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Akheem Mesidor Selected 22nd Overall by Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have selected defensive end Akheem Mesidor with the 22nd overall pick out of Miami. Mesidor began his time in college playing for West Virginia before joining the Hurricanes for his final three campaigns. During his first season in Miami (2022), Mesidor immediately made a significant impact, tallying 7.0 sacks with 10.5 tackles for loss, the second-highest of his career. He then missed most of the 2023 season due to a foot injury, but quickly found his stride and went on to string together two productive seasons to finish his career. In 2025, Mesidor totaled a season-best 12.5 sacks and emerged as one of the premier edge rushers in this class. While he is one of the older prospects in this class and has dealt with serious injuries, he has the potential to make a massive impact on the field. He will look to bolster a Chargers defense that totaled the 10th-most sacks in football last season.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Buccaneers Draft Rueben Bain Jr. With the 15th Overall Pick
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Miami defensive end prospect Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Bain contributed during all three of his collegiate seasons, totaling 33.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks by the end of his NCAA career. In 2025 alone, he racked up 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, all of which were career-high marks. He posted an elite 92.8 PFF grade during his final year at Miami, including a 78.9 tackling grade in the national championship against Indiana. Bain, who was the 2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, will offer the Bucs a key pass-rushing threat on the end of the defensive line. He projects to play opposite Calijah Kancey, who is averaging 6.7 sacks per 17-game pace throughout his NFL career.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Sonny Styles Selected Seventh Overall by Commanders
The Washington Commanders have selected Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Styles spent his entire four-year college career with the Buckeyes. While he logged only one tackle for loss in his debut campaign, he would begin to find his footing in his sophomore season, tallying 4.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks. In 2024, on the National Championship-winning team, Styles would lead the way, tallying a career-best 6.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. This past season, Styles would conclude his college career with 46 solo tackles, but added just one sack and was named second-team All-American. During the pre-draft process, Styles was credited as one of the top pure tacklers in the class and for having elite range in the open field. Styles will bring a much-needed spark to the Washington defense that allowed 26.5 points per game during the 2025 season.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Browns Net Three Picks, Including Ninth Overall Selection in Massive Draft-Day Trade
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Cleveland Browns have received the ninth overall selection, the 74th overall selection, and the 148th overall selection from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The Chiefs moved up to the No. 6 spot to select LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
Chiefs Trade Up to Select Mansoor Delane With Sixth Overall Selection
The Kansas City Chiefs have traded up to the No. 6 overall pick to select LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane. The Browns initially held this pick at the start of the draft. Delane began his college career with Virginia Tech for three seasons before moving to LSU for his final campaign. With the Tigers, Delane enjoyed the best season of his collegiate career, being named a consensus All-American and posting the lowest passer rating allowed in the entire SEC. Across 11 games, he logged 26 solo tackles with 45 combined tackles and two interceptions. With Virginia Tech, across three seasons (33 games), Delane logged 82 solo tackles with six interceptions. Scouts viewed Delane as one of the top defensive back prospects in this year's class. Per reports, Delane is known for having a consistent technique in his coverage and brings much experience, given that he spent four seasons in college. He will join a Kansas City defense that allowed just 19.1 PPG last season and 195.8 passing yards per game.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Giants Select Arvell Reese with Fifth Overall Pick
The New York Giants have selected Ohio State edge rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese has spent his entire three-year college career with the Ohio State Buckeyes and won a National Championship with them during the 2024 season. After playing a limited role in his first year, Reese would gradually find a role for them over the past two campaigns. In 2024, Reese would log 0.5 sacks with 18 solo tackles. In 2025, Reese would take another step forward, totaling 6.5 sacks with 34 solo tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss. He would be named consensus All-American at the conclusion of this season. Per scouting reports, Reese is credited for not shying away from contact and having strong instincts to track down ball carriers. Reese will join a New York defense that allowed a high 25.8 PPG last season and totaled 39.0 total sacks.
Source: Ari Meirov
Source: Ari Meirov
Lions Could be Angling to Trade Up in First Round of NFL Draft
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that some NFL teams are "watching" the Detroit Lions, who hold the No. 17 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, as a "trade-up threat." They have been making calls around the league. The Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, are looking at options to move up or down within the first round. If Dallas were to trade up from No. 20 overall, it probably wouldn't be a big jump up. As of right now, they don't want to give up the 20th overall pick. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns sit in the top 10 picks in the first round, and they could be trade partners with the Lions if they are looking to jump into the top 10 on Thursday evening. If the Lions trade up within the first round, it will almost certainly be to target a difference-making edge rusher to pair with Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions are also in need of a starting right tackle to bolster their offensive line.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Mike Vrabel Seeking Counseling, Won't be With Team on Day 3 of Draft
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will not be with the team for the third day of the 2026 NFL draft this Saturday as he seeks counseling, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Vrabel addressed the media on Tuesday for the first time since the New York Post published photos that showed the coach embracing and holding hands with former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona. Both Vrabel and Russini are married, and Vrabel has two sons with his wife, Jen. "As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization, and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them." The Patriots have 11 selections in this year's draft, including the 31st pick in the first round on Thursday night.
