The team also created a hole along the interior of its defensive line, in the form of now-departed defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
While New York put those two picks to good use, drafting Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 10 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, they have spent some of the time since the 2026 NFL Draft shoring up that defensive line in the wake of Lawrence’s departure. And New York made yet another addition to that group on Tuesday, and it was a big one at that.
The first two additions came on April 30, days after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first acquisition was veteran Shelby Harris, signed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. Harris most recently played for the Cleveland Browns, but began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his career, Harris has played in 146 NFL games — with 89 starts — and recorded 358 total tackles, 58 tackles for a loss, and 28.5 sacks.
Later on that day, the Giants signed another veteran, Leki Fotu. Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft, and over his career has played in 66 NFL games with 26 starts. Fotu has recorded 103 tackles — 46 of those solo — along with 15 tackles for a loss.
But the biggest move came on Tuesday, when the Giants added D.J. Reader to their defensive line. New York signed Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million given the “reachable incentives” contained within the contract.
As noted by our friends at Big Blue View, Reader visited the Giants during the start of NFL free agency, and ahead of the deal between New York and Cincinnati. But with Lawrence on his way to the Bengals, adding more talent to their defensive line became a bigger priority for the Giants’ front office.
Last year with the Lions, Reader started all 17 games and played 583 defensive snaps, recording 28 total tackles.
This trio will join a defensive front that has some talent on the edges, including last year’s first-round pick Abdul Carter, NFL veteran Brian Burns, 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the aforementioned Reese.
While New York could not find one player to replace Lawrence on the inside, perhaps these three will.
The team also created a hole along the interior of its defensive line, in the form of now-departed defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
While New York put those two picks to good use, drafting Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 10 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, they have spent some of the time since the 2026 NFL Draft shoring up that defensive line in the wake of Lawrence’s departure. And New York made yet another addition to that group on Tuesday, and it was a big one at that.
The first two additions came on April 30, days after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first acquisition was veteran Shelby Harris, signed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. Harris most recently played for the Cleveland Browns, but began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his career, Harris has played in 146 NFL games — with 89 starts — and recorded 358 total tackles, 58 tackles for a loss, and 28.5 sacks.
Later on that day, the Giants signed another veteran, Leki Fotu. Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft, and over his career has played in 66 NFL games with 26 starts. Fotu has recorded 103 tackles — 46 of those solo — along with 15 tackles for a loss.
But the biggest move came on Tuesday, when the Giants added D.J. Reader to their defensive line. New York signed Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million given the “reachable incentives” contained within the contract.
As noted by our friends at Big Blue View, Reader visited the Giants during the start of NFL free agency, and ahead of the deal between New York and Cincinnati. But with Lawrence on his way to the Bengals, adding more talent to their defensive line became a bigger priority for the Giants’ front office.
Last year with the Lions, Reader started all 17 games and played 583 defensive snaps, recording 28 total tackles.
This trio will join a defensive front that has some talent on the edges, including last year’s first-round pick Abdul Carter, NFL veteran Brian Burns, 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the aforementioned Reese.
While New York could not find one player to replace Lawrence on the inside, perhaps these three will.
#Giants #Dexter #Lawrence #replacement #pass #rush">The Giants found another Dexter Lawrence replacement to help the pass rush
When the New York Giants swung a stunning pre-draft trade with the Cincinnati Bengals, they acquired the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving the team two picks inside the top ten.
The team also created a hole along the interior of its defensive line, in the form of now-departed defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
While New York put those two picks to good use, drafting Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 10 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, they have spent some of the time since the 2026 NFL Draft shoring up that defensive line in the wake of Lawrence’s departure. And New York made yet another addition to that group on Tuesday, and it was a big one at that.
The first two additions came on April 30, days after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first acquisition was veteran Shelby Harris, signed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. Harris most recently played for the Cleveland Browns, but began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders. Over his career, Harris has played in 146 NFL games — with 89 starts — and recorded 358 total tackles, 58 tackles for a loss, and 28.5 sacks.
Later on that day, the Giants signed another veteran, Leki Fotu. Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2020 NFL Draft, and over his career has played in 66 NFL games with 26 starts. Fotu has recorded 103 tackles — 46 of those solo — along with 15 tackles for a loss.
But the biggest move came on Tuesday, when the Giants added D.J. Reader to their defensive line. New York signed Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million given the “reachable incentives” contained within the contract.
As noted by our friends at Big Blue View, Reader visited the Giants during the start of NFL free agency, and ahead of the deal between New York and Cincinnati. But with Lawrence on his way to the Bengals, adding more talent to their defensive line became a bigger priority for the Giants’ front office.
Last year with the Lions, Reader started all 17 games and played 583 defensive snaps, recording 28 total tackles.
This trio will join a defensive front that has some talent on the edges, including last year’s first-round pick Abdul Carter, NFL veteran Brian Burns, 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the aforementioned Reese.
While New York could not find one player to replace Lawrence on the inside, perhaps these three will.
#NFL #draft #pick #stood">Which NFL draft pick stood out to you the most?
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet in the NFL world. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of things to talk about.
Which draft pick was a statement about their new team’s future?
One of the biggest stories of the NFL offseason has been that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to trade AJ Brown. It has reached the point where several outlets refer to it as inevitable and discuss it in that manner.
As inevitable as it may be, to date there has been no hard or concrete proof of this becoming a potential reality. This certainly changed during the first round when Philly moved up to draft USC wideout Makai Lemon.
It seems like the dawn of a new future for the Eagles offense has officially begun. You can argue that nobody signaled more about their future than the Eagles did in this respect. Maybe the Rams with Ty Simpson, but that’s about it.
The Rams using a first-round pick on Ty Simpson was certainly a surprise to me. He may have been the second-best quarterback in this class but it was also a very weak quarterback class altogether. I mean, they needed to go all-in for one more season if 2026 really is Matthew Stafford’s last ride before retiring. Instead, they drafted his replacement and used the rest of the picks on players I do not see making much of an impact this coming season.
It was a really weird year for the Rams when they’re normally pretty savvy about their selections year-in and year-out.
Who took your favorite player?
The Chargers needed to address their offensive guard spots in this draft and there was a lot of hope that they’d be able to land one of several impact guards either on Day 1 or 2. Instead, the Cardinals took my favorite guard prospect in Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis very early on Day 2 before the Chargers ever got close to picking.
The Bolts traded back and took Florida center Jake Slaughter, who never spent a snap at guard in college. I don’t know how that solves the big issue for LA but it was very tough to see Bisontis go so early when I had convinced myself he could have been in play at No. 55.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS DRAFTED CALEB DOWNS AND I AM STILL LEVITATING.
Everything about the Cowboys drafting Caleb Downs is going to have me soaring until further notice. He is a defensive superstar, a perfect prospect in every sense, and he has all the makings of being the ambassador for the team that Dak Prescott is. That is high-level company.
What’s more is that Downs is a defensive back and the Cowboys just hired someone who is wizard in that space to run their defense in Christian Parker. This is like in Harry Potter when the wizards would go into Olivander’s and get a wand that was perfectly suited to who they were, what made them unique, so on and so forth.
This is magical in every way.
Did a team seriously change their fortunes?
