2025-26 NFL Draft prospect watch

[Harry]

There is, of course, no way to know Ossenfort’s strategy. There is a school of thought among a number of GMs that in a rebuild once you get the skeleton in place you focus on strengthening one side of the ball first. That would explain the defensive side effort last offseason. In 2026 ideally you’d go offense unless you failed to get the defense sound. Most GMs think you can win with a strong defense and a conservative offense. We should know a great deal more when we get Ojulari, Nolen and Williams back. It would help if Rallis got more aggressive. I still think this defense is much better than it’s looked.

 

[DVontel]

Mendoza & Simpson are the clear standouts in this class & I wouldn’t mind trading up for.

 

[Gandhi]

I’m curious if this has been backtested.

It's difficult to do since nobody - not even Parcells himself - have ever followed those rules. He drafted seven QB's, by the way.

 

[Chopper0080]

Mendoza & Simpson are the clear standouts in this class & I wouldn’t mind trading up for.

They are the standouts for me so far. I am a little nervous by the lack of game experience from Simpson but that is just me. I still like Sellars but believe you need to sit him for most of, if not all of, year 1.

 

[Gandhi]

The intriguing one is Carson Beck. Sure he had a bad game but he has all the tools.
He was considered a lock for the #1 pick before everything went sour at Georgia.

He has the talent and measurables. But definitely question marks too.

I agree to an extent, Cbus. I think it says a lot how you rise up after falling, and Beck fell further than most last year. I just worry if he can only play behind a super offensive line, as they have at Miami, because that is not going to happen in the NFL.

Have you seen Branden Sorsby from Cincinnati? I hadn’t until a couple of weeks ago, but he certainly has some talent.

 

[cardncubfan]

Ugh

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[cardncubfan]

2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: 3 QBs go in top 4, while Cowboys go defense twice and Chiefs select Travis Kelce's successor

The NFL is almost halfway through the regular season, and Nate Tice and Charles McDonald check back in with their second 2026 mock of the fall. How did your team make out?

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Stout]

Ugh

You must be registered for see images attach

#1: If we draft a safety in the top 10 this draft, I will freaking break the TV

#2: The QB situation, which was supposed to be so good, looks like even more of a crap shoot now.

#3: If we identify Mendoza as "the guy"--and I'm not saying we are or should--we should be doing everything in our power to move up to #1 to get him.

#4: Reiterating the safety idiocy

 

[Harry]

I agree to an extent, Cbus. I think it says a lot how you rise up after falling, and Beck fell further than most last year. I just worry if he can only play behind a super offensive line, as they have at Miami, because that is not going to happen in the NFL.

Have you seen Branden Sorsby from Cincinnati? I hadn’t until a couple of weeks ago, but he certainly has some talent.

Interesting name, he has he plenty of physical skills and athleticism but there are concerns about the cerebral parts of the position. He takes too many risks and has some major ball placement concerns.

 

[oaken1]

#1: If we draft a safety in the top 10 this draft, I will freaking break the TV

#2: The QB situation, which was supposed to be so good, looks like even more of a crap shoot now.

#3: If we identify Mendoza as "the guy"--and I'm not saying we are or should--we should be doing everything in our power to move up to #1 to get him.

#4: Reiterating the safety idiocy

for me, Mendoza is the guy. has been since last season.
main selling point?? Besides the physical,...before he decided to go to CAL instead, he had a scholarship to YALE...they dont offer those to dummies, not even for football.
Thats a pretty good indicator that he has the between the ears stuff under control

 

[Stout]

for me, Mendoza is the guy. has been since last season.
main selling point?? Besides the physical,...before he decided to go to CAL instead, he had a scholarship to YALE...they dont offer those to dummies, not even for football.
Thats a pretty good indicator that he has the between the ears stuff under control

Possible Ivy Leaguer, eh? Maybe he'd bring a little Fitzmagic!

 

[Ronin]

Full First-Round Mock Draft Has Cardinals Facing Tough Choice

In this first-round NFL mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals stare a quarterback dilemma in the face.

www.si.com

 

[Stout]

Yeah, there's no way we're drafting after the Ravens.

 

[AZJ]

2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: 3 QBs go in top 4, while Cowboys go defense twice and Chiefs select Travis Kelce's successor

The NFL is almost halfway through the regular season, and Nate Tice and Charles McDonald check back in with their second 2026 mock of the fall. How did your team make out?

sports.yahoo.com

Article states that Downs is nearly "bust proof". I think I've seen and heard enough of stuff like that.

