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Quick Hits: Quinshon Judkins Calls Playing in Ohio State “A One-of-a-Kind Experience” and Carnell Tate Expects Western Michigan to “Play Ball With Us”

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2024

Quick Hits: Quinshon Judkins Calls Playing in Ohio State “A One-of-a-Kind Experience” and Carnell Tate Expects Western Michigan to “Play Ball With Us”

After a dominant win over Akron, Ohio State will welcome Western Michigan to the Shoe on Saturday. While sportsbooks consider the Buckeyes more than a five-touchdown favorite over the Broncos, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Wednesday that Western Michigan “has our guys’ attention” following its closer-than-expected loss to Wisconsin.

“When you watch the film, you’re seeing them play a Big Ten opponent, which gives us a little bit more of a barometer for what we’re dealing with. They played Wisconsin strong. They are physical up front. They have some really good skill players,” Day said. “It looked like a Big Ten-style game overall. There was a point where that game was in the balance. I know that has our guys’ attention.”

Eleven of those Buckeyes participated in press conferences on the Woody Hayes Athletic Center indoor practice field along with Day on Wednesday: JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Quinshon Judkins, Sonny Styles, Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, Seth McLaughlin, Gabe Powers, Will Kacmarek, Joe McGuire and Jayden Fielding.

Below you can find video, some quotes and all the need-to-know information from their media sessions:

DE JT Tuimoloau

“I had to tell him (the sack) is coming, because he hit that guy like seven times. It’s coming, but you see him working.” – JT Tuimoloau on what he told Jack Sawyer about his performance after Week 1

Tuimoloau said being consistent is key for him and Ohio State’s defense because anyone can perform well for just one game. He feels it’s more about how they perform on a weekly basis.
Tuimoloau said it wasn’t surprising to see guys like Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Mitchell Melton come in and make plays against Akron. He praised their work ethic, which he believes is why they performed well.
Tuimoloau said finally being able to perform Week 1 was like “a whole bunch of dogs just being finally let out to go play.” He said there were some jitters but he’ll believe the defense will continue to clean up small things.

DT Tyleik Williams

“I think the D-line played well in the first game. I think we all went out there and made plays. We played as a team. We need that going forward if we’re gonna win these big games we have coming up.”– Tyleik Williams on the defensive line’s performance against Akron

On Ohio State forcing three turnovers in the season opener: “It’s exciting. All the work we’ve put in, we do a lot of drills to create turnovers. They’re finally starting to show up in the game. I think it’s great for us and for the team.”
Williams called TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins a “two-headed monster.” He added: “They got everything you need in a running back. To have two of them is even better. I think it’s a two-headed monster in the backfield. One gets tired, and another great one comes in. They can keep going back and forth and there’s no dropoff whatsoever.”
On how Sonny Styles, C.J. Hicks, Arvell Reese and Gabe Powers performed without having Cody Simon healthy: “I think they played well. They’re doing everything they need to do. Getting us the calls, doing their assignment. I didn’t think there was a dropoff there.”

RB Quinshon Judkins

“Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience, super exciting. Definitely more fans than I expected, so it’s super fun.”– Quinshon Judkins on his first game in Ohio Stadium

On whether he has to develop timing within a scheme as a running back: “Definitely. I think at this position, that’s something that you practice every single day when you’re on the field with your teammates. You’re working on the timing, and you’re working on schemes, and you’re planning different things, especially for games and then during the season.”
On the offensive line’s performance in Week 1: “I think as a team, collectively, like Coach Day said, we always can improve weekly. We just come back, watch the film, and everybody sees what they can do better, and we come out the next week and do our best.”
On TreVeyon Henderson’s devastating pass block against Akron: “I thought it was just amazing to see. So as his teammate, I gave him the ups and the props, and when he got to the bench, I was like, ‘Bro, that’s a hell of a block.’”
On James Peoples: “I think in James, man, just seeing him go out there and be super excited with the performance. Like go out there for his first game and see him get to run and get the jitters out, just see him get the experience his first game. Me and Tre both just enjoyed it.”

