NFL Draft rumors on Bears name that ‘keeps coming up,’ Giants’ plans in the top-10, and more

So let’s round up the latest guesses in today’s spin around the carousel of rumors.

Run on offensive tackles?

Could the 2026 NFL Draft see a run on offensive tackles, inside the first 15 selections?

That is the scenario contemplated by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who shared this on social media Tuesday:

Fowler is not alone in thinking that offensive linemen could be a big part of the discussion on Thursday night. His ESPN colleague Dan Graziano wrote this on Wednesday morning:

I’m predicting at least seven and as many as 10 offensive linemen get picked in the first round. There’s a late-round zone loaded with teams that would love to come out of Thursday night with a new offensive lineman, including the Lions, Panthers, Steelers, Chargers, Eagles, Browns, Bears, 49ers, Chiefs and Patriots. Kansas City could even use its No. 9 pick on an offensive tackle and no one would be surprised. Baltimore could take Ioane at No. 14, if he’s there.

In our most recent mock draft, we had seven offensive linemen coming off the board, right in line with Graziano’s prediction. However, the “run” on offensive tackles did not come until the 20s, with the Philadelphia Eagles taking Blake Miller at No. 23 and the Cleveland Browns adding Max Iheanachor at No. 24.

But it looks like that run could happen earlier.

What are the Giants thinking, redux?

Ever since the New York Giants swung the big Dexter Lawrence trade, we have been trying to decipher their plans for both No. 5, and No. 10. That was a focus on Monday’s rumors roundup, and we revisit their plans here today.

On Monday we discussed reporting from Connor Hughes of SNY, who mentioned Sonny Styles, Jeremiyah Love, and Caleb Downs as options at No. 5. Hughes also believes that a trade would be possible if somehow David Bailey were on the board when the Giants were on the clock at No. 5. Then at No. 10, offensive linemen come into play, as well as wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

However, Graziano notes that from what he has been told, at No. 5 “their most likely picks would be Love (if he’s still there) or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Multiple people have told me they believe Downs would be the Giants’ pick even ahead of linebacker Sonny Styles, Downs’ college teammate.”

As for No. 10, if it is not Tyson then Graziano believes they will draft an offensive lineman.

Who might that be? Graziano mentions Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, which is in line with a name I’ve been hearing more and more regarding that pick at No. 10. Stay tuned …

Jermod McCoy’s injury concerns

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s injury concerns remain a talking point as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.

According to longtime NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline, some teams have deemed his injured knee — he missed 2025 following ACL surgery — a “degenerative” condition:

Additional reporting indicates that McCoy might need an additional surgery to replace a “bone plug” used to repair a “cartilage defect” in that knee, and that the concerns are not related to the initial ACL repair:

This is starting to feel like last year with Will Johnson, the cornerback who was considered a top-ten pick but fell to the Arizona Cardinals in the second round due to his own injury history.

Ty Simpson still an option for the Rams?

Early in mock draft season, Ty Simpson was a popular pick for the Los Angeles Rams with their pick at the end of the first round.

I should know, I feel like I made that pick in more than a few mock drafts myself …

But when the Rams used that pick in a trade for cornerback Trent McDuffie, it seemed to end the dreams of Simpson landing in Los Angeles to learn from Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. Now, the Rams have just one pick in the first 60 selections — the pick they received from the Atlanta Falcons at No. 13 — and with Stafford having just put pen to paper on a new contract, getting a player that can help right away seems like the pressing need.

Graziano is not so sure, and makes the case that Simpson could still be in play, whether via a trade down or even at No. 13:

But as I said, the Rams don’t appear to have any crying needs for which the 13th pick could help them in their effort to win the Super Bowl at home. So, could they trade down from No. 13 and still take Simpson later in the round? Possibly. Could they just bite the bullet and take Simpson at No. 13 if they like him that much? Unlikely, but again, this is a tough team to predict.

If the Rams take Simpson in the first round, they’re likely to face criticism for not finding immediate help for a win-now team with 38-year-old reigning MVP Matthew Stafford at quarterback. But would they care? This is the “F— them picks” franchise, remember? If they truly believe Simpson has the potential to be Stafford’s successor, I don’t think it’s ridiculous to think they could go ahead and take him.

