{"id":714532,"date":"2026-04-20T11:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T11:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714532\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T11:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T11:00:29","slug":"anonymous-nfl-draft-intel-fernando-mendoza-better-prospect-than-cam-ward-drake-maye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714532\/","title":{"rendered":"Anonymous NFL Draft intel: Fernando Mendoza better prospect than Cam Ward, Drake Maye?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 NFL Draft is not a stacked one<\/a>. After two months of talks with more than two dozen NFL coaches and scouts, granted anonymity for their candor, the consensus is that we\u2019ve got a bad draft for quarterbacks, a \u201cnot great\u201d one for receivers and the worst draft for defensive tackles in at least a decade. The good news? For teams that need a safety, this is a terrific group.<\/p>\n

The draft is defined by its quarterbacks<\/p>\n

The strongest take The Athletic has gotten is this, from an NFL scout: \u201cAfter (Fernando) Mendoza, it drops off a cliff.\u201d It was an opinion echoed by an NFL personnel director this week.<\/p>\n

That scouting executive, though, is very high on the Indiana Heisman Trophy winner, saying that he believes Mendoza merits being a first-pick-of-the-draft guy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stuff that people in prior years look back and say (about QBs they missed on): \u2018I\u2019m pissed that I didn\u2019t notice that he had that.\u2019 Fernando has that,\u201d said the exec. \u201cIt\u2019s his efficiency in the red zone; you can tell that the plays that he makes, he has practiced them. Over his whole career, he has gotten better. He has those intangibles that people say are the reasons that people screw up in the draft.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he has the answers to the test. I loved Cam Ward, but Fernando\u2019s a better prospect than him. There are some physical traits in terms of arm strength and ability to run, where Drake Maye may have a little more, but I feel much better about Fernando than I did about Drake \u2014 and I like Drake.<\/p>\n

\u201cFernando shows that he knows how to handle adversity. You see it all over the tape: Bouncing back from getting hit against Miami in the title game. Throwing picks, coming back against Oregon and Penn State.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe toughness really stands out,\u201d said another NFL scout. \u201cThe dude sits in there and takes some really good shots. He\u2019s got good, not excellent, arm talent. I think he has a chance to be a solid starter. He\u2019s a clean prospect. There are some just questions on the high-end stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mendoza\u2019s evolution from overlooked \u201ctwo-star\u201d recruit to Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to a 16-0 season and the national championship behind a 41-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio is one of the more remarkable paths to the draft. Still, the chatter about his worth has been fascinating over the past two months. But none of the NFL folks I spoke to believed there was another quarterback in this class who was as good as Mendoza.<\/p>\n

One big transition for Mendoza, an NFL QB coach noted, was that he only threw from under center about three times in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s obviously gonna be a huge difference for him,\u201d said the coach. \u201cA lot of their stuff was pre-snap and box count. RPOs and back-shoulders. Indiana did have a little more of a developed downfield passing game with some of its three-level reads and seven-step progressions than some spread teams in college do. But there\u2019s not a ton of carryover.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe does have arm talent. His footwork will be more of an adjustment, staying on time and getting the ball out. He drives the ball down the field well. He\u2019s accurate downfield, and he\u2019s fearless in the pocket. That\u2019s why I think he\u2019ll be successful. Even going back to his two years at Cal, where it\u2019s a dirty pocket, he\u2019s got guys in his face, he\u2019s getting messed up at Cal, and still delivering throwing seam balls while he\u2019s getting smoked. He\u2019s comfortable with being pressured.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are many more questions about the rest of the QB class.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are some things about (Alabama\u2019s) Ty Simpson I appreciate, but the lack of experience and real starter traits is a concern,\u201d said the personnel director. \u201cHe needed to stay in college.\u201d<\/p>\n

An NFL offensive assistant said about LSU\u2019s Garrett Nussmeier: \u201cI see him being better than Spencer Rattler, that type of guy. He\u2019s a good player. Obviously, the wheels fell off there at LSU. But I like his makeup. I think he\u2019s wired the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n

And on Penn State\u2019s Drew Allar, the personnel director noted: \u201cHe has a ton of real traits, but he\u2019s just not a killer. I actually think he\u2019s a really good processor, but I think it\u2019s performance anxiety. It\u2019s like in basketball: He\u2019s the guy in the layup line, and you think, Oh, that guy\u2019s gonna be good. But then you get into the game and he disappears.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another polarizing player<\/p>\n

Mendoza wasn\u2019t the only star college player from last season who emerged as a polarizing player. Miami\u2019s Rueben Bain was arguably the most dominant defensive player in college football. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound edge rusher annihilated offenses in the Canes\u2019 College Football Playoff run, but his 30 7\/8 inch arms, it has been noted extensively<\/a>, would be the shortest of any first-round defensive lineman in modern draft history.<\/p>\n

