We had a wild night last night with plenty of trades and some big surpises. Here are some initial thoughts:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)

We all knew this was coming, and it’s the right choice.

Mendoza capped a historic Heisman season by leading Indiana to a national title. The Raiders selected him to be the face of the franchise under new coach Klint Kubiak, valuing his elite accuracy and poise.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)

Widely considered the best pure pass-rusher in the class, Bailey offers elite bend and burst. The Jets took him at No. 2 to fix a pass rush that finished last in the AFC in sacks last season.

It’s hard to criticize this pick, but I would have gone with Arvell Reese here.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)

The Cardinals are a mess and this pick shows they have no idea how to build a winning roster.

And that’s nothing against Love, who is a “field-tilting” athlete with comparisons to Saquon Barkley. But the Cardinals ignored positional value and now have a running back with a massive, guaranteed contract.

4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)

This may be a bit high to take Tate, but they needed weapons on offense.

Tate is a polished route-runner with some of the most reliable hands in the draft. The Titans selected him to provide a consistent primary target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward.

5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State)

The Giants luck out with one of the best players in the draft falling to them at the fifth pick. Wow.

Reese is a beast. He’s a massive, versatile athlete who can play off-ball linebacker or stand-up edge. The Giants prioritized his ability to create “perfect storm” chaos in a defense looking for alignment variety.

6. Kansas City Chiefs (via CLE): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)

Delane was the top-ranked corner for many scouts due to his lockdown man-coverage skills. The Chiefs traded up with the Browns to secure a definitive No. 1 corner to stabilize their secondary.

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)

Styles is a generational athlete with a nearly perfect 9.99 RAS score. The Commanders drafted him to be the centerpiece of Dan Quinn’s defense, essentially serving as a younger, more explosive replacement for Bobby Wagner.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)

Tyson was a wild card with all the injury concerns. He put some of those doubts to rest with an impressive workout last week. You could see how emotional he was when the Saints picked him.

9. Cleveland Browns (via KC): Spencer Fano (OT, Utah)

The 2025 Outland Trophy winner is seen as the most technically sound tackle in this class. After trading back with the Chiefs, the Browns still landed their cornerstone blindside protector. They also picked up an extra 3rd and 5th by trading back three spots.

10. New York Giants (via CIN): Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami)

He’s a powerhouse blocker with rare strength in the run game. This is a solid pick, but I can’t believe they passed on Caleb Downs here . . .  who ends up with the Cowboys!

11. Dallas Cowboys (via MIA): Caleb Downs (SAF, Ohio State)

Like the Giants at pick 5, the Cowboys were sooooo lucky to have this guy fall to them.

Downs is a high-IQ safety who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. The Cowboys traded up one spot to make him the vocal leader and “quarterback” of their secondary.

12. Miami Dolphins (via DAL): Kadyn Proctor (OT, Alabama)

Proctor is a massive tackle with elite reach and a high-pedigree background. But he’s one of the most polarizing players in the draft. He has huge upside, but there’s risk here. Nick Saban pretty much admitted he wasn’t a self-starter. He once balloned up to 390 pounds.

Worse yet, the Dolphins traded down and passed on Caleb Downs to draft him. That seems crazy to me!

13. LA Rams (via ATL): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)

Next to the Cardinals drafting Love at 3, this might be the worst pick of the night.

Sure, there’s some logic to drafting him as the heir apparent to veteran Matthew Stafford. But at 13?? Also, the Rams are a serious Super Bowl contender. There are plenty of players on the board who could help them this season.

Finally, you’re drafting a small QB wityh only one season of experience who also looked terrible after a few injuries.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)

The Ravens always patiently wait and get a stud. Ioane is a physical “mauler” who fits the Ravens’ identity perfectly.

The Ravens drafted him to reinforce their interior line and power their rushing attack.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)

This was a big drop for Bain and his short arms.

Does that make sense? Bain led the nation in pressures and is a versatile powerhouse. He was dominant in the college playoffs. The Buccaneers viewed him as a steal at 15, adding a high-motor rusher who can disrupt from multiple spots on the line.

16. New York Jets (via IND): Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)

A modern matchup nightmare who moves more like a wide receiver than a traditional tight end. Sadiq gives their offense a dynamic middle-of-the-field weapon.

