NFL Player News

The Buccaneers selected Hurst in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 84th overall.

Hurst probably fell this far out of plain-old bias against small-school players, and if so the Buccaneers should consider themselves lucky that the Georgia State star fell to them in the third round. He's big at 6-foot-4, 206 pounds and has the long-range speed (4.42-second 40) to thrive as a downfield-oriented 'X' receiver. The Buccaneers lost Mike Evans this offseason, but Hurst really does pose a similar dynamic, comparing more closely yet to Nico Collins.

The Panthers selected Brazzell in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 83rd overall.

Brazzell posted an impressive 4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, and that speed -- coupled with a 6-foot-4 frame -- served him well during his four-year college career. He spent his final two years in Tennessee and was named to both the All-American Third-Team and All-SEC First-Team in 2025 after catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns across 12 games. Brazzell has no trouble getting to top speed, making him a dangerous deep threat that can win any jump ball, though his route-running tree and run blocking will both need to improve at the NFL level. With 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan leading the Panthers' pass-catching group, Brazzell's main competition for targets from QB Bryce Young will come from Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette.

The Vikings selected Orange in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 82nd overall.

Orange (6-foot-2, 322 pounds) emerged as an effective run stopper while starting the last 2.5 of his four total seasons at Iowa State, though he totaled only 1.0 sack in his collegiate career. He pencils in as the backup and No. 2 rotational man at nose tackle behind fellow rookie Caleb Banks (foot), whom Minnesota selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 18 overall. Banks is recovering from a fractured foot and expected to be healthy around June, so Orange could benefit from increased reps throughout the spring and early summer.

The Jaguars selected Regis in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 81st overall.

Regis seemed to lose some weight for the combine, where he checked in at 6-foot-1, 295 pounds after playing more in the 320-pound range at Texas A&M. He was a nose tackle for the Aggies, but his athletic testing was excellent at the lower weight, logging a 4.88-second 40 and 34-inch vertical jump. Regis showed at 295 that he has the athleticism to play as a one-gap tackle in the NFL, but he could also put the weight back on and play more like a two-gap tackle for the Jaguars.

The Ravens selected Lane in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 80th overall.

Lane spent his entire three-year college career in USC, with 2024 being arguably his most productive season with 43 catches for 525 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns across 13 games. He saw his receiving numbers increase in 2025 (49 catches for 745 yards), though he hauled in only four touchdowns across 11 games. Lane stands tall at 6-foot-4 with a long catch radius and large hands, and he also excelled as a blocker in the run game. He had issues separating from defenders in college and lacks experience on special teams, but that might not matter, as a strong offseason and training camp could establish Lane as the Ravens' WR3 behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman (illness).

The Falcons selected Branch in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 79th overall.

Branch (5-foot-9, 177 pounds) started two seasons at USC before transferring to Georgia in 2025, where he broke out with a career-best 81 catches for 811 yards and six TDs across 14 games. The 22-year-old lacks size but boasts quick twitch and tremendous speed (4.35 second 40-yard dash), meaning the most natural areas for him to contribute at the NFL-level may be the slot or in a gadget role, as well as potentially in the return game -- a skill set that nicely complements WRs Drake London, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus. The extent of Branch's role as a rookie may be notably determined by how much chemistry he's able to develop with dueling QBs Michael Penix (ACL) and Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Branch was arrested Sunday and is facing misdemeanor charges.

The Steelers selected Allar (ankle) in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 76th overall.

Allar (6-foot-5, 228 pounds) is recovering from season-ending surgery undergone in November to address a broken left ankle. He threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns and three INTs before being injured in 2025 and was inconsistent in that limited action. That said, Allar boasts experience as a three-year collegiate starter to go with prototypical size, and it's difficult to imagine a more intriguing landing spot for the 22-year-old signal-caller than Pittsburgh, where Aaron Rodgers' pending decision about playing the 2026 season looms large. Excepting Rodgers, who currently remains a free agent, the Steelers' quarterback room houses Mason Rudolph and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. In the event that Rodgers isn't Pittsburgh's starter in 2026, it would be intriguing to see a healthy Allar in a genuine competition. It remains to be seen whether Allar will be able to handle any amount of on-field work during the offseason program.

The Colts selected Haulcy in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 78th overall.

This looks like a good pick for the Colts, who could use the likely upgrade at safety. Haulcy (6-feet, 215 pounds) is a throwback safety who's built to both inflict and withstand collisions, yet at no expense to his speed (4.52-second 40-yard dash). Haulcy was a standout true freshman starter at New Mexico in 2022 before transferring to Houston (2023-2024) and finally LSU (2025), defining the defenses he played for at each step. Haulcy should be a quality player both for the Colts and IDP investors.

The Packers selected McClellan in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 77th overall.

McClellan transferred to Missouri in 2024 after spending the two prior seasons with Florida, and he emerged as a starter in each of his two years with Mizzou. During his senior year in 2025, he posted 48 tackles, including 6.0 sacks, and two pass defenses across 13 games. McClellan's 6-foot-4 frame and large hands make him NFL-ready from a physical standpoint, and that showed with his prowess as a run stopper. He has the versatility to line up in zero- and one-technique across the defensive front, though he'll need to be more consistent as a pass rusher to earn more snaps for himself in Green Bay. McClellan figures to work in rotation behind Javon Hargrave with Warren Brinson, among others.

The Dolphins selected Douglas in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 75th overall.

Douglas (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) was a decent enough player at Texas Tech, where he went over 800 yards each of the last two years, but he wasn't productive in his two years at Florida before that, and he never really broke out the way an athlete like him should. Douglas' 4.39 speed on his big frame should have made him a dominant collegiate receiver, but instead he was just a solid one. This pick would have been an easier sell in the fifth round instead of the third.