Poll: Who Will Draft Jeremiyah Love?
NFL teams do not consider running back a premium position, which is why it takes a supreme talent for someone to spend prime draft capital on it. Over the past decade of drafts, Ashton Jeanty, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette and Ezekiel Elliott are the only running backs who have exited the board in the top 10. There are some years (most recently 2022 and ’24) in which the first round passes without anyone adding a back, but that will not be the case in the upcoming draft.
As arguably the preeminent prospect available at any position in the 2026 class, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love is poised to become the latest back to hear his name called in the first 10 picks. Seven teams in that range – the Jets (No. 2), Cardinals (third), Titans (fourth), Giants (fifth), Commanders (seventh), Saints (eighth) and Bengals (10th) – have been connected to Love in the lead-up to the draft. Some of those clubs look like more realistic landing spots for Love than others, especially considering he is not expected to last past Washington’s pick.
Possessing blazing 4.36 speed, the 6-foot, 212-pound Love is heading to the pros on the heels of a brilliant couple of years with the Fighting Irish. Love averaged an eye-popping 6.9 yards per carry on 433 attempts, scored 35 rushing touchdowns and did not lose a fumble in 41 games at Notre Dame. Also a gifted receiver, Love combined for 55 catches and five more scores over the past two years. He earned the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the nation’s best back, last season.
With nine days left until Love finds out his NFL destination, let’s run down the teams in line to pick in the top 10. We can start by ruling out the Raiders, who selected Jeanty at No. 6 in 2025 and will take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall this year.
While the Jets recently had breakfast with Love, one of their key moves earlier in the offseason was to keep Breece Hall around via the franchise tag. General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn have made their affinity for Hall known, pointing to a potential contract extension by the July 15 deadline. Not only that, but with defenders like David Bailey and Arvell Reese in contention for No. 2 overall, it would be a shock to see the Jets ignore that side of the ball.
The Cardinals had the second-worst running game in the league during an injury-plagued 2025 for James Conner and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson. Those two are due back next season, and the Cardinals reeled in former Falcon Tyler Allgeier on a two-year, $12.25MM agreement in free agency. None of those players are game-changers, which leaves room for Love. But that would be a luxury pick for an Arizona team that has obvious weaknesses at right tackle and edge defender.
The Browns are in dire need of blue-chip offensive talent. However, having used a second-rounder on Quinshon Judkins last year, they seem more likely to address their receiving corps than their backfield if they go offense with their top choice.
If the Saints release or trade the soon-to-be 31-year-old Alvin Kamara, it would create a vacancy on their depth chart. However, grabbing Love just weeks after inking ex-Jaguar Travis Etienne to a four-year, $52MM pact in free agency would be a surprise. The Chiefs (No. 9) also made a sizable investment at the position during the first wave of free agency. Having signed former Seahawks Super Bowl LX MVP winner Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal, they figure to use their initial pick on another position.
In the improbable event Love falls to the Bengals, maybe they will eschew glaring defensive needs to add another potential offensive superstar to a long-term core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Although the Bengals already have a quality dual-threat back in Chase Brown, he is not under contract past next season. There have been extension talks, but any chance of a multiyear deal will fly out the window if the Bengals choose Love.
Of the clubs in the top 10, the Titans, Giants and Commanders may be the best fits for Love. If it is the Titans or Giants, he would become the first RB to go in the top five since the latter took Barkley second overall in 2018. Eight years later, with no star-caliber back on the Giants’ roster, perhaps the new John Harbaugh regime will go with Love. The team “might just run that card up” if he is available, Connor Hughes of SNY says.
Titans running back Tony Pollard posted his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2025, but he will turn 29 at the end of April. Pollard also has just one year left on his contract. Unlike Love, Pollard has no chance to serve as a long-term sidekick for quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.
As a seventh-round rookie last season, the Commanders’ Jacory Croskey-Merritt vastly exceeded expectations in rushing for 875 yards on 175 carries (4.6 YPC). The man known as “Bill” also found the end zone eight times. Croskey-Merritt’s success is an argument that a team does not have to pour major resources into the position to find a viable solution. Washington has also been active in the backfield in free agency, having signed Rachaad White, Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders don’t need another RB, yet they are lacking elite-caliber weapons for third-year QB Jayden Daniels. If Love is sitting there at No. 7 and general manager Adam Peters likes him better than whichever receivers or defenders are on the board, perhaps he will take the plunge.
