NFL Draft 2026: Late risers and fallers shaking up Round 1 expectations
The NFL Draft is coming up next week. Here are some of the players making a late surge or an unexpected fall in the projections.
With the 2026 NFL Draft just over a week away, boards across the league are anything but settled.
Every year, final evaluations, medical checks, and team-specific needs create late movement, with some players rising into the first round while others slide. This cycle is no different, with a handful of prospects generating serious buzz in both directions.
NFL Draft buzz, via @nfldraftscout, @Jordan_Reid:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) April 9, 2026
• Jets reportedly extremely high on WR Omar Cooper Jr.
• WR in play for Browns at No. 6
• Wouldn't be a surprise if Saints took Carnell Tate at No. 8
• S Caleb Downs, EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. believed to be players the Cowboys… pic.twitter.com/CZXxaxXp7S
Here’s a look at the biggest late risers and fallers as draft night approaches.
2026 NFL Draft: Risers and fallers
Rising: Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Cornerback depth is thin at the top, and Hood is benefiting. His physical style and versatility have impressed scouts, and with multiple teams needing secondary help, he’s emerging as a potential late first-round surprise.
Why he’s rising: Scheme fit + positional demand
Draft night outlook: Fringe Round 1 pick trending upward
Falling: Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
Once viewed as a potential late first-round quarterback, Simpson’s draft range is narrowing, and not in the direction he would want heading into draft week.
Recent reporting has painted a clearer picture of how the league views him, and it’s not especially encouraging for Round 1 value. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, multiple teams in need of a quarterback simply do not carry a first-round grade on Simpson, with league sources struggling to identify a clear landing spot on Day 1.
.@AlbertBreer believes that there’s a good chance Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson will be the only QBs taken during the first two days of the draft.
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) April 13, 2026
It would be the first time in 25+ years. pic.twitter.com/52XOes1afs
Several QB-needy teams, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers, have been loosely connected to the position but are not expected to target Simpson early. Even potential trade-up scenarios into the back of Round 1 have been met with skepticism by some evaluators.
While Simpson still carries developmental upside and could appeal to teams looking for a long-term project, the more likely scenario now appears to be a second-round selection rather than a first-round investment.
Why he’s falling: Lack of consensus Round 1 grade + limited confirmed landing spots
Draft night outlook: Increasingly viewed as a Day 2 quarterback, not a first-round certainty
Rising: Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
One of the biggest late surges belongs to Cooper.
After being viewed as a mid-round prospect earlier in the process, his combination of hands, ball skills, and yards-after-catch ability has pushed him into first-round consideration.
Why he’s rising: Strong pre-draft evaluations + playmaking upside
Draft night outlook: Late Round 1 sleeper
Falling: KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
Concepcion remains one of the most explosive playmakers in the class, but depth at wide receiver is working against him.
With multiple WR-needy teams spread across the first round, some evaluators believe he could slip further than his talent suggests, even into the back half of Round 1.
Why he’s falling: Deep WR class + team fit questions
Draft night outlook: Still Round 1, but potentially later than expected
Falling: Jonah Coleman (RB, Washington)
Coleman hasn’t necessarily hurt his stock, but others have passed him. After opting out of testing at the combine, questions about athletic ceiling have pushed him down boards slightly in a competitive running back class.
Why he’s falling: Lack of testing + rising competition
Draft night outlook: Day 2 pick with starting potential
NFL Draft 2026: When and how to watch
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday, April 23 followed by Rounds 2-3 on Friday, April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25 in in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Round 1: Thursday, April 23 - 8 p.m. ET
- Rounds 2–3: Friday, April 24 - 7 p.m. ET
- Rounds 4–7: Saturday, April 25 - 12 p.m. ET
How to watch and Stream
- TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, and ESPN Deportes (Spanish).
- Streaming: NFL+, ESPN App, Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream.
You can also follow along with our live text updates (Day 1) right here on en.as.com.
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