Author: Ryan Mitchell

The air at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea felt different on Tuesday. As the Cleveland Browns opened their voluntary veteran minicamp on April 21, 2026, the focus wasn’t on the usual distractions that have historically followed this franchise. Instead, all eyes locked onto the quarterback rotation, where Shedeur Sanders is making a loud case to lead this team into the future. Sanders, who weathered a surprising fifth-round slide in the 2025 NFL Draft, looks like a player transformed. After spending much of his rookie season waiting behind veteran Joe Flacco and fellow youngster Dillon Gabriel, Sanders started the final…

The New York Jets are on the clock, and the smoke is clearing. With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, draft insider Todd McShay reports that Gang Green has found its man. The pick? Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. After a season where the Jets’ pass rush disappeared into thin air, the front office appears ready to pull the trigger on the most versatile defender in the class. New York finished the 2025 season ranked 31st in sacks. The defense struggled to breathe. Bringing in Reese isn’t just a choice; it’s a necessity. Reese didn’t just play for the Buckeyes;…

The New York Jets are making it clear they aren’t afraid of a hard reset. After a 2025 campaign that sputtered out of playoff contention by November, the front office hit the accelerator on a total roster overhaul. They’ve moved veterans and hoarded draft picks, creating a war chest that includes nine selections in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and a staggering three first-rounders in 2027. But one name continues to flicker on the trade radar: Garrett Wilson. On paper, moving Wilson makes little sense. He was the cornerstone of the 2025 off-season, signing a massive extension meant to keep…

The 2026 NFL Draft in Green Bay is only days away, but the real earthquakes happened months ago in team meeting rooms. While the scouting world obsesses over 40-times and hand sizes, the smart money is tracking the clipboard. Seven franchises overhauled their coaching staffs this winter, and those philosophical shifts have sent the consensus draft big board into a blender. You can feel the electricity in the air around the league. Scouts are frantic. One veteran evaluator told me over coffee this week that he’s had to scrap two years of notes because “the new guys want totally different…

The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and the buzz surrounding Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson has reached a fever pitch. On April 17, over 20 NFL teams—including multiple general managers—descended upon Tempe for Tyson’s personal workout. According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the attendance list was a “who’s who” of league decision-makers, all gathered to see if the Sun Devil star had reclaimed the elite form that defined his 2025 campaign. ESPN’s Matt Miller reported that Tyson ran roughly 20-25 routes and suffered only a single drop on a sharp dig route. The feedback from scouts…

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The New York Giants are not interested in a fire sale. Despite a trade request from All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence on April 6, General Manager Joe Schoen has drawn a line in the sand. New York will not entertain any offer for their defensive centerpiece that doesn’t start with a 2026 or 2027 first-round pick, sources say. The Giants are currently at an impasse with their star defender. Lawrence, the engine of the Big Blue pass rush, wants a deal that reflects his status as a top-three interior lineman. While the trade request sent shockwaves…

KANSAS CITY, MO — For the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs watched the postseason from their couches. The silence in Arrowhead this January was deafening. Now, with the 2026 NFL Draft just eight days away, Brett Veach holds a rare hand: nine total selections, including two picks in the first round. The mission is clear. Protect 15, fix the pass rush, and find the speed that once defined this dynasty. The Trenches: Building a Wall and a Monster The Chiefs didn’t wait long to address the line. With the No. 9 overall pick, Kansas City snagged…

FRISCO, Texas — The phone lines in Frisco are completely dead. Despite placing the $27.3 million non-exclusive franchise tag on star receiver George Pickens, the Dallas Cowboys have not fielded a single trade offer. Dallas COO Stephen Jones confirmed the silent treatment on Tuesday. The Dead Phone Lines in Frisco Pickens ripped defenses apart in 2025, hauling in 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. The Cowboys traded for him expecting a massive return on investment, and he delivered on the field. Anyone standing near the sidelines during the Cowboys’ playoff push last January could almost feel the electricity…

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins hold the No. 11 and No. 30 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and suddenly every mock draft points a different direction. Tyreek Hill is gone. Jaylen Waddle is gone. De’Von Achane skipped the first day of voluntary workouts. The offense now runs through Malik Willis, and analysts cannot stop connecting the Dolphins to wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 11. WR Carnell Tate Leads the Chatter for Miami’s Top Pick Jordan Reid of ESPN slotted Ohio State’s Carnell Tate to the Dolphins at No. 11 in his latest three-round mock. Tate’s route running, reliable…

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers brought Texas A&M cornerback Will Lee III — nicknamed “The Blanket” — in for an official pre-draft visit, signaling their heavy focus on the secondary with the first pick now locked in at No. 52 overall. Secondary Remains Priority After Micah Parsons Trade The Packers gave up their 2026 and 2027 first-rounders plus veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark to land star edge rusher Micah Parsons last summer. That blockbuster deal turned a typical first-round evaluation process into a scramble for Day 2 value. General manager Brian Gutekunst now hunts the best player…

