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5 WRs Commanders could target after 1st round of NFL draft
Cincinnati WR Jeff Caldwell
Here’s a prospect to be excited about. Caldwell is massive (6-foot-5, 216) and really fast (4.31 40). His explosiveness jumped off the charts on Saturday and matched his tape. Caldwell was a member
of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” highlighting college football’s most impressive athletes each season. After three seasons at Division II Lindenwood, Caldwell transferred to Cincinnati and caught 32 passes for 478 yards and six touchdowns. A prospect on the rise.
Georgia State WR Ted Hurst
Another member of Feldman’s list, Hurst’s name has received plenty of buzz since the end of the college football season. At 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, Hurst has the size to be a dominant outside receiver, and he also possesses blazing speed (4.42 40). He caught 71 passes for 1,004 yards last season with six touchdowns. One area of improvement for Hurst would be to play to his size more. He’s big and fast and should win almost every contested catch situation. Hurst would be a fun Day 2 or 3 addition who could become a downfield option for Jayden Daniels early in his career.
GRADE: 7.47 (High-Level Backup/Starter Upside — 3rd Round)
COMPARABLE GRADE: Zay Flowers (7.5 in 2023), Cedric Tillman (7.4 in 2023), Rashee Rice (7.4 in 2023)
OVERALL RANK: 64
POSITION RANK: WR14
PRO COMPARISON: George Pickens
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Taking a look at some centers that the Washington Commanders could potentially target in free agency
Good Value: Connor McGovern, Bills, 28
Perhaps a more realistic option for the Commanders would be Connor McGovern. McGovern actually started his career with the Cowboys and spent time there while Dan Quinn was the defensive coordinator, so Quinn will have some familiarity with him. But McGovern mostly played guard and when he left Dallas for Buffalo in 2023, he signed with the Bills to be their starting left guard. However, when Mitch Morse became a cap casualty, McGovern shifted inside to center and made the position his own.
McGovern is another athletic center with the ability to cover a lot of ground in the run game. The Bills lean more into gap scheme runs, which make use of that athleticism by having him pull to the edge, which most center’s aren’t capable of doing. But he’s scheme diverse too. When the Bills did run zone, McGovern showed off his athleticism in that scheme too.
Riggo’s Rag
Chris Paul’s free-agent market heating up beyond what Commanders anticipated
Jeremy Fowler believes the market for Chris Paul could be hot
There is no doubt that Washington Commanders offensive lineman Chris Paul earned another payday in free agency. Whether that’s with the team that drafted him or not is anyone’s guess right now.
[B]ased on what Jeremy Fowler of ESPN had heard at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the market for Paul could be robust if the Commanders don’t work out another deal before the legal tampering window opens.
There is work to do from a run blocking standpoint, but the trajectory is finally pointing up for a player who looked almost down and out once upon a time.
Paul will make significantly more than the $1.12 million he counted against Washington’s salary cap in 2025. According to Spotrac, his market value is affordable, standing at $4.69 million per season on a two-year, $9.39 million deal. That seems like a no-brainer for a team that can easily afford it, but if there is a bidding war for his services, that’ll make things even more complicated.
After the Commanders released starting center Tyler Biadasz, losing Paul would mean another productive presence would need to be found. Not exactly ideal, but much will also depend on whether new offensive coordinator David Blough sees a vision for the Tulsa product within his new blocking concepts. That could arguably be more crucial to this equation than any financial aspect.
A to Z Sports
Commanders are being connected to RB Jeremiyah Love with the No. 7 overall pick
The Commanders will have a difficult decision to make when they’re on the clock with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but regardless, a top talent is projected to fall to them. There are a lot of ways the board can fall, but right now, the Commanders are being heavily connected to Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love as the popular pick.
Love is arguably the top player in the entire draft, but positional value will hurt his stock. He’s still projected to go anywhere in the No. 7 to No. 9 overall pick range, and it’ll be up to the Commanders to take him or let him keep sliding.
Love was one of the most explosive players in college football last season, and there was a lot of hype surrounding his combine performance this week. He didn’t disappoint all who watched him run a 4.36 40-yard dash. That’s faster than both Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson, whose speed translated pretty well when they got to the NFL.
Sure, the Commanders have a ton of needs on defense, but a strong free agency period can set them up to take the best player available, and Love is being compared to Jahmyr Gibbs. We’ve seen what Gibbs can do in the Detroit Lions’ scheme, which is the same offense David Blough will be installing this offseason. Love would fit in flawlessly and instantly become one of the best players on the team.
ELITE FIT: Commanders and Jeremiyah Love—How a Dual-Threat Can TRANSFORM Washington in 2026
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Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles are expected to prioritize re-signing internal players this offseason
The Eagles are prioritizing internal options over looking elsewhere this offseason, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler.
