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  • Top Draft Classes of the 2026 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers

    The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books.

    The city of Pittsburgh set a new record, with an attendance of over 805,000 people, over the 3-day event.

    257 players had their dreams come true, hearing their names called on stage.

    The 1st pick wasn’t a surprise as National Champion and Heisman Trophy Winning QB Fernando Mendoza went to the Las Vegas Raiders.

    The Raiders also ended the epic slide of CB Jermod McCoy, when they took him with the 101st pick, in the 4th round. The slide was due to medical reports on his knee, otherwise he’d been takin in the 1st round.

    There were 11 Ohio State Buckeyes taken, the most in this 2026 NFL Draft Class.

    There were 10 Quarterbacks drafted.

    There were a whopping 36 WRs drafted.

    The Naval Academy had 2 players selected this year. DT Landon Robinson with the 226th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Eli Heidenreich with the 230th pick, to his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Both were taken in the 7th round.

    Mr. Irrelevant (the name for the player chosen last in the draft), is Red Murdock, LB, from the University of Buffalo.

    There were quite a few really good classes this year. Teams did really well at addressing needs and playing the board.

    There were also a few stinkers, as well.

    So, without further ado, here are a few of the best and worst team class this year.

    My Cleveland Browns had one of the best draft classes, however, I will be writing a stand-alone article on them, so they are not included here.

    BEST – Carolina Panthers.

    • Pick 19: T Monroe Freeling, Georgia Bulldogs
    • Pick 49: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • Pick 83: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee Volunteers
    • Pick 129: CB Will Lee lll, Texas A&M Aggies
    • Pick 144: C Sam Hecht, Kansas State Wildcats
    • Pick 151: S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Pick 227: LB Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH) RedHawks

    Every single one of these picks, have the chance to be full-time starters, either this season or next season. Freeling might be starting Day 1, because LT Ikem Ekwonu is recovering from a major season ending injury late last season, and RT Taylor Morton is 31 years old and has only 2 years left on his contract.

    WORST – Jacksonville Jaguars

    • Pick 56: TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M Aggies
    • Pick 81: DI Albert Regis, Texas A&M Aggies
    • Pick 88: G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon Ducks
    • Pick 100: S Jalen Huskey, Maryland Terrapins
    • Pick 119: ED Wesley Williams, Duke Blue Devils
    • Pick 164: TE Tanner Koziol, Houston Cougars
    • Pick 191: WR Josh Cameron, Baylor Bears
    • Pick 203: WR CJ Williams, Stanford Cardinal
    • Pick 233: ED Zach Durfee, Washington Huskies
    • Pick 240: LB Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

    I’m not even going to pretend to know, what the hell the Jaguars were doing. I’m sure this all makes sense in their heads, not only myself, but some Jaguars fans that I spoke to, are completely baffled. I will say this though…. OG Emmanuel Pregnon is a D-A-W-G!!! He was one of my favorite offensive linemen in this entire class.

    WORST – San Francisco 49ers

    • Pick 33: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi Rebels
    • Pick 70: ED Romello Height, Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • Pick 90: HB Kaelon Black, Indiana Hoosiers
    • Pick 107: DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma Sooners
    • Pick 127: T Carver Willis, Washington Huskies
    • Pick 139: CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington Huskies
    • Pick 154: LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
    • Pick 179: T Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas Jayhawks

    At least with the 49ers, I knew what their gameplan was here. They’re wanting Stribling to be the replacement for Aiyuk…..OK, but there were better players on the board. I do like CB Prysock. He’s a big corner with long arms, and does a good job locating the ball when it’s in the air. LT Trent Williams is probably retiring after this season, and by taking 2 OTs in Willis and Cruz Jr, they’re hoping for a mid/late round steal. It ain’t happening.

    BEST – New York Jets

    • Pick 2: ED David Bailey, Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • Pick 16: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon Ducks
    • Pick 30: WR Omar Cooper Jr, Indiana Hoosiers
    • Pick 50: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana Hoosiers
    • Pick 103: DL Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State Seminoles
    • Pick 110: QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers
    • Pick 188: G Anez Cooper, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
    • Pick 228: S VJ Payne, Kansas State Wildcats

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE what the New York Jets did in this class.
    They got the #1 rated DE/EDGE rusher.
    They got the #1 rated TE.
    They got my #4 WR prospect.
    They got the #1 rated Slot CB, who CAN play outside as well.
    Let me tell you, when Darrell Jackson keeps his hands disciplined and in line with his hips and feet, he just dominates inside. So much potential.
    QB Cade Klubnik had a down season, but he has great timing and accuracy on all levels of the field, with a smooth throwing motion. Do NOT be surprised, if he easily beats out Brady Cook for the backup QB spot, and plays significant time if Geno Smith struggles as the starter.

