Contenders add more young talent late in Round 1
No. 25 Dallas Cowboys: KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers
Whatever happens with George Pickens, the Dallas Cowboys may opt to draft a long-term solution at wide receiver.
A prime candidate is Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff, who has been tremendous through his first two games of the 2026 college football season.
While Rutgers is off to an 0-2 start, Duff has increased his draft stock with 260 receiving yards and five touchdowns over those first two games. With great size and a tremendous catch radius, pairing Duff with CeeDee Lamb would have Cowboys fans giddy.
No. 26 Kansas City Chiefs: Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
Travis Kelce can’t play forever. In fact, if he’s back in 2027, it would be a surprise.
By selecting Trey’Dez Green, the Kansas City Chiefs get their potential successor at tight end and perhaps much more given his overall talent and athleticism.
Fans of opposing AFC West teams should shudder at the thought of Patrick Mahomes having a 6-foot-7, 242-pound tight end to target. Green can split out wide as a receiver, while his physicality in the open field makes him tough to bring down after the catch.
Green recorded four receptions for 58 yards in LSU’s 51-10 blowout victory over Clemson but should become an even bigger part of the offense as the season moves forward.
No. 27 San Francisco 49ers: Cayden Green, OT, Missouri
The San Francisco 49ers find their eventual Trent Williams replacement with the selection of Cayden Green out of Missouri.
As the fourth tackle off the board in the first round, Green gives the 49ers an offensive lineman with the size and physical presence to excel at tackle.
He also offers positional versatility, which would allow San Francisco to move him inside or to the right side of the line early in his career.
No. 28 Detroit Lions: Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
The Detroit Lions project to have a major need at cornerback with both D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin on expiring contracts.
In need of a young cornerback with the potential to become a future star, the Lions select Ashton Hampton at No. 28.
With his length and ball-hawking traits, the Clemson star would give Detroit the reinforcement it needs to rebuild and stabilize the secondary.
No. 29 Seattle Seahawks: Austin Siereveld, G, Ohio State
The defending Super Bowl champions upgrade the right guard position with Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld.
With Anthony Bradford approaching the end of his contract, Seattle could need both a replacement and additional depth at the position.
Siereveld, a tackle converted to guard, fits that mold while adding even more physicality to the Seahawks’ run-blocking attack.
No. 30 Buffalo Bills: Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
In a make-or-break season for Keon Coleman, the Buffalo Bills may be ready to move on following the 2026 season.
If they do, Indiana’s Charlie Becker would be a prize for Josh Allen, especially this late in the first round.
At 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, Becker has the speed and catch efficiency to become exactly the type of receiver the Bills were looking for when they drafted Coleman.
Becker could ultimately go much higher, but given the talent coming off the board ahead of him, he slides to the end of the first round, where Buffalo can’t help but gobble him up.
No. 31 Baltimore Ravens: John Henry Daley, EDGE, Michigan
The Baltimore Ravens have young players with upside in Mike Green and Zion Young who could develop into dependable pass rushers behind Trey Hendrickson.
However, Hendrickson is on the other side of 30, and Baltimore could look to add another young pass rusher to the unit.
Could Michigan’s John Henry Daley be the type of edge rusher the Ravens are looking for?
With an inside spin move that helps catapult him around and past offensive linemen, Daley is a player to watch as he enters the season projected closer to Day 2. If he continues to climb, the end of Round 1 could quickly come into play.
No. 32 Cleveland Browns via Los Angeles Rams: Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Miami
There is no replacing Myles Garrett, but the trade left the Cleveland Browns looking for ways to fill the void.
They received Jared Verse and this first-round pick in the deal, but adding another playmaker off the edge to pair with Verse could make the Browns’ defense even more versatile.
With the selection of Damon Wilson II, Cleveland adds another explosive player off the edge with a reputation for consistently putting pressure on the quarterback.
After landing Julian Sayin at No. 5 and Wilson at No. 32, the Browns leave the first round with potential building blocks on both sides of the ball.
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