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller (OT, Clemson)

A high-floor starter with extensive experience against top-tier competition. The Lions drafted him to add even more depth and talent to what is already considered one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)

This is a boom or bust pick. He’s a beast with potential injury concerns so some called this a reach. Banks is a massive interior presence who can swallow up double teams and disrupt the run. The Vikings targeted him to shore up a defensive front that struggled with consistency in 2025.

19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia)

Freeling is nn athletic tackle with long arms and high developmental upside. He might end up being the best left tackle in the draft. The Panthers selected him to provide better long-term protection for Bryce Young.

20. Philadelphia Eagles (via GB): Makai Lemon (WR, USC)

The Eagles traded up and swiped this versatile playmaker from the Steelers who looked like fools as they were calling Lemon to pick him at 21.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State)

After losing out on Lemon, the Steelers rebounded with this physical, aggressive tackle who thrives in gap-scheme blocking. He has tons of raw talent, so he’s a bit of a project for the 21st pick, but he has a very high ceiling.

22. LA Chargers: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)

A high-motor defender who can slide inside on passing downs to rush the passer. The Chargers took him to provide rotational depth and tactical flexibility for Jim Harbaugh’s defense. But he’s also 25 years old, so that explains why he didn’t go higher.

23. Dallas Cowboys (via PHI): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, UCF)

The Cowboys used their second pick of the night to bolster their pass-rush rotation, though the opinions on this player vary wildly. This was a reach.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)

The Browns needed a receiver, and KC gives them a versatile weapon who can contribute in the slot, out wide or out of the backfield. The Browns drafted him to add more speed to their offensive rotation.

25. Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman (SAF, Oregon)

An elite “centerfield” safety with incredible range and ball skills. The Bears drafted him to be a long-term fixture and playmaker in the back end of their defense.

26. Houston Texans (via BUF): Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)

A technically sound and consistent interior blocker. The Texans traded up and selected him to help stabilize the pocket for C.J. Stroud and improve their interior run blocking.

27. Miami Dolphins (via SF): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)

A fast, feisty corner who excels in press-man coverage. The Dolphins used their second first-round pick to add youth and competition to their secondary.

28. New England Patriots (via BUF): Caleb Lomu (OT, Utah)

An athletic tackle with great feet and pass-protection technique. The Patriots traded back into the first round to make this pick, which makes you wonder about what they think about Will Campbell and where on the line he’ll play next year.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)

A versatile lineman who can play any position on the defensive front. The Chiefs took him to add more disruptive potential alongside All-Pro Chris Jones. This is another polarizing prospect and he sometimes disappeared.

30. New York Jets (via DEN/SF): Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)

Cooper is a strong-handed receiver who excels at winning 50/50 balls and getting yards after the catch. The Jets suddenly have an impressive set of targets fior Geno Smith.

31. Tennessee Titans (via NE/BUF): Keldric Faulk (EDGE, Auburn)

A powerful defensive end who is elite against the run and still developing as a rusher. The Titans traded back into the round to secure a physical presence for their defensive front.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)

Another Notre Dame running back? The Seahawks drafted him to replace Kenneth Walker III and maintain a dynamic, high-speed backfield for their offense.

That was a beatdown.

The Patriots looked overmatched last night, particularly against the Seattle defense. There was plenty of chatter leading up to this game about New England’s cakewalk schedule during the regular season and their good fortune during the playoffs, and all of their weaknesses were exposed last night.

Drake Maye was terrible. Of course he was under pressure all night long, but he was also missing open receivers. Now, we all know he’s been hurt, so many will chalk this up to a sore shoulder. But this game must have been tough to watch for anyone who was banging the drum on Maye being the MVP.

As for the line, everyone is talking about Will Campbell this morning. The kid had a terrible night and could seem to block anyone, and we saw a flood of comments on social media from fans and draft experts with their “I told you so’s.”

Campbell is a fascinating case study as many questioned whether he was worth the #4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There was the question about his arm length and whether he could really be a left tackle in the NFL. In hindsight, Armand Membou would have been a much better pick, which many suggested at the time.

It also raises the issue of reaching for need when drafting in the top ten of the NFL draft. You should be looking at the next ten years, not a need for the next season, when you’re have a shot to get a true blue chip talent.

The other complication is Campbell’s health. He may not have been 100% after a knee injury, which led to the debacle in the Super Bowl.

The video above offers a fair review of some of the plays from the game. The kid clearly has issues, as he was getting pushed around on bull rushes as well which has nothing to do with arm length. Many are taking their shots at him, but I prefer seeing film study that actually tried to assess the performance fairly.

