A look at prospects for all 3 days of the NFL Draft

Spotted at metro#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/NsWcRtALfG

— Jubs09 ⓦ (@JamesJubane) April 18, 2026

**Commanders.com**

Ten Day 2 players to watch in the 3rd round for Washington

**Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska:** Speed is not Johnson’s game, but he does find ways to be productive. He led FBS players in all-purpose yards and had 12 rushing touchdowns last season. While he’s not overly physical, he does have an element of that to his skill set and is hard to stop once he hits his top gear. **Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M:** Zuhn is a four-year starter who shared the award for the top SEC offensive linemen with Kadyn Proctor, which says a lot about his potential as an NFL prospect. He doesn’t stand out in any category but is solid in several, from his quickness to his hand usage. **Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona:** Stukes loves football. He was a team captain for Arizona last season and was a clear leader for its defense. He also runs a 4.33 and has good ball skills with 10 pass breakups in 2025. He has work to do to develop as a pro, but he has the passion and determination that coaches will love at the next level.

Navy RB @EHeidenreich44 is a name to watch as the #NFLDraft approaches.

He became impossible to ignore every time he stepped on the field with the Midshipmen; and as he prepares for the next step in his football journey, he's leaning on his leadership to guide him. pic.twitter.com/r7vtd4Dzvq

— Natalie Spala (@\_nataliespala) April 17, 2026 A receiver I like a lot in this draft is Louisville's Chris Bell, and @TonyPauline agrees: "If Chris Bell hadnt gotten hurt were probably talking about him as the 4th WR in this draft." The unknown is the injury.

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) April 17, 2026

**Commanders Roundtable**

Three Center Targets for Washington Commanders in 2026 NFL Draft

**Connor Lew, Auburn** Viewed as arguably the best center ahead of the 2025 season, Lew saw his final year at Auburn cut short after suffering a torn ACL in mid-October. That injury has put a question mark on how high he could go, though the tape speaks for itself after allowing a 2.5% pressure rate in 2025 and a great frame to add confidence to his ability to remain a strong run blocker in the NFL. With teams evaluating his medicals, the Auburn product could be within range when it comes time for Washington to make its pick in the third round.

Auburn Center Connor Lew 6’3 303

In his last two seasons at auburn he allowed 3 sacks and 13 pressures on 686 pass block snaps

Able to eliminate defenders momentum with contact absorption. Great job at helping overwhelmed guards. Solid strike placement. pic.twitter.com/KxVLiXTaWN

— Yuri (@Yuri\_Ravens) March 18, 2026

**Riggo’s Rag**

Commanders fans just got another reason to talk themselves into Caleb Downs

Dane Brugler of *The Athletic*, citing conversations with people around the league who’ve spoken to Downs throughout the pre-draft process, highlighted in no uncertain terms just how well he has come across. And for a team like the Commanders, that will carry a ton of weight.

“Talking to teams about how he’s interviewed… some guys I’ve never seen smile are grinning.” Downs was killin it at Top Golf pic.twitter.com/SBro7IdvoM

— HTTC 🔥🔥 (@WoovieStudios) April 17, 2026 The on-field abilities of Downs speak for themselves. He’s an exceptionally well-rounded, versatile prospect boasting the traits in keeping with highly productive modern-day safeties in the pros. This also aligns with the Commanders’ need, despite their reported belief in Quan Martin and the free-agent signing of Nick Cross. During the first two drafts under general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the importance of character became obvious. They are after good players, of course, but what makes them tick is just as important. How they fit into the culture, how much they love the game, and how much they are willing to go above and beyond to improve are desirable characteristics. According to reports, Downs has all that in abundance.

**Podcasts & videos**

Post-Signing 1-on-1: RB Rachaad White | Free Agency Friday x Next Man Up | Washington Commanders

On this episode of “All Ears with JP Finlay,” we're talking new #Commanders uniforms & helmets!

Plus, with a week until the NFL Draft, @JPFinlayNBCS takes a final look at mock drafts and who Washington could select with their first-round pick#RaiseHail

— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) April 17, 2026

**NFC East links**

**Bleeding Green Nation**

Ranking 11 linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft

Tier 5: Rounds 3+

**9. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State** Overall: A smart linebacker whose size, tackling, and run-game presence make him a solid traditional early-down defender. His upside may be limited by his athleticism, but the intelligence and reliability are consistent strengths on the tape. Eagles Thoughts: I really like Elliott as a player, but I expect him to go on Day 2, and I doubt the Eagles are looking at a linebacker that early, given the coverage limitations. He’s a fun player who would be a great value on Day 3. **10. Deontae Lawson, Alabama** Overall: A very light, fast, rangy linebacker whose coverage ability and athleticism give him some upside, but his size means he simply cannot be a full-time player at the next level. A coverage specialist who needs a specific role. Eagles Thoughts: The processing concerns and the size limitations together are too much for me to get excited. There are interesting speed and coverage traits, but he shouldn’t be a Day 2 player for the Eagles. **11. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU** Overall: An explosive, speedy linebacker whose elite testing profile highlights his upside, but there is a lot of work to do before he can translate that athleticism into consistent NFL-level play. The processing needs significant development. Eagles Thoughts: I’d be surprised if the Eagles target him, but if they want a speedy linebacker for depth, Elarms-Orr is an interesting Day 3 option.

