NFL News Updates

Author: nfltalk

  • 2026 NFL Combine grades: Top OL prospects led by Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling

    2026 NFL Combine grades: Top OL prospects led by Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling

    The two NFL teams that appeared in the Super Bowl — the Patriots and the Seahawks — each used last year’s first-round pick on an offensive lineman. Who from this year’s draft could follow a similar path? This year’s candidates participated in athletic testing and on-field drills Sunday to close out the NFL Scouting Combine.

    CBS Sports currently has seven prospects ranked among the top-25 overall: Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane, Utah’s Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor and Clemson’s Blake Miller. A year ago, eight offensive linemen heard their names called on opening night of the draft.

    Here is how several offensive linemen fared Sunday in Indianapolis.

    The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.

    Grading top OL prospects

    Measurables: 6-foot-5½, 329 pounds, 10⅝-inch hands,…..

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  • Top Alabama recruiting target reportedly sets commitment date

    Top Alabama recruiting target reportedly sets commitment date

    According to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, top Alabama Crimson Tide basketball recruiting target Jaxon Richardson is set to make an official commitment.

    Richardson will reportedly announce his decision between four different finalists this upcoming Thursday, March 5. Those finalists are Alabama, Creighton, Ole Miss, and USC, per Biancardi.

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    One of the nation’s top uncommitted prospects, Richardson is considered as the No. 27 overall player nationally in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. A four-star prospect, Richardson also ranks as the nation’s No. 10 small forward, as well as the No. 5 player in the state of Florida where he attends Southeastern Prep.

    Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class currently has two players signed with the Crimson Tide in Qayden Samuels and Tarris Bouie. Both of ranked as Top 50 prospects nationally, per 247Sports, with Samuels considered a five-star recruit.

    Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

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    This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama basketball target Jaxon Richardson sets commitment date

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  • Reportedly far apart on contract talks, Colts using transition tag on QB Daniel Jones remains an option

    Reportedly far apart on contract talks, Colts using transition tag on QB Daniel Jones remains an option

    With the Indianapolis Colts and pending free agent starting quarterback Daniel Jones reportedly still ‘not close’ in ongoing contract negotiations , ESPN’s Dan Graziano indicated that the transition tag could be an option for the Horseshoe before the league’s tag deadline of March 3rd at 4 PM EST:

    “If the Colts can’t get a deal done with Jones by Tuesday’s tag deadline, it sounds like they’ll put the transition tag on him,” writes Graziano.

    “That means Pierce could hit free agency and another team could sign Jones to an offer sheet (and the Colts wouldn’t get draft pick compensation if he were to sign elsewhere). I think the Colts push to get a long-term deal done with Jones to avoid those possibilities, but as of Saturday morning, it doesn’t sound close.”

    It’s worth noting that an NFL club can only use either the franchise tag or the transition tag once per offseason, so the Colts have one tag at their disposal to potentially use between the priority internal free agent duo of Jones and lead wideout Alec Pierce, who should also have a number of interested suitors.

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    Via Colts.com, in contrast to the franchise tag, the transition tag operates as follows:

    “Like the non-exclusive franchise tag, players can negotiate offer sheets with other teams while on the transition tag. There are two key differences: First, the salary of the transition tag is determined by the average of the top 10 salaries at a player’s position over the last five years; second, if a team declines to match an offer sheet, it does not receive compensation in return. It’s basically a right of first refusal mechanism.”

    For Jones ahead of this year’s free agency, the transition tag would be a projected $43.9 million.

    If I were the Colts, allowing breakout wideout Alec Pierce, who’s emerged as one of the league’s elite deep threats at 25-years-old—having led the NFL in highest average yards per reception for consecutive seasons, hit free agency…

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  • 2026 NFL combine results: Measurements, 40 times and testing numbers by position

    2026 NFL combine results: Measurements, 40 times and testing numbers by position

    INDIANAPOLIS — It’s Saturday of NFL combine week, which means prospect measurements and on-field workouts are officially in full swing. The schedule is as follows:

    Saturday: QB, RB and WR
    Sunday: OL

    In the morning, players log official measurements, including height, weight, wingspan, arm length and hand size. In the afternoon, they participate in on-field testing — including the 40-yard dash, vertical and broad jumps, and bench press — before wrapping up with positional drills inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

    The festivities kicked off Thursday with defensive linemen, edge rushers and linebackers. Much of the day’s discussion centered on Rueben Bain Jr.’s historically short arms, but once workouts began, attention shifted to the top prospects not named Bain, who elected not to work out. (Other top prospects to sit out included Peter Woods, Akheem Mesidor and CJ Allen.)

    Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese — the No. 3 prospect in CBS Sports draft analyst Mike Renner’s rankings — performed like a bona fide top-five pick, as did Ohio State LB Sonny Styles (No. 10) and Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey (No. 19).

    Defensive backs and tight ends were next up Friday, and a pair of Oregon standouts stole the show. Dillon Thieneman, already a first-round talent in terms of production, blew away athletic expectations with his testing and on-field drills, solidifying himself as a Night 1 prospect. 

    His teammate, Kenyon Sadiq, followed that up by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash — the fastest by a tight end in combine history. In a position group lacking elite talent, it’s not a question of if Sadiq will go in Round 1 — it’s a matter of how high.