How do you expect the draft to play out for Love? Will one of the above teams or a dark horse end up with Love on April 23? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who will draft Jeremiyah Love?
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Titans 37% (586)
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Commanders 18% (282)
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Giants 17% (262)
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Other 12% (182)
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Cardinals 6% (97)
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Saints 5% (79)
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Bengals 3% (53)
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Jets 3% (41)
Total votes: 1,582
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Prospect Profile: KC Concepcion
There are three position groups from which pundits expect four or more players to get drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The edge rusher and offensive tackle positions are nearly guaranteed to take up at least eight spots together in the first round. There are three wide receivers who are widely expected to hear their names called on Day 1, and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion is one of a few pass catchers hoping to make it four.
Concepcion’s collegiate career began as an under-the-radar, three-star recruit out of Chambers HS (N.C.). Though he held offers from such programs as Florida State, Michigan State, Mississippi State, and Penn State, Concepcion focused on his in-state options. After taking official visits to NC State and North Carolina in back-to-back weekends before his senior year, Concepcion committed to the Wolfpack to continue his playing career.
After enrolling early as a freshman, Concepcion became an immediate impact player in his first year in Raleigh. He drove NC State’s offense nearly single-handedly, leading the team in receptions (71), receiving yards (839), and receiving touchdowns (10); the second-best total in each category on the team was 28 catches, 247 yards, and three touchdowns. If it wasn’t for the Wolfpack’s dual-threat quarterback in 2023, Concepcion would’ve also been the team’s leading rusher, as well. He didn’t score any touchdowns on the ground, but his 320 rushing yards surpassed the totals of all four running backs with carries on the team that year, despite Concepcion having fewer carries than three of them.
Concepcion’s usage in his sophomore season dropped drastically with a different quarterback. He still led the team in receptions (53) and receiving touchdowns (6), but his 460 yards through the air were only third-best. He opted to enter the transfer portal and, after receiving much more interest as a transfer recruit, committed to the Aggies. In his final year of collegiate play, Concepcion earned consensus All-American honors as an All-Purpose player and as a return man. He led the Aggies in receptions (61), receiving yards (919), and receiving touchdowns (9), though sophomore wideout Mario Craver (59-917-4) was right behind him. After only returning five punts in two years at NC State, Concepcion also displayed elite return ability in College Station, averaging 18.2 yards per return and taking two punts to the house.
Part of what makes Concepcion such an effective return man is something that also makes him so effective as a rusher and receiver. Elite agility makes Concepcion incredibly difficult to contain once he gets some space, with almost half his yards coming after the catch last year. He may not have that top-end speed once he gets going, but he can fluidly accelerate and decelerate to make tacklers miss, to pull away when breaking during a route, or to make adjustments to the ball while it’s in the air. He’s an aggressive offensive weapon who often uses instincts to find the open areas of the field.
There are only a few things that may drop him out of the first round. He’s not the biggest prospect, so some teams won’t like him as anything but a slot receiver. His instinctual route-running can also lead to anticipated passes coming up in a different area than he’s in. Concepcion could also stand to be a bit more aware of his hands. When coming out of breaks, he’s often late bringing his hands up. As a result, he too often ends up with awkward body catches or, worse, drops; he totaled 19 drops in three years of collegiate play and muffed a punt in his final game as an Aggie.
As a prospect, Concepcion ranks very close to first-round status. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network slots Concepcion as the 29th-best overall prospect and the sixth-best wide receiver. Dane Brugler of The Athletic places him at No. 21 overall as WR4 of the class, while Todd McShay of The Ringer has him 33rd as the sixth receiver in the class. A recent report indicated that only two wide receivers are expected to be drafted in the first 15 picks. An early run could have helped Concepcion solidify his first-round status, even if he were the sixth receiver off the board, but a slow start at the position could space things out more and drive him into the second round.