thought this was an interesting point made by @OllieConnolly

since 2016, the NFL has been excellent at identifying RB talents that are actually worth Top 15 picks in terms of "being different" pic.twitter.com/xHfT5JcnPE

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 17, 2026

**Blogging the Boys**

Brandon Aubrey deadline passes, Cowboys hold rights for 2026

Earlier this offseason the Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey. Here is how it happened and what it all means:

• The Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Aubrey at a value of $5.8M for 2026
• This puts Aubrey third in the NFL among kickers from an annual average value perspective
• Any other team has been free to negotiate a new deal with Aubrey in this window
• Should a team have come to terms with Aubrey on a new deal the Cowboys held the right of first refusal
• If Dallas had declined to match that hypothetical deal, the new team would have also owed the Cowboys a second-round pick It always seemed farfetched that another team would go out on such a limb for Aubrey, all due respect, which is why reaching Friday without it happening is hardly shocking.

Dallas Cowboys have a new film director, hiring Mike Adams away from NFC East rival Washington. Adams has been with Washington the last 16 years, most recently as assistant film director.

— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) April 17, 2026

**Big Blue View**

NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: Cornerback options on all 3 days of the draft

Day 2

**Colton Hood, Tennessee** Another Tennessee Volunteer who played a dictating press-man brand of football using his 5-11, 193-pound frame: Hood is a balanced and controlled mover with sufficient vertical speed and excellent explosiveness when triggering downhill. His transitions and movement skills are ideal for a starting NFL cornerback, and he does fit the run well. Hood started his college career at Auburn, then transferred to Colorado for the 2024 season before finishing at Tennessee. He allowed a 55% catch rate in college with three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

Day 3

**Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina** The Washington transfer started seven games for the Tar Heels in 2025, but an upper-body injury forced him to miss half the season. He allowed a 61.5% catch rate with North Carolina, but just a 47.1% rate in 2024 with Washington. He has mostly played outside cornerback in his career. He has just 2 interceptions in his career, but he has knocked down 20 balls. While not dominant in one specific area of his game, he is adequate and reliable in many aspects of playing cornerback. He could be a nice option late in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"There's a lot of voices in that building right now, and I think that everybody's trying to figure out just kind of what the power dynamic is and how the draft is going to play out."@TomPelissero joins the @RichEisenShow to talk about the Giants' approach heading into the NFL… pic.twitter.com/ksOe6mqiG4

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 17, 2026

**NFL league links**

Articles

**ESPN**

Source: Texans, Will Anderson reach 3-year, $150M extension

The Texans and All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have agreed to a historic three-year, $150 million extension that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. The deal includes $134 million in guaranteed money, the source said. The record extension surpasses the deal given to Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons after Green Bay acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys in August. Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension that included $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees.

$50 MILLION per year for Will Anderson Jr.

EDGE now holds the title of having the 12th-highest contract of any player at any position, and nearly $8 million per year more than the next-closest position (WR – JSN)

— Full Command (@FullCommandShow) April 17, 2026

**Discussion topics**

**ESPN**

Flowers: Harbaugh’s practices why Ravens ‘had a lot of injuries’

Wide receiver Zay Flowers believes the change at head coach will improve the Baltimore Ravens’ health issues. On an episode of the “4th and South” podcast that was released Thursday, Flowers claimed that the tough practices by former coach John Harbaugh led to more injuries, especially by the end of the season. “Full pads all the time,” Flowers said. “However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going.” Asked how the players manage that workload, Flowers replied, “We don’t.” “That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went,” he added. “The load was heavy.”

"we had a lot of injuries because of how we practiced"

no doubt Zay Flowers shed no tears when John Harbaugh was fired from the Ravens

"full pads as often as possible…1-on-1s Week 17…get the NFL PA on the line"

headed to the Giants this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/LopG0HuUzt

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 17, 2026 Injuries significantly impacted the Ravens’ 8-9 season in 2025, which was Harbaugh’s 18th and final one in Baltimore. “[Minter] knows how we worked with Harbaugh,” Flowers said. “So he’s like, ‘You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.'” Harbaugh, now head coach of the New York Giants

**Pro Football Talk**

Eric DeCosta: NIL leads to older players in the draft, I don’t think that’s a good thing