    Now the focus shifts to the other offensive skill players, with quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers…

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  • 2026 NFL combine WR workouts: Top prospect grades and biggest standouts

    2026 NFL combine WR workouts: Top prospect grades and biggest standouts

    Day 3 of the NFL Combine means the fireworks can begin. Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers worked out Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. For wide receivers, it was a chance to stand out in a deep class loaded with potential. While some prospects stole the show, others left with more questions than answers.

    Below, we graded the performances of the top wideouts in the CBS Sports prospect rankings, courtesy of NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner, and highlighted other standout performers.

    The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23–25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.

    Grading top WR prospects

    Measurables: 6-foot-2⅛, 203 pounds, 9⅛-inch hands, 30¼-inch arm length, 75¼-inch wingspanTesting: Did not participate in on-field testing

    Grade: N/A — Jordyn Tyson chose not to participate in drills or athletic testing. CBS Sports has him ranked sixth overall and as the top wide receiver in the…

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  • Fernando Mendoza draws loud crowd reaction at NFL combine

    Fernando Mendoza draws loud crowd reaction at NFL combine

    Most football prospects testing at the 2026 NFL combine needed impressive performances – a fast 40-yard dash or spectacular catch in drills – to draw notable reactions from the crowd.

    Fernando Mendoza is not most prospects.

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    The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Indiana managed to draw a loud cheer from the crowd just by showing up at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28. Mendoza, who is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, opted out of participating in drills at the combine.

    Mendoza still joined the other quarterbacks on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium during his position group’s on-field testing period on Feb. 28. When the production team at the field showed him on the in-stadium screen, the crowd cheered loudly.

    After beginning his collegiate career with the California Golden Bears, Mendoza transferred to Indiana before the 2025 season. In his lone year with the Hoosiers, Mendoza won all 16 of his starts, and Indiana won the CFP National Championship – their first in program history.

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    The Indiana quarterback finished the 2025 season with a 72% completion rate, 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Missouri defensive back Torinao Pride

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Missouri defensive back Torinao Pride

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Duke defensive lineman VJ Anthony

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Arkansas linebacker Xavian Sorey

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    2026 NFL Scouting Combine: Athletes show intensity during drills

    Florida…

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  • Coveted CB Kamauri Whitfield names Florida football as ‘top school’

    Coveted CB Kamauri Whitfield names Florida football as ‘top school’

    First Academy (Florida) cornerback Kamauri Whitfield is strongly considering the University of Florida after decommitting from the Tennessee Volunteers earlier this month, according to Swamp247.

    The Gators hosted him on its Jan. 10 Junior Day, and Whitfield backed off his pledge to the Volunteers a little over a month later on Feb. 13. The decision came after changes to Tennessee’s coaching staff and a strong junior season that raised his profile, resulting in increased interest among Power Four programs. Mississippi State, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech are among the schools that offered him, and Florida reaffirmed its offer extended in January.

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    With the Orange and Blue making him a priority target, Whitfield has grown fond of the program. Gainesville will be his first stop of the summer when he takes an official visit from May 28-30. Trips to Oregon, Nebraska and Virginia Tech are to follow. Whitefield says one of those three programs is likely alongside Florida in his top two, right now.

    “Florida, they stand pretty high in my recruitment right now,” Whitfield said to Swamp247. “They’ll be, like, top two right now, like top one, top two.”

    The Ducks and Hokies are expected to host him in spring, as are the national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Florida is working to get him on campus during the spring, too.

    Florida nickelbacks coach Dae’one Wilkins is leading the charge in this recruitment. The Gators plan to use Whitfield at multiple positions, but his primary spot would be at the nickel. Wilkins is young and relates well to Whitfield. Being an in-state option is also a plus for the Gators.

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    Kamauri Whitfield’s Recruiting Summary

    Whitfield is a consensus three-star recruit across all three major recruiting services — 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals. 247Sports has him ranked No. 559 nationally…

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  • Fernando Mendoza explains what he wants to learn most from Tom Brady if he goes to Raiders

    Fernando Mendoza explains what he wants to learn most from Tom Brady if he goes to Raiders

    Getty Images

    When the 2026 NFL Draft begins in two months and the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick, there isn’t expected to be much mystery about who they’ll be selecting. 

    The Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is considered the clear QB1 in an otherwise shaky quarterback class. Mendoza is the heavy favorite to go first overall in April, and if that comes to fruition, he’ll be tasked with leading a major turnaround in Las Vegas. 

    While the Raiders and general manager John Spytek have a lot of work to do to provide Mendoza with the necessary support around him on the roster, one thing Mendoza would have is an all-time great as a mentor in Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. Mendoza sat down with CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and explained what he’d be most excited to learn from Brady if he ends up in Vegas. 

    “I would say his system and his discipline,” Mendoza said. “The way he has a system — the TB12 Method. I’ve already read the book. Everything that he’s all about is something that I’ve always emulated as a football player. And anything the coaching staff has as coaching points, like, ‘Hey Fernando, we need you to get better at this, this and that,’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Hey Tom, how do I get better at this, this and that?’ If I get selected by Mr. Spytek and the Raiders. If that does happen, it’d be a great opportunity. But any team I get drafted by, I look forward to utilizing their former quarterbacks as well.” 

    Mendoza understands that the separator at the quarterback position is preparation by being both mentally prepared in the film room and physically prepared by taking care of your body. It often takes…

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