Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has a policy that if a player needs help getting off the field, they will not return to the game.
Sanders’ rule helps instill toughness and avoids penalties under a new NCAA rule targeting fake injuries.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has a similar ‘toughen up’ philosophy for his undefeated team.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has a certain policy for his players if they need help getting up off the field after getting injured:

You’re done. You’re not going back into the game.

“Our guys ain’t soft, man,” Sanders said at his weekly news conference in Boulder on Tuesday.

His policy helps ensure that — and helps avoid a penalty for his team under a new NCAA rule. It’s also the kind of policy Indiana coach Curt Cignetti can appreciate. Cignetti was caught on television Oct. 11 telling his defensive back, Jamari Sharpe, to “toughen up” after Sharpe got run over by an Oregon running back in the first half of a 30-20 win. He yelled this to Sharpe as he walked off the field with Indiana medical staff before returning to the game one play later.

“We gotta quit laying on the ground on defense and coming back the next play,” Cignetti told CBS at halftime.

Texas A&M football fined for faking injury

This kind of message has worked for Cignetti, whose team is 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Sanders is trying to instill a similar culture at Colorado, which is 3-4 entering a game at Utah on Saturday night, Oct. 25.

“One thing that I really love about our guys, you don’t see our guys laying around on the field,” Sanders said. “They get up and they get off the durn field regardless of how hurt they are, and that’s something that us coaches implemented. Like, we don’t want to see you laying on the field, because we have a rule. If you lay down there and we come out there to get you, you ain’t going back in.”

Sanders’ policy against laying on the field also helps his team avoid being penalized under a new NCAA rule this year. Teams are charged a timeout if a player presents himself as injured after the ball is spotted by the officiating crew for the next play. If the team doesn’t have any timeouts remaining, it will be penalized 5 yards for delay of game.

The new rule was made after complaints that some teams were faking injuries to strategically slow the game.

In a win over Arkansas Oct. 18, Texas A&M was charged a timeout for this in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Southeastern Conference fined Texas A&M $50,000 for violating the NCAA’s policy on faking injuries after Aggies defensive back Tyreek Chappell went down ‘to the ground, creating the appearance of an injury.’ The National Coordinator of Football Officiating reviewed video that showed a Texas A&M staff member ‘signaling demonstratively’ at Chappell, pointing to the ground. The SEC noted that Chappell had no contact during the play and returned to the game on the second play of the ensuing defensive possession.

‘We respect the SEC’s decision and understand the importance of upholding the integrity of the game,’ Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said in a statement. ‘While we accept the ruling, we do not agree with the decision and want to be clear that we never coach or instruct our players to feign injury. Texas A&M football remains firmly committed to the highest standards of sportsmanship, competitiveness, and integrity.’

Sanders said it’s for the benefit of his players. If they’re hurt enough to need help getting back up off the field, he doesn’t want them returning to action in the same game.

“We got to protect them in their lives… not just the football of it,” Sanders said. “I want them to be healthy young men when this is over.”

Deion Sanders emphasized tackling this week

Despite the injury risk, Sanders also pushed live tackling in practice this week, according to a video posted Monday by his son Deion Jr. On Saturday, the Buffaloes face a Utah team that ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (245). Colorado has struggled against the run this season, ranking 116th in rush defense.

“We’re full-speed tackle,” Sanders told his team at that practice. “Tackle to the ground.”

Sanders also had former Colorado defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo address the team.

“Y’all gotta step your game up,” Nwankwo said. “A lot of y’all are lazy.”

Colorado needs three wins in its final five games to become eligible for a postseason bowl game but has only two more games at home: vs. Arizona on Nov. 1 and vs. Arizona State on Nov. 22.

Sanders’ overall record in three seasons at Colorado is 16-16.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

Testifying on Tuesday, Oct. 21, in the wrongful death lawsuit against former Angels communications director Eric Kay, Trout said he confronted Kay on one occasion, telling him, ‘You have two boys at home, and you have to get this right.’

Kay is accused of supplying drugs that resulted in pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ fatal overdose in a Texas hotel room. The Skaggs family is suing the Angels for $118 million in damages for allegedly knowing about Kay’s drug problem, but failing to take sufficient action.

Trout, a three-time AL MVP and 11-time All-Star, is the first Angels player to testify in the civil trial.

During his testimony, Trout discussed his memories of Skaggs and the players’ interactions with Kay, whose increasingly bizarre behavior appeared to raise red flags about his drug use. He said he made a point not to sign memorabilia for Kay unless he knew specifically where they were going out of concern Kay might be ‘misusing them’ –- inferring he might sell them to buy drugs.

Trout also said he was surprised to learn that Skaggs and other teammates were using illicit drugs or buying them from Kay.

Plaintiff’s attorney Shawn Holley claimed in her opening statement last week that the Angels put Skaggs ‘directly in harm’s way’ by not taking action.

The Angels say team officials were unaware of Skaggs’ drug use, and are not responsible for actions by Kay and Skaggs in their off time.

