Steelers Explored Trade With Bucs To Take Makai Lemon At No. 15
While the Steelers did not call the Cowboys about trading up for Makai Lemon during last month’s draft, they did explore a move to the Buccaneers’ No. 15 pick to land the USC wide receiver, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via the Rich Eisen Show).
Tampa Bay, though, did not expect Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to be available midway through the first round, and they quickly pounced on one of their top-ranked defenders. Pittsburgh looked at the five teams ahead of them at No. 21 – the Jets, Lions, Vikings, Panthers, and Cowboys – and assessed that none would take a wide receiver. They were correct; however, they did not anticipate getting jumped by Philadelphia, who traded up for Dallas’ pick and selected Lemon.
In what may be remembered as an infamous draft night moment, the Steelers were on the phone with Lemon informing him that he would be the 21st pick – while the Cowboys were still on the clock – when the Eagles made their move. General manager Howie Roseman called Lemon, who awkwardly hung up with the Steelers and got the news that he would be headed to Philly instead.
The Steelers pivoted to Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a 6-foot-6, 330-pound physical specimen who will fill a key need in Pittsburgh right away. If he proves to be a high-level starter, then missing out on Lemon may have been a blessing in disguise, as reliable offensive tackles are much harder to find than productive wide receivers. Trading up with the Buccaneers likely would have cost the Steelers their third-round pick, too, which they ended up using on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.
Pittsburgh was also willing to trade up for safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate, Dulac added, though both were selected long before they were in the Steelers’ range. Tate went surprisingly early to the Titans at No. 4, while the Cowboys moved up one pick to snag Downs at No. 11. An aggressive move up for Downs would have required Pittsburgh’s second-round pick, which they used to grab one of their other preferred wideouts, Alabama’s Germie Bernard.
Draft Rumors: Bucs, Raiders, Waller, Dolphins, Cowboys, Colts, Allen, Giants
Exiting a season without an eight-sack player for the fourth straight year, the Buccaneers attempted to take a big swing in free agency by being part of the Trey Hendrickson chase. The Ravens, after their Maxx Crosby about-face, ended up closing that market. Baltimore reneging on that agreement may have helped Tampa Bay land Rueben Bain Jr., with Jason Licht indicating during a Pat McAfee Show appearance the Raiders obtaining the No. 14 overall pick probably took an EDGE suitor out of the mix.
“Spytek, he and I are very close. He was taunting me a little bit, ‘Hey, we’re sitting right in front of you; I know what you need,’” Licht said of his former Bucs lieutenant-turned-Raiders GM (h/t the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin). “We’re all trying to help each other out here, especially the people that are good friends, so thanks, Spytek.”
Spytek worked under Licht before being hired as Raiders GM in 2025. The Raiders were all set to move Crosby’s $35.5MM-per-year contract off their payroll, and although the team signed Kwity Paye during the period where Crosby was all but certain to relocate to Baltimore, the team could have used more help at the premier position. (If nothing else, Spytek certainly appears to have needled his former boss about needing to trade up for a pass rusher.) Instead, Paye joins Crosby and Malcolm Koonce — re-signed before the Ravens’ seismic decision — in headlining the Raiders’ EDGE corps.
Keeping No. 14, the Ravens were connected to Penn State guard Vega Ioane. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft delivered a direct hit there, and the move allowed the Bucs access to Bain. Tampa Bay viewed the Miami EDGE as a top-five player on its board and was eyeing ex-Bain Hurricanes teammate Akheem Mesidor in the event Bain was off the board. The Ravens keeping their pick after signing Hendrickson may well have helped keep Bain in Florida. Here is the latest draft fallout:
- The Cowboys and Dolphins agreed to a first-round trade that allowed Dallas to climb up one spot for Caleb Downs. That swap was agreed to late during Miami’s time on the clock, and ESPN’s The Pick Is In special (h/t David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel) included a note about the Dolphins initially declining the Cowboys’ offer to move from No. 12 to No. 11. Dallas initially offered a fifth-round pick to climb one spot; this did not move the needle for new Miami GM Jon-Eric Sullivan. As the clock wound down, the Cowboys offered a second fifth-rounder and potentially another pick to seal the deal. Jerry Jones did not view the Dolphins as a threat to draft Downs but worried another team could jump the Cowboys for the Ohio State safety, leading to Nos. 177 and 180 going to Miami for No. 11. Jeff Hafley said during an interview with Richard Sherman (via Yahoo.com) the Dolphins would have drafted Kadyn Proctor at 11 had no trade occurred.
