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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NFL Draft: The Best Player Taken at All 32 2nd-Round Picks Since 2000

The first round of the NFL Draft is when the best of the best come off the board, but Round 2 offers plenty of talent as well. In fact, there have been enough talented players who've been drafted in Round 2 that we can debate which players were the best selected at each draft spot. As the 2026 NFL Draft moves into Day 2, we worked to identify the best players selected at pick Nos. 33-64 since 2000. Just like with the exercise we did with the best players taken at each first-round pick since 2000, there were pick numbers that have had a strong recent history (37), while others might be weaker than you expect (33). In doing this exercise, you'll also find that at least a few teams know how to draft well in Round 2. While Devin Hester is the only player on this list to be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there are a few others who will almost assuredly end up getting a gold jacket in Canton in the coming years. So, which players have been the best selected at each pick number in the second round since 2000? Let's dive in. 33. Rodger Saffold, OL, Indiana (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2010) As the first pick of the second round, that spot the entire league has overnight to realize who was passed over in the first round, 33 really should be a more loaded number. It isn't really, so Saffold, who's gotten his first career Pro Bowl honors in the last two years, gets the nod with 173 starts and steady play over 16 seasons. Could receiver Tee Higgins catch him someday? Perhaps. We contemplated two linebackers here in DeMeco Ryans (2006) and Karlos Dansby (2004). 34. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State (selected by Dallas Cowboys in 2014) Lawrence turns 34 later in April but is still playing at such a high level, with three forced fumbles and two sacks in the playoffs to help Seattle to a Super Bowl championship. He just got his fifth Pro Bowl, he has 67.5 sacks, and the idea that he's still going pushes him ahead of guard Chris Snee (2004) and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (2006). 35. Charles Tillman, CB, Louisiana, 2003 (selected by Chicago Bears in 2003) It's tough to leave off guard Joel Bitonio and his seven Pro Bowls here, but Tillman was the gold standard for defensive takeaways — 44 forced fumbles! The Peanut Punch is named after him, and don't overlook 38 interceptions as well. That he only has two career Pro Bowl nods is blasphemy — eight pick-sixes in his career as well, making this an easy call for us. 36. Budda Baker, S, Washington (selected by Arizona Cardinals in 2017) This spot is loaded like a first-round position might be. You have receiver Chad Johnson and corner Darius Slay with six Pro Bowls each. You have quarterback Derek Carr passing for 40,000-plus yards and 257 touchdowns, and none of them can beat out Baker, who has made the Pro Bowl eight times in nine NFL seasons. He does a little of everything — eight career picks, seven forced fumbles, 10 sacks — and is consistently regarded as one of the league's best all-around safeties. Let this guy win a playoff game soon, OK? 37. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (selected by Kansas City Chiefs in 2016) This is a tough break for safety Eric Weddle, who would be the pick at like 10 spots around 37, but his six Pro Bowls and 29 career picks aren't enough to beat out Jones, who's won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs and has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last seven seasons. To have 87.5 career sacks as an interior pass rusher is incredible, and he's been a core piece on defense for all the Chiefs' postseason success. 38. Xavier Howard, CB, Baylor (selected by Miami Dolphins in 2016) Injuries have derailed Howard in the last two years, but his NFL start was incredible — he led the NFL twice in his first three seasons, with seven picks as a rookie and 10 in 2018. Four Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro nod in his first five seasons — that alone is enough to push him past defensive end Preston Smith (2015) for our pick at 38. Too early to know, but the last two 38s could be special, in defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (2024) and running back TreVeyon Henderson (2025). 39. Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2012) You fight the urge to put a lot of quarterbacks on here, so Geno Smith (39th in 2013) is tempting, but we'll go with Jenkins, who made only one Pro Bowl but was a steady ballhawk throughout his career — 27 interceptions and eight returned for touchdowns. He bounced around to five NFL teams, but that touchdown total and 138 career starts make for a commendable NFL career. 40. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU (selected by Detroit Lions in 2014) Another active player honored here, and it's hard to find one who did less for the team that drafted him — Van Noy has 57 career sacks, but just one in 2.5 seasons in Detroit, which traded him to the Patriots in 2016 for the right to move up 22 spots at the end of the 2017 draft. He won two Super Bowls with New England and made his first Pro Bowl at age 33 with the Ravens in 2024 after getting a career-best 12.5 sacks. 41. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin (selected by Indianapolis Colts in 2020) So many of these choices were drafted 15-plus years ago and had full careers to appreciate, so it's cool to have someone as young as Taylor, still 27, but the clear choice at 41 after six dominant seasons. He led the NFL in rushing yards (1,811) and touchdowns (18) in 2021 for the first of three Pro Bowls — when healthy, he is one of the most reliable backs in the league. He's one of 17 backs to rush for 7,500 yards in his first six years, and of those, only Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders averaged more yards per carry. 42. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona (selected by New England Patriots in 2010) This was an easy call. Gronk is a four-time Super Bowl champ and was Tom Brady's go-to target in the second half of his career. His 2011 season (90 catches, 1,327 yards, 17 TDs) is tough to beat for any tight end, and we can point to his 92 career regular-season touchdowns, but his postseason numbers are ridiculous: 15 touchdowns in 22 playoff games. 43. Roman Harper, S, Alabama (selected by New Orleans Saints in 2006) Still a few spots without a wow selection in 25 years, but Harper had a solid run. When the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009, he made the Pro Bowl with 100+ tackles. Not many DBs can boast 7.5 sacks in a season as Harper had in 2011. We choose him over tight end Kyle Rudolph, who had 50 touchdown catches and two Pro Bowls in a 12-year career, mostly with Minnesota. 44. Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland (selected by Carolina Panthers in 2001) At 6-foot-4, 360 pounds, Jenkins might be the largest player on this list, and he came into the league and dominated, with two first-team All-Pro nods in his first three seasons. He finished with four Pro Bowl selections, and half of his 24 career sacks came in those two All-Pro seasons. We could have gone with running back Matt Forte here at 44, with five 1,000-yard seasons and 500-plus career catches, but we'll stick with Jenkins. 45. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (selected by Tennessee Titans in 2016) Henry, a massive runner at 6-2 and 252 pounds, is already in the NFL career top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns. His 13,018 rushing yards rank 10th, and he could easily move up to sixth with another solid season. His 122 rushing touchdowns rank fourth all-time and he's two away from third. He has five Pro Bowls in 10 seasons and remains the model for a bellcow high-volume running back. His 2020 season — leading the NFL with 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns — is one of the best RB seasons ever. 46. Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina (selected by New York Giants in 2010) We'll be honest: Not a lot of great options at 46. Joseph gets the nod here for a 15-year career with 170 starts and two Pro Bowl nods. He won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011, so that helps give him the call here over ... Aaron Schobel, who never made the playoffs with the Bills but had 78 sacks and was the only other multi-Pro Bowl player chosen at 46. 47. Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State (selected by Seattle Seahawks in 2012) Another legend, still going at 35, Wagner has racked up 10 Pro Bowls and six first-team All-Pro nods in piling up exactly 2,000 career tackles. A surefire Hall of Famer when he's done, Wagner has 39.5 sacks and 15 interceptions, winning a Super Bowl with Seattle in 2013 as a young force on the "Legion of Boom" defense. You can take the 25-year window away and Wagner is still easily the best No. 47 pick in the Super Bowl era — over 60 years, he has as many Pro Bowls as the other 59 players picked at 47 combined. 48. Matt Light, OT, Purdue (selected by New England Patriots in 2001) You could go with running back Le'Veon Bell here at 48, but we'll try to give the offensive line love where we can. Light started 153 games for the Patriots and won Super Bowls in three of his first four seasons. A key protector in the first half of Tom Brady's career, he also earned three Pro Bowl nods and was a first-team All-Pro selection in the Patriots' 16-0 season in 2007. 