LB Sonny Styles

“It wasn’t too crazy for me. Our positions are kind of interchangeable in our defense, so a lot of the concepts are similar. I think I have a pretty good grasp of the defense and knowledge of the defense, so it wasn’t a super hard switch for me.”– Sonny Styles on being thrust into a Mike linebacker role in Week 1

On his performance in the Akron game: “It was good. First game at backer, I ended up playing Mike. I thought as a linebacker room, as a whole, we had a solid game. Always some stuff to work on, but it was a start.”
Styles called wearing in-helmet communication “cool.” He said there was only one play on defense where the play call “came in a little late,” and he had to relay it to his teammates quickly and get them set. “It got a little hectic because everyone is looking at you like, ‘What’s the call? What’s the call?’ Styles said with a laugh. “But it wasn’t too bad. I thought it was a sold day. I thought I did pretty good with it.”
Styles takes pride in knowing both the Mike and Will linebacker positions. He felt the same responsibility at safety last season, understanding what to do at free safety, strong safety and nickel spots for Ohio State in 2023.

WR Brandon Inniss

“You can’t play around when you’re back there. You can’t tiptoe. You’ve got to get the ball, make the first two guys miss and go.” – Brandon Inniss on his mentality as a punt returner

Inniss said he was frustrated he didn’t score on a punt return in Week 1 because he was “so close” on a couple of them but hopes that changes soon.
He said he thinks teams may stop punting to him directly because of what he’s shown on tape so far. He said Akron tried to kick away from him after the second punt but he adjusted.
Inniss said he’s been coached to have “tennis feet” as a punt returner. “As soon as the ball is kicked, you have to track the ball off the punter’s foot, and that’s what I try to do.”
He says you have to have an aggressive mindset as a punt returner. He says he never wants to fair catch the ball if he doesn’t have to.
Inniss said Devin Hester is his inspiration as a punt returner.
Inniss said Ryan Day and Ohio State’s position coaches are “a lot more involved” in special teams than they were last year. “They made special teams a focus this offseason, and Coach Day plays a huge role in the special teams this year.” He said that gives the players more motivation to play well on special teams because they want to impress their position coaches.

WR Carnell Tate

“It felt good. It’s the start of the season. Momentum building makes you feel good heading into Week 2.”– Carnell Tate on scoring a touchdown against Akron

Tate on receiving praise from Day for how he practices each week in Ohio State’s wide receiver room: “You practice how you play. I try to practice how I play. I try to practice hard and after I catch (the ball) I try to run and finish after the catch.”
On Western Michigan and the threat the Broncos pose to the Buckeyes in Week 2: “We know they came to play ball. They played a Big Ten team. We know they are gonna come over here and play ball with us.”
On what he can do better after watching film from the Akron game: “I could have blocked better. I left a couple of blocks out there on the field and stuff like that. I left one catch out there on the field and stuff like that. I always feel like I can play better than what I did.”

C Seth McLaughlin

“There was a lot of plays that were one block away from being huge runs, and we just got to keep working on correcting those one-offs.”– Seth McLaughlin on the team’s run-blocking

On his first game in the Shoe: “The fans showed out, and there were a ton of them there. And that was surprising for an opening game in my eyes, but I had a ton of fun.”
On how he felt Austin Siereveld and Tegra Tshabola performed at guard: “I’m proud of them. For coming out and having their first start, I thought they did well. you kind of have those jitters. I think I can’t speak to how they were feeling, but I know how I felt when I got my first playing time, there were some jitters. kind of had to get in the flow of that as a young guy getting your first start. And once they got in the flow and they felt comfortable, and after those initial jitters wore off, we played really well.”
McLaughlin is somewhat thankful for the illness that ran through the offensive line room and the opportunities younger players have gotten. “It’s kind of an advantage. It helped us build a ton of depth and a lot of chemistry with guys that we might have not had the opportunity to play with.”
On Will Howard’s scrambling and ability to extend plays: “It really helps. It definitely helps the offensive line look better. When you’ve got a guy that’s so experienced like that, being able to avoid the rush, as long as you’re playing hard, you have faith that the guy back there is not going to get sacked.”

