NFL Draft Buzz: Why Ar’maj Reed-Adams fits Ravens; Makai Lemon perfect for Steelers

The College Football Playoffs are officially underway, with the first round kicking off this weekend. While the national title is still weeks away, this stage of the playoffs gives highly regarded NFL Draft prospects their first opportunity to raise their stock on a major stage against elite competition. One of those players is Texas A&M offensive guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, and in this week’s NFL Draft Buzz we highlight why he should be a key target on the Baltimore Ravens’ draft board.

While the FBS Playoffs begin, meaningful action is also taking place at the FCS level. The FCS National Semifinals feature a wide receiver who could be a strong late-round fit for the New England Patriots in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In addition to the playoff action, this week also brought several notable NFL Draft developments, including players officially declaring their intentions. Among them is a wide receiver who could be an ideal first-round fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they look to fix a struggling passing attack.

Ravens draft target in college football playoffs

The Baltimore Ravens are in the middle of the playoff race, but if they fall short, a big reason could be the interior of their offensive line. Both starters, Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees, have struggled to open running lanes this season and have combined to give up seven sacks. Because of that, the interior offensive line will be a major priority for the Ravens in the 2026 NFL Draft.

One prospect the Ravens should be keeping a close eye on during the College Football Playoffs is Texas A&M’s Ar’maj Reed-Adams. Reed-Adams was named a Second Team All-American by the AP this week, and his style of play fits exactly what Baltimore looks for up front.

One of his biggest strengths is his physicality. Reed-Adams consistently knocks defenders off the ball and plays with a level of tenacity that shows up through the whistle. He also has the size the Ravens prefer in their offensive linemen, checking in at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds. On top of that, he would be an immediate upgrade as a pass blocker. Reed-Adams has allowed just two sacks over the past two seasons, which is a clear improvement over Faalele and Vorhees.

When it comes to draft value, the Ravens could likely target Reed-Adams with one of their four fifth-round picks. That would allow Baltimore to add a young, physical guard with upside at a point in the draft where they have plenty of capital, while directly addressing one of their biggest roster weaknesses.

Steelers’ perfect complement to DK Metcalf

One of the biggest priorities for the Steelers this offseason will almost certainly be wide receiver. This is due to the fact that the team has very little outside of DK Metcalf, as no other wide receiver on the roster has more than 27 receptions. That player, Calvin Austin III, is also set to be a free agent after the season.

One of the main reasons this unit has struggled so much this year has been the disappointing play of Roman Wilson, who the team took in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson has just 12 receptions on the season and has not recorded a catch in the last two games. Because of his poor play and the possibility of Austin leaving in free agency, do not be surprised if the Steelers target a slot wide receiver in the first round.

If they do make that move, the player who would be an ideal fit is USC’s Makai Lemon. The Biletnikoff Award winner had a truly spectacular season, as his 96.3 receiving yards per game led all Power Four wide receivers, while his 90.4 PFF receiving grade led all FBS wideouts.

"No. 6 (Makai Lemon) is as good as I’ve seen. Going back 20-plus years, I don’t know if anybody’s impacted the game more. I can think of one guy, maybe. But he’s a really outstanding player."

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz

That production should translate to the NFL because Lemon has several high-quality traits. The first is his sure hands, as he has dropped only four passes during his college career and consistently makes tough catches in tight coverage. He is also the type of player who can turn a short throw into a big play, showing the strength to break 20 tackles after the catch this season while averaging 6.4 yards after the catch.

For those reasons, Lemon makes a lot of sense as a first-round target for the Steelers. He would immediately give them a reliable inside presence, something this offense has clearly been missing, while also taking pressure off DK Metcalf on the outside. That combination would make it much harder for defenses to key solely on DK Metcalf each week.

Why the Rams could make Michael Trigg a popular target

The most explosive offense in the NFL this season is the Los Angeles Rams, and a big reason why is their use of 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends). This allows them to get heavier personnel on the field to open up running lanes, which has helped them rush for 126 yards per game. At the same time, they are still able to run all of their normal passing concepts, creating major mismatches if teams stay in their base defense.