It feels strange to not have a new crop of franchise quarterbacks hanging out around the league following the draft. Only the Las Vegas Raiders fit the bill with Fernando Mendoza.
This feels like new life for the Raiders, one that they sorely needed. I can very much believe that they are no longer fully in the cellar, even if it is going to take some time to get up to the penthouse.
One team that may finally surprise and perform better over their expectations thanks to their 2026 draft class is the New York Jets. They grabbed four starters with their first four draft picks (three in the first round) and they’re all at important positions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
If Geno Smith truly becomes a blunder again, it all won’t matter, but the Jets did what they needed to make the team around him as talented as possible with what resources they had.
Which team would you want to take over on Madden?
My cousin and I share a Madden franchise where we each run a different team. We have certain rules because of how we are with one another, but this is the general premise that matters for this discussion.
Often time my cousin and I will start over following the actual NFL Draft and we will use rosters that awesome people on the internet have outfitted with the new rookies. It is always fun for him and I to discuss which teams are best to take over following the draft for Madden purposes.
The answer to this question depends on how someone likes to play Madden. If you are someone who wants an awesome team that got its final piece, then maybe you feel like the Eagles make sense. Perhaps you want to be the Rams and trade away Matthew Stafford. You can argue that the Texans roster picked up some dudes.
For me, I like the idea of taking over the Titans. I have all of these young pieces on offense and a chance to really make the team in my own image. Carnell Tate will be a ton of fun, I imagine a popular pick in dynasty leagues as well, and as I’m thinking this out loud the New Orleans Saints with Jordyn Tyson make sense, too.
I like the idea of taking over a team with young and exciting players at several important positions to use in Madden. If the quarterback is ho-hum, you need elite weapons – or at least elite in certain stats like Speed – to make up for it with your own schemes and play designs.
If I were to start a new Madden franchise, I’d probably go with the New York Jets because they just drafted uber-athletic tight end Kenyon Sadiq and pass rusher David Bailey. Those are two players you could utilize from the start to help make your team great. Sadiq provides a very fast option at a position that’s easy to scheme open on offense and Bailey gives your defense a notable pass rush monster who can go to work while you “user” linebacker Demario Davis behind him.
Seems like a very solid foundation to start with that should only get better with each year.
#NFL #draft #pick #stood
The draft is behind us, and we’re about to hit a long stretch of quiet…
With the entire football world believing that Cleveland needed to use their two first-round picks on an offensive tackle and a wide receiver, the Browns did just that, sliding back a few spots and still drafting Utah’s Spencer Fano, and then adding Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion near the end of the first round. Cleveland was not done making picks that fans and analysts loved, as the team added Washington WR Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on Day 2.
Of course, there is one rather important outstanding matter, and there is news on that front.
Who will be under center for the Browns this season?
According to a new report, none other than veteran Deshaun Watson has the “inside track” to the starting quarterback job in Cleveland as the offseason begins. Mary Kay Cabot at Cleveland.comwrote Wednesday morning that Watson “emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition — and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1.“
For those who might be wondering yes, this is the same Deshaun Watson that last played in 2024, only made seven starts that season, and saw his year cut short due to an Achilles’ rupture. And the same Watson that during that season posted an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of just 3.7, and led the Browns to a 1-6 record. It’s also the same Watson who faced a series of sexual assault allegations in recent years.
And yet … there is a reason he might be their best option. Courtesy of RBSDM, here is a look at Quarterback Efficiency — a metric examining both Expected Points Added per Pass and Completion Percentage Over Expected — for all quarterbacks with 100 or more passing attempts a year ago.
See if you can spot the two Browns passers who fit that category last year: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel:
Yes, right in the bottom left is where you find the two Cleveland rookies from last season, exactly where you do not want to be on this graphic.
So while the Browns might have “won” the 2026 NFL Draft, what lies ahead is much less certain.
With the entire football world believing that Cleveland needed to use their two first-round picks on an offensive tackle and a wide receiver, the Browns did just that, sliding back a few spots and still drafting Utah’s Spencer Fano, and then adding Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion near the end of the first round. Cleveland was not done making picks that fans and analysts loved, as the team added Washington WR Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on Day 2.
Of course, there is one rather important outstanding matter, and there is news on that front.
Who will be under center for the Browns this season?
According to a new report, none other than veteran Deshaun Watson has the “inside track” to the starting quarterback job in Cleveland as the offseason begins. Mary Kay Cabot at Cleveland.comwrote Wednesday morning that Watson “emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition — and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1.“
For those who might be wondering yes, this is the same Deshaun Watson that last played in 2024, only made seven starts that season, and saw his year cut short due to an Achilles’ rupture. And the same Watson that during that season posted an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of just 3.7, and led the Browns to a 1-6 record. It’s also the same Watson who faced a series of sexual assault allegations in recent years.
And yet … there is a reason he might be their best option. Courtesy of RBSDM, here is a look at Quarterback Efficiency — a metric examining both Expected Points Added per Pass and Completion Percentage Over Expected — for all quarterbacks with 100 or more passing attempts a year ago.
See if you can spot the two Browns passers who fit that category last year: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel:
Yes, right in the bottom left is where you find the two Cleveland rookies from last season, exactly where you do not want to be on this graphic.
So while the Browns might have “won” the 2026 NFL Draft, what lies ahead is much less certain.
Especially at quarterback.
#Deshaun #Watson #Shedeur #Sanders #Browns #starting #favorite #report">Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders? The Browns have a starting QB favorite, per report
In the minds of analysts and fans alike, the Cleveland Browns were one of the teams that nailed the 2026 NFL Draft.
With the entire football world believing that Cleveland needed to use their two first-round picks on an offensive tackle and a wide receiver, the Browns did just that, sliding back a few spots and still drafting Utah’s Spencer Fano, and then adding Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion near the end of the first round. Cleveland was not done making picks that fans and analysts loved, as the team added Washington WR Denzel Boston and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on Day 2.
Of course, there is one rather important outstanding matter, and there is news on that front.
Who will be under center for the Browns this season?
According to a new report, none other than veteran Deshaun Watson has the “inside track” to the starting quarterback job in Cleveland as the offseason begins. Mary Kay Cabot at Cleveland.comwrote Wednesday morning that Watson “emerged from the Browns voluntary minicamp last week with an edge over Shedeur Sanders in the two-man quarterback competition — and has the inside track to be named the Browns QB1.“
For those who might be wondering yes, this is the same Deshaun Watson that last played in 2024, only made seven starts that season, and saw his year cut short due to an Achilles’ rupture. And the same Watson that during that season posted an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of just 3.7, and led the Browns to a 1-6 record. It’s also the same Watson who faced a series of sexual assault allegations in recent years.
And yet … there is a reason he might be their best option. Courtesy of RBSDM, here is a look at Quarterback Efficiency — a metric examining both Expected Points Added per Pass and Completion Percentage Over Expected — for all quarterbacks with 100 or more passing attempts a year ago.
See if you can spot the two Browns passers who fit that category last year: Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel:
Yes, right in the bottom left is where you find the two Cleveland rookies from last season, exactly where you do not want to be on this graphic.
So while the Browns might have “won” the 2026 NFL Draft, what lies ahead is much less certain.
