2026 NFL draft: Newest buzz on Jermod McCoy, QB class

The 2026 NFL draft is lower than three weeks away (April 23-25). So, we requested draft analysts Matt Miller and Area Yates to interrupt down the most recent intel from across the league.

Professional days are wrapping up, although a handful of prime prospects nonetheless have personal exercises with groups this month. How did Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy reply damage questions at his professional day? And what did we be taught from the prospects not named Fernando Mendoza at Indiana’s professional day?

We additionally requested our specialists for the most recent on a bunch of buzzy subjects. Who’s the third-best quarterback prospect on this class proper now? Which NFL groups may commerce out of the primary spherical? What number of edge rushers, offensive linemen and large receivers may get picked on Day 1? Lastly, Miller and Yates emptied their scouting notebooks with what they’re listening to, seeing and pondering.

Soar to a piece:
Jermod McCoy | Who’s the QB3?
Indiana’s professional day | Positional over/unders
Emptying notebooks: What we’re listening to

What is the league buzz off the much-anticipated Jermod McCoy professional day exercise on Tuesday?

Yates: The race for CB1 is formally on. Each McCoy and LSU’s Mansoor Delane are considered as top-15 prospects within the class, with the Giants, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, Bengals and Cowboys as pure touchdown spots. However McCoy’s well being lingered till this professional day exercise, as a torn ACL brought on him to overlook the whole 2025 season and he sat out the mix.

Whereas scouts on the highway had been getting constructive evaluations about McCoy’s restoration, there’s a certainty in seeing it on the sphere. He posted a 4.38 within the 40-yard sprint, a 38-inch vertical bounce and a 10-foot-7 broad bounce.

Miller: Like Area stated, the suggestions I acquired from groups was that McCoy is again within the operating for CB1. There have been some questions even from the morning of the exercise about what drills he would take part in. However he did every part, together with positional drills.

Groups love McCoy’s dimension (6-foot, 193 kilos) and his over 1-inch benefit when it comes to arm size over Delane — 31¼ inches in comparison with 30 inches. And whereas Delane’s elite closing season may hold him within the prime spot, each gamers really feel like top-12 locks.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson are the highest two QBs on this class. However who’s No. 3?

Miller: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU. There are a selection of fine rivals for this spot, however Nussmeier has impressed within the predraft course of now that he is wholesome from an belly damage suffered earlier than the 2025 season. Going again to the 2024 tape, Nussmeier ranked fifth within the FBS with 4,052 yards; he threw 29 touchdowns to 12 picks. And he was slicing down on his interceptions in 2025 earlier than being shut down for the season after 9 video games.

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound quarterback lacks elite measurables, however his instincts, accuracy and excessive ball velocity are traits groups can construct round. He ought to come off the board sooner or later on Day 2.

Yates: Carson Beck, QB, Miami. This reply has assorted over the previous few months, however I am giving Beck the nod for a number of causes. He has a pure throwing potential (69.5% profession completion share) and loads of expertise (43 begins). Scouts are extraordinarily impressed along with his general acumen as a participant. Plus, Beck has superb dimension (6-foot-5, 233 kilos) and dealt with the stress of beginning at two high-profile faculties. I imagine he’ll go within the third spherical.

What did we be taught from Indiana’s professional day Wednesday?

Yates: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza may as nicely begin looking for a house in Las Vegas, so what he did was not going to affect a lot. However a participant who had one thing on the road was large receiver Elijah Sarratt, whose wonderful contested catch potential and chemistry with Mendoza shined this previous season. Sarratt ran a 40, with scouts clocking him round 4.50 seconds. That point was adequate to additional cement his case as a possible top-100 decide.

Miller: Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds additionally put an exclamation mark on a unbelievable collegiate profession, as he was timed at 4.31 seconds within the 40-yard sprint by scouts in attendance. Ponds is the perfect nickelback within the class and ranks inside my prime 50 prospects. He lacks prototypical NFL dimension (5-foot-9, 182 kilos), however he is explosive with a 43½-inch vertical bounce that greater than makes up for his peak.