    WORST – Dallas Cowboys

    • Pick 11: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
    • Pick 23: ED Malachi Lawrence, UCF Knights
    • Pick 92: ED Jaishawn Barham, Michigan Wolverines
    • Pick 112: T Drew Shelton, Penn State Nittany Lions
    • Pick 114: CB Devin Moore, Florida Gators
    • Pick 137: ED LT Overton, Alabama Crimson Tide
    • Pick 218: WR Anthony Smith, East Carolina Pirates

    They had THE BEST pick in the 1st round, with the #1 overall player in the entire draft (safety Caleb Downs) just fall into their lap. After that, they completely tanked. They wanna get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, that’s great, but there were far better options at 23, 92, and even 137. It’s like they just threw spaghetti on the wall, and hoping that something sticks. OT Drew Shelton struggles against good competition, and the NFC East is a tough place for linemen.

    BEST – Miami Dolphins

    • Pick 12: T Kadyn Proctor, Alabama Crimson Tide
    • Pick 27: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State Aztecs
    • Pick 43: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • Pick 75: WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech Red Raiders
    • Pick 87: TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio State Buckeyes
    • Pick 94: WR Chris Bell, Louisville Cardinals
    • Pick 130: LB Trey Moore, Texas Longhorns
    • Pick 138: LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh Panthers
    • Pick 158: S Michael Taaffe, Texas Longhorns
    • Pick 177: WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri Tigers
    • Pick 180: TE Seydou Traore, Mississippi State Bulldogs
    • Pick 200: G DJ Campbell, Texas Longhorns

    Other than their first pick (OT Kadyn Proctor), who is going to absolutely fail miserably, this is a GREAT draft by Miami. CB Chris Johnson is a Day 1 starting cornerback. LB Jacob Rodriguez is a turnover machine and is always around the football. WR Chris Bell was a LOCK to be a 1st Round WR before he tore his ACL late last season. He’s a great X WR and will be starting as soon as he is medically cleared. LB Kyle Louis is a tacking machine. S Michael Taaffe can do everything you need a safety to do.

    In summary, the 2026 Draft Class will go down as one of the strangest classes of all-time, certainly in my lifetime. Shocking picks, epic slides, a record-breaking number of trades, kept not just the teams on their toes, but fans on the edge of their seats or wondering….. “What the heck are they doing?”

    For the delicious breakfast bowls and bagels, as well as high protein snacks, and boba drinks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. Located on the corner of US-49 and Tully Street. Check out their Facebook page for special drinks and menu items.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Information courtesy of…..NFL, ESPN, and PFF.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, USAToday, and WTAE.

  • 3 Bold Predictions for the 2025-26 NFL Season.

    Graphic featuring the text 'NFL BOLD PREDICTIONS' with a football motif and a logo in the corner.

    The 2025-26 NFL season is finally upon us. It was an off-season of holdouts, especially at the wide receiver position. Khalil Shakir (BUF), Rashod Bateman (BAL), Courtland Sutton (DEN), Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (CIN), and Terry McLaurin (WASH), all got contract extensions.

    Most recently, the biggest off-season move was made when the Dallas Cowboys traded star DE/OLB Micah Parson to the Green Bay Packers for two 1st round picks and DT Kenny Clark.

    It was a top heavy draft, with the Cleveland Browns making a surprise move. Trading the #2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #5 pick and their 1st round pick next season.

    The Jaguars took CB/WR Travis Hunter from Colorado, and the Browns ended up taking DT Mason Graham from Michigan (see previous article on my thoughts on this trade and pick).

    With so much movement in the offseason, here are my 3 bold predictions for the season.

    1) New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll will be fired during the season.

    New York Giants logo with a distressed blue and gray background.

    Daboll has a 19-33-1 career record through his first three seasons as a head coach. He does have a veteran quarterback in Russell Wilson, and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has looked good through camp and preseason.

    The early season schedule is tough. Opening with games at Washington, at Dallas, home against Kansas City, and home against Los Angelos Chargers, all in the first four games of the season. He cannot afford to start 0-4, or even 1-3.

    They get the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Weeks 8 and 10. I can easily see them being 0-8, and he gets the boot midseason.

    2) Trevor Lawrence will throw for over 4,000 yards this season.

    A football player in a blue jersey with the number 16, wearing a black helmet and celebrating passionately on the field.

    Lawrence only played in 10 games last season. With two 1st round draft picks at the wide receiver position in second year wideout Brian Thomas Jr (87 catches, 1,282 yards, and 10 TDs), and Heisman Trophy winner, rookie Travis Hunter (171 catches, 2,167 yards, and 24 TDs, in 2 seasons at Colorado).

    New offensive coordinator Liam Coen had Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield in the Top 3 last season. I fully expect him to scheme up ways to make Trevor successful this season.

    3) Both Browns rookie players DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger will finish in the Top 5 for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

    Two Cleveland Browns players practicing on a football field during training camp. One player, wearing jersey number 94, is sprinting while the other, in jersey number 49, is holding a football and running drills.

    The Browns defense under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is stout. Of course, with former DPOTY Myles Garrett commanding double and triple teams, this will leave Mason Graham with 1 on 1 matchups against interior lineman. With his aggression, strong hands, and agility, he’ll win those matchups consistently.

