Rams Draft QB Ty Simpson At No. 13
The Rams regularly see their own draft pick fall late in the first round, but armed with the Falcons’ selection (via a first-round trade last year), Los Angeles will use the mid-first-round real estate to make a long-term investment.
Rumored to be high on Ty Simpson — but seen as iffy to select him this high — the Rams are taking a Matthew Stafford heir apparent at No. 13. The Falcons traded up 20 spots to add James Pearce Jr. last year. The Rams will use that to bet on Simpson, a one-year Alabama starter.
Stafford has not yet signed an extension, but that is widely rumored to be in the offing. This will create an interesting dynamic, as the Rams have followed the 2020 Packers’ lead by taking a quarterback in the first round as a Super Bowl contender. Jordan Love turned out to be a smart move; will the Rams be thankful they took Simpson in a draft-and-develop scenario?
A recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece listed the Rams’ lack of prime draft real estate as a factor in the Simpson derby. While rumors circulated the team was preparing to add strength to this year’s roster — as rumblings Simpson could fall out of Round 1 altogether emerged — the team will take the chance on adding a passer who will not be expected (barring a Stafford injury) to contribute this season. It is quite possible Simpson will be sitting for at least two years, representing a rare (pretty much Green Bay-only) developmental route among modern QBs.
Such an approach may be the best-case scenario for Simpson. The same developmental route benefited him in Tuscaloosa. Sitting as a true freshman behind future No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, then sitting two more years behind Jalen Milroe before finally being named the starter for the Crimson Tide. In his single season leading the first-team offense, Simpson was able to look past an initial faltering out the gate in a brutal loss to a below average Florida State team to become one of the hottest names in college football over the first half of the season.
In nine starts, Simpson looked like the early frontrunner for QB1 in this draft class, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception while averaging 273.4 passing yards per game. Despite the disappearance the Tide’s WR1 from 2024 Ryan Williams and the surprising lack of a run game in Bryant-Denny Stadium, it looked like Simpson had put his squad back on track for an easy run to the College Football Playoff. Over the next six weeks, though, Simpson saw a stark decline in quality of play, completing only 60.5 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while only averaging 184.3 passing yards per game.
Speculation over what caused this deterioration offered theories that a home loss to Oklahoma had revealed his kryptonite, that teams had finally gotten enough film to figure him out, or that his health had limited his performance. It was believed that a lower back injury and elbow bursitis began hurting him in October, while other reports cited gastritis that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds. Adding injury to insult, his season ended when he suffered a fractured rib in a blowout loss to the eventual champion Hoosiers.
Sitting behind Stafford, Simpson should have plenty of time to get fully healthy, if he isn’t already. He’ll also have ample time to clean up the minor parts of his game that scouts nitpicked from his lone year as a starter. Evaluators wanted to see a greater variety of touch on his passes along with improved consistency on deep passes. Any lack of starting experience isn’t going to go anywhere as he sits for a a couple more years, but as a prospect praised for his mental acuity, getting to study film and NFL defenses while backing up an MVP for a year or two should do miracles for his NFL development.
If all goes as planned, it may be some time before we hear Simpson’s name again with any significance. If all goes as planned, Simpson should be taking over an a talented offense as a seasoned NFL player with a couple years of preparation under his belt. The Rams are hoping things will go according to plan.
Eagles Obtain No. 20 From Cowboys, Draft WR Makai Lemon
An intra-divisional trade is upon us. The Cowboys have dealt No. 20 to the Eagles. In exchange, Dallas will collect Nos. 23, 114 and 137 from Philadelphia, which is adding a seventh-rounder in this trade (per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).
Dallas’ pick going to Philly is in the 2027 draft. The Eagles chose USC wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Lemon was one of the Eagles’ 15 highest-graded prospects, per The Athletic’s Zach Berman, who reports they did not expect him to slip beyond then. They swooped in before the NFL’s other Pennsylvania-based franchise, the Steelers, could grab him at No. 21. Lemon expected to go to Pittsburgh (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press)
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time,” Lemon said. “I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly.”
The Eagles’ addition of Lemon will throw even more gasoline on the fire in regards to a potential A.J. Brown trade. Along with making a first-round investment in Lemon, the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. They also traded a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Packers for Dontayvion Wicks, whom they immediately extended on a one-year, $12.5MM agreement. Moore is not a lock to carve out much of a role or even make the team, but Lemon, A.J. Brown, Wicks, Marquise Brown and DeVonta Smith make up a crowded, high-profile receiver room. There are now a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia.
