2026 NFL draft: Latest buzz on Jermod McCoy, QB class

2026 nfl draft is less than three weeks away (April 23-25). So, we asked draft analysts Matt Miller and Field Yates to break down the latest information from around the league.

The pro days are coming to an end, although some top prospects still have private workouts with teams this month. How did Tennessee cornerback? jermod mccoy Answer injury questions at his pro day? And what we learned from unknown possibilities Fernando Mendoza At Indiana’s Pro Day?

We also asked our experts for the latest information on a number of controversial topics. Who is the third-best quarterback prospect in this class right now? Which NFL teams could fall out of the first round? How many edge rushers, offensive linemen and wide receivers can be selected on opening day? Ultimately, Miller and Yates emptied their scouting notebooks of what they’re hearing, seeing and thinking.

Go to a section:
jermod mccoy | Who is QB3?
Indiana’s pro day | positional over/under
Notebook blanking: what we’re hearing

What is the most awaited discussion of the league? jermod mccoy Pro day workout on Tuesday?

Yates: The race for CB1 is officially on. Both McCoy and LSU Mansoor Delaney The Giants, Commanders, Saints, Chiefs, Bengals and Cowboys are viewed as natural landing spots for top-15 prospects in the class. But McCoy’s health held up to this Pro Day workout torn acl This caused him to miss the entire 2025 season and he missed the combine.

While scouts on the road were getting positive reviews about McCoy’s recovery, it’s reassuring to see it on the field. He ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-7 broad jump.

Miller: As Fields said, the feedback I got from teams was that McCoy is back in the race for CB1. There were some questions the morning of the workout as to which drills he would participate in. But he did everything, including positional exercises.

Teams like McCoy’s size and more than 1 inch advantage in terms of arm length over Delaney – 31¼ inches compared to 30 inches. And while Delaney’s elite final season may keep him in the top spot, both players feel included in the top-12.

of indiana Fernando Mendoza and alabama ty simpson The top two QBs in this class. But who is number 3?

Miller: Garrett NussmeyerQB, LSU. There are several good competitors for this spot, but Nussmeier has impressed in the predraft process now that he’s healthy. stomach injury Suffered ahead of the 2025 season. Going back to the 2024 tape, Nussmeyer was fifth in FBS with 4,052 yards; He threw for 29 touchdowns on 12 picks. And he was cutting down on his interceptions before being shut down for the season after nine games in 2025.

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound quarterback lacks elite measurables, but his instincts, accuracy and high ball velocity are qualities teams could develop. It should come out of the board sometime the next day.

Yates: carson beckQB, Miami. This answer has varied over the past few months, but I’m giving the nod to Beck for a few reasons. He has natural throwing ability (69.5% career completion percentage) and plenty of experience (43 starts). Scouts are extremely impressed with his overall skills as a player. Additionally, Beck has great size (6-foot-5, 233 pounds) and has handled the pressure of starting at two high-profile colleges. I believe he will go in the third round.

What did we learn from Indiana’s Pro Day Wednesday?

Yates: quarterback Fernando Mendoza So, might as well start shopping for a home in Las Vegas what he did Wasn’t going to make much of an impact. But the player who had something on the line was the wide receiver eliza surrattWhose excellent competitive catching ability and chemistry with Mendoza shined last season. Sarratt scored 40 runs, which the scouts completed in about 4.50 seconds. That time was good enough to further strengthen his case as a potential top 100 selection.

Miller: cornerback D’Angelo Pond He also put an exclamation mark on a stellar collegiate career, as he was clocked at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash by the scouts in attendance. Ponds is the best nickelback in his class and is ranked in my top 50 prospects. He lacks prototypical NFL size (5-foot-9, 182 pounds), but he is explosive with a 43½-inch vertical leap that far exceeds his height.

Which team is most likely to fall in Round 1?

Miller: buffalo bill. Finding a partner willing to go to Round 1 can be as difficult as guessing which team will go out. It is expected that teams will not give up too much 2027 cap space based on the strength of next year’s class. This makes me think this will be a “win-now” team looking to get out of Round 1. Buffalo GM Brandon Beane has long been a fan of moving down on draft day. And with only three selections in the first four rounds, the Bills could benefit from adding draft capital.

Yates: Seattle Seahawks. To be clear, my assessment of who is most likely is based on what I think is logical; Neither team has revealed their intentions to move up or down in the draft. But the Seahawks are a savvy choice for two obvious reasons. They enter the draft with a league-low four selections and can offer the 32nd pick to another team that wants to secure a fifth year of contract control for a prospect.

Call it now: How many edge rushers will we see in the first round?

Miller: If you grade Ohio State, five, maybe six. Arvel Reese As a gainer. I believe Reese, David Bailey (Texas Tech), reuben ben jr. (Miami) and Keldrick Faulk (Auburn) is locked in. Then, Achim Messidor (Miami) and Cassius Howell (Texas A&M) is also likely to go in the first round.

But would it be a surprise to see nine edge rushers? Not in this category. There is a shortage of top prospects at other premium positions and a need for rotational pass rushers in the NFL, especially from playoff teams selecting at the end of the round. R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma), zion young (Missouri) and TJ Parker (Clemson) Everyone could get in.

How about the number of first-round offensive tackles?

Yates: Six, although a seventh is possible. I believe these are the six strongest candidates in the first round: Francis Mauigoa (Miami), spencer fan (Utah), monroe freeling (Georgia), cadin proctor (Alabama), Caleb Lomu (Utah) and blake miller (Clemson). But Arizona State’s max ihanachor Right there. The interesting thing about this class is that stacking these tackles is dependent on scheme and who provides the most value to a team.

And what about the number of first-round wide receivers?

Miller: five. we know about it corn lemon (USC), carnell tate (Ohio State), jordan tyson (Arizona State) and Omar Cooper Jr.. (Indiana), but there is a strong case for the fifth receiver among the final eight selections. Texas A&M Casey Concepcion Due to his ability to catch after a run and pure speed, he is the best candidate for this. Teams like Buffalo, San Francisco, Kansas City or Miami could all be possible landing spots.

What else did you hear and see this week?

Miller’s notes:

• One player trending in the wrong direction leading up to the draft is Arizona State receiver Jordan Tyson. When reviewing my grades with a handful of scouts, several commented that Tyson’s hamstring injury And due to a lack of predraft workouts, he could slip to the late first round. Three scouts told me Tyson ranks as the No. 4 receiver on their internal boards. He is scheduled to perform positional assignments for NFL teams on April 17.

Yates’s notes:

• Although no real center could be taken in the first two rounds, there is strong depth at the position. The name with a lot of intrigue around the NFL is Texas A&M Trey Zuhn III. He played over 3,000 snaps at left tackle, versus only 124 at center (all in 2025). Zuhn has great foot quickness and will be one of the tallest centers in the NFL at nearly 6-foot-7. I have 3rd grade on it starting day.

• This defensive tackle class lacks a guaranteed top-20 selection, but it offers a nice mix of ideals at the position. of oklahoma graysen holtonPenn State’s zane durant and SE Louisiana Caleb Proctor He is one of those guys whose quickness allows him to be effective behind the line of scrimmage. But one name that comes up with scouts as a brick wall to protect the race is that of South Carolina. Nick Barrett. He was excellent in 2025, posting 28 solo tackles, 14 run stuff (tackles on runs for 0 or negative yards) and the first two sacks of his career. Barrett should be off the board on day three.