Bain was involved in an auto accident<\/a> in 2024, where a passenger later died from injuries sustained in the crash. Bain was cited for careless driving, but it was eventually dismissed, and he was never charged in connection with the accident. NFL teams have been aware of the incident for some time, and it didn\u2019t sound like it has affected anyone\u2019s feelings about Bain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time you get a guy who falls outside of that range (of measurables) where they don\u2019t check that one box, you\u2019ve just gotta spend a little more time on them and go back and watch them against real guys,\u201d said one NFL scout. \u201cI\u2019m not worried about it. He\u2019s just so strong and has top-end bend, and to be that powerful and have that kind of slip, he\u2019s just a really natural player. He does a good job of keeping guys\u2019 hands off of him. Will it rear its head more at our level against some of the creatures on the offensive line? Probably, but I still think he\u2019s gonna be a really good player. He really sets the edge and plays with such violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t heard anyone take the stance that they don\u2019t like Rueben Bain. He definitely is an outlier. But if you work the (arm) argument backwards, why is this guy worthy of making an exception? Watch the film. He proves it time and time again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NFL personnel director also said he wasn\u2019t concerned about Bain\u2019s short arms: \u201cHe is so powerful and to be that thick in his lower body to be that flexible is pretty rare.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was some concern about Bain\u2019s transition to the NFL because of his arm length from defensive line coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis arm length does scare me, especially against tackles,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cHe ain\u2019t gonna be able to get into them. I think his get-off is really good and his bend is crazy, especially for a square-shaped guy. You\u2019d think he\u2019d be more top-heavy, but his bend is like Nik Bonitto-crazy. But I do think he will struggle right away because he has to be the aggressor. These guys will put their hands out there and wall you off. You gotta be the aggressor in everything you do. He\u2019s got a good speed to power, and that has to be his go-to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another coach has some skepticism about Bain because he struggled to find a good comp from the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really, really like the player,\u201d said DL coach No. 2. \u201cHe\u2019s in like the 2 percentile in the history of modern football. How many 10-sack guys have 30 1\/2-inch arms (30 7\/8)? He doesn\u2019t look like very many guys in our league. He\u2019s powerful, good with his hands and can really bend. That all translates, but it\u2019s the length when you\u2019re going against guys that are 6-6, 330 pounds. Are they gonna cover him up cause he can\u2019t get them off his body? But he\u2019s such a good player, I think he\u2019s still gonna go top 10.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the past 25 years, there have been some ultra-productive edge players whose arms were only 32 inches. Trey Hendrickson has been to four Pro Bowls; Terrell Suggs had 139 career sacks; Jared Allen has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But does that inch and an eighth make that big of a difference?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe plays the game the way it\u2019s supposed to be played,\u201d said DL coach No. 3. \u201cHe just plays so hard that the short arms really don\u2019t matter, and it didn\u2019t affect him in college. His get-off is so good that it allows him to compensate. His motor really allows him to get away with it. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s gonna be an issue for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know they talk about his arm length a lot, but he\u2019s so powerful,\u201d said DL coach No. 4. \u201cHe plays the run game the best and he still has a lot of upside. He\u2019s still rushing off raw ability. Once he gets his technique down, he can go to another level. He will create separation with his power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Arvell Reese had high praise from folks in the NFL and is a projected top-3 pick. (John Fisher \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Arvell Reese is beloved<\/p>\n

I expect Bain to be the third edge rusher selected, behind Ohio State\u2019s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech\u2019s David Bailey (it\u2019s a toss-up which of those two is drafted first). I see them, along with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, as the best prospects in this class.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell: The 6-4, 241-pound Reese, the No. 1 overall prospect on Dane Brugler\u2019s top 100, was preferred by three of the four defensive line coaches I spoke to.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the best of the bunch,\u201d said DL coach No. 3. \u201cHe has everything: the violence, the power, the strike, the length, the bend, the acceleration. His pro day was so impressive. He\u2019s the best defensive player for sure. He\u2019s the best edge defender I\u2019ve seen in a few years. I\u2019m not sure about pure pass rush, but edge defender, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s the best,\u201d said DL coach No. 1, who thinks Reese is \u201ca tad more athletic\u201d than Bailey. \u201cHe\u2019s pretty dynamic, but I\u2019d just put him at one position and let him be. Learn it. Watch his film; it\u2019s a lot of off-ball. When you come into the league, you gotta have clean eyes right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reese, who ran a 4.46 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine, was a one-year starter for Ohio State and didn\u2019t put up eye-popping stats (6.5 sacks in 2025), but his film had college and pro coaches raving.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just so raw,\u201d said DL coach No. 4. \u201cHe has everything. He has the burst, the bend and the power. But everything is so new to him. You have to explain to him that this is what you work and why you\u2019re working it. But once you tell him why or the mistake that he made, he\u2019s not going to make it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bailey, who is two years older than Reese, measured in 10 pounds heavier at 251 pounds, but still ran a fast 4.50 40 to go with a 10-9 broad jump. After three seasons at Stanford, he transferred to Texas Tech and tore up the Big 12, producing 14.5 sacks and 19.5 TFLs.<\/p>\n

The NFL personnel director favored Bailey over Reese: \u201cHe\u2019s a cleaner fit. Arvell\u2019s upside is rare, but his pass rush is from blitzes. He\u2019s just raw. You understand why he\u2019s a one-year starter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is an elite pass rusher,\u201d said DL coach No. 2. \u201cHis game will transition to our league extremely well. I think he\u2019s better than Abdul Carter, who went third last year. He is super explosive. In his pass rush, I see some of the things that Von Miller used to do. I don\u2019t know if he\u2019s that loose and twitchy, but the explosion and the 10-yard time and the vertical, that is a comp. Von used to dip and jump out; that\u2019s what this kid does.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4 was wowed by Bailey\u2019s third-down pass rush film: \u201cHe barely false steps. He\u2019s getting off before anybody else moves. He\u2019s not a long strider. He gets a lot of steps in quick, which can mess up the O-linemen a bit. Not sure how powerful he is. That\u2019s my biggest question mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 3\u2019s biggest question regarding Bailey\u2019s toughness: \u201cWill he push through adversity? The league has changed in the past few years. People are really running the ball to run it, and not just to set up the pass. He\u2019s gonna have to be able to take on tackles and fend for his life on early downs because people are gonna want to run right at him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The strength of this class? Edges<\/p>\n