#NFL #Draft #team #fits #good #rookies #instant #stars">6 NFL Draft team fits that are so good, rookies can become instant stars
With the NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to start getting excited about some of the rookies set to hit the league, and a huge part of their success will be based on fit. Time and time again, we’ve seen elite talent fail to reach their ceiling because they landed in a bad situation, while players who flew under the radar in the pre-draft process become superstars due to finding an ideal home for their talents.
In this 2026 draft class there were a handful of early picks that are truly eye-catching when it comes to their potential to be a serious factor as soon as they hit the league.
Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants — 1st round, 5th overall
It might seem like a copout to throw the top player on our big board on this list, but it really can’t be overstated how perfect a fit Reese will be on the Giants. The best trait Reese brings to the pros is his unbelievable scheme flexibility, which translates to chaos in the NFL. Essentially he’s a player that can be moved all around the formation into basically any position in the front seven and find a way to make an impact.
The only thing that can hamper a player like this is a lack of talent around them. If a chaotic linebacker like this finds himself being the only threat on the field then it becomes easy for a team to bracket them and neutralize that ability. This simply is not possible when it comes to the New York Giants. Opposing offenses have to account for Brian Burns on every down, then worry about a rotation of Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux coming off the edge. With two solid pass rushers in on snaps it creates the ultimate canvas for Reese to wreak havoc.
Sprinkle in the fact that you have John Harbaugh running the show, and we could see a new-generation version of Terrell Suggs — or something even more effective that we can’t even fully comprehend.
When the dust settles, I think the Dallas Cowboys are going to seriously regret getting two fourth-round picks in exchange for giving the Eagles their future top weapon in Makai Lemon.
Obviously, the writing is on the wall for A.J. Brown’s time in Philly, but this is an extremely rare case where I look at this team and think they’re going to be absolutely fine — potentially even scarier when Lemon gets up to NFL speed. That’s not a knock on Brown, but more a realization that a change in receiver skillsets can be additive to the Eagles’ passing offense.
It goes without saying that DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown have been great, but it’s been more duplicative than anything. Both have similar skill sets, with crisp route running and amazing hands, but neither is really a YAC beast. Smith and Brown averaged around 3.0 yards after the catch last season, which is fine when you’re consistent — but Lemon is an absolute YAC MONSTER. He is going to be able to line up in the slot, split out wide, or operate out of trips and give this team another level to its passing offense.
What we’re going to see is another layer of the Eagles’ passing game get opened up because of Lemon, and I think he’s landing in the perfect spot to really make noise.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson — Kansas City Chiefs, 1st round, 25th overall
This is just an absolutely filthy fit, which could give us a defensive front unlike anything else in the NFL. The biggest reason Woods went from being a Top 10 prospect when the college season began, to falling to 25th was due to questions about his individual motor and the ability to be the centerpiece of a defensive line — a necessity when you’re a top pick in the draft.
Now he lands on a Steve Spagnuolo defense where Chris Jones will be lined up next to him where the All Pro DT will be eating those doubles and be the focal point, so Woods is in a position to get downfield and penetrate. That’s a ludicrous boon to a young defensive player, and it’s my expectation that he will benefit the same way George Karlaftis did off the edge.
Perhaps more importantly, the fit gives Woods a veteran in Jones who can help mold his game. Both have that sudden “quick win” element to their play, with a violent first step — and while Woods’ arms don’t meet the NFL ideal on length, that can be helped if he’s a sponge and learns technique from Jones next to him.
Ultimately, I think the defensive front with two sudden defensive tackles operating out of a 4-3 front might be something we haven’t seen in the NFL since the early 2000s with Pat and Kevin Williams on the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s rare to find an example where a player both slides in the NFL Draft and finds their perfect fit. Aveion Terrell was tailor-made for the Falcons’ defense, and he has the absolute best person to nurture him in the league: His brother.
It’s not just that both A.J. Terrell and Aveion Terrell now play cornerback for the same team, but that they have extremely similar skillsets. Both are very fluid athletes with fantastic technique and outstanding instincts when it comes to tracking and locating receivers. Aveion is slightly smaller than his brother, but makes up for his lack of ability in jump ball situations with being a better open-field tackler, and more aggressive in run support.
This means what we have in Atlanta is a highly skilled rookie corner who now gets to learn about the transition to the pros from a family member with a vested interest in seeing him succeed. There won’t be the concern of one replacing the other, because they are complementary corners where A.J. will be expected to play cover the No. 1, while Aveion has the ability to roam inside out a little more.
It’s just impossible to see how this fit will fail. It’s going to be so much fun to watch.
The Carolina Panthers put mammoth work into overhauling their woeful defense this season with two huge signings in EDGE Jaelan Phillips, and MLB Devin Lloyd. The only missing piece to the puzzle was a stud nose tackle to eat up space, and now the Panthers have their guy.
Hunter is such a good fit in this Panthers defense lining up in their odd front with Derrick Brown. Brown is already one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the NFL, who doesn’t often get his flowers because it was too easy to pull the center over on a double. Hunter will ensure that can’t happen anymore. His ability to dent the pocket with his power and drive the center back into the quarterback’s lap will have a domino effect on the entire Panthers defense. Without that ability to push interior linemen out of the double teams will need to pick whether they need to deal with Phillips off the edge, or Brown off the interior.
It might not stack the stats for Hunter, but he is going to be an absolute difference maker. This applies to clogging running lanes as well, which will then open up Lloyd to get to the point of attack and wrap up plays. This is going to be such a good fit for the Panthers, and one that could pay huge dividends.
Closing out our best fits lets talk about the biggest wild card in all this and that’s Garrett Nussmeier. Prior to the draft I said that Nussmeier was going to be one of the best steals in this class, and that was operating under the assumption he was going to be a third round pick — not in the friggin’ seventh.
If you haven’t followed this story, yes, Nussmeier needs back surgery — but it’s to remove a cyst that was pressing on a nerve. It basically killed his year at LSU and led to the collapse in his performance. He will be full healed and ready to go by training camp, which means we all see where this one is headed.
With Patrick Mahomes on the sideline to start the season and only Justin Fields ahead of him on the depth chart there’s a very real chance a healthy Nussmeier could come in and steal the starting job. He’ll be operating in an offense with good weapons and astounding offensive minds to play to his strengths, with a real chance he can shine for a couple of months until Mahomes is back.
Fast-forward to next year, and someone is missing on a QB. Are they going to look to the second or third tier in 2027, or potentially send a decent pick to the Chiefs for Nussmeier on a bargain-basement deal, assuming he proves it in Mahomes’ absence.. Honestly, it’s a better landing spot than any quarterback got outside of the first round, and I think there’s a very real chance we enter next season with Nussmeier starting somewhere in the NFL as a result.
We divided the league up into four distinct tiers based on where we think they’ll end up.
Tanking for No. 1, or bust
We start at the bottom with three teams that clearly have no plan to be competitive this season, with 2027 already on the horizon. The shared DNA here is that all three teams are searching for franchise quarterbacks, and we’re going into one of the most stacked QB classes in recent memory. They will be duking it out to see who’s worst in order to control their draft destiny and make their pick between Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin — who are presumably the best three QBs coming out.
