StickToTheModel.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Projection

By | Published: November 02, 2025 | Updated: August 31, 2026 | 131 min read

Category: Mock Drafts

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 3-Round Projection

Last Updated: August 31, 2026

---

Introduction

Our 2026 NFL Mock Draft uses consensus prospect rankings from 9 sources (Tankathon, TDN, CBS, ESPN, PFF, Mock Draft Database, Brugler, Jeremiah, PFN), current team needs, and draft value charts to project all 100 picks across the first three rounds.

Key Headlines:
  • Arizona Cardinals take Arch Manning (Quarterback) at #1 overall
  • 52 projected trades based on draft value charts
  • 0 edge rushers and 26 wide receivers off the board in 3 rounds
  • Want to run your own mock? Launch the draft simulator →

    ---

    What Changed Since Last Monday

    19 first-round picks changed hands this week:

  • Pick 3 (New York Jets): now Julian Sayin (QB, Ohio State) — last week Leonard Moore (CB)
  • Pick 4 (Cleveland Browns): now CJ Carr (QB, Notre Dame) — last week Julian Sayin (QB)
  • Pick 5 (Tennessee Titans): now Colin Simmons (EDGE, Texas) — last week Dylan Stewart (EDGE)
  • Pick 9 (Pittsburgh Steelers): now Dylan Stewart (EDGE, South Carolina) — last week Colin Simmons (EDGE)
  • Pick 10 (Carolina Panthers): now Leonard Moore (CB, Notre Dame) — last week Darian Mensah (QB)
  • Pick 12 (Washington Commanders): now Darian Mensah (QB,
  • Miami

    ) — last week Jamari Johnson (TE)

  • Pick 13 (New York Jets): now Ellis Robinson IV (CB, Georgia) — last week CJ Carr (QB)
  • Pick 15 (Jacksonville Jaguars): now Trey'Dez Green (TE, LSU) — last week Zabien Brown (CB)
  • Pick 18 (Dallas Cowboys): now Cayden Green (OT, Missouri) — last week Ellis Robinson IV (CB)
  • Pick 19 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): now Jamari Johnson (TE, Oregon) — last week Kelley Jones (CB)
  • ...and 9 more further down the round
  • ---

    Round 1: Picks 1-32

    Pick #1 - Arizona Cardinals: Arch Manning, Quarterback, Texas

    Rank: #2 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:

    Quarterback is the Cardinals' clear top need, and Manning was ranked #2 overall, so taking him first is only a marginal reach rather than a real stretch. When the position on the board matches the position atop your needs list, teams generally don't let a one-spot difference in rank stop them, especially at quarterback where the cost of missing outweighs the cost of reaching slightly. The tradeoff is that Manning still has just 12 career starts, well below the 25-start benchmark scouts want, so Arizona is banking on projection over proven volume.

    The Fit:

    Manning gives Arizona a 6'4", 219-222 pound passer with real arm talent, a 10.0 aDOT and top-40 big-time throw rate showing he'll push the ball downfield, plus 4.5 speed and 8 rushing touchdowns that make him a legitimate dual-threat weapon in a modern scheme. But the warts are real: a 71.5% adjusted completion rate that ranked 100th in FBS, a tendency to abandon his mechanics and stare down his first read, and a stark drop from 9.2 to 5.4 yards per attempt against tougher competition. He profiles as a developmental starter who needs structure and patience, not a plug-and-play answer immediately.

  • Strengths: Prototypical 6'4"/219-222 frame with a well-built lower half and mechanics scouts call 'picture-perfect' when he stays disciplined
  • Weaknesses: Only 12 career starts entering 2026
  • NFL Comp: J.J. McCarthy (similar frame and play style)
  • Full scouting report for Arch Manning → | See Arizona Cardinals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #2 - Miami Dolphins: Dante Moore, Quarterback, Oregon

    Rank: #6 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:

    Quarterback is Miami's clear top need, and taking Moore at pick 2 despite his #6 ranking shows the Dolphins prioritizing positional urgency over pure value. With Arch Manning already gone to Arizona at pick 1, Moore becomes the top quarterback still on the board, and Miami clearly wasn't willing to risk him sliding further given how thin the passer market can get after the top few names. It's a defensible reach given the position's scarcity, even if a purist would argue four spots is a real premium to pay for a player with just 19 career starts.

    The Fit:

    Moore steps into a Dolphins offense needing a long-term answer under center, bringing touch, accuracy, and pocket poise that scouts compare favorably to Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. His quick 2.73-second release and ability to climb the pocket and create second-reaction plays should translate well early, but his slighter frame and tendency to unravel under sustained pressure, as seen in the Indiana meltdown, mean Miami will need to build a clean pocket around him and manage his workload as he transitions from a one-year starter role to the NFL grind.”

  • Strengths: Natural thrower with touch, accuracy, and pro-level ball placement
  • Weaknesses: Arm strength is plus but not elite
  • NFL Comp: Jayden Daniels (pocket poise, second-reaction creation)
  • Full scouting report for Dante Moore → | See Miami Dolphins 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #3 - New York Jets: Julian Sayin, Quarterback, Ohio State

    Rank: #12 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    Quarterback sits at the top of the Jets' need list, and with two other passers already off the board at picks one and two, taking Sayin here ensures they don't miss out on the position entirely. Reaching nine spots for him at 12th-ranked overall is a stretch given his thin sample size of only 14 college starts, but for a franchise still searching for its answer at the position, betting on accuracy and processing over a deeper board is a defensible gamble rather than a reckless one.

    The Fit:

    Sayin's game is built on rhythm, anticipation and a quick release, the kind of timing-based passing that fits a West Coast or spread-influenced scheme rather than a vertical, arm-strength-driven offense. His 77.0% completion rate and 9.2 yards per attempt in 2025 show real accuracy, and his ability to layer throws over the middle should help New York's receivers generate yards after catch. The concern is his 6-1, 208-pound frame and only good-enough arm strength, which could get exposed behind an offensive line still under construction, and his limited experience means he'll need time before handling full starting duties.

  • Strengths: Led FBS in completion percentage at 77.0% in 2025 on 9.2 YPA showing accuracy was not propped up by screens
  • Weaknesses: Undersized at roughly 6-1 and 208 pounds with below-average pocket height for the position
  • NFL Comp: Bo Nix (undersized timing-based distributor with accuracy and processing)
  • Full scouting report for Julian Sayin → | See New York Jets 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #4 - Cleveland Browns: CJ Carr, Quarterback, Notre Dame

    Rank: #19 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    Cleveland's top need is quarterback, full stop, so the direction is defensible even if the value isn't. Taking Carr at #4 when he's ranked #19 is a real reach, 15 spots of capital spent on a passer whose own tape shows he struggled against the best competition he faced. With Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and Julian Sayin already off the board ahead of him, Cleveland is betting that Carr's clean mechanics and processing translate even though three quarterbacks graded higher were already gone by pick four.

    The Fit:

    Carr's game is built on timing and anticipation rather than physical talent, which fits a structure-first offense that can scheme him easy answers before the snap. He set a Notre Dame record with a 168.06 passer rating and handled the nation's highest blitz rate with 14 touchdowns against just two interceptions, showing real poise resetting his feet under duress. But his 210-pound frame, complete lack of rushing ability (-15 yards in 2025), and tendency to force throws into coverage against ranked opponents mean Cleveland is taking on a passer who needs a strong offensive line and clean pockets to function, not a scrambler who can bail out a shaky one.'}

  • Strengths: Compact, repeatable release with the ball coming out clean and on time
  • Weaknesses: Below-average NFL athlete who offers no threat as a runner (-15 rushing yards in 2025)
  • NFL Comp: Trent Green (pro comparison)
  • Full scouting report for CJ Carr → | See Cleveland Browns 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #5 - Tennessee Titans: Colin Simmons, Edge Rusher, Texas

    Rank: #4 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:

    Simmons sliding to five is a gift the Titans didn't expect, and while OT and RB sit higher on their board, you don't pass on a top-four talent to reach for need at this spot. Tennessee's pass rush is their third-ranked priority, but grabbing a player this explosive this late in the top five is the kind of value that reshapes a draft class rather than derails it. This is best-player-available thinking winning out over rigid need order, and it's the right call.

    The Fit:

    Simmons slots into a 3-4 scheme as an outside rusher who can win with the elite first-step burst and ankle flexibility that made him a nightmare for SEC tackles, racking up 12 sacks through just 10 games as a sophomore. He's not a finished product against power, at 240 pounds he can get stonewalled by maulers and his counter-plan is still raw when his first move gets stuffed, but Tennessee can bring him along as an situational rusher early while he adds functional mass. The ball production, six forced fumbles in two years, gives this defense the kind of disruptive playmaker it's been missing off the edge.

  • Strengths: Elite first-step explosion that beats tackles before they're out of their stance
  • Weaknesses: Frame is on the lighter side at 240 lbs and will need to add functional mass to hold up vs NFL power
  • NFL Comp: Von Miller (bend, hand usage, sack instincts at a similar frame)
  • Full scouting report for Colin Simmons → | See Tennessee Titans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #6 - Las Vegas Raiders: Jeremiah Smith, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

    Rank: #1 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:

    Wide receiver sits atop Las Vegas's needs, and the top overall player in this class falling to pick six is the kind of gift teams don't pass up. Four quarterbacks and an edge rusher came off the board ahead of him, which is the only reason Smith is even available here. This isn't a reach or a stretch to fill need, it's the rare scenario where best player available and biggest team need are the exact same guy.

    The Fit:

    Smith gives the Raiders a true X-receiver who can win on the outside immediately, with a 4.32 forty at 223 pounds, elite contested-catch ability, and after-catch violence that turns short throws into long gains. He's shown he can carry an offense in big moments, evidenced by his Rose Bowl MVP outing and title-game dagger against Notre Dame. The blocking effort and soft-tissue injury history are real concerns to monitor, but as a receiver who can align at X, Z, or slot, he immediately becomes the alpha weapon this passing game has been missing.

  • Strengths: Size-speed combination is virtually unprecedented at 223 lbs with reported 4.32 forty
  • Weaknesses: Blocking effort fluctuates and at times looks disinterested sustaining in the run game
  • NFL Comp: DeAndre Hopkins (catch radius and body control on the perimeter)
  • Full scouting report for Jeremiah Smith → | See Las Vegas Raiders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #7 - Atlanta Falcons: Cam Coleman, Wide Receiver, Texas

    Rank: #7 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:

    With their quarterback need already off the board hypothetically at other spots and no signal-caller landing in Atlanta at 7, the Falcons pivot to their second-biggest hole and take the exact player the board says belongs here. Cam Coleman going right at his rank of 7 is about as clean a value proposition as this draft offers, no reach, no slide, just a team taking a blue-chip receiver who fills a real need without having to justify a stretch.

    The Fit:

    Coleman gives Atlanta a legitimate outside X-receiver, a 6-3 frame with sub-11.4 track speed who wins at the catch point and stacks corners vertically, exactly the kind of boundary threat that can bend a secondary by himself. He'll need to clean up his release against press and tighten a drop rate that crept up behind shaky Auburn quarterback play, and his hip stiffness on short routes means he projects best as a vertical X rather than an early slot option, but the contested-catch radius and red-zone size are plug-and-play traits for a receiver room that needed a true difference-maker.

  • Strengths: Verified sub-11.4 100m track speed paired with basketball bounce and 6-3 frame
  • Weaknesses: Hip stiffness shows up on comebacks and curls, gears down to redirect on short-area breaks
  • NFL Comp: Mike Williams (contested-catch X with vertical sideline game)
  • Full scouting report for Cam Coleman → | See Atlanta Falcons 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #8 - New Orleans Saints: Trevor Goosby, Offensive Tackle, Texas

    Rank: #8 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:

    With three quarterbacks already off the board ahead of them and no franchise passer to be had at 8, the Saints pivot to their next-biggest hole and land the top offensive tackle in the class right where he's valued. Protecting whichever quarterback New Orleans ultimately builds around is a priority, and Goosby's blend of size, length, and movement skill makes this pick straightforward rather than a stretch. Taking him at 8 for an 8-ranked prospect is clean value, not a reach.

    The Fit:

    Goosby's 6'7", 312-pound frame with long arms and an explosive kickstep projects as a long-term left tackle in a wide-zone scheme, which suits a rebuild that will need mobility up front regardless of who ends up at quarterback. He's still raw, only one year as a full-time starter, six penalties on roughly 320 snaps, and his play strength and stunt recognition lag his elite pass-pro tools, so New Orleans is banking on developmental runway rather than a plug-and-play answer. The upside, a Ryan Clady-style blindside protector, is worth the patience given the position's scarcity.

  • Strengths: Prototypical 6'7" frame with vine-length arms and room to add functional mass
  • Weaknesses: High-cut frame caps lateral quickness and leaves recovery skills in the average range
  • NFL Comp: Ryan Clady (length-and-feel LT archetype)
  • Full scouting report for Trevor Goosby → | See New Orleans Saints 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #9 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Dylan Stewart, Edge Rusher, South Carolina

    Rank: #5 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:

    With two quarterbacks and a running back need already off the board by pick 9, Pittsburgh lands a top-five talent at their third-ranked need without reaching. Stewart fell four spots past his rank, which for a Steelers front office built on drafting pass rushers is a gift they don't pass up. This isn't need-forcing, it's a franchise taking a premium edge because the value happened to align with the priority list.

    The Fit:

    At 6-5, 245 with real bend and first-step burst, Stewart fits the traditional Pittsburgh mold of a long, athletic edge who can set the corner and still drop into coverage on third down in a 3-4 look. His 4.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles as a true freshman show finishing instinct, though he'll need to add mass to hold up against the run and refine his counter moves against NFL tackles before he's an every-down force. Early on, expect a situational pass-rush role that grows as his frame fills out.

  • Strengths: Prototypical 6-5, 245 EDGE frame with length to set a hard edge against SEC tackles
  • Weaknesses: Sophomore-eligible with only one year of college tape, so the projection still carries freshman-year variance
  • NFL Comp: Trevon Walker-style length and first-step burst from a tweener LB/EDGE frame
  • Full scouting report for Dylan Stewart → | See Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #10 - Carolina Panthers: Leonard Moore, Cornerback, Notre Dame

    Rank: #3 overall | Grade: A+ Why This Pick:

    Cornerback sits fourth on Carolina's priority list, but the value here overrides the exact slot. Landing the No. 3 overall prospect at pick 10 is the kind of slide a rebuilding roster has to jump on, even with bigger holes at quarterback, tight end, and edge still unaddressed. Passing on Moore to fill a lower-graded need at this spot would have been the actual reach, so this is best-player-available thinking with a real need attached as a bonus.

    The Fit:

    Moore brings exactly what a 3-4 defense wants in a boundary corner: length at 6'2", fluid hips, and the versatility to play outside, in the slot, or even rotate to safety. His five interceptions and seven pass breakups in just 10 starts as a sophomore show the kind of ball production Carolina's secondary has lacked, and his experience shadowing a first-round-caliber receiver suggests he can handle WR1 duties early. The tradeoffs are real, though. He needs functional mass to survive press reps against bigger NFL X receivers, his tackling in space got sloppy as a sophomore, and his run support regressed, so early defensive coordinators will have to manage those weaknesses in the scheme while his frame matures.

  • Strengths: Elite ball production with 7 career INTs and 18 career PBUs over two seasons including a 46-yard pick-six vs Syracuse
  • Weaknesses: Tackling technique gets sloppy in space and lunges through contact, missing too many on plays where he had the angle
  • NFL Comp: Sauce Gardner (length-and-press CB1 archetype with elite ball production)
  • Full scouting report for Leonard Moore → | See Carolina Panthers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #11 - New York Giants: David Stone, Defensive Line, Oklahoma

    Rank: #10 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:

    IDL sits atop the Giants' need list, and Stone falling to 11 despite grading as the 10th-best prospect on the board makes this an easy call. There's no reach to defend here, this is a team need lining up with a slight value slide, which is about as clean a marriage as a draft board offers. New York gets a disruptive interior piece without having to jump the board or pass on a bigger need elsewhere.

    The Fit:

    Stone's blend of a 6'3", 310-pound frame, near 35-inch arms, and sub-4.9 speed gives the Giants a true three-technique who can also two-gap in a 3-4 look, which matches the scheme context here. His 18.6% run-stop rate and SEC-leading pressure numbers among defensive tackles show he can win immediately against both the run and pass, even though his counter-rush plan is still underdeveloped and his eyes can get fooled by misdirection. He'll likely rotate early while he sharpens hand-footwork sync and gap discipline, but the physical tools suggest a quick path to a full-time role.

