Tag: sports

2026 NFL Mock Draft 3.0

Just when you think things can’t get any crazier in the NFL, the Ravens trade two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby and then a few days later, they rescind the trade due to a “failed physical”.  I put that in quotations because it feels a little convenient.  They knew he had meniscus surgery in January; the knee stuff wasn’t a surprise.  They then signed Trey Hendrickson to a deal that is suspiciously the same money left on Crosby’s deal.  The Ravens look bad and it’s only one piece of the mock draft puzzle.  The first-round pick (14) goes back to the Ravens now (along with next year’s one).  The Ravens need a new center because the Raiders seriously outbid them for Tyler Linderbaum.  I’m not a conspiracy buff but the Ravens didn’t rescind the trade until the Raiders had stolen Linderbaum.  I’m not saying…but…I’m not, not saying. 

Free agency certainly changed the team needs as is to be expected and so did a trade or two.  My repeated attempts to send RB Jeremiah Love to Kansas City are over with the Chiefs signing Kenneth Walker III.  The Chiefs’ need to refill their secondary becomes paramount with the losses of CB Trent McDuffie (traded), CB Jaylen Watson (signed with the Rams), and S Bryan Cook (headed to the Bengals).  The Panthers no longer have a crying need for a MLB with Devin Lloyd signing and they spent a boatload of money on edge rusher Jaelen Phillips; another need off the checklist.  The Commanders signed two edge rushers, Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, probably not a priority early in the draft now.  The Dolphins traded WR Jayden Waddle to Denver, that was the big move for the Broncos and that may be a white flag from the Dolphins.  I love trying to put all the pieces together.  Let’s take a look at my latest Mock Draft. 

1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14): Fernando Mendoza     QB      Indiana

As expected, the Raiders did not go out and sign Malik Willis or trade for Patrick Mahomes (just seeing if you’re paying attention).  This pick is Mendoza; it’s been Mendoza and at this point we could just have him sign his contract and tell the Jets they’re on the clock.  Fernando should find a house, buy it, set up the moving company to take his stuff from Bloomington to Vegas, probably just use the company that moved him from Berkley, CA to Bloomington last year.  Someone give him a key to Raiders’ facilities so he can start working out. 

2. New York Jets (3-14): Arvell Reese     Edge     Ohio St. 

The Jets have been quite aggressive in changing up their defensive personnel for Aaron Glenn.  They traded for DT T’Vondre Sweat and S Minkah Fitzpatrick, and signed Edge Joseph Ossai, DE Kingsley Enagbare, DT David Onyemata, S Dane Belton, and CB Nashon Wright, that looks great for Glenn who is trying to save his job.  The problem is Wright, Belton, Enagbare and Onyemata are all one-year deals, this isn’t a long-term plan.  GM Darren Mougey still needs to set this team up for success in the future even if Glenn isn’t the coach.  The best player available is Arvell Reese who can slot in with these guys just fine.  There are some questions as to whether or not Reese is really an edge player.  His pro day workout showed some issues that might give the Jets some pause.  However, Reese doesn’t have to be an edge player for them with the guys they signed plus Will McDonald around, he can be a LB.  They have Demario Davis, who is 37 and Jamien Sherwood, someone they aren’t completely sold on.  The team will have to decide soon if they are keeping McDonald long-term and Ossai’s contract isn’t prohibitive in any way.  Reese gives Glenn, or any new coaching staff in the future, plenty of versatility to fit into any system.

3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Sonny Styles     LB     Ohio St.

I have consistently had the Cardinals trading down because they need a RT and there isn’t great value in taking one here.  They addressed offensive line with the signing of LG Isaac Seamalo, and they also brought in RT Elijah Wilkinson, who started last year for the Falcons.  Styles is such a phenomenal athlete and would change the feel of their defense. Cody Simon was okay at ILB last year and Mack Wilson is fine too, but Styles is a true difference maker.  Teams like the Giants (Tremaine Edmunds) and the Browns (Quincy Williams) addressed LB so there may not be team looking to move up unless the Titans want to move up one spot.  When in doubt, just take the 6’5 240 lbs. athletic freak on defense and call it a day.

4. Tennessee Titans (3-14): David Bailey     DE     Texas Tech

Robert Saleh wants to remake the Titans’ defense and he’s off to an excellent start.  They signed three new CBs (Alontae Taylor, Cor’dale Flott, and Josh Williams) and he rebuilt most of the front four with the trade for DE Jermaine Johnson and signing DT John Franklin-Myers.  David Bailey would be the last piece to a truly overhauled defensive line with Johnson and Bailey at DE and Fraklin-Myers and Jeffrey Simmons inside at DT.  Saleh likes an attacking front four and these guys would fit the bill.  Franklin-Myers can also play DE on running down early to allow Bailey to grow into the role a little more and that would be ideal for him.  The Titans might decide to try to move up for Sonny Styles if they think Arizona might take him, but they can’t go wrong with Styles or Bailey. 

5. Kansas City Chiefs (TRADE from NYG): Rueben Bain Jr.     DE     Miami

The Chiefs decided not to wait and see if Jeremiah Love would be available to solve their RB problem and they signed Kenneth Walker III instead.  Here they decide not to wait to see who they can get at nine overall, they make a move up to get the pass rusher they want.  They picked up extra draft picks from their trade of Trent McDuffie to the Rams and if they are willing to part with a third-round pick here, they can get ahead of Washington and New Orleans and get Rueben Bain Jr.  With Reese and Bailey gone in the first four picks, the run on edge players scares them into moving up.  Bain is the perfect fit in their defensive scheme, and they desperately need to get more pop off the edge.  The team saw their Super Bowl window slam shut last year and they know they can’t wait around to make some changes. 

6. Cleveland Browns (5-12): Monroe Freeling     LT     Georgia

The Browns are slowly but steadily rebuilding their offensive line.  After trading for Tytus Howard, they re-signed OG Teven Jenkins, and then signed LG Zion Johnson and C/G Elgton Jenkins.  While I wouldn’t say Teven Jenkins is a surefire starter and they overpaid Johnson, technically they have starters at four spots.  That leaves LT still to be filled unless they actually think Dawand Jones is a LT, he’s not.  They may be better playing Jones at RT and moving Howard inside to guard.  Freeling is the guy who climbed the draft boards between the end of the season and the actual draft.  That doesn’t always work out great, but Freeling has the length and athleticism to be a LT in the NFL.  There aren’t many of those guys in this draft, so the Browns take their shot here and hope they find a long-term answer at the position.  This team knows it has time to develop a player like Freeling, they know where they are as a franchise. 

7. Washington Commanders (5-12): Jeremiah Love     RB     Notre Dame

This would be the dream for the Commanders because they desperately need to improve their running game.  The offensive line has some talent and with Jayden Daniels returning to health, the offense can get back on track.  This may come down to a choice between Love and Carnell Tate because they need offensive playmakers everywhere.  Love is an elite prospect and is so far above the other RB prospects, he’s not even in the same universe.  There is far more depth at WR in this draft, and I also still believe Brandon Aiyuk ends up in Washington once the 49ers jettison him.  Love would make for a great backfield mate to Daniels and he’s the top RB on the roster on day one. 

8. New Orleans Saints (6-11): Carnell Tate     WR      Ohio St.

The Saints have Chris Olave at WR and then not much else.  If they want QB Tyler Shough to continue to progress as a player, they need to get him some help.  Tate is the perfect complement to Olave as a big-bodied outside WR who can get down the field but also dominate in the intermediate area.  He would be a great red zone target and pushes guys like Devaughn Vele into more of a support role, where he would be better suited.  The Saints could use some new blood on defense so CB Mansoor Delane or S Caleb Downs are certainly a possibility but giving Shough a chance to succeed is a smart move.   

9. New York Giants (TRADE from KC): Spencer Fano     OL     Utah

The Giants aren’t the most obvious trade down candidate as they could take an o-lineman or they could draft Jeremiah Love or Carnell Tate at five overall, both fill major needs.  However, they don’t have a third-round pick, and this team has plenty of holes to fill.  They need WR, DT, offensive line, and LB help, just to name a few.  Fano has a chance to step in at RG immediately with the potential to be a long-term solution at RT. Some teams also see him as a potential center and this team can’t be too married to the idea of John Michael Schmitz at center since he’s entering the last year of his rookie deal and hasn’t been the picture of consistency.   

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11): Mansoor Delane     CB     LSU

The team addressed issues on the defensive line with DT Jonathan Allen and DE Boye Mafe signing.  You can question the wisdom of the Allen signing but they needed a DT and beggars can’t be choosers.  The Bengals’ CBs were solid last season with Dax Hill being healthy, DJ Turner playing well and even Jalen Davis was solid at nickel.  All three of these guys are scheduled to be free agents in 2027 so unless they get working on contracts now, they could lose one, two, or all three next year.  Delane isn’t an elite athlete, he’s actually about as average of an athlete as you’ll find at CB.  However, he’s also excellent in coverage.  At LSU, he showed he could be a man cover corner last season, and that was after three years of being a very good zone corner at Virginia Tech.  His versatility makes him a worthy choice here even if he’s not the superior athlete most teams like at CB. 

11. Miami Dolphins (7-10): Caleb Downs     S     Ohio St.

I doubt anything would please Jeff Hafley more than getting Caleb Downs to start the rebuild of the Dolphins’ secondary.  They’re a blank slate and Downs is arguably the best defensive player in this draft.  Getting him at 11 overall would be a major coup and Hafley was a secondary coach coming up the ranks.  Downs is an immediate starter at safety and the best player in their secondary and it’s not close.  If they think Downs won’t fall this far they do have plenty of draft capital to make a move up if they want after trading WR Jaylen Waddle.  The Waddle trade does mean they will consider WR if guys like Downs and Mansoor Delane are off the board, but if either of those guys are around, they have to take the best defensive player available for the secondary.  WR is a far deeper position and they can find help later. 

12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1): CJ Allen     LB     Georgia

This is pretty high for an off-ball LB who isn’t the ridiculous athlete that Sonny Styles is, but the Cowboys are telegraphing this pick with their moves.  Unless they plan on drafting Makai Lemon to be their third WR and turning this offense nuclear, they are looking to fill the ILB role.  They love DeMarvion Overshown but he’s only one ILB and he’s coming off his long rehab season.  Marist Liufau is not the answer next to him.  Allen is a hard-nosed, run-stuffing beast who can help this team continue to improve their run defense and he can be the QB of the defense.  They finally got some beef up front with Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, now all they need is a tackling machine at the second level, welcome CJ Allen.  There will be talk about the value of taking an off-ball LB at this high of a pick but the Cowboys have never cared about positional value in the draft.  They have routinely taken interior offensive linemen in round one (Tyler Smith, Tyler Booker, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin) despite that not being a valued position.  All of them were excellent picks. 

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): Makai Lemon     WR     USC

The Rams had one glaring need going into this off season and it was outside CB.  They decided to import the Chiefs top two CBs, Trent McDuffie (trade) and Jaylen Watson (free agent) to fix it. The entire Rams offense from the end of the season when Warren McClendon Jr. had taken over at RT returns next season with only Jordan Whittingham stepping into Tutu Atwell’s spot as the third WR.  This team simply doesn’t have a major hole so they take the one guy who can supercharge their offense.  Lemon is from just down the road in Los Angeles at USC and he’s the perfect slot receiver to complement Puka Nacua and Devante Adams.  He gives Sean McVey the chance to only use three TE sets when he wants to and not because he needs to.  Lemon plays bigger than his size and still gives you excellent speed and route running in the slot.  This offense was excellent before and they just got better. 

14. Baltimore Ravens (back from Las Vegas): Kenyon Sadiq     TE     Oregon

This pick belonged to the Raiders for a few days but it’s back to Baltimore after the Maxx Crosby trade was rescinded.  The Ravens’ needs have changed after signing Trey Hendrickson at edge and John Simpson at guard, addressing their two biggest needs.  They still need a center after losing Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders crazy free agent offer but there are no centers here to take.  Sadiq isn’t usually mocked to the Ravens, but they did just lose Isaiah Likely to the Giants and Charlie Kolar to the Chargers.  They need depth and their new offensive coordinator is Declan Doyle.  Doyle came up under Sean Payton, a coach who loves a good, versatile TE for his passing game.  Just think of guys like Jimmy Graham, Taysom Hill, and even Payton trying to make Evan Engram happen in Denver last year.  Doyle also then spent last year in Chicago under Ben Johnson using Colston Loveland as a weapon in the Bears’ offense.  Johnson was the guy who made Sam LaPorta so incredible in Detroit.  Doyle could see Sadiq as the guy who can give the offense some punch and playmaking. 

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (TRADE from TB): Olaivavega Ioane     OG     Penn St. 