Concepcion’s draft stock also took a hit awhile back after he underwent a “routine and preventative” knee scope at the hands of the Cowboys’ Dr. Daniel Cooper. The procedure held him out of drills at the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day, but he’s expected to be ready to participate in rookie minicamps after the draft. It will be interesting to see if he can sneak into the first round or if a late run of pass catchers will push him to Day 2.
5 Key Stories: 4/5/26 – 4/12/26
The 2026 NFL draft is less than two weeks away. Attention will continue to ramp up during the lead-in to the event, but a number of developments concerning veterans have also taken place in recent days. Here is a quick recap of the past week’s top stories:
- Lawrence Requests Giants Trade: For the second straight offseason, extension talks between Dexter Lawrence and the Giants have not yielded an agreement. Lawrence has responded by requesting a trade, something which would end his seven-year tenure in New York. Calls are expected to be made by interested teams, although a swap would come as a surprise at this point. On the other hand, the Giants are open to entertaining offers in this case. Lawrence, 28, had the least productive season of his career in 2025, something which has hindered the three-time Pro Bowler’s ability to secure a raise. Two years remain on his current contract, and the Giants are not seeking a new agreement. That could leave this situation as one which lingers deep into the offseason.
- Eagles, Packers Complete Wicks Swap: Dontayvion Wicks spent his first three seasons with the Packers, but his rookie deal will not conclude in Green Bay. He has been traded to the Eagles in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder. Wicks was set to be a pending 2027 free agent, but Philadelphia worked out a one-year, $12.5MM extension upon arrival. The former fifth-rounder was unable to emerge as a starting presence in Green Bay’s crowded receiver room, and he will seek out an increase in targets with his new team. This represents the latest WR move pulled off by the Eagles as an A.J. Brown trade remains a major talking point around the league. Dealing Brown in the summer would pave the way for Wicks, entering his age-26 season, to play a key role.
- Falcons’ McGary Retires: The Falcons will be without Kaleb McGary for the second year in a row for 2026. The veteran right tackle announced his retirement following a campaign spent entirely on the sidelines due to injury. McGary joined Atlanta as a first-round pick in 2019, and he racked up 92 starts while serving as a RT mainstay when healthy. Instead of attempting a comeback, the 31-year-old elected to hang up his cleats. The RT position was thin last year, and it could be a high draft priority later this month. In any case, veteran Jawaan Taylor has been signed as a stopgap.
- Moore’s Colts Tenure Likely Over: One year remains on Kenny Moore‘s current Colts contract, but he is unlikely to play it out in Indianapolis. The veteran cornerback has a mutual desire with the team to seek out a trade, one which would leave the Colts without one of their longest-tenured players. Moore has been in place for each of the past nine years, operating as a full-time starter for much of that stretch. He did not fit well in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo‘s scheme in 2025, however, and a change of scenery could benefit all parties. Moore, 30, is owed $10MM for next year with a scheduled cap charge of $13.11MM. Interested teams could make offers in time for the draft, although a trade would be far more feasible from a financial perspective after June 1 for the Colts. Either way, Moore could be on a new team for the first time in his career relatively soon.
- Achane Skipping Dolphins‘ Offseason Program: Each NFL team with a new head coach has opened its offseason program in recent days. That includes the Dolphins, who are without running back De’Von Achane for the time being. Players seeking an extension often skip voluntary work, and that is indeed the cause for Achane’s absence. The former third-rounder has been an explosive presence in the backfield through his three years in Miami, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2025. Achane set new career highs in several categories last season, and he is positioned to once again operate as a focal point on offense for the rebuilding Dolphins in 2026. That currently represents the final year of his rookie contract, but a notable raise will be in store if negotiations between team and player result in an agreement.
Prospect Profile: Keionte Scott
The University of Miami (FL) saw its formidable pair of pass rushers fly up draft boards in its run through the College Football Playoffs, and Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor — the Hurricanes’ two highest-rated defenders, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required) — are projected Day 1 picks as a result. Miami’s third highest-rated defender has also flown up draft boards recently as nickelback Keionte Scott looks to begin his NFL career.