Chance of making the playoffs
Like any good bell curve, this is our bulge. All these teams made significant enough improvement through the draft and free agency that they very well could make the playoffs, but there are also good enough reasons to doubt that they’re ready to take the next step. This can be due to some major holes that haven’t been patched, or simply a factor of being locked in a division with teams that are further along in the process. None of these teams making the postseason would be a surprise, nor would it shock us if they’re drafting Top 5.
20. Washington Commanders
These are the teams we’ve identified as either division winners or highly-rated Wild Card teams. You can see where the split comes in for some of the iffier divisions like the NFC South, which has the Panthers in this tier — but the Buccaneers right behind them. There is an outside chance one of these teams goes on a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl, but it’s highly-unlikely based on other teams higher on this list.
Finally, we reach the seven teams that legitimately feel like they could make it all the way to the Super Bowl in February. These were dominant teams from a year ago who got better this offseason, or are healing from key injuries and now return in 2026 to make a statement. Any combination of these teams in the Super Bowl wouldn’t be surprising to us, and it’s more than likely one of them will end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the end.
We divided the league up into four distinct tiers based on where we think they’ll end up.
Tanking for No. 1, or bust
We start at the bottom with three teams that clearly have no plan to be competitive this season, with 2027 already on the horizon. The shared DNA here is that all three teams are searching for franchise quarterbacks, and we’re going into one of the most stacked QB classes in recent memory. They will be duking it out to see who’s worst in order to control their draft destiny and make their pick between Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin — who are presumably the best three QBs coming out.
Chance of making the playoffs
Like any good bell curve, this is our bulge. All these teams made significant enough improvement through the draft and free agency that they very well could make the playoffs, but there are also good enough reasons to doubt that they’re ready to take the next step. This can be due to some major holes that haven’t been patched, or simply a factor of being locked in a division with teams that are further along in the process. None of these teams making the postseason would be a surprise, nor would it shock us if they’re drafting Top 5.
20. Washington Commanders
These are the teams we’ve identified as either division winners or highly-rated Wild Card teams. You can see where the split comes in for some of the iffier divisions like the NFC South, which has the Panthers in this tier — but the Buccaneers right behind them. There is an outside chance one of these teams goes on a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl, but it’s highly-unlikely based on other teams higher on this list.
Finally, we reach the seven teams that legitimately feel like they could make it all the way to the Super Bowl in February. These were dominant teams from a year ago who got better this offseason, or are healing from key injuries and now return in 2026 to make a statement. Any combination of these teams in the Super Bowl wouldn’t be surprising to us, and it’s more than likely one of them will end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the end.
#NFL #Power #Rankings #team #Super #Bowl #chances #draft">NFL Power Rankings: Which team has the best 2027 Super Bowl chances after the draft?
The NFL schedule hits one of its only lulls as the wait until training camp begins. The 2026 NFL Draft is in the rear view (read our full team grades here), and with it a chance to look at how all 32 teams changed with their incoming rookies. Naturally everyone got better, that’s just the nature of the beast — but some teams did a lot more work patching their holes than others, including several teams who still have an eye on the future, rather than worrying about competing now.
We divided the league up into four distinct tiers based on where we think they’ll end up.
Tanking for No. 1, or bust
We start at the bottom with three teams that clearly have no plan to be competitive this season, with 2027 already on the horizon. The shared DNA here is that all three teams are searching for franchise quarterbacks, and we’re going into one of the most stacked QB classes in recent memory. They will be duking it out to see who’s worst in order to control their draft destiny and make their pick between Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin — who are presumably the best three QBs coming out.
Chance of making the playoffs
Like any good bell curve, this is our bulge. All these teams made significant enough improvement through the draft and free agency that they very well could make the playoffs, but there are also good enough reasons to doubt that they’re ready to take the next step. This can be due to some major holes that haven’t been patched, or simply a factor of being locked in a division with teams that are further along in the process. None of these teams making the postseason would be a surprise, nor would it shock us if they’re drafting Top 5.
20. Washington Commanders
These are the teams we’ve identified as either division winners or highly-rated Wild Card teams. You can see where the split comes in for some of the iffier divisions like the NFC South, which has the Panthers in this tier — but the Buccaneers right behind them. There is an outside chance one of these teams goes on a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl, but it’s highly-unlikely based on other teams higher on this list.
Finally, we reach the seven teams that legitimately feel like they could make it all the way to the Super Bowl in February. These were dominant teams from a year ago who got better this offseason, or are healing from key injuries and now return in 2026 to make a statement. Any combination of these teams in the Super Bowl wouldn’t be surprising to us, and it’s more than likely one of them will end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in the end.
The NFL schedule hits one of its only lulls as the wait until training camp…
TAMPA, FL – April 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 first round pick Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. holds up a jersey as General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles stand on each side of Bain during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers First Round Pick Press Conference on April 24, 2026 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the NFL Draft in the rearview, fans can start speculating on how well players will fit into their new landing spots. The NFL Draft is an inexact alchemy, and every prospect’s impact will be determined as much by their own skills and traits as their ability to adapt and gel with their new organization’s structures and schemes. Taking a look at the odds on NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, via FanDuel, is a chance to project which players found the perfect landing spot to make an immediate impact in the league.
David Bailey (+500), EDGE – New York Jets
Many expect David Bailey to contribute right away after the Jets invested their No. 2 overall pick in the EDGE prospect’s steady production and projectable traits instead of searching for more upside with less polished prospects. Bailey posted 14.5 sacks last season with Texas Tech. If Aaron Glenn’s defense starts playing at an above-average level, Bailey could earn a lot of attention for helping turn things around.
Rueben Bain Jr. (+500), EDGE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain Jr. showed off his ability to move the line of scrimmage and take over football games during Miami’s run to the CFB Championship. The defensive lineman is joining a Buccaneers team that’s struggled to find consistency in closing out games, and they’re watching their NFC South conference rivals stock up on offensive firepower. Bain will start right away for a Todd Bowles defense that can create unique passrushing looks around DT Vita Vea.
Arvell Reese (+750) will start immediately alongside friendly company in New York Giants linebackers Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. If offenses key on all of these other stars, Reese could produce eye-popping stats.
Mansoor Delane (+850) will be tested early and often as the primary CB after the Kansas City Chiefs traded away both of last year’s starters. The Chiefs traded up to secure the draft’s top CB, and the former Virginia Tech and LSU standout will be playing in a big TV market that will create buzz if he starts making plays.
Sonny Styles (+900) will get the chance to play the Bobby Wagner role in the middle of Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders defense. The converted safety led the Buckeyes in tackles last season, and he’ll benefit from playing alongside disruptive linebacker Frankie Luvu.
Caleb Downs (+900) will be a focal point of Dallas Cowboys’ new Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker’s 3-4 scheme. Parker brings familiarity with the division as former passing game coordinator and DBs coach for the Eagles, and he could put Downs in position to clean up a lot of broken plays behind a revamped defensive front
TAMPA, FL – April 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 first round pick Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. holds up a jersey as General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles stand on each side of Bain during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers First Round Pick Press Conference on April 24, 2026 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the NFL Draft in the rearview, fans can start speculating on how well players will fit into their new landing spots. The NFL Draft is an inexact alchemy, and every prospect’s impact will be determined as much by their own skills and traits as their ability to adapt and gel with their new organization’s structures and schemes. Taking a look at the odds on NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, via FanDuel, is a chance to project which players found the perfect landing spot to make an immediate impact in the league.