This would be a smart move for the Steelers as they need a LG after losing Isaac Seamalo in free agency. If Ioane falls this far the Steelers can use some of their 12 picks to move up and Tampa Bay could use a few more picks in this draft to address some needs.  The Steelers filled their long-standing need for a WR with their trade for Michael Pittman Jr. from Indianapolis.  Pittman is a fantastic addition and a great complement to DK Metcalf.  Everyone is operating under the assumption Aaron Rodgers will be back at QB, whether that’s good or bad is a matter of perspective.  Having a solid offensive line is an absolute necessity if Rodgers is the QB, Ioane helps that.  They filled holes at CB (Jamel Dean), RB (Rico Dowdle), and safety (Jaquan Brisker) in free agency.  Ioane gives them another young, talented offensive lineman and he feels like a Steeler.  He’s a powerful run blocker and an excellent pass protector who fits the offense quite well.

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Jermod McCoy     CB     Tennessee

The Jets signed a number of defensive backs to reconfigure their secondary but that shouldn’t stop them from taking McCoy.  CB Nashon Wright was only signed to a one-year deal and CB Brandon Stephens could be gone after the season if they want out of his deal.  McCoy is a guy coming off a missed season due to his torn ACL, but he should be ready for next season.  The good news is the Jets wouldn’t have to rush him onto the field but he’s well worth taking as he could eventually be a CB1.  The Jets need talent; McCoy might be the best CB in this draft. 

17. Detroit Lions (9-8): Kadyn Proctor     OT     Alabama

It feels strange to put Proctor ahead of Francis Mauigoa but Mauigoa isn’t a LT prospect and Proctor is the next best LT prospect after Freeling.  Proctor would fit the Lions offensive scheme that is predicated on power running and he fills the huge hole created when they released Taylor Decker.  Decker is 32 and coming off an injury plagued season so moving on is understandable, but it won’t be easy.  Proctor is a mammoth individual at 6’7 352 lbs. and he has excellent athleticism even if he can be a bit heavy-footed going side to side.  It is possible they will take Mauigoa and either play him at LG or move Penei Sewell to LT and play Mauigoa at RT.  He does fit the profile of a power player on the offensive line like the Lions prefer.  LT is the more important position than LG and taking Proctor just lets Sewell continue to dominate at RT instead of having to move more people around.

18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8): Dillon Thieneman     S     Oregon

The Vikings feel like they addressed their biggest issue with the signing of Kyler Murray to “compete” against JJ McCarthy at QB.  This is even less of a competition than Daniel Jones vs. Anthony Richardson was in Indianapolis last year.  If they won’t say it, I will, Kyler Murray is the starting QB.  I’m not a Kyler fan but he’s better than McCarthy.  They didn’t have many holes on the roster to address and signed CB James Pierre, that’s a solid pickup.  The one other major loss is Harrison Smith probably won’t be back a safety.  They have Josh Mettelus and Theo Jackson, but Brian Flores likes to use three safeties.  Thieneman put on a show at the combine with his incredible athleticism and he’s a great successor to Smith. He gives Flores all the versatility he needs in his safety group to keep the defense at its highest level.   

19. Carolina Panthers (8-9): Jordyn Tyson     WR     Arizona St.

The Panthers took a WR in round one last year, but Tyson would be too good to pass up here.  The Panthers filled their biggest needs in free agency with LT Rasheed Walker, C Luke Fortner, LB Devin Lloyd, and edge rusher Jaelen Phillips.  The rest of the roster seems solid, but Tyson would be a major upgrade over Xavier Leggette who stills leaves a lot to be desired.  Pairing Tetairoa McMillan with Jordan Tyson on the outside with Jalen Coker in the slot would leave no excuses for Bryce Young.  This would be one of the better young WR groups in the NFL if Tyson stays healthy.  The only reason he falls this far in the draft is due to questions about his durability.  Leggette’s presence would mean Tyson wouldn’t have to carry a heavy load early on and could ease into the job.     

20. New England Patriots (TRADE from Dallas): Francis Mauigoa     OL     Miami

The Patriots have eleven picks in this draft and with all of their free agent shopping the last two years and their draft last season, they don’t have glaring needs.  They signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to be their LG but he’s a coin flip at best to be healthy each game and there’s really no chance you should count on him for 17 games.  RT Morgan Moses is 35 and could fall off the cliff at any moment and they don’t have anyone of note behind him.  If Mauigoa starts to fall to this range of the draft the Patriots should trade up to get ahead of teams like the Chargers and the Bills who may be looking for interior help.  He has the ability to play guard so he’s insurance against Vera-Tucker’s inevitable injury and he’s the heir apparent to Moses at RT.  Last season, the Patriots lacked power at LG as Jared Wilson was overmatched physically, that wouldn’t be a problem if Mauigoa played there.  The worst-case scenario would be in two years Mauigoa replaces Michael Onwenu at RG. 

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TRADE from Pittsburgh): Akheem Mesidor     Edge     Miami

The Buccaneers lost WR Mike Evans to free agency, and they simply can’t replace him. They still have Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson so they won’t even try to replace Evans here.  They also lost CB Jamel Dean and DL Logan Hall in free agency, but they drafted Benjamin Morrison at CB last year and they picked up free agent A’Shawn Robinson to replace Hall.  That will allow them to find the best player for their defense and this defense needs an edge rusher.  Mesidor was fantastic at Miami last year and while Miami played him at DE, he’ll move to OLB here and it’s a solid move for him.  Mesidor isn’t the longest edge player so moving off the line a bit should be a better fit.  He will already be 25 in his rookie season so there’s not a lot of time to waste and the Bucs are looking for help right now.  The Bucs pick up an extra pick from the Steelers to move down a few spots and still get a guy they need. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): Denzel Boston     WR     Washington

It feels a little strange having the Chargers taking a WR in round one with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach, but he clearly recognized the offense wasn’t good enough last year.  He hired Mike McDaniel to fix it and while McDaniel’s Miami offenses were predicated on speed, they did that to match personnel.  Harbaugh wants to run the ball, McDaniel is excellent at that, but the passing game has to be better.  WR Quentin Johnston has been the definition of inconsistent, and they have to make a decision on his future here soon.  Ladd McConkey is the underneath, slot guy while Tre Harris started to get more playing time as the deep threat.  Boston would be the perfect fit in this group.  He’s a big, powerful receiver who is excellent in the intermediate area, a true red zone threat, and would allow Justin Herbert to attack all areas of the field.  At 6’4 212 lbs., he’s a big-bodied WR who plays tough and can run after the catch, another thing McDaniel would be able to use on offense. 

23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Keldric Faulk     DE     Auburn

The Eagles are an expensive team with some tough decisions coming up and they made one decision this off season that could have ripple effects.  They signed DT Jordan Davis to an extension, and it may mean they look to move on from Jalen Carter.  A year ago, that would have seemed crazy, but Carter had a down year, and Davis stepped up big time.  GM Howie Roseman loves to pick trench players, offensive or defensive side doesn’t really matter to him.  Getting Faulk, a guy who doesn’t turn 21 until September, feels like Howie making a move to cover for himself a year early.  If the team looks to trade Carter instead of paying him and Davis, Faulk can be the DE on one side of Davis.  Faulk isn’t a twitchy edge player like a lot of the pass rushers in this draft.  He’s 6’6 274 lbs. and is a power end who stuffs the run.  He’s never going to be a high sack guy and that’s fine, that’s not what the Eagles would ask him to do. 

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): Omar Cooper Jr.     WR     Indiana

The Browns have overhauled their offensive line, their defense really doesn’t need any help unless it’s young depth, and they desperately need a QB but that’s a problem for 2027.  They could look at Ty Simpson, but they are set up to draft a QB next year so getting some more help for that guy now would be nice.  They will still have Jerry Jeudy on the books for a couple of years, and they seem to like Isaiah Bond.  Neither of those guys should stop them from getting a playmaker like Cooper.  Cooper isn’t the biggest or fastest WR but he’s an excellent route runner and would be a QBs best friend. 

25. Chicago Bears (11-6): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren     S     Toledo

Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens, and CJ Gardner-Johnson were all free agents, and I thought the Bears would re-sign one or two of them, they didn’t.  They did sign Coby Bryant from Seattle but as of now their other starting safety is…Cam Lewis? I guess.  That’s not ideal.  Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is an excellent prospect out of a small school that seems to be making solid defensive backs lately.  McNeil-Warren has the size and skill set to be starter and having a veteran like Coby Bryant and the rest of that secondary around him would be very helpful for a rookie. 

26. Buffalo Bills (12-5): Kayden McDonald     NT     Ohio St.

The Bills filled their biggest need with their trade for DJ Moore and while I could argue they should pick up another WR, I’m guessing they will try to get something out of Josh Palmer this year.  The defense is taking on more of a 3-4 alignment with new head coach Joe Brady hiring Jim Leonhard to run it.  That means they need a true NT and 6’8 Deone Walker is not the guy you want to try to play at NT.  McDonald is 6’3 330 lbs. run-stuffing beast who is built exactly how you want a NT to be built and plays the game like an immovable object.  Put Walker and Ed Oliver on either side of McDonald and you have yourself the start of a solid three-man front for your defense. 

27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): KC Concepcion      WR     Texas A&M

The 49ers have added two free agent WRs and traded for one DT.  They signed the biggest WR they could, bringing Mike Evans to be their top outside threat.  Evans isn’t young anymore but he’s still 6’5 and a ball winner when it counts. They also signed Christian Kirk as a stopgap at slot receiver; he’s not a long-term plan.  They traded a third-round pick for DT Osa Odighizuwa, an excellent DT who improves the middle of the defense.  The offense still needs playmakers with Ricky Pearsall the only WR of note, besides Evans, and George Kittle likely to miss at least most of the season after his Achilles tear in the playoffs.  Enter KC Concepcion, the slot receiver from the Aggies.  He’s a shorter player at 5’11 but he’s nearly 200 lbs. so he can play over the middle with his size.  He’s quick and deadly with his change of direction and will give Kyle Shanahan a solid piece in the passing game.  Kirk’s presence means Concepcion won’t be rushed but the kid can make plays.   

28. Houston Texans (12-5): Peter Woods     DT     Clemson

The Texans’ roster is in very good shape; the one area they could use some help is at DT.  Unfortunately for them, the DT position isn’t exactly great.  Caleb Banks was looking like a solid choice until he broke his foot at the combine, adding that to his foot injury during the season and his stock is way down.  Woods was the top DT prospect coming into the season, but he had tough year at Clemson.  He’s still a talented player but teams have to ask themselves if his play was on him or if it was a Clemson thing, other Clemson guys weren’t great either.  Woods is the type of penetrating DT the Texans like, they have Sheldon Rankins, who does it well.  Rankins is aging so getting a guy who can spell him now and eventually replace him would be a smart move. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LA Rams): Caleb Lomu     OT     Utah

The Chiefs would likely jump at the chance to take Jermod McCoy or Mansoor Delane but they will be long gone.  They won’t spend a first-round pick on just any CB, they have found starters in mid and late rounds before. I think they will settle for a mid-round CB and take Lomu.  Lomu is excellent value at this point in the draft.  He’s perfect for them now because he’s a young player and they don’t have to start him right away because they have Jaylon Moore to play at RT.  Moore only has one more year on his deal so Lomu can sit for the year, if necessary, but he also gives them a potential LT alternative if Josh Simmons has any other personal issues he has to deal with.  The hope would be in two years they have Simmons at LT and Lomu at RT and have a great pair of young OTs for the next decade. 

30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver): Cashius Howell     Edge Texas A&M

The Dolphins can go in just about any direction here, but Howell would give them a dynamic edge player to line up opposite Chop Robinson.  They signed Josh Uche and David Ojabo but neither of those guys are going to stop them from bringing in some real talent.  Howell is undersized and isn’t great against the run but that’s what the veterans are for, to give him some time to adjust to the NFL.  The Dolphins are nearly a clean slate so it’s hard to predict where they will go in the draft but taking a talented pass rusher who can get to the QB seems like a good idea. 

31. Dallas Cowboys (TRADE from NE): Aveion Terrell     CB     Clemson

The Cowboys signed Cobie Durant from the Rams and he’s a solid player, but he shouldn’t stop them from drafting a guy with the upside of Terrell.  DaRon Bland has been a good starter for them when healthy but that’s not a given anymore.  Bland can play the slot while Durant and Terrell play the outside, or Terrell could give them snaps in the slot.  Either way, with the makeup of this defense and new defensive coordinator Christian Parker being around, expect the team to address their need at CB. 

32. Las Vegas Raiders (TRADE from Seattle): Blake Miller     OT     Clemson

The Seahawks have four picks in this draft, so they are motivated to move off this pick to save some money after re-signing Jaxon Smith-Njigba and with Devon Witherspoon next in line for a raise.  The Raiders move up to get themselves a new RT who would fit nicely into their revamped offensive line.  Miller is a big man with good mobility and great toughness.  If they are investing in QB Fernando Mendoza with the first pick of this round, it’s a wise move to get him a new OT with the last pick of the round.   