LB Gabe Powers

“Since I was a little kid, I’ve always been a Ohio State fan, so that’s always been a goal of mine.” – Gabe Powers on scoring his first touchdown as a Buckeye

Powers said the interception return touchdown he scored against Akron boosts his confidence and that he hopes it gives the coaching staff more confidence to play him, too. He said it validates his decision to stay at Ohio State and keep fighting for playing time even though he’s still a backup right now.
Powers said he’s embracing his opportunity to play a big role on special teams after playing on the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return units against Akron.
Powers wasn’t surprised that Sonny Styles was able to learn how to play Mike linebacker and handle the helmet communication for the defense quickly because “he’s a really smart player.”

TE Will Kacmarek

“It means everything for the program. I mean, that’s what we strive for every day.”– Will Kacmarek on grading out a champion in his first Ohio State game

On playing two MAC teams to open the season after transferring from the MAC: “It is funny how that works out, but I mean they’re just as good as anyone else. It’s college football, so we take everyone seriously and all that, but it is kind of coincidental.”
On how his first game went: “Good, good. It was definitely a cool experience. First game in the shoe, get the full experience. Played a good amount of snaps, so it was just cool to get out there for the first time and just play football.”
On how the tight ends blocked Saturday: “Good. I really think we did a great job. That’s been a huge focus for us in the offseason, spring ball, fall camp, so I think we’re going to continue to get better at that and just show that we’re a good blocking unit.”
On where coach Keenan Bailey has helped him as a receiver: “Definitely my route running. I think that’s an area where I may have not received the most knowledge previously, but given the fact that he was a former receiver GA, he’s got all the tools and tricks and stuff like that, so he’s definitely helped me in that area.”

P Joe McGuire

“We’ve put in an unbelievable amount of hard work in the offseason, as what is expected here. So by the time you step out on game day, you expect to be ready.”– Joe McGuire on his preparation for his first game as Ohio State’s punter

McGuire said it was “unbelievable” punting in a game for the first time. “I sort of knew what to expect a little bit following Jesse (Mirco) last year, backing him up, so warmed up on the ground and everything, but obviously being out there is a different experience.”
He said he didn’t know until near the end of last week that he would be the starting punter.
McGuire said he trained with former Ohio State punter Cameron Johnston over the summer and that Johnston has “been fantastic” to him.
McGuire said he wasn’t caught off-guard when the Buckeyes brought in Nick McLarty and Anthony Venneri to compete with him for the punting job this offseason. “I was the only punter here at the time, really. So I was expecting it. And if that’s what they think makes the team better, then great. Because at the end of the day, we just want to win.” He said competing with them has made him better.
McGuire said Jesse Mirco has been a “great mentor” to him and that he still talks nearly every day with the former Ohio State punter, who transferred to Vanderbilt in the offseason.

K Jayden Fielding

“He always had that look in his eye. He’s a very competitive guy, he came in last year kind of late, he proved to us he was serious about it. He’s just a competitor at the end of the day.” – Jayden Fielding on trusting Joe McGuire to handle punting duties

Fielding said he and punter Joe McGuire are good friends off the field so he always knew he was ready to handle punting duties.
Fielding said it’s always relieving to see the first field goal of the season go in and compared it to hitting your first home run in the big leagues.
Fielding approaches kicking with a mindset of every single kick is important to Ryan Day, Rob Keys and everybody on the team.