    With Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out this season with a possible career ending neck injury (news I broke first before Mary Kay or ESPN), Carson Schwesinger has the speed to run sideline to sideline, and has incredible instincts to sniff out the football.

    With Garrett and Graham rushing the passer, and CB Denzel Ward locking down one half of the field, Carson will make double digit tackles every single game.

    Write it down. Bookmark it. My 3 bold predictions.

    An array of NFL team logos displayed in circular designs, featuring teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and others against a light background.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

    Stats courtesy of…..NFL.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, wallpapers, WKBN, drroto.

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  • The Top 5 Running Backs in the NFL.

    A collage of NFL team logos arranged in a grid pattern, featuring teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and more.

    After the “devaluation” of the running back position swept the NFL for the better part of the last decade, teams are starting to see why the position is so valuable.

    It’s becoming “trendy” again, to hand the ball off 25 to 30 times a game.

    Us fans have known this all along though.

    A running back affects the game in so many ways. It’s far from simply taking a handoff.

    Running routes out of the backfield, they have to know protection details, when is the right time to leave and go into the flat as a dump off option for the quarterback.

    I could go on and on, because everyone knows that I LOVE the running back position.

    So, without further ado, here are the Top 5 running backs in the NFL today.

    Saquon Barkley – Philadelphia Eagles.

    NFL player celebrating on the field, wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey and showing a positive gesture with his finger raised.

    Not only on Barkley lead the entire league in rushing last season (2,005 yards), but he also led the league in carries with 345. That’s a heavy workload, and he played 16 games last season.

    You have to account for him coming out of the backfield as well, with 33 catches. He’s a true three-down back, who does a serviceable job in pass blocking.

    Any time he touches the football, he can take it for a touchdown. He has the speed to break long runs, and the power to bulldoze his way between the tackles.

    No running back had a bigger impact on his team last season than Saquon Barkley did.

    Without Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles aren’t winning the Super Bowl, they probably don’t even win their division.

    Christian McCaffrey – San Francisco 49ers.

    Christian McCaffrey running with the football during an NFL game, wearing a white uniform with red and gold details, showcasing power and agility.

    Absolutely no fan, coach, GM, player, or anybody, can deny the fact the McCaffrey is arguably the best running back in the league, when he’s healthy.

    That’s always been the problem with him. His durability is an issue not just season to season, but game to game.

    He has sneaky speed. He doesn’t look like he’s running fast, but he’ll take a 3-yard run and turn it into long touchdown before you realize what’s happening.

    He’s a far better receiver out of the backfield than Barkley, and maybe the best in the league.

    You simply cannot move him out of the Top 5 or even 3, no matter what.

    Josh Jacobs – Green Bay Packers.

    A running back wearing a green and gold uniform, holding a football, and looking focused on the field during an NFL game.

    Josh Jacobs was the real engine that pulled the train in Green Bay last season, it wasn’t quarterback Jordan Love.

    His first season as a Packer, erased whatever “stain” people had on him from his final season as a Raider.

    The Packers leaned heavily on Jacobs in all situations, enroute to their Wildcard Playoff berth.

    Running for 1,329 yards (6th) on 301 carries (6th) and 15 TDs (4th), proved that he’s a bellcow back with the speed and power to do it all.

    He had 36 catches out of the backfield and did a great job in pass protection for the Packers.

    Derrick Henry – Baltimore Ravens.

    A player in a purple football uniform with the number 22 is running while holding a football. The background features blurred stadium spectators.

    Derrick Henry is a throwback running back to the good ole days of football.

    Just hand him the football and watch him completely steamroll people.

    He’s proven that he can handle a heavy workload throughout his whole career, and showed it again last season.

    Rushing for 1,921 yards (2nd), on 325 carries (2nd), he tied for first in the league with 16 TDs.

    He’s not going to give you receiving yards out of the backfield or do much of anything in terms of pass protection, but he’s going to break a defense and wear them out throughout the entire game.

    Aaron Jones Sr. – Minnesota Vikings.

    A professional football player in a purple jersey, number 33, stands on the field during practice, showcasing a focused expression and athletic build.

    Jones is your classic slasher type running back. He’s quick with his feet, and once he sees the hole in the line, he’s off and going.

    He’s got the speed to break off long runs, and the power to get into the endzone in goalline situations.

    He does have durability issues and is quite similar to McCaffrey (see above). He did play all 17 games last season though.

    He had 1,138 yards (9th) on 255 carries (9th) to go along with a whooping 51 catches out of the backfield.

    He’ll stick his nose in on pass protection, and does a serviceable job in that regard.

    With JJ McCarthy (basically a rookie, though it’s officially his 2nd year in the league) now starting at QB, they’ll lean on him even more this season, as he gets his feet wet to the NFL game.

    I expect a great start for Jones in 2025.

    – Sean McKenzie

    Follow me on X (Twitter) at JoeAmerican6771 and allsportsfancom.

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    Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL and ESPN.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, clutchpoints, bvmsports, sportskeeda, and cbssports.