“The Eagles could look in-house for free agent splashes. They will attempt to re-sign Jaelan Phillips, who proved an ideal fit for the defense. They could also extend the contracts of defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter.’
Roseman admitted ahead of the combine that the Eagles might not be as flashy in free agency as they’ve been in the past, and that their exciting moves will likely come from bringing back players that they drafted or already had in-house. That would line up with making moves to re-sign Phillips, who will assuredly be in high demand this offseason.
The Eagles have already picked up Jordan Davis’ fifth-year option, which will cost the team $12.9 million in 2026. Davis has done everything the team has asked of him, especially the past two seasons, as he committed to his health and fitness. He dropped over 26 pounds between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and he was able to stay on the field for considerably more snaps last year as a result.
As for Jalen Carter, the team would without question pick up his fifth-year option for 2027. He’s set to play under the final year of his rookie contract in 2026, which would cost the team $1.145 million with a $6.9 million cap hit. Should the team have Carter play on the fifth-year option in 2027, he would earn $27.127 million guaranteed based on the latest franchise tag figures. Signing Carter now, will almost assuredly save the Eagles money when factoring in how the cost of the position grows every year — plus it creates a good relationship with a player the team will want to stick around for the long term.
Blogging the Boys
Cowboys 2026 draft: DE Keldric Faulk scouting report
Faulk fits best as a base 4-3 defensive end who can slide inside on passing downs, in a scheme that values edge-setting first and then lets him hunt with power as a rusher. He’s at his best when you let him play square and long on early downs, locking out with his reach, controlling the tackle and squeezing run lanes.
SUMMARY
Keldric Faulk is a long, powerful, high-motor front-seven defender who projects best as a 4-3 base end or 5-tech where his length and play strength can set firm edges and squeeze run lanes while he develops into a more consistent pocket-collapsing rusher. His tape is defined by a strong point of attack. He locks out, controls blocks, and plays with good leverage for his height, plus flashes of disruptive power as a pass rusher that showed up most clearly in his 2024 breakout season. The main improvement points are rush craft and consistency. He’s more power-and-effort than bend-and-speed, so he needs better sequencing and counters when tackles neutralize his first instinct, and he’ll be evaluated on whether his 2025 statistical dip was role-driven or a limitation in creation.
Overall he profiles as a high-floor run defender with ascending pass-rush upside, an early NFL starter-type in the right front with the ceiling to become a quality number two edge who generates steady pressures if his plan and finishing keep trending upward.
PRO COMPARISON
Carlos Dunlap
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
15th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services)
Big Blue View
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft scouting report: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Carnell Tate projects as a starting wide receiver with scheme and alignment versatility at the NFL level.
Tate doesn’t quite have prototypical measurements, and doesn’t look like a classic big, muscular Air Coryell “X” receiver. However his technical savvy will allow him to play all over the offensive formation as well as in any offense commonly called at the NFL level.
He is a smart, pro-ready receiver who can be a threat at all three levels of the field and an immediate contributor as a dependable option with big-play upside. Coaches will also love that Tate is an unselfish player who helped his teammates however he could in an offense that spread the ball around and looked elsewhere even when he was the best option.
Tate should hear his name called very early in the first round and has the upside to be Offensive Rookie of The Year.
Final Word: A high first round pick
NFL Draft / Combine
ESPN
2026 NFL combine: Top draft prospects, best workouts, risers
Day 4: Offensive linemen
Notables who did not work out: Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
What are the biggest takeaways from Sunday’s workouts?
Reid: The top of the offensive tackle group isn’t as good as a year ago, when names such as Will Campbell, Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr. led the board. From teams that I have spoken to, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Miami’s Mauigoa are the two names that are mentioned at the top of the class, but don’t count out another contender emerging and being selected inside of the top 20 picks. We could see as many as six offensive tackles drafted in the first round. That shows just how top-heavy this group is even without the high-end options.
Yates: I concur completely Jordan, as it’s going to be a wide-open derby in Round 1 at offensive tackle. There’s much less debate at guard, as Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane is the only lock to go in the first round. And I do expect a flurry of picks for all offensive linemen from the end of Day 2 into the early portion of Day 3.
A common refrain from people around the combine has been that with the dearth of quality offensive linemen leaguewide, there’s going to be a run on the position that might not reflect the overall quality of the class. But the roll of the dice could be worth it if teams can properly develop those players.
Who are the biggest risers from Day 4?
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Iheanachor’s measurables were a good place to start his day, as he measured in at nearly 6-foot-6, 321 pounds and a wingspan north of 83 inches. He continued on with a 4.95 in the 40, showing that athleticism throughout the positional drills.
Micah Morris, G, Georgia
Morris became a full-time starter for the first time in 2025, playing 766 snaps at left guard for the Bulldogs. He has great size at 6-foot-5 and 334 pounds with nearly 34-inch arms, but he also displayed his athletic juice with a 1.73-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash. Morris’ athletic ability was highlighted at Georgia when he was tapped into as a goal-line fullback.
