Cardinals, Dolphins To Host Miami QB Carson Beck
The 2026 draft class is not considered strong at the quarterback position. Projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza leads the pack with Ty Simpson seen as the clear QB2 who could also break into the first round. Beyond that, this year’s slate of prospects lacks another starting-caliber talent.
But quarterback-needy teams will always be willing to take swings on the most important position in the sport, especially on the second and third days of the draft. That is where former Georgia and Miami quarterback Carson Beck is projected to be selected.
As for his destination? The Steelers and Jets have already demonstrated interest, and the Cardinals and Dolphins can now be added to that list. Beck is scheduled to visit Arizona and Miami before April’s draft, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, both teams that could stand to add a young quarterback.
The Cardinals moved on from Kyler Murray earlier this month as expected. Gardner Minshew then joined Jacoby Brissett in the team’s quarterback room, giving them two veteran options to start this fall. But new head coach Mike LaFleur is surely looking for a long-term option under center. Next year’s draft offers a far richer well to draw from, but it would not hurt to take a shot on a less-heralded prospect in April.
The Dolphins are in a slightly different situation. They have a clear starter after signing Malik Willis to a three-year deal in free agency. But 2026 will be his first time in charge of an offense, and his small sample size of excellent play may not continue at a larger volume. Miami would be wise to bring in a younger passer behind Willis – who himself developed as a backup in Green Bay – to form into a backup or even the team’s next starter if Willis does not work out.
Beck would be an option for both teams. He brings plenty of experience at the highest level of college football, but that competition also exposed his lack of elite tools and potential. Landing in Arizona or Miami would not force him to step into a bigger role than he is ready for, but the two teams – especially the Cardinals – could offer more opportunities in the next three years of his rookie deal.
QB Ty Simpson Arranges Visits With Cardinals, Dolphins, Browns
Pre-draft visits continue to be arranged around the NFL. The quarterback position is, as always, one garnering plenty of attention with one of the top prospects on the radar of a number of teams.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report Ty Simpson has arranged a top-30 visit with each of the Cardinals, Dolphins and Browns. Today’s update comes not long after Simpson took part in a Jets workout. Further interest will no doubt continue to be shown as the countdown to the draft continues.
Arizona has been mentioned as a logical landing spot for Simpson. As such, it comes as no surprise the Cards are set to host him. The team’s post-Kyler Murray period will begin in 2026. Jacoby Brissett – who finished last year atop the depth chart – remains in the fold, and fellow veteran Gardner Minshew was added in free agency. Both can viewed as short-term options for new head coach Mike LaFleur and Co., though, and adding Simpson for the future could provide the Cardinals with a more permanent solution.
The Dolphins also elected to move on from their longtime QB1 this offseason, cutting Tua Tagovailoa. Malik Willis made the expected decision of following head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from Green Bay to Miami once free agency began. The 26-year-old is in position to operate as the Dolphins’ starter for at least the next two years, although Sullivan has left the door open to a longer spell atop the depth chart. Miami does not have an immediate quarterback need through the draft, but Sullivan has mentioned his Packers background which values consistently adding rookie passers will likely carry over to the Dolphins.
The Browns have Deshaun Watson preparing to take part in training camp upon healing from two Achilles tears. The much-maligned veteran is in position to compete for the starting gig alongside 2025 draftees Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. GM Andrew Berry said yesterday another young passer could be brought in as well, pointing to potential a draft investment.
Fernando Mendoza remains on course to be selected first overall. Beyond that, the QB draft market has proven difficult to project. Simpson has drawn praise on a number of fronts, but the fact he only started one year in college has cast doubt on his NFL readiness. That will not stop teams from showing interest in this case, and the list of suitors which line up a visit will no doubt continue to grow.
LB Sonny Styles Well Regarded By Cardinals, Giants
Ohio State figures to be well represented early in the first round of April’s draft. Linebacker Sonny Styles is among the prospects who will not need to wait long to hear their name called on Day 1. 
