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		<title>Latest College Football News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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		<description>Breaking NCAA College Football news, videos, articles, and stories from FOX Sports.</description>
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			<title>Latest College Football News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:37:24 -0400</pubDate>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft Odds: Back Big Ten to Have Even Bigger Round 1]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-odds-big-ten-players-david-bailey-first-round</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-odds-big-ten-players-david-bailey-first-round</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Find out why Geoff Schwartz is backing the Big Ten to have more than a handful players hear their names called on Thursday.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:49:27 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[If you’re looking for NFL Draft wagers 24 hours before the first round, I've got some harsh realities for you: The pickings are slim. Numbers have moved. The juice for these wagers can be out of control. But don’t worry. I still have a few wagers that are playable today. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. David Bailey second pick in the draft Flip-flop. Flip-flop. Flip-flop. That is how the odds for the second pick of this draft have moved over the last 48 hours. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese was nearly -300 to be the second pick of the draft earlier this week. Then, Bailey steamed ahead of him and became the favorite. Now it’s back to Reese as I'm writing this, so targeting Bailey is worth a wager, with the number still playable. I have a draft guy who’s been spot-on over the years, including nailing Travon Walker as the first pick in the draft back in 2022. He told me a month ago he thinks the Jets are taking Bailey with this pick. I have wagered on that outcome. You’re welcome to tail me or mumble under your breath that I’m a dummy and don’t know anything. Schematically, drafting Bailey second makes sense. The Jets need immediate pass rush help and Bailey is an edge defender. Reese is a fantastic football player, but he’s a hybrid player for now. Do the Jets want someone who needs to grow into the position over a pass rusher who’s more traditional and ready now? That is why I like Bailey to go second overall. PICK: David Bailey second pick in the NFL Draft Over 11.5 Big Ten players drafted in first round The Big Ten has at least 10 players going in the first round — four from Ohio State, two from Oregon, two from Indiana and one player from USC, Washington and Penn State. I'm no math major, but that’s 11 Big Ten players that have good odds of being called up to the stage on Thursday. The question becomes who'll be the 12th of the bunch. Will it be D’Angelo Ponds or Kayden McDonald? Maybe Gabe Jacus is a surprise first-round pick? I just need one of them to win the wager. Out of everything available now, this is playable. PICK: Over 11.5 Big Ten players drafted in first round (+144)]]>
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					<![CDATA[College Football Offseason Buzz: Alabama Extends Coach Kalen DeBoer]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/college-football-offseason-buzz</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/college-football-offseason-buzz</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The college football news cycle never stops. With that in mind, here's a tracker of offseason buzz across the sport.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:14:12 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[This is college football. At some point, the games pause, but the news and drama never does. Here's an offseason tracker for buzz across the college football landscape, including coaching changes, injury news, personnel moves and more. Alabama extends Kalen DeBoer The Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Kalen DeBoer have agreed on a new seven-year extension, per Adam Schefter. DeBoer was already under contract through the 2031 season after agreeing to an eight-year contract when he was hired ahead of the 2024 season. He will now add two more years to that deal, linking him to Alabama through 2033, and receive an increase in pay to an annual average value of $12.5 million. DeBoer has gone 20-8 in two seasons at Alabama, and has yet to lead the Crimson Tide past the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Kentucky lands a top QB recruit Momentum has been building for the Kentucky Wildcats football since the hiring of coach Will Stein and now the program has its first major recruiting win to show for it. The Wildcats landed a commitment from four-star quarterback Jake Nawrot out of John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He is the No. 2-ranked quarterback and No. 40 overall recruit in the 2027 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. Nawrot chose the Wildcats over Missouri, Oregon, Washington and Florida State, among several other Power Four programs. Nawrot is coming off a strong junior season. He led the Huskies to a 9-3 record while completing 71% of his passes for 3,078 yards and 41 touchdowns with just two interceptions, along with adding eight scores on the ground. Stein is entering his first season as the Wildcats’ head coach after spending the past three years as offensive coordinator at Oregon under coach Dan Lanning. Nawrot’s commitment marks one of the biggest recruiting wins in program history. With Nawrot’s commitment, the Wildcats’ 2027 recruiting class now ranks among the top 20 nationally. Virginia extends head coach Tony Elliot Virginia football coach Tony Elliott, coming off a school-record 11-win season, has agreed to a contract extension through the 2030 season. The extension was announced Wednesday by athletic director Carla Williams. The Cavaliers finished 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2025 and No. 16 in the final AP Top 25 poll. It was Virginia's highest ranking in the last poll of the season since 1995, and Elliott was named AP ACC coach of the year. "We are extremely fortunate to have Tony Elliott continue to lead our football program," Williams said in a statement released by Virginia. "His commitment to the values of the University of Virginia and his commitment to developing the whole person through football have been a blessing. His vision of building the model program has never wavered, despite extraordinary adversity. The future is bright for UVA football and we’re excited to continue this work together." Virginia capped its season with a 13-7 win over Missouri in the Gator Bowl after losing to Duke in the ACC championship game. It was Virginia's first bowl victory since 2018. Elliott is 22-26 in four years at Virginia. "The commitment to football at the University of Virginia is real and palpable throughout our building," Elliott said. 'I’m proud of the foundation that we have laid and excited for what we can do together in the years to come." TCU extends coach Dykes TCU and coach Sonny Dykes have agreed to a contract extension after back-to-back 9-4 seasons, the school said Friday. The private Big 12 school does not disclose contract terms, but his previously extended deal went through the 2028 season. This multiyear agreement would take Dykes at least a couple of years past that. Dykes is 36-17 in his four seasons with the Horned Frogs, who set a school record for wins while going 13-2 and making the four-team College Football Playoff at the end of his 2022 debut season after replacing long-time coach Gary Patterson. Dykes originally got a six-year contract, which was extended after that first season when they finished No. 3 in the final AP Top 25 college football poll. They were 25th in the final poll last season. "The opportunity to pursue a national championship, the College Football Playoff, and Big 12 championships exists right here in Fort Worth, and my family and I, as well as our entire staff, are excited to continue that pursuit as Horned Frogs,' Dykes said. The Frogs will open next season against North Carolina in Ireland on Aug. 29, when they will have a new starting quarterback and new offensive coordinator. They finished last season with a three-game winning streak capped by a win over Southern California in the Alamo Bowl after their three-year starting quarterback Josh Hoover had entered the transfer portal and later joined national champion Indiana as the likely replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles left for South Carolina and was replaced by former UConn OC Gordon Sammis. Virginia Cavaliers QB Chandler Morris denied seventh year Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris was denied in his bid for a preliminary injunction as he seeks a seventh season of eligibility. Morris had filed a lawsuit in Charlottesville (Virginia) Circuit Court last month seeking the injunction after the NCAA denied his medical redshirt waiver and appeal. A circuit court judge ruled against Morris on Thursday. "The NCAA is pleased by the court’s decision today, which protects the integrity of collegiate competition," the NCAA said in a statement. "As additional lawsuits challenging common-sense, academically-tied eligibility rules are filed, the NCAA will continue to defend against attempts to rob high school students across the nation of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create. "The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for all college athletes." Morris’ case is one of 71 eligibility lawsuits that have been filed. Of those cases, 33 preliminary injunctions have been denied and 13 have been granted. Twelve eligibility lawsuits are still pending in lower courts and 13 have been voluntarily dismissed prior to a decision on a preliminary injunction. The dispute surrounding the 25-year-old Morris involves his 2022 season with the TCU Horned Frogs and whether it should count against his eligibility. Morris suffered a knee injury that season and applied for a medical redshirt, but the NCAA denied that request after Morris made limited appearances in three games later that season. West Florida moves up to Division I West Florida will begin the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I on July 1 and compete in the United Athletic Conference in football and the Atlantic Sun Conference in other sports, the school announced Thursday. The Argonauts have had one of the top Division II athletic programs and lead the Gulf South Conference in all-time championships and all-sports trophies. Their 15-sport program has won 11 national and 136 conference championships. The United Athletic Conference was established in 2023 as a single-sport football conference through a partnership between the ASUN and the Western Athletic Conference. The UAC plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The eight-team ASUN was founded in 1978. West Florida will not be eligible for NCAA postseason tournaments during the three-year reclassification process. The school will be eligible for ASUN and UAC championships immediately. NCAA sued by Heinecke over eligibility Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke is suing the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility, according to court documents. Heinecke played briefly in three games of lacrosse at Ohio State in February 2022, costing him a year of eligibility. He transferred to play football at Oklahoma, then sat out a year because of injury. He was mostly a special teams player in 2023 and 2024 before breaking out last season with 74 tackles, including 12 for loss, and three sacks. Oklahoma submitted a request for an eligibility waiver, but it was denied in January, and an appeal was denied in February. An emergency hearing is set for April 16 in Norman, Oklahoma. The timing is critical — Oklahoma’s Spring Game is April 18 and the NFL Draft is April 23-25. Heinecke has hired an agent and participated in the Senior Bowl, Oklahoma Pro Day and the NFL Scouting Combine while trying to regain the year of college eligibility. Heinecke’s lawyers say he should get the additional year because of factors beyond his control. They say Heinecke lost his year of eligibility as a freshman because the Ohio State’s lacrosse coach ignored his request to redshirt so he could recover from high school injuries. They say the NCAA "breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to Owen, and acted in bad faith, in denying Owen an additional year of eligibility so that he can compete as an intercollegiate athlete in the year 2026-27." The filing says Heinecke wants to return to school to improve his draft stock and seek his master’s degree in accounting. Oklahoma is backing his quest. "OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves," Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement. "We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that." Warren Sapp leaving Colorado Pro Football Hall of Famer Sapp is no longer on Deion Sanders' staff at Colorado after two seasons. Sapp joined CU during the 2024 season as the team's senior quality control analyst and served this past season as its defensive pass rush coordinator. "Warren Sapp has resigned from the CU football coaching staff to pursue other opportunities," Colorado’s athletic department said in a statement Feb. 26. "CU Athletics thanks Warren for his contributions to our football program over the last two seasons and for his commitment to our student-athletes." Cincinnati suing former QB Brendan Sorsby The Bearcats are suing their former starting quarterback of two years, claiming that he breached his NIL contract by failing to pay Cincinnati a $1 million exit fee for transferring to Texas Tech in January, per ESPN. Sorsby reportedly signed an NIL contract with Texas Tech in the range of $4-6 million for next season and is being advised to not pay Cincinnati $1 million in estimated liquidated damages. Last season, Sorsby totaled 2,800 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a Big 12-high 155.1 passer rating for the Bearcats, while completing 61.6% of his passes in 12 games. He also rushed for 580 yards and nine touchdowns. Sorsby spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Indiana (2022-23) before transferring to Cincinnati for the 2024 season. Virginia QB Chandler Morris seeking seventh year of eligibility Morris continued his fight for a seventh season of eligibility by filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, his agent confirmed. The NCAA denied Morris' medical redshirt waiver and appeal last month, and he is seeking a preliminary injunction in Charlottesville Circuit Court. The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Morris could be making an argument similar to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who received a preliminary injunction from a Mississippi judge on Feb. 12. Chambliss' case was based on injuries severely limiting his playing time and not allowing him to make the most of his athletic eligibility. The 25-year-old Morris applied for a medical redshirt for the 2022 season at TCU after suffering a knee injury. The NCAA denied that request after Morris made limited appearances in three games later that season. Philip Rivers' son commits to NC State Quarterback Gunner Rivers has committed to NC State — his father's alma mater — he announced on Feb. 23. Rivers is a four-star quarterback at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama. His father coached his high school team as well, doing so before he made his return to the NFL in 2025. The younger Rivers threw for 2,813 yards, 44 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, leading his high school to the state title game. Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar denied sixth season Aguilar's injunction for a sixth season of eligibility has been denied, and he will now go pro, per ESPN. Aguilar was previously granted a temporary restraining order in his lawsuit against the NCAA as he sought an extra year of eligibility, which would've enabled him to continue playing for the Volunteers this fall. Aguilar played the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Diablo Valley (2021-22), followed by two seasons at Appalachian State (2023-24) before transferring to Tennessee for the 2025 season. Indiana HC Curt Cignetti gets a raise The Hoosiers have raised their head coach's salary to $13.2 million through the 2033 season, per ESPN. This deal comes in the wake of Indiana winning its first national championship in program history in January and already raising Cignetti's salary to $11.6 million in October 2025. Moreover, this raise makes Cignetti the second-highest paid coach in college football. Since Cignetti took over in Bloomington for the 2024 season, the Hoosiers are a combined 27-2, highlighted by going 16-0 en route to winning the national championship last season. North Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock leaving for NFL Hammock is leaving NIU to become the running backs coach for the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, according to CBS Sports. Over Hammock's seven seasons as NIU's head coach (2019-25), the Huskies went a combined 35-47, a stint highlighted by three bowl game appearances and a win at South Bend against Notre Dame in 2024. Hammock, who played running back at NIU, was previously a running backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2014-18, among other assistant coaching stints. Four-star prospect de-commits from Michigan Peter Bourque, a four-star quarterback out of Massachusetts in the 2027 class, reopened his recruitment on Feb. 17. Bourque had been verbally committed to Michigan in Aug. 2025 under previous head coach Sherrone Moore. Michigan finds its DT coach The Wolverines are hiring Vanderbilt defensive line coach Larry Black to be new head coach Kyle Whittingham's defensive tackle coach, per ESPN. Black was Vanderbilt's defensive line coach from 2022-25 and previously held the same role at Toledo from 2019-21. In other news, Michigan has reportedly parted ways with general manager Sean Magee. Michigan is also expected to part ways with Sam Popper, its director of recruiting, and Albert Karschnia, its director of player personnel. SEC cuts massive checks to its members The SEC is distributing more than $1 billion to its 16 universities for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended last August. The total distribution jumped more than $200 million from the previous year. The current total includes $37.4 million retained by universities that participated in the College Football Playoff and bowl games. The amount distributed from the conference office, including bowl revenue retained by participants, averaged $72.4 million for schools with full year financial participation. Oklahoma and Texas, which joined the conference in July 2024, received distributions of $2.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively, related to CFP and bowl participation and designated NCAA funds. The $72.4 million average per school is approximately $18.6 million above the 2023-24 average of $53.8 million for full members. The payout for the 14 schools receiving a full share consists of revenue generated from television agreements, postseason bowls, the CFP, the SEC title game, the SEC men's basketball tournament and NCAA championships. The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft Odds: How Many of Each Position Will Be Selected in First Round?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-odds-position-over-under-first-round</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-odds-position-over-under-first-round</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[How many QBs, RBs and WRs will be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here are the latest odds, along with expert insight.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:06:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Based on the odds, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza will be the first player whose name comes off the board later this month in the NFL Draft. But how many quarterbacks will join Mendoza as first-round picks? For that matter, how many running backs, wide receivers and other positions will have the distinction of being selected in Round 1? Here are the latest odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 22. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 NFL Draft Total Quarterbacks Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)Under 1.5: +180 (bet $10 to win $228 total) What to know: According to FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz, one more quarterback will accompany Mendoza as a first-round pick, although he doesn't particularly agree with the strategy. "I wouldn’t draft Ty Simpson in the first round, but I’m not the Jets," he wrote. "The long history of NFL failure for players who started only one year in college would concern me. But it appears the Jets seem unbothered by this." Total Cornerbacks Drafted in First Round Over 4.5: +425 (bet $10 to win $52.50 total)Under 4.5: -700 (bet $10 to win $11.43 total) Total Offensive Linemen Drafted in First Round Over 7.5: -300 (bet $10 to win $13.33 total)Under 7.5: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total) Total Running Backs Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)Under 1.5: -700 (bet $10 to win $14 total) What to know: Could there be only one running back drafted in the first round in 2026? The Over/Under suggests that could be the case, with Under 1.5 having the shortest odds in this spot. But Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt disagrees. He has Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price — both from Notre Dame — coming off the board in Round 1. "A lot of people believe Love is the best non-quarterback in the draft. Arizona would get a running back who can move between the tackles, hit home runs on the outside and catch passes as a slot receiver," Klatt wrote about Love. About Price, he continued, saying, "I know Price was Love's backup, but he's clearly the second-best running back in this draft." Total Safeties Drafted in First Round Over 2.5: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)Under 2.5: +155 (bet $10 to win $25.50 total) Total Tight Ends Drafted in First Round Over 1.5: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)Under 1.5: -2000 (bet $10 to win $10.50 total) Total Wide Receivers Drafted in First Round Over 5.5: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)Under 5.5: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total) What to know: Several NFL squads will look to fill the WR position in 2026, and for some, the search for their next great wide out begins in April. But exactly how many receivers will come off the board in the first round? In his most recent mock draft, Klatt has five — Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), Makai Lemon (USC), Omar Cooper (Indiana) and Denzel Boston (Washington). Schwartz, on the other hand, has five. His include Tate, Lemon, Cooper, KC Concepcion and Tyson.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Mock Draft: Final Predictions for Rounds 1, 2]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-final-predictions-rounds-1-2</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-final-predictions-rounds-1-2</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[On the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft, Rob Rang projects every pick of the first two rounds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:57 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It's the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft, and after a year’s worth of player evaluations and careful combing of current team needs, this is how I see things shaking out over the first two rounds. I considered projecting trades. Some expect the first round to be full of them. Rather than add even more hypotheticals to the exercise, I did what most of the league will do Thursday: "stick and pick." I did roll the dice in projecting a few surprises, however. The unexpected picks are what make the NFL Draft so compelling every year. One thing fans should expect are runs on receivers, offensive tackles and cornerbacks in the first round, with edge rushers being all the rage throughout the late portion of the first and throughout the second round. FIRST ROUND 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Long-suffering Raiders fans, this is your moment. Klint Kubiak, the brilliant playcaller that helped turn Sam Darnold into a Super Bowl winner, took this job in large part because of the opportunity to select Mendoza, a perfect match for his offense. Prototypically built — from both a size and intangibles perspective — Mendoza looks like a good bet to hit big in Las Vegas. 2. New York Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech The Jets finished last in the AFC in sacks last season — and that was with defensive linemen Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson for much of it. Bailey is the best pass-rusher in this class, winning with great burst and bend. An aggressive offseason spent adding veterans suggests that the Jets want the most bang for their buck with this pick, which is why they might lean toward Bailey over Arvell Reese, who has better traits. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame An anemic pass rush sure could use a boost, but the Cardinals aren’t going to climb out of the cellar in the NFC West if they can’t score. Love is the most dynamic player in this draft and the kind of instant superstar that new coach Mike LaFleur (and general manager Monti Ossenfort) could lean on as their roster reset takes place. 4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State Robert Saleh knows what he’s getting with Jermaine Johnson after previously coaching him in New York, but unless the Titans work out a long-term deal with him, the club should take advantage of the opportunity to boost their pass rush. Johnson, after all, has recorded just 13 sacks in his four NFL seasons. Reese is an athletic phenom with enough size to play virtually anywhere in the front seven, tilting the field in his team’s favor. 5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Speaking of stylistic matches, few NFL head coaches have enjoyed the success with safeties that John Harbaugh has, drafting three in the first round while with the Ravens, including All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and last year’s top pick, Malaki Starks. Incumbent starter Tyler Nubin missed the final few games last year with a neck injury that could force the Giants to consider alternative options. Downs is a true alpha, the best open-field tackler in this class and, in my opinion, its best overall player. 6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah It doesn’t matter much who plays quarterback in Cleveland given its current situation at wide receiver and offensive tackle. Fano is a dancing bear at 6-foot-5, 311 pounds, with experience blocking at both tackle positions. Given Fano’s durability (37 games played in three seasons), versatility and upside, it makes sense for the Browns to take their pick of the litter among linemen first before looking for receiver help with their second pick (No. 24 overall). 