NFL Draft Quick Hits: Shedeur Sanders struggles, J.C. Davis rising, Bills concern

The 2026 NFL Draft is coming fast, and this week made one thing clear: some teams are in serious trouble, and some prospects are flying under the radar. Cleveland’s quarterback situation is falling apart. Buffalo’s run defense is a ticking time bomb. Meanwhile, Illinois offensive tackle J.C. Davis and a small-school linebacker are proving they deserve more attention than they’re getting. Here’s the latest from around the draft.

No doubt the Browns need a quarterback

Shedeur Sanders going 25% for 47 yards and a pick against the Ravens tells you everything. He’s not ready, and it shows. And with Dillon Gabriel already struggling as the starter, Cleveland can’t pretend this is fine. They need a real solution. Draft someone like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza in the first round and bring in a veteran who can hold things together.

Illinois’s J.C. Davis seeing his stock rise

Illinois left tackle J.C. Davis is quietly putting together a strong season. He hasn’t allowed a sack since week two, and in his latest game against Maryland he didn’t give up a single pressure. Pro Football Focus rewarded him with an 85.6 overall season grade, the second-highest mark among all offensive tackles in college football and second in the Big Ten. A team like the Chicago Bears, who need a developmental tackle on day three, should be keeping a close eye on him.

Day two quarterback option for the Cardinals

It’s becoming pretty clear the Cardinals are gearing up to move on from Kyler Murray this offseason, which puts quarterback at the top of their to-do list. If they decide to draft one, they probably won’t be in range for the top two or three quarterbacks in the 2026 class. But there’s a legit day two option who fits what Jonathan Gannon wants: Clemson’s Cade Klubnik. He’s a true pocket passer, the kind of quarterback who fits Gannon’s system. And the Cardinals can get him without reaching, either with their third round pick or by sliding back in the second to grab him.

Despite down year, how high will Penn State running back go

No way around it, this has been a down year for Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton. His yards per carry plunged from 6.4 to 3.9, he has only two runs over 15 yards after hitting 18 last season, and he’s dropped almost 32 rushing yards per game. The production isn’t there. But the NFL won’t ignore his traits. Expect a team to take him early on day three, especially after he blows up the NFL Combine. A 6-foot, 224-pound back running a 4.35 will get people’s attention fast. The New York Jets, who hold an early fourth-round pick, are already showing plenty of interest.

49ers draft target

Another highly regarded Penn State prospect to watch is offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane, and he fits exactly what the San Francisco 49ers need. They’ve been forced to start rookie seventh rounder Connor Colby for most of the season, and he’s played like a late pick, already giving up 20 pressures. Ioane is the complete opposite. He’s surrendered only three pressures all year and hasn’t allowed a sack. That level of consistency is why the 49ers sent three scouts to see him up close in his latest game against Michigan State.

Ravens must address the offensive line

The Baltimore Ravens can’t be happy with what they’ve gotten from their offensive line this season. They’ve already allowed 30 sacks, which is the eighth-worst mark in the NFL and eight more than they gave up all of last year. The problem showed up again in their latest game, where they let Myles Garrett rack up four sacks on his own. Expect the Ravens to use at least one of their four fifth round picks on an offensive lineman this April.

Closing the season strong

Florida State wide receiver Duce Robinson is finishing the year on a heater. He’s topped 124 receiving yards in each of his last three games and has pulled in catches of 50-plus yards in two of those three. He’s up to 947 yards on the season after never topping 396 in any year at USC. His size is the real separator. Corners struggle to handle him on contested throws because they simply can’t match up with his frame. As for NFL fit, the Indianapolis Colts make plenty of sense in the mid rounds, especially after moving on from Adonai Mitchell earlier this season.

Addressing Bills poor run defense

The Bills’ run defense has been a problem all year. They’ve allowed a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns and just gave up 145 rushing yards before contact to the Buccaneers, the eighth-highest total anyone has surrendered this season. The linebackers are a big part of the issue. Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano have both struggled, and it shows up every week on tape. Don’t be surprised if Buffalo goes after multiple linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Two day two targets who fit what they need are Ohio State’s Sonny Styles and Georgia’s CJ Allen.

Small school stud

A small school prospect worth tracking as the draft gets closer is Southeastern Louisiana linebacker KK Reno. He’s put up 110 tackles this season, with 33 coming in just the last two weeks. He’s been rock solid against the run, earning a 93.3 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus, and he’s one of the most reliable tacklers in the 2026 class with only three misses all year. At 6-0 and 220 pounds he’s unlikely to get drafted, but he’s exactly the type of player who can stick in the NFL as a backup linebacker and a core special teams contributor.