Kay is currently serving a 22-year federal prison sentence for providing the fentanyl-laced oxycodone that caused Skaggs’ death at the age of 27.

For the 85th time in NFL regular season history, a quarterback completed a game with a perfect passer rating.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had the biggest highlight of all gunslingers this week with his perfect day: 19-of-23 passing (82.6% completion rate), 326 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The game – and win that came with it – was good enough to give Hurts a significant bump in this week’s NFL quarterback power rankings. It was a very strong bounce back after two straight losses for the Eagles, including a Week 6 stumble against the New York Giants on ‘Thursday Night Football.’

Other highlights from this week included a 342-yard outing from 40-year-old Joe Flacco, a five-touchdown day from Matthew Stafford and another excellent outing from Drake Maye.

Here’s how all of those performances – and more – shook up the Week 8 power rankings:

NFL quarterback power rankings: Week 8

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Last week: 1

Mahomes completed 74.3% of his pass attempts and threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday against the Raiders. It helped lead the Chiefs to a second straight win and fourth in their last five games.

2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Last week: 3

Maye had the best completion rate (21-of-23, or 91.3%) of any quarterback in Week 7. The second-year quarterback had the best QBR of any quarterback this week and now leads the league in completion percentage over expected (11.5) while ranking second in EPA/play (0.333). The Patriots’ quarterback is poised to get some MVP buzz in his second season in the league – and first with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Last week: 7

Allen plummeted last week after a two-interception outing in a loss to the Falcons. During his bye week, most of the quarterbacks that surpassed him played poorly enough to warrant their own drops in the power rankings.

4. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last week: 2

Mayfield looked out-of-sorts in Week 7, often overthrowing receivers. He faced more defensive pressures (28) than any other quarterback this week, according to PFF, and had two passes batted down. The Bucs’ quarterback has had to deal with a bunch of injuries to his receivers, and Tampa Bay’s inability to get the run game going in Bucky Irving’s absence is hurting the passing offense’s effectiveness as well.

5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Last week: 8

All five of the Rams’ touchdowns in London were on throws by Stafford – with three of them landing in veteran Davante Adams’ hands. The 37-year-old gunslinger’s ability to do that while throwing for only 182 yards and avoiding any turnovers – against a Jaguars defense that’s second in the league in takeaways – was impressive.

6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Last week: 5

The Chargers’ string of injuries to their offensive line has really started to hurt. An ankle injury for rookie running back Omarion Hampton has also led to Los Angeles’ offense looking one-dimensional. Herbert still managed to throw for 420 yards and three touchdowns while only taking three sacks on 27 pressures. He did throw two more interceptions, though, and the Chargers lost for the third time in four games.

7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Last week: 6

Goff threw an interception and lost a fumble on Monday night. Notably, Goff had six incompletions on third down plays, though two were wiped away by illegal contact penalties. He was also sacked twice on third down as the Lions finished the night 3-for-13 on third down conversion attempts.

8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Last week: 4

Darnold’s 54.8% completion rate was his lowest of the season so far, and he had two passes batted down plus threw his fourth interception of the season. However, he also led the league with five big-time throws this week, per PFF, and still ranks third in the NFL this season in completion percentage over expected (9.1).

9. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Last week: 10

Jones continues to do exactly what the Colts ask him to do on offense: protect the football, avoid sacks (his 7.3% pressure to sack rate is by far the lowest in the NFL), make throws when he needs to and otherwise let running back Jonathan Taylor cook. Indianapolis is now the league’s only six-win team through seven weeks, and Jones leads NFL quarterbacks in EPA/play (0.336).

10. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Last week: 14

Hurts had a perfect day on Suday with his 82.6% completion rate, 326 passing yards and three touchdown throws. The Eagles offense – and its quarterback – seems to have unlocked something by running more plays with Hurts under center.

11. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Last week: 11

In the first game since wide receiver CeeDee Lamb returned from injury, Prescott threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns. He leads the NFL in completions (185), is fourth in EPA/play (0.296), and the Cowboys lead the NFL in offensive yardage (390.6/game).

12. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Last week: 9

Love had his second-worst game by passer rating (93.9) and completion rate (65.5%) this year, set a season-low mark in passing yards (179) and made two turnover-worthy plays, per PFF. But he also led his first game-winning drive of the year, bringing the Packers a win in a game they only led for the final 1:50.

13. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Last week: 16

Box score watchers might be shocked to see Lawrence jump up several places this week. He completed fewer than 50% of his passes, and the Jaguars lost in a blowout in London.

Missing in the box score is some extra context: Jaguars receivers dropped five more passes Sunday, per PFF, bringing Lawrence’s league lead to an astounding 21 drops through seven weeks. Lawrence also made three big-time throws in the game (tied for fifth this week) and had an average depth of target of 12.4 yards, tied with Hurts for the highest of all starting quarterbacks this week. The offense also started to get rookie Travis Hunter more involved (eight catches, 101 yards, one touchdown) and is rounding into shape under new head coach Liam Coen.

14. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Last week: 15

Daniels had three passes dropped in Week 7 and led the Commanders in rushing (35 yards) despite exiting early with a hamstring injury. His status for Week 8 is still unclear.

15. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Last week: 18

Dart’s back-breaking, game-defining interception soured an otherwise excellent performance against the league’s best passing defense, per their 37.4% success rate allowed on dropbacks. His 283 yards and three touchdowns were both new career-high marks for the rookie. The No. 25 overall pick in this year’s draft is 13th in the NFL in EPA/play (0.165) through seven weeks, nestled between Mayfield (0.168) and Hurts’ (0.161) marks.

16. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Last week: 22

The Broncos had zero points when the fourth quarter began. Then Nix threw two touchdowns, rushed for two more and led Denver to an improbable, 33-32 comeback win over the Giants. Included in Nix’s big day were four big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays. He also remained excellent at avoiding sacks, taking just two against 15 pressures from Big Blue’s mighty defensive line.

17. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Last week: 12

Penix matched his season-high with 12 bad throws on Sunday night against the 49ers, per Pro Football Reference. The result was his second-worst completion rate of the season (55.3%), third-worst passer rating (83.3) and a third Falcons loss.

18. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last week: 21

Rodgers and the Steelers might have lost their second game of the season, but the 41-year-old quarterback showed he’s still got it in the ‘Unc Bowl.’ He finished with 249 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 70-yard Hail Mary attempt that traveled further than any pass since at least 2017, per Next Gen Stats.

19. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Last week: 19

Jones did not have to do much to win Sunday night’s game. The 49ers offense ran almost entirely through running back Christian McCaffrey, who finished the night with 201 scrimmage yards. Jones did well for the most part, with his only major blemish an interception that hit receiver Jauan Jennings in the hands.

20. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Last week: 13

The Bears’ offensive line held up well against the Saints – 10 pressures allowed, helping afford Williams a league-leading 3.53-second time to throw this week. But Williams just didn’t do much with that. He made zero big-time throws, had two turnover-worthy plays with two fumbles and an interception, had two passes batted down and an unremarkable 9.2-yard average depth of target given how long he had to throw. Chicago won, 26-14, but it was mostly thanks to its 222 yards on the ground.

21. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

Last week: 17

Williams’ opponent was not much better. Rattler threw a career-high three interceptions against the Bears and lost a fumble. PFF found two other turnover-worthy plays for a league-leading total of six in Week 7.

22. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Last week: 24

In two starts for the Cardinals, Brissett has 599 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions against two teams ranked in the top half of the league in EPA/play allowed on dropbacks. He has zero wins to show for that, despite Arizona not trailing the Packers until the final two minutes on Sunday.

23. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Last week: 20

Stroud tied Rattler for this week’s league lead with six turnover-worthy plays. He avoided getting knocked for a costly fumble-six thanks to Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas fumbling short of the end zone. He also avoided a safety after inexplicably scrambling backwards 18 yards while under pressure and taking a sack at the 1-yard line.

24. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Last week: 30

Flacco, like Rodgers, proved he’s still got it on Thursday night. His 342 passing yards and three touchdowns in his first start with the Bengals helped give Cincinnati its first win since Week 2, as well as a reason for its fans to believe that maybe things will be alright until Joe Burrow returns.

25. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

Last week: 27

Gabriel completed 13 of his 18 pass attempts for 116 yards with an average depth of target of 4.7 yards. That worked out fine for Cleveland, who rode an 84-yard, three-touchdown day from Quinshon Judkins to a blowout win over the Dolphins.

26. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Last week: 28

How did Ward look in his first game without head coach Brian Callahan? Well, like more of the same. There was some good: a new career-high 73.5% completion rate, 255 passing yards that are second-most in his rookie season so far and two big-time throws. There was also some bad: five sacks taken on 10 pressures, an interception, a fumble and another loss.

27. Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings

Last week: 26

It’s almost impressive when a quarterback throws two interceptions in a four-play span. One of Wentz’s miscues was returned for a touchdown, and after the Vikings got the ball back, he threw another one three plays later.

28. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Last week: 29

The Chiefs dominated the Raiders in time of possession – over 42 minutes to under 18 – which held Smith to just 18 dropbacks. He managed to throw zero interceptions, perhaps because his average depth of target this week was just 3.4 yards, lowest of any NFL starter in Week 7.

29. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Last week: 25

A completion rate just a tick above 50%, 100 passing yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions and three fumbles (none lost) resulted in a 3.3 QBR. The Dolphins benched Tagovailoa for their final two drives.

30. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers

Last week: N/A

Dalton is in line to start Week 8 for Carolina after Bryce Young sustained a high ankle sprain.

31. Cooper Rush, Baltimore Ravens

Last week: 31

Rush and the Ravens were on a bye in Week 7.

