Bears Trade Up For Bills’ 213th Overall Pick
The Bears have made a move to come up 26 spots to the back of the sixth round. They are sending pick Nos. 239 and 241 in the seventh round to the Bills to move up for Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg. Van den Berg makes history today as the first ever South African-born player to be selected in the NFL Draft.
Chicago has had a versatile draft up to this point, addressing a different position group with each selection. With this trade up, the Bears have added depth on their defensive interior with a decent amount of potential. It’s been a long road for van den Berg, who began his path to the NFL through community college before landing in Happy Valley. After three years in rotation role on the defensive line at Penn State, van den Berg transferred to the Yellow Jackets for a starting opportunity.
Starting his time at Georgia Tech coming off the bench, van den Berg quickly outperformed his bench role and worked his way into the starting lineup by Week 6. In that first year in Atlanta, van den Berg started to show a knack for disruption with a sack and five tackles for loss. Given the opportunity to play as a full-time starter in 2025, he expanded that production, recording career highs in total tackles (44), sacks (3.0), and tackles for loss (11.0). He comes to the league with an NFL-ready frame but will need to work through some stiffness to be effective at the next level.
The Bears return Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett as likely starters on the interior defensive line and signed Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch in free agency to join last year’s second-round pick Shemar Turner and fill out the room. That’s a lot of bodies for van den Berg to move past on the depth chart, making it a difficult road to a spot on the 53-man roster. There may be a plan in place for van den Berg to end up on the practice squad to start his career, where he will be able to qualify for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and not count against the taxi squad’s 16-man limit.
Jets Acquire No. 188 From Seahawks
The Jets are moving up for some Day 3 offensive line help. The Seahawks are trading No. 188, a move that will lead Miami offensive guard Anez Cooper to New York. In exchange, Gang Green will send Seattle pick Nos. 199 and 242. The defending champions had expressed a desire to add more picks, and while the team did not do so early, it has made multiple moves today.
At nearly 6-foot-6, 342 pounds, Cooper is a massive presence on the interior offensive line. Originally an unpolished, overweight three-star recruit out of Alabama, Cooper surprised as a true freshman in Coral Gables. As the Hurricanes struggled to find consistent play on their offensive line in the 2022 season, they inserted Cooper as their starting right guard in Week 9 of the season, and he never relinquished his starting role.
Cooper improved with each year of experience always excelling in pass pro but developing some grit as a run blocker over time, as well. He uses his elite size and physicality to cover up a lack of flexibility and quickness, and he plays with a mean streak staying as vocal on the field to opponents as he is with his teammates in the locker room. The Jets may want to continue monitoring Cooper’s weight and perhaps continue the work of perfecting the proportions of good weight on his frame, but Cooper has done good work to get where he is and can certainly play with his current makeup.
Seeing Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson depart in free agency, the Jets signed former Raiders guard Dylan Parham to a two-year deal in free agency to likely start across from Joe Tippmann. Tippmann and backup guard Xavier Newman-Johnson will play on contract years this season, so if Cooper shows the encouraging signs of a potential future starter, this trade up in the sixth round will feel like a steal.
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 2025 seventh-round pick 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 (seven) en route to first-team All-ACC acclaim. 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.
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 defensive 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 early on may come on special teams. He blocked four field goals and a punt during his time with the Blue Devils.
Steelers Draft QB Drew Allar At No. 76
The Steelers have not heard if Aaron Rodgers will play a 22nd season, and while they expect to hear from their 2025 starter that he will return soon, another quarterback is heading to Pittsburgh. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, who visited with the team this month, is going to the Steelers at No. 76 overall as the fourth QB off the board.
Allar is a clear development pick; he didn’t even start playing quarterback until high school. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Allar boasts a prototypical frame reminiscent of the late 2000’s and 2010’s battles between Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco. He has a decent arm and above average mobility for a passer his size, rushing for 732 yards and 12 touchdowns at Penn State. The Nittany Lions went 26-9 with Allar as the starter under center.
After coming off the bench as a true freshman, Allar’s first year as a starter drew interesting results. The highlights saw elite discipline as he threw for 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions, but those results came with a 59.9% completion rate and only 202.4 passing yards per game.
He improved greatly in his second year as the starter, increasing his completion percentage to 66.5, but in three more games, he threw one fewer touchdown and eight interceptions while averaging just 207.9 yards per game. His final year in Happy Valley got off to a rough start. When a broken ankle ended his season, the Nittany Lions were 3-3 and Allar was averaging just 183.3 yards per game.
The production never quite matched the potential or the physical tools for Allar. He showed an ability to make anticipatory throws and read a defense with efficiency. His low interception rate was a benefit but really came as a result of a conservative passing approach, leading too often to second-guessing and active scrambling. The lack of accuracy stemmed from a lack of consistency on drop backs, messy footwork, and a lack of touch to layer throws. A perceived lack of chemistry with his receiving weapons was considered a factor for Allar’s inability to produce big plays.
If there’s anybody who can develop the production out of a quarterback that has oozed potential for four years, its new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Ideally, Rodgers does return to start as expected, allowing Allar to sit and develop while learning from McCarthy and a four-time MVP. If Rodgers doesn’t end up back in Pittsburgh, though, Allar should have an opportunity to compete for a role in the hierarchy with fellow Steelers’ draft picks Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.
Steelers Trade Up Three Spots, Draft G Gennings Dunker
The Steelers are moving up three slots in the 2026 NFL Draft, sending the 99th and 216th picks to the Seahawks, to select Iowa offensive guard Gennings Dunker at No. 96 overall. A three-year starter at right tackle for the Hawkeyes, it seems Pittsburgh has interest in Dunker on the interior offensive line.
At a school like Iowa that produces offensive linemen left and right, holding a starting job for three years is nothing to scoff at. After redshirting the 2021 season, Dunker debuted as a redshirt freshman coming off the bench for a few games at left and right guard before earning his first career start in the Hawkeyes’ bowl game. In 2023, Dunker was named the team’s starting right tackle, and he didn’t relinquish the role until he ran out of eligibility.
Most of the knocks on Dunker as a pro prospect focused on his abilities as an offensive tackle, but some of his best traits set him up well for a future as an NFL guard. Impressive upper-body strength will work well in a phone booth on the interior, and his strengths as a people mover in the run game will be well-suited on the inside, as well. Injuries hounded him at times throughout his time in Iowa City, but ever the tough customer, he only missed two games (not counting his redshirt season).
The Steelers are confidently returning three starters on their offensive line from last year. Left tackle Broderick Jones has not inspired confidence in his abilities or durability over three years of play, and Pittsburgh selected Max Iheanachor on Day 1 of the draft to address that potential concern. The team also saw left guard Isaac Seumalo depart for Arizona in free agency, so Dunker will have a clear opportunity to compete for the open starting job there in Year 1.
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’ one-year rental 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 one 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 into 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 for him, general manager Monti Ossenfort declined to name a starter, deciding 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 some chemistry next to fellow offensive rookie Jeremiyah Love could be a dangerous gamble. The Cardinals are 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.
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 the 49ers pick 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 his playmaking ability. In 35 games as a starter, McNeil-Warren had 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 in school history, 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 next year, McNeil-Warren would have a clear path to an eventual starting role.
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, as 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 at being a huge asset for the Panthers early and often in his rookie year.
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.