Execs unfiltered on NFL Draft for every NFC team: Did the Rams get it right with Ty Simpson?

With the 2026 NFL Draft still fresh, it’s a good time to check in with team executives for perspectives on what they found most interesting.

We’ll start with the NFC today, offering execs’ insights into all 16 teams in the conference. The Los Angeles Rams had the league buzzing when they used the 13th pick on quarterback Ty Simpson, while the division-rival San Francisco 49ers focused attention on perceived reaches.

The New York Giants, with two of the top 10 picks, stirred debate with their selections and overall philosophy.

Check back Friday for a run through the AFC.

For each team, we’ve included where it ranked in draft capital used (calculated using an NFL analytical model) and in Dane Brugler’s favorite classes, along with how many times it traded up or down during the draft (excluding deals that involved veteran players).

Arizona Cardinals

Draft capital rank: 6th | Brugler’s rank: 15th | Trades up/down: 0/0

The Cardinals were interesting for reasons pitting philosophical ideals against real-world considerations when drafting running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick and quarterback Carson Beck to open the third round.

“They’re not one piece away, and they put money into (running back) Tyler Allgeier — like, I get why people push back on the Love pick,” one exec said. “But at the same time, ownership is trying to sell tickets, they don’t have a face of the franchise and this guy can fit that bill.”

Fourth-year GM Monti Ossenfort has a 15-36 (.294) record, including 3-14 last season. His job could ride on whether the team is exciting.

“Is the roster ready for a running back? Probably not, but there was no real flashing light to pick other than Love,” another exec said. “If the owner wanted the back, like everybody said, that is not a hill you are going to die on as a GM. Love is special.”

Asked what the team planned for Beck, Ossenfort joked that the immediate focus was on helping the former Georgia and Miami quarterback find the cafeteria at team headquarters.

“They are trying to give themselves hope and take a swing,” a different exec said. “Beck looks the part. He can make the throws. He is just going to short-circuit at the worst time. I’d sit him half the year like New Orleans did with (Tyler) Shough and then play him the rest of the way.”

Here’s an idea: Trade veteran QB Jacoby Brissett. Go young. Be fun.

“If you play Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew the whole year, you have wasted the pick on Beck,” a fourth exec said. “The Beck pick makes sense if he is your starter. It’s like, ‘We know we suck, we roll the dice and maybe we hit on a QB,’ because if you can pick in the top 10 next year and not need a QB, you are in good shape.”

Atlanta Falcons

Draft capital rank: 31st | Brugler’s rank: 28th | Trades up/down: 0/1

The Falcons hit the hometown theme for the second draft in a row, this time reuniting cornerback Avieon Terrell, an Atlanta native, with his brother, fellow Falcons corner A.J. Terrell. It’s a cool story, but how smart was it to add a smaller corner in an NFC South division increasingly filled with big receivers, even after Mike Evans’ departure?

“That pick felt even more nostalgic than the Georgia rusher (Jalon Walker) in the first round last year,” an exec said. “It’s cool that (Terrell) is playing with his brother, but this isn’t like the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo. You have to make sure guys come in and contribute.”

Which is not to suggest Avieon is going to play the role of Thanasis Antetokounmpo, a fringe player living in his superstar brother’s shadow.

“(Avieon Terrell) is OK — he’s just little, kind of skinny,” another exec said. “He will struggle against bigger body, more physical receivers.”

The Falcons sent their first-round pick, which became No. 13, to the Rams as part of their ill-fated 2025 trade-up for James Pearce, who recently entered a pre-trial intervention program to defer felony charges for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, felony fleeing police and felony resisting an officer with violence, and a misdemeanor stalking charge.

That trade left the Falcons with no picks until No. 48, when they took Avieon Terrell.

From picks 13 through 47, other teams selected nine edge rushers, six receivers, four defensive tackles, four offensive tackles, three guards, two other corners, two linebackers, one safety, one running back, one tight end and quarterback Ty Simpson, whom the Rams took with Atlanta’s pick.

“The corner is a good player, but he had a hamstring (injury) and tested poorly,” a third exec said.

