Cardinals Take Miami QB Carson Beck To Open Third Round
The third quarterback comes off the board on Day 2 as the Cardinals have opened the third round by selecting Miami quarterback Carson Beck. Many believed Arizona would not be exiting the second day of the 2026 NFL Draft without a new passer, and the Hurricanes passer has emerged as the team’s preferred option.
Over six years at the collegiate level (five at Georgia, one at Miami), Beck’s story was a rollercoaster. After redshirting as a true freshman in 2020, Beck watched new division rival Stetson Bennett IV win two national championships for the Bulldogs before he finally got his opportunity to start in 2023. Beck showed a ton of promise in his first year running the offense, going 13-1 while completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.
After being identified as a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck’s production took a step back in his second year as a starter. His accuracy became an issue as his completion percentage dropped significantly and his interception total doubled. Adding insult to injury, his time in Athens came to an end when he suffered a UCL injury in an SEC Championship victory, requiring surgery on his throwing elbow. After briefly considering sticking with the plan to head to the NFL, Beck opted instead to transfer to Miami. Aided by one of the country’s top offensive lines, Beck showed improved efficiency as he led the Hurricanes to a College Football Playoff National Championship Game of his own.
Beck and the Hurricanes fell just short of the pinnacle of the sport; their chances of glory disappeared in the waning moments of the fourth quarter with a final untimely interception. That final pick meant Beck’s season total would reach 12 for the second year in a row, but in 2025, eight of his interceptions came in only three games, as he bunched all of his mistakes in a few games and showed better consistency in a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde act in Coral Gables. And though his collegiate legacy will be that of a passer who always seemed to come up just short, his 37-6 record as a starter is not easy to ignore.
Beck heads to Arizona where an intriguing situation awaits him. Veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett is back for 2026 after starting 12 games as an injury replacement for Kyler Murray. Despite his status as a career bridge quarterback, linking one era of passer to another, Brissett has been adamantly pushing for a “starter-level extension” with the Cardinals. Unfortunately, general manager Monti Ossenfort declined to name a starter, wanting to wait and “see how the room looks in August.” Brissett has been staying away from voluntary team activities, as a result, and if he continues to hold out, Beck should see plenty of snaps early.
Brissett is clearly the likely starter for Arizona in 2026, but leaving the door open at all for Beck to gain some ground and chemistry next to fellow offensive rookie Jeremiyah Love could be a dangerous gamble. The Cardinals as taking a flyer in the hopes of striking oil here, but Beck, a humble, experienced leader, could easily continue to develop into a starter at the NFL level.
Bills Grab No. 62 From Broncos, Draft CB Davison Igbinosun
A run of tight ends have gone off the board. After the most recent TE selection came at No. 61, a Broncos team that has done extensive work at that position is moving down the board.
The Bills will send Nos. 66 and 182 to the Broncos for No. 62, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Buffalo chose Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun, adding another player to new coordinator Jim Leonhard‘s defense. The Bills spent their first pick (No. 35) on Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker.
The 6-foot-2, 189-pound Igbinosun garnered significant experience during a four-year college career divided between Mississippi and Ohio State. He spent just one year at Ole Miss, where he racked up 37 tackles and five passes defensed over 13 games in 2022.
After leaving for the Buckeyes, Igbinosun worked as a three-year starter on a star-studded defense. He was especially productive from 2024-25, a 30-game stretch in which he combined for 98 tackles and four interceptions. Igbinosun earned first-team All-Big Ten honors after posting his second straight two-pick season last year. He allowed a mere 22 catches and only one for 20 or more yards in 2025, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Brugler ranked Igbinosun as the 68th-best prospect available entering the draft.
Igbinosun struggled with penalties at Ohio State, but the Bills nonetheless regard him as a fit in their new scheme. This is the second year in a row the Bills have invested prime draft capital in a corner, having used a first-rounder on Maxwell Hairston in 2025. But they came into the draft severely lacking outside corner depth behind Hairston and No. 1 option Christian Benford. General manager Brandon Beane has left the door open for re-signing Tre’Davious White, but that may be off the table if the Bills expect Igbinosun to serve as their No. 3 next season.
Titans Obtain No. 60 From Bears, Draft LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The Bears are moving out of No. 60 overall, giving the Titans that selection. Tennessee is sending Chicago Nos. 69 and 144, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
Tennessee is adding Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. with the late second-rounder. Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 37 overall prospect, Hill lasts to 60 and will head to a Titans team that was closely linked to Sonny Styles in Round 1. Tennessee instead chose one of Styles’ teammates, wideout Carnell Tate, and addressed its LB room tonight.
Hill joins holdovers Cody Barton and Cedric Gray. The Titans signed Barton last year, with GM Mike Borgonzi in place but Chad Brinker controlling the roster. They added Gray in the 2024 fourth round, when Ran Carthon was GM and Brian Callahan HC. Saleh and Borgonzi are now runnign the show in Nashville, and it would stand to reason Hill will be viewed as an early-career starter — if now a Week 1 first-stringer.
Hill is the first off-ball linebacker to be a Titans draftee in the first or second rounds since Rashaan Evans‘ Round 1 arrival eight years ago. Saleh also did not draft a linebacker on Days 1 or 2 during his Jets run, though he has extensive experience developing standouts at the position — as the careers of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and Quincy Williams show.
The 6-3, 238-pounder filled the stat sheet during Texas’ run to the CFP semifinals in 2024. Hill totaled a team-leading 113 stops, along with an SEC-most 16.5 tackles for loss. He added eight sacks and four forced fumbles. That production led to a number of accolades, including first-team All-SEC and All-American honors. Hill remained highly impactful against both the run and pass in 2025, although a broken hand left him sidelined for the final two games of the season.
This came after Hill earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2023. The Titans are certainly acquiring an experienced college LB, who finished his Longhorns career with 17 sacks despite playing just three seasons. Despite this experience, Hill is just 21. The Titans will gauge his readiness beginning in rookie minicamp.
49ers Trade No. 58 To Browns; S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren To Stay In Ohio
The Browns have already made three picks in this draft, but they are moving up the board to make a fourth top-60 selection. The 49ers are sending them Nos. 58 & 152 in exchange for Nos. 70 & 107. As a result, Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is heading across the state to play in Cleveland’s secondary.
A three-year starter for the Rockets, McNeil-Warren lit up the stat sheet in his sophomore year as he made plays all over the gridiron. A five-game absence due to injury hurt his junior year production, but the 6-foot-3, 200-pound safety returned for his senior campaign and, once again, showed he was a playmaker. In 35 games as a starter, McNeil-Warren has 207 total tackles, a sack, 11 tackles for loss, five interceptions (one returned for a score), 13 passes defensed, and eight forced fumbles.
The 22-year-old had hopes of becoming only the third Toledo first-round pick, but ultimately, being the target of a second-round trade should be solid consolation. McNeil-Warren boasts a unique blend of size and speed for a rangy safety who can make an impact all over the field. Strong ball skills, quick, fluid hips, and a mastery of the Peanut Punch should give McNeil-Warren a strong chance to carve out a role on a strong Cleveland defense as a rookie.
Cleveland returns both starting safeties in Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman next year, but both players are on contract years in 2026. On a defense that boasts the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, though, McNeil-Warren should feel the freedom to let loose even with limited opportunities and allow his strong instincts to take over.McNeil-Warren’s ability to play anywhere on the field should open the door for some early playing opportunities, and if the Browns allow Delpit or Hickman to walk in free agency, McNeil-Warren would have a clear path to a starting role.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Patriots Acquire No. 55 From Chargers, Draft EDGE Gabe Jacas
The Chargers will allow the Patriots to climb up a few spots. New England is moving up to No. 55. The Patriots are selecting Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas.
The Pats are sending Nos. 63, 101 and 202 to the Bolts in exchange for that 55th overall selection. This is the second straight move-up for New England, which did the same in the first round. The reigning AFC champions came into the draft with the 31st pick, but they sent it to the division-rival Bills in a deal for No. 28. The Patriots then addressed a key need in choosing Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. They have checked another box with the Jacas pick.
Despite ranking 19th in pass rush win rate and 26th in sacks last season, the Patriots went 14-3 and advanced to the Super Bowl. They have since lost one of their sack leaders from 2025, K’Lavon Chaisson, who left for the Commanders in free agency. The Patriots added Dre’Mont Jones via the open market, but he is also versatile enough to line up on the inside. Jacas will join Jones and Harold Landry as the Patriots’ top edge rushers next season. The soon-to-be 22-year-old will also add some much-needed youth at the position. Both Jones and Landry will turn 30 in 2027.
The high-motor Jacas was productive in all four years at Illinois, where he played 50 games and registered 27 sacks. He posted personal bests in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (11) in 2025, a first-team All-Big Ten season. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder also forced three fumbles for the second year in a row. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Jacas as the 49th-best prospect available before the draft, lauding his “powerful, proficient technique.”
Panthers Acquire No. 49 From Vikings, Draft DT Lee Hunter
The Panthers are moving up two spots in Round 2, snaring No. 39 from the Vikings. Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter is Charlotte-bound as a result. Minnesota will collect Nos. 51 and 159 from Carolina in exchange for Nos. 49 and 196, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
Hunter put himself on draft boards early in his collegiate career at UCF. After making an immediate impact at a position that often requires some development as a true freshman, Hunter took on a starting role as a sophomore for the Knights. He exploded onto the scene in Orlando, posting career highs in total tackles (69), sacks (3.0), and tackles for loss (11.0). After producing another sack and 9.5 tackles for loss in his junior year, Hunter opted to transfer to Lubbock, to take on a starting role on what would become one of the nation’s best defensive lines.
Hunter continued to produce for the Red Raiders, notching 2.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Though he found success in his pass rushing opportunities at Tech, that likely won’t be where Hunter excels at the NFL level. He profiles as an elite run stopper.
The 320-pound lineman carries his weight with a surprising ease and fluidity. Strong arms make his immovable frame that much more imposing against offensive lines that often attempt double teams to no avail. He’ll need some technique work at the next level but immediately becomes a go-to in must stop running downs for the Panthers defense.
Carolina has struggled to find consistent talent with which to surround star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, but he’s been a lone star on the defensive line for years. Hunter may not be an every down contributor, but he has a strong chance to be a huge asset for the Panthers early and often.
Colts Send Steelers No. 47; WR Germie Bernard Heading To Pittsburgh
The draft’s hosts pleased the crowd by trading up a few spots. The Colts sent No. 47 overall to the Steelers. Pittsburgh is taking Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard.
Pittsburgh will send Indianapolis Nos. 53, 135 and 237 for Nos. 47 and 249, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The Bernard pick comes a night after the team nearly chose USC’s Makai Lemon 21st overall. The Eagles made a last-second trade to move up from 23rd overall to 20th, where they swiped Lemon from the Steelers.
This is the second noteworthy trade of the offseason between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. On March 9, the first day of the league year, the Colts shipped receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers for a late-round pick swap.
Pittman immediately became one of the Steelers’ top two wideouts, joining D.K. Metcalf, but the team went into the draft with little else at the position. That explains the interest in Lemon and the selection of Bernard, who is considered a pro-ready pass catcher. Dane Brugler of The Athletic (41st) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (49th) ranked Bernard a top-50 prospect entering the draft, making it no surprise he came off the board at No. 47.
The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Bernard started his college career in 2022 at Michigan State, where he was low on a depth chart that also included Keon Coleman and Jayden Reed. After catching just seven passes in 12 games with the Spartans, Bernard transferred to Washington. Although he was again stuck behind a few familiar receivers (Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan), Bernard racked up 34 catches and 419 yards in 14 games with the Huskies.
Washington proved to be a second straight one-year stay for Bernard, who followed head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama in 2024. His production wound up taking off in Tuscaloosa. Bernard hauled in 50 receptions, 794 yards and two scores in 13 games his first year with the Crimson Tide. He then recorded career bests in catches (64), yards (862) and TDs (seven) over 14 games in 2025.
If Bernard’s success transfers from Alabama to Pittsburgh, he could quickly emerge as a reliable target for the Steelers’ quarterback, be it Aaron Rodgers or someone else. In doing so, he would provide a solid capable complement to the 6-foot-4 Pittman-Metcalf duo.
Giants Engaged In Kayvon Thibodeaux Trade Talks; Saints Showing Interest
6:57pm: While Thibodeaux could be on the move soon — he dropped a Paul Walker Furious 7 image on his Instagram after this latest rumor circulated — GM Joe Schoen said (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) no trade is being discussed now.
5:13pm: Similar to their Mathias Kiwanuka and Jason Pierre-Paul first-round picks earlier this century, the Giants have stacked their edge-rushing corps by drafting Arvell Reese. That came after Abdul Carter arrived in New York despite the presences of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
While the Giants are preparing to start Reese as an off-ball linebacker — presumably with pass-down rush responsibilities a la an early-career Von Miller — a logjam has formed here. The Giants may be prepared to resolve the issue tonight. They are engaged in trade talks on Thibodeaux, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. The Saints are among the teams showing “strong interest.”
If the Giants do not move Thibodeaux, he might not have a starting role. A fascinating NASCAR package-style setup in which all four edge rushers share the field would generate intrigue — like the Giants’ JPP-Kiwanuka-Justin Tuck-Osi Umenyiora line did during the 2011 Super Bowl XLVI-winning season — but Thibodeaux’s name has come up in trade talks for several weeks. With one year left on his contract, the former No. 5 overall pick may soon need to relocate.
The Saints have been in on Thibodeaux since February, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. In late February, a report indicated the Giants were listening on the Oregon product. Days later, they were viewed as preferring to trade him. This was well before it was viewed likely that Reese — who was closely tied to the Jets at No. 2 overall — could fall to 5.
Although a potential early-Day 3 pick has been floated as satisfactory compensation, a recent report indicated the Giants were not prepared to accept anything south of a Day 2 choice for Thibodeaux. While Chase Young, Jaelan Phillips, Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler generated third-rounders (or thirds and then something else) in contract years, Thibodeaux has been inconsistent as a pass rusher. He has one six-sack season on his resume, and that 11.5-sack 2023 season looks like an outlier. The Giants look to have vacillated on whether to keep or trade Thibodeaux this offseason, the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy adds. The Reese pick certainly stands to increase internal trade interest.