I expect at least three edge players to go in the top 10 with Reese, Bailey and Bain. After that, I think Auburn\u2019s Keldric Faulk and Miami\u2019s Akheem Mesidor go in the first round, but then it\u2019s a guessing game. There\u2019s talent, but not much of a consensus.<\/p>\n

The Faulk-Mesidor conversation is intriguing because 21-year-old Faulk wasn\u2019t anywhere near as impactful as Mesidor, but he\u2019s four years younger and played for a program that was really struggling. At around 6-5 1\/2 (he apparently shrank half an inch between the combine and his pro day), the 274-pound Faulk, with 35-inch arms, ran a 4.67 40. But he went from seven sacks in 2024 to just two last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis \u201924 tape is definitely better than last year,\u201d one of the NFL scouts said. \u201cHe played with more violence, but he\u2019s a young kid. He tested better than people were expecting. His wiring is really good. I think he\u2019s gonna go high.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey probably should\u2019ve left him at one position,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cI think he will pan out. I think he\u2019s a better sub-rush 3-technique and is your outside backer. Ran in the 4.6s. I think he\u2019ll give you more juice. Put him with Houston, with those two edge rushers, and he could have eight, 10 sacks. There\u2019s so much more you can do with him because he has a lot of position flex.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4 thinks Faulk is worth betting on. \u201cI think he could be a crazy interior rusher. He can stop the run on the edge and can collapse the pocket. He could be 290 pounds, easy. He\u2019s gonna be big, and he can move. He changed his body, got cut up \u2014 he\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Mesidor\u2019s age gave one of the D-line coaches pause, the other three think he has a chance to make a big impact in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s the best interior rusher in the whole draft,\u201d said DL coach No. 2. \u201cI\u2019m not saying he can\u2019t rush off the edge, but when they move him inside, he is a problem. Someone will draft him in the first round, and they can play him on the edge first and second down outside and move him around on third down. I think he may have more of an impact as a rusher earlier than Bain because of what he can do inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has the most technique right now. He\u2019s polished. He knows how to use his hands and he wins a lot,\u201d said DL coach No. 4<\/p>\n

Said DL coach No. 3: \u201cI think he\u2019s just as good as Bain. He has longer limbs and he plays just as hard. Bain has a bit more strike, but Mesidor has more wiggle. I think he might be a better pass rusher earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other potential first-round edgesUCF\u2019s Malachi Lawrence, a 6-4 1\/2, 253-pounder who clocked a 4.52 40 with a 40-inch vertical and 10-10 broad jump.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my sleeper,\u201d DL coach No. 4. \u201cHe has power but he doesn\u2019t really know how to use it. But he\u2019s so fast off the ball; he gets guys on their heels. He\u2019s more of a traits guy, but he doesn\u2019t know how to unlock all of them. He\u2019s OK in the run, but he\u2019s not gonna set an edge every single time. He\u2019s inconsistent.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s raw. There are some awareness things with him that aren\u2019t great, but I like the player.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 1: \u201cEverybody at the pro days was talking about this kid. He had a huge following.\u201d<\/p>\n

Missouri\u2019s Zion Young, at almost 6-6, 262 pounds with 4.75 speed and 16.5 TFLs last season<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4: \u201cI think he gets drafted higher than people project. He\u2019s so powerful and a good all-around player. He\u2019s the run defender that you want on the edge and he can kick in to play 4i or could rush interior on third downs. He has juice and speed but he\u2019s not twitchy-twitchy. He does know how to generate power quickly, though. That\u2019s his game.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 1: \u201cHe\u2019s gonna be a steal in the second round. He had good numbers, but those other guys are really sexy. I would take him over Mesidor just because of the age, without a doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clemson\u2019s T.J. Parker, a 6-3 1\/2, 263-pounder with 4.68 speed and 41.5 TFLs in the past three seasons<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4: \u201cHe has some power, has quickness. He can stop the run right now. Got a lot of upside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other intriguing edgesIllinois\u2019 Gabe Jacas<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s more of a 4-3 end. Real tough. Real physical. He is not an outside linebacker. Too stiff. He\u2019s not a space player. But he can crush an edge and beat a reach block.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michigan\u2019s Derrick Moore<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 1: \u201cHe\u2019s a Jonah Elliss type. So physical. He wants all the smoke. He can be a SAM backer in a 3-4. In a 4-3, he\u2019ll set edges and will bang heads all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas A&M\u2019s Cashius Howell<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 1: \u201cHe causes hell.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4: \u201cHe has twitch. I don\u2019t think he has power, and he has short arms, which concerns me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oklahoma\u2019s R Mason Thomas<\/p>\n

DL coach No.1: \u201cHe\u2019s intriguing. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s too small. He has a good football IQ and he makes some hustle plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 4: \u201cLow-key kinda strong. He has power in his toolbox.\u201d<\/p>\n

Select your safety<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really good class,\u201d said DB coach No. 1. \u201cI liked the class last year and wasn\u2019t a fan of the year before, but this is a unique class. I think there are three or four Day 1 starters. I know everyone is talking about Caleb (Downs), and I think he\u2019s in that, but the kid from Toledo (Emmanuel McNeil-Warren) is a freak with some serious upside. He\u2019s raw. I love Dillon (Thieneman). He\u2019s unreal. I think Treydan Stukes is highly underrated. He can play man. He can hold the point. He\u2019s big and long. Super smart. I think they\u2019re all Day 1 starters. I think those four are gonna be game-changers. Then there\u2019s Bud Clark and (A.J.) Haulcy, who are really good players.\u201d<\/p>\n