49. DeSean Jackson, WR, Cal (selected by Philadelphia Eagles in 2008) Is Jackson the best deep-ball receiver in NFL history? He had 24 touchdowns of 60 yards or longer, edging Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history. He led the league in yards per catch four times, including 22.5 in 2010, the best in any 1,000-yard season in at least 30 years. He also had four touchdowns on punt returns in his first three seasons. If you need one play to appreciate Jackson, look up his 2010 punt return to beat the Giants on the final play and cap a comeback from 21 points down in the final eight minutes. 50. Calais Campbell, DE, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Arizona Cardinals in 2008) Campbell is ageless, turning 40 before the 2026 season begins and still seeking a team for his 19th NFL season. A model of longevity and durability, he has 117 sacks, with more in his second nine years than in his first nine. If he can start 14 games this season, he'll pass the Vikings' Jim Marshall for most ever by a defensive player — he's at 259 now. He went to the Super Bowl as a rookie and lost and hasn't made it back since, so it's easy to pull for him to land the only thing missing from a Hall of Fame resume. 51. Clinton Portis, RB, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Denver Broncos in 2002) Vastly underappreciated back who rushed for 1,508 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie and topped 1,000 yards in six of his first seven NFL seasons. Coveted enough to be traded for cornerback Champ Bailey, Portis had four seasons with at least 325 carries -- only six backs in NFL history have more and none of them came into the league since Portis did. In time, receiver A.J. Brown may get the call at 51, as he too has topped 1,000 yards in six of his seven NFL seasons. 52. Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan (selected by Green Bay Packers in 2006) In a few years, receiver George Pickens may have done enough to get the nod at 52, but for now, we go with Jennings, who had two 12-touchdown seasons and two more with nine in his first six years in Green Bay. Jennings' 64 career touchdown catches and two Pro Bowls put him in here against another receiver, 2001's Chris Chambers, who had 58 and one in his 10-year NFL career. 53. Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State (selected by Green Bay Packers in 2014) Tough call here at 53, as both Adams and LeSean "Shady" McCoy have six Pro Bowls in their career. Adams is still going, so we'll give him the nod. He led the NFL with 14 touchdown catches last year, giving him 117 for his career, and another 14 would put him fourth all-time. He had six straight Pro Bowls from 2017-22 — he has five different seasons with at least 12 touchdown catches, and the only players with more are Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss. 54. Anquan Boldin, WR, Florida State (selected by Arizona State in 2003) You don't expect him to be 10th all-time in career receptions, but he is. He had over 100 catches as a rookie and finished with 1,076 career receptions, along with 82 career touchdowns. He made all three of his Pro Bowls with the Cardinals, but you have to praise him for his 2012 postseason with the Ravens — 22 catches for 380 yards and four touchdowns on the way to a Super Bowl championship. 55. Andrew Whitworth, OT, LSU (selected by St. Louis Rams in 2006) Whitworth had a legendary run, with 235 career starts between 11 years with the Bengals and his final five with the Rams. He made four Pro Bowls in a six-year span from 2012-17, with two first-team All-Pro nods in there as well, and was able to go out a champ as a key piece on the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl team. 56. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Troy (selected by New York Giants in 2003) Umenyiora was an underappreciated part of two Super Bowl championship teams for the Giants — he had 3.5 sacks in the 2011 playoffs, and finished his NFL career with 85 total. Want an amazing number? He had 10 forced fumbles in 2010, matching the NFL single-season record. He also had four fumble-return touchdowns in his career. 57. Devin Hester, WR/PR/KR, Miami (Fla.) (selected by Chicago Bears in 2006) Simply the best return man in NFL history, he scored a league-record 14 touchdowns on punt returns and another five on kickoff returns. He had 11 of those touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons, helping Chicago to the Super Bowl as a rookie and returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in that game. He's a four-time Pro Bowl selection and the only Hall of Famer in this group of players drafted 57th, with a single Pro Bowl from all the rest of them. 58. Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska (selected by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012) David is a runaway winner here. He retired after the 2025 season with 215 career starts, more than 1,700 tackles and the ability to do a little bit of everything, with 42.5 sacks, 33 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions. Only one career Pro Bowl; he was stuck in the same conference as Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner for much of his career. His 177 career tackles for loss are an incredible number for an off-ball linebacker. 