NFL Draft Notebook: 49ers address big need with USC star; Bears get safety help

As the 2026 NFL Draft gets closer, team needs are becoming clearer. That includes two teams eliminated last weekend, the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears. We are also just days away from the All-Star portion of the draft cycle beginning, with the East-West Shrine Bowl starting this week and the Senior Bowl following shortly after. All of that and more is covered in this week’s NFL Draft Notebook.

Perfect fit for the 49ers

One of the 49ers’ biggest needs this offseason is finding a true go-to wide receiver. USC’s Makai Lemon fits that role as well as anyone in this draft. Lemon brings a high football IQ that is critical in San Francisco’s timing-based passing game, along with reliable hands and consistent yards-after-the-catch ability. He averaged 6.4 yards after the catch this season and excels at turning short throws into chain-moving gains. While Lemon may be off the board by the time the 49ers pick at No. 27, moving up five to ten spots to secure the Biletnikoff Award winner would be a realistic and justifiable move.

Full go at the Senior Bowl

According to Senior Bowl executive director Drew Fabianich, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier will be fully healthy for the Senior Bowl. That is notable after Nussmeier missed the end of the 2025 season due to injury and is coming off a down year. A strong week in Mobile would go a long way toward rebuilding his stock, and it would not be surprising if conversation about him being the third quarterback off the board starts to gain traction.

Penn State safety tandem in Chicago

One of the Bears’ offseason priorities will be addressing the safety position, as both Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker are set to hit free agency. While keeping both would be ideal, re-signing the younger Brisker may take precedence. If Byard departs, Chicago could look to replace him with another Penn State product, Zakee Wheatley. Both Brisker and Wheatley played at Penn State, and Wheatley was one of college football’s top coverage safeties this season, earning an 83.5 PFF coverage grade. If the Bears target him, expect him to go in the third or fourth round.

Top WR

Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is the top wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft and a likely top-ten pick. What sets him apart is his elite athleticism and advanced ball skills as he caught 12 of 14 passes thrown to him in tight coverage this season, according to PFF, and didn’t drop a single pass all year. Tate is also a polished route runner; despite his size, he’s sharp in and out of his cuts, consistently creates separation, and shows the kind of complete skill set that translates immediately to the NFL.

Look for Pekins to shine

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. is a player primed for a strong East-West Shrine Bowl week. His elite athleticism jumps off the tape and makes him a legitimate pass-rushing threat. He recorded four sacks this season, and in 2022 his 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade led all Power Five linebackers. Perkins also shows range in coverage, picking off three passes this season, though his coverage awareness still needs refinement. If he puts everything together during Shrine Bowl week, he can help himself significantly. One potential fit at the next level is the Carolina Panthers.

Senior Bowl opt-outs

Several highly regarded NFL Draft prospects have withdrawn from the Senior Bowl after initially accepting invitations due to lingering injuries. This includes edge rushers R. Mason Thomas and Cashius Howell, both of whom carry top-50 grades on my board. It is also worth noting that quarterback Ty Simpson declined his invite because of injury, a missed opportunity that could have helped solidify his status as a top-20 pick.

Questionable addition

One of the more puzzling Senior Bowl invites went to Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott. Ott is coming off a highly disappointing season, rushing for just 68 yards while averaging 3.2 yards per carry. Injuries played a role, but they were also an issue in 2024, and at some point availability and production matter. Over the past two seasons, Ott has totaled only 453 rushing yards, which makes it difficult to justify viewing him as a draftable prospect, let alone one of the best running backs the Senior Bowl could identify for an invite.

Georgia Tech’s big addition

Georgia Tech landed a major transfer with former Michigan running back Justice Haynes committing to the program. Before a season-ending foot injury, Haynes was in the middle of a breakout year, averaging 122 rushing yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry. His combination of game-breaking speed and reliable hands out of the backfield had him on track to be one of the top running backs in his class. If he returns to full strength, Haynes has a clear path to becoming a Day 2 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Risky pick 

Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson carries significant risk due to his long injury history. He missed multiple games this season with a hamstring issue, had a season-ending broken collarbone in 2024, and tore his ACL in 2022. Durability is a major concern for a player likely to be a first-round pick. Beyond injuries, Tyson lacks true game-breaking speed; he averaged just 11.7 yards per catch this season and isn’t a vertical threat who can consistently stretch defenses. While he has the skill set to be a solid NFL receiver, taking him in the first round is a clear gamble.

LSU wide receiver opts for the portal

LSU wide receiver Nic Anderson has entered the transfer portal after a disappointing season in Baton Rouge. Anderson caught just 12 passes and currently carries an undrafted free agent grade, but the physical tools are still there. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound receiver runs in the 4.5 range and will look to reboot his draft stock with a new program next fall at Kentucky. If he can have a big season in Will Stein's offense, Anderson has a realistic path to pushing himself into Day 3 consideration for the 2027 NFL Draft.