DB coach No. 2 said it\u2019s the best safety class since he\u2019s been in the NFL. Both coaches see Oregon\u2019s Thieneman, a 6-0, 201-pounder who ran a 4.35 40 and vertical jumped 41 1\/2 inches at the combine, as a prospect on the level of Downs. He spent two seasons at Purdue before transferring to Oregon last season in a very different scheme. In his three seasons in college football, he made over 300 tackles and had eight INTs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would take Thieneman over Downs,\u201d said DB coach No. 2. \u201cThieneman is one of the more versatile safeties I\u2019ve seen come out in the last few years. I feel good about him in the deep part of the field, about him in and around the box and about him in coverage, especially from a safeties standpoint. I loved the movement skills from him at the combine. He looked really fluid and loose. There\u2019s a lot to like with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

DB coach No. 1 said it wouldn\u2019t surprise him if some team took Thieneman ahead of Downs because he thinks the Oregon DB is that good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Dillon Thieneman is pretty special,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s ready right now. I think he\u2019s the best tackler I\u2019ve seen in years, but he\u2019s also got the speed and flexibility to turn and run. I think he has first- and second-level instincts and can fit runs like a linebacker, but he can run like the wind in the back end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NFL personnel director thinks Downs is the best safety of a strong group.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s a three-level player,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s just not that long, and his speed is good but not elite. I think he\u2019s a mix between Budda Baker and Minkah Fitzpatrick. I think he\u2019s worthy of being a top-10 pick. He can play nickel, play strong, blitz.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 5-11 5\/8, 208-pound Downs didn\u2019t run a 40 at the combine or his pro day. His 30 1\/4-inch arms are a bit of a concern in the DB coaches\u2019 eyes. But he\u2019s been exceptionally productive at both Alabama, where he picked up Nick Saban\u2019s system as a true freshman and led the Tide in tackles by a wide margin, and then as a leader on the Buckeyes defense.<\/p>\n

Downs has been compared a lot to Baker, who isn\u2019t quite as big, though his arms are a half-inch longer. Baker has made eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons. Ohio State used Downs similarly to how the Arizona Cardinals used Budda Baker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been a recurring trend that I keep hearing with Thieneman pushing Downs. I do not see that,\u201d said DB coach No. 3. \u201cI think coaches are nervous because they haven\u2019t seen him cover or in the deep part of the field. This guy sat down at his formal interview and installed his defense, and then talked about how he would play it in our defense. He knew the rules of our defense before he came into the meeting. Nobody\u2019s doing that. There\u2019s a premium on intelligence at the safety position in the NFL, more so than people not in the NFL understand. And the way the game is going with limited practices and limited practice reps, that premium is only becoming more valuable. Defensive coaches are asking players to do more. Downs is invaluable. And he\u2019s an elite tackler.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis ability to react to what he sees in the deep part of the field, although it\u2019s sparing on this year\u2019s tape, is still really strong. I think he\u2019s a top-10 pick. I have no concerns about him covering. If you\u2019re playing him at nickel, then yeah, I\u2019d be worried about him covering. But this is a safety. He\u2019s gonna take the fourth hardest matchup. When is the safety covering the second-hardest to guy to cover? If that\u2019s your defense, then that\u2019s a bad defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toledo\u2019s McNeil-Warren, at 6-3 1\/2, 201, ran a 4.52 40 at the combine and made 77 tackles for the Rockets in 2025. \u201cHe probably has the most upside of all these guys,\u201d said DB coach No. 1. \u201cMcNeil is super raw with a lot of development, but his ceiling is pretty high. But \u2026 his basement could be pretty low.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said DB coach No. 2: \u201cHe could be really special, and the other thing about him is he can take the ball away. He\u2019s got long arms. He knows when to punch it; he has the range in the deep part of the field. His instincts are good. He\u2019s a smooth mover. He\u2019s a solid tackler. You don\u2019t see him in one-on-one coverage much but with his size and length, I think he could cover tight ends fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arizona\u2019s Stukes spent six seasons with the Wildcats and is 24 1\/2 years old. As a 150-pound high school senior track standout, Stukes was a no-star recruit who walked on and blossomed. \u00a0He picked off four passes in 2025 and clocked a 4.33 40 with a 10-10 broad jump as a 6-0, 5\/8, 190-pounder at the combine.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the best cover guy of the safeties,\u201d said DB coach No. 2. \u201cI think he can be a good nickel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another name in the nickel discussion is Miami\u2019s Keionte Scott, a sixth-year senior who is almost 25 years old. At 5-11, 191, he ran a 4.33 at Miami\u2019s pro day and had a spectacular season, making a ton of big plays that included 13 TFLs and a game-changing pick six in the Canes\u2019 Playoff win over Ohio State.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was totally impressed with him after meeting with him,\u201d said DB coach No. 3. \u201cAge is an issue. He could grade out as the lowest defensive back for a game and end up winning Defensive Player of the Week for the NFL. He is the kind of guy who guesses his way into two picks and returns one to the house, but also gets scorched for the rest of the game. He is a feast-or-famine type player. He\u2019s a really good zone nickel and blitzes like a demon. He reminds me of Mike Hilton if Mike Hilton couldn\u2019t play any man coverage early in his career.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis best spot is nickel,\u201d said DB coach No. 2. \u201cI don\u2019t think he can play corner. His Auburn film at corner is not good. I feel like he\u2019s better the closer he is to the ball, so I don\u2019t know how good he\u2019d be at safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cornerback group is solid, led by two SEC corners: LSU\u2019s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee\u2019s Jermod McCoy. The 5-11 3\/4, 187-pound Delane\u2019s arms measured 30 inches at the combine and 30 3\/4 at pro day. He was a big bright spot for an LSU team that had a dismal 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not (Christian) Gonzalez or (Devon) Witherspoon, but he\u2019s close,\u201d said DB coach No. 2. \u201cHe\u2019s a complete player. He\u2019s got the range to do anything you\u2019d ask him to do defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 6-0 3\/4, 192-pound McCoy, who ran a 4.4 40 and broad jumped 10-7 at his pro day, had four INTs as a sophomore in 2024 but missed all of last season with a knee injury. \u201cIf he played last year, he\u2019d probably be the top corner,\u201d said DB coach No. 2. \u201cHe\u2019s long. He has ball skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the NFL scouts agreed: \u201cHe has top-end change of direction and man-coverage ability. He\u2019s one of my favorites in this entire draft.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said DB coach No. 3: \u201cI\u2019ve got a hard time in two phases. One: It sounds like the knee is worse than what people thought, and two, if it isn\u2019t as bad as what people think, then he probably didn\u2019t come back as soon as he could\u2019ve. But from a traits standpoint, he\u2019s what you\u2019re hunting. He should be the top guy off the \u201924 tape. He\u2019s long, has ball skills, he plays with vision, he reacts and responds well with what he sees, he has good top-end speed, and it\u2019s not just long speed. He has quickness and really good change-of-direction ability. He\u2019s like a fish in water. He\u2019s such a fluid mover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some other takesSan Diego State\u2019s Chris Johnson<\/p>\n

