Teams Atop Second-Round Order Receiving Calls; 49ers Open To Trading Down
Many of the picks toward the back end of the first-round order changed hands last night. That resulted in several alterations to the draft list for Day 2.
As things stand, the 49ers, Cardinals and Bills own the first three picks in tonight’s second round. Several more trades can of course be expected moving forward, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports all three of those teams have received calls. It would come as little surprise if San Francisco in particular elected to move out of the No. 33 spot.
Per Schultz, the 49ers are considered to be “very open” to trading down. GM John Lynch authorized a move from No. 27 to 30 in a deal with the Dolphins. That was followed in short order by a trade which saw the Jets acquire No. 30. San Francisco has yet to make a selection in 2026 as a result, but Schultz notes the team is confident one of its targets will still be available even if another trade down the board takes place.
The Cardinals were long seen as a candidate to move into the back half of the first round to select quarterback Ty Simpson. With the Rams having selected him 13th overall, though, Arizona was not among the teams moving around late last night. The Cardinals added running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, and several options will be available when they are next on the clock regardless of if a trade is worked out.
The Bills were originally scheduled to select 26th overall. Things changed on multiple occasions as the first round drew to a close, however, with Buffalo opting to trade down three times. That has given general manager Brandon Beane extra capital to work with, although continuing to move down will carry risk in terms of limiting the remaining high-end prospects available when he makes his first pick. It will be interesting to see how Buffalo operates moving forward.
Earlier today, the Giants were floated as a team which could trade up from the No. 37 slot. A pairing between New York and one of the top three teams in the current second-round order could be something to watch for as the countdown to Day 2 continues.
Titans Planned On Moving Ahead Of Texans To Draft G Keylan Rutledge
The Texans were originally scheduled to select 28th overall during the opening night of the draft. Houston pulled off a trade with the Bills to move up to move up two spots, however.
After acquiring pick No. 26, the Texans selected guard Keylan Rutledge. The Georgia Tech product will be counted on to play a key role in upgrading the team’s offensive line, a unit which has been the subject of considerable turnover this offseason. Rutledge was a candidate to wind up elsewhere in the AFC South, though.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports the Titans attempted to trade up in the first-round order and move ahead of Houston in the process. He adds the goal of such a move was to acquire Rutledge. As a result, Texans GM Nick Caserio‘s decision to swing a modest trade proved to be a rather prudent one.
“Moving two spots was more of positioning that anything else,” Caserio confirmed (via Wilson) when speaking after the first round. “We felt like there could potentially be some interest in the player, so we felt like: ‘Alright, let’s move a couple of spots.'”
Rutledge saw his stock rise over the course of the pre-draft process, and it came as little surprise when he was one of several offensive linemen selected during the late stages of the first round. He is among the many new faces Houston will have up front in 2026, a year in which improved play will once again be a key team objective. The Texans will aim to advance past the divisional round of the playoffs, and consistent O-line play will be central to that effort.
The Titans did indeed trade back into the first round despite the Rutledge setback. Tennessee acquired pick No. 31 (also by swinging a trade with the Bills, for that matter) and used it on Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk. How the team will operate along the interior of the offensive line will be worth watching closely over Day 2 and 3 since the Titans were clearly interested in pursuing a guard addition.
Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike Expected To Play In 2026 Following Neck Surgery
APRIL 24: Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said on Thursday night (via team reporter Ryan Mink) Madubuike is now present for the team’s offseason program. That is another encouraging sign with respect to his progress in recovering from surgery.
APRIL 21: Nnamdi Madubuike‘s 2025 campaign ended in Week 2 due to a serious neck injury. Since then, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s future has been in question.
Few updates have emerged in recent months on this front, but the Ravens veteran himself has offered hints that a recovery could be in store. The team has appeared to hold a similar stance on the matter. Tuesday has brought about another encouraging development.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Madubuike underwent neck surgery last week. He adds doctors expect the 28-year-old to return to action during the 2026 season. The timing of Madubuike’s procedure is certainly interesting given the time which has transpired since the injury was suffered. Nevertheless, a positive outlook will be welcomed news for all parties in this case.
Madubuike has been a mainstay along the defensive line during his six-year Baltimore tenure. The former third-rounder posted 13 sacks in 2023, a figure which made him one of the players at the position to benefit from its rising market the following offseason. Madubuike inked a four-year extension averaging $24.5MM per season, cementing his status as a core player for the foreseeable future. No major injuries had occurred up to that point, and Madubuike logged a full season in 2024.
Things were much different last year, however. Losing Madubuike proved to be highly impactful for the Ravens, a team which ranked 30th in the NFL in sacks. Getting the Texas A&M product back in the fold would be critical for Baltimore with a rebound from an 8-9 campaign being sought out. New head coach Jesse Minter will be tasked with leading a defensive turnaround, and a healthy Madubuike could be central to that effort.
