This time next week, we will be breaking down the first 32 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Until then, all we have are rumors and speculation.

So let’s dive into the latest.

Trades dominate the discussion every year in the days leading up to the NFL Draft.

This year is no exception.

With five teams — the Chiefs, the Cowboys, the Browns, the Dolphins, and the Jets — holding two first-round picks, many believe the first round will be filled with trades. And one of those general managers is among the believers.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach.

During his annual pre-draft press conference on Thursday, Veach predicted an “entertaining” first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, one dominated by trades.

“It should be an entertaining night,” Veach said Thursday. “There’ll probably be a lot of trades.”

Veach also attributed that belief to the fact that outside of Fernando Mendoza, there are not many quarterbacks graded at the top of the board. Add in the fact that other top-graded players, like Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, and safety Caleb Downs, do not play “premium” positions and you have an environment ripe for trades. Read our take on why Downs is still a premium prospect.

“I think that the fans will be in for a treat next Thursday because I think the grades [on prospects] are going to be so close from some of these [offensive] tackles and D-ends and receivers,” Veach said. “A lot of these guys that are mocked high may go a little lower and a lot of these guys that are getting mocked a little lower may go higher because I think they’re so close this year. There’s not this huge gap and huge fall off.

“That’s what a draft like this — when you don’t have two or three [high-graded] quarterbacks and a Will Anderson [Jr.] or a Myles Garrett — does: It lends itself to open up to a lot of fun and a lot of excitement.”

Kansas City could be one of those teams looking to move around on draft night, given the team’s pair of first-round picks. The Chiefs are first on the clock at No. 9, then again at No. 29.

Based on 2024 film alone, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is one of the best players in this class.

But there is some “risk” with picking him, given the ACL tear he suffered while training in the offseason ahead of 2025.

That risk could see him potentially — potentially — falling out of the first round according to Dane Brugler from The Athletic:

Brugler notes that McCoy graded out as one of his 14 first-round players, right at number 14.

“I had 14 first-round grades. McCoy is the 14th of the 14,” began Brugler, before pivoting to the “risk” associated with McCoy’s evaluation.

“It comes down to your appetite for risk. Everything that’s been said about the Cowboys and McCoy, I know that there’s been a lot of connections about them passing. If McCoy is still around in the mid 20s, I don’t think it’s any surprise what that is. If you trust that 2024 tape, you have no problem drafting him in the top 12 picks. If the knee is an issue for you, he could fall all the way out of the first round,” added Brugler.

“I don’t think that’s impossible.”

We’re about to see if that knee is an issue for teams in just a few days.

What the Bengals are thinking at No. 10

Let’s talk about what the Cincinnati Bengals are going to do at No. 10.

Most analysts believe that Cincinnati needs to leave the first round having addressed its defense, which has been an Achilles’ Heel the past few seasons. Looking at the consensus mock draft for the team on NFL Mock Draft Database, Caleb Downs is the most common pick for them, followed by Mansoor Delane, Rueben Bain Jr., and finally the aforementioned McCoy.

But could the Bengals pivot and draft … an offensive tackle?

That is an idea floated by Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer. In a recent mailbag column he was asked about Cincinnati’s thinking at No. 10, and after leading with Downs he made an intriguing pivot to the offensive line.

[M]y guess is that No. 10 is close to being the floor for Downs. I don’t say that unequivocally because I think Bain could be in play for them, as well as the top two corners (again, depending on what they think of McCoy’s knee). I’d also throw [Kadyn] Proctor in there as a wild-card name I’ve heard for Cincinnati.

Evaluations on Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor vary, with some mock drafts having him come off the board as high as No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns, with others seeing him slide into the mid-20s.

Given Joe Burrow’s injury history, the need to get the best five offensive linemen in front of the team’s star quarterback is a concern. How Proctor would fit into Cincinnati’s offense would be a question, given the presence of Orlando Brown and Amarius Mims. Would Cincinnati draft Proctor at No. 10 and then kick him inside to guard? That seems like a … curious plan.

But apparently Proctor is at least on their radar.

Quentin Johnston trade rumors

Social media has been filled with speculation that Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz could move wide receiver Quentin Johnston in a trade.