DeCosta says he sees more older players who have less room for growth in the NFL. “There is a changing dynamic we’ve seen with the draft,” DeCosta said. “Players are older. The average age of the players is not necessarily older but there are older players in the draft. We’re seeing more 24 and 25-year-old players. That’s because of covid initially, and now because of NIL, guys are getting paid to stay in. That’s problematic for us because if guys are coming in older they’ve probably got less upside. They’re not three-contract players in some cases, they’re two-contract players. And in some cases they’ve got more injuries. They’ve been playing college football longer so they’ve taken on more injuries.” DeCosta, who has been with the Ravens for 30 years, says the team has more players who will turn 25 as rookies than ever before. “We’re trying to get a handle on that,” DeCosta said. “It’s tough for us to assess what that means. It’s something we’ve seen over the last three years, this will be the third year, 2024, 2025 and 2026. We might have had 4 percent of our players on the draft board 24 1/2 or older prior to 2024, now that number is up to 18 percent. So we’ve seen a 14 percent increase in older players on the draft board. That’s something that we don’t really understand fully what that means. I don’t think it’s a good thing, certainly. Historically we’ve tried to draft younger players when we can. That’s something we feel strongly. But now we’ve got 18 percent of the draft board that’s over 24 years old. So that’s going to change the way we target players.”

**aBit o’Twitter**

Terry McLaurin calls Jayden Daniels the most competitive person on the #Commanders

No surprise there. #RaiseHail (h/t Built Different Ministries) pic.twitter.com/C5Z20GH1vR

— Denton Day (D-Day) (@TheDentonDay) April 16, 2026 Washington Commanders at 7?

Give me Makai Lemon all day. Tough, slippery, and a mismatch vs nickels, LBs, and safeties—reminds me of Golden Tate.

In today’s two-high NFL, you need YAC guys. Build around Jayden Daniels and get the ball to playmakers in space. @ESPNNFLpic.twitter.com/ypHz9BxofG

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) April 16, 2026 Five days out from the draft…

Forecasting what Day 1 could look like for receivers Carnell Tate/Jordyn Tyson and QB Ty Simpson @SportsCenterpic.twitter.com/nhCjAExLrb

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 18, 2026 The most fascinating player in this year’s Draft? Alabama OT Kaydyn Proctor. At 6'7", 360 pounds, he’s a mountain, but mock drafts are all over the board. What’s the real story? Using NFL IQ, built by @awscloud and @NextGenStats, dig into the data at pic.twitter.com/8t1zm1xnEK

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 17, 2026 The most popular destinations for the top 2026 NFL Draft EDGE prospects, per PFSN's Mock Draft Simulator:

🔮 David Bailey – Cardinals 🔮 Arvell Reese – Jets 🔮 Rueben Bain Jr. – Saints 🔮 Keldric Faulk – Buccaneers 🔮 Akheem Mesidor – Buccaneers 🔮 Zion Young – Chiefs/Bears 🔮… pic.twitter.com/R3ZkWBEnD9

— PFSN (@PFSN365) April 17, 2026 All colleges should invest in one. We had one in Greenbay and I was surprised most teams didn’t have one cause it’s a game changer and saves alot of time pic.twitter.com/4u24jvzu5x

— Scoota Harris (@Scoooota8) April 17, 2026 drives starting in opposing territory in 2025:

30 – JAX 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 – DET, MIA 22 – SF, HOU 21 – MIN 20 – CLE,BAL, LAR, CHI, NO 19 – SEA, IND, TB, PIT, ATL, LAC 18 – BUF, KC, TEN, PHI 17 16 15 – DEN, ARI, NE 14 – CIN 13 – GB, LV, NYG, CAR 12 11 – NYJ 10 – WAS 9 – DAL

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 18, 2026 Most Pro Bowlers on current roster drafted by that team…

8 – Eagles 7 – Ravens, Lions 6 – Texans, Broncos, Chargers 5 – Chiefs, Cowboys, Bills, Falcons 4 – Rams, 49ers, Jaguars, Browns, Bucs 3 – Seahawks, Bengals, Colts, Commanders 2 – Titans, Steelers, Jets, Giants, Saints,…

— NFL Researcher (@NFL\_Researcher) April 17, 2026 “I’m pretty sure it’s not my last game. I hope it’s not my last game, against Columbus.”—Alex Ovechkin in his final media availability of the 2025-26 season. #ALLCAPSpic.twitter.com/dQ4MM1dscm

— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik\_ElBashir) April 16, 2026 Cowboys fans before the draft pic.twitter.com/5WIKjnbC7E

— Cameron Magruder (@ScooterMagruder) April 15, 2026 ONES TO WATCH: Today’s #STLvDC matchup features two of the premier pass-rushers the #UFL has to offer, as #Battlehawks DE Pita Taumoepenu will square-off with #Defenders DE Derick Roberson.

Pita was a one-man wrecking crew in W1 when these teams played..

While Roberson is… pic.twitter.com/DlEBAuvkHo

— Christian Paolantonio (@CPaolantonio\_) April 18, 2026 For the first time in nearly 25 years, @NationalZoo is introducing a baby Asian elephant to the public.

Linh Mai, who was born at the zoo in early February, will make her debut on April 22. pic.twitter.com/LXxBjQQtVw

— Washingtonian 🌸 (@washingtonian) April 15, 2026