Atlanta selected an even more undersized prospect, Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch, in the third round. Branch, who measured under 5-foot-9, gives the Falcons a skill set they were lacking at the receiver position. One exec called him a gadget player in the Mecole Hardman role, with some Tyreek Hill in him, but not as strong.

“If you roll with Tua (Tagovailoa) at quarterback, he gets it out quick,” a different exec said. “Branch does his work underneath on those quick, short passes. If you have him and Bijan (Robinson) on opposite sides, those are two guys that can house it from anywhere on the field.”

Execs generally remain skeptical of the way Atlanta, in its first season with Matt Ryan heading up football operations, is going about its business all offseason.

“I don’t know what Atlanta is doing yet,” one exec said. “They have talked about raising the floor, but wouldn’t you rather bottom out or raise the ceiling?”

Carolina Panthers

Draft capital rank: 17th | Brugler’s rank: 13th | Trades up/down: 2/2

One of the first things execs look for when analyzing a draft is whether the moves appear to be part of a coherent plan.

Detroit has done that effectively in recent seasons. Carolina is getting there.

“I feel like they are drafting for what they want their team to look like,” an exec said. “They are trying to win on both lines of scrimmage. They want to run the ball. They want to give the quarterback (Bryce Young) some big receivers so he can manage it. You can see what they are trying to do.”

At the combine in late February, one exec projected Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling to Cleveland at No. 6. That doesn’t necessarily mean Freeling was some sort of steal for Carolina at No. 19 as much as it reflected the volatility of a weak draft.

It probably helped that the Rams, who also could have justified taking a tackle, instead selected a quarterback at No. 13. Detroit, which held the No. 17 pick, preferred a right tackle (Blake Miller), leaving Freeling for Carolina as the fifth tackle in this class.

“We did not have 19 first-round players in this draft,” another exec said, “but there is nothing you can do about it. You have to pick someone. Freeling will get knocked back some, but he’s a starting tackle. They have (left tackle Ikem) Ekwonu in the final year of his deal, and that tackle market is going crazy, so Freeling helps them there.”

Ekwonu is also recovering from a torn patellar tendon suffered in January’s playoff loss to the Rams.

Execs unanimously liked second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter, whom Carolina traded up for to cap a run on D-linemen.

“Lee Hunter can play all the interior positions,” an exec said. “He doesn’t have length, but he can play nose, he can play 3-technique, he can play 4i. And there’s upside with him because he can rush the passer a little bit.”

Two execs also thought third-round receiver Chris Brazzell II would stretch opposing defenses.

“Underrated guy who is going to take the top off the defense,” one exec said. “It’s just a matter of the quarterback pushing the ball down there.”

Chicago Bears

Draft capital rank: 20th | Brugler’s rank: 19th | Trades up/down: 2/1

If the draft had fallen ideally for the Bears, they might have emerged from the first round with a top edge rusher. But with the Chargers and Cowboys targeting that position shortly before the Bears were on the clock at No. 25, Chicago took safety Dillon Thieneman, a player analysts had widely mocked to the division-rival Vikings.

“Maybe they should have traded up?” one exec offered.

The Bears did that twice later in the draft, including when they selected defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg in the sixth round — surprisingly, the first and only time Chicago addressed its defensive front, a known concern.

“The safety is going to be a good player,” an exec said. “We were high on him. He is ball savvy, has some versatility from a blitz and coverage standpoint.”

Two months after trading a fifth-round pick to New England for center Garrett Bradbury, the Bears used their second-round pick on Logan Jones, the first center drafted. Both players are centers only, meaning it’s unlikely both would be active for a game. Might the Bears eventually trade Bradbury to a center-needy team such as Baltimore? Or, will this be a redshirt season for Jones?

“They’re the same guy: both undersized, tough technicians,” another exec said.

Chicago also participated in the Day 2 run on tight ends, using its third-round pick on Sam Roush, the sixth player chosen at the position (fifth on Friday).

“Chicago was really good in the run game this past year, and to get Roush to play tight end, damn, they are going to be able to run some strong-side runs,” a third said. “This guy can block all the defensive ends.”