  • Strengths: Explosive first step paired with heavy, active hands wins the line of scrimmage immediately
  • Weaknesses: Pass-rush plan still linear with limited counter moves to complement the power game
  • NFL Comp: Jalen Carter (penetrating 3-tech with violent hands and elite first step)
  • Full scouting report for David Stone → | See New York Giants 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #12 - Washington Commanders: Darian Mensah, Quarterback,

    Miami

    Rank: #17 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    Washington reaching for Mensah at 12 when he's ranked 17th is a bet on quarterback insurance over immediate needs like wide receiver or running back, both of which sit higher on the priority list. It's a defensible move if the front office believes in his processing and accuracy traits enough to develop him behind the current starter, but taking a fourth-priority need this early, especially with three other QBs already off the board in this draft, means passing on cleaner value at positions the roster actually lacks depth at right now.

    The Fit:

    Mensah's game is built on anticipation and ball placement rather than arm strength, completing over 70% of his throws at Duke and posting an elite 64% completion rate on intermediate throws with a 10:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in that zone. For Washington, he projects as a developmental sit-and-learn option who can be groomed for the future rather than someone plugged in immediately, since his 205-pound frame raises durability concerns and his deep-ball inconsistency (just 20-of-56 beyond 20 yards at Tulane) needs refinement before he can handle a starter's workload against NFL speed.

  • Strengths: Elite accuracy and ball placement to all three levels, completing over 70% at Duke while sustaining nearly nine yards per attempt
  • Weaknesses: Undersized at roughly 205 pounds, raising real durability questions about absorbing NFL contact
  • NFL Comp: Bo Nix (accuracy and processing carry a non-elite arm, system-fit precision passer)
  • Full scouting report for Darian Mensah → | See Washington Commanders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #13 - New York Jets: Ellis Robinson IV, Cornerback, Georgia

    Rank: #11 overall | Grade: A- Trade: New York Jets acquired this pick from the Indianapolis Colts. Why This Pick:

    After grabbing Julian Sayin at pick three to address the quarterback need, the Jets pivot to cornerback, their fourth priority, and land a player who slid two spots past his rank of 11. That's real value for a corner some boards see with CB1 upside, and it's hard to call a reach when he's still going in the range his talent suggests. The bigger question is need timing, since IOL and linebacker sat higher on the board, but corner depth was thin enough that passing on this kind of talent would have been the bigger mistake.

    The Fit:

    Robinson's game is built on length and zone instincts, tying for the SEC lead in interceptions with four picks and seven pass breakups as a first-year starter, and that reading-the-quarterback style should translate in a scheme that lets him sit in zone and trigger downhill. The concern is the 180-pound frame, which got exposed against bigger receivers, most notably on the 72-yard busted coverage touchdown to Chris Brazzell II, so he'll need to add functional mass before he can hold up on the boundary every week. Early on, he profiles as a zone-heavy rotational piece with the tools to grow into a full-time starter as his body catches up to his ball skills.

  • Strengths: Long arms allow him to squeeze throwing windows and contest at the catch point
  • Weaknesses: Thin 180-pound frame gets displaced by bigger receivers at the line of scrimmage
  • NFL Comp: Jaylon Johnson (ball skills and zone feel from a wiry boundary corner)
  • Full scouting report for Ellis Robinson IV → | See New York Jets 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #14 - Minnesota Vikings: Drew Mestemaker, Quarterback, Oklahoma State

    Rank: #32 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Minnesota's top need is quarterback, and rather than wait for Day 2 as the grades suggest, they jump 18 spots ahead of Mestemaker's ranked value at #32 to secure him at #14. That's a real reach on paper, but it's defensible for a team that has already seen four quarterbacks come off the board in this draft, three of them ahead of his rank. If Minnesota believes in the traits and the trajectory, waiting risked losing him to another QB-needy club picking between 15 and 32.

    The Fit:

    Mestemaker brings a quick, compact release and excellent deep and intermediate accuracy, the kind of downfield ability that could give Minnesota's passing game teeth once he's ready. He led the FBS in passing yards with 4,379 and posted a 34-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but his low, hip-level release causes sailed throws to the boundary, and he was rattled by the only two ranked defenses he faced, throwing three picks in each game. At 211 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame, he'll need added strength and a Big 12 season at Oklahoma State to prove the production translates before Minnesota can trust him as a starter.

  • Strengths: Quick, compact release that gets the ball out fast and limits sack exposure, grading near the top of the class for release speed
  • Weaknesses: Throwing mechanics need significant work, with a low elbow and a release point that starts near the hip
  • NFL Comp: Will Howard (a big-bodied late-blooming pocket passer who climbed boards through production rather than recruiting pedigree)
  • Full scouting report for Drew Mestemaker → | See Minnesota Vikings 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #15 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Trey'Dez Green, Tight End, LSU

    Rank: #27 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Jacksonville jumps Green a full 12 spots ahead of his rank, a clear best-player-available call rather than a needs-driven selection since no specific team need data points here. That's a reach by the numbers, but with rare size, speed, and ceiling at a premium mismatch position, taking the swing at 15 rather than hoping he lasts is a defensible bet on talent over value charts.

    The Fit:

    At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with a projected 4.55 speed and a basketball background that shows up in his post-up catch radius, Green gives Jacksonville a matchup weapon who can align inline, in the slot, or out wide. He's a red zone problem for defenses, evidenced by his LSU-record seven touchdown season, but the blocking is unproven with fewer than 200 career snaps there, and the five drops on 51 targets plus modest 1.46 yards per route run show the polish still needs to catch up to the physical tools.

  • Strengths: Rare 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame with projected 4.55 speed that runs away from SEC safeties
  • Weaknesses: Five drops on 51 targets, the hands lag well behind the athleticism
  • NFL Comp: Greg Dulcich (big-frame flex receiving TE with a similar ranking arc)
  • Full scouting report for Trey'Dez Green → | See Jacksonville Jaguars 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #16 - New York Jets: A'Mauri Washington, Defensive Line, Oregon

    Rank: #13 overall | Grade: A- Trade: New York Jets acquired this pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Why This Pick:

    After addressing quarterback and cornerback with their first two picks, the Jets pivot to pure value with Washington sliding three spots past his #13 ranking. IDL sits at need five for this roster, and getting a Day 2-graded prospect with starter upside at 16 is the kind of value teams can't pass on, even if it's not the flashiest need on the board. This is best-player-available thinking after the roster's top holes were already addressed twice.

    The Fit:

    Washington's 6'3", 330-pound frame with rare lateral agility gives the Jets' 4-3 front a true two-gapper who can also slant and penetrate, something the interior line was lacking. His quick get-off and POA strength project him as an immediate rotational piece who can grow into a full-time starter, but the high pad level and lack of a repeatable pass-rush plan mean he'll need coaching before he's an every-down disruptor. The Dontari Poe comparison speaks to his ceiling as a space-eating, athletic anchor up front.

  • Strengths: Massive 6'3"/330 frame with rare athleticism for size
  • Weaknesses: Plays with high pad level too often
  • NFL Comp: Dontari Poe (massive interior body with rare movement skill)
  • Full scouting report for A'Mauri Washington → | See New York Jets 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #17 - Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Seaton, Offensive Tackle, LSU

    Rank: #9 overall | Grade: A Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits atop Cincinnati's board, and getting a top-10 talent at pick 17 is the kind of value teams dream about. Seaton slid eight spots past his rank of 9, likely due to durability concerns and inconsistent run blocking, but for a Bengals team needing to lock down a blindside protector, that fall is a gift rather than a red flag worth passing on.

    The Fit:

    Seaton's calling card, elite pass protection with just five sacks allowed on 940 career pass-blocking snaps and a 79.7 career grade, addresses exactly what a passing offense needs at left tackle. His lateral quickness and mirroring ability against speed rushers should translate well in a scheme built around getting the ball out, though his 57 run-block grade and second-level inconsistency mean he may need early patience while he develops as a complete blocker rather than just a pass-pro specialist.

  • Strengths: Elite pass protection: only 5 sacks allowed on 940 career pass-blocking snaps and a 79.7 career pass-block grade
  • Weaknesses: Run blocking lags well behind pass pro, with a 57 career run-blocking grade and inconsistent push at the point of attack
  • NFL Comp: Will Campbell (former five-star LSU left tackle who started immediately as a young blindside protector with elite movement)
  • Full scouting report for Jordan Seaton → | See Cincinnati Bengals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #18 - Dallas Cowboys: Cayden Green, Offensive Tackle, Missouri

    Rank: #22 overall | Grade: B+ Trade: Dallas Cowboys acquired this pick from the Green Bay Packers. Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits atop Dallas's needs, and with Trevor Goosby and Jordan Seaton already off the board in the picks before them, Green is one of the better tackle-adjacent options left. Taking him four spots ahead of his #22 ranking is a mild reach, but defensible given how thin the tackle market has gotten and how much the Cowboys value his raw power and three-year starting experience at two SEC-caliber programs.

    The Fit:

    Green's game is built on a thick frame, strong initial punch, and an anchor that holds up early against bull rushers, all traits that fit a power-gap scheme even if his long-term home projects more to guard or right tackle than blindside left tackle. His limited lateral range, upright pad level, and inconsistent hand placement explain why evaluators see him as a developmental piece rather than a plug-and-play starter, but Dallas can work him in as a versatile swing blocker who has already handled both zone and gap concepts at Missouri while his technique matures.

  • Strengths: Naturally thick, broad frame with a strong power base that walls off lanes once he latches
  • Weaknesses: Upright playing style with erratic, catch-and-ride hand placement that saps leverage and control
  • NFL Comp: Asim Richards (power-scheme interior swing blocker)
  • Full scouting report for Cayden Green → | See Dallas Cowboys 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #19 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jamari Johnson, Tight End, Oregon

    Rank: #14 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    Tight end sits fourth on Tampa Bay's need list, well behind cornerback, interior line and linebacker, so on paper this looks like a slide down the priority board. But Johnson fell to them at pick 19 despite grading out at 14, and boards this far off from need order tend to get overridden by pure value. Passing on three bigger holes for a top-15 talent is a defensible bet, especially if the Bucs view their depth concern at tight end as more pressing than it appears on a generic need chart.

    The Fit:

    At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds with 2.02 yards per route run and only two drops on tape, Johnson gives Tampa Bay a legitimate Y tight end who can line up inline over half the time and still threaten after the catch. He's not polished, his route tree and blocking hand placement are still developing after converting from quarterback, and his modest 668 career receiving yards reflect time spent behind a more established target at Oregon. The Bucs get a developmental piece who can rotate in early while growing into a full-time role.”

  • Strengths: Prototypical NFL Y frame at 6-foot-5, 257 pounds, capable of handling inline duties while staying a threat in space
  • Weaknesses: Still raw as a route runner and blocker, admitting he needs to refine footwork, hand placement and route depth after converting from quarterback
  • NFL Comp: Colston Loveland (modern movement Y with size and ball skills)
  • Full scouting report for Jamari Johnson → | See Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #20 - Chicago Bears: KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia

    Rank: #15 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    With the Bears' first three picks presumably going elsewhere on the board before this, safety sat fourth on their priority list, and getting a player ranked 15th overall at pick 20 is simply good value even if it doesn't address their bigger needs at edge or interior defensive line. Chicago isn't reaching here, they're letting a talented player slide into their lap and filling a real depth concern at safety in the process. It's a defensible pick that balances need with best-player-available thinking.

    The Fit:

    Bolden slots into Chicago's 4-3 scheme as a three-level piece, capable of playing deep middle, in the box, or over the slot, which gives the defense flexibility they may currently lack at safety. His range and closing speed, backed by track-level burst, and his 13 coverage stops in 2025 suggest he can be an immediate difference-maker in coverage, though his lean frame means he'll need to add functional mass before he's fully trusted against bigger tight ends in the middle of the field.

  • Strengths: Elite range and closing speed from deep middle, gets hash-to-sideline without wasted motion
  • Weaknesses: Frame still lean through lower body
  • NFL Comp: Malaki Starks (Georgia lineage, three-level versatility, range from deep middle)
  • Full scouting report for KJ Bolden → | See Chicago Bears 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #21 - Denver Broncos: Tae Johnson, Safety,

    Notre Dame

    Rank: #16 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    Safety sits fourth on Denver's board, but getting a top-16 talent slide to 21 is the kind of value teams can't pass up, even with linebacker, tight end and running back all ranked higher on the need sheet. This isn't a reach by draft slot, it's a slide, and taking a ballhawking safety here is defensible as best-player-available logic overriding strict need order. Denver bets that Johnson's ceiling outweighs waiting on a position they could address in later rounds.

    The Fit:

    Johnson slots in as a developmental free safety in Denver's 3-4 look, immediately offering the deep-middle range and takeaway ability the roster lacks, evidenced by his four interceptions and 73 return yards in just 10 games at Notre Dame. His former-receiver instincts show up in ball skills and catch-point wins, and he only missed two tackles all season, but his high-cut, light frame and inconsistent pursuit angles mean he'll need time and added strength before trusting him in interior run fits or man coverage against NFL tight ends.

  • Strengths: Outstanding blend of length and range at safety
  • Weaknesses: Inconsistent pursuit angles in the run game that pull him out of position
  • NFL Comp: Reggie Nelson (pro comparison)
  • Full scouting report for Tae Johnson → | See Denver Broncos 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #22 - Las Vegas Raiders: Brauntae Johnson, Safety, Notre Dame

    Rank: #18 overall | Grade: A- Trade: Las Vegas Raiders acquired pick #22 from the New England Patriots in exchange for pick #38, a 2028 2nd-round pick. Why This Pick:

    After using their earlier first-round capital on Jeremiah Smith to address wide receiver, the Raiders pivot to their third-ranked need in safety, and getting Brauntae Johnson at 22 after he was ranked 18th is modest value. Two safeties (KJ Bolden and Tae Johnson) already came off the board in the picks right before this one, so Las Vegas isn't reaching into a thin market, they're grabbing one of the better remaining options at a position they clearly prioritized. It leaves cornerback and the offensive line unaddressed, but building the back end of the defense here is a reasonable sequencing choice.

    The Fit:

    With no specific scouting profile available on Johnson beyond his Notre Dame background and the four-spot slide from his consensus ranking, the Raiders are banking on his overall talent translating into their 4-3 scheme rather than a known specialized trait. Coming off Notre Dame's program suggests a level of coaching and competition that should ease his transition, but the lack of detailed measurables or production notes here means his exact role, whether as an immediate starter or a developmental piece in the back end, will be defined more by camp performance than by any glaring scouting flag.

  • Strengths: Above-average athleticism, solid production, translatable skills
  • Weaknesses: Some mechanical flaws, needs to add strength
  • NFL Comp: Antoine Winfield Jr / Derwin James
  • Full scouting report for Brauntae Johnson → | See Las Vegas Raiders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #23 - Los Angeles Chargers: Nick Marsh, Wide Receiver, Indiana

    Rank: #20 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

    With cornerback and interior defensive line largely picked over by pick 23, the Chargers turn to their third-ranked need and land Marsh a few spots past his overall rank of 20. It's a mild slide rather than a reach, and it gives the offense a big-bodied boundary target that the roster context suggests is missing. Betting on traits over a clean statistical profile is a reasonable swing this late in the first round.

    The Fit:

    Marsh brings exactly what a lot of receiver rooms lack: legitimate size at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, timed speed at a reported 4.38, and a route tree that's more advanced than his experience suggests. But the warts are real, he caught under 60 percent of his targets, won only three of eleven contested catches, and had ten drops, so he projects more as a developmental boundary starter who needs the ball on schedule rather than an immediate jump-ball weapon. His 4.8 yards after contact per catch on slants and quick game suggests he could be plugged into shorter, high-percentage concepts early while he cleans up the catch-point issues.

  • Strengths: Rare 6-foot-3, 203-pound frame paired with elite timed speed at a listed 4.38 forty
  • Weaknesses: Contested catches were a season-long failure, converting just three of eleven tries
  • NFL Comp: Keon Coleman (reasoning: big-framed boundary X whose contested-catch reputation outran his actual catch-point conversion, with tools ahead of efficiency)
  • Full scouting report for Nick Marsh → | See Los Angeles Chargers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #24 - San Francisco 49ers: Will Echoles, Defensive Line,

    Ole Miss

    Rank: #21 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Interior offensive line and safety top San Francisco's needs, but IDL sits at four on the list, and Echoles falling to 24 after a rank of 21 is too much value to pass on. This is a best-player-available move rather than a top-need pick, but landing a disruptive interior lineman three spots after his rank is a defensible trade-off given how thin the board was getting at premium spots. The 49ers are betting his talent outstrips the pick, filling need number four while still hoping for more line and safety help in later rounds.

