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New York Times
24-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Dane Brugler's 2026 NFL Draft summer positional rankings: Tight ends
Editor's note: This is the fourth installment of Dane Brugler's 2026 Summer Scouting series. Previous rankings: Edge rushers | Running backs | Defensive tackles In seven of the past nine drafts, there has been at least one tight end selected, including a handful of top-15 picks (two in last year's draft alone). Advertisement The 2026 draft class doesn't look as top-heavy at tight end, lacking a Brock Bowers or Colston Loveland at the top. However, it can still be a solid class, with several interesting Day 2 projections at the position. (Note: Asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams have on file for each player, with a 'v' representing verified measurements and 'e' for estimated measurements.) Although Sadiq wasn't a high-volume pass catcher last season, good things happened when Dillon Gabriel threw his way (25 catches on 27 targets). He is quick off the line, loose at the top of routes and strong to the football. However, the No. 1 takeaway is his nifty athleticism and balance to be a threat after the catch — Sadiq was the only FBS tight end last season to average more than 10 yards after catch (YAC) per reception. Sadiq saw only two targets in the Big Ten Championship Game, but he made them count with a pair of touchdown grabs. In the clip below, Penn State is late to react to the tight end wheel, and Sadiq does the rest. His quick transition to pluck, collect himself and leapfrog the defensive back without gearing down is special stuff. Sadiq enters his junior season with just 30 career catches and three touchdowns — numbers he should surpass before Halloween this season. The talent and opportunity are there for him to be the top tight end in college football, and in next year's draft class, but time will tell if he can turn that projection into production. Sadiq is in position for a true breakout season, especially with Oregon offensive play caller Will Stein describing him as 'one of the best players in college football.' With Terrance Ferguson now in the NFL, Sadiq will be the go-to tight end for Oregon's offense, and an integral part of the passing game, even more so with wide receiver Evan Stewart expected to miss the season with a knee injury. Advertisement Given his talent as both a receiver and blocker, Sadiq (the only tight end to appear in my way-too-early 2026 mock draft from April) has the potential to earn the TE1 crown. A talented joker tight end, Klare is a smooth athlete in the passing game, with a talent for creating space both before and after the catch. He is an outstanding zone route runner and knows where the holes are. Against man, he can cross up defenders in space with the start-stop quickness to be elusive (averaged 6.6 YAC per reception in 2024). Klare is quick to snatch the football and put it away. Using his body fluidity, he can adjust to the catch mid-stride and quickly transition to being a runner to make the first tackler miss — he doesn't need to gear down to read and cut away from pursuit. Klare split about 50-50 between playing inline and in the slot last season for Purdue, but he was inconsistent when asked to be a sustained blocker. He can be physically manhandled when attempting to seal powerful defensive ends and needs to be more assertive with his hands to keep his target engaged as a run blocker. Will Kacmarek will be the Buckeyes' 'blocking' tight end, but scouts are hoping to see more development from Klare in that area. Ohio State produces more NFL talent than almost every other program, including having three tight ends drafted over the last five years. However, the Buckeyes haven't had a tight end selected in the first two rounds in 30 years (Rickey Dudley, No. 9 in 1996). Klare has the talent to change that and become a top-60 pick in the 2026 class. Everyone is familiar with Jeremiah Smith and the potential of the receivers in Columbus. Still, Klare might be the key to unlocking Ohio State's offense, especially with a first-year starter at quarterback. Klare led the Boilermakers in receiving last season (by a large margin), and there was still a lot of meat left on the bone in that offense. There will be more mouths to feed in the Buckeyes' offense, but Klare will be in a better situation to allow his talent to shine. Advertisement Royer is a good-looking athlete for his size and illustrates his movement skills in different ways on the football field, including at the catch point. His ability to track, adjust and frame throws, regardless of placement, is where his athletic skill shines. Just six FBS tight ends registered at least 50 catches with two or fewer drops last season, and Royer was in that group. He can do a better job creating space and pacing his routes, but he looks very natural attacking the football mid-air. Given Royer's athletic gifts, I expected to see a variety of explosive plays as I studied his 2024 video, but they were tough to find. Though he ranked 11th among FBS tight ends in receptions (50) last season, he was 41st at his position with just five catches