NFL Player News

Despite sitting out Wednesday’s session, Crowell is on track to suit up for Sunday’s crucial home game against the Colts. He’s definitely a RB2 candidate, as Indy can be smashed in the mouth via power runs and Terrance West is in the doghouse for fumbling. OC Kyle Shanahan will want to take a run-heavy approach if possible in an effort to keep Andrew Luck off the field.

The Lions have the 17th pick. Fowler notes that the Chiefs and Browns are teams that could be interested in trading back, giving the Lions or any other squad looking to move up a way into the top-10. Kansas City has the ninth pick while the Browns sit at sixth. Fowler also noted that the Cowboys are “looking at options to move up or down, potentially.” While that doesn’t actually say anything, it does ring true that Jerry Jones simply wants to make a trade, regardless of which direction he moves.

If the Jets select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey with pick No. 2, the Cardinals and Titans will both be considering Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love with their subsequent picks, according to Rapoport. Other teams picking inside the top ten will have interest in dealing for one of those picks and taking Reese. Rapoport mentioned the Saints and Chiefs as teams looking for an edge rusher that would be motivated to move into picks No. 3 or 4 should Reese fall past No. 2. The early pass-rushing selections are going to be “one of the biggest pressure points” of the draft in Round 1.

The news comes directly from Bell’s agent a day before the draft, so take it with a grain of salt. Bell suffered a torn ACL late in the 2025 season and is still working his way back from the injury and accompanying surgery. Bell caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six scores in 11 games last year. Had he not suffered the season-ending injury, Bell would have been in the conversation for round one draft capital. Instead, it looks like he’ll have a good shot at going in the second or third round.

Pelissero isn’t saying he expects Beck to come off the board on the first night of the draft. In his words, there’s simply a “non-trivial chance” the Miami passer is selected in the first 32 picks. We doubt this comes to fruition, but it is a clear sign that NFL teams might be higher than expected on Beck. At a minimum, it sounds like Beck is a good bet to go on the second day of the draft. Coming off a season with 3,813 yards, 30 scores, and 12 interceptions, Beck could have some appeal in Superflex dynasty leagues. He is unlikely to make much noise in redraft formats, barring a surprise tomorrow.

Per Thamel, the news comes directly from a letter sent to NFL teams regarding Banks’ health. After undergoing a CT scan on his foot, all signs point toward him being ready well ahead of training camp. Banks suffered a broken bone in his foot at the NFL Combine. He underwent surgery a few weeks after the events. Banks opened the draft process as a first-round hopeful, but now it looks like he will have to wait until Day Two to hear his name called. Health permitting, he should be able to contribute in a rotational role by Week 1.

Owner Jerry Jones apparently woke up and chose violence, shutting down any hopes of an extension for the team’s leading receiver in 2025. Stephen Jones reiterated that the team will have Pickens play on the franchise tag in 2026. This comes less than a month after Jerry told reporters the team has long-term plans for Pickens. As is always the case, the Cowboys are playing with one hand tied behind their backs by taking an adversarial approach with their own players. They have typically found a way to get deals done in the end, but this time sounds different. Pickens, who went for 1,429 yards and nine scores last year, will be a free agent next offseason, barring a change of heart from the Cowboys. Now the question becomes whether he will accept this fate or demand a trade, which likely starts with a hold-in during training camp.

Kansas City, Breech said, “should be the first team to give them a call about making a possible deal” for Pitts, who is reportedly on the trade block, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “The Chiefs currently have two first-round picks heading into the draft and they would likely be able to get a deal done by sending just one of those to Atlanta.” Breech said dealing Pitts, entering his age-26 season, would free up some much-needed salary cap space for the Falcons and give them a first-round draft pick, which they do not have at the moment. Pitts, Breech said, would be the “heir apparent” to Travis Kelce, 36, who re-signed with the Chiefs last month after briefly considering retirement for a third straight offseason. Pitts in 2025 had 88 receptions for 928 yards and five touchdowns, a career season. KC last year ranked 11th in two tight end usage (28 percent).

That assumes the Cardinals remain in the three spot on Thursday night. The team has reportedly tried for weeks to deal the pick and had no luck finding viable suitors, thanks in part to the weakness of the 2026 draft class. Love, who had 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final season at Notre Dame, has been linked to several teams, including Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, and the Giants, all of whom have premium first round picks. Love would enter a backfield alongside veteran James Conner and big-bodied RB Tyler Allgeier, who signed with the Cards this offseason after four years with the Falcons. Though Love would function as the team’s lead back, Allgeier and Conner would certainly be involved in the team’s rushing attack in 2026.

Person said the Panthers, who hold the 19th pick in the 2026 draft, could target two Oregon players: Sadiq, who had 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in his final collegiate season, and safety Dillon Thieneman, one of the most sought-after secondary options in this year’s draft. The team would likely have to trade up to make sure they have a shot at Sadiq, who would join Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders in the Carolina tight end room if he lands with the Panthers. The Panthers in 2025 targeted the tight end position at a 21 percent clip, the seventh lowest mark in the NFL. “Could that change with Brad Idzik taking over the play calling and the addition of offensive specialist Darrell Bevell, who was in Seattle with Canales when the Seahawks traded for All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham?” Person said. “Possibly.” Sadiq, who ranks 11th in yards per route run among tight ends in the 2026 draft class, would probably be a rotational player in Carolina.

Rapoport reports the Jets are between the two pass rushers for the second pick of this year’s draft. The Jets recently cancelled a top-30 visit with Bailey, presumably due to having enough information on the Texas Tech EDGE and needing the visit for another prospect. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese is also in heavy consideration. Much of the draft after pick No. 2 will be determined by which pass rusher the Jets select; pick No. 3 is currently with the Cardinals but could be moved depending on the selection at No. 2.