For financial reasons, the Eagles are likely to wait until June 2 to trade A.J. Brown. New England is the probable landing spot, though the teams have not seen eye to eye on compensation yet. For now, general manager Howie Roseman continues to insist the three-time Pro Bowler is part of the Eagles’ plans.
“For us, A.J. is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman said (via Berman). “We don’t have any trades that have been made or that done. And I think for us, you know, we’re taking this one day at a time.”
Of course, it should be noted that the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon and Brown (6-1, 226) are much different players. Lemon lined up in the slot over 75% of the time at USC, whereas Brown operates on the outside.
After a quiet first college season in 2023, quarterback Caleb Williams‘ last with the Trojans, Lemon broke out the next year. Over 12 games as a sophomore, he hauled in 52 passes for 754 yards and three touchdowns. Lemon saved his best for last in 2025, capping off his Trojans tenure with 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in another dozen-game campaign. The 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver in the nation. After dropping just four passes at USC, Lemon should give Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts a sure-handed target with star potential.
Cardinals Add RB Jeremiyah Love At No. 3
After buzz connected the Cardinals to Jeremiyah Love, the top running back in the 2026 class is indeed Arizona-bound. Love has been drafted third overall. The Notre Dame product becomes the highest drafted running back in the NFL since the Saquon Barkley went second overall eight years ago.
Love was by far the consensus top running back of the 2026 class. His backup with the Fighting Irish, Jadarian Price, is widely considered RB2 and may have to wait until Day 2 of the draft to hear is name. Ever since taking over the starting job as a sophomore, Love has been perhaps the most electric running back in college football. In two years as RB1, he combined for 2,497 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in just 28 games.
Love joins a crowded running backs room in Arizona that is likely about to clear out to make room for his star power. James Conner has been the man for the Cardinals since coming over from Pittsburgh in 2021. Over his first four years with the team, Conner averaged 917 yards per season with 37 touchdowns, but in 2025, injuries limited him to only three games. The team also signed former Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier in free agency after four strong years as a backup in Atlanta.
There’s little question Love will be RB1 once he arrives in Arizona. With draft pick salaries automatically set per slot, Love will easily be the team’s highest-paid rusher on a fully guaranteed four-year, $53.02MM rookie contract. He also become the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL by annual average value, but his guaranteed money will exceed even that of Barkley.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Seahawks Wrap Round 1 With RB Jadarian Price
Two Notre Dame running backs will indeed come off the board in Round 1. Twenty-nine picks after Jeremiyah Love went to the Cardinals, his college backup will head elsewhere in the NFC West.
The Seahawks are taking Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall. Linked to the defending champions previously, Price is the second RB off the board in this class.
John Schneider, who has traded down in six separate first rounds over his first 15 drafts, expressed interest in doing so again. But Seattle was tied to Price late in the pre-draft process. With Kenneth Walker departing for Kansas City in free agency and Zach Charbonnet suffering an ACL tear in the divisional round, Seattle opted to ensure a high-end RB talent would arrive.
This marks the third time in five drafts the Seahawks have chosen a first- or second-round back, with Walker coming in 2022 and Charbonnet in ’23. Schneider also drafted Rashaad Penny in the 2018 first round. One season remains on Charbonnet’s rookie deal, but given the timing of his injury, a stay on the PUP list to start next season seems likely.
Playing second fiddle to Love all three years of his time in college, Price still made a name for himself by rushing for 1,692 yards and 21 touchdowns over his three years in South Bend. He averaged six yards per carry over the course of his career. Scouts saw Price maintain that maximum efficiency while operating on only 6.8 carries per game, keeping his legs much fresher than those of Love. Although Price did not offer much in the passing game compared to his dynamic RB mate, he enters the NFL on just 280 career carries. That will stand to help his NFL longevity, provided this pick pans out.
Seattle added ex-Green Bay RB Emanuel Wilson on a low-cost deal in free agency, but the runway appears clear for Price to team with Charbonnet. It is quite possible Price and Wilson will be the defending champs’ top RB tandem during the first half of the season. Charbonnet will need to display good form upon returning to fetch a notable free agency deal. While that injury represents poor timing for Charbonnet, Price stands to provide premium insurance while having a path toward a long-term Pacific Northwest stay (as this contract includes a fifth-year option for 2030).