59. Ryan Kalil, C, USC (selected by Carolina Panthers in 2007) Kalil had five Pro Bowls in a 13-year NFL career, all but one season in Carolina — the rest of the No. 59 picks over 26 seasons have combined for just one. Kalil was also twice named first-team All-Pro, the latter in 2015 when Carolina went 15-1 and Cam Newton was the league MVP. His career was consistently limited by injuries, with five seasons in which he played eight games or fewer. 60. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, UCLA (selected by Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006) Jones-Drew rushed for 49 touchdowns in his first tour seasons, good enough to rank in the top 10 all-time for that, and a run of three straight Pro Bowls ended when he led the NFL with 1,606 rushing yards in 2011, still a Jaguars team record. Only 5-foot-7 but a sturdy 210 pounds, he also caught 201 passes in his first four seasons. His longtime Jaguars teammate, center Brad Meester, was also drafted 60th overall and finished with 209 career starts in Jacksonville. 61. Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado (selected by San Diego Chargers in 2005) Jackson had great runs with two franchises, with three 1,000-yard seasons each with the Chargers and Bucs. Always a deep threat, Jackson averaged 16.8 yards per catch for his career — of 184 players with at least 500 career catches, his average yards per catch ranks 11th-best all-time. If we didn't choose Jackson, we could go with defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who matched Jackson's three Pro Bowls in 13 years with the Lions. 62. Brian O'Neill, OT, Pitt (selected by Minnesota Vikings in 2018) O'Neill has 120 starts in eight seasons in Minnesota, playing at least 14 games every year as a reliable presence on the offensive line. He has two Pro Bowls (2021, 2024) and is entering the final season of a five-year, $92 million contract. He was Pro Football Focus' No. 12 tackle in 2025, the second-highest ranking of his career. Not a ton of great players taken at 62, but you could also look at corners like James Bradberry (2016) and Casey Hayward (2012). 63. Travis Kelce, TE, Cincinnati (selected by Kansas City Chiefs in 2013) It should be noted that Kelce was actually a third-round pick, but he was pick No. 63 in the 2013 draft. So, he get's the nod here. With 11 straight Pro Bowls and counting, Kelce is the easy choice at No. 63. He ranks eighth in NFL history with 1,080 career receptions and can move up to fifth this fall with just 23 more catches. A three-time Super Bowl champ with the Chiefs, he has 20 career postseason touchdowns — two more and he'll match Jerry Rice for the most all-time. He's a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer and has earned $111 million over his NFL career, even if he's not the real breadwinner in his relationship. 64. DK Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss (selected by Seattle Seahawks in 2019) Metcalf, always a physical presence at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, has had at least five touchdowns in all seven of his NFL seasons — 54 total — with three 1,000-yard seasons and two Pro Bowl nods. Can he find the same success in Pittsburgh as he did in Seattle his first six years? That remains to be seen. As final picks of the second round go, he gets the nod here over defensive lineman Darnell Dockett (2004) and safety Kevin Byard (2016).

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Colin Cowherd on Rams Taking QB in NFL Draft: 'The Real Winner is Ty Simpson'

Well, it certainly seems that the Los Angeles Rams have found their Matthew Stafford successor. In one of the statement selections on Night 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Rams took Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick, a move that presumably makes him the heir apparent to the 38-year-old Stafford, who's the reigning NFL MVP. Did the Rams, who reached the NFC Championship Game last season, make a mistake by not taking a player who will start from the jump? Colin Cowherd, for one, sees the reasoning in the Rams taking Simpson. "I don't love Ty Simpson. Do I think it's a reach? Yeah, but you can't get Ty Simpson in the second or third round this year, and the Rams are going to be at the bottom of the first round next year," Cowherd said on Friday's edition of "The Herd" about the Rams drafting Simpson. "They could win the Super Bowl; they're going to be drafting No. 31 or 32. How many picks would it take to get a top-five quarterback next year? That's the question because, next year, you cross your fingers Stafford doesn't get banged up. You cross your fingers he doesn't have