DB coach No.2: \u201cI lean to him over (Clemson\u2019s Avieon) Terrell as the No. 3 corner. Johnson is a little looser and has a slightly better change of direction. But I like both. They\u2019re both good players.\u201d<\/p>\n

DB coach No. 3: \u201cHe\u2019s very controlled. I like his quickness. Could probably play in the slot. He has a little less top-end speed than the other top six corners. Tough. Might be the best tackler of the six, and might be the smartest of the six. Character is off the chart. He\u2019ll play for 12 seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indiana\u2019s D\u2019Angelo Ponds, a 5-8, 180-pounder with 29 3\/8-inch arms who broad jumped 43 1\/2 inches at the combine<\/p>\n

DB coach No. 2: \u201cI like the film. I just don\u2019t think he can make it at corner because of his size and length. I think he\u2019ll have to be a nickel. In passing situations, he\u2019ll be fine. Is he gonna be able to be an every-down nickel? Maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis style is similar to Amik Robertson, which I love,\u201d said DB coach No. 3. \u201cHonestly, though, I think his top-end ability is higher than that. This guy has covered the best receivers in college football on the biggest stage. He played his ass off at Indiana<\/a>. Yeah, he\u2019s a little guy, and that\u2019s gonna show up. But this guy is tough as f\u2014in\u2019 nails, dude. He has a really good attitude. It doesn\u2019t bother him that he\u2019s little, which usually isn\u2019t the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s Tacario Davis, almost 6-4, 194 pounds with 33 3\/8-inch arms, who ran a 4.41 40 at the combine<\/p>\n

DB coach No.2: \u201cThe comp is Tariq Woolen. I think that\u2019s real. He\u2019s not quite as explosive as Tariq, but he\u2019s a better football player coming out of college. He\u2019s a little stiff, but at 6-3, there\u2019s gonna be some legginess in there. I\u2019d take a shot on Tacario.\u201d<\/p>\n

The well runs dry for defensive tackles<\/p>\n

It\u2019s doubtful any DT goes in the top 21 this year, after four DTs went in that span and Mason Graham went No. 5 overall last year. It\u2019s a polarizing group among the prospects who are considered among the overall top 50.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the worst D-tackle group in 10 years,\u201d DL coach No. 2 said. \u201cIt\u2019s horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ohio State\u2019s Kayden McDonald, Brugler\u2019s No. 1 DT, is a 6-2, 326-pound nose man who had impressive production last year with 65 tackles and nine TFLs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can play a double team and play A to A,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cAin\u2019t that many people want that smoke for 20 plays in that nose spot and he does. But he\u2019s only a nose, and he struggles playing behind blocks, especially on zone away.\u201d<\/p>\n

But DL coach No. 2 said, \u201cNot a huge fan. He\u2019s a hard-charger. I don\u2019t think his block recognition or reaction is very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgia\u2019s Christen Miller, a 6-4, 321-pounder who had 7.5 TFLs and three sacks combined over the past two seasons, has some fans among our D-line coaching group.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you make it through Georgia, you\u2019re a dude,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cHe has the best hands. Has clean eyes. He\u2019s fundamentally sound, and he is violent. He will know how to play a double. He\u2019s coming in to play the run on first and second downs.\u201d<\/p>\n

