Browns Meet With WR KC Concepcion, TE Kenyon Sadiq
The Browns are clearly lacking receiving weapons as the 2026 NFL Draft nears. Armed with two first-round picks, they could snag at least one pass catcher with a high selection. The team hosted a pair of likely first-rounders in Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq on Wednesday, per reports from Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Cleveland is light at wideout, especially after Jerry Jeudy‘s production plummeted last season. Jeudy went from 90 catches and 1,229 yards in 2024 to 50 and 602 in those categories in 2025. No other returning Browns receiver even reached the 25-catch mark, and they have not added anyone of note to the group this offseason. That explains their interest in Concepcion and several other draft-bound receivers. Concepcion may be more realistic for the Browns’ second first-rounder (No. 24) than their top selection (No. 6).
The Browns are not expected to re-sign longtime starting tight end David Njoku, who remains a free agent, after finding a replacement last year. A third-round rookie in 2025, Harold Fannin was a rare bright spot in Cleveland’s offense. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder led the Browns in catches (72), yards (731) and receiving touchdowns (six). Fannin’s presence suggests the Browns do not need to make a major investment in a tight end. However, as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator from 2023-25, new Browns head coach Todd Monken made use of the Mark Andrews–Isaiah Likely pass-catching duo.
Monken and the Browns will at least consider pairing Sadiq with Fannin, though it is unclear if they are interested in using a top-10 pick on the position. Sadiq may not be there at 24, yet six could be too rich in this case. Only three tight ends (including Kellen Winslow II to the Browns in 2004) have come off the board at No. 6 or higher since 2000.
Regardless of whether the Browns take him, Sadiq looks like a shoo-in first-rounder after a second-team All-America season and a spectacular performance at the Combine. He has a notable Cleveland connection in quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who played with Sadiq at Oregon in 2024. That may not matter, though, considering Gabriel is not expected to start for the Browns in 2026.
CB Jermod McCoy To Visit Panthers
Despite missing last season with a torn ACL, Tennesee’s Jermod McCoy may be one of the two best cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. Two weeks away from the draft, McCoy is on Carolina’s radar. The Panthers will host McCoy on Friday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
This is the first known visit for McCoy, who did his best to allay concerns over his knee at Tennessee’s pro day on March 31. The 20-year-old clocked in at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, logged a 38-inch vertical jump, and registered a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump. Along with his athletic gifts, the 6-foot-1, 188-pound McCoy has good size and a quality on-field track record.
McCoy had Ivy League offers going into college, but he committed to Tulane and then flipped to Oregon State. In 2023, which proved to be his lone season with the Beavers, McCoy pulled in a pair of interceptions in 12 games. He then transferred to Tennessee, where he excelled during his healthy Volunteers season. McCoy picked off four passes in 2024 en route to a second-team All-America selection. While he was unable to build on that performance last year, McCoy is nonetheless battling LSU’s Mansoor Delane for top corner honors in this draft. Both players look like surefire first-rounders.
As owners of the 19th overall pick, the Panthers may be out of range for McCoy, whom Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks as the 15th-best prospect available. The Panthers’ most recent first-round investment at corner came when they chose Jaycee Horn eighth overall in 2021. Now a back-to-back Pro Bowler, Horn inked a four-year, $100MM extension last offseason.
McCoy could team with Horn to comprise Carolina’s long-term corner duo, which may eventually push Mike Jackson out of the organization. Jackson was a 17-game starter opposite Horn in each of the past two years. Although Jackson was especially productive in 2025, the 29-year-old has just one season left on his contract. Drafting McCoy could lead Jackson elsewhere in free agency next March.
Falcons Looking To Acquire Draft Picks
Ian Cunningham‘s first draft at the helm of the Falcons is approaching. Atlanta’s new general manager currently has only five picks to work with, but that could soon change.
“For us, it’s one of those things where we have to go into this thinking we only have five picks. That’s worst case,” Cunningham said (via the team’s website) when reflecting on his offseason moves so far. “If we come out of [the draft] with just five picks, we come out of it with just five picks. We are already looking at different ways to potentially manufacture some more. But if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”
The Falcons do not have their first-rounder in 2026 thanks to the trade-up move executed by Terry Fontenot to acquire James Pearce Jr. last April. That has Cunningham and Co. in line for a lengthy wait at the beginning of this year’s event. Atlanta’s top selection as things stand is No. 48. The team also has picks 79, 122, 215 and 231.
Acquiring additional capital during rounds three through five would be a logical goal for the Falcons. The 2026 class has been noted more for its depth than its star power, and swinging a deal for a Day 1 pick would be challenging. Instead, focusing on depth acquisitions to supplement a large group of free agent additions would likely be more manageable. Cunningham noted his busy approach to free agency was partially informed by Atlanta’s lack of draft capital.
