April 23, 2026

The NFL says it has been "closely monitoring all developments" in the matter surrounding Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. On Thursday, Pearce entered into a six-month pre-trial intervention program that will result in all charges being dismissed if all conditions are met, according to attorneys Jacob Nunez and Yale Sanford. It would result in no jail time for Pearc and no admission of guilt. The 22-year-old was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, but this deal could clear Pearce of all charges. Even though Pearce won't be charged with any crimes if he follows through with the intervention program, it doesn't mean the NFL won't suspend him at some point during the 2026 season. After being taken late in the first round last year out of Tennessee, Pearce had 26 tackles (17 solo), 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 17 games for Atlanta in his first year in the NFL in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

April 23, 2026

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.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler

April 23, 2026

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.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss

April 23, 2026

The Baltimore Ravens are picking up wide receiver Zay Flowers' fifth-year option, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Flowers will earn $28 million in 2027. This was a no-brainer move for Baltimore, especially after Flowers earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last two seasons while combining for 160 receptions (234 targets) for 2,270 yards and nine touchdowns in 34 regular-season games in 2024 and 2025. The 25-year-old was originally taken with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Boston College. Flowers had a 77-858-5 line on 108 targets over 16 starts in his rookie season before reaching the 1,000-yard mark in each of the last two campaigns. Although the Ravens' passing offense hasn't been all that great in Flowers' time with the team, he has led the team in receiving in each of his three years in the league. If both he and quarterback Lamar Jackson can stay healthy in 2026, Flowers could build on his numbers from last year, which included a career-high 1,211 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 17 starts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: FOX Sports - Jordan Schultz

April 23, 2026

Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen Jr. handled only 33 touches as a seventh-round rookie in 2025, but he found the field with regularity for what he offered as a pass protector. Among qualified halfbacks, only Denver's Tyler Badie had a better pass blocking grade according to PFF, and it was actually Allen, and not the more highly touted Bhayshul Tuten, who saw the team's second-most total running back snaps behind the recently departed Travis Etienne Jr. Jacksonville signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. to a two-year, $10 million deal, but he profiles more as a between the tackles plodder whose four targets and three receptions in 2025 both marked career highs. While Rodriguez will have an obvious role on early downs and near the goal line, Etienne's 47 vacated targets will likely be divvied up between Allen and Tuten, and with the former coming into the league with one of the best receiving profiles in a loaded 2025 rookie running back class, it would stand to reason that he can turn the trust he's already earned from his coaches into an expanded role in the passing game. Where things could get interesting is in this week's NFL Draft, where the Jaguars hold 11 picks and could still consider running back a top need. While the position does not profile as a strength of this draft class, Allen's positioning in the room is already tenuous as a late-round pick himself, and any selection at the position could block his path to even the minor breakout some are calling for.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 23, 2026

University of Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston is expected to be the fifth or sixth wide receiver selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and given the premium placed on the position, that could come as early as Thursday night. With elite receivers rarely hitting the open market and NFL WR2s making upwards of $20-30 million per year, there is a premium on hitting on the position through the draft. With the fifth year of team control afforded to first-round picks, it's no coincidence that an average of more than five receivers have been selected in the first round since 2020. Boston profiles as a big-bodied possession receiver, an archetype that has seen more misses than hits in recent years, particularly in the range of the draft where he's expected to hear his name called. He is currently falling into the mid-to-late range of the first round in dynasty rookie drafts, with landing spots expected to sort out further the nebulous tier of players going after Jeremiyah Love and the Big Three receivers.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 23, 2026

Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion may profile as a slot-only player to begin his NFL career, but he has both the size and versatility to play across the formation and the game-breaking ability to reward any coach who gets the ball into his hands. With several receiver-needy teams picking at the tail end of the first round, it seems unlikely he will get through Thursday night of the NFL Draft without hearing his name called, and if paired with the right playcaller, he should waste no time in finding the field in a meaningful way. Concepcion is currently slotting in around pick five through seven in single-quarterback dynasty rookie drafts, and without having to spend a top-of-the-board pick on him, his return on investment could be clear and immediate. Concepcion is RotoBaller's dynasty WR37, but the right landing spot could lead to one of the bigger post-draft spikes in the class.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 23, 2026

USC wide receiver Makai Lemon is expected to hear his name called early on Thursday's opening night of the NFL Draft, with few pundits anticipating him getting past the New York Jets at pick No. 16. Lemon played over 75% of his collegiate snaps out of the slot, and historically, slot-only receivers to earn that type of early draft capital have not translated cleanly to fantasy. In Lemon's case, though, he plays much bigger than his verified 5'11", 192-pound size, and as a bona fide target-earner, he has the nuance and creativity to both create separation before and add yards after the catch. There is a reason he is most commonly compared to Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown, a player whose fantasy value has grown right alongside his evolving usage. While Carnell Tate comes into the NFL having never been the primary receiver on his own team, and Jordyn Tyson's injury history is extensive, Lemon may have the easiest time overcoming his own perceived flaws, and he has a realistic possibility to emerge as the fantasy receiver to roster from the 2026 draft class.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 23, 2026

