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The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking for their second consecutive NBA title this year, and they’re on their way, having won their first two playoff games against the Phoenix Suns. The teams will meet for Game 3 of the series this Saturday at Phoenix’s Mortgage Matchup Center, tipoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET, and you can tune in on NBC and Peacock. To see how all the teams in the league stack up, you can take an in-depth look at the playoff bracket for every NBA team right here.

Here’s everything you need to know so you won’t miss Saturday’s game, and check out the schedule for the rest of the Thunder vs. Suns playoff series below.

How to watch the Thunder vs. Suns Game 3:

Date: April 25, 2026

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT

TV channel: NBC

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, YouTube TV and more

Thunder vs. Suns game time:

Game 3 between the Thunder and the Suns tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 25.

Thunder vs. Suns Game 3 game channel:

The next NBA playoff game of the Thunder vs. Suns series will be broadcast nationally on NBC. 

How to watch the Thunder vs. Suns Game 3 without cable:

Saturday’s Thunder vs. Suns game will stream live on Peacock. You can also tune in to NBC on platforms like DirecTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and more.

More ways to watch the NBA playoffs:

Thunder vs. Suns playoff schedule:

• Game 3: April 25 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns: 3:30 p.m. ET (Peacock, NBC)

• Game 4: April 27 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns: 9:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)

• Game 5: April 29 Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, TBD*

• Game 6: May 1 Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, TBD*

• Game 7: May 3 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns, TBD”

*if necessary

Remaining NBA playoffs key dates:

• May 4: Conference Semifinals begin (can move up to May 2 or 3)

• May 19: Eastern Conference Finals begin on ESPN/ABC (can move up to May 17)

• May 20: Western Conference Finals begin on NBC/Peacock (can move up to May 18)

• June 3: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 1 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

• June 5: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 2 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

• June 8: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 3 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

• June 10: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 4 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

• June 13: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 5 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

• June 16: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 6 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

• June 19: NBA Finals 2026 – Game 7 on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

Paul Skenes had everything working on Friday. Until he reached Jake Bauers (for the third time).

The Pittsburgh Pirates ace took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers and got two outs before losing it to a 105.5 mph grounder from the Milwaukee first baseman.

Skenes had gotten ahead 1-2 in the at-bat, but Bauers worked the count full, fouled off two strikes, then hit a single up the middle.

Skens finished the inning with a flyout from Tyler Black and that wound up being his last frame of the night. His final line: 7 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks and 7 strikeouts on 93 pitches.

The most recent MLB perfect game remains Domingo German’s on June 28, 2023.

The Pirates needed nothing more in a 6-0 win over Milwaukee. Their record is now 15-11, while the Brewers are 13-12. Those above-.500 records are good for fourth and fifth place in the NL Central.

Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin opened the scoring with his first career home run, on his 20th birthday.

There were some worries about Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, when he opened the season with a clunker against the New York Mets, but he’s since been on a tear (while the Mets have been on the opposite of a tear).

He has a 0.95 ERA in five post-Opening Day starts, with 29 strikeouts against 10 hits in 28 1/3 innings. His career ERA is also now a ridiculous 2.01.

On Friday, Max Scherzer had a chance to hit a major milestone against the Cleveland Guardians.

He was one strikeout away from 3,500 for his career. If he had hit that mark, he would also be only nine strikeouts from being No. 10 on MLB’s all-time list.

Instead, he did not hit either mark, failing to record a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs and six hits.

Three of those hits — including from the very first batter he faced — were home runs. That makes it the first time this season a pitcher has allowed three homers without getting a strikeout, per Stathead.

The early homer was only part of an uncharacteristically rough start for Scherzer, who allowed five runs the in first inning.

Scherzer held the score in the top of the second, but allowed a two-run homer from Angel Martínez , his second of the game, in the third. The homer came after a grueling 11-pitch at-bat in which the Guardians center fielder hit seven straight foul balls before Scherzer threw three balls to bring the count to full. Martínez then sent the next ball into deep right field to send him and Rhys Hoskins home.

Right afterward, Scherzer was pulled from the game and relieved by Joe Mantiply. The Blue Jays picked up a couple more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring the team closer to the Guardians’ lead, but Cleveland went on to win the game 8-6.