7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State This is another team that I could see considering Tate to spice up its receiver room, but Styles is just too clean of a fit in Dan Quinn’s defense, if available here. Linebackers with Styles’ size and sideline-to-sideline range are rare — his ceiling is as a Fred Warner or Bobby Wagner-type franchise pillar. With just one selection over the first two rounds, the Commanders need to hit on this pick and the remarkably gifted Styles would be exactly that. 8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State As one of the NFL’s longest-tenured and most aggressive draft-day traders, Saints GM Mickey Loomis might not wait until pick No. 8, but patience pays off with the most pro-ready pass-catcher of this class falling into his lap. Tate’s soft hands, catch radius and body control help him project as a true WR1 — precisely what second-year head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough need. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Needing to replace three key members from last year’s secondary, this feels like the floor for Delane (or Caleb Downs). With his smooth athleticism, instincts and success against elite competition, Delane offers both a very high ceiling and floor at a premium position. 10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami Though they are nothing like him from a size and style perspective, I considered Miami’s Rueben Bain and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk as possible defensive line pivots for the Giants after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals for the rights to this pick. Instead, I think John Harbaugh will see Mauigoa as the perfect right guard to boost the Giants’ offensive line. 11. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State The talent-starved Dolphins could go in any number of directions with this pick, but receiver is the most obvious need after trading away Jaylen Waddle and apparently moving on from Tyreek Hill. Tyson offers a combination of size, slipperiness and soft hands that should quickly make him new quarterback Malik Willis’ top target. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami Bain’s tape is as good as any defender in this class, but short arms and off-field concerns could push him down the board a bit. He plays with a level of violence and instincts that I think make him one of this year’s safest on-field prospects. With two first-round picks at their disposal, the Cowboys could aggressively trade up to address one of the NFL’s most porous defenses, but I love the fit here with Bain instead. 13. Los Angeles Rams: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&amp;M The Rams may have already erased whatever gap there was between their roster and that of divisional rival Seattle with their offseason acquisitions of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. But the biggest difference between these two rosters a year ago was the playmaking of Seahawks receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed. Les Snead and Sean McVay will likely see Concepcion (28 touchdowns scored in 38 college games) as a similar spark plug — not to mention an insurance policy should things turn sour with either Puka Nacua or Davante Adams. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Lamar Jackson’s dynamic running ability forces linebackers and safeties to play on their heels, opening up huge windows for tight ends to exploit. Sadiq could be fantastic in this scenario, while also providing punch in the running game. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Olaivavega "Vega" Ioane, OG, Penn State The Bucs have other, bigger needs, but Jason Licht has taken the "best player available" strategy many times during his dozen years as Tampa’s GM. Ioane has the look of a future Pro Bowler, and keeping the pocket clean is especially important with a shorter quarterback. Baker Mayfield is just under 6-foot-1. 16. New York Jets: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn Given the Jets' needs at receiver and cornerback, double-dipping on the defensive line might not be the most popular strategy, but depth at those positions and Faulk’s upside might have GM Daren Mougey thinking big, first. The 6-foot-6, 276-pound Faulk has the frame, flexibility and work ethic that screams decade-long NFL starter. 17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Sure, All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell can handle the switch to left tackle, but if arguably the best blindside blocker of this class happens to be available, GM Brad Holmes shouldn’t overthink things. Freeling is only a one-year starter, but his 6-foot-7, 315-pound frame (with 34-inch arms) and impressive lateral agility are traits worth betting on. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Last month, the Vikings announced a post-June 1st release of longtime star safety Harrison Smith, who started a remarkable 203 out of a possible 207 games for Minnesota since being drafted in the first round back in 2012. Thieneman has a long way to go to truly fill the shoes of the NFL’s active leader in interceptions (39), but he has the ball skills and smarts to do so. 19. Carolina Panthers: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama Like the aforementioned Vikings, the Panthers might see their first pick as the best time to replace a standout. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu had started all 64 games in which he played over his first four seasons, but his future for next season is in doubt after he suffered a ruptured patella tendon in the playoffs. Proctor could step right in at left tackle this year, with the frame to play the other side or guard, if necessary, in the future. 20. Dallas Cowboys: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee The Cowboys have high hopes for Shavon Revel Jr. and DaRon Bland at cornerback, and after adding four other veterans to their secondary in free agency, perhaps their reinforcements to the secondary are finished. Hood offers schematic versatility, combining the agility and speed to handle man coverage with impressive instincts and reliable tackling. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC DK Metcalf remains one of the NFL’s most talented receivers, but his traits did not translate into consistent production with Aaron Rodgers last season, with the duo connecting on just 59 catches for 850 yards (lowest of Metcalf’s seven-year career) and six touchdowns. With his frame, physicality and clever route-running, Lemon would be an ideal complement to Metcalf and a possible day one favorite target for Rodgers. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State The Chargers spent their first 56 seasons in San Diego and would be wise to return to their roots for Johnson, the reigning Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and among the most polished players at any position in this draft. A former 3-star recruit, Johnson lacks the pedigree Jim Harbaugh has typically prioritized. But he’s smart, tough and reliable — traits that make a lot of sense at cornerback amid the arms race of the AFC West. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo Howie Roseman can go a lot of directions with this pick, including finding a replacement for A.J. Brown should the disgruntled receiver really be on the trading block. I love the idea of McNeil-Warren’s range and talent for creating turnovers amid all the talent on this Eagles defense. 24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington If the Browns don’t add a receiver with their first pick (currently No. 6 overall), they’ll almost certainly select Boston or one of the other top-rated pass-catchers here. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound Boston has strong hands and excellent body control to win at the catch point and elude after the catch. 25. Chicago Bears: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson The Bears are facing a sadly similar dilemma as the Panthers at No. 19 overall, with left tackle Ozzy Trapillo’s availability for next season in jeopardy after he suffered a knee injury in the playoffs. Miller started 54 games in four seasons at Clemson, and though 52 of those were at right tackle, I think his surprising agility at 6-foot-7, 317 pounds, projects quite well to the left side, as well. 26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State The Bills allowed the most rushing touchdowns (24) and the fifth-most rushing yards (2,315) in the NFL last year. McDonald has the girth, power and surprising quickness to not only stuff the run, but also impact the quarterback. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, Central Florida A receiver or offensive lineman would make a lot of sense here for the 49ers, but there is a fun second tier of pass-rushers that is going to spark quite a position run over the next 40 picks or so. Lawrence lacks ideal flexibility to dip around the edge, but he’s got long arms, initial burst and rare closing speed — a recipe for immediate success given the talent already in San Francisco. 28. Houston Texans: Keylan Rutledge, OL, Georgia Tech The Texans can’t expect C.J. Stroud to bounce back if they don’t protect him. Rutledge has steadily climbed up draft boards throughout the pre-draft process, impressing with his agility, physicality and orneriness at right guard in 43 games over the past four seasons. I think he’d also make a helluva center. 29. Kansas City Chiefs: Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami The Chiefs need to nail the 2026 draft to keep their championship window open, and I think this would be the start to a rookie class that might just do that. Like their first projected pick, CB Mansoor Delane, Mesidor is pro-ready out of the box with the positional versatility and fire that would fit well with Steve Spagnuolo. 30. Miami Dolphins: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona The Dolphins have a logjam in their secondary with 17 cornerbacks and safeties currently on the roster. Why add another one? Because I think Stukes is as good as any of them and capable of playing enough different positions that he might help save a roster spot elsewhere — critical for a team undergoing a rebuild. 31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State The Patriots might very well continue the run on edge rushers, but protecting Drake Maye should be their top priority. Iheanachor has first-round traits, but the native Nigerian only began playing football five years ago, so he might sit behind veteran Morgan Moses (35) at right tackle for a bit before taking over. Mike Vrabel personally worked out Iheanachor during his Pro Day. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame With a league-low four draft picks, the Seahawks are probably among the likeliest teams to trade down. If they stay put, John Schneider and Mike Macdonald will almost surely be looking to patch one of the holes from free-agent departures, not the least of which is reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. I love Price’s vision, burst and balance, and I think he’ll be a Rookie of the Year candidate if inserted into this offense. SECOND ROUND 33. New York Jets: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana The Jets have four of the first 44 picks of the draft. One of them needs to be a receiver, with Cooper offering the run-after-catch skill and grit the Jets could use. 34. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Whether they have to trade up to get him or stick and pick here, I think Simpson is going to wind up with the Cardinals. His blend of football IQ, accuracy and mobility earned him the second spot on my final QB Tiers piece and makes him a really intriguing fit in head coach Mike LaFleur’s West Coast-based system. With the bold additions of Love and Simpson, the Cardinals could suddenly become relevant again in the NFC West. 35. Tennessee Titans: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&amp;M Agile, powerful, tough and smart enough to potentially slide over to center, if necessary, Bisontis is another strong first-round candidate who’d strengthen the depth chart and rank among the best players available. 36. Las Vegas Raiders: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina Expect big changes to the Raiders’ defense as the team pivots from Pete Carroll’s preferences to those of new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard. Cisse has the easy movement skills and physicality necessary to project as a future No. 1 corner. 37. New York Giants: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Can you just imagine the New York media if the Giants don't replace Dexter Lawrence with either of their first-round picks (or if the Jets don’t draft a receiver in the first round)? And the audacity for the Giants to replace Lawrence with another DT from Clemson? Well, Woods has the combination of quickness, power and untapped potential to warrant a first-round selection and would be a great value add here. 38. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida Banks is arguably this year’s biggest wild card with the frame and flashes to warrant a top-20 selection, but also the durability red flags that might essentially have him off some teams' boards entirely. My own heart rate bounces thinking about how dominant that Houston defense could be with Banks in the middle of it — just imagine how rival offensive coordinators would feel. 39. Cleveland Browns: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU Like Banks in Houston, I think Haulcy’s big hits and ball skills would be an ideal complement to Myles Garrett, reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger and the rest of the Browns defense. 40. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah The Chiefs are reportedly concerned about last year’s top pick Josh Simmons. If so, it's easy to see Andy Reid pushing for Lomu, a toolsy redshirt sophomore who seemingly only needs time in the weight room to develop into a quality NFL left tackle. 41. Cincinnati Bengals: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson With their first-round pick spent on Dexter Lawrence, the Bengals can turn their attention toward a secondary that allowed the third-most passing touchdowns in the NFL last year. Terrell didn’t run like a first-round pick at his Pro Day, but his tape and bloodlines suggest he’ll be a longtime starter. 42. New Orleans Saints: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri Among the most physical players in this class, Young is a force against the run yet lacks the ideal twitch or closing speed to be a 10-plus sack guy in the NFL. Mickey Loomis and the Saints might laugh should Young be available here, as critics once said the same thing about Cameron Jordan. 43. Miami Dolphins: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson With all due respect to free-agent additions Josh Uche and David Ojabo, the Dolphins need to continue building their defensive front. Parker may lack the twitch to replicate some of the big numbers he had at Clemson, but he’s already a smart, durable and powerful player, and he’s just 21 with his best football still ahead of him. 44. New York Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana You know the pointing Spider-Man meme? That is Ponds and Aaron Glenn, two mighty mites with the instincts, physicality and explosiveness to star at cornerback despite measuring in under 5-foot-9. 45. Baltimore Ravens: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&amp;M The Ravens must boost their pass rush and Howell is one of the smoothest off the snap in this class. Concerns over his stubby arms would be the only thing pushing him this far down in the draft. 46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois The run on edge rushers continues with one of the most powerful (and I think underrated) defenders of this class. Between Jacas and Ioane in the first round, the Bucs would be injecting quite the booster shot along the line of scrimmage. 47. Indianapolis Colts: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech This is the Colts’ first pick of the 2026 draft and, as such, don’t blame GM Chris Ballard if he’s going to make a splashy entrance. The Colts have ascending stars in the secondary and defensive line yet lack a game-changer at linebacker. Insert Rodriguez, who, with all due respect to potential top-five picks Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, was the best and most consistent playmaker at linebacker last season. 48. Atlanta Falcons: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia The Falcons would be wise to stay close to home with the first pick of the Kevin Stefanksi era. Already imposing at just 21-years-old, Miller has the frame and intangibles of a longtime NFL starter. 49. Minnesota Vikings: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia The Vikings didn’t make Brian Flores the highest paid defensive coordinator in NFL history (reportedly $6 million-plus per year) not to take his advice when it comes to the draft. Adding Allen (and previously Thieneman) would give Flores two heady, steady standouts in the back end to combat the explosive offenses of the NFC North. 50. Detroit Lions: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati Massive and mean, Golday plays with the range and physicality that Dan Campbell will appreciate. 51. Carolina Panthers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama The Panthers should continue adding weapons around Bryce Young. Bernard is a savvy route runner with soft hands and a willing downfield blocker. He should excel in the holes left underneath by defenses focusing deeper on reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan. 52. Green Bay Packers: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee The Packers boast one of the NFL’s deepest rosters, allowing GM Brian Gutekunst the ability to take the time-honored "best player available" strategy with the team’s first pick. McCoy looked like an easy first-rounder when healthy in 2024 but comes with medical questions that could push him down the board. 53. Pittsburgh Steelers: R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma Thomas to the Steelers is another edge rusher pairing that I'd like to see. His ability to dip, rip and bull-rush opponents would further weaponize an already gifted Pittsburgh front. 54. Philadelphia Eagles: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Mississippi Should the Eagles trade A.J. Brown, Stribling is among my favorite fits as a replacement from this draft, boasting the size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds), speed (4.36), and maturity, as the son of a 17-year Marine. 55. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon Folks, I’ve been attending Pro Day workouts for a quarter-century, and I’ve never seen a more powerful and densely-built guard than Pregnon. I think GM Joe Hortiz is going to have to try to hold Jim Harbaugh back from drafting this kid in the first round. 56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa This will be the Jaguars' first pick of the draft and I think it will be dedicated to the running game — whether it's selecting a replacement for Travis Etienne or a burly blocker to aid the backs already on the roster. I’ll go with Dunker, who would add some nastiness to the Jags’ front. 57. Chicago Bears: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas For a franchise that boasts some of the most iconic linebackers in league history, it sure has been awhile since the Bears had a true star at the position. Given all the star running backs and tight ends in the NFC North, Hill’s length and fluidity in coverage would make a lot of sense. 58. San Francisco 49ers: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville With both Mike Evans and Christian Kirk signed to one-year deals, adding another run-after-the-catch monster like Bell would add some much-needed juice and depth to San Francisco’s receiving corps. 59. Houston Texans: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas I have Houston making some of the boldest selections in this projection, but I think the timing is right for GM Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans to take chances. Washington has struggled with fumbles, but there are shades of Adrian Peterson in his play. 60. Chicago Bears: Jalen Kilgore, DB, South Carolina The Bears have only two safeties currently on the roster and half of those were free-agent additions Coby Bryant and Cam Lewis. Kilgore needs to iron out some wrinkles, but he has all the traits needed to develop into a high-end starter. 61. Los Angeles Rams: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri The Rams haven’t prioritized linebackers on draft day — opting not to use a single top-100 selection on one since taking Alec Ogletree 30th overall back in 2013. Trotter has the frame, fire and NFL bloodlines to justify changing strategies for a possible Super Bowl run. 62. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State Even after shipping their first-round pick to Miami for speed demon Jaylen Waddle, I think Sean Payton will be looking to take full advantage of this draft’s deep class of tight ends, with Klare (as well as Vanderbilt’s Eli Stover and Georgia’s Oscar Delp) an especially good fit as the seam-stretcher Payton has preferred in the past. 63. New England Patriots: Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn Similar to the strategy Eliot Wolf and the Patriots took in the first-round of this projection with toolsy offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, Crawford is an investment in the future. With a little patience and polish, Crawford could develop into a legitimate 10-plus sack rusher. 64. Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan The Seahawks have talked about the need to add "quick wins," and while he can’t be described as truly twitchy, Moore pairs good upfield burst with length, strength and grit.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Why Carnell Tate 'No Doubt' Is the Best WR in the Class]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/carnell-tate-no-doubt-best-wr-2026-nfl-draft</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/carnell-tate-no-doubt-best-wr-2026-nfl-draft</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Ohio State's Carnell Tate believes he's the best receiver in 2026 NFL Draft. And he'll tell you why.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:50:35 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[They tore the helmet off his head, but they couldn’t get the ball out of his hands. Two Wisconsin defenders could not stop Carnell Tate, who stood up and screamed in the end zone after catching a 33-yard touchdown pass to start Ohio State's 34-0 rout of the Badgers last October. It was a touchdown that, technically, Tate shouldn’t have scored. It should’ve been fellow OSU receiver Brandon Inniss’ TD. And yet when Inniss went down with an injury, then-Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline did not hesitate to move Tate into the slot — just for one play — to make sure the execution was perfect. And that’s a testament to Tate, not just because the execution was perfect, but also because … "He never practiced that play," Hartline, now the head coach at South Florida, told me earlier this month. "He may have seen it in practice, and he saw the other guys do it. But then you put him in the game and competitive excellence. The ball goes his way. He makes a huge play. So that's him as a player. He's always reliable to be put in the big spots." Tate played in the slot during his freshman year in 2023, seizing an opportunity to get on the field after star receiver Emeka Egbuka suffered an injury. But since that point, Tate has been a perimeter receiver, which was why he hadn’t practiced that play prior to scoring the touchdown. "Coach [Ryan] Day was like, ‘Hey, what do we do? Brandon's down. Where do you put who?’" Hartline recalled. "And I just said, ‘Listen, put Carnell in the slot. He'll know how to do it. He’ll do a great job on the route. We're good. Stay with the call.’ … We got a coverage that was good for us, and he went up and made a huge play over some defenders for a touchdown." Tate is prepared for big spots — even when he shouldn’t be. That’s one of many positive qualities the team that drafts the 6-foot-2, 192-pound receiver will get. But whichever team wants him the most, it'll surely have to be picking in one of the top 10 spots on Thursday night. "I do it all," Tate told me in Portland at the Adidas "Pro Day" in March. "I run [routes], I block and I catch the ball. I run routes to get open at the highest level. I make contested catches, make good catches over the middle, and I go over top of people. Also, I add to the run game as well. I can impact the game with or without the ball." Is he the best receiver in this year’s draft? "Yessir. No doubt," Tate told me. No hesitation whatsoever. "I think it’s because of those things [I just mentioned] and also because of more of that," he added. "I feel like I'm the most intelligent receiver out there as well." Though Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson is emerging as potentially the No. 1 receiver in this year’s class, it’s not all that controversial for Tate to stake his claim. And it's no surprise who Hartline is backing, calling Tate "by far the best receiver in this draft." Ironically, Tate wasn't the WR1 at any point during his Buckeyes career. Ohio State bestowed that honor to Jeremiah Smith in 2025 and in 2024 and to Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023. Egbuka was also firmly in the mix with more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2022 and 2024. "[Tate] really wanted to be the guy. All the guys do," Hartline told me. "When you have a lot of guys in those rooms, sometimes it really makes you a better player when you understand the whole philosophy and where the ball goes. But I think he grew a ton as a person." You can see the way Tate progressed simply by looking at the raw counting stats. He jumped from 18 catches, 264 yards and one touchdown in 2023 to 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns in 2024. Then in 2025, he had 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns. It’s not staggering production. But his teammates never took him for granted. "He’s a big-time receiver who’s gonna make a big play every day," Ohio State All-American edge Arvell Reese told me. Tate’s draft prospects are a reminder of just how impressive he was in college — despite never being the top target. At Ohio State, that made for tough conversations when he battled to rise even into a WR3 spot in his sophomore year. Hartline and Tate spoke often about how to make it all work. "I think that there's a lot of honesty. … I'm not gonna lie to the guys. And so if I tell you you're on track, and you just trust me on it, then that's the case," Hartline told me when asked how he managed Tate’s expectations. "I want everyone to have everything, because then there's no hard conversations. But ultimately, he was on pace. Keep trusting the process and the rest will take care of itself." He added: "Happens all the time, right?" Not to everyone. It’s mostly true for the Ohio State locker room, which is a big reason why Hartline is set to start his first season as the head coach for USF. Before Smith, Tate, Egbuka and Harrison Jr., there was Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. Hartline has continued to produce elite pass-catchers, with Tate appearing to be next in line. This OSU assembly line has created a pro-ready mentality. Not only will these players sharpen each other’s skills off the field, but they’ll have the self-assurance and self-discipline to fight their way to the top of a pro-caliber depth chart. "They're surrounding themselves with great players, and although frustrating, it's going to be frustrating in the league too. Better get ready for it," Hartline said. "So understanding that, we always want more [production], but that's not how this works. They do a really good job at our job description on each individual play." Whether Tate lands in Cleveland, Kansas City or any of the other top-10 slots, he'll have to beat out tough competition for a top starting spot. But there's little doubt he'll do just that. He'll do what it takes to make an impact, even if that means jumping into a position he's never practiced — and on the play that matters most.]]>
