Broncos Make Big Move Up For NC State TE Justin Joly
The Broncos are sending the Browns a solid pair of picks in order to move up 18 spots and draft NC State tight end Justin Joly at No. 152 overall. Cleveland will receive Denver’s fifth-round pick (170) and the first pick of the sixth round (182) in exchange.
In the final pick of PFR’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft, we projected the Broncos to target a tight end at the first opportunity available to them, since they didn’t own a first-round pick. By the midpoint of Day 2’s festivities, the team didn’t own a second-round pick either. After waking up on the third day of the draft with only one rookie secured, the Broncos got to work today and sacrificed one of their seven Day 3 picks to move up and finally address the tight end spot.
Currently, Denver’s tight ends room is fairly crowded. Led by veterans Evan Engram and Adam Trautman, the rest of the room is filled out by Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, and Caleb Lohner. Injuries hurt the team’s depth at the position in 2025, though, to the point where they dragged a 41-year-old Marcedes Lewis off the free agent market. Engram led the group in receiving last year with 50 receptions for 461 yards and a touchdown, and Trautman functioned as the group’s main blocking tight end with some assistance from Adkins. Including Trautman’s contributions the receiving production outside of Engram netted 28 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
Joly adds another strong receiving threat to the room. Transferring to Raleigh after two years at UConn, Joly led the Wolfpack in receiving yards (661) in his first year with the team, surpassing eventual transfer and first-round pick KC Concepcion. In 2025, Joly’s yardage dropped a bit (489), but he still led the team in receptions (49) and receiving touchdowns (7). After showing a tendency for drops — six in 2023 — as a Husky, Joly demonstrated improved hands with just four drops at NC State and only one in 2025.
Despite having plus speed, Joly hasn’t shown much as a downfield threat and can improve a lot with his route-running, but he’s an athletic pass catcher with a knack for gaining enough of a cushion of separation to be successful. His strength gives him an advantage in contested catches and makes him a menace as a blocker. He isn’t going to displace Engram from the first-team offense anytime soon, but Joly projects to be an effective second receiving option, providing quarterback Bo Nix with a new, big in-line target.
Seahawks Acquire 148th Pick, Draft G Beau Stephens
The Seahawks have acquired the 148th overall pick from the Browns for a 2027 fourth-rounder, Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland reports. Iowa guard Beau Stephens is going to Seattle.
Stephens spent five years at Iowa, which has a reputation as an offensive line factory. Two of Stephens’ former O-line mates, Logan Jones (No. 57, Bears) and Gennings Dunker (No. 96, Steelers), came off the board earlier. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Stephens played in 41 games with the Hawkeyes and served as a three-year starter. Stephens worked as a right guard in 2022, but he primarily lined up on the left side. He capped off a 620-snap, 13-game 2025 with first-team All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Stephens, who did not allow a sack or take a penalty last year, ranked as Pro Football Focus’ fourth-best guard in 2025. Both Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com and Dane Brugler of The Athletic rated him as the 137th prospect in this draft class. There are concerns over Stephens’ lack of length and athleticism, per Brugler, though he adds “coachability and mental maturation” could help make up for it.
Stephens may begin his career as a reserve with the reigning Super Bowl champions, who have 2025 first-rounder Grey Zabel at left guard and Anthony Bradford on the right side. While Zabel is locked in, Stephens could compete with Bradford for a starting job. Even if Bradford remains atop the depth chart, he only has one year left on his contract. Unless the Seahawks extend Bradford before free agency opens next March, Stephens could emerge as a starter by 2027.
Saints To Acquire OLB Tyree Wilson From Raiders
A former top-10 pick chosen two Raider regimes ago, Tyree Wilson will not play for Klint Kubiak. The Raiders are trading the fourth-year edge rusher to the Saints, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
The Raiders will receive No. 150 from the Saints in exchange for Wilson and a seventh-round pick (No. 219 overall), Rapoport adds. New Orleans will now decide on Wilson’s fifth-year option, which was not expected to be exercised by Las Vegas.