of 20-plus yards (none over the final seven games). The blame doesn't fall just on Royer, who can only run the routes he is asked to and catch the passes thrown to him. However, scouts are hoping to see him be more of a playmaker in the Bearcats' offense in 2025. A former four-star recruit, Royer was the top-ranked tight end in Ohio State's loaded 2020 class, which also included future first-rounders C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. After seeing a combined seven targets over three years in Columbus, Royer entered the transfer portal and headed to his hometown school. He registered 50 catches for 522 yards and three touchdowns last season, his first with the Bearcats. Royer considered declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft and is currently graded by NFL teams as a potential Day 2 pick in the 2026 class. With Brendan Sorsby returning at quarterback for Cincinnati, Royer has the goods to become one of the top tight ends in college football. It took only 20 minutes of watching film to get through all of Luckie's targets from last season, but the small sample size was still exciting. Luckie's speed and athletic ability stand out in everything he does on the football field, especially in the passing game. Advertisement As a route runner, he closes the cushion in a flash and makes it challenging for safeties or linebackers to match the burst out of his breaks. He also shows athletic body control at the catch point (see his sideline grab versus Texas). Watch how abruptly Luckie sinks, transitions his weight and pivots on this route against Clemson and cornerback Avieon Terrell. He sells the inside pattern and uses his athletic body control to cut back outside, giving the quarterback an easy target to throw to. Turns out, it is tough to replace Brock Bowers — shocking, I know. Luckie was a significant part of filling that void last season and led Georgia tight ends in targets and receiving yards, but his overall impact was spotty from week to week. Although the flashes are worth betting on, Luckie needs to improve his preparation during the week and execution on game days, both as a blocker and receiver. Without Bowers last season, Georgia had more of a committee approach at the tight end position, between Luckie, Oscar Delp and Ben Yurosek. Delp returns in 2025 and is a potential draft pick in the 2026 class himself, giving the Bulldogs arguably the best tight end duo in the country. However, Luckie has the talent to be a much-needed weapon in Georgia's scheme. His early ranking is a bet more on potential than established production, but the talent is there for Luckie to push for top-100 status. When studying tight ends, I often gravitate toward the pass catchers who play like power forwards — tight ends who force their way through coverage, outrebound jump balls and sustain grabs through contact. That is the way Joly plays, and the numbers support it. According to PFF, Joly had the highest contested catch percentage (84.6) in 2024 among the 34 FBS tight ends who saw at least 10 contested targets. On this clip, the Cal nickelback is grabbing, holding and doing just about everything he can to disrupt the route, but Joly powers through and finishes the contested catch. Joly is more of a pass-catching flex option than a traditional inline tight end, but his on-the-move execution as a run blocker is an area in which scouts see improvement. With his athleticism and physical mindset, he can effectively hook a linebacker or dig out a safety. However, his technical consistency must continue to improve for Joly to become a more valuable asset in the run game. Advertisement A little-known, 215-pound wide receiver out of high school, Joly was a two-star recruit and signed with UConn, one of his only Division I options. He added weight and had his breakout season as a sophomore in 2023, which led to his decision to enter the transfer portal and land at NC State last season. He led the Wolfpack in receiving yards (661) and was one of three FBS tight ends to average better than 15 yards per catch in 2024. Joly (pronounced JOE-lee) just turned 21 this month and is one of the youngest senior prospects in the 2026 draft class. And if he builds off last season, I won't be surprised to see him make a strong case as a top-100 pick, similar to Jonnu Smith's trajectory coming out of FIU to become a Day 2 pick in 2017. 1. Royer 2. Joly 3. John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming (6-5 1/2, 251) 4. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (6-3 1/2, 240) 5. Michael Trigg, Baylor (6-3 3/8, 250) 6. RJ Maryland, SMU (6-3 1/4, 224) 7. Jack Velling, Michigan State (6-4 1/8, 248) 8. Tanner Koziol, Houston (6-6, 251) 9. Miles Kitselman, Tennessee (6-4 5/8, 259) 10. Sam Roush, Stanford (6-4 1/2, 250) 11. Oscar Delp, Georgia (6-4 3/8, 250) 12. Josh Cuevas, Alabama (6-2 3/4, 251) 13. Jeremiah Franklin, Boston College (6-3, 246) 14. Seydou Traore, Mississippi State (6-3 1/2, 237) 15. Lake McRee, USC (6-3 3/4, 249) 16. Bauer Sharp, LSU (6-3 3/4, 246) 17. Tanner Arkin, Illinois (6-3 3/8, 268) 18. Rohan Jones, Arkansas (6-1 3/4, 236) 19. Dae'Quan Wright, Ole Miss (6-3, 251) 20. Matthew Hibner, SMU (6-3 5/8, 244) 21. Amari Niblack, Texas A&M (6-3, 240) 22. Ethan Conner, Troy (6-2 3/4, 238) 23. Chamon Metayer, Arizona State (6-3 7/8, 258) 24. Matt Lauter, Boise State (6-3, 243) 25. Caleb Fauria, Delaware (6-4 1/4, 244) 1. Klare 2. Sadiq 3. Luckie 4. Marlin Klein, Michigan (6-6, 245) 5. Jack Endries, Texas (6-4, 240) 6. Garrett Oakley, Kansas State (6-5, 235) 7. Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech (6-2, 245) 8. Luke Hasz, Ole Miss (6-3, 240) (Top photo of Kenyon Sadiq: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