The biggest reason the Rams are able to create these matchups and run 13 personnel more than anyone in the NFL is the play of rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson. Ferguson is one of the more athletic tight ends in the league and is still able to hold up as a run blocker. So how does this make Baylor tight end Michael Trigg a popular draft prospect?

The answer is simple. Trigg is one of the more athletic tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft and could fill a similar role to what Ferguson is doing. Trigg runs routes like a big wide receiver thanks to his impressive speed for a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end. He is also capable of making big plays down the field, recording at least one reception of 20 or more yards in seven games this season and averaging 14 yards per catch.

When it comes to blocking, Trigg is not your traditional in-line tight end, and neither is Ferguson. However, Trigg gives good effort in this area and has enough power to play more as an H-back. While Trigg still may not be a Day 1 or Day 2 pick, do not be surprised if he goes higher than expected due to his versatile skill set and the success the Rams have had using 13 personnel.

Dolphins rebuilding plan minus Tua Tagovailoa

One of the biggest headlines of the week came when the Miami Dolphins announced they would be sending Tua Tagovailoa to the bench. They also named rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers as their starting quarterback. While the Dolphins have good reason to bench Tagovailoa due to his lackluster play and 15 interceptions this season, it is hard to see Ewers being the long-term answer.

This raises the bigger question of how the Dolphins should rebuild their roster. The first step should be moving on from head coach Mike McDaniel and bringing in a coach who can establish a more physical mindset. One potential fit is Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. His defense ranks in the top ten in points allowed per game, giving up just over 20 points per game. He also comes from the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree, which has proven to be a strong one, as Seattle’s Mike Macdonald has shown this season.

The next step would be rebuilding the defense by investing multiple draft picks on that side of the ball. They could start by adding a premier cornerback such as Jermod McCoy or Mansoor Delane with their first-round pick, as cornerback is the biggest need on the defense. In the middle rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, they could then target a pass rusher like Oklahoma’s R Mason Thomas, who would be a strong fit in Minter’s system.

Another major focus needs to be the offensive line. The Dolphins should prioritize hiring an offensive coordinator who can find more creative ways to use De’Von Achane in the run game. Along with that, they need to add reinforcements up front to improve protection and establish more balance on offense.

At quarterback, the Dolphins should avoid taking one in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Both Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore would likely be off the board, forcing Miami to reach, which is rarely the right move. Instead, they should sign or trade for a low-cost veteran option, such as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones. After taking a year to rebuild the roster, the Dolphins would then be in a better position to target their next franchise quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Patriots need to keep a close eye on Michael Wortham

The New England Patriots are coming off their least productive passing performance of the season, throwing for just 155 yards against the Buffalo Bills. That lack of production highlights the need for New England to find value picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially at wide receiver. The Patriots like to spread the ball around, and with their top receiver Stefon Diggs set to be 33 years old next season, adding depth to the position is becoming increasingly important.

One intriguing late-round wide receiver to watch is Montana’s Michael Wortham, who will face Montana State in the FCS National Semifinals. What makes Wortham such an appealing late-round prospect is his dynamic playmaking ability. This season, he ranks second in the FCS with 163.9 yards per game and has made an impact in multiple ways. He has caught 77 passes for 1,139 yards, carried the ball 55 times as a runner, and averaged 25 yards per kickoff return.

In terms of fit, Wortham would provide depth in the slot and contribute immediately on special teams. As a receiver, he has the quickness to pick up yards after the catch, averaging 8.5 yards after the catch this season while forcing 15 missed tackles, according to PFF. He is also physical enough to make catches in traffic, having dropped just two passes all year.

As for his draft outlook, Wortham is likely to hear his name called in the seventh round or receive a call shortly after the draft as an undrafted free agent. That type of addition makes sense for a Patriots team looking to add depth at wide receiver while using its earlier picks to address more pressing needs on defense, including edge rusher and secondary depth.