David Bailey (+500), EDGE – New York Jets
Many expect David Bailey to contribute right away after the Jets invested their No. 2 overall pick in the EDGE prospect’s steady production and projectable traits instead of searching for more upside with less polished prospects. Bailey posted 14.5 sacks last season with Texas Tech. If Aaron Glenn’s defense starts playing at an above-average level, Bailey could earn a lot of attention for helping turn things around.
Rueben Bain Jr. (+500), EDGE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain Jr. showed off his ability to move the line of scrimmage and take over football games during Miami’s run to the CFB Championship. The defensive lineman is joining a Buccaneers team that’s struggled to find consistency in closing out games, and they’re watching their NFC South conference rivals stock up on offensive firepower. Bain will start right away for a Todd Bowles defense that can create unique passrushing looks around DT Vita Vea.
Arvell Reese (+750) will start immediately alongside friendly company in New York Giants linebackers Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. If offenses key on all of these other stars, Reese could produce eye-popping stats.
Mansoor Delane (+850) will be tested early and often as the primary CB after the Kansas City Chiefs traded away both of last year’s starters. The Chiefs traded up to secure the draft’s top CB, and the former Virginia Tech and LSU standout will be playing in a big TV market that will create buzz if he starts making plays.
Sonny Styles (+900) will get the chance to play the Bobby Wagner role in the middle of Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders defense. The converted safety led the Buckeyes in tackles last season, and he’ll benefit from playing alongside disruptive linebacker Frankie Luvu.
Caleb Downs (+900) will be a focal point of Dallas Cowboys’ new Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker’s 3-4 scheme. Parker brings familiarity with the division as former passing game coordinator and DBs coach for the Eagles, and he could put Downs in position to clean up a lot of broken plays behind a revamped defensive front
.
#NFL #Defensive #Rookie #Year #odds #favorites #appealing #longshot #options">NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds with 2 favorites and appealing long-shot options
TAMPA, FL – April 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 first round pick Edge Rusher Rueben Bain Jr. holds up a jersey as General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Todd Bowles stand on each side of Bain during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers First Round Pick Press Conference on April 24, 2026 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With the NFL Draft in the rearview, fans can start speculating on how well players will fit into their new landing spots. The NFL Draft is an inexact alchemy, and every prospect’s impact will be determined as much by their own skills and traits as their ability to adapt and gel with their new organization’s structures and schemes. Taking a look at the odds on NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, via FanDuel, is a chance to project which players found the perfect landing spot to make an immediate impact in the league.
David Bailey (+500), EDGE – New York Jets
Many expect David Bailey to contribute right away after the Jets invested their No. 2 overall pick in the EDGE prospect’s steady production and projectable traits instead of searching for more upside with less polished prospects. Bailey posted 14.5 sacks last season with Texas Tech. If Aaron Glenn’s defense starts playing at an above-average level, Bailey could earn a lot of attention for helping turn things around.
Rueben Bain Jr. (+500), EDGE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain Jr. showed off his ability to move the line of scrimmage and take over football games during Miami’s run to the CFB Championship. The defensive lineman is joining a Buccaneers team that’s struggled to find consistency in closing out games, and they’re watching their NFC South conference rivals stock up on offensive firepower. Bain will start right away for a Todd Bowles defense that can create unique passrushing looks around DT Vita Vea.
Arvell Reese (+750) will start immediately alongside friendly company in New York Giants linebackers Brian Burns, Tremaine Edmunds, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. If offenses key on all of these other stars, Reese could produce eye-popping stats.
Mansoor Delane (+850) will be tested early and often as the primary CB after the Kansas City Chiefs traded away both of last year’s starters. The Chiefs traded up to secure the draft’s top CB, and the former Virginia Tech and LSU standout will be playing in a big TV market that will create buzz if he starts making plays.
Sonny Styles (+900) will get the chance to play the Bobby Wagner role in the middle of Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders defense. The converted safety led the Buckeyes in tackles last season, and he’ll benefit from playing alongside disruptive linebacker Frankie Luvu.
Caleb Downs (+900) will be a focal point of Dallas Cowboys’ new Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker’s 3-4 scheme. Parker brings familiarity with the division as former passing game coordinator and DBs coach for the Eagles, and he could put Downs in position to clean up a lot of broken plays behind a revamped defensive front
TAMPA, FL - April 24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2026 first round pick Edge Rusher Rueben…
EAGAN, MN. – APRIL 2024: The Minnesota Vikings introduce their first-round draft pick, Caleb Banks, University of Florida defensive lineman, at the TCO Performance Center during a press conference at Eagan, Minn. on Friday, April 24, 2026. Left to right are owner Mark Wilf, executive vice president of football operations/interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, Caleb Banks, head coach Kevin O’Connell, owner Zygi Wilf. (Photo by Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) Star Tribune via Getty Images
EAGAN, MN. – APRIL 2024: The Minnesota Vikings introduce their first-round draft pick, Caleb Banks, University of Florida defensive lineman, at the TCO Performance Center during a press conference at Eagan, Minn. on Friday, April 24, 2026. Left to right are owner Mark Wilf, executive vice president of football operations/interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, Caleb Banks, head coach Kevin O’Connell, owner Zygi Wilf. (Photo by Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) Star Tribune via Getty Images
#NFL #Draft #grades #teams #earned #marks #turn">NFL Draft grades: These 4 teams earned low marks, but one could turn into an A
EAGAN, MN. – APRIL 2024: The Minnesota Vikings introduce their first-round draft pick, Caleb Banks, University of Florida defensive lineman, at the TCO Performance Center during a press conference at Eagan, Minn. on Friday, April 24, 2026. Left to right are owner Mark Wilf, executive vice president of football operations/interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, Caleb Banks, head coach Kevin O’Connell, owner Zygi Wilf. (Photo by Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) Star Tribune via Getty Images
#NFL #Draft #grades #teams #earned #marks #turn
EAGAN, MN. - APRIL 2024: The Minnesota Vikings introduce their first-round draft pick, Caleb Banks,…
While snap grades often examine the process employed by each team when making their selections, ultimately the real grades will come from the teams and the players themselves. While we can sit here and forecast how teams will use their new players, it is up to each coaching staff to put their incoming draft picks in a position to succeed through scheme, coaching, and development. As for the players themselves? They’re facing the adjustment from life in college, to life as a professional. How they adapt will go a long way towards the ultimate grade, if you will.
But let’s look forward a bit. Which of these drafts could spin the other way once the players hit the field?
How the Jets’ 2026 Draft class could ultimately be an F
Opinions on the Jets’ 2026 Draft class are mixed.
Which is why they make sense in this category.
New York unofficially kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft when the organization was on the clock with the second-overall selection. With the Las Vegas Raiders locked into drafting Fernando Mendoza, the Jets faced the first true decision of the draft: Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, or Ohio State hybrid defender Arvell Reese?