DL coach No. 2 added, \u201cHe\u2019s talented, but I felt like he was an underachiever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clemson\u2019s Peter Woods, at 6-2 1\/2, 298 pounds, went from 8.5 TFLs in 2024 to just three last year \u2014 and many draft analysts were expecting him to have a breakout season in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he is the best DT of the group,\u201d said DL coach No. 3. \u201cI see explosion. I see a 3-tech pass rusher. He has the same quick get-off ability and hip explosion as Byron Murphy, but he\u2019s not as strong. He missed a lot of tackles, but it\u2019s not like he\u2019s not at the ball. But he\u2019s got to finish those plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe athleticism is there but I hate that he didn\u2019t make enough plays,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cHe has short arms. I think he\u2019s a poor man\u2019s version of Byron Murphy. He struggles on shedding and getting off these blocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Texas Tech\u2019s Lee Hunter, at 6-3, 318 pounds, has produced 31.5 TFLs the past three years. One of the D-line coaches described him as a \u201ccurveball\u201d and is intrigued by the talent despite concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s more talented than McDonald and a better player,\u201d said DL coach No. 3. \u201cWill he always show up to work with a good attitude? Is he gonna make weight? Do you have to keep your foot in his ass to stay in shape? He\u2019s got some off-field stuff I worry might affect his play. The last four games of the season, he was the best defensive tackle in college football. He\u2019s strong, he\u2019s quick, he\u2019s agile. He\u2019s savvy. I\u2019m like, who the hell is this guy? I didn\u2019t see this the first 10 weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s Caleb Banks, at 6-6 1\/4, 327 pounds, who ran a 5.04 40 and vertical jumped 32 inches, might be the most athletically gifted of the group, but there are a lot of worries about his foot, which has been an issue for much of the past year.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is raw as heck,\u201d said DL coach No. 4. \u201cFreak athlete. Big twitchy guy. He wants to be a finesse guy when he really should be a power guy. If he adds more power in his game, he could really make an impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said DL coach No. 1: \u201cI\u2019m not a fan. Scares me to have two foot injuries on a big man. He does have a lot to work with. Watch his \u201924 tape. He should\u2019ve come out last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s a basketball player playing football. He looks the part but he\u2019s got to add some toughness,\u201d added DL coach No. 2.<\/p>\n

Other defensive tackles to keep an eye onTexas A&M\u2019s Tyler Onyedim, 6-3, 290 pounds, with 49 tackles and 9.5 TFLs in one season after playing four at Iowa State<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch his technique and how he plays,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cI gave him a second grader. He plays with power and has clean eyes. The s\u2014 that I hated I blamed on that he was coming from that 3-3 stack at ISU; it\u2019s that hybrid style, where everything is lateral, but in (Mike) Elko\u2019s defense, he\u2019ll line up as a 3 (technique), next play as a 2i and the next play he\u2019ll be a 5, and he picked it up really quick. Oh, this kid\u2019s a dude. I think he\u2019ll be a 3-technique and a sub rush guy as a nose. He reminds me of Darius Alexander.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida State\u2019s Darrell Jackson, 6-5, 328 pounds, with 45 tackles and 3.5 TFLs in 2025<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a project,\u201d said DL coach No. 3. \u201cHe\u2019s just coming along now but that happens when you go to three different schools. I think by year three or four in the NFL, he could be a really good player, but you\u2019re gonna have to be patient with him. I think he\u2019s a big man who cares and is smart, football-wise. He has some good traits to bet on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Penn State\u2019s Zane Durant, undersized at 6-1, 290 pounds, but ran a 4.75 40 at the combine. He had 11 TFLs in 2024 but only 4.5 last season<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s super athletic,\u201d said DL coach No. 1. \u201cBut I think he\u2019s too small and has a small frame. He\u2019ll probably go to Canada and kill it.\u201d<\/p>\n

A fairly deep linebacker group<\/p>\n

Ohio State\u2019s Sonny Styles, a possible top-5 pick, leads the corps<\/a>. The 6-5, 244-pound Styles is as impressive as any athlete in this draft. He ran a 4.46 40 with a 1.56-second 10-yard split to go with an 11-2 broad jump and 43 1\/2-inch vertical. The converted safety has totaled 182 tackles and 17 TFLs over the past two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen somebody that long and that explosive and still has upside because he\u2019s a former safety who is still learning how to be physical,\u201d said an NFL personnel director. \u201cYou can see he\u2019s trying to be more physical. I think he\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

One linebacker I suspect might go higher than he is in many mock drafts is Georgia\u2019s C.J. Allen. He\u2019s a bit under 6-1 and weighed 230 at the combine. He had 88 tackles and eight TFLs last season. There was some doubt about just how fast he is, but I\u2019m told he recently ran a 4.47 40.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a really good player,\u201d an NFL scout said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t look athletic, but if you watch the film, he makes plays in space. You\u2019re thinking the stiffness will hurt him, but he makes a lot of plays. I think he\u2019s gonna be a really good green-dot mike.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Styles could go in the top five this year. (Michael Reaves \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Like, not love<\/p>\n

I expect two offensive linemen to go in the top 10: Miami\u2019s Francis Mauigoa and Utah\u2019s Spencer Fano. The sense is that folks in the NFL really like these two, but don\u2019t love them.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrancis is the best O-lineman this year,\u201d said an NFL personnel director, who pushed back some on the notion that the 6-5 1\/2, 329-pounder with 33 1\/4-inch arms may be out of place at tackle. \u201cI think he can be a really good right tackle or a guard. He moves well for that size. I do think he\u2019s a tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n