But do not expect to see that happen, according to the GM himself.

“There’s a lot of rumors out there on Twitter,” Hortiz said in his pre-draft press conference. “And I can tell you this, I have made zero calls about Quentin, and I’ve had zero calls regarding Quentin.”

That speculation came from a combination of the Chargers’ crowded wide receiver room, and this note from ESPN New York Jets insider Rich Cimini:

Don’t sleep on the possibility of Mougey trading for a veteran. It’s already been an active offseason for wide receiver trades, and you’re talking about a GM who has made 12 player trades in a little over a year.

Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars), Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens), Quentin Johnston (Los Angeles Chargers) and Dontayvion Wicks (Green Bay Packers) have been mentioned as trade possibilities.

Add in the fact that the Chargers have yet to pick up Johnston’s fifth-year option ahead of the May 1 deadline, and you have fertile ground for rumors.

Hortiz went on to outline how the team feels about that crowded wide receiver room, which in addition to Johnston includes Ladd McConkey, Tre’ Harris, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

“We’re really excited about the wide receiver room,” Hortiz said. “[Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel] has talked about it. Just development all those guys have made. All starting with [Johnston]. Watching him get better year after year after year.”

So while trade speculation is rampant, this is one trade we should not expect to see happen.

More on the Commanders at No. 7

Earlier this week we noted that Washington at No. 7 could be the floor for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

However, the Commanders might simply look at the best defender available, and select that player in that spot.

At least, that is the thinking outlined by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport:

”I would not be surprised if the Commanders say, “Who is the best defensive player on our board? We will just take him,’“ began Rapoport.

“A couple of potential options. Caleb Downs. I would say, Sonny Styles. People love their makeup, love the way they are wired. You’ve got to imagine both these guys would potentially be in the conversation. Rueben Bain Jr., likely to be on the board at this time. Do the Commanders go here after adding so much to the edge in free agency? They are going to have a lot of options in a really good draft spot.”

Washington is also an intriguing team when it comes to trade rumors. After the pick at No. 7, the Commanders are not on the clock again until pick No. 71, early in the third round.

Why the draft begins at No. 3

Less than a week from the first round, we know very little about how the first few selections will play out.

Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 seems the sure thing, and nothing the Raiders have done during the pre-draft process — including adding Kirk Cousins — has changed that belief.

The New York Jets at No. 2 could go in a few different directions. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese was a favorite for the Jets until recently, when Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey became the potential target for them. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports wrote on Thursday, the decision between the two players comes down to what the Jets need more: Help now, or help in the future?

The decision, according to sources, comes down to a fundamental question: do you want immediate help now, or do you want even better help down the road? “Bailey is the surest one but Arvell is gonna be a star,” said one defensive coordinator. “Arvell needs some time and the Jets need someone right now.”

And while the Jets have met with Jeremiyah Love, potentially to gauge his value in a potential trade out of No. 2, there is every expectation New York will at least stay in that spot and draft Reese or Bailey. Because after all, this is a team that did not secure a single interception last year, and desperately needs help on the defensive side of the ball.

Then the draft will really begin.

Because nobody knows what the Arizona Cardinals are going to do at No. 3. Even with additions made to the offensive line, Arizona could still add one of the top tackles in the draft. The Cardinals could decide to simply take the defender New York passes on, whether that is Reese or Bailey.

Or the Cardinals could trade out, which Jones notes.

If it’s Bailey at No. 2, I could see Reese going at No. 3, or vice versa. It’s just not a sure-thing that it’s Arizona picking there.

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is known to be willing to make a draft-day deal. You’ll hear plenty about teams being willing to trade down in this year’s draft, and I think the Cardinals are serious contenders to do just that.

Looking around the league, folks believe the draft begins at No. 3 and no one seems to have a very good sense of what Arizona will do. The Cardinals are the wild cards here.

This year, the NFL Draft begins at No. 3.

What about the Eagles at No. 25?

Most of the discussion involving the Philadelphia Eagles in recent weeks has focused on the future of A.J. Brown. With June 1 looming — a date on the NFL calendar that would make it easier financially for the Eagles to trade the WR — speculation has resurfaced that Brown could be on his way out of town.