- Staying with the Dolphins, they will obtain an additional 2027 draft choice. The 2025 Darren Waller trade sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants after the tight end unretired; a conditional 2027 seventh went back to Miami. The conditions were ultimately satisfied, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, and the Dolphins will hold an extra 2027 seventh-rounder from the Waller swap. Although Waller began the season late due to injury before being placed on IR twice last season, he caught 24 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns in nine games played. Waller is not expected to return to Miami.
- The draft signing process annually moves slowest with second-round picks, with guarantees providing the holdup. Round 2 draftees continue to make inroads on that front. Last year, a host of second-round talents — due in no small part to Tyler Shough going 40th overall — secured fully guaranteed deals. This year continues that growth, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting No. 53 overall pick C.J. Allen received 83.7% of his contract guaranteed from the Colts. That is up from 75.4% at No. 53 last year (Buccaneers CB Benjamin Morrison). The bar for fully guaranteed Round 2 deals will undoubtedly move past No. 40 this year, and Allen receiving this mostly guaranteed pact will have an impact on players drafted shortly before him this year.
Cowboys Sign S Caleb Downs, Five Other Draft Picks
The Cowboys are among the teams which have moved quickly in signing the bulk of their draft classes. All but one of Dallas’ draft picks are now under contract.
The team announced on Friday that safety Caleb Downs has been signed. The same is also true for each of the Cowboys’ other draftees except for fellow first-rounder Malachi Lawrence. Downs and Co. will take part in Dallas’ rookie minicamp this weekend.
Downs – who will collect $28.9MM guaranteed – spent the entire pre-draft process as one of the most highly-regarded prospects from this year’s class. As was the case for many others, though, the matter of positional value threated a drop down the first-rounder order. Downs slid out of the top 10, something which promoted the Cowboys to move up one spot and select him after executing a trade with the Dolphins.
Known for his production and high football IQ, Downs will be counted to play an immediate role within Dallas’ new-look secondary. The Cowboys still have Malik Hooker in place, but the team added Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency. An All-American in both of his Ohio State seasons, Downs will be expected to serve as an impact member of that group right away and for several years to come.
In addition to Downs, third-round edge rusher Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round receiver Anthony Smith have each inked their rookie contracts. Each of those deals will be four years in length. Downs’ pact will also run through 2029, but the team will eventually have a fifth-year option decision to make in his case.
Lawrence was drafted 23rd overall after Dallas moved down the board from No. 20. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes his contract should be finalized once more players selected in a similar range wind up being signed, adding no issues are anticipated. Lawrence could take part in rookie camp without a contract in place, but in any event his pact can be expected to be signed shortly.
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Cowboys Acquire No. 11 From Dolphins, Select S Caleb Downs
The Cowboys have moved up one spot, acquiring No. 11 from the Dolphins. Miami will slide back a pick, and this will allow the Cowboys to block other teams from trading up to outflank them.
The Dolphins will add Nos. 12, 177 and 180 in this swap, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. This will boost Miami’s pick count to 13. Considering where the Dolphins are on their latest rebuild timeline, it makes sense for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan to add two Day 3 picks to drop one spot. The Cowboys drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the pick.