Dallas Cowboys

Draft capital rank: 9th | Brugler’s rank: 4th | Trades up/down: 1/1

The two edge rushers Dallas drafted with picks acquired from Green Bay in the Micah Parsons trade — Malachi Lawrence at No. 23, after trading back three spots in a deal that enabled Dallas to select LT Overton in the fourth round — will earn a combined $4.8 million in annual salary on their rookie contracts.

That’s one-tenth what Parsons is earning on his new deal with the Packers.

It’s an inexact and incomplete comp. Dallas is paying defensive tackle Kenny Clark (acquired in the Parsons deal) and edge rusher Rashan Gary (acquired this spring in a separate deal with Green Bay) a combined $45 million per year. But it’s still instructive, of course. In this first draft with capital received for Parsons, the Cowboys focused on upgrading their defense, using their first three picks on that side of the ball.

“Caleb Downs, I could not be more impressed with him and (Washington first-rounder) Sonny Styles in terms of the presence they bring to the room and their understanding of football,” an exec said. “Downs is going to make a lot of plays. Lawrence has some medical concerns — more preventative than anything — and Barham is one of my favorite guys. He has a lot of has-to-make-it in him.”

Fourth-round corner Devin Moore was more of a speculative swing.

“The defense was a sore spot, and they addressed a lot of pieces,” another exec said. “Devin Moore’s injury history is concerning. He will not have a long career. But if you are going to take a risk, take it with a talented guy at a premium position that gets heavily paid in the market. If you get a starter or even a third corner, that is worth it.”

Detroit Lions

Draft capital rank: 19th | Brugler’s rank: 14th | Trades up/down: 2/0

The Lions targeted specific needs (right tackle, edge rusher) with their first two picks as a team trying to maximize whatever remains of its contending window.

First-round pick Blake Miller wasn’t for everyone, but he projects as the most game-ready right tackle available, under the assumption the Lions will move All-Pro Penei Sewell to the left side. Trading up for second-round edge rusher Derrick Moore showed urgency to get help opposite another All-Pro, Aidan Hutchinson.

“They know who they are and who they want to be, so it’s more about, ‘What can you do to enhance what we already bring to the table?’” an exec said. “They needed a tackle. We have all been burned by the Clemson helmet, but Blake Miller is a good player. And I really like Keith Abney.”

Abney is the corner Detroit drafted from Arizona State in the fifth round.

“Abney has some scrappiness to him,” the exec added. “He is like a better Mike Hilton. Chippy, aggressive, physical. He can play in the slot. He can be competitive on the outside despite his size. You’ll have to move him around to help him, but he’s a good player who is wired the right way for them.”

The Miller selection was not universally applauded.

“Sewell will be good wherever he plays, but I’m not sure Miller will end up being a tackle, depending what they ask of him,” another exec said. “I do not think they got a lot better. Derrick Moore is steady, a doubles hitter. Good player, nothing dynamic about him.”

Green Bay Packers

Draft capital rank: 30th | Brugler’s rank: 26th | Trades up/down: 2/0

Only the Falcons and Broncos spent less capital in this draft, completing an underwhelming offseason for the Packers. Their top pick was cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round, and they showed some urgency in trading up for defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third.

But with no first-round choice this year or in 2027, because of the Micah Parsons trade, Green Bay’s usual draft-and-develop mindset will have to be heavier on development.

“I’m a little worried about them,” one exec said. “Taking a step back, it’s depending on how some of the guys they already have develop: Jordan Love, Matthew Golden, Christian Watson. They lost a ton on defense in free agency. I’d be worried about the corner position.”

The Packers were as well, or else they might not have taken Cisse at No. 52. That was the first of three picks on defense to start the draft, including sacrificing a fifth-round pick to move up seven spots for McClellan.

“They drafted Cisse, who has had some moments, but it will be interesting to see how he plays as a pro, and it’s not clear how much he’ll contribute right away,” another exec said. “The defense is going to be a question mark. They are treading water in a division where Chicago has gotten better, Minnesota could be better with improved quarterback play and Detroit is still a physical team.”