Titans Obtain No. 31 From Bills, Select DE Keldric Faulk
Make that three first-round trade-downs from the Bills. This time, Buffalo has traded out of Round 1. The Titans are moving up to No. 31.
The Titans will send Nos. 35, 66 and 101 to the Bills in exchange for Nos. 31, 69 and 165, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets. Tennessee drafted edge rusher Keldric Faulk out of Auburn. The Bills moved from No. 26 to 28 to 31 to 35, accumulating some picks following their D.J. Moore trade (which cost a second-round pick).
Faulk will join a gaggle of ex-Jets defensive lineman in Tennessee. Robert Saleh has acquired Jermaine Johnson and Solomon Thomas via trade while signing John Franklin-Myers and Jacob Martin in free agency. The Faulk plan certainly appears to be a starting role alongside Johnson, Franklin-Myers and Pro Bowl D-tackle Jeffery Simmons.
This draft slot is in line with where NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah placed him on his big board, which slotted the Auburn pass rusher 29th. Faulk is much bigger than Johnson, who is barely 250 pounds. The SEC product weighed in at 276 pounds at the Combine, where he measured 6-foot-5. He will be an interesting complementary piece to the former Saleh first-round Jets draftee (Saleh and then-Jets GM Joe Douglas traded back into Round 1 to draft Johnson in 2022).
As our Ely Allen noted in his PFR mock draft, Faulk “isn’t your typical potential-without-production prospect. It’s not that he looks the part and has the physical tools but just can’t put it together on the field; he is just, seemingly, always right around the play, disrupting it, but hardly ever the one finishing it. The 21-year-old has plenty of room to grow.” Saleh also may find use for Faulk as an inside rusher from time to time, as the Tigers deployed him as such at points.
Faulk did tally seven sacks as a sophomore in 2024, but he only totaled two last season. After 11 tackles for loss in 2024, Faulk produced only five in ’25. Tennessee is changing schemes, moving to a 4-3 defense after years in a 3-4 alignment. The team let Arden Key walk in free agency and will count on Johnson and now Faulk picking up the slack alongside Simmons and Franklin-Myers, who signed a three-year deal worth $63MM to come over from Denver.
Jets Collect No. 30 From 49ers, Draft WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Another pass catcher will follow Kenyon Sadiq to the Jets. The team traded up (via the 49ers) to add Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
The Jets are trading Nos. 33 and 179 to the 49ers, who have moved down a second time tonight. San Francisco previously slid down three spots to No. 30 via Miami. The 49ers join the Bills in trading out of Round 1 tonight. Buffalo made three trade-down moves; San Francisco made two.
Although the Jets were high on Cooper, the team was believed to like him better at No. 33 than No. 16. That report turned out to be in line with the club’s thinking. New York used its No. 16 pick on Sadiq, and Cooper will head east via the team’s third choice tonight.
This marks the second time in five drafts the Jets made three first-round picks; they also have three firsts in 2027. New York drafted Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson in 2022. As the Jets have restocked their roster under GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn, Gardner and Johnson have both been traded since November. Wilson signed an extension last year; now, Cooper will profile as a high-end complementary target — at least, the Jets hope that will be the case.
Cooper joins Adonai Mitchell — obtained in the Gardner trade — as rookie-deal cogs set to flank Wilson. Two years remain on Mitchell’s rookie contract, while Cooper’s deal can run through 2030 via the fifth-year option. The past two Jet GMs have now invested a first-round pick at wideout; the team had previously gone from Santana Moss (2001) to Wilson between such moves.
Ranking 17th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Cooper heads to New York after helping Fernando Mendoza guide Indiana to a storybook unbeaten season. Helping a formerly downtrodden program complete a stunning two-year rise to the top of the sport, Cooper caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns during his final Hoosiers season. Cooper’s highwire act in the end zone in the final minute of Indiana’s Penn State matchup kept the Hoosiers’ undefeated, and he totaled five catches for 71 yards in the team’s national championship victory over Miami.
