NFL Draft Notebook: A’Mauri Washington could fill Bears need, plus Iowa State sleeper

While many NFL Draft analysts have Ole Miss’ Will Echoles or Oklahoma’s David Stone ranked as the top defensive tackle in the 2027 NFL Draft, Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington currently sits at the top of my board.

Washington’s combination of size, strength and athleticism gives him the potential to become one of the best interior defensive linemen in this class, while also making him an intriguing potential fit for the Chicago Bears or Las Vegas Raiders, two teams that could have a need along the defensive line. 

In this week’s NFL Draft Notebook, I take a closer look at why Washington is my top defensive tackle, two quarterbacks facing off in the weekend’s biggest matchup in Austin, an Iowa State defensive lineman who could be a sleeper to watch, and several other 2027 NFL Draft prospects whose stock could be on the rise.

Why A’Mauri Washington could be one of the NFL Draft’s best interior defensive linemen

Last year, the defensive tackle position was one of the weakest groups in the NFL Draft. Clemson’s Peter Woods was the first defensive tackle selected, falling all the way to the 29th overall pick, and he was the only player at the position taken in the first round.

The 2027 class looks much stronger at defensive tackle, and one high-upside player who already has me excited is Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington.

One of the biggest positives with Washington is his elite combination of size, speed and power. At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Washington is one of the biggest defensive tackles in the 2027 NFL Draft, and he uses that size and strength to consistently clog running lanes. Last season, the third-team All-Big Ten selection earned an impressive 83.9 PFF run-defense grade while regularly making it difficult for opposing offenses to run the football between the tackles.

What makes Washington even more intriguing is how well he moves for a player his size. You simply do not see many 325-pound defensive tackles explode off the ball the way Washington does. Bruce Feldman ranked him as the No. 4 Freak Athlete heading into the season, and Washington has reportedly reached 20.7 mph on the field. He also displays impressive flexibility and athleticism for an interior defensive lineman, helping him make plays that most players his size simply cannot. 

Despite his considerable potential, many NFL Draft evaluators still view Washington as more of a late first-round or second-round prospect at this point. The biggest reason is that he remains somewhat raw as a pass rusher. Washington needs to develop a more diverse set of pass-rush moves if he is going to consistently win against NFL offensive linemen and improve on the 1.5 sacks he recorded last season. He also needs to become more consistent playing under control. Washington recorded eight missed tackles last season, an area he will need to clean up.

When looking at potential NFL fits, two teams immediately stand out.

The first is the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen appears to have confidence in his defensive line, but the unit remains relatively unproven, especially after the Bears traded Gervon Dexter to the Atlanta Falcons. If the defensive line fails to meet expectations this season, do not be surprised if defensive tackle becomes one of Chicago’s biggest needs heading into the offseason. Washington would give Allen a powerful interior presence who can help against the run while bringing significantly more athleticism than most players his size.

The second team that could make sense is the Las Vegas Raiders, particularly if Washington takes another step forward this season. ESPN currently ranks the Raiders' defensive tackle position as the worst in the NFL, making the position an obvious area to address. If Las Vegas ends up with a top-10 pick, Washington could become an interesting option depending on how much he improves as a pass rusher. If he takes a significant step forward, it would not be surprising to see him generate legitimate top-10 interest.

No matter how you look at him, Washington is one of the more intriguing defensive tackles in the 2027 NFL Draft. His combination of size, power and unusual athleticism gives him a very high ceiling. If he can develop as a pass rusher and become more consistent with his tackling, Washington has a chance to go from an intriguing prospect to one of the premier interior defensive linemen in the class.

Five 2027 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Week 2

Arch Manning, QB, Texas

The top quarterback matchup to watch in college football this weekend is Texas vs. Ohio State, which features two talented quarterbacks in Arch Manning and Julian Sayin. The higher-rated quarterback on NFL Draft boards is Manning, who is firmly in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick. Manning has all the tools to become a future franchise quarterback, including impressive bloodlines, strong arm talent and the mobility to make plays both as a passer and runner. The biggest area he needs to show improvement in this season is his footwork, and Ohio State’s defense could provide his toughest test this year. 

Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State

The other quarterback to watch in this matchup is Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, who led the nation in completion percentage last season at 77.0 percent, setting a Big Ten record, while finishing second nationally in quarterback rating at 177.46. Sayin has impressive accuracy and does a great job processing the game, but there are still questions about his arm strength and mobility. For those reasons, I currently have a third-round grade on him, but if he can put up big numbers against Texas’ defense, his NFL Draft stock could take a significant step forward. 