But turning to the draft, what are the Eagles going to do in the first round?

Many believe that offensive line is in play, including ESPN Eagles insider Tim McManus. Still, do not expect general manager Howie Roseman to “force a pick” in that spot.

The offensive line was an issue for the first time in a long time last season, and there’s evidence the Eagles could invest early in the trenches after the bulk of their predraft visits were dedicated to that position group. Right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson both contemplated retirement this offseason, further emphasizing the need to fortify the front.

However, they won’t force a pick. Philadelphia is primarily focused on walking away with what it considers a first-round talent, whether that’s at O-line, receiver, tight end or otherwise.

This need is reflected in the latest mock drafts, as Mel Kiper Jr. sends Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller to Philadelphia, while Dane Brugler opted for Kadyn Proctor.

Here at SB Nation, the league-wide mock draft saw our friends at Bleeding Green Nation select Max Iheanachor, calling him the “heir to Lane Johnson’s throne.”

As much as it kills me to say this, given that there’s less than a week to the start of the 2026 NFL draft, and there are about 200 guys I’d like to watch in that time (ha!), the draft should really start a couple of weeks before it does. Were things to begin, say, in mid-April, think of the noise we wouldn’t have time to hear, because there wouldn’t be as much time to overthink the prospects at or near the top of the board.

But things are as they are, and we must wait until Thursday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET for the draft to begin. So, we get several more days of analysts, evaluators, and anonymous scouts (my personal favorite) going out of their way to over-analyze top prospects to the point where you think there’s more of a limited future for these players than what the tape actually shows.

So, in the interest of public service, let’s dispel the myths we’re going to hear more and more… that will make less and less sense as time goes along.

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: He’s too RPO-dependent!

Let’s be fair to the naysayers here. Last season, Mendoza did lead the entire NCAA in RPO dropbacks with 103, and with the benefit or those run/pass options, he completed 77 of 97 passes for 687 yards, seven touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 115.9. But without RPOs, Mendoza completed 196 of 282 passes for 2,849 yards, an NCAA-high 34 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 134.3.

The common assumption when it comes to heavy-RPO quarterbacks is that they need this particular schematic constraint because they’re limited in their field-reading overall. Thus, the relatively simple option to read a defender, and decide to hand off or throw to a quick read based on defensive action. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky is among those who have forwarded this theory in Mendoza’s case, and as much I respect Dan and his process, I’m not seeing it. One of the first things that popped out about Mendoza when I watched his tape was his ability to see the entire field, read the coverage, and throw with anticipation when required.

For one thing, you don’t do as well against disguised coverage as Mendoza did last season without a great deal of mental wherewithal, because there are NFL starting quarterbacks who still struggle with safety switches and whatnot.

Is Mendoza a perfect quarterback prospect? No, because nobody is. But the RPO-dependent narrative has spiraled out of control, and it needs to stop.

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: He’s not a No. 1 receiver!

At 6’ 2¼” and 192 pounds at the combine, and with a wealth of explosive plays and contested catches on his tape, Carnell Tate certainly looks like a No. 1 receiver to me, but perhaps my definition has been warped by the vagaries of modern NFL offensive design. The days of the stationary X-iso receiver are just about gone — even if you have a Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase, you want to give them the most possible advantages with condensed formations, pre-snap motion, and 3×1/2c2 receiver sets. Add in the increased use of 12 and 13 personnel throughout the league, where at least one tight end is a primary target, and things can get pretty blurry for defenses. Which is why you don’t often see any team’s best receiver in the same spot even two snaps in a row.

The point is, Carnell Tate doesn’t need to be a 6’3”, 220-pound iso ball-winner to be a team’s No. 1 receiver; he just needs the right system in which to become that. Of his 51 catches on 66 targets for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in the 2025 season, 21 targets were contested, and he brought in 12 of those throws. That is one of the most apparent attributes on his tape.

And on passes of 20 or more air yards, Tate caught 11 on 17 targets for 453 yards and six touchdowns.

