2026 NFL Draft: Latest Intel and Projections
The 2026 NFL draft is just around the corner, with the event scheduled to take place from April 23-25. As the big day approaches, draft analysts Matt Miller and Field Yates have shared their insights on the latest developments from around the league. In this article, we’ll break down the key takeaways from their analysis, including the performance of top prospects, potential trade scenarios, and positional over/unders.
Jermod McCoy’s Pro Day Performance
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy recently held his pro day workout, which was highly anticipated due to concerns about his health. McCoy had missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL and sat out the combine. However, he was able to alleviate some of those concerns by posting impressive numbers, including a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-7 broad jump. According to Miller, McCoy’s performance has put him back in the running for the top cornerback spot, alongside LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
Yates noted that McCoy’s size (6-foot, 193 pounds) and arm length (31¼ inches) are significant advantages, particularly compared to Delane (30 inches). While Delane’s exceptional final season might keep him in the top spot, both players are considered top-12 locks.
Quarterback Prospects: Who’s the Third Best?
With Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson widely regarded as the top two quarterback prospects, the question remains as to who is the third best. Miller believes it’s Garrett Nussmeier from LSU, citing his impressive 2024 tape, where he ranked fifth in the FBS with 4,052 yards and threw 29 touchdowns to 12 picks. Nussmeier’s instincts, accuracy, and high ball velocity make him an attractive prospect, despite lacking elite measurables.
Yates, on the other hand, thinks Carson Beck from Miami is the third-best quarterback prospect. Beck boasts a natural throwing ability, with a 69.5% career completion percentage, and has plenty of experience with 43 starts. His size (6-foot-5, 233 pounds) and overall acumen as a player have impressed scouts, leading Yates to predict he’ll go in the third round.
Indiana’s Pro Day: What We Learned
Indiana’s pro day took place on Wednesday, with quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s performance being closely watched. While Mendoza’s draft stock is already high, another player who had something to prove was wide receiver Elijah Sarratt. Sarratt ran a 40-yard dash, with scouts clocking him around 4.50 seconds, which was good enough to further cement his case as a potential top-100 pick.
Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds also put on a show, with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash time and a 43½-inch vertical jump. Ponds is considered the best nickelback in the class and ranks inside Miller’s top 50 prospects, despite lacking prototypical NFL size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds).
Potential Trade Scenarios
As the draft approaches, trade speculation is heating up. Miller believes the Buffalo Bills are the most likely team to trade down in Round 1, given their history of moving down on draft day and their limited picks in the first four rounds. Yates thinks the Seattle Seahawks could be a sensible pick to trade down, citing their league-low four selections and the potential to offer the 32nd pick to another team seeking a fifth year of contract control for a prospect.
Positional Over/Unders
Miller predicts that five, possibly six, edge rushers will be taken in the first round, with Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, David Bailey (Texas Tech), Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), and Keldric Faulk (Auburn) being locks. Yates thinks six offensive tackles will go in the first round, with Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Caleb Lomu (Utah), and Blake Miller (Clemson) being the strongest candidates.
Wide Receivers in the First Round
Miller believes five wide receivers will be taken in the first round, with Makai Lemon (USC), Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State), and Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) being the top prospects. He thinks Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion could be the fifth receiver taken, thanks to his run-after-catch ability and pure speed.
Additional Insights and Projections
In their scouting notebooks, Miller and Yates shared some additional insights and projections. One player trending in the wrong direction is Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson, whose hamstring injury and lack of predraft workouts could cause him to slide to the back half of the first round. Yates also highlighted the strong depth at the center position, with Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn III being a notable prospect due to his foot quickness and size (nearly 6-foot-7).
Miller noted that the defensive tackle class lacks a guaranteed top-20 pick but offers a good blend of archetypes at the position. Oklahoma’s Gracen Halton, Penn State’s Zane Durant, and SE Louisiana’s Kaleb Proctor are among those whose quickness gives them a chance to be impactful behind the line of scrimmage.
Yates mentioned that South Carolina’s Nick Barrett is a brick wall to defend the run, with 28 solo tackles, 14 run stuffs, and his first two career sacks in 2025. Barrett should go off the board on Day 3.