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					<![CDATA[NFL Draft: What are the 10 Best Draft Classes Produced by a College Since 2000?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/nfl-draft-10-best-college-draft-classes-since-2000</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/nfl-draft-10-best-college-draft-classes-since-2000</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[With Ohio State set to potentially make top-10 history on Thursday, we look at the 10 best draft classes produced by a college in a single season.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:11:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Ohio State could do something that no program has done in nearly 60 years when the 2026 NFL Draft commences on Thursday. With Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Carnell Tate and safety Caleb Downs all viewed as among the top prospects in this year's draft, the Buckeyes could become the first program to have four top-10 picks in the NFL Draft since Michigan State did so in 1967. As those four players will almost assuredly be taken in the first round, Ohio State might have another player get selected in the first 32 picks. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald has been featured as a first-round pick in several mock drafts. Suffice it to say, this Ohio State draft class could be among the best a school has produced in a single year. So, that got us thinking: What are the 10 best draft classes ever produced by a college in a single year? Well, we picked the 10 best, all based on college production and with some help from FOX Sports Research. We decided to leave the 2026 Ohio State draft class off this list as we don't know how many Buckeyes will be drafted this weekend. But don't fret, Ohio State fans, your team is represented on this list. 10. 2015 Florida State (11 players selected, 2 players in first round) Notable players: Jameis Winston (No. 1 overall pick), Cam Erving (19), Mario Edwards Jr. (35), Eddie Goldman (39), Ronald Darby (50), Nick O'Leary (194), Bobby Hart (226) The Seminoles won a national title in 2013 and took their only 2014 loss in the championship game to Oregon, with Winston winning a Heisman Trophy and becoming the No. 1 overall pick. He started five years in Tampa but couldn't limit his turnovers, throwing 33 touchdowns to 30 interceptions in 2019 in his last year as a full-time starter. His one Pro Bowl is the only one from this class, but he, Edwards, Goldman and Hall are still active players more than a decade later. 9. 2010 Florida (9 players selected, 3 players in first round) Notable players: Joe Haden (7), Maurkice Pouncey (18), Tim Tebow (25), Carlos Dunlap (54), Brandon Spikes (62), Major Wright (75), Aaron Hernandez (113) The Gators won national championships in 2006 and 2008 behind this group, and made a strong case to win three titles in four years. Tebow, a Heisman winner, never found the same success in the NFL and Hernandez played only three seasons before his arrest and conviction for murder. Pouncey had nine Pro Bowl selections and Haden had three, finishing with 29 career interceptions, while Dunlap quietly got to 100 career sacks. 8. 2006 Ohio State (9 players selected, 5 players in first round) Notable players: A.J. Hawk (5), Donte Whitner (8), Bobby Carpenter (18), Santonio Holmes (25), Nick Mangold (29) As the Buckeyes prepare to potentially have five players go in the first round of this year's draft, they had five players go in Round 1 20 years ago. In terms of NFL production, the late Nick Mangold headlined the group, earning seven Pro Bowl nods. But Hawk (a two-time All-American), Whitner (All-Big Ten) and Holmes (two-time All-Big Ten) each had productive NFL careers. Hawk and Whitner both played more than 150 games and Holmes was a Super Bowl hero, catching the winning touchdown for the Steelers to beat the Cardinals with 35 seconds left. The 2005 Buckeyes went 10-2 and finished fourth, making the national title game in 2006 only to lose to Florida. 7. 2016 Ohio State (12 players selected, 5 players in first round) Notable players: Joey Bosa (3), Ezekiel Elliott (4), Eli Apple (10), Taylor Decker (16), Darron Lee (20), Michael Thomas (47), Vonn Bell (61), Nick Vannett (94), Cardale Jones (139) Ten years after it had five players go in the round of the 2006 NFL Draft, Ohio State had five players go in the first round in the 2016 draft. That group of first-rounders, plus the likes of Thomas, helped the Buckeyes win a national title in 2014 and went 12-1 in 2015, but fell short of going back-to-back. Still, seven of these players were named an All-American at some point during their time at Ohio State. In terms of NFL production, Bosa has made five Pro Bowls and six players from this class have at least 100 career games. Elliott and Thomas were both dominant early on, with three Pro Bowls in their first four seasons, but none after that. That 2015 Buckeyes team included future stars in Joe Burrow, Terry McLaurin and Marshon Lattimore as freshmen. 6. 2020 LSU (14 players selected, 5 players in first round) Notable players: Joe Burrow (1), K'Lavon Chaisson (20), Justin Jefferson (22), Patrick Queen (28), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32), Grant Delpit (44), Kristian Fulton (61), Damien Lewis (69), Lloyd Cushenberry III (83) One of the most dominant college football teams of all-time created one of the best draft classes for a program ever. LSU went 15-0 to win the national title in 2019, and Burrow and Jefferson are now NFL superstars, making a combined $415 million on their second pro contracts. Delpit, meanwhile, was a star in college, earning the Thorpe Award for the nation's best defensive back in 2019. As evidenced by Burrow's and Jefferson's contracts, this draft class has translated well in the NFL. The combined career Approximate Value for this class is 346, according to Pro Football Reference. For context, it's quickly approaching the combined AV of the 2002 Miami (Fla.) class (357), which holds the record. That 2019 Tigers team was supremely talented, with future top-five picks like wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and cornerback Derek Stingley also on the roster, and Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady there as passing game coordinator. 5. 2018 Alabama (12 players selected, 4 players in first round) Notable players: Minkah Fitzpatrick (11), Da'Ron Payne (13), Rashaan Evans (22), Calvin Ridley (26), Ronnie Harrison (93), Da'Shawn Hand (114), Anthony Averett (118), JK Scott (172), Bradley Bozeman (215) Alabama won national titles in 2015 and 2017 with a wealth of future NFL talent, as evidenced by the draft class it put out in 2018. Fitzpatrick was the headliner of this group in college and the NFL. He won the Bendarik and Thorpe Awards in college before earning five Pro Bowl nods in his NFL career. Several other players from this Alabama group were named first or second-team All-SEC as well. Ridley has had a strong NFL career, but the depth of this class has also stood out. Bozeman, a sixth-round pick, just retired after eight seasons, and Hand and Scott are still playing as third-day picks. The Tide's draft class didn't include three future NFL starting quarterbacks from 2017 in Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa, along with underclassmen like Quinnen Williams and Josh Jacobs. 4. 2002 Miami (Fla.) (11 players selected, 5 players in first round) Notable players: Bryant McKinnie (7), Jeremy Shockey (14), Phillip Buchanon (17), Ed Reed (24), Mike Rumph (27), Clinton Portis (51) As we mentioned earlier, this college class is the best in terms of NFL production, according to Pro Football Reference's AV stat. McKinnie, Shockey and Portis were each stars in college and the NFL. Of course, Reed had a Hall of Fame NFL career after being named a first-team All-American twice at Miami. McKinnie played 179 games, Shockey had 547 catches and Portis rushed for just under 10,000 yards. Not only did Miami go 12-0 in winning a national title in 2001, but it also held eight of 12 opponents to seven points or fewer, with only one victory decided by single digits (see their 2004 draft haul as part of that). 3. 2022 Georgia (15 players selected, 5 players in first round) Notable players: Travon Walker (1), Jordan Davis (13), Quay Walker (22), Devonte Wyatt (28), George Pickens (52), James Cook (63), Nakobe Dean (83), Jamaree Salyer (195) Another ridiculously deep group. The 15 total draft picks from the Dawgs are a record for one school in one draft, and the five first-rounders are one off the record. All five first-rounders were on defense, and that doesn't include Dean, who was an All-American in college. The two Walkers, Davis and Dean have signed free-agent deals worth a combined $264 million. Georgia won the 2021 national championship thanks to that defense, but that offense had some playmakers, too. Cook has now been a success in the NFL, getting a $48 million contract a year ago, and Pickens is in line for a megadeal at some point soon. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now the Cleveland Browns' head coach, too. Freshmen on that 2021 team included Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Broderick Jones, Amarius Mims and Kamari Lassiter, all future top-50 picks. 2. 2021 Alabama (10 players selected, 6 players in first round) Notable players: Jaylen Waddle (6), Pat Surtain II (9), DeVonta Smith (10), Mac Jones (15), Alex Leatherwood (17), Najee Harris (24), Landon Dickerson (37), Christian Barmore (38) Eight players from one school in the top 40 picks is incredible, but it makes sense considering how dominant this Alabama group was. The Crimson Tide went undefeated in 2020 and won the national championship, winning all but one of its 13 games by double-digits. Smith won the Heisman Trophy that year, while Jones set the single-season record for completion percentage at the time. In terms of pro production, Alabama's 2021 class has logged an AV of 265 in just five seasons, which is an impressive number. Waddle, Surtain, Smith, Dickerson and Barmore have already signed extensions worth a combined $396 million. 1. 2004 Miami (Fla.) (9 players selected, 6 players in first round) Notable players: Sean Taylor (5), Kellen Winslow (6), Jonathan Vilma (12), DJ Williams (17), Vernon Carey (19), Vince Wilfork (21) The six first-rounders are still tied for the most by one school in one draft. Even though this Miami class is the only one in the top six of this list to ot win a national championship in the preceding college season, this Canes group was still dominant in college. They helped the program win the national title in 2001 before going 11-2 under Larry Coker in 2003. Brock Berlin was at quarterback and Jarrett Payton led the 2003 team in rushing, showcasing how talented this group was. Five of the six Canes players taken in the first round were named an All-American in 2003. The only one of that group who wasn't named an All-American, Wilfork, arguably had the best NFL career of the group, though. Wilfork had five Pro Bowl nods, but Vilma had three. Taylor was also a two-time Pro Bowler before he was tragically shot and killed at 24 after only four seasons in the NFL.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: What Drives Jeremiyah Love, Who Could Be First Top-5 RB Pick Since 2018]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-what-drives-notre-dame-rb-jeremiyah-love</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-what-drives-notre-dame-rb-jeremiyah-love</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Some say Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is the best player in the 2026 draft. Here's an inside look at how his unique approach fuels him.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:19:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[During a Notre Dame football practice last season, Jeremiyah Love rejoined his running back teammates after doing drills with the wide receivers. Though Love was gassed, his position coach, Ja’Juan Seider, needed him to take first-team reps in a third-and-short drill during a padded team period. So the star tailback immediately stepped in. Love fumbled the ball. Seider let him hear it, which, as it turned out, Love appreciated. "He’s like, ‘Coach, I need that,’" Seider told me over the phone. "‘I need you to hold me accountable because if you can hold me accountable, it can show everybody in the room that we can all be coached.’ "That was the evolution of J-Love this year." It’s an evolution that’ll continue in the NFL. A superstar for the Irish, Love is arguably the best player in this year’s draft. Recent buzz has him going as high as No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. It seems unfathomable that he gets out of the top 10. He has a strong chance to be the first running back taken in the top five since 2018 (Saquon Barkley). The 6-foot, 212-pound Love has elite change-of-direction ability. He sinks his hips and gets out of breaks like a wide receiver. He can play all the receiver spots. Seider believes he’s athletic enough to play anywhere outside the offensive and defensive line. According to Oklahoma assistant Deland McCullough, Love’s position coach from 2023-24, the running back would be "phenomenal" in the return game, too. The Doak Walker Award winner and a Heisman Trophy finalist this past season, Love rushed for 2,497 yards and recorded 40 total touchdowns over the last two years combined. "I’ve never seen a guy cut and get to top speed as quickly as him," Scott Pingel, Love's former coach at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, told me over the phone. "You really have to watch the film again to understand the greatness of it. It looks natural, it looks like everybody can do it. Then you watch it, you’re like, ‘Oh, not everybody can do that.’" Seider thinks Love could one day be a better receiver at the running back position than San Francisco 49ers All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. "He’s like a superhero. … He’s Superman," Seider told me. "I don’t even classify him as just a running back. He’s a weapon. … This kid still has untapped potential." What unlocks it may just be his standard for himself, which grows with his immersion in football. ‘If he trusts what you’re saying, he’s all-in’ Love is a very particular and organized person. It’s how he’s always been. As a high schooler, he kept his room spotless. His shoes stayed on a mat outside the door. If he let you inside, it was a sign of trust. If you get it on the football field, it grabs his attention. "He’s very conscientious about his work," McCullough told me. "If he trusts what you’re saying, he’s all-in." It showed at Notre Dame, where he evolved from an underdeveloped freshman, green to the finer aspects of running back play, into a star worthy of comparisons to McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs. In the meeting room, maybe Love doesn’t write down notes the way you'd want him to. You don’t think he’s paying attention, but he’s paying attention to everything. At the end of the year, he’ll recite what was said verbatim. On the field, he didn’t just want to hear what he was doing well. He wanted to know what tweaks needed to be made with his footwork and hand placement and running track. He wanted to know where the unblocked defender would be against different coverages, and how to attack the line of scrimmage in anticipation. Between series, he’s proactive in communicating with the running backs coach, going to the iPad: What’s the play? What’s the front? What’s the coverage? In practice, he’ll take a hand-off at his own 30-yard line and run 70 yards, well past the whistle, to work on his endurance. In walk-throughs, he’ll catch a checkdown, turn up field and do a spin move against the air, priming himself for the safety that meets him in the open field on game day. In individual training, he loves to improvise, planting the seeds for hurdles and other electrifying moves in live action. "I call ‘left!’ but he went right and still was able to make a move and go right and still get back left to finish the drill," Love’s trainer, Kortland Webb, told me over the phone. "Just to see how he’s quick on his feet. And even when he’s wrong, he’s able to recover and make himself right in a sense. "He’s definitely a visual learner," Webb added. "He’s one to sit back and analyze and let you kind of explain it and go through it. And then once it clicks in his mind, he’s going to go through it full speed like he was the instructor." He’s just as intentional as a teammate. In high school, he was as excited for teammates who scored touchdowns as when he scored his own. In an offense that featured plenty of 20 personnel (two running backs), Love — the best player on the field — preferred to line up as a blocker. When Notre Dame played Syracuse in its last 2025 home game, the Irish wanted to maintain his status in the Heisman Trophy race. His first carry, a 45-yard run, went for a touchdown, and Seider wanted him back in the game for the second drive. But Love deferred to his running mate, fellow first-round draft prospect Jadarian Price, who’d been honored for Senior Day. Three plays into Notre Dame’s second drive, Price scored a 58-yard touchdown. "Man, it’s going to be hard to get you touches, get you stats," Seider told Love. "That could’ve been a 100-yard game [right there]." Love was unbothered. "Coach, that’s my brother," he said. "We gotta keep doing this thing together." An expanding love for football Those who’ve worked with Love aren’t worried that he’ll have a short shelf life in the NFL, a concern with many running backs entering the pro ranks. Seider estimates that Love added 10-plus pounds this past season at Notre Dame. Plus, he was always part of a running back committee in South Bend, posting fewer than 200 carries in both his sophomore and junior seasons. And, as Seider puts it, Love hits people before they hit him. "He’s not going to be a guy whose odometer is nearing its end," McCullough told me. His approach shows that he's actually still ramping up. Webb, who started training Love in his senior year of high school, has always known the running back to be a laid-back, introverted person. But as his time at Notre Dame wore on, his personality opened up. He’d return home to St. Louis with more depth to his questions and what he wanted to learn. What should I do in this situation? In this situation, what am I looking for? Are my eyes right? Am I doing the right footwork? "I think one thing that people are gonna see is that he is starting to fall in love more and more with football, and that might sound crazy," Webb told me. "The further that he gets in the game, the more he’s falling in love with it." The same could be said of NFL teams about the All-American running back.]]>
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					<![CDATA[How Ohio State Could Make NFL Draft History With Top 2026 NFL Draft Picks]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/ohio-state-nfl-draft-history-reese-downs-tate-styles</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/ohio-state-nfl-draft-history-reese-downs-tate-styles</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' RJ Young breaks down how Ohio State could make NFL Draft history on Thursday with first-round picks.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:12:02 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NFL cares more about who wins the College Football Playoff national championship than most fans do. Just look at the past five years of first-round NFL Draft selections. Since 1968, only eight programs have seen five of their players selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft, and three of those classes represented have all come in the 2020s. This year, Ohio State could make history with top-10 NFL Draft picks — and without a quarterback in the mix. Looking back at past draft classes across all rounds, LSU (2019) had five players from that championship-winning group selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Alabama (2020) had six players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft after it won the national title, and Georgia (2021) had five players drafted in 2022 after it won it all. Of that trio, only Georgia’s 2021 draft class didn’t feature a quarterback selected in the first round. LSU’s Joe Burrow (2020) and Alabama’s Mac Jones (2021) were each top-15 picks. Digging just a little deeper into elite draft classes from a singular program, only the 2020 Alabama squad had three of its players selected inside the first 10 picks of the draft this decade. That's tied with seven other programs for the most selections in the first 10 picks of any draft. There's one program that stands apart, though, not unlike the NFL’s 1972 Miami Dolphins, with an NFL Draft record that many believed might never be duplicated: 1967 Michigan State. That year, four players off the 1966 Michigan State national championship team were top-10 NFL Draft picks. Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, Ohio State could become the first program in modern history to duplicate the Spartans’ feat with four potential top-10 picks. And the Buckeyes could do it not only without a quarterback but also with just one offensive player selected: wide receiver Carnell Tate, safety Caleb Downs and linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese. These now-former Ohio State players were part of a team that didn't so much as sniff playing in the national title game last season and have not won a Big Ten title in their careers. Yet, the Buckeyes have developed four stars who could all hear their names called before the dinner served on the West Coast has a chance to get cold. Given what NFL Draft analysts and NFL player personnel department members have intimated about Ohio State, the best team in the sport — perhaps the team that should’ve defeated Indiana in the Big Ten title game and on the way to a national championship — should’ve done more. "That’s right," an NFL area scout for a team with a top-10 pick told me. "Just take the Reese kid, for example. I’m a college football fan. I know about the Downs kid. I know about [the] Styles kid and [the] Tate kid, but their best player is [Reese], a guy who couldn’t even get onto the field until 2024. They’re loaded. "It’s Ohio State. They’re always loaded, but I would call last year a letdown based on what the league thinks of their class." After dropping the Big Ten championship matchup in December to eventual national champion Indiana, the Buckeyes lost to Miami (Fla.) in the CFP quarterfinals. A quarterback in this class would elevate it to a different level, just as it would’ve for Georgia in 2022. However, unlike the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes have a signal-caller in Julian Sayin that many believe will be a first-round selection in 2027. That was not the case with former Georgia passer Stetson Bennett, who never projected as a first-round talent and was ultimately selected in the fourth round. [SOUND SMART: 5 Observations Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft] And unlike Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, Ohio State's Ryan Day has a knack for developing quarterbacks into first-round NFL Draft selections. He did it with Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and again with C.J. Stroud — and that’s just since he joined the Buckeyes in 2017. That part is well-known. What Day and his staff have done at other positions, particularly wide receiver, is about to become just as prominent a fact. Consider not just that Ohio State wideouts have become prized commodities in the NFL but also that such a development has been recent and consistent. Between 2008 and 2021, the Buckeyes didn't develop a single first-round selection at wide receiver, despite players like Michael Thomas (a second-round pick) and Terry McLaurin (a third-round selection) turning out to be All-Pro-caliber wideouts in the NFL. Since 2022, however, no program has a better claim to "WRU" than the Buckeyes. In fact, Ohio State has had a wide receiver selected in the first round of the NFL Draft every single year since then. No other program has seen more than three consecutive years of wideouts selected from its program, and there are only two on the list: Tennessee (1982-1984) and Alabama (2020-2022). I’m only counting years, not players. If I counted players, the Buckeyes have had five wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the past four years. If Tate is drafted in the first round on Thursday, that would make him the sixth Ohio State receiver selected in the first round in five consecutive years. Then there’s still the man who has been tagged as the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft since the day he arrived in Columbus, Ohio: wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Smith, who presumably will join Sayin in the 2027 draft, could lead yet another rather remarkable Ohio State draft class next year while furthering what has become a burgeoning Buckeyes tradition of seeing a wide receiver selected in the first round. There are more on deck, too. [NFL DRAFT: Ranking the top-12 quarterbacks in 2026 class] The performance 6-foot-5, true freshman Chris Henry, Jr. put in just last Saturday during Ohio State’s spring game feels like a harbinger of what’s to come. Junior receiver Brandon Inniss earned the spot across the field from Smith that once belonged to former first-round pick Emeka Egbuka and Tate. If Inniss plays as well as his predecessors, he could join Smith in the first round of next year's draft. This is also proof that Ohio State’s recruiting strategy is working in this college football era filled with volatile transfer portal activity and undisclosed millions changing hands from businesses, universities and donors to players — dare I say "student-athletes." The Buckeyes' brass understands its fans demand excellence, and the NFL is more than happy to take advantage of Ohio State’s appetite to develop and be the best football program in America.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Mock Draft: Who's the First WR Picked? Where Do Ohio State's Stars Land?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-first-receiver-ohio-state-stars</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-first-receiver-ohio-state-stars</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Former NFL scout Bucky Brooks presents his final mock before the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Giants' recent trade shifting the field.