The Big Picture: Eagles' Nick Sirianni Taking Major Gamble With Sean Mannion Hire

INDIANAPOLIS — Nick Sirianni always intended to hire someone with experience when he began his search for a new Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator last month. He never expected to end up with a 33-year-old, third-year assistant who had never called plays before. Yet after 17 interviews, everything in his research and his heart pointed him toward Sean Mannion and the surprising decision to put the broken Eagles offense in the hands of a rookie. It was a gutsy move at a critical moment in his tenure. Because if Sirianni gets this decision wrong, he might end up paying for it with his own job. The stakes really are that high for him and for the Eagles, after their disappointing Super Bowl defense last season ended with a wild-card exit in the playoffs. It wasn’t hard to find a fall guy for that, either. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was running a dysfunctional offense that struggled to find an identity. And as soon as the season ended, it was clear he had to go. Patullo, of course, was a first-time playcaller, too, and it showed over and over again — which is why it was so shocking when Sirianni again chose to hire a novice in Mannion. It’s a decision, in fact, that’s almost impossible to defend, except with Sirianni’s deep conviction that despite what anyone else might think, this time he has it right. "You always want to make sure that when you’re on the verge of hiring somebody, you want to reach out to guys they’ve worked with, guys they’ve played with, guys they’ve coached, and you’re looking for common themes," Sirianni said on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "And it was a common theme. Everyone spoke very similar about Sean. You could imagine those were glowing reviews. Everyone had great things to say about him, the person he is, the coach he is, the football mind that he is." The glowing reviews are actually not surprising at all, because as a former Rams quarterback and a former Packers assistant, Mannion is another branch of the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. He is widely considered a rising star in NFL coaching circles — a strong leader and a brilliant mind who might be a head coach someday. But that someday is still considered far away. His NFL coaching experience until now was limited to one year as a Packers offensive assistant and one year as their quarterbacks coach. No matter how glowingly his peers spoke of him, hiring him was still a very speculative play. And that’s a huge risk for the head coach of a veteran-heavy offense, filled with frustrated players still trying to figure out what went wrong last season. Quarterback Jalen Hurts could never get the passing game going. His No. 1 receiver, A.J. Brown, seemed constantly unhappy with everything. Running back Saquon Barkley ran for almost 900 fewer yards than he did the season before. And the once-proud offensive line was often a shell of itself — a problem that might not get any better now that legendary offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland decided to retire rather than take a reduced role. So Mannion gets to figure all that out while learning on the job about the intricacies of running an offense and the complex dance of calling plays during a game. And he gets to do it under the watchful eye of an offensive-minded head coach that will probably have a heavy hand this season, since he already has a pretty good idea of what he wants his offense to be. "Really, it’s always important at the end of the day that we’re able to run the football, and be able to do play-action off of that," Sirianni said. "Play physical, play with relentless effort, play with great detail, play together. Those will be all things we’re looking to do." If the Eagles are able to do that, they should be an instant Super Bowl contender again. And maybe Mannion will prove to be the right man to get all that done. Sirianni has a spotty record of choosing offensive coordinators, though. Two were so successful that they went on to be head coaches elsewhere — Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore. The other two — Brian Johnson and Kevin Patullo — were fired after one miserable year on the job. If Sirianni gets this one wrong, too, he’ll be the one on the hot seat. Three years ago, when the Eagles were trying to get to their second straight Super Bowl, Sirianni nearly lost his job after the Eagles finished the season on a 1-6 tailspin. Thanks to his Super Bowl championship in the 2024 season, he wasn’t in similarly deep trouble after the Eagles faded late in 2025 and then exited the playoffs early. But even despite his 59-26 regular-season record and two trips to the Super Bowl in the past four years, he might not get any grace from his bosses if his 2026 team underachieves, as well. That’s because his bosses — general manager Howie Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie — expect another championship, or at least a legitimate run at one that lasts a little longer than one lousy round. That’s part of why Sirianni went into his search looking for an experienced hand, and why it was such a shock when he hired the most inexperienced candidate on his list. Sirianni put all his faith in Mannion’s background and his perceived potential because, amid a thin résumé, he can’t bank on anything else. Now his players will have to do the same. And while it’s great that veterans such as Barkley consider the change "refreshing," as the star running back told NFL Network earlier this week, all they can really do is hope. They have to hope that Sirianni really knew what he was doing, and hope Mannion is good enough and that this somehow works out well. "There’s a lot of steps to take place before we know exactly what version of this offense it’s going to be," Sirianni said. "But Sean comes from a family of coaches and (there are) things that he’s done that we really respect, that we know is tough to defend. We know we’ve done a lot of good things here as well that’s hard to defend, so (we’ll be) able to sprinkle some of that in. "You’ve got to go through the process with your players to get to all those answers." The answers better be the right ones, though. Because as sterling as Sirianni’s résumé is, this time he really can’t afford to be wrong. In the Big Picture, we contextualize key moves and moments so you can instantly understand why they matter.