An unranked recruit out of Helix HS (CA), Scott turned to junior college to continue his football career. Twice earning JuCo All-American honors and getting named a team captain in his second year at Snow College, Scott committed to Auburn as a JuCo recruit. Working primarily in the slot, Scott showed immediate promise with the Tigers. His contributions came all over the field as he registered 53 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and four passes defensed. He showed more of the same in 2023, though some injury trouble limited his time and production a bit.
After initial rumors that Scott may transfer, he announced he would return for a third year at Auburn, but injuries limited him severely throughout the year, and he officially entered the transfer portal in 2025. After initially transferring to Houston, Scott quickly re-entered the transfer portal and found his way to Coral Gables. Healthy again, Scott not only returned to the promising levels of play from his early time at Auburn but also took his play to another level for the Hurricanes.
In his lone year at Miami, Scott looked dominant for the Hurricanes early and often. Roaming around in his nickelback role, he made plays all over the field, recording 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, a pick six, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble in the Canes’ first nine games. It was announced that Scott would miss the rest of the season with a right foot injury, but when the Miami extended its season by sneaking into the College Football Playoff, the extra weeks of rest allowed him to return for the team’s run to the National Championship. The impact of his return to the field was immediately felt in College Station, where he tortured the Aggies with three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. In the next round, Scott made the play of the game against Ohio State when he returned an attempted screen pass 72 yards for his second pick six of the year.
There’s a lot to like about Scott’s game because its versatility offers so much. His all gas, no brakes playing style guarantees some flashy playmaking where he may blitz out of the slot, blow up runs or screens behind the line of scrimmage, or ambush screen passes. At the Miami Pro Day, that all gas speed was clocked at an unofficial 4.33 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He finds success with such aggressive play due to elite instincts and quickness. His energy and tenacity help him play much bigger than his size as he disrupts in the box like a linebacker and tackles with pop when he can square up.
As a traditional cornerback, Scott is not as strong in man coverage, though he can still generally stick with guys. He can also struggle in contesting catches with taller, longer receivers. After two years of JuCo and four in the NCAA, Scott will be an older rookie at 25 years old, and his injury history is certainly worth keeping in mind. I’m not quite sure what this says for him, but his three-game absence after a season-ending diagnosis this year was not a first. In his second year at Auburn, Scott required tightrope surgery for a high right ankle sprain but somehow only missed three games after a speedy recovery.
After his recent rise in draft stock, Scott has been projected as high as the second round, though age, injury, and limited usability could certainly cause him to slip into the third or fourth round. At the moment, though, his stock is hot as Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranks him as the 44th-best overall prospect in the class. Dane Brugler of The Athletic slots Scott in at 53rd overall, and Todd McShay of The Ringer puts him at 52nd. Both Jeremiah and McShay list him as the seventh-best cornerback of the class, while Brugler classifies him as the fourth-best safety.
While Scott’s versatility likely won’t allow a team to stick him at outside cornerback or deep safety positions at length, it can allow him to excel in a very specific role. Last year, the Super Bowl champion Seahawks saw rookie second-round safety Nick Emmanwori excel in an extremely similar type of role as what Scott held in the Hurricanes’ defense. If there’s a team in the NFL looking for a player to fill that particular role, they could look to strike gold by selecting Scott sometime in the first two days of the draft.
Prospect Profile: Monroe Freeling
Ever since about the midway point of the 2025-26 NCAA season, the same few names have been atop 2026 NFL Draft position rankings for offensive lineman. Though some questions have arisen over whether these players will be guards or tackles at the next level, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Spencer Fano, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor have repeatedly been projected as the first offensive linemen off the board in some order. In recent weeks, though, Monroe Freeling has started to test the boundary between those three and the rest of the draft class’s top linemen.
A member of the Class of 2023, Freeling was a top 10 offensive tackle recruit in the country, per 247Sports, receiving some five-star grades but not locking down a consensus five-star rating behind the likes of Proctor and Mauigoa. A gigantic prospect, it didn’t take long for Freeling to burst onto the recruiting scene.
Despite hiding out at Oceanside Collegiate Academy in South Carolina, Freeling received his first offers in his sophomore year, and they were big ones. His first offer came from the school he would eventually commit to, Georgia. Over the next few months several other big offers began to roll in. In the summer before his senior year, Freeling took official visits to Notre Dame, Florida, and Miami, as well as an unofficial visit (paid for on his own dime) to Alabama.