Markell Bell, OT, Miami
At 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, Bell is an offensive tackle prospect who surprisingly moved very well for his size. His sudden movement skills won’t wow you, but he’s an efficient mover who understands how to control his frame. Cleveland’s Dawand Jones and Houston’s Trent Brown are two comparisons that come to mind when evaluating Bell, as they all are massive blockers who can dominate at their size. Bell has a mixture of late Day 2 and early Day 3 grades from teams, but many view him as a developmental prospect with potential. — Reid
Logan Jones, C, Iowa
My top-ranked center coming into the combine all but solidified himself as the top option at the position. At 6-foot-3, 299 pounds, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any offensive linemen at 4.90 seconds. Jones is viewed as an ideal fit for teams that operate in zone schemes, as he’s an excellent on-the-move run blocker. I expect Jones to be picked inside of the top 100 picks and become a starter early on in his career. — Reid
Notes: At the conclusion of each workout, there are certain players requested by NFL teams to take snaps at center. The reasoning behind this is to see how comfortable they are with snapping the ball or they simply have never played it before and teams want to see them there. Fano was one name of note who was requested, which is interesting since he’s considered one of the top offensive tackles.
NFL.com
2026 NFL combine stock up/stock down, Day 4: Seven offensive linemen on the move
Stock up
Jager Burton – Kentucky · C · Senior
Burton put himself in the running for a top-100 draft slot. His 4.94-second 40 (1.76 10-yard split) and 9-3 broad jump showed his athleticism. The four-year starter at guard and center looked naturally fluid/quick in his movement during drills, as well. He has a chance to earn a spot on the interior for a zone-scheme NFL team.
Stock down
Spencer Fano – Utah · OT · Junior
Fano had an outstanding workout on Sunday, but his measurements are cause for concern, at least when it comes to his potential to protect the edge in the pros. His arms (32 1/8 inches) and hands (9 inches) measured below the standard for NFL offensive tackles. The lack of ideal length will make it more challenging for him to get a grip on pass rushers at the next level. College tackles who had similar length when measured at the combine (Peter Skoronski, Alijah Vera-Tucker) have shifted inside to guard. That could very well be the move for Fano, as his short-area movement looked better than his lateral movement during on-field work.
He took reps at center after the other prospects in his group finished their workout on Sunday, and told NFL Network’s Stacey Dales Fano he’s open to a move inside. Fano performed well in tests (4.91 40, 32-inch vertical, 9-3 broad jump, 4.67 20-yard shuttle, 7.34 3-cone drill), but so did 2025 No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell during last year’s combine (4.98 40, 32-inch vertical, 9-5 broad) after his arms measured 32 5/8 inches. Campbell’s struggles at left tackle with the Patriots should give teams pause about playing Fano outside, and his value might be closer to the middle of Round 1.
Front Office Sports
NFL Combine Wraps With Growing Questions About Its Evolution
Momentum for moving the [NFL Combine] has slowed down.
Despite the cold winter weather in Indianapolis, the city’s easily navigable downtown and walkability between hotels and restaurants have made it an annual “fan favorite” for most coaches, GMs, scouts working the event, as well as the onslaught of local and national media that travel to cover the combine’s happenings in person.
While Indianapolis’s hosting duties are no longer under immediate threat, the future structure and makeup of the combine do appear to be slightly uncertain.
More and more, top prospects—not just projected first-round quarterbacks—are choosing not to work out at the combine, choosing instead to use their time in Indianapolis to simply meet and interview with teams, and save their physical auditions for their school’s pro days later in the spring.
At the same time, more head coaches and GMs are choosing to skip attending the combine—notably the Rams and this year, for the first time, the Jaguars, whose GM James Gladstone previously worked in Los Angeles. This year, 47 head coaches or GMs conducted official podium interviews with the media in Indianapolis, down from 52 in 2025.
Super Bowl LX-winning Seahawks GM John Schneider said that he left Indianapolis after his early-week meetings so that he could watch the majority of the player workouts on TV—advice he received last year from Buccaneers GM Jason Licht.
“You actually get more out of being able to watch it on TV, and getting out of there, and not having people kind of bombard you,” Schneider said Licht told him.
Pro Football Talk
Colorado QB Dominiq Ponder dies at 23
Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder has died. He was 23.
“The entire CU Athletics family is devastated at the tragic passing of Dominiq Ponder,” Colorado Athletic Director Fernando Lovo said in a statement, via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com. “He epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike. Our hearts go out to his family and all of his teammates during this difficult time.”
Ponder died in a single-car accident early Sunday. He lost control on a curve; the car eventually rolled down an embankment before catching on fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police believe speed was a factor.