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Funeral to be held for Ohio teen killed in scooter crash

Published

9 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Funeral to be held for Ohio teen killed in scooter crash

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WSYX) — Family and friends will gather to remember a 17-year-old Olentangy Orange High School student who was killed while riding a scooter in Orange Township.

Anastasia Jehorek died Feb. 27 along state Route 750, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers said she was riding in the side safety lane when she was hit by a car.

Jehorek’s family is remembering her as someone who always had a smile.

“I think she brought a lot of light to people’s lives, and that’s just a light that’s no longer with us,” said Anthony Bowling, Jehorek’s uncle.

The driver, Aviv Bukobza, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.

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Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

Published

21 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Jardy: Three quick takes from Ohio State’s blowout win at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Ohio State continues to show late-season growth

The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.

Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.

Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.

Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day

Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.

He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.

Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.

He needs 12 points to set the new record.

John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury

Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.

His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.

Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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2026 NFL mock draft 6.0: Chiefs stick with offense after big trade with Rams; Ohio State defenders rise after stellar combines

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

2026 NFL mock draft 6.0: Chiefs stick with offense after big trade with Rams; Ohio State defenders rise after stellar combines

With the 2026 NFL scouting combine in the books, this year’s NFL Draft class is becoming clearer.

While the quarterbacks and wide receivers got the most attention at the combine, it was a group of defensive prospects that stood out this past week in Indianapolis. Specifically, Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese and linebacker Sonny Styles put together a fantastic series of workouts to move into the top three of our latest mock draft. But there were plenty of other defenders who stood out. This mock draft is littered with them in a deep overall class of defensive linemen and defensive backs.

In this mock draft, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice makes the odd-numbered picks, and Charles McDonald makes the even.

More 2026 NFL mock drafts: 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Don’t overthink it. Barring some unforeseen path the Raiders take this offseason, Mendoza looks like the signal-caller of the future in Las Vegas. Mendoza checks a lot of boxes at QB, especially his overall size as Mendoza not only stands 6-foot-5 but weighed in at a strong 236 pounds in Indianapolis. And his sense of timing, ability to throw on the move, and willingness to push the ball are a great match for Klint Kubiak’s offense that constantly asks quarterbacks to work inside and outside of the pocket and into tight spots over the middle of the field. The Raiders’ skill position talent already has strong, young playmakers (maybe one more outside receiver would be nice!) who can help ease Mendoza’s transition to the next level.

2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

Some players who split time between two positions are “tweeners” who don’t really excel at either spot. A very small number of players who play two spots put up elite performances at both. Reese fits into the latter. He’s a true front-seven weapon who should excel wherever his future team puts him. He can cover, play the run and rush the passer, making him a rare and versatile linebacker prospect at the top of the draft. The Jets’ defense was so bad that someone who can plug multiple spots depending on the situation is exactly what they need.

3. Arizona Cardinals — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles’ strong season had him already moving up draft boards, and an even stronger showing in Indianapolis only added rocket fuel to his rise. Styles’ range and smarts as an off-ball linebacker allow him to impact the run and pass, but he also has the length and strength to hold up as an edge rusher for snaps as well. The redbirds could look at offensive line here, too, but Styles’ ability to be a steadying force and impact player, with versatility thrown in, makes sense for any type of defense and franchise. But the Cardinals need stuff to build around. Plus there’s a nice bonus of it being an interesting fit for coordinator Nick Rallis’ knuckleball defense.

(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)

4. Tennessee Titans — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Tennessee started rebuilding its defense in Robert Saleh’s image by swapping T’Vondre Sweat for the Jets’ Jermaine Johnson. Now Saleh can continue to build what his best Jets defenses had: premier defensive line depth. Adding Bain, who would be a perfect fit in Saleh’s defense, would give the Titans a heavy-handed player on the edge who has high-end athleticism to negate any arm-length issues his frame should bring up. Jeffery Simmons and Bain would be … a pain.