With the 150th pick, the Raiders are selecting safety Dalton Johnson, reuniting him with Arizona teammate and second-round pick (No. 38 overall) Treydan Stukes. Las Vegas has now rebuilt a room that entered the draft with just two players: Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao. Both started for the Raiders in 2025, but they only have one year remaining on their contracts. Stukes will have a role right away, and in a rebuilding year, the team may also give Johnson some playing time to see what he can do and how he can develop.
New Orleans was in the Kayvon Thibodeaux market, with Rapoport indicating the team spoke with the Giants on the former No. 5 overall pick. But with New York not budging on compensation, the Saints moved on and will add Wilson. The latter has not shown comparable form to Thibodeaux, but the draft pedigree is similar. The Raiders chose Wilson seventh overall out of Texas Tech in 2023.
Wilson has never gotten close to living up to that billing. He has just seven career sacks with never more than two in a single season. He has been more productive against the run with 22 tackles for loss, including 10 in the last two years.
The 25-year-old will add depth to the Saints’ stable of edge rushers, which currently lacks proven talent outside of Chase Young and Carl Granderson. Despite having the size to flip to the interior as a pass rusher, Wilson has rarely been used in that role. His new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley could attempt to unlock some versatility to get more production out of the 6-foot-6, 275-pound defender.
Ravens Trade Up To No. 133 Pick for SMU TE Matthew Hibner
The Ravens have taken their third pass-catcher in a row. After two physical wide receivers, they have now traded up to the No. 133 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select SMU tight end Matthew Hibner.
Baltimore sent the No. 154 pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the 49ers in exchange for the 133rd pick, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
Hibner, 24, was a two-year starter at SMU who overlapped at Michigan with Ravens head coach Jesse Minter in 2022 and 2023. He was a non-factor in the Wolverines offense, but recorded 55 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns across the last two seasons with just two drops, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Hibner brings good size to the tight end position that shows up as a blocker and red zone threat. He is also a solid all-around athlete who posted an impressive 4.57-second 40 yard dash at the Combine with a 37-inch vertical and 20 reps on the bench press.
Hibner’s receiving profile in general is more limited. He was not a focal point of the Mustangs’ passing game and may not have the short-area movement skills to thrive in a versatile role. If he can establish himself as a blocker in the NFL, he profiles as an inline tight end that will allow Mark Andrews to split out into the slot.
The Ravens badly needed to rebuild their tight end room after losing 2022 fourth-rounders Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. Veteran Durham Smythe followed offensive coordinator Declan Doyle from Chicago to Baltimore to provide some run-blocking heft, but the team still needs more receiving upside at the position.
Hibner should provide that, but do not be surprised if the Ravens double-dip on Day 3 tight ends as they did in 2022. However, they still have a major need at center and will need to use one of their remaining picks on the position.
Bears Obtain No. 124 From Panthers, Select CB Malik Muhammad
After trading down (via the Jaguars) minutes ago, the Panthers are accumulating more draft picks. They are sending No. 124 to the Bears. The Panthers will receive Nos. 129 and 144 for Nos. 124 and 166, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
The Bears used the pick on Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad. Over 41 games with the Longhorns, the 6-foot, 182-pounder logged three interceptions and deflected 16 passes. After notching a personal-best two INTs and totaling four PDs in 2025, Muhammad earned second-team All-SEC honors.
Muhammad entered the draft as the 104th-best prospect available, per Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com. Dane Brugler of The Athletic is more bullish on Muhammad, whom he ranked 87th overall coming into the draft. Muhammad has a chance to develop into a Greg Newsome-type starter, according to Brugler.
While Muhammad was a starter at outside corner during the majority of his Texas tenure, he may begin his pro career in a depth role. The Bears lost Nahshon Wright to the Jets in free agency, but they still have Jaylon Johnson as their No. 1 corner. Tyrique Stevenson is the frontrunner to start opposite Johnson, though Muhammad could compete for the gig.