The 199-pound receiver prospect clocked a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Displaying quality route-running ability with run-after-catch success, Cooper will join a Jets team that managed to complete a 17-game season without a 400-yard receiver emerging. That was an organizational first since the 1976 Lou Holtz-helmed season. While Wilson’s injury led directly to this stat, the team was in dire need of auxiliary help when Wilson was on the field. Cooper brings a good chance of providing it come September.
Chiefs Select DT Peter Woods At No. 29
The Trent McDuffie trade’s top asset will go toward Kansas City’s defensive line. While the Chiefs had been connected to defensive ends leading up to the draft, Chris Jones instead will see a running mate headed to Missouri.
Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods is heading to the Chiefs at No. 29. Viewed as a higher-end prospect entering last season, Woods comes to Kansas City after three years at the ACC school. Daniel Jeremiah’s big board placed Woods 39th, but the Chiefs — as they did with Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall — disagreed with lower grades and acted early.
Kansas City used a second-round pick on a D-tackle last year (Omarr Norman-Lott) but watched him suffer an ACL tear early in the season. Woods will join nose tackle Khyiris Tonga — signed to a three-year, $21MM deal — as key DT pieces added this offseason. Jones and Tonga figure to start the season at DT in Steve Spagnuolo‘s 4-3 scheme, but Woods will be slated to play a key rotational role as the Chiefs try and rebound from a 6-11 season.
Not a statistical standout at Clemson, Woods combined for five sacks over his final two college seasons. But the 298-pound defender still received first-team All-ACC recognition and second-team All-American acclaim in 2025. This came even after Woods’ TFL count dropped from 8.5 in 2024 to 3.5 last season. A quick rusher who lacks optimal length, the 6-foot-2 DT will see his rookie contract align with Jones’ market-topping deal.
The Chiefs have Jones heading into the third season of a five-year, $158.75MM contract. The future Hall of Famer is due $35MM in guaranteed compensation this year but has no guarantees remaining on the player-friendly pact beyond 2026. Kansas City has still seen Jones play at an elite level, and the Super Bowl linchpin remains one of the game’s best D-linemen. He is entering an age-32 season, and Woods — who turned 21 in March — profiles as an apprentice and possible successor in the not-too-distant future.
If the Chiefs are keen on bringing in a D-end to complement George Karlaftis, they hold No. 40 on Friday. Kansas City sent its third-round pick to Cleveland to move up for Delane earlier Thursday.
Patriots Acquire No. 28 From Bills, Draft T Caleb Lomu
This draft has not let down on a reported run of offensive linemen. After trading back a second time, the Bills cleared the way for the Patriots to add a tackle.
Buffalo sent No. 28 to New England in exchange for Nos. 31 and 125 (via ESPN’s Field Yates); the Patriots are drafting Utah’s Caleb Lomu. Primarily a left tackle for the Utes, Lomu figures to draw consideration for right-side work as a Patriot.
De facto GM Eliot Wolf confirmed as much Thursday night, via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian. Wolf reiterated 2025 No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell is New England’s left tackle. Rumblings about a potential move to guard surfaced at multiple points last year, but the Patriots have shut that down thus far. Lomu now profiles as a likely successor/immediate challenger to Morgan Moses‘ RT gig.
The Pats scheduled a “30” visit with Lomu but canceled it, per Wolf, because they did not expect him to be on the board when their pick arrived (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed). The Pats moved up three spots to make sure they landed the 6-foot-6 blocker, who joined Spencer Fano (No. 9 overall — to the Browns) among the Utes’ first-round tackle tandem.
Wolf said (via Kyed) the Patriots viewed a drop-off at the tackle spot after Lomu. This aligns with recent reports that anticipated a mid-first-round run at the tackle position. We ended up seeing nine offensive linemen (seven of them tackles) go off the board Thursday. Lomu was the last member of that octet to be drafted, but he will join a defending conference champion and profiles as a long-term Campbell bookend partner.
Lomu made 10 pre-draft visits, joining Fano as a much-investigated blocker from the Big 12 program. Lomu redshirted in 2023 but earned Utah’s LT starting role in 2024, serving in that capacity during his final two college seasons. Earning first-team All-Big 12 acclaim last season, Lomu established himself as a first-round-caliber talent.