Which group is almost certainly to commerce down in Spherical 1?

Miller: The Buffalo Payments. Discovering a associate keen to maneuver into Spherical 1 is likely to be as troublesome as predicting which group will transfer out. It is anticipated that groups is not going to quit an excessive amount of 2027 capital primarily based on the energy of subsequent yr’s class. That makes me assume it’s going to be a “win-now” group keen to leap out of Spherical 1. Buffalo GM Brandon Beane has lengthy been a fan of shifting down on draft day. And with simply three picks within the first 4 rounds, the Payments may benefit from including draft capital.

Yates: The Seattle Seahawks. To be clear, my evaluation of who’s almost certainly is predicated off what I imagine is logical; no group has revealed its intentions to maneuver up or down within the draft. However the Seahawks are a smart decide for 2 apparent causes. They enter the draft with a league-low 4 alternatives and might provide the thirty second decide to a different group that wishes to safe a fifth yr of contract management for a prospect.

Name it now: What number of first-round edge rushers will we see?

Miller: 5, perhaps six should you classify Ohio State’s Arvell Reese as an edge rusher. I imagine Reese, David Bailey (Texas Tech), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) and Keldric Faulk (Auburn) are locks. Then, Akheem Mesidor (Miami) and Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) are prone to go within the first spherical, too.

However wouldn’t it be a shock to see as many as 9 edge rushers? Not with this class. There’s a lack of prime prospects at different premium positions and a necessity for rotational cross rushers within the NFL, particularly from playoff groups choosing within the again finish of the spherical. R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), Zion Younger (Missouri) and T.J. Parker (Clemson) may all sneak in.

How concerning the variety of first-round offensive tackles?

Yates: Six, although a seventh is feasible. The six I imagine are the strongest first-round candidates: Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Caleb Lomu (Utah) and Blake Miller (Clemson). However Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor is true there as nicely. The intriguing half about this class is that stacking these tackles is so dependent upon scheme and which traits a group most values.

And what concerning the variety of first-round large receivers?

Miller: 5. We find out about Makai Lemon (USC), Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana), however there is a sturdy case for a fifth receiver within the closing eight picks. Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion is the perfect candidate for that, because of his run-after-catch potential and pure pace. Groups like Buffalo, San Francisco, Kansas Metropolis or Miami may all be potential touchdown spots.

What else did you hear and see this week?

Miller’s notes:

• One participant trending within the mistaken course main as much as the draft is Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson. In reviewing my grades with a handful of scouts, many remarked that Tyson’s hamstring damage and lack of predraft exercises may trigger him to slip to the again half of the primary spherical. Three scouts advised me that Tyson ranks because the No. 4 receiver on their inner boards. He’s scheduled to do positional work for NFL groups on April 17.

Yates’ notes:

• Whereas there may not be a real heart taken within the first two rounds, there’s sturdy depth on the place. A reputation with loads of intrigue across the NFL is Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn III. He performed greater than 3,000 snaps at left deal with, with simply 124 at heart (all in 2025). Zuhn has sturdy foot quickness and can be one of many tallest facilities within the NFL at practically 6-foot-7. I’ve an early Day 3 grade on him.

• This defensive deal with class lacks a assured top-20 decide, but it surely gives a great mix of archetypes on the place. Oklahoma’s Gracen Halton, Penn State’s Zane Durant and SE Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor are amongst these whose quickness provides them an opportunity to be impactful behind the road of scrimmage. However one title that comes up with scouts as a brick wall to defend the run is South Carolina’s Nick Barrett. He was wonderful in 2025, posting 28 solo tackles, 14 run stuffs (tackles on runs for zero or damaging yards) and his first two profession sacks. Barrett ought to go off the board on Day 3.