NFL Player News

The Vikings selected Golday in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 51st overall.

Although he started his college career at FCS Central Arkansas, Golday (6-foot-5, 239 pounds) looked like a five-star recruit getting off the bus for Cincinnati, and he showed at the combine that he's also a standout athlete by NFL standards (4.62-second 40-yard dash, 39-inch vertical jump). Ivan Pace fell off hard following his promising rookie year, so before the Golday selection the Vikings didn't know who would play in nickel formations alongside Blake Cashman. Although he still needs to earn it, Golday is expected to secure a three-down role at some point before his rookie year concludes.

The Jets selected Ponds in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 50th overall.

Ponds wasn't heavily recruited out of high school due to his 5-foot-8 size, and that might be an issue for him at the NFL level. However, he didn't let that lack of size get in the way of a successful three-year college career that culminated in a National College Championship victory in 2025 with Indiana. During that season, Ponds was selected to both the All-American Second-Team and All-Big Ten First-Team after logging 61 tackles, one forced fumble and 12 pass defenses (two interceptions) across 15 games. The Jets needed to address the outside cornerback position after trading Sauce Gardner (calf) to the Colts in November, and Ponds will compete for a starting job against the likes of Azareye'h Thomas (shoulder) and Qwan'tez Stiggers (knee).

The Panthers selected Hunter in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 49th overall.

Carolina traded up to the 49th overall pick with Minnesota in order to draft Hunter (6-foot-3, 318 pounds), an indication that the team considers upgrading from incumbent nose tackle Bobby Brown. There are no questions about Hunter's size or ability to stuff the run, but his lack of explosiveness -- having posted the worst vertical of the 2026 NFL Combine (21.5 inches) -- gesture toward limitations as a pass rusher. Hunter will turn 24 years old in advance of training camp and boasts the collegiate experience to contribute right out of the gate as a rookie.

The 49ers traded Winters to the Cowboys on Friday in exchange for the 152nd pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

A sixth-round draft pick in 2023, Winters took Dre Greenlaw's starting spot at weakside linebacker last year, when the former posted a career-high 101 total tackles and five pass defenses (including a pick-six) across 17 regular-season games. Winters' spot on the Cowboys' first-team defense is far from guaranteed as he'll face competition from DeMarvion Overshown (concussion) and Shemar James for a starting spot at inside linebacker.

The Falcons selected Terrell in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 48th overall.

The younger Terrell reunites with his brother A.J. Terrell, though the two played at Clemson at separate points. Avieon (5-foot-11, 186 pounds) is not as big or athletic as A.J., which is the main reason the latest Terrell fell to the second round. Avieon's athletic testing was possibly affected by a hamstring tweak, which would otherwise explain his 4.67-second pro-day 40. Poor pro day testing or not, Avieon should join A.J. in the starting lineup not long from now.

The Steelers selected Bernard in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 47th overall.

Bernard spent the last two seasons of his four-year college career at Alabama, where he operated mostly as the team's Z receiver and finished the 2025 campaign with 64 catches for 862 yards and seven touchdowns across 14 games. He posted the fastest three-cone time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine (6.71 seconds), and he has the overall athleticism and skill set that should allow him to serve as an immediate contributor for the Steelers, whether it's Aaron Rodgers or another quarterback throwing passes to him. Bernard figures to slide in as the team's WR3 behind veterans DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman and ahead of 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson.

The Buccaneers selected Trotter in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 46th overall.

Trotter will join Tampa Bay's first-round selection Rueben Bain to immediately revitalize head coach Todd Bowles' defense. After beginning his collegiate career at West Virginia, where he emerged as a starter in 2024, Trotter transferred to Missouri in 2025 and earned first-team All-SEC honors while leading the team with 84 tackles. The Buccaneers pursued a pair of established veterans in Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom during free agency to anchor the inside linebacker position, but Trotter's proclivity for production as a run stopper may make it difficult to keep him out of the rotation. Having the benefit of a rookie year to develop prior to competing for starting snaps could help Trotter improve his skills in coverage.

The Ravens selected Young in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 45th overall.

Young (6-foot-6, 262 pounds) broke out in a big way by posting 16.5 tackles for loss in 2025, yet the lack of pass-rushing production in his Missouri career gives reason to suspect he profiles more as an edge-setting strong-side defender than he does an edge-bending pass rusher. Rather than a classic double-digit sack threat, Young is more so the guy who makes sure the running back doesn't turn the corner on off-tackle carries.

The Dolphins selected Rodriguez in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 43rd overall.

Rodriguez (6-foot-1, 231 pounds) began his collegiate career at Virginia as a quarterback, but he spent the next four seasons with Texas Tech, where he transitioned to linebacker and truly broke out in 2024 and 2025. Last year, Rodriguez earned unanimous All-American honors (plus numerous other awards) and finished fifth in terms of Heisman Trophy voting, totaling 128 tackles, including 1.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss, plus seven forced fumbles, six passes defensed and four interceptions across 14 games. Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson are both positioned to hit free agency after the 2026 season, providing Rodriguez with a clear path to a starting gig in 2027 at the latest. Whenever Rodriguez does step into a starting role, his three-down skill set and playmaking instinct could provide notable upside in IDP formats.

The Lions selected Moore in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 44th overall.

Moore spent his entire four-year college career with Michigan, and he will stay in state after being scooped up by the Lions. He was an Honorable Mention on the All-Big Ten teams in both 2023 and 2024 before breaking out in his senior year in 2025, when he posted 30 tackles, including 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and three pass defenses across 12 games, en route to being selected to the All-Big Ten First-Team. Moore's steady increase in production over the course of his college career could translate to the NFL, and he has the size, athleticism and physicality to compete at the next level. His addition upgrades a Lions defensive front that is headlined by fellow former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson.