2026 Watch List

[mayoclinic]

College Football 2026 NFL Draft Stock Up Conference Championships: Fernando Mendoza, Kayden McDonald & Sonny Styles

Multiple players staked their claims to being first round selections

sportstalk.substack.com

 

[mayoclinic]

Has Fernando Mendoza locked up QB1? Should Ty Simpson stay in school? NFL Draft takeaways

Indiana's quarterback delivered in the clutch against Ohio State, but Simpson never looked comfortable while facing Georgia's defense.

www.nytimes.com

 

[mayoclinic]

Joe DeLeone and Ryan Roberts on the 2016 draft:



Basic stuff, but entertaining.

 

[mayoclinic]

James Foster draft guide supposedly out, though nothing has come up for me yet.

 

[mayoclinic]

Got something:

2026 NFL Draft Guide

Not sure if these are his rankings. If so, he really loves Sonny Styles.

 

[mayoclinic]

Who are 2026 NFL Draft’s biggest senior risers? NFL scouting director weighs in

Cashius Howell keeps climbing up draft boards. Which other experienced prospects have opened the eyes of NFL scouts this season?

www.nytimes.com

 

[manxman2601]

Dane Brugler has a list of 6 risers in this draft compared to the pre-season rankings. There are some names we know. Jacob Rodriguez and Cashius Howell being the most discussed.

This one is the one that peaked my interest that warrants a further look. Brugler says he might be a top 100 prospect which is a significant prospect.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State​

Georgia State has combined for just four wins over the last two seasons, but Hurst has been one of the program’s bright spots since transferring in from Division II Valdosta State. Over two seasons with the Panthers, Hurst combined for 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdown grabs.

At 6-3, 195 with 33 1/2-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Hurst is a good-looking athlete (and an alum of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List”), with 4.4 speed to win vertically and efficient footwork to uncover at the top of routes. He needs to cut down on the drops,

but he has the frame to climb the ladder and expand his catch radius. Hurst carried a “wait-and-see” priority free agent grade in the summer, but multiple teams now consider him a borderline top-100 prospect entering the pre-draft process.

Who are 2026 NFL Draft’s biggest senior risers? NFL scouting director weighs in

Cashius Howell keeps climbing up draft boards. Which other experienced prospects have opened the eyes of NFL scouts this season?

www.nytimes.com

 

[Clonamery]

Dane Brugler has a list of 6 risers in this draft compared to the pre-season rankings. There are some names we know. Jacob Rodriguez and Cashius Howell being the most discussed.

This one is the one that peaked my interest that warrants a further look. Brugler says he might be a top 100 prospect which is a significant prospect.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State​

Georgia State has combined for just four wins over the last two seasons, but Hurst has been one of the program’s bright spots since transferring in from Division II Valdosta State. Over two seasons with the Panthers, Hurst combined for 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdown grabs.

At 6-3, 195 with 33 1/2-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Hurst is a good-looking athlete (and an alum of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List”), with 4.4 speed to win vertically and efficient footwork to uncover at the top of routes. He needs to cut down on the drops,

but he has the frame to climb the ladder and expand his catch radius. Hurst carried a “wait-and-see” priority free agent grade in the summer, but multiple teams now consider him a borderline top-100 prospect entering the pre-draft process.

Who are 2026 NFL Draft’s biggest senior risers? NFL scouting director weighs in

Cashius Howell keeps climbing up draft boards. Which other experienced prospects have opened the eyes of NFL scouts this season?

www.nytimes.com

Team leader as well.

 

[mayoclinic]

https://atozsports.com/nfl-draft/2026-nfl-draft-intel-fernando-mendoza-ty-simpson-kenyon-sadiq-kadyn-proctor/

 

[manxman2601]

The Oregon offense is going to be a big challenge to the Texas Tech defense and will be a good determinant for TTU defenders draft stock. Do Pregnon and Laloulu shut down Lee Hunter. Can World and Harkey handle Bailry and Height. Can Jacob Rodriguez stand up in the pass game and attck the run game. It's a challenge they haven't really faced all year.

 

[Clonamery]

The Oregon offense is going to be a big challenge to the Texas Tech defense and will be a good determinant for TTU defenders draft stock. Do Pregnon and Laloulu shut down Lee Hunter. Can World and Harkey handle Bailry and Height. Can Jacob Rodriguez stand up in the pass game and attack the run game. It's a challenge they haven't really faced all year.

Big jump. Their top foes thus far have been BYU (twice), Utah and Houston. All ranked teams but certainly none are explosive offensively or have a dominating D.

 

[manxman2601]

Big jump. Their top foes thus far have been BYU (twice), Utah and Houston. All ranked teams but certainly none are explosive offensively or have a dominating D.

On the other hand, if their defense is as legit as their current draft stock suggests, their offense is adequate and they beat Oregon then they can go all the way. I don't think that will happen and I'm more interested in the draft stock element of this conversation but that defense is so aggressive, they can give anyone conniptions on the right day.

 

[manxman2601]

Dane Brugler has a list of 6 risers in this draft compared to the pre-season rankings. There are some names we know. Jacob Rodriguez and Cashius Howell being the most discussed.

This one is the one that peaked my interest that warrants a further look. Brugler says he might be a top 100 prospect which is a significant prospect.

Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State​

Georgia State has combined for just four wins over the last two seasons, but Hurst has been one of the program’s bright spots since transferring in from Division II Valdosta State. Over two seasons with the Panthers, Hurst combined for 127 catches for 1,965 yards and 15 touchdown grabs.

At 6-3, 195 with 33 1/2-inch arms and 10-inch hands, Hurst is a good-looking athlete (and an alum of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List”), with 4.4 speed to win vertically and efficient footwork to uncover at the top of routes. He needs to cut down on the drops,

but he has the frame to climb the ladder and expand his catch radius. Hurst carried a “wait-and-see” priority free agent grade in the summer, but multiple teams now consider him a borderline top-100 prospect entering the pre-draft process.

Who are 2026 NFL Draft’s biggest senior risers? NFL scouting director weighs in

Cashius Howell keeps climbing up draft boards. Which other experienced prospects have opened the eyes of NFL scouts this season?

www.nytimes.com

James Foster is high on him too according to a podcast I just watched.

 

[mayoclinic]

Updated top-25 and positional rankings from Mel Kiper:

2026 NFL draft Big Board rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects

Mel Kiper Jr. updated his NFL draft rankings one last time. His Big Board stacks 150 prospects -- starting with Fernando Mendoza -- and goes deep at every position.

www.espn.com

Zachariah Branch #22. Chris Bell out of the top 10.

Draft both, along with Boutte/Williams/Douglas, and you have an unstoppable WR group for the furire (though I would focus elsewhere, tempting though it is).

 

[manxman2601]

Updated top-25 and positional rankings from Mel Kiper:

2026 NFL draft Big Board rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects

Mel Kiper Jr. updated his NFL draft rankings one last time. His Big Board stacks 150 prospects -- starting with Fernando Mendoza -- and goes deep at every position.

www.espn.com

Zachariah Branch #22. Chris Bell out of the top 10.

Draft both, along with Boutte/Williams/Douglas, and you have an unstoppable WR group for the furire (though I would focus elsewhere, tempting though it is).

Our offense would be like that scene from Forrest Gump where they have to hold up the “stop” sign to slow him down.

 

[manxman2601]

Updated top-25 and positional rankings from Mel Kiper:

2026 NFL draft Big Board rankings: Mel Kiper's top prospects

Mel Kiper Jr. updated his NFL draft rankings one last time. His Big Board stacks 150 prospects -- starting with Fernando Mendoza -- and goes deep at every position.

www.espn.com

Zachariah Branch #22. Chris Bell out of the top 10.

Draft both, along with Boutte/Williams/Douglas, and you have an unstoppable WR group for the furire (though I would focus elsewhere, tempting though it is).

Who needs a run game when you’ve got those offensive weapons!

Edit: And our QB.

 

[manxman2601]

James Foster's top 6 sleepers.

1. Devin Moore, CB, Florida
2. Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama
3. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
4. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
5. Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State (His #1 center)
6. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Great list!

 

[Clonamery]

James Foster's top 6 sleepers.

1. Devin Moore, CB, Florida
2. Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama
3. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
4. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
5. Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State (His #1 center)
6. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Great list!

If we drafted that group and an OT & LB. I'd be thrilled.

 

[mayoclinic]

James Foster's top 6 sleepers.

1. Devin Moore, CB, Florida
2. Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama
3. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
4. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
5. Matt Gulbin, C, Michigan State (His #1 center)
6. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

Great list!

That is a really great sleeper list.

 

[manxman2601]

That is a really great sleeper list.

Yep. Like Clonamery, if these are our rounds 3-6 picks in May I'd be thrilled.