2026 NFL draft: Newest buzz on No. 2 decide, daring predictions

With the 2026 NFL draft lower than two weeks away (April 23-25), we requested analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Area Yates to interrupt down the newest intel from across the league.

This week, we’re primarily attacking the draft buzz from the staff facet. What are we listening to on the Jets’ plans at No. 2? Which groups are we most sure — or unsure — about in Spherical 1? And what does the right draft appear like for 3 franchises choosing outdoors the highest 10?

We additionally requested our specialists to present some daring predictions concerning the high prospects. And to wrap it up, Miller, Reid and Yates emptied their scouting notebooks with what they’re listening to, seeing and considering.

Bounce to a piece:
Daring predictions | Jets’ No. 2 decide
Sure picks | Unsure picks
Seven-round mock drafts: CAR, DET, LAC
Emptying notebooks: What we’re listening to

Give us your finest daring prediction for the draft.

Reid: Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez would be the second linebacker off the board … inside the primary spherical. To be clear, I am inserting Arvell Reese (Ohio State) at edge rusher right here. It is honest to imagine that Sonny Kinds (Ohio State) would be the first linebacker drafted, someday within the high 10 picks. After Kinds, there aren’t many second-level defenders as achieved as Rodriguez. Groups completely love his psychological make-up, instincts and playmaking means (seven compelled fumbles, 4 INTs in 2025).

Rodriguez has continued to test all packing containers through the predraft course of, and lots of evaluators have sturdy second-round grades on him. However do not be fully shocked if somebody takes the leap late on Day 1.

Yates: We wished daring, so how about this: Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. will go outdoors the highest 12 picks. Bain is an distinctive participant, and there’s no scarcity of groups with a cross rush want to select within the first 12 spots. However he’s going to be an outlier within the first spherical, as the primary edge rusher with sub-31-inch arms to get picked there. There are some scouts who’re skeptical of a staff taking an outlier tremendous early. The groups that may take an opportunity are the Saints, Chiefs and Bengals (Nos. 8-10, respectively), however there’s an opportunity he is nonetheless there within the teenagers.

Miller: Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson will take a draft-day tumble outdoors the highest 20 picks. His hamstring points are regarding for groups, inflicting him to overlook three straight video games in November. He additionally had eight drops in 2024. Groups I’ve talked to love Tyson’s juice as a route runner and his manufacturing, however the accidents and drops are inflicting him to slip behind Carnell Tate (Ohio State) and Makai Lemon (USC) on the receiver board. It is even potential Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) will get picked earlier than him.

What are you listening to on the Jets’ preferences at No. 2?

Yates: In canvassing folks across the NFL, the overwhelming majority of them have defaulted to Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese because the decide. Every participant would supply the Jets with a younger, building-block cross rusher. Bailey is thought to be the extra refined, pro-ready rusher, whereas Reese is taken into account the higher-ceiling prospect with higher fluidity and total athleticism. However … the Jets have given no indication on the decide.

Miller: I will echo what Area has heard, though I did hear that the Jets actually like Tate and would contemplate him if the staff was higher set at quarterback. As of at the moment, it seems like Bailey has extra followers within the constructing. The Jets perceive that an influence participant is required proper now for coach Aaron Glenn’s protection. Bailey’s 14.5 sacks in 2025 and velocity across the edge make for a super match for a staff transferring to extra of a 3-4 protection.

Reid: I’ve heard the identical line of considering as Area and Matt, although I finally imagine the Jets go together with Reese and his upside at No. 2. Opinions are combined on which place he initiatives finest at within the NFL, however I’ve him graded as an off-ball linebacker who may very well be sparingly used as an edge rusher. It is a decide that actually feels 50-50.

Which decide past No. 1 are you most sure on proper now?

Miller: I do not really feel increased than 75% confidence in any decide outdoors of No. 1 proper now, but when the Titans discover themselves at No. 4 with Reese and Bailey off the board, I’d count on Notre Dame operating again Jeremiyah Like to be the choice. And he is perhaps the decide no matter who is accessible primarily based on how lively the Titans have been in including cross rushers this offseason. Love will go someplace within the high 5, and I feel Tennessee has eyes on pairing him with quarterback Cam Ward.