Los Angeles Rams

Draft capital rank: 18th | Brugler’s rank: 30th | Trades up/down: 1/0

The Rams were one of the most fun teams in the draft after using the 13th pick for quarterback Ty Simpson. Coach Sean McVay’s reaction suggested he wasn’t super excited about the pick, but execs thought he was walking a line.

“I actually thought it was the perfect amount of excitement, learning from what the Packers did with Jordan Love when they had (Aaron) Rodgers,” one said. “Whether it happened organically or not, that is how I would play it. If I’m the GM there, I’m telling the coach it’s OK for him to seem publicly pissed with me.”

Drafting a quarterback early can obviously be dicey for a team that already has an entrenched veteran. Matthew Stafford is more than the reigning MVP. He’s also a quarterback who has butted heads with the organization over his contract in recent seasons (the sides have been negotiating a contract adjustment this spring). His wife hosts a podcast and can also be outspoken on social media. These are all things an organization takes into account when making these sorts of moves.

“If they planned this to play out the way it did, it was genius,” another exec said.

No execs thought the Rams would select a quarterback against McVay’s wishes.

“Sean runs the show there,” one said. “He is just using the GM to save face and look good for Matthew. But Matthew has already had doubts about playing. It’s not a stretch that you would draft somebody.”

A quarterbacks coach consulted earlier in the offseason said he liked Simpson about as much as he liked No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.

“McVay will get everything there is to get from that kid,” this coach said. “Whatever you can get from (Brock) Purdy, you can get from this kid. You put a good enough team around him, he can get you a little ways.”

There was also confusion over whether McVay and Simpson spoke before the draft. Simpson initially suggested they had not. Now, it seems they spoke for hours.

“Drafting a quarterback without talking to him would be crazy — unbelievable,” another exec said. “I was told that (GM) Les (Snead) made a deal with (agent) Jimmy Sexton when the kid was coming out and promised him he’d get no lower than them.”

If the Rams were hoping to keep people guessing, they certainly succeeded. If they wind up falling short of the Super Bowl, some critics will surely point to whatever the team could have added at No. 13 but did not.

“The tight end (Kenyon Sadiq, drafted No. 16 to the Jets) upgrades them, but not significantly,” a different exec said. “(Makai) Lemon has a feel for the game and can do some of the underneath things that Cooper Kupp could do, but at some point, they do need to think to their future, just like every team.”

The Rams got the fifth tight end selected (Max Klare, in the second round) and the 31st receiver in C.J. Daniels. Meanwhile, the draft partly validated their decision to acquire cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs; McDuffie’s closest comp in the draft, Mansoor Delane, was gone by the No. 6 pick (to replace McDuffie in Kansas City), well before the Rams selected.

Minnesota Vikings

Draft capital rank: 15th | Brugler’s rank: 29th | Trades up/down: 1/1

Nearly three decades ago, when the Vikings were navigating an ownership change that made it less clear who was ultimately in charge, they took a chance in the 1998 draft’s first round by selecting a wide receiver others considered too risky of a prospect.

Minnesota hit a home run in that draft as Randy Moss, the 21st player chosen, became an instant superstar on his way to a Hall of Fame career with five teams.

The Vikings can only hope the obvious risk they took in the 2026 draft, which they executed without a full-time GM in place to push back, will pay off similarly.

“The takeaway from the Minnesota draft is that (defensive coordinator) Brian Flores has a lot of say in the building,” an exec said.

In 2019, when Flores was the Dolphins’ new head coach, many believed he wanted to draft defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was not invited to the combine after video footage (from 2016, when Simmons was in high school) showed him punching a woman while she was on the ground. The Dolphins, then led by fourth-year GM Chris Grier, instead drafted Christian Wilkins, a solid player with less perceived risk.

Flores got his guy this time. There is no denying the immense talent Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks brings to the field — if he makes it there after breaking his left foot before the 2025 season and again at the combine.

“Caleb Banks is really talented but does not play with great desire and is hurt all the time,” a different exec said. “Scares me to death.”

Minnesota drafted four defensive players in the first three rounds, most in the league. Dallas and Kansas City were next with three apiece.