32. Justin Fields/Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets

Last week: 32

Fields was benched to start the second half on Sunday. Taylor completed his passes at a lower rate than the Jets’ starter and threw two interceptions after entering the game. Fields still had a worse QBR and PFF grade. That’s likely because Taylor pushed the ball further downfield than any other quarterback this week with his 16.8-yard average depth of target. If that weren’t bad enough, team owner Woody Johnson essentially blamed Fields for all of the 0-7 Jets’ losing woes on Oct. 21.

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Expect a tough defensive battle this week when the New England Patriots host the Cleveland Browns in Foxborough.

Those two just happen to have the top two fantasy football defense/special teams units from Week 7, when the Browns forced four turnovers – including a Tyson Campbell’s interception return for a touchdown – against the Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots, meanwhile, racked up five sacks and returned a fumble for a score against the Tennessee Titans.

WEEK 8 BYES: Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, L.A. Rams, Seattle

(Rankings by Elisha Twerski, whose complete Week 8 rankings for every position will be updated up until kickoff on Sunday.)

Fantasy football Week 8 defense/special teams rankings

Indianapolis Colts (IND) vs. TEN
New England Patriots (NE) vs. CLE
Atlanta Falcons (ATL) vs. MIA
Kansas City Chiefs (KC) vs. WAS
Denver Broncos (DEN) vs. DAL
Buffalo Bills (BUF) at CAR
Green Bay Packers (GB) at PIT
Philadelphia Eagles (PHI) vs. NYG
Houston Texans (HOU) vs. SF
Pittsburgh Steelers (PIT) vs. GB
Cleveland Browns (CLE) at NE
New York Jets (NYJ) at CIN
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TB) at NO
Minnesota Vikings (MIN) at LAC
Los Angeles Chargers (LAC) vs. MIN
Cincinnati Bengals (CIN) vs. NYJ
San Francisco 49ers (SF) at HOU
New York Giants (NYG) at PHI
Baltimore Ravens (BAL) vs. CHI
Washington Commanders (WAS) at KC
New Orleans Saints (NO) vs. TB
Chicago Bears (CHI) at BAL
Tennessee Titans (TEN) at IND
Dallas Cowboys (DAL) at DEN
Carolina Panthers (CAR) vs. BUF
Miami Dolphins (MIA) at ATL

The halfway point of the 2025 NFL season is inching closer. Entering Week 8, most teams league-wide have a solid idea of their playoff chances this season. For those without aspirations of playing January football, it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft.

This upcoming draft class has seen plenty of change at the top with plenty of risers and many fallers. As the weeks wear on, some positions are surprisingly full of early-round talent.

Linebackers and wide receivers may have seen the most improvement over the course of the year. There are a couple of locks at each position with many more making a case for first-round consideration.

Quarterbacks will grab the headlines but don’t expect a class like what we saw in 2024. We have four passers in our latest first-round mock draft. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza leads the way at No. 1 overall to the winless New York Jets.

Three other teams find a potential quarterback of the future, including an AFC division leader. Here’s our latest predictions for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the order provided by Tankathon:

2026 NFL mock draft

1. New York Jets: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

We’re keeping it straightforward to start things off. Mendoza’s been the top draft-eligible quarterback this season and continues to impress with his mix of timing, accuracy and mobility. He’ll thrive in a timing-based offense and operate like a point guard to distribute the ball to the Jets’ skill position players.

2. Miami Dolphins: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

It was between two trench players and we opted for the offensive line. Fano is a Day 1 starter at right tackle for the Dolphins, who should immediately help in the run game. His movement skills overall are some of the best in the class and he plays with a violent streak as a blocker. He’ll likely need to bulk up a bit to stick at tackle long-term but his high floor is hard to beat.

Other positions were in consideration but it felt too early for the secondary or offensive skill position players on the board.

3. New Orleans Saints: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

New Orleans happily selects arguably the top prospect in the entire draft class at No. 3. Bain entered the season as a likely first-round player thanks to his size (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) and power. He’s progressed even more in 2025 as an every-down edge rusher who can set the edge in run defense and use his power to overwhelm blockers as a pass rusher.

Spencer Rattler struggled against Chicago but he’s played well enough for us to hold off on mocking a quarterback to New Orleans for now.

4. Tennessee Titans: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

The Titans need more reinforcements on offense and it came down to help in the trenches or with a difference-making skill position player. There’s a lot of unknown with the Titans as they enter the post-Brian Callahan era. Namely, who the next coach and offensive play caller will be.

In any case, we settled on the top wide receiver of the class in Tyson. The Arizona State product regularly creates separation thanks to his short-area quickness and impressive route running. He’s not a burner but has a WR1 ceiling for 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.

5. Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Injuries have hit the Ravens’ defense hard this season. Nnamdi Madubuike’s season-ending injury was one of the more impactful for the unit as a whole. It’d be a surprise to see the Ravens picking in this range come April, but with the current board, Woods would be a great fit.

Some considered Woods the best prospect in the class entering the season. He’s alignment versatile thanks to his twitch and athleticism packed into a 6-foot-3, 315-pound frame.