It is no surprise the Cowboys spent their top choice on a defensive player after the unit struggled to stop anyone last season. Despite boasting one of the NFL’s premier offenses, the Cowboys finished 7-9-1 in 2025. A defense that ranked dead last in scoring and 30th in passing ‘D’, yards and turnovers was the main culprit.
Dallas has since added a pair of veteran safeties, Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke, to join the returning Malik Hooker, but Downs is now the most talented member of the group. The Cowboys are hoping he quickly emerges as a standout under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. As the Eagles’ defensive backs coach from 2024-25, Parker helped develop Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean into stars.
The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Downs began a decorated college career in 2023 at Alabama, where he notched 107 tackles, four passes defensed, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. After earning second-team All-America honors, Downs transferred to Ohio State. He was a unanimous All-American during a 2024 showing in which he totaled 81 tackles, six passes defensed and two picks. Downs helped the Buckeyes to a national title in his first year with the team. They were unable to repeat in 2025, but Downs closed his Buckeyes tenure with another tremendous season. He put up 68 tackles, including five TFL, and a pair of INTs. Downs was a unanimous All-American again. He also earned the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in the nation.
Downs may not end up as the only high-profile defensive prospect to join the Cowboys on Thursday. They are also scheduled to pick 20th, where they could address another need on that side of the ball.
Giants Draft Latest: Styles, Downs, Love, Ioane, Fano, Tyson, Trade
For the second time in four years, the Giants hold two top-10 picks in a draft. Joe Schoen‘s first draft did not maximize the value at Nos. 5 and 7, where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal arrived. If the GM is to save his job, he will need to serve as a meaningful contributor while a John Harbaugh-fronted regime navigates the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.
The Giants obtained No. 10 from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence. While that haul surprised some Giants decisionmakers, the team bungling the Neal pick reminds how having such meaningful draft real estate can backfire. Several possibilities certainly exist for Big Blue near the top of this draft.
A path where the Giants grab Sonny Styles at No. 5 and emerge from No. 10 with another offensive line starter should be considered in play, according to SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A GM informed La Canfora that Styles will not be available by No. 10, so if Harbaugh wants a Roquan Smith-type linebacking anchor, the Giants would need to pull the trigger at 5.
Likely set to be the highest ILB drafted since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, Styles has been connected to the Titans at No. 4. With the Jets down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey and the Cardinals not tied to Styles much, it would seemingly be down to Tennessee passing to greenlight a Giants pick.
The Giants have two locked-in tackle starters, in Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, but their guard posts do not feature a long-term piece. Although Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cut candidate months ago, he remains on the roster. The former Packer is entering the final season of a three-year, $30MM contract and may not be a roster lock, and the team signed ex-Raven (one of many brought in under Harbaugh) Daniel Faalele to go with Lucas Patrick. Those players could be swing options, however, and La Canfora hears Harbaugh “loves” Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Ioane has been linked to Baltimore at No. 14, where Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sent him. Prior to the Lawrence trade, Ely mocked Francis Mauigoa to New York at No. 5. The Giants have an interesting opportunity to add a quality O-line option thanks to holding a second first-rounder, and Ioane should remain on the board by No. 10. Kadyn Proctor and Spencer Fano, two tackle prospects who could slide to guard (joining Mauigoa in that regard), also are believed to be on the Giants’ radar, per La Canfora.
Wide receiver should also be considered a factor for the Giants, especially at No. 10. They have been linked closely to Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, and ESPN.com’s Dan Grazino adds more fuel to the Tyson-to-New York fire by noting the team indeed is fond of the injury-prone Arizona State talent. Tyson has been one of the pre-draft process’ late climbers, as his recent workout showcased upside Tate may not carry. Tate is viewed as a safer prospect, however.
Another scenario for New York may feature Tyson at 10 — if he is still available — but Caleb Downs over Styles at 5, with Graziano adding multiple sources have informed him the Giants would be likely to take the ex-Buckeyes safety over the linebacker if both are available. Downs has been linked to the Giants for weeks, and the Ravens certainly valued the safety position — from Ed Reed to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas to Kyle Hamilton — under Harbaugh.