Round 2

33. New York Jets: Jacob Rodriguez     LB     Texas Tech

The Jets just signed Demario Davis but he’s 37 years old and their other ILB is Jamien Sherwood who I’m not sure they even like anymore.  Rodriguez isn’t the most physically intimidating LB but he’s just plain good.  They need more good players.   

34. Arizona: Max Iheanachor     OT     Arizona St.

The Cardinals signed Elijah Wilkinson as a stopgap RT, he started as an injury replacement all last season for the Falcons.  They can do better.  Iheanachor is still raw and Wilkinson could give him some time to adjust but he’s a much better talent for the long-term.

35. Tennessee: Chase Bisontis      OG     Texas A&M

The Titans have addressed many of their needs in free agency, especially on the defense.  One area of concern is still the interior of the offensive line.  It doesn’t look like Kevin Zeitler will be back at RG so Bisontis would be an immediate starter.  He’s a talented interior player and a better option than free agent signee Cordell Volson.

36. Seattle: Colton Hood     CB     Tennessee

When you’re the Super Bowl champs you don’t generally have glaring needs so it’s smart to look at where you lost someone in free agency.  They let Riq Woolen leave in free agency and while they re-signed Josh Jobe, it leaves them a little thin at CB.  They also lost Coby Bryant at safety so if they wanted to use Devon Witherspoon at nickel so Nick Emmanwori can play safety, Hood would give them an outside CB who can step into Witherspoon’s spot.    

37. New York Giants: Caleb Banks     DT     Florida

The Giants were awful at stopping the run last year even with some real investments in their front seven.  They weren’t great on the interior of the defensive line and their LBs were bad.  They cut Bobby Okereke and replaced him with Trumaine Edmunds and here they draft Banks.  Banks has a foot issue to worry about but taking him at 37 is a steal.  If he’s healthy all season, he changes the defensive line immensely. 

38. Houston: TJ Parker     DE     Clemson

While the Texans already took a defensive lineman in round one with Peter Woods, they doubled up by taking a DE here, Woods’ Clemson teammate Parker.  Parker was a top prospect who fell a little in this draft because he had a less than stellar year at Clemson.  He’s still a talented edge rusher.  The Texans have Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, but Hunter will be 32 this season, he’s getting really expensive, and they are going to have to spend a ton to keep Anderson pretty soon.  Getting a younger, cheaper alternative at DE is smart play, especially when they are getting Parker at a discount. 

39. Cleveland: Gennings Dunker     OL     Iowa

The Browns grabbed Monroe Freeling to play LT and that would give them five new starters but only if Teven Jenkins is the RG, they can do better.  Dunker is a beast who played RT in college but should be a road grader at guard in the NFL.   

40. Kansas City: Chris Johnson     CB     San Diego St.

Johnson looks like an average athlete on the field, but he proved at the combine that’s not actually true, he’s a very good athlete.  He’s 6’0 193 lbs. and he can play man or zone coverage equally well.  His versatility will be the thing Steve Spagnuolo loves about him, and he’ll be starting fairly early because I just think he’s better than Kristian Fulton.

41. Cincinnati: Christen Miller     DT      Georgia

Jonathan Allen and BJ Hill are slated to be the Bengals starting DTs, they are both 31.  TJ Slaton was supposed to be their big free agent signing last year that they brought in to stop the run, it didn’t work.  Miller is an underappreciated player from Georgia who should blossom in the NFL.  He does all the dirty work but there is untapped potential in his game. 

42. New Orleans: Lee Hunter     DT      Texas Tech

Even with the departure of LB Demario Davis and the expected departure of Cam Jordan, this front seven still has too many guys on the wrong side of 30.  One of those is NT Davon Godchaux who will be 32 this season and they are going to need a new nose tackle soon.  It’s the perfect fit for Hunter who doesn’t fit in all alignments on defense but is perfect to fill that spot in New Orleans.    

43. Miami: Emmanuel Pregnon     OG     Oregon

Miami took two defensive playmakers in the round one, now it’s time to address the offense.  They signed OG Jamaree Salyer in free agency and they have LG Jonah Savaiinaea who they drafted in the second-round last year.  I’m not convinced either is a great fit in Bobby Slowik’s offense.  Salyer has never been great inside at guard even though he’s built like one and Savaiinaea struggled last season.  Pregnon fits any scheme and he’s better than either of these guys.  Keeping Malik Willis upright would really help this offense.  

44. New York Jets: Germie Bernard     WR     Alabama

The Jets addressed all three levels of their defense with their first three picks, time for some offense.  Bernard isn’t flashy but this team has Garrett Wilson and AD Mitchell for flash, they need substance.  Geno Smith will appreciate Bernard being exactly where he’s supposed to be, exactly when he’s supposed to be there. 

45. Baltimore: Sam Hecht     C     Kansas St.

The Ravens can’t go too far into this draft without finding Tyler Linderbaum’s replacement at center.  There aren’t really any centers with good size for their scheme, so they go with Hecht who has the technique to play any style of offense.  I was tempted to go with Logan Jones just to replace one Iowa center with another, but he’s much more of a zone-only center and that’s not what the Ravens will likely run. 

46. Tampa Bay: Jake Golday     LB     Cincinnati

Tampa signed Alex Anzalone from the Lions, he’s a solid LB but they need more help.  Golday is a supreme athlete who isn’t your typical LB prospect, he’s hard to slot into just one role.  He would give Todd Bowles some flexibility at LB and he would likely replace SirVocea Dennis in a lot of alignments.

47. Indianapolis: Anthony Hill Jr.     LB     Texas

The Colts are basically staring over at LB after trading Zaire Franklin.  The guys on the roster have no experience to speak of.  If you’re going to start over at LB, Anthony Hill Jr. is a good place to start.  He’s an excellent three-down LB and he can run your defense from day one.  He’s fast, athletic, he can cover, and he can tackle, what more could you ask for? 

48. Atlanta: Zion Young     Edge     Missouri

The Falcons traded this year’s first rounder last year to draft James Pearce Jr. and now James Pearce Jr. has been charged with four felonies (Google it, it’s a truly horrible episode I would not like to discuss here).  Not only is his NFL future uncertain at best, so is his future freedom.  They signed Azeez Ojulari and Samson Ebukam, but those guys are coming off injuries. Young gives them a solid power edge player to line up opposite Jalon Walker.    

49. Minnesota: Malachi Lawrence     Edge      UCF

Lawrence is a late rising prospect who really opened some eyes at the combine.  This may end up being too low for his eventual spot.  The Vikings are exploring trading Jonathan Greenard for some salary cap relief, and they will need another pass rusher if they do that.  Even if they keep Greenard, his contract is getting expensive and his counterpart, Andrew Van Ginkle is 31.  They should be looking for a long-term partner for Dallas Turner on the edge. 

50. Detroit: Gabe Jacas     Edge     Illinois

With the addition of LT Kadyn Proctor in this mock draft and C Cade Mays in free agency, the offensive line issues should be addressed.  On defense, they still don’t have an edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and they need to replace Alex Anzalone at LB.  Jacas is great value and far better than any LB left on the board.  Jacas is almost always described as a rugged DE, I can’t think of a description Dan Campbell would love more. 

51. Carolina: Ty Simpson     QB     Alabama

I’ve been struggling with where to put Simpson, he’s not a guy teams are going to draft to start right away.  However, he has starting potential.  The Panthers traded Andy Dalton to Philly, and they signed Kenny Pickett to be the backup.  Bryce Young has been good enough to not be outright discarded but what if Dan Morgan and Dave Canales aren’t sold.  This would be like the Eagles drafting Jalen Hurts when they had Carson Wentz as their starter.  Wentz failed and the Eagles didn’t miss a beat.  If Young struggles again, Simpson could be their answer.  This would be one of the more intriguing places Simpson could get drafted.  He wouldn’t take Young’s job immediately, but he would ratchet up the pressure on Young to be better.   

52. Green Bay: Brandon Cisse     CB     South Carolina

The Packers are counting on Micah Parsons to be healthy and Lukas Van Ness to finally be relevant at edge rusher.  If they aren’t, the secondary is not equipped to handle the pressure.  Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Benjamin St. Juste are not good enough at CB.  The Packers have a size threshold for their CBs, so D’Angelo Ponds is off the table for them.  Cisse had round one buzz early, but other guys passed him.  He still has starter potential and that makes him a solid choice for the Packers.

53. Pittsburgh: Zachariah Branch     WR     Georgia

The Steelers roster is actually in solid shape overall, if you consider Aaron Rodgers a solid choice at QB, it seems dubious to me.  One area of need is still at WR, even with the addition of Michael Pittman Jr.  The next best WR after DK Metcalf and Pittman is either Roman Wilson and his 12 catches from last year or Ben Skowronek.  Branch needs to work on his route running but he can be a slot merchant right away.  If Aaron Rodgers is the QB, he will hate the way Branch runs routes, but he will love the fact that he’s open almost immediately so Rodgers can dump the ball off to him.

54. Philadelphia: Chris Bell     WR     Louisville

The AJ Brown divorce from Philadelphia is coming at some point.  It may not happen this off season, but it is inevitable.  Bell is a big, physical WR who uses his strength to bully opponents and he’s excellent after the catch.  The only reason he’s still here is because he’s coming off a knee injury.  If the Eagles keep Brown into the season, Bell may be healthy enough by the trade deadline to allow them to move Brown then.   

55. Los Angeles Chargers: R Mason Thomas     Edge     Oklahoma

The Chargers re-signed Khalil Mack at age 35 and they still have Tuli Tuipulotu on the edge, that’s the same two they started last season with.  Last year they traded for Odafe Oweh because they needed more pass rush, now Oweh is in Washington.  They need some speed off the edge and that is Thomas’ specialty.  He’s not a big guy but they have Mack to play on run downs.  Thomas is the designated speed rusher to start the year, and he gives them some juice off the edge. 

56. Jacksonville: Josiah Trotter     LB     Missouri

The Jaguars suffered a major loss when LB Devin Lloyd signed with Carolina.  Trotter isn’t the all-around LB Lloyd is but he’s a solid MLB prospect who can fill a need as a run-stuffer early in his career as he rounds out his game overall.

57. Chicago: Dani Dennis-Sutton     DE     Penn St.

The Bears need some help opposite DE Montez Sweat and while Dennis-Sutton wasn’t the most productive player at Penn St. he was a solid player.  He showed excellent athleticism at the combine although he doesn’t show it on the field.  He is the size profile Dennis Allen prefers so he’s the pick here.

58. San Francisco: Eli Stowers     TE     Vanderbilt

Stowers is an elite athlete who is a pass catching TE only.  If you need a blocking TE, this isn’t your guy.  George Kittle will be rehabbing a torn Achilles most of the season and this offense needs a TE who can be a part of the passing game.  Jake Tonges is a nice player, but Stowers would be a weapon. 

59. Houston: Max Klare     TE     Ohio St.

The Texans have Dalton Schultz and that’s nice, but he’s ageing and they need some depth.  Klare is a solid all-around TE who can be a security blanket for CJ Stroud and give you some real production. 

60. Chicago: Keylan Rutledge     OG     Vanderbilt

Chicago had to make a trade for C Garrett Bradbury when Drew Dalman suddenly retired because while they are good on the interior of the offensive line, they are not deep.  Joe Thuney is 34 and Jonah Jackson is 29 and hasn’t always been the healthiest.  Rutledge is a stud run blocking guard and would give them some depth inside and someone to eventually replace one of the guards.

61. Los Angeles Rams: Connor Lew     C     Auburn

This would be the perfect situation for Connor Lew.  The Rams have Coleman Shelton at center and he’s a trusted veteran.  However, he’s 31 and he’s not some superstar, he’s just a solid player.  Lew is coming off a torn ACL and probably won’t be ready to start the year.  He is talented enough to take the job from Shelton when he’s healthy, but he wouldn’t be needed this year necessarily.

62. Denver: Dominique Orange     DT     Iowa St.

The Brocos defense is excellent and while Orange wouldn’t be a one-for-one replacement for John Franklin-Myers, he would allow them to move some guys around.  They don’t have a traditional NT on the team and Orange would give them one.  That would allow Malcolm Roach and DJ Jones to be used in a rotation along the line.

63. New England: Derrick Moore     Edge     Michigan

The Patriots signed Dre’Mont Jones, a very solid veteran edge player who gives them more in the run game than K’Lavon Chaisson did last season.  They still need more help on the edge as Harold Landry is aging and coming off an injury, and the rest of the depth chart is unproven.  Moore would be the perfect player to eventually replace Landry.

64. Seattle: Jadarian Price     RB     Notre Dame

The Seahawks may try to move down from this spot too just to pick up another pick but if they keep it, it’s hard to see them not taking a RB.  Maybe it’s Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas and not Price because of Washington’s speed but I like Price.  I think he’s just scratching the surface of his talent and Seattle lost Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet is coming off a torn ACL in January.  They need someone to carry the load early in the season.                   