Scherzer was close to becoming the 11th player in MLB history to hit 3,500 career strikeouts and just the second active player (alongside the Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander) to hit that mark. But his failure to strike out a batter means that Blue Jays fans will have to wait until his next start to watch Scherzer make history.

The 2025-26 NBA regular season reached an exciting conclusion, with playoff and play-in tournament positioning coming down to the final Sunday, and now the playoffs are here.

The Detroit Pistons closed with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Boston Celtics had an impressive regular season — most of which was played without Jayson Tatum as he recovered from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s postseason — and finished with the second seed in the East.

Oklahoma City Thunder are the top seed in the West for the second straight season, finishing two games ahead of Victor Wembanyama’s hard-charging San Antonio Spurs.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic made it to the postseason out of the East play-in tournament, while the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns made it out of the West’s play-in tournament.

Here are the current odds for every NBA playoff series.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Detroit Pistons (-275) vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic (+225)

Series tied 1-1

No. 2 Boston Celtics (-600) vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers (+425)

Series tied 1-1

No. 3 New York Knicks (+110) vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks (-130)

Hawks lead 2-1

No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers (-1000) vs. No. 5 Toronto Raptors (+650)

Cavs up 2-1

Western Conference

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder (OFF) vs. No. 8 Phoenix Suns (66-1)

Oklahoma City Thunder up 2-0

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs (-550) vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers (+400)

Series tied 1-1

No. 3 Denver Nuggets (+105) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (-125)

Wolves lead 2-1

No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers (-150) vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets (+125)

Los Angeles Lakers up 2-0

Michigan tight end Marlin Klein didn’t have the most productive college career, but that was in large part due to being behind 2025 first-round pick Colston Loveland on the depth chart for much of it. With a larger share of the workload his senior year, Klein put together a solid season and has himself positioned to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at everything you need to know about Klein as he prepares for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Quick Facts

• Size: 6-foot-6, 248 pounds
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.61 seconds
• Vertical: 36”
• Broad Jump: 9’9”
• 3-Cone Drill: 7.42 seconds
• Career Stats: 36 games played, 38 receptions, 364 yards (10.3 yards per reception), one touchdown

Marlin Klein is a TE prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.59 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 57 out of 1356 TE from 1987 to 2026.

Pending agility testing, bench tomorrow, splits projected.https://t.co/UZmF9a4C23pic.twitter.com/kHRxYvPbxP

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 28, 2026

Strengths

• Speed, speed, and more speed. He might not be Kenyon Sadiq, but his speed for a tight end really stands out. This makes him a good threat to run after the catch.
• Overall athleticism is his biggest selling point, especially at his size.
• Great as a run blocker and has plenty of experience doing so in Michigan’s offensive scheme.
• Has solid hands, as he wasn’t responsible for many drops and doesn’t catch the ball with his body.
• Has experience lining up in-line, in the slot and as an H-back, making him valuable to different types of NFL offenses.

Weaknesses

• Production is extremely limited over a four-year sample.
• Not the smoothest route-runner, as he often struggled to find space over the middle and is most effective up the seams.
• Although experienced as an in-line tight end and H-back, he could be better in those roles by adding more weight.
• Struggles in contested catch situations and when breaking tackles in the open field despite his size.
• Could stand to improve his technique in pass protection and as a run blocker.

Summary

Born in Germany, Klein made it to Georgia for high school football before coming to Michigan as part of the 2022 class alongside fellow tight end Colston Loveland. While playing time was hard to come by his first two seasons, Klein got the attention of the coaching staff and those close to the program thanks to his impressive size and athleticism combination — something that was displayed at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6, 248 pounds.

It wouldn’t be until his junior year in 2024 that we would see Klein get a bit more work as a receiver, albeit still in a limited sample size, with Loveland still stealing many of the targets. As a junior, Klein finished with just 13 receptions for 108 yards.

As a senior, Klein served as Michigan’s No. 1 tight end and was one of the more productive pass-catchers on the team, registering 24 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown.

Entering the NFL Draft, there are concerns about his prospects thanks to his limited college production, but fortunately for Klein, players like him aren’t strangers to finding success at the next level. It’s not uncommon to see players who don’t play their best football until they reach the pros, usually as a result of subpar conditions in college that don’t allow them to thrive. By needing the first two years of college to develop his game and then playing in below-average offenses his final two seasons, Klein is someone that might fit that profile.

