Malachi Lawrence Drawing Major Interest; Colts, 49ers, Seahawks Schedule Visits
As a potential first- or second-round pick, UCF edge defender Malachi Lawrence is generating significant interest in the lead-up to the NFL draft. Sixteen teams have set up visits with Lawrence, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Colts, 49ers and Seahawks will all meet with him this week.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence’s college career took off as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. He registered 10.5 tackles for loss and a personal-best 7.5 sacks in 13 games that year. Lawrence’s production dropped a bit during an 11-game 2024 (six TFL, five sacks), but he earned a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season. Over 12 games, Lawrence picked up 11 TFL and seven sacks.
Lawrence further boosted his stock with an off-the-charts performance at the Combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He finished second among edge defenders at the Combine in 40 time, 10-yard split, vertical jump and broad jump (via PFF College). Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 36) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 46) consider Lawrence a top-50 prospect.
It is not ideal that Lawrence will already turn 24 before the season starts (Miami’s Akheem Mesidor, 25, is in a similar boat), but half the league is intrigued enough to meet with him. The three reported clubs – Indianapolis, San Francisco and Seattle – have an obvious need along the edge.
The Colts were a passable 15th in sacks last season, but they ranked an alarming 30th in pass rush win rate. The team made a run at Trey Hendrickson early in free agency, but the Ravens won that sweepstakes. The Colts have settled for modest additions (Arden Key and Micheal Clemons) to replace the departed Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam. They continue to lack needle-moving pass rushers to complement Laiatu Latu. Indianapolis is devoid of a first-round pick, but Lawrence could be on the board when it selects 47th overall in the second round.
The 49ers will pick 27th and 58th in the first two rounds. They totaled the fewest sacks in the league last season, though losing Nick Bosa to a Week 3 ACL tear heavily contributed to their struggles. They should get Bosa and Mykel Williams, who tore his ACL in November, back next season. The rest of their edge rushers – Sam Okuayinonu, Keion White, William Bradley-King, Andrew Farmer and the just-signed Cameron Sample – combined for just five sacks last year. With that in mind, bolstering the pass rush via the draft should be a high priority for the 49ers.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks aren’t exactly teeming with weaknesses, but taking an edge defender early may be on their to-do list. Owners of just four picks, including Nos. 32 and 64 in the first two rounds, the Seahawks lost Boye Mafe in free agency. They have not brought in a replacement for Maye, and the clock is ticking on Demarcus Lawrence‘s career. The soon-to-be 34-year-old pondered retirement after the season, which could add to the Seahawks’ urgency to make a notable investment along the edge.
Saints Set Up Visit With WR Jordyn Tyson
As one of 16 prospects who will attend the 2026 NFL Draft, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has a good chance of going in the first round. New Orleans, which holds the eighth overall pick, is interested. Tyson will visit the Saints, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
The Saints have no real threats at receiver beyond No. 1 wideout Chris Olave. Hoping to give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough more to work with, they are expected to target pass-catching help in the draft. The team has also set up a visit with Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, who will likely go higher than Tyson. Many regarded Tyson as a definite top-10 pick when he declared for the draft in December, but his stock has reportedly dropped since then as a result of a checkered injury history.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Tyson began his college career in 2022 at Colorado. While he averaged an excellent 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions and scored four touchdowns in nine games, his freshman year ended with a severe knee injury.
After tearing his ACL, MCL and PCL, Tyson transferred to ASU. Although he went without a catch during a three-game 2023, Tyson flourished the next season. He hauled in 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores during a 12-game campaign that concluded with yet another injury – a broken collarbone.
Durability issues continued in 2025 for Tyson, who played just nine games while battling hamstring troubles. With 61 catches, 711 yards and eight TDs, he was still productive enough to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors for the second year in a row. His drop rate improved from 8.5% to a microscopic 1.6% in a one-year span, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
Tyson hasn’t played in four-plus months, but his hamstring has continued to hinder him in the pre-draft process. The 21-year-old did not work out at the Combine or participate in ASU’s pro day. Teams will have a chance to evaluate Tyson during an April 17 workout, but he will only take part in positional drills. Between that event and his meeting with the Saints, perhaps Tyson will convince them he is worth the eighth pick.