Styles spent his first two seasons as a safety, and he was a productive presence in that capacity for the Buckeyes. Starting with his junior campaign, he transitioned to linebacker. While operating in the front seven, Styles racked up 182 tackles, seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss. That production has led to interest from the Commanders, but he may not be on the board when Washington selects seventh overall.
The Cardinals “love” Styles, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora writes. Arizona is set to draft third overall. A defensive addition could prove to be highly beneficial, although many have pointed to the offensive line as a unit which the Cardinals should prioritize. La Canfora predicts Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa will be the pick, matching a number of projections in that respect. He adds, however, that if general manager Monti Ossenfort elects to focus on a defensive prospect, Styles will likely be the choice.
Elsewhere in the top five, La Canfora notes new Giants head coach John Harbaugh “has a thing for” Styles. New York has been linked on more than one occasion to fellow Ohio State start Caleb Downs, who is widely expected to be the first safety taken in the draft. More recently, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has emerged as a potential target for the Giants. Both of those prospects could be available when New York is on the clock at No. 5, but adding Styles to the fold would be expected to yield a considerable upgrade to the second level of the team’s defense.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Styles third overall. Positional value will no doubt be a talking point as teams contemplate when to select him, but it comes as no surprise the Cardinals and Giants can be counted among his suitors.
Browns GM Andrew Berry: ‘Wholly Realistic’ To Add Young QB
Last year’s draft class was underwhelming at the quarterback position outside of No. 1 pick Cam Ward. As a result, the Browns opted to trade down from the No. 3 pick and select defensive tackle Mason Graham rather than the best quarterback available.
The deal with the Jaguars added another 2026 first-rounder to Cleveland’s cache of picks, suggesting that they were amassing capital to secure a quarterback from that class. But they also drafted Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth, with both getting playing time as rookies. Neither emerged as a clear long-term starter, and Deshaun Watson does not fall into that category, either. None of the three have shown enough for the Browns to pass up on an elite quarterback in the draft.
But this year’s crop of prospects thinned significantly after a number of top college passers opted to stay in school for another year. That left Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza alone atop draft boards with Alabama’s Ty Simpson generally considered a distant QB2.
Despite calls from the Giants, the Titans were unwilling to move off Ward last year, and the Raiders likely have the same mindset with Mendoza, their widely-projected No. 1 pick. If the Browns wanted to draft Mendoza, they would likely have to trade their two first-round picks this year plus their first-rounders in 2027 and 2028 – and Las Vegas may not even accept that. (Notably, the Browns recently proposed a rule change that would allow teams to trade picks up to five years in the future. Currently, they are limited to three.)
But even with Mendoza off the table, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said on Sunday (via Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) that it is “wholly realistic” to add another young quarterback to the team. He did not explicitly say that player would be a rookie, but outside of an Anthony Richardson trade, no other names fit his description. That has increased speculation that the Browns could target Simpson next month, especially given that the 23-year-old visited Cleveland at the beginning of the month.
“I have spent time with Ty,” Berry said. “I think that’s obvious and we’ll continue to do so. But I think he has a bright NFL future.”
Is it bright enough for the sixth overall pick? The current consensus is no, but the Browns have plenty of time to be convinced. They also hold the No. 24th selection and could hope that Simpson falls there, though they will run the obvious risk of quarterback-needy teams snapping him up first.
But Berry chooses his words carefully. Just because something is realistic does not mean that it is likely or a priority. The 2027 class is significantly stronger at the quarterback position, and waiting another year would also give new head coach Todd Monken a chance to see what he has in his current trio.