back issues. Many of the top quarterbacks, even young guys, get hurt, so if you're a Super Bowl team, it's important to have a high-end backup. … "I would've taken an offensive tackle, but this is an organization that gets wide receivers in the fifth round — Puka Nacua — and the third round — Cooper Kupp. They went and got Jordan Whittington in the sixth round; he's, at worst, a No. 4 receiver." Los Angeles had the No. 13 pick as a result of a 2025 NFL Draft night trade with the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, the Rams traded the No. 29 pick to the Kansas City Chiefs as part of a deal to acquire cornerback and 2023 All-Pro Trent McDuffie in March. After serving as backup to both Bryce Young (No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft) and Jalen Milroe (third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2025) from 2022-24, Simpson got the starting nod for the Crimson Tide in 2025. In Simpson's lone season as Alabama's starting quarterback, he totaled 3,567 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 145.2 passer rating, while completing 64.5% of his passes. Simpson and the Crimson Tide reached the College Football Playoff, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners on their home turf in the first round before losing to the Indiana Hoosiers in the quarterfinal round. "The real winner is Ty Simpson," Cowherd said. "He gets [Rams head coach] Sean McVay [and] doesn't have to play for two years in that culture. Ty Simpson, you couldn't land in a better place. McVay took Baker Mayfield with one practice and Baker Mayfield was outstanding with one practice. This kid's [Simpson] going to have 300 practices and like six preseason games before he ever takes a big-time snap in the NFL. It's just not the worst thing in the world." Regarding Stafford's 2025 MVP campaign, he led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns in the regular season, while posting a career-high 109.2 passer rating and throwing just eight interceptions. He then led the sport with 936 passing yards and six passing touchdowns across three postseason games. Stafford has one year remaining on his current contract. As for the rest of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Rams have picks No. 61, 93, 207, 232, 251 and 252.

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Joel Klatt Compares Ohio State Star Caleb Downs to Hall of Famer Ed Reed

Ohio State is expected to dominate the first round of the NFL Draft, but safety Caleb Downs could prove to be the biggest wildcard of all. The safety position is often one of the most difficult to evaluate and value on draft night, much like running back on the offensive side. If anyone understands the kind of talent Downs can bring to the next level, it’s FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt. He joined "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on Thursday afternoon to preview the draft and believes Downs could be one of the safest picks in the class. Klatt was even more bullish on his upside, comparing Downs to a Hall of Fame safety. "One of the comps that I like, but people shy away from, is Ed Reed," Klatt said. "The reason is because it’s one thing to be smart, do your job on the field and then kill it on the whiteboard and really understand football. It’s another thing to allow those instincts, intelligence and preparation to show up on the field." Downs is viewed as a player with tremendous upside, especially given his experience in three different defensive schemes throughout his time in college. He began his true freshman year at Alabama before transferring to Ohio State in 2024, where he won a national championship. "They revamped the entire defense specifically for Caleb to put him in the middle of the field and allow his instincts to be more impactful," Klatt said. "This guy with this amount of instincts and this IQ has played in three different defenses in three years and is still the smartest player on the field." Klatt said what separates Downs from other prospects in the class is his ability to adapt quickly and still dominate at every stop. "This guy had 100 tackles at Alabama for Nick Saban and goes to Ohio State and immediately became the best defender on the field for a national championship team," Klatt said. "They built the entire schematics around him." 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. His production and range only reinforced his reputation as one of the most instinctive defensive backs in the country, consistently impacting games in multiple phases. "He can line up anywhere but then play any position from any part of the field, very similar to Reed," Klatt said. "That’s something that Caleb can do and that disguise aspect of his game, I think, is highly valuable." For NFL teams looking for a modern defensive chess piece, Downs may be as close to a sure thing as this draft class offers.