2026 NFL Draft summer scouting: Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love clears RB1 heading into season
Editor's note: This is the second installment of Dane Brugler's 2026 Summer Scouting series. Previous rankings: Edge rusher Aside from having an obvious RB1, I was somewhat underwhelmed during my early peek at this year's running back crop — which might be a consequence of how deep this last draft class was at the position. Advertisement Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is one of college football's most fun-to-watch players and will be highly coveted in next year's draft. But I struggled to find another 2026 draft-eligible running back who looks like a slam dunk top-75 prospect. That absolutely could change this upcoming season, and I hope it does. Regardless, I expect these running back rankings to be very fluid over the next eight months. (Note: Asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL teams have on file for each player with a 'v' representing verified measurements and 'e' for estimated measurements.) It doesn't take a trained eye to spot Love's exceptional talent. A springy athlete, he has the lateral agility to bounce between gaps and the immediate acceleration to burst through holes at full speed. He ties it all together with innate patience and reactionary movements — those traits plus his balance through contact make him a nightmare to tackle. This 76-yard run on the Virginia tape is a great example of Love's instinctive athleticism: As he gets the hand off, he hits the turbo button towards the C gap, which is then covered up as he arrives at the line. Instead of slamming on the brakes or running into the block, Love puts his foot in the ground and impulsively bursts inside towards the vacated lane. Once he reaches the second level, he quickly reads the safety and eliminates the pursuit angle with speed. Love's unique abilities turn this into an explosive play. This is more nitpicking than anything because Love has been productive catching the football. But all 28 of his receptions last season came in the screen game, according to TruMedia, with most of his targets coming behind the line of scrimmage — he has a natural feel for space in that area. However, given his dynamic athleticism, I would love to see him get more opportunities as a route runner or slot option beyond five yards. Advertisement At this time a year ago, Ashton Jeanty was the slam-dunk RB1 prospect. Same thing with Bijan Robinson going into the 2022 season. And this year feels similar with Love, who is the 2026 NFL Draft's unquestioned top running back prospect. Jeanty and Robinson were ultimately drafted top 10; Love has the talent to join them. Last season, only two backs averaged at least 6.9 yards per carry and surpassed 14 rushing touchdowns: Jeanty and Love. With Jeanty now playing for the Raiders, Love is college football's clear top running back, and it will be interesting to see how the Irish balance the priority of getting him the football while also keeping him fresh. Were it not for Love's knee injury in last year's College Football Playoff, the Irish might have won the national title. Regardless of Notre Dame's team success, Love has the talent to be the top playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft class. At his best as a one-cut runner, Singleton is a big play waiting to happen because of his unique combination of power and acceleration. When he has green grass in front of him, he will fly through the hole like a back 20 pounds lighter — but he also has thick quads and build to power through contact with a forward burst. With a 40-yard dash speed that's expected to be in the 4.3-second range at the combine, Singleton is a home run hitter every time he touches the football. Though I think he displays instincts for the position, Singleton is more of a 'point of entry' back — if his blockers lead him to the hole, he can take it the distance. But his vision tends to run hot and cold at the line of scrimmage, which hinders his ability to easily string moves together. NFL offenses that prioritize creativity at the position won't be as high on Singleton. Advertisement After receiving third-round feedback from NFL teams, Singleton was on the fence about declaring for the 2025 draft. Ultimately, he opted to return for his senior season in Happy Valley, where he and Kaytron Allen will make up arguably the best running back tandem in college football. I struggle a little bit with Singleton's evaluation, however. On one hand, he is an absolute freak of an athlete (at 220 pounds) who can generate explosive plays (6.4 yards per carry in 2024). But I also put a