Add in that division-rival Arizona — which many believe is the real team to watch for Simpson — holds the 34th pick and would be a candidate to either draft him there or trade back into the first round to land him and it makes the Rams/Simpson theories a little bit spicier.

Again, even Graziano says Simpson at No. 13 is “unlikely,” but the Rams are a tough team to predict this, and every, year.

What about the Chicago Bears at No. 25?

We have not talked about the Chicago Bears much during the run to the 2026 NFL Draft.

So let’s change that a bit.

Early in the draft cycle, defensive line was a popular position for the Bears to address in mock drafts. That often came in the form of pass rushers such as Missouri’s Zion Young or Clemson’s T.J. Parker, or even through defensive tackles such as Kayden MacDonald from Ohio State.

Recently, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has become a popular pick for them in that spot. According to consensus mock drafts as compiled by NFL Mock Draft Database, he is the most popular pick for the Bears over the past week.

But one insider believes the Bears have made up their mind, and are targeting Auburn’s Keldric Faulk because of how he would fit with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

“One name that kind of keeps coming up is a fit for Dennis Allen: Keldric Faulk from Auburn,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said recently on ESPN 1000.

Cowboys trading … down?

In recent weeks, the idea of the Dallas Cowboys trading up in the first round to secure one of the premium defensive prospects has become a popular theory. In our most recent mock draft, for example, we had the Cowboys trading all the way up to No. 3 to pick Arvell Reese. Others believe the Cowboys would move to No. 6 in a deal with the Cleveland Browns.

But is it more likely that the Cowboys move … down?

That is what Graziano believes, who wrote this on Wednesday morning:

I would actually say it’s more likely the Cowboys trade down from No. 20 than up from No. 12. They need a ton of help on defense and would love it if Styles, Downs or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane fell to them at No. 12; they could get to work addressing the other positional needs at No. 20 and later. Dallas also doesn’t have a second-round pick (it belongs to the Jets from the Quinnen Williams trade), which is why I’ve been told to watch out for the Cowboys to trade down from No. 20 to try to recoup some Day 2 capital.

The point about Dallas lacking a second-round pick is important. As with every draft class, there are solid prospects to be found on Day 2, players who could contribute immediately while not having the same upside as the prospects who will come off the board Thursday night. Dallas could find, for example, a pass rusher early on Day 2 if they trade back, with players like T.J. Parker, Cashius Howell, Zion Young, Malachi Lawrence, R Mason Thomas, and Gabe Jacas all expected to be second-round selections.

Could the Jaguars move up?

Thanks to the trade for Travis Hunter Jr. last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars do not have a pick on Thursday night.

At least, not yet.

Jacksonville beat writer John Shipley, who is as plugged-in as it gets down in Duval, wrote Wednesday morning that the idea of the Jaguars trading back into the first round is not as far-fetched as one might believe.

With that said, it is hard to ignore the possibility of the Jaguars moving up for a few reasons. For one, they have 11 picks this year and a projected 10 picks in 2027. Having 21 picks in that span gives the Jaguars the ammo neccesary to attempt to move back into the first, whether they would do it in one big move or via multiple trades.

With four picks in the top-100, the Jaguars could find a trade package worth enticing teams. Looking at the state of the Jaguars’ roster, it is hard to say they will have 11 open spots on the 53-man roster. This isn’t to say I believe the Jaguars ultimately will do it — I think it needs to be the right set of circumstances and for specific targets.

What I am saying on this, though, is to not discount the idea. It has been floated enough as a possibility outside of Jacksonville enough in recent days to at least consider it being a realistic priority.

As for who the Jaguars would target via a trade back into the first round, Shipley notes that “[l]ogic says a top defender who is falling.” However, he also reminds us that head coach Liam Coen has his mind on the offense, and would “likely … not have any issues with taking a top-rated playmaker either.”

The only player Shipley mentions by name in this scenario? Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.