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There was a time when many Sister Wives viewers felt sorry for Meri Brown.
But the “poor Meri” days are over.
During her most recent interview, Mykelti Brown discussed the “mean” sister wife.
She remembers “cowering” in her presence, but how nothing that she or her siblings said or did made a difference.
‘I do not like Meri’
During this week’s episode of the Cults to Consciousness podcast, Mykelti Brown appeared as a guest.
The Sister Wives star spoke on a series of interesting topics — from how growing up in a polygamous family made her imagine herself as a sister wife one day to how TLC changed the family dynamic to how the family unit began to fracture less dramatically than some might guess.
But, of course, this conversation also included discussion of Meri.
“I do not like Meri,” Mykelti expressed. For those unfamiliar with Sister Wives, she added: “She is my dad’s first wife.”
She continued: “I do not like her … she was mean growing up.” Mykelti then added that Meri “still is” mean, even now.
“I don’t care what she looks like on the show,” Mykelti continued, reminding everyone that behavior changes when someone knows that they are on camera.
“She was aggressive. She was manipulative,” she listed.
Remember how Christine realized that she was the “basement wife” of the family? Meri’s position, until Robyn, was the opposite.
“She was the favorite wife,” Mykelti described. “And she got the favorite wife privileges and perks.”
But Meri still had the responsibility of watching the family’s children. And Mykelti and at least some of her siblings dreaded those times.
She remembers ‘cowering’ around the sister wife
“All of us kids were cowering and we were all scared,” Mykelti recalled. “We were all like, ‘OK, whatever you say, Meri. Just don’t hurt me, don’t be mean to me. Don’t yell at me.’”
(Mykelti does not bring up specific allegations of physical abuse, but she has admitted that she watches her words on this topic to avoid consequences for her family and their show.)
“She had this, like, scream she would do [when] she wasn’t getting her way and it was, like, pure loud and angry and just scary,” she described.
Mykelti elaborated: “It was like what you would imagine a freaking dragon screaming at a little child. Think about that.”
That sounds like both toxic behavior and a sign of a disturbed and emotionally immature individual.
According to Mykelti, when Meri was in charge, they all got “severely disciplined, talked down to, grounded.”
Naturally, many Sister Wives fans — and others — might be asking why the Brown kids didn’t simply talk to the other sister wives, especially their biological mothers, about it.
Over time, Mykelti explained, they learned to not bring it up, because nothing changed. It seemed like none of the parents wanted to hear it.
“They didn’t talk about it [and say], ‘No, no, that’s not OK for any parent to do that,’” she lamented. Kody, she said, also seemed to brush it off.
This is actually extremely common in families when there’s one bad parent. Other factors — a stepparent, one parent being the breadwinner, and both parents’ cultural backgrounds can also lead to otherwise good (or at least, relatively better) parents turning a blind eye to their own child’s mistreatment, sometimes in the name of “presenting a united front.”
Like so many bad childhoods, things only improved when they got bigger
“So it got to the point where we just stopped saying something,” Mykelti elaborated.
“Until we got older and then we got bigger, stronger, tougher, and knew this wasn’t OK,” she continued. “That’s when it stopped.”
Mykelti added that filming for Sister Wives didn’t make things any easier.
She and her siblings were instructed to not discuss family drama — except what fit things that the adults were sharing on camera. That definitely included Meri.
It is heartbreaking that Mykelti and her siblings had to go through that. They, and millions of other children at any given moment, deserve much better.
Mykelti Brown Describes ‘Cowering’ Around Meri as Kids, How Nothing the … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Jelly Roll’s inspirational weight loss journey took a surprising turn when the musician made a candid admission about his outlook on the weighing scale.
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Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here’s an offering of the best of this week’s crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.Politics
Chilkat Valley News staff brought home several awards from Alaska Press Club last weekend, including Best Picture Story for the second year in a row.
Here’s more about what led to each award-winning piece.
“A weekend restoring Eldred Rock”
First Place – Best Picture Story
A lot of the time with news photos you have too much to photograph and too little time. Not so with this one: I had 72 hours on Eldred Rock which is, well, a rock, with no way to leave save for the boat that was anchored off shore and out of reach. And it just so happened to be the most beautiful 72 hours of summer. We spent the time lifting windows, eating applesauce, and watching the ferries and summer light drift past.