With the first few waves of open market activity in the books, attention around the league has increasingly turned toward the draft. The Falcons are coming off an eighth consecutive losing season, and Cunningham’s hire was part of a major housecleaning in the organization. Matt Ryan is in the fold as the team’s president of football, while Kevin Stefanski will lead a new-look coaching staff in 2026. Those new faces will shoulder the task of returning Atlanta to the playoffs.
A key factor in that effort will of course be the impact of the team’s draft picks over time. With Cunningham looking to increase the number of selections at his disposal, a trade down the board will be something to watch for once the draft begins.
QB Diego Pavia Visits Panthers
This year’s crop of quarterback prospects has failed to impress evaluators with only Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza seen as a clear first-round talent. He is expected to be taken by the Raiders with the first overall pick, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson could sneak into Round 1, too.
Beyond that, no NFL-bound quarterbacks profile as likely future starters. Many, though, could be inexpensive but effective backups on their rookie deals. Those players may be targets for teams that may soon be handing out pricey long-term contracts to their current quarterbacks.
One such team is the Panthers, who seem ready to commit to Bryce Young after clear steps forward in 2025, his third season in the league. Carolina has already signaled their intention to pick up his fifth-year option and may already be budgeting for a multi-year extension, though they may want to see more development in 2026 before finalizing a deal. After three years with 15-year veteran Andy Dalton as their backup, the team may now look to develop a rookie behind Young, especially if he gets a market-level extension in the next 18 months. Carolina did sign Kenny Pickett as a backup for this year, but the 28-year-old have not be a long-term option.
Vanderbilt Diego Pavia could be a Day 3 dart throw on a developmental quarterback. He visited the Panthers on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The SEC Offensive Player of the Year led the conference with a 70.6% completion rate, 29 passing touchdowns, and 9.4 yards per attempt in 2025. He finished second to Mendoza in Heisman voting, but his age and size are major concerns about his potential in the NFL. Listed as 6 feet tall in college, Pavia measured in at 5-foot-9 at the Combine, and at 24 years old, that is unlikely to change.
However, Young is 5-10, so the Panthers are clearly comfortable with a smaller quarterback. Elements of their protection scheme are likely designed to create better sightlines for Young, which would also benefit Pavia. He may not be a pro-ready backup right away, but he could develop as the third-string QB behind Pickett for a year and potentially step into a bigger role in the future.
Sometimes, though, teams use these pre-draft visits to gather intel on prospects’ teammates. More than 20% of Pavia’s completions and passing yards went to tight end Eli Stowers, currently seen as the second-best prospect at his position behind Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq. No Panthers tight end eclipsed 30 catches or 250 receiving yards last year, so they could certainly look for an upgrade in this year’s draft. Pavia could give them valuable information about Stowers as they decide if he is worth adding to their offense.
Dolphins To Host WR Denzel Boston
With his stock seemingly on the rise two-plus weeks from the draft, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston has booked another “30” visit. He will trek to Dolphins headquarters next week, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Boston was already considered a potential first-round pick entering Tuesday. An eye-opening report then surfaced indicating some teams regard Boston as one of the two or three best receivers in this draft class. If true, that puts Boston in company with Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon. Either or each of those two could go inside the top 10 or at least in the first half of the opening round.
The Dolphins own the 11th and 30th overall picks, prime spots to upgrade a barren receiving corps. If Miami selects Boston, he would immediately become its most talented pass catcher. The Dolphins traded No. 1 option Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos last month. The deal netted the Dolphins their second first-rounder (among other choices), but it left new starting quarterback Malik Willis with no real receiving threats other than running back De’Von Achane.
Malik Washington, who averaged a paltry 6.9 yards per catch on 46 receptions last season, and cheap free agent pickups Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert are likely Miami’s top receivers right now. That figures to change in a couple of weeks, whether the Dolphins use a high pick on Boston or another wideout.
The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston was a sure-handed red zone threat at Washington, where he averaged 63 catches, 858 yards and 10 touchdowns per year over the previous two seasons. Ranking Boston as the 27th-best prospect in this class, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com likens him to Broncos standout Courtland Sutton. Along with the Dolphins, Boston has booked visits with the Commanders, Steelers, 49ers and Browns.
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers Visits Rams, Titans, Cowboys; Broncos Next
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq has the athletic profile of a wide receiver, which is one of the primary reasons he has emerged as a consensus first-round prospect. Another tight end getting looks as a receiver is Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“While officially he’s a TE, several teams are evaluating him as a WR,” Rapoport writes. This comes after Stowers set a Combine record with a 45.5-inch vertical jump and ranked second among this year’s participants with a 11-foot-3 broad jump. Among tight ends, his 4.51-second 40-yard dash and 1.59-second 10-yard split trailed only Sadiq, who posted 4.39-second and 1.54-second times in each category.
While those are impressive numbers for a tight end, Stowers’ speed is relatively average for a receiver, and without agility testing, it is unclear if he can separate from cornerbacks on the outside. More likely, he is a big slot rather than a legitimate wide receiver, though splitting him outside for red zone targets could yield some touchdowns.
Stowers has been making his rounds around the league in advance of April’s draft with visits to the Rams, Titans, and Cowboys already completed. A trip to Denver is scheduled for next week, Rapoport adds.
The Rams have plenty of tight end depth with veterans Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Tyler Higbee. 2025 second-rounder Terrance Ferguson underwhelmed as a rookie but could certainly take a step forward in his second season. It’s unclear, therefore, where Stowers would fit in, unless Los Angeles is one of the teams who sees him as a receiver. They do not have much depth behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and could see Stowers as a versatile weapon to add to Sean McVay‘s offense.
The Titans let Chig Okonkwo walk in free agency and instead reunited former Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. But Bellinger has just 88 receptions for 934 yards in his career, so Tennessee could certainly stand to add an exciting young prospect to Cam Ward‘s supporting cast.
The Cowboys have Jake Ferguson signed through 2029 and did not use multiple tight ends at a high rate last year, but they could also see Stowers as an overall pass-catching addition who can complement CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens in the slot.
Evan Engram disappointed in his debut season as a Bronco and is entering his age-32 season, so Denver may be looking for a long-term successor. They do not have a first-round pick, keeping them out of the running for Sadiq, but could pounce on Stowers on Day 2.
R Mason Thomas Sets Up Several Visits
After earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2025, Oklahoma edge defender R Mason Thomas may have a chance to come off the board late in the first round of this year’s draft. Several teams are showing interest in the 6-foot-2, 241-pounder. In addition to the previously reported Browns, Thomas has lined up visits with the Dolphins, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Patriots, per Arye Pulli of SI.com.
Thomas had a quiet first two seasons at Oklahoma, where he combined for 1.5 sacks in 19 games from 2022-23. His production increased dramatically during his junior season, in which he totaled 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 contests. Thomas added another two FFs last year, though his TFLs (9.5) and sacks (6.5) understandably dipped during a 10-game season.
Thomas missed three games after suffering a quad injury on a 71-yard fumble return touchdown in a win over Tennessee on Nov. 1. He returned to make three tackles in a 34-24 loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
With his Sooners tenure in the rearview mirror, there are questions on how high Thomas will go in the draft. Anywhere after the second round would come as a surprise. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks Thomas as this year’s 49th-best prospect, calling him “an instinctive and physical edge defender” while dinging him for a lack of “ideal height/length/bulk.” Jeremiah expects Thomas to turn into a solid starter, which is something most of the teams eyeing him could use.
The Browns have the best edge defender in the NFL, Myles Garrett, but could make an addition there after backing out of an agreement with A.J. Epenesa. Having released their 2025 leader in sacks, Bradley Chubb, the Dolphins are lacking high-upside complements to Chop Robinson. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks lost Boye Mafe to the Bengals in free agency. The Buccaneers are thin on the edge beyond YaYa Diaby and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Meanwhile, after winning the AFC, the Patriots essentially swapped K’Lavon Chaisson for Dre’Mont Jones in free agency. With both Jones and Harold Landry nearing the age of 30, making a notable investment in a younger pass rusher via the draft could be in store. Thomas, who will turn 22 in August, may end up as the Patriots’ answer.
Some Teams View Denzel Boston As Top-Two WR In Class
Playing all four of his college seasons at Washington, Denzel Boston did not see much time during the then-Pac-12 program’s Michael Penix Jr. years. But Boston made a big leap over the past two seasons, with some teams viewing that jump as more impressive than mock drafters would seem to believe.
The consensus among the latter community has Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon residing as this draft class’ premier receiver prospects, with Jordyn Tyson regularly going off the board before Boston as well. But some teams view the big-bodied target this crop’s second- or third-best wideout, according to ESPN.com’s Peter Schrager.
Boston has been a regular on the “30” visit circuit, thus far meeting with the Browns, Commanders, Steelers and 49ers. With the exception of Washington (No. 7 overall), those teams hold first-round picks in the 20s (Cleveland holds Nos. 6 and 24). If anything, Boston’s stock may have been trending downward in recent days/weeks. ESPN.com’s previous mock draft placed the Huskies standout 35th, while Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent NFL.com mock draft also has Boston outside the first round. Schrager has him going 23rd to the Eagles, indicating Howie Roseman and Washington HC Jedd Fisch are longtime friends going back to college.
While an Eagles play for Boston could certainly signal they are ready to move on from A.J. Brown (at a high price) after June 1, Boston leapfrogging the likes of Lemon, Tyson or Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. — whom Jeremiah sends to the Jets at No. 16 — would mark a notable misevaluation from several prominent draft experts. Both Jeremiah and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.-Field Yates-Jordan Reid mock also have Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion going off the board before Boston as well.
Receiving Mike Evans and Courtland Sutton comps, Boston checked in at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds at the Combine. He did not run the 40-yard dash. Boston followed an 834-yard, nine-touchdown sophomore season with an 881-yard, 11-TD junior slate. Boston’s catch radius will make him an attractive red zone threat at the next level, and he averaged 14.2 yards per reception last season.
Jeremiah’s big board places Tate sixth, Lemon 12th, Cooper 18th, Tyson 21st and Boston 27th. Tyson’s stock looks to be moving down a bit — at least, the most recent reporting indicates as such — as he no longer is hobnobbing near the Tate-Lemon tier. It will be interesting to see where Boston’s goes over the next two-plus weeks, as we remain in visit season.
Jets Interested In Jordyn Tyson; WR’s Stock Falling?
The Jets are the subject of considerable interest leading up to the draft. The owners of the No. 2 selection will be worth watching closely given the fact they have a mid-round pick on Day 1 as well.
An edge rush addition with the second overall pick has long been seen as a logical course of action for New York. The Jets were reported over the weekend to be favoring Ohio State hybrid linebacker/pass rusher Arvell Reese, which comes as no surprise. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post echoes the sentiment that Reese will likely be the team’s preferred target at No. 2.
With respect to the 16th overall selection, there is of course much less certainty regarding how the Jets will operate. The team could go in a number of directions with several positions of need worthy of consideration, but receiver could be one to watch. According to Dunleavy, the Jets’ top choice at No. 16 could be Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson is among the best WR prospects in the 2026 class, one touted more for its depth than its star power at the top of the board. The Arizona State product declared for the draft in December, beginning the process of projecting where he will wind up in the NFL. That has been more challenging than it has with some of Tyson’s peers due to his injury situation. A hamstring ailment limited him to nine games in 2025; Tyson also missed considerable time in 2023.
When on the field, the former Colorado transfer has been highly productive. Tyson posted 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns on 75 catches during the 2024 campaign, and he remained a key member of the Sun Devils’ offense when healthy this past season. Tyson has long been viewed as a first-round lock, although he may need to wait longer than first anticipated to hear his name called on the opening night of the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller writes Tyson’s stock is “trending in the wrong direction” at this time, with injury concerns being raised by NFL evaluators. After missing Arizona State’s Pro Day, he is set to conduct a private workout for teams on April 17.
The Jets have Garrett Wilson atop their receiver depth chart, and the former first-rounder will be expected to lead the way in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. New York added Adonai Mitchell as part of the Sauce Gardner trade, and he has two years remaining on his rookie contract. The team invested a fourth-round pick during last year’s draft in Arian Smith; the second-year duo of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn could add further at the position later this month. It will be interesting to see if Tyson finds himself on New York’s radar over the coming days.
Miami CB Keionte Scott Visits Texans, Bears, Dolphins
With most NFL defenses now using nickel personnel for a majority of their snaps, slot cornerback has essentially become a starting position. That bodes well for Miami’s Keionte Scott, who recently completed pre-draft visits with the Texans, Bears, and Dolphins, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
The 24-year-old is viewed as a pro-ready nickel after a standout 2025 season. He contributed to the Hurricanes’ defense across the board with 64 tackles (13 for loss), five sacks, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two recoveries. Scott also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns and was the only player in the FBS with multiple pick-sixes.
The Texans appear to be set in the slot with safety Jalen Pitre, who has played his best football as a nickel in the past two years. Scott is currently expected to be drafted on Day 2, so Houston may not want to use a premium pick on a potential redundancy. But adding a viable second slot could allow DeMeco Ryans to run more dime packages with both Pitre and Scott capable of playing bigger than their size in the run game.
The Bears will be hoping that Kyler Gordon can make a strong return to his role as their starting nickel after dealing with injuries in 2025. Scott would serve as an insurance policy if Gordon – who has never played more than 14 games in a season – were to miss more time. But Chicago just signed the 2022 second-rounder to an extension last year, so Scott’s long-term role would be unclear unless one of the two were to move to the boundary.
The Dolphins, who hosted Scott on a local visit, might be the most logical option. Few teams need help at cornerback more, especially in the slot. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami’s primary nickel last year, was traded to the Jets, and 2025 fifth-round Jason Marshall struggled mightily as a rookie. Scott could contribute on Day 1 for a Dolphins defense that badly needs starting-caliber talent in the secondary.