An NFL scout wasn\u2019t quite as sold on Mauigoa being a top-tier offensive tackle: \u201cI think his best spot is probably guard. I personally don\u2019t think he\u2019s in that top-5, top-10 realm, but I think that\u2019s probably where he goes in this class. He\u2019s a big, really dense guy who can bend and plays with his feet in the ground. I don\u2019t think he has the length to be a top-end tackle, but I have to give him credit. Down the stretch, playing the Texas A&Ms of the world and when they really upped their competition, he had really clean tape. As a sophomore, you\u2019d see his tape in pass pro and think he\u2019s gonna have to be a guard. He\u2019s a young player and he\u2019s gotten better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fano, a 6-5 1\/2, 311-pounder with 32 1\/8-inch arms, was the scout\u2019s top O-lineman. Fano ran a 4.91 40 at the combine and moved faster than the bigger and longer Mauigoa, although the Miami mauler did post a quicker shuttle time at his pro day. One college coach who had worked in the NFL compared Fano to former Green Bay Packers standout David Bakhtiari in regards to his athleticism and knack for being able to get his body in and out of awkward positions, a big plus in the trenches.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not really prototype size, but he\u2019s such an easy mover,\u201d the scout said of Fano. \u201cIndependent feet and hands. You can tell that he\u2019s super coordinated. He\u2019s gonna be a really good pass protector with good movement skills in the run game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deep, but not top-heavy, wide receivers<\/p>\n

The wide receiver class has been categorized as \u201cpretty good\u201d but lacks one truly elite talent. \u201cThe group is not as top-heavy as it usually is, but it\u2019s deep,\u201d said WR coach No. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe middle and the back end of this group is good, not so much off the top,\u201d WR coach No. 2 said more bluntly.<\/p>\n

Carnell Tate is the latest in an incredibly long line of excellent Ohio State wideouts. The 6-2 1\/4, 192-pound Tate isn\u2019t a burner. He ran a 4.53 40 at the combine and didn\u2019t produce eye-popping stats. It\u2019s worth noting that his teammate Jeremiah Smith, who is expected to be in the 2027 draft, is the most talented of all the receivers who have come through Columbus this generation. Is he a legitimate top-10 player?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about need, man,\u201d said WR coach No. 1. \u201cHard to say if someone is or isn\u2019t a \u2018top-10 guy.\u2019 It\u2019s about who is picking in the top 10 and what they need. He is a really good receiver. His route running and his releases are really good. He knows how to win and catch the football. Tate has good range and body control. He\u2019s a savvy route runner. He wins vs. man. You can tell he has a high football IQ.\u201d<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s more fluid in person than he looks on tape. When I went to the pro day, I was really impressed and pleasantly surprised. He can make every catch. He\u2019s tougher than you think. He can put on some more weight in his frame and add to his strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arizona State\u2019s Jordyn Tyson, 6-2, 203 pounds, was WR coach No. 2\u2019s pick as the most talented: \u201cHe\u2019s got a baller skill set but he\u2019s got real tools. He\u2019s ultra quick. Got basketball in his background, and you can see it in the way he plays wideout.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tyson has had a series of injuries derail much of his college career, but he did have 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs in 2024, when ASU made a run to the Playoff.<\/p>\n

USC\u2019s Makai Lemon is also in the mix among the top three receivers. His measureables don\u2019t pop (5-11, 194 pounds, a 4.50 40), but his playmaking ability does. He caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 TDs last season as USC\u2019s go-to guy.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust push play on the film,\u201d said WR coach No. 1. \u201cHe goes to work. I can see the comps to Amon-Ra (St. Brown), but they\u2019re different. They\u2019re both really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2 wasn\u2019t as much of a believer: \u201cI\u2019m not a big Makai guy. Not sure his game translates as well to the NFL, but I do think he\u2019s got that St. Brown in him. Love his heart, toughness and tenacity, but can he win in the NFL like he did in college? I don\u2019t know if he can play outside at an elite level. I know a lot of people think he can. I think he can be damn good as an exclusive slot.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the most explosive wideouts in the draft is Texas A&M\u2019s KC Concepcion. He\u2019s 5-11, 196 pounds. He didn\u2019t run at the combine or his pro day, but scouts know he\u2019s blazing fast. You see it all over his film as both a receiver and a return man.<\/p>\n

Said WR coach No. 1: \u201cHe rises to the occasion. There\u2019s some position flex where he can play inside and outside. He\u2019s a real competitor, pretty dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n

There has been some concern about how reliable his hands are. Concepcion had seven drops in each of the past two seasons. (Lemon and Tate each had three combined; Tyson had eight.)<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of his drops come from technique more so than hand-eye coordination and just natural ability to track the ball,\u201d said WR coach No. 2. \u201cI think he catches good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s Denzel Boston is one of the bigger receivers in the class at 6-3 5\/8, 212 pounds. He\u2019s also a guy Huskies coaches think could be a Pro Bowl special teamer, but the personnel director I spoke to thought he was one of the more polarizing players: \u201cI don\u2019t like him. I think he\u2019s stiff. I do think he\u2019s a good, clean route runner. When a bad play happens, does he know to flush it?\u201d<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2, though, was a big fan: \u201cHe\u2019s big and he\u2019s faster than you think. At the pro day, he looked really athletic and smooth. He\u2019s got a Larry Fitzgerald kind of game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fastest rising stock? Georgia State\u2019s Ted Hurst, a Freaks Lister who started to blow up at the Senior Bowl and has a lot of believers in the NFL world. At almost 6-4, 206 pounds with 4.42 speed and an 11-3 broad jump, Hurst, who began his career at FCS Valdosta State, is a name to remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love Ted Hurst,\u201d said WR coach No. 2. \u201cI would say he\u2019s the biggest sleeper in the draft, but he blew up like a month ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked whether Hurst would be talked about more as a first-rounder if he had played at a more visible FBS program, the coach said, \u201cNo doubt. If you\u2019re thinking about (Indiana\u2019s Omar) Cooper in the first round, you damn sure should be thinking about this kid in the first round. He\u2019s fast, big, can catch and is fluid. He\u2019s got good natural hips, and I can improve that. There will be some learning curve and he\u2019s a young kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most dynamic wideout? Zachariah Branch, who is under 5-9 and weighs just 177 pounds. He ran a 4.35, but the NFL coaches are really intrigued by his potential despite his lack of size. (Branch was arrested and booked on two misdemeanor charges Sunday morning.)<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis freakin\u2019 kid could be Tyreek Hill or Zay Flowers if he gets coached to play Z (receiver), but there\u2019s no sign of that on his film,\u201d said WR coach No. 2. \u201cThere\u2019s no outside-the-numbers film. He\u2019s the most explosive of the receivers in this draft, and he\u2019s a dog. He\u2019s not polished. He\u2019s short. It is a gamble. He just needs to be coached to do it. \u2026 A lot of those 5-9 dudes in college who are only catching bubbles and screens and taking handoffs don\u2019t have the skill set to do play Z. I think he does. Tyreek didn\u2019t play wideout in college, but then he learned in KC.\u201d<\/p>\n