6. Cleveland Browns: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

From one Duck to another. Cleveland selects a quarterback of the future in Moore, the strong-armed passer from Eugene. Moore took over for current Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel for 2025 has proceeded to wow evaluators with his development. He’s long been considered a good deep ball passer but he’s improved underneath and as a scrambler.

He’s not the No. 1 QB in the class as of yet, though, because of his struggles against handling the pressure packages thrown at him by Indiana earlier in the college football season.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

The Raiders’ offense struggled immensely against Kansas City in Week 7. It’d be easy just to give them a quarterback here and consider everything fixed. But this offensive line needs help; it’s one of the worst units in the league.

Mauigoa’s been a right tackle for his career in Coral Gables but may line up at guard in the NFL. In either case, he’s an athletic mover at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds whose experienced varied blocking concepts with the Hurricanes. He’ll be a strong run blocker immediately, helping create more space to maximize Ashton Jeanty and uplift the whole offense.

8. New York Giants: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Plenty of options are on the table for the Giants at No. 8. For this mock, we decided to give Malik Nabers a running mate in the wide receiving corps.

Lemon’s shot up draft boards this season behind his stellar play on the field. He’s primarily lined up in the slot and caught nearly 80% of his targets this season. His recent performance against Notre Dame (four catches for 76 yards) is dampened by a costly fumble but don’t be fooled. He’s the most reliable and productive slot wide receiver in the class.

9. Arizona Cardinals: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

This may seem a bit early for a linebacker and Cardinals fans may be right to be wary. The Isaiah Simmons experience wasn’t long enough ago to be forgotten. 

But Reese is simply on another level as a prospect. He’s arguably the best linebacker prospect to come out of college in the last five years. He combines impressive size (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) and athleticism with the instincts to be a factor in coverage, pass rush and run defense. There just aren’t second-level players who move like him in the college ranks. He’d be a force multiplier for Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

10. Houston Texans: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Arguably, the biggest takeaway from the Texans’ “Monday Night Football” loss to the Seattle Seahawks is that the offensive line could not get movement up front in the run game. Houston desperately needs help up front and they go with the outlier Proctor here.

The Alabama left tackle has truly rare athleticism in a 6-foot-7, 360-pound frame. The Crimson Tide have used him as a receiver multiple times this season to utilize his skills in unique ways. He struggled with consistency to start the season. In Week 1 against Florida State, he allowed six pressures, three hurries, two quarterback hits and one sack. He’s cleaned things up since then, though, with seven pressures, six hurries, one quarterback hit and zero sacks in the next six games combined.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Cincinnati has multiple needs but arguably the biggest one is a difference maker on defense. Downs has a claim to the best prospect in the class regardless of position. He’s a rare talent at the position with the mix of size (6-foot, 205 pounds), athleticism and football IQ. 

His elite processing abilities for the position make him an asset in coverage and run defense. Creative defensive coordinators can deploy him all over the defense and he’s versatile enough to fit multiple roles. He’s got Pro Bowl potential in year one and could be the catalyst to turn the secondary around in Cincinnati.

12. Washington Commanders: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Washington’s aging roster could use younger talent at plenty of spots. Offensive skill position seems the most pressing of them all to help franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. The offensive line looks pretty set with a good mix of talent and depth so the franchise opts to go with Sadiq.

The Oregon tight end is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect at the position with the size (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) and long speed to be a matchup nightmare for most defenses. His elite athleticism makes him an even better fit in an NFL offense than college.

13. Dallas Cowboys: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Dallas’ defense has struggled to stop opposing pass offenses all season. Looking at the board and the roster, the team goes with the versatile Faulk to help address those issues.

The Auburn product provides inside-out versatility thanks to his impressive frame (6-foot-6, 285 pounds). That frame makes him a standout run defender already with the power to set the edge against tackles. His athleticism means there’s plenty of potential to tap into as a pass rusher. His skillset and size are reminiscent of Calais Campbell; all he needs is the coaching and refinement to maximize his gifts.

14. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

Simpson is making the most of his first season as a starter in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide passer continued his rise last week against Tennessee and should be considered a first-round quarterback come April.

He’s performed well even when he‘s asked to attack defenses in different ways. He played well with an average depth of target (ADOT) of nearly 10 yards against Vanderbilt, per Pro Football Focus (PFF) data. A week later, he threw for three touchdowns with a 6.5-yard ADOT against Missouri and getting pressured 15 times. His main knock is a lack of experience, and Los Angeles could afford to sit him behind Matthew Stafford for a season before he takes over in 2027.

15. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Minnesota needs help in the secondary. As much as defensive coordinator Brian Flores can scheme up exotic looks that stress offenses, he needs more talent in the back end to handle the top offenses in the league.

Despite missing the 2025 season so far while recovering from an ACL tear in the offseason, McCoy has the claim as the top corner in the class with his size (6-foot, 195 pounds) and ball production. He’s best in zone coverage but is more than capable in press. His fluidity as an athlete makes him an ideal corner for disguising coverages. 