Klein’s athleticism is something that should help him to get the attention of NFL teams, as organizations are always looking for guys that are physically ready for the demands of a 17-game season, even if their production in imperfect college systems isn’t top notch. He likely won’t be selected on either of the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft, but it’s a good bet a team will take a swing on Klein on Day 3.

Chelsea’s owners thought they were the smartest guys in the room. Turns out, they are not. Pretty far from it! And right now, they are also the least popular ones, with the club seemingly heading in the wrong direction in every aspect of the business.

One easy way they could curry a bit of favor with the supporters would be to appoint a new head coach for next season who’s already popular with the fanbase, say Frank Lampard or Cesc Fàbregas. Alas, neither of those two have added any fuel to a potential rumor-fire, and while they have not gone out of their way to rule out the possibility either, they certainly don’t seem to be jumping at the opportunity.

Fàbregas has said that he would be pretty “stupid” to even think about it, while Lampard has made it pretty clear that his “business” is with the lighter shade of blues in Coventry.

“I don’t want to talk about Liam and Chelsea because I’ve been there. I never want to talk too much about managers because of context behind the scenes. It’s disrespectful to have a judgement on it, that’s for pundits.

“I’m Coventry manager, I’m enjoying my moment of us being promoted and winning the title and that’s it. […] Chelsea is a big part of my life, but at the moment, that’s their business and my business is here.”

“[In] the world of management […] lots of things are out of your control. You can only control your work and I have to talk about rumours and things, but at the moment, we need to enjoy where we are and what we’ve done this season. I’m proud and pleased to be a part of it.”

-Frank Lampard; source: Sky Sports

Things can change quickly in football of course — Enzo Maresca took the Chelsea job after also winning the Championship two years ago, for example — but there’s nothing to see here … at the moment.

The pessimist (realist?) in me sees these two de-facto rejections as the just the first two of many to come this summer. BlueCo gonna have to put on a real dog and pony show to convince someone to come work for them.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts stuck to their blueprint Friday night, sliding back six spots on the draft board before landing a high-IQ defensive anchor on Day 2. With the No. 53 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Colts selected linebacker CJ Allen, reinforcing the heart of their defense with one of college football’s most reliable playmakers.

Allen wore the green dot as a team captain at national powerhouse Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder led the Bulldogs with 47 solo tackles, including eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in 2025. A three-year starter, the Colts have found a true leader to establish the new core of the defensive unit moving forward.

After trading linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers, the Colts addressed the most obvious void on the depth chart with a steal in the second round. A high-IQ level player with a lot of experience leading a top defense. Allen is quick to fill the gaps and lay the hammer on ball carriers. He is hard to juke past, evidenced by his mere 7% missed tackle rate. He has the range to chase laterally and a quick trigger to race downhill.

His lone red flag that could be a reason why dropped to late in the second round was tearing his meniscus against Texas, but he had surgery and played two weeks later against Texas Tech. He did not run at the combine and had his pro day very late in the draft process just five weeks before the draft.

Allen emerged as a leader for the Bulldogs defense, bringing a different kind of impact than flashier prospects. His tape shows one built on discipline, instincts and consistency. His 88.6 run defense grade, per Pro Football Focus, ranked seventh among all linebackers eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft.

From the moment he stepped on campus in Athens, Allen carved out a role. As a true freshman, he earned snaps on one of the nation’s deepest defenses, quickly gaining the trust of coaches with his physicality and command of the scheme. That foundation evolved into a leadership role, where his voice and vision became just as valuable as his production. He logged over 1,600 snaps at Georgia. There was a three-game stretch where Allen collected double-digit tackles

Allen’s game is rooted in efficiency. Rarely out of position, he diagnoses plays quickly and flows sideline-to-sideline with controlled urgency. His ability to fit gaps and limit explosive plays made him a stabilizing force in the middle of Georgia’s front seven, particularly in the grind of Southeastern Conference play.

While his draft profile notes the absence of elite top-end speed, Allen compensates with anticipation and toughness — traits that often translate seamlessly to the next level. His willingness to take on blocks and do the “dirty work” projects well in a Colts system seeking reliability at the second level.

Compared to more explosive, chaos-driven linebackers, Allen offers something equally valuable: control. He doesn’t chase plays recklessly; he finishes them. And in a league where missed assignments can turn into touchdowns, that dependability carries weight.

