All articles tagged with #nfl draft 2026
Steelers rookie third-round QB Drew Allar took every rep at minicamp and flashed an impressive arm, drawing early praise, but experts caution that impressions from rookie practices aren’t definitive indicators of NFL success and that his college career and system fit leave questions.
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed three additional 2026 draft picks—Daylen Everett (CB), Gennings Dunker (G) and Riley Nowakowski (FB)—joining previously signed rookies Wetjen, Rubio and Spears-Jennings as rookies begin minicamp, with several other high picks unsigned.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love signed a four-year, $53 million rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the most guaranteed money ever for a running back, making him the highest-drafted RB in Cardinals history as he heads into rookie minicamp and joins a backfield led by James Conner, Trey Benson and Tyler Allgeier.
The Steelers signed fourth-round pick Kaden Wetjen from Iowa to a four-year contract. Wetjen, a standout returner who racked up 954 punt-return yards and four TDs, plus 1,538 kickoff yards and two TDs in college, earned consensus All-American honors in 2025. Special teams coach Danny Crossman lauded his fearless, smart return ability and dual return skills, expecting him to boost the Steelers on kickoff and punt returns.
The Steelers signed safety Robert Spears-Jennings, a seventh-round pick from Oklahoma, to a four-year contract. He played 47 games for Oklahoma across four seasons, including all 13 games in 2025 with 178 tackles (101 solo), eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. Steelers assistant head coach/secondary Joe Whitt Jr. praised his versatility to play in the box or in high zones, and Spears-Jennings said he’s a plug-and-play guy who can contribute anywhere as needed.
Jets sign No. 2 overall pick David Bailey to a rookie contract. Bailey, a standout pass rusher who posted 14.5 sacks and 19.5 TFL in 2025 and earned All-American honors, was praised by coach Aaron Glenn for his first-step quickness and power rush; the Jets’ staff also has familiarity with Bailey from Stanford days, making him a key addition to upgrade their pass rush.
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signings of six of their eight 2026 draft picks to four-year deals and added seven undrafted rookie free agents, including De’Zhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black, Carver Willis, Ephesians Prysock, Jaden Dugger, Enrique Cruz Jr., Khalil Dinkins, Bryson Eason, Wesley Grimes, Mikail Kamara, Will Pauling, Jalen Stroman, and James Thompson Jr.
The Cleveland Browns have signed eight of their ten 2026 NFL draft picks: Spencer Fano (OT, Utah), Denzel Boston (WR, Washington), Austin Barber (T, Florida), Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama), Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama), Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati), Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas) and Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU), with backgrounds and college achievements noted for each player.
San Francisco selected Indiana running back Kaelon Black in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft; despite broad skepticism that the pick was a reach, Black says he’ll use the backlash to motivate himself and prove coach Kyle Shanahan’s evaluation correct, praising the 49ers’ system and teammates as he prepares to contribute alongside a loaded offense.
Cardinals third-round pick Carson Beck arrives at rookie minicamp behind Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew, with a path to playing time uncertain but clearly competitive as the team assesses how much he can handle and how his college experience translates to the NFL.
With rookie minicamp underway, the Bills signed six of their ten 2026 draft picks to four-year contracts: OLB TJ Parker (Clemson), S Jalen Kilgore (South Carolina), DT Zane Durant (Penn State), CB Toriano Pride Jr. (Missouri), P Tommy Doman Jr. (Florida), and OG Ar'maj Reed-Adams (Texas A&M). The deals add young talent to Buffalo’s defense and special teams as the 2026 class transitions to the NFL.
Will Ragatz pairs Minnesota’s nine 2026 draft selections with NFL player comps to illustrate potential trajectories, balancing optimism with realism. Examples include Caleb Banks as a Chris Jones–level ceiling but a more realistic Jordan Davis-type interior disruptor, Jake Golday resembling Andrew Van Ginkel in versatility, and Domonique Orange projected as a Dalvin Tomlinson–style run stopper (with a higher-end Pat Williams ceiling). Other picks receive mirrors to Matt Goncalves, Jalen Pitre, Reggie Gilliam, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Brashard Smith, and Michael Jurgens, highlighting a spectrum of possible roles from nose tackle to hybrid back to center. These are speculative projections, not guarantees.)
Sports Illustrated provides a position-by-position set of rookie-season projections for all 32 2026 first-round picks, estimating stats like passing yards, tackles and sacks, or receiving totals, while noting that playing time, scheme fit, and role may yield N/A predictions for some players.
Sports Illustrated highlights seven Day 3 rookies (Rounds 4–7) likely to make an early impact in 2026: Jermod McCoy (Raiders) at cornerback after ACL rehab; Kaden Wetjen (Steelers) as an elite returner; Kendal Daniels (Falcons) at linebacker under Jeff Ulbrich; Kyle Louis (Dolphins) at linebacker with playmaking ability; Zakee Wheatley (Panthers) at safety with range; Riley Nowakowski (Steelers) as a versatile fullback/TE-type option; and Kaytron Allen (Commanders) as a downhill, short-yardage back. The piece notes Day 3 talent is thinner, but these players’ schemes and roles could yield immediate contributions.
Detroit’s 2026 NFL Draft drew mixed reviews: not flashy, but praised by some (notably Brett Whitefield) as a “dawg” rebuild with a focus on the trenches and value picks like Derrick Moore, signaling a reset of the Lions’ identity under Brad Holmes. The class is seen as practical and physically oriented, with emphasis on reinvesting in the offensive line, even as others called the approach a bit boring. The analysis is also explored in a YouTube breakdown accompanying the piece.