A wrench in this plan exists at running back, though. Interest in Jeremiyah Love could prompt the Giants to table a defensive pick and go for the dual-threat Notre Dame RB prospect, with Graziano noting Love will be squarely in play — perhaps even over Downs — if he’s still available at 5. Some in the Giants’ building are holding out hope for Love at 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with ESPN colleague Jordan Raanan finding it difficult to envision the team passing. Love would mark the organization’s second top-five RB investment in nine years. A Saquon Barkley ceiling is uncertain here, but teams have been rewarded for recent first-round RB picks — as possible 2023 extension recipients Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight.
While Fowler also points to the Giants closely eyeing an O-line upgrade at No. 10 in the event Downs is the pick at 5 — mentioning Fano and Ioane — EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline offers more on the receiver front. A concern exists Malik Nabers may not be 100% by Week 1, and Pauline goes as far as to say the Giants “will” use the No. 10 choice on a receiver.
Short-term Nabers concerns would not be a great reason to make a long-term WR investment with such a high pick, though if Tyson or Tate ends up being higher on New York’s board compared to Fano or Ioane, pairing Nabers with one of them makes sense. Tate may be unlikely to fall past New Orleans at No. 8, however. Pauline also cites a source close to Ioane who believes No. 10 might be a bit early for the draft’s top guard prospect to go.
Trading down would represent another route here, and we heard the Giants were open to moving back from No. 5 a bit ago. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy hears the Giants would be willing to make a small move back from No. 5 to obtain more Day 2 capital. New York traded its third-round pick to climb up for Jaxson Dart last year. A scenario in which the Cardinals take Love at No. 3 leaving the Titans with a Styles-or-EDGE selection could accelerate Giants trade talks, and either Bailey or Reese remaining on the board at 5 could prompt a trade-up — as the Giants are not in need of OLB help.
As if we aren’t deep enough in this web — big night, Giants fans — Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer is iffy the Giants would use the No. 5 pick on Downs. But the veteran insider confirms the team’s interest in Tyson (who dined with Schoen while the latter was in town for his workout). No. 5 might not even be too high for Tyson, though that would be higher than expected.
The Giants view Tyson as “so dynamic,” Glazer adds. He posted a 1,100-yard season in 2022 but has suffered major knee and collarbone injuries prior to multiple bouts with hamstring trouble. Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons have also emerged here. Were Tyson to become a Giant, a Beckham reunion may not come to pass.
NFL Draft Trade Rumors: Cowboys, Browns, Titans
The first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft is only four days away, and rumors persist concerning a wild Day 1 of potential trades. The Cowboys have been a frequent subject in trade rumors, with many asserting that the team could be looking to trade up into the top 10.
The consensus belief is that, even without a trade, the Cowboys’ two first-round picks will be used on defense. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports believes new defensive coordinator Christian Parker will have some influence on the team’s draft plan, which should guarantee two new first-round defenders. Jones asserts that, if the team does trade up, the trade won’t include their second first-rounder, considering they won’t be picking again until pick No. 92. NFL insider Jason La Canfora posited that the trade up target for Dallas could be LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms that all eyes are on the Cowboys, who many expect to be eager to move up “due to obvious defensive needs.” So far, though, Dallas has not been “overly active” on the phones just yet. He reports the team is “open-minded about (a) potential move but also (is) comfortable staying put.”
Here are a few other draft rumors concerning teams looking to trade on Day 1 of the NFL draft:
- The Browns could be a target for Dallas if they do decide to move. Per La Canfora, Cleveland is widely expected to drop out of the top 10 picks. The team currently holds pick Nos. 6 and 24 in the first round of the draft, but even that may not be enough to fill the holes on their roster. The Browns are notorious for trading down, and if the sixth overall pick doesn’t present a strong chance at major improvement, they may move to add some additional draft capital.