College Football Coaching Carousel

The college football coaching carousel is already insane and it’s only going to get worse. There are more firings to come and there will be big time coaches moving around opening more jobs as one goes from one job to another.  I’m going to take a shot at predicting who ends up at each spot, I’m aware it’s a fool’s errand but here I am.  A few notes to keep in mind, Curt Cignetti and Matt Rhule have signed extensions with Indiana and Nebraska so they are not leaving their current roles.  I’m not including Joe Brady, the Bills offensive coordinator because I don’t think the top jobs would wait until after Buffalo’s season and he’s going to be an NFL coaching candidate. 

I’m going to start at the bigger jobs to look at how the dominos fall as one coach moving opens other jobs.  There are eight jobs in the Power 4 conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, ACC) currently open; LSU, Florida, Penn St., Arkansas, Oklahoma St., Virginia Tech, UCLA, and Stanford.  I think Auburn, Kentucky, and Florida St. are all going to also be open eventually.  In this exercise I don’t think Wisconsin or Michigan St. will fire their coaches and I’ll get to them later.  The one other Big Ten job that could come open is Maryland depending on how their season ends, and it could realistically go either way.  The breakdown for me is LSU, Florida, Penn St., Auburn, and Florida St. would be the top five. Kentucky, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma St., UCLA, and Stanford would be the next six. Then I’ll get to the positions that come open from coaching taking some of those jobs.  Hope you like dominos.  There’s a solid group of head coaches from the Group of 6 teams (G6) and there are a few top level coordinators in the Power 4 who will get jobs this cycle.  Let’s get started.

LSU

The is the top job on the market, sorry to Penn St. and Florida but LSU has the advantage.  Three of the last four coaches at LSU; Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Ed Orgeron, all won National Championships.  Obviously, Brian Kelly is the one who didn’t but the fact that Orgeron and Miles did should be proof that LSU has advantages.  Saban is a legend, it’s not strange he won a title there, Miles and Orgeron are not great coaches, I’m not even sure they were good coaches, but they managed to win National Championships at LSU.  Florida has won National Championships but it took legendary coaches like Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer to win there, mere mortals have watched their careers wither in Gainesville.   

LSU has unbelievable instate talent with minimal instate competition for that talent.  At Florida you’re competing with Florida St. and Miami, plus other schools like UCF, USF, FAU, and others are poaching the depth in the state from you.  Penn St. does have some instate competition from Pitt but they also have Ohio St., Michigan, and others trying to pick off talent from Pennsylvania which is not as talent rich as Louisiana.  

Financially, LSU, Penn St., and Florida are not going to be that much different so it comes down to the situation.  The one issue that could hold back LSU is the governor of Louisiana getting involved.  I don’t think he was wrong to want to limit AD Scott Woodward after he’s given out two of the biggest buyout contracts in college football history (Kelly at LSU, and Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M).  However, Woodward does have a solid track record overall hiring coaches. He poached Kim Mulkey for LSU’s women’s basketball program and hired Jay Johnson as the baseball coach.  They just announced Woodward is out as AD and that’s not going to be helpful.  Firing him was unnecessary, I think I would have just kept him out of the contract negotiations. By the way, he wasn’t the only person who would have had to sign off on the contract for Brian Kelly. 

The Pick: Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss)

I’m going with them winning the Lane Kiffin sweepstakes over Florida.  They will outbid Florida but also offer the highest upside for Kiffin.  There’s a feeling Kiffin wants to get back to Florida after his stint as FAU’s head coach and he does have a certain Florida vibe, maybe it’s the visor.  However, Kiffin has always looked for the next step and I think he will see the path to a National Championship is easier at LSU than Florida and that’s his choice.  This would lead to an opening at Ole Miss; I’ll address that later. 

Runner up: Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri).  If Kiffin takes Florida, LSU pivots quickly. 

Disaster candidate: Jimbo Fisher (currently collecting buyout money from Texas A&M).  If they strike out on Kiffin, Drinkwitz, and a couple of other names, would Woodward have called up his old buddy from Texas A&M?  Fisher was the offensive coordinator at LSU in 2003 when Saban led them to a National Championship.  Somehow, I don’t think the LSU fanbase would be happy with him being the pick.  With Woodward out this is much less likely but he does still have old ties to LSU.

Sneaky Good Idea: Will Stein (Oregon offensive coordinator). Something tells me he’s going to be a good head coach.

Florida

Penn St. and Florida are the next best jobs and I’m addressing the Florida job next because it’s linked to LSU and I don’t think there’s ton of overlap with Penn St.  Florida’s number one choice is Kiffin, if they lose him to LSU, it’s a more wide-open field.  Drinkwitz is a possibility but he’s not a slam dunk and I think they could lose Drinkwitz to another team while they pursue Kiffin.  Drinkwitz might prefer being a different SEC school’s number one choice instead of feeling like he’s taking Kiffin’s leftovers.  I’ll get to Drinkwitz below.  USF Alex Golesh is a name to watch here but I’m not sure he’s a big enough name for the Gators.  They just did the “hire the hot group of five” (or six now) coach with Billy Napier and it didn’t work.  They will aim higher and if they miss on Kiffin and Drinkwitz, there is one major conference coach who will crawl over broken glass for the Florida job and not care if he’s the third choice or the 15th choice. 

The Pick: Jedd Fisch (Washington)

Fisch bounced around in his coaching career as an assistant for many years before finally landing the Arizona job, then he quickly jumped to Washington two years ago.  He rebuilt Arizona quickly; he then took over a decimated roster after Kalen DeBoer left Washington for Alabama and he has them looking pretty good in year two.  He went to school at Florida and started his career as a GA there and he would be ecstatic to make Florida his destination job.  I’m not sure Fisch has ever stayed anywhere more than three years but he would certainly hope to change that with a move to Gainesville.  He’s not the sexiest hire but he might be the right one for Florida.  This would open the Washington job and there’s an excellent candidate out there for that one. 

Runner up: Well, Fisch is really third on my list for them but is it’s not him they could go with Golesh or maybe they make a run at Rhett Lashlee at SMU.  I do think the Florida fans may want to temper their expectations.

Disaster Candidate: James Franklin.  Sorry but Franklin is a great recruiter who isn’t a great coach. There is too much pressure at Florida and Franklin would crumble under it. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Clark Lea (Vanderbilt). He should be high on everyone’s list but I’m not sure Florida would hire Vanderbilt’s coach.   

Penn St.

Curt Cignetti and Matt Rhule already used this job to get extensions and raises at their current schools and other coaches may do the same.  The pressure to win at Penn St. is enormous and the fact they fired James Franklin after he basically won ten games every year is crazy.  However, they weren’t wrong to fire Franklin if they want to truly compete for National Championships, he had taken them as far as he could.  What Penn St. needs is a real coach, not just a guy who can recruit and then tries to hire coaches to coach.  They need the guy who can raise the level of play of the great players they can get.  Great players have gone to Penn St. and played well but they are usually guys who were 4- or 5-star recruits and they don’t actually get better they’re just good players to start with.  Even if you are a top recruit, it doesn’t mean coaching can’t make you better.  Guys like Nick Saban and Kirby Smart routinely get 5-star guys but they also develop them into the best player they can be, that was not Franklin. The guy they need isn’t the flashy name but he’s the right coach. 

The Pick: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)

I hate giving Iowa St. credit in any way but Matt Campbell is an excellent football coach.  He routinely takes two-star and three-star recruits and makes them way better players.  What he could do with the upper-level recruits Penn St. can get would be scary.  He’s always had good coordinators but Campbell is a legitimately good football coach himself.  He’s rebuffed many opportunities in the past but Penn St. is one of the premiere coaching jobs in the country, it’s in an elite conference, and there is no chance Iowa St. can compete financially with the Nittany Lions.  It’s time for Campbell to make the move and competing in the Big Ten is where he belongs.  It would be ripping out the hearts of Iowa St. fans again if Penn St. takes a great coach from them.  To all those Penn St. fans thinking he’s not a big enough name, just look at your wrestling program and remember where Cael Sanderson came from, you’re in good hands. 

Runner up: Jon Sumrall (Tulane) Sumrall is arguably the best G6 coach on the carousel this season, he’s been excellent at both Troy and Tulane.  He’s headed to the SEC in my opinion but Penn St. would be lucky to have him.  I would be more than happy to see him stick around Tulane until Kirk Ferentz retires, he would be at the top of my board. 

Disaster candidate: Brian Kelly (former LSU). There’s a thought that Kelly’s “failure” at LSU (he did win a lot just not enough for them) was because he wasn’t a culture fit.  His terrible Louisiana accent notwithstanding, Kelly’s personality was his downfall. Some would call him gruff, that’s the polite way to put it, he’s a jerk, always has been.  I don’t think his personality would endear him to the Penn St. faithful.  He needs a lower profile place where they can hide his personality.

Sneaky Good Idea: Bob Chesney (James Madison).  He’s a great coach from the region who took over James Madison after Curt Cignetti and has kept them winning.  He won at Holy Cross before that.  He’s not a big enough name but he might just be a really good coach and someone is going to hire him.  They may be missing out.

Auburn

Auburn has high hopes for their football program and they keep grasping at straws trying to find the solution at head coach, it has not gone well.  Hugh Freeze is in over his head and they need another new coach.  They went way outside the box when they hired Bryan Harsin from Boise St. a few years ago, that was a disaster. Then they overcorrected with thinking Freeze was the right fit.  They should try to hit one straight down the fairway, a good coach who can fit anywhere. 

The Pick: Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri)

Remember I said Drinkwitz might prefer to go somewhere that’s he’s the first choice and not the consolation prize.  I think Auburn should put on the full-court press and get him before Florida takes their eye off Kiffin and before Penn St. gets any farther down their list.  Drinkwitz won at Appalachian St and he’s winning at Missouri.  He’s been a great evaluator of talent both with players and coaches and Auburn needs someone to get everything there aligned.  Auburn has a strange history with coaches and I might actually tell Drinkwitz to look elsewhere but Auburn can be a giant and they are going to make it worth his while.  Missouri can compete with the salary but they don’t have the same advantages Auburn has in the SEC since Missouri is an SEC school that’s not actually in SEC country. 

Runner Up: Jon Sumrall (Tulane).  I’m not sure this is really a runner up because I think Sumrall would prefer a different SEC destination, but Auburn can think he would choose them. 

Disaster candidate: Ed Orgeron (unemployed interim coach specialist).  If Drinkwitz goes to Florida, and Sumrall goes to (SPOILER ALERT) Kentucky, maybe baggage at Auburn hurts them with some of the up-and-comers and they end up with Orgeron (this is never happening, Auburn donors are far too involved to let this occur).

Sneaky Good Idea: Glenn Schumann (Georgia defensive coordinator).  Not sure how sneaky it is, his name has come up for openings but he’s a coordinator so I’m not sure they would even consider it.  The last Georgia defensive coordinator to take a head job was Dan Lanning so there’s that.  Auburn could do worse, actually, they usually do.    

Florida St.

The Seminoles are basically letting Mike Norvell finish out the season but he’s a dead man walking right now and it’s understandable.  The last two seasons have been a disaster.  They are going to have to pay a major buyout for Norvell so they won’t likely be shopping for a coach in the same tax bracket as these other schools.  Florida St. doesn’t have the deep pockets of a Big Ten or SEC school but they are a major brand and they hope to be in one of those conferences one day.  They need a good coach that isn’t extra expensive and can turn this program back around. 

The Pick: Clark Lea (Vanderbilt)

This is a tough one because Lea has built Vanderbilt into a real football program and he’s an alumnus.  It’s going to take a special job to get him to move but Florida St. is a very prominent program.  Vanderbilt is in the SEC and Florida St. is not but Vanderbilt isn’t in the business of investing in football the way Florida St. is long-term.  It would suck for him to leave but this is the time to go.  Lea wasn’t exactly lighting it up at Vanderbilt until Diego Pavia transferred in and now Pavia will be done.  It’s the right time to go and he can say he’s leaving Vanderbilt in a better place than where he found it. 

Runner up: Alex Golesh (South Florida).  A very good alternative if they can’t get Lea.

Disaster candidate: Ryan Silverfield (Memphis).  This is not a slight on Silverfield, he’s proven to be a good head coach.  He’s a disaster as a Florida St. candidate only because Mike Norvell was hired from Memphis and Silverfield replaced him there.  No way Florida St. can sell the idea of hiring the next guy from Memphis.  It’s a dumb reason but it does matter to them.  

Sneaky Good Idea: Jeff Brohm (Louisville).  I’ve heard Brohm’s name come up and getting him to leave his alma mater Louisville will be even harder than getting Lea to do so.  However, Brohm is an excellent coach and if Florida St. pulled this off, hats off, that would be incredible. 

