NFL Draft Buzz: Will Bears hit DL in 2027, Michigan State’s new lead back

The Chicago Bears came away with a solid 2026 draft class and added impact talent, including one of the top safeties in the class. But one glaring hole remains. They never addressed the defensive end position, and that could easily become their top priority heading into the 2027 NFL Draft. In this week’s NFL Draft Buzz, we break down a pass rusher Chicago could target, a new lead back at Michigan State, a rising receiver at LSU, and the next tight end in Oregon’s pipeline. 

Will Bears finally address the defensive line in 2027 NFL

One of the bigger surprises in the 2026 NFL Draft was the Chicago Bears not selecting a single defensive end and instead using valuable Day Two capital on offensive players who may have limited roles early on. While general manager Ryan Poles has said the team will stay active in the defensive line market, if they can’t land a proven option via trade like Kayvon Thibodeaux, there’s a strong chance the position becomes a priority in the 2027 NFL Draft.

One defensive end to watch is Oregon’s Matayo Uiagalelei, who has already been mocked to Chicago by our draft analyst Tarringo Basile-Vaughan. The fit makes sense for a couple of reasons. He has the physical profile defensive coordinator Dennis Allen looks for, measuring in at 6-foot-5, 272 pounds with a strong blend of size and speed. He’s also been productive, recording 16.5 sacks over the past two seasons. There’s a realistic chance he’s still on the board when Chicago picks, as Tankathon currently projects the Bears to select around No. 18 overall in the 2027 draft.

A couple of other defensive ends Chicago will likely monitor include Princewill Umanmielen, who transferred to LSU after posting nine sacks at Ole Miss, and Clemson’s Will Heldt, who outproduced T. J. Parker, a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Surprise transfer

One of the more surprising moves this offseason was former Michigan running back Justice Haynes transferring to Georgia Tech. The move stands out because Haynes was coming off a breakout season before suffering a season-ending foot injury. In the seven games he played, he rushed for a career-high 857 yards on 121 carries after totaling fewer than 80 carries combined during his first two seasons at Alabama. Despite the shortened year, he led the Big Ten with 122.4 rushing yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry while earning third-team All-Big Ten honors.

In a recent interview with On3, Haynes said he wanted to play in a more pro-style offense to better prepare for the NFL. That tracks, especially with Michigan expected to lean more into a spread approach and with Jordan Marshall emerging as a legitimate NFL-caliber back while filling in.

What Haynes brings to Georgia Tech is clear: home-run ability. He recorded 18 runs of at least 10 yards and broke off runs of 40-plus yards in three of his seven games last season. He also has the size to run through contact and is a reliable option out of the backfield as a receiver.

If he stays healthy and produces at a similar level, he will put himself firmly in the Day Two conversation for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Michigan State’s new lead back

While Michigan lost one of the most productive running backs in the nation last season, its in-state rival Michigan State added one in former UConn back Cam Edwards. Edwards is coming off a strong year where he earned third-team Group of Five All-American honors from HERO Sports after rushing for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns. That production made him one of the more appealing running backs in the transfer portal and firmly put him on the NFL radar.

What stands out most about Edwards is his quickness and elusiveness. He has the burst to get to top speed quickly and the long speed to finish runs, which showed up with 28 carries going for at least 10 yards last season. He also displays solid footwork and agility for a more straight-line runner, allowing him to make quick cuts and rack up 763 yards after contact despite not being an overly powerful back.

"I think Cam (Edwards) has all of the traits that you look for in a high-level back to play in the Big Ten. He's an explosive runner, he runs with a chip on his shoulder and he's always straining for extra yards and playing through contact."

Michigan State GM Bryan Gasser

Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, most teams will likely assign Edwards a late-round grade or view him as a priority free agent. The biggest concern is his lack of power as he is more of a slasher runner, and he will need to post a strong 40-yard dash time to boost his stock. He also needs to become more involved in the passing game, as his average depth of target was just one yard downfield last season and he recorded four drops in 2024.

Go-to receiver in Baton Rouge

One of the most talked-about teams heading into the season is LSU as it begins the Lane Kiffin era. One of his first priorities was adding talent through the transfer portal, and he delivered, bringing in the nation’s top-ranked transfer class according to 247Sports, highlighted by five-star quarterback Sam Leavitt, who ranked as the top overall player in the portal.

One addition that has flown under the radar but could pay big dividends is former Kansas State wide receiver Jayce Brown, who was rated as the No. 26 wide receiver in the portal. After a strong spring and a productive career at Kansas State, there’s a good chance he outperforms that ranking and becomes a name NFL teams are tracking closely.

Over the past two seasons, Brown has established himself as a legitimate deep threat thanks to his burst off the line and long speed. In 2024, he recorded seven receptions of 40 or more yards, the fourth-most in college football. He followed that up by leading the Big 12 with 10 receptions of 30-plus yards last season, despite missing the final two games of the season. Beyond the big plays, he has shown the ability to consistently separate, totaling 88 receptions and 10 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

There are still areas that need improvement. The biggest concern is his drop rate, which sits at 11% according to Pro Football Focus. A lot of that stems from letting the ball get into his body instead of attacking it, which also shows up when working through traffic. For a slot receiver, that’s an issue. He also isn’t the most physical player and can shy away from contact at times.

If Kiffin can clean up those issues, especially getting him to play more aggressively at the catch point, Brown has a real chance to produce at a high level this season and push himself into the Day Two conversation for the 2027 NFL Draft.

The next tight end in the Oregon pipeline 

No program has done a better job developing tight ends over the past two seasons than Oregon, with Kenyon Sadiq going in the first round this year and Terrance Ferguson coming off the board in the second round in 2025. Now the Ducks have another highly regarded prospect in Jamari Johnson, who is currently rated as the top tight end in the 2027 NFL Draft by Pro Football Network.

So why are scouts so high on Johnson heading into the 2026 season? It starts with his production, even as the Ducks’ No. 2 tight end. He finished the year with 32 receptions for 510 yards and averaged 15.9 yards per catch, which was actually five yards higher than Sadiq. His role also grew as the season went on, recording at least three receptions in six of the final seven games after totaling just nine catches in the first seven.

Johnson is also the most well-rounded tight end in Oregon’s room. Unlike Sadiq and Ferguson, he has the size to consistently line up in-line while still having the athleticism to flex out wide. As a receiver, he has the speed to stretch the field and showed reliable hands, catching 80% of his targets. He also flashes power as a blocker, and with more refined technique, that part of his game should continue to improve.

Sadiq and Ferguson set a high bar, but if Johnson puts together a strong season and tests well, there’s a real chance Oregon produces three straight tight ends drafted in the top 50 of their respective NFL Drafts.

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