2026 NFL Draft Rumor Mill: Latest Trade Buzz & Draft Intel

With Pro Days, smokescreens, and general rumors leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, it is important to stay on top of the latest news for the top college prospects.

This page will be updated through the draft with rumors and reports, so be sure to bookmark it and check back regularly.

Last Updated: March 16

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Latest 2026 NFL Draft Rumors & Reports

• Makai Lemon Workout
• Chris Johnson's Pro Day
• Caleb Downs Medically Flagged at Combine?

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Makai Lemon Workout

USC WR Makai Lemon elected not to work out at the Combine, but he was timed as fast as 4.48 seconds at USC's Pro Day.

According to Tony Pauline, Lemon has at least 10 visits lined up with teams.

Following the Combine, unsubstantiated rumors were circulating on social media about Lemon tanking the interview process.

The fact that Lemon has 10 visits lined up is a little curious.

Players who get invited to the most visits are often those with injury and/or character questions.

Teams want to spend more time getting to know players who have off-field concerns to better assess how they'll fit into the locker room.

However, this certainly doesn't confirm those questionable post-Combine reports.

It's also possible that teams that didn't meet with Lemon at the Combine saw the reports and, just to be safe, invited him in to see whether it was true for themselves.

For what it's worth, Pauline stated a belief that Lemon won't get past the Rams at pick No. 13.

Chris Johnson's Pro Day

San Diego State CB Chris Johnson ran a 4.12 short-shuttle at the Aztecs' pro day.

Johnson skipped the change-of-direction drills at the Combine, so this was a critical time to add to his résumé that answers some questions about his athletic traits.

There shouldn't be any more concerns about Johnson's athletic traits, and he might be in the conversation to sneak into the late first round.

Caleb Downs Medically Flagged at Combine?

One of the biggest benefits for NFL teams of the Combine is obtaining medical reports on the prospects.

One of the biggest post-Combine medical rumors involved star Ohio State S Caleb Downs.

Shortly after the draft, Cory Kinnan posted:

“I was told by an NFC scout that Ohio State all-class safety Caleb Downs had a couple of issues flagged during his medical check…I was told that Downs was flagged with a partially torn meniscus this week. That is not a serious concern, but also being flagged with a potentially degenerative ACL is.”

The story was then picked up by multiple outlets and became a major talking point as to the potential for Downs to slide in the first round.

However, there are a number of reasons to question the accuracy of this report.

First and foremost, the story was deleted from the original site where it was posted.

This was a rumor started as a single-source, scout-sourced leak attributed to one unnamed NFC scout speaking to one draft reporter.

Shortly thereafter, on March 3, Pat McAfee said his show reached out to multiple NFL teams and was told there was “nothing in the medical that would deter them from bringing Downs in.”

Downs’ family was reported by multiple outlets as calling the story “clickbait,” “fake,” and false.

A to Z Sports said multiple NFL scouts/teams pushed back as well, with one source calling the report “BS,” another saying Downs’ medicals came back “relatively clean,” and others saying his medicals were not a concern on their radar.

Various injury doctors on X questioned the initial report and likewise viewed it in a highly questionable light.

Downs is widely regarded as one of the best prospects in this draft class.

If he slips outside of the top 10, it will likely be because of positional value rather than these nebulous injury rumors.

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