the more productive pass rushers in the Big Ten over his four years with the Nittany Lions (2022-25), most notably totaling 8.5 sacks in each of the last two years. He finished his collegiate career with 23.5 sacks, while forcing seven fumbles from 2023-25. Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (pick No. 135 of the Indianapolis Colts): Was selected in the MLB Draft That's not a typo. Boettcher played both football and baseball for the Ducks, with his performance in the latter sport resulting in Boettcher being selected by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. While he played baseball at Oregon from 2021-24, Boettcher played football for the Ducks from 2022-25. Last season (2025), he led the Big Ten with 80 assists, while also logging 136 combined tackles and two forced fumbles. North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance (pick No. 136 of the New Orleans Saints): Is the younger brother of QB Trey Lance The Bison receiver is the younger brother of the former No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, who also played at North Dakota State. As for the new Saints wideout, Lance, who spent six seasons at North Dakota State, averaged 63 receptions for 1,066 yards and 12.5 touchdowns per season from 2024-25. Texas DB Michael Taaffe (pick No. 158 of the Miami Dolphins): Three-year starter for Longhorns Taaffe was among the faces of the Longhorns' defense, playing five seasons for the school and starting from 2023-25, which included appearances in the College Football Playoff in 2023 and 2024. Over the aforementioned span (2023-25), Taaffe averaged 2.3 interceptions and 65.3 combined tackles per season. Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton (pick No. 165 of the Tennessee Titans): 1st in Penn State history in rushing touchdowns Over his four seasons playing for the Nittany Lions (2022-25), Singleton rushed for a combined 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns, which is first in program history; Singleton's rushing yards rank fourth in Penn State history. Ohio State S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (pick No. 172 of the New Orleans Saints): Brother of No. 7 pick Sonny Styles After two seasons playing for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2021-22), Styles transferred to Ohio State, where he was teammates with his brother, Sonny Styles, from 2023-25; Styles was selected by the Washington Commanders with the No. 7 pick. Furthermore, Lorenzo Styles was a wide receiver at Notre Dame before switching to a full-time defensive back in 2023. North Dakota State QB Cole Payton (pick No. 178 overall): Dual-threat QB with potential positional versatility Payton was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, but he showed enough on tape to be a fifth-round pick. Will he play quarterback at the next level, though? You can read more about Payton here. Arkansas QB Taylen Green (pick No. 182 of the Cleveland Browns): Arguably the best athlete at QB in this year's class The Browns have added another quarterback to their quarterbacks room, taking Green at the start of the sixth round. Green set records in the vertical jump (43.5 inches) and broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) for a quarterback at the history of the combine, while also running a 4.36 40. Green threw for 2,714 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to go with 777 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this past season.

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4 Takeaways From Night 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft

Night 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft put some prominent trends on display on both sides of the ball. Defensively, we saw an early run on defensive tackles, indicating a priority for coordinators around the NFL. On the other side of the ball, the tight ends who were drafted show how offenses around the league are emphasizing the position to create mismatches. Here are my takeaways from the second and third rounds of the draft: 1. Carson Beck and Drew Allar prove that traits still matter in scouting rooms Despite the skeptics dismissing the importance of size and tools in the evaluation process, the selections of Beck and Allar show that coaches and scouts are still chasing prototypes at the quarterback position. Measuring 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, Beck is a throwback with a classic drop-back playing style that would have worked well in the 1990s. The Miami standout flashes the ability to make every throw from the pocket with touch, timing, and anticipation. While he has some untimely turnovers that cloud his evaluation, scouts were enamored with his experience (43 career starts) and management skills as the leader of two championship-caliber programs. Allar measures in at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds with elite arm talent, but accuracy and ball placement issues. Despite his issues, the former five-star recruit logged 35 career starts, during which he flashed enough skills as a pro-style passer to warrant some consideration as a developmental prospect with starting potential. While his inconsistencies made it hard for some evaluators to view the Penn State product as a legitimate QB1 consideration, Mike McCarthy’s experience as a quarterback developer (SEE: Aaron Brooks, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott) gives Allar a shot to defy the odds as a potential starter. With teams looking for a quarterback with starting potential, the size and traits continue to weigh heavily in the evaluation. As a pair of highly touted quarterbacks viewed as QB1s of their respective classes at various stages of their collegiate careers, I am not surprised  Beck and Allar came off the board in the third round as developmental prospects with intriguing traits. 2. Run-stoppers rule Night 2 The top of the second round featured a run on run-stopping defensive tackles, which was a direct reaction to the NFL’s renewed emphasis on the ground game. Kayden McDonald, Christian Miller, and Lee Hunter were selected in the first 17 picks of Day 2. Defensive coordinators have leaned on general managers and scouts in this draft to add more big bodies to the lineup to help them snuff out runs directed between the tackles. With more teams favoring two-high or split-safety looks to eliminate big plays, defensive play callers needed more big bodies on the frontline with "two-gap" potential to win with fewer defenders in the box. McDonald, Miller, and Hunter excel at handling double teams, while also flashing enough quickness to win with finesse maneuvers (swim move). As the league returns to some of its rugged roots, with the running game back in prominence, the early run on defensive tackles is not a surprise. 3. New York Jets focus on changing the culture After a disappointing debut season, in which the locker room seemingly fell apart amid a mix of believers and non-believers feuding over the squad's direction, Aaron Glenn and Co. have made a concerted effort to populate the roster with "winners" from championship-caliber programs. With their first four picks, the Jets took College Football Playoff participants from this past college football season: EDGE David Bailey (Round 1 from Texas Tech), TE Kenyon Sadiq (Round 1 from Oregon), WR Omar Cooper (Round 1 from Indiana) and D’Angelo Ponds (Round 2, also from Indiana). While the winning pedigree is rarely discussed in pre-draft coverage, teams covet players from winning programs because they understand the standards and expectations of a championship program. The Jets are not close to title contention, but the team is laying the foundation for a playoff run by adding a handful of rookies with championship swagger to a revised roster that added quarterback Geno Smith, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Demario Davis in the offseason. 4. Offensive coordinators are stockpiling tight ends to create more mismatches The Los Angeles Rams opened up a can of worms with their clever utilization of "13" personnel (one running back, three tight ends, and one wide receiver) to create mismatches all over the field. Teams have started to manipulate the numbers at the line of scrimmage with multiple tight ends lined up close to each other to create extra gaps for off-tackle runs. The illusion of a run play with more tight ends can also produce big plays through play-action. Teams are also featuring more "YOZ" (tight ends lining up wider than wide receivers) formations, with the tight end's wide alignment forcing linebackers and safeties out of their comfort zone. Regardless of how they're looking to find an edge, offensive play callers have found a cheat code utilizing ultra-athletic tight ends on the perimeter. The 2026 draft saw XXX tight ends come off the board during the first three rounds, with a mix of "Y" (traditional tight end) and "FLEX" (H-back) playmakers selected on Day 2. The teams looking for throwback tight ends opted to take Nate Boerkircher (Jacksonville Jaguars), Marlin Klein (Houston Texans) and Sam Roush (Chicago Bears). Meanwhile, play-callers intent on finding mismatch creators snagged Eli Stowers (Philadelphia Eagles), Max Klare (Los Angeles Rams) and Oscar Delp (New Orleans Saints). With the game evolving to feature more multi-tight end sets, the run on tight end reflects the league’s changing landscape.