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:50:38 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[With the 2026 NFL Draft now just hours away, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. After weeks of testing, film-watching and interviews, the scouts are making their final evaluations. So it's time for me to do the same. The New York Giants' recent acquisition of the No. 10 pick shifts the landscape. Ohio State's quartet of top prospects remains in the top 10, as predicted in my most recent mock. Only now, they're going to different teams. Let's take a look at where everyone lands, from Fernando Mendoza to the choice of the Super Bowl champs at No. 32. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Heisman Trophy winner steps into the perfect system for his talents as a high-IQ playmaker. Mendoza’s pinpoint passing skills and underrated mobility mesh well with the play-action-heavy scheme new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak prefers to run. 2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech Defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn could build his scheme around Bailey’s destructive talents as a pass rusher. As a speed rusher with an explosive first step and a challenging signature move (dip-and-rip), the Texas Tech standout could create more turnover chances with his consistent harassment off the edge. 3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State The versatile defender would add some sizzle to the Cardinals’ defense as a hybrid playmaker with disruptive potential. 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Putting an All-Pro-caliber running back behind Cam Ward will not only help the franchise quarterback take his game to another level, but it will also allow the Titans to control the game with a diversified offensive approach. Love is a special playmaker with the potential to have a Christian McCaffrey-like impact on the offense. 5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State The oft-injured playmaker is a worthwhile gamble due to his spectacular receiving skills and route-running ability. If healthy, Tyson is an unstoppable force on the perimeter who will force defensive coordinators to change how they defend the Giants’ passing game. 6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The acrobatic pass-catcher is a dynamic route-runner and playmaker who flashes "take over the game" potential as a WR1. 7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Adding a sideline-to-sideline playmaker would help the Commanders eliminate some of the explosive plays generated by their opponents. Styles’ speed, quickness and burst not only show up on running plays, but it makes him a disruptive force on blitzes and in coverage. 8. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami The high-motor defender is the perfect replacement for Cam Jordan on the edge. Bain’s heavy hands and violent approach would complement the rugged approach utilized by Chase Young on the opposite side. 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon The ultra-athletic pass-catcher would upgrade the Chiefs’ passing game as a mismatch creator. Sadiq’s speed, quickness and athleticism would force opponents to direct double coverage his way, leading to more one-on-one matchups for Travis Kelce and others on the perimeter. 10. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State The high-IQ safety is the traffic cop every elite defense needs in the middle of the field. Downs’ instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills led to countless big plays by him and his teammates at Ohio State. 11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU The talented cover corner gives new head coach Jeff Hafley a versatile technician to feature in his "vision-and-break" scheme. Delane’s instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills make him an ideal fit for a defense that wants to utilize more zone-based concepts. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon The ball-hawking center fielder will eliminate some of the big plays that tormented the Dallas secondary a season ago. Moreover, Thieneman’s range and ball skills will help the Cowboys produce more takeaways in 2026. 13. Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Adding a versatile frontline blocker will give Sean McVay the flexibility to reshuffle his offensive line to feature the best front five on game day. Fano’s physicality and toughness will add a dimension to the Rams’ offensive line. 14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State Adding a big-bodied bully to the frontline should help the Ravens get back to the rugged offensive approach that has helped them crush opponents for years. Ioane plays with the violence, physicality and nastiness that the Ravens demand from their offensive line. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami Todd Bowles needs a disruptive edge defender to elevate the Buccaneers’ defense in 2026. Mesidor is a plug-and-play prospect with the talent, tools and potential to become a double-digit sack producer in an aggressive scheme. 16. New York Jets: Makai Lemon, WR, USC Adding a dynamic slot receiver to the lineup should alleviate some of the pressure on WR1 Garrett Wilson to carry the passing game. Lemon is a spectacular route-runner with outstanding hands and ball skills. 17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia After moving on from left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions take a talented developmental prospect to feature at the marquee position of the frontline. Although Freeling will need some time to grow into his role as a blind side protector, the Georgia standout has all the tools to play at an elite level early in his career. 18. Minnesota Vikings: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee If healthy, McCoy is an elite cover corner with the tools to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber defender on the island. As a featured playmaker in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme, the ball-hawking cover corner will force quarterbacks into more tight-window throws. 19. Carolina Panthers: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo As a rangy center fielder with outstanding ball skills and awareness, EMW will add some much-needed playmaking ability to a unit that needs to generate more turnovers in 2026. 20. Dallas Cowboys: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson The versatile cover corner is a pro-ready defender with the tools to flourish in a "see ball, get ball" system that prioritizes tackling and takeaways. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&amp;M Adding a sturdy interior blocker will not endear general manager Omar Khan to the fan base, but the move could stabilize the Steelers’ offensive line for the next five years. The talented technician plays well within the phone booth, exhibiting the nastiness and toughness the Steelers covet in their offensive linemen. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson With Khalil Mack’s time nearing an end, the Chargers need a power rusher to fill the role. Parker’s strength, power and burst should make him an effective complementary pass rusher opposite an emerging star. 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama The super-sized edge blocker could crack the lineup immediately as a guard before bouncing out to right tackle when Lane Johnson retires. 24. Cleveland Browns: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah As a natural left tackle with flawless footwork in pass protection, the Utah standout gives the Browns a blind side protector for the next decade. Lomu must improve as a run blocker, but his outstanding agility, balance and body control should enable him to effectively shadowbox elite pass rushers on the edge. 25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn The ultra-aggressive edge defender specializes in stopping the run, but possesses the tools to develop into an effective pass rusher off the edge. 26. Buffalo Bills: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&amp;M The dynamic pass rusher brings the juice off the edge, providing new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard a high-energy pass rusher to build around. 27. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Adding the big-bodied pass-catcher to the room provides the 49ers with a succession plan after Mike Evans’ eventual departure. With Boston serving as an apprentice to a perennial Pro Bowler, the 49ers’ passing game should be in good hands with their future WR1. 28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State The run-stuffing defensive tackle will occupy multiple blockers at the point of attack to create more big-play opportunities for Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. 29. Kansas City Chiefs: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee The loss of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watkins forces the Chiefs to address the cornerback position with a top pick. Hood is the instinctive cover corner who typically thrives in Kansas City's ultra-aggressive scheme. 30. Miami Dolphins: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&amp;M The pass-catching phenom is the dynamic playmaker new QB1 Malik Willis needs on the perimeter. Despite his struggles with drops, Concepcion terrorizes opponents between the hashes as a catch-and-run specialist who routinely registers his touches on crossers and square-in routes. 31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State The big-bodied edge blocker is a work in progress, but the Patriots can redshirt him for a season behind Morgan Moses before he takes over for the veteran at right tackle. 32. Seattle Seahawks: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF The defending champs add a high-motor pass rusher to a rotation of edge defenders with complementary skills. Lawrence’s fanatical effort and relentless approach fit the Seahawks’ throwback culture.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Chris 'The Bear' Fallica's Best Bet, Prediction for NFL Draft Round 1]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/chris-the-bear-fallicas-best-bet-prediction-nfl-draft-round-1</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/chris-the-bear-fallicas-best-bet-prediction-nfl-draft-round-1</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Chris "The Bear" Fallica is back with a best bet for the Over/Under of wide receivers to get selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:46:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. Let's be honest: The pickings are slim in the NFL Draft betting markets. At this point, attractive prices are few and far between. You’re paying a premium based on information and there's not a lot to choose from for any good wagers close to -110 or -120. But if you know anything about me, then you know I can still find somewhere to sprinkle some cash — even if it's just a few bucks. Here's what I'm on so far. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Over/Under 5.5 WRs in first round One bet that I'm eyeing is Over/Under 5.5 for wide receivers drafted in the first round. We don’t expect more than two quarterbacks to go in Round 1. We don’t expect more than one running back to go in the first round, either. And interior defensive linemen are lacking. The picks have to come from somewhere and wide receiver is the area I believe they will come from. We know for sure Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson are going in the first round. KC Concepción and Omar Cooper Jr. are projected first-round picks. Denzel Boston is the wideout on the edge and there are some that think he could be a great weapon on contested catches. He’d be very attractive to a contender at the back end of Round 1. I’ll lay it. I expect six WRs to hear their names called Thursday night. PICK: Over 5.5 WRs in first round (-155)]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: 8 Prospects Who Will Make This Draft One to Remember]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/8-prospects-who-will-make-2026-nfl-draft-one-remember</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/8-prospects-who-will-make-2026-nfl-draft-one-remember</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[This draft class has taken some hits, but here are eight prospects, including CMC clone Eli Heidenreich, who will be fun to watch as pros.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:55:00 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There’s been a lot of criticizing and bemoaning and maligning the 2026 NFL Draft. I’m not here to name names (mostly because I’m as guilty as the next guy). But we can all be honest that the NFL world has focused on what this draft has lacked — rather than what it has to offer. So let’s highlight some prospects, from Day 1 to Day 3, who are likely to have an impact on their new teams. If you want to talk about positional value and salary-cap percentage and advanced statistics and the deep stuff, then maybe pop over to Sound Smart. This is about taking note of some of the fun rookies to follow in 2026 — and beyond. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Do me a favor: Just watch his highlights. Watch the way he bursts through the line of scrimmage in ways that remind me of Derrick Henry. Watch the way he makes guys miss at the second and third level like Jahmyr Gibbs. Watch the way Love moves in open space as a pass-catcher like some of the best screen receivers in the game, including Khalil Shakir. Watch the way Love hurdles defenders unlike basically anyone I’ve ever seen before. There are complications around drafting running backs in the top five picks — namely the $50 million price tag that instantly makes them one of the highest-paid players at their position. I get it. But when you’re simply watching the player, Jeremiyah Love, it’s hard not to fall in … love. Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State I keep going back to a conversation that I had with a scout before the pre-draft process really got rolling. The scout told me that Downs is the guy that you can pick and rest easy — more so than any other prospect in this class. And I’m in firm agreement. If positional value and financial value had nothing to do with the draft, the board would go Love at No. 1 and Downs at No. 2. Downs has the production, with 68 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack. Alongside Fernando Mendoza, he’s probably the smartest and hardest-working prospect in this class. Downs is going to be a stud. Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State You’ve gotta love a mauler — the kind of offensive lineman who makes you think of demolition equipment. That’s Ioane. Someone will select him in the first 16 picks, and there will be the detractors who say something to the effect of, "Don’t like taking a guard there." But at that exact same moment, that team’s running back (and quarterback) will be thanking their higher powers for the selection. It’s not going to sell tickets. It’s going to boost the offense. Eli Stowers, TE(/WR), Vanderbilt There are some offenses that can find ways to avoid asking their tight end to block. That’ll be one of the offenses where Stowers lands. Because if you can accept the fact that he is a receiver who plays tight end, you can turn him into an extremely productive matchup threat in your offense. Stowers has an awesome blend of production (769 receiving yards, four touchdowns in 2025) and athleticism (4.51-second 40-yard dash, 45.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-3-inch broad jump). He’s large (6-foot-4, 239 pounds) and he's explosive. He just needs an offense that’ll preserve those tools as he transitions to the NFL (which will likely involve some weight gain). Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa You really don’t need to know anything about him on the field, where he should be a starter in the interior over the next year or two. It’s all about the mullet. He is a gigantic goofball, who will consume 10,000 calories on gameday — and crush 36 ounces of coffee on the bus to the game. He’s a huge Culver’s fan. He’s a Midwest icon. His name *dramatic pause* is Gennings Dunker. He’s far from the best offensive lineman to come out of Iowa, but he is a caricature of an Iowa offensive lineman. Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana He averaged more than 100 tackles in his final three seasons at Indiana, and was at his best in 2025 when he was the cornerstone piece at the middle of the Hoosiers' defense — and that included logging two sacks in their final two games. The last one, as you may remember, was a national championship victory. Fisher is the kind of player where his size ("too small") and his athleticism ("not explosive") will land him on either Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. But it feels inevitable that, in three years, he’ll wear the green dot for a defense and will be a beloved leader in a locker room. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State I’m not usually a fan of the but-what-about-his-potential prospects. But in the case of Allar, I’m here for it. Because I really do wonder: But what about his potential?! It’s a tough class for the quarterbacks. You can go the route of Ty Simpson or Garrett Nussmeier, who profile similarly: coach's son, undersized, struggled at the end of the year due to injury. But Simpson in Round 1? That’s a bit rich for my taste. And Nussmeier, in general, concerns me because of his lack of physical tools. So that’s where Allar comes in. He strikes me as a developmental talent with awesome upside. He’s got the physical tools. He just never put it all together in college. But he looks like a Day 3 prospect —  with a Round 4 grade from NFL.com — and so I love the idea of teams investing in him as a flier. He’s 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds. His arm is very impressive. He was once the No. 1 QB prospect in high school. None of that necessarily makes a good pro QB. But if you put this guy under Sean McVay, he would have as good of a chance as anyone in this class to be a top-tier starter someday. [Rankings, Best Team Fits for Top-12 Quarterbacks] Eli Heidenreich, WR/RB, Navy I am cracking up at the one-for-one athletic comparisons between Heidenreich and Christian McCaffrey. They’re physical clones. Admittedly, they’re not comparable when you put on the film. Not even close. McCaffrey went eighth overall in 2017. Heidenreich will be happy if he lands in the sixth round. But there’s something enticing and deeply entertaining about a weapon like Heidenreich, who last season had 941 receiving yards and six touchdown catches and 499 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He played in Navy’s spread triple-option and therefore is not prototypical in any way. He played two positions after all, and was more of a receiver in college — but he figures to be more of a running back in the pros. If Bill Belichick were still an NFL head coach, he’d risk it all for Heidenreich. Of course, no one will have to. He’s a Day 3 pick. It’ll be fun to see what a team can do with his athleticism and versatility, likely starting with a special teams role.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft Rumors: Seahawks Want to Trade Out of 1st-Rounder?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-rumors-news-tracker</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-rumors-news-tracker</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are all the latest 2026 NFL Draft rumors.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:48:21 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NFL Draft is a beast. Rumors flying all over the place. Trade talk concerning players across the sport, which could involve draft picks in the coming draft. We need a place to store this buzz. With that, here's a tracker for the latest 2026 NFL Draft rumors: Super Bowl champions trading back? The Seattle Seahawks are looking to wheel and deal. "It’s no secret with us, we have four picks. We’ll be looking to trade back," Seattle Seahawks President of Football Operations and general manager John Schneider said at a pre-draft press conference on Monday, per Seattle's team website. Outside owning the No. 32 pick, Seattle merely has the No. 64, 96 and 188 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Seahawks' offseason has been primarily based on keeping their own, extending star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (four-year, $168.6 million deal) and re-signing wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed (three-year, $51 million deal) and cornerback Josh Jobe (three-year, $24 million deal), among other signings. Jeremiyah Love to Cardinals picking up steam Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love will be one of the biggest storylines on night one of the NFL Draft. He may not go No. 1 overall, but he is expected to hear his name called early, potentially as high as No. 3 overall to the Arizona Cardinals. There is ongoing league chatter regarding Love and the Cardinals, and he is firmly in play if they do not trade out of the top pick, per ESPN. Arizona still prefers to move out of the top pick to accumulate more assets, but if they stay put, Love could be the first surprise pick of the night. That would also make Love the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 overall to the New York Giants in 2018. FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt recently released his updated NFL mock draft with the Cardinals selecting Love at No. 3 overall. This adds another layer of intrigue to Arizona’s direction at the top of the board. "The Cardinals are a really interesting selection," Klatt wrote. "Most people believe they're looking to shore up the edge. They probably could and maybe they will, but I can't get out of my head a little thought — and it comes with some intel — of the Cardinals loving Jeremiyah Love. We know they also like Ty Simpson, but this is too rich a spot to draft him. With the thought of potentially making a move for Simpson later in mind, why don't the Cardinals draft Love? A lot of people believe Love is the best non-quarterback in the draft. Arizona would get a running back who can move between the tackles, hit home runs on the outside and catch passes as a slot receiver." If Love ends up in Arizona, he would be the first selection under first-year head coach Mike LaFleur, who brings an offensive-minded approach to the Cardinals’ offense. Kansas City Chiefs positioning for draft-day blockbuster? The Kansas City Chiefs could be positioning themselves for a draft-day trade, potentially moving up from the No. 9 overall pick. The Chiefs have discussed a possible trade-up with both the Cardinals at No. 3 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 4, per ESPN. A potential trade-up would likely signal the Chiefs are targeting a pass rusher, a position they’ve been strongly linked to throughout the offseason. The most commonly connected prospects are Texas Tech's David Bailey and Miami (Fla.)'s Rueben Bain Jr. Both the Cardinals and Titans have frequently been mentioned as potential trade-back candidates throughout the draft process, as each roster remains in a rebuild. With the Chiefs holding picks No. 9 and No. 29 in the first round, they are viewed as a logical candidate to explore a move into the top five on draft night. Those moves resulted in the selections of wide receiver Xavier Worthy (2024), cornerback Trent McDuffie (2022) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (2017). If history is any indication, Kansas City won’t hesitate to move up again if the right player is within reach. Would the Jets consider moving Garrett Wilson on draft night? The New York Jets are expected to be among the most active teams on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, holding both the No. 2 and No. 16 overall picks. A potential trade involving wide receiver Garrett Wilson could be in play, with multiple teams expected to check in on his availability, per Yahoo Sports. Wilson, 25, is coming off an injury-affected season in which he appeared in just eight games for the Jets. He recorded 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns before being placed on injured reserve after aggravating a right knee sprain. The Jets have been firmly invested in Wilson long-term after signing him to a four-year, $130 million extension last offseason with $90 million guaranteed. Still, general manager Darren Mougey could be willing to listen if teams come with a strong enough offer, especially with New York positioned to shape the top of the draft board. Chiefs GM Brett Veach anticipates "a lot" of trades in the first round Not only are the Chiefs exploring a potential draft-night trade-up, but Veach also expects a busy first round with plenty of movement. During his pre-draft media availability, he said it could be an "entertaining" night given the lack of multiple franchise-caliber quarterbacks and other high-end blue-chip prospects at the top of the board. Veach also added how it could naturally fuel more trade activity across the league as teams look to maneuver for value. "I think it should be an entertaining night and there will probably be a lot of trades and that's what I think with a draft like this, when you don't have two or three franchise quarterbacks and a Will Anderson Jr. or a Myles Garrett, it does lend itself to open up to a lot of fun and a lot of excitement. From a fan's perspective, they should have a lot of fun next Thursday." Not only is the lack of blue-chip prospects a factor, but Veach also believes the variance in team evaluations could shape how the first round unfolds. When it comes to this year’s class, differences in grading may come down less to pure talent and more to a scheme that fits team-specific needs. "I think that the fans will be in for a treat next Thursday because I think some of the grades are going to be close for some of these tackles, D-ends and other receivers," Veach said. "That a lot of these guys that are mocked high may go a little low and a lot of these guys that are getting mocked lower may go a little higher because they're so close this year and it's not this huge gap and big fall off. Even with the offensive linemen, there's traits that you like and there's some things all these guys need to clean up and work on, but I think that the grades are so close that it'll come down to the scheme fit, the coach's analysis, the vision [and] the fit for these guys." Ty Simpson a first-rounder? The Alabama quarterback is gaining traction to be selected in the first round, per CBS Sports. After serving as a backup for three seasons (2022-24), Simpson was Alabama's starter for the 2025 season. He totaled 3,567 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 145.2 passer rating, while completing 64.5% of his passes that season. Simpson's Tide reached the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff before losing to Indiana. Most likely New York Jets pick The Jets, who own the No. 2 and 16 picks in the first round, are expected to select either Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese or Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey with the second pick, per CBS Sports. Last season, Reese logged 6.5 sacks, two passes defended and 69 combined tackles, while earning All-American honors; Bailey, who spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career playing for Stanford, racked up a Big 12-high 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three passes defended and 52 combined tackles in 2025.