Virginia Tech

Virgina Tech needs a reset after striking out with Brent Pry.  They may make a play for Shane Beamer at South Carolina but following in the legendary footsteps of his father seems like a bad idea.  Beamer may want to find a soft-landing spot after his tough year at South Carolina but he would be better off not going back to Va Tech. 

The Pick: James Franklin (former Penn St.)

This one feels like it has been in motion since the minute he was fired.  Franklin is still a young coach and has the energy it will take to fix Virginia Tech and he’s got something to prove.  It would be a solid hire for the school, don’t overthink it. 

Runner up: Billy Napier (former Florida).  I haven’t heard his name for any openings but he’s a good coach and they could do worse. 

Disaster candidate: Brian Kelly (former LSU). He qualifies as a disaster at anywhere that has actual expectations and where he has to talk to people.

Sneaky Good Idea: Bob Chesney (James Madison). Again, a job in this region would be a good fit and he’s a good coach.

Kentucky

This job isn’t open yet but it looks like Mark Stoops could be gone any day now.  It’s a massive buyout but this program is slipping and they can’t afford to let it slip any farther.  Also, they have the opportunity to bring home a homegrown future coaching star and if they don’t act now, he’s getting a different job. 

The Pick: Jon Sumrall (Tulane). 

Sumrall is at the top of any list of coaches coming from the G6 teams.  He was a LB at Kentucky and was an assistant there before he became the head coach at Troy.  He parlayed Troy into Tulane and he’s been excellent there.  If the Wildcats don’t hire him now, someone else in the SEC or Big Ten will and then it will be very hard to get him.  He might be Auburn’s top choice, if Kiffin leaves Ole Miss, Sumrall’s on that list too.

Runner up: Ryan Silverfield (Memphis) or Alex Golesh (South Florida).  I’m not sure Kentucky will be able to spend on a sitting head coach from a Power 4 school so if Sumrall turns them down, they look to the other top G6 guys. 

Disaster candidate: Anyone not name Jon Sumrall.  If they pay Mark Stoops’ ridiculous buyout, they better be sure Sumrall is taking the job.  The owe Stoops something like $38 million and it’s all due within 30 days of his firing, that’s insane.  Kudos to Stoops’ agent.  Sumrall would be a homerun hire for them, anyone else is a disappointment. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Don’t put a one lump sum payment buyout on a coach’s contract like this ever again. Especially for a guy who showed you his ceiling was winning nine games every few years.  Stoops deserves credit for rebuilding Kentucky football but he was well compensated the entire time and now his reward for tanking the program is winning the lottery.  That’s bad business.

Arkansas

It was time to move on from Sam Pittman and Bobby Petrino is not the answer.  Don’t be stupid and go looking for someone outside your comfort zone like you did when you hired Bret Bielema.  Stick to someone you know. 

The Pick: Rhett Lashlee (SMU)

Lashlee is an Arkansas native who built a good SMU team and took them to the college football playoff last year.  He’s an excellent coach and there’s no better fit.  I say it all the time, don’t over think it.  SMU has deep pockets to compete with any offer but let’s not pretend Arkansas can’t beat it. 

Runner up: Eric Morris (North Texas). He’s a Texas guy who could recruit to Arkansas pretty well and he’s a QB savant. 

Disaster hire: Billy Napier (former Florida).  I don’t think Arkansas fans would take too well to Florida’s reject. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Collin Klein (Texas A&M offensive coordinator).  Klein is a young coach who has been an offensive coordinator at Kansas St. and Texas A&M and they would be getting a guy on his way up.  It might be a big jump but he might be worth the risk. 

Oklahoma St.

Mike Gundy was there for a very long time as both a coach and a player.  He defined Oklahoma St. football for a generation, now they need to move on.  A new, young offensive minded coach would look good in Stillwater. 

The Pick: Eric Morris (North Texas)

Morris is only 40 and he hasn’t been coaching that long in college but he’s been a head coach at Incarnate Word and at North Texas, he was also an offensive coordinator at Washington St. when they were still in a major conference.  Oklahoma St. isn’t the most attractive job out there but it has its advantages.  If you get a guy like Morris who can recruit in Texas and find you a QB, that’s a great place to start.

Runner up: Collin Klein (Texas A&M OC).  Same reasons as the Arkansas job although it’s not as big of a leap. 

Disaster candidate: Ben Arbuckle (Oklahoma OC). Arbuckle is 29 and not ready.  He’s had success with John Mateer at Washington St. and some at Oklahoma but he shouldn’t be getting this big of a job. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Just hire Morris, this isn’t hard.   

UCLA

The Bruins are flailing along and trying to find a direction.  Tim Skipper is the interim after they fired Deshuan Foster but they need to look for someone with some real head coaching experience to lead the program.  That’s not going to be easy with an athletic department that isn’t likely to commit a ton of resources.  They could go with a current coordinator but I think they should look for the guy looking for a soft landing somewhere new. 

The Pick: Dave Aranda (Baylor)

Aranda has had Baylor up and down over the years and generally just as soon as it looks like they may fire him, he has a solid year.  Maybe it’s time to get off that particular rollercoaster.  Aranda was born and raised in California and UCLA may just be desperate enough to want a guy needing a lifeline.  Aranda cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator so there’s even the possibility he might be willing to keep Jerry Neuheisel as his offensive coordinator.  Aranda is a good coach needing a reset and UCLA needs a coach who’s willing to accept a job that may not be perfect. 

Runner up: D’Anton Lynn (USC defensive coordinator).  Lynn was formerly the defensive coordinator at UCLA and may have been the guy who replaced Chip Kelly if he hadn’t just left for the USC DC job.  He would also potentially keep Neuheisel so he’s not the worst choice. 

Disaster hire: PJ Fleck (Minnesota).  His name routinely gets floated for this job but I don’t think the UCLA administration would find it fun to have Fleck around complaining about not getting enough support from the school.  He’s not exactly the type of guy to suffer in silence. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Tosh Lupoi (Oregon defensive coordinator).  Great recruiter and a guy looking for a chance to be a head coach.  He too could keep Neuheisel.  It’s not a dealbreaker that a new coach has to keep him but Neuheisel seems to be beloved in that locker room and loves UCLA.  He’s done a good job taking over and making the offense fun again since the purge of Deshaun Foster and other coaches.  Don’t kill the vibe. 

Stanford

Frank Reich is the interim coach that Andrew Luck hired to hold down the fort after they let Troy Taylor go over the summer for non-football related reasons.  I don’t have a good feel for this job because the only name mentioned I’ve seen is Tavita Pritchard who is the Ravens QB coach.  He’s a former Stanford QB and coached there too.  He’s really young and doesn’t have a ton of experience.  Luck is in charge of hiring the next coach and he would be wise to look at UCLA’s hiring of Deshaun Foster and steer clear of hiring a guy just because of his ties to the school.  There are a couple of good coaches not linked to Stanford that Luck should look into. 

The Pick: Sean Lewis (San Diego St.)

Lewis is an offensive mastermind and was an excellent coach at Kent St. and if you know anything about Kent St. football you know how impressive that was.  He made the mistake of leaving there to be Deion Sanders’ OC at Colorado.  That didn’t go well but he was smart enough to get out before it hurt his stock.  He got the San Diego St. job and has done well.  He runs a unique offense and Stanford probably needs to do something a little different to compete.  It a tough situation with their academic standards and the weird placement in the ACC but Stanford can be a good team. 

Runner up: Ken Niumatalolo (San Jose St.). Niumatalolo was once the head coach at Navy and ran the triple option there but now at San Jose St. he runs a wide-open spread offense.  Talk about a guy who could give Stanford something unique.  He’s an excellent coach but he is 60 years old and may not want the headache of a rebuild at a tough place like Stanford.

Disaster hire: Tavita Pritchard (Baltimore Ravens QB coach).  I’m not knocking Pritchard as a coach, by all accounts he’s doing a good job.  However, he’s 36, never been a head coach, and this is a heavy lift.  The Deshaun Foster/UCLA thing would scare me away from this.  Maybe if you hire Lewis, he succeeds and moves on in a few years and then Pritchard comes back after being at least a coordinator in the NFL or college.  Give it a little time.

Sneaky Good Idea: Jonathan Smith (Michigan St.) Smith was a rising star at Oregon St. and now in his second year at Michigan St. he might get fired.  He’s a west coast guy and maybe getting back that way would be good for him.  I don’t think it’s a good idea for Michigan St. to give up on him this early but he may be like Dave Aranda and looking for a soft-landing spot. 

Maryland

This is another job that isn’t open and depending on how they finish, it may not.  Mike Locksley has been a big-time recruiter in his career as an assistant but as a head coach, he’s been hit and miss.  His coaching hasn’t been great at Maryland.  There are a lot of great players in the area and he hasn’t taken advantage.  He has a very good freshman QB this year but they may only go 5-7, 6-6, or 7-5 at best.  He’s had plenty of time and Maryland has a chance to get a good up-and-coming coach. 

The pick: Charles Huff (Southern Miss)

Huff is a Maryland native and he’s coached at places like Alabama, Penn St. and even the NFL.  He was the head coach at Marshall and took over at Southern Miss this season.  He’s won at both places and he would be a great get for Maryland.

Runner up: I don’t think there’s a great second choice.  Huff should be the guy if they move on.

Disaster hire: Brian Kelly (former LSU).  I’m just taking another shot at Kelly. 

Sneaky Good Idea: Bob Chesney (James Madison). Seriously, do I have to say it again? He’s a good coach.

The Domino Jobs (their coach left for a better opportunity)

Ole Miss

Lost: Lane Kiffin

Hire: Pete Golding (Ole Miss defensive coordinator). 

Golding has been a good coach at Ole Miss and was a good DC at Alabama before that.  He would likely have to wrestle with Kiffin to keep some of the staff but he’s their best shot at keeping the Kiffin thing going. 

Other options: Alex Golesh (South Florida), Jon Sumrall (Tulane)

Missouri

Lost: Eli Drinkwitz

Hire: Ryan Silverfield (Memphis).

Silverfield might be the runner up for a number of jobs because he’s good but maybe not ready for the upper level of the Big Ten or SEC.  Missouri is a good next step for him.  Better program, better conference, and working towards the bigger jobs.

Other options: Alex Golesh (South Florida), Colin Klein (Texas A&M OC)

Iowa St.

Lost: Matt Campbell

Hire: Jason Eck (New Mexico).

He has done a great job everywhere he’s been and he does have ties to AD Jamie Pollard.  Eck was an offensive lineman and started his coaching career at Wisconsin when Pollard was there.

Other options: Nathan Scheelhaase (LA Rams Assistant Coach), Tim Polasek (North Dakota St.)

SMU

Lost: Rhett Lashlee

Hire: Will Stein (Oregon offensive coordinator). 

Stein spent a lot of time coaching in the state of Texas and he would be a great candidate to step in and keep the offense humming at SMU.  He’s a future coaching star. 

Other options: Collin Klein (Texas A&M OC), Jason Eck (New Mexico)

Washington

Lost: Jedd Fisch

Hire: Ryan Grubb (Alabama OC). 

Grubb was Kalen DeBoer’s right hand man during Washington’s run to the National Championship Game a couple of years ago.  He’s a great offensive mind for college (his year with the Seahawks went poorly, not all his fault).  And he clearly liked the area so maybe he will stay longer than DeBoer or Fisch did.

Other options: Will Stein (Oregon OC), Tosh Lupoi (Oregon DC)

Tulane

Lost: Jon Sumrall

Hire: Collin Klein (Texas A&M OC)

Klein is a young coach at 36 and while there’s a very good chance, he may end up the head coach at Kansas St. someday, Chris Klieman is only 58 and Klein should get some experience as a head coach.  If Sumrall moves up to a bigger job, that’s the last two Tulane head coaches who moved up (Willie Fritz became the Houston head coach).  This is a good job to have.

Other options: Charles Huff (Southern Miss), Billy Napier (former Florida)

Memphis

Lost: Ryan Silverfield

Hire: Tim Cramsey (Memphis OC)

The last time Memphis lost their head coach they replaced Mike Norvell with Silverfield.  Here they do it again by promoting Cramsey who is their offensive coordinator.  It’s not the sexiest hire but he’s a solid coach. 

Other options: Brian Brohm (Memphis OC), Andy Kotelnicki (Penn St. OC), Brian Hartline (Ohio St. OC) 

Vanderbilt

Lost: Clark Lea

Hire: Bob Chesney (James Madison)

I mentioned Chesney for a couple of jobs but I haven’t given him one yet.  He would be an excellent choice for Vanderbilt.  He isn’t working with the biggest budget at JMU and Vanderbilt would be similar.  Chesney can do less with more.  He should be getting one of these jobs.

Other options: Andy Kotelnicki (Penn St. OC), Mike Denbrock (Notre Dame OC)

Baylor

Lost: Dave Aranda

Hire: Alex Golesh (South Florida)

Golesh should also be getting a promotion and heading to Baylor and bringing his offensive acumen to a place like Baylor seems fitting. 