Greg Johnson, OG, Minnesota

An offensive lineman to watch this week is Minnesota’s Greg Johnson, who is coming off a terrific performance against Eastern Illinois, earning a 93.9 overall PFF grade, the second-highest grade among offensive linemen. In addition to his strong production on the field, Johnson is one of the more intriguing offensive guards in the 2027 NFL Draft, showing the mobility to consistently get to the second level as a blocker and the strength to handle his man in the running game. This week, however, Johnson will face a much tougher test when the Gophers take on Mississippi State.

David Stone, DT, Oklahoma

A defensive tackle with a higher consensus draft grade than A’Mauri Washington, according to NFL Mock Draft Database, is Oklahoma’s David Stone. Stone has plenty of traits NFL scouts will love, including impressive strength that allows him to consistently clog running lanes and create problems as a pass rusher with his powerful bull rush. However, his lack of production is the main reason I currently have only a second-round grade on him. Stone started just two games last season, and in his first game this year, he posted a 50.9 PFF overall grade against UTEP. If Stone wants to establish himself as a legitimate first-round prospect, he will need to start producing at a much higher level, beginning with this week’s matchup against Michigan. 

Owen Long, MLB, Arizona State 

A team that could pull off an upset this weekend is Arizona State, which takes on Texas A&M. If the Sun Devils are going to pull off the upset, they will need a big performance from linebacker Owen Long. Long is a true run stuffer who led the nation with 151 tackles last season, and he will need to be at his best against the Aggies’ strong rushing attack. If Long can help slow down the run and force quarterback Marcel Reed to beat Arizona State through the air, the Sun Devils could have a real chance to pull off the upset. 

NFL Draft news and notes

Sleeper of the Week: Isaac Terrell, DE, Iowa State

This week’s Sleeper of the Week is Iowa State defensive end Isaac Terrell. Coming into the season, I had a fifth-round grade on Terrell because of his ability to get after the passer, including the seven sacks he recorded last year at Washington State, along with his impressive burst off the ball and non-stop motor. In his first game with the Cyclones, Terrell showed exactly why I am so high on him, recording three sacks against Southeast Missouri State and earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. This week, he will face one of his toughest tests of the season when Iowa State takes on Iowa, and if Terrell can continue to play at a high level, expect even more NFL scouts to take notice. 

Detroit Lions draft target: Luke Reynolds, TE, Virginia Tech

The Detroit Lions could face a critical decision after this season: make Sam LaPorta one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL or use some of their draft capital to find his potential replacement. If they choose the latter, one player to watch is Virginia Tech tight end Luke Reynolds. Reynolds is coming off a strong performance against VMI, hauling in five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown while catching all five passes thrown his way. In addition to being a reliable receiving option, Reynolds is a developing blocker who should continue to improve in this area, particularly if he can clean up his footwork. Right now, the Lions would likely be looking at Reynolds as an early Day 3 prospect. 

Curt Cignetti’s next quarterback to watch: Josh Hoover

One of the best coaches in college football when it comes to developing quarterbacks is Indiana’s Curt Cignetti. He has now had five consecutive quarterbacks earn All-Conference honors, with three of those five also being named Conference Players of the Year. The next quarterback up is Josh Hoover, who began his career at TCU before transferring to Indiana. Hoover made an impressive first impression with the Hoosiers, completing 81 percent of his passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns against North Texas. If he can continue playing at a high level this season, look for Hoover to earn a mid-round NFL Draft grade thanks to his impressive accuracy, crisp mechanics and mobility in the pocket. 

Stock rising: Deuce Alexander, WR, Ole Miss

A player whose NFL Draft stock is on the rise is Ole Miss wide receiver Deuce Alexander, who has taken on a much larger role with the Rebels this season after De’Zhaun Stribling and Harrison Wallace III moved on to the NFL. In his first game as the Rebels’ go-to receiver, Alexander recorded his first career 100-yard receiving performance, catching five passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. His most impressive plays were a pair of 62-yard touchdown receptions that showcased the type of speed that will excite NFL scouts.

In addition to his big-play ability, Alexander has also shown the ability to make difficult catches in traffic, hauling in 59 percent of the passes thrown his way in tight coverage last season, according to PFF. 

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