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Pro Player Comps for Fernando Mendoza, Other Top Draft Prospects]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-player-comps-fernando-mendoza-top-2026-draft-prospects</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-player-comps-fernando-mendoza-top-2026-draft-prospects</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[This year's crop of top draft prospects have some impressive pro player comps, from Jared Goff to Davante Adams to Fred Warner.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:55:41 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[As NFL talent evaluators put the finishing touches on their scouting reports of the 2026 draft class, they'll look at current pros with similar traits as another data point to project how the prospects might perform in the pro game. Most scouts utilize pro comparisons to paint a picture for NFL decision-makers who make the calls when on the clock. With the 2026 draft approaching, here are my pro comps for the top prospects in this year’s class. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Heisman Trophy winner is a lock to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. Mendoza has impressed scouts with his intelligence, toughness and management skills, while also flashing pinpoint accuracy and touch as a rhythm passer. The combination of skills and a winning pedigree makes it easy to envision the Indiana standout thriving as a QB1 for a team running a system that prioritizes mistake-free football and clutch playmaking. Although Mendoza lacks elite physical tools, his superpowers as a high-IQ game manager could result in better performance and production than his natural talent would suggest. Pro comparison: Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The silky-smooth pass-catcher checks all the boxes as a potential No. 1 receiver. Tate can impact the game as a three-level playmaker, displaying big-play potential as a vertical threat or catch-and-run specialist. Additionally, the Ohio State star shows elite route-running skills by twisting defenders into knots with his electric stop-start quickness and ballerina-like body control. With Tate also flashing ridiculous ball skills and body control as an acrobatic pass catcher, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is a dominant weapon on the perimeter with "take over the game" potential as a pro. Pro comparison: Rams WR Davante Adams Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State It is hard to find a safety with a high IQ, positional flexibility, ball skills and a "hit stick" mentality that enables him to play as a center fielder or hybrid linebacker in a multi-faceted scheme. Downs not only excels as a jack-of-all-trades, but he has mastered the art of playmaking in a "see ball, get ball" defensive scheme. While skeptics dismiss his impact potential due to his modest physical traits, the evaluators who love "ball players" easily identify the game-changing skills the Ohio State star brings to the table. Considering how championship-level defenses thrive with a game changer in the middle of the field, Downs’ versatility and adaptability give him a chance to emerge as a star as a designated playmaker in a creative defensive scheme. Pro comparison: Cardinals S Budda Baker David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech The energetic speed rusher took college football by storm during his lone season with the Red Raiders. Bailey terrorized opponents with his speed, quickness and burst, as he showcased a "dip-and-rip" maneuver and slick spin move to harass quarterbacks in the backfield. The persistent pressure and constant chaos created by his relentless approach force offensive coordinators to alter their pass-protection plans when facing the dynamic pass rusher. As Bailey acclimates to the pro game and elite pass protectors, the shifty sack artist could produce double-digit sacks annually as a speed-rushing specialist. Pro comparison: Giants OLB Brian Burns [How One Key Question Changed David Bailey’s NFL Future] Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama The pinpoint, quick-rhythm passer operates like a coach on the field, with his instincts, awareness and anticipation enabling him to pick apart coverages with surgical precision. Simpson’s flawless pocket mechanics and footwork make him a quarterback coach’s dream at first glance. With his strongest supporters citing the 2025 Crimson Tide’s sizzling start and his ridiculous numbers as proof of his franchise quarterback potential, the polarizing quarterback must overcome his inexperience, lack of size and arm talent deficiencies to defy the odds as a lightweight quarterback prospect. While teams have gambled on "newbies" in previous drafts (Mark Sanchez, 2009; Cam Newton, 2011; Kyler Murray, 2019; Trey Lance, 2021; Mac Jones, 2021; and Anthony Richardson, 2023), the disappointing hit rate will require Simpson to play above and beyond expectations to justify his draft day status. In a league in which scheme and play calls matter as much as the supporting cast, Simpson must find his way to a team that features a system that makes the game easier for the quarterback. Pro comparison: 49ers QB Brock Purdy Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State After successfully transitioning from safety to linebacker at Ohio State, Styles could flourish as a designated playmaker dominating the game between the hashes. As a fast-flow linebacker who can stuff running backs in the hole or run with tight ends and slot receivers down the middle, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder exhibits rare traits as an off-ball linebacker in a passing league. With his size, length and athleticism, which shrink passing lanes down the middle of the field, Styles is a potential difference-maker for a defense employing a "vision-and-break" scheme designed to create more turnovers. Pro comparison: 49ers LB Fred Warner [Will Ohio State Have Four Top-10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?] Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami The disruptive edge defender is a violent butt-kicker with heavy hands and a nasty temperament. Bain outworks and outlasts blockers, showcasing an alpha-dawg mentality reflected in his relentless approach and competitive stamina. With a rugged game that complements his explosive first step and all-out effort, the Miami standout is the junkyard dog no one wants to face on a critical down. In a league where sack production can lead to blind spots for some evaluators, Bain’s energy, effort and physicality make him an essential piece of any defensive puzzle. Pro comparison: Eagles DE Brandon Graham Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson The transformation of the NFL into a pass-centric league has forced coaches and scouts to view the "Nickel" cornerback as the 12th starter. As a high-IQ defender with outstanding ball skills and a devastating knockout punch (forced fumbles), Terrell is the prototypical slot defender every defensive coordinator covets in the starting lineup. While some scouts question his top-end speed and burst, old-school coaches prefer instincts and awareness over athleticism. Terrell’s knack for making plays on the ball and smothering routes as a zone-based cover corner should result in rave reviews from teams seeking a plug-and-play option on the perimeter. Pro comparison: Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft No. 1 Pick Odds: Fernando Mendoza Clear Favorite]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-no-1-pick-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-no-1-pick-odds</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Fernando Mendoza will most likely be the first player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. But is any other player in the mix? Here are the latest odds.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:10:43 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is currently the clear favorite to be selected No. 1 in April's NFL Draft. However, it's not over until the commissioner calls the first name, and the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock. Let's check out the latest lines for the next No. 1 pick at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 20. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick odds Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): -20000 (bet $10 to win $10.05 total)Arvell Reese (Ohio State): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)David Bailey (Texas Tech): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)Ty Simpson (Alabama): +9000 (bet $10 to win $910 total)Rueben Bain, Jr (Miami): +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)Caleb Downs (Ohio State): +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total)Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Here's what to know about the No. 1 pick oddsboard: The Favorite: Currently, the heavy favorite in this spot is Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, who moved all the way to -20000 from -8000 since the end of the college football season. In 2025, Mendoza had a dazzling year for the Hoosiers. Including the postseason, he passed for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner also helped lead the Hoosiers to a perfect season that culminated in a national championship. "The Raiders need a quarterback and Mendoza is the best one in this draft," FOX Sports Betting Analyst Geoff Schwartz wrote about Mendoza getting drafted first. "This is a no-brainer draft pick and no need to discuss the reasoning. Mendoza will be a Raider." Buckeye Long Shot: Considering Mendoza's odds to be selected No. 1 are so incredibly short, it seems unlikely that another player will end up hearing his name called first. With that in mind, one of the names closest to Mendoza's on the board is Ohio State's Arvell Reese at +9000. Schwartz noted that Reese is a "physical freak" whose on-the-field profile is similar to Micah Parsons. FOX Sports Lead College Football Analyst Joel Klatt echoed Schwartz's sentiment. "Reese has reminded me of star edge rusher Micah Parsons since the fall," Klatt noted. "He’s an excellent pass rusher, whether he’s rushing from the interior or edge. He’s got bend, athleticism and explosiveness." In 2024 and 2025, Reese racked up 52 solo tackles and assisted on 60. While he's a long shot in this spot, Reese does have the shortest odds to be the No. 2 draft pick.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: How One Key Question Changed David Bailey’s NFL Future]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-how-one-key-question-changed-david-baileys-nfl-future</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-how-one-key-question-changed-david-baileys-nfl-future</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[How did David Bailey go from unknown Stanford linebacker to a likely top-five draft pick? His Texas Tech coaches made one simple change.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:58:34 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[When David Bailey arrived in Lubbock last season after three years at Stanford, Texas Tech’s coaches studied his film and had a thought that changed his career trajectory: What if we make him a true defensive end? It was obvious that Bailey had pass-rush talent, but Stanford utilized it more situationally. He played off the ball some. He dropped into coverage. Stanford was doing "a bunch of things" with him, according to Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire. So Texas Tech decided to simplify things with Bailey. "We just believe if you’ve got a guy that has a special whatever his trait is, then let him do that," McGuire told me by phone. "Let him go and rush the passer in as many different ways that we can get, versus ‘OK, he’s going to fit in this and he’s going to have to drop in this defense.’ "If David Bailey’s gotta drop in the defense, I don’t think that’s a really good defensive call," McGuire added. "We can get somebody else to do that." That vision paid off, as Bailey tied the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks and ranked second with 19.5 tackles for loss in 2025, his lone year at Texas Tech — more than doubling his numbers in both categories from his final season at Stanford. His sack mark last season matched his three-year total with the Cardinal. The eye-popping production is partially why the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey is considered by many league observers to be the best pure edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft, where he could go as high as No. 2 overall to the New York Jets. For McGuire, that’s not even up for debate. "If you are taking a defensive player with your first pick — whoever that is — and you don’t take David Bailey, you really need to go back through your process," McGuire told me. "If the Jets are taking a defensive player, there’s no way I’m passing on David Bailey." Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood saw a "maturation process" take place with Bailey in Lubbock. He acclimated to the play-in, play-out physicality of the run game. He played different alignments and techniques. He learned how to take on double teams and different blocking schemes. How to counter and react to chipping running backs and tight ends. According to Wood, Bailey’s "defining moment" came against Houston on Oct. 4, when he had two sacks and three tackles for loss (both season-highs to the point) and forced his first fumble of the season in a 35-11 win. "I think it all started to kind of come together [in that game]," Wood told me over the phone. "Like 'OK, I know what I'm doing now. I've got confidence in my technique. And now I'm gonna just let it go.' And I think you saw some moments in that game where he really just let it go. From a physicality standpoint, he was able to finish on the quarterback aggressively. And then I think that game catapulted him into continuing on in that manner the rest of the year." From the beginning of his time with Texs Tech, Bailey sought out extra drills and training. During a break in May, he stayed around the team facility. He frequented the training room for recovery. He fine-tuned his pass-rush technique and moves on the sled. Younger Texas Tech defenders stayed to work out with him. Coaches had to figure out how to pull back the reins on Bailey. "We really got to the point where like in the summer, we're like, 'Hey, David, you need to take a day off, man. Your body needs to recover,’" Wood told me. "He goes out there and he battles and doesn't really have any kind of regard for his own safety and body. He just wants to go out there and battle and play through pain and just find a way to ultimately come out on top." McGuire marveled at Bailey’s "high football IQ," too. How he grasped both the field and boundary end/outside linebacker positions in the Red Raiders’ defense, which have different responsibilities, without needing many reps. He understood the scheme holistically. And that’s on top of "elite" traits. His bend. How he attacks offensive tackles. How big and strong his hands are. [The Book on Texas Tech Edge David Bailey] With another year in Texas Tech’s defense, the coach said, "You probably see 15 to 17" sacks. "I don’t even know if we scratched the surface of what he can do and what he can be," McGuire told me. That’s for whichever NFL drafts him to confirm.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Sound Smart: 5 Observations Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/5-observations-ahead-2026-nfl-draft-dexter-lawrence-giants</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/5-observations-ahead-2026-nfl-draft-dexter-lawrence-giants</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Key insights on the draft, including who really won the Dexter Lawrence deal and why it's OK to already be thinking about the 2027 draft.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:27:26 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[You know that Fernando Mendoza is going first overall. You know that at No. 2, the New York Jets are deciding between Texas Tech edge David Bailey and Ohio State edge Arvell Reese. And you know that the bona fide superstars in this draft — running back Jeremiyah Love, safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles — do not play premium positions. That’s what we’re seeing and hearing at the surface level. But this is "Sound Smart," where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what to expect ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. 1. MONDAY MORNING CONTROVERSY The Bengals won their trade for DT Dexter Lawrence. Period. At first glance, no one seemed to like the Dexter Lawrence trade for the Cincinnati Bengals. (I did, to be clear. But basically no one else liked it.) It was "a steal" for New York — supposedly. A Top 10 pick! For Dexter Lawrence? A 28-year-old DT? Why? How?! It’s actually really simple. Lawrence was a better player than whatever rookie the Bengals were going to get at 10th overall, even taking into account the financials, the age and the long-term planning. Would you rather have Dexter Lawrence or Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson? Would you rather have Dexter Lawrence or LSU corner Mansoor Delane? Lawrence or Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa? A top 10 pick sounds great. The reality of this year’s No. 10 is … not so great — unless maybe Ohio State safety Caleb Downs dropped that far. In this era of information, there are rare moments where we overthink a single transaction. But there are outliers that buck the greater trends, and I see clearly why the Bengals thought this was a win for their organization. Cincinnati is a team that needs to get better in a hurry. The job security for coach Zac Taylor isn’t so much my concern. It’s all about the Bengals’ relationship with veteran QB Joe Burrow. Listen to the way he sounded disenchanted with the game last year. He sounded like he could retire — or like he’d consider pulling a Matthew Stafford and demanding a trade. Cincy could lose Burrow as early as 2027. In December, I called this the most important offseason ever for the Bengals. This is not a drill, folks. This is one of the biggest issues an organization can face. The Bengals needed to address the issue. They’re starting to act like it, adding Lawrence to such offseason additions as edge Boye Mafe, safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. I can see why — to some — that might make this move sound desperate. Or illogical. It’s neither. This 2026 draft isn’t very impressive at the top. There will be places on Day 2 when teams will get a third-round-graded player in the third round. Otherwise, I bet most teams will feel like they're reaching, especially in Round 1. Some teams have fewer than 10 players with a first-round grade. It’s possible the Bengals are one of those teams. Which would lend more credibility to the idea that Lawrence was worth it. It's a part of a bigger trend: an offseason where premium players have been especially scarce. Because the draft was so weak, teams didn’t let their free agents get to the open market. (There were, for example, virtually no good defensive tackles on the open market with the best free agent option being 39-year-old Calais Campbell, who is actually still available, though not especially enticing). Because the draft is so weak and free agency looked thin, teams got more aggressive in acquiring veterans in the trade market — like cornerback Trent McDuffie, edge Maxx Crosby and receiver DJ Moore. (And I know that the Crosby deal with Baltimore fell apart, but that happened, in part, because Trey Hendrickson presented a rare value that the Ravens didn’t seem to initially anticipate. They probably didn't anticipate his availability because of the trends I'm mentioning.) When it comes to the Lawrence deal, the Bengals managed to secure him through 2028 — and without breaking the bank. It's basically a three-year, $70-million contract after Cincinnati gave him a $28-million, one-year extension. That puts Lawrence on par with Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons and DeForest Buckner in terms of average annual value. I suspect that's a deal the Giants would gladly accept — but were not given the option to, because of a relationship that deteriorated. They’re now looking at a defense which, this season, will have to defend running backs such as Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs, among others. It’s suddenly a ground-game league. And the Giants' defense looks like it's in danger of turning into ground meat next season without Lawrence. New York will probably draft inside linebacker Sonny Styles at fifth overall to help offset Lawrence's departure. (At No. 10, it looks like maybe the Giants will take an offensive player, like ASU receiver Tyson.) But as terrific as Styles is, he'd be a whole lot better if he was playing behind Lawrence. The Bengals are a team in dire need of impact players. They didn't see one falling into their lap on defense at 10th overall. So they moved that pick for a proven entity. If it works out, they might cure Burrow's melancholia and keep him with the organization. Finally, it feels like the Bengals are taking action. 2. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW It’s OK to be thinking ahead to Arch Manning and the 2027 NFL Draft. Everyone else is. At the NFL Combine in February, a pair of NFL agents sat discussing the 2026 draft at a Starbucks near the convention center in Indianapolis. But the more they discussed this year’s class, the more they talked about next year’s class. Texas QB Arch Manning. Oregon QB Dante Moore. Ohio State QB Julian Sayin. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers. LSU QB Sam Leavitt. That's what 2027 might have to offer. There’s a lot of talent to get excited about — next year. There are enthusiasts who love this year's presumed No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza, including — of course — the folks in Las Vegas. He is a very good prospect. After him, however, the quarterback class looks starkly undertalented and/or underdeveloped. After Mendoza, there’s a real lack of star potential at the top of the first round at just about every premium position. Quarterbacks Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) are compelling players, and they’re almost definitely going to be the QB2 and QB3 of this year’s class. Cole Payton (North Dakota State) figures to present strong value as a mid-round developmental prospect. But it’s a good thing these QBs came out this year, because they almost certainly wouldn’t rank as favorably in next year’s class. Arch Manning, for example, would've probably been the No. 1 overall pick this year. Dante Moore might've also pushed Mendoza for QB1, if the Oregon prospect had entered the draft. It seems highly likely that Simpson will land in Round 1 — but in a place where he won’t have to see the field in 2026. Even his father, Jason Simpson, told me that Ty wasn’t like Mendoza, who was interviewing for jobs in 2026. Simpson was interviewing for a starting job in 2027. Around the league, we have seen a few teams treading water at quarterback, most notably the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. It’s not paradise in the quarterback rooms for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Jets. Yet there is less urgency around the quarterback position this year than normal. And I think that’s because everyone is thinking about next year’s prizes. There's an obvious risk, because this draft class was supposed to be better than it turned out to be. The highly-anticipated quarterbacks might return to the safety of NIL paychecks, which are — in some cases — higher than what a player might make in the NFL. Even considering all that, it’s almost a total certainty that next year's group will be better than this year’s group. And so the 2027 draft class is looming — and to some degree lording — over the 2026 draft. 3. SHARING A NOT-SO-DIRTY DRAFT SECRET Is there a pattern around prospects who turn into busts? Chiefs GM Brett Veach thinks he’s found one. Why do some great prospects fail to pan out? If only NFL general managers knew for sure. And for executives who only get a few years in their decision-making chair, it’s even harder to get a sense of whether there’s even a pattern. That’s why Chiefs general manager Brett Veach’s answer to a question at his pre-draft press conference last week struck me as so interesting. This is Veach’s 10th year in his role. During that time, the Chiefs have hit on guys all over the roster, from QB Patrick Mahomes to center Creed Humphrey to defensive tackle Chris Jones to cornerback Trent McDuffie. They’ve also missed on some players, from running back Clyde Helaire-Edwards to receiver Skyy Moore to defensive end Breeland Speaks. But more often than not, the Chiefs have hit in the top three rounds, which is a major reason why they have made so many Super Bowls. But last season, we saw that while Mahomes can do a whole lot — he can't do it all. "If you miss on a player, it’s probably the character and the love for football," Veach said. "We all get enamored by what a player can do, and I think everyone has an element of, ‘Well, if he’s in our environment, it’ll be different.’ We do have a great environment here. If anyone’s going to get the best out of any player, it’s going to be here. But even [with] some of those players, it’s hard." It’s one of the biggest clichés of the draft process — these discussions of character and love for the game. But that’s in part because it’s not quantifiable and in part because it comes off as coachspeak. There’s no easy measurement for either — or for how things might change once a player arrives in the NFL. But the more you speak with evaluators, the more you know that every prospect requires development. And you can't help a guy who can't help himself. "No one’s going to be perfect, and you’re not always going to get Pat Mahomes and Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith in regards to mental makeup," Veach said. "The guys that you do roll the dice for, [you] plan the approach … and just work on that over the years. Again, I go back to the mistakes you make are guys that at the end of the day, they just don’t love football. Even though you thought you were going to change them, you didn’t. "We've tried to do better with that process, identifying those things and making sure that we’re looking for the right traits and characteristics that do lend itself to future change." 4. WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS AFRAID TO SAY Hey Cowboys, stay the course. Dallas is putting together a solid defense. Maybe it's not a spectacular one, but it's a really good one. The Cowboys have taken the patient approach of spreading money around the defense — rather than investing in one unit with an unnecessary sense of urgency. This is the Micah Parsons effect, where they’ve sacrificed one elite pass-rusher in the name of having elite offensive playmakers and a well-rounded defense. Don’t lose sight of the plan, Dallas. "I’ve looked at that mirror a lot, about how to go up and down and trade and do those kinds of things," owner Jerry Jones said in a press conference at the owners meetings in March. "And absolutely, we’ll entertain improving or an in-draft read on what gives us a better chance to get another player, and still have our pick and the red meat of top players. … With the kind of assets or the kind of ammunition we've got in this draft, you should look at all machinations." There’s a growing sentiment that Dallas wants to trade up for Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese. Maybe into the top five picks. I can’t get behind either concept. It would derail what appeared to be the Cowboys' strategy around the Parsons trade. From this draft, Reese is most like Parsons — but given how little playing time Reese got in his edge role at Ohio State, he’s a legitimately risky play for an investment that would likely require two first-round picks. The film is excellent, but there’s not that much of it. It’s an easier sell for Styles, who is (in my opinion) one of two clear-cut instant Pro Bowlers alongside Jeremiyah Love. But trading up for Styles is comparable to the plot of Draft Day — giving up multiple first-round picks to get a linebacker. It’s the most ridiculous plot point of the movie and that’s saying something. I don’t like the Cowboys doing it in real life. So here’s hoping if the Cowboys do move up, they don’t worry about getting into the top five picks. They jump up a few spots, if necessary, to snag Miami edge Rueben Bain or Caleb Downs … or even Styles, if he slips to seventh or eighth. But the whole idea was to use the Parsons trade as an opportunity to bring depth and balance to the defense. Don’t abandon that whole idea. Make sure you come away from the 2026 draft with two first-round picks. Make sure you preserve your first-rounders in the 2027 draft. For the love of all things good in the world, don’t write "Sonny Styles No Matter What" on a Post-it. 5. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN The draft process has been complicated for Rueben Bain. The draft process is long, invasive and comprehensive. Just a month ago, Caleb Downs told me that he didn’t feel like the months leading up to the draft were one big interview because NFL teams are "doing background checks on your childhood stuff, so at this point, your whole life is sort of a job interview." That’s why NFL teams knew about Rueben Bain’s car accident long before the public did. In March 2024, Bain rear-ended another vehicle, per a police report published on The Read Optional. Three of the four passengers were not wearing seat belts and 22-year-old Destiny Betts sustained injuries severe enough to put her in a coma. She died in June 2024. "We’ve known about it since last summer," one scout told me regarding the accident. "I still think he goes in the top 10. Again, everyone has known about this in the NFL." I sat down with Bain last month in Portland at the Adidas "Pro Day" — just after the NFL Combine — to talk about the pre-draft process. At the time, I didn’t know about the accident, which is important context for the interview. I asked him how his meetings with teams went. And he told me what it was like speaking with the Jets, who were his first interview at the combine and are picking at Nos. 2 and 16 in the draft on Thursday night. "It definitely was nerve-wracking," Bain told me. "That first meeting, walking up to my first meeting, my heart was pounding — like literally beating on my chest. But once I sat down and got in the swing of things, I was actually just being myself, talking, being confident in my knowledge of the game." One NFL scout confirmed that his team — and likely every team — checked in about the accident. So in all likelihood, Bain answered some hard questions from the Jets. Chiefs GM Brett Veach said his scouting staff spoke with Bain about it. The strange reality, in hindsight, was that Bain was one of the combine’s biggest talking points for different reasons. The discussion centered around his arm length (30⅞ inches), tied for the fourth-shortest for a defensive end since 1999. "I don’t really think about it," he told me. "I don’t give no energy to it." Bain looked back on his time at the combine with fondness. "I could’ve stayed in Indianapolis forever if we kept doing what we was doing," he told me. "Everybody there was kind of complaining about it, dragging about it. But for me, my first two days was super fun, just talking football, interviewing with teams, stuff like that. Then the next three, four days, just watching guys compete, getting out there, seeing the whole experience of the combine."]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Rankings, Best Team Fits for Top-12 Quarterbacks]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-rankings-best-team-fits-top-12-quarterbacks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-rankings-best-team-fits-top-12-quarterbacks</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Projected rounds and pro comps for the top quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:00:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Of the top 150 NFL prospects on my final Big Board, you’ll see only eight quarterbacks included, with just three among the first 100. If the draft falls that way, it will be the first since 2000 in which there weren’t at least four QBs among the first 100 players selected. Most years, the first round is the round to watch for quarterbacks. And this year is no exception, as where (and when) Ty Simpson is selected will generate huge ripple effects in this draft. But I expect the biggest run on QBs to transpire in the fourth round. We’ve documented the ups and downs of this year’s class since the beginning and end of the season. Now, with the draft finally upon us, I have grades on the top-12 draftable quarterbacks. Here is how I rank them and why. 12. Mark Gronowski, Iowa Projected round: 7/UDFAPro comp: Jaren HallBest team fits: San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys With an NCAA-record 58 career wins, including two national championships at South Dakota State prior to finishing his collegiate career at Iowa, Gronowski certainly is a winner. And he possesses NFL size, athleticism and toughness, as well. Despite what his career 103-27 touchdown to interception rate and 63% competition percentage suggest, however, Gronowski lacks ideal accuracy. He has the dual-threat ability and intangibles to stick as a backup and developmental project, warranting late-round consideration. 11. Joe Fagnano, Connecticut Projected round: 6-7Pro comp: Bailey ZappeBest team fits: New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints A traditional pocket passer with good anticipation, zip and accuracy to attack short and intermediate zones, Fagnano’s game translates better to the NFL than some of the other Day 3 candidates. However, he’s an older prospect (he turns 25 this month) and one who faced limited competition over his career, playing four seasons at Maine (an FCS school) before transferring to UConn, where his production was boosted by the presence of speedy wideout Skyler Bell. But make no mistake, Fagnano’s production was eye-popping at Connecticut: a 48:6 TD-INT ratio over two seasons as a starter. He varies his release nicely and takes care of the football, rarely putting it in harms way. Fagnano further helped his stock at the East-West Shrine Bowl. 10. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt Projected round: 6-7Pro comp: Max DugganBest team fits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets Padilla is the underdog that draws so many to sports in the first place. He’s a 5-foot-10, 207-pound former zero-star recruit who built himself into a Heisman Trophy finalist and four-time team captain with victories over both Alabama and Auburn in his career. He’s best-suited for an RPO attack, showing courage and craftiness as a runner (31 rushing TDs over his career), as well as good accuracy on the move. However, that accuracy wanes as the passes get deeper, and I think he’ll struggle with the tighter windows in the NFL. He’s at his best playing off script, and not every team will be comfortable with his improvisational style and personality. That said, I love his competitiveness and creativity. 9. Haynes King, Georgia Tech Projected round: 6Pro comp: Tyrod TaylorBest team fits: Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, Denver Broncos It isn’t often that a quarterback leads a Power Four conference in rushing touchdowns, but that was the case with King, whose 15 scores on the ground was one more than he threw last season. Those numbers belie King’s intriguing accuracy (and willingness to test tight windows) on short to intermediate throws. He can throw the ball with zip and touch alike. He lacks the arm strength of some of this year’s other draftable quarterbacks, however, and, as such, is a bit scheme dependent. As his rushing totals suggest, King is a dynamic athlete for the quarterback position, clocking in at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He began his college career as a four-star prospect for Texas A&amp;M but struggled with injuries there before transferring to Georgia Tech, where he steadily developed into one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history. His work ethic, competitiveness and dual-threat abilities could help him find a niche in the NFL, though likely as a backup. 8. Cade Klubnik, Clemson Projected round: 5 (No. 145 prospect rank)Pro comp: Brett HundleyBest team fits: Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks often get too much of the praise when things go wrong and Klubnik is a perfect example of how they can get too much of the blame when a team struggles. He was far from faultless for the Tigers’ disappointing 2025 campaign, watching his passing touchdowns plummet from 36 as a junior to just 16 (in 12 games), despite his completion percentage jumping to a career-high 66%. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Klubnik lacks ideal size and possesses only average arm strength. But he's a quality athlete with good accuracy on short to intermediate passes, including on the move. Like a lot of athletic passers, he has a tendency to stick too long on his initial read, then skip too quickly through secondary progressions and then start to drift out of the pocket, dropping his eyes and looking for an escape route. He got into some bad habits trying to put a Clemson offense that didn’t have the dynamic playmakers it once had onto his back. I still see starter-level potential, but Klubnik needs some refining and a better supporting cast to get back to his prior playmaking self. 7. Drew Allar, Penn State Projected round: 4 (No. 120 prospect rank)Pro comp: Landry JonesBest team fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers If one were to draw up the prototypical NFL quarterback, it might look a lot like Allar. He checks in at a solid 6-foot-5, 228 pounds, and he has an absolute bazooka of a right arm. He can make every throw in an NFL playbook and enters the league as a three-year starter with a sterling 61:13 TD-INT ratio. But as I told FOX's Eric Williams in his piece on this year's Most Underhyped and Overhyped Prospects, I’ve yet to see Allar show the requisite instincts to translate his talent into consistent high-level play. He gets frazzled when his initial read is taken away and too often resorts to checkdowns, rather than trusting his arm (or teammates) to make critical plays. He looked like a future first-round pick back in 2023 but he's regressed since, and his senior campaign was abruptly cut short due to a broken ankle that kept him from participating in the All-Star games and pre-draft workouts. There is no denying Allar’s allure. No one should be surprised if he is drafted earlier than my ranking. But I think he’s further away than his traits and stats suggest. 6. Cole Payton, North Dakota State Projected round: 4 (No. 116 prospect rank) Pro comp: Jake LockerBest team fits: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers Payton is similar in many ways to the aforementioned Taylen Green in that he is a classic dual-threat quarterback whose ability as a runner is every bit as valuable as his current passing skills. His first start at the collegiate level, in fact, came at running back, not quarterback. He is a left-handed power thrower still learning the nuances of passing the ball with timing and precision. But there are some "wow" throws on tape — and an intriguing variety of them — including the standard verticals that require vision and arm strength, but also post-corners needing touch and rollouts that show off his ability to throw accurately on the move. A physical, determined runner, Payton gives off some Taysom Hill vibes, but I think he has more upside as a passer. He’ll require patience, but he is arguably the most intriguing developmental quarterback of this class. 5. Taylen Green, Arkansas Projected round: 4 (No. 113 prospect rank) Pro comp: A mix of Randall Cunningham and Anthony RichardsonBest team fits: Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles There are few players in this draft at any position with more highlight reel plays than Green, a remarkable 6-foot-6, 227-pounder who enters the NFL with a staggering 94 overall touchdowns scored over four seasons spread between Arkansas and Boise State. His explosive playmaking ability was obvious on tape, but the numbers he produced at the Combine were stunning nontheless — including a 4.36 40-yard dash and 43.5-inch vertical jump. Teams looking for a true dual-threat quarterback could see Green as a potential superstar. The concern is that Green remains quite raw as a pocket passer given his 46 career starts. He typically waits for his receivers to get open, rather than anticipating windows, staring down his primary targets and allowing defensive linemen opportunities to bat down more balls than you’d expect for a quarterback of his height. He is too quick to drift out of the pocket and drop his eyes to scramble rather than stepping up against pressure to allow pass-catchers time. Green is a lottery ticket that could pay off big, but he requires an offense catered to his skill set and there are only so many of those in the NFL. 4. Carson Beck, Miami Projected round: 4 (No. 107 prospect rank)Pro comp: Mason RudolphBest team fits: Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders Beck personifies the philosophical divide about this year’s quarterback class. Critics are quick to point out that Beck struggled in big moments. Optimists can easily counter that his cerebral play and precision passing out of pro-style offenses are why his teams consistently played in big games in the first place. Those who believe in "QB wins" as a metric note that Beck was 37-6 as a starter over his career at Georgia and Miami. Beck looks the part at nearly 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, with a snappy over-the-top delivery and good accuracy to all levels of the field. He is as good throwing the ball off play-action as any quarterback in this class, showing the pre-snap recognition that comes with facing elite competition (in games and practices) over his career. Beck is a classic rhythm passer who is fantastic when he feels comfortable in the pocket, but hasn’t consistently shown the "ice in his veins" poise to project as a frontline NFL starter. 3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Projected round: 2-3 (No. 70 prospect rank)Pro comp: Drew LockBest team fits: New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers Given where he is likely to be drafted, Nussmeier could very well prove the best value of this year’s quarterback class. That is a bold statement, indeed, given that he was benched for the final month of his final campaign. But similar to Ty Simpson, Nussmeier wasn’t surrounded by the typical LSU supporting cast — the Tigers struggled with drops, inconsistent blocking and a poor running game. An abdominal strain suffered early on limited Nussmeier’s arm strength, but that didn’t stop him from taking the risky throws into coverage that had earned him a first-round grade in my initial QB Tiers article entering the season. Nussmeier lacks ideal size at just under 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, and his gunslinger mentality is as likely to get him into trouble as it is to help him succeed, but I want that kind of "let it rip" confidence at quarterback. The son of an NFL (and CFL) quarterback and current offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, Nussmeier enters the league as mentally prepared for the complexities of the pro game as anyone on this list. At worst, I see a longtime quality backup with a chance to "surprise" as much more. 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama Projected round: 2 (No. 33 prospect rank) Pro comp: Jimmy GaroppoloBest team fits: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams Undersized and entering the NFL with just one season as a starter, Simpson’s faults are easy to see. But so too are his strengths, including the quick mental processing that comes from being a coach’s son, as well as impressive accuracy both in the pocket and on the move. He is a talented passer with as many "big-time throws" in 2025 as any quarterback in this class. And while Alabama is perennially loaded with talent, Simpson wasn’t blessed with the same caliber of a supporting cast as his recent Crimson Tide predecessors, often throwing his receivers open rather than having them break off the huge plays on their own that can pad a QB’s statistics. The track record for quarterbacks entering the NFL with less than 20 collegiate starts is frightening, and the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Simpson (15 starts, all in 2025) was beaten up by the end of this season. It takes some faith to project him as a future franchise quarterback — but the passing ability and moxie are there. 1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Projected round: 1 (No. 4 prospect rank) Pro comp: A mix of Jared Goff and Andrew LuckBest team fit: Las Vegas Raiders At nearly 6-foot-5, 236 pounds, Mendoza certainly looks the part of an NFL quarterback, and he possesses the arm strength and accuracy to star at the highest level, as well. It is his intangibles, however, that have me most excited. The composure he showed in guiding Indiana to its first national championship project well to handling the mental rigors he’ll face at the next level. There is no denying that Mendoza was aided by a relatively simple RPO-based Hoosiers offense, but too often his critics fail to mention how quickly he adapted to this scheme after beginning his career at Cal, where he also showed future NFL starter ability. No one should expect Mendoza to be a franchise savior — he lacks the elite physical traits of No. 1 overall candidates of prior years. But he’s smart, tough, determined and poised. If he’s given a quality supporting cast, the Mendoza magic can continue in the NFL.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Ohio State Spring Game: Freshman Phenom and Veteran Stars Shine]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/freshman-phenom-veteran-stars-shine-ohio-states-spring-game</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/freshman-phenom-veteran-stars-shine-ohio-states-spring-game</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
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				    <![CDATA[The Ohio State Buckeyes concluded their annual spring game Saturday, with new faces and returning stars showcasing their talent.]]>
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				<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:07:10 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Ohio State's impressive 2025 season provided momentum heading into their annual spring game. The defense, freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and multiple veteran contributors stood out — even in rainy conditions. Head coach Ryan Day split the roster into two separate teams: Scarlet and Gray. The Gray team took home the win, 35-26. Between the returning talent and the debut of their freshman class, the Buckeyes are shaping up to be a dangerous Big Ten competitor. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes finished the season 12-2, falling short of a College Football Playoff run to Miami (Fla.) in the quarterfinals. However, a returning Heisman finalist in quarterback Julian Sayin and superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will help fuel what's likely to be another powerful Ohio State team. In a higher scoring game, the Buckeyes' offense thrived, but it was the defense that turned heads. Defensive lineman Beau Atkinson stood out early, finishing the day with a sack and interception. Cornerback Devin Sanchez's sole pass breakup against Smith was enough to remind fans of what he's capable of, and he'll be someone to watch this fall. Sayin's first season as Ohio State's starter lived up to the hype, and now has the tools to hit a very high ceiling in Year 2. Sayin's accuracy goes without saying, as he led the nation in completion percentage (77%). The 6-foot-1 signal-caller put his ground game on display, too, scoring a 4-yard rushing touchdown early. The receiving game continues to shine and advance, especially with the addition of five-star Henry. The No. 1-ranked wide receiver in his class was put to the test and did not disappoint. He hauled in four catches for 96 receiving yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Alongside Smith, a Biletnikoff finalist last season, the duo's combined yards‑after‑catch ability, route‑running and strength instantly elevate Day’s air-raid offense. Ohio State kicks off the 2026 college football season on Sept. 5 at home in Columbus against Ball State.]]>
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					<![CDATA[New Stars, Strong Defense Headline Kyle Whittingham's 1st Michigan Spring Game]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/new-stars-strong-defense-headline-kyle-whittinghams-first-michigan-spring-game</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/new-stars-strong-defense-headline-kyle-whittinghams-first-michigan-spring-game</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Kyle Whittingham era is officially underway at Michigan, which showcased its the new roster at this year's spring game.]]>
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				<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 18:46:52 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Kyle Whittingham era is now in full force at Michigan, as the dust has finally settled after a hectic offseason centered around the abrupt firing of former head coach Sherrone Moore. In the Wolverines' spring game on Saturday, the team returned familiar faces in quarterback Bryce Underwood and running back Jordan Marshall, along with a talented freshman class and several key portal additions. Whittingham split the roster into two teams, Maize and Blue. The Blue team edged out the Maize by a low score of 7-6, with the defense on both sides dominating the day. Michigan's defense showed promising flashes throughout the day. Edges Dominic Nichols and Lugard Edokpayi, as well as defensive lineman Enow Etta, proved their talent under new defensive coordinator Jay Hill. With Hill taking over and transfers like Jonah Lea'ah joining the roster, Michigan could be primed for a breakout year on defense. In Underwood's second spring game and his first under Whittingham, he finished 3-for-9 and 22 passing yards — an underwhelming mark by the former No. 1-ranked recruit. The sophomore signal-caller notched 2,428 passing yards and 11 touchdowns last season, but his nine interceptions remain a concern. The win for Underwood is the addition of new offensive coordinator in Jason Beck, who helped elevate Utah's attack last season. With Beck's system and a dangerous one-two punch at running back with freshman Savion Hiter and Marshall, the Wolverines simply need more consistency through the air to become a difficult team to face this fall. For the younger talent, freshman receiver Salesi Moa showed off his skills with a wild one-handed catch from freshman quarterback Tommy Carr, and freshman defensive lineman Bobby Kanka held the line on a massive fourth-and-one to stop the Blue team. Elite players at this age for Whittingham could be dangerous, and their Big Ten slate will be the perfect place to showcase it. Michigan kicks off the 2026 season at home in Ann Arbor on Sept. 5 against Western Michigan.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Where Every 2026 UFL Star Played In College, Who Headlines Each Roster]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/players-college-roster-stats-analysis</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/players-college-roster-stats-analysis</guid>
				<category>ufl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' RJ Young rounded up where every active UFL player went to college and highlighting the stars you likely remember most.]]>
