The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off in a few short days, but Draft Week is officially here. Check out our updated NFL mock draft for a full first-round projection.
For those who might be curious, my draft week began with a chat with expected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. Look for some content soon on that front, but we had a wide-ranging discussion that included a breakdown of his favorite play from last season … and it might not be what you expect.
Until then, and until the draft, here are the latest rumors to tide you over.
Latest buzz from Adam Schefter
NFL insider Adam Schefter released an extensive piece morning outlining everything he is hearing as draft week begins, which serves as a perfect jumping-off point for us.
Jeremiyah Love’s ceiling
Many analysts believe that Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love might be the best football player in this entire class. Read our breakdown of what makes Love so special.
When might he come off the board?
Schefter previously identified Washington at No. 7 as his floor, but when it comes to his ceiling, the third pick in the draft might be where we could see the running back hear his name called. According to Schefter, “[t]here are some who believe he could go as high as No. 3 to Arizona,”
While the Cardinals are still pursuing potential trade options, and the team “would like to find a team willing to trade up so they can acquire more picks,” if Arizona stays in that spot “some around the league believe they could pull and early draft surprise and select Love in a slot slightly higher than he has projected to go.”
However, if you want to connect some dots there is a scenario where the Cardinals trade out of No. 3, and Love still comes off the board in that spot. On Sunday, Cardinals beat writer Johnny Venerable reported that the Cardinals have engaged in trade discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs. Venerable speculates that the Chiefs could be coming up for a pass rusher, but the Chiefs have been linked to Love throughout the pre-draft process, even after acquiring Kenneth Walker III.
Could Ty Simpson fall out of the first round?
According to Schefter, the trade between the Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams might have hurt Ty Simpson the most.
Schefter notes that his sources indicate that Simpson was in play for the Rams at No. 29, a scenario that was a common theme to early mock drafts here at SB Nation. But when the Chiefs and the Rams pulled off the trade involving cornerback Trent McDuffie, sending the cornerback to Los Angeles in a deal that moved that pick at No. 29 to Kansas City, it eliminated the chances of Los Angeles drafting Simpson in the first round.
After their pick at No. 13, the Rams are not back on the clock until the end of the second round, and it is widely believed that Simpson will come off the board before No. 61.
Beyond the Rams, Schefter notes that the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals are the two teams most interested in the Alabama quarterback. The Jets are not expected to draft Simpson at No. 2 nor at No. 16, but could hope he falls to them at the top of the second round. Arizona picks right after the Jets on Friday, at No. 34, but they could move back into the first round in a trade, securing the all-important fifth-year option.
That is the scenario we contemplated in our latest mock draft.
Miami’s thinking at No. 30
As noted in our latest mock draft, we have the Cardinals executing a trade back into the first round with the Miami Dolphins and selecting Simpson at No. 30.
But if Miami stays in that spot and drafts a player, wide receiver is absolutely on the table.
Following the Jaylen Waddle trade, and the release of Tyreek Hill, the top wideouts in Miami are Malik Washington, Tutu Atwell, and Jalen Tolbert. Miami currently has a pair of picks in the first round, now at No. 11 and another at No. 30.
It is expected that cornerback Mansoor Delane is in play for the Dolphins at No. 11, with perhaps one of the top defenders such as Rueben Bain Jr. or Caleb Downs options as well if they fall to Miami in that spot.
As for No. 30, I’ve been told by those closer to the organization that wide receiver is absolutely an option if they stay and make a pick, with options such as KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in play for them at that spot.
Injury concerns for Francis Mauigoa
Another concern raised by Schefter in his extensive piece Monday morning involves Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
The bruiser has become the favorite to be the first offensive lineman taken on Thursday night, but there are some medical concerns that have come to light in recent weeks. According to Schefter, “scouces say he has a herniated disc in his back.” This condition required a return to Indianapolis for a medical recheck, and while Schefter reports that the injury is “not a significant issue and, and it is asymptomatic,” he also reports that teams “say that if it worsens at all, Mauigoa would then need surgery that could sideline him roughly three months.”
Other teams believe it is a forgone conclusion that he will need surgery at some point, even if it is not immediate. One executive went as far as to tell Schefter “that if the injury flares up in training camp and requires surgery, it might potentially end Mauigoa’s rookie season.”
Schefter ends this note by stating that no team “sounds overly concerned about the long-term ramifications of the injury,” but this is something to monitor as we steam towards draft night.
OL now in play for Pittsburgh?
As we will discuss in a moment, the Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on a decision from Aaron Rodgers.
But they now have perhaps another pressing issue to address when they are on the clock at No. 21.
Left tackle Broderick Jones suffered a neck injury last year that required a neck fusion surgery. However, news broke Monday morning that he has endured a setback in his recovery, and will be examined later this week to determine if he can even be ready for training camp and/or the start of the season.
Speaking with individuals close to the Steelers over the weekend, it looked as if wide receiver was the likely path for Pittsburgh at that spot, with players such as Omar Cooper Jr., KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston options for the Steelers at No. 21. But with this Jones news, you might want to keep an eye on offensive linemen, given the depth of tackles in this first-round group.
No news on the Aaron Rodgers front
Staying in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have yet to hear a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It sure sounds like new head coach Mike McCarthy wants to reunite with his former Green Bay Packers QB.
And yes, the clock is ticking.
As noted by Ian Rapoport, the Steelers “have not received word from Aaron Rodgers on his future and there is no expectation of a final decision prior to the NFL Draft.”
Pittsburgh began offseason workouts on Monday under new head coach Mike McCarthy, and with Rodgers absent from those workouts that means second-year quarterback Will Howard is handling QB1 duties.
What do the Giants do now?
Saturday night’s blockbuster trade between the New York Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals means that the Bengals now have Dexter Lawrence for their defensive line, and Giants GM Joe Schoen has a pair of picks inside the top ten.
So what are the Giants going to do?
According to NFL insider Connor Hughes, there are options across the board for the Giants. Hughes notes that the players considered to be at the top of the Giants’ board include linebacker Sonny Styles, running back Jeremiyah Love, and safety Caleb Downs. Hughes also believes the Giants are high on Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, although he things injury concerns would make him a “risk” at No. 5.
But now, with another pick at No. 10 in hand, Hughes believes that a trade out of No. 5 would be something to “monitor.” Specifically, he believes that if the New York Jets draft Arvell Reese (which remains a possibility), Love goes to the Cardinals at No. 3 (as discussed earlier) and Styles comes off the board to Tennessee at No. 4, that would mean David Bailey would be on the board when the Giants are on the clock.
“Every source SNY spoke with agreed [Bailey] is the top pass rusher in the class — a scenario that could prompt at team to trade up. The Giants would listen.“
As for No. 10, Hughes believes the offensive line and wide receiver are under consideration, but specifically identified four offensive lineman for that spot: Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Olaivavega Ioane, and Francis Mauigoa.