Allen’s résumé backs up the tape. A three-year starter with more than 30 career starts, he steadily increased his production each season, culminating in an All-American campaign in 2025 that featured 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.   His experience in a complex defensive system gives him a strong foundation as a potential “green dot” signal-caller at the next level.

On film, Allen consistently flashes as a downhill enforcer. He plays with strong eyes and physical hands, taking on blocks near the line of scrimmage and shedding quickly to find the ball carrier.   His run defense stands out as his calling card — a tone-setting presence between the tackles with reliable tackling technique and disciplined gap integrity.

There are areas still developing. Evaluators note that Allen can be susceptible to misdirection and is still refining his coverage instincts, particularly against more dynamic offensive weapons in space.   But within the right scheme — one that allows him to attack downhill and play fast — his strengths can be maximized early in his career.

The Colts entered the draft needing a tone-setter at linebacker. By the end of the second round, they had one.

Allen’s path to early playing time in Indianapolis appears clear. His football intelligence and leadership traits position him as a potential signal-caller for the defense, capable of organizing traffic and anchoring a unit in transition.

For a franchise that prides itself on building through the draft, the selection reflects a familiar philosophy — trust the process, trust the traits, and trust the player.

In Allen, the Colts may not have drafted the loudest playmaker on the board. But they may have found one of the surest.

General manager Chris Ballard once again worked the margins, trading back six spots to accumulate additional draft capital — a familiar tactic for a front office that values flexibility. Even after the move, Indianapolis remained positioned to address its most glaring need at linebacker.

Welcome to Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft!

The Denver Broncos start the day with just a single pick in the first three rounds. That pick being the 62nd pick in the late second round. That should put us on track to see their first pick in the draft around 7:20pm mile high time. Then again, they could trade up or trade down, so don’t bank on that projection!

One thing we do know, we’ll need to wait a while. There are 30 picks to be made and once done we’ll have to wait around for the potential possibility of Denver moving back into the late third round.

Let’s get to it!

2026 NFL Draft Results – Second Round

R2, Pick 33: San Francisco 49ers (via NYJ)

De’Zhaun Striblin, WR, Ole Miss

Stribling’s 6’2″ frame and contested-catch radius give Shanahan/Kubiak offense boundary X-receiver that wins outside leverage. SEC route polish translates to Niners’ timing-based concept tree — digs, deep overs, back-shoulder shots. Blocks in run game, non-negotiable in this scheme. YAC ability through broken tackles fits wide-zone bootleg play-action. Three-down WR projection in motion-heavy offense.

R2, Pick 34: Arizona Cardinals

Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M

Athletic guard profile drops into Mike LaFleur’s Shanahan-tree install — wide-zone run game demands mobile interior linemen who pull, climb to second level, and seal backside cuts. Bisontis’ SEC reps against elite 3-techs prove the anchor in pass-pro. Justin Frye’s OL room gets a Day 1 starter with scheme-diverse tape (gap, zone, pull). Physical finisher sets tone for young offense under new staff. Ten-year interior starter ceiling.

R2, Pick 35: Buffalo Bills

TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Parker drops into Jim Leonhard’s new multiple-front defense — scheme built around five-man pressure flexibility and stand-up edge versatility. Clemson product comes with three-year starter pedigree, bend around the arc, and counters that convert speed to power. OLB coach Bobby April III (Stanford DC background) gets pass-rush piece to develop. Attacking scheme under rookie HC Joe Brady needs juice off the edge — Parker’s first-step quickness delivers. Rotational rusher Year 1, double-digit sack projection by 2027.

R2, Pick 36: Houston Texans (via LV)

Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald’s 320+ frame anchors DeMeco Ryans’ aggressive front as two-gap nose or shaded 1-tech. Run-stuffer archetype frees edge rushers to hunt QB by eating double-teams interior. Ohio State produced him against Big Ten mauler guards — translates immediately. Matt Burke’s defense rotates interior heavily; McDonald gives 30+ snaps of clog-the-middle early-down work. Short-area quickness better than listed weight suggests — flashes pass-rush push on stunts. Three-down potential by Year 2.

