There’s a saying that the last few months leading up to the NFL Draft are “smokescreen season” as teams try to obscure their plans in the hopes that their favorite players won’t get sniped before their picks. While most of the tape grinding and scouting gets done in the fall, there is still plenty of new information during the pre-draft process, from all-star games to the Combine to workouts, interviews and visits. Sorting fact from fiction gets harder and harder the closer it gets to the end of April. 

For the first time here at NFL Trade Rumors, we’re going to try to get a handle on that whole process. We’ll be tracking rumors as they come up from now until the NFL Draft. The goal is by the time the draft is done, we’ll have a virtual paper trail to look back at. From there, we can see where the narratives and reality matched up — or didn’t. 

This is a great companion resource to use with our 2026 NFL Draft Visit Tracker. Be sure to keep checking back to both for updates as the NFL draft gets closer. 

Last update: 3/3

Caleb Downs

• On the Pat McAfee Show, McAfee revealed an NFL team told him Ohio State S Caleb Downs‘ draft stock won’t drop because of his medicals, and there is no significant concern about his knee. (3/3) 
• It was previously reported by Cory Kinnan that Downs had a couple of issues flagged during his medical check at the combine, including a partially torn meniscus and a potentially degenerative ACL.
• McAfee said that all of the five-plus teams they talked to said they weren’t too concerned about Downs’ knee and it wouldn’t impact his stock. 

Quarterbacks

• The buzz at the Combine was that Alabama QB Ty Simpson could be drafted earlier than expected, perhaps in the top 12 picks. (Tony Pauline, 3/1)
• It was hard to find teams at the Senior Bowl that had a first-round grade on Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who declared early for the 2026 Draft. (Matt Miller, 2/2)
• However, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero would be surprised if the leaguewide demand, paired with the flashes on tape, didn’t drive up the cost for Simpson. He mentioned the Jets and Rams specifically: “I would be surprised sitting here right now not only if Ty Simpson doesn’t go in the first round. I don’t think Ty Simpson gets out of the first half of Round 1.” (Rich Eisen Show, 2/14)
• Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema thinks signs are pointing toward Simpson going in the first round: “The more I talk to people in Mobile, the more I talk to people at the Senior Bowl, the more that it just feels like Simpson doesn’t declare if he’s not going to be a first-round pick. I think he got some pretty good intel from the league that they’re like, ‘Hey man, why don’t you get in this class. Why don’t you go ahead and make sure that you’re in this class.'” (NFL Stock Exchange Podcast, 1/30)
• Multiple personnel executives have a second-round grade on North Dakota State QB Cole Payton and believe he’s the second-best QB in the draft: “But I don’t think this kid from North Dakota State is that far behind him. I really don’t. Two or three years from now, I think he can be there with (Mendoza). We think he’s gone early two (second-round). And somebody probably shot on him at the end of day one. Everything I’ve been telling you about him since November, people who are doing the work are seeing it too. This kid can play.” (Jason La Canfora, 2/16)

49ers

• The 49ers are planning to be aggressive this offseason when it comes to trades, including moving up in the draft and potentially targeting a receiver. (Grant Cohn, 1/21)

Bengals

• Some people at the Combine connected the dots between the Bengals and Auburn DE Keldric Faulk in the first round. (Jeff Risdon, 2/24)

Broncos

• USC safeties Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald are on the radar for the Broncos after they hired their college position coach this offseason. (Tony Pauline, 2/26)

Browns

• The Browns are doing extensive homework on Alabama QB Ty Simpson and the buzz at the Combine was he could be drafted earlier than expected. (Tony Pauline, 3/1)
• The Browns will explore opportunities to trade down from pick No. 6 in the upcoming draft. (Mary Kay Cabot, 2/23)
• According to Cleveland.com, the Browns have Alabama QB Ty Simpson on their radar as a potential addition this offseason. (Mary Kay Cabot, 2/23)

Buccaneers

• The Bucs are eyeing Texas LB Anthony Hill. (Tony Pauline, 12/31)

Cardinals

• Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is a consideration for the Cardinals with the No. 3 pick based on buzz from the Combine. (Connor Rogers, 3/3)
• The overall consensus at the Shrine Bowl was that Utah’s Spencer Fano and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa are the top offensive tackles in this year’s draft class, while there is a “big drop-off” after those two. However, the Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick is “way too early” for Fano or Mauigoa to be drafted. (Tony Pauline, 1/24)
• Internally the Cardinals have taken a liking to Alabama QB Ty Simpson. (Josh Weinfuss, 12/30)