Committing to the Bulldogs in the final days of the summer, Freeling saved his final official visit for a trip to Athens in December. Two weeks later, he signed his letter of intent and enrolled about two more weeks after that. As the offensive line shuffled around pieces throughout his true freshman season, Freeling only saw the field in garbage time and special teams, appearing in nine contests and burning his redshirt. In his sophomore season, Freeling established a bigger role, starting the year as a core special teamer and coming off the bench as the Bulldogs’ primary swing tackle. Nine games into the season, he was asked to step in for a struggling, injured Earnest Greene III at left tackle, and he started the final five games of the season.
Freeling entered his junior year as the starting left tackle for Georgia, retaining the role from the end of his sophomore campaign. Despite earning that leading role, he was still very much an unfinished product. A high ankle sprain slowed him down a bit as the team got into SEC play, but he improved in each showing from week to week. Learning as he went, Freeling tended to rely heavily on his intelligence and physical gifts to make up for short-comings in his technique and abilities.
Those physical assets are a big reason he’s flown up draft boards lately. Ever since he started playing football, Freeling has worked hard to fill out his long, broad frame. He uses every inch of that frame to fill up space and absorb rushers. Unsurprising for a Georgia lineman, his biggest strengths are in the run game, where his burst off the ball gives him an early edge on moving defenders, and his raw power does a lot of work opening holes. That same quickness off the line gives him a good head start in pass pro, where he is alert and ready to defend against stunts and counters.
The longer plays go on, though, Freeling’s focus tends to slip. He can sometimes overextend himself in the run game, ending up on the ground a bit too often. Late in pass pro, he may stop moving his feet and get caught lunging at persistent, late rushers. He puts himself in good position when landing heavy hands on rushers, but when he goes too wide with his hands early and misses, defenders can have success getting into his body and using his high center of gravity to stand him up on his heels.
Overall, Freeling is a bit of a project but a quick, smart learner. He has elite size and excellent athleticism, but with only one full year of starting experience under his belt, any team drafting him will need to be prepared to put the finishing touches on him as an NFL tackle. Depending on whether or not a team feels confident in their ability to develop him, Freeling currently projects as a first-round prospect, improving on early second- to third-round projections. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranks Freeling as the 20th-best overall prospect and the fourth-best tackle, while Dane Brugler of The Athletic slots him at 17th overall and third for offensive tackles.
Freeling may fit best with a team that can afford to bring him up slowly into a starting role. If needed, though, Freeling’s time in Athens proved that he can succeed while learning on the job and could start right away, if needed. His elite physical traits will ensure he hears his name in the draft; the only question will be how early into the process it gets called.
Prospect Profile: Ty Simpson
Last year, we ended our Prospect Profile series with the 2025 NFL Draft’s most controversial quarterback. This year, we’ll start with one, and no quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft is driving more controversy right now than Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
While recent highly drafted quarterbacks have been benefactors of the transfer portal, this year’s draft class features some passers who have bucked that trend. Simpson, a consensus five-star prospect that 247Sports ranked as the 29th-best overall recruit and the fourth-best quarterback, committed to the only college he would end up attending when he was just a junior at Westview HS (Tenn.). The two top-ranked quarterback recruits of the class of 2022 — Drew Allar and Cade Klubnik — will also finish their collegiate careers having worn only one logo.
The son of a football coach — specifically, Jason Simpson, who has held the head coaching position at Tennessee-Martin since 2006 — Simpson was receiving college scholarship offers before he even arrived on his high school campus. Michigan offered him as an eighth grader, and Kentucky, Mississippi State (his dad’s alma mater), Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Baylor all offered him the summer before his freshman year. Over the years, he received every offer a recruit could ever dream of and took unofficial visits to several of those schools, making sure to cover his bases with some in-person research.
It wasn’t until the summer just before his sophomore year that he attended a Crimson Tide summer football camp and received an offer from Nick Saban. He returned in September to attend a home game against Ole Miss, during which he watched Tide passer Tua Tagovailoa complete 72.2 percent of his passes for 418 yards and six touchdowns (five to Devonta Smith). At the end of his junior year, he chose Alabama over Clemson, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, then he proceeded to sign in December and enroll early.