- As Fowler mentioned above that the Cowboys had not been active on the phones, he did report a belief that the recent phone work around the league seems to indicate that the Titans could be looking to trade back from the fourth overall pick. A year removed from landing the No. 1 overall pick, Tennessee still has quite a few holes on the roster. Some have connected the team to Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles in recent predictions. Earlier on in process, it was rumored that a reunion between quarterback Cam Ward and college teammates right tackle Francis Mauigoa or defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was in the cards. Love and Styles may make sense in their current slot, but moving back may allow Tennessee to target Mauigoa or Bain.
Commanders High On Jeremiyah Love At No. 7; Team Unlikely To Pick Caleb Downs?
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered one of the Commanders’ top choices for the No. 7 pick in next week’s draft, according to EssentiallySports’ Tony Pauline.
Washington has operated a backfield-by-committee approach for several years without investing much in any one individual running back. In 2025, they traded Brian Robinson – their last player to take more than 200 carries in a season back in 2022 – to the 49ers and split their touches between 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez and 2025 seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The Commanders added former Buccaneer Rachaad White into their rotation this offseason, too.
Drafting Love would end the committee approach. He would step in as a full-time, three-down RB1 right away who will only need to be rotated out for rest and load management. The Commanders would be able to lean on a more traditional running game without putting Jayden Daniels in as much danger after an injury-riddled 2025 season. And when Washington does use Daniels’ legs, they may find that combining an elite running back with a mobile quarterback can lead to explosive results, as the Ravens showed with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in 2024.
Love was one of several projected top-10 picks to take a top-30 visit to Washington this week. He joined edge rushers Arvell Reese (Ohio State), David Bailey (Texas Tech), and Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), among others, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Any would fill the Commanders’ significant need off the edge, though either Reese or Bailey is expected to be the Jets’ pick at No. 2. The other is unlikely to fall to the seventh pick, but Washington should have a shot at Bain with some teams scared off by his below-average arm length.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was also present for Tuesday’s top-30 gathering, but he is not expected to be the team’s pick at No. 7. The Commanders are returning their top three safeties from last season – Jartavius Martin, Jeremy Reaves, and Will Harris – and signed Nick Cross in free agency. Cross will take up one starting role, and the team is confident that Martin, a 2023 second-rounder, can bounce back after struggling in coverage last year, according to Pauline. Downs has more long-term upside than any currently-rostered Commanders safety, but the front office may value a position with more value or immediate need.
Instead, Pauline adds, one of the aforementioned pass rushers, a wide receiver, or cornerback are “in play” for the seventh overall pick, but that may not matter if Love falls that far. At present, that does not seem especially likely. He has been linked with a number of clubs with top-five picks, and in what is considered a thin draft class in terms of elite prospects, one may be inclined to ignore Love’s position and select him based on his pure talent.
Commanders Host Caleb Downs; S Unlikely To Fall Out Of Top 10?
The clear-cut top safety in this draft class, Caleb Downs looks likely to become the first safety drafted in the top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. Adams is the only safety to go off the board in the top 10 over the past 15 drafts, but Downs could even beat the former All-Pro’s No. 6 draft slot.
The Giants have been closely connected to Downs at No. 5 for weeks, and a recent report indicated the Cowboys are a team to watch with a trade-up — potentially for a player the Giants are coveting. Downs, who visited Dallas during the pre-draft process, would fit the profile for a team desperate for defensive upgrades.
[RELATED: Cowboys Host Downs On “30” Visit]
Dallas would probably need to trade up for Downs, as ESPN’s Peter Schrager noted during an interview with DLLS Sports that the Ohio State safety falling to No. 12 overall should be considered highly unlikely. Schrager had previously mocked Downs to Dallas, but feedback within the league led the veteran reporter to back off that prediction. Downs’ floor may be the Bengals at No. 10, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds.