Personally, I think the main reason Tate is being undersold as a true alpha dog at the next level is that he did his thing with Jeremiah Smith on the field most of the time, and Jeremiah Smith may well be one of those “annual generational” players when he becomes part of his own draft class. Let’s not have comparison become the thief of joy here.

KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M: He’s just a gadget guy!

In today’s NFL, where players are asked to do more things at more positions than ever before, you’d think that versatility would be a strong point. But when Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in major college football, it seemed to bake in the notion that Concepcion is more of a trick-shot artist than a pure receiver capable of maintaining the force of an entire passing game.

“He’s almost like a gadget guy, the way they play him,” one NFL scout told veteran writer Bob McGinn. “It’s going to be a while before he’s anything. Looks like a track guy. You can tell he can run when things are free. They scheme him up for his production. Doesn’t catch the ball well. Lot of drops around a lot of bodies. Doesn’t have catch radius. They do this slip-screen stuff with him and he has no run after the catch.”

Okay, so the hands need help. Concepcion had seven drops last season, but I saw as much or more focus issues (gotta catch the ball before you look to turn and run, dude) than the idea that he dries up and blows away with defender around him. Last season, the 6’0”, 196-pound Concepcion caught 61 passes on 101 targets for 919 yards and nine touchdowns, and while he did have a lot of screen and hitch targets, his average depth of target was 12.3 yards, and he also put up a ton of big plays on longer-developing routes. You don’t catch eight passes of 20 or more air yards on 21 targets for 240 yards and two touchdowns if all you’re doing is gimmicky YAC stuff.

Moreover, Concepcion has added to his route palette, and he knows how to get open just about everywhere on the field. So, just because he’s a jack of all trades doesn’t mean that he’s a master of none.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt: He doesn’t block!

The aforementioned rise of 12 and 13 personnel (two and three tight ends on the field) also means that not all of your tight ends have to be created out of the same mold. Sean McVay didn’t win over and over with his hilarious 13 personnel uptick last season because he had three big blockers on the field, per se — it also worked because he had different kinds of tight ends for different purposes. Do you want good blockers on the edge of the formation? Sure. But does it also help to have tight ends who are just great pass-catchers?

It certainly does. Go figure.

So, when we discuss Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, does it matter that he’s not a great blocker yet? I mean, you’d want a bit more than what was shown in the 2025 season, but if you’re crossing him off your list because he’s not Peak Gronk as a tough guy, maybe you’re missing the point.

Last season, Stowers caught 62 passes on 85 targets for 769 yards and four touchdowns, and if anything, I think that his NFL team will be able to make more of his vertical juice than the Commodores did. It’s also important to mention that Stowers is a converted quarterback, who only started playing tight end with New Mexico State in 2023 after he suffered a throwing shoulder injury early on in his time with Texas A&M. This is a player where you have to look at the developmental curve and what can be done, as opposed to what’s still in the incubator.

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama: He’s an out-of-shape bust!

When Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor showed up at the scouting combine standing 6’ 6 ⅝” and weighing 352 pounds, you could hear the entire Draft Industrial Complex (and a lot of NFL teams) breathing a rather large sigh of relief. Because Proctor’s weight has been an issue in the past. It’s one reason why, in 2023, Proctor looked like a whale out of water as the Crimson Tide’s left tackle. That’s when he allowed 12 sacks and 36 total pressures in 408 pass-blocking snaps, and if you told me at that point that he was a future first-round pick, I would asked you for some of what you were smoking.

That has seemed to stick with Proctor to a point, even though his blocking and conditioning have improved exponentially over the last two seasons. In 2025, he gave up two sacks and 21 pressures in 611 pass-blocking snaps (by far his career high), and he was much more forceful and agile overall.

Jeremiah and Brooks know what they’re talking about, and they both talk to NFL teams, so this is still a thing. I’m not as worried about the weight fluctuation because it’s been overplayed to a degree overall, and given the fact that Proctor had multiple plays last season in which he exceeded 16 miler per hour on the move, he’s clearly done some work. It will be on his NFL team to make sure the work is consistently done.

Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State: He’s not fast enough!