Adding along the defensive interior was likely to be a Ravens priority regardless of Madubuike’s outlook. Baltimore should still be expected to select at least one rookie defensive tackle this week, but the team’s approach could be altered slightly if a return to full health is expected throughout the organization.
Seahawks Drafted RB Jadarian Price After Trade Talks Fell Through
Seattle ended off Thursday’s opening round by selecting running back Jadarian Price. Leading up to that point, the team had naturally been identified as a strong candidate to move down the board.
The Seahawks entered the draft with only four total picks. As general manager John Schneider acknowledged after the opening night of the event ended, a trade aimed at acquiring more capital remained a goal in the build-up to pick No. 32. Five of the six selections made immediately before Seattle’s changed hands, however, making it difficult for a trade partner to be found at that point.
“Great player, great person,” Schneider said of Price (via the team’s website). “We thought we had some [trade] opportunities for a minute, they fell apart. A lot of trading going on right ahead of us, but I mean, he kind of stood alone… It’s really cool. We were kind of concerned people were going to go ahead of us because we felt like he was so out there in terms of mock drafts and what have you.”
In the end, Schneider and Co. managed to land Price and by doing so add a prospect they were frequently linked to. Jeremiyah Love was, as anticipated, the top running back to hear his name called on Thursday. He was taken third overall, but it was widely expected Price – his Notre Dame teammate – would be the second running back selected. Adding in the backfield represented a goal for the Seahawks after Kenneth Walker departed in free agency, and Price should handle a notable workload right away.
That is especially true since Zach Charbonnet is recovering from an ACL tear. One year remains on his rookie contract, leaving a 2027 departure as a possibility. That would pave the way for Price to take on an RB1 workload early in his career. Regardless, his level of play as a rookie will be key in determining the Seahawks’ chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.
Seattle currently has picks 64, 96 and 188. Adding to that list could be a target for Schneider, and with trades always a constant on Days 2 and 3 of the draft, he will no doubt have plenty of opportunities to move around the board.
Giants Could Trade Up From No. 37
The time leading up to the beginning of the draft’s second round is always filled with intrigue based on the potential for trades near the top of the order. Several teams will be worth watching closely in the opening stages of Day 2.
[RELATED: Round-By-Round Draft Tracker]
One of those could be the Giants. New York made a pair of top-10 selections on Thursday, and team’s next scheduled pick is No. 37. Many have pointed to a potential trade down on the Giants’ part as a way closing the gap between that selection and the team’s fourth-rounder (No. 105). Instead, a trade-up maneuver could be in store.
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports there is “buzz around the NFL” that the Giants could pull off a small move up the board early tonight. While the team lacks a third-rounder to include in any deal, it has five Day 3 picks which could be used as capital to swing a trade. After making a notable addition on defense (Arvell Reese) and along the offensive line (Francis Mauigoa) on Thursday, defensive tackle continues to loom as a roster need for New York.
With Dexter Lawrence no longer in the fold, the Giants could stand to make at least one free agent addition in the near future in addition to selecting a rookie this weekend. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is still on the board, and he has been linked to the Giants recently. The likes of Christen Miller (Georgia) and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) are also available, and they are candidates to be selected early in the second round.
New York could of course be targeting other positions in a potential trade-up move. In any case, it will be interesting to see if a deal can be reached in the coming hours as teams jockey for position atop the Day 2 order.
Stephen Jones: Cowboys Have ‘Zero Intention’ Of Trading George Pickens
Shortly before the opening round of the draft, it was learned George Pickens will sign his Cowboys franchise tag. The timing of the news led to speculation a trade could be in the works.
Plenty of time remains for a long-term contract to be worked out between team and player, but the Cowboys stated earlier this week they will not negotiate on that front. Players who receive the franchise tag must sign the one-year tender before they can be traded. A swap involving Pickens is possible as a result, but one should not be expected.
“We have no intention of moving George,” EVP Stephen Jones said (via the team’s website) after the opening round of the draft concluded. “We’re fired up about him signing his [tag], because it means he’s ready to come in here and get to work… We have zero intention of moving [him].”
Pickens signing his tag makes him eligible to take part in offseason work. The 2025 trade acquisition will turn his attention to his follow-up campaign in Dallas, one which will feature major expectations. Pickens was one of the league’s most productive wideouts last season, posting a 93-1,429-9 statline. He will be counted on to pair with CeeDee Lamb once more in 2026, doing so at a cost of $27.3MM. Affording Lamb and Pickens on lucrative long-term deals would be challenging for Dallas, fueling the belief the latter will be playing elsewhere in 2027.
Had the Cowboys drafted a receiver last night, Pickens’ future would have been even more of a talking point. Instead, Dallas wound up with safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. That came as little surprise, with defensive reinforcements long seen as the team’s top priority in the draft. Day 2 or 3 could see WR depth added, but Pickens will be a key figure on offense once more in 2026 provided the Cowboys’ stance does not change.