16. Carolina Panthers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Carolina’s got a winning record for the first time since 2021 behind one of the best running games in the league and a defense punching well above its weight. So we’ve decided to boost the passing game again with another weapon for Bryce Young to throw to.

Tate stepped out of Emeka Egbuka’s shadow in 2025 and became one of the best wide receivers in college football. His passer rating when targeted is 148.2, per PFF data, and he’s thrived as a deep threat for the Buckeyes despite his lack of elite long speed. He’s averaging 17.3 yards per reception this season. Drop him opposite 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, and the Panthers’ pass offense could take a step.

17. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

The Chiefs have the infrastructure and talent at key positions on both sides of the ball to simply take the best player available on the board and that’s certainly Love at this point. 

Like Sadiq and Downs at their respective positions, Love is the clear-cut No. 1 running back in the class. He’s a true three-down player for Notre Dame with ideal contact balance paired with game-breaking speed. At 6-foot and 215 pounds, he’s built well to handle NFL contact and demands.

18. Chicago Bears: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Chicago’s gone with multiple offensive line combinations this season to put their best five on the field. Braxton Jones will be a free agent in 2026 and has been moved down the depth chart behind fellow 2026 free agent Theo Benedet. 

Lomu needs more development than his Utah teammate Fano but he has the experience at left tackle and top-tier athletic abilities. His hand usage is improving quickly and his high floor as a pass protector is certainly a great start. He could make the transition from Jones or Benedet easier to handle in 2026.

19. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

Los Angeles needs difference makers on defense. The Chargers’ staff is maximizing what it has but needs more young pieces to build around in order to take a step forward.

Parker could be that player. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, he has both size and pass rush production that should translate to the NFL. He’s comfortable either rushing off the edge or with his hand down in a three-point stance. Speed-to-power makes Parker a threat to get to the quarterback at any time.

20. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Both of Cleveland’s starting guards are hitting free agency in 2026. Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are both over 30 and the Browns may want to turn over that talent up front as they welcome a new quarterback to the fold.

Dunker spent his college career at left tackle but he’ll be a guard at the NFL level. He’s a force in run blocking with the strength and attitude to knock defenders off their spot. He can operate in varied blocking schemes. His lack of elite lateral agility and arm length are what may keep him inside at the next level. He projects similarly to Buccaneers’ lineman Graham Barton.

21. Buffalo Bills: Edge LT Overton, Alabama

Buffalo invested in the later rounds on the defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft and we have them doing that earlier on in this draft. 

Overton brings elite speed off the edge in a 6-foot-5, 280-pound frame. Like Faulk, his size and athletic profile mean he can kick inside later to wreak havoc on guards and centers with his bend and powerful hands. At the very least, he’ll be a powerful edge-setter against the run.

22. Seattle Seahawks: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Seattle’s defense has become one of the best in the NFL as the 2025 season’s worn on. Rather than building on that strength, we’re opting to shore up the offensive line in front of Sam Darnold.

Among prospects who will project best on the interior in the NFL and played there in college, Ioane is the best. The Graham, Washington native would return to the Pacific Northwest as a plug-and-play starter at one of the guard spots. He’s a dependable pass protector and run blocker at 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds. 

23. Los Angeles Rams: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Delane won’t wow teams with his combine numbers which may make him even more endearing to the Rams. The Tigers’ top cornerback lacks strength in his long frame at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds but has been one of the best coverage players in college football this season.

Delane uses his football IQ, awareness and fluid athleticism to stay in the right place at the right time and cut off opposing wide receivers. He’s allowed just six receptions for 77 yards on 23 targets this season. Opposing quarterbacks have a 22.9 passer rating when targeting him, per PFF data.

24. Detroit Lions: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Detroit continues to have injury woes – this year it’s in the secondary – so we’re opting to shore up the depth in the back end. Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, is a bit smaller than most modern cornerbacks at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds but plays much bigger.

He’s remarkably physical for his size and can fit in either zone or man schemes thanks to his elite athleticism and fluid change-of-direction ability. He can play aggressively but has the ability to recover and avoid getting burned by opposing receivers.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Pittsburgh can’t rely on Aaron Rodgers for the future. Considering their last late-first round pick at quarterback was Kenny Pickett, we have them going in a much different direction with Sellers.

The South Carolina passer is far from a finished product as a passer but possesses rare abilities as a runner. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds with a background in soccer, he attacks the open field in a way reminiscent of Cam Newton. Pittsburgh’s offensive line is fourth-best in the league in pressure rate allowed, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Sellers could grow into a better passer behind that safe offensive line.

26. Denver Broncos: DT A’Mauri Washington, Oregon

Denver built on a strength in going defense in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft and they do the same again here. This time, they address the front.

Washington’s been one of the top surprises of the college football season. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle stepped into a bigger role to showcase his impressive athleticism and power, which translate well to the NFL level. He’d be a different type of interior rusher than what Denver has in-house but could add another wrinkle to one of the best defenses in the league.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

Tampa Bay is second in the NFL in pressure rate (41.4%) but could always use more help off the edge for coach Todd Bowles’ scheme. 

