All articles tagged with #nfl draft 2026
Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly believes Pittsburgh will pick a wide receiver at No. 21, with Denzel Boston—a 6-4, big-bodied target who visited Pittsburgh pre-draft—emerging as a fit due to his ball-tracking, emphasis on catching away from the body, plus run-blocking ability, aligning with the team’s preference for size and a combat-catch style.
Detroit Lions fans in an SB Nation Reacts survey sponsored by FanDuel chose Freeling as the top offensive tackle prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft among six candidates, with comments praising other players like Fano, Proctor, Miller, Lomu and Iheanachor and noting a broad range of opinions reflected in mock drafts.
Detroit’s 2026 draft outlook centers on adding versatile safeties to a deep group (Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox, etc.) while monitoring Joseph’s knee recovery and Branch’s Achilles rehab. The top safety class features Caleb Downs as a potential early pick, with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thieneman also in play. Five safeties who could fit Detroit: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Dillon Thieneman, A.J. Haulcy, Zakee Wheatley and Kyle Louis, offering in-the-box presence, range and ball skills to boost the defense in multiple roles.
NFL scout Bucky Brooks breaks down the 2026 draft class, highlighting 26 difference-makers across positions and five red-star sleepers to watch, including quarterback Fernando Mendoza and top backs Jeremiyah Love and Emmett Johnson, with a deep group of playmakers at WR, TE, OT, and on defense that could drive Day 1–2 selections.
The Jets added T’Vondre Sweat and David Onyemata this offseason but could still pursue an athletic pass-rushing defensive lineman in the 2026 draft. Florida’s Caleb Banks is a potential option, though foot injuries could push him to Day 2; the second round (No. 33) is seen as a sweet spot for defensive tackles, and the team may also seek depth in the later rounds.
With the Patriots picking 31st in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’ll likely address tight end as Hunter Henry nears the end of his contract and free-agent signee Julian Hill adds run-blocking depth behind a small group led by Westover and Dippre. The piece highlights six TE fits for New England: Max Klare (Ohio State), Oscar Delp (Georgia; visited), Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt; elite receiver-type but limited blocking, with a potential move to wide receiver), Sam Roush (Stanford; big-bodied blocker with athletic upside but limited catch radius), Eli Raridon (Notre Dame; recovered from ACL injuries with strong hands), and Jack Endries (Texas; reliable hands, movement blocker). It also notes other prospects to watch and varying consensus rankings across the group.
Giants’ No. 5 pick is shaping up as a three-way decision among Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State), Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State), and Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami), with Jeremiyah Love at No. 4 potentially influencing the choice; among mocks Styles leads (35 of 69, 50.7%), followed by Downs (11), Love (10), Carnell Tate (7), and Mauigoa (4).
At pick 19 in the 2026 NFL Draft, multiple mock drafts trend toward Carolina taking TE Kenyon Sadiq (per NFL Network, CBS, Yahoo) with Sadiq serving as a receiving threat, while ESPN also nods to OT Monroe Freeling as another option. The Panthers, who have seven total selections, have spent heavily on defense in recent offseasons and are weighing how a playmaking tight end or long-term tackle could complement Bryce Young and the rest of the roster.
Colin Cowherd's latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft projects the first 15 picks, including the Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, the Jets with Arvell Reese at No. 2, the Cardinals drafting David Bailey at No. 3, the Titans selecting Jeremiyah Love at No. 4, and the Giants adding Sonny Styles at No. 5, with several teams set to bolster offenses around Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Lamar Jackson.
The San Francisco 49ers signed veteran edge rusher Cam Sample to a one-year deal to bolster depth ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Sample, a 2021 Bengals fourth‑round pick who missed 2024 with a torn Achilles, posted 12 pressures in 2025 and has experience as both an edge and interior rusher. The move follows the decision not to re-sign Yetur Gross-Matos, giving San Francisco a durable, versatile piece to spell starters and support a developing rotation on passing downs as they head into the 17-game season.
In a seven‑round Patriots mock, Malcolm Lawrence (EDGE, Round 1) and Caleb Tiernan (OT, Round 2) lead the early picks, with Georgia TE Oscar Delp (Round 3) adding a potential starter behind Hunter Henry; subsequent rounds supply depth at WR, LB, OL, RB, CB, QB and S, prioritizing youth at edge and a long‑term TE behind the aging Henry, all without trading for A.J. Brown.
Evan Lazar breaks down the 2026 tight end class for the Patriots, arguing Kenyon Sadiq is the lone true first‑round option likely out of New England’s range, then highlighting a Day‑Two cluster (Oscar Delp, Eli Stowers, Max Klare, Sam Roush) with intriguing receiving upside and blocking ability. On Day Three are jack Endries, Eli Raridon, Justin Joly, Michael Trigg and Dallen Bentley, followed by late sleepers Nate Boerkircher, Marlin Klein, and Tanner Koziol who could develop into usable pieces. The piece emphasizes the evolving TE profile toward versatile, well‑rounded threats who can both block and catch, matching Vrabel’s insistence on finding a tight end that fits with Hunter Henry’s contract situation and the addition of Julian Hill.
The Steelers hosted three more pre-draft visitors—Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, and Michigan tight end Marlin Klein. McNeil-Warren and Lemon are viewed as likely first-round picks, with McNeil-Warren’s versatility and size and Lemon’s elite route and hands; Klein is a Day-3 projection known for blocking and upside as a receiver. The visit adds to Pittsburgh’s tally, bringing them to 23 of 30 non-local slots.
With the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are evaluating a slate of wide receiver prospects to supplement Drake Maye and Romeo Doubs as they rebuild a reshaped WR depth. The current depth includes Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and others, while targets like KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Chris Brazzell II, Chris Bell, Germie Bernard, Ted Hurst, Bryce Lance and De’Zhaun Stribling offer a mix of separation, size and playmaking. Concerns such as Concepcion’s drop rate, Boston’s lack of combine data, and Brazzell’s limited route tree will influence how New England prioritizes the position in this draft.
Two Detroit Lions-focused analysts unveil a 7-round mock for the 2026 NFL Draft two weeks from kickoff, arguing the first two picks should address offensive tackle and defensive end; they outline ground rules, plan a second mock, and share a video on Pride of Detroit while inviting fan feedback.