The biggest challenge for me was trying to capture the very different scales of being confined to such a small, stationary vantage point amid such a large landscape. On the one hand, you go up to the top of the lighthouse and you could spend a lifetime counting the peaks and little coves that stretch from the rock to the horizon.
On the other hand, if you spend enough time out there you learn just how much history the lighthouse. And you can see it in the small details of the construction, assuming you have people like Dan Humphrey walking you through it all.
So hopefully, in the photos, there’s a sense of both of those ways of looking around.
“Haines’ landslide maps unused, what comes next?”
Second Place – Best Public Safety Reporting
The question of planning for the future with landslides is complicated. It’s hard for a layperson like me to understand the complex science, and the science itself has plenty of uncertainty baked in — the nature of a weather phenomenon with so many different risk factors. There’s the issue of what a government as small and as busy as the Haines Borough can do with that science.
But walking around neighborhoods and knocking on doors, I got a sense for some of the human factors too: the lives people have built in specific places, the own personal risk calculations everyone makes. That’s something you don’t necessarily get from just looking at government documents and statistics.
So while a lot of the word count in the article is spent on the landslide maps in a more abstract sense, I wanted to bookend it with stories from the people who actually live every day on the ground described by those maps. And I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to do just that, answering their doors on cold days and taking time to talk.
“Haines man finds long lost father in Scotland”
First Place – Best Profile
I forget exactly where this story came from, but at some point someone told us we needed to talk to Mike and get his story. Apparently, they said, he had met his long-lost father, who turned out to be a movie star.
I reached out to Thompson, and after a couple hours talking to him, I had the story.
If you ever get a chance to talk to him, you should: a guy that has seen and done a whole lot of different things — kind of incredible things — and knows how to tell a good story.
Even so, it’s unusual that you’d write any story with only one source or one voice, especially as a journalist. We’re supposed to verify from multiple sources and get all the perspectives involved. With this one, I couldn’t talk to the other main characters: I wasn’t able to reach his brother, and just as I was reporting the story, Thompson’s father died.
I tried to work around that by talking about Thompson as a character himself, and not just the narrator: what he was like recounting the story, how he walked me through the evidence from various parts of his story — photos, text chains, and so on. I wanted to situate the story in his kitchen, interviewing him specifically in the aftermath of the events he was describing. That’s an interesting question to me: not just the crazy discovery, but how you think through what comes after.
The article benefitted hugely from former CVN reporter Francisco Martinezcuello’s editing, including his advice to flip the beginning and end of the story. Everyone should get themselves a narrative expert on speed dial who happens to be very generous with their time.
“Stuck in traffic? Here’s what everyone else is doing”
Second Place – Best Travel Reporting
This story idea came from the paper’s Duly Noted columnist Chuck Jones, which I think you can tell if you read the article and know her. I try to be more like her as a reporter: she spends so much time outside, going where people actually are, and telling the story of what people are actually talking about. I’m pretty confident that’s her not-so-secret secret to getting such a good Duly Noted column every week.
So for this article, I just got to spend the entire afternoon out in the sun on the side of the highway. Pretty great work day.
What I like about this article, and about what Jones does with Duly Noted, is giving a sort of simultaneous window into a whole bunch of different, small worlds. It’s not news to me on its own that the mailman eats tortilla chips or someone else is counting butterflies. But all together, it’s nice knowing that given the exact same same part of a traffic stop, all these different neighbors and community members find their own, unique ways to get to the other side.
Steinfeld was also named the best solo journalist in the state and won an award for a photo he took of a competitor in the Southeast Alaska State Fair. While editor Rashah McChesney also won an outdoor writing award for her piece on Tom McGuire who drowned in Chilkoot Lake last year.
For the second year, the Chilkat Valley News was edged out of the competition for the best weekly newspaper in the state. That honor went to the Petersburg Pilot first, then the Wrangell Sentinel, and finally the Nome Nugget.
Every story the Chilkat Valley News produces is a collaboration between the community, the journalist and the audience. The paper relies on questions, insights, tips, letters to the editor, and feedback from people who live in the region.
We’ve also featured stories from former reporter Francisco Martínezcuello this year, former owner Kyle Clayton, obituaries from Heather Lende, editorial intern Chisel Triezenberg and had graphic design help from intern Robin Oaks.
Much of our success should be attributed to our long-running business manager Jane Pascoe, advertising and salesperson Chuck Jones, and an army of proof readers including Nancy Nash, Bonnie Hedrick, Tripp Course, Angie Pappas, and Liz Heywood who have made each story shine.
The post Chilkat Valley News lands seven journalism awards appeared first on Chilkat Valley News.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, but there are plenty of noteworthy names remaining. Five of the last six first-round picks were traded, which means a lot of teams moved back into the second round. In fact, two of the first three teams set to pick on Friday night (as of midnight ET) made the playoffs last season. I have those teams set to take potential impact defenders. How will the second round, which begins Friday night, shake out? Here’s my second-round mock draft, starting with the 49ers getting a new potential starting safety. The Niners could use an upgrade at safety. Here, they get that in McNeil-Warren, who was a third-team AP All-American this past season after posting two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. With Jalen Thompson departing in free agency and Budda Baker being 30 years old, the Cardinals must think about their future at safety. Stukes picked off four passes last season en route to third-team AP All-American honors. The Bills signed Bradley Chubb in free agency, but they still need young talent at edge rusher. Young, who was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025, recorded 6.5 sacks and 42 tackles for Missouri last season. After taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, the Raiders should shift to defense. They need a long-term starter at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald recorded 65 tackles (nine tackles for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles en route to first-team AP All-American honors in 2025. After ranking second worst in run defense last season, the Giants will fortify their interior defensive line with Miller, who had 23 tackles (four for loss) and 1.5 sacks for Georgia in 2025. The Texans are loaded on defense but would benefit from more depth at cornerback. McCoy didn’t play in 2025 because of a torn ACL, but he was a second-team AP All-American the year prior after picking off four passes and adding nine pass breakups. The Browns didn’t have a 700-yard wide receiver last season, so adding more talent at the position should be a priority, even after adding KC Concepcion in the first round. A big-bodied pass catcher, the 6-foot-3 Boston caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns (ninth in the FBS) for Washington last season. The Chiefs need more depth at defensive tackle, where perennial Pro Bowler Chris Jones is 31 and free-agent acquisition Khyiris Tonga turns 30 before training camp. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, Harris has a similar long frame to Jones. Harris registered 58 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks, three pass breakups and an interception in 15 games for Ole Miss this past season. Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow could always use more protection, so the Bengals should be in the market for a swing tackle behind starters Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. At 6-foot-7, Tiernan fits the trees manning the tackle spots for Cincinnati (both Orlando Brown and Armarius Mims are 6-foot-8). He made 25 consecutive starts for Northwestern at left tackle, and also started five games at RT in 2022. After taking Jordan Tyson, the Saints continue stacking talent at wide receiver opposite Chris Olave, who’s set to play on his fifth-year option. A long-limbed deep threat, the 6-foot-4 Brazzell led Tennessee with 1,017 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns en route to first-team All-SEC honors. New head coach Jeff Hafley has a heavy background working with defensive backs, and the Dolphins’ current cornerbacks room is underwhelming. Miami gets the juice it needs in its own backyard with Scott, who had two pick-sixes, 13 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles en route to second-team All-ACC honors. The Jets added David Bailey at No. 2 overall before getting a pair of pass-catchers in the first round, but they shouldn’t be done on defense. An AP first-team All-American, Allen is a smart addition at linebacker, where New York could use more premium talent alongside 37-year-old Demario Davis. Apart from Zay Flowers, no other Ravens receiver reached 350 receiving yards last season. The 6-foot-1 Bernard would bring more playmaking ability, as he had 114 receptions and 1,656 receiving yards over the past two seasons for the Crimson Tide. Free-agent acquisitions Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom mitigate desperation for the Bucs in the wake of Lavonte David’s retirement, but Tampa would benefit from young blood at the position. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Rodriguez led the FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025. With their top pick, the Colts must nab an impact player on defense. They get that in Howell, who had 11.5 sacks (seventh in the FBS) and six pass breakups en route to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. The Falcons need to replace Kaden Elliss, who walked in free agency. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Hill earned second-team All-American and All-SEC honors after stuffing the stat sheet with seven tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions for Texas last season. The Vikings should be thinking long term at cornerback, where 28-year-old Isaiah Rodgers is entering a contract year and Byron Murphy doesn’t have a guaranteed salary beyond 2026. Terrell, a third-team AP All-American this past season, broke up nine passes and tied for third in the FBS with five forced fumbles in 2025. The Lions enter 2026 with uncertainty on the interior offensive line, specifically at left guard and center. A third-team All-SEC in 2025, Bisontis started 22 games at left guard for Texas A&M over the past two seasons. The Panthers would be wise to nab a starting-caliber safety who could succeed Nick Scott, who turns 31 next month. Haulcy was a first-team All-SEC selection for LSU in 2025, when he posted 88 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. The Packers are thin at cornerback, even with the signing of Benjamin St-Juste in free agency. A third-team All-SEC selection, Hood had 50 tackles, eight pass breakups and a pick-six in 2025. With Isaac Seumalo gone to the Cardinals as a free agent, adding more guard talent should be a priority for the Steelers. Pregnon was a first-team AP All-American for the Ducks last season and started 51 games at guard between his time at Wyoming and Oregon. The Eagles have a hole on the edge after losing Jaelan Phillips in free agency. Over the last two seasons, Parker registered 16 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles for Clemson. After addressing the defensive front in the first round, the Chargers must now focus on bolstering their new-look interior offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound Dunker started 37 games at right tackle for Iowa over the last three seasons, but some league observers believe his best NFL position will be guard. After letting Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, the Jags must shore up the linebacker spot. Golday was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025, recording 105 tackles (six for loss), 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups. The Bears need an edge rusher who can start opposite Montez Sweat. Thomas had 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety last season en route to first-team All-SEC honors. The Niners drafted Mykel Williams in the first round last year, but Nick Bosa is coming off a torn ACL and San Francisco loves to load up on the defensive line. A first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, Moore had 10 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles for Michigan last season. As deep as the Texans are at edge rusher, they need a long-term answer on the interior defensive line. Halton recorded 8.5 sacks over his last two seasons at Oklahoma, also adding 13 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. The Bears traded for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman’s retirement, but Bradbury — who has just one year left on his contract — could be viewed as a short-term solution. Cue Hecht, who started 25 games for Kansas State over the past two seasons. The Rams should be prioritizing a WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, who turns 34 in December. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Hurst caught 71 passes for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns for Georgia State in 2025, when he was named a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. The Broncos got just three touchdowns from their tight ends last season. They can get more juice at the position in the athletic Stowers, who won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end last season. Robert Spillane turns 31 next season and Christian Elliss is entering the final year of his contract, so Mike Vrabel & Co. may be thinking long term at inside linebacker. Trotter had 84 tackles, including 13 for loss, and two sacks for Missouri last season. Tariq Woolen is now with the Eagles, so the Seahawks need a new No. 3 cornerback. Enter Cisse, who had five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble for the Gamecocks in 2025.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
As everyone expected, the Las Vegas Raiders took Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But after that, Round 1 brought major surprises, trades and utter chaos. The biggest surprise of the night came when the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick. With the Rams currently listed as the betting favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl, many expected them to target an immediate impact player. Instead, they chose to invest in the future and begin preparing for life after Matthew Stafford. On top of that, the Arizona Cardinals drafted star running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, while the Tennessee Titans surprised by giving Cam Ward a new weapon in Carnell Tate. The Dallas Cowboys also got their dream pick in Caleb Downs after trading up to No. 11. Now, the focus shifts to Day 2, where value often defines the draft. While this class may lack true top-end star power, the depth shows up in critical areas. Teams searching for immediate contributors can still find starting-caliber talent along both sides of the line of scrimmage and throughout the secondary, with impact players expected to come off the board well into Day 3. With that in mind, here’s Rob Rang’s updated big board of the top 100 prospects still available after Round 1. 