NFL Draft Buzz: Lions eye D’Angelo Ponds as 49ers plan for life after George Kittle

The National Championship on Monday puts Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds on a national stage, and he looks like a natural fit for the Detroit Lions. In this week’s NFL Draft Buzz, we break down his draft outlook, explore the 49ers’ options at tight end following George Kittle’s injury, and identify key mid-round storylines to watch.

Fits the Lions mold

One thing is clear when it comes to how the Detroit Lions evaluate draft prospects. They prioritize tough, physical players with high football IQ. A player who checks all of those boxes and also fills a clear need for Detroit is Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.

Ponds, who will be tasked with slowing down Miami’s passing game Monday night, is one of the best nickel corners in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was named a second-team AP All-American after locking down his side of the field, allowing just 54 percent completions, breaking up nine passes, and not giving up a single touchdown all season. He also elevated his play in Indiana’s two playoff games, earning Defensive MVP honors in both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl. His most impactful moment came on the opening play of the Peach Bowl, when he returned an interception of Dante Moore for a touchdown.

From a traits standpoint, quickness stands out immediately. Ponds won state championships in both the 100- and 200-meter dash in high school, and that speed consistently shows up when he breaks on the football. Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds, he is one of the more physical corners in this class. He challenges receivers at the catch point and is a willing run defender, earning an 82.0 PFF run-defense grade and missing just two tackles all season. His football IQ is another strength. Indiana defensive backs coach Ola Adams told The Athletic, “He has really high football intelligence and the quickness, the speed and all the intangibles.”

For Detroit, the fit is straightforward. Ponds would likely step in as a day-one starter at nickel, replacing Amik Robertson, who is set to be a free agent and is coming off a disappointing season. His presence would immediately upgrade a Lions secondary that allowed over 217 passing yards per game. He also aligns with Detroit’s draft strategy, as his lack of ideal size and nickel-only projection could push him into the fourth round, giving the Lions strong value on a true shutdown slot corner.

49ers help fill George Kittle void

The San Francisco 49ers took a major hit last week when tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles against the Philadelphia Eagles. That injury puts a cloud not only over the rest of this season but likely into 2026 as well. With backup Jake Tonges set to hit free agency, tight end is now a legitimate question mark for San Francisco heading into the offseason.

One player who could help address that need with one of the 49ers’ three fourth-round picks is Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon. Raridon is coming off his best season with the Irish, finishing with 32 receptions for 482 yards. He also proved to be a reliable run blocker, helping open lanes for an offense that rushed for over 200 yards per game.

Projecting Raridon to the 49ers makes sense for several reasons. At 6-foot-7, 252 pounds, he fits the mold of a more traditional tight end and brings a skill set similar to what San Francisco asks of Kittle, with the size, strength, and willingness to block at the point of attack. He also stands out for his hands, having caught 80 percent of the targets thrown his way in tight coverage this season and dropping only two passes all year. 

Raridon is not going to replace George Kittle. However, he could help stabilize the position, take pressure off a free-agent addition, and provide quality depth while Kittle works his way back. For a day-three investment, that would be a good return on their investment for the 49ers.

Most dynamic WR in the 2026 NFL Draft

This week, the most dynamic wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft officially declared, and it’s Georgia’s Zachariah Branch. In just one season with the Bulldogs, Branch didn’t just produce, he took over. He set a Georgia single-season record with 81 receptions and finished with more than double the receiving yards of any other player on the roster. He was truly a game changer in the Bulldogs’ passing game this year.

Coming into the year, NFL Mocks was one of the few outlets that slapped a first-round grade on Branch. That no longer is the case as ESPN and others now have him firmly in the late first-round conversation, and the tape backs it up. Branch has legitimate elite speed and should threaten the low 4.3s in the 40-yard dash at the Combine. That speed shows up immediately on film. He consistently creates separation and, at times, looks like a younger version of Tyreek Hill with the way he stresses defenses horizontally and vertically.

What really makes Branch special, though, is his short-area quickness. He can cut on a dime, which is why he projects as a nightmare matchup in the slot at the NFL level. Linebackers have no chance, and even safeties struggle to mirror him in space. Once the ball is in his hands, he is just as dangerous. He forced 20 missed tackles this season, turning routine catches into explosive gains.

As for his draft projection, keep an eye on the Buffalo Bills. They badly need to add another true weapon for Josh Allen, and Branch would instantly change the structure of their offense. Regardless of where he lands, Branch has the traits, production, and play style to be a perennial Pro Bowler. 

Jaguars mid-round priority

The Jacksonville Jaguars will need to be sharp in the middle of the 2026 NFL Draft. They do not own a first-round pick after trading it in last year’s Travis Hunter deal, and while they are coming off their best season since 1999 with 13 wins, there are still clear needs to address.

One of those priorities is adding a pass rusher to complement Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. The most realistic spot to do that is the third round, where Jacksonville holds three picks.

One player the Jaguars are likely to strongly consider in that range is Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton. He brings a big, physical presence at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds and offers value against both the pass and the run. As a pass rusher, Dennis-Sutton shows good burst off the ball and the ability to win either with quickness or by converting speed to power. That skill set has helped him total 17 sacks over the past two seasons. Against the run, he consistently sets the edge, earning a 77.5 PFF run-defense grade this year.

The main reason Dennis-Sutton is likely available in the third round is his lack of agility. He does not have the fluid hips to consistently bend the corner, and he can struggle to break down in space, which shows up in his missed tackles. According to PFF, he has missed over 20 percent of his tackles in each of the past two seasons. Even with those limitations, his size, strength, and pass-rushing ability make him a solid fit in Jacksonville’s defensive front.

Disappointing season

While Zachariah Branch is coming off a breakout year and watching his draft stock climb, the opposite is true for Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne. Going into the season, I labeled Claiborne the most underrated back in the 2026 NFL Draft after a strong 2024 campaign in which he set a school record with 1,049 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, added 23 receptions, and averaged 25.1 yards on 12 kickoff returns.

This season, however, his production and overall impact took a step back. Although he averaged a career-high 5.1 yards per carry and set a new high with 28 receptions, his yards per game dropped by more than 10. Ball security became a major issue. Claiborne led all FBS running backs with five fumbles, which will be a glaring red flag for scouts. He also dropped a career-high six passes after being viewed as a reliable receiving option coming into the year. On top of that, he returned just one kickoff all season. His multi-dimensional value simply was not the same as it was in 2024.

Even with a down year, Claiborne should still hear his name called on day three of the 2026 NFL Draft. His quickness, open-field agility, and prior track record as a receiving back will keep teams interested. He should have a chance to help himself at the East-West Shrine Bowl, especially if he shows the same pass-catching ability he displayed in 2024. If he does that and flashes his home-run speed, he likely lands in the sixth or seventh round, with the Chicago Bears standing out as a potential fit.