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NFL Combine: Ahead of Fernando Mendoza Meeting, Raiders GM Wants Next QB to be 'Tough as Hell'

INDIANAPOLIS — So much of an NFL franchise's identity is rooted in its head coach and quarterback, and the Raiders find themselves trying to rebrand for the second time in as many years. Head coach Klint Kubiak takes over for Pete Carroll after a disappointing three-win season, and with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, all expectations are that Las Vegas will turn to Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, fresh off a Heisman Trophy and national championship. What is general manager John Spytek looking for in a franchise quarterback? Spytek didn't mention Mendoza by name, but he listed some of the qualities that the Indiana quarterback seems to have. "A leader, tough as hell, somebody that loves to play football, a maniacal preparer," said Spytek, now in his second year in Las Vegas after a long run in Tampa that overlapped with now-Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. "Just somebody that loves the game and will give everything to their teammates, a selfless person, every time they're out there, prepare the right way, lead the right way. I think there's a great humility and selflessness required to play that position at a high level." This week will give the Raiders their first close interaction with Mendoza. They were in attendance at the national championship game in Miami, watching him lead the Hoosiers to victory and finish an unlikely championship season. Spytek hasn't been allowed to talk to draft prospects until 18-minute interviews this week, and they'll be able to bring Mendoza in for an official visit to add to that evaluation, but he's widely seen as the best quarterback in the draft at a position of clear need. Tuesday's big question was about All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, seen as a potential trade piece that could net the Raiders a first-round pick and more. But Spytek was adamant that he expects Crosby to play for Las Vegas this season, saying the two have talked and continue to have a good relationship. Asked about Crosby wanting to play for a contender, Spytek said he has confidence his team can be that in a short amount of time. "We're going to build this team the right way, and this league is littered with examples of teams that went from a top-five pick to the NFC Championship, the Super Bowl," he said. "We've seen the last couple of years. The Patriots won four games last year and they were in the big game. The Commanders picked second and were in the NFC Championship Game. We're going to build it the right way and we'll see what comes." Las Vegas hasn't won a playoff game in 23 years, since making the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, with only two playoff appearances in that long stretch. The goal is to reset those clocks as soon as possible, or it will soon be the challenge facing another general manager and another coach. The Raiders have the second-most available cap space of any NFL team, allowing Spytek and Kubiak to be active in free agency and actively pay to upgrade the talent on the roster. The biggest piece of that will be at quarterback and almost assuredly with Mendoza, but Spytek said his goal is to create a championship locker room for a head coach fresh off a title of his own with Seattle. "Our job in the personnel department is to give Klint as many good players as we can, that fit his vision and scheme," Spytek said. "One of the things we really liked about Klint was he's got a system that highlights what the players can do ... Our job is to use that and go forward with that and give him quality people and football players that can bring his offense to life."

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Lions to Play in 2026 NFL Munich Game; Why it Matters to Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown says a long-time dream will come true after his team was confirmed to play in the NFL game in Munich this year. St. Brown's mother was born in Germany and his career has been closely followed by the NFL's large German fan base. "It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league," St. Brown said in a league statement on Tuesday. "I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale." Detroit's opponent will be confirmed later. The Munich game is part of a record schedule of nine international games in 2026 including new host cities in France, Australia and Brazil. The NFL is heading back to Munich for its third game at a stadium better known as the home of German soccer champion Bayern Munich. The city hosted the NFL's first game in Germany in 2022 and another in 2024. Frankfurt and Berlin have also hosted games. Reporting by The Associated Press.