Other options: Eric Morris (North Texas), Will Stein (Oregon OC)

The 3 Other Jobs (Someone will take them)

Oregon St

They fired Trent Bray after less than a season and a half after promoting him when Jonathan Smith left for Michigan St.  He was a young defensive coordinator and they didn’t give him much time.  Oregon St. is still in the PAC-2 until they get the PAC-whatever back up and running.  It’s not a great job but someone will take it. 

The Pick: Paul Chryst

Chryst wasn’t lighting up the world at Wisconsin but he didn’t deserve to get fired either and they are paying for that mistake now.  He wants to get back into coaching but he isn’t going to be a hot commodity.  He would be an excellent pick to resurrect Oregon St. and get them on track as the new conference gets going. 

UAB

They fired Trent Dilfer and for good reason.  He was a disaster and anyone is an upgrade.  This program deserves a good coach.

The Pick: Billy Napier (former Florida). 

Napier is a good coach.  He was in over his head at Florida but he was an excellent coach at Louisiana.  UAB would be a good landing spot for him. 

Colorado St.

Jay Norvell did okay at CSU but never quite as well as he did at Nevada.  CSU is at best a stepping stone for a good young coach and at worst it’s a last stop for a guy on his way out.  Maybe this is the Brian Kelly stop.  I highly doubt he would swallow his pride enough to take this job but it would be a good place for him, no one is paying attention to Colorado St. 

The Pick: I don’t have a good choice for this one.  I say go for the up-and-coming coach like a Brian Brohm (Louisville OC), Andy Kotelnicki (Penn St. OC), or Tim Polasek (North Dakota St) but I’m not sure they would take it.  It’s possible this is a Mike Gundy spot.   

The two Big Ten jobs that could open but won’t.

Wisconsin

Luke Fickell needs a miracle because even if he survives this year, Wisconsin’s outlook next year can’t be great.  He’s a dead man walking but Wisconsin’s AD doesn’t want to admit his mistake and they really don’t want to pay his buyout.  They are talking about investing more money in the roster and while that would help, Fickell’s inability to keep a QB healthy has killed his team every year.  Wisconsin hasn’t had the offensive line they are used to or the defense they used to have so it’s an uphill climb.  It is possible things change and the Wisconsin AD gets the boot too and both are gone.  If they need a coach, Jason Eck (New Mexico) is a former Badger and if the AD is gone, they could try to mend fences with Jim Leonhard (Denver Broncos assistant).  Neither would necessarily break the bank so they could get it done. 

Michigan St. 

I thought the Jonathan Smith hire was a good one at the time and I would give him more time to right the ship.  With the portal, it’s possible to turn a roster around quickly if you make the right moves.  Maybe Smith is a bad fit but I think Michigan St. should sit out this coaching cycle, give Smith the resources to figure it out, and if he fails next season, maybe the coaching carousel isn’t so tough. They have turned that job into a revolving door since Mark Dantonio retired and it’s not a good idea to continually turn over the job.  They didn’t have a choice with Mel Tucker; he had to go. They have a choice with Smith and they should hold on to him. 

Well, if you made it this far, kudos to you and thanks for sticking around.  I probably got it all wrong and if Lane Kiffin picks Florida or stays at Ole Miss, the dominos may fall in a completely different way.  That’s the fun of dominos.      

2025 NFC North Preview

Detroit Lions

The Lions went 15-2 last season but came up short in the playoffs and now they have to replace both their offensive and defensive coordinators along with a number of coaches on the staff.  Dan Campbell hired John Morton to replace Ben Johnson at OC and promoted LB coach Kelvin Sheppard to replace Aaron Glenn as DC.  The roster returns almost every key piece and that will help the transition. 

QB Jared Goff comes back as the steady piece of the offense but he will have John Morton calling plays and a new guy, David Shaw (passing game coordinator), in his ear.  Losing Johnson and coaches like Tanner Engstrand, Antwaan Randle-El, and JT Barrett will put more on Goff to keep the offense on track.  Mark Brunell returns as QB coach and Hank Fraley is the offensive line coach and run game coordinator, that’s good news. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown returns as the alpha dog of this pass game, he’s incredibly productive.  Last season, they finally got Jameson Williams to be the type of playmaker they hoped he would be.  It’s up to Morton, Shaw, and the others to keep him progressing.  They have TE Sam LaPorta as arguably their second-best pass catcher although he had a bit of a down year last season.  With St. Brown, Williams, and LaPorta, they don’t have a huge need for more production from the pass catching group but they hope either Tim Patrick can stay healthy this season or rookie Isaac TeSlaa steps up for the third WR spot. TeSlaa has had an excellent preseason and it’s just a matter of time before he passes Patrick. 

Fraley is one of the better offensive line coaches in the league and some teams looked at him pretty hard for their OC job.  He returns to Detroit with the run game coordinator title and they will need some help from him keeping the offense running.  Jamyr Gibbs broke out last season and showed he can be a top-level RB and David Montgomery can still be productive. 

The offensive line has been top-notch for years but that will be put to the test this season.  LT Taylor Decker is still as solid as they come and RT Penei Sewell is arguably the best RT in the league who isn’t Lane Johnson.  The interior of the line is the question.  C Frank Ragnow retired this summer and Kevin Zeitler left in free agency.  The team drafted Tate Ratledge knowing they would need him with Zeitler leaving.  That also means they are counting heavily on Christian Mahogany’s development as a second-year guy.  Graham Glasgow was the LG last year and struggled, they are moving him to center to step in for Ragnow.  Glasgow isn’t great at center but for now he’s a better option than trying to teach the rookie Ratledge a new position before he’s even played a snap in the NFL.  They are dangerously thin on the line and the interior of the line is compromised and could be their Achilles heel. 

The defense is also changing the coordinator as Kelvin Sheppard was promoted to DC when Aaron Glenn took the Jet’s job.  Sheppard knows this defense well and these players so it should be a simpler transition.  The defense will be built around the talent of Aidan Hutchinson as he returns at DE from his season ending injury.  He should be 100% for the season but he needs some help off the edge.  The team has been trying to find a suitable complement at DE and they are running it back with Marcus Davenport, who missed almost all last season after signing with them.  They may need to look to re-sign Za’Darius Smith if Davenport doesn’t hold up again.  AT DT they still have DJ Reader and Alim McNeill is returning from injury too.  They drafted Tyliek Williams so he steps in as a starter until McNeil is ready.    

The LB corps feature Alez Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Derrick Barnes, assuming they are all healthy.  That’s an assumption that could prove untrue but they are solid if those guys are playing.  The secondary just re-signed S Kerby Joseph to a massive contract and he and Brian Branch are an excellent duo at safety.  CB DJ Reed was signed to replace Carlton Davis.  Reed is more of a CB2 so they are clearly hoping Terrion Arnold ascends to the CB1 spot in year two.  Amik Robertson is the nickel with Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox as depth pieces. 

The Lions will be good once again but the coaching staff changes, the interior offensive line issues and the health on defense are all reasons to question where this team ends up.  The NFC North is not for the faint of heart and if this team’s performance slips even a little bit, all three teams in the division could give them trouble. 

Green Bay Packers

The Packers were 11-6 last year and they return everyone of consequence and have added a few key players.  Matt LeFleur is one of the better coaches in the NFL and his staff is intact for the most part so they are counting largely on the development of their younger players to help get them over the hump in the playoffs.  It all starts with QB Jordan Love.  He’s a truly talented player who they need to stay healthy and he should be entering his prime.  He’s already dealing with a thumb issue and they hope it doesn’t hamper him all season.    

The Packers have a bevy of young WRs to like but they don’t have that one ace they can count on when the chips are down.  For the first time in about a quarter century they invested a first-round pick in a WR, Matthew Golden.  He wasn’t my favorite prospect but it’s easy to see how he fits their needs. Christian Watson has been their only real deep threat for the past few years and he’s been inconsistent and is coming off an injury.  Golden can be that guy instead and really complement Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs.  It also means counting less on Dontayvion Wicks, he’s a guy with suspect hands.  The TE position is in good hands with Tucker Kraft really breaking out last season and Luke Musgrave is good when he’s healthy. 

RB Josh Jacobs pretty much carries the running game on his back at this point until they can get something out of MarShawn Lloyd, he’s already banged up.  Jacobs fits the scheme quite well and while he’s only 27, he’s got a lot of carries on his legs.  It would be helpful if Lloyd could take some of the load.  The running game should be aided by the addition of LG Aaron Banks.  The team spent big to bring him in as a free agent and he allows them to move Elgton Jenkins to center.  Jenkins is an upgrade at center over Josh Myers assuming he agrees to move to center.  Jenkins didn’t seem thrilled about the possibility after Banks was signed.  LT Rasheed Wallace is a decent starter and RT Zach Tom is a good starter on the opposite side.  The team should be hoping Jordan Morgan wins the RG job after they drafted him in round one last year but they are also getting him time at LT.  Wallace is in a contract year and they just gave RT Zach Tom a contract extension so Wallace is probably a free agent next off season.    

Jeff Hafley took over the defense last year and transitioned them to more of a 4-3 base defense and while they weren’t elite, the defense was pretty good.  DEs Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness are penciled in to start.  Gary is an accomplished player who had 7.5 sacks last year. They would like a little more out of him but it’s Van Ness who really has to step up.  As a former first-round pick, he needs to give them more than three sacks.  They aren’t that deep on the edge so fourth-round pick Barryn Sorrell has a chance to play.  The DT rotation has Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Karl Brooks after TJ Slaton left in free agency. Those guys are solid on the inside, it’s the edge that needs better production.   

The LB corps still has Quay Walker but they are going to be playing Edgerrin Cooper more.  Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper will fill roles too.  Walker is coming off an injury and needs to steady his play if he wants to continue to play.  The secondary has Xavier McKinney at SS and then there are questions all around.  Evan Williams stepped in at safety as a rookie and played well and they hope their other rookie from last year, Javon Bullard, becomes their full-time nickel.  The team finally cut Jaire Alexander at CB but that leaves them with an unproven group at CB.  Keisean Nixon played well last year on the outside but he came up as a nickel corner and doesn’t have a long track record on the outside.  They signed Nate Hobbs to be the other CB; he’s also mostly been a nickel.  Nixon and Hobbs on the outside is tenuous at best.  Carrington Valentine is the other option. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are coming off an incredible 14-3 season where they finished one game behind the Lions in the division.  Head coach Kevin O’Connell is known as a QB savant and that reputation was only enhanced by the season Sam Darnold had under O’Connell.  Darnold was great until the last couple of games of the year and that’s why they didn’t re-sign him.  O’Connell will look to work his magic with JJ McCarthy this season.

After sitting out his rookie year with a knee injury, it’s McCarthy’s job now and he steps into an even better situation than Darnold had.  Justin Jefferson is arguably the best WR in the game, it’s either him or Ja’Marr Chase.  Jordan Addison is a great second WR and the team has TE TJ Hockenson, who should only be better another year removed from his ACL injury.  That’s three top receiving options for McCarthy.  The problem is that Addison is suspended for the first three games of the season, Jefferson is dealing with a hamstring injury, and even Jalen Nailor is banged up. Nailor isn’t the best option at WR3 even when healthy which is why the Vikings pulled off the much talked about trade for Adam Thielen. Thielen is a Vikings legend and now he returns to the team. He’s still a productive player even at 35 and he’ll be a reliable target for McCarthy.

The team also went into the off season intent on fixing their interior offensive line issues and they certainly succeeded.The offensive line was abysmal last year on the interior so we have wholesale changes this season. C Ryan Kelly and RG Will Fries were signed as free agents from Indianapolis and the team drafted LG Donovan Jackson in the first round of the draft.  Adding those three to LT Christian Darrisaw, one of the best LTs in football, and RT Brian O’Neill, a very good player himself, and you have an excellent offensive line.  Aaron Jones returns as the main RB but Jones is 30 and he gets banged up.  They didn’t have a great option behind Jones so this off season they traded for Jordan Mason from San Francisco.  He was a very effective back when he played in place of Christian McCaffrey last year, he’s an upgrade to the unit. 

Brian Flores is a defensive mastermind and O’Connell lets him do his thing on defense.  Last year it took some Flores magic to cover some of the holes in the defense so this year they got him a little more help.  The DT position was rough last year so they signed veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.  Those two are probably upgrades but there are some questions given they are aging players coming off injuries.  Allen probably still has something left in the tank but Hargrave is 32 and it’s not clear he’s going to be the guy he once was.  These two are a big bet that this team needs to pay off.  Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel proved to be excellent additions last year as both guys had double digit sacks.  If they can get last year’s other first-round pick, Dallas Turner (the non-McCarthy pick), to give them anything as a third pass rusher, it takes the defense to a different level.  Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman are good ILBs who have the skills Flores likes from his LBs.  Pace Jr. was especially affective for Flores. 