Patriots More Likely To Draft QB Or Sign Priority UDFA After Joshua Dobbs Release
The Patriots recently re-signed quarterback Tommy DeVito and released fellow signal-caller Joshua Dobbs. DeVito therefore appears to be in the driver’s seat for New England’s QB2 post behind MVP runner-up Drake Maye, but he will not go unchallenged.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss says the Dobbs release makes it more likely that the Patriots will draft a passer or sign one as a priority UDFA. While the team was always going to add another quarterback or two to its depth chart and was not going to carry only Maye and DeVito, it is notable that a team that just won the AFC may be content to have largely unproven options behind its starter instead of a more established talent (like old friend Jimmy Garoppolo, who is still a free agent).
If New England does choose to add a quarterback via the draft or the UDFA pool, ESPN’s Jordan Reid (via Reiss) offers several possibilities. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, whose performance in a losing effort in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff led Reid to consider him a Day 1 talent, was less impressive in his final season on campus. That said, he is a three-year starter with experience under center and in the shotgun who is lauded for his character. Reid projects him as a fourth- or fifth-round option in next month’s draft.
Luke Altmyer, meanwhile, should be available in the fifth or sixth round. Reid praised the Illinois product’s Senior Bowl performance along with his arm strength, accuracy, mobility, and decisiveness. The Patriots may feel that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant can help Klubnik, Altmyer, or a player with a similar draft projection to reach their ceiling sooner rather than later and thus create – along with DeVito – a comfortable enough quarterback situation behind Maye.
Maye, whose breakout second professional campaign ended with a disappointing performance in Super Bowl LX, will of course be counted upon to lead the Patriots on another deep postseason run. If he is forced to miss any length of time, New England’s chances of such a run will suffer a major blow regardless of whether the club adds a player on the free agent or trade markets or takes a chance on a rookie.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Learning Raiders’ Offense
We at Pro Football Rumors have been careful with our wording, making sure not to promise or guarantee anything that isn’t confirmed or complete. According to something Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network said recently in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, we may be able to start speaking with a bit more certainty. 
For instance, since the season came to an end, we’ve said Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the “likely No. 1 overall pick,” “the anticipated No. 1 pick,” and “the overwhelming favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.” We’ve also often tied a specific team to him, saying the Raiders No. 1 overall pick is “virtually unattainable” and that the team drafting Mendoza is “all but a sure thing,” “all but certain,” and “an overwhelming expectation.”
In his guest appearance on the show, Jeremiah was asked if the Raiders are “100 percent locked in” on taking Mendoza with the first pick of the draft. Jeremiah laid out Mendoza’s recent schedule in an attempt to paint a clear picture. Per Jeremiah, Mendoza has been working recently with former NFL quarterback and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, a fellow Miami-native and Columbus HS (FL) grad.
He explained that Mendoza isn’t just working on mechanics with Griese, cleaning up footwork or release motions. No, Jeremiah asserted that Griese and Mendoza are working on “installing the Raiders’ offense.” Jeremiah equated the situation to that of former No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, who was cemented into his draft position early enough that he was able to utilize the time leading up to the NFL draft learning his future team’s offensive concepts and verbiage.
Jeremiah’s assertions served to confirm what we’ve been dancing around for months. This is, essentially, a done deal. The draft expert told his hosts he’d be “shocked, stunned, (and) astonished if (Mendoza) is not the first overall pick.” He concluded by asserting that he doesn’t see it going in any other direction.
Seahawks Looking At CB Early In Draft?
Based on reputation, there’s an expectation that the Seahawks will not be keeping their No. 32 overall pick for next month’s 2026 NFL Draft. If the right name is available, though, Seattle may just decide to use the pick. According to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom, that name may need to belong to a player who can bolster the team’s secondary. 
Seahawks general manager John Schneider is no stranger to draft day trades. Last year he traded back from the fourth round 18 spots, adding a seventh-round pick to the pot in exchange for a fifth- and sixth-rounder to sweeten the deal. In their new fourth-round slot, they drafted tight end AJ Barner, who ended up becoming the team’s leading tight end on their Super Bowl run in his sophomore campaign. In 2023, Schneider sent the team’s third-round pick to Denver in exchange for their fourth-round pick and a third-rounder in 2024. That fourth-round pick became starting right guard Anthony Bradford.