Chiefs

• Defensive tackle will likely be a draft priority for the Chiefs in the first three rounds, with the team wanting more firepower next to DT Chris Jones and a long-term heir. (Jesse Newell, 3/2)

Commanders

• In his Combine rumors notebook, NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry says he’s heard this could be Commanders WR Terry McLaurin‘s final year in Washington and Ohio State WR Carnell Tate is an option in the first round. (3/2)

Dolphins

• The Dolphins are among the teams eyeing LSU CB Mansoor Delane. (Tony Pauline, 12/26)
• Texas CB Malik Muhammad is a potential second-round target for the Dolphins. (Tony Pauline, 12/31)

Eagles

• People within the NFL who are familiar with how the Eagles do business believe Philadelphia might draft a quarterback this year. (Michael Silver, 1/16)

Giants

• Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is a consideration for the Giants with the No. 5 pick based on buzz from the Combine. (Connor Rogers, 3/3)
• The Giants are high on Ohio State LB Sonny Styles, per team sources and people close to Styles. (Connor Hughes, 3/2)
• USC WR Makai Lemon drew interest from the Giants at the Combine. (Pat Leonard, 2/26)

Jets

• The Jets seem to be narrowing their focus with the No. 2 pick to Ohio State LB Arvell Reese or potentially Texas Tech DE David Bailey given their shift to more of a 3-4 defense. (Connor Rogers, 3/2)
• NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero would be surprised if the leaguewide demand, paired with the flashes on tape, didn’t drive up the cost for Alabama QB Ty Simpson. He mentioned the Jets and Rams specifically: “I would be surprised sitting here right now not only if Ty Simpson doesn’t go in the first round. I don’t think Ty Simpson gets out of the first half of Round 1.” (Rich Eisen Show, 2/14)
• Some of the Jets’ offensive coaches, including OC Tanner Engstrand, were lobbying for the team to take QB Jalen Milroe in the third round in 2025. However, the Jets took CB Azareye’h Thomas instead who was a favorite of HC Aaron Glenn‘s. (Tony Pauline, 1/3)
• It wasn’t the only factor in his decision to return to Oregon for the 2026 season, but QB Dante Moore did consider that there was a good chance he’d be drafted by the Jets if he declared and the organization is not in the most stable place. Moore also wants to accumulate more experience and take a crack at winning the Heisman and a national championship. (Tony Pauline, 1/14) 

Lions

• The Lions are among the teams eyeing LSU CB Mansoor Delane. (Tony Pauline, 12/26)
• Texas CB Malik Muhammad is a potential second-round target for the Lions. (Tony Pauline, 12/31)

Panthers

• The Panthers are eyeing Texas LB Anthony Hill. (Tony Pauline, 12/31)

Raiders

• The Raiders won’t trade the top overall pick in the upcoming 2026 draft, and they are “determined to draft” Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. (Jason La Canfora, 2/18)

Rams

• LSU CB Mansoor Delane and the Rams were a popular match in Combine buzz. (Jeff Risdon, 2/24)
• NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero would be surprised if the leaguewide demand, paired with the flashes on tape, didn’t drive up the cost for Alabama QB Ty Simpson. He mentioned the Jets and Rams specifically: “I would be surprised sitting here right now not only if Ty Simpson doesn’t go in the first round. I don’t think Ty Simpson gets out of the first half of Round 1.” (Rich Eisen Show, 2/14)
• ESPN’s Louis Riddick says he “knows for a fact” that the Rams like Alabama QB Ty Simpson, and his skillset and makeup are exactly what they’re looking for. (Louis Riddick, 2/14)
• The Rams are among the teams eyeing LSU CB Mansoor Delane. (Tony Pauline, 12/26)

Steelers

• Regarding the Steelers, Alabama QB Ty Simpson and Miami QB Carson Beck, there’s a sense experience is a big factor for Pittsburgh’s quarterback evaluations, which is a negative for Simpson and a positive for Beck. (Mike DeFabo, 3/2)

Titans

• Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is a consideration for the Titans with the No. 4 pick based on buzz from the Combine. (Connor Rogers, 3/3)
• In his Combine rumors notebook, NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry mentions he heard the Titans have Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love ranked as their top overall player. (3/2) 

Vikings

• Vikings DC Brian Flores is expected to push for an edge rusher in the first round this year if one he likes slips to their pick, not necessarily a cornerback. (Tony Pauline, 1/29)
• Minnesota was also doing a ton of homework on the tight ends at the Senior Bowl, per Pauline, and could be targeting a blocking type on Day 3.