Every week, Yardbarker screens the 2026 NFL Draft, scheduled April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
We’re answering the most important questions concerning the draft. With that in thoughts, listed here are 5:
May Ohio State Buckeyes WR Carnell Tate be worthy of a top-five choose within the draft?
The Ringer’s Todd McShay and NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah have said Tate (6-foot-2, 192 kilos) might be a top-five choose.
“I believe he is in play, like, at 2. I simply suppose there’s a number of Tate supporters on the market,” Jeremiah told ESPN’s Mina Kimes on her podcast. “Look, I will say this: if Tate was 205 kilos as a substitute of 192 kilos and he ran a 4.42 as a substitute of a 4.53, I believe there’s an actual probability he is the second choose within the draft.”
Ohio State has a confirmed monitor file at WR, bettering Tate’s inventory. See Seattle Seahawks star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 2025 Offensive Participant of the Yr. Tate logged extra receiving yards (1,872 on 121 receptions in 39 video games) than Smith-Njigba (1,698 on 110 receptions in 23 video games) in faculty. Maybe he can grow to be a WR1 for the group grabs him within the draft.
“There’s a number of debate about WR1, however Tate’s my choose,” wrote The Ringer’s Steve Muench in his scouting report. “His mixture of dimension, fluidity, consideration to element as a route runner and aggressive, sturdy arms makes him essentially the most full participant in a powerful receiver class.”
The Tennessee Titans (choose No. 4) or New York Giants (choose No. 5) might wish to take into account taking Tate. Second-year QBs Cam Ward (Titans) and Jaxson Dart (Giants) might each use one other gifted goal.
Jeremiah and ESPN’s Peter Schrager said Monday they’ve heard the Jets might take Bailey (6-foot-4, 251 kilos) with choose No. 2 as a substitute of Reese (6-foot-4, 241 kilos).
Reese is taken into account to have extra upside, however Bailey’s the extra polished pass-rusher. The Texas Tech star tied for essentially the most sacks (14.5) within the nation in 2025, whereas the Ohio State standout had 6.5.
“Bailey has an explosive first step, a elegant pass-rush repertoire and a behavior of creating massive performs that can make him a direct three-down starter with few limitations early on and All-Professional potential in his future,” wrote Sports activities Information Options’ Kyle Shatto in his scouting report.
Reese will convert from off-ball LB to full-time edge-rusher when he turns professional, so he’ll want time to refine his pass-rushing arsenal. That will make Bailey a greater choose for the Jets, who want fast affect gamers after going 3-14 final season.
Why ought to groups really feel assured about taking Ohio State LB Sonny Kinds with a top-10 choose?
Many mocks have Kinds going someplace within the high 10. Some might really feel that is too excessive for an off-ball LB, thought-about much less worthwhile than an edge-rusher.
The San Francisco 49ers chosen LB Fred Warner with choose No. 70 within the third spherical in 2018. The previous BYU Cougars star, nevertheless, would go a lot larger in a re-draft after incomes 4 first-team All-Professional nods in eight seasons with San Francisco. Kinds boasts the instruments that might assist him grow to be the same participant.
“Kinds is a uncommon athlete at 6-foot-5 and 244 kilos with 4.46 velocity, nice size and loads of vary to be an element as a protection linebacker,” wrote ESPN’s Matt Miller in a narrative revealed Tuesday. “Like Warner, Kinds has an superior capability to lock down in protection and make an affect as a pass-rusher (9 profession sacks).”
Kinds began his profession as a security, which helped him develop sturdy pass-coverage abilities. He logged 9 passes defended and one interception in 4 seasons at Ohio State. Warner was nonetheless higher in go protection on the faculty degree with 13 passes defended and 7 interceptions in 4 seasons at BYU.
Is Tennessee Volunteers CB Jermod McCoy again within the top-10 dialog?
McCoy (6-foot-1, 188 kilos) missed the 2025 season due to an ACL tear in his proper knee. He mitigated issues concerning the damage at his professional day final Tuesday, running a 4.38 40-yard dash.
That will have some groups feeling extra comfy about taking him within the high 10. On X, Miller predicted McCoy can be the primary CB taken within the draft. McShay additionally shared on his Monday podcast that sources have said that the CB might be a top-10 choose.