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2026 NFL Draft: Offseason Buzz, Mendoza Mania Headline Top 10 Combine Storylines

The NFL’s annual convention is upon us again. The NFL Scouting Combine starts this week in Indianapolis, which not only serves as a chance for prospects to improve their draft stock, but it also allows many key decision makers to gather intel ahead of the start of free agency on March 9. Several NFL players, agents, coaches and front office executives will be in Indianapolis this week. Agents will get a better chance to gauge the market for their players around the league, while executives might discuss potential trades. Of course, there are also the on-field workouts. This year, the league invited over 300 draft prospects to convene in Indianapolis. The combine gives prospects a chance to improve their stock with on-field testing, medical checks and one-on-one meetings with teams looking to get a better understanding of who they are as individuals. So, it'll be a pretty busy week in Indianapolis, even if free agency hasn't officially opened. With that, let's look at the top 10 storylines we'll be following this week. [2026 NFL Draft: Top 50 Prospects at the Scouting Combine] 10. Will anyone break Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard time? A first-round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs two years ago, the University of Texas standout set a combine record in the 40-yard dash by posting a 4.21-second, 40-yard time in 2024. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston ran the fastest time last year at 4.28 seconds. This year, contenders for the fastest man at the combine include Mississippi State receiver Brenen Thompson, Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and LSU receiver Chris Hilton. Thompson was clocked at 23.7 miles per hour last year and could run in the high 4.2s. Hilton reportedly posted a 4.31-second, 40-yard laser time during training. A two-time All-American for the Hoosiers, Ponds ran a 10.47-second, 100-meter time in high school. 9. These three players could improve their draft stock with a good combine performance. Washington’s Jonah Coleman was a productive, bruising running back who averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his college career. But scouts want to see if he has top-tier speed to break away from defenders at the next level. If he chooses to run at the combine, breaking 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash could serve as a boost to Coleman’s draft prospects. Rangy South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse is another athlete expected to test well in on-field workouts. At 6-feet, 190 pounds and only 20 years old, Cisse could help his draft stock with an outstanding performance this week. One more to watch is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. With young players like Trey McBride, Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren developing into playmakers down the middle of the field, Sadiq is an explosive athlete who could turn heads with his athleticism. However, Sadiq finished with six drops in his final year for the Ducks and must show he can hold onto the football. 8. Who’s the next Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori? With the success of Seattle's dominant defense in leading them to a Super Bowl victory by finding and developing the South Carolina product in the second round of last year’s draft, more teams will be looking for rangy athletes who can cover and blitz like Emmanwori. Versatile safeties in the mold of Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James Jr. that fit that profile in this year’s draft include Ohio State’s Caleb Downs (the winner of the Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s best defensive back), Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil Warren and Oregon’s Dillon Thienemann. All of them could develop into flexible chess pieces for NFL defenses. 7. Will Super Bowl MVP and pending free agent Kenneth Walker III stay with the Seahawks? The Seahawks reportedly will not franchise Walker, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to bring the Michigan State product back. Seattle general manager John Schneider has used the franchise tag just twice during his 16 years serving as the top personnel man for the Seahawks. More likely, Seattle will let Walker’s agents shop around to establish his value and then decide on extending the deal. Seattle has enough cap space to bring Walker back. The Seahawks have a history of extending foundational players in their primes that they value in the locker room, and Seattle already lost offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Raiders. Keeping some continuity in the offense by re-signing Walker would make sense for the Seahawks. 