    The Fit:

    Echoles fits San Francisco's 4-3 front as an ascending 3-technique who wins with a violent first step and hip-driven power, logging 39 pressures and 35 stops in his first year as a full-time starter. His ability to stack double teams and hold his gap gives the front more juice against the run, while his six batted passes show disruption even when he doesn't get home. The concerns are the ten missed tackles and pad level that rises late in games, issues that could show up early as he adjusts to a heavier NFL workload, but the toolbox and motor suggest a starter-caliber piece for the defensive line room.

  • Strengths: Led all Power Four interior linemen in pressures (39) and defensive stops (35) in 2025, rare production for a first-year starter
  • Weaknesses: Missed ten tackles in 2025, lunging in space instead of finishing through contact
  • NFL Comp: Walter Nolen (Ole Miss predecessor with the same explosive interior-penetrator profile)
  • Full scouting report for Will Echoles → | See San Francisco 49ers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #25 - Houston Texans: Jadan Baugh, Running Back, Florida

    Rank: #25 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Running back sits atop Houston's needs list, and Baugh comes off the board exactly where he's ranked, so there's no reach to justify here. The Texans get a workhorse who can handle a heavy workload right away, which matters for an offense that needs a reliable ground presence to take pressure off other areas of the roster that still need fixing, like the interior defensive line and offensive tackle spots further down their board.

    The Fit:

    Baugh's game is built on contact balance and patience, forcing 65 missed tackles and piling up over 760 yards after contact in 2025 despite playing behind a shaky Florida line, traits that translate to early playing time regardless of Houston's blocking situation. He's also a legitimate three-down option, catching 33 passes and showing willingness in pass protection, though his lack of a breakaway gear and still-raw blitz-pickup technique mean he'll cap out as a between-the-tackles grinder rather than an explosive home-run threat.

  • Strengths: Elite contact balance, runs through arm tackles and drags piles for hidden yardage
  • Weaknesses: Lacks true breakaway long speed, a ramp-up back who accelerates gradually rather than explosively
  • NFL Comp: Najee Harris (big-back frame with patient downhill style)
  • Full scouting report for Jadan Baugh → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #26 - Detroit Lions: Kelley Jones, Cornerback, Mississippi State

    Rank: #26 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Detroit passes on the more pressing IDL and edge needs to grab Kelley Jones exactly where he's ranked, landing the best cornerback still on the board at pick 26. With CB sitting at their third priority, this isn't a reach so much as a sensible pivot once the top trench pieces dried up. Betting on a player with only one full year of standout tape is a calculated risk, but getting a first-round talent at true value is hard to pass up.

    The Fit:

    Jones brings exactly the length and press-man profile Detroit's defense can use, a 6-foot-4 frame with real ball skills that had SEC offenses avoiding his side of the field entirely in 2025. He fits as a developmental starter who can grow into a boundary corner while adding strength to his slight 195-pound build. The lack of a deep tackling résumé and largely unconfirmed athletic testing mean he won't be relied on as a finished product early, but his ceiling and continued Mississippi State cornerback pedigree make him worth the patience.”

  • Strengths: Elite length and height for the position at 6-4 with the wingspan to contest at the catch point
  • Weaknesses: Limited body of high-level tape, with essentially one breakout season to evaluate
  • NFL Comp: Emmanuel Forbes (long, ball-hawking Mississippi State corner with elite length and a slight frame)
  • Full scouting report for Kelley Jones → | See Detroit Lions 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #27 - Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Coleman-Williams, Wide Receiver, Alabama

    Rank: #23 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Wide receiver sits fourth on Kansas City's board behind tight end, tackle, and linebacker, but this is too much talent to pass on at 27, especially with the pick sliding four spots past his rank. The Chiefs have needed a true difference-maker outside for years, and Coleman-Williams gives them a vertical, alignment-versatile weapon who can immediately reshape how defenses allocate coverage. It costs them a swing at their bigger needs, but adding a player of this ceiling at this point in the round is defensible best-player-available logic.

    The Fit:

    Coleman-Williams brings verified track speed (a 10.49 100-meter time) and the kind of vertical stem that forces cushions and opens up everything underneath, which fits an offense built on timing and layered route combinations. His route craft and 7.5 yards after contact per reception make him a legitimate threat in the slot or outside, but the 178-pound frame and a 16.9% drop rate in 2025 are real red flags against physical NFL corners. Kansas City will need to manage his reps early while the hands and consistency catch up to the talent.'

  • Strengths: Elite acceleration and long speed backed by a 10.49 100-meter track time
  • Weaknesses: Drops are the defining flaw, hitting double digits in 2025 with a 16.9% drop rate and 17 career drops
  • NFL Comp: DeVonta Smith (slight-framed Alabama technician whose separation outruns his weigh-in)
  • Full scouting report for Ryan Coleman-Williams → | See Kansas City Chiefs 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #28 - Seattle Seahawks: Charlie Becker, Wide Receiver, Indiana

    Rank: #24 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Seattle passes on their two heaviest needs, interior offensive line and edge rusher, to grab a receiver who slid four spots past his rank. That's a reasonable trade-off given wide receiver is their third priority and Becker offers rare size and contested-catch reliability that's hard to find later. It's a slight value play more than a reach, and letting a talented boundary target fall to 28 while addressing a top-three need is defensible even if it means waiting on the trenches.

    The Fit:

    Becker gives Seattle a big, physical target at 6-foot-4 who thrives on contested catches, having won 13 of 17 such targets with zero drops in 2025. His average long speed and limited route experience (under 200 routes on the year) mean he won't be an every-down separator early, but his size and ball skills suggest a developmental boundary role that grows as his usage expands, addressing a need for size and red-zone/50-50 ball production that the receiver room lacked.

  • Strengths: Elite contested-catch producer who won 13 of 17 contested targets in 2025, including three-for-three days against Ohio State and Penn State
  • Weaknesses: Part-time role with under 200 routes across 16 games leaves major projection questions
  • NFL Comp: Ladd McConkey (Vikings Wire, for physical style as a receiver and blocker)
  • Full scouting report for Charlie Becker → | See Seattle Seahawks 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #29 - Carolina Panthers: LaNorris Sellers, Quarterback, South Carolina

    Rank: #34 overall | Grade: B Trade: Carolina Panthers acquired pick #29 from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for pick #42, pick #74. Why This Pick:

    Quarterback is Carolina's number one need by a mile, and Sellers gives them the trait-heavy dual-threat prospect the position demands, even if taking him at 29 over his 34 ranking counts as a small reach. With four other quarterbacks already off the board earlier in this same draft, Carolina isn't waiting around hoping Sellers survives to a later pick. It's a defensible bet on upside over polish, banking on his physical tools translating once he gets NFL coaching on his processing.

    The Fit:

    Sellers brings a 6'3", 242-pound frame with legitimate linebacker size and GPS-tracked speed above 22 mph, giving Carolina a run-pass dual threat who forced 33 missed tackles and racked up 359 yards after contact as a runner from Week 9 on in 2024. He throws well on the run and has the arm strength to push the ball vertically, but his 3.31 to 3.36-second average time to throw and stuck-on-first-read tendencies point to real developmental work ahead before he can run a timing-based NFL passing game. Carolina will likely need patience, letting him sit or split reps while he irons out anticipation and pocket rhythm.

  • Strengths: Linebacker-build frame at 6'3" 242 with elite contact balance, led FBS in forced missed tackles and YAC from Week 9 on in 2024
  • Weaknesses: Slow progressions, gets stuck on his first read and bails to scrambling instead of climbing to second/third option
  • NFL Comp: Daunte Culpepper (size/build/run-pass duality per Jeremiah)
  • Full scouting report for LaNorris Sellers → | See Carolina Panthers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #30 - Baltimore Ravens: Carter Smith, Offensive Tackle, Indiana

    Rank: #28 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle is the fourth-ranked need on Baltimore's board, and while this isn't the flashy skill-position addition some fans wanted after passing on running backs, corners, and receivers earlier, taking Carter Smith at 30 with a rank of 28 is a modest slide value that lets the Ravens fortify the trenches. With three straight years as Indiana's left tackle anchor and a track record of durability, Smith gives Baltimore a low-risk developmental piece behind their current line, even if he's not filling the roster's most glaring hole.

    The Fit:

    Smith's game is built on hand strength, anchor, and finishing temperament, all traits that fit a physical, run-heavy scheme well, and his 3.2% career pressure rate and zero sacks allowed through Indiana's 2025 conference title game show real polish. The concern is his mediocre arm length and heavy feet against wide-9 speed rushers, which several evaluators think eventually pushes him to guard rather than left tackle at the next level. For Baltimore, that positional flexibility could actually be valuable, giving them a swing tackle now with a path to starting guard if his frame and length limit him outside.

  • Strengths: Three-year LT starter with 36+ consecutive starts and 2,644+ college snaps
  • Weaknesses: Mediocre arm length leaves him stacked at the fingertips against long-armed edge rushers
  • NFL Comp: Braden Smith (strain, hand strength, scheme-fit RT/G)
  • Full scouting report for Carter Smith → | See Baltimore Ravens 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #31 - Buffalo Bills: Zabien Brown, Cornerback, Alabama

    Rank: #30 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    Cornerback sits as Buffalo's number two need, and Brown falling to pick 31 after ranking 30th overall is close to a non-story in terms of value, essentially a player picked right around where he belongs. With the board thinning out at corner behind him, Buffalo isn't reaching so much as taking the best player still available at a clear need spot, a sensible approach for a team without a glaring hole elsewhere in this range.

    The Fit:

    Brown is a boundary press-man corner with track speed to erase deep cushions and the physicality to set an edge in run support, traits that fit a 4-3 scheme looking for a corner who can win on an island. The concern is his zone instincts, his eyes still drift to the backfield in off coverage, and bigger receivers had success boxing him out at the catch point as a sophomore, so Buffalo will likely lean on him in press-heavy man calls early while he rounds out his technique against physical route runners.

  • Strengths: Recovery burst eats cushion when receivers get a step deep
  • Weaknesses: Allowed completion rate climbed as a sophomore and contested-catch results went the wrong way too often
  • NFL Comp: Christian Gonzalez (length, press-man fit, run support)
  • Full scouting report for Zabien Brown → | See Buffalo Bills 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #32 - Cleveland Browns: Kewan Lacy, Running Back,

    Ole Miss

    Rank: #31 overall | Grade: B+ Trade: Cleveland Browns acquired this pick from the Los Angeles Rams. Why This Pick:

    Cleveland already used its first pick on quarterback CJ Carr, so coming back to running back at 32 with Kewan Lacy addresses the third-ranked need on their board without reaching, since he slid one spot past his own rank of 31. Adding a bell-cow back who led the FBS in carries and never missed a game gives the offense a workhorse to lean on while the rookie quarterback develops, a sensible pairing of need and value this late in round one.

    The Fit:

    Lacy's calling card is volume and finishing power, 1,567 rushing yards and a school-record 24 touchdowns on 306 carries, with over 1,000 yards after contact showing off his contact balance. For a Browns offense that just invested in a rookie passer, having a between-the-tackles hammer who converts short yardage takes pressure off the quarterback. The tradeoff is his receiving game, five drops and a thin route tree, plus ball security concerns with three fumbles, meaning early usage likely stays run-heavy until he shows more in protection and the passing game.”

  • Strengths: Elite scoring nose, 24 rushing touchdowns in 2025 set an Ole Miss single-season record
  • Weaknesses: Receiving is the broken half of his game, five drops in 2025 on modest usage
  • NFL Comp: Arian Foster (Locked On NFL Draft podcast comp for build and three-down potential)
  • Full scouting report for Kewan Lacy → | See Cleveland Browns 7-round draft →

    ---

    Round 2: Picks 33-64

    Pick #33 - Arizona Cardinals: Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge Rusher, Oregon

    Rank: #29 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

    After using the top overall pick on Arch Manning, Arizona turns to its defense and gets a slight bargain, with Uiagalelei sliding four spots to fall right into their lap at 33. Edge rusher sits as the third priority need on this roster, and grabbing a top-30 talent who some boards had as a first-rounder is good process over reaching for need. It's a value pick that still checks a real need box, which is about as clean a combination as a team can ask for in round two.

    The Fit:

    Uiagalelei brings exactly what a 4-3 front covets on the edge: a 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame with a explosive first step, flexible hips to bend the corner, and a speed-to-power bull rush that can collapse the pocket. His 10.5 sacks and 12.5-plus TFLs as a sophomore at Oregon show real pass-rush juice, and his ability to loop on stunts and drop into zone coverage gives Arizona scheme flexibility. The tradeoff is his still-developing run defense and unrefined pass-rush plan, meaning he may need early snaps in a rotational role while he sharpens his hand usage and point-of-attack physicality.

  • Strengths: Rare size-length-strength blend at 6-foot-5, 272 with no bad weight and fluid movement
  • Weaknesses: Lacks a single dominant, hang-your-hat trait, profiling as solid-to-good across the board rather than elite
  • NFL Comp: Gregory Rousseau (long, versatile, multi-alignment edge who wins with length and bend over pure bend-speed)
  • Full scouting report for Matayo Uiagalelei → | See Arizona Cardinals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #34 - Miami Dolphins: Quincy Rhodes Jr, Edge Rusher, Arkansas

    Rank: #41 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    After spending their first pick on Dante Moore to fix the quarterback spot, Miami pivots straight to their next-biggest hole with Quincy Rhodes Jr. Taking him at 34 when he's ranked 41 is a mild reach, but with edge rusher sitting at the number two need and a thin group of pass rushers left on the board, jumping a few spots to lock in a player with legitimate 15.5 tackle for loss production is a defensible bet rather than a panic move.

    The Fit:

    Rhodes Jr brings exactly the kind of length and power Miami's 3-4 front can use, at 6'6

  • Strengths: Rare length and a massive wingspan that lands first and keeps tackles off his chest
  • Weaknesses: Average get-off and first-step quickness, so he wins with length not speed
  • NFL Comp: Trey Flowers (Arkansas backfield-disruption production)
  • Full scouting report for Quincy Rhodes Jr → | See Miami Dolphins 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #35 - New York Jets: Omarion Miller, Wide Receiver, Arizona State

    Rank: #37 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    After spending three of their first four picks on quarterback, cornerback, and defensive line, the Jets pivot to receiver depth, a real need behind whatever they have on the roster. Taking Miller at 35 when he's ranked 37 is a minor reach, but with WR sitting at No. 6 on their needs list, it's a defensible value grab rather than a stretch, especially since the receiver-needy teams around them were already thinning the position out.

    The Fit:

    Miller gives the Jets a big, physical outside target at 6-foot-1, 209 pounds who wins at the catch point, going eleven-for-eighteen on contested balls with 14 contested catches and eight touchdowns in his lone healthy, productive season. He's not going to separate with speed and his route detail underneath is raw, so he projects as a developmental red-zone and vertical threat rather than an immediate every-down starter, but his size and ball skills fill a specific hole the Jets lacked at the position.

  • Strengths: Elite contested-catch producer, winning eleven of eighteen contested tries and 14 total on the year
  • Weaknesses: Average long speed
  • NFL Comp: Keon Coleman (big-bodied outside X who wins contested and downfield more than with separation speed)
  • Full scouting report for Omarion Miller → | See New York Jets 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #36 - Cleveland Browns: Ahmad Moten Sr, Defensive Line,

    Miami

    Rank: #33 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    IDL sits at seventh on Cleveland's need list, well behind quarterback, tight end, running back and the secondary, but with those top needs already addressed earlier in this draft with CJ Carr and Kewan Lacy, taking the best player available makes sense here. Moten slid three spots past his rank of 33 to fall to the Browns at 36, so this is a mild value pick rather than a reach, and adding a disruptive interior presence at a position of real need, even if it's not top of the list, is a defensible way to round out the roster.

    The Fit:

    Moten's calling card is his first step, described as dynamite and rare for the position, which should translate immediately into an even front as a gap-shooting three-tech. Cleveland runs a 4-3, which matches his ideal scheme fit perfectly, and his ability to loop on line games, chase plays down in pursuit, and uproot blockers with his club gives the interior a disruptive element it may lack. The tradeoffs are his short arms, below-average anchor against double teams, and upright pad level on extended rushes, meaning he projects best as a penetrating rotational piece early on rather than a three-down anchor against the run.