Simpson made his collegiate debut in the Tide’s season opener, appearing for some garbage time snaps as a true freshman. He would appear in three more games that year but be limited to just those games in order to preserve his redshirt. As a redshirt freshman and sophomore, Simpson continued in his garbage-time duties after Jalen Milroe, a four-star recruit from the class before his, took over starting duties. After three years of waiting, Simpson finally got his opportunity to start as a redshirt junior.
After a disappointing (and, in hindsight, shocking) season opening loss to Florida State, in which Simpson would complete only 53.5 percent of his passes and average only 5.9 yards per attempt, Simpson rebounded in a big way. Leaving his performance against the eventual 5-7 Seminoles in the rearview, Simpson established himself as the clear top quarterback through the first nine games of the season. At that point, he had completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception while averaging 273.4 yards per game. The next six weeks saw a stunning decline as he completed only 60.5 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while averaging only 184.3 yards per game.
Simpson’s deterioration down the stretch of the season could be the result of many factors. The slide started with a loss at home to Oklahoma, a top-seven defense in both points and yards allowed, and many believe the Sooners revealed a blueprint for finding success against the Tide, though that theory would lose credibility once Alabama got revenge in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Others put stock into the players around Simpson, pointing out that a usually potent Alabama rushing unit finished 125th in the FBS in yards per game last season, while freshman phenom wide receiver Ryan Williams developed a bit of a sophomore slump, disappearing for just 13 receptions, 161 yards, and no touchdowns in those last six games.
Simpson’s health may have played into his struggles, as well. It’s believed that he played through a lower back injury and elbow bursitis starting sometime in October, while also suffering from gastritis that caused his weight to dip almost 20 pounds. To top it all off, his season ended with a fractured rib, suffered in a season-ending loss to the eventual champion Hoosiers. Regardless of the exact reason(s), fair or not, the documented struggles will throw up red flags for scouts, either concerning his performance itself, his response to external factors, or his health and durability.
For all his struggles that sit fresh in mind from his most recent performances, Simpson still displayed some draft-worthy traits throughout his lone season as a starter. He’s at his best in the short- to intermediate-game, seeding throws with anticipation, accuracy, and velocity. He can air it out, as well, but the accuracy and timing on deep balls are far less consistent. He’ll need to develop a bit more touch, as well, to really get the most out of his game by implementing different degrees of arc on all levels of throws. Simpson isn’t heavy-footed, and though he doesn’t run much, he uses his feet to extend plays effectively.
One of Simpson’s best assets is his mental game. His ability to read defenses and process coverages pre- and post-snap is a testament to the time he spent sitting and learning before ever starting. He can also be a bit over-aggressive with his first instinct reactions after things go off script, and there’s also been loads of debate and concern over his decision to declare for the draft after only starting one season at the college level. There have been several examples of others doing the same, and the results have often been overwhelmingly more negative than positive.
Regardless, Simpson is widely seen as the QB2 of the 2026 NFL Draft class, behind only presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana. That won’t likely land Simpson as the No. 2 overall pick, though. Over the past several weeks, Simpson’s draft stock as varied wildly, with some projecting him as a top-10 pick and others grading him as a third-round talent or later. The truth likely falls somewhere in the middle and will depend on external factors like the level of need that certain teams will have for his position and the actions of those teams before and during the draft.
The most recent projections have him either getting taken in the mid- to late-first round by a team that likely trades up for him or getting drafted on Day 2. I would be remiss not to remind that Shedeur Sanders held similar projections as the perceived QB2 behind Cam Ward for much of the pre-draft process last year. It will certainly be interesting to see if any other similarities play out from here.
5 Key Stories: 3/29/26 – 4/5/26
With the annual league meeting now in the books, attention around the NFL will increasingly turn to the upcoming draft. That will bring about several key storylines, but the past few days have been busy as well. Here is a quick recap of the past week’s top stories:
- Walker Lands Jaguars Extension: Talks between Travon Walker and the Jaguars proved to be successful. Team and player agreed to a four-year, $110MM deal which will keep the former No. 1 pick in place through 2030. Walker secured $77MM in total guarantees along with $50MM fully locked in at signing. The 25-year-old saw his sack total drop to 3.5 in 2025 after two straight double-digit campaigns, but he will be counted on as a mainstay along the defensive front for years to come. This deal comes two years after Jacksonville’s previous regime inked Josh Hines-Allen to a big-ticket deal of his own. The Jags are also in negotiations with receiver Parker Washington and tight end Brenton Strange, so it will be interesting to see if agreements can be reached with them prior to the start of the 2026 season.