100. Elijah Sarratt, WR, IndianaProjection: Round 4-5A classic possession receiver with good size, body control and sticky hands, Sarratt may lack upside, but few pass-catchers in this class offer as high of a floor. 99. Jakobe Thomas, S, MiamiProjection: Round 4-5Overshadowed by all the talent at Miami this year, Thomas quietly finished second in the ACC with five interceptions, showing the aggression and closing speed to project as a future NFL starter and special teams ace. 98. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida StateProjection: Round 4-5Among the most imposing players in this draft, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Jackson offers intriguing potential as a two-gapper, using his girth and especially long arms (34 3/4″) to stack and shed would-be blockers at the point of attack. 97. Adam Randall, RB, ClemsonProjection: Round 4-5The 6-foot-3, 232-pounder spent his first three years at Clemson as a receiver, but flourished in 2025 at tailback, showing impressive vision and toughness between the tackles, as well as power and surprising slipperiness to create yards after contact. 96. Jalen Farmer, OG, KentuckyProjection: Round 4-5Guards don’t typically come with highlight reels, but Farmer is an exception — he just needs to play with greater awareness (and lighter feet) in pass protection to emerge as an NFL starter. 95. Jake Slaughter, C, FloridaProjection: Round 4A center-only prospect due to his relatively narrow shoulders and wide hips, Slaughter won’t be a fit for everyone. But his naturally low center of gravity, quality technique and proven effectiveness against quality competition suggest he’ll outperform his draft selection. 94. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke Projection: Round 4He’s a four-year standout at cornerback who lacks ideal size but possesses the instincts and quickness to handle slot duties. 93. Travis Burke, OT, MemphisProjection: Round 4Football is a big man’s game, and they simply don’t come much bigger than the 6-foot-9, 325-pound Burke, who uses his girth, long arms (34 inches) and leg drive to maul opponents. 92. Gracen Halton, DT, OklahomaProjection: Round 4Halton may never be a full-time starter, but I like his fit as a quick-twitch interior disruptor in an NFL rotation. 91. Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio StateProjection: Round 4One of this year’s real breakout stars, Curry added spice to the Buckeyes’ pass rush in 2025. He jumped from 2.5 sacks as a junior to 11 as a senior, but he’s more strong than sudden and might have benefited from his supporting cast. 90. Eli Raridon, TE. Notre DameProjection: Round 4Similar in some ways to Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Raridon lacks eye-popping stats. But he offers an exciting blend of size and athleticism and comes from a program well known for developing NFL talent at tight end. 89. Drew Allar, QB, Penn StateProjection: Round 4A classic dropback passer with an ideal frame and arm, Allar offers the basic building blocks worthy of developing. 88. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor Projection: Round 4A loose and fluid athlete with long arms, Trigg boasts intoxicating upside, but he’s sushi-raw as a route-runner and blocker with a lot of concentration drops on tape. 87. Brenen Thompson, WR. Mississippi StateProjection: Round 4Scouts already knew Thompson would be among the fastest players in this draft — seven of his 10 career receiving TDs went for 40-plus yards — and he proved it at the Combine in a blistering 4.26 seconds. 86. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia Projection: Round 4Scouts can check off a lot of boxes with Everette, a 41-game starter with an exceptional blend of size (6-1, 196 pounds, 32-inch arms) and speed (4.38). 85. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota StateProjection: Round 4With only one year as a starter, Payton is as raw as it gets. But the 6-foot-3, 232-pound southpaw has plenty of arm and is a powerful and instinctive runner. 84. Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern Projection: Round 4A 6-foot-8, 323-pounder with stubby arms (32 1/4″), Tiernan likely will slide inside to guard after starting the past four years at tackle. 83. Mason Reiger, Edge, WisconsinProjection: Round 4Long and lean for the position but highly physical and a more nuanced rusher than his 13 career sacks might suggest, I think Reiger’s best football is still ahead of him. 82. Taylen Green, QB, ArkansasProjection: Round 4He’s easily the biggest and most athletic of this QB class yet lacks his counterparts’ accuracy. It thus begs the question: If a team is looking to develop a signal-caller, why not gamble on the one with the highest upside? 81. Alex Harkey, OG, OregonProjection: Round 4Harkey spent time at four different colleges (Tyler JC, Colorado and Texas State) and could be on the move again in the NFL — sliding inside after playing 2025 at right tackle. But he shows the initial quickness, girth and tenacity to handle the switch. 80. Jude Bowry, OT, Boston CollegeProjection: Round 4The drop-off in talent is steep at OT, but Bowry is my favorite of the second-tier prospects at the position, struggling a bit with injury and inconsistency yet flashing the raw talent to suggest that he may be better in the NFL than he was in college. 79. Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri Projection: Round 4Overshadowed by edge rushers during his time at Missouri (and Florida), McClellan’s combination of bulk, power and surprising quickness translate well to the next level. 78. Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana Projection: Round 4Proctor may not look the part of a full-time DT in the NFL, but few in this class can match his initial quickness and lateral agility — traits that should help him generate plenty of disruption. 77. Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New MexicoProjection: Round 4Among this year’s quickest rushers off the ball, James-Newby led the Mountain West in both sacks (9) and forced fumbles (3), while finishing second in the conference with 15 tackles for loss. 76. Carson Beck, QB, MiamiProjection: Round 4In some circles, Beck might be better known for his mistakes than his successes, but he’s battle-tested, a gifted natural passer and offers prototypical size. He is one of the few QBs in this class with a realistic shot of eventually being an NFL starter. 75. Keagen Trost, OG, MissouriProjection: Round 4Broad as a barn door, Trost (who turned 25 this month) was literally a man among boys in the SEC last year, showing off the bulk and strong hands that I think will suit the longtime collegiate tackle best inside at guard in the NFL. 74. Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M Projection: Round 4If not for durability issues, Moss might warrant second-round consideration due to his vision, initial burst and an attacking mentality which drives him through would-be tacklers. 73. Kage Casey, OG, Boise StateProjection: Round 4Stopwatches at the Combine suggest that Casey is sluggish, but his tape shows good initial quickness and serious pop on contact — traits that I think will suit the college left tackle best inside at guard. 72. Romello Height, Edge, Texas TechProjection: Round 4At 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Height lacks ideal size for the edge, but he’s sudden and slippery, winning with a variety of dips and spins to efficiently get past would-be blockers and quickly close on the quarterback. 71. Jimmy Rolder, ILB, MichiganProjection: Round 3-4Showing Jedi-like instincts and picture-perfect tackling technique, Rolder jumped from 26 tackles as a reserve in 2024 to leading the team in stops in 2025. Run-stuffers like Rolder aren’t as valued in today’s pass-happy NFL, so it’s possible he slips into Day 3, but I see a future starter who will ultimately outplay his draft slot. 70. Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M Projection: Round 3-4A classic tweener who lacks the mobility and arm length to remain outside at tackle (where he started four years for the Aggies), Zuhn possesses the short area quickness and pop on contact to move inside. But few teams want 6-foot-7 guards or centers. 69. Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona Projection: Round 3-4He’s a former walk-on turned star who capped off a stellar 2025 season with a terrific Combine workout. Stukes’ instincts, athleticism and ball-skills make up for his average size and open-field tackling. 68. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State Projection: Round 3-4He’s sushi-raw as a route-runner, but that can be taught. Hurst offers a 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame with proven 4.4 speed that is well worth a mid-round gamble. 67. Tacario Davis, CB, WashingtonProjection: Round 3-4An injury-plagued 2025 campaign may have kept Davis off the media radar, but he’s well-known by NFL scouts. The uniquely-built 6-foot-4 corner offers the speed (4.41) and hand-eye coordination to corral receivers off the line and at the catch-point. 66. Skyler Bell, WR, ConnecticutProjection: Round 3-4A true speed demon, Bell caught five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at Wisconsin. But it wasn’t until a breakout 2025 at UConn that he really caught scouts’ attention, showing greater concentration and improved hands. 65. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota StateProjection: Round 3The NDSU-to-NFL pipeline continues this year with Lance — the younger, faster brother of Trey Lance. Given how rarely the Bison throw the ball, Lance is surprisingly savvy as a route-runner with a legitimate chance to prove a mid-round steal. 64. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia Projection: Round 3One of this year’s biggest Pro Day risers after clocking in at 4.49 seconds at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Delp has a chance to be more productive in the NFL than he was over 55 games (34 starts) with the Bulldogs. 63. De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, MississippiProjection: Round 3A three-time transfer who produced at Washington State and Oklahoma State as well as Ole Miss, Stribling looks the part with a broad 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame and impressive speed, but he’s faster than quick and may struggle to get open versus NFL competition. 62. Wesley Williams, Edge, Duke Projection: Round 3Stubby arms (31 7/8″), average speed (4.89 40) and meager sack production in 2025 (two sacks) could cause some to overlook Williams. But he plays with the anticipation, intensity and violence that could keep him in the NFL for a long time. 61. Chris Bell, WR, LouisvilleProjection: Round 3An ACL tear in December will push Bell well into Day 2, but the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder possesses the bulk, body control and soft hands to project as a future NFL starter. 60. Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon Projection: Round 3Teams willing to sacrifice bulk for quickness, will be intrigued by the thinly-built Canady (5-foot-11, 181 pounds) whose route awareness and quickness closing downhill allow him to disrupt receivers. 59. Max Klare, TE, Ohio StateProjection: Round 3More of an H-back than a traditional sixth lineman, Klare offers quickness, soft hands and body control to make tough contested grabs. 58. VJ Payne, S, Kansas StateProjection: Round 3Scouts can check a lot of boxes with Payne, a team captain and 42-game starter who boasts an exceptional size/speed combination and proven track record for generating turnovers. 57. Sam Roush, TE, StanfordProjection: Round 3In a class full of pass-catching specialists at tight end, Roush is a legitimate “Y” with the size (6-6, 267), strength, smarts and athletic bloodlines to project as a quick contributor. 56. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington Projection: Round 3A pinball runner whose low center of gravity and leg drive help him break tackles, Coleman is an effective inside runner who might lack top speed but projects well to the NFL because of his commitment to pass protection and soft hands as a receiver. 55. Brian Parker II, OL/C, DukeProjection: Round 3My favorite of this year’s projected position switchers, Parker is a three-year starting right tackle whose burly frame, core strength and underrated athleticism project best inside at the next level. 54. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa StateProjection: Round 3Appropriately nicknamed “Big Citrus,” Orange uses his round frame and long (33 3/8″) arms to stack and shed opponents at the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, he provides little “juice” as a rusher, recording just one sack in 50 college games. 53. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn StateProjection: Round 3He boasts prototypical size (6-2, 200) and excellent ball skills (six INTs among 12 career PBUs), but Wheatley must improve his open-field tackling. 52. Deion Burks, WR, OklahomaProjection: Round 3Topping out at 629 receiving yards (and that was at Purdue in 2023), Burks never dominated in college like his timed speed (4.30 in the 40-yard dash) and strength (his 26 reps tied for the most among receivers) would suggest. But it is hard to imagine some NFL team not gambling a Day 2 pick on his upside. 51. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&MProjection: Round 3Don’t let the fact that Onyedim generated just 5.5 sacks in 53 games at Texas A&M (and Iowa State) fool you, his first-step quickness, core flexibility and long arms make him one of this year’s most disruptive defensive tackles. 50. Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State Projection: Round 3Quick as a hiccup with the low center of gravity well-suiting to his position, Hecht isn’t overpowering. But his agility and play-through-the-whistle mentality suggest a long NFL career. 49. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre DameProjection: Round 3Clocking at a sluggish 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash and corralling just 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns last year for Notre Dame, Fields won’t be for everyone. But the imposing 6-foot-4, 219-pounder offers the physicality, sure hands and surprisingly sharp route-running that project well as a traditional X receiver. 48. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, MichiganProjection: Round 3Barham spent much of his career at Michigan (and previously at Maryland) as an off-ball linebacker, but he possesses projectable twitch and core flexibility to attack off the edge. 47. Logan Jones, C, IowaProjection: Round 3An athletic technician who overcomes middling size and strength, Jones pounces out of his stance to stalemate DTs, projecting as a longtime NFL starter in a zone scheme. 46. Emmett Johnson, RB, NebraskaProjection: Round 3Johnson may lack the top-end speed to consistently beat NFL defenders to the edge, but he earns high marks in some of the traits I think are even more important for success at the next level: lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight spaces, as well as both the vision and burst to attack cutback lanes. 45. Josh Cameron, WR, BaylorProjection: Round 3While Cameron is a couple inches taller, it is easy to see some shades of Deebo Samuel in the Baylor product’s game, as both are essentially running backs in a receiver’s body, bullying opponents with their long arms, strong hands and ultra-physical style. 44. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio StateProjection: Round 3A four-year starter at Ohio State (and Mississippi), the 6-foot-2, 189-pounder has a high-cut frame that leaves him vulnerable to shifty route-runners. Still, he closes quickly and confidently against both the pass and run, projecting best as a press corner in the NFL. 43. Joshua Josephs, Edge, TennesseeProjection: Round 3Josephs is currently a one-trick pony speed rusher, but he’s so sudden off the snap and has some of the longest arms (34 1/4″) in this class, which have helped him generate nearly as many pass breakups (nine) and forced fumbles (six) as sacks (9.5). 