6. What will the Cowboys do with George Pickens? One team that could use the franchise tag is Dallas on Pickens, who produced at a high level in the final season of his rookie contract in 2025. However, the Cowboys are already paying CeeDee Lamb at the top of the receiver market, so will owner Jerry Jones want to commit to another high-dollar deal at that position? And will the Cowboys draw the negotiations out as they have done with Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott? As always, the rest of the league will be watching how Jones handles another prickly contract situation. 5. Are NFLPA grades still a thing? Since 2023, the NFLPA has released anonymous player grade reports on every NFL team during the combine. But an arbitrator ruling prohibits the public release of those reports for the first time this year. However, that doesn’t mean those reports, which have been critical of some NFL owners in the past, can’t be leaked privately. It will be interesting to see if and how that information is disseminated this week. 4. How do the new head coaches perform at the podium? Ten new head coaches were hired this offseason, the most turnover at that position since 2022. Those new faces include NFL stalwarts in Mike Tomlin being replaced by Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh and defensive guru Jesse Minter taking over for the departed John Harbaugh in Baltimore. Harbaugh, of course, was the top candidate in this hiring cycle, landing the head coaching job with the New York Giants. Former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski also landed on his feet, taking over for Raheem Morris as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. In a league that has become impatient with head coaches, it will be interesting to see how the new hires perform in their first season with their new teams. 3. Let the Fernando Mendoza Mania begin It’s a foregone conclusion that the Las Vegas Raiders will select Indiana’s Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, right? The Raiders are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback and Mendoza checked all the boxes in leading the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and a national title. Mendoza said he will not throw at the combine, waiting for more familiar surroundings at his pro day in April. Still, the Raiders must go through their evaluation process to make sure Mendoza is the choice instead of trading out of that spot for a bounty of draft compensation. The combine provides another opportunity to see how Mendoza handles adversity. 2. Who’s the No. 2 quarterback behind Mendoza? With Mendoza the clear No. 1 prospect, there is a battle for which player will emerge as the No. 2 quarterback behind the Indiana product. Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson holds that honor, for now. Simpson said he will throw this week. However, Penn State’s Drew Allar, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson's Cade Klubnik and Miami’s Carson Beck are all still jockeying for position behind Mendoza. How they perform at the combine could change how scouts rank them moving forward in the process, although it's unknown what Allar will be able to do this week after he broke his ankle in October. 1. Where will Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa land? Both the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins appear inclined to move on from their franchise quarterbacks. But what will the two franchises be willing to accept in a trade for Murray and Tagovailoa? Will other teams be willing to give up draft compensation to retain the rights to the player, or will they wait for their release? Murray and Tagovailoa have a chance to follow in the footsteps of Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, finding redemption with a fresh start on a new team. And that process starts with conversations at the combine.

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2026 NFL Combine Schedule: Dates, times, TV channel, how to watch

With the Super Bowl over, that means the NFL Draft is just around the corner. But before each team decides on their draft big board, they expand their evaluations at the NFL Combine. What is the NFL Combine? Started in 1982, the NFL Combine is a four-day event each February that gives NFL scouts an opportunity to evaluate the top college football players who are eligible for this year's NFL Draft. The combine is invite-only and includes over 300 athletes. Players undergo medical, physical and mental drills and tests. 2026 NFL Combine Schedule Thursday, February 26 Friday, February 27 Saturday, February 28 Sunday, March 1 When is the 2026 NFL Combine? The NFL Combine will take place from Thursday, February 26 to Sunday, March 1. Where is the 2026 NFL Combine? The 2026 NFL Combine will be located at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN - home of the Indianapolis Colts. How can I watch the NFL Combine? Live coverage of the 2026 NFL Combine will be available on the NFL Network and NFL+. NFL Combine Drills, Tests and Evaluations Who are the players to watch at this year's NFL Combine? Here's a short list of players to watch in the 2026 combine: When is the 2026 NFL Draft? The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 23 to April 25.