One could continue going back, year after year, to see Seattle staying active throughout the draft, often taking small slides back in order to stash extra picks in later rounds or future years. That’s part of the reason La Canfora believes the prospect of trading away a pick with a fifth-year option attached to it may be too good of a deal for Schneider to pass up. Another reason would be the fact that last year’s Super Bowl roster is still fairly intact.
The biggest names no longer in the building include running back Kenneth Walker, safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Riq Woolen, and outside linebacker Boye Mafe. Seattle knew it had Zach Charbonnet ready to take up the yoke after Walker’s departure and added Emanuel Wilson in free agency to supplement a room that also houses George Holani and Kenny McIntosh. On the edge, the defense returns Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence but may need to add some depth behind the pair.
The Seahawks did add cornerback Noah Igbinoghene after two years of jumpstarting his career with the Commanders, but he isn’t expected to step into a role as big as Woolen’s role in 2025. With the additional hole left by Bryant, there could certainly be a need for Seattle to add a starting caliber safety or cornerback in the first two days of the draft.
There are some talented cornerback prospects in the 2026 class, but none seem to be beating down the door of the top 10 picks. There’s also a good amount of depth at the position with quality prospects being projected into the late-second or early-third round. The Seahawks may sit back and take a chance that one of the top prospects will fall to them at the last pick of the first round, but no one should rule out Schneider trading back into the second round, still getting a quality addition at a position of need there, and collecting some extra draft capital along the way.
DE Rueben Bain Jr. Visits Titans
The Titans hosted Miami edge rusher and projected first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. for a pre-draft visit this week, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
Bain, 21, is among the more polarizing prospects in this year’s class. He has posted elite production over the last three years (20.5 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss), with almost half coming in his 2025 All-American campaign. However, his 30.825-inch arms are well below NFL standards for the position, raising concerns about his ability to translate his production to the pros.
However, Bain’s power and pass rushing profile are undeniably appealing. He logged a 23.5% pass rush win rate and a 92.4 pass rushing grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) last year, displaying an array of moves and a relentless desire to get to opposing quarterbacks. That has kept him in the conversation for a top-10, or even top-five, pick in April.
The Titans hold the No. 4 selection and need a young, high-upside edge rusher opposite recent trade acquisition Jermaine Johnson. Bain is best as a ‘hand-in-the-dirt’ 4-3 defensive end than as a standing outside linebacker in a 3-4, which requires more athleticism and versatility. That makes him an excellent fit for Robert Saleh‘s system that rarely asks defensive linemen to drop into coverage and instead encourages them to pin their ears back and attack the backfield. Bain’s physical play style, attack-oriented mentality, and dedication to his game are all major pluses, especially for a new coaching staff looking to establish their own culture in Tennessee.
RB Jeremiyah Love At Top Of Giants’ List?
Drafting running backs early in the first round is back in style. Ashton Jeanty went at No. 6 last year, and in 2023, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went eighth and 12th overall, respectively. This year’s draft is expected to add another name to the list. 
The running back most likely to continue this trend in 2026 is Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love. Tennessee has been a popular projection, as both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are in the final years of their contracts. However, as ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came up in a Chiefs front office that prioritized premium positions with premium draft picks. Taking a running back with the No. 4 pick – especially with needs at more valuable positions – would fly in the face of that philosophy.
If the Titans pass on Love, he will likely wind up in New York, according to Reid’s colleague, Matt Miller. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh may not have such qualms about Love’s position with more of an emphasis on his game-changing talent. He consistently prioritized a strong ground game in Baltimore, though the Ravens never drafted a running back in the first-round during his tenure.