The secondary is where things could go wrong for this group.  They re-signed CB Byron Murphy, he’s become a Flores favorite but they are still a bit thin at CB.  Isaiah Rodgers was signed as a free agent to replace Stephon Gilmore.  Rodgers is a lot younger but way less accomplished.  He takes one outside CB spot.  Murphy does some of his best work in the slot so they are hoping either Mekhi Blackmon returns from injury or Jeff Okudah emerges for the other outside CB spot. Harrison Smith is 36 but still getting it done at FS while they hope Josh Mettelus can step in as a full-time player for Cam Bynum and Theo Jackson becomes the third safety. 

Chicago Bears

The Bears could be one of the most improved teams this season over last year and could still finish last in this division, it’s that tough.  They were six games worse than the third place Packers in the division last season.  Ben Johnson and his new coaching staff are probably worth three or four more wins alone after the debacle the end of the Matt Eberflus era was last year.  Johnson is one of the smartest offensive minds in football and he was smart enough to hire Dennis Allen to run his defense.  Allen has proven he’s not a great head coach but he’s also proven he’s a master defensive coordinator. 

Ben Johnson’s most important job is getting QB Caleb Williams to live up to his incredible talent.  Williams has skills that could make him one of the better QBs in the league, but he has to harness those skills in an effective manner.  Johnson can design an offense to highlight Williams and find the best way to use the talent around him, and there’s plenty of it.  WR DJ Moore is a legitimate WR1 in the NFL.  His usage last year was confusing but Johnson will fix that.  WR Rome Odunze is one of the most physically gifted WRs you’ll see, Johnson won’t squander that skill.  They signed Olamide Zaccheaus to be the slot guy and then stumbled into Luther Burden III in round two of the draft, Burden is a playmaker.  TE Cole Kmet is a weapon but rookie TE Colston Loveland might be an upgrade in the passing game. 

The offensive line was the biggest personnel issue last season and it was the interior that was the issue.  The team traded for LG Joe Thuney and RG Jonah Jackson and then signed C Drew Dalman in free agency.  If those three guys are all healthy and playing, that’s a significant upgrade inside.  LT Braxton Jones needs to be healthy and needs to improve. They have spent most of training camp trying to find a different LT but it looks like Jones is still the best bet.  RT Darnell Wright is solid and should benefit from Ben Johnson’s offense.  At RB, D’Andre Swift is the most likely starter and Rochon Johnson shouldn’t be forgotten.  However, rookie seventh rounder Kyle Monangai has really stood out in camp and the coaches love him.  I think he’s going to be the guy by the end of the year. 

Dennis Allen will run the defense and this group should work well for him. DE Montez Sweat isn’t the speed rusher off the edge you typically think of for the top edge guy but Allen prefers big, power DEs.  The team signed Deyo Odeyingbo because he’s also a big power end like Sweat.  This team’s pass rush will come from pushing the pocket more than beating teams off the edge.  At DT they are hoping for development from Gervon Dexter, a talented young player.  They also inexplicably signed Grady Jarrett to a fairly expensive contract.  It’s the one major move that I questioned from the off season but Jarrett is a pro’s pro and the team needs that for sure.  Andrew Billings is still around and they drafted Shemar Turner so hopefully for the Bears, if Jarrett doesn’t pan out on the field, they can cover. 

At LB, MLB Tremaine Edmunds is an expensive player but he’s been solid for them since they signed him as a free agent.  TJ Edwards was brought in at the same time and he’s a good LB too.  They mainly used two LBs last year and if Allen wants to use three, he may have to look to rookie Ruben Hyppolite II because there’s not a lot of depth. 

Mostly they used nickel so they use five defensive backs because they have a strong secondary. CB Jaylon Johnson may not be in the top, elite tier of CBs but he’s the next level down from them.  Tyrique Stevenson has had some ups and downs in his short career but he’s got talent.  If Allen can get him straight, they should be fine.  Nickel back Kyler Gordon is one of the best at that position in the league.  Safeties Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard are a solid duo.  Brisker is a guy who could still get a little better and be one of the better safeties in the game.  Byard is an older veteran who just knows what to do.     

Final Preseason Thoughts on Iowa Football 2025

My Iowa Hawkeye Preview was written before fall camp started and as with any preseason preview, it deserves a little update now that fall camp is in the books and the Hawkeyes kick off the season on Saturday.  So here are a few updates, some thoughts, and a look at the season ahead.

The QB position worked out how I saw it coming together, Mark Gronowski is the starter, Hank Brown is the backup and Jeremy Hecklinski is the third stringer.  After watching them at the open practice I’m not surprised.  It wasn’t the most impressive day for Gronowski but you could see the skills he brings to the position.  It’s a huge upgrade at QB, not just the starter, the whole roster at QB.    

At RB, Kamari Moulton and Terrell Washington both missed a chunk of fall camp but they are still listed as the top two RBs on the two-deeps.  That’s who I had and it proved to be true.  One thing to keep in mind is that on the two-deeps Moulton and Washington were listed as co-starters with Jaziun Patterson and Xavier Williams listed as co-backups.  The Hawkeyes have depth at RB and it shows.  I think we will see them use six RBs this year after true freshman Nathan McNeil had a great camp and redshirt freshman Brevin Doll is a talented player too.

At WR, I said Sam Phillips was a wild card and he moved his way all the way to he starting lineup.  Jacob Gill, Seth Anderson, and Phillips were the three listed starters.  Anderson looked great at the open practice and if he can stay healthy, he’s going to have a good year.  Gill is just the reliable target every QB loves.  Phillips is the speed demon this offense needs to give it the big play capability it needs. Last year, almost all the big plays came in the running game from Kaleb Johnson, with Anderson and Phillips, there’s potential for big plays in the passing game.  Kaden Wetjen, Reece Vander Zee, and KJ Parker are listed as the backups so there’s some real depth with Jarriet Buie and Dayton Howard not even on the depth chart. 

The starting offensive line has LG Beau Stephens, C Logan Jones, RG Kade Pieper, and RT Gennings Dunker which we all knew was how it would be for those spots.  LT is listed as Trevor Lauck and Jack Dotzler which means it’s still not decided.  Lauck seems to be trending towards being the starter but I’m sure they will rotate, especially in the first game, to get a better idea. This could be a competition for weeks before they decide on one guy, or they could rotate them all season.  Bryce George is listed as the backup LT but Lauck and Dotzler are both listed as the backups at RT so basically Dunker, Lauck, and Dotzler are the top three tackles.  That doesn’t bode well for Cannon Leonard since he’s not listed on the two-deeps at all.  One other thing to note is true freshman Lucas Allgeyer is listed as the backup RG, that does bode well for his future. 

On the defensive line the one change of note is that Bryce Hawthorne is listed as the starting DT next to Aaron Graves.  Jeremiah Pittman is still working his way back from surgery and while Jonah Pace looked like a potential starter inside, Hawthorne has really impressed the coaches. Also, Brian Allen is recovered from his off season surgeries and is listed as a backup DE while Will Hubert, a walk-on, takes the fourth DT spot.  There will be a heavy rotation in the first game against Albany so we will see plenty of the young guys. 

There were no surprises at the LB spots except that none of the redshirt freshman (Cam Buffington, Preston Ries, Derek Weisskopf) were listed at all. Jayden Montgomery and Landyn Van Kekerix were the only guys listed behind the starters. Jaxon Rexroth is listed as the starting LEO and the backup to Karson Sharar on the weakside. 

In the secondary we got some clarity on some things and a little confusion on others.  Zach Lutmer was listed as the starter at Cash with Koen Entringer set to be the strong safety.  That’s good to know, however, Entringer is listed as the backup at Cash and like a co-starter with Xavier Nwankpa at FS, that’s confusing.  Clearly, Entringer is going to be on the field at all times but it’s going to be interesting to see how Phil Parker uses his safeties this season. 

At CB, TJ Hall and Deshaun Lee are the starters, that’s not surprising.  Jaylen Watson is listed as the co-backup at both spots so that tells me he’s the third CB. Shahid Barros and Rashad Godfrey are the other listed backups so the Hawkeyes have some depth.

That is all the notes I have about the two-deeps but just a few thoughts on the season.  I think Iowa’s passing game is going to be much improved.  It’s not just the upgrade at QB and WR.  It’s the installation of the passing scheme that Lester wasn’t really able to implement last year at all.  McNamara was never healthy enough to really get it going and Sullivan wasn’t the passer you need to run it.  Gronowski has the skills to actually run the offense the way Lester wants to run it. 

The biggest obstacle to the Hawkeyes having great season might be the schedule.  There is some good news, the three toughest conference games are Indiana, Penn St. and Oregon and all come to Kinnick.  The bad news is the road schedule has some hazards in it.  First of all, three of Iowa’s biggest rivalry games are on the road; Iowa St, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.  The Hawkeyes have had good luck lately in Ames and Lincoln and Wisconsin doesn’t look all that good but playing all three of those games on the road, sucks.  It’s losing one of those games that could derail a really good year for the Hawkeyes.  Also, Iowa has to travel to the west coast to take on USC.  I’m not sure if USC will be good or not but going west hasn’t been kind to the Hawkeyes.

The Big Ten slate doesn’t have any gimmes because at Rutgers, Minnesota, and Michigan St. won’t be pushovers.  Not sure why Iowa doesn’t get to play Purdue this season, we could really use a Purdue game this year.  This is the reality of the new Big Ten, there are no easy weeks.  I think this team is going to be pretty good and I’m thinking 9-3 or even 10-2 is possible but if the defense faulters like it did last year against Michigan St. and UCLA, 7-5 might be the reality.  I don’t make predictions on final records because I like to be optimistic this time of year.  Iowa could be fighting for a bowl berth the last few weeks of the season or looking for a potential spot in the College Football Playoff, neither one would surprise me all that much.      

2026 NFL Draft QB Prospects

In the 2024 NFL draft there were six QBs taken in the top 12 picks, in 2025, Shadeur Sanders was the sixth QB off the board and he was taken in round five with pick #144.  In 2026 there probably won’t be six QBs that go in the top 12 (it’s not completely out of the question but it’s unlikely), but we won’t be waiting until pick 144 for the sixth one either.  When I made my preliminary list of QBs to look at just to get a sense of draft eligible guys who could reasonably get drafted, I had 25 to start.  That doesn’t include guys like Diego Pavia or Noah Fifita who just don’t physically profile like NFL prospects.  They could change my mind with incredible seasons but I’m not going there at this point.  I’m going to do my Top 10 QB prospects for now and then throw in some others to watch out for.  All these players are draft eligible meaning they have been out of high school for at least three years.  The heights and weights are generally from there school’s listing so take those with a grain of salt, and I’ll note any that seem really out of whack.  Also, their listed class, take that with a grain of salt too, with all the NCAA rule changes, transfers, redshirts, JUCO things, and other issues, some of these guys may have more eligibility than it seems.  While we should essentially be at the end of the Covid extra eligibility guys there was a TE at Miami last year who was in his 9th year of college eligibility so I’ll believe anything at this point.  Let’s take a look.

1. Arch Manning     Redshirt Soph    Texas

I’m going to start with this; Manning is the #1 QB prospect in this draft until we reach the deadline to enter the draft in January.  I don’t think Manning will be in this class, I think he goes back to Texas unless three things occur.  1. Texas wins the national championship, 2. He wins the Heisman Trophy, 3. A team he wants to play for has the #1 overall pick.  If he pulls off the first two things in his first year as a starter for the Longhorns, he’s a legend and has nothing left to prove, if he fails to achieve either one, he can say he’s got something to come back to accomplish and just cash some more checks; NIL and otherwise.  The third one is going to be the huge piece here. Do you remember his grandfather Archie Manning making the Chargers trade his uncle Eli to the Giants because he didn’t want to go to that organization. Well, if the Cleveland Browns have the first pick it’s not hard to see Arch saying, thanks but no thanks, I’ll stay in Austin.  If it’s the New Orleans Saints, a team where his grandfather was a legend, he might be more tempted to come out.  Now, as for Manning the prospect.

He’s a legit 6’4 225 lbs. QB with a rifle for an arm like his uncles (Peyton and Eli) but he is more athletic than they ever were (his dad Cooper played WR before an injury ended his career).  Arch has some serious wheels when he leaves the pocket and he can still throw on the run too.  He’s everything you want from a physical standpoint, plus he has Manning DNA.  The one thing lacking is playing time in college.  He stepped in for Quinn Ewers when he was banged up but he only has a few starts so his sample size is limited.  If he balls out at Texas this year, there will be no stopping the hype train and we will just be living in the Arch Manning world until he decides when he wants to go pro.  If he has just a good year and enters the draft, he’s going first overall because there isn’t a GM on the planet who will pass on drafting the next great Manning.  Like I said though, I think he has to be great and have a hugely successful year to come out and if he does that, he’s a no-brainer at #1 overall. 