“Jake Golday is a perfect scheme fit for what Flores wants to do on the edge there,” another said. “It’s just interesting that they chose Banks over Dillon Thieneman, who could have been their next Harrison Smith. It just felt like they were doubling down on their defensive coordinator.”

Trading Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia might have been an exception. It was curious to see the Vikings cite salary-cap concerns while trading Greenard to the Eagles, whose cap concerns dwarf those of any team in the league. Cash seemed to be the obvious consideration after Minnesota led the NFL in spending last season and had nothing to show for it. The Vikings have also committed millions to new deals for Flores and coach Kevin O’Connell, with a GM hire on the horizon.

“Greenard is too good of a player at a premium position to let go,” a fourth exec said. “You gotta figure out a way to make that one work.”

New Orleans Saints

Draft capital rank: 10th | Brugler’s rank: 10th | Trades up/down: 0/0

Another year, another seemingly solid, sensible draft by the formerly freewheeling Saints, who kept all their picks as if building for the future, not mortgaging it.

“They found a quarterback they feel comfortable with (Tyler Shough) last year, and Jordyn Tyson is going to be special,” an exec said. “The guy they really hit on offensively is Oscar Delp from Georgia. Underused, really good tester, very good skill set to be a really good tight end in this league. You can’t say he is a Brock Bowers-type guy because the production was not there, but I think he should be good.”

Tyson, like Shough, had injury issues in college.

“I was comparing (Tyson) to Christian Watson in Green Bay, who has had hamstring (injuries) early in his career,” another exec said. “The kid is tough as nails. He’s a competitive kid, a rare athlete. When you think about who you want on your team, he is definitely a guy you want on your team. He will open up some things down the field.”

The Saints continued remaking their receiving group with Delp in the third round and receiver Bryce Lance in the fourth. Delp, in combination with Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, gives coach Kellen Moore the ability to use 13 personnel more freely if New Orleans wants to lean into that trend.

“They hit on the quarterback last year, and now they are going to get a pretty good stretch out of it, I think,” a third exec said.

New York Giants

Draft capital rank: 2nd | Brugler’s rank: 2nd | Trades up/down: 1/0

The Jets and Giants spent more capital in this draft than any of the other 30 teams. Execs liked the Jets’ draft more than they liked the Giants’ draft.

Both teams have a habit of trading away their best players, as the Giants did when they sent Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the No. 10 pick in a weak draft.

“The Jets, I can at least look at and say, ‘OK, got a lot of pieces, still don’t have a QB, but you have all this ammunition next year, with three first-round picks,’” one exec said. “If this was the Giants’ one swing, ‘OK, but are they better?’”

Lawrence’s production did crater last season, but one exec thought he’d be a top-five pick if available in the 2026 draft, even at age 28. New York didn’t draft a defensive tackle until the sixth round.

“I just don’t feel like there is much of a plan,” another exec said of the Giants. “Did they replace Dexter Lawrence? You can’t keep on trading your good players. You aren’t gonna replace Dexter Lawrence with the 10th pick in most drafts, let alone this one. And considering the amount of money that Dexter Lawrence signed for (one-year, $28 million extension), like, how could you not get that done? What happened?”

The Giants’ draft could come down to what you think of Arvell Reese, the edge rusher they selected at No. 5, which was later than most mocks had him lasting.

“They should have drafted Sonny Styles, because he’s the one that got Reese lined up every day, and I think was better than Reese,” a third exec said. “Reese just disappeared in some of those games. They are talking about playing him off the ball, but if they wanted an off-the-ball linebacker, take Styles. He’d be the leader, the captain, the culture, the play style — everything you want from John Harbaugh’s guy.”

Does anyone like the Giants’ draft?

“I love what they did,” a fourth exec said. “They are going to run a lot of exotic fronts where they are positionless chess pieces, so you don’t know who is rushing. That is going to be a bear to block up between (Brian) Burns and Abdul (Carter) and (Kayvon) Thibodeaux and Arvell. He has the physical tools to do that.”