premium on running backs who know how to navigate and create. Singleton is a strong zone runner and can maneuver congestion at times, but his anticipation and tempo lack consistency, and he is clearly at his best with defined blocking. It does help his evaluation that he is an effective pass catcher and kick returner. When his eyes and feet are synced up, Hughes anticipates contact, protects the football and stays afloat to bounce off defenders. There are some similarities between Hughes and Devin Neal of last year's draft class — they're both balanced, decisive and physical finishers. It isn't exactly Ray Lewis delivering the hit on this rep against UAB, but Hughes brushes off the contact with ease and doesn't slow down. Hughes had 31 total targets over his first two college seasons, a number he should surpass in 2025. He made some plays on last year's tape catching the football, but also had too many drops (four). As a pass blocker, Hughes was a roller coaster with some strong moments but also some rough patches — he needs to improve upon the latter. Nine FBS running backs eclipsed 1,400 rushing yards in 2024, but only Hughes returns to college football (seven of the other eight were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft). In two seasons at Tulane, he combined for 2,776 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns and zero fumbles. He was a key portal add this offseason by the Ducks. Jordan James was one of my favorite running backs in the 2025 draft, but the Oregon backfield won't miss a beat with Hughes stepping into James' role. He has a knack for maximizing every touch and opportunity. Advertisement With his darting moves, Claiborne is almost unpredictable in his lateral cuts, which allows him to make defenders miss in a phone booth. Though eager, he runs with patience at the line of scrimmage to reel in pursuit before abruptly cutting away from trouble with his hyper short-area quickness. Settle, plant, burst, repeat — Claiborne is the type of runner who annoys the hell out of defenders. The bouncy approach that Claiborne runs with at the line of scrimmage is part of what makes him dangerous, but it can also lead to excess moves, especially when he looks to force cuts to the outside in his search for daylight. Wake Forest hasn't had a running back drafted over the last 35 years (the program has produced two drafted fullbacks). Claiborne has the talent to snap that streak and become a productive part of an NFL backfield. What he lacks in size, Claiborne makes up for with terrific speed, burst and complete skills. He has a little stiffness in his hips, but his explosive cutting ability makes him elusive both in small spaces and out in space. His toughness in pass pro and promise as a pass catcher will smooth his transition to the pros. A decisive north-south runner, Washington is patient at the line to read, follow his blocks and accelerate through the hole. He shows instinctive run qualities and makes it a chore for defenders to get him on the ground, especially once he clears the first wave. Washington will pick up his knees and run through contact to finish runs, but he can do a better job dropping his pads to make himself a smaller target. Though there is no question about his competitiveness, improved pad level will help fuel his power and balance when working through contact. After earning the starting job last fall, Washington burst onto the scene with a freshman school-record 1,028 rushing yards in 2024. He was one of the best backs in the country in November, with 624 yards (6.2 per carry average) and nine rushing touchdowns over the final four regular-season games. Advertisement The Big 12 was a running back-rich conference last year, thanks to Cam Skattebo, RJ Harvey, Tahj Brooks, DJ Giddens, Neal and others. Most of that production is off to the NFL — but not Washington, who will have a chance to build on a promising year. NFL scouts expect him to go pro if he has another productive season. 1. Singleton 2. Claiborne 3. Jam Miller, Alabama (5-9 5/8, 214) 4. Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M (5-10 3/4, 206) 5. Rahsul Faison, South Carolina (5-10 7/8, 217) 6. Jonah Coleman, Washington (5-8, 227) 7. Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma (5-10 5/8, 208) 8. Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5-11 3/8, 216) 9. CJ Campbell Jr., Rutgers (5-9, 196) 10. Mel Brown, UConn (5-8, 173) 11. CJ Donaldson Jr., Ohio State (6-1 1/8, 226) 12. Logan Diggs, Ole Miss (5-11 7/8, 217) 13. Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech (5-6 5/8, 184) 14. Terion Stewart, Virginia Tech (5-9, 220) 15. Noah Whittington, Oregon (5-7 5/8, 202) 16. Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (5-5 3/4, 169) 17. Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo (5-9 1/2, 206) 18. Eli Heidenreich, Navy (5-11 1/4, 205) 19. Devin Mockobee, Purdue (5-10 7/8, 192) 20. Roydell Williams, Florida State (5-9 3/4, 216) 21. Anthony Hankerson, Oregon State (5-7 5/8, 205) 22. Angel Johnson, Washington State (5-9, 193) 23. Davon Booth, Mississippi State (5-8 1/2, 202) 24. Jaquez Moore, Duke (5-9, 203) 25. Cash Jones, Georgia (5-10 5/8, 183) 1. Love 2. Hughes 3. Washington 4. CJ Baxter, Texas (6-1, 230) 5. Darius Taylor, Minnesota (6-0, 215) 6. Quintrevion Wisner, Texas (6-0, 195) 7. Justice Haynes, Michigan (5-11, 205) 8. Quinten Joyner, Texas Tech (5-11, 205) 9. Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (6-2, 225) 10. Jahiem White, West Virginia (5-7, 195) 11. LJ Martin, BYU (6-2, 220) 12. Dylan Edwards, Kansas State (5-9, 170) (Top photo of Jeremiyah Love: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Where do Sam Leavitt, Rocco Becht rank? The 25 best players in the Big 12 in 2025