South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse Meeting With Cowboys, Seahawks
While Brandon Cisse may be on the outside of the top-tier CB prospects, the South Carolina product is still generating plenty of interest ahead of the draft. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, Cisse met with the Cowboys earlier this week and is set to also visit the Seahawks.
The former three-star recruit spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at NC State before transferring to South Carolina for the 2025 campaign. He finished this year with 27 total tackles, an interception, and five passes defended, and he notably allowed catches on only 34.6% of his targets.
That performance vaulted him up draft boards, with scouts lauding his physical ability and upside. There are some rightful questions regarding his instincts, especially when it comes to positioning and route recognition, but his makeup has led many to believe the defensive back can be coached up in the NFL.
It’s still uncertain how high Cisse will rise up the ranks. Few pundits have him ranked above any of the top CB prospects, a grouping that includes Mansoor Delane, Jermod McCoy, and Colton Hood. At the very least, he’s destined to hear his name called in the first few rounds, and there’s a chance he’s even selected during the first day of the draft.
The Cowboys have two shots at the South Carolina cornerback, although the No. 20 pick would be a more realistic landing spot (or a trade back). Dallas has been seeking a long-term solution at CB, especially after they moved on from both Kaiir Elam and Trevon Diggs in 2025. The team’s only notable move at the position was adding Cobie Durant to a grouping of holdovers that includes DaRon Bland, Reddy Steward, Shavon Revel, and Caelen Carson. The Cowboys already hosted Delane, and perhaps their ability to snag the LSU CB with their No. 12 selection would influence their interest in Cisse.
The Seahawks and their No. 32 pick would be a logical suitor for Cisse. There were rumors last month that the front office could be targeting cornerbacks early in the draft. The Seahawks lost Riq Woolen in free agency, with Noah Igbinoghene being signed to soak up at least a portion of those snaps. Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe will still lead the CBs room heading into 2026, but an early-round addition would certainly help improve the team’s depth.
QB Ty Simpson To Drop Out Of Round 1?
Aside from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, there may not be a surefire first-round quarterback in this year’s draft class. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is widely considered the second-best signal-caller available, but he is a polarizing prospect who made a meager 15 starts in college. Opinions vary on how high Simpson will go in the draft.
[RELATED: Ty Simpson’s Prospect Profile]
The top half of the first round may be a possibility for the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Simpson. There is also a chance he will last until Day 2, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN hears. That would be especially unfortunate for Simpson, who will attend the draft expecting to hear his name called in Round 1. Nevertheless, there are enough scouts with second-round grades on Simpson to make dropping out of the first round a possibility, according to Fowler.
Meanwhile, one general manager told Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom that Simpson could even last into Round 3. On whether Simpson is a lock to go in the second round, the GM said to La Canfora: “A lock … I wouldn’t say a lock.”
It is unknown how many high-level decision makers have similar opinions, though it would be a major twist for Simpson to plummet out of the first two rounds. If enough teams would rather wait for what should be a deeper QB class in 2027, perhaps a free-fall will occur.
Owners of two first-rounders (Nos. 6 and 24) and in need of a long-term answer under center, the Browns are a popular pick for Simpson in mock drafts (via Grinding the Mocks). Cleveland has held a “30” visit with Simpson, but it does not consider him a first-round target, Zac Jackson of The Athletic relays. With no shortage of pressing needs (Jackson points to the offensive line and wide receiver), the Browns are expected to turn their attention elsewhere in the opening round. They are more likely to draft a passer in the middle rounds, per Jackson, which could set the stage for Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson or Dillon Gabriel to open 2026 as their starter.
A year after his own draft stock nosedived, Sanders is the early frontrunner to start for the Browns next season. Many predicted Sanders would go in the first round in 2025, but he fell all the way to the fifth (No. 144 overall). Five QBs, including Gabriel, exited the board before Sanders. Simpson will hope to avoid a similar fate this year.
Panthers Host Washington WR Denzel Boston
The Panthers have used their last two first-round picks on the wide receiver position. While it seems unlikely that they’d go that route again, the team is at least keeping an open mind as the draft quickly approaches. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Panthers hosted Washington WR Denzel Boston on a pre-draft visit today.