Philadelphia Eagles

Draft capital rank: 21st | Brugler’s rank: 7th | Trades up/down: 1/1

It’s not shocking the Eagles were the team to leapfrog the Steelers for receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20 after Pittsburgh tipped its hand by calling Lemon prematurely, before the Steelers were on the clock at No. 21.

“That’s the fun part about working in Philly,” a former Eagles exec said. “You know you’re always going to be strategically aggressive.”

If you’re the Steelers, well, beware which teams might be lurking right behind you. The Eagles gave up two fourths in jumping from No. 23 to get Lemon, who otherwise would be wearing a Steelers jersey.

“Philly did the same thing (in 2021) when they jumped the Giants from 12 to 10 and got Devonta Smith,” a different exec said.

Lemon is a different type of receiver.

“He can do all the underneath stuff, he’s a good route runner, stays grounded, runs through the catch, has a feel for the game,” a third exec said. “He catches all the choice routes, knows how to curve routes and catch in traffic. He’s got a good, solid, all-around mature game, and plays with some urgency.”

This exec thought Lemon would have been best on the Rams before McVay shifted away from a three-receiver base offense toward using more tight ends. How well Lemon and second-round receiving tight end Eli Stowers fare catching passes from Jalen Hurts will be tougher to predict, especially with an unproven first-year coordinator in Sean Mannion.

Philly also will not have veteran offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who left the team, to help mentor third-round tackle Markel Bell, which injects more uncertainty. One safer bet: Jonathan Greenard, the pass rusher Philly acquired from Minnesota, should have strong production in Vic Fangio’s defense.

“They are bursting at the seams with all their cap troubles,” another exec said. “They will trade A.J. Brown. They could trade Jalen Carter down the line. They draft a quarterback (Cole Payton in the fifth round) when they have Hurts, they have Tanner McKee, who is supposed to be pretty good, and then they have Andy Dalton, who they acquired and guaranteed salary. So they have four and probably move on from one.”

San Francisco 49ers

Draft capital rank: 24th | Brugler’s rank: 27th | Trades up/down: 0/4

The 49ers traded down four times, as if they knew the players they wanted could be had later.

Critics think they still overdrafted multiple players, starting with receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, chosen with the first pick of the second round (No. 33) after two trade-downs. He was rated outside the top 100 in media-driven rankings, the type of disparity that historically correlates with lower odds of success.

“The consensus piece is really more about extracting value,” one exec said. “Compare what the Niners did with what the Jaguars did. The Jaguars are getting panned for consensus stuff, too. The Niners at least traded back before making their picks. The Jags did not do that.

“The Niners may know they are picking against consensus and they are getting something for it, and then saying, ‘All right, let’s just pick our guy — let’s not get too cute with this.’”

By adding Stribling to a receiver group also featuring veteran newcomer Mike Evans, the 49ers appear eager to move past the drama that has consumed the position in recent years, starting with Deebo Samuel and growing exponentially with Brandon Aiyuk. All agree Stribling is a good fit for coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

“Stribling is not a dynamic route runner and does not run a full route tree, but he is bigger, faster, will block and is a competitive guy,” said an exec whose team saw Stribling as a high third-round talent. “He is not as good as Aiyuk was. He is a better receiver than Deebo. He is a faster, better (Jauan) Jennings and a great guy. Those guys (Stribling and Evans) will block and do it all the right way, how the head coach wants it.”

The 49ers were also perceived to be early in selecting running back Kaelon Black at No. 90, the first back taken after Seattle selected Jadarian Price at No. 32.

“All the talk about consensus boards is interesting,” another exec said. “I don’t have a great answer, but I respect teams like San Fran that say, ‘F— you guys, we aren’t looking at that stuff.’

“I love the discussion. It’s a little like best player available versus need. We are never going to solve it.”

Seattle Seahawks

Draft capital rank: 26th | Brugler’s rank: 25th | Trades up/down: 1/3

Teams generally like to enter the draft without a pressing need that limits their options once they are on the clock. The Seahawks did not do that this offseason after winning the Super Bowl and having their roster raided in free agency. They needed a starting running back, and everyone knew it. They also had only four picks entering the draft, so they wanted to trade back from No. 32 to replenish their stock.