2. Drew Allar     Senior     Penn St.

If I were a betting man and I had to bet who I think will actually be the first pick of the 2026 draft, I’m taking Allar.  He’s 6’5 235 lbs. and this is going to be his third year as the starting QB at Penn St.  He’s had his issues against the best competition the Nittany Lions have faced over the last several years but he was pretty good last year against some good teams, his team let him down.  He’s straight out of central casting with his size and build for an NFL franchise QB.  While he’s a big, strong-armed pocket passer, he’s not a statue, he can move out of the pocket and throw too.  They aren’t designing runs for him like the Longhorns do for Arch Manning but he’s not going to just stand in the pocket and get killed either. 

He has a howitzer for an arm and can make any throw necessary but his ball placement needs some work.  He doesn’t always give his WRs the most catchable pass and Tyler Warren bailed him out of some bad throws last year.  Allar doesn’t play with the greatest group of WRs so some of it is him and some of it could be them not being exactly where they should be.  The good news is that over the last several years you can watch Allar get better as he plays.  He’s making the progress you want to see and after another full year as the starter, he could easily be the best QB in the draft…if there’s no Arch Manning. 

3. Garrett Nussmeier     Senior     LSU

Nussmeier is the son of longtime NFL and college coach and former NFL QB Doug Nussmeier.  His father is the new OC for Kellen Moore with the New Orleans Saints.  Doug was a journeyman QB and Garrett has a higher ceiling than that.  Garrett took over as the starter for LSU last year after Jayden Daniels graduated and he didn’t miss a beat.  He didn’t have Malik Nabers or Brian Thomas Jr. to throw too but that didn’t slow him down. He did play behind a brick wall last year but OT Will Campbell, OT Emory Jones, OG Miles Frazier and G/C Garrett Dellinger all got drafted.  That’s a major revamp happening in front of him. 

Nussmeier is accurate and smart, two things you would expect from a coach’s kid.  He’s also fearless with where he will throw it.  He will chuck it all over the yard if you let him.  He has a good arm for sure, he thinks he has an elite arm, which can get him in trouble. One other knock on his is he’s not very big.  He’s listed at 6’2 200 lbs. and the height might be true but he looks really slight compared to other players.  I will be interested to see how he performs this season after losing most of his o-line to the NFL draft.  He’s not built to take a beating if the o-line struggles.

4. Sam Leavitt     Redshirt Soph     Arizona St.

I’m probably higher on Leavitt than many people but after watching him at the end of last season and in the college football playoff, I’m a believer.  He got overshadowed by all the Cam Skattebo hype but Arizona St. doesn’t sniff the Big 12 title game or the college football playoff without Leavitt.  He brings an attitude and a swagger you want in a QB.  He will throw the ball anywhere, anytime, and it does get him in trouble a little, but it really energizes his team.  He does have the same flaw as Nussmeier in the fact that he’s a bit undersized, listed at 6’2 200 lbs.  I actually think it maybe his height is a little exaggerated but he’s probably 200 lbs. at least.  I think he has a little bit more of a frame that could grow and he’s almost three full years younger than Nussmeier so he has some time to fill out his frame.  Leavitt does have a good arm with strength and touch and he plays in a more pro-style offense, they use some play action like pros.  His head coach is Kenny Dillingham who is an excellent QB coach too.  I’m a fan of Leavitt and there’s a good chance he could pass up Nussmeier if has a big year.  There’s also a chance he doesn’t enter the 2026 draft if he’s making good money at Arizona St. or someone else wants to pay him a big number in college he could return.  He doesn’t turn 21 until December so he’s got time. 

5. Cade Klubnik     Senior     Clemson

Klubnik was a highly rated recruit out of Texas who has been a multi-year starter at Clemson.  It wasn’t until last year, and mostly later in the year, that he truly started to put it all together.  He’s 6’2 210 lbs. so he’s not the biggest guy, and that 6’2 may be a bit generous.  The one big difference between him and guys like Leavitt and Nussmeier is he doesn’t show the same arm strength they do.  He has great mechanics and keeps them consistent but he just doesn’t have the same level of arm strength to make all the throws.  That means he has to have great anticipation because if he’s not ahead of the defense, he doesn’t have the arm to make up the difference.  His level of experience and accuracy make him a good prospect and guy someone is going to take a shot on early in the draft next year. 

6. LaNorris Sellers    Redshirt Soph     South Carolina

Sellers is a 6’3 240 lbs. athletic specimen who is everything you want physically in a modern QB.  He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical, and he has a very strong arm.  He’s underdeveloped as a passer, which is understandable given his physical profile. In the college game, when your QB is a physical mismatch, coaches tend to lean towards a one-read and go offense.  That means teaching the QB to look for his one read and if that guy isn’t open, just get going.  That tends to lead to good offensive plays and winning for the team and coach but doesn’t develop great QB traits for the player.  If Sellers shows advancement in his ability to read defenses and make plays with his arm, it will really help him as a prospect.  He also isn’t a guy who’s great in the short game which is also a product of being a superior athlete.  You don’t teach great athletes to dump off short passes to guys who aren’t as athletic when Sellers can just take the ball and get yards.  He probably has the highest potential of anyone not named Manning in this class but it’s all going to depend on where his QB development goes this season.  His ceiling is being the #1 overall pick in the draft; his floor is being Jalen Milroe and dropping to the third round.  He is only a redshirt sophomore so he can always go back to school if the season doesn’t go great for him. 

7. John Mateer     Redshirt Junior     Oklahoma

This one is a bit of a projection because Mateer is transferring from Washington St. to Oklahoma and it’s a big step up from Washington St. to the SEC.  Mateer will be running the same offense he excelled in at WSU and I mean the exact same because his offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, is now Oklahoma’s OC.  However, he’ll be getting used to a whole new team around him and way better competition.  Mateer is 6’1 219 lbs. and he’s got a pretty stout build to him.  He has great arm strength and he’s a great runner.  He picks up a lot of yardage on the ground and it’s a big part of his game and the offensive game plan.  While he has great arm strength, what he doesn’t have is great consistency with his mechanics.  He can get himself in trouble trying to make off balance and off platform throws and while his arm made up the difference against last year’s competition, the SEC is a different level.  He needs to make sure he’s in good position to throw and needs to throw with better anticipation or he could turn the ball over more.  If he’s awesome against the SEC, his prospect profile is going to skyrocket.    

8. Fernando Mendoza     Redshirt Junior     Indiana

There’s a trend here at the end of my top 10 which is the same trend that’s happening in college football, the last four guys are transfers for this season.  Mendoza was awesome last year at Cal and he’s got the prototypical size for an NFL QB.  He’s 6’5 225 lbs. and he’s an excellent athlete.  He’s very accurate with his ball placement and he understands coverages but he has a little of the same thing as Sellers, he takes off quickly and uses his athleticism instead of letting the play develop.  He does have a little bit of a strange follow through with his delivery and I wonder if they will change that at Indiana.  It will be interesting to see him in a new offense at Indiana.  Curt Cignetti, his new head coach, designed a great offense last year for his one-year transfer QB Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza is a better talent at QB than Rourke was.  The move from Cal to the Big Ten will also be a challenge and he doesn’t have the luxury of already knowing the offense the way Mateer does at Oklahoma. 

9. Nico Iamaleava     Redshirt Soph     UCLA

The saga of Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee to UCLA has been well chronicled and you can google it if you want to read about everything that is wrong with college sports, NIL, and the transfer portal.  The way he has handled that situation and himself could bother teams, we just watched Shadeur Sanders fall in the draft because of the way he handled himself.  Iamaleava is a far superior talent to Sanders but he could get dinged for the whole fiasco at Tennessee.  Dealing with the player as a prospect is another story.  Iamaleava is 6’6 215 lbs. and he’s a supreme athlete with a rocket arm.  He’s completely undisciplined and needs plenty of development as a QB but his physical gifts are incredible.  He’s transferring from Tennessee’s weird college spread offense that doesn’t translate to the NFL to a more pro-style system at UCLA.  They also don’t have the same supporting cast at UCLA that he had a Tennessee so it’s going to be an interesting transition.  I would say there’s a very good chance he declares for the NFL draft regardless of the season he has at UCLA.  How he plays and progresses will determine if he’s a top 15 pick in the draft or a mid-round developmental prospect for someone. Iamaleava could turn out to be Vince Young, and I mean that in both the best ways and the worst ways. 

10. Carson Beck     Senior     Miami

Beck was arguably the top QB prospect going into last season and oh how the mighty have fallen.  Beck’s season was a disaster and then he got hurt.  His draft stock was in shambles to end the season and instead of declaring for the draft, he took a huge NIL deal to transfer to Miami and replace Cam Ward.  It’s not a great sign that Georgia didn’t seem to want him back.  He needs a massive bounce back season and this is going to be a tough QB class to compete with.  He should be recovered from his elbow injury and ready to start for the Hurricanes but if he stumbles, they could turn to Emory Williams and that could be the end of things for Beck.  Beck has the physical profile of an NFL starter with his 6’5 225 lbs. frame.  He had the arm strength to go with is size but it will be interesting to see if his elbow injury affects that.  He struggled last year after losing his top targets from 2023 (Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers were awesome for him in 2023).  Beck doesn’t seem to be the guy who raises the play of the guys around him so I think he’s a mid-round pick at best. 

Out of my top 10 QBs only four are seniors.  Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, and Carson Beck are certain to be in the 2026 NFL Draft.  The rest of these guys could return to school and my best guess is Arch Manning, Sam Leavitt, and John Mateer feel like the best bets to return to college for the 2026 season.  That would leave LaNorris Sellers, Nico Iamaleava, and Fernando Mendoza as the wildcards for this draft.  I think Sellers has a great year and comes out, Iamaleava has a decent year and declares, and Mendoza has a very good year but goes back to Indiana to improve his overall position for the 2027 draft.  So, that would give us a top of the QB class of Allar, Nussmeier, Klubnik, Sellers, Iamaleava, and Beck. That would be a huge upgrade over 2025 but doesn’t rival 2024.  Unless…

What this class could really have is depth we haven’t seen in a long time.  While the 2024 class had six guys in the top twelve the seventh guy was Spencer Rattler who was a fifth-round pick.  This class has guys who can rise up or at least give great depth in the middle rounds.

Seniors to know

Mark Gronowski (Iowa) – The transfer from South Dakota St. had a chance to be in the 2025 class but is taking one last shot to show off at the Big Ten level.  If he can make Iowa’s new passing offense start humming, he’ll move up the boards.  He’s got the size of an NFL QB at 6’3 230 lbs. and he’s a good athlete.

Miller Moss (Louisville) – The transfer from USC should have a good year at Louisville under the tutelage of Jeff Brohm.  He’s undersized and doesn’t have a great arm but he’s smart and he should be able to run the offense effectively.  He doesn’t have Tyler Shough’s physical gifts but he’s a healthier guy than Shough. 

Young guys who could breakout

Aidan Chiles (Michigan St.) – A 6’3 217 lbs. athlete that would have NFL teams falling all over themselves if he puts together a good season.  He’s really raw as a QB and makes some really dumb decisions with the ball at times but he’s still young and has only started one year at Michigan St.  He needs time to play and learn from his mistakes. It would likely take a huge year from him to get him into this draft.

Eli Holstein (Pitt) – He started at Pitt last year after transferring from Alabama and had a solid year.  He doesn’t turn 21 until October so he’s still a very young prospect.  He’s 6’4 225 lbs. with a howitzer for an arm but you can see him thinking on the field.  He could be a beast if he figures it out and puts all his talent together. 

Darian Mensah (Duke) – Started last year as a redshirt freshman at Tulane and was really good and now he’s moved on to Duke.  He’s 6’3 200 lbs. so he needs to fill out his frame but he’s a good athlete who would be the type of modern QB NFL teams are looking for.

Dante Moore (Oregon) – Moore is stepping into the Oregon offense that has produced Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel the last two draft cycles.  Moore has a higher ceiling than either of those guys due to his frame and athletic traits.  At 6’3 210 lbs. as a redshirt sophomore NFL teams will have him all over their radar. 

There are other names who could have big seasons and move up in this QB class.  Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Rocco Becht (Iowa St.), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Jackson Arnold (Auburn), Connor Weigman (Houston), and Avery Johnson (Kansas St.) 

This class has massive potential and it will be better than the 2025.  The questions are how good, how deep, and who’s in the class.  The Steelers, Browns, and probably the Saints are all going to be looking to start over at QB next year.  There are also a couple of other teams that may need new plans.  Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger for the Rams, Tua could be out the door if the Dolphins’ season tanks and Mike McDaniel gets fired, and if Kyler Murray regresses is Arizona, they may need a contingency plan.  The Jets have Justin Fields for two years but that’s not a big commitment, Geno Smith is 36 in Las Vegas, and if Sam Darnold flames out in Seattle would they really just go to Jalen Milroe?  Quarterback is the most important position in all of sports and more teams could need one than you think.