Bailey transferred from Stanford to Texas Tech this season and continued his torrid pace off the edge. He’d likely be confined to a designated pass rusher role early on at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds. That’s not a huge knock on him, though. He leads college football in sacks with 11 and ranks third with 26 hurries. He’d be an immediate help off the edge on passing downs.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

Banks would’ve likely been a top-15 pick if not for a foot injury that cut his final college season short. But with a roster like Philadelphia’s, they can afford to have him bide his time and ease into a role as a rookie. 

At 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds, he’d fit right in alongside Jalen Carter and offer the team a potential off-ramp should they decide against re-signing Jordan Davis in 2027. Banks has the size and athleticism to show flashes of dominance but needs the right environment to improve his consistency. In Philadelphia, he’ll have just that. 

29. New England Patriots: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

New England needs to address the infrastructure around ascending quarterback Drake Maye. Given the board, skill positions have better prospects available than offensive line. 

Brazzell could fit into multiple roles for the Patriots offense on a week-to-week basis. At 6-foot-5 and a fluid athlete, he could stress defenses vertically and be a contested-catch merchant. His short-area quickness and flexibility mean he can more than capably operate underneath.  

30. San Francisco 49ers: WR Chris Bell, Louisville

San Francisco needs help on the offensive line, but given how hard the position was hit by injury in 2025, wide receiver could use some help as well. Ricky Pearsall has looked good when on the field, and Kyle Shanahan could use another young piece to build around.

Bell is one of the bigger receivers in the class at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds but he has track speed to challenge defenses in a way that shows shades of A.J. Brown. He can create mismatches that Shanahan could exploit as the offense continues to evolve with Brock Purdy as the quarterback.

31. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): LB C.J. Allen, Georgia

Dallas addresses defense again with its second pick in the first round with the next-best player in a talented linebacker class.

Allen’s stout frame at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds means he’ll be a solid fit in run defense but it’s his impressive athleticism that’ll make him stick as a coverage linebacker. He needs some refinement in that area but the tools are there. He’s shown growth in understanding opposing offenses that will likely continue at the NFL level.

32. Indianapolis Colts: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas

Indianapolis sits at the end of the first round thanks to one of the most productive, efficient offenses in the NFL this season. We’ll use their top resource in the draft to address defense.

Outside of Kenny Moore II in the slot, the Colts’ secondary could use more reinforcements. Muhammad processes the game well and knows where to be positioned in varied coverage assignments. On 18 targets in 2025, he’s allowed 11 receptions for just 75 yards, per PFF data. He’s versatile enough for coordinator Lou Anarumo to use him all over the formation. 

MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo thumbed through his cell phone in the Milwaukee Bucks locker room, ice wrapped around both knees and his foot submerged in a converted mop bucket full of even more ice. He had scored 16 points in a preseason game against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder more than an hour ago, and the last of his few scattered teammates – including his brother, Thanasis – were gone. 

Everybody else – reporters, team officials, locker room attendants, the rest of the basketball world outside Fiserv Forum – watched Antetokounmpo, waiting to hear what he had to say. The folks in the building every game knew the routine entering Year 13 with their superstar, and nobody is ready to consider the prospect of it ending. 

Nobody besides maybe Antetokounmpo.

“I’ll be aggressive until I retire,” he eventually told a small group of reporters on this night, speaking to his role within the Bucks’ new-look offense this NBA season, but the words could be interpreted any number of ways given what he’s said (and hasn’t said) about his future in recent weeks.

What Antetokounmpo is thinking, and whether he decides to stay with the Bucks for the rest of his career, will linger as a juicy storyline throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, with the team’s fortunes and Antetokounmpo’s statements likely to be parsed for clues until this beloved Milwaukee sports figure offers a more definitive answer. 

He has two more years, with a player option for the 2027-28 season, left on his current contract with the Bucks. But Antetokounmpo has only committed to playing for the franchise this season and that “if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human, too,” he told reporters this preseason.

The two outcomes are equally compelling for Antetokounmpo’s legacy. Either he becomes the increasingly rare basketball star to stick with the same franchise for his entire career, while perhaps decreasing his chances of winning another championship. Or he changes the NBA landscape by forcing his way to another team, risking the comfort and adoration of the only American home he’s known in hopes of perhaps increasing the odds of joining a new echelon of league legends with multiple titles.  

An uncomfortable conversation for Giannis, Bucks

Though there are familiar small market vs. big market undertones to the speculation, Antetokounmpo’s one-of-a-kind path to becoming the face of the Bucks franchise makes the conversation all the more delicate. In fact, in Milwaukee, they don’t want to have it at all. 

“There is no chatter here. The chatter is in Connecticut for the most part. They don’t even have a pro team in Connecticut, but that’s been where the chatter is at. There’s been very little talk about it for us,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said last week, making light of an ESPN report earlier this month that Milwaukee and the New York Knicks discussed a potential trade involving Antetokounmpo this past offseason. 

