NFL Draft Notebook: Raiders, Cardinals scouting top 10 prospects at key positions

With conference play heating up and the NFL trade deadline looming, scouts are locking in on emerging prospects and potential 2026 NFL Draft fits. This week’s NFL Draft Notebook spotlights several players drawing increased attention from scouts and NFL teams.

Raiders eyeing Utah’s Spencer Fano

One of the biggest reasons the Raiders sit at 2-5 is the poor play of their offensive line. This unit has struggled all season to open running lanes for 2025 first-round pick Ashton Jeanty and has also struggled in pass protection, giving up 19 sacks. Pro Football Focus ranks the Raiders’ offensive line 28th in the NFL, highlighting the urgent need for improvement.

The right tackle spot, in particular, is a major concern. DJ Glaze has given up 15 pressures this season, and his 50.4 PFF run-blocking grade is well below starter level. Upgrading this position should be a priority, and the Raiders would be wise to consider taking a right tackle with their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

One potential target is Spencer Fano from Utah. The Raiders have shown strong interest, sending five scouts to watch his matchup against BYU last week. Fano is an elite run blocker, leading all offensive tackles with a 93.6 run-blocking grade this season, and helping the Utes average 245 rushing yards per game, the sixth-best mark in college football. He also displays impressive mobility in pass protection, allowing only two sacks over the past two years. Fundamentally sound and physically gifted, Fano has All-Pro potential and could be a perfect fit to stabilize the Raiders’ offensive line.

Bright spot at Penn State

This season has not gone the way anyone at Happy Valley hoped it would. Penn State entered the year projected to be one of the top teams in college football, but everything started to unravel after a double-overtime loss to Oregon. Since then, the Nittany Lions have dropped three straight games, sit at 0-4 in Big Ten play, have fired their head coach, and lost their starting quarterback for the season.

One player who has still managed to shine, however, is safety Zakee Wheatley. Wheatley has posted a career-best 83.8 PFF coverage grade this year and has cut his missed tackle rate nearly in half, dropping from 17 percent last season to just 9 percent.

Those improvements, combined with his natural athletic ability, should make him one of the first safeties selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Wheatley has excellent size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, along with the range and speed to play free safety at the next level. He’s also a physical hitter with enough strength to drop into the box when needed. One of his biggest issues last season was overpursuing the ball carrier, but he has shown major progress in correcting that flaw this year.

As for his draft stock, I have a late second-round grade on him. Evaluators across the industry are split, with Bleacher Report ranking him as the 18th-best player in the class, while NFL Mock Draft Database lists him at 237th. I side much closer to Bleacher Report’s view and would be shocked if Wheatley lasts beyond the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Could local star stay in Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals have underachieved in the passing game this season, which could lead to the team moving on from quarterback Kyler Murray. Regardless of who is behind center next year, the Cardinals must address the wide receiver position. Outside of Marvin Harrison Jr., the team has virtually no production at the position, as no other wideout has more than 15 receptions or 183 receiving yards this season.

One player the Cardinals are closely monitoring is Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who ranks as the top receiver on my board. Tyson is a big, physical target and the focal point of the Sun Devils’ offense this season. Through just seven games, he already has 57 receptions, the third most in college football. He also leads the team in receiving yards by 402 and in touchdown receptions by seven.

If the Cardinals were able to land Tyson, he could immediately form a dangerous duo with Marvin Harrison Jr., giving the team two young, high-level NFL receivers. Tyson’s strong hands are one of his best traits, as he has just one drop this season and has caught 53 percent of passes thrown to him in tight coverage according to PFF. He combines impressive strength with crisp route running that allows him to separate even against top defensive backs.

The big question is whether the Cardinals will be in position to draft him. Their current first-round pick sits at ninth overall. In my latest mock draft, I had Tyson going sixth overall to the New Orleans Saints. However, with plenty of football left to be played and Tyson dealing with a lingering hamstring injury, there is a chance his stock could dip slightly or that the Cardinals move up the board before the 2026 NFL Draft.

Not a great showing for Carson Beck

Miami quarterback Carson Beck is starting to raise red flags both on and off the field. Under pressure, Beck struggled against Louisville, underthrowing multiple passes and throwing four interceptions. This has been a recurring issue. Last season at Georgia he threw 12 picks, and over the past two seasons, he has had six games with multiple interceptions, showing a tendency for one mistake to lead to several more.

Off the field, Beck’s behavior is also concerning. His latest misstep involved publicly criticizing wide receiver Elija Lofton for one of his interceptions. Even if Beck intended to explain the play, such issues should be handled internally rather than aired in front of the media. Combined with his limited leadership at Georgia and the way he has handled personal matters, these factors make it unlikely that any team would consider using more than a late-round pick on him.

Late-round prospect for the New York Jets

Most of the talk surrounding the New York Jets focuses on what they’ll do with their first-round pick, which could end up being the number one overall selection. But that won’t be the only opportunity for the Jets to find an impact rookie. In fact, one of their three seventh-round picks could land them a legitimate difference-maker.

One area the Jets should target late is the return game, a spot that’s been a weakness all season, especially on punts. After waiving last year’s return man Xavier Gipson, the Jets have rotated through three different players with limited success.

That’s why Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen deserves a hard look in the seventh round. He’s arguably the best return specialist in college football, currently leading the NCAA with 25.9 yards per punt return, and has two punt return touchdowns over the past two seasons. He’s also averaging 32.8 yards on seven kickoff returns, showing explosive ability in both phases. While the Jets already have a strong kickoff returner in Kene Nwangwu, adding another dynamic threat like Wetjen would only make their special teams more dangerous.