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints hold the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and have their eyes on Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate to give Tyler Shough the weapons he needs. Ohio State Connection Could Light Up Superdome Tyler Shough enters his second season with the job locked down at quarterback. The Saints already have one former Buckeye star in Chris Olave, who delivered a breakout 2025 campaign with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. No other Saints receiver topped 50 grabs, 500 yards or two scores, especially after the midseason trade of…

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns brought Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor in for a pre-draft visit on Thursday. The 6-foot-7, 352-pound left tackle immediately became the hottest name tied to their No. 6 overall pick. Proctor Checks Every Box for Cleveland’s Offensive Line Overhaul The Browns own two first-round picks — No. 6 and No. 24 from the Jaguars — plus nine total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Their offensive line ranked near the bottom in pass protection last season. They need a long-term answer at left tackle, and Proctor delivered three straight seasons as a starter for…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and the consensus mocks keep circling the same explosive names. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks locked in as the top overall selection, but the Titans stay out of the QB market. Instead, they eye weapons for second-year signal-caller Cam Ward or pieces to fit new head coach Robert Saleh’s aggressive defense. Running Back Jeremiyah Love Emerges as Consensus Favorite Multiple top analysts slot Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love to Tennessee at No. 4. Tim Crean of ClutchPoints, Mel Kiper Jr. at ESPN, Bucky Brooks and Daniel…

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers are done with moral victories. After years of treading water, General Manager Dan Morgan is hunting for a knockout blow. With Bryce Young entering a critical fourth year, the front office knows the 8-9 record and NFC South title from last season was just the floor. To truly compete in the 2026 season, Carolina needs to fix a pass rush that ranked near the bottom of the league in pressure rate. Aggression in the Trenches Dan Morgan hasn’t been shy about his desire for a “dawg mentality.” We saw it early this offseason. The Panthers…

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — 15 games. 3,567 yards. One massive identity crisis for NFL scouts. As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has become the ultimate “eye of the beholder” prospect. While some evaluators see a multi-million dollar arm, others see a backup who left the oven too early. The divide isn’t just chatter; it’s a chasm. On one side, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky is pounding the table for Simpson as a better scheme fit for pro offenses than even Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. On the other, draft boards have him sliding toward the end of the first round,…

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons will open their voluntary offseason program tomorrow without their brightest young star. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is not expected to attend as he navigates a complex legal situation involving three felony charges in Florida. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the news on X, confirming that the 2025 breakout rookie remains focused on “legal issues” following a February arrest. A Massive Void in the Pass Rush Losing Pearce, even for a voluntary window, is a blow to a defense that finally found its teeth last year. Pearce was a force in…

LAS VEGAS — The trade talk surrounding Maxx Crosby won’t stay quiet. Just weeks after a reported blockbuster deal with the Baltimore Ravens fell apart in March, a new draft-day scenario has the NFL world buzzing. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a massive trade on Monday that would send the All-Pro edge rusher to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a package including the No. 23 overall pick and pass rusher Nolan Smith. Barnwell’s Draft-Day Logic: A Win-Win for the Desert and the Birds? The Raiders find themselves in a strange limbo. Despite signing veteran Kirk Cousins last month to steady…

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock, and the man likely to hold the jersey on draft night just landed in Sin City. Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is scheduled to visit with Raiders brass this Tuesday, according to league sources. This meeting comes just days after the franchise shook the league by signing veteran Kirk Cousins to a $20 million guaranteed “bridge” deal for the 2026 season. The Indiana Star Meets the Silver and Black Mendoza isn’t just another prospect. He arrives in Las Vegas fresh off a historic 16-0 season at…

PITTSBURGH — The Green Bay Packers are punting on Thursday night. After the franchise-altering trade to land Micah Parsons last season, GM Brian Gutekunst will watch 51 names fly off the board in Pittsburgh before his clock starts. It is a strange position for a team that usually thrives on high-pedigree youth, but the pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2026 demands a different brand of aggression. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on April 23, and while the Packers are spectators for the opening act, the work begins in earnest on Friday. With critical gaps at edge rusher, cornerback,…

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans hold the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but their real power lies in a mid-round blitz that could cement a championship roster. General Manager Nick Caserio enters the week with eight total selections, including four picks within the first 69 names called. After a 12-win season and a deep playoff run, the mandate in the building is clear: keep CJ Stroud clean and find a disruptor for the middle of DeMeco Ryans’ defense. The festivities move to Pittsburgh this year. Round 1 kicks off Thursday, April 23, followed by a critical Friday…