  • Strengths: Explosive, dynamite first step to shoot gaps and win reps early in both run and pass
  • Weaknesses: Shorter-than-ideal arms limit extension and leave him stuck on blocks against the run
  • NFL Comp: Kobie Turner (productive undersized interior winner)
  • Full scouting report for Ahmad Moten Sr → | See Cleveland Browns 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #37 - Tennessee Titans: Austin Siereveld, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

    Rank: #35 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    With OT sitting atop Tennessee's need list after already addressing the pass rush at pick five, grabbing Siereveld here is a clean fit of value and necessity. He slid just two spots past his rank of 35, so the Titans aren't reaching, they're getting a top-10 offensive lineman in this class at a fair price while still checking off their number one roster hole. It's a sensible building block for a line that needs both immediate answers and long-term flexibility.

    The Fit:

    Siereveld allowed zero sacks in 13 starts at left tackle in 2025 and just three across 1,305 career snaps, showing off the anchor, hand accuracy and finishing temperament that made him a captain at Ohio State. His below-average arm length and tendency to bend at the waist are real concerns against longer edge rushers, which is why many evaluators see his long-term home at guard rather than tackle. For Tennessee, that versatility is valuable either way, he can compete at tackle now or slide inside later, giving the Titans a physical, high-floor piece for a line that badly needed both bodies and toughness.

  • Strengths: No sacks allowed in 13 starts at left tackle in 2025
  • Weaknesses: Below-average arm length for the tackle position that longer edge rushers exploit
  • NFL Comp: Trent Brown (massive interior-style frame who can man tackle but profiles cleaner inside, wins with power over length)
  • Full scouting report for Austin Siereveld → | See Tennessee Titans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #38 - New England Patriots: Damon Wilson Jr, Edge Rusher,

    Miami

    Rank: #43 overall | Grade: B Trade: New England Patriots acquired pick #38, a 2028 2nd-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for pick #22. Why This Pick:

    Edge rusher sits atop New England's need list, and taking Wilson at 38 addresses that void immediately rather than waiting and hoping he lasts. It's a mild reach given he's ranked 43rd, five spots after this selection, but for a team desperate to generate pressure, jumping the board slightly for the top need is a defensible trade-off rather than a reckless one. Two other edge rushers already flew off the board earlier in round one, so the Patriots weren't going to have unlimited patience here.

    The Fit:

    Wilson gives New England a Miami-produced pass rusher to plug into a 3-4 front that's short on difference-makers off the edge. Without specific scouting notes available, the pick reads as a bet on his overall talent translating early, likely in a rotational role as he adjusts to NFL speed and technique refinement typical of prospects taken in this range. The absence of detailed measurables or production numbers here suggests his path to a starting role will depend heavily on how the coaching staff develops him rather than a plug-and-play projection.

  • Strengths: Adequate athleticism, decent production, developmental upside
  • Weaknesses: Limited upside, concerns about ceiling
  • NFL Comp: Von Miller / Micah Parsons
  • Full scouting report for Damon Wilson Jr → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #39 - Atlanta Falcons: Trevor Lauck, Offensive Tackle, Iowa

    Rank: #36 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits sixth on Atlanta's needs board, but this is really about not letting a technician like Lauck slide any further given how quickly bookend tackles get scooped up. Landing him at 39 after he ranked 36th is a modest slide rather than a true value grab, but with the Falcons having already addressed a bigger need earlier by taking Cam Coleman at receiver, they can afford to invest in offensive line depth and a future succession plan up front.

    The Fit:

    Lauck's rookie season as a starter was about as clean as it gets, zero sacks allowed and only six pressures across more than 300 pass-blocking snaps, which shows advanced hand placement and footwork well beyond his experience level. He is not an ideal scheme fit as a dominant run blocker yet, since his Wisconsin tape showed too many stalemates rather than finishing power, but his balance and anchor strength give Atlanta a developmental left tackle with a fallback plan at guard if his length or foot speed limit him against elite edge speed.

  • Strengths: Spotless 2025 pass-protection ledger, finishing his first year as a starter without allowing a single sack
  • Weaknesses: Run blocking lags behind his pass protection, with Wisconsin turning too many reps into stalemates
  • NFL Comp: Cody Whitehair (Iowa technician with the same hand-and-leverage profile and tackle-to-guard positional flex)
  • Full scouting report for Trevor Lauck → | See Atlanta Falcons 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #40 - New Orleans Saints: Justin Scott, Defensive Line,

    Miami

    Rank: #38 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    IDL sits fourth on New Orleans' need list, and with the top of the board thin on quarterbacks, tackles and tight ends by pick 40, taking the best player available makes sense. Scott slipping to 40 against his rank of 38 is a mild value grab rather than a reach, and after already addressing the offensive line at pick 8 with Trevor Goosby, the Saints can afford to pivot toward the trenches on defense without ignoring earlier priorities.

    The Fit:

    Scott brings a 6-4, 298-pound frame with real leverage and lower-body strength, built from a two-way high school background that also included reps at guard and running back. He projects as a point-of-attack run defender who can eventually work into the interior rotation, but his production at Miami has been light, just 26 tackles and a single sack as a sophomore, and his pass-rush plan is still unrefined. For New Orleans, he's a developmental 3-tech who won't start immediately but adds size and juice to the defensive line room while he grows into a featured role.

  • Strengths: Legit 6-4, 298 frame that wears mass well with room for additional bulk
  • Weaknesses: College production is light, 26 tackles, 1 sack as a sophomore, and is still well below the bar set by top interior DL prospects
  • NFL Comp: Phidarian Mathis (big leverage-aware base player with redirect twitch)
  • Full scouting report for Justin Scott → | See New Orleans Saints 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #41 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Sammy Brown, Linebacker, Clemson

    Rank: #39 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    With their first two needs at QB and RB unaddressed and their EDGE need already handled at pick #9 with Dylan Stewart, Pittsburgh pivots to linebacker, a spot listed as a key depth concern. Brown slipping to #41 after being ranked #39 is a marginal value, not a major steal, but for a team looking to add a productive, high-floor defender in Round 2, letting him fall two spots and still landing him is a sensible outcome rather than a reach.

    The Fit:

    Brown slots in as a downhill run-defender in Pittsburgh's 3-4, where his 70.6 career run-defense grade, 8.2 percent missed-tackle rate and instinctive blitzing (13 career hurries, 10.0 career sacks) fit the physical, attacking style the scheme demands. His coverage grade of 61.8 and tendency to overrun plays before fully diagnosing them are real limitations against modern spread offenses, but as an every-down thumper who can spy backs and pressure the pocket, he addresses a depth need at linebacker while giving the room a vocal signal-caller and proven tackler.

  • Strengths: Elite production for a true freshman and sophomore: 194 tackles, 25.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks across 27 games
  • Weaknesses: Coverage is the clear developmental area, with PFF grading him 61.8 in that phase and coverage scores grading out to just 58 percent
  • NFL Comp: Trenton Simpson (fellow athletic Clemson LB with downhill burst)
  • Full scouting report for Sammy Brown → | See Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #42 - Philadelphia Eagles: Ahmad Hardy, Running Back, Missouri

    Rank: #40 overall | Grade: B Trade: Philadelphia Eagles acquired pick #42, pick #74 from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for pick #29. Why This Pick:

    Philadelphia's third-ranked need was running back, and Hardy sliding to 42 after being ranked 40th is a modest value grab, not a reach. With safety and interior offensive line still on the board for later, the Eagles are betting that a workhorse back who ran for 1,649 yards at 6.4 yards per carry is worth the medical risk this early. It's a calculated gamble that trades some injury uncertainty for a talent who was viewed as a top-15 prospect before the gunshot wound.

    The Fit:

    Hardy's low-slung 210-pound frame and contact balance fit an offense that wants a between-the-tackles closer, someone who finishes runs rather than dancing for them. His second-level processing and one-cut decisiveness should translate quickly, but his unresolved rehab from the May 2026 gunshot wound and unproven pass-protection and receiving skills mean Philadelphia may need to ease him in rather than hand him bell-cow volume immediately.

  • Strengths: Elite contact balance with exceptional lower-body drive to break initial tackles
  • Weaknesses: Recovering from May 2026 gunshot wound to upper leg requiring surgery with unclear return timeline
  • NFL Comp: Ashton Jeanty (similar contact balance and finishing power in a compact frame)
  • Full scouting report for Ahmad Hardy → | See Philadelphia Eagles 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #43 - New York Giants: Kade Pieper, IOL, Iowa

    Rank: #44 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    After addressing the trenches on defense with David Stone earlier, the Giants pivot to the interior offensive line, their second-ranked need, essentially on schedule with the board. Taking Pieper one spot ahead of his #44 ranking is a negligible reach, and it's easily defensible given how thin true starting-caliber guards were at this point. It signals the Giants are prioritizing a specific athletic profile over reaching further down needs like cornerback or linebacker.

    The Fit:

    Pieper's game is built on elite lateral quickness and hand technique, tools that would let the Giants run more zone concepts and get their guard pulling and reaching second-level defenders in space. He graded as a top-five FBS guard in both overall and run-blocking marks in 2025 despite having barely a season of starting experience, which fits a Giants line that could use immediate juice up front. The tradeoff is his lack of anchor strength against power, something that showed up badly against Oregon's interior rushers, meaning he may need a year of strength development before he can handle bull rushes consistently in pass protection.'

  • Strengths: Elite-level explosive athlete for the position, with a reported 4.13 shuttle and 37.4-inch vertical
  • Weaknesses: Undersized at roughly 290 pounds with a frame that clearly needs to fill out
  • NFL Comp: Tyler Linderbaum (Renner's stated comp
  • Full scouting report for Kade Pieper → | See New York Giants 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #44 - Washington Commanders: Mario Craver, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M

    Rank: #53 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Washington already used their first pick on quarterback Darian Mensah, so addressing the offense's other glaring hole, wide receiver, makes sense here even at a slight reach. Craver going at 44 instead of his 53 ranking isn't a huge overpay for a team that lists WR as its number one need, and taking a dynamic playmaker over a lesser prospect at need is a defensible bet even if the value isn't perfect on paper.

    The Fit:

    Craver gives Washington a true speed weapon they don't have on the roster, a 5-9, 165-pound burner who ran a 21.6 yards-per-catch clip as a freshman and exploded for a 207-yard game against Notre Dame in 2025. He fits best as a slot and jet-motion piece who can turn short catches into long touchdowns, but his size means he'll need manufactured touches early and can't be relied on for contested catches or blocking, capping him as a situational weapon rather than an every-down X receiver right away.

  • Strengths: Elite straight-line speed (listed near a 4.34 forty estimate) that lets him run away from defenders once he gains a vertical step
  • Weaknesses: Extremely undersized at 5-9, 165 pounds, raising real durability questions over a full NFL season
  • NFL Comp: Tyreek Hill for the small, blazing-fast, YAC-and-vertical archetype that needs creative play design to maximize touches (a less refined, earlier-career version)
  • Full scouting report for Mario Craver → | See Washington Commanders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #45 - Indianapolis Colts: Jacarrius Peak, Offensive Tackle, South Carolina

    Rank: #42 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits as Indy's third priority, and getting a player ranked 42nd overall fall to pick 45 is modest value the Colts can't pass up. With safety and edge rusher both still on the board for future rounds, grabbing Peak here lets the Colts address a legitimate need at a fair cost rather than reaching for a lesser tackle later. It's a sensible, low-risk pick even if it doesn't touch their top two priorities.

    The Fit:

    Peak brings rare experience for a tackle prospect, with 33-plus career starts and only seven sacks allowed on more than 1,200 pass-blocking snaps, a 78.1 pass-block grade that suggests he can protect the blindside early. His athletic background as a former shot put runner-up and basketball player shows up in his ability to seal edges and climb to the second level in zone concepts. The concern is his 67.6 run-block grade and inconsistent footwork that lets rushers gain ground, meaning Indianapolis will need its coaching staff to refine his hand placement and pad level before he's a finished product.

  • Strengths: Allowed only seven sacks across more than 1,200 career pass-blocking snaps
  • Weaknesses: Inconsistent footwork that can give ground against pass rushers
  • NFL Comp: Tyrese Robinson (athletic mover with multi-position trench experience)
  • Full scouting report for Jacarrius Peak → | See Indianapolis Colts 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #46 - Minnesota Vikings: Kenyatta Jackson Jr, Edge Rusher, Ohio State

    Rank: #48 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    After using an earlier pick on a developmental quarterback, Minnesota turns to its second-ranked need with Kenyatta Jackson Jr, a small reach at 46 given his 48 overall ranking. In a class where edge rushers have flown off the board (Simmons, Stewart, Uiagalelei, Rhodes, Wilson already gone), grabbing another one two spots ahead of his rank is a defensible move rather than a real overreach. It signals the Vikings prioritize adding pass rush juice even if it means passing on IOL or safety help that also sits high on their board.

    The Fit:

    There's no scouting profile available on Jackson to detail his get-off, length, or technique, so this projects as a pure need-fill pick based on position value alone. Playing in Minnesota's 3-4 front, he'd likely be developed as a rotational edge piece early, with the hope that added pass-rush juice off the bench turns into a bigger role down the line. Without measurables or production notes in hand, the file on him is thin, which is itself part of why he graded just outside the top tier at his position.

  • Strengths: Adequate athleticism, decent production, developmental upside
  • Weaknesses: Limited upside, concerns about ceiling
  • NFL Comp: Von Miller / Micah Parsons
  • Full scouting report for Kenyatta Jackson Jr → | See Minnesota Vikings 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #47 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Ahmad Moten St, NA, NA

    Rank: #89 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    This is a tough one to defend on paper. Jacksonville takes Ahmad Moten St at pick 47 despite him grading out 42 spots later on the board at 89, with no team needs data available to justify prioritizing him over higher-value options still on the table. Notably, a similarly named prospect, Ahmad Moten Sr, already came off the board at pick 36 to Cleveland, so Jacksonville is banking on a different player entirely rather than a known quantity, which adds risk to an already questionable value pick.

    The Fit:

    Without scouting data or measurables provided for Moten St, it is hard to pin down exactly how he projects into Jacksonville's 4-3 scheme. The lack of available detail on his play style, athletic testing, or college production means this looks more like a name-based swing than a targeted scheme fit, and the team will need him to outplay his draft slot just to justify the reach.

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Quality NFL starter
  • Full scouting report for Ahmad Moten St → | See Jacksonville Jaguars 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #48 - Dallas Cowboys: Chris Cole, Linebacker, Georgia

    Rank: #45 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Linebacker sits at #2 on Dallas's board, and Cole falling to 48 after a #45 grade is a modest gift given how thin off-ball linebacker help typically gets by round two. After addressing the tackle need with Cayden Green at pick 18, Dallas pivots straight to its next priority rather than reaching for cornerback or safety, which is a sensible sequencing of a clearly ranked need list.

    The Fit:

    Cole slots in as a coverage-first linebacker in Dallas's 4-3, the kind of seam-carrying, slot-matching defender modern offenses force teams to find. His track speed and clean tackling (only four misses all year) make him an asset in space immediately, but at 235 pounds his take-on strength against climbing guards and modest run-stop thump mean he'll need a strong complementary run-defender next to him rather than being asked to play every-down enforcer right away.”}}

  • Strengths: Covers as well as any linebacker in the class, rare for an off-ball backer
  • Weaknesses: Pass-rush production is modest despite the blitz snaps
  • NFL Comp: Jamin Davis speed-and-cover hybrid
  • Full scouting report for Chris Cole → | See Dallas Cowboys 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #49 - Cincinnati Bengals: Ashton Hampton, Cornerback, Clemson

    Rank: #46 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Cincinnati already used its first-round pick on tackle Jordan Seaton, so cornerback depth was a logical second-day priority given it ranks fourth on their board. Hampton falling to 49 despite a 46 grade means the Bengals got a small discount on a player some had pegged as a fringe Round 1 riser, and adding a long, press-capable corner behind whatever veterans they have is a defensible value pick rather than a reach.

    The Fit:

    At 6-2, 200 with a 4.43 forty, Hampton has the size-speed profile to play outside corner in a 4-3 scheme that wants length on the boundary, and his 45 tackles and 8 passes defensed as a true freshman show he can contribute early in a rotational role. He's still raw, with only one season of tape, developing press-man footwork, and just one interception, so Cincinnati is banking on traits translating with coaching rather than plugging in a finished product on day one.

  • Strengths: Prototype outside-CB length and frame at a listed 6-2, 200 with the speed to run with verticals
  • Weaknesses: Only one season of real tape, making the projection more about traits than refined technique
  • NFL Comp: Nate Wiggins (Clemson) long-strider press corner with takeoff speed
  • Full scouting report for Ashton Hampton → | See Cincinnati Bengals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #50 - Green Bay Packers: AJ Holmes Jr, Defensive Line, Texas Tech

    Rank: #47 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    IDL sits at the fifth priority on Green Bay's board, but with the top four needs already picked over by pick 50, taking the best player available makes sense here. Holmes slid three spots past his rank of 47, so this isn't a reach, it's a modest value grab on a productive interior lineman who fills a real, if lower-priority, need. Building depth on the defensive front never hurts, especially with a player whose tape backs up the grade.