Reid: Sources have instructed me the Dolphins are massive followers of Utah lineman Spencer Fano and would take him at No. 11. The staff loves his versatility, believing he can play any inside spot or be a plug-and-play starter at proper sort out. Austin Jackson is coming into a contract 12 months, and there are a number of query marks surrounding his sturdiness. New entrance places of work have leaned on choosing an offensive lineman to begin their tenure, so this pairing makes a number of sense.

Yates: It is extraordinarily exhausting for me to see the Bengals passing on LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane if he’s on the board at No. 10. Delane fills a precedence want for Cincinnati and is an especially clear prospect. He had a dominant 2025 season, ran a 4.38-second 40-yard sprint at his professional day and has rock-solid dimension (6-foot, 187 kilos). Will he make it to No. 10? I am unsure, given the cornerback want for different groups with top-10 picks.

And which decide are you probably the most unsure on?

Reid: The Browns at No. 6 is one which sources have been conflicted on. Offensive sort out and huge receiver are clearly two of their largest holes, however which order would they assault these positions with their two first-round picks (No. 24 being the latter)? Or would they keep on with taking the “finest participant out there” right here?

Basic supervisor Andrew Berry may additionally replicate his technique from the 2025 draft and commerce again. If the Browns do elect to focus on offensive sort out and receiver, it comes all the way down to which place Cleveland sees as having extra depth. If it appears like there is a scarcity of cross catchers that may very well be out there at No. 24, then it ought to take Tate. If it does not love the sort out depth, then Fano and Monroe Freeling (Georgia) are two names which were talked about by sources. However this is a reputation that shocked me when talking about who Cleveland actually likes at No. 6 … Alabama sort out Kadyn Proctor.

Yates: I will supply two in back-to-back spots, because the Titans and Giants supply a few related dynamics (Nos. 4 and 5, respectively). Every staff has a second-year quarterback and ambitions to make a leap this 12 months, however neither has a dominant operating again that takes drafting Love off the desk. He’s my No. 2 total prospect and maybe the very best wager to turn into a Professional Bowler early in his profession, however would both staff eschew wants at different extra premium positions to take a operating again? The place Love goes within the high 10 is without doubt one of the largest questions folks across the league have puzzled about for months.

Miller: Kansas Metropolis is a complicated staff at No. 9 for just a few causes. The roster has many wants at core positions corresponding to huge receiver, proper sort out, defensive finish, defensive sort out, cornerback and security. Any of these spots may very well be the decide at No. 9, relying on how the board falls. And that is the second a part of the problem with precisely predicting the staff’s first decide — which cross rushers and huge receivers will nonetheless be there? Would Kansas Metropolis pivot to Fano if it does not like anybody on the board at cross rusher or huge receiver? The number of choices out there to common supervisor Brett Veach makes this a tricky prediction.

Mini-mock of the week: Excellent seven-round draft for groups choosing outdoors the highest 10

Miller’s supreme picks for the Lions

17. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
50. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
118. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
128. Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
157. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
181. Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
205. Barion Brown, WR, LSU
213. Pat Coogan, C, Indiana
222. Collin Wright, CB, Stanford

The Lions look to get again into the postseason by beefing up the trenches on this draft. In Spherical 1, a robust offensive sort out within the type of Proctor permits the staff flexibility to maintain Penei Sewell on the precise facet or flip Proctor there. Spherical 2 is all about getting a cross rusher reverse Aidan Hutchinson, with Durant serving to there as effectively. The Lions signed operating again Isiah Pacheco in free company, however Claiborne may present one other spark subsequent to Jahmyr Gibbs.