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2026 NFL Draft: Top 50 Prospects at the Scouting Combine

The talent available in the 2026 NFL Draft is better than you think — it is just distributed at different positions than some would prefer. Only two quarterbacks — Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson — are listed below. Similarly, Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is the only tight end included. But like any class, there are obvious strengths, as well. I see top-end talent and quality depth at wide receiver and cornerback and all over the defensive line. And I’m higher on the blockers of this class than most. With the medical evaluations, player interviews and athletic testing – in that order of importance – coming this week at the Scouting Combine, here is how I currently rank the best 50 prospects of the 2026 NFL Draft. 50. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana I’m less confident that undersized defenders such as Ponds will be among the first 50 players drafted than I am about him ultimately proving he should’ve been. At just 5-foot-9, 173 pounds, Ponds has obvious limitations, but he’s pound-for-pound the most physical and instinctive DB in this class with 33 pass breakups — including seven interceptions — in three standout seasons at the collegiate level. 49. Kyle Louis, OLB, Pittsburgh At just 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, Louis won’t be a fit for everyone. But, frankly, I think that’s a mistake. Louis is highly instinctive with lightning-quick closing speed. He is a proven big-play magnet with 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions over the past two seasons. 48. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M An athletic 6-foot-5, 315-pounder, Bisontis looks and moves like a tackle — he even earned freshman All-American honors at right tackle back in 2023. He played even better inside at left guard the past two years, showing the initial quickness and agility to fit best in a zone-blocking scheme. 47. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson Miller isn’t as agile or powerful as some of the top-rated tackles higher on my board, but as a rare four-year starter who faced elite competition every day in practice, he’s as safe as a Subaru. Miller has a somewhat gangly frame and upright stance that isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing, but he’s quick, smart and has excellent hands to steer and sustain. 46. Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska With all due respect to Notre Dame’s dynamic duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, the shiftiest runner in this draft class is Johnson. This young man shifts gears and changes lanes like he’s playing on a street bike, routinely using sharp lateral jump cuts to posterize would-be tacklers. 45. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame With just 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns last year for Notre Dame, Fields undeniably lacks the eye-popping production of the other wideouts on my Top 50 board. The imposing 6-foot-4, 219-pounder wowed at the Senior Bowl, however, showcasing the physicality, sure hands and surprisingly sharp route-running that likely would’ve generated more impressive stats in a more receiver-friendly offense. 44. Lee Hunter, NG, Texas Tech Another big winner at the Senior Bowl, Hunter (a Mobile, Ala., native) dominated in the trenches with a stunning combination of explosive first-step quickness and overwhelming brute strength. 43. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia Branch is likely going to generate some Tyreek Hill comparisons during the pre-draft process, including at the Combine, where I expect him to be among the fastest athletes of this class. Like Hill, Branch is at his best as a vertical threat or in the quick game, offering the kind of instant spark to a passing attack that only elite speed can provide. 42. T.J., Parker, Edge, Clemson Like several of his former Clemson teammates, Parker was the victim of his own success, struggling to live up to expectations in 2025 after a dominant 2024 campaign that included 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and an FBS-leading six forced fumbles. He’s a functional, rugged edge defender whose game is built more on torque than twitch. 41. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame Price isn’t the athletic phenom that will earn fellow Notre Dame product Jeremiyah Love a top-10 pick, but he’s actually the more fundamentally sound running back. He possesses a future NFL bell-cow’s blend of vision, burst and contact balance and is one of this year’s most dynamic returners, taking back three kickoffs for touchdowns in just 22 opportunities. 40. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Quick and coordinated, it was Lomu — and not his more celebrated teammate Spencer Fano — who started the past two seasons at the critical left tackle position for the Utes. Just a redshirt sophomore still growing into his frame, Lomu is currently a better pass protector than run blocker, but he has a bright future if he commits to the weight room. 39. Anthony Hill Jr., ILB, Texas Hill was asked to play many roles during his three years at Texas, spanning from edge rusher to inside linebacker to even nickel cornerback. That fact speaks to Hill’s football IQ. The tape shows uncommon agility for a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker, as well reliable open-field tackling skills. 38. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State Another personal favorite, Johnson is one of the better technicians of this year’s strong cornerback class, showing impressive route awareness and disciplined, confident movement to thwart throws in his direction. A three-year standout, Johnson was named the Mountain West Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, taking two of his four interceptions back for scores. 37. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon A highly touted transfer from Purdue, Thieneman starred immediately for an Oregon defense that saw several key members of the secondary flying to the NFL last year, bringing stability to the unit. Thieneman isn’t flashy, but his awareness, communication skills and reliable tackling all scream NFL starter. 36. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami As a sixth-year collegiate athlete, Mesidor (24) was literally a man amongst boys for Miami a year ago, leading the ACC with 10.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles. He wins in more ways than perhaps any rusher in this class, pairing impressive physical traits such as burst, bend and power with refined hand play and nuanced counter moves. 35. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma Thomas personifies the oft-used scouting expression of "converting speed to power," routinely forcing would-be blockers onto their heels and off-balance with an explosive burst and then bull-rushing them through the chest on a direct route to the ballcarrier. At just 6-foot-2, 249 pounds, Thomas is undersized for trench warfare and has already struggled with durability, but the hit rate on edge defenders who play with Thomas’ combination of speed and violence is high. 34. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State A native Nigerian who grew up playing soccer and basketball, Iheanachor is a 6-foot-5, 325-pound investment for the future who seemingly just needs time to master the nuances of the position. His easy movement skills and natural power turned heads at the Senior Bowl. 33. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri Young capped a terrific week of Senior Bowl practice by being named the National team’s Player of the Game. At a rocked-up 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds, Young isn’t as explosive off the ball as some of the undersized pass rush specialists listed earlier, but he is a passionate and physical tone-setter at the line of scrimmage. 32. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Simpson, a former 5-star recruit, torched the SEC for 28 touchdowns and a conference-leading 3,567 yards in his lone starting season in Tuscaloosa, showing the pro-caliber accuracy to project as a future NFL starter. The traits are undeniable — Simpson has a quick release, plenty of zip and excellent touch to make every NFL throw — but there were some "deer in the headlights" moments on his tape. Moreover, the track record of quarterbacks selected in the first round with 20 or fewer starts (Simpson has 15) is a bright red flag. 31. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina Cisse has all the traits to become a quality NFL starter — including a prototypical blend of size, speed and physicality in run support. His occasional mistakes on tape seemed coachable, and with Cisse not turning 21 until July, the expectation is that he’s just scratching the surface. 30. CJ Allen, ILB, Georgia Many of the top off-ball linebackers in this class are hybrid-types with limited experience taking on and shedding blockers in the hole. Allen isn’t flashy, but he’s as close to a Day 1 starting middle linebacker as this class has to offer. He’s smart, stout and just scratching the surface of his potential at just 20 years old. 29. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo The ability to create turnovers is like catnip to football scouts, and few in this class offer a more tantalizing track record of that than the lanky, hard-hitting McNeil-Warren, who enters the NFL with nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 28. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Nickel cornerbacks have never been more in demand, and Terrell is my favorite among them in this class. The NFL legacy plays significantly above his weight class (180 pounds), averaging 50 tackles over the past two seasons and generating eight forced fumbles during that span, including an ACC-best five this past year. 27. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois Using a blend of physicality and instincts that translates well to the pro game, Jacas led the Big Ten with 11 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2025 before delivering a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. Jacas may lack the twitch of some of this year’s top pass-rushers, but I see shades of a young DeMarcus Lawrence in Jacas’ game. 26. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon The lone tight end to make my Top 50 board, Sadiq is cut from a different cloth than most players at his position, possessing a squatty 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and a rare combination of explosive athleticism and physicality. There are bright flashes on his tape as a pass-catcher, but he’s already an NFL-caliber blocker, showing excellent leg drive and grip strength to control opponents. 25. Kayden McDonald, NG, Ohio State At 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, McDonald is every bit the run-plugger his frame suggests, complementing his dense, powerful frame with excellent balance and spatial awareness. He isn’t going to ever lead the NFL in sacks, but he’s no slug against the pass, either, showing effort, power and surprisingly quick feet to play all three downs. 24. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington The whole point of playing receiver is to catch touchdowns, and with 20 TDs over the past two seasons, Boston is the most prolific scorer of this year’s top wideouts. He should be able to continue this red zone mastery in the NFL, using his 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame, timing, body control and strong hands to win above the rim. 23. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Hood travels as well in the hip pocket of receivers as he does in the transfer portal, bouncing from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee over the past three years before entering the draft at just 20 years old. He is an easy mover with impressive awareness of the ball and in run support, as well as a legitimate playmaker with touchdowns scored via interception and fumble recoveries. 22. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Similar in some ways to Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Woods is young (he’ll turn 21 in March), powerful and athletic, with his best football still ahead of him. He pairs his hands and feet well for such a young player, offering more to affect the quarterback than his five sacks in 35 college games might suggest. 21. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M With 28 combined rushing and receiving scores in 38 career games at Texas A&M and North Carolina State, Concepcion is easily the top point producer of this year’s standout receiver class. Concepcion’s given name is Kevin, but KC is his preferred nickname and it better describes the silky-smooth athleticism he uses to consistently create space. 20. Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama It isn’t often that a man listed at 366 pounds can be described as muscular, but Proctor boasts as power-packed of a frame as you’ll see. What you see is what you get with Proctor, a bar-room brawler whose girth and power could ultimately push him inside to guard. 19. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida Pardon the pun, but Banks has made a lot of money in the past two months, dominating at the Senior Bowl after missing seven games this year due to a fractured foot that required surgery. Standing a massive 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, with 35-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands, Banks is simply bigger than most trying to block him, and he can simply rag-doll blockers at times. 18. Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State At a dense 6-foot-4, 328 pounds, Ioane is perfectly built for the battles in the trenches, absorbing would-be rushers with his broad frame and heavy hands. While possible tackle converts could ultimately be drafted earlier, Ioane is the consensus top-rated "pure" interior offensive lineman of this class. 17. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee McCoy’s first two college seasons (at Oregon State and Tennessee, respectively) were so impressive that he maintained a first-round grade on my board even after missing the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury. When healthy, McCoy is a smooth cover corner with terrific ball skills, breaking up 16 passes (with six interceptions) over that span. 16. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Simply put, Tyson has the best tape of this year’s receiver crop. It isn’t often that receivers of his size, twitch and tracking skills come around. Tyson is a case of "buyer beware," however, as he has missed multiple games because of injuries in each of the past three seasons. 15. Cassius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M Among my favorite defenders in this class, Howell has the burst and bend to wreak havoc off the edge as a pass-rusher, and he also showed impressive change of direction and instincts in coverage, when asked to play off the ball. 14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC Lemon reminds me a lot of Golden Tate, a dynamic run-after-the-catch weapon who played 11 years in the NFL. Like the 5-foot-11, 197-pound Tate, Lemon is a difficult matchup for cornerbacks because of a compact, almost RB-like frame to go with dynamic speed and top-notch ball skills. 13. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia With a steady stream of NFL blockers ahead of him on Georgia’s depth chart, Freeling had to wait his turn before seeing the field in Athens, starting just 16 games before heading early to the NFL. But there isn’t a blocker in this class who looks the part of an NFL left tackle more than the loose and long 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling. 12. Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn If scouts were asked to draw up the ideal defensive lineman for today’s NFL, it might look a lot like the long-armed 6-foot-6, 285-pound ball of clay that is Faulk, whose size, strength and smooth athleticism offer great positional and schematic flexibility. As one of the youngest players in this class (he won’t turn 21 until September), Faulk is still growing into his frame and will need to get stronger to fulfill his potential, but he possesses the physical traits and intangibles to become one of the best players in this draft. 11. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah A dancing bear at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Fano looks and moves more like a tight end than a traditional offensive lineman, excelling in pass protection because of his initial quickness, lateral agility and balance. A three-year starter with extensive experience at both tackle positions, Fano is among the most pro-ready prospects in this class. 10. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Cornerback may just be the strongest positional group of this draft, and Delane tops it by a wide margin for me. He is a terrific man-to-man cover corner, showing easy change of direction and smooth acceleration to shadow receivers all over the field. He didn’t allow a single touchdown pass in 2025. 9. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Receiver is one of the better positional groups of this year’s draft class, and Tate tops it because of his ability to win in multiple ways. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has excellent body control, hand-eye coordination and grit to pull in contested passes, and he’s surprisingly slippery as a route-runner with excellent tracking skills. 8. Sonny Styles, OLB, Ohio State A former safety turned linebacker who might ultimately evolve into an edge rusher, Styles is the ultimate ball of clay from this draft class. Styles possesses rare speed and agility for a 6-foot-5, 245 pounder, providing his future defensive coordinator with a moveable chess piece that could be used similar to how the Seattle Seahawks employed star rookie Nick Emmanwori in their Super Bowl run. 7. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami It is appropriate that Bain rhymes with pain, as there isn’t a prospect in this class who plays with more violence than the three-year Miami standout. He enters the NFL with 33.5 tackles for loss generated in 38 collegiate games. Bain’s relatively stubby 6-foot-3, 270-pound frame will be a talking point in every NFL war room, but teams shouldn’t make the mistake of overthinking his fit. 6. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Arguably the most powerful and pro-ready prospect in this draft class, Mauigoa simply engulfs opponents with his sheer size and iron grip, reminding me of another Mario Cristobal pupil, Detroit Lions All-Pro Penei Sewell. Facing a vaunted Miami pass rush every day in practice, Mauigoa has the look of a decade-long anchor at right tackle. 5. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech Simply put, Bailey is the best pass-rusher in this class, boasting a terrific blend of burst, lateral agility and core flexibility to force whiffs from would-be pass protectors. The concern some will have is that at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Bailey lacks the size and power to be as effective in the running game, but that shouldn’t keep one of the few true matchup nightmares in this class from earning a top-10 selection. 4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Mendoza doesn’t possess the strongest arm of this class, nor is he the most dynamic running threat. He is, however, the consensus top quarterback, offering an exceptional blend of anticipation, accuracy and poise to project as a longtime, high-level NFL starter. 3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame With all due respect to Heisman Trophy winner and likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Love is the best offensive prospect in this class — and frankly, I don’t think it's particularly close. Love isn’t just the best back in this class; he’s among a select handful of the elite runners to enter the NFL since I began scouting a quarter-century ago, offering a blend of size, quick feet and breakaway speed reminiscent of recent blue-chip backs Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson. 2. Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State A blue-chip talent who starred mostly as an off-ball linebacker at Ohio State but possesses the twitch to attack off the edge, Reese is arguably the best prospect in this class. In terms of sheer athleticism, versatility and career trajectory, I see an awful lot of similarities between Reese and another former Big Ten star you might have heard of: Micah Parsons. 1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Sometimes scouting is easy. Whether at Alabama or Ohio State, Downs’ instincts, closing speed and reliable open-field tackling consistently shined, forecasting for years that his pathway to the NFL would come as a first-round pick. Downs won’t be the first player selected this year — safeties just aren’t valuable enough. But make no mistake, Downs comes with the highest floor, projecting as an immediate starter and foundational piece for one fortunate franchise.

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Falcons President of Football Matt Ryan 'Excited' About QB Michael Penix Jr.

The health and projection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is the most pivotal factor in the Atlanta Falcons' future. Selected by Atlanta with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Penix has started just 12 games over his first two seasons due to a combination of being behind veteran Kirk Cousins for the majority of 2024 and partially tearing his ACL in November of last season. Where is the soon-to-be third-year quarterback in his recovery? New Falcons president of football and franchise royalty Matt Ryan pulled back the curtain on the matter. "I have had the opportunity to sit with Michael and, you know, No. 1, how do we bring him along? You get healthy first. The first thing you've got to do is get yourself in a place where we can practice and do that. So, job No. 1 for Michael is to keep doing exactly what he's doing. He's been in our building doing his rehab. He's in a good place right now," Ryan said about Penix in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday. "As a former player, like, it never leaves me. Everybody's like, 'When is he going to be back?' Well, you don't know. There's ups and downs that come with that rehab space, but we feel like we're on track and in a good space with Michael right now." As for what's to come, Ryan is bullish on Penix, especially with the coaching staff that Atlanta has put around him. "To me, it always comes down to the fundamentals. Do we start with our feet? I know in that interview process, [quarterbacks coach] Alex [Van Pelt] is going to hammer the footwork and going to hammer getting the basics right. So, it starts with the basics. Michael does a great job," Ryan said. "He can spin the football. We're excited about what he does, and we're excited about the staff we're putting around him." Across the nine games that he appeared in last season, Penix totaled 1,982 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, three interceptions and an 88.5 passer rating, while completing 60.1% of his passes. The year prior (three starts and five appearances altogether), Penix posted a 78.9 passer rating and completed 58.1% of his passes. In college, Penix spent the first four seasons of his career at Indiana (2018-21) before transferring to Washington and shining. Across his two seasons with the Huskies (2022-23), Penix averaged 4,772 passing yards, 33.5 passing touchdowns, 9.5 interceptions and a 154.2 passer rating per season, while completing 65.4% of his passes. In 2023, Penix led Washington to a Pac-12 title, an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship and was the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy Award. Regarding the coaching staff around Penix, Van Pelt comes to Atlanta after being a senior offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams last season and offensive coordinator stints with the New England Patriots (2024), Cleveland Browns (2020-23) and Buffalo Bills (2009), among many other offensive assistant roles. Of course, Van Pelt is the quarterbacks coach for new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was previously the head coach of the Browns from 2020-25; Van Pelt coached under Stefanski in Cleveland from 2020-23. Stefanski's offensive coordinator is Tommy Rees, who was the Browns' offensive coordinator under Stefanski last season and coached in Cleveland from 2024-25. Rees had previous offensive coordinator stints at Alabama (2023) and Notre Dame (2020-22).

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