The Big 12 produced its largest total of NFL Draft picks since 2005 this past April. Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter from Colorado and Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan were the two first-round picks among 13 players selected on the first two days of the draft. There were 18 players selected in rounds four through seven. Advertisement How many draft picks will the Big 12 produce in 2026? The Athletic's Dane Brugler projected only two first-round selections for the league in his first mock draft in April. Still, this is a conference loaded with intriguing players and teams. Let's dive into the best of the best. The 6-foot-6, 302-pound junior is widely considered to be the best run-blocking right tackle in college football, earning second-team All-America honors last season from the Associated Press. The former four-star recruit from Spanish Fork, Utah, has started 25 games in his college career. Brugler lists Fano as a top-five pick. Tyson, a redshirt junior from Texas, transferred from Colorado last season and earned third-team All-America honors from the AP and won the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year award. He caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns before getting hurt in the second half of the team's final regular-season game and missing the Big 12 Championship Game and College Football Playoff. The 6-2, 210-pound redshirt sophomore transferred from Michigan State last season and earned the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award. The former four-star recruit from Oregon ranked 23rd nationally in passing efficiency, completing 61.7 percent of his 350 attempts for 2,885 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 443 yards and five scores in leading the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship. SAM LEAVITT FOR 6️⃣#Big12FB | 📺 ABC — Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) December 7, 2024 The 6-1, 335-pound senior known as 'The Godfather' earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season. The former three-star recruit from Cincinnati's Colerain High School produced 26 tackles, including five for loss and 3 1/2 sacks, despite being sidelined with blood clots for three months prior to the start of the season. Advertisement The former three-star quarterback recruit from Wichita Falls, Texas, returned home and switched sides of the ball after spending one season at Virginia. Rodriguez, now a senior, led the Big 12 in tackles last season (127) and had 10 1/2 for loss and five sacks to earn first-team all-conference honors. He also forced three fumbles and had one interception. The 6-2, 224-pound redshirt junior from Jacksonville, Fla., went from being a first-team junior college All-American at Northeast (Miss.) Community College to earning first-team All-Big 12 honors last season. Thomas racked up 114 tackles, including seven for loss and 2 1/2 sacks last season. He will have a new running mate next to him at inside linebacker this fall: Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year Travion Barnes. The former blue-chip recruit — known as the 100 Yard Landlord on social media — is finally thriving at his third college program. The one-time Texas Longhorn and USC Trojan was a first-team All-Big 12 pick last season, tallying 85 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups. The 6-1, 218-pound redshirt senior and former walk-on from Cedar Park, Texas, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors and second-team All-America honors (FWAA) as a return man last season. Cameron also led the Bears with 52 receptions — 43 of which went for first downs — for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. UNREAL SIDELINE CATCH ‼️ After review, Josh Cameron's second TD catch of the day stands and @BUFootball has brought this one within one score in the fourth quarter 🍿#Big12FB | 📺 FS1 — Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 28, 2024 Romaine, a former three-star recruit from Hillsboro, Mo., was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season when he recorded 96 tackles, 7 1/2 TFLs, two sacks and three forced fumbles. The former five-star prospect from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy was a Freshman All-American in 2024 as the Buffaloes starting left tackle. He graded out the best among all true freshman offensive tackles in pass protection with at least 100 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Advertisement The 6-1, 205-pound former three-star recruit from Florida led the Cyclones to a school-record 11 wins last season, completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 