Boston played behind the likes of Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk during his first two years with the Huskies, but he finally had a chance to lead the depth chart in 2024. He had a breakout campaign that year, finishing with 63 catches for 834 yards and nine touchdowns. He didn’t take a significant leap during his senior season, but he still finished with a notable 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 scores.
Those performances were enough to put him on the NFL map. He’s definitively behind the likes of Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Omar Cooper Jr., Jordyn Tyson, and KC Concepcion on most pundits’ draft boards, although there are some teams that reportedly have him ranked in the top two at his position.
There’s a chance he hears his name called on the first night of the draft, especially since he’s drawn interest from the Dolphins, Commanders, Steelers, 49ers, and Browns. Boston has generally been mocked towards the end of the first round or early in the second round, so it would be a slight reach if the Panthers selected him with the No. 19 pick.
The Panthers have focused on surrounding 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young with as much talent as possible in recent drafts. While 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette hasn’t lived up to his draft billing, the team did get a standout performance from 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, who earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after finishing with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.
It’s worth noting that McMillan played two collegiate seasons at Arizona under Jedd Fisch…who most recently spent two seasons coaching Boston at Washington (per Yates). The Panthers may decide to take one more crack at that pipeline, especially if they’ve determined that Legette isn’t destined to be a top-end WR. Even if the team is still high on Legette, Boston could easily slide into a depth chart that otherwise features Jalen Coker, David Moore, and John Metchie.
Utah LT Caleb Lomu Visits Eagles
With the Eagles primed to pursue offensive help early in this year’s draft, addressing the line is likely on general manager Howie Roseman‘s to-do list. To no surprise, the Eagles are eyeing one of this year’s top offensive tackle prospects, Utah’s Caleb Lomu. The 6-foot-6, 313-pounder visited Philadelphia this week, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.
Lomu may be on the Eagles’ radar at No. 23 overall, but he would not be a plug-and-play option for the club. The Eagles have a pair of established tackles in Jordan Mailata on the left side and franchise legend Lane Johnson on the right. But the Eagles have to prepare for life after Johnson, who contemplated retirement before committing to at least one more season in late February.
Johnson is heading into his age-36 campaign, which will be the 13-year veteran’s first season without offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. The revered Stoutland did not stick around after the Eagles hired new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Chris Kuper faces the unenviable task of following Stoutland. It could be up to Kuper to mold Lomu and/or other rookies in 2026.
The 29-year-old Mailata is under contract for three more seasons. That suggests the Eagles are not going to spend a high pick on a tackle unless they are confident the prospect will be able to handle the right side. That is something they will have to determine regarding Lomu, who only played on the left at Utah. He and fellow potential first-rounder Spencer Fano were the Utes’ bookends.
A two-year starter at Utah, Lomu earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025. He did not allow a sack last year, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Both Brugler (No. 25) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 26) consider Lomu a top-30 prospect, which is right in the Eagles’ wheelhouse in the first round. He could end up as the team’s heir apparent to Johnson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/9/26
One minor move to pass along:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Haggai Ndubuisi
The Buccaneers have been busy, as they added a pair of cornerbacks earlier today. Now, they’ve added some defensive line depth in Haggai Ndubuisi. The lineman entered the NFL in 2022 as a participant in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, and he’s had brief stints with a long list of teams. He most recently spent the 2025 campaign on the Texans practice squad, although he did manage to make his NFL debut in Week 14. As Greg Auman of FOX Sports notes, Ndubuisi could be a candidate to be Tampa Bay’s International Pathway Program player.
NFL Announces 16 Prospects Attending NFL Draft
There will be 16 players waiting in the green room when the NFL Draft kicks off later this month. The NFL announced the following attendees for the first night of the draft (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport):
- LB David Bailey, Texas Tech
- DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
- DB Mansoor Delane, LSU
- DB Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
- DB Colton Hood, Tennessee
- WR Makai Lemon, USC
- RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
- DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
- OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
- LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
- LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
- WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Of the 16 prospects invited to Day 1 of the draft, a whopping five of them are from one school: Ohio State. For comparison’s sake, the leader during last year’s draft was Alabama, who sent three prospects ot the green room. The Big Ten is the leading conference, with six prospects attending the first night of the draft.
