NFL Draft Notebook: Trinidad Chambliss's draft blunder; why Browns will opt out at QB

The biggest NFL Draft storyline the week of Feb 9 centered on Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss winning another year of eligibility. While that decision is a win for the Rebels, it may not be a win for Chambliss long-term. This week’s NFL Draft Notebook breaks down why returning could hurt his stock, why the Browns are unlikely to draft another quarterback in 2026, key NFL Combine notes, and several team-specific draft fits.

Trinidad Chambliss mistake

While Chambliss won another year of eligibility in court last week, it may prove to be a decision he ultimately regrets. He likely would have been selected in the third or fourth round of this year’s draft, but the 2027 NFL Draft class is expected to be loaded at quarterback. Even if he improves on the field, which becomes more difficult with Lane Kiffin and much of his staff now at LSU, it is hard to see his stock rising significantly given concerns about his height and overall ceiling.

School records

Two programs set school records for the most NFL Combine invites in a single year: Texas A&M and Indiana. Texas A&M led the way with 13 invitees, the highest total of any school, including potential first-round picks KC Concepcion at wide receiver and Cashius Howell at outside linebacker. Indiana, meanwhile, had nine players invited, a program record and tied for the fifth most nationally. The headliner for the Hoosiers is quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Browns will not draft another quarterback

Despite Zac Jackson of The Athletic predicting the Browns will take another quarterback in the NFL Draft, that outcome is unlikely. Cleveland is not positioned to land the only true franchise quarterback in this class, Fernando Mendoza, and spending another pick on a developmental passer makes little sense after using two draft picks on quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The more realistic approach is building around Shedeur Sanders this season or signing a low-cost veteran to start while Sanders continues to develop, rather than creating unnecessary redundancy at the position.

NFL Combine snub

One of the more surprising NFL Combine snubs is Penn State wide receiver Trebor Pena. A polished route runner who is dangerous after the catch, he averaged close to seven yards after the catch this season. His production dipped in his first year at Penn State, but that came in an offense that struggled across the board. Just a year earlier at Syracuse, he was one of the most productive receivers in the ACC, recording a conference-high 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns. I named Pena my wide receiver sleeper of the year, and he has the tools to be either a late-round steal or a high-value undrafted free agent.

Patriots set at left tackle

According to New England head coach Mike Vrabel the Patriots are set at left tackle with Will Campbell, who they took with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While it is early to give up on a player who was a top-five pick just last April, keeping him at left tackle is a bigger mistake. This was extremely evident in the Super Bowl when he gave up an NFL season high 14 pressures against Seattle. Instead, the better move would be to move him inside to offensive guard, where he has All-Pro potential, and put someone in at left tackle who has more length. 

Linebacker option for Colts

A priority for the Colts this offseason will be upgrading a linebacker group that struggled for much of last season and lacks overall speed. One Day 3 option to watch is Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham, one of the most athletically gifted linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He earned an impressive 90.4 PFF run-defense grade this past season, and his coverage ability has steadily improved, giving him the upside to develop into a three-down contributor.

"He’s (Jaishawn Barham) one of the best players in the country. There’s no doubt about it. He might be the most physical player I’ve ever been around."

Former Michigan DL coach Lou Esposito

Tyler Allgeier replacement

The Falcons could lose Tyler Allgeier this offseason, as he is expected to draw strong interest in free agency, and with Bijan Robinson firmly established as Atlanta’s lead back, a return seems unlikely. If that happens, Atlanta will likely look to add a young running back on Day 3 of the draft to fill the No. 2 role. A strong fit would be Indiana’s Roman Hemby, my sleeper running back in the 2026 NFL Draft. He averaged 3.36 yards after contact this past season, runs with a physical downhill edge, and adds value in the passing game after catching 17 of 18 targets.

Size is a priority in Green Bay

One area the Packers will likely address in the 2026 NFL Draft is offensive guard, particularly as the team continues to emphasize a power running identity. That approach means Green Bay prioritizes bigger, more physical interior linemen. A potential second-round fit is Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, who measures 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds. Although he played right tackle at Iowa, his strength and play style project well inside, where he would be a natural fit in Green Bay’s inside zone scheme. The All-Big Ten selection also posted an 80.0 PFF run-blocking grade this season, reinforcing his value as a tone-setter in the run game.

Undrafted free agent find

A player who could be a strong addition as an undrafted free agent is Utah offensive guard Tanoa Togiai. Despite not receiving an NFL Combine invite and being overlooked by most draft analysts, he offers legitimate developmental value and depth along the interior offensive line. At 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds, Togiai shows impressive mobility for his size, consistently reaching the second level in the run game and holding up in pass protection, where he allowed just seven pressures this season. He is not a dominant power blocker, but in a wide zone scheme that emphasizes movement and angles, he could become a quality depth piece with upside.

Travis Hunter will focus on defense 

While most of the attention is on the upcoming NFL Draft class, it is worth monitoring last year’s group as well. Travis Hunter is coming off a disappointing season that ended with a season-ending injury, and the plan now is for him to focus more on defense. Before the injury, he played 67% of the team’s offensive snaps compared to just 36% on defense. With Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown both potential free agents, the shift makes sense from a roster standpoint. That said, continuing to use Hunter extensively on both sides of the ball is risky. He may have rare endurance, but he has dealt with multiple injuries over the past three seasons, and overuse has been a major factor.