Caleb Downs is one of the best defensive prospects in this class — one of the best overall — but it may be that he has the curse of making everything look too easy. I can think of no other reason why Downs’ on-field speed would be the issue it has become.

Karim Kassam, vice president of product at the data company Teamworks, recently told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert that based on his company’s AI modeling and evaluation, Downs’ play speed is a problem.

“They might see that his [particular obstacle] is going to be his athleticism, that he’s not going to be able to run with receivers the way that some other safeties can,” Kassam said. “… Based on the numbers, you might not see him as someone that can flex outside and cover even a premier tight end, or be a center-field-safety type that’s going to cover a lot of ground. That might not be his thing. He’s going to be more of a box-slot type of safety.”

Well, there’s that… and then, there’s the tape. Last season, Downs played 54% of his snaps in the deep third as either a single-high or two-deep safety, and overall, he allowed 25 catches on 38 targets for 168 yards, 92 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, two interceptions, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 53.4.

My NFL comparison all along for Downs has been Xavier McKinney, who came out of Alabama in the 2020 draft after running a 4.63-second 40-yard dash (Downs didn’t run at his combine or pro day), but became an amazing top-down defender at multiple positions because his anticipation skills were and are so great. No, Downs isn’t a “unicorn” like Kyle Hamilton or Nick Emmanwori, but if you fast-forwarded to a future in which Downs became the next Brian Branch or Derwin James, I wouldn’t blink an eye. Whichever NFL team that drafted him would probably be pretty happy with that outcome.

The 2026 NFL Draft class may not be loaded with premier talent at the top of the draft, but teams in need of pass rushers will find plenty of depth on the board next week. Five edge rushers are currently ranked in the top 32 spots on the Mock Draft Database consensus board, and several others could easily find their way into the first round mix.

Seven edge defenders came off the board in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, but that number fell off in 2024 (4) and 2025 (5). Still, this is undoubtedly one of the most coveted position in the NFL after quarterback, and scoring a difference-making edge rusher on a rookie contract is among the most valuable things a GM can add to their team.

But it also might be the most difficult position to scout accurately. The few no-brainers – Myles Garrett, Will Anderson, Nick Bosa, etc. – tend to work out as expected, but the bust rate has been high at this position too, and plenty of talent somehow still slips through to the later rounds. I recently compiled a rough ranking of my top 20 edge defenders in the NFL. Amongst the names, 10 were first round picks, and 10 were picked no. 64 or later in the draft.

In other words, it pays to be anti-consensus in your pre-draft rankings, because 3-4 years from draft day, edge defender classes are stacking up much differently than they were before the draft. Having said that, being different than consensus doesn’t automatically ensure you’ll be right either. So here is my best shot at ranking the 2026 edge defender class based on tape study and advanced stats.

Lawrence may not have the reputation of a top edge defender, but in a class where all of the top edges have flaws, I’ll take my chances with the long-armed, Central Florida pass rusher. Lawrence took some time to grow into the player he became in 2025, when he posted seven sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss. Lawrence has the burst off the ball, the cornering ability at the top of the arc and the sophisticated hand usage to battle through contact at the top of the arc.

Bain has been billed by many as a speed-to-power rusher, but while that is in the bag for him, he mostly wins as a high-side threat thanks to his pad level at the top of the arc. The Miami product’s forward lean into his rushes makes it very difficult for tackles to hit him squarely in pass protection. As for Bain’s short arms, I’m less concerned with that part of his profile than I am his limited overall athletic ability, which could hinder his ability to drop-and-cover, play in space against the run and change direction as a pass rusher.

If I was just ranking the best edge defenders in the class off of 2025 season tape, there is a great chance Mesidor would be no. 1. His explosiveness off the ball and shiftiness as a pass rusher resulted in a late-college breakout 12.5-sack, 17.5-tackle for loss season. Unfortunately, Mesidor has a history of injuries, turned 25 two weeks ago and provided no athletic testing during the pre-draft process by choice, not due to injury.