Notably, expected first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza won’t be attending the draft, as the Indiana quarterback revealed that he’ll instead be celebrating with friends and family in Atlanta. That only leaves one signal-caller attending the event in Alabama’s Ty Simpson. There’s no guarantee that Simpson will even be selected on the first night of the draft, a situation we saw most recently when green-room attendee Jalen Milroe fell to the third round last year.
49ers Sign DE Cameron Sample
The 49ers have added some depth to their defensive line. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the team has signed Cameron Sample. It will be a one-year deal for the defensive end.
A 2021 fourth-round pick out of Tulane, Sample saw a consistent defensive role during his time with the Bengals. He missed only four games through his first three seasons in Cincinnati, where he got into more than one third of his team’s defensive snaps while compiling five total sacks and 20 total QB hits.
His 2024 campaign was completely wiped out by a torn Achilles tendon. He re-signed with the Bengals last offseason and managed to make 14 appearances in his comeback season, tallying 17 tackles, a pair of sacks, and one forced fumble. However, he got into a career-low 26 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, and had he earned enough reps to qualify, he would have ranked in the bottom-20 of Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the league’s edge defenders.
The 49ers needed some extra DE depth last season, as both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were lost with torn ACLs. That duo should be back in the lineup at some point early in the 2026 campaign, but Sample will be among the grouping to soak up any leftover snaps. At the moment, the free agent addition will be competing with the likes of Sam Okuayinonu (who led the position grouping in snaps in 2025), Keion White, William Bradley-King, and Andrew Farmer.
Eagles Expected To Target Offensive Help Early In Draft
With it looking more likelier A.J. Brown will be elsewhere this coming season, the Eagles may be looking at a glaring void to fill at wide receiver. The team, which also lost No. 3 wideout Jahan Dotson (to the Falcons) in free agency, is expected to target that position early in the draft.
Two weeks away from the draft, Philadelphia has the same offense in place from the one that ranked 24th in yardage last season. The team was better in scoring (19th) and EPA per play (16th), but the Eagles tumbled off their Super Bowl perch due largely to the regression on offense. The Sean Mannion OC hire will be aimed at fixing a lot of what ailed Philly in 2025, but the team does not have a new starter just yet.
[RELATED: How Will Eagles Proceed With Brown?]
The Eagles may not be certain to add a locked-in starter on offense in the draft, but The Athletic’s Zack Berman notes the team is expected to target upgrades on this side of the ball early.
On one hand, the Eagles attempting to add a new starter at wide receiver by replacing Brown would seemingly be a downgrade — for 2026, at least. But there is something to be said for continuity here, as Philly soared to a dominant Super Bowl LIX win with this cast on offense. With the exception of Tyler Steen replacing Mekhi Becton at right guard (a move made last year) and Marquise Brown coming in after the Dotson defection, the rest of the Eagles’ regulars on offense started in that game.
Though, the team will be attempting to get by without highly acclaimed O-line coach Jeff Stoutland. And both Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson are coming off injury-plagued seasons, each considering retirement this offseason. Johnson will turn 36 next month.
“Bringing the band back together was also a year ago, the team that won a world championship, the offense won a world championship,” GM Howie Roseman said, via Berman. “Being {19th) in points scored isn’t really the standard that we’re looking to set. There’s a lot of growth in that area at the same time. We’ve got to continue to add, and I think that we’re looking at that group, and figuring out ways to add to every position group there. Some of those guys, we do think will be better here.
“… We’ll see how it all sorts out. But I understand, as it looks now… What I’m saying is, you can’t say we’re running it back until we actually do run it back. Let’s see how we add, and maybe that’s how we end up doing.”
The Eagles hold four picks in the first three rounds (Nos. 23, 54, 68 and 98); they acquired No. 68 in the 2024 Haason Reddick trade with the Jets. Known well as an aggressive trader, Roseman will also have that available as he looks to shuffle his team’s offensive lineup. Considerable pressure will be on Mannion’s shoulders, however, with much of the Eagles’ 2025 starting group reprising their roles. A meandering OC search featured trepidation among higher-profile options, and the Eagles will be counting on a former backup quarterback who retired after the 2023 season reviving their offense.