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been the anticipated first overall pick for months, and on Thursday night, when the 2026 NFL Draft opens, the Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion will officially become a Las Vegas Raider. The Raiders have made moves all offseason to set their young investment up for long-term success. New head coach Klint Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks, and the team made Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in NFL history. Vegas also signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who should allow Mendoza some runway to learn behind the scenes. In the right atmosphere, which the team has clearly made strides to build around him, Mendoza has the play style, size, and makeup to enjoy a long and successful NFL career. How that translates to fantasy impact may be a different story. While he is a capable runner in got-to-have-it situations, Mendoza will not reliably add fantasy points with his legs, which is why he is not even locked in as a top-two selection in superflex rookie drafts. While the Raiders appear to be getting a player who can grow into the face of the franchise, he will enter the league as RotoBaller's dynasty QB16, and his fantasy ceiling may ultimately top out as a midrange QB2.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 23, 2026

With several running back-needy teams selecting within the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love will not have to wait long to hear his name called on Thursday night. Considered by many to be the top overall talent in the class, Love has been linked to the Giants, Commanders, Titans, and most recently the Cardinals, who pick at third overall. Historically, running backs receiving top-10 capital in the NFL Draft have seen immediate fantasy success, and Love should be no exception. In a class with no other can't-miss offensive prospects, Love is deserving of the first overall pick in rookie drafts of all formats, and having yet to take an NFL snap, he is already RotoBaller's dynasty RB4.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

April 22, 2026

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is expected to garner "significant trade interest" if he's still available at No. 4 or No. 5 overall in this year's 2026 NFL draft, which kicks off on Thursday night. The New Orleans Saints, who hold the No. 8 overall pick, are a team that might be interested in trading up within the top 10 picks of the first round for Reese. Rapoport also mentions the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that is also looking for an edge rusher and who have been rumored to be trying to trade up with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 overall pick. Reese has the potential to be a game-changing edge rusher at the next level for any team that ends up taking him in the top 10 picks of this year's draft. He had seven sacks in his three-year collegiate career at Ohio State, and he totaled 34 solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games in his final season as a Buckeye in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport

April 22, 2026

The Indianapolis Colts are targeting training camp for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner's (neck) return to the field after he had surgery on his neck in 2025, according to JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com. "He's in a really good spot," general manager Chris Ballard said. Buckner originally injured his neck in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he returned for just one game in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers. As long as the 32-year-old veteran doesn't have any setbacks with his neck in training camp this summer, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. Buckner is a former seventh overall pick in 2016 out of Oregon, and he's made three Pro Bowl teams while being named a first-team All-Pro once, so if he's fully healthy, he'll be a big part of Indy's defensive line. He had only four sacks in 10 games last year, but Buckner has racked up 71.5 sacks over 10 NFL seasons with the Giants and Colts.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Colts.com - JJ Stankevitz

April 22, 2026

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is "looking hard" at the wide receiver position ahead of this week's NFL Draft, according to Nate Atkins of The Athletic. Atkins notes that the Rams wish to use their first-round pick on a prospect who can start right away without pushing a veteran to the bench. He believes that means they'll draft a linebacker, wide receiver, or tight end at No. 13 overall. While Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles is an option for the Rams, Atkins writes that "signs keep pointing to a WR" in the first round. He notes that both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are entering contract years, and the Rams would like to add a young, impact wide receiver in case they lose Nacua, Adams, or both next offseason. He also notes that the Rams have the luxury of multiple wide receiver options. Atkins writes, "They could trade up for Ohio State's Carnell Tate. They could stand pat and hope one of Makai Lemon or Jordyn Tyson is available. If not, they could take Washington's Denzel Boston. They could try to trade back and take either Texas A&M's KC Concepcion or Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr." It seems as though the likelihood of the Rams drafting a first-round receiver continues to increase as the draft gets closer. We'll have more clarity, of course, as the first round gets underway on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Nate Atkins

April 22, 2026

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was the first quarterback to take reps during team drills at voluntary minicamp on Wednesday, according to Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official website. Although Sanders opened the workout, the Browns rotated through quarterbacks, with Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel also getting heavily involved. "We were just rotating who was first reps," head coach Todd Monken said. "It was set up in a way for us to get a look at all of them. The plan was to have Shedeur have a few more reps, but to let Deshaun and Shedeur both have reps with the ones." We can't read too much into the breakdown of drills more than four months ahead of the regular season, especially when the difference in the number of reps was marginal. At the same time, it's interesting to see Monken establish a sort of pecking order, allowing Sanders, the less-experienced quarterback but incumbent starter, to get the first nod over Watson (Achilles), who has more experience but is returning from a lengthy injury absence.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Kelsey Russo

April 22, 2026

Louisville wide receiver prospect Chris Bell (knee) is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in November 2025. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Bell's agent and doctor told him that the NFL Draft prospect "is running 18+ MPH and ahead of schedule in rehab." This would seem to suggest that Bell might be ready for Week 1 of his rookie season in 2026. The ACL tear certainly impacted Bell's draft stock, but Rapoport said that he expects the 21-year-old to be a Day 2 pick (second or third round). Aggregate mock draft data from NFLMockDraftDatabase.com seems to agree, ranking Bell as the #55 prospect in this week's draft. He was a multi-season contributor at school, amassing 144 catches, 2,061 yards, and 12 touchdowns over the last three years (38 games). He's the #17 prospect and #9 wide receiver in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rookie rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ian Rapoport