R2, Pick 37: New York Giants

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Hood fits Dennard Wilson’s new press-man-heavy defense — scheme built on disruption at line of scrimmage and match coverage principles (inherited from Wilson’s Titans tenure). Tennessee produced long, physical corners; Hood’s 6’1″ frame and hip fluidity check both boxes. Harbaugh’s tough-minded identity demands tackling at corner — Hood delivers in run support. Boundary starter trajectory. Matt Nagy offense keeps defense on short fields; Hood needs to cover one-on-one, which this scheme asks of its CB2.

R2, Pick 38: Las Vegas Raiders (via HOU via WAS)

Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona

Stukes fits Rob Leonard’s first-year defense — promoted DC brings Miami’s attacking front principles, paired with DB coach Joe Woods’ zone-match coverage DNA (Cover-3/quarters). Stukes’ length and ball skills from Arizona project clean to off-coverage assignments where he can read-and-react rather than play sticky man. Rookie HC Kubiak inherited barren secondary; Stukes steps in as boundary corner with CB2 ceiling. Physical press snaps when scheme dials up, off-zone default. Tackles in run support — required of Pac-12 corners playing option-heavy offenses.

R2, Pick 39: Cleveland Browns

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Boston’s 6’4″ frame and contested-catch profile slot perfectly into Todd Monken’s vertical passing attack — new HC brings Ravens-era shot-play DNA and Georgia’s X-receiver template (Ladd McConkey, AD Mitchell). Boundary jump-ball target that wins in red zone and on back-shoulder fades. Play-action shot plays demand size outside to stress safeties — Boston delivers. Pac-12 press reps translate; needs route-tree expansion but catch radius gives rookie QB margin for error. Day 1 starter outside, 700-yard floor.

R2, Pick 40: Kansas City Chiefs

R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Ohio State

Thomas brings explosive first-step quickness Spagnuolo’s blitz-heavy scheme craves — designed-rusher who wins on stunts, twists, and sub-package pressure packages. Ohio State produced him against tackles preparing for NFL — translates fast. Slightly undersized for full-time base end role; lives in passing-down rotation Year 1. Bend, dip, and counter-rush plan more developed than typical rookie edge. Reid/Spags Super Bowl window stays open with cheap pass-rush juice on rookie deal. Sub-rusher Year 1, 25-snap starter projection.

R2, Pick 41: Cincinnati Bengals

Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Howell drops into Al Golden’s second-year defense — DC’s Notre Dame 3-4 hybrid roots favor stand-up edge rushers who win with speed and bend off boundary. Howell’s first-step burst and flexible hips fit OLB role in odd fronts, hand-down rusher in nickel. Aggressive scheme calls for designed pressures; Howell’s pass-rush plan (cross-chops, dip-and-rip) plays up in those reps. Bengals defense surrendered too much edge contain in 2025 — Howell adds speed off ball. Rotational rusher Year 1, full-time on third downs.

R2, Pick 42: New Orleans Saints

Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Miller fits Brandon Staley’s 3-4 scheme — DC favors athletic, versatile interior linemen who two-gap on early downs and slide to penetrating 3-tech in nickel sub-packages. Georgia developed Miller as scheme-flex DL playing 0, 3, and 5-techs. Length and play-strength control gaps without sacrificing pass-rush juice on stunts. Kellen Moore offense will trade scoring punches; Staley needs DL who hold up snap counts. Miller’s SEC reps against elite OL erase rookie acclimation curve. Three-down piece by midseason.

R2, Pick 43: Miami Dolphins

Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas Tech

Rodriguez fits Jeff Hafley’s first-year defense — new HC brings Packers/BC zone-shell DNA built on light boxes, two-deep coverage, and LBs flowing fast to space. Texas Tech reps in Big 12 spread offenses prepped him for sideline-to-sideline pursuit and coverage drops over slot/RB out of backfield. Hafley demands smart processors at MIKE — Rodriguez communicates fronts and fits gaps clean. Three-down ILB ceiling, special teams floor early. Fits Cover-2 era second-level athleticism Miami lacked.

R2, Pick 44: Detroit Lions (via NYJ via DAL)

Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan

Moore embodies Dan Campbell’s tone-setting identity — Michigan DE built on physicality, hand violence, and run-set discipline. Kelvin Sheppard’s second-year defense rotates edges heavily; Moore steps in as base 4-3 strong-side end who holds C-gap and converts speed-to-power on passing downs. Big Ten reps against NFL-bound tackles erase rookie polish gap. Drew Petzing offense will keep games close — defense needs three-down edge contributors. Moore’s bend not elite, but motor, leverage, and finish play up. Heavy rotation Year 1, full-time starter 2027.