Were New York to choose him, Love would immediately have the best draft pedigree of anyone in the Giants’ running backs room. Veteran Devin Singletary currently holds that honor as a former third-round pick out of FAU. Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy were fifth-round picks in back-to-back years for New York, in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Singletary and Gray are also set to play on the final years of their contracts. Combined with last year’s fourth-round rookie, Cam Skattebo, there are plenty of mouths to feed, but inserting Love into the room immediately would change the outlook for the current players’ roles in the room.
If running back isn’t the answer in New York, the team’s top decision makers could start the trend for another position that isn’t notoriously taken early on Day 1. Harbaugh was part of a large contingent that attended the Ohio State Pro Day on Wednesday. It was notable enough to see Harbaugh there, given he hasn’t frequented many pro days in recent years, but in Columbus, Harbaugh, team owner Chris Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, assistant general manager Brandon Brown, and player personnel director Tim McDonnell all showed up to evaluate Buckeyes, and Harbaugh was seen getting some face time with standout safety Caleb Downs, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
The highest a safety has ever been drafted was second overall in 1991, when Eric Turner‘s name was called by the Browns. Since then, only two other safeties have even been drafted in the top five picks of the draft, Sean Taylor in 2004 and Eric Berry in 2010. Downs could be the next to join that list if the Giants decide to write his name down a month from now. Harbaugh’s defenses in Baltimore almost always featured strong safety play from names like Ed Reed, Eric Weddle, and Kyle Hamilton. Downs may be just the man to upgrade Big Blue’s defensive outfield in 2026.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Opinions On Alabama QB Ty Simpson Widely Varied
Even without Dan Orlovsky pouring fuel on the controversial fire, opinions on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson vary widely across a spectrum from people who believe he’s QB1 over Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to people who see him going in the third round. 27 days until the opening night of the three-day event, teams only have a short time left to determine where Simpson will fall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Early on in his 2025 campaign with the Crimson Tide, Simpson looked to be taking the football world by storm as a first-year starter. As the season wore on, injuries seemed to contribute to some regression in his performance, leading to some concern about both his ability and durability. Early draft projections pegged Mendoza as the only likely Day 1 passer, but the need for a quarterback helped push Simpson’s name up into first-round consideration.
One popular projection saw Simpson going to the Steelers at 21st overall. On its surface, the move made sense, setting up the inexperienced starter to sit and learn for a year behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is widely expected to re-sign with Pittsburgh to play once again under new head coach Mike McCarthy. According to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, though, Simpson’s lack of starting experience “will almost certainly deter Pittsburgh from picking him up in the first round.”
If Simpson slips far enough, DeFabo thinks the Steelers could reconsider, but how far he needs to fall DeFabo isn’t ready to say. Former contributor at The Athletic Mark Kaboly, now a Steelers correspondent for The Pat McAfee Show, believes Pittsburgh may be targeting a third wide receiver behind D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman in the first three rounds, though he doesn’t feel confident Rodgers would get much contribution from a rookie pass catcher, given his preference to target more-polished veterans.
For Simpson, though, even today, ESPN’s trio of Matt Miller, Jordan Reid, and Field Yates illustrated beautifully the array of opinions on Simpson. Asked what percentage chance Simpson has of going on Day 1, Miller answered 25%, Reid said 75%, and Yates opted for 90%. All three contributors for the network seemed to agree that, with the current draft order, no team makes sense for Simpson at their current draft position, but Reid and Yates answered with the belief that a team that is a good fit would find a way to trade back into the first round to secure his services, namely the Cardinals.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic attended Simpson’s pro day and noted that teams do like what they see. Specifically, Simpson’s intangible qualities seem to be a big selling point with some commenting that Simpson could eventually coach after his career as a player ends. His pro comps to two 26-year-olds even highlight his lack of experience and uncertain draft stock. He’s been comped to Bo Nix, a new starter in the NFL, and Brock Purdy, who was drafted 250 picks later than Nix was in their respective drafts.
Whatever the case, Simpson will almost certainly find his way to the NFL within the next 30 days. It will be fascinating to see what further developments alter opinions on the 23-year-old leading up to the draft.