2026 NFL Draft Rumors: The place Will Ty Simpson Land? Chiefs Transferring Up?

[ad_1] The NFL Draft is a beast.

Rumors flying far and wide. Commerce discuss regarding gamers throughout the game, which might contain draft picks within the coming draft. We'd like a spot to retailer this buzz.

With that, this is a tracker for the most recent 2026 NFL Draft rumors:

Kansas Metropolis Chiefs positioning for draft-day blockbuster? The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs might be positioning themselves for a draft-day commerce, doubtlessly shifting up from the No. 9 total choose. The Chiefs have mentioned a potential trade-up with each the Cardinals at No. 3 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 4, per ESPN.

A possible trade-up would doubtless sign the Chiefs are focusing on a move rusher, a place they’ve been strongly linked to all through the offseason. Essentially the most generally linked prospects are Texas Tech's David Bailey and Miami (Fla.)'s Rueben Bain Jr. Each the Cardinals and Titans have steadily been talked about as potential trade-back candidates all through the draft course of, as every roster stays in a rebuild.

With the Chiefs holding picks No. 9 and No. 29 within the first spherical, they're considered as a logical candidate to discover a transfer into the highest 5 on draft evening. These strikes resulted within the alternatives of large receiver Xavier Worthy (2024), cornerback Trent McDuffie (2022) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (2017). If historical past is any indication, Kansas Metropolis gained’t hesitate to maneuver up once more if the correct participant is inside attain.

Would the Jets think about shifting Garrett Wilson on draft evening? The New York Jets are anticipated to be among the many most lively groups on Day 1 of the NFL Draft, holding each the No. 2 and No. 16 total picks. A possible commerce involving large receiver Garrett Wilson might be in play, with a number of groups anticipated to test in on his availability, per Yahoo Sports activities.

Wilson, 25, is coming off an injury-affected season by which he appeared in simply eight video games for the Jets. He recorded 36 receptions for 395 yards and 4 touchdowns earlier than being positioned on injured reserve after aggravating a proper knee sprain.

The Jets have been firmly invested in Wilson long-term after signing him to a four-year, $130 million extension final offseason with $90 million assured. Nonetheless, common supervisor Darren Mougey might be prepared to pay attention if groups include a robust sufficient supply, particularly with New York positioned to form the highest of the draft board.

Chiefs GM Brent Veach anticipates "rather a lot" of trades within the first spherical Not solely are the Chiefs exploring a possible draft-night trade-up, however Veach additionally expects a busy first spherical with loads of motion.

Throughout his pre-draft media availability, he mentioned it might be an "entertaining" evening given the dearth of a number of franchise-caliber quarterbacks and different high-end blue-chip prospects on the high of the board. Veach additionally added the way it might naturally gasoline extra commerce exercise throughout the league as groups look to maneuver for worth.

"I believe it must be an entertaining evening and there'll most likely be a variety of trades and that is what I believe with a draft like this, when you do not have two or three franchise quarterbacks and a Will Anderson Jr. or a Myles Garrett, it does lend itself to confide in a variety of enjoyable and a variety of pleasure. From a fan's perspective, they need to have a variety of enjoyable subsequent Thursday."

Not solely is the dearth of blue-chip prospects an element, however Veach additionally believes the variance in crew evaluations might form how the primary spherical unfolds. With regards to this 12 months’s class, variations in grading might come down much less to pure expertise and extra to a scheme that matches team-specific wants.

"I believe that the followers can be in for a deal with subsequent Thursday as a result of I believe among the grades are going to be shut for a few of these tackles, D-ends and different receivers," Veach mentioned. "That a variety of these guys which are mocked excessive might go a bit of low and a variety of these guys which are getting mocked decrease might go a bit of increased as a result of they're so shut this 12 months and it isn't this enormous hole and large fall off. Even with the offensive linemen, there's traits that you just like and there is some issues all these guys want to wash up and work on, however I believe that the grades are so shut that it will come right down to the scheme match, the coach's evaluation, the imaginative and prescient [and] the match for these guys."

Ty Simpson a first-rounder? The Alabama quarterback is gaining traction to be chosen within the first spherical, per CBS Sports activities. After serving as a backup for 3 seasons (2022-24), Simpson was Alabama's starter for the 2025 season. He totaled 3,567 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 145.2 passer score, whereas finishing 64.5% of his passes that season. Simpson's Tide reached the quarterfinal spherical of the School Soccer Playoff earlier than shedding to Indiana.

Almost definitely New York Jets choose The Jets, who personal the No. 2 and 16 picks within the first spherical, are anticipated to pick both Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese or Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey with the second choose, per CBS Sports activities. Final season, Reese logged 6.5 sacks, two passes defended and 69 mixed tackles, whereas incomes All-American honors; Bailey, who spent the primary three seasons of his collegiate profession enjoying for Stanford, racked up a Huge 12-high 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, three compelled fumbles, three passes defended and 52 mixed tackles in 2025.

Jeremiyah Like to the desert? There was "vital buzz" surrounding the Arizona Cardinals choosing the Notre Dame Preventing Irish working again with the No. 3 choose, per SNY. Love, who completed third within the voting for the 2025 Heisman Trophy Award, rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 6.9 yards per carry final season, whereas tallying 280 receiving yards and three receiving scores. He rushed for 17.5 touchdowns per season from 2024 to 2025 on a mixed 6.9 yards per carry.