R2, Pick 45: Baltimore Ravens

Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

Young joins Anthony Weaver’s first-year defense in Baltimore — DC reunites with Ravens organization where he played, brings multi-front attacking scheme paired with new HC Jesse Minter’s zone-match coverage roots. Young’s 6’4″/270 frame profiles as 4-3 base end or stand-up OLB in odd fronts — scheme versatility Weaver demands. SEC reps developed run-set discipline; bend and finish needed for full-time pass-rush. Power-rush plan over speed wins NFL transition. Rotational rusher Year 1 in Weaver’s deep DL rotation, three-down piece by 2027.

R2, Pick 46: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josiah Trotter, ILB, Missouri

Trotter slots into Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy attacking scheme — Bucs HC/DC dials up pressures from every level, demanding ILBs who time green-dog blitzes and execute man coverage on RBs/TEs out of backfield. Trotter pedigree (father Jeremiah Sr., brother Jeremiah Jr.) translates to advanced pre-snap recognition Bowles’ system rewards. SEC reps prepared him for downhill triggers and tackling in space. Coverage chops needed in nickel — Trotter delivers. Three-down ILB ceiling, special teams floor while learning Bowles’ check-heavy communication. 2027 starter trajectory.

R2, Pick 47: Pittsburgh Steelers (via IND)

Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Bernard fits Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense — new HC calling plays demands precise route-runners working middle of field on slants, drags, and option routes. Alabama produced him as savvy possession receiver with Y-iso flex (slot or boundary). Reliable hands and YAC after catch on shallow concepts give McCarthy designed-touch player. Steelers’ QB room demands route precision over freelance ability — Bernard delivers. WR2/slot starter projection, third-down chain-mover archetype. Steady 60-catch floor, ceiling unlocks if QB play stabilizes.

R2, Pick 48: Atlanta Falcons

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell joins Jeff Ulbrich’s retained defense — DC’s blitz-heavy multi-coverage scheme demands corners comfortable in press-man on island and disciplined in pattern-match zones. Clemson lineage (brother A.J., NFL CB1 type) eases pro transition with same coaching tree and technique foundation. Long-limbed, fluid hips, plus ball production in ACC. Ulbrich loves dialing pressure — Terrell’s ability to play press without safety help maximizes blitz timing. Boundary CB2 starter Year 1, ascending into shutdown role by 2027 in scheme that asks corners to win one-on-one.

R2, Pick 49: Carolina Panthers (via MIN)

Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

Hunter fits Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 base — DC’s Vic Fangio coaching tree leans on two-high safety shells and demands DL who eat double-teams to free off-ball linebackers. Hunter’s mass and play-strength profile as nose tackle in odd fronts, kicks to 1-tech in nickel sub-packages. Run-stuffer archetype that holds A-gap on early downs lets Evero stay base personnel longer. Pass-rush juice limited but stunt-game disruptor. Canales offense will keep Panthers in close games — Evero needs interior anchors to win first down. Two-down rotational starter Year 1.

R2, Pick 50: New York Jets (via DET)

D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Ponds drops into Aaron Glenn’s defense — Jets HC takes over play-calling in 2026 and brings Lions-tree multiple front with man-coverage principles on outside, match zones inside. Ponds’ compact frame and short-area quickness profile as nickel/slot corner where Glenn loves blitzing off the slot. Indiana produced him with elite ball production (high PD/INT marks) — fits scheme that asks corners to play sticky in man. Boundary CB if outside reps open up; primary fit is nickel where he can cover slot WRs and trigger downhill in run support. Year 1 starter at slot, three-down piece in sub-packages.

R2, Pick 51: Minnesota Vikings (via CAR)

Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Golday fits Brian Flores’ chaos defense — DC’s exotic fronts and simulated pressures demand LBs who diagnose mid-snap, blitz off-ball at full speed, and execute man coverage on TEs/RBs. Cincinnati produced him in a Big 12 spread environment where LBs cover ground and process in space — direct translation to Flores’ green-dog timing and mug-front looks. Versatility unlocks Flores’ best wrinkle: disguised pressure where any LB can rush. Mike or Will fit, special teams floor. Three-down ceiling depends on coverage processing — Flores will accelerate that curve. Year 2 starter projection.

