NFL Draft Quick Hits: John Mateer not declaring, Saints eying QB plus more draft news

One of the bigger storylines in the 2026 NFL Draft cycle is Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer returning from a hand injury and how it could affect his draft stock. Meanwhile, the Saints are looking more and more like they’ll select a quarterback with their top pick, the Packers are evaluating tight end depth, and several skill-position players, including Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson and North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance, are making strong cases to climb draft boards. Here’s a look at the top quick hits shaping this year’s draft conversation.

John Mateer returning to school

While nothing has been made official, it sounds like Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer will be returning to school next fall. The main reason appears to be a hand injury that has limited him over the past few games and caused his performance to drop off. His last three outings have been his least productive of the season and have played a major role in the Sooners’ 1–2 record during that stretch. Mateer also needs another year to refine his game if he wants to improve his draft stock. Specifically, he must develop better pocket awareness and cut down on forcing throws into coverage. If he can make those improvements, he has the talent to become a top-60 pick next year. If he entered the draft now, it’s hard to see him being selected before Day 3.

It looks more like the Saints might take a quarterback

Heading into Week 8, it looked like the Saints might be wise to avoid drafting a quarterback with their likely top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Spencer Rattler had played solid football for most of the season and seemed capable of holding down the starting job with a better supporting cast. But after Rattler was benched during the Tampa Bay game and the team named Tyler Shough the starter moving forward, that outlook has shifted. Now, it’s starting to look more and more like New Orleans will target a quarterback, possibly Oregon’s Dante Moore, with their first-round selection.

Why tight end could be a need for the Packers

While Tucker Kraft is coming off one of the best games any tight end has had all season, catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh, and there’s even talk of him earning All-Pro consideration, tight end remains a need for the Packers. The reason is depth. No other tight end on the roster has more than six receptions or 54 receiving yards this season. That lack of production behind Kraft makes the position a likely Day 3 priority in the 2026 NFL Draft. One player who could be a strong fit is North Carolina State’s Justin Joly, who’s also coming off an impressive performance and was ranked as one of this week’s top standouts by NFL Mocks.

Not a great grade

Heading into the 2025 season, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was viewed as a potential top-10 prospect. However, things haven’t gone according to plan. Recently, The Post and Courier gave him a D+ grade for his season, citing indecisive play and a tendency to perform best against weak defenses, including units ranked 95th (North Carolina), 115th (Boston College), and 134th (SMU). While his struggles may drop him out of first-round consideration, Klubnik could still be a strong value pick if he falls to Day 3 of the draft.

Running back being overlooked

The most underrated running back in the 2026 NFL Draft has to be Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson. To start with he is one of the quicker backs in the class and this season has already broken off 24 runs that have gone at least 10 yards while rushing for 837 yards so far this season. He is also a super reliable receiver out of the backfield having caught 87% of the passes thrown his way. 

Position switch 

A player who may change positions in the NFL is South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown, who could be best suited to move to tight end. The biggest reason for this potential switch is that while he’s only an average passer, he’s an excellent runner with the ball in his hands. In three of his last four games, he’s rushed for over 100 yards and has scored a 40-yard rushing touchdown in each of the last four seasons. In addition, he has the size to make the move, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 231 pounds. While that’s a bit undersized for a traditional tight end, it could allow him to naturally fit as an H-back who can also line up at fullback. Expect a team to bring Brown in after the draft to evaluate his receiving skills and blocking ability for the transition.

True deep threat

One of the best deep threats in the 2026 NFL Draft is North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance, who ranks among the top three small-school prospects in this year’s class. This season, the Bison standout is averaging an impressive 21 yards per reception and has recorded a catch of over 30 yards in each of his last three games. In addition to being a dangerous downfield target, he’s also a threat on designed runs, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown against Southern Illinois. I currently have a third-round grade on Lance and think he would be an ideal fit for a team like the San Francisco 49ers.

Sure-handed receiver needed in Jacksonville

While I doubt Jacksonville takes a wide receiver early in the 2026 NFL Draft, expect them to target one in the middle rounds, possibly using one of their eight Day Three picks. The receiver they add must bring reliable hands, as drops have been a major issue for this team, which leads the league with 21. One name to watch is Rutgers wideout Ian Strong, who has dropped only two passes over the past two seasons.