 

[Stout]

Article states that Downs is nearly "bust proof". I think I've seen and heard enough of stuff like that.

No freaking safeties in the 1st round, let alone the top 10, thanks.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Start playin' for Sayin.
Guy is the real deal. Super quick release too.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

I am watching the Indiana vs Maryland game. Mendoza is so impressive. He threw a bad pick early on and then just went to work and shredded the Maryland defense. Calm, poised, super prepared, and a rocket arm. He really reminds me of a much more gifted version of Jared Goff when Goff was coming out of college.

 

[Harry]

I am watching the Indiana vs Maryland game. Mendoza is so impressive. He threw a bad pick early on and then just went to work and shredded the Maryland defense. Calm, poised, super prepared, and a rocket arm. He really reminds me of a much more gifted version of Jared Goff when Goff was coming out of college.

Got lucky on that deflected pass.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Got lucky on that deflected pass.

Yes he did. That is one negative I see in Mendoza. Really tall guy who get’s a fair number of passes deflected by linemen. I am still really intrigued by Lenoris Sellers. Let Brissett start the next few years and let Sellers sit. Sellers is such a physical freak and seems like a great kid. South Carolina just has a horrible offensive line.

 

[oaken1]

Yes he did. That is one negative I see in Mendoza. Really tall guy who get’s a fair number of passes deflected by linemen. I am still really intrigued by Lenoris Sellers. Let Brissett start the next few years and let Sellers sit. Sellers is such a physical freak and seems like a great kid. South Carolina just has a horrible offensive line.

Im not against letting any rookie QB sit for a season...it never does anything but help them be better pros.
but, too many folks are addicted to instant gratification.

how many seasons did Steve Young ride the pine behind Montana?? These days, fans would force a trade because of perceived waisted value.

 

[Mainstreet]

The Cardinals should keep an eye on ASU tight end Chamon Metayer.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Stout]

Start playin' for Sayin.
Guy is the real deal. Super quick release too.

I watched a good chunk of that game and he did absolutely nothing special at all. So easy to just chuck the ball up to wide open receivers. WIDE open. I'm not "sayin" he's not the real deal, but how can anyone tell until he's actually been tested? 'Cause that Penn State defense was only testing two things: Jack and ish.

 

[football karma]

Harry: whats your take on Baylors Sawyer Robertson?

5th year Senior -- pocket passer who processes and is accurate. Good size -- but the draft stuff Ive looked at has him like a 6th rounder.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I watched a good chunk of that game and he did absolutely nothing special at all. So easy to just chuck the ball up to wide open receivers. WIDE open. I'm not "sayin" he's not the real deal, but how can anyone tell until he's actually been tested? 'Cause that Penn State defense was only testing two things: Jack and ish.

Going into that game PSU had the 5th ranked pass defense. Did you see the PERFECT ball placement on the deep balls to Smith and Tate(the 2nd one)?
Sayin had more TD's than incompletions. If you didn't like what you saw from him, then I have no idea what you could be looking for in a QB.

I'll give you that he's throwing to the best WR combo in the nation, but his throws are spot on the money almost every throw.

The other thing I liked is PSU got some pressure on him and he wasn't rattled. He took a couple big shots and one play maneuvered around the pocket and ran for a 1st down. That's something we hadn't seen so far.

 

[Harry]

Harry: whats your take on Baylors Sawyer Robertson?

5th year Senior -- pocket passer who processes and is accurate. Good size -- but the draft stuff Ive looked at has him like a 6th rounder.

I like legacy players. His dad Stan was an Expos first round choice. His cousin, Jarrett Stidham, is a QB with Denver. Sawyer looks a great deal like his cousin, a 4th round choice. He might go late day 2. He’s a solid passer who hangs tough in the pocket. When pressed he can run, but no happy feet issues. Composure may be an issue. He has to learn to control his adrenaline flow as he gets charged up and overthrows too many passes. His mechanics need work. He throws off his back foot multiple times a game. He’s not disciplined when considering progressions. He risks being overconfident. He has all the tools but can he refine them. This draft is loaded with these type of guys. Scouts are really divided as to who moves forward. Thanks for asking.