Two years remain on Moses’ three-year, $24MM contract, but the 13th-year vet is entering an age-35 season. The Patriots can move on from Moses and save $9MM in 2027. Our Ben Levine predicted (via PFR’s Patriots Offseason Outlook post) Moses’ 2026 roster spot was probably safe but anticipated tackle depth — at the very least — being sought. Lomu is a lot more than depth, and it would surprise if he is not asked to start by 2027 — if not sooner.
Dolphins Acquire No. 27 From 49ers, Draft CB Chris Johnson
After trading back with their first pick tonight, the Dolphins are moving up three spots from their second first-round window. Miami will send Nos. 30 and 90 to San Francisco, and the Dolphins are selecting San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27. The 49ers will acquire the pick the Broncos sent to the Dolphins for Jaylen Waddle.
After LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, several cornerback prospects were thought to be potential first-round candidates, but none were guarantees. Lo and behold, McCoy has slipped past Day 1, and Johnson takes the honor of CB2 and the only corner, with Delane, who will receive a fifth-year option.
It’s not hard to see why Miami opted to select Johnson here. Johnson started to pop on film as a sophomore for the Aztecs. Rotating in off the bench, he made the most of his opportunities, recording his first interception, deflecting a pass, and forcing a fumble all in limited time. As a full-time starter his junior year, Johnson’s production increased with another interception, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. He exploded in Year 4 at San Diego State, lighting up the stat sheet with four interceptions, nine passes defensed, a sack, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Part of what makes Johnson such a valuable defender isn’t just that he has a nose for the football and is constantly around the play. He also makes the most of his opportunities when he does get his hands on the ball. While the college downing rules mean many interceptions result in zero return yards as defensive backs tumble to the ground to make a play, Johnson showed a different initiative. Over the course of his collegiate career, he averaged 38.7 yards per interception return, and in his senior year, his four picks were returned for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
There are concerns about Johnson’s physicality and strength against larger ballcarriers with his thin frame, and his level of competition was never the best in college, but Johnson dominated the tier of football that he was at, as shows the ability to continue dominating.
Miami saw cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Jack Jones depart in free agency and veteran Rasul Douglas‘ contract expired, as well. Making his way across the country, Johnson should immediately have a pathway to a starting role across from Darrell Baker in a young, inexperienced secondary. There may be some challenge, but with the Dolphins trading up to land him, it may just be his job to lose.
Bills Trade No. 26 To Texans; G Keylan Rutledge Heading To Houston
The Bills agreed to move back two spots, with the Texans coming up to No. 26. Buffalo will collect Nos. 28, 69 and 167 from Houston in exchange for Nos. 26 and 91, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge is going to Houston at No. 26. We heard earlier today the Texans had done a lot of work on Rutledge, and he will be part of the AFC South team’s ongoing O-line overhaul.
Houston has struggled along the O-line during C.J. Stroud‘s tenure, and this offseason will bring more changes. The Texans traded seven-year starter Tytus Howard and imported Braden Smith as a right tackle replacement. The team also added longtime Browns starting guard Wyatt Teller. Houston re-signed Ed Ingram, however, creating an interesting situation at guard.
Unless the Texans are prepared to station Teller on the bench to start his tenure, Rutledge would not have a clear place to play. Transferring from Middle Tennessee State in 2024, Rutledge started at right guard throughout his Georgia Tech tenure. A first-team All-Conference USA blocker before his back-to-back All-ACC years, Rutledge cross-trained at center during the Senior Bowl.
That may be relevant, as the easiest path to a starting role may come at center. If Rutledge is to play center, he would be asked to overtake 2025 starter Jake Andrews. Pro Football Focus graded Andrews 27th among centers last season. The team traded Juice Scruggs to the Lions in the David Montgomery swap.
“Where’s he going to play? Who the hell knows,” Texans GM Nick Caserio said after making the pick Thursday. “We’ll figure out who the best five guys are and put the group out there that we think is going to help us the most.”
Rutledge drew praise as the pre-draft process wore on, but he closed 47th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board. That was by far the lowest of any first-rounder selected. Houston has high hopes here. Caserio will hope this first-round guard investment goes better than his other such move, when he made Kenyon Green the first guard selected in the 2022 draft. Green flamed out and was traded in 2025. Rutledge’s rookie contract can run through 2030 via the fifth-year option, and the Texans will hope he can provide long-term stability on a line featuring two 30-something (or soon-to-be 30-something) stopgaps and a second-year LT (Aireontae Ersery).