    The Fit:

    In a 4-3 front, Holmes projects as an early-down run anchor who can also chip in on the pass rush, exactly the kind of three-down interior piece that doesn't need scheme-specific gifts to contribute. His leverage, hand quickness, and ability to hold the point against doubles fit a defense that wants its interior linemen to win at the point of attack, and the 37 pressures and five sacks in 2025 show he's more than just a run-stuffer now. The tradeoffs are average timed speed and a rush plan that still leans heavily on power, so he may start as a rotational piece before earning a bigger role.

  • Strengths: Elite run defender graded near the top of the position over heavy snaps
  • Weaknesses: Ordinary tackle finish with four missed tackles on the year
  • NFL Comp: Poona Ford (stout, leverage-and-hands interior anchor who wins the run rep despite unremarkable timed speed)
  • Full scouting report for AJ Holmes Jr → | See Green Bay Packers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #51 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Linebacker, Notre Dame

    Rank: #49 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Tampa Bay already used its first-round capital on offense and defensive back help earlier in this class, so landing a linebacker of this caliber at 51, two spots past his rank of 49, is close to a no-brainer. Linebacker sits as the team's third-ranked need, and Viliamu-Asa offers a talent grade far above typical Round 2 value even with the medical risk baked in. Betting on a torn ACL this late in Round 2 is a defensible risk-reward swing for a team that still has bigger holes at CB and IOL to address later.

    The Fit:

    At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Viliamu-Asa brings exactly the range and processing a 3-4 defense wants from its second level, evidenced by a 15.2 percent run-stop rate and a 55.0 passer rating allowed in coverage during his 2025 tape. Tampa Bay can deploy him as a stack linebacker or in the slot given his versatility, and his ability to blitz off the edge (23 pressures, 13.9 percent pressure rate) adds a wrinkle the defense lacked. The concerns that dropped him, the ACL tear, limited career workload, and need for more play strength against downhill power, mean he likely starts as a rotational piece while he proves durability before taking on a full three-down role.

  • Strengths: Elite, top-of-position run defender who triggers downhill fast and meets runs at or behind the line (top-of-class run-defense grade, 15.2% run-stop rate in 2025)
  • Weaknesses: Durability is the key red flag, a torn left ACL ended his 2025 season and he previously lost a high school year to a right ACL tear
  • NFL Comp: Tremaine Edmunds (long, explosive off-ball linebacker who erases space with elite range and coverage rather than point-of-attack power)
  • Full scouting report for Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa → | See Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #52 - Chicago Bears: William Echoles, Defensive Line,

    Ole Miss

    Rank: #52 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    IDL sits at the second spot on Chicago's needs list, and after grabbing safety help earlier in the draft, the Bears go back to the defensive line here rather than chasing an edge rusher or receiver. Taking Echoles at exactly his consensus rank of 52 is textbook value, no reach, no slide, just a team filling a real need with a player the board says belongs right here.

    The Fit:

    Echoles projects as an interior pass rush piece for a 4-3 front that needs juice at the three technique spot. Without detailed scouting notes available, the pick reads as a best-player-available move at a need position, and his placement directly at the pick number suggests evaluators see him as a rotational or eventual starting-caliber interior lineman rather than a surefire immediate difference-maker.The Bears will likely bring him in as depth with room to compete for snaps early on.}

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Quality NFL starter
  • Full scouting report for William Echoles → | See Chicago Bears 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #53 - Denver Broncos: Kyngston Viliamu-Asa, Inside Linebacker,

    Notre Dame

    Rank: #51 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Linebacker sits at the very top of Denver's need list, so grabbing Viliamu-Asa at pick 53 lines up cleanly with roster building rather than a pure reach for value. He fell just two spots past his overall rank of 51, essentially landing right where the board said he should, which makes this an easy pick to defend even though the team already used a top need slot on a safety a few picks earlier. This is a program filling a clear hole with a player the market valued about the same way they did.

    The Fit:

    Denver runs a 3-4, and adding another body at inside linebacker gives the front office a chance to sort out competition at a spot they clearly view as thin. There is no specific scouting profile available on Viliamu-Asa here, so his exact role, whether as an immediate rotational piece or a developmental add behind the starters, will depend on traits not detailed in this report. What is clear is that Denver prioritized need at a premium defensive spot, and got a player who graded out almost exactly where he was picked.

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Quality NFL starter
  • Full scouting report for Kyngston Viliamu-Asa → | See Denver Broncos 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #54 - New England Patriots: Koi Perich, Safety, Oregon

    Rank: #50 overall | Grade: B Why This Pick:

    Safety is New England's second-biggest need, and Perich landing at 54 after being ranked 50th is a modest slide the Patriots were happy to let happen. After taking Damon Wilson Jr. to address the edge rusher priority earlier, this pick pivots to the back end without reaching, grabbing a player many boards had flirting with the first round a year ago. It's a low-risk swing at a high-ceiling piece rather than a pure need-fill reach.

    The Fit:

    Perich's do-everything profile, safety, nickel, slot, returner, gives New England's 3-4 scheme a chess piece who can move around and create matchup problems rather than a static deep safety. His 4.4 speed and closing burst in the deep middle, backed by five interceptions as a true freshman, make him an immediate playmaking threat, but the coverage inconsistency against detailed route concepts and his tendency to bite on double moves suggest he'll need coaching up before he's a true every-down starter. In the meantime his special-teams return ability gives the Patriots added value on the roster.

  • Strengths: A consensus top-15 prospect for 2027 with first-round potential
  • Weaknesses: Coverage consistency needs to tighten
  • NFL Comp: Brian Branch (Lions), undersized do-it-all safety/nickel hybrid with ballhawking instincts
  • Full scouting report for Koi Perich → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #55 - Los Angeles Chargers: OJ Frederique Jr, Cornerback,

    Miami

    Rank: #54 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Cornerback is the Chargers' number one need, and Frederique going at 55 essentially matches his #54 grade, so there's no real reach here, just a team taking the best player at its most glaring hole. After using an earlier second-round pick on a receiver, LA circles back to fortify the secondary with a technically polished corner who many view as a Round 1 talent if his 2026 season goes as expected. It's a sound value pick that also fills organizational need.

    The Fit:

    Frederique slots in as a boundary corner with the length, footwork, and press-man skill to compete for outside snaps early, while his experience at slot corner gives the Chargers flexibility in how they deploy him. His physicality at the catch point and willingness to tackle fit a defense that wants corners who can hold up against the run, and his gunner potential adds special teams value. The concern is production, just one career interception, so the Chargers are betting on traits and technique translating into turnovers at the next level.

  • Strengths: Elite press-man technique, considered among the best corners in the class from a pure technical standpoint
  • Weaknesses: Almost no ball production, just one career interception entering 2026
  • NFL Comp: Kool-Aid McKinstry (press-man technician profile)
  • Full scouting report for OJ Frederique Jr → | See Los Angeles Chargers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #56 - San Francisco 49ers: Greg Johnson, IOL, Minnesota

    Rank: #57 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Interior offensive line sits atop San Francisco's board, and Johnson is essentially a coin-flip value here, ranked 57th and taken 56th. After grabbing Will Echoles on the interior defensive line at 24, the 49ers pivot to shoring up the guard spot with a versatile lineman who has snapped at center, guard, and both tackle spots. It's a minor reach, but with the top of the IOL class thinning out, waiting longer risked missing the position entirely.

    The Fit:

    At 6'6

  • Strengths: Versatile 6'6"/325 frame with experience at left guard, center, and both tackle spots
  • Weaknesses: Tall frame with long legs that get trapped and twisted, lands on the ground too often
  • NFL Comp: Tyler Smith (oversized, athletic guard convert who wins on the move more than with raw power)
  • Full scouting report for Greg Johnson → | See San Francisco 49ers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #57 - Houston Texans: Jayden Maiava, Quarterback, USC

    Rank: #62 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Quarterback sits fourth on Houston's need list, but taking Maiava at 57 when he's ranked 62 is a modest reach that signals the front office values his efficiency profile over raw ceiling. With the top of the board thinning out for bigger positional needs like RB, IDL and OT already tended to elsewhere in this draft, Houston uses a Day 2 pick to add a developmental arm behind the current starter rather than force a reach at a thinner position group. It's a defensible value play given how far quarterback slid compared to other rounds, even if it's not the top priority on paper.

    The Fit:

    Maiava's game is built on a lightning release, a stellar 8.2% pressure-to-sack rate, and a turnover-worthy play rate that fell every year at USC, all traits that suggest he can handle a backup or developmental role behind center without turning the ball over in relief duty. His fringe-average arm strength limiting throws past 40 yards and his still-raw under-center footwork after a shotgun-heavy college scheme mean he's not pushing for snaps early, but his quick-game accuracy and touch in tight windows give Houston's offense a stylistic changeup option as he develops.

  • Strengths: Lightning-quick release that drives elite efficiency
  • Weaknesses: Fringe-average arm strength that limits the deep ball, with a visible decline past 40 yards
  • NFL Comp: Caleb Williams: similar USC lineage and off-platform creativity under pressure, though Maiava lacks the same arm and athletic ceiling
  • Full scouting report for Jayden Maiava → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #58 - Detroit Lions: Boubacar Traore, Edge Rusher, Notre Dame

    Rank: #65 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Detroit already used its first two picks on IDL and CB needs, so grabbing Traore at 58 addresses the second-ranked need on the board, even if it costs a slight reach of seven spots over his consensus rank. The Lions are betting on traits over resume here, taking a player with a

    The Fit:

    placeholder

  • Strengths: Explosive first step that beats tackles off the snap and times the count like a veteran
  • Weaknesses: Fewer than 200 career defensive snaps before 2025, an incomplete evaluation
  • NFL Comp: Boston/Travon Walker type developmental power-speed edge with rare length and burst but a thin resume
  • Full scouting report for Boubacar Traore → | See Detroit Lions 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #59 - Kansas City Chiefs: Rasheem Biles, Linebacker, Texas

    Rank: #55 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Linebacker sits as Kansas City's third-ranked need, and getting a player ranked 55th overall at pick 59 is a small but clean value grab rather than a reach. With bigger holes at tight end and tackle already passed on through two rounds, the Chiefs are using this pick to add a productive, versatile defender who led the ACC in tackles for loss last season. It's a sensible balance of need and value rather than a pure reach for size or scheme fit.

    The Fit:

    Biles projects best as a WILL or sub-package linebacker who triggers downhill, and Kansas City's 4-3 scheme gives him a lane to do exactly that rather than asking him to hold up between the tackles at a listed 220 pounds. His 101 tackles, 17 TFL, two pick-sixes and blitzing production in 2025 show a playmaker who can rotate in on run downs and third-down packages while contributing on special teams, an area he's already proven himself with three career blocked kicks. The coverage grades trailing his run defense and the need for added strength against bigger blockers suggest he's a situational piece early rather than a full-time starter.

  • Strengths: Led the ACC with 17 tackles for loss in 2025
  • Weaknesses: 1st-percentile weight profile, listed only 6-1, 220
  • NFL Comp: Kyle Louis (undersized, twitchy Pitt LB who plays bigger than his frame)
  • Full scouting report for Rasheem Biles → | See Kansas City Chiefs 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #60 - Seattle Seahawks: Will Heldt, Edge Rusher, Clemson

    Rank: #67 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Edge rusher sits at Seattle's second-highest need, and after already using an earlier pick on a receiver, this addresses the front seven directly. Taking Heldt at 60 when he's ranked 67 is a mild reach, but with pass rush thin behind him on the board and his tools flashing in a small Clemson sample, it's a defensible bet on upside over a cleaner value elsewhere.

    The Fit:

    Heldt's 6'6", 260-pound frame with room to add mass fits a 3-4 defensive end role better than the stand-up OLB spot he struggled with at Purdue, and his motor and pursuit range make him an asset against the run right away. The concern is the pass rush: passive hands, a high-cut frame that limits bend, and no real go-to move mean he's more likely to start as a low-volume rusher and run-down specialist than an immediate difference-maker off the edge, with real developmental time needed before he threatens as a pure pass rusher.

  • Strengths: Rare length and frame for edge position at 6'6", 260 pounds with room to add functional weight
  • Weaknesses: High-cut frame limits ability to bend and flatten the corner consistently
  • NFL Comp: Brady Smith (long, run-oriented EDGE with a developmental pass-rush ceiling)
  • Full scouting report for Will Heldt → | See Seattle Seahawks 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #61 - Philadelphia Eagles: Jackson Bennee, Safety,

    Utah

    Rank: #56 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Safety was Philadelphia's top listed need, and Bennee slipping five spots to #61 gives them a legitimate value grab rather than a reach. After using their prior second-round-area pick on a running back, addressing the defensive backfield here makes sense given the priority order, and getting a player ranked #56 at #61 is the kind of small margin that adds up over a draft. The trade-off is buying into a one-year sample with a real tackling flaw instead of a safer, more finished option.

    The Fit:

    Bennee's coverage tape fits what a modern nickel-heavy defense wants, he allowed just one deep completion in 2025 and produced four interceptions with a pick-six, and his experience in the slot, box and deep safety spots gives Philadelphia real scheme flexibility. The concern is his tackling, a 23.3% missed-tackle rate and a thin 190 to 192 pound frame that needs to add mass before he can be trusted in run support. He projects best early as a coverage-focused piece who can grow into a bigger role as the technique and size catch up to the instincts.

  • Strengths: Elite coverage production, allowing just one deep completion across all of 2025
  • Weaknesses: Tackling is the glaring flaw, with a 23.3% missed-tackle rate in 2025 that is the main thing capping his stock
  • NFL Comp: Jalen Pitre (reasoning: versatile slot/box safety with loud ball production but real missed-tackle volatility to clean up)
  • Full scouting report for Jackson Bennee → | See Philadelphia Eagles 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #62 - Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Wingo, Wide Receiver, Texas

    Rank: #58 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Baltimore already used a second-round pick on tackle Carter Smith, so grabbing Wingo here addresses the WR need that sits third on their board while landing a player who slid four spots past his ranking. With no receiver taken by the Ravens yet in this class, adding a legitimate vertical threat at pick 62 is good value and a defensible sequencing of need over reach.

    The Fit:

    Wingo gives Baltimore the field-stretching X they lack, a 6-foot-2, 214-pound frame with track speed who led Texas in catches, yards, and touchdowns in 2025 and racked up 8.6 yards after contact per catch. He is alignment-versatile enough to play X, slot, or Z, which fits an offense that likes moving pieces around, but his 33.3 percent contested-catch rate and 11 drops over two seasons mean he will need to clean up the catch point before he is trusted in high-leverage red zone or third-down situations.

  • Strengths: Prototype blend of size and elite, track-verified speed for the boundary
  • Weaknesses: Poor contested-catch production, converting just four of fourteen opportunities for a 33.3 percent rate that trails the class's top receivers
  • NFL Comp: Christian Watson (Last Word on Sports: shared size-speed profile who also struggled with drops in college)
  • Full scouting report for Ryan Wingo → | See Baltimore Ravens 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #63 - Buffalo Bills: Terrance Carter Jr, Tight End, Texas Tech

    Rank: #78 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Tight end sits atop Buffalo's needs list, and the Bills clearly value the position enough to jump Carter Jr. 15 spots ahead of his consensus rank of 78. That's a real reach on paper, but it's defensible if the team believes his receiving profile is rare enough to justify the price, especially with quality at the position thinning out fast in this range of the draft. It also lines up with a roster still building out its skill-position depth after using earlier capital elsewhere.

    The Fit:

    Carter Jr. is a pure move tight end who thrives from the slot, and that's exactly where Buffalo would need to deploy him given his 6'2, 245-pound frame and below-standard in-line blocking. His 77.4 percent catch rate and 404 yards after catch in 2024, plus a 113.6 QB rating when targeted in 2025, show a matchup weapon who wins with route savvy and open-field vision rather than size. He'll need to be schemed as a receiving specialist early on, since his lack of anchor strength and modest long speed cap his projection as a traditional in-line tight end.

  • Strengths: Natural hands-catcher who plucks the ball cleanly away from his frame and finishes contested catches in traffic
  • Weaknesses: Below-average blocking strength that fails to anchor against power rushers
  • NFL Comp: Harold Fannin Jr (comparable athletic tools and slot-flex production profile)
  • Full scouting report for Terrance Carter Jr → | See Buffalo Bills 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #64 - Los Angeles Rams: Bryant Wesco Jr, Wide Receiver, Clemson

    Rank: #59 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Critical need filled. Los Angeles Rams desperately needed Wide Receiver help (need #1), and Bryant Wesco Jr was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.