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				<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:40:49 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It's more than likely that at some point this UFL season, you've been watching a game and found yourself wondering, "He seems familiar — how do I know him?" Don't worry because I'm here to help. There are a ton of familiar faces in the UFL this season, and this seemed like the perfect time to look back at where each UFL player went to college. With that in mind, I've rounded up which school every active UFL player went to and highlighted two stars from each team that you're sure to remember the most from their college days. Let's get to it! Birmingham Stallions Matt Corral (#2, QB) – Ole Miss Corral is exceptional when he sets his feet and fires. This was evident throughout his collegiate career. In 2022, Corral led Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl in his last season with the Rebels, and he was instrumental in Ole Miss finishing with a 10-2 record that helped catapult the program into one that would make the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2025. At Ole Miss, he was a gifted playmaker with a great ability to throw to open receivers. He had a unique skill set that allowed him to control the line of scrimmage — getting into and out of any play he wanted. A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Corral was forced to miss his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers due to a Lisfranc fracture in his foot and never earned a chance to play significant professional football until his signing with the Stallions. Justyn Ross (#13, WR) – Clemson Ross, a starter as a true freshman, was excellent at Clemson, accounting for 1,000-plus yards on just 46 catches in his first season with the Tigers. His elite size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and strong route-running ability made him an easy target for any quarterback. After a strong sophomore season, he was diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare congenital condition that required surgery to correct how some of his bones in his back and neck were fused. After taking a medical redshirt year in 2020, he returned to Clemson in 2021 before going undrafted in 2022. Still, Ross earned a chance with the Kansas City Chiefs and became a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams. He's one of just a handful of players with a CFP national championship (2019) and two Super Bowl rings (2022, 2023). Columbus Aviators Jalan McClendon (#8, QB) – Baylor McClendon is the reason NFL star Jakobi Meyers plays wide receiver at all. After McClendon redshirted behind NFL veteran Jacoby Brissett at NC State, a three-way quarterback battle ensued between him, Meyers and Ryan Finley in 2016. Finley eventually won the starting job, but McClendon separated himself from Meyers so definitively that Meyers switched to playing wide receiver full-time. McClendon still fought his way onto the field in 10 games for the Wolfpack that season. As a graduate transfer, he entered the portal and moved on to Baylor, where he split playing time with signal-caller Charlie Brewer. Now, McClendon and his tantalizing arm talent make him the UFL's best dual-threat QB. Antwane Wells (#6, WR) – Ole Miss "Juice" Wells is an absolute hammer at wideout with a constitution and resolve honed at Fork Union Military Academy. He had days of rucking 20-pound crates of munitions for two hours in full military dress before he ever arrived at South Carolina — just like Eddie George, Vinny Testaverde, Michael Thomas, Plaxico Burress and Cardale Jones. Wells left Fork Union — an institution that has produced 14 first-round NFL picks — with a tattoo of Psalm 23:4 inked on his arm, fearing no evil. Wells, a prototypical rocked-up possession receiver, has the ability to shirk opposing corners and make contested catches against tight coverage. Two years with James Madison left Wells ranked No. 3 all-time in school history for receiving touchdowns (21) and in the top 10 in career receiving yards (1,853) and catches (116). In 2021, he caught 83 passes for a JMU record 1,250 yards with 15 touchdowns. He was an FCS All-American before he ever got the chance to show out at the Power 4 level with South Carolina. He became a first-time All-SEC selection in 2022 and finished his collegiate career at Ole Miss. Dallas Renegades Austin Reed (#16, QB) – Western Kentucky In his first year as a full-time starter, Reed led West Florida to a win in the 2019 NCAA Division II championship game on the strength of a season that consisted of 4,084 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. At the advent of NIL (name, image and likeness), he transferred to Western Kentucky, where he commenced cooking FBS defenses like Wagyu on a charcoal grill — smoking ‘em. In his first season as a starter for the Hilltoppers, he threw for more yards (4,744) than any other FBS quarterback. At WKU, Reed threw for 8,084 yards and 71 touchdowns with 22 interceptions and also rushed for 324 yards and 12 touchdowns. He's a gun-slinging, aerial-attacking, see-it, read-it, send-it-for-six, pocket-present field general. If Reed is running your offense, you're going to score. That's why he's leading the UFL in both passing yards and scores by a landslide. Tyler Vaughns (#1, WR) – USC Vaughns showed himself to be a complete receiver in college football between 2017 and 2019 when he caught at least 57 passes for at least 674 yards with at least six touchdowns across those three years. His route-running is exceptional. His ability to read coverage pre- and post-snap is as good as any quarterback he has played with. Vaughns is a route-tree perfectionist who is going to find the open space in the secondary, make himself a big target for his quarterback and reel in any ball within his radius. That's why he's leading the UFL in both receiving yards and scores after three weeks. DC Defenders Jordan Ta'amu (#10, QB) – Ole Miss Ta’amu turned heads in 2017 after becoming Ole Miss' starter with five games left to play following an injury to Shea Patterson. When Ta’amu finished those five games with 1,682 passing yards, 15 total touchdowns, just four interceptions and a display of mobility that mocked up some defenders, Patterson elected to transfer to Michigan. In 2018, Ta’amu put up 4,260 total yards with 25 scores and just six picks for the Rebels. Simply put, Ta’amu is a dual-threat, read-and-react signal-caller. He finished that season ranked second in passing yards (3,918) behind Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa, who played three more games than Ta’amu and led the Crimson Tide to a national championship win. Gareon Conley (#0, CB) – Ohio State Conley earned a starting job as a redshirt freshman at Ohio State, playing in all 15 games on the Buckeyes' 2014 national title team. After two years, he was so good that he elected to enter the NFL Draft early and was rewarded as a first-round selection by the then-Oakland Raiders in 2017. The first interception of his pro career was a 36-yard pick-six of Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Every ball you throw near Conley — a pure ball hawk with a 4.44 40-yard dash speed — is a 50-50 ball, and odds are he's going to get his hands on it for the deflection or interception. Houston Gamblers Taulia Tagovailoa (#7, QB) – Maryland No one has thrown for more yards in Maryland or Big Ten history than Tagovailoa, the younger brother of NFL veteran Tua Tagovailoa. He led the Terrapins to their first winning season since 2014 and first bowl berth since 2016, while breaking school records for completions (328), passing yards (3,860) and passing touchdowns (26) in a single season. In all, Taulia left Maryland with 32 school records. He is proven elite in a scheme that fits his greatest ability: precise, accurate passing. Rashard Lawrence (#90, DE) – LSU Lawrence is a former All-SEC selection and was a defensive line stalwart on the 2019 LSU national title team. In the 2018 season, he muscled 54 tackles and four sacks, en route to earning Fiesta Bowl MVP honors for his two-sack performance. Do you remember the 6-foot-2, 300-plus-pound "Uncle Phil" lookalike who shucked another 300-pound man and then boa-constrictor-swallowed and sacked Lamar Jackson in Jackson's 2016 Heisman season? That's Lawrence. That's what he does. Louisville Kings Benny Snell (#26, RB) – Kentucky At Kentucky, Snell finished every season he played with at least 1,091 rush yards, 13 scores and 186 rushes. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry for his entire career — and he could break you off a lil’ sumtin-sumtin with long runs. A bell-cow back, the run-game follows Snell. If the O-line blocked it up, Snell ran through it and then made linebackers and secondary players feel too small, too light and too slow. Jason Bean (#5, QB) – Kansas In 2021, Bean threw for a Big 12 postseason record six touchdowns — along with 449 yards — in a raucous 49-36 win for Kansas over UNLV. He flashed elite moments like that throughout his collegiate career but never played more than 10 games, never completed more than 64% of his passes and never threw for more than 2,130 yards and 18 touchdowns in a single season. When he's accurate, though, he throws one of the purest deep balls I've ever seen. His ability to tuck it and run out of sacks is one of the biggest reasons why he's a guy you want behind center. Orlando Storm Jack Plummer (#13, QB) – Louisville Plummer bloomed late. After three years at Purdue, he transferred to Cal, where he put together his first great season with over 3,100 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Those numbers were good enough for him to reunite with his former head coach, Jeff Brohm, at Louisville, where he enjoyed the best season of his career. With the Cardinals, Plummer threw for 3,204 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading Louisville to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the 2023 ACC championship game. A capable operator in a pass-heavy scheme, Plummer excels when allowed to play fast and dictate terms to the defense. KJ Hamler (#3, WR) – Penn State As a redshirt freshman at Penn State, Hamler announced his presence in college football by coming back from a torn ACL in 2018 by returning a kickoff 52 yards to the house — along with reeling in three catches for 67 yards with a receiving score — against Appalachian State. He averaged 18.0 yards per catch that year. In 2019, he stepped his game up again with 56 catches for 904 yards with 18 touchdowns. That was enough for him to enter the NFL Draft that year, when the Denver Broncos took him in the second round. When you absolutely, positively need to take the top of the defense, dial "9" — a go-ball, fly-route, a straight line to the end zone — and ask for Hamler. St. Louis Battlehawks Hakeem Butler (#88, WR) – Iowa State The year that Butler became one of the best receivers Iowa State had ever produced — 60 catches for 1,318 yards (22.0 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns — I realized he's an inch taller and more productive in his final year than Calvin Johnson, aka Megatron, was in his last year at Georgia Tech (2006) on fewer catches (76 receptions for 1,202 yards). How many more 6-foot-6, 240-pound men do you know about running 4.48 in the 40-yard dash with hands the size of couch cushions? I'll wait. If Megatron is Johnson personified, that makes Butler the Onslaught of spring pro football, because, like all Decepticons, he just ain't fair. Good luck, UFL! Pita Taumoepenu (#7, OLB) – Utah Not everybody was paying attention to Utah a decade ago, and Taumoepenu wasn't one of those players you should've known about until Nov. 10, 2016. On that day, he sacked Arizona State’s quarterback three times and notched four tackles for loss. That was enough for me to believe Taumoepenu could have a future as a dominant edge rusher in the right scheme as a pro. After all, he recorded at least 5.5 sacks in each of his three seasons for the Utes. The fact that he turned out to be a terror in the UFL just means I was wrong about which pro league he'd make his presence most felt in. If you're ever asked who is the best defensive player in professional spring ball, he's the only right answer. Taumoepenu is an elite pass rusher who demands you slide protection — ask the running back to help the O-line block — or risk him planting your quarterback like John Henry did a railroad spike.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: A Look Inside the Strangest Job Interview Process in Sports]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-prospect-preparation-caleb-downs-arvell-reese</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-prospect-preparation-caleb-downs-arvell-reese</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[We go behind the scenes with the top prospects of 2026 as they wrap up an exhausting, typically weird pre-draft process.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:01:57 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Getting a job playing in the NFL is nothing like getting an entry-level job in any other field. At the NFL Combine, Texas A&amp;M receiver KC Concepcion was headed into a formal interview with the Philadelphia Eagles. And Philly hit the draft prospect with an exercise he'd never seen before. The Eagles had a machine that dropped three different-colored foam batons. As the batons fell, a coach called out the color that Concepcion needed to catch — and the hand he needed to use to catch it. Left hand blue, right hand red. Good thing he's an All-American receiver. Concepcion managed to catch four of five pairings. "That right there was fun," he told me at the Adidas "Pro Day" in Portland last month. Such is the unique, demanding and sometimes bizarre nature of the NFL draft process, which includes workouts, medical checks and lots of interviews. When it comes to the interviews, which come one after another, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza have the perfect type of mind for the pre-draft process. The same is true of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, whose interview with one team "was kind of boring with how easy it was for him," per a scout in the room. Of course, no matter who it is, these prospects are nervous stepping into a room with NFL evaluators, particularly for the first time. "The first one — a little nervous, a little anxious. But after that one, it was just rolling," Ohio State edge Arvell Reese told me in Portland. Often, prospects can get into a groove. There’s a routine from one team’s interview to the next. And the prospects will answer many of the same questions during their Top 30 meetings. (Each NFL team can invite up to 30 prospects to their facility to conduct interviews, medical checks and on-field workouts.) "It kind of gets kind of repetitive — just answering the same questions," Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson told me in Portland. "Shoot, you're talking about yourself, so nobody knows you better than yourself. But, yeah, I'd say it's going pretty good. Just trying not to shoot myself in the foot and trying to just leave it all on their end." For the on-field portion, there are the freak athletes whose measurables are perfect, whether it's at the combine in Indianapolis or at pro day or any of the other venues where players meet with teams. Count Downs and Reese in that category. Let’s also throw in Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman, who absolutely crushed the workout portion of the combine. Not everyone has it so easy. "It’s all mental," a former NFL first-round pick told me. "[You're in Indianapolis] for days, then you don’t get on field until the end. … I graded out higher because some guys just couldn’t handle all the days stacked on each other." Every measurement matters — even, as it turns out, the things you can’t exactly measure. The experience is a microcosm of what can be so terrible and so thrilling about these liminal months when football players are "prospects" — not college football players or NFL players. They get measured. They get interviewed without end by teams, by media members and by marketing reps. The invasive probing transcends the average job interview. "They're doing background checks on your childhood stuff, so at this point, your whole life is sort of a job interview," Downs told me. "So I can't say this three-month process is my job interview. Your whole life is pretty much a job interview." Here’s what we learned about the process while speaking with several of the draft’s top prospects — and some of the people who are preparing and evaluating them. Getting the body right for the workouts Excel Sports Management has a gym in Southern California where Washington receiver Denzel Boson spent weeks training for the combine and his pro day, with consultant coaches on-site to provide comprehensive preparation. Almost all the likely first-rounders spend their time training at their agency's facility. After that, the draft process is about doing everything except playing football: watching it, drilling it, discussing it. There's a clear dichotomy between the offseason drills that NFL veterans are doing and the ones that the incoming rookies are doing. Look at Instagram, where you can see current NFL players running functional drills to help them improve at their position. And then look at the combine, where you see a set of drills that have rightfully earned the event the nickname "the Underwear Olympics." As antiquated as these general drills might seem, they measure a certain kind of athleticism, which draft prospects can and should hone prior to showing up in Indianapolis. So that's where their attention shifts: learning proper form for the 40-yard dash, the broad jump and the three-cone drill. Downs, however, pushed back on that idea. "I'm trying to get ready to go play football, so that's what my workouts are tailored to," he told me in March. "Just try to make sure that when I get to camp I'm ready to play ball. That's the most important thing, so that's really what I'm focused on." But Downs is an anomaly, a surefire top-10 pick. Not everyone can get away with that mentality. Carnell Tate, the consensus top receiver in the draft and Downs' college teammate, said he might be doing new drills, but he's keeping the same routine he had at Ohio State. "It is basically my college routine," Tate told me. "It’s just, I'm not in college no more at Ohio State." For many players, draft prep extends beyond their training routine. Miami All-American edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. said he is cutting out fried foods and excess sugar from his diet. And he’s more regimented about when he eats — changing his meal schedule. It helps that he’s hired a private chef. "It's more consistent," Bain told me in Portland in March. "It’s something I kind of tighten up on, and being a little bit more serious about my approach, rather than just doing it here and there and kind of slacking off." Getting the mind right for the interviews The most universal elements of the interviews are the film study and install. NFL teams will put up film from a player’s college career and quiz him on what went right or wrong. And then the players will often need to learn a series of plays: the install. Sometimes, they get these plays onsite. Sometimes, they’ll get a small playbook ahead of a meeting. The players will have to prove they’ve retained the information, as best they can. "This process is all about me," Tate told me. "Teams watch your film and see what you retain from your previous school and see what you could have done better. And then they just pick out like, ‘Why did this work? Why didn't this work?’ I've just been watching my film and making sure I know my play in and out — knowing why I messed up here or knowing why I did something good here. "And then they just install a play for me — or a couple plays — and see what I can retain from that meeting, and then go put it on the field or go put on the board." Players lean on different resources to prepare themselves for their interviews. There are formal interviews at the NFL Combine and Top-30 visits. But informal interviews happen throughout the process, with evaluators striking up a conversation with a prospect at an all-star game (like the Senior Bowl), at the combine and at their pro day. Players might even get a random phone call from time to time. Teams may contact an unlimited number of incoming rookies up to three times per week, for up to one hour at a time, per NFL rules. Teams are not allowed to contact college players until they have declared for the draft — or are no longer eligible to keep playing in college. When teams can finally speak with players, any morsel of information could prove important. That means an interview is lurking behind every corner. "I think you’ve just got to be yourself," Arvell Reese told me. "It's hard to put on the act and it's hard to lie. So I feel like being yourself is the easiest thing to do. So when I'm meeting with all the teams, I just be myself." As best they can, prospects prepare thoroughly. Take Boston, for example. He spent time with Excel consultant Ricky Proehl, who played receiver in the NFL for 17 years and is now the head coach of the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Proehl worked with Boston on and off the field to make sure he had the tools to take on the rigors of the draft process. That includes interview prep, drill prep and pro day design. "Teams bring you in for an official visit," Proehl told me by phone. "They want to see how much you can retain. They'll give their offense, they'll give formations, concepts or routes, different things, and then they want to see how much you can retain. So we'll go over different scenarios." Boston said he and Proehl can’t go over every NFL system. But they can work to build fundamental skills and concepts around receiver positions, offensive formations and defensive coverages. The receiver studied on his iPad with a magic pencil to work through the defenses. He and Proehl made a cheat sheet of all the defenses to review. "You can't expect every team to be the same or have the same terminology, but you can get the rules kind of down in your head when it comes to the O's and the X’s and all those different things," Boston told me. In the case of some of the top Ohio State prospects, they might work with an agency consultant. But they also have easy access to a former NFL head coach. Matt Patricia, who served as the Lions' head coach from 2018 to 2020, is now the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator. "Coach Patricia did a great job giving us the time we needed to make sure that we're ready to go out and articulate the way that we need to. So a lot of appreciation for him for finding the time to do that," Downs told me. "Mock interviews. Zooms about the film they’re going to show and the questions they’re going to ask. Trying to get those opportunities to answer the questions on the test before they’re asked." [2026 NFL Draft: Top 150 Overall Prospects] The interviews will extend beyond football. When it comes to getting to know a prospect as a person, teams have different philosophies and methodologies, particularly when addressing sensitive issues or legal matters. One scout told me he’d save the difficult questions for when he felt like he knew a prospect, in large part because he didn’t think he’d get an honest answer prior to that point. That scout said: "[A prospect will say] way more if he knows you care. … You’ll get everything you want by establishing relationships." Another scout told me he’d ask the difficult questions to see if players would lie — and, sometimes, they would, which the scout knew from his research. For the most-prepared prospects, the chalk talk is actually the highlight of the draft experience. They get to meet some of the smartest minds in football and pick their brains. "It's been awesome," Downs told me. "Honestly, I feel like my mind is what separates me, and just being able to share that and have conversations about things. And also just learning is always such a huge thing for me, just putting myself in positions to learn. And there's no higher football than the NFL, so it's a great opportunity to learn from the coaches that are there and try to expand my mind." For prospects, there's no better feeling than nailing an interview. "I just feel like knowing you crushed a meeting," Washington running back Jonah Coleman told me at Adidas Pro Day. "After you come out of a meeting or after you get off the Zoom, just knowing that you crushed it — that has been the best part." [Inside Adidas Rookie Pro Day with Fernando Mendoza, Other Top Prospects] Expect the unexpected. The draft process is infamous for producing absurdity and even inappropriate behavior. Thankfully, that practice has grown less pervasive. But there is still plenty of silliness. It was one thing for people to debate over whether Joe Burrow’s hand size mattered. (Which happened!) It’s another thing for evaluators to ask about sexual orientation, murder weapons or … whether a player finds his mother attractive. One former NFL player said that, when he interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, they took the tape from his junior season rather than his senior year — and only asked about his worst plays. It was a painful and unnecessarily contentious meeting. What was that scout's intention? Unclear. But on the plus side — after the pro day and combine — a draft prospect might never have to run the 40-yard dash again. Or catch foam batons dropped from a machine. "The pro day’s over, combine’s over, you're not gonna have to train for that anymore. Now it’s back to football," Denzel Boston told me. That'll come after the draft — when prospects finally become players again.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Meet the Potential Sleeper Pick in This Year’s QB Class]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/ndsu-cole-payton-sleeper-qb-pick-2026-draft-class</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/ndsu-cole-payton-sleeper-qb-pick-2026-draft-class</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[QB Cole Payton was a one-year starter at North Dakota State, but he just may have the size and athleticism to be a dual threat in the NFL.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:40:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[We all know Indiana's Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Alabama's Ty Simpson might join him in the first round. But the national draft discussion has focused almost exclusively on those two quarterbacks, leading many to instantly write off the other QBs in this year's class. That overlooks an intriguing and largely unproven prospect in North Dakota State's Cole Payton, a dual-threat quarterback with more touchdowns rushing than passing. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound left-hander had only one year as a college starter, but his plus size and athleticism might mean he gets picked sooner than you think. "We're thinking Day 2," Payton told me by phone last week, referencing the second or third round of the draft. "Obviously, there are some teams that have higher grades on you, some teams that have lower grades on you, so you really never know at the end of the day. But that's what we're planning on. ... This has been a blast. It's what you dream about as a kid." North Dakota State is a small-school powerhouse, with two FBS national titles in the past five years, and it's been a surprising pipeline for quarterbacks in the draft. Over the past decade, only three colleges have had four or more quarterbacks drafted, and when Simpson and Payton are selected, Alabama and NDSU will join Ohio State with five since 2016, the most of any college. Payton wants to follow the path that Carson Wentz (2016), Easton Stick (2019), Trey Lance (2021) and Cam Miller (2025) paved, as all are still on NFL rosters. "It's a big reason I came to NDSU and stuck it out," Payton said. "To be a part of that pipeline here at NDSU, it's been really cool." Payton was a backup to Miller for four seasons with the Bison, played in special packages in 2023, rushing 84 times and scoring 13 touchdowns. At a time when few college quarterbacks stay long as a backup, Payton said he never had serious thoughts of transferring. "It's not like schools were knocking at the door," he admitted. But Payton was patient. He didn't get to be a starter until 2025, when he led NDSU to a 12-1 record and completed 72% of his passes, throwing for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions. He finished third in voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in FBS. "It's always been what I've been working for and preparing for, even as a backup quarterback," Payton said. "I knew I had one shot, and I don't know if it's hit me yet, but I expected to be here, to be honest. It's pretty cool." While Payton's stats might not jump off the page, some in the NFL rate him highly. "He’s the best dual-threat quarterback in the draft," a scout recently told our Ralph Vacchiano and Eric D. Williams. "He might need three years to develop. But have you seen some of the backups in this league? This kid might be worth the time." Still, Payton's limited time as a starter will be a concern for many NFL teams. Of the eight quarterbacks ranked in FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang's top 150 prospects list, six of them threw at least 1,000 passes in college. The lone exceptions are Simpson, who had 523 as a one-year starter at Alabama, and Payton, who had just 282 in his five years at NDSU. "You can kind of flip the script on them, because there's guys who have started 50 games in college that don't have success in the league," Payton said. "I don't think that's the one thing you should be able to point out. Every case is different, every story's different. It's a knock because you want to have more starts, but I can't do anything about that. I'll be as prepared as possible and continue to make the most of the opportunities I'm given, even with the lack of starts." NDSU head coach Tim Polasek said scouts hadn't looked at Payton as an NFL quarterback until midway through last season. Prior to that, teams were looking at him to potentially play another position on offense or even become a special-teams player at the next level, according to Polasek. Payton's ability to run a complex pro-style offense as well as he did last season had scouts seeing his potential as a pro passer, even with limited starting experience. Polasek can remember when Wentz was questioned because he had only 23 college starts, but he's now in his 10th NFL season with 100 career pro starts. "Cole is a big, explosive guy. That's just the bottom line," Polasek said. "He's not afraid of physicality. There's a foundation laid down in special teams from skills and drills, from a fundamentals and technique standpoint that he's really comfortable with if that ever does come up for him in his career." Former NDSU quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg said Payton grew throughout his time in college, learning even when he wasn't getting on the field, and his physical abilities are matched by his knowledge and awareness as a passer. "He's got tremendous power in his lower half," Hedberg said. "He has great arm strength and he's able to layer the ball in the second and third levels, which he's worked on. He just kept getting better and better. He's been a winner since high school, won a state championship his senior year in Nebraska at Omaha West High School." Payton helped himself with a solid week at the Senior Bowl, throwing for 72 yards and rushing for another 22 as one of the better quarterbacks in the showcase game. "I get that stigma of being the smaller-school kid, but at the Senior Bowl, I'm against guys wearing Alabama helmets, Georgia helmets, Ohio State helmets, and succeeding, kind of proving that stigma wrong," Payton said. "It's been cool to get to know some of those guys and build relationships with other prospects around the country. It's given me a lot of confidence in my abilities." At the combine, Payton's measurables were impressive, running the 40 in 4.56 seconds and recording a 40-inch vertical leap. He'd never run track, so working with speed coaches this spring to improve his form as a sprinter helped him hit a great time for his size. He's also made it a priority to develop as a passer, to show he can make it in the NFL with his arm and not just his legs. "To continue to prove that I'm a quarterback," Payton said. "I'm able to throw from the pocket, I'm able to make all the throws. That's been the focus." A longtime NFL scout told Vacchiano and Williams that although Payton's experience is limited, his potential will make him a compelling draft pick. "I think he has an upside to him," the scout said. "He can drive the ball down the field. [He’s got] poise and calmness in the pocket and in his play. He’s good rolling out left with accuracy. He can extend plays, a good scrambler. He’s a strong, up-field runner with contact power. And he’s nifty and shifty as a runner." An assistant general manager, meanwhile, made an even bolder claim about Payton. "If he played at almost any [FBS] school, we’d all have him rated higher than Ty Simpson," the assistant GM told Vacchiano and Williams. Payton will be back home in Omaha, Nebraska, for the draft, and he's had official visits with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts and other private workouts. His unique skill set as a passer and runner — as an athlete — means he could play on special teams as a backup quarterback, as he did at NDSU. Some have compared him to the New Orleans Saints' versatile Taysom Hill, who has played quarterback, receiver, tight end and special teams during his nine NFL seasons. Asked if there's an NFL quarterback he models himself after as a passer who can also run, Payton chooses one of the league's best at doing both. "I love watching Josh Allen, the way he plays the game," Payton said. "He's able to make every single throw with a heck of an arm, but he's able to create and extend plays with his legs. He's big and strong, he's going over people and through people, so I like to model my game after Josh Allen."]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Ranking and Evaluating the Top 10 Quarterbacks]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-top-10-quarterbacks-fernando-mendoza-ty-simpson</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-top-10-quarterbacks-fernando-mendoza-ty-simpson</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Yes, Fernando Mendoza is No. 1. But former NFL scout Bucky Brooks ranks a collection of QB wild cards who could become hidden gems.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:49:48 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The 2026 NFL Draft lacks multiple QB1 candidates, but the league's desperation for franchise quarterbacks could lead to some early-round gambles. With a collection of wild cards in this draft, some of those gambles could pay off, with teams transforming a few hidden gems into starters down the road. After taking some time to analyze the 2026 quarterback class, here are my top 10 prospects: 10. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt The 5-foot-10, 207-pound Pavia lacks the prototypical dimensions and tools to merit serious consideration as a QB1, but his production and big-game performance make him a worthwhile gamble as a late-round draft pick or undrafted free agent. The mobile playmaker puts immense pressure on the defense with his improvisational skills, leading to splash plays that will make him a fan favorite in the preseason. Given how Pavia’s competitiveness transformed the Vanderbilt program, do not dismiss his chances of beating the odds as an outlier in the quarterback room. 9. Cade Klubnik, Clemson Despite his individual and team struggles last season, Klubnik will get a chance to make amends in the NFL as a Day 3 prospect. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder has shown QB1 potential in the past (3,639 passing yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024), but he's coming off a disappointing campaign that leads to questions about his readiness for a starter’s role at the next level. While his previous success, arm talent and athleticism will likely lead a team to roll the dice on his potential, the Clemson product must show more consistency to carve out a long-term role as a QB2. 8. Luke Altmyer, Illinois Teams looking for a long-term QB2 candidate could value the three-year Illinois starter. Altmyer’s instincts, intelligence and awareness show in the way he manages the game like a seasoned field general. As a quick-rhythm passer with a keen understanding of the passing game, he excels at connecting the dots at intermediate range. Considering the importance of operating the offense efficiently as a backup, Altmyer has a chance to make his mark as a Day 3 prospect. 7. Cole Payton, North Dakota State Despite the rugged lefty entering the league as a one-year starter, the football world is buzzing about his potential as a developmental prospect. Payton impressed scouts with his toughness and intangibles at the Senior Bowl, with the 6-foot-3, 233-pounder steadily improving throughout the practice week. With his inexperience and inconsistency as a passer limiting his immediate impact, Payton should be on the radar for scouts as a Day 3 consideration with QB2/QB3 potential. 6. Taylen Green, Arkansas As a dynamic athlete who shattered records at the NFL Scouting Combine, Green is an intriguing prospect for teams looking for a developmental quarterback to add to the roster. As a four-year starter at Boise State and Arkansas, the 6-foot-6, 227-pound dual-threat QB passed for 9,662 yards with 59 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, while also amassing 2,403 rushing yards and 35 scores. Although his dazzling athleticism would make him a potential "slash" candidate (quarterback/wide receiver) as a pro, Green’s preference to only play quarterback could force coaches to weigh the pros and cons of taking on a QB with several fundamental flaws as a passer. 5. Drew Allar, Penn State The maddeningly inconsistent passer possesses all the traits old-school coaches covet in a franchise quarterback. From his size (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) and arm talent to his intangibles and leadership skills, Allar is the traditional prototype at the position. While questions persist about his clutch performance, the Penn State product’s traits and tools could entice a team to make him a Day 2/Day 3 gamble. 4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU The son of veteran NFL offensive wizard Doug Nussmeier, the LSU product plays the game like a 10-year veteran playing in slow motion. Although his slender frame (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and a disappointing, injury-marred 2025 campaign have diminished his draft stock, Nussmeier flashes the kind of command that would make an offensive coordinator comfortable handing him the keys to the offense. While Nussmeier's substandard measurements could ding his draft status, his high-quality play in 2024 — 4,052 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions — makes it easy to envision him thriving as a pro. 3. Carson Beck, Miami Beck's toughness and tenacity make it easy for scouts to fall in love with his potential as a game manager-plus for a winning team. While his limitations as a passer (arm strength) could shrink the field for the offense, his winning pedigree from guiding championship-caliber teams at Miami and Georgia could help him lead a competitive squad to wins as a substitute QB1. Given the recent success of experienced young quarterbacks, the 23-year-old Beck is an intriguing Day 2 prospect in the 2026 class. [2026 NFL Draft Confidential: Unfiltered Scouting Takes On Top 5 QBs] 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama As an undersized quarterback with only 15 career starts on his résumé, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Simpson is attempting to defy the odds as a potential first-round pick. Despite his flawless footwork and picture-perfect mechanics, the Alabama standout has not played enough to quickly transition into a QB1 role. While teams with a veteran starter or "bridge" quarterback in place could patiently develop Simpson, the uncertainty over his NFL readiness makes him the biggest boom-or-bust prospect on the list. [Inside Ty Simpson’s Rise from Alabama Backup to Likely First-Round Pick] 1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The presumptive No. 1 overall pick impressed evaluators with his toughness, intangibles and clutch performance as the leader of the national champs. With Mendoza also displaying pinpoint accuracy on intermediate and vertical throws, the playbook is wide open for a play designer building around the Heisman Trophy winner’s talents. Although some scouts will suggest his skills do not match up with previous No. 1 overall picks, Mendoza’s intangibles and intelligence separate him from the rest of the class.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft: How Philadelphia Can Get Back to the Super Bowl]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/eagles-7-round-mock-draft-how-philadelphia-can-get-back-super-bowl</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/eagles-7-round-mock-draft-how-philadelphia-can-get-back-super-bowl</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Eagles won it all by dominating one area in particular. Here's how they can get back to the mountaintop through the draft.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:00:01 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Howie Roseman is one of the biggest wild cards in the NFL Draft every year. The Eagles GM is one of the league’s most frequent pick traders. He’s probably the best bet to trade either up or down with his first-round pick, too. Whatever picks he does end up with, though, he knows he’s got a team still built to contend for a Super Bowl championship, without a lot of obvious needs. But it is facing a crossroads along the lines of scrimmage that Philly is so used to dominating. This may be another year he restocks the trenches to keep his team on top of the NFC for a very long time. Here’s one way the Eagles' draft could play out, in a seven-round mock of their eight selections. RELATED: 2026 NFL Draft Big Board: The Top 150 Overall Prospects Round 1 (No. 23 overall): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama The Eagles’ offensive line wasn’t the force last season that it had once been. Right tackle Lane Johnson will be 36 and has been battling injuries. Left guard Landon Dickerson is coming off an injury-plagued year. And center Cam Jurgens and right guard Tyler Steen are hardly irreplaceable. They make up a line approaching a very critical juncture that could use some reinforcements. And nobody knows better than Roseman that the line is a big part of what has made the Eagles a perennial contender. The 6-6, 352-pound Proctor would fit right in, maybe as a guard for now and a tackle when Johnson finally retires. He is huge and strong and explosive as a blocker, and could be an All-Pro someday if he can refine his technique. The only question is whether he’ll last this long, where he’d likely be the fifth offensive lineman selected. If he does, he could be the piece the Eagles need to keep their line rolling for years. Round 2 (No. 54): Malachi Lawrence, Edge, Central Florida The Eagles made it clear how much they need an edge rusher in their attempts to keep Jaelan Phillips before he got his crazy, $120 million contract from Carolina. But they never moved on to a Plan B. That makes it pretty obvious that one of their first two picks will be used on a pass-rusher in this draft, because they have to know their current edge duo of Jalyx Hunt (6.5 sacks) and Nolan Smith (three) isn’t enough. The 6-4, 253-pound Lawrence was very productive in college, with 19.5 sacks over the past three seasons. He utilizes his 4.5 speed well around the edges and is a strong, tough run-stuffer, too, so he could play every down. He would be an immediate help to an edge rotation that definitely needs immediate help. Round 3 (No. 68): Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina Safety has never been a high-value position for Roseman, which is why the Eagles let Reed Blankenship walk in free agency, leaving a very thin unit behind. But the 6-1, 210-pound Kilgore is more than just a safety. He’s got the ball-hawking skills to star in the secondary (five interceptions in 2024, seven over the past two seasons). But he’s also got the speed (4.4 in the 40) to play nickelback, and the size and strength to be effective closer to the line of scrimmage. The Eagles love that kind of flexibility in their defensive backs. Kilgore may fall a bit in the draft because some scouts are having trouble defining his position or role in the NFL, but the Eagles are a team that would be happy playing him anywhere, or everywhere. And if he needs a little refining, they’re deep enough in the defensive backfield to give him some time to grow. Round 3 (No. 98): Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State When the Eagles seemed to dabble with the idea of trading tight end Dallas Goedert this offseason, one big problem stood out: They don’t really have a ready replacement, certainly not one who can contribute as a receiver. And with Goedert now 31 and constantly battling injuries, it’s time they developed someone behind him. The 6-3, 241-pound Joly could be a gift for them. He caught 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns in his four years at UConn and North Carolina State, and has shown his skills as a former high school receiver. He’s a bit undersized to be a really effective NFL blocker, but could be a sneaky weapon on the field with Goedert, and could develop into his replacement in the future. Round 4 (No. 114): Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee Josephs is another option for the Eagles off the edge, though he’s a bit undersized (6-3, 242) to be a constant in their rotation. He had huge expectations going into last season, but ended up with a disappointing four sacks. Still, there’s a lot to like about his game, and scouts think he could be an effective player if he adds a little muscle and maybe picks up a few pass-rushing moves. With the Eagles so thin on the edge, it makes sense to hedge their bets with several players at that spot, in the hopes that someone develops into a future pass-rushing stud. Round 4 (No. 137): Anez Cooper, G, Miami Two offensive linemen in the first four rounds might be a little excessive, even for Roseman, especially since he’s drafted two in each of the past two drafts (albeit in later rounds). But that’s how big a priority it needs to be in this draft. Also, this 6-5, 334-pounder was a three-year starter at Miami who has a shot to step right in and compete for a starting job. It's more likely he’ll settle in as a backup to develop his technique and cut down on his penalties. But he has a big future if he can keep his weight under control. Round 5 (No. 178): Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State The Eagles took Kyle McCord in the sixth round last year and it didn’t work out, so don’t bet against them taking a quarterback again. And Payton, maybe the most intriguing one in the draft, feels like a perfect fit. The 6-2, 232-pounder is a still-developing passer who will require time and patience—something the Eagles can give him. He’s also a dynamic rusher who could fit right into their run-heavy scheme, maybe even with a package of plays as a rookie that could take some of the toll off Jalen Hurts’ body. And if he really works out, it could allow the Eagles to trade backup Tanner McKee, who has drawn interest around the league. Round 6 (No. 197): Josh Cameron, WR, Baylor Only the Eagles know for sure what they plan to do with A.J. Brown, and they’ve done a good job of loading up at receiver this offseason whether they trade him or not. If they eventually do, though, it will still leave a hole, so it’s not a terrible idea to add a young receiver somewhere in the draft. The 6-1, 220-pounder isn’t a blazer, but he’s got impressive strength and can be a solid receiver in traffic — especially in the end zone, as he showed by catching 19 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He projects as a likely third receiver and red-zone threat who would be a nice addition to the Eagles’ depth.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Draft: Meet Eli Stowers, the QB-Turned-TE Who Might Be the Next Brock Bowers]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-meet-eli-stowers-qb-turned-te-who-might-next-brock-bowers</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-draft-meet-eli-stowers-qb-turned-te-who-might-next-brock-bowers</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Eli Stowers was a coveted quarterback recruit who was Texas A&M just a few years ago. Now, he enters the NFL Draft with a former coach of his and Brocks Bowers comparing him to the Raiders' star tight end.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:16:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers will likely be the second tight end taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, reinventing himself as a pass-catcher with off-the-charts athleticism for his size and earning comps to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf in the draft process. But becoming a star tight end in college wasn't the path that Stowers was initially supposed to take to reach the NFL. Five years and three schools ago, Stowers was coveted enough as a quarterback recruit that 247 Sports ranked him as the nation's No. 12 quarterback, one spot ahead of Jaxson Dart. But persistent shoulder issues, including a torn labrum and the resulting surgery, made it difficult and even painful for him to throw in college, such that he didn't attempt a pass in two years at Texas A&amp;M. Stowers transitioned to tight end at New Mexico State, then found a new identity there in the last two years at Vanderbilt, catching eight touchdowns this past season and winning the John Mackey Award, given to college football's top tight end. "I'm so thankful to be where I'm at. I know it's a blessing to be in this position," Stowers told me. Position has been a key word in Stowers' football life, and even now, his combination of size and speed is a rarity. He's 6-foot-4 and 239 pounds, but also ran the 40 in 4.51 seconds and came within a half-inch of the NFL combine record at any position with a 45.5-inch vertical leap. That's made some NFL teams wonder if he could be a big receiver instead of a fast tight end, but Stowers just wants to get on the field and make plays. "I can play wherever a team wants me to play," he said by phone, taking a break between NFL visits. "If somebody wants to line me out wide, I did that at Vanderbilt, and I can stretch the field that way. I played my whole career at Vanderbilt at tight end, so I can obviously do that, too. I'm just a football player. You can put me wherever." Former Texas A&amp;M head coach Jimbo Fisher had mentioned the possibility of playing tight end to Stowers when he was at College Station. Still, even when he transferred to NMSU, he did so as a quarterback, competing with Diego Pavia for the starting job. He practiced at both positions, but was valuable enough as a backup quarterback that he didn't go to tight end meetings until late that season, finishing with 35 catches for 366 yards and two scores. When NMSU offensive coordinator Tim Beck left for the same job at Vanderbilt. Stowers and Pavia transferred with him. Stowers thrived at Vanderbilt. When the Commodores knocked off No. 1 Alabama in October 2024, Stowers led the team with six catches for 113 yards. Three weeks later, in a three-point loss to No. 5 Texas, he had a touchdown in the final minute. Pavia finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2025, with Stowers as a top target, totaling 111 catches for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns in two years at Vanderbilt. "Two years ago, when we beat Alabama, we had a lot of man coverage and we used him as a receiver," Beck told me. "We played him at tight end, but we put him out wide and motioned him in and found a way to utilize some man-beaters to get him the ball. He's explosive enough that he'll continue to get better at some of the twitchier, shorter routes. And with the great vertical he's got, being able to go up and get footballs, that's going to get better. I think he's got a bright future, however they use him." Stowers wants to make it clear that any talk of him playing receiver shouldn't be a knock on his blocking, something he's taken pride in and improved on since becoming a tight end. "The narrative that my blocking is an issue, I feel like anybody that really watches my film from this past year can see I've gotten a lot better," he said. "Anybody that's saying that really doesn't know what they're talking about." After so much time as a quarterback, Stowers sees the game as a tight end now. His go-to players to watch on tape are Travis Kelce and Hall of Fame Chargers tight end Antonio Gates. Vanderbilt's offense had a route called "Chief" as a nod to Kelce, one that Stowers had great success in over the last two seasons. "You can tell their understanding of the game is what makes them so good at what they do," Stowers said. "Kelce, especially, being a former quarterback, I think we're similar that way. He knows how to read zones, to use leverage to beat man coverage, to use his body to create separation. He's a quarterback's best friend, and that's why he and [Patrick] Mahomes have such good chemistry. Gates used such subtle movements to get open, and I try to learn from that." Stowers worked this past season with former Vanderbilt and NFL receiver Jordan Matthews, who was an offensive consultant at his alma mater and said he shouldn't be limited by any positional titles. "Eli has what it takes to be a No. 1 receiving option in your offense, regardless of what letters you put beside his name," Matthews told me. "Who's your No. 1 option when you drop back? There were years when I was with the Eagles, [Zach] Ertz was the No. 1 option in the passing game. He has what it takes to be the No. 1 option." Matthews was picked 42nd overall in 2014, the highest ever for a Vanderbilt pass-catcher, but he thinks Stowers could and should be taken higher next week. "He's athletic enough to beat any safety, he's big enough to catch against any corner or nickel, outside or inside, and he's smart enough to pick up any offense he's going to be in," Matthews said. "To me, he's a first-rounder. He should not go past 42nd. I think it's very clear how you can implement him in an offense. He's more than capable." Matthews said his favorite route for Stowers was an "18-yard dagger," deep enough to require receiver speed. When Vanderbilt played South Carolina this past year, the Gamecocks had won 16 straight in the rivalry, and when the Commodores faced a third-and-21 trying to preserve the lead in the second half, they called a pass to Stowers, which he caught for a 24-yard gain to move the chains. In terms of size and speed, the NFL tight end that Stowers most closely matches is the Las Vegas Raiders' Brock Bowers, a 2024 first-round pick who has set tight end records and made the Pro Bowl in each of his two pro seasons. Bowers is 6-4, 235 pounds and ran a 4.55 40, and the parallels come from someone who worked with both of them. "There are so many similarities, it's crazy," Darrell Dickey, who was Stowers' offensive coordinator at A&amp;M and later an analyst at Georgia, told me. "Brock has been playing the position a lot longer, but they're both extremely fast for a quote-unquote tight end. They both have unbelievable athletic ability. They both have unbelievable work ethics. They're kind of quiet guys, and they can block. "The ability is there to do the things Brock Bowers has done. They're very similar, and Eli's going to continue to grow and has the potential to develop into that type of player." Both of Stowers' parents were college athletes, with father Donald playing defensive back at New Mexico State and mother Tina playing volleyball at Baylor. He's not even the most accomplished athlete in the family, as his sister Kyndal was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championship last fall after leading A&amp;M to a national title in volleyball. Stowers has had official visits with the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys and met with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq is expected to be the first tight end drafted, potentially in the middle of the first round. Once Sadiq's off the board, Stowers should be the next tight end to go off the board, but that might not happen until Day 2. FOX Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang has Stowers ranked 58th on his top 150 draft prospects list, touting the tight end's athleticism while questioning his strength. Still, Rang mentioned that Stowers is worthy of being a top-50 pick in this year's class. However, Stowers said he isn't worried about when he's picked and will enter the NFL with confidence, regardless. "I feel like I'm the best tight end in the draft," Stowers said. "Any team that gets me will get a guy that's going to help their team win in whatever way I possibly can. As long as the team really wants me, that's a blessing in itself."]]>
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