NFL Draft Notebook: Ohio State defensive duo aligned as great fits for Packers, Bears

As the college football season reaches its midpoint, NFL Draft prospects are starting to align with teams that could be ideal fits. This week’s NFL Draft Notebook highlights the Green Bay Packers need for a defensive tackle, the Chicago Bears next potential linebacker star, and other prospects making waves.

Green Bay Packers' top pick

While the Packers have loved the return they got in the Micah Parsons trade, it also created a hole on their defensive line. That’s because they sent defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to Dallas in exchange for Parsons. Filling that void could be a key priority with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which comes in the second round.

One player they’re likely to strongly consider is Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who has established himself as one of the best run-stuffers in this draft class. McDonald, who measures 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, brings outstanding strength and is extremely difficult for offensive guards to handle one-on-one. He’s been a major factor in Ohio State’s defense allowing just 84 rushing yards per game, which is the second-best mark in the Big Ten.

While run defense is his calling card, McDonald can also generate interior pressure. This season, he’s already recorded three sacks, and in high school, he racked up an absurd 32 sacks over his final two seasons at North Gwinnett High School. His power and low pad level give him an excellent bull rush, and he shows surprising quickness and agility for a man his size, making him an underrated all-around athlete.

If the Packers land McDonald, they’d be getting a potential day-one starter at defensive tackle. His ability to play both defensive tackle and nose tackle would also give Green Bay valuable flexibility to switch between four-man and three-man fronts as needed.

Bears’ next great linebacker

The Chicago Bears have a long and proud history of elite linebackers, a lineage that includes Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, and Brian Urlacher. The next name that could join that list is Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, who could be in play for Chicago’s top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Coming into the season, NFL Mocks highlighted Reese as one of the most underrated players in college football due to his limited starting experience. So far, he’s proven that label accurate. In his first year as a full-time starter, Reese has excelled in multiple roles for the Buckeyes, lining up both at middle linebacker and as an off-ball backer. His versatility and production have stood out, as he’s been a key reason Ohio State ranks eighth nationally in run defense, allowing just 84.8 rushing yards per game, and he’s generated 16 quarterback pressures on only 58 pass-rush snaps, the highest rate on the team.

For the Bears, linebacker is quietly becoming a position of need. The current group has underperformed, and there’s a real chance the team could move on from Tremaine Edmunds after the season. With T.J. Edwards battling injuries, adding a young, dynamic playmaker like Reese would make perfect sense for a defense looking to restore its tradition of dominant linebacker play.

Are the Rams be the perfect situation for Drew Allar

To say the least, things have not gone the way Penn State quarterback Drew Allar hoped when he returned to Happy Valley this season. He posted just a 56.3 QBR, which ranks 78th in college football, while his Pro Football Focus passing grade dropped 12 points from last year. His 2.5% big-time throw rate was also the lowest mark of his career. To make matters worse, his college career ended early after suffering an ankle injury against Northwestern.

All of this has clouded his NFL Draft stock and made him a risky prospect for the 2026 class. Still, one team that could be an ideal fit is the Los Angeles Rams. This pairing makes sense for several reasons, starting with head coach Sean McVay, one of the few offensive minds capable of helping Allar refine his timing and fix his inconsistent footwork. He’d also get the chance to sit behind Matthew Stafford for a year or two, allowing him to develop without being thrown into the fire.

From a traits standpoint, Allar remains an intriguing developmental quarterback. His arm strength once had scouts projecting him as a potential top-five pick, and at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, he has the size NFL teams covet. While he’s not a major threat as a runner, he moves well enough to extend plays. Accuracy remains a major concern, but that could improve significantly with refined mechanics and more consistent footwork.

The real question is what kind of draft investment the Rams would need to make. Before the injury, ESPN surveyed several NFL scouts who projected Allar as a third-round prospect, a grade I agreed with. Now, given his injury and developmental needs, he looks more like a fifth-round project. The Rams, who own two fifth-round picks, could afford to take a calculated swing on Allar as a long-term developmental quarterback.

Corner sees his stock fall

Going into the season, I named Colorado’s DJ McKinney the top cornerback in the Big 12 and gave him a late first-round draft grade. That projection was based on how he finished last year, allowing just 38.2 percent completions when targeted and recording six passes defended and three interceptions over his final five games. However, his 2025 season has started off more inconsistently.

This year, McKinney is allowing a career-high 57 percent completion rate and has struggled to make tackles in space. His missed tackles have already surpassed last year’s total, highlighting an unexpected weakness in a trait that previously stood out: sure tackling ability. In addition, he has occasionally been out of position, leading to inconsistent play despite his talent.

While I no longer have a first-round grade on McKinney, he remains a solid day-two prospect and could go late in the second round. He still possesses traits that make him intriguing, including impressive agility for a bigger corner at 6-foot-2, and strong ball skills—he finished fourth in the Big 12 with nine pass breakups last season and already has four this year. He does need to refine his decision-making when going after the ball to avoid getting out of position.

An ideal landing spot for McKinney could be the Las Vegas Raiders at the top of the third round. The Raiders need help in the secondary, and McKinney’s size and skill set make him a natural fit for their defensive scheme.

Small school sleeper

One small school prospect turning heads ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft is North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton. This season, Payton has been dominant, earning the highest overall grade in FCS football from Pro Football Focus and ranking as the top-rated quarterback at any level of college football with a 97.3 mark. He’s also been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week twice in the last three weeks.

The key to his production is his dual-threat ability. Payton is completing 71 percent of his passes and has topped 78 percent in each of his last three games while averaging 237 passing yards per contest. On the ground, he’s rushed for 404 yards and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry, giving defenses fits with his mobility and power.

While his production is eye-catching, it comes against lower-level competition, which naturally raises questions about how his game will translate to the NFL. Still, his physical tools make him a legitimate draftable prospect. Payton has good arm strength, impressive touch on deep throws, and a rugged running style that has already led to 19 broken tackles this season. Those traits should earn him a look late in the draft or as a priority undrafted free agent.