DRAFT TRACKER 2026

Golday is a big, explosive linebacker with a game best suited for work near the line of scrimmage. He attacks climbing blockers with heavy, aggressive hands. He also shows the strength to stack, compress gaps and finish with authority. While his performance at the point of attack stands out, he can be a little late diagnosing play design and needs to work with a more preemptive downhill trigger at times. He’s more powerful than elusive as a blitzer and is average in coverage. Golday’s traits, explosiveness and field demeanor should make him an early special teams standout with the potential to eventually start at Sam or inside linebacker.

Slender-framed slot target with field-stretching speed and talent to work all three levels of the field. Allen has elements to improve on as a route-runner, but his sudden acceleration and top-end speed create separation on a consistent basis. He’s a menace on go routes and slot fades. He has adequate hands but will end up on the wrong side of contested catches. Elusiveness after the catch could create additional value for Allen, who could become a productive playmaker as a middle-round pick.

Two-year starter at Cincinnati after three uneventful seasons at Ohio State. Royer is low-cut with a long torso and good foot quickness. He is better over the first two levels, with a more basic route tree allowing him to flow. He’s physical as a pass-catcher when needed and makes combat catches that others might drop. He shows enough toughness and technique as a blocker to expect him to improve in that area. Royer has TE2/3 potential if he continues to polish his game.

Caldwell is a developmental prospect with enticing traits and a need for better fundamentals. He’s a long-strider with the ability to create separation vertically, but his route-running is underdeveloped and he needs tutoring on how best to set up routes. Caldwell’s contested-catch rate is disappointing for a player with his size and ability. Coaching should help create more advantages in that area, but he might need to ratchet up his competitiveness on 50/50 balls, as well. His production at Cincinnati won’t excite, but his NFL Scouting Combine performance shows there could be more upside to unlock, which makes him worthy of a middle-round pick as a backup “Z” receiver.

Squatty run-down defender with a broad build and natural play strength. Corleone, aka “The Godfather”, lacks ideal length and shed quickness, so he might need to come off the ball with better explosiveness to help create an advantage early in the rep. He’s rarely on the ground, generally playing with squared pads and good short-area athleticism. A bout with blood clots in 2024 could require additional medical work for NFL teams during their evaluation, but Corleone appears to have enough talent to compete for a backup role as an even-front nose tackle.

Seventh-year senior with enticing disruption potential but only a single season of meaningful production. Hunt primarily played the 5-technique in Cincinnati’s odd front, but he’s suited for work as a penetrating nose tackle in an even front. He’s a plus athlete with quickness to beat blockers to the spot and dart into gaps or around base blocks. He has the foot quickness to test the gap-to-gap range of a center when aligned inside. His age, production and injury history might hurt his draft chances, but his style of play and athletic ability give him a chance to compete as a rotational, one-gapping nose tackle.

Gerhardt is a 49-game starter with outstanding leadership qualities to go with adequate size and length. He’s going to be more of a positional blocker than a people-mover, with the ability to find landmarks and fight for positioning. He’s aware of protection and makes the most of his length to keep rushers out of his frame. He’s a center-only prospect, which hurts his roster chances, but the tape is good enough to give him a chance.

Dingle offers a height/weight/speed option at inside linebacker. He’s a three-year starter who often relies on athleticism over instincts. His overall production in the impact categories is relatively light and he’s below average in coverage. The size, athletic testing and play strength are all positives, but Dingle is lacking in snap-to-snap execution, production and three-down versatility.