2026 NFL Draft Mailbag: Which rising stocks are legit, trade up candidates, the cornerback you’re probably not high enough on and more
We are less than two weeks away from the start of the 2026 NFL Draft and tackling your most pressing questions for this year’s event.
The week before the 2026 NFL Draft. We’re almost there, gang.
And, as is usually the case, we’re into a final stretch of days that has me wishing for a fast forward button. Let’s get this show on the road. I asked you all for some of your biggest questions this past week for a 2026 NFL Draft mailbag, which can help us get a little closer. Who are the legit risers, the ideal trade targets, and more? We explore in this week’s 2026 NFL Draft mailbag.
2026 NFL Draft Mailbag: The offensive line run, which rising stocks are legit, trade up candidates, and more
When does the offensive line run start?
Everyone seems to point to Arizona at No. 3 as the first offensive line spot and I would agree with the need and potential fit. But what happens if the Cardinals get a trade down partner? Cleveland at No. 6 feels like a strong candidate as well — although their two first round picks could be a wild card. I would set the over/under for offensive linemen in the top-10 at 1.5.
And I might take the under. I think things get nutty from 11-20 through, when the elite defenders are off the board. Miami (11), Los Angeles Rams (13), Baltimore (14), New York Jets (16), Detroit (17), and Carolina (19) are all viable OL candidates. I think you’ll see the run really accelerate by the time the Steelers come on the clock at No. 21 overall.
Which players are on the rise and is it legit?
It feels like the biggest “stock up” names we’re getting down the stretch include Georgia Tech iOL Keylan Rutledge, UCF EDGE defender Malachi Lawrence, and San Diego State CB Chris Johnson. There’s some degree of first round buzz for all three with less than two weeks left. Rutledge would surprise me the most, as he’s an interior offensive lineman who has several other really good guards around him in the top-50 conversation.
I think the Johnson hype is most real. He’s got a well-rounded resume and has reported collected rave reviews for his football character.
Who have been the most extensive film watches of 2026 draft cycle?
Great question. I would probably say Keldric Faulk (DL, Auburn). I do genuinely like Faulk as a prospect but have spent a lot of time reconciling his warts and the incomplete elements of his game. Any team that drafts him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft should rest easy knowing there’s a ticket for snaps early against the run.
But there’s an intersection where the risk of him not progressing as a pass rusher outweighs the potential reward and the run defense. That’s up for each team to decide for themselves, though.
Trade up targets in the first round?
Yeah this one is going to largely depend on the unpredictability of the draft as an event. The 2026 NFL Draft should be no exception. Does LB Sonny Styles slip out of the top-5 because he’s an off-ball linebacker? Does WR Jordyn Tyson get lapped by several other wide receivers in the teens? Those, to me, feel like the kind of candidates that could inspire for movement. Does Arvell Reese get passed up by the Jets and slip a bit for more “traditional” fits?
The other part of this is if a run happens earlier than expected. Do offensive tackles go hotter than expected? What happens if we see the Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins, and Lions all go tackle in the top-20 and now a team like San Francisco or Houston gets leery about seeing a preferred OL target make it to them in the late 20s?
Day 3 potential impact players?
I know this question asked about “this team” but I’m going to take a hack at this question through a league-wide standpoint. Here are some players I have outside my top-100 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft who I still REALLY like and could see being successful NFL players in the right situation and the right timeline:
- TE Eli Raridon, Notre Dame (112th overall)
- DT Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana (122nd overall)
- OG Jeremiah Wright, Auburn (127th overall)
- SAF Jalen Husky, Maryland (177th overall)
- WR J Michael Sturdivant, Florida (191st overall)
A few guys I’m higher on than consensus that may not make the top-100 but sit in my personal top-100 include Washington CB Ephesians Prysock, Stephen F Austin CB Charles Demmings, and Memphis OT Travis Burke.
It me: big Brandon Cisse guy
Yeah I see the vision here, man. He’s a one-year starter (21 total starts) with elite explosiveness and he’s also one of the youngest players in the class. Cisse won’t turn 21 until July 3rd, making him one of nine prominent players in this year’s class to be under 21 on draft night. Cisse is well-built, he’s got great demeanor in run support, is feisty at the line of scrimmage, and carries well vertically from in phase.
He needs more seasoning, sure. But I see the attitude, upside, and ability of an impact corner. I think he could play in any scheme, but teams willing to press and play heavier percentages of man will likely get his best. He’s a top-20 player for me in this class.
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