Adding Jalen Thompson and retaining Malik Hooker via pay cut, the Cowboys also signed P.J. Locke. They would be bucking NFL draft norms by trading up that far for a safety. Dallas holds the Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks, and moving into the top four would be quite costly. The Bengals have seen safety issues cause trouble ever since Jessie Bates‘ 2023 departure, but they did add Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25MM deal. Starter Jordan Battle is entering a contract year.
Cincinnati also may be a place to monitor with regards to a first-round cornerback investment, Breer adds, while also mentioning Rueben Bain Jr. as a potential option. The Bengals have both Daxton Hill and DJ Turner on expiring contracts at corner. The team has two first-round DEs — Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart — rostered and gave Boye Mafe a three-year, $60MM pact in free agency.
If the Giants pass on Downs at No. 5, Washington may lurk. The Commanders included Downs in a bulk “30” visit at a TopGolf complex, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Washington has proceeded this way in the recent past, as its 2024 QB summit reminds. The Commanders added Nick Cross on a two-year, $13MM deal last month and have Will Harris, Quan Martin and special-teamer Jeremy Reaves rostered at the position. Washington (at No. 7) is viewed as Jeremiyah Love‘s likely floor, but Downs would also be a logical choice. It does not appear likely the standout safety — one of four ex-Buckeyes who could be chosen in the top 10 — will need to wait long to hear his name called.
Cowboys Could Trade Up In Round 1
APRIL 14: A belief around the NFL points to Dallas being a team to monitor regarding a trade-up, per veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who notes the team packaging Nos. 12 and 20 is being viewed as a possible scenario. Trade-up and trade-down rumors are obviously commonplace around this time, but Schultz adds several teams believe the Cowboys are eyeing a player the Giants also covet. Moving ahead of New York’s No. 5 pick would be pricey, though it appears that is on the table.
The Giants have been tied to a few prospects at 5. Downs, Sonny Styles, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate have been connected to Big Blue during the pre-draft process. This situation could soon remind of 2021, when the Eagles eyed Giants target DeVonta Smith and used the Cowboys (at No. 10) to trade in front of New York. While the Giants are in position to land another impact player near the top of a draft, the prospect of them moving down — perhaps for a cornerback, where the team has done extensive work — has also been mentioned.
APRIL 13: The Cowboys are entering the 2026 draft with a clear need to upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. They currently hold the 12th and 20th overall picks, but trading up for an elite defender is not out of the question.
In particular, Dallas could target Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who they see as “instant-impact game changers on defense,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Downs is the consensus No. 1 safety in this year’s draft class and has a case to be the top defender in terms of pure talent. However, teams will likely prioritize edge rushers and cornerbacks over a safety in the first five picks, which could put the two-time All-American within the Cowboys’ range.
Dallas already reshaped their safety room this offseason by signing Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency to join Malik Hooker. However, none of the three are younger than 28 years old and only Thompson is signed past the 2026 season. Downs could carve out a role right away, especially in the slot where the team lacks proven contributors, while serving as the centerpiece of the safety room in the long-term.
The Cowboys may look back to 2022, when Kyle Hamilton fell to the Ravens at No. 14, and hope that the same happens with Downs. However, teams clearly overthought Hamilton as a prospect after his sub-par athletic testing, and Downs, perhaps looking to avoid a similar fall, declined to participate this year. That may prevent the former Buckeye from making it to the 12th pick and force Dallas to trade up.
Bain, the Cowboys’ other priority target, was already seen as a potential faller after measuring in with sub-31-inch arms at the Combine. It does not seem that recent news of two careless driving citations will tank his stock, but length concerns may be enough to drop him out of the top five.
Dallas re-signed Sam Williams and traded for Rashan Gary to strengthen their edge rusher room this offseason, but they could stand to add a young, high-upside talent in this draft. 2025 second-round Donovan Ezeiruaku disappointed as a rookie, and while he still has potential, he may not have the same All-Pro ceiling as Bain.