5. New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

While there are other offensive tackles who are (spoilers for the next pick!) shooting up draft boards, the Giants go for Mauigoa. He could be the short-term and long-term answer for the Giants at right tackle or right guard. Mauigoa is a clean prospect with good hand usage and a strong build who can help the Giants’ offensive line from dipping after an underrated strong performance in 2025 (especially when Andrew Thomas was on the field). Perhaps he doesn’t have overwhelming athleticism. Still, he’s a player who allows the Giants to always have their best five offensive linemen on the field.

6. Cleveland Browns — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

This is a big-time jump for Freeling, but he has all the traits NFL teams drool over for offensive tackle prospects in terms of size and athleticism. The Browns, who are facing the potential losses of the vast majority of their offensive line to free agency, will need to completely rebuild that unit — which is a bit overdue, but not to this severity. Freeling gives Cleveland a dart throw to have strong left tackle play if he continues his trend of rapid improvement over the past year.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: David Bailey #DL31 of Texas Tech participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) — Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey helped his draft stock with a strong performance at the combine. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
(Lauren Leigh Bacho via Getty Images)

7. Washington Commanders — David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

As tempting as it will be to add an offensive player of some kind here, with tasty options at offensive line, wide receiver, tight end and running back, the Commanders instead add firepower to a defense that has to get faster, younger and just straight up better. Bailey is an explosive pass rusher who is constantly attacking offensive tackles. He will never be a strong run defender, but he has long arms (measured at 33 ¾ inches at the combine) and has improved in that area. Bailey is the exact type of talent injection this defense needs.

8. New Orleans Saints — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Tyler Shough will be getting a chance to show he can be the long-term quarterback this year, so shoring up the wide receiver room should be a priority. New Orleans is a bit thin in terms of premier skill talent after a few years of erosion, but Shough’s emergence gives them the ability to burn this pick on Tate, who should immediately step in as a legitimate starting option alongside former Buckeye Chris Olave.

9. Kansas City Chiefs — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

WHHHEEEEE! The Chiefs have a few needs they could address here, but I think an offensive skill player of some sort is the way to go. And why not go with Love, one of the best overall players in this draft and a walking, talking explosive play who could boost a run game that has been hyper-efficient the past few seasons, but has had the same explosiveness as a wet firecracker. Love behind a Chiefs offensive line that could end up being one of the league’s better units and in an Andy Reid screen game has me salivating.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Cincinnati needs defense. Downs is arguably the best player in the draft. Whoever is the top defensive player available here, the Bengals should take him without thinking much about it. Downs’ position is the only reason he’s available here as safeties tend to slide down the board relative to their consensus rankings.

11. Miami Dolphins — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Zone cornerback, meet zone coverage-calling head coach. Delane gets how to play the cornerback position. He’s smart and has a great feel for playing high-low concepts, with the quickness and burst to make plays on the football. He doesn’t have ideal length or top-end athleticism, but he gives the Dolphins and new head coach Jeff Hafley a young CB with pedigree to build around.

12. Dallas Cowboys — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Dallas needs to keep plugging away at the holes in its secondary and can get a high-upside prospect in McCoy here to get a corner who can take advantage of Dallas’ defensive line talent. McCoy has excellent ball skills and can be a more steady player than the boom-bust talents that occupied this secondary in the past.

[Watch Yahoo Sports Network]

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

After dipping their toes in the Oregon tight end waters last draft with Terrance Ferguson in the second round and supercharging their multi-tight end looks, the Rams take the plunge with Sadiq. Yes, the Rams could add to their defensive backfield here, among other positions, but Sadiq would further weaponize a Rams offense that asks its skill players to do a bit of everything around the formation. Sadiq would give Sean McVay another field stretcher and yards-after-catch option while still deploying heavy bodies, with some grit as a blocker as a nice bonus. Sadiq would not only help the Rams for 2026, but he also shores up the position long-term for the Rams as they have several pending tight end free agents in 2027.