June 1 will mark the beginning of OTAs for Dallas. That will be followed by mandatory minicamp later in the month. An absence by Pickens for those events would have been possible had he elected not to sign his franchise tag, but his attendance will be expected as he prepares for Year 2 as a Cowboy.
Rams Draft QB Ty Simpson At No. 13
The Rams regularly see their own draft pick fall late in the first round, but armed with the Falcons’ selection (via a first-round trade last year), Los Angeles will use the mid-first-round real estate to make a long-term investment.
Rumored to be high on Ty Simpson — but seen as iffy to select him this high — the Rams are taking a Matthew Stafford heir apparent at No. 13. The Falcons traded up 20 spots to add James Pearce Jr. last year. The Rams will use that to bet on Simpson, a one-year Alabama starter.
Stafford has not yet signed an extension, but that is widely rumored to be in the offing. This will create an interesting dynamic, as the Rams have followed the 2020 Packers’ lead by taking a quarterback in the first round as a Super Bowl contender. Jordan Love turned out to be a smart move; will the Rams be thankful they took Simpson in a draft-and-develop scenario?
A recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece listed the Rams’ lack of prime draft real estate as a factor in the Simpson derby. While rumors circulated the team was preparing to add strength to this year’s roster — as rumblings Simpson could fall out of Round 1 altogether emerged — the team will take the chance on adding a passer who will not be expected (barring a Stafford injury) to contribute this season. It is quite possible Simpson will be sitting for at least two years, representing a rare (pretty much Green Bay-only) developmental route among modern QBs.
Such an approach may be the best-case scenario for Simpson. The same developmental route benefited him in Tuscaloosa. Sitting as a true freshman behind future No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, then sitting two more years behind Jalen Milroe before finally being named the starter for the Crimson Tide. In his single season leading the first-team offense, Simpson was able to look past an initial faltering out the gate in a brutal loss to a below average Florida State team to become one of the hottest names in college football over the first half of the season.
In nine starts, Simpson looked like the early frontrunner for QB1 in this draft class, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and only one interception while averaging 273.4 passing yards per game. Despite the disappearance the Tide’s WR1 from 2024 Ryan Williams and the surprising lack of a run game in Bryant-Denny Stadium, it looked like Simpson had put his squad back on track for an easy run to the College Football Playoff. Over the next six weeks, though, Simpson saw a stark decline in quality of play, completing only 60.5 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions while only averaging 184.3 passing yards per game.
Speculation over what caused this deterioration offered theories that a home loss to Oklahoma had revealed his kryptonite, that teams had finally gotten enough film to figure him out, or that his health had limited his performance. It was believed that a lower back injury and elbow bursitis began hurting him in October, while other reports cited gastritis that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds. Adding injury to insult, his season ended when he suffered a fractured rib in a blowout loss to the eventual champion Hoosiers.
Sitting behind Stafford, Simpson should have plenty of time to get fully healthy, if he isn’t already. He’ll also have ample time to clean up the minor parts of his game that scouts nitpicked from his lone year as a starter. Evaluators wanted to see a greater variety of touch on his passes along with improved consistency on deep passes. Any lack of starting experience isn’t going to go anywhere as he sits for a a couple more years, but as a prospect praised for his mental acuity, getting to study film and NFL defenses while backing up an MVP for a year or two should do miracles for his NFL development.
If all goes as planned, it may be some time before we hear Simpson’s name again with any significance. If all goes as planned, Simpson should be taking over an a talented offense as a seasoned NFL player with a couple years of preparation under his belt. The Rams are hoping things will go according to plan.
2026 NFL Draft Results By Round
From the No. 1 overall pick to Mr. Irrelevant (No. 257), here are the results from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1
1) Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
2) New York Jets: David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
3) Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
4) Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
5) New York Giants: Arvell Reese (LB/EDGE, Ohio State)
6) Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
7) Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
8) New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
9) Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
10) New York Giants (from Bengals): Francis Mauigoa (T, Miami)
11) Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs, (S, Ohio State)
12) Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama)
13) Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
14) Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)
16) New York Jets (from Colts): Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
17) Detroit Lions: Blake Miller (T, Clemson)
18) Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
19) Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
20) Philadelphia Eagles (from Packers via Cowboys): Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State)
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)
23) Dallas Cowboys (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
24) Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
25) Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
26) Houston Texans (from Bills): Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
27) Miami Dolphins (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
28) New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills): Caleb Lomu (T, Utah)
29) Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams): Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
30) New York Jets (from Broncos via Dolphins and 49ers): Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
31) Tennessee Titans (from Patriots via Bills): Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
32) Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel To Begin Counseling, Miss Day 3 Of Draft
While head coaches’ influence in draft rooms varies from team to team, they are regularly present throughout draft weekend. Mike Vrabel will only be available for part of the Patriots’ draft this year, however.