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2026 NFL Mock Draft: No Ty Simpson in Round 1? Nick Wright Predicts 1st Round

The final mock draft of the 2026 NFL Draft season has arrived. As we're just hours away from the first round kicking off in Pittsburgh on Thursday, "First Things First's" Nick Wright unveiled his final predictions for the first 32 picks. Who will the New York Jets take at No. 2? What will the New York Giants do with their two top-10 picks? Will Ty Simpson be a first-round pick? Here's how Wright sees the first round going. Wright: "I would say if you’re a Raider fan, your baseline expectation is he finally gives you stability at the position that you have not had since Derek Carr. If he only is Derek Carr, that is disappointing as a No. 1 pick. "To me, he profiles as about Kirk Cousins’ level in terms of quarterback hierarchy in the league, but you hope he can be that with a better big-game performance." Wright: "The comp that people will use is Micah as a guy who didn't really have a position. Micah, while he played a lot of linebacker at Penn State, he's been almost exclusively a D-end in the pros. I think this is more the opposite. I think his best spot is more that traditional middle-linebacker role. "The Jets desperately need a star on defense. He is considered one of the safer picks in the draft." Wright: "No. 3  is probably a little rich for a tackle. They're a little worried about if he's going to need back surgery. They've spent their first-round pick the last three years on defensive lineman. They already have Parris Johnson as their left tackle. "I could see Washington or New Orleans trading up to three." Wright: "The Titans have, in my opinion, the least explosive and the least amount of raw talent of any skill position team in the league. "They need a playmaker. There's a reason everyone has mocked Jeremiyah Love to the Titans for months." Wright: "There is no interior D-lineman worth anywhere near the fifth overall pick. So, a player like Sonny Styles who can help you against the run and also create explosive plays, I would be pretty stunned if Sonny Styles was there at five and wasn't the pick." Wright: "I don't think this draft has a bunch of superstars with how they project, but he is clearly the safest receiver in this class. … The Browns now have Cedric Tillman, Isaiah Bond and Jerry Jeudy as their receiver. They need some juice." Wright: "Downs had an argument for his last two years at Ohio State that was the best player in college football." Wright: "If he does start to slide, he's a player I could see the Chiefs trading up for. He obviously could go as high as No. 2, but if he doesn't go No. 2, I don't think he goes three or four and a team could jump up to get him." Wright: "Because of the short arms, he comps to Brandon Graham. I watched Brandon Graham, in the Super Bowl, with a strip sack of Tom Brady. "You know what helps [Patrick] Mahomes? Short fields, forcing turnovers. The Chiefs have not had an impact pass-rusher since Frank Clark." Wright: "The broken collarbone and torn ACL … those don't feel like recurring injuries. When you watch him play, you're like, ‘Oh, I could see that hurt his hamstring more.’ That's what concerns me more." Wright: "When you have holes everywhere, this is the last premium position where you can get the No. 1 player of the position. Quarterback, running back are gone. Wide receiver is gone. … If you want to be able to get a chance to get the No. 1 player at his position, it's cornerback or tight end." Wright: "If you're Dallas, I think they would've loved it if Delane was available. I could see them moving up to draft one of the impact pass-rushers, but I think this is a really good pick." Wright: "The Rams are truly one of the only teams where they're in a luxury-pick situation where they don't have an overwhelming need. "Davante Adams is an older player, you don't expect him to be around much longer. And, all of a sudden, you have questions about Puka Nacua." Wright: "When the Ravens take a non-glamor position early, that has worked out." Wright: "The Bucs went from having an embarrassment of riches at receiver to Emeka Egbuka and question marks." Wright: "The issue here is he missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL. I think most people felt — if it were Madden and injuries were turned off — he's the most talented corner in this draft." Wright: "(Dan Campbell) has been doing a great job of drafting. He likes to get in the trenches, too. Their plan is to kick [Penei] Sewell out to left tackle. … They need help on the offensive line." Wright: "Nowadays, it's like, why didn't you get paid a bunch of money to go elsewhere? He, I think, will be the exception. Also, they had Harrison Smith as their safety for 14 years. They have Josh Mettelus and Jay Ward back there. They need a safety. This is a good safety draft." Wright: "They have spent four straight first-round picks on the offensive side of the ball. Back-to-back on wide receivers. … The best first-round picks on their roster are the last two defensive players — Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. I understand they paid Jaelen Phillips 200 cents on the dollar to come try to help their pass rush. One man is not enough." Wright: "This is one of the only mock drafts where you're going to see this guy go in the first round. He is the top off-ball linebacker outside of the Ohio State guys. … I think they might reach a bit for a position of need." Wright: "This would be the third tackle they've taken in Round 1 in the last four years. You don't love that. … I want to see Roger Goodell go to the podium in Pittsburgh, the crowd roaring and have