14. Baltimore Ravens — Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

Baltimore needs to add more high-end offensive line talent and Ioane may wind up being the only first-round caliber player on the interior this year. He perfectly fits the power running that Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have thrived with and is athletic enough to have versatility for new coordinator Declan Doyle as he begins to install his offense in Baltimore.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Keldric Faulk, DL/Edge, Auburn

Faulk has an ideal build for a classic defensive end and fits the type of defensive ends that Todd Bowles has deployed in the past (Logan Hall, William Gholston). Faulk is young and still developing as a pass rusher, but he can be a needle-moving run defender right out of the gate as he polishes the rest of his game. Faulk’s versatility to move across the defensive line helps him fit in any type of scheme, but is a clean fit in Bowles’ defense. A strong option to help out for 2026, but a swing at something more for the Bucs while picking in the middle of the first.

16. New York Jets (via Colts) — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Another player for the broken Jets’ defense. Like his older brother A.J., a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Falcons, Avieon didn’t have the most explosive day at the combine (his 34-inch vertical ranked among the bottom third of CBs and his 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump was also in the lower tier in this group) but he still has the profile of a starting outside cornerback in the NFL, which is still an incredibly valuable thing to find. That works here for the Jets.

17. Detroit Lions — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

While Giovanni Manu is still interesting to me, Lomu gives the Lions their Taylor Decker succession plan (and insurance for the 2026 season). Lomu has to continue to get stronger, but he has light feet, clean hand usage and the overall athleticism to stay on the left side and be a plus-blindside protector. Lomu has just turned 21, so a redshirt year under offensive line coach/run game coordinator Hank Fraley while continuing to add to his frame could make this a perfect player-team fit for a franchise that seems like it’s about to start transitioning to phase 2 of the Dan Campbell tenure.

18. Cleveland Browns (via Vikings) — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Browns jump up here in the draft to grab the falling Fano, giving them two offensive tackles in the first round of this draft. Freeling and Fano could grow into a formidable OT duo for the Browns and when a team has so few offensive linemen under contract with a restrictive salary cap situation, the draft is the best way to go.

19. Carolina Panthers — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Panthers could look to help out their trenches on both sides of the ball here, but they sorely need impact defensive players. Allen can be that solidifying force in the front seven who could help this defense finally step out of the doldrums. Allen’s intelligence, quickness, and overall two-way ability would help the Panthers shore up against the run and pass, while also having some blitzing juice to fit into coordinator Ejiro Evero’s defensive funkiness.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers) — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Another dip on defense, this time the Cowboys add to their defensive end rotation with the speedy Howell. He’s similar to some of the players they already have on the roster, but this is a decent enough range and he would benefit from a strong room of defensive tackles.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Makai Lemon, WR, USC

I go back and forth with what kind of second wide receiver I would want to see in Pittsburgh in Mike McCarthy’s offense and across from DK Metcalf. While I’m personally higher on Denzel Boston than Lemon, I think Lemon’s quickness and route-running ability from the slot is actually a good fit for what I think McCarthy is going to want in his offense that has typically featured a steady heaping of quick-hitting passing plays. Lemon would also give Pittsburgh more yards-after-catch ability and a different flavor than Metcalf and the Steelers’ jumbo-size tight end room.

22. Los Angeles Chargers — Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

The Chargers go pure value here and take Woods, who was slotted as a top pick prior to the season. Woods has all the upside in the world to be an impact player on the interior and still flashed strong skills in a down year for the entire Clemson program. Woods would be a great young talent for the Chargers to add with the emerging Tuli Tuipulotu on the edge.