The Saints were connected to potentially trading up for Reese in Round 1. The Chiefs then viewed them as a threat for cornerback Mansoor Delane. But New Orleans did not move up the board and then left Rueben Bain Jr. there, choosing wideout Jordyn Tyson at No. 8. New Orleans returns Young and Carl Granderson but has not re-signed franchise sack kingpin Cameron Jordan, who is entering an age-37 season.
Thibodeaux, 25, is due fully guaranteed $14.75MM salary this season — his fifth-year option campaign — but is coming off a second straight injury-shortened year. After missing five games in 2024, he missed seven in ’25. It would be surprising if anyone offered more than a third-rounder for the former top prospect, and it is worth wondering if the Giants would accept a fourth-rounder and another Day 3 pick to finalize this deal. By engaging in talks now, the team appears to be hoping an EDGE-needy team will offer that elusive third to finish this process.
Lions Trade Up To Select DE Derrick Moore
The Lions are jumping up six spots in the second round, sending the 50th and 128th overall picks to the Jets for the right to draft Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore at No. 44 overall. Detroit takes a chance here on the in-state edge rusher who hit double-digit sacks for the Wolverines last year, pairing him with their other Michigan-made star in the pass rush.
A year after Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo wrapped up their careers at Michigan, Moore arrived on campus, working in as a rotational pass rusher off the bench as a true freshman. In Years 2 & 3, though he wasn’t named a starter, Moore found himself on the field just as much as the edge rushers on the first-team defense and produced at a similar rate. Finally named a full-time starter this past season, Moore made the most of his opportunity, posting career highs in sacks (10.0) and tackles for loss (10.5).
Detroit found a clear star edge rusher in 2022 when Hutchinson came on board and rattled off 21.0 sacks in his first two seasons, almost singlehandedly elevating the Lions’ pass rush. He looked to be on track for a career-best year in 2024 when a season-ending injury limited him to only 7.5 sacks in five games. Emphasizing how much he meant to the team’s defense, over the 12 remaining games of the season, no defender unseated him for the team lead in sacks. The team enjoyed Hutchinson’s return last year and even got a surprise contribution from veteran rotational edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad as the pair tallied 14.5 and 11.0 sacks, respectively.
Having tasted the joys of a defense with two double-digit sack getters, losing Muhammad to free agency made edge rusher a priority in the offseason. Detroit signed former Panthers starter D.J. Wonnum as a free agent replacement, but with a career-high sack total of eight, which he’s now two years removed from, the Lions may not have considered the room complete. Moore will come in to supplement the group, but his path to a starting role may be much the same as it was in Ann Arbor. Unless his 10.0-sack performance last year unlocked something in the 23-year-old’s game, some development may be needed to raise the ceiling on this Day 2 draft pick.
Cowboys Acquire LB Dee Winters From 49ers
The Cowboys are acquiring linebacker Dee Winters from the 49ers, Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater of NFL Network report. San Francisco will get a fifth-round pick (No. 152) in return, per Pelissero.
A native of Brenham, Texas, and a TCU product, Winters is returning to his home state after spending the first three years of his career with the 49ers. They spent a 2023 sixth-round pick on Winters, whose role increased in each of his seasons in their uniform.
Winters played 15 games as a rookie, but he did not register a start. Almost all of his work (226 of 286 snaps) came on special teams. That changed during another 15-game season in 2024 for Winters, who amassed 398 defensive snaps and 162 on the ST unit. He finished the season with 44 tackles and four passes defensed.
Last year, after Dre Greenlaw joined the Broncos in free agency, Winters took on a full-time starting role. Playing on an injury-riddled team that lost superstar linebacker Fred Warner for the season in October, Winters managed his first 17-game campaign. He placed second among 49ers defenders in snap share (91.52%) and totaled 101 tackles, eight TFL, five passes defensed and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked Winters’ performance a middle-of-the-pack 47th among 88 qualifiers at his position.
The 49ers reunited with Greenlaw in free agency last March, and they expect Warner to return to full strength after suffering a brutal ankle injury. They also count Tatum Bethune, 2025 third-rounder Nick Martin and Luke Gifford among their depth options, leaving Winters as the odd man out.
Meanwhile, after one of the worst defensive campaigns in franchise history, the Cowboys entered the offseason in desperate need of help at linebacker (among other areas). Hoping to find a partner for DeMarvion Overshown, they swung and missed on high-profile free agent targets such as Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker. The team considered trading for Steelers’ Patrick Queen earlier in the offseason, but it will now turn to Winters as he enters the last year of his rookie contract. The addition of Winters continues a busy couple of days for Dallas’ defense, which previously picked up safety Caleb Downs and edge defender Malachi Lawrence in the first round of the draft.