In any event, the Patriots had a hell of a run, but this team may be due for some serious regression next season.

May and Campbell are both young, so they both have a chance to learn from this and improve. But with Campbell, the Patriots will need to take a hard look as to whether he’s really a left tackle.

But it’s gotten so bad that this lunacy is permeating many national media outlets. ESPN in particular is loaded with “personalities” trying to get people riled up over a sports take.

The latest lunacy involves Shedeur Sanders and all the fools saying the Browns are setting him up to fail. Colin nails it in the video above.

Belichick won six Super Bowls as the head coach of the Patriots. As the league evolved, Belick evolved with it and kept on winning.

Of course, he had Tom Brady for those six Super Bowls, and Brady went on to win his seventh after leaving New England. In this video clip, sportswriter Charles Pierce addresses the Belichick vs Brady question in terms of who deserves more credit, which in some ways is a silly question. Both were critical. Brady probably never has his career without Belichick believing in him and keeping him in the starting lineup over Drew Bledsoe. Meanwhile, Brady’s amazing talent and focus helped Belichick with his blind spots.

You can weigh in here on your thoughts on the Belichick/Brady question.

The hype around the New York Jets has been pretty intense, while Aaron Rodgers basked in all of the attention. After flaking out the past several years in Green Bay, Rodgers was trying to convey he impression that he was serious again about football. The question of his attitude and commitment was one of the biggest question marks around the 2023 season, along with the obvious issues around his age. We had just seen Tom Brady pull this off, but many of us were skeptical that Rodgers could come close to matching Brady’s maniacal work ethic.

The scene was set for the September 11th debut of Rodgers and the Jets last night on Monday Night Football. Rodgers ran into the stadium carrying the American flag in front of a delirious crowd.

Then, after a handful of plays, all the noise and enthusiasm was sucked out of the stadium. Rodgers was sacked and his ankle appeared to be twisted. He went down after trying to stand up and then left the game for good. Everyone is speculating on the severity of the injury, but it doesn’t look good at the moment.

For the Jets, a season-ending injury destroys their title hopes. The defense in New York is excellent, and they had put some great weapons around Rodgers. As you might expect, social media was filled with angry reactions from Jets fans.

Shockingly, the Jets managed to win the game in wild fashion due to their defense and some big plays. Josh Allen was terrible for the Bills, raising questions about whether he’s regressing. He had an embarrassing fumble and was intercepted three times by safety Jordan Whitehead. Garrett Wilson made a ridiculous catch in the end zone on the throw from Zach Wilson that should have been picked off. And Breece Hall was spectacular with 10 carries for 127 yards.

Other AFC contenders had to be happy with this result. The Jets are screwed if Rodgers is out for an extended period of time, yet they managed to drop a loss on the Bills.

In recent years, the Browns got a ton of buzz when Baker Mayfield was driving all of the attention. This season, in the aftermath of last season’s drama with Deshaun Watson, the Browns were flying under the radar despite loading up the roster in the offseason.

Meanwhile, if you were watching the betting lines leading up to this game, you’ve would have noticed that the sharps were all over the Cleveland Browns for this game. There were some good reasons behind this dynamic. The Browns had some serious issues on defense last season despite some very talented players. The Browns front office made a concerted effort in the offseason to fix the situation. Andrew Berry started this transformation by replacing defensive coordinator Joe Woods with Jim Schwartz, which was a massive upgrade. He then completely rebuilt the defensive line in an attempt to fix two glaring problems – the lack of defensive tackles who could stop the run, plus adding pass rushers to compliment Myles Garrett. Notable additions included free agents Ogbo Okoronkwo, Dalvin Tomlinson, Za’Darius Smith and Shelby Harris. On paper, this defense looked formidable, but we also had to see it on the field.

Meanwhile, Joe Borrow was getting over a calf injury that had prevented him from practicing most of the preseason.

Hence, the sharps were jumping on this game.

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals saw the new and improved Browns defense on Sunday. The defense simply dominated the Bengals and Burrow from the first snap. The defensive line harassed Burrow the entire game while the secondary clamped down on the Bengals receivers, including Ja’Marr Chase who shot his mouth off before the game about the Browns and the city of Cleveland.

The Browns handily won the game, 24-3, and staked their claim as a team to be reckoned with this season.