    The Fit:

    Bryant Wesco Jr brings immediate impact to Los Angeles Rams. Bryant Wesco Jr. arrived at Clemson as a consensus top-35 national recruit with track bloodlines, his father a Louisiana Tech Hall of Fame triple jumper, and he produced immediately. As a true freshman in 2024 he caught 41 passes for 708 yards and fi... His best trait—consensus top-35 recruit with legitimate track speed and triple-jump bloodlines—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Marvin Mims Jr. deep speed on a slight frame-type player at the NFL level.

  • Strengths: Consensus top-35 recruit with legitimate track speed and triple-jump bloodlines
  • Weaknesses: Spinal contusion in 2025 ended his season and will draw hard medical scrutiny
  • NFL Comp: Marvin Mims Jr. deep speed on a slight frame
  • Full scouting report for Bryant Wesco Jr → | See Los Angeles Rams 7-round draft →

    ---

    Round 3: Picks 65-96

    Pick #65 - Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Siani, Offensive Tackle, Texas

    Rank: #60 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    With Arch Manning now the face of the franchise, protecting him becomes priority one, and offensive tackle sits right behind quarterback on Arizona's board. Getting Siani at pick 65 when he graded out at 60 is a modest slide of value the Cardinals were happy to accept, addressing a clear roster hole without reaching. It's a sensible building block after using their earlier third-round capital on Matayo Uiagalelei for the edge.

    The Fit:

    Siani gives Arizona a developmental tackle prospect they can plug in as depth immediately with an eye toward starting duties down the line, which matters given how thin the offensive line need was on their board. The specifics of his game beyond his ranking aren't detailed here, but landing a player just outside the top 60 at a position of need lets the Cardinals build a functional pipeline of protection for their rookie quarterback rather than asking a shaky unit to hold up right away.

  • Strengths: nan
  • Weaknesses: nan
  • Full scouting report for Melvin Siani → | See Arizona Cardinals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #66 - Miami Dolphins: KJ Duff, Wide Receiver, Rutgers

    Rank: #63 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    WR sits sixth on Miami's board, but with the top five needs already thinner after two picks used on Dante Moore and Quincy Rhodes Jr, adding a size-based weapon here is reasonable value rather than a reach. Duff slid slightly past his #63 rank down to 66, so Miami isn't overpaying, and pairing a rookie quarterback with a 6-foot-6 contested-catch specialist gives the passing game a red-zone and third-down security blanket while bigger positional needs get addressed in later rounds.

    The Fit:

    Duff's profile as a big-slot possession target, all box-out technique and elite hands, gives Miami something it lacks: a true catch-point mismatch at 225 pounds who led the FBS with 22 contested catches. His below-average long speed and minimal run-after-ccontact ability mean he won't threaten defenses vertically or in space, but as a chain-mover on third downs and a trusted target for a young quarterback like Moore, he slots in as a possession starter or high-value rotational piece rather than a true field-stretcher.

  • Strengths: Elite 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame with a massive catch radius and length
  • Weaknesses: Below-average long speed
  • NFL Comp: Courtland Sutton (Locked On NFL Draft, Damian Parson)
  • Full scouting report for KJ Duff → | See Miami Dolphins 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #67 - New York Jets: Yhonzae Pierre, Edge Rusher, Alabama

    Rank: #66 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Edge sits seventh on the Jets' need list, but this is basically pick-for-pick value at 66, taken just one spot past his rank. After spending earlier rounds on QB, corner and interior defensive line, New York uses round three to add a rotational pass rusher rather than reach for a bigger need with no talent gap at this spot. It's a defensible, value-driven pick that lets them keep building the roster without paying a premium.

    The Fit:

    Pierre's calling card is a violent speed-to-power bull rush that overwhelmed LSU's tackles, and at 6'3", 248 pounds with room to add strength, he profiles as a developmental piece in a 4-3 front who can play 5-technique or wide-9. He only started half a season before breaking out with 52 tackles, 14.5 TFL, eight sacks and three forced fumbles, so the Jets are betting on upside over a finished product. His high-hipped frame and lack of bend mean he'll need to add counters to his rush plan, making him a rotational addition early rather than a Day 1 every-down starter.

  • Strengths: Breakout 2025 of 52 tackles, 14.5 TFL and eight sacks despite starting third on the depth chart
  • Weaknesses: High-hipped frame that limits his ability to consistently turn the corner
  • NFL Comp: Dallas Turner (recent Alabama edge with speed-to-power and frame to fill out, same program lineage)
  • Full scouting report for Yhonzae Pierre → | See New York Jets 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #68 - Cleveland Browns: Jamari Sharpe, Cornerback, Indiana

    Rank: #69 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Cornerback sits sixth on Cleveland's need list, but depth at the position matters when you're building a defense, and Sharpe going one spot ahead of his #69 ranking is a negligible reach that barely qualifies as a stretch. With CJ Carr already off the board at quarterback earlier in this draft and bigger holes like tight end and safety still unaddressed, this pick reads more like the Browns restocking a rotational spot rather than solving a glaring problem, but at essentially value cost that's a defensible tradeoff this late in round three.

    The Fit:

    Sharpe's zone instincts and track speed, he ran a 10.69 in the 100 meters, give Cleveland a corner who can read quarterbacks and drive on throws in a 4-3 scheme that leans on off-coverage principles. The four forced fumbles in 2025 show a rare knack for taking the ball away even without picking off many passes, just one interception on the year, and his length lets him jam receivers and contest the catch point despite a lean 187-pound frame that bigger receivers can bully. He projects as a developmental zone corner who can compete for rotational snaps while his man coverage against quick releases and average run support get coached up.

  • Strengths: High-level zone instincts with eyes to read the quarterback and drive on throws
  • Weaknesses: Man coverage trails the zone work against quick releases
  • NFL Comp: Kyler Gordon (zone-first ball-hawking corner with playmaking juice, reasoning)
  • Full scouting report for Jamari Sharpe → | See Cleveland Browns 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #69 - Tennessee Titans: Trinidad Chambliss, Quarterback,

    Ole Miss

    Rank: #64 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    QB is Tennessee's seventh-ranked need, so taking Chambliss at 69 after the board pushed him five spots past his rank #64 grade is a defensible value pick rather than a reach. With the Titans already loading up on tackle help earlier and no urgent need to start a rookie under center, this is a low-risk swing on developmental upside, stashing a dynamic athlete behind the current starter while he learns the position.

    The Fit:

    Chambliss brings exactly the kind of second-reaction magic Tennessee lacks on the roster, a shifty runner who racked up 527 rush yards and 8 rush touchdowns in 2025 while completing 65.6% of his throws for 3,937 yards and 22 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions at Ole Miss. He needs a play-caller willing to simplify his pre-snap reads since he still leans on sideline cards and struggles against disguised coverage, but his arm talent, escapability, and clutch track record against Georgia and Miami give the Titans a developmental project with real ceiling if they can be patient.

  • Strengths: Dynamic dual-threat athlete who extends plays and creates second-reaction throws by escaping the pocket
  • Weaknesses: Undersized quarterback whose passes get batted at the line and who struggles to see the middle of a muddy pocket
  • NFL Comp: Russell Wilson (undersized dual-threat with off-platform creativity)
  • Full scouting report for Trinidad Chambliss → | See Tennessee Titans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #70 - Las Vegas Raiders: Drake Lindsey, Quarterback, Minnesota

    Rank: #68 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    QB sits seventh on Las Vegas's need list, well behind the receiver, corner, safety and offensive line holes they're still patching, so this pick is best read as future insurance rather than an urgent fix. Landing Lindsey at 70 after he ranked 68 is a mild slide, not a reach, so there's no real cost here beyond the roster spots given up while bigger holes at WR and CB got addressed earlier in this same draft. Taking a developmental passer this late lets the Raiders stash a project without disrupting whatever plan they have at the position now.

    The Fit:

    Lindsey's game is built on timing and anticipation rather than arm talent, throwing 18 touchdowns to six interceptions as a first-year starter at Minnesota with 14 big-time throws, which suggests a quarterback who can eventually run a rhythm-based offense if his physical tools catch up. The concerns are real: his deep ball is below average, his footwork breaks down under pressure, and he was overwhelmed against the toughest defenses he faced, managing just one touchdown against three interceptions combined versus Ohio State, Iowa and Oregon. For Las Vegas, he's a developmental stash with multiple years of eligibility remaining, not a player pushing for snaps soon.

  • Strengths: Plays on time, with processing and timing ahead of his raw tools
  • Weaknesses: Below-average deep arm, and cross-field throws need more velocity to arrive on time
  • NFL Comp: Kyle Trask timing-and-processing pocket passer with an ordinary deep ball
  • Full scouting report for Drake Lindsey → | See Las Vegas Raiders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #71 - Atlanta Falcons: Elijah Green, Cornerback,

    Tulsa

    Rank: #70 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Cornerback sits at fifth on Atlanta's need list, and after already addressing wide receiver and offensive line earlier in this draft, this pick reflects a roster that's rounding out depth rather than chasing a marquee need. Green landing at 71 essentially matches his #70 overall grade, so there's no real reach here, just a team taking a player whose value lines up with where he was available. It's a defensible, low-risk selection for a defense that still needs corner depth even if it isn't the top priority.

    The Fit:

    Green profiles as a depth and competition piece for Atlanta's 3-4 secondary rather than an immediate starter, coming off a Tulsa career where his tape suggests solid coverage instincts but the kind of gaps in consistency that kept him outside the top tier of this class. In a scheme that will ask corners to play both man and zone concepts, he gives the room another body who can compete for snaps in year one while developing toward a bigger role. He won't fix the position outright, but he adds a much needed layer of competition behind the projected starters.

  • Strengths: nan
  • Weaknesses: nan
  • Full scouting report for Elijah Green → | See Atlanta Falcons 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #72 - New Orleans Saints: Wyatt Young, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State

    Rank: #77 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    With the Saints already having addressed offensive tackle and interior defensive line earlier in this draft, adding a slot receiver at pick 72 fills their fifth-ranked need in wide receiver, even if it comes five spots ahead of Wyatt Young's #77 ranking. It's a mild reach, but a defensible one given how thin the receiver depth chart likely looks behind the top of the roster, and Young's after-the-catch production offers a specific trait New Orleans can plug in immediately as a chain-mover.

    The Fit:

    Young projects strictly as a slot piece for now, having played roughly 15 snaps outside all of last season, but his 768 yards after the catch in 2025 and instant release against inside leverage make him an easy fit for underneath, option-route based passing concepts. At 195 pounds, he'll need to prove he can hold up against bigger nickels and more physical Big 12-caliber coverage, having built his resume against mid-major competition, but his contact balance and zone-reading instincts give New Orleans a movable chess piece who can develop into a reliable possession target while the bigger outside questions get sorted elsewhere on the roster.

  • Strengths: 768 yards after the catch in 2025, an elite figure at any level
  • Weaknesses: Faced mid-major coverage and has to prove the game translates to the Big 12
  • NFL Comp: Tank Dell undersized slot with elite yards-after-catch juice
  • Full scouting report for Wyatt Young → | See New Orleans Saints 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #73 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Brice Pollock, Cornerback, Texas Tech

    Rank: #72 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Pittsburgh already used two picks on defense earlier (Dylan Stewart at 9, Sammy Brown at 41), and cornerback sits eighth on their need list, so this is textbook best-player-available at pick 73, essentially matching Pollock's #72 grade. With bigger holes at quarterback, running back, and offensive tackle still unaddressed, taking a corner here signals the Steelers value roster depth and long-term secondary reinforcement over reaching for need at a thin position on the board.

    The Fit:

    Pollock tied for the Big 12 lead with five interceptions in 2025 and allowed zero touchdowns across 797 snaps, numbers that fit a 3-4 defense looking for a zone-eyed boundary corner who reads route concepts and drives on the ball. His four missed tackles all year show he is more than a coverage specialist, he is a willing run defender too. The concern is his man coverage, which lags his zone instincts, and six penalties from grabby hands at the stem suggest he will need technique work before he can handle press-man reps at the next level.

  • Strengths: Elite ball production, five interceptions in 2025 to tie for the Big 12 lead with zero touchdowns allowed
  • Weaknesses: Man coverage trails his zone work, less comfortable in trail technique against quick separators
  • NFL Comp: Cam Bynum (reasoning: instinct-first defender who produces through zone eyes, downhill anticipation, and ball skills rather than pure man fluidity)
  • Full scouting report for Brice Pollock → | See Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #74 - Philadelphia Eagles: Iapani Laloulu, IOL, Oregon

    Rank: #73 overall | Grade: B- Trade: Philadelphia Eagles acquired pick #42, pick #74 from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for pick #29. Why This Pick:

    Interior offensive line sits right behind safety as Philadelphia's second-biggest need, and Laloulu falls almost exactly where his #73 grade said he should, landing at #74. This is a value pick more than a reach, giving the Eagles a plug-and-play center prospect without having to jump the board. After addressing safety and running back needs in earlier rounds of this draft, grabbing a highly processed interior lineman here keeps the roster build balanced rather than forcing a need pick that costs extra draft capital.

    The Fit:

    Laloulu's calling card is exactly what interior line rooms crave: zero sacks and only ten pressures allowed across nearly 500 pass-block snaps, paired with elite pre-snap processing that let him handle protection calls and stunt recognition as a sophomore. His leverage, hand placement and anchor strength fit a power or gap-heavy scheme well, though his below-average arm length and heavy feet raise real questions against quicker three-techniques, and his run blocking still lags his pass pro. For Philadelphia, he projects as a center-first developmental piece who can compete early given his experience calling protections, even if his lack of ideal athleticism caps his ceiling somewhat.

  • Strengths: Allowed zero sacks and only ten pressures across nearly 500 pass-blocking snaps as a sophomore
  • Weaknesses: Below-average arm length lets longer defenders into his chest before he establishes contact
  • NFL Comp: Tyler Linderbaum (undersized leverage-and-IQ center who anchors and processes elite, lacks length)
  • Full scouting report for Iapani Laloulu → | See Philadelphia Eagles 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #75 - New York Giants: Chris Peal, Cornerback, Syracuse

    Rank: #75 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    With IDL and interior offensive line still gaping needs, the Giants passed on those position groups for a second straight cornerback swing this draft cycle, but Peal landing exactly at his rank of 75 makes this a clean value pick with no reach involved. CB was the third priority on the board, and getting a three-down zone corner with an 85.1 defensive grade at this point in Round 3 is the kind of value New York should keep taking even while ignoring the trenches for another round.

    The Fit:

    Peal slots into a 3-4 scheme as a zone-heavy cover corner who reads quarterbacks, drives on the ball, and tackles at an elite level for the position, having missed just three tackles all season. His timed speed lets him carry vertical routes without needing to bail early, and his length shows up jamming receivers at the line. The concern is the total lack of takeaways, zero interceptions on 59 targets, and his tendency to play a step too soft in man coverage, both of which explain why he was available in Round 3 despite the traits.'

  • Strengths: Elite zone-coverage instincts, reads the quarterback and drives on throws, ranked near the top of the position in coverage grade
  • Weaknesses: Zero interceptions on 59 targets, no takeaway production despite heavy target volume
  • NFL Comp: Cameron Sutton (zone-coverage fit and reliable tackler whose value is dependability over splash takeaways)
  • Full scouting report for Chris Peal → | See New York Giants 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #76 - Washington Commanders: Ty Benefield, Safety, LSU

    Rank: #79 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Safety sits sixth on Washington's priority list, so spending a third-round pick here is a mild reach given Benefield ranked 79th overall, three spots later than where he came off the board. But safety is described as a key depth concern, and after already addressing wide receiver and quarterback earlier in this draft, taking a versatile 32-game starter at a need position is a defensible use of resources even if it's not a perfect value match on the board.

    The Fit:

    Benefield brings exactly the kind of positional flexibility that plugs multiple depth gaps at once, having logged real snaps in the slot, the box, and at deep safety over his career. His 355 man-coverage snaps in 2025 and strong range in the middle of the field suggest he can handle a variety of coverage assignments right away, while his downhill tackling and pre-snap communication make him a candidate to compete for early playing time. The concern is that he's unproven against SEC-caliber competition and isn't a heavy hitter, so his ceiling as anything more than a solid rotational piece is still to be determined.

