All articles tagged with #defensive prospects
In a final 2026 Bears mock draft, Chicago targets defensive depth on Day 3: Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana) in Round 4; Ephesians Prysock (CB, Washington) in Round 5; and Michael Heldman (EDGE, Central Michigan) plus Delby Lemieux (G, Dartmouth) in Round 7, aiming to bolster the defense behind the offense-oriented Day 2 picks.
Detroit, after drafting Blake Miller on Day 1, looks to Day 2 (No. 50) for defensive depth with ten top prospects—Keionte Scott, Zion Young, D'Angelo Ponds, Treydan Stukes, Gabe Jacas, Keith Abney, Jake Golday, Christen Miller, Jaishawn Barham, and Kyle Louis—covering nickel-ready corners, edge rush versatility, and flexible linebacker/defensive back roles to bolster Kelvin Sheppard's unit ahead of a lengthy Day 3 wait.
Anonymous scouts in Go Long TD Substack’s coverage of top defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft offer a mixed verdict for the New York Giants with the No. 5 pick: Caleb Downs earns praise for intelligence, instincts and tackling; other safeties show mixed traits; defensive tackle Peter Woods is explosive but some scouts say he can disappear; edge candidates like David Bailey and Reuben Bain draw varied opinions on athleticism and fit; cornerback Mansoor Delane gets Pro Bowl buzz from some, but ceiling questions remain. Overall, the class shows upside but concerns about production and position fit for the Giants.
The 2026 Panini Senior Bowl airs Saturday (1:30 p.m. Arrowhead time) on NFL Network as a final showcase for draft hopefuls before the NFL Scouting Combine. Five players to watch are Missouri DE Zion Young, Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter, Iowa guard Beau Stephens, Alabama DT Tim Keenan, and Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez, with additional prospects highlighted in the broader watch list.
Frisco hosts the East-West Shrine Bowl practices with 130+ prospects as Dallas's new defensive coordinator Christian Parker evaluates defensive playmakers like Domani Jackson, Dontay Corleone, Harold Perkins, Karson Sharar and Lander Barton for potential fits to bolster the Cowboys' defense.
The 2025 NFL Draft features a deep pool of defensive prospects, with standout players at each position. Notable edge defenders include Abdul Carter and Nic Scourton, while Michigan's Mason Graham leads the interior defensive line. Jalon Walker and Jihaad Campbell are top off-ball linebackers, and Will Johnson is a top cornerback prospect despite recent injuries. The draft class also includes promising safeties like Malaki Starks and Kamari Ramsey. Overall, the draft is expected to be deep, particularly in defensive positions, though not necessarily top-heavy.
The Cleveland Browns, currently 2-7, are eyeing a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, with potential targets including quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr., and versatile athlete Travis Hunter. The team may also consider defensive prospects like Mason Graham or edge rushers such as Abdul Carter. While trading down could help recoup lost draft capital, the Browns' draft strategy will depend on their late-season performance and quarterback situation.
As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, the Las Vegas Raiders are concluding their Top 30 visits with prospects, including quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, defensive linemen Mekhi Wingo and Braden Fiske, and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio. These visits indicate the team's interest in potential draft picks for various positions, with a focus on addressing needs at quarterback and bolstering the defensive line.
The Minnesota Vikings are considering trade proposals to move up in the NFL Draft, with speculation about targeting a top quarterback. There's also discussion about a potential trade involving star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The team hosted defensive prospects for visits and is exploring various draft scenarios, including a mock draft that has them acquiring a top quarterback. Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman believes the team will have to "overpay" to trade up for a top QB prospect.
Ohio State's recruiting momentum surged after landing commitments from four-star defensive end London Merritt and four-star linebacker Tarvos Alford for the 2025 class, bringing their total commitments to nine, including eight of the class' top 101 prospects. The Buckeyes also hosted top prospects like David Sanders Jr. for visits, showing their continued pursuit of talent in the class.
The 2024 NFL Draft is already generating buzz, and there are plenty of defensive prospects to get excited about. Here are the top 10 defensive prospects before the 2023 college football season: Jared Verse, Kool-Aid McKinstry, J.T. Tuimoloau, Leonard Taylor, Jer'Zhan Newton, Chop Robinson, Barrett Carter, Laiatu Latu, Cooper DeJean, and Dallas Turner. These prospects include edge rushers, cornerbacks, and linebackers, with impressive stats and traits that make them potential early-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the NFL Draft, they will have to balance the value, need, and risks of each prospect. Here are five defensive prospects that could fit the Cowboys' needs: Will McDonald IV (Edge Rusher), Mazi Smith (Interior Defensive Line), Daiyan Henley (Linebacker), Emmanuel Forbes (Cornerback), and Jason Taylor II (Safety). While some positions may not be a top priority, adding these prospects could help build the future of the franchise.
With the NFL draft a month away, Mock Draft 2.0 predicts which players teams will select in the first round. Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson are among the top prospects, while defensive players like Will Anderson and Bryan Bresee are also expected to go early. The Dallas Cowboys are projected to select defensive tackle Bryan Bresee with the 26th pick.