DRAFT NEWS

Mendoza remains the only QB to earn a first-round grade for next month’s draft. Alabama QB Ty Simpson displayed the athleticism and arm strength that makes him the second-best QB prospect in this draft. Simpson could vault into first-round consideration since quality QB prospects are in short supply and demand (think Jets, Browns, Steelers, and Rams) remains sky-high. Which other QBs improved their draft status Saturday afternoon?

The 2026 NFL Draft QB class appears to be one of the weakest group of signal callers to enter the league in decades. There is only one, true potential franchise QB in this year's draft - Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), the Heisman Trophy winner. Mendoza is locked in as the first selection in Pittsburgh on April 23rd but no other QB in the 2026 NFL Draft has earned a first-round grade. In fact, no other QB can safely be called a future starter.

The East-West Shrine Bowl participants are primarily mid-round prospects that should get drafted between the third and sixth rounds of next April's draft. Prospects who excel during practices and in the East-West Shrine Bowl can earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, February 26-March 1. There are several quality NFL prospects scheduled to participate. Let's take a look at the position groups and participants scheduled this week in Frisco, Texas.

We are down to the last two weeks of the regular season and conference titles and playoff berths hang in the balance. This week’s games will go a long way in determining who gets a chance to make a run at the national championship in January. Several of SNS’ highest ranked prospects for next spring’s draft will be competing this weekend including QBs Dante Moore / Oregon (#3 QB), Jayden Maiava / USC (#7 QB) and Haynes King / Georgia Tech (#4 QB), RB LJ Martin / BYU (#6 RB)...

The NY Jets have pulled the plug, not only on the 2025 season, but for the next couple of years, after trading franchise cornerstones IDL Quinnen Williams (to Dallas) and CB Sauce Gardner (to Indianapolis), and acquiring a boat load of draft capital in the process. The Jets will have two first-round and two second-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and three first-round draft picks in the 2027 NFL Draft - a huge haul to rebuild a roster that is short on stars and impact player

Typically, guards and centers are a low priority for pro personnel departments during the NFL Draft process. But turn on the TV on a fall Sunday and you will see the teams that win are the ones who can run the ball and control the line of scrimmage (LOS). Although not a sexy pick, drafting quality IOL in the middle to late rounds is key to running the ball, establishing the play action offense, and controlling the clock. Last weekend, SNS observed four guards who look like lo