- Cousins Joins Raiders: Following his Falcons release, Kirk Cousins drew interest from a number of teams. The free agent quarterback elected to join the Raiders, though, setting him up for a stint atop the depth chart early next season. Vegas is still universally expected to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, and the Heisman winner will of course be viewed as the team’s quarterback of the future. Cousins, 38 in August, nevertheless managed to add further to his impressive total in terms of guaranteed money with this agreement. He will collect $10MM in 2026 (much of which will be Atlanta’s responsibility) while another $10MM is set to be paid out early next offseason as a roster bonus. Cousins’ future past that point is unclear, but he has his next NFL gig lined up.
- Chiefs’ Rice Will Not Be Suspended: Rashee Rice is the subject of a civil lawsuit alleging domestic violence, something which prompted an NFL investigation. The Chiefs wideout will not be subject to a suspension, however, with the league’s probe concluding that the personal conduct policy was not violated in this case. Rice opened the 2025 season with a six-game suspension for his role in a hit-and-run incident, but the coming campaign will begin under different circumstances. The former second-rounder is entering the final year of his rookie contract; a strong showing would provide Kansas City’s offense with a needed playmaker while also increasing his chances of remaining in the fold beyond 2026.
- Rams’ Nacua Staying At Rehab Center: It was recently learned that Rams wideout Puka Nacua checked himself into a rehab facility in Malibu, California in March. He remains there at this time, with a focus on “personal growth” being the target. Nacua, 24, has been involved in multiple off-field matters early in his NFL career, including accusations made by a woman regarding an alleged incident on New Year’s Eve in 2025. Nacua is now the subject of a lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, with a hearing scheduled for next week. Nacua has been one of the NFL’s top receivers since arriving in Los Angeles three years ago, but no extension is imminent in his case as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract.
- Bears Already Planning Williams Extension: As a 2024 draftee, Caleb Williams will not be eligible for an extension until next offseason at the earliest. The Bears will nevertheless devote time this summer to exploring the terms of a new deal for their franchise quarterback. Williams enjoyed a strong first year playing under Ben Johnson in 2025, helping lead Chicago to the divisional round of the playoffs. Especially if the former No. 1 pick delivers a similar showing this year, a monster commitment will likely be in store. In any case, Williams is likely to have his fifth-year option exercised next spring, something which would keep him under team control through 2028.
Poll: Will Eagles Trade A.J. Brown?
The future of Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has been in question since he voiced his frustration with their offense on multiple occasions in 2025. The heat has turned up since the Eagles’ season ended with a listless offensive showing in a 23-19 loss to the visiting 49ers in the wild-card round. Trade rumors centering on Brown have persisted over the past two-plus months, and that may be the case for at least several more weeks.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has considered dealing Brown, though it does not appear that he will budge for less than a first-round pick as this month’s draft approaches. One GM confirmed to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that the Eagles have asked for “a one and change” this offseason. It would come as a surprise if a trade occurs before or during the draft, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes, as the finances would work heavily against Philadelphia.
Trading Brown before June 1 would leave the Eagles with a $43.51MM dead cap hit — a record for his position — and cost them $20.12MM in space. A trade on June 2 or later would enable the Eagles to spread the dead money over two years. They would take on $16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27, though parting with Brown would open up $7MM in breathing room next season. While that makes a summer swap more likely, Jones does not “get the impression” a deal will come together immediately on June 2.
As for teams that could acquire Brown, the Patriots, Chargers, Bills and Chiefs are reportedly on the three-time Pro Bowler’s wish list. Los Angeles, Buffalo and Kansas City have not shown much interest, though perhaps they or other teams will enter the sweepstakes depending on how the draft unfolds. L.A.’s more successful franchise, the Rams, engaged in talks with the Eagles, but a trade between the NFC powers is unlikely to occur.