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Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt: 'We're Making Progress' on Domed Stadium Renderings

The Kansas City Chiefs expect to unveil renderings for their new, $3 billion domed stadium later this summer, and team owner Clark Hunt said Friday that the plan is to begin bidding for the Super Bowl, Final Four and College Football Playoff games. The Chiefs announced in late December that they were moving from their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium across the Kansas-Missouri state line. The move came after Kansas lawmakers voted to allow the state to issue a little more than $2.4 million in bonds to cover about 60% of the cost of the stadium, a new training facility and retail and entertainment space. The stadium itself will be built in Kansas City, Kansas, near Kansas Speedway and a retail district known as The Legends. The area is also home to Sporting Park, the home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City, and a minor-league baseball stadium. "We're making progress," Hunt said. "We have a design competition that's ongoing between MANICA and Populous, and I would hope in the next several months that we'd be able to make a decision on the lead architect." Both of the firms are based in Kansas City, MANICA on the Kansas side and Populous on the Missouri side. MANICA has been working on the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville that will be home to the Tennessee Titans, and worked on Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders. Populous has been wrapping up the new Highmark Stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Hunt did underscore that "our thought process at this time is that it would be an enclosed dome." One of the long-held dreams of Hunt's father, the late Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, was to host a Super Bowl — the name he coined for the NFL title game. That would have been unlikely in an outdoor stadium in Kansas City, given the frigid Midwest winters. "We plan on bidding for Final Fours, College Football Playoff Games, bowl games and, of course, the Super Bowl," Clark Hunt said. "It will coincide with the construction of several other NFL buildings, so we will have competition, but I will make sure that Kansas City and the Chiefs put their best foot forward in that process." Hunt spoke Friday while introducing former linebacker Derrick Johnson as the newest member of the team's Hall of Fame. The Chiefs hosted the NFL draft to widespread acclaim in 2023 at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, close to where the Kansas City Royals announced this week that they would be building a $1.9 billion stadium to replace Kauffman Stadium. The Chiefs also are hosting six FIFA Men's World Cup games this summer at Arrowhead Stadium. It had to undergo minor renovations so that the 53-year-old stadium could fit the size of the field used for one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The World Cup in Kansas City is another crowning achievement for the Hunt family. Lamar Hunt was one of the original founding investors of Major League Soccer, and he originally owned two teams, the Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wizards — now known as Sporting Kansas City. Hunt later purchased a third team, the Dallas Burn, which has been rebranded as FC Dallas is still owned by the Hunt family. "We're really excited. It's hard to believe the World Cup is a little over 45 days away," Clark Hunt said. "It feels like we've been working on it for a decade, and in some regards that's probably true. It's going to be a tremendous opportunity for Kansas City to be seen and appreciated on a global stage. There will literally be billions of TV viewers watching games from Kansas City." Reporting by The Associated Press.

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