Fall camp is underway across the country, which means we’re officially in the thick of football season. As the pads come on, so does the scouting spotlight. This edition of the 2026 NFL Draft Notebook is loaded. We cover a wideout drawing Tyreek Hill comparisons, explain why LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier doesn’t belong in the top-five conversation, and highlight several overlooked prospects worth watching.
2026 NFL Draft news and scouting notes
The next Tyreek Hill
Coming out of high school, Zachariah Branch was compared to Tyreek Hill by 247Sports, and watching his college film makes that easy to understand. Branch started his career at USC before transferring to Georgia this season. He has elite speed, having been the Nevada Southern 5A Regional champion in both the 100 and 200 meters, and ran a 4.41 40-yard dash coming out of high school. Like Hill, he can cut on a dime and does a great job gaining yards after the catch. Branch also contributes on special teams, returning one punt and one kickoff for touchdowns in 2023, which made him the first USC freshman to earn first-team All-America honors in program history. For these reasons, I grade him as one of the top five wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft with a first-round grade.
Not sold on
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier is being projected as a top-five pick by many, but I only have a second-round grade on him. One major concern is his tendency to turn the ball over. He had 17 turnovers last season and forced too many throws when under pressure. He also lacks elite physical traits. His arm strength is average, and he struggles to consistently drive the ball downfield with accuracy. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he is also on the smaller side for the position. On the positive side, Nussmeier shows a strong command of LSU’s offense, throws with solid accuracy in the short to intermediate game, and gets the ball out quickly. Still, he has too many concerns to be viewed as a true top-five prospect.
A possible replacement for Christian Wilkins
One of the more surprising recent moves in the NFL was the Las Vegas Raiders releasing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. While a long-term answer won’t be found this season, a possible replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft is Florida’s Caleb Banks. Banks brings a similar skill set to Wilkins with a big frame, explosive burst off the snap, and strong power at the point of attack. If he continues to develop, the Raiders could target him in the second round as a potential building block for the defensive line.
Ravens Draft Target
One of the Ravens' biggest needs heading into the 2025 season is at offensive guard. The left guard spot is wide open, with Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland set to battle for the job, but neither projects as a reliable long-term starter. On the right side, Daniel Faalele will start but struggled in run blocking last season. A possible mid-round solution in the 2026 NFL Draft is Alabama’s Jaeden Roberts. Roberts brings massive power—he bench presses 525 pounds—and checks the size box Baltimore covets at 6-foot-5 and 327 pounds. He fits the Ravens' mold and could develop into a starter quickly.
More 2026 NFL Draft:
NFL Draft sleeper
Josh McCray plays in the SEC but is still completely overlooked. He is not listed among the top 844 prospects on Mock Draft Database and barely appears on draft boards. Now at Georgia and backing up Nate Frazier, he will not get much attention, but he carries a fifth-round grade on my board. Last season at Illinois, he led the team with 609 rushing yards on just 117 carries and showed both power and burst, breaking off 17 runs of 10 or more yards. At 6-0, 240 pounds, he runs with the kind of physicality that reminds me of former Chargers running back Natron Means.
A concern with Clemson’s Peter Woods
Peter Woods is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there is one concern teams will want to see resolved. Clemson defensive line coach Nick Eason has pointed out that Woods has struggled at times with consistency in taking care of his body and maintaining his diet. Eason added that Woods has shown real improvement this offseason, but NFL teams will want to be convinced the issue is behind him. If he proves it is, Woods has the burst, power, and athleticism to earn a starting role early and could easily secure a spot in the first round.
Back to full health
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas is fully healthy heading into the 2025 season after playing most of 2024 with a shoulder injury and missing spring ball. Despite being banged up, he still totaled 58 tackles, six tackles for loss, and earned a 90.9 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. That injury helps explain his biggest flaw, which was missing 19 tackles last season. I currently have a fifth-round grade on Rojas, who runs a 4.37 40-yard dash and has the kind of speed teams want in today’s linebackers. His skill set is similar to former UCLA linebacker Kain Medrano, the 205th pick in the 2025 draft, as both are fast, fluid, and strong in coverage
Playing on both sides of the ball
Two key Utah defenders are set to see significant time on offense this season. Cornerback Smith Snowden will get snaps at slot receiver after showing playmaking ability as a kickoff returner, averaging 26.7 yards on seven returns last year. Linebacker Lander Barton will also see reps as a tight end, a position he knows from his high school career where he caught 81 passes for 909 yards and 16 touchdowns. I have both players graded as fourth-round prospects heading into the season.