As soon as this year’s NFL draft ends, the attention shifts to Arch Manning.

Manning — Texas Longhorns quarterback and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning — appears poised to be the prize of 2027’s tantalizingly deep QB draft.

And his status as a blue-chip prospect is about much more than his royal (football) bloodlines.

“The 6-foot-4,...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night.

The Dallas Cowboys used the No. 23 pick to select Lawrence, who becomes the first Knight selected in the first round since defensive back Mike Hughes was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 30 pick in the 2018...Read more

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears drafted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th pick in the NFL draft Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

The selection of Thieneman immediately bolsters a secondary that was depleted during free agency.

All four Bears safeties were up for new contracts this offseason, and last year’s starters — free safety ...Read more

Miami coach Mario Cristobal is a former offensive lineman, and he emphasizes offensive-line play. When he had the time to recruit his first full class as UM’s coach, he targeted one of the nation’s best high school offensive linemen.

Francis Mauigoa decided to join the Hurricanes in 2022, and by the time he left, he was one of the best ...Read more

Akheem Mesidor was one of Mario Cristobal’s first recruits. The defensive end transferred from West Virginia to Miami before the 2022 season, Cristobal’s first at UM.

Mesidor quickly became a key part of the Hurricanes’ defense, and he turned his success at UM into an NFL career. The veteran defensive end was taken by the Los Angeles ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After the big offensive lineman came the cover corner pick for the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins selected San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson with their second first-round pick of the NFL draft Thursday night after securing Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor first.

Like with the Proctor pick, which involved ...Read more

Peter Woods entered Clemson as a highly-touted recruit and leaves as a first-round NFL draft pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected the Clemson defensive tackle with 29th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night. Woods becomes the first Tigers defensive tackle to go in the first round since the New Orleans Saints picked...Read more

SEATTLE — Would the Seahawks stick and use their pick with the last selection of the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft?

Or would they wheel and deal and wait until Friday to add to the roster that will be tasked with the enviable but challenging task of winning another Super Bowl?

The answer came at 7:59 p.m. PT when it was reported that...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers on Thursday used their top pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, a move that indicates they have concerns about the status of Broderick Jones.

Iheanachor, listed at 6 feet 6 and 321 pounds, started 26 games at right tackle the past two seasons at Arizona State and was a second-...Read more

Rueben Bain Jr. pledged to be a Hurricane when Miami was coming off one of the worst seasons in recent program history.

He left the program on the doorstep of its sixth national championship.

After three seasons as a star on the Hurricanes’ defensive line, Bain is headed to the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the No. 15 pick ...Read more

NEW YORK — With their first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Jets selected what could be their future defensive cornerstone.

At No. 2 overall, the Jets select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey.

He became the highest-drafted defensive player in Jets history.

“I had a great interaction with them at the combine,” Bailey said on Thursday ...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have drafted their tackle of the future, selecting Clemson tackle Blake Miller with the 17th pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night.

Miller, a four-year starter at Clemson, is a high-floor tackle with ample starting experience. The Lions had a significant need at offensive tackle after parting ways with ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers added a talented lineman to their offensive line depth chart Thursday during the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.

With the 19th overall pick, Carolina selected Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound offensive tackle will join a position room that already features veteran ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — How many more flares will the Eagles throw in the air to signal A.J. Brown’s eventual departure?

They threw another Thursday night.

The Eagles traded two fourth-round picks to arch rival Dallas to move three spots ahead and select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.

They also acquired a seventh-round pick in the process.

...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs entered the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night with a single-digit pick for the first time in more than a decade.

But Chiefs general manager Brett Veach wasn’t content to be selecting at No. 9 overall. So he made a trade shortly after the draft began in Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs traded with the ...Read more

NEW YORK — John Harbaugh selected freakish, versatile, pass rushing Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with his first-ever Giants draft pick Thursday night.

Reese, 20, is a 6-4, 241-pounder who can play the edge or off the ball. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and played a variety of roles in Buckeyes coordinator Matt Patricia’s defense.

It ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The first foundational rookie piece for the Miami Dolphins’ rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was chosen Thursday night.

And it came as a bit of a shocker after a trade down from their original pick at No. 11.

The Dolphins selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 pick of the ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — There were no curveballs or surprises once the Las Vegas Raiders were officially put on the clock to start the NFL draft on Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

General manager John Spytek decided to play it straight as the worst-kept secret in sports over the last few months was made official with the selection of Indiana quarterback ...Read more