42. Zxavian Harris, DT, MississippiProjection: Round 2-3The massive 6-foot-8, 330-pound Harris is a polarizing prospect among scouts, as he loses leverage at the snap with too much of his production coming downfield. But his ability to play up and down the line of scrimmage and block kicks (six over his career) will have some team gambling on him with a Day 2 pick. 41. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn StateProjection: Round 2-3He is among the handful of prospects to surge on my latest board, proving at the Combine that his stellar production in college was due not only to refined technique but underrated athleticism. Consider Dennis-Sutton one of this year’s biggest winners at Lucas Oil Stadium. 40. Zachariah Branch, WR, GeorgiaProjection: Round 2-3Branch is likely going to generate some Tyreek Hill comparisons during the pre-draft process, powered by the 4.35 speed he demonstrated at the Combine. Like Hill, Branch is at his best as a vertical threat or in the quick game, offering the kind of instant spark to a passing attack that only elite speed can provide. 39. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSUProjection: Round 2-3A propensity for risky throws and an injury-marred senior campaign are clear red flags, but Nussmeier has the grit, smarts and arm talent required for NFL success. He may never prove to be a frontline starter in the NFL, but he should carve out a long career, justifying a Day 2 selection. 38. Bud Clark, S, TCUProjection: Round 2-3Teams will have to weigh the pros (elite ball skills) versus the cons (spindly 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame) with Clark. His awareness, agility and soft hands he showcased at the Senior Bowl suggest he’ll soon be starting in the NFL. 37. Antonio Williams, WR, ClemsonProjection: Round 2-3With 25 combined touchdowns (21 as a pass-catcher, two as a runner, two as a passer) in 43 career games at Clemson, Williams has a proven big-play knack, showing impressive spatial awareness, body control and soft hands to make difficult plays look routine. 36. Gennings Dunker, OL, IowaProjection: Round 2-3With his long red hair, Dunker enjoyed more airtime during the Combine than some quarterbacks, but his game is built more on power and nastiness than athleticism, which is why the career right tackle might be pinched inside in the NFL. 35. Jalon Kilgore, S, South CarolinaProjection: Round 2-3The team that invests a Day 2 selection on Kilgore is banking on upside — and he offers plenty of that given his prototypical size and athleticism — but there are more lapses in coverage and missed tackles than his flashy highlight reels would suggest. 34. Mike Washington Jr., RB, ArkansasProjection: Round 2-3Few boosted their stock at the Combine more than the burly Washington, whose 4.33-second 40-yard dash time not only was the fastest among all running backs, it was the fastest among any player weighing over 220 pounds. In a relatively weak year for running backs, Washington’s elite size-speed combination warrants top-50 consideration. 33. Chris Brazzell II, WR, TennesseeProjection: Round 2-3Brazzell reminds me a lot of Bengals star Tee Higgins in size and style, towering over cornerbacks with an imposing 6-foot-4 frame. But it’s his rare burst off the snap that separates him from most taller vertical threats. 32. Kyle Louis, OLB, PittsburghProjection: Round 2-3At just 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, Louis won’t be a fit for everyone. But, frankly, I think that’s a mistake. Louis is highly instinctive with lightning-quick closing speed. He is a proven big-play magnet with 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions over the past two seasons. 31. Derrick Moore, Edge, MichiganProjection: Round 2-3In a class full of Swiss Army knife rushers, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Moore is the hammer, utilizing a pro-caliber bull rush to bully would-be blockers on his way to the quarterback, generating 10 sacks in 12 games for Michigan in 2025. 30. Jake Golday, ILB, CincinnatiProjection: Round 2A moveable chess piece at nearly 6-foot-5, 239 pounds, Golday is a former edge rusher whose agility and speed have allowed him to excel at off-ball linebacker. He’s raw yet fast and physical. 29. Malik Muhammad, CB, TexasProjection: Round 2The 6-0, 182-pound Muhammad might have a slight frame, but his long arms (32 3/8″), light feet and route anticipation make up for it — as does his experience playing against top competition. 28. Lee Hunter, DT, TexasProjection: Round 2Disappointing workout results might have highlighted some of Hunter’s athletic limitations, but the big man dominated in the trenches during Texas Tech’s playoff run, as well as at the Senior Bowl, winning with a stunning combination of explosive first step quickness and overwhelming brute strength. 27. Germie Bernard, WR, AlabamaProjection: Round 2Bernard isn’t the biggest or fastest receiver in this class, but he shifts gears well to create separation and possesses soft, strong hands to pluck outside his frame, offering a nuanced skill set that projects nicely to the NFL. 26. Eli Stowers, TE, VanderbiltProjection: Round 2A former quarterback who is built more like a receiver than a traditional tight end, Stowers’ tape is full of highlight reel plays and his