Yates’ supreme picks for the Panthers

19. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
51. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
83. Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky
119. Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
158. Kendrick Regulation, WR, Kentucky
159. Logan Fano, Edge, Utah
200. Thaddeus Dixon, CB, North Carolina

Regardless of re-signing Nick Scott to a one-year deal, Carolina enters the draft with a major want at security. It additionally ought to have an eye fixed towards the long run alongside the offensive line. Thieneman is my second-ranked security, with the very best ball expertise of any defensive again prospect. Tiernan is an skilled left sort out at 6-foot-8, although he has simply 32¼-inch arms. On Day 3, Carolina may discover simpler cross catchers behind Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. Royer and Regulation have each proven nice expertise after the catch.

Reid’s supreme picks for the Chargers

22. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
55. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
86. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
123. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
204. Gary Smith III, DT, UCLA

Edge rusher and inside offensive line are two main wants for the Chargers, who’re tied with the Falcons for the second-lowest variety of picks. Parker is a heavy-handed and highly effective run defender, whereas having upside as a complementary cross rusher. Pregnon is a bodily tone-setter with sufficient foot quickness to slot in the staff’s zone scheme. Elarms-Orr offers instant depth and competitors for a linebacker room that wants it. Rivers is without doubt one of the high nickel corners on this class, as he has developed sufficient to be a starter this season.

What else did you hear and see this week?

Miller’s notes:

• Groups are going to attend on huge receivers this 12 months. It is a development we have seen not too long ago with depth at receiver in seemingly each class — groups perceive they will wait till later in Spherical 1 and even Spherical 2 to search out starting-quality expertise. This might play out in 2026, as solely Tate and Lemon are poised to go within the high 15. Groups will probably anticipate Omar Cooper Jr., Jordyn Tyson, KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) and others.

• I am nonetheless struggling to discover a staff for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in Spherical 1. In speaking to sources all through the league, you usually hear groups recommend somebody may take him, however nobody is satisfied on who that is perhaps. Even the thought of the Cardinals buying and selling again into Spherical 1 was met with skepticism from one scouting director I spoke to. “Why quit draft picks to leap into Spherical 1 when the Jets did not like him sufficient at No. 2 or No. 16 to take him?” they stated. A shock staff may emerge as a touchdown spot for Simpson, however the extra probably actuality is he is nonetheless on the board in Spherical 2.

Reid’s notes:

• For the primary time since 2021, it’s potential that no defensive tackles may very well be chosen in Spherical 1. I have not discovered a staff that has a real first-round grade on any defensive sort out. With Caleb Banks (Florida) not too long ago having foot surgical procedure, he is prone to be a Day 2 decide. The inconsistencies of Peter Woods (Clemson) all through the season and through the predraft course of have induced most groups I’ve spoken with to place an early-to-mid second-round mark on him. Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) has combined opinions due to his lack of pass-rushing means; many groups would not use a first-round decide on a two-down inside defender.

• Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) is the clear high inside offensive lineman, however many sources imagine as many as three inside blockers may go within the first spherical. Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon and Georgia Tech’s Keylan Rutledge have been talked about as the highest candidates to sneak in. The Chargers and Seahawks have been two groups repeatedly instructed as ones to look at right here.

• A prospect who’s scorching sizzling in league circles is San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson. Many executives whom I spoke with stated he may very well be the third cornerback off the board after LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy. Johnson has aced the predraft course of, as he had a good displaying on the Senior Bowl after which ran a 4.40-second 40-yard sprint on the mix. The Steelers and Jets are the one top-30 visits Johnson has had, although many groups imagine others are attempting to cover their curiosity. A number of sources have stated his practical draft vary begins with the Cowboys at No. 20.

Yates’ notes:

• A Day 3 prospect who has intrigue due to his talent set and background is Mississippi State tight finish Seydou Traore. He was born and raised in London, England, earlier than spending one season in the USA in highschool in hopes of incomes a soccer scholarship. He ultimately landed at Arkansas State earlier than ending up in Starkville. Traore is an especially athletic, “transfer” TE who has come a great distance in a brief time period. His means to generate separation on the high of routes and run-after-catch expertise are amongst his hallmark traits.