4. David Bailey, Texas Tech

Bailey has the length, size and explosiveness you look for in a top pass rusher, erupting off the ball to win the edge repeatedly at the college level. Things will get harder in the NFL, where better tackles will force him to play with more nuance and consistency as a rusher. If Bailey improves his pass rush plan execution and efficiency against better competition, he’ll be in the conversation for best edge in the class despite his struggles at the point-of-attack in the run game.

5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

If I could only pick a single player from this draft to win a pass rush rep with my life on the line, I would pick Howell. His speed up the arc and cornering ability are stuff that wins in the NFL, consistently threatening offensive tackles on their outside shoulder. Howell isn’t incapable when it comes to converting speed-to-power either, but his lack of length and mass make it more difficult to see a full-time role in his future.

6. Keyron Crawford, Auburn

Did you know that Keyron Crawford had more sacks, pressures, quarterback hits and a better pass rush win rate (PFF) than Keldric Faulk, despite 76 fewer opportunities to rush the passer? Crawford is a guy I’m betting on in this class, with the ability to drop and cover, move around the front, be a critical part of pressure packages and even win 1v1 at a budding rate off the edge.

7. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma

Thomas fits into a similar bucket to Cashius Howell as players who may get stuck in a Nick Herbig-type of NFL role due to size/length concerns. But there are few more valuable roles for a defensive player than being able to rush the passer, which Thomas will have more chances to do 1v1 outside of Oklahoma’s scheme. The flashes of burst/bend/hand usage on tape are what you’re buying for a still fairly unproven player.

8. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan

Give me players who compete with zero hesitation, top-notch explosiveness and extreme violence on the edge of the defensive front. Barham looked like a natural in his first year as a full-time edge for Michigan in 2025, dominating against the run while beginning to show real pass rush ability for the first time.

Jacas is a big riser for me over the past week, as I explored a few of his games I hadn’t studied yet. He needs to clean up his stance to maximize his get-off in the NFL, but the twitch off the ball, violent style of play and flashes of speed-counter rush plans eventually won me over. The best might be yet to come for Jacas in the NFL.

10. Keldric Faulk, Auburn

I’m lower on Faulk than consensus, even though I agree he can be better in the NFL with further development as a pass rusher. He’ll need to be, as Faulk barely made a statistical dent in college on passing downs. There are flashes of ability, but the explosiveness and high side rush ability to win the edge consistently are missing. Could Faulk be destined for a move inside, at least on passing downs?

11. Derrick Moore, Michigan

Everyone has the same assessment of Moore — a solid player whose upside is limited, but can probably help any defense as a rotational player sharing the load up front. Moore is another player who needs to fix his pre-snap stance to ensure a better get-off at the snap, but his stop/start hesitation move rushes are some of the best in the class.

12. Joshua Josephs, Tennessee

Josephs is an unbelievably talented football player with frustratingly little consistency, attention to detail or sound mental processing in his game. I love his explosiveness off the ball, violence into contact and elite physical tools, but he’s played less than 1,200 career snaps at Tennessee, often looks confused on the field and has an under-developed pass rush plan resulting in very poor career production (9.5 sacks).

Young’s last couple weeks of the season were encouraging, as he finally looked like he was figuring it out a little bit as a pass rusher. He has an unbelievable physical build, but is really athletically limited compared to most of the players above him on this list. Without elite burst off the ball, speed up the arc or bend around the corner, Young needs to be a bully who wins with pass rush savvy and power. He’s not there yet, but there is potential, especially as an inside rusher.

14. Romello Height, Texas Tech

Try as I might, I can’t quit Romello Height. That’s been one of the themes of evaluating the 25-year old Height as I attempt to reconcile Height’s six years in four different college programs with very little to show for it until 2025. At Texas Tech his twitchiness and change-of-direction ability allowed him to blossom as a speed-counter rusher, but Height struggles to hold up physically in a big role at a lanky 239 pounds.

Parker is the edge rusher I’m lowest on compared to consensus, as I just don’t see the type of athletic profile or pass rush skill set to value highly off the edge in the NFL, in his 2024 or 2025 tape. Parker isn’t the type of player who will threaten offensive linemen with speed or quickness, which limits the effectiveness of his power game too. As a run defender he holds his own in the box, but won’t be a really impactful player outside of that space.