The good news for the Seahawks is, they got their starting running back in Jadarian Price. The bad news is, their trade plans fell through, so they took him at No. 32. They didn’t trade down until Round 3, then burned future capital on Day 3 — sending a 2027 fourth-round pick for a 2026 fifth (to take guard Beau Stephens) — on their way to doubling their pick total to eight.

But in Price and second-round safety Bud Clark, one exec said Seattle is getting two plug-and-play starters.

“Bud Clark is a stud,” this exec said. “He is a playmaker, and he is scary in that defense. His playmaking ability with that pass rush — wow. He has position flex. He is probably your ideal deep middle free safety but can also run well enough to possibly play nickel or corner. We loved him.”

Price takes over for Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who signed with Kansas City in free agency.

“Price is a little more home run type of runner (than Walker),” another exec said. “He is not as physical, but he is strong enough and has the speed on the perimeter to make plays in space.”

The Seahawks’ decision to deal fourth- and fifth-round picks to New Orleans for Rashid Shaheed at the 2025 trade deadline contributed to a championship season.

That move also left Seattle light on ammunition in this draft, which seemed palatable in theory — this wasn’t seen as a strong draft — but was never going to feel right for GM John Schneider.

“It was not a good running back crew this year,” a different exec said. “We had a mid-second round grade on Price, so it’s not a big reach. And he’ll play. He will be solid for them. Clark is a good player. I don’t think he’s Coby Bryant, though.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Draft capital rank: 14th | Brugler’s rank: 6th | Trades up/down: 1/1

Do players really fall in the draft, or do teams simply know more than the public knows, leading to draft-day surprises?

Even execs thought Tampa Bay was fortunate to land edge rusher Rueben Bain at No. 15. Fourth-round corner Keionte Scott was another player singled out multiple times as a solid addition.

“The Tampa defense got so much better,” one exec said. “You get a thumping downhill linebacker (second-rounder Josiah Trotter), an aggressive blitzing nickel (Scott) for a coach (Todd Bowles) who blitzes the nickel as much as anyone and, oh, by the way, you’re getting Bain, who everyone had in the top 10.”

At the combine, one exec said he thought Bain could go as early as No. 2 to the Jets. What happened?

“The public narrative was that he has short arms, and that always fails,” another exec said. “A lot of teams won’t take the heat for that. They think that’s risky. They don’t go with what they saw on tape. They’re worried about the analytics crowd and some of the numbers people killing them.”

The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen detailed why arm length might not mean as much for Bain.

“If you watch Bain play, you notice he doesn’t use his arms a lot; he uses his head,” a third said. “We overthink these things. He’s a good player.”

Players sometimes go lower than anticipated simply because teams weigh personality, medical concerns, learning styles and character differently, without going public with their thinking (or overthinking).

“Bain comes with play style, toughness and physicality, just like their next pick, Keionte Scott,” a different exec said. “Those are two starting, impact players.”

Washington Commanders

Draft capital rank: 12th | Brugler’s rank: 16th | Trades up/down: 0/0

The Commanders picked only twice in the first four rounds but made their first pick count with Sonny Styles, a player no one had anything bad to say about.

“He is Bobby Wagner, but bigger and faster,” one exec said. “He has as good of traits for an inside ‘backer that I have ever seen.”

Are there any comps?

“Brian Urlacher, maybe,” the exec said. “He is 6-5, 240 pounds, gonna run 4.4. Really smart, makes all the calls, very instinctive and has some untapped pass-rush ability. He was top-five on our board all the way.”

The Commanders, like so many teams, would have loved to have traded back to acquire more picks. Finding teams interested in trading up was apparently difficult (Washington made no trades during the draft).

As a result, they didn’t address a clear need at receiver until the third round, when they made Antonio Williams the ninth wideout selected in the draft.

“Slot guy, solid guy, 40 time is way faster than play speed,” another exec said. “But he is fast. He can probably play a little bit outside. Solid pick. They need a bigger player, more size. Everyone seems to think they’ll get Aiyuk. Maybe they can get him at the right time, (when he’s motivated for) a new contract.”

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