Aside from a full season in 2024, Johnson has missed three or more games five times in his six-year career. He sat out 10 games last season. Meanwhile, after starting his career with back-to-back 16-game seasons, Stevenson was on the shelf four times last year. If their injury issues drag into 2026, Muhammad could see plenty of action as a rookie.
Jaguars Trade Up To Select Duke Edge Rusher Wesley Williams
The Jaguars have moved up five spots to No. 119 overall, trading with the Panthers to select Duke edge rusher Wesley Williams. In addition to, the pick that landed Williams, Jacksonville received the 196th pick from Round 6, sending pick Nos. 124 (fourth round) and 166 (fifth round) in exchange.
The Jaguars had a clear goal of improving the depth of their defensive line in April. Jacksonville had re-signed Dennis Gardeck earlier on in the offseason, keeping him off the free agent market, but they weren’t able to do the same with Emmanuel Ogbah or Dawuane Smoot. Days before the draft, they swapped out defensive tackle Maason Smith for Ruke Orhorhoro, and now, after adding Aggie defensive tackle Albert Regis yesterday, Williams joins the fold.
Williams will be heading to Duval after four years at Duke. After redshirting his freshman year, Williams became an immediate factor in Year 2. He began his redshirt freshman year coming off the bench, but quickly started to earn a bigger role, starting three games and leading the team’s edge rushers in snap share. A breakout 2024 campaign put him on the map as a pass rusher as he recorded 7.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. His production took a slight step back in 2025, but he remained a reliable starter for the ACC champion Blue Devils.
In Jacksonville, Williams projects as a rotational defensive end who shouldn’t need much seasoning before getting involved. Williams plays with tenacity while still knowing his role in the greater defensive scheme. He’s quick and strong but lacks top end speed to chase plays and can be a little stiff in his pass rush. His biggest impact in Duval may come on special teams. He blocked four field goals and a punt during his time with the Blue Devils.
Chargers Move Up To 117, Select Travis Burke
The Chargers have acquired the 117th pick from the Texans, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Houston received the 123rd and 204th choices in return.
The Chargers became the fifth and final team to hold the 117th selection in this draft. Before it went to the Texans, it belonged to the Vikings, Jaguars and Raiders. The Bolts used the pick on Memphis offensive tackle Travis Burke.
The mammoth Burke (6-foot-8, 325 pounds) divided his five college seasons among Gardner-Webb (2021-22), Florida International (2023-24) and Memphis (2025). The four-year starter picked up significant experience at both tackle spots along the way. After working as a full-timer on the left side at FIU, he switched to right tackle at Memphis. Burke played 762 snaps at the position over 11 games last year and finished as Pro Football Focus’ 10th-ranked tackle. He came into the draft as a top-100 prospect, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 78) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 93).
While Burke has “predictable leverage issues,” he carries a “nasty disposition” and has the potential to develop into an NFL starter, Brugler writes. There should not be an immediate need for Burke to serve as more than a depth option in Los Angeles, which boasts an elite tackle tandem in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Slater missed all of last season with a torn patellar tendon, and Alt sat out all but six games with ankle issues, but they are ahead of schedule in their recoveries.
Jets Trade Up To No. 110 Pick For Clemson QB Cade Klubnik
The Jets are trading up to the 10th pick in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik.
The 110th selection originally belonged to the Bengals, who packaged it with a sixth-rounder (No. 199 overall) in exchange for a pair of fourth-rounders from the Jets (Nos. 128 and 140 overall).
Klubnik, 22, was a three-year starter at Clemson who had a promising 2024 season with an All-ACC honorable mention. He took a step back in 2025, lowering his draft stock and eliminating any perceptions of an NFL-ready passer.