On the other hand, it would not surprise anyone if the Patriots reel in the soon-to-be 29-year-old Brown. Even after adding ex-Packer Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68MM contract in free agency, the Pats are considered the favorites to acquire Brown (there is a “broad assumption” they will, Volin writes). He would offer a more-than-capable replacement for the reigning AFC champions’ 2025 leading receiver, the released Stefon Diggs. Brown also has a strong relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel dating to their time together in Tennessee from 2019-21. Now a seven-year veteran, Brown registered two of his six 1,000-yard seasons as a Titan.
The Patriots or any other acquiring team would expect Brown to notch a fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign in 2026, but losing his consistently solid production would weaken a contending Eagles team. With Philadelphia expected to push for a third consecutive NFC East title next season, Roseman may be content to keep the Brown-DeVonta Smith receiver tandem intact. How do you expect this saga to play out?
What will happen with A.J. Brown?
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The Eagles will trade him between June 2 and the start of the season 55% (751)
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The Eagles will keep him 36% (488)
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The Eagles will trade him before June 1 9% (123)
Total votes: 1,362
5 Key Stories: 3/22/26 – 3/29/26
The coming days will be worth watching closely as aways thanks to the annual league meeting taking place. This past week has nevertheless seen a few notable developments as well, though. Here is a quick recap of the top stories from the past few days:
- Smith-Njigba Lands Record-Breaking Seahawks Extension: One of the top Seahawks priorities for this offseason was extending former first-rounders Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon. One of those was taken care of, with Smith-Njigba agreeing to a record-breaking receiver deal. The 2025 Offensive Player of the Year landed $42.15MM in average annual value on a four-year extension. As such, he is on the books with Seattle through 2031. The pact contains over $69MM fully guaranteed at signing and ensures Smith-Njigba, 24, will remain a focal point on offense for years to come. Attention will now turn to Witherspoon, whose next contract could reset the cornerback market.
- Buccaneers Icon David Retires: The Buccaneers will be without a franchise icon at the heart of their defense in 2026. Linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement at the age of 36, bringing an end to his 14-year career. All of that decorated span was spent with Tampa Bay, and the former second-rounder remained a foundational member of the team’s defense throughout that span. David only collected one Pro Bowl nod and a single appearance on the first All-Pro team, but he will go down as one of the best players in franchise history and one of the most accomplished linebackers of his generation. He won a Super Bowl and collected over $103MM in career earnings. The Bucs will now prepare for a season without David or Mike Evans in the fold.
- Mendoza Preparing For Raiders Selection: Since the Raiders clinched the first overall pick in April’s draft, they have been universally expected to select Fernando Mendoza. Signs continue to point in that direction, with the Heisman-winning quarterback spending time alongside Brian Griese to acclimate to the offense Vegas will be running in 2026. Mendoza has understandably scheduled a top 3o visit with the Raiders, and there will be little need for him to speak with other teams in the build-up to the draft. Vegas is in position to start over at the QB spot, and a new coaching staff along with a revamped roster will soon be officially joined by Mendoza.
- Flacco Staying With Bengals: During the early stages of free agency, Joe Flacco examined his options with respect to an opportunity to compete for a starting gig in 2026. With none presenting themselves, the journeyman made the expected decision to re-sign with the Bengals. Flacco filled in for an injured Joe Burrow midway through this past season. He will be counted on to do the same if Burrow is once again unable to remain healthy. At the age of 41, Flacco will extend his career for at least one more year. The former Super Bowl MVP has racked up 209 career appearances, and a notable QB2 role will once again be in store in his case.
- Jets Among Simpson’s Suitors: Mendoza’s situation is not subject to doubt at this point, but the draft range for fellow quarterback Ty Simpson remains the subject of considerable speculation. The Alabama product recently visited the Jets, a team in position to select a long-term option under center next month. New York owns pick Nos. 2 and 16, so there will be opportunities to bring in Simpson during the first round. Whether or not that will take place remains to be seen, and with the countdown to the draft continuing there is still a wide range of opinions on when his name will be called. Interest from the Jets and other suitors will be worth monitoring closely over the coming weeks.