NFL Draft Notebook: LSU CB on Chiefs radar; Nebraska's next great RB on the rise

As the college football season winds down, NFL teams are taking a closer look at the 2026 NFL Draft class. In this edition of the NFL Draft Notebook, we break down Kansas City’s cornerback needs, Nebraska’s next great running back, and more top prospects to watch.

Could LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane be Kansas City bound?

On the surface, cornerback doesn’t look like a major concern for the Chiefs. They’re giving up just 187 passing yards per game and own Pro Football Focus’ top coverage grade at 80.5. The problem is what’s coming next. Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams, two of their top three corners, are set to hit free agency. If both walk, corner immediately jumps to the top of Kansas City’s 2026 draft needs.

One name that makes real sense late in the first round is LSU’s Mansoor Delane. The Chiefs have already shown heavy interest, visiting LSU three times this fall, which is more than any other program according to NFL Draft analyst John Vogel.

Delane is putting together a standout season. He’s allowing just 38 percent completions when targeted and has already set a career high in pass breakups. He also brings plus run support, giving the Chiefs a physical, reliable presence on both early downs and in coverage. If he’s still on the board, Delane profiles as strong value for Kansas City in round one.

Husker’s best back since Ameer Abdullah

Nebraska’s legacy at running back is loaded with names like Mike Rozier, Roger Craig, and Johnny Rodgers. This season, they’ve got another big-time talent, and he might be their best since Ameer Abdullah was carrying the offense from 2011 to 2014. That player is Emmett Johnson.

Johnson leads the nation in yards from scrimmage with 1,431. He’s racked up 1,131 rushing yards and added 300 more as a receiver. He also leads the Big Ten in conference play with 115.0 rushing yards per game and 152.0 all-purpose yards per game. He’s the first Nebraska running back to hit 1,000 rushing yards since 2018.

His skill set checks every box for an NFL starter. His contact balance is elite, breaking 56 tackles already this season according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks fifth in the FBS. His vision jumps on tape, constantly finding cutback lanes and making him an ideal fit for zone schemes. He’s also versatile, catching the ball out of the backfield or lining up wide when needed. His 36 receptions are the second most among running backs in college football.

As for the 2026 NFL Draft, Johnson looks like one of the better mid-round steals waiting to happen. Mel Kiper has him as the sixth-ranked back in the class, and Bleacher Report doesn’t have him in their top 100 overall. I have a third-round grade on him and see him as a strong fit for a team like the Minnesota Vikings, who would maximize him as both a runner and a receiver.

Could Drew Allar be the Steelers' next quarterback

One of Pittsburgh’s biggest offseason problems is replacing Aaron Rodgers, who has already announced he’ll retire after the season and is coming off a rough outing, completing just 52 percent of his passes for 161 yards with two interceptions against the Chargers.

The temptation will be to force a quarterback in the middle of the first round. That would be a mistake. That exact thinking led to Kenny Pickett, and anyone who watched his run knows that road doesn’t end well. The smarter play is to wait until the middle rounds, where the Steelers have five picks in the third and fourth rounds, take a developmental quarterback, and pair him with a short-term veteran.

If they choose that route, Penn State’s Drew Allar will be a serious option. Entering the season, he carried top-five expectations, with The Sporting News ranking him as the No. 3 player in the 2026 class. His senior year blew that up. Average production and a season-ending injury sent his draft stock into free fall.

"You watch him throw, he's got an ability to throw the ball like very few people. He's got the size to hold up in the pocket from a durability standpoint and then he's got the ability to step up in the pocket, through an arm tackle, and make a big-time throw."

James Franklin on Drew Allar

Still, the raw talent is real. Allar has the arm to hit every throw in Pittsburgh’s scheme and the prototypical size at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds. The glaring issue is his footwork. His lower-body mechanics are all over the place, and that’s why so many of his throws spray off target. If the Steelers can clean that up, they might turn him into a legitimate long-term starter.

Shrine Bowl invites 

As the college football season winds down, All-Star events like the Shrine Bowl are beginning to send out official invitations. The Senior Bowl will land most of the top 2026 prospects, but the Shrine Bowl is where teams often find late-round or undrafted players who end up outperforming their draft slot. These three prospects fit that profile.

Navy’s Eli Heidenreich is one of the more intriguing names. He has the tools to stick as an NFL slot receiver, starting with his hands. He has dropped only one pass over the past two seasons and has hauled in 86 percent of his contested targets this year. He also plays with real physicality, both as a blocker and with the ball in his hands, breaking 19 tackles this season.

Another notable invite is Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg. A nagging hamstring injury derailed most of his year, limiting him to 11 catches, eight of which came in the first two games. Even with the limited production, the traits translate. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he’s one of the bigger tight ends in the class and still moves well, hitting 21.6 MPH on GPS. His hands have been reliable too, with only eight drops across his career. Now that he’s healthy, he has a chance to close the year strong and show out at the Shrine Bowl.

On defense, Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock deserves attention. His production speaks for itself: 270 tackles over the past two seasons, with 114 already this year. His turnover creation is elite, setting the FBS record with 17 forced fumbles during their win over Bowling Green. That knack for taking the ball away makes him a natural fit for the Chicago Bears, and they could likely land him with one of their three seventh-round picks.

Sleeper of the Week

This week’s sleeper might be the most underrated player in college football, UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano. He is putting up absurd numbers, completing 69 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards and throwing for over 300 yards in four of his last five games.

The most impressive stat by far is his efficiency. Fagnano has thrown 304 passes with 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions this year. That puts him in rare company, making him only the third FBS quarterback in the past 25 years to reach 25 touchdowns without a pick. He is also the first quarterback since Joe Burrow to post five consecutive games with at least 250 passing yards, three or more passing touchdowns, and no interceptions.

NFL scouts have noticed. They like his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame, his ability to buy extra time in the pocket with his mobility, and his high football IQ. He rarely throws into traffic while still producing big plays. According to Pro Football Focus, Fagnano has 16 big-time throws this season, two more than Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is widely projected to be the first quarterback taken in the draft.

One thing that will hurt him is that he has spent the same amount of years in college as Tommy Callahan did in the movie Tommy Boy, checking in at seven years. That will make him one of the oldest rookies in the NFL next season. He will also need to prove that his arm strength can translate to the professional level.

Because of his age and average arm, he is unlikely to be drafted, but he is a strong candidate to be signed as an undrafted free agent. A good training camp could allow him to stick on a roster and build a career as a reliable NFL backup quarterback.