R2, Pick 52: Green Bay Packers

Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Cisse fits Jonathan Gannon’s first-year defense — new DC brings Eagles/Cardinals zone-match scheme built on two-high safety shells, off-coverage corner principles, and disguise. Cisse’s frame and zone-eye traits from SEC translate to scheme that asks corners to read QB and break on routes rather than play sticky press. Length and ball production fit Gannon’s “hawks the ball” coverage philosophy — simulated pressures generate underthrows and Gannon’s corners must capitalize. Boundary CB2 starter trajectory; nickel-eligible if asked. Year 1 rotational, full-time outside corner by 2027.

R2, Pick 53: Indianapolis Colts (via PIT)

CJ Allen, ILB, Georgia

Allen fits Lou Anarumo’s second-year defense — DC’s chaos scheme demands ILBs who diagnose pre-snap, blitz with timing, and execute coverage assignments inside Anarumo’s exotic disguises. Georgia’s pro-style defense developed Allen’s recognition skills against NFL-caliber offenses (Texas, Tennessee, Alabama). Linebackers coach James Bettcher (Cardinals/Giants DC pedigree) accelerates the technique curve. Mike-LB starter projection; Allen’s downhill trigger fits Anarumo’s run-first defensive identity in AFC South. Three-down ceiling unlocked by coverage ability against TEs. Year 1 rotational, 2027 starter.

R2, Pick 54: Philadelphia Eagles

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers fits Sean Mannion’s first-year offensive install — new OC brings Packers/LaFleur play-action tree paired with Sirianni’s RPO-heavy 12-personnel base. Stowers’ athleticism (former QB convert) and receiver-leaning skillset profile as Y/F flex piece who flexes wide, motions across formation, and works seams in play-action shots. Run-blocking still developing, but Eagles ground game leans on RB/OL identity, freeing Stowers as designed-touch player. TE coach Ryan Mahaffey (run game coordinator title) accelerates inline reps. Move-TE role Year 1, full-time receiving piece by 2027.

R2, Pick 55: New England Patriots (via LAC)

Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois

Jacas fits Vrabel’s pressure-first defense — new HC inherited Patriots culture overhaul and runs multiple fronts (3-4/4-3 hybrid) with stand-up edge versatility. DC Zak Kuhr’s first-year scheme leans on Vrabel-Bowen DNA: aggressive contain edges who set hard against the run before unleashing pass-rush. Jacas’ Big Ten production and power-rush profile fits SAM/strong-side end role. Hand usage and counters more advanced than typical mid-round edge. Vrabel famously develops late-round/Day 2 edges (Harold Landry, Bud Dupree). Rotational pass-rusher Year 1, three-down piece by 2027.

R2, Pick 56: Jacksonville Jaguars

Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M

Boerkircher fits Liam Coen’s wide-zone-rooted offense — McVay/Shanahan tree leans heavily on 12-personnel sets where second TE blocks edge in run game and leaks into flat/seam off play-action. Texas A&M produced him as Y-inline body type with reliable hand usage as point-of-attack blocker. Coen demands TE2 who can replicate WR splits while sealing C-gap on outside zone. Run game coordinator Brian Picucci accelerates technique reps. Limited receiving ceiling but blocking value Day 1 makes him a Sunday roster lock — three-phase TE archetype Coen built around in Tampa.

R2, Pick 57: Chicago Bears

Logan Jones, C, Iowa

Jones fits Ben Johnson’s offense — HC’s Lions-rooted scheme blends outside zone with gap/power and demands centers who reach nose tackles, climb to second level, and execute combo blocks with both guards. Iowa’s OL development factory produced Jones with elite technique foundation and snap-quickness for shotgun-heavy attacks. Press Taylor’s promotion preserves scheme continuity. Johnson’s run game leans on athletic interior — Jones’ mobility unlocks pin-and-pull, mid-zone, and split-flow concepts. Day 1 starter in middle, anchors Caleb Williams’ pocket. Ten-year center profile.

R2, Pick 58: Cleveland Browns (via SF)

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

McNeil-Warren fits Mike Rutenberg’s defensive vision — DC inherits Cleveland’s elite four-down attacking front but adds disguised coverages and DB-level pressures from back-end. Safety play becomes scheme-critical: rotating post-snap, walking down to slot, blitzing off edge. Toledo’s MAC defense developed McNeil-Warren as multi-role piece (deep post, robber, walk-down). Range and tackling in space let Rutenberg stay aggressive without exposing back end. Hybrid box-safety/free-safety profile maximizes disguise. Year 1 sub-package starter, full-time strong safety projection by 2027 in scheme that demands range and physicality.