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Caleb Banks on Pace for Football Activities in June
Florida defensive tackle prospect Caleb Banks (foot) should be able to resume football activities within the next six to eight weeks. According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Banks' doctor sent a letter to NFL teams that said the draft prospect underwent a CT scan on Tuesday and is on pace to be fully cleared by early June. The 23-year-old is working his way back from a broken bone in his foot that he suffered during the NFL Combine. Banks was once a projected first-round pick, with aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com ranking him as this year's #22 overall prospect. However, since the injury, he has fallen to #41 overall and is now a projected Day 2 selection. The rehab timeline provided by Banks' doctor still puts him on track to play in Week 1 of his rookie season. Depending on the landing spot, he projects best as a long-term impact player who can be an immediate rotational depth piece on the defensive line.
Source: Pete Thamel
Source: Pete Thamel
Seahawks "Looking to Trade Back" in This Week's Draft
The Seattle Seahawks, who have only four picks in this week's 2026 NFL draft, including the No. 32 selection in the first round, will "be looking to trade back," general manager John Schneider told John Boyle of the team's official website. "It's no secret with us; we have four picks." In addition to their pick at the end of the first round, Seattle holds the 64th overall pick in Round 2, the 96th overall pick in Round 3, and the 188th overall pick in Round 6. There should be a team interested in moving up to close out the first round on Thursday night, which would allow the Seahawks to accumulate a bit more draft capital on Friday and Saturday. Their top draft needs this year include running back, edge rusher, defensive back, and offensive line. If they stay at No. 32 overall on Thursday night, Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price could be in play if he's still on the board.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
David Bailey Visits Several Teams Leading Up to the NFL Draft
Texas Tech University edge rusher David Bailey has been busy with visits ahead of Thursday's NFL Draft. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Bailey has visited with the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs. Of those five teams, Arizona picks earliest at No. 3 overall, but there have been rumors suggesting they could trade their selection to the Chiefs, who are also interested in Bailey. It makes sense that there's a lot of interest, as Bailey was the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025 with 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Even if he doesn't get selected third overall, he is one of the top prospects in the draft and won't fall too far.
Source: Aaron Wilson
Source: Aaron Wilson
Chiefs Talking With Cardinals About the No. 3 Pick
The Kansas City Chiefs are in talks to acquire the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Arizona Cardinals, according to Johnny Venerable of PHNX. The Chiefs are believed to be interested in selecting a pass rusher, and trading up from No. 9 to No. 3 could put them in the mix for Texas Tech's David Bailey or Ohio State's Arvell Reese. Additional details about the trade rumors are unclear, but presumably, the Chiefs would have to part with No. 9 and another first-rounder to move up. They also pick 29th this year, or they could include a future selection. The top of the draft is unfamiliar territory for the Chiefs, who recently missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Now that they're positioned to pick in the top 10, it looks like they're leaving no stone unturned in their quest to acquire an elite prospect.
Source: Johnny Venerable
Source: Johnny Venerable
First Round of NFL Draft Could Feature Plenty of Trades
Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach expects plenty of fireworks in the first round of this year's NFL draft, which begins next Thursday night, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN. "It should be an entertaining night," Veach said Thursday. "There'll probably be a lot of trades." Most analysts think that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the only QB taken within the top 10 picks, and it's also a weird draft in that some of the top prospects don't play premier positions. The Chiefs are one of five teams this year that have two first-round selections, so they could be one of the teams trading up or back next Thursday. KC acquired a second first-round pick (29th overall) from the Los Angeles Rams this offseason in the trade that sent All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to L.A.
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Source: ESPN.com - Nate Taylor
Lions Open to Trading Up in the NFL Draft
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said that the team would be willing to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft if they feel strongly about a player on the board. "If we have that kind of conviction for a player, absolutely, we're going to go and get him," Holmes told members of the media, including ESPN.com's Eric Woodyard. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Holmes traded up 20 spots in the 2022 draft to select Jameson Williams, and he traded up five spots for Terrion Arnold in 2024. He doesn't just trade up, though. Holmes pulled off a masterful trade backward in the 2023 NFL Draft, moving back from No. 6 to select both Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell. We don't know exactly which position the Lions would target if trading up, but it's worth noting that Holmes said he won't reach for an offensive tackle or defensive end, as he believes free agent additions Larry Borom and D.J. Wonnum can be starters at those two positions, respectively.
Source: Eric Woodyard
Source: Eric Woodyard
Giants and Dexter Lawrence Reach a Contract Impasse
The New York Giants and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence have been discussing an extension, but negotiations have reached an impasse, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Lawrence requested a trade earlier this month, and while the Giants previously seemed motivated to sign him to an extension, it appears their stance has changed. Rapoport notes that the Giants "have engaged with teams on a potential trade" for Lawrence, and talks will continue in the coming days. Additionally, while manager Joe Schoen previously insisted the NFL Draft was not a deadline for a trade or extension, Rapoport now reports that this saga should be resolved before the draft begins on April 23. By that point, the Giants are expected to have a thorough understanding of how the league views Lawrence, which will allow them to make a decision on whether to trade or extend him. Lawrence has been a key contributor on defense for the Giants, and he'd make a similar impact on his new team if traded. The three-time Pro Bowler started all 17 games in 2025, amassing 31 tackles, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, and his first career interception. He recorded just half a sack last year, but he's not far removed from a nine-sack campaign in 2024.
Source: Ian Rapoport
Source: Ian Rapoport