The second-year New England HC will miss Day 3 of the draft this year. Not long after making a statement after the New York Post published photos showing he and former Athletic reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona this year, Vrabel told ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss he will be with his family on Saturday.
“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.
“I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
The photographs released by the Post showed Vrabel and Russini hugging and holding hands. The Post has since released another batch of photos, these showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a New York bar in March 2020. Vrabel and his wife, Jen, have two sons. Vrabel, 50, was the Titans’ HC in March 2020; Russini was an ESPN reporter at that time.
Vrabel told media this week the report showing he and Russini together at the Arizona resort this year is a “personal and private matter,” and indicated he “had some difficult conversations with people I care about — with my family, the organization, the coaches, the players.” His statement to Reiss emerged before the second round of photos surfaced. Russini resigned from The Athletic days after the Post published the first batch of photos.
Although Vrabel will be with his family Saturday, he told Reiss he will remain in contact with team decisionmakers. De facto GM Eliot Wolf and VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden are set to lead the draft room. This will be Wolf’s second draft with an official title atop the Patriots’ front office, though the veteran exec — initially brought in during Bill Belichick‘s HC/GM run — ran the 2024 draft before being named executive VP of player personnel. Vrabel brought in Cowden, his longtime Titans coworker whom he ultimately preferred be named GM during the team’s 2023 search process, shortly after his Pats hire in 2025. Although a report following Vrabel’s hire indicated he effectively overtook Wolf as the top Patriots decisionmaker, both he and Wolf report to ownership in New England.
The Pats have 11 draft picks this year. Eight of those picks come on the final day. The defending AFC champions hold two fourth-round choices, one fifth-round selection, four in Round 6 and one in Round 7. Vrabel not being present on an eight-pick day, with an absence allowing the successful coach to avoid media questions in a post-draft Saturday setting, will certainly come up as this wave of later-round prospects begin their careers.
“The New England Patriots fully support Mike Vrabel’s decision to prioritize his family first, as well as his own well-being,” the Patriots said Thursday in a statement (via the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi). “Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment.
“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process. While he will not be present at the facility on Saturday, we know the draft evaluations are complete and Eliot Wolf and his personnel staff are prepared to execute our draft as planned this weekend.”
Eagles Obtain No. 20 From Cowboys, Draft WR Makai Lemon
An intra-divisional trade is upon us. The Cowboys have dealt No. 20 to the Eagles. In exchange, Dallas will collect Nos. 23, 114 and 137 from Philadelphia, which is adding a seventh-rounder in this trade (per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).
Dallas’ pick going to Philly is in the 2027 draft. The Eagles chose USC wide receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. Lemon was one of the Eagles’ 15 highest-graded prospects, per The Athletic’s Zach Berman, who reports they did not expect him to slip beyond then. They swooped in before the NFL’s other Pennsylvania-based franchise, the Steelers, could grab him at No. 21. Lemon expected to go to Pittsburgh (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press)
“Pittsburgh called me and I thought they were going to draft me and then the Eagles called at the same time,” Lemon said. “I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly.”
The Eagles’ addition of Lemon will throw even more gasoline on the fire in regards to a potential A.J. Brown trade. Along with making a first-round investment in Lemon, the Eagles signed Marquise Brown and Elijah Moore in free agency. They also traded a 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the Packers for Dontayvion Wicks, whom they immediately extended on a one-year, $12.5MM agreement. Moore is not a lock to carve out much of a role or even make the team, but Lemon, A.J. Brown, Wicks, Marquise Brown and DeVonta Smith make up a crowded, high-profile receiver room. There are now a lot of mouths to feed in Philadelphia.
For financial reasons, the Eagles are likely to wait until June 2 to trade A.J. Brown. New England is the probable landing spot, though the teams have not seen eye to eye on compensation yet. For now, general manager Howie Roseman continues to insist the three-time Pro Bowler is part of the Eagles’ plans.
“For us, A.J. is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman said (via Berman). “We don’t have any trades that have been made or that done. And I think for us, you know, we’re taking this one day at a time.”
Of course, it should be noted that the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon and Brown (6-1, 226) are much different players. Lemon lined up in the slot over 75% of the time at USC, whereas Brown operates on the outside.
After a quiet first college season in 2023, quarterback Caleb Williams‘ last with the Trojans, Lemon broke out the next year. Over 12 games as a sophomore, he hauled in 52 passes for 754 yards and three touchdowns. Lemon saved his best for last in 2025, capping off his Trojans tenure with 79 receptions, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in another dozen-game campaign. The 21-year-old won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver in the nation. After dropping just four passes at USC, Lemon should give Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts a sure-handed target with star potential.