3,505 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also ran for 318 yards and eight touchdowns in leading Iowa State to the Big 12 Championship Game. Royer transferred home to Cincinnati after three seasons at Ohio State and was a first-team All-Big 12 pick after catching 50 passes — breaking Travis Kelce's single-season school record — for 521 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-2, 186-pound sixth-year senior and former four-star recruit out of Alexandria, La., earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024. He tallied 67 tackles, one forced fumble, one blocked kick and three interceptions over 12 starts. The 6-4, 325-pound senior from Mobile, Ala., earned second-team All-Big 12 honors last season at UCF before landing at his third college program in the offseason. The former top-100 prospect who originally signed with Auburn had 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 27 QB pressures, second among interior linemen in the Big 12 according to Pro Football Focus. Williams, a former three-star prospect from Florida, intercepted four passes last season en route to earning second-team all-conference honors. The 6-5, 235-pound redshirt junior and former three-star recruit from South Jordan, Utah, led the Big 12 with 14 1/2 tackles for loss last season. He started nine games and tallied 70 tackles, four pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. The former three-star recruit from Franklin, Texas, was one of eight running backs in the league to top the 1,000-yard mark last season. Washington is the only one back in 2025. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored 12 rushing touchdowns on 175 carries. Advertisement The 6-4, 294-pound redshirt senior from Alexandria, Va., was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season at UTSA. He led the conference in sacks (10 1/2) and tackles for loss (17). The former Florida Gator returned home to Texas last season and starred as the No. 2 receiver for the Red Raiders. He caught 60 passes for 877 yards and six touchdowns. Only Tyson at Arizona State had more receiving yards among returning Big 12 players. The 6-3, 250-pound senior and former top-100 recruit from Irvine, Calif., joined the Red Raiders in mid-April after making 16 starts over 33 games in his three-year career at Stanford. His numbers from last season: 39 QB pressures, 31 tackles, eight TFLs, seven sacks and five forced fumbles. The dangerous dual-threat and former four-star recruit threw for 2,712 yards, ran for 605 yards and totaled 32 touchdowns last season — leading the Wildcats to nine wins for the second year in a row. The last hurdle for Johnson is improving as a passer. He ranked ninth in the Big 12 in efficiency last season, completing 58.3 percent of 372 attempts and throwing 10 interceptions. The 6-2, 180-pound junior from Colleyville, Texas, transferred from Oklahoma State last season and played more defensive snaps (840) than anyone for the Buffaloes. He tallied 62 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions while starting opposite Heisman winner Travis Hunter. The 6-4, 335-pound former three-star recruit from Kansas City, Mo., is a candidate to break out as a senior after recording 24 tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss, on 367 snaps last season. This is a strong year for tight ends in the league. Carter, a 6-2, 245-pound junior, was a first-team All-Sun Belt selection last season at Louisiana. He caught 48 passes for 689 yards and four touchdowns. Advertisement The 6-4, 220-pound redshirt senior from Lubbock, Texas, took over as the starter in the third game of the 2024 season and finished second in the league in passing efficiency. He completed 62.2 percent of his 368 attempts for 3,071 yards, 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions. 26. Keanu Tanuvasa, DL, Utah 27. Josh Hoover, QB, TCU 28. Devon Dampier, QB, Utah 29. Bryce Foster, C, Kansas 30. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah 31. Dylan Edwards, RB, Kansas State 32. Jahiem White, RB, West Virginia 33. Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston 34. Michael Coats Jr., CB, West Virginia 35. Dean Miller, DL, Kansas (Photo of Sam Leavitt: Michael Chow / The Rep via Imagn Images)
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL supplemental draft: League not holding event for second straight year
The NFL has decided not to hold a supplemental draft ahead of its 2025 season, according to The Athletic's Dane Brugler. The NFL's decision marks the second consecutive year it decided not to host the offseason event. The supplemental draft was originally created in 1977 to give players who did not enter the main NFL draft but had circumstances affect their college eligibility a chance to play professionally. Teams making selections in the seven-round supplemental draft would sacrifice draft capital from the ensuing year's common draft. For example, if a club chose a player in the fourth round of the supplemental draft, it would surrender its fourth-round pick in the next year's draft. No player has been selected in the NFL's supplemental draft since 2019. The Arizona Cardinals made the lone selection in that event, spending a 2020 fifth-round pick to acquire Washington State safety Jalen Thompson. A total of 46 players have been selected in the supplemental draft during the event's 48-year history. Cris Carter is the lone among the crowd to become a Pro Football Hall of Famer; Bernie Kosar, Brian Bosworth, Jamal Williams, Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon comprise some of the other notable supplemental draft selections. It isn't clear whether any players were intending to declare for the 2025 supplemental draft. It also isn't clear the NFL is planning to bring back the supplemental draft in 2026.