them announce, ‘Ty Simpson, Alabama.' I don't think they're going to. … I would love to see it. I don't think it's going to happen." Wright: "Quinten Johnston didn't work. Hasn't worked. He's not going to be your No. 1 receiver. … This guy does not have to play in the slot. Now I do think the Deebo Samuel comparison is correct, where they could use him out of the backfield, use him a bunch of different ways. … I think [Justin] Herbert needs another weapon." Wright: "The Eagles have five first-rounders and two second-rounders on their defense. They have drafted defense, defense, defense. They haven't had to worry about right tackle in 15 years because of future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson. [Jordan] Mailata is there at left tackle, Lane is their at right tackle, but you need to start grooming his replacement." Wright: "They need help everywhere on offense. … They signed three offensive linemen this offseason. They still need more help. … I think [Miller] would still be good value." Wright: "5.5 sacks in the CFP … Super productive player. Played a long time. I think the Bears have to improve the pass rush." Wright: "[McDonald] next to Ed Oliver, all of a sudden, that is — the last team that had two d-tackles that were standouts were those Commanders teams. … You couldn't run on them. That would be the idea." Wright: "[Lomu] potentially being able to, as a rookie, play guard is important. … They need help throughout the offensive line. That has been an issue." Wright: "The Texans have needed to upgrade the offensive line since, basically, I was working in Houston. The last standout offensive tackle they had was Dwyane Brown. … One of the most impressive things about C.J. [Stroud] during his rookie year, was he did it without an offensive line. Then they trade away [Laremy] Tunsil. … They have had this revolving door, so they have to go offensive line." Wright: "The Chiefs haven't had just a big, 6-4 go-get-it receiver, really, in Mahomes' career. … I like the fit in Denzel Boston." Wright: "Coach doesn't like my draft for the Dolphins." Wright: "Since you lost K'Lavion Chaisson, you're only returning one player who had more than one sack. You don't have a difference-making pass-rusher. I would think that they're going to go defensive line." Wright: "They need to replace [Riq] Woolen."

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2026 NFL Draft Odds: How Many of Each Position Will Be Selected in First Round?

Based on the odds, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza will be the first player whose name comes off the board later this month in the NFL Draft. But how many quarterbacks will join Mendoza as first-round picks? For that matter, how many running backs, wide receivers and other positions will have the distinction of being selected in Round 1? Here are the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 22. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 NFL Draft Total Quarterbacks Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)Under 1.5: +180 (bet $10 to win $228 total) What to know: According to FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz, one more quarterback will accompany Mendoza as a first-round pick, although he doesn't particularly agree with the strategy. "I wouldn’t draft Ty Simpson in the first round, but I’m not the Jets," he wrote. "The long history of NFL failure for players who started only one year in college would concern me. But it appears the Jets seem unbothered by this." Total Cornerbacks Drafted in First Round Over 4.5: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)Under 4.5: -700 (bet $10 to win $11.43 total) Total Offensive Linemen Drafted in First Round Over 7.5: -300 (bet $10 to win $13.33 total)Under 7.5: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total) Total Running Backs Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)Under 1.5: -700 (bet $10 to win $14 total) What to know: Could there be only one running back drafted in the first round in 2026? The Over/Under suggests that could be the case, with Under 1.5 having the shortest odds in this spot. But Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt disagrees. He has Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price — both from Notre Dame — coming off the board in Round 1. "A lot of people believe Love is the best non-quarterback in the draft. Arizona would get a running back who can move between the tackles, hit home runs on the outside and catch passes as a slot receiver," Klatt wrote about Love. About Price, he continued, saying, "I know Price was Love's backup, but he's clearly the second-best running back in this draft." Total Safeties Drafted in First Round Over 2.5: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)Under 2.5: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total) Total Tight Ends Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)Under 1.5: -2000 (bet $10 to win $10.50 total) Total Wide Receivers Drafted in First Round Over 5.5: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)Under 5.5: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total) What to know: Several NFL squads will look to fill the WR position in 2026, and for some, the search for their next great wide out begins in April. But exactly how many receivers will come off the board in the first round? In his most recent mock draft, Klatt has five — Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Makai Lemon (USC), Omar Cooper (Indiana) and Denzel Boston (Washington). Schwartz, on the other hand, has five. His include Tate, Lemon, Cooper, KC Concepcion and Tyson.

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