R2, Pick 59: Houston Texans

Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan

Klein fits Nick Caley’s offense — second-year OC came from Rams/Patriots tree where TE was scheme centerpiece (heavy 12-personnel, condensed splits, play-action shots). Michigan developed Klein as pro-style inline blocker in run game, which Caley demands at point of attack. German-born late football starter with elite athletic upside; receiving game raw but ceiling is rare given size/speed combination. DeMeco Ryans wants ground-and-pound balance — Klein adds Y-inline body type missing in pass-first sets. Developmental TE2 Year 1, breakout candidate by 2027 if route refinement clicks.

R2, Pick 60: Tennessee Titans (via CHI via BUF)

Anthony Hill Jr., ILB, Texas

Hill fits Gus Bradley’s Cover-3 single-high scheme — DC’s defense demands MIKE-LBs who flow fast to alleys, drop hook-to-curl in zone, and tackle in space. Texas reps prepared Hill against pro-style spread offenses; sideline-to-sideline range and downhill trigger make him scheme-perfect. Robert Saleh’s wide-9 front frees off-ball LBs to run downhill — Hill’s 4.5 short-area burst capitalizes. Three-down ILB ceiling rare at this draft slot. Hill’s coverage chops vs. RBs/TEs unlock nickel package without coming off the field. Day 1 starter, defensive cornerstone projection.

R2, Pick 61: Los Angeles Rams

Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

Klare fits Sean McVay’s offense — HC retains play-calling and runs motion-heavy 11/12-personnel scheme that prizes TEs who flex wide, work seams off play-action, and create matchup problems against base personnel. Klare’s receiving-leaning skillset (move-TE prototype with Purdue/Ohio State route polish) gives McVay matchup chess piece against zone teams. Kliff Kingsbury’s spread DNA in assistant HC role unlocks more 11-personnel TE-flex usage. Run-blocking still developing but McVay’s offense designs around TE strengths. F-back/joker role Day 1, designed-touch receiver Year 2.

R2, Pick 62: Denver Broncos

R2, Pick 63: Los Angeles Chargers (via NE)

R2, Pick 64: Seattle Seahawks

2026 NFL Draft Results – Third Round

R3, Pick 65: Arizona Cardinals

R3, Pick 66: Buffalo Bills (via TEN)

R3, Pick 67: Las Vegas Raiders

R3, Pick 68: Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ)

R3, Pick 69: Chicago Bears (via TEN via HOU via NYG)

R3, Pick 70: San Francisco 49ers (via CLE)

R3, Pick 71: Washington Commanders

R3, Pick 72: Cincinnati Bengals

R3, Pick 73: New Orleans Saints

R3, Pick 74: Cleveland Browns (via KC)

R3, Pick 75: Miami Dolphins

R3, Pick 76: Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL)

R3, Pick 77: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

R3, Pick 78: Indianapolis Colts

R3, Pick 79: Atlanta Falcons

R3, Pick 80: Baltimore Ravens

R3, Pick 81: Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET)

R3, Pick 82: Minnesota Vikings

R3, Pick 83: Carolina Panthers

R3, Pick 84: Green Bay Packers

R3, Pick 85: Pittsburgh Steelers

3, Pick 86: Los Angeles Chargers

R3, Pick 87: Miami Dolphins (via PHI)

R3, Pick 88: Jacksonville Jaguars

R3, Pick 89: Chicago Bears

R3, Pick 90: San Francisco 49ers (via MIA via HOU)

R3, Pick 91: Las Vegas Raiders (via HOU via BUF)

R3, Pick 92: Dallas Cowboys (via SF)

R3, Pick 93: Los Angeles Rams

R3, Pick 94: Miami Dolphins (via DEN)

R3, Pick 95: New England Patriots

R3, Pick 96: Seattle Seahawks

R3, Pick 97: Minnesota Vikings (Comp)

R3, Pick 98: Minnesota Vikings (via PHI; Comp)

R3, Pick 99: Pittsburgh Steelers (Comp)

R3, Pick 100: Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET; Special Comp)