  • Strengths: Positional versatility with 600-plus snaps across slot, box, and deep safety
  • Weaknesses: Not a super physical or violent hitter despite the size
  • NFL Comp: AJ Haulcy (SI, framed as Benefield's direct replacement at LSU with a similar versatile skill set and even stronger man coverage)
  • Full scouting report for Ty Benefield → | See Washington Commanders 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #77 - Indianapolis Colts: Teitum Tuioti, Edge Rusher, Oregon

    Rank: #71 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Edge is Indy's second-highest need, and getting a player ranked 71st overall at pick 77 is a small but real value grab. After addressing the offensive line at pick 45 with Jacarrius Peak, the Colts turn to the front seven and land a productive, high-motor rusher who led all Power Four edge defenders in stops in 2024 and backed it up with 13.5 TFL and 7 sacks in 2025. It's not a reach given his second-round buzz, and it fills a clear organizational gap without forcing the pick.

    The Fit:

    Tuioti's relentless motor and scheme versatility make him a natural fit for a 4-3 front that can move him around as a stand-up rusher or line up with his hand down. At 6'3

  • Strengths: Relentless, elite motor that generates second-chance pressures late in plays
  • Weaknesses: No defined go-to pass-rush move
  • NFL Comp: Boye Mafe (Oregon-area edge with motor and bend that needed a defined plan)
  • Full scouting report for Teitum Tuioti → | See Indianapolis Colts 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #78 - Minnesota Vikings: Bray Hubbard, Safety, Alabama

    Rank: #80 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Safety sits fifth on Minnesota's need list, and with the top defensive priorities already thin at this point in the draft, grabbing Bray Hubbard here is a minor reach, two spots ahead of his #80 ranking, but a defensible one. He's viewed by some evaluators as a legitimate Day 2 starter with a First-Team All-SEC season on his resume, so the Vikings aren't paying much of a premium for a player several boards had going in this range anyway.

    The Fit:

    Hubbard's game is built on instincts, not speed, which fits a Minnesota defense that needs a downhill, zone-savvy safety more than a rangy single-high eraser. His quarterback background at Ocean Springs shows up in his pre-snap reads, and his career numbers, seven interceptions and eight pass breakups, back up the ball skills scouts rave about. The tradeoff is athletic ceiling: he lacks top-end deep speed, gets stacked on vertical routes, and can bite on play action, so he projects best in split duties or a box/zone role rather than as an every-down free safety early on.”

  • Strengths: Elite ball skills and route recognition, seven career interceptions and eight pass breakups
  • Weaknesses: Average-at-best NFL athleticism per scouts
  • NFL Comp: Kitan Oladapo: an instinctive box/zone safety with size over top-end speed
  • Full scouting report for Bray Hubbard → | See Minnesota Vikings 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #79 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Suntarine Perkins, Outside Linebacker,

    Ole Miss

    Rank: #94 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Jacksonville grabs Perkins here as a best-player-available swing, jumping him 15 spots ahead of his consensus rank in a draft where the roster clearly leans toward taking upside over need at this point. It's a reach by the numbers, but defensible given his explosive traits and the fact that Jacksonville already addressed other spots earlier, including a defensive lineman at pick 47. Betting on athletic ceiling in the third round is a reasonable trade-off when the alternative is a more finished but lower-upside player.

    The Fit:

    Perkins brings a rare coverage skill set for a linebacker, grading in the 94th percentile in that category, which fits a defense that could use a hybrid piece capable of matching tight ends and trailing backs out of the backfield. At 210-220 pounds with only 49 career snaps as a true box defender, he's projected as a developmental weakside or sub-package linebacker rather than an immediate every-down starter, and his 14 percent missed tackle rate and struggles shedding blockers are real concerns Jacksonville will need to coach up. The 10.5 sacks from his sophomore season show the closing burst and blitz upside that could make him a valuable situational weapon while he develops into a fuller role.

  • Strengths: Elite coverage ability for a linebacker, grading in the 94th percentile in coverage
  • Weaknesses: Light at 210-220 pounds for an every-down linebacker
  • NFL Comp: Marte Mapu, Sacramento State (small-school tweener with safety instincts and coverage traits deployed as a hybrid linebacker)
  • Full scouting report for Suntarine Perkins → | See Jacksonville Jaguars 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #80 - Pittsburgh Steelers: Sam Leavitt, Quarterback, LSU

    Rank: #99 overall | Grade: C+ Trade: Pittsburgh Steelers acquired this pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Why This Pick:

    Quarterback is Pittsburgh's clear top need, and after already using picks on Dylan Stewart and Sammy Brown to shore up the defense, this is the round to gamble on the position that actually matters most. Taking Leavitt at 80 when he's ranked 99 is a real reach, 19 spots of value given away, and it's only defensible if the Steelers view his 2024 tape as more predictive than his injury-shortened 2025 and are comfortable letting him develop behind whatever veteran answer they already have in place.

    The Fit:

    Leavitt brings the traits Pittsburgh has lacked at quarterback: real arm talent, off-schedule playmaking, and elite ball security, evidenced by his 1.1% turnover-worthy play rate that tied for third-best nationally in 2024. But his 3.10-second average time to throw, back-foot mechanics, and 61.4% career completion rate point to exactly why he's not a Day 1 answer, and with only 13 college starts before his foot injury, he projects as a developmental redshirt who needs a full offseason to tighten his pocket operation before he's ready to compete for snaps.

  • Strengths: Elite ball security with only five turnover-worthy throws in 2024 (1.1% rate, tied third-best among 156 qualifying FBS quarterbacks)
  • Weaknesses: Below-ideal size at 6'2" and 205 pounds creates durability and sight-line concerns at the NFL level and will require adding functional muscle mass
  • NFL Comp: Josh Allen early-career development arc (off-schedule creativity and pocket improvisation without elite wingspan)
  • Full scouting report for Sam Leavitt → | See Pittsburgh Steelers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #81 - Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Ross, Edge Rusher,

    LSU

    Rank: #74 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

    Edge sits fifth on Cincinnati's need list, but after already addressing the tackle spot at pick 17 and cornerback at 49, adding a developmental pass rusher with first-round traits at pick 81 is smart asset management. Ross fell seven spots past his rank of 74, so this is genuine value, not a reach, and it lets the Bengals stash a high-ceiling piece behind their current rotation while he continues to develop.

    The Fit:

    Ross brings exactly what Cincinnati's front lacks depth-wise: a twitchy, long-levered speed rusher who can play either side in a 4-3 look and win the corner with bend and get-off. He's raw, with only 269 career defensive snaps and a thin 245-pound frame that NFL tackles will exploit until he adds anchor strength, so he projects as a sub-package situational rusher early on rather than an immediate three-down starter. If LSU's larger role in 2026 translates, the pressure numbers (13 pressures on just 132 pass-rush snaps) suggest real upside once his hand usage catches up to his traits.'

  • Strengths: Twitchy, sudden get-off that wins the corner before tackles can set hands
  • Weaknesses: Thin lower half at 245
  • NFL Comp: Will Anderson Jr. lite, similar bend/length but lighter anchor
  • Full scouting report for Jordan Ross → | See Cincinnati Bengals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #82 - Green Bay Packers: Clev Lubin, Edge Rusher, Louisville

    Rank: #82 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Edge rusher sits at Green Bay's third-biggest need, and Lubin comes off the board at pick 82 exactly where he's ranked, so there's no reach to justify here. After grabbing AJ Holmes Jr. on the defensive line a round earlier, the Packers keep building along the front seven rather than jumping to address IOL or RB, betting that pass-rush production wins out even from a smaller-school-turned-ACC-riser without ideal length.

    The Fit:

    Lubin's 50 pressures in 2025 and his ability to sustain a 21%-plus pressure rate against tougher competition should translate to a rotational role early with real upside as a pass-rush specialist in a 4-3 front. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds with short arms, he wins with hand technique rather than bend, using chops, club-swims, and long-arms to beat tackles rather than simply run around them, which fits a scheme that can scheme up favorable rush lanes. His average first step and stiff hips will likely limit him against the run early, but his motor and closing speed give Green Bay a developmental piece who can chase quarterbacks on third downs immediately.

  • Strengths: Elite, relentless motor with second-effort production
  • Weaknesses: Undersized at 6-3, 250 with short arm length
  • NFL Comp: Josaiah Stewart (Kiper's comp
  • Full scouting report for Clev Lubin → | See Green Bay Packers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #83 - Minnesota Vikings: Coen Echols, IOL, Texas A&M

    Rank: #83 overall | Grade: C+ Trade: Minnesota Vikings acquired pick #83 from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for pick #93, pick #148. Why This Pick:

    With interior offensive line sitting as Minnesota's third-ranked need and Echols landing right at his projected slot of 83, this pick is about as clean a value-meets-need selection as you'll find in the third round. The Vikings had already used earlier capital on a quarterback and an edge rusher, so circling back to fortify the interior line makes sense as a logical next step in addressing the board in priority order rather than reaching for a luxury pick.

    The Fit:

    There's no scouting profile available to detail Echols' specific traits, but the value alignment alone tells the story here. Taken exactly where he was ranked, Minnesota isn't overpaying or hoping projection covers for a reach. He slots in as an interior offensive line piece for a roster that needed reinforcement up front, giving the Vikings a chance to develop him into a rotational or eventual starting role along the interior without having stretched their draft capital to get him.

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Quality NFL starter
  • Full scouting report for Coen Echols → | See Minnesota Vikings 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #84 - Chicago Bears: John Henry Daley, Edge Rusher, Michigan

    Rank: #84 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Edge rusher sat atop Chicago's needs board, and Daley falling to pick 84 lets the Bears land him right at his rank without reaching. This isn't the Bears' first defensive investment this draft either, but getting a player with 11.5 sacks and an FBS-leading 17.5 TFL in an 11-game sample this late is the kind of value teams building a rotation should take every time. The medical risk from his Achilles rupture is real, but the price here matches the risk.

    The Fit:

    Daley fits Chicago's 4-3 front as a power rusher who wins with hands and leverage rather than elite bend, which lines up with his NFL comps like Carl Lawson and Boye Mafe. At 6'4" and 247 pounds he can get overwhelmed by bigger tight ends and his tackling in space is inconsistent, so early on he projects best as a rotational rusher who can add juice on passing downs while he continues to rebuild burst off the Achilles injury. If he ramps up as scouts hope, the Bears get a double-digit sack producer at a bargain price.

  • Strengths: Led FBS with 17.5 TFL and ranked second nationally with 11.5 sacks across just 11 starts
  • Weaknesses: Non-contact Achilles rupture in November 2025 is a major medical red flag affecting burst
  • NFL Comp: Boye Mafe (speed-to-power edge with motor and developing bend)
  • Full scouting report for John Henry Daley → | See Chicago Bears 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #85 - Denver Broncos: Mark Fletcher Jr, Running Back,

    Miami

    Rank: #85 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Running back sits as Denver's third-ranked need, and Fletcher Jr. comes off the board at pick 85 exactly where he's ranked, so there's no reach to defend here, it's simply value matching need. After already addressing safety and linebacker earlier in this draft, the Broncos are working down their priority list in order, and adding a back at this point in round three fills a real hole without forcing the pick.

    The Fit:

    With no scouting report available on Fletcher Jr., the specifics of his game are hard to pin down, but Denver taking him at his exact draft slot suggests their evaluators see him as a solid, if unspectacular, depth or rotational option in the backfield. Coming out of Miami, he slots into a Broncos offense that clearly needed more juice at running back given where the position ranked on their board, and he'll likely compete for early-down or complementary touches as he develops.

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Najee Harris / David Montgomery
  • Full scouting report for Mark Fletcher Jr → | See Denver Broncos 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #86 - New England Patriots: Vicari Swain, Cornerback, South Carolina

    Rank: #92 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Cornerback sits fifth on New England's board, and after already using earlier picks on edge rusher and safety, this is the front office circling back to fill out the secondary depth chart. Taking Swain at 86 when he's ranked 92 is a mild reach, six spots early, but with corner as a legitimate depth concern rather than a screaming need, spending a Day 2 pick to add competition and bodies at the position is a defensible use of draft capital rather than a reckless one.

    The Fit:

    There's no scouting profile available on Swain specifically, so the read here has to lean on need rather than detailed traits. New England's 3-4 scheme requires corners who can hold up in both man coverage on the outside and support the run on early downs, and adding a South Carolina product into that competition gives the roster another option in a room that was thin. Without measurables or production numbers to point to, this projects as a depth and special teams addition first, with a chance to compete for a rotational role if the tape translates.

  • Strengths: Good fundamentals, solid work ethic
  • Weaknesses: Developmental project
  • NFL Comp: Jalen Ramsey / Sauce Gardner
  • Full scouting report for Vicari Swain → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #87 - Los Angeles Chargers: Jelani McDonald, Safety, Texas

    Rank: #81 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Safety sits dead last on the Chargers' need list, but this pick is about talent outpacing need. McDonald was ranked 81st overall and fell to 87, so Los Angeles gets a small discount on a player who was arguably worth taking a round earlier. With bigger holes at cornerback, IDL and receiver already unaddressed, this is a defensible value grab rather than a need-fill, and it adds competition at a position that still helps a 3-4 defense round out its back end.

    The Fit:

    McDonald is a downhill hitter first, charged with just five missed tackles on heavy volume and racking up 69 tackles and 18 run stops in his only full season as a starter at Texas. He gives the Chargers a chess piece who can play box, slot and deep safety, which suits a 3-4 scheme that likes moving pieces pre-snap. The tradeoff is coverage refinement, he's smoother in zone than mirroring receivers in man, and his three interceptions and two breakups are solid but not special production for the reps, meaning his ceiling as a single-high safety is still projection rather than proven.'

  • Strengths: Best-in-class tackling, charged with only five misses on heavy volume
  • Weaknesses: Smoother in zone than mirroring in man coverage
  • NFL Comp: Kamren Kinchens box-and-slot chess piece
  • Full scouting report for Jelani McDonald → | See Los Angeles Chargers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #88 - San Francisco 49ers: Isaac Brown, Running Back, Louisville

    Rank: #87 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Running back sits at the third listed need for San Francisco, and Isaac Brown essentially fell to them at pick 88 after ranking 87th overall, so this is close to a non-reach value grab rather than a reach. With IOL and safety needs already addressed with earlier picks in this draft, taking a home-run threat at a need position with juice this obvious is a defensible bet late in round three, even with the medical and size flags attached.

    The Fit:

    Brown is a pure explosive-space player, 5-9 and 190 pounds, who averaged 8.8 yards per carry in 2025 and forced 39 missed tackles on just 100 carries, the kind of big-play juice that fits nicely as a change-of-pace complement rather than an every-down back. He is not an inside grinder and can't be trusted in pass protection at his size, so San Francisco would be using him situationally, hoping his home-run speed shows up on early-down runs and occasional touches out of the backfield, while monitoring the leg injury that erased half his 2025 season and the fumbling issue that clouds his ball security.

  • Strengths: Averaged 8.8 yards a carry in 2025 with breakaway runs in half his games
  • Weaknesses: Leg injury against Virginia Tech wiped out half his 2025 season and clouds the medical file
  • NFL Comp: De'Von Achane home-run speed on a small frame
  • Full scouting report for Isaac Brown → | See San Francisco 49ers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #89 - Houston Texans: Anthonie Knapp, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame

    Rank: #91 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits as Houston's third-ranked need, and after already addressing running back with Jadan Baugh and taking a flier on Jayden Maiava, the Texans return to the trenches here. Taking Knapp two spots ahead of his #91 ranking is a mild reach, but it's defensible given how thin the tackle-to-guard convertible tackle group can get by the mid-third round, and Houston's offensive line has needed bodies who can be plugged in multiple spots.

    The Fit:

    Knapp started 27 straight games at left tackle for Notre Dame and cut his pressure rate by roughly two-thirds from his freshman to sophomore year, but at 300 pounds with short arms he's not built to survive on the edge against NFL length, as his Miami tape exposed. Every serious evaluation has him kicking inside to guard or center, spots he's never played, but his run-blocking power, hand strength, and processing should translate quickly there. For Houston, he's a developmental interior lineman who could eventually start once the conversion takes hold.

  • Strengths: Two-year starting left tackle at a playoff-caliber program with 27 career game starts and Freshman All-America pedigree
  • Weaknesses: Badly undersized for tackle at 300 pounds with short arms, the smallest tackle in the group playing the position's hardest spot
  • NFL Comp: Joel Bitonio (undersized-tackle-to-elite-guard conversion arc)
  • Full scouting report for Anthonie Knapp → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #90 - Detroit Lions: Nate Frazier, Running Back,

    Georgia

    Rank: #88 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    RB sits sixth on Detroit's need list, well behind the trenches and secondary, but at pick 90 Frazier's talent outstripped where he was rated on the board by a couple slots, and grabbing a potential three-down back this late is hard to pass up even for a lower priority. Detroit already used earlier picks on CB, EDGE and DL, so by the third round they can afford to take the best remaining player rather than force another need position. It's a defensible value pick that adds explosive depth without costing them a premium selection.