But even Antetokounmpo acknowledged there’s an extra layer to this round of rumors – even if he doesn’t see them on social media – because he’s also adjusting to a revamped supporting cast. 

The Bucks, in an effort to remain Eastern Conference contenders after three-straight first-round exits in the NBA playoffs, stretched and waived Damian Lillard’s contract and signed Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. Also gone are familiar faces like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton. This happened two seasons after the Bucks initially pivoted from the core that helped them win the 2021 NBA championship by trading Jrue Holiday in a three-team deal that brought back Lillard. 

“Now, I think we’re a young team so with my actions and my words, I’ve got to keep on validating (to) those guys that … I’m here and there’s nothing else that matters,” Antetokounmpo said. “… I feel the energy within my teammates, right? With conversations, with practices, after in the locker room, at buses, when we’re traveling on the plane, that’s when I feel. So the rest is just extra noise, right? I wish everybody could be like that, but I know a lot of people are not like that, and a lot of teammates are going to go through their phone.”

Those that have been in a locker room with Antetokounmpo caution about reading too much into anything beyond this season. 

Though the “Greek Freak” is now a 31-year-old father, the two-time MVP is still perhaps the best two-way player in the NBA. Antetokounmpo set a career high for assists in 2024-25 and shot better than 60% from the field for the second consecutive season. He’s the only player in NBA history to do that while averaging more than 30 points per game. Everybody in the NBA would want him – if Antetokounmpo wants out of Milwaukee.

“He just answered the question and that’s all you can ask of someone is to be where their feet are,” said former Bucks teammate Wesley Matthews. “To me, everything I know about him and what he’s saying, there’s no reason to feel anything other than that. He’s a competitor. He wants to win.”

Yet, it’s hard to discuss Antetokounmpo’s situation without infusing emotion into the analysis. 

“Thirteen years in one place, he don’t know anything else. I think that’s what’s special,” continued Matthews, who is starting his first season as a Bucks television commentator. “The state of Wisconsin and the city of Milwaukee got to see him really try to adapt to the culture of what is Milwaukee, what is the U.S. He went crazy over Jamba Juice the first time, right? He’s wholesome in a way that you can relate to.”

‘Wish a person loved me as much as the Bucks love Giannis’

Antetokounmpo was the overlooked prospect thriving in an overlooked NBA city, and the power of their embrace can be seen all around Milwaukee now. His life story, as a Nigerian immigrant in Greece who brought his whole family along on this NBA journey, became a Disney movie. 

There’s also an entire Deer District of bars, restaurants and entertainment options built around Fiserv Forum, which opened in 2018. The stands are full of Antetokounmpo’s No. 34 jerseys, and a giant mural of him greets drivers as they roll down Wisconsin Avenue into downtown Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo and his brothers have their own apparel store, Antetokounbros, across the street from the arena. 

“He’s very loyal to his family and to Milwaukee. That’s why we come – the loyalty,” said longtime Bucks season ticket holder John Janacik. “We’ve watched him get married and have kids. It’s hard to explain, and it’s nothing anyone else on the team could replace. But he has values and he doesn’t let it get to his head.”

This, for more than a decade, has exemplified what the relationship between a small-market city and an NBA star can be. 

The Bucks’ franchise valuation has increased from $258 million in 2011 when Antetokounmpo was drafted, according to Forbes, to $4.54 billion in the latest Sportico estimates. The Bucks were considered the least valuable of the NBA’s 30 teams in the Forbes rankings in 2011, but checked in at No. 20 in Sportico’s 2025 rankings. 

It’s why, if this is a long goodbye, it will be painful. If it’s not, there will be relief and joy, just like five years ago when the city lit up the Hoan Bridge to celebrate Antetokounmpo signing a new extension to remain with the Bucks. There may not be an in between, even as Milwaukee apparently tries to grease the wheels further by signing Antetokounmpo’s two brothers to NBA contracts for the season.  

“I wish a person loved me as much as the Bucks love Giannis,” Charles Barkley said on “The Rich Eisen Show” in reaction to Antetokounmpo’s preseason comments about his future. “They went out and got him Dame Lillard. They went out and got him Myles Turner. They have done everything possible to try to make the Bucks win again, so the notion that he don’t feel they’re doing everything in their power – they have done everything. … It’s disheartening for me to hear him speaking like if we don’t win the championship this year, I want to be out of here. I hate hearing that.”

The only way to ensure Antetokounmpo stays with the Bucks is to win, however awkward the rhetoric could get for their fans if this season looks a lot like the past three and offers little clarity. He hasn’t directly set championship-or-bust expectations, but the way he talks about other teams suggests he’s consumed with getting back there. 

So, Antetokounmpo does seem genuinely excited about this Bucks team ‒ ‘We’re not the favorites, but we’re going to be a problem’ ‒ and that Rivers is implementing more of a five-out approach on offense. It emphasizes spacing and 3-point shooting with the addition of Turner. Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo explained, will have more movement and fewer isolation looks, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. 

“We’re playing like the best teams in the league,” he declared, which also meant he was very aware they weren’t before.