The Jets, though, will not need Klubnik to start right away after trading for Geno Smith earlier in the offseason. Instead, the rookie will compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the second- and third-string quarterback jobs in New York.
Klubnik does bring an NFL-caliber arm and good athleticism, giving the Jets a good base of physical tools to work with. He will not turn 23 years old until October, but still has three years as a starter under his belt, again indicating an appealing developmental trajectory.
However, Klubnik’s field vision and processing leave much to be desired. That will become even more of a disadvantage against increasingly complicated NFL defense that do their best to cloud the picture for opposing passers. He has time to develop in New York, but he may have to show the Jets something in 2026 to have a chance at a future starting job. Otherwise, the team is expected to target one of the 2027 class’ top passers.
Raiders Acquire 101st Pick, Draft Jermod McCoy
The fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft kicked off with a trade on Saturday. The Raiders acquired the 101st pick from the Bills and selected Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. The Bills received pick 102 and a 2027 seventh-rounder in return, per Albert Breer of SI.com.
The 101st pick changed hands twice. The Bills acquired it from the Titans on Thursday before sending it to the Raiders. Las Vegas used the choice on one of the highest-upside corners in the draft. Once considered a shoo-in to go in the first round (perhaps in the top 10), McCoy’s stock dropped precipitously amid concerns over a cartilage defect in his knee.
McCoy missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but that is not what scared teams away. Rather, he may eventually require surgery to replace a bone plug in the same knee, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Another surgery would likely knock out McCoy for an entire year, according to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, who adds that an unsuccessful procedure could end his career.
While there are legitimate fears over McCoy’s longevity, the Raiders are nonetheless taking a mid-round flier on one of the most talented defenders in this class. McCoy was among the 20 best prospects available entering the proceedings, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 14) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 19). The 6-foot, 188-pounder combined for six interceptions in a two-year college career split between Oregon State and Tennessee. He was a second-team All-American in 2024, his lone healthy season with the Volunteers.
McCoy is the second noteworthy offseason cornerback pickup for the Raiders, who previously added slot corner Taron Johnson in another trade with the Bills. If healthy, McCoy will join Eric Stokes and 2025 third-rounder Darien Porter among the Raiders’ top options on the outside.
Bucs Did Not Expect Rueben Bain Jr. To Fall To 15th Overall
As expected, Miami defensive ends Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor came off the board in the first round of this year’s draft. The Buccaneers, owners of the 15th pick, entered Thursday hoping to land one of them, per James Palmer of Bleacher Report. The Bucs got their wish when they chose Bain, but they never expected him to fall that far.
Tampa Bay, which needed another pass rusher to join YaYa Diaby and Al-Quadin Muhammad, is “over the moon” that it came away with Bain, according to Palmer. The Buccaneers fielded phone calls for their pick, but they could not turn down the opportunity to draft the 6-foot-3, 275-pounder.
Widely considered a top-10 prospect going into the draft, Bain’s drop may have had something to do with concerns over his arm length. His arms measured 30 7/8 inches at the Combine, which ranks in the 1st percentile and checks in well below the 33-inch average. He was also the driver in a 2024 car crash that led to the death of one of his passengers. Bain was cited for careless driving, but it reportedly did not affect his draft stock.
It remains to be seen if arm length will prevent Bain from reaching his potential in the NFL, but the Buccaneers will have gotten a steal if he can overcome it. The power rusher posted terrific production at Miami, where he registered 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks over three years.
In 2025, his best season as a Hurricane, Bain led the FBS with 83 pressures (via Dane Brugler of The Athletic). Pro Football Focus credited Bain with the most hurries (54) and also gave him an excellent grade against the run (86.2; 12th among edge defenders). After finishing the season with personal highs in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (9.5), Bain earned consensus All-America honors, the Ted Hendrickson Award (given to the nation’s top DE) and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
As for Mesidor, despite leeriness over his age (25) and injury history, he became a pro seven picks after Bain. The Chargers took Mesidor 22nd overall.