    The Fit:

    Frazier brings track speed (a 10.58 in the 100 meters) and real contact balance, hitting top gear within two or three strides and racking up 947 yards on 173 carries as a sophomore at Georgia along with 16 catches. That receiving ability out of the backfield gives Detroit a change-of-pace option who can also work as a satellite piece, though his ball security (five fumbles in two seasons) and below-average pass protection mean he'll likely start in a rotational or complementary role rather than immediately taking over lead duties.

  • Strengths: Track-verified long speed (10.58 100m) that turns creases into long touchdowns
  • Weaknesses: Ball security was a real problem with five fumbles across his first two college seasons
  • NFL Comp: J.K. Dobbins (explosive Big Ten back with three-down upside and durability questions)
  • Full scouting report for Nate Frazier → | See Detroit Lions 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #91 - Kansas City Chiefs: Wendell Gregory, Edge Rusher,

    Kansas State

    Rank: #86 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Edge rusher sits at the bottom of Kansas City's stated needs list, but Gregory landing at pick 91 after ranking 86th overall is too much value to pass up. With bigger holes at tight end, tackle, linebacker and receiver already addressed or still open on the board, taking a small slide at a lower-priority spot is a defensible best-player-available call rather than a reach that ignores team building priorities.

    The Fit:

    Gregory projects as a depth and developmental piece for a Chiefs defense that runs a 4-3 front, giving him a role where he can rotate in and add pass rush juice without being counted on as an immediate every-down starter. Falling five spots past his ranking suggests some teams had questions about his overall polish, but Kansas City can afford to be patient with him given they already have more pressing needs at the top of their roster to fill first.

  • Strengths: nan
  • Weaknesses: nan
  • Full scouting report for Wendell Gregory → | See Kansas City Chiefs 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #92 - Seattle Seahawks: Evan Tengesdahl, IOL, Cincinnati

    Rank: #100 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Interior offensive line sits at the top of Seattle's board, and while Tengesdahl grading out at #100 makes this an eight-spot reach in a vacuum, addressing the top team need with a productive, football-savvy guard is a defensible tradeoff. He only has one year of starting film, but it's an elite one, and Seattle is betting the 89.7 run-blocking grade and zero sacks allowed translate against tougher competition.

    The Fit:

    Tengesdahl's calling card is exactly what an offense wants inside: a 320-pound anchor who allowed zero sacks on 408 pass-blocking snaps and led all Power Four guards in run-blocking grade. He'll slot in as a developmental starter at guard, with his short arms and average athleticism limiting his range on pulls and second-level blocks, the trade-off Seattle accepts for a powerful, finishing player who already flashed positional versatility heading into 2026.

  • Strengths: Led all Power Four guards with an 89.7 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025
  • Weaknesses: Short arms and a squatty build cap the length-based wins NFL guards depend on
  • NFL Comp: Cooper Beebe power-based interior finisher with length questions
  • Full scouting report for Evan Tengesdahl → | See Seattle Seahawks 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #93 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zach Lutmer, Safety, Iowa

    Rank: #90 overall | Grade: C+ Trade: Tampa Bay Buccaneers acquired pick #93, pick #148 from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for pick #83. Why This Pick:

    Safety sat at the bottom of Tampa Bay's needs list, but Lutmer slipping to pick 93 after being ranked 90 makes this a defensible value grab rather than a reach. With cornerback, interior line and linebacker needs already addressed or still on the board for later rounds, taking the best player available at a lower-priority spot is a reasonable way to build depth without forcing a bad fit elsewhere. It's a small trade-off in need alignment for a player whose tape graded out ahead of his draft slot.

    The Fit:

    Lutmer projects as a nickel and sub-package piece, which fits a 3-4 scheme that benefits from a versatile chess piece who can blitz, cover the slot and fit the run. His 2025 tape at Iowa shows real disruption, 32 run stops and 5.5 tackles for loss from the secondary, plus three interceptions including a pick-six, all while playing 725 snaps in a variety of alignments. The concern is finishing, he missed 15 tackles and can lunge in space, and he's tested when kicked outside into man coverage rather than working from the slot, which caps him as a role player early rather than an outside starter.

  • Strengths: Genuine three-way nickel who covers, blitzes and fits the run from an inside alignment
  • Weaknesses: Unreliable finisher who missed 15 tackles in 2025 and lunges in space
  • NFL Comp: Jalen Pitre blitzing, run-fitting nickel who lives in the box
  • Full scouting report for Zach Lutmer → | See Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #94 - Baltimore Ravens: Princewill Umanmielen, Edge Rusher,

    LSU

    Rank: #96 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Edge sits sixth on Baltimore's need list, but this is a case of taking a rising traits prospect essentially at his slot rather than reaching far for need. With running back, corner, receiver, tackle and tight end still on the board, the Ravens are betting that Umanmielen's ascending production and physical tools are worth the marginal reach of two spots, adding pass rush depth behind their top priorities rather than ignoring them entirely. It's a defensible value pick given how thin true difference-makers get by round three.

    The Fit:

    At 6'5

  • Strengths: Long, explosive get-off with strong, active hands
  • Weaknesses: Lean frame still lacks functional power and needs to fill out
  • NFL Comp: Princely Umanmielen, his brother, with a similar build but more development needed
  • Full scouting report for Princewill Umanmielen → | See Baltimore Ravens 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #95 - Buffalo Bills: Nyck Harbor, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

    Rank: #93 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Wide receiver sits dead last on Buffalo's own list of needs, but Harbor slipping to pick 95 after being ranked 93rd is the kind of value that makes teams abandon their board for a moment. This is a classic best-player-available swing, betting that a 6'5", 235-pound athlete with track speed is worth more long-term than a fringe need piece at safety or IDL. The Bills already added a cornerback and a tight end earlier in this draft, so they can afford to take a swing on upside here instead of reaching for the eighth need on the list.

    The Fit:

    Harbor gives Buffalo a size-speed weapon unlike anything currently in the room, someone who ran a 20.20 in the 200m and hit 23.6 mph on GPS while still boasting the contested-catch radius of a much bigger receiver. His 2025 breakout of 618 yards and 6 touchdowns at 20.6 yards per catch shows the vertical upside, but the route tree is thin and his hand technique against press coverage needs real refinement before he is a full-time X receiver. He projects as a developmental deep threat and red zone weapon early, with the physical tools to eventually become a true difference-maker if the traits catch up to the tape.

  • Strengths: Generational 6'5"/235 size-speed profile, faster than almost every CFB receiver per Feldman
  • Weaknesses: Two-year production lagged the athletic profile badly (38 catches before his 2025 breakout)
  • NFL Comp: DK Metcalf size-speed boundary X who was raw at Ole Miss
  • Full scouting report for Nyck Harbor → | See Buffalo Bills 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #96 - Kansas City Chiefs: PJ Williams, Offensive Tackle, SMU

    Rank: #98 overall | Grade: C+ Trade: Kansas City Chiefs acquired this pick from the Los Angeles Rams. Why This Pick:

    Offensive tackle sits at the number two need on Kansas City's board, and with Trey Smith departing free agency concerns and the line needing depth and eventual succession, grabbing a 29-start, second-team All-ACC right tackle at pick 96 is a defensible move even if it's a slight reach two spots ahead of his ranking. The Chiefs have already used earlier picks on offense and defense elsewhere, so using round three on a proven, low-error right tackle fills a real hole rather than chasing upside for its own sake.

    The Fit:

    Williams allowed just two sacks on 448 pass-blocking snaps and closed the year with back-to-back clean sheets, the kind of steady, mistake-free profile that fits a Kansas City line looking for a reliable right side starter or high-end depth piece. His basketball-honed footwork and balanced run and pass grades suggest an easy transition to plug in early, though the 13 hurries and rough outing against Miami's length point to an anchor issue against powerful edge rushers that the coaching staff will need to manage in pass protection calls. He projects as exactly what the scouting file says he is now: a dependable, capped-ceiling right tackle rather than a developmental blindside long shot.

  • Strengths: Twenty-nine career starts, the deepest experience file among these tackles
  • Weaknesses: Thirteen hurries reveal a slow-leak pattern, rarely beaten clean but often stressed
  • NFL Comp: Blake Fisher experienced right tackle with length concerns
  • Full scouting report for PJ Williams → | See Kansas City Chiefs 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #97 - Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Smith, Defensive Line, Minnesota

    Rank: #95 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Wait, the label here says Defensive Line, but the actual scouting profile is clearly a wide receiver. Working from what's on the page, Philadelphia isn't reaching for need here since WR sits sixth on their priority list, but grabbing a player who slid two spots past his rank (95 to 97) is a defensible value play this late in round three. With safety, IOL, and running back already addressed or higher priorities untouched, this looks like a bit of a luxury pick banking on upside rather than plugging an urgent hole.

    The Fit:

    The name attached is a track-speed vertical threat, a 4.43-second 40 with a 41-inch vertical, who profiles as a field-stretching WR4/WR5 rather than an every-down piece. He's a six-year college player who broke out late at East Carolina, posting 1,053 yards in his final season with a 17.8 yards-per-catch career average, but drops and a raw route tree cap his ceiling. For Philadelphia, he'd be a developmental speed piece who needs to earn a role on special teams and refine his game before contributing significantly on offense.

  • Strengths: Elite, track-grade vertical speed
  • Weaknesses: Inconsistent hands and too many drops over his last two seasons (six drops in 2025)
  • NFL Comp: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (linear, pure straight-line deep threat with hands questions and a defined field-stretcher role)
  • Full scouting report for Anthony Smith → | See Philadelphia Eagles 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #98 - Cincinnati Bengals: Whit Weeks, Linebacker, LSU

    Rank: #97 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

    Linebacker sits at the Bengals' number two need, and Weeks landing at pick 98 against a rank of 97 is basically a non-story on value, essentially a shrug and a nod at the same time. Cincinnati already used earlier capital on the offensive line and secondary, so grabbing a linebacker who was a first-team All-SEC producer as a sophomore fills a real hole without reaching for it. The bet here is on the 2024 tape, not the injury-marred 2025 season.

    The Fit:

    Weeks projects as a modern WILL linebacker in the mold of Drue Tranquill, someone who can run with backs and tight ends thanks to his burst and fluid hips, and who brings a sharp blitz package with stick and arm-over moves. At 225 pounds with reportedly short arms, he'll need to add mass before he can consistently anchor against NFL blocks in a 4-3 front, and his tackling got loose and his zone eyes wandered during an injury-shortened 2025. Cincinnati can bring him in as a developmental piece who plays early on passing downs while he rebuilds strength and instincts.

  • Strengths: Breakout 2024 with 125 tackles and an SEC-leading 61 solo stops
  • Weaknesses: Underweight at 225 pounds
  • NFL Comp: Drue Tranquill (sub-230 speed-and-blitz WILL who plays bigger than his frame)
  • Full scouting report for Whit Weeks → | See Cincinnati Bengals 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #99 - Green Bay Packers: Braelin Moore, Center,

    LSU

    Rank: #102 overall | Grade: C Why This Pick:

    Interior offensive line sits atop Green Bay's need list, and Moore addresses it directly, even if taking him at 99 is a slight reach on a player valued three spots later at 102. With the Packers already having used earlier picks on defensive line and edge help, circling back to shore up the interior of their offensive line makes sense as they balance need with the value still on the board. It's a defensible pick given how thin the center position was getting by round three.

    The Fit:

    Moore steps into a Packers offensive line that flagged interior play as its top priority, giving them a body to compete for snaps at center right away. Coming out of LSU, he offers the kind of scheme versatility teams look for on the interior, though his ranking outside the top 100 suggests there are refinements needed, likely in areas like anchor strength or consistency in pass protection that keep him from being a plug and play starter immediately. Green Bay likely views him as a developmental piece who can push for playing time as he tightens up his technique.

  • Strengths: nan
  • Weaknesses: nan
  • Full scouting report for Braelin Moore → | See Green Bay Packers 7-round draft →

    ---

    Pick #100 - Seattle Seahawks: Christian Alliegro, Linebacker, Ohio State

    Rank: #103 overall | Grade: C Why This Pick:

    Linebacker sits sixth on Seattle's priority list, so grabbing Christian Alliegro here means bypassing bigger holes at interior line, edge, and receiver depth that still linger on the board. Taking him three spots ahead of his #103 ranking is a mild reach, but with the top of this class already thinning out by pick 100, Seattle may have simply targeted a player they liked before someone else jumped the position. It's defensible as a value-neutral pick rather than a real reach, but it doesn't address the roster's more pressing gaps.

    The Fit:

    Alliegro slots in as a depth linebacker for a Seattle defense that runs a 3-4 scheme, giving him a chance to develop behind the starters while the front office continues addressing bigger needs elsewhere. He was ranked just outside the top 100, suggesting solid tools without a standout trait that separates him from the pack at his position. For a team with linebacker as only a

  • Strengths: nan
  • Weaknesses: nan
  • Full scouting report for Christian Alliegro → | See Seattle Seahawks 7-round draft →

    ---

    ---

    Team-by-Team Mock Draft Results

    | Team | Picks | Positions Addressed | Grade |

    |------|-------|---------------------|-------|

    | Arizona Cardinals | 7 | QB, EDGE, OT | B |

    | Atlanta Falcons | 7 | WR, OT, CB | B |

    | Baltimore Ravens | 9 | WR, OT, EDGE | B |

    | Buffalo Bills | 9 | WR, TE, CB | B |

    | Carolina Panthers | 6 | QB, TE, CB | B |

    | Chicago Bears | 7 | DL3T, EDGE, S | B |

    | Cincinnati Bengals | 9 | OT, EDGE, CB | B |

    | Cleveland Browns | 11 | DL3T, QB, RB | B |

    | Dallas Cowboys | 4 | LB, OT, DL1T | B |

    | Denver Broncos | 9 | RB, ILB, S | B |

    | Detroit Lions | 9 | RB, EDGE, CB | B |

    | Green Bay Packers | 11 | DL, EDGE, OC | B |

    | Houston Texans | 7 | QB, OT, RB | B |

    | Indianapolis Colts | 8 | OT, EDGE, ILB | B |

    | Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | OLB, NA, TE | B |

    | Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | LB, WR, EDGE | B |

    | Los Angeles Chargers | 8 | S, WR, CB | B |

    | Los Angeles Rams | 4 | QB, WR, CBN | B |

    | Las Vegas Raiders | 6 | QB, WR, S | B |

    | Miami Dolphins | 9 | QB, EDGE, WR | B |

    | Minnesota Vikings | 9 | QB, EDGE, S | B |

    | New England Patriots | 8 | CB, EDGE, S | B |

    | New Orleans Saints | 6 | DL3T, WR, OT | B |

    | New York Giants | 7 | DL, IOL, CB | B |

    | New York Jets | 9 | DL, QB, CB | B |

    | Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | S, IOL, RB | B |

    | Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 | LB, EDGE, CB | B+ |

    | Seattle Seahawks | 12 | IOL, WR, EDGE | B |

    | San Francisco 49ers | 7 | DL3T, IOL, RB | B |

    | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8 | LB, TE, S | B |

    | Tennessee Titans | 7 | QB, EDGE, OT | B |

    | Washington Commanders | 7 | QB, WR, S | B |

    Click any team above to see their complete 7-round draft →

    ---

    Position Distribution

    Top 5 Most Drafted Positions:
  • Safety: 27 picks
  • Wide Receiver: 26 picks
  • Cornerback: 24 picks
  • Offensive Tackle: 23 picks
  • Quarterback: 21 picks
  • ---

    How This Mock Draft Was Built

    Consensus rankings from 9 outlets. Team needs analysis based on current rosters and free agency. Trade modeling using Jimmy Johnson and Rich Hill value charts. 500,000+ user drafts inform our AI's understanding of how teams actually pick.

    ---

    Every Team's Full 7-Round Mock Draft

    AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets AFC North: Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs | Los Angeles Chargers | Las Vegas Raiders NFC East: Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks

    ---

    Draft It Yourself

    Think you'd do it differently? Run your own mock draft → — all 7 rounds, player trades, instant grades. Over 500,000 drafts completed.

    ---

    Prospect Research

  • Full Draft Big Board — 300+ prospects ranked
  • QB Prospects | WR Prospects | EDGE Prospects
  • Draft Visit Tracker — who's meeting with which teams