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NFL Draft: What happened to the Tetairoa McMillan hype?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) Subscribe to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, the discussion around the top wide receiver prospects is more intense than ever. One name that's generated plenty of conversation is Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan (or "T-Mac" as he's often called). In the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, host Matt Harmon and The Athletic's Dane Brugler dove deep into McMillan's draft stock, bringing much-needed clarity to where he stands among the 2025 WR class. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Brugler, renowned for his exhaustive draft guide "The Beast," isn't shy about his admiration for McMillan's game. He describes T-Mac as "a borderline top 10 pick in this draft," emphasizing McMillan's rare combination of size, catch radius and hands: "I love the catch radius, love how he attacks the football. You rarely — show me the film where the ball is getting into his body. He doesn't let that happen." Brugler's praise isn't hollow — he ranks McMillan as a first-round talent, albeit not quite in the elite Marvin Harrison Jr./Brian Thomas Jr. tier from last year. McMillan's ability to play true X receiver, a premium position in most NFL offenses, cements his value. Harmon points out just how well McMillan would fit a team like the Saints, who are desperate for an outside receiver with size to complement Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Harmon's experience charting receivers for Reception Perception also lines up favorably, comparing McMillan's style and impact to NFL players like Courtland Sutton: "I think he kind of belongs to the same family of receivers that Drake London does, but he's not quite Drake London. ... These big guys that separate better than you think and they can do a lot of damage on these in-breaking routes." When a receiver has versatility, hands, size and can unlock different looks for an offense, it's hard to keep him out of the top-10 conversation. Despite the consensus love, McMillan isn't without detractors or question marks. Both Brugler and Harmon touch on why some evaluators — and potentially some NFL teams — see McMillan sliding a bit from the 'lock top-10' label he wore early in the process. McMillan's 4.53 forty at his pro day surprised nobody who watched him in college, but it did accentuate that he wins with nuance, not raw speed. Brugler notes, "He's not a burner. We know that. ... He is a little bit raw as a route runner ... he's probably more finesse than truly aggressive. ... There's just a big jump between the Big 12 and what he'll face in the NFL." Both analysts agree McMillan might be best as an elite No. 2, which (somewhat unfairly) suppresses his top-10 ceiling. Harmon said: "He's probably best if he's your really, really good number two ... those guys can kind of share that "Who's the 1A and who's the 1B title" and provide a really dynamic duo." It's also worth mentioning the 2025 class doesn't have the same top-heavy WR talent as last year's legendary group. Brugler specifically says if McMillan were in last year's class, he'd be ranked behind Brian Thomas Jr., but in this year's group, that's a borderline top-10, top-12 valuation. After digesting Harmon and Brugler's in-depth conversation, here's where things stand: McMillan is still in that top-10 wide receiver prospect conversation in this class — not as a no-doubt blue-chipper, but as a highly valuable, NFL-ready talent with clear 'starter-plus' potential. His best fit likely comes as a team's X receiver — or a high-volume 1B — on a squad that can maximize his catch radius, physicality and polish versus focusing on deep speed. The split in the scouting community is less about a lack of talent and more about expectations: McMillan isn't Marvin Harrison Jr., but he's rock solid and projects as a possible instant starter. Don't be surprised if teams like the Saints or Cowboys fall in love with his fit and take him in the 9-12 range comfortably. Either way, he'll be among the first handful of receivers off the board, and rightfully so. Tetairoa McMillan absolutely remains a top-10 prospect in the 2025 class, with the only major knock being whether he's a true WR1 or a perfect 1B for a creative NFL offense. Check out the full Yahoo Fantasy Forecast episode with Matt Harmon and Dane Brugler for all the nuanced breakdowns — it's a must-listen for draft fans and fantasy managers alike.