While many viewed Reese as the better prospect, the Jets opted for Bailey, the more experienced pass rusher off the edge. It was looked at as a “safer” pick, with Reese still needing time to adjust to life on the edge after playing in an off-ball role for most of his time at Ohio State.
Where the Jets’ true plans for 2026 and beyond came into focus was through their next two selections. Many believed the Jets would add another receiver with their second pick in the first round, at No. 16, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for the team in mock drafts. General manager Darren Mougey indeed added a pass catcher for free agent quarterback Geno Smith, drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
That selection left some scratching their heads, after the team added LSU’s Mason Taylor in the second round a year ago.
But the plan came into clear focus when the Jets moved back into the first round, executing a trade with the Miami Dolphins to pick up the selection at No. 30. The pick in that spot? None other than Cooper.
That plan? An offense that leans into 12 personnel — two tight ends on the field in Taylor and Sadiq — with Garrett Wilson and Cooper as their main wide receivers in that package.
It could work, and here is why: We know that football is a cyclical game, and after years of the passing game driving offenses (and defenses responding by getting lighter and faster with their personnel packages) the worm may be turning. The Los Angeles Rams leaned heavily into bigger personnel packages last year, using 13 personnel (three tight ends) on more than 30% of their offensive snaps during 2025. When the Rams threw out of that package, they recorded an Expected Points Added per Pass of 0.50, which was higher than the 0.17 EPA/Pass they notched when throwing out of 11 personnel.
The Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX, used 12 personnel on just under 30% of their offensive snaps, and when Seattle threw out of that package, they produced an EPA/Pass of 0.37, the best in the league out of 12 personnel and well above the EPA/Pass of 0.04 recorded when Seattle threw out of 11 personnel.
So the bet from the Jets is this: This trend of getting bigger on offense will continue, and with this draft class they will be ahead of the curve.
There are two potential problems.
One, that trend might not continue. Defenses around the league are not going to stop innovating, and if defensive coordinators figure out ways to slow down offenses that are trying to throw out of bigger personnel packages, this bet from the Jets might not pan out.
Two? Geno Smith might be an upgrade over New York’s quarterback room of 2025, but the Smith we saw a season ago was not the QB we saw during his run in Seattle. While the Jets added Cade Klubnik on Day 3, he might not be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. Meaning New York might be back to the quarterback drawing board next year, and while that class looks good right now … there is a long way to go until the next draft class sees the field.
While snap grades often examine the process employed by each team when making their selections, ultimately the real grades will come from the teams and the players themselves. While we can sit here and forecast how teams will use their new players, it is up to each coaching staff to put their incoming draft picks in a position to succeed through scheme, coaching, and development. As for the players themselves? They’re facing the adjustment from life in college, to life as a professional. How they adapt will go a long way towards the ultimate grade, if you will.
But let’s look forward a bit. Which of these drafts could spin the other way once the players hit the field?
How the Jets’ 2026 Draft class could ultimately be an F
Opinions on the Jets’ 2026 Draft class are mixed.
Which is why they make sense in this category.
New York unofficially kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft when the organization was on the clock with the second-overall selection. With the Las Vegas Raiders locked into drafting Fernando Mendoza, the Jets faced the first true decision of the draft: Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, or Ohio State hybrid defender Arvell Reese?
While many viewed Reese as the better prospect, the Jets opted for Bailey, the more experienced pass rusher off the edge. It was looked at as a “safer” pick, with Reese still needing time to adjust to life on the edge after playing in an off-ball role for most of his time at Ohio State.
Where the Jets’ true plans for 2026 and beyond came into focus was through their next two selections. Many believed the Jets would add another receiver with their second pick in the first round, at No. 16, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for the team in mock drafts. General manager Darren Mougey indeed added a pass catcher for free agent quarterback Geno Smith, drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
That selection left some scratching their heads, after the team added LSU’s Mason Taylor in the second round a year ago.
But the plan came into clear focus when the Jets moved back into the first round, executing a trade with the Miami Dolphins to pick up the selection at No. 30. The pick in that spot? None other than Cooper.
That plan? An offense that leans into 12 personnel — two tight ends on the field in Taylor and Sadiq — with Garrett Wilson and Cooper as their main wide receivers in that package.
It could work, and here is why: We know that football is a cyclical game, and after years of the passing game driving offenses (and defenses responding by getting lighter and faster with their personnel packages) the worm may be turning. The Los Angeles Rams leaned heavily into bigger personnel packages last year, using 13 personnel (three tight ends) on more than 30% of their offensive snaps during 2025. When the Rams threw out of that package, they recorded an Expected Points Added per Pass of 0.50, which was higher than the 0.17 EPA/Pass they notched when throwing out of 11 personnel.
The Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX, used 12 personnel on just under 30% of their offensive snaps, and when Seattle threw out of that package, they produced an EPA/Pass of 0.37, the best in the league out of 12 personnel and well above the EPA/Pass of 0.04 recorded when Seattle threw out of 11 personnel.
So the bet from the Jets is this: This trend of getting bigger on offense will continue, and with this draft class they will be ahead of the curve.
There are two potential problems.
One, that trend might not continue. Defenses around the league are not going to stop innovating, and if defensive coordinators figure out ways to slow down offenses that are trying to throw out of bigger personnel packages, this bet from the Jets might not pan out.
Two? Geno Smith might be an upgrade over New York’s quarterback room of 2025, but the Smith we saw a season ago was not the QB we saw during his run in Seattle. While the Jets added Cade Klubnik on Day 3, he might not be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. Meaning New York might be back to the quarterback drawing board next year, and while that class looks good right now … there is a long way to go until the next draft class sees the field.
On paper, you can see the plan from New York.
But ultimately, plans sometimes fail.
#NFL #Draft #grades #teams #turn">NFL Draft grades: 9 teams got an A for 2026, but this one could turn into an F
Springtime is for grading.
Not only in the real world, as students across the country are dreaming about final exams — and a long-awaited summer break — but also in the NFL. Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, analysts are handing out grades, fans are weighing in, and everyone seems to be debating consensus big boards.
While snap grades often examine the process employed by each team when making their selections, ultimately the real grades will come from the teams and the players themselves. While we can sit here and forecast how teams will use their new players, it is up to each coaching staff to put their incoming draft picks in a position to succeed through scheme, coaching, and development. As for the players themselves? They’re facing the adjustment from life in college, to life as a professional. How they adapt will go a long way towards the ultimate grade, if you will.
But let’s look forward a bit. Which of these drafts could spin the other way once the players hit the field?
How the Jets’ 2026 Draft class could ultimately be an F
Opinions on the Jets’ 2026 Draft class are mixed.
Which is why they make sense in this category.
New York unofficially kicked off the 2026 NFL Draft when the organization was on the clock with the second-overall selection. With the Las Vegas Raiders locked into drafting Fernando Mendoza, the Jets faced the first true decision of the draft: Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey, or Ohio State hybrid defender Arvell Reese?
While many viewed Reese as the better prospect, the Jets opted for Bailey, the more experienced pass rusher off the edge. It was looked at as a “safer” pick, with Reese still needing time to adjust to life on the edge after playing in an off-ball role for most of his time at Ohio State.