23. Philadelphia Eagles — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

When picking for the Eagles under general manager Howie Roseman, defaulting to a pick in the trenches isn’t the worst bet. And something I agree with! Especially with long-time right-side stalwart Lane Johnson contemplating retirement seemingly on a weekly basis and other question marks potentially emerging along the rest of the Eagles’ line. I’m high on Iheanachor, who is a great athlete in a large frame, and I think he has more polish to his game than the “project” label he gets despite being a latecomer to football. And this might end up as his floor when April comes.

24. Minnesota Vikings (via Browns) — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

After flipping down with the Browns, the Vikings take a big swing at defensive tackle with Banks. He isn’t a finished product, but he’s a lot more polished than most designated projects and was incredibly disruptive in the three games he played this season. His movement skills and footwork are incredibly rare at 6-foot-6, 330, but he struggles to finish plays off the penetration he creates. Brian Flores would be a great coach to land with in regards to fixing that and the Vikings would have the chance for the elite interior talent this defense has been missing.

25. Chicago Bears — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Left tackle is very live here for Chicago, but the Bears must look to add beef to their defensive interior. And what better person to add beef than someone with the last name McDonald. McDonald has good bulk and is a strong run defender who actually racks up tackles rather than just plodding in the middle with his quick feet and ability to consistently shed his block. He is just an average pass rusher, but can help shore up a run defense that was prone to leaks in 2025.

26. Buffalo Bills — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Bills clearly have a big need at wide receiver and can take another swing on a wide receiver early in the draft. Boston had 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns over the past two seasons and profiles as someone who has a chance to be a big-bodied wide receiver who has a bit more skills than players the Bills currently have.

27. San Francisco 49ers — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The 49ers’ run game lost some venom last season despite a Herculean effort from Christian McCaffrey. Perhaps this is the season that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch add some pedigree to their offensive line. The 49ers paid Colton McKivitz and he’s under contract for a couple of more seasons, but Miller projects to be a tier or two better than McKivitz at right tackle. Miller’s agility makes him a good fit for a Shanahan offense. He played only the right side in college, but he has the athleticism and length to give the left side a shot in case the 49ers need a Trent Williams insurance/succession plan, too.

28. Houston Texans — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Offensive line help arrives for the Texans, who take one of the biggest players in the draft who has a wide range of potential outcomes. Proctor is talented, but his play was a bit inconsistent this season and he’s a bit of an outlier in weight, at 370 pounds in-season for the Crimson Tide. Still, he’s an immense talent and is worth the swing at this point.

The Chiefs continue to boost up the offensive speed for when Patrick Mahomes comes back from injury and for the future. The bold trade of Pro Bowl cornerback Trent McDuffie ultimately lands KC this gifted wideout. Tyson was incredible to start Arizona State’s season. He was a walking, talking big play waiting to happen. He is a twitchy athlete whose hand-eye coordination and explosiveness really shine when he’s adjusting for throws above his head and away from his body.

30. Denver Broncos — Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Another pass rusher for the Broncos because that’s what we do with teams at the bottom of a mock draft. Mesidor showed he can put heat on the quarterback on the edge and the interior of Miami’s defensive line, registering 12.5 sacks in the Hurricanes’ run to the national championship game. Pro Football Focus gave him a 92.5 pass rush grade, which is third among edge rushers. His PFF run defense score was 88.3, which ranked in the 91st percentile.

31. New England Patriots — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Patriots could go offensive line, but they need to add explosiveness to their pass-catcher corps. Hello, KC Concepcion! While DeMario Douglas has been able to contribute big plays from the slot, Concepcion could provide the type of yards after catch and downfield ability that would give Drake Maye an explosive option to work with (along with the improved Kayshon Boutte and explosive, but raw, Kyle Williams).

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32. Seattle Seahawks — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Seattle may have a bit of a shakeup in its cornerback room this offseason, so adding another cost-controlled, long-term deal in the room might make sense. Hood had a great workout in Indianapolis — Next Gen Stats ranked his athletic score fourth among cornerbacks at the combine — and was a productive player on the ball for the Vols’ pass defense.

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