USC\u2019s Ja\u2019Kobi Lane has impressive talent and a reel of spectacular grabs, but there are maturity concerns about the 6-4, 200-pounder who ran a 4.47 40 with a 40-inch vertical and 10-9 broad jump at the combine.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s super talented,\u201d said WR coach No. 1. \u201cHis ball skills are ridiculous. He\u2019s got these huge strapping hands. Hopefully, he\u2019ll figure it all out. It depends where he goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other wild-card receivers who could make a splashCincinnati\u2019s Jeff Caldwell (6-5 3\/8, 216 pounds, with 4.31 speed, a 42-inch vertical and an 11-2 broad jump)<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s really explosive. He flashes. He\u2019s intriguing. Hurst might be a bit more athletic. Caldwell is a bit stiff and Hurst plays stronger than Caldwell, and has more play strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tennessee\u2019s Chris Brazzell, 6-4, 198 with 4.37 speed<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s got a real chance. He\u2019s more than just a deep threat. He has a chance to develop into a real route runner. He\u2019s got the hips and the skill set for it. He\u2019s just gotta be taught it, and you can develop him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Louisville\u2019s Chris Bell, 6-2, 222 pounds; didn\u2019t test at the combine or his pro day because of a torn ACL suffered in November<\/p>\n

WR coach No. 2: \u201cHe\u2019s talented, but that freakin\u2019 knee, you just don\u2019t know about. If he was 100 percent healthy, he probably would\u2019ve shown just a little something at the combine and pro day, like, hey, this guy might be a first-rounder. He\u2019s really physical and has impressive run after the catch. Need to develop his routes. Guys who are really good with the ball in their hands are usually small. He\u2019s not. He\u2019s 220-plus and he\u2019s fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tight ends<\/p>\n

Oregon\u2019s Kenyon Sadiq is the top tight end prospect, although he\u2019s not in the traditional tight end frame. He also doesn\u2019t run like any tight end, either. At 6-3, 241 pounds, he clocked a 4.39 40 to go with a 43 1\/2-inch vertical and an 11-1 broad jump. He had 51 catches for 560 yards and eight TDs. He also had six drops.<\/p>\n

An NFL scout said Sadiq\u2019s competitiveness as a blocker jumped out to him: \u201cI did not expect that going in. For a guy who isn\u2019t a really massive human, he really gets in people\u2019s s\u2014 and pushes people around. His run after the catch is impressive. He\u2019s not Brock Bowers in the sense that Bowers stepped in the door as a freshman day one and did things not a lot of people were doing and then he did the same thing as a rookie in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has rare explosiveness, but he\u2019s not a natural receiver,\u201d said the NFL personnel director. \u201cHe is like a fullback who is a vertical threat. He\u2019s better blocking on the move than he is on the line. He is an explosive, dynamic player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said WR coach No. 1: \u201cHe\u2019s a pretty polished route runner for a tight end. You just don\u2019t find guys with that kind of speed at that size. He\u2019s rare. He\u2019s a one-cut guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The player above the rest \u2014 all of the rest<\/p>\n

The one player thought to be in a different class at his position from the rest than Mendoza, Styles and Sadiq is Notre Dame\u2019s Jeremiyah Love. Everyone loves Love<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 6-0, 212-pound Love ran a 4.36 40 at the combine. He ran almost 2,500 yards and 35 combined TDs the past two seasons. He\u2019s also so polished as a receiver Notre Dame coaches told me he could easily be a wide receiver, and scouts say he\u2019s the best pass protector in the class, too. And he\u2019s had fewer carries in the last two seasons combined than last year\u2019s top back, Ashton Jeanty, had in his final season at Boise State.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s pretty special,\u201d said an NFL scout. \u201cJeanty was a really good back. Has good vision and balance, but (Love) has a different gear. When he makes someone miss in space, he can really turn it on and make home run plays. He\u2019s more in the Bijan Robinson category than Jeanty.\u201d<\/p>\n

The personnel director said initially he didn\u2019t think Love was in Robinson\u2019s class, but now he believes he definitely is. \u201cDoes he run faster than Bijan? Yeah. Is he as big? Yeah. Is he more physical on contact? Yeah, he is. Jeremiyah Love is always trying to get that extra yard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said another national scout: \u201cI think he\u2019s the best offensive player in this draft. I love him.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2026 NFL Draft is not a stacked one. After two months of talks with more than two…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":714533,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[7,5486,6,12,9],"class_list":{"0":"post-714532","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba-draft","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-college-football","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-nba-draft","12":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116436693428888577","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714532","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=714532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714532\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/714533"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=714532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=714532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=714532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}