Where the Jets’ true plans for 2026 and beyond came into focus was through their next two selections. Many believed the Jets would add another receiver with their second pick in the first round, at No. 16, with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. a popular selection for the team in mock drafts. General manager Darren Mougey indeed added a pass catcher for free agent quarterback Geno Smith, drafting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
That selection left some scratching their heads, after the team added LSU’s Mason Taylor in the second round a year ago.
But the plan came into clear focus when the Jets moved back into the first round, executing a trade with the Miami Dolphins to pick up the selection at No. 30. The pick in that spot? None other than Cooper.
That plan? An offense that leans into 12 personnel — two tight ends on the field in Taylor and Sadiq — with Garrett Wilson and Cooper as their main wide receivers in that package.
It could work, and here is why: We know that football is a cyclical game, and after years of the passing game driving offenses (and defenses responding by getting lighter and faster with their personnel packages) the worm may be turning. The Los Angeles Rams leaned heavily into bigger personnel packages last year, using 13 personnel (three tight ends) on more than 30% of their offensive snaps during 2025. When the Rams threw out of that package, they recorded an Expected Points Added per Pass of 0.50, which was higher than the 0.17 EPA/Pass they notched when throwing out of 11 personnel.
The Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl LX, used 12 personnel on just under 30% of their offensive snaps, and when Seattle threw out of that package, they produced an EPA/Pass of 0.37, the best in the league out of 12 personnel and well above the EPA/Pass of 0.04 recorded when Seattle threw out of 11 personnel.
So the bet from the Jets is this: This trend of getting bigger on offense will continue, and with this draft class they will be ahead of the curve.
There are two potential problems.
One, that trend might not continue. Defenses around the league are not going to stop innovating, and if defensive coordinators figure out ways to slow down offenses that are trying to throw out of bigger personnel packages, this bet from the Jets might not pan out.
Two? Geno Smith might be an upgrade over New York’s quarterback room of 2025, but the Smith we saw a season ago was not the QB we saw during his run in Seattle. While the Jets added Cade Klubnik on Day 3, he might not be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback. Meaning New York might be back to the quarterback drawing board next year, and while that class looks good right now … there is a long way to go until the next draft class sees the field.
On paper, you can see the plan from New York.
But ultimately, plans sometimes fail.
#NFL #Draft #grades #teams #turn
Springtime is for grading.Not only in the real world, as students across the country are…
A quartet of top-10 picks are the main players to watch in this season’s Rookie of the Year race. The opening leader is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (+320). The electric Notre Dame star should get immediate touches as a centerpiece of Arizona’s overhauled offense.
Working against Love’s candidacy is an uncertain Cardinals quarterback situation coupled with a re-worked Arizona offensive line. A running back hasn’t won Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley captured it in 2018 despite seven rookie running backs eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards for the season post-Barkley. Recent history shows Love will likely need monster numbers to get the attention of AP voters to win.
Fernando Mendoza (+380) is unsurprisingly right behind Love in the opening Rookie of the Year market. In a weak draft for QBs, the top overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders could be the only rookie starting quarterback to play the full season.
Although the Indiana product will play right away, Mendoza still needs to put up good numbers. Last season, Tennessee Titans top overall pick Cam Ward played almost the full season and didn’t finish top five in AP voting thanks to a shaky supporting cast that limited his offensive upside. Four of the last seven Rookie of the Year awards have gone to quarterbacks, however, so Mendoza still possesses a real opportunity to win if he thrives right away.
Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate (+650) and New Orleans Saints wideout Jordyn Tyson (+750) are both credible secondary candidates. Wide receivers have won three of the last seven seasons, including Carolina Panthers standout Tatairoa McMillan last season despite opening as the clear No. 4 candidate.
Both Tate and Tyson have opportunities for significant early targets in their respective offenses — particularly Tate as a potential No. 1 option to Ward in Tennessee.
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (+1000) presents an intriguing case by replacing departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. After backing up Love at Notre Dame, it’s a credible concern whether Price gets enough touches to keep pace with the leading candidates.
The case for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (+1200) could come down to the team trading disgruntled star A.J. Brown. Even if Brown is dealt, a crowded Philadelphia receiver situation could hamper Lemon’s early targets.
A quartet of top-10 picks are the main players to watch in this season’s Rookie of the Year race. The opening leader is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (+320). The electric Notre Dame star should get immediate touches as a centerpiece of Arizona’s overhauled offense.
Working against Love’s candidacy is an uncertain Cardinals quarterback situation coupled with a re-worked Arizona offensive line. A running back hasn’t won Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley captured it in 2018 despite seven rookie running backs eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards for the season post-Barkley. Recent history shows Love will likely need monster numbers to get the attention of AP voters to win.
Fernando Mendoza (+380) is unsurprisingly right behind Love in the opening Rookie of the Year market. In a weak draft for QBs, the top overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders could be the only rookie starting quarterback to play the full season.
Although the Indiana product will play right away, Mendoza still needs to put up good numbers. Last season, Tennessee Titans top overall pick Cam Ward played almost the full season and didn’t finish top five in AP voting thanks to a shaky supporting cast that limited his offensive upside. Four of the last seven Rookie of the Year awards have gone to quarterbacks, however, so Mendoza still possesses a real opportunity to win if he thrives right away.
Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate (+650) and New Orleans Saints wideout Jordyn Tyson (+750) are both credible secondary candidates. Wide receivers have won three of the last seven seasons, including Carolina Panthers standout Tatairoa McMillan last season despite opening as the clear No. 4 candidate.
Both Tate and Tyson have opportunities for significant early targets in their respective offenses — particularly Tate as a potential No. 1 option to Ward in Tennessee.
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (+1000) presents an intriguing case by replacing departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. After backing up Love at Notre Dame, it’s a credible concern whether Price gets enough touches to keep pace with the leading candidates.
The case for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (+1200) could come down to the team trading disgruntled star A.J. Brown. Even if Brown is dealt, a crowded Philadelphia receiver situation could hamper Lemon’s early targets.
#NFL #Offensive #Rookie #Year #odds #Draft #include #intriguing #long #shots">NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds after the 2026 Draft include a few intriguing long shots
Only 10 offensive skill players were even selected during the first round. That includes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson, who is likely sitting this season behind reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
A quartet of top-10 picks are the main players to watch in this season’s Rookie of the Year race. The opening leader is Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love (+320). The electric Notre Dame star should get immediate touches as a centerpiece of Arizona’s overhauled offense.
Working against Love’s candidacy is an uncertain Cardinals quarterback situation coupled with a re-worked Arizona offensive line. A running back hasn’t won Rookie of the Year since Saquon Barkley captured it in 2018 despite seven rookie running backs eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards for the season post-Barkley. Recent history shows Love will likely need monster numbers to get the attention of AP voters to win.
Fernando Mendoza (+380) is unsurprisingly right behind Love in the opening Rookie of the Year market. In a weak draft for QBs, the top overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders could be the only rookie starting quarterback to play the full season.
Although the Indiana product will play right away, Mendoza still needs to put up good numbers. Last season, Tennessee Titans top overall pick Cam Ward played almost the full season and didn’t finish top five in AP voting thanks to a shaky supporting cast that limited his offensive upside. Four of the last seven Rookie of the Year awards have gone to quarterbacks, however, so Mendoza still possesses a real opportunity to win if he thrives right away.
Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate (+650) and New Orleans Saints wideout Jordyn Tyson (+750) are both credible secondary candidates. Wide receivers have won three of the last seven seasons, including Carolina Panthers standout Tatairoa McMillan last season despite opening as the clear No. 4 candidate.
Both Tate and Tyson have opportunities for significant early targets in their respective offenses — particularly Tate as a potential No. 1 option to Ward in Tennessee.
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (+1000) presents an intriguing case by replacing departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. After backing up Love at Notre Dame, it’s a credible concern whether Price gets enough touches to keep pace with the leading candidates.
The case for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon (+1200) could come down to the team trading disgruntled star A.J. Brown. Even if Brown is dealt, a crowded Philadelphia receiver situation could hamper Lemon’s early targets.
#NFL #teams #Draft #didnt">5 NFL teams who got better in the 2026 Draft, and 5 who didn’t do enough
Welcome to my way too early 2027 mock draft.
Just kidding, that sounds terrible and we should federally prosecute those who do that.
Over the course of the 2026 NFL Draft, there was a lot to love in terms of what specific teams did over the course of the three-day event. The other side of that coin being that there were also teams who kept making the wrong choice at such a consistent degree to where it became almost impressive. Here’s a look and the good and the bad of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Took every bit of willpower in my body not to slam my computer against my desk like Jake Gyllenhaal in Prisoners while writing this. It’s insufferable listening to everyone go “HoWiE dOeS iT aGaIn” after just… drafting good players who fell in his lap. But his season, Roseman and the Eagles did the equivalent of a Money in the Bank cash in, jumping in front of the Steelers to steal Makai Lemon from their grasp as general Manager Omar Khan was on the phone with the former USC star. They then selected Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who will serve as an instant upgrade over Grant Calcaterra and an eventual replacement for Dallas Goedert and got Miami offensive tackle Markel Bell at the beginning of the third round after a trade with the Jets. To go three-for-three in the first three rounds of the draft is a job well done.
I said it on Thursday, and I’ll say it again – the Saints are winning the NFC South. They added the most explosive receiver in the class in Jordyn Tyson, and double-dipped by adding Bryce Lance in the fourth round. They also added some young talent on defense, taking Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller in the second round and Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles in the fifth. These pieces, combined with Travis Etienne in free agency and the emergence of Tyler Shough, the Saints will be eating beignets, tossing beads, and doing other New Orleans tropes in the playoffs. And yes, I had to Google how to spell beignet by typing “binyay” and assuming it would give me the correct spelling, which worked.
Their defense was the Washington AARP cards in 2025. Bobby Wagner, Marshon Lattimore, Von Miler – that would have been a legitimately great core in 2019. They selected perhaps the most athletic linebacker in this class in Sonny Styles with the No. 7 overall pick, and also got some offensive help for Jayden Daniels with wide receiver Antonio Williams in round three and running back Kaytron Allen in round six. The Commanders didn’t have a ton of picks to work with, but they made the most of their selections and got multiple instant difference-makers.
The Dolphins snagged two of my favorite players in the draft, and they play the same position. Getting Jacob Rodriguez in round two and Kyle Louis in round 3 gives them two players in the middle of their defense they can build around as they lay the foundation for the future. Landing Kadyn Proctor at tackle in the first round, as well as Chris Bell at receiver in round three gives the Dolphins a good young corps to move into this new era.
This is the second straight year I’ve loved the Browns’ draft. They get Spencer Fano to be their new staple at left tackle, and then double dipped at receiver with KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston to strengthen arguably the weakest unit on their roster. Getting Toldeo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at the tail end of the second round was tremendous value, and I like the addition of the uber-athletic quarterback Taylen Green out of Arkansas. If this can finally start translating into wins for the Browns, we’ll look back on these last two drafts very fondly.
If you are reading this, check your phone – there is a greater than zero chance that James Gladstone like what he saw in your lateral movement skills at the catering table at the packed corporate event. You kept everything together, you went from chicken to lettuce wraps in a flash, and they really think you can be a nice asset in their pass protection.
Yeah, God only knows what the Jaguars saw in a few of these guys. They drafted the No. 678 player on the consensus big board in the sixth round in Stanford wide receiver C.J. Williams. Then in the seventh, they took player No. 679 in Middle Tennessee State linebacker Parker Hughes. Additionally, with their first pick (No. 56 overall), they took tight end Nate Boerkricher, who had 38 receptions in five collegiate seasons. They did land Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon in the third round, which was a good value selection, but the vast majority of their picks were reach after reach.
Find someone who loves you as much as Brandon Beane loves trading down in the draft and subsequently passing up on good players. The chair of the 26th pick was too big, so Buffalo traded it to the Texans. The 28th pick chair was too small, so they traded it to the Patriots. God only knows what was wrong with the 31st pick, but they moved out of that one, as well. Finally, after finding the perfect recliner to sit in, the Bills stayed put at pick No. 35. However, if there is one thing Brandon Beane loves, it’s an underwhelming edge rusher, so they took T.J. Parker instead of Kayden McDonald, who would have filled a major need at defensive tackle. Later on, Buffalo moved up four spots in the second round to draft Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun, a player they likely could have gotten in the fourth round. Beane is bad at drafting, that’s not exactly news, but even their good picks, like Skyler Bell, are hard to get excited for after Joe Brady talked about how good he is in the screen game. That high-pitched ringing sound you just heard was all of Bills Mafia screaming in unison.
“Give me more money” Jacoby Brissett, “Trailer Park Jake Plummer” Gardner Minshew, and “I can’t throw that far” Carson Beck – what a quarterback room. Taking Beck to kickoff the third round is a massive reach for a limited quarterback who lacks a big arm and athleticism to make plays outside the pocket. Jeremiyah Love is a tremendous player, but giving him north of $50 million guaranteed before he ever takes a snap is bizarre. Plus, taking a running back in the top five as a bad team with several holes is a big no no, especially after they just signed Tyler Allgeier and still have James Conner. Any good they did do is largely negated due to two bad decisions in the first three rounds.
Credit to Grant Cohn for flat out asking John Lynch why the 49ers constantly reach on players because it’s amazing how the 49ers overcome their terrible drafts year in and year out. They took Ole Miss wideout Deshaun Stribbling with the 33rd overall pick when he was considered a late Day Two, early Day Three guy. And, as is tradition, they took a running back in the third round when he was a late fourth round projected player. It’s just incredible that the 49ers constantly win despite their inability to draft well.
Yeah, the Ty Simpson pick will either make the Rams look like geniuses or he’ll be shipped to the Bengals along with four first-round picks when they trade for Joe Burrow in 2027. Which, if that happens and it was all a big-brain decision to draft Simpson solely for that purpose, props to Les Snead. But reaching for tight end Max Klare in the second round was unnecessary and marked the second straight year they over-drafted a tight end in round two. 25 year-old tackle Keagan Trost in round three also felt like a bit of a reach, especially when he probably needs to be kicked inside to guard.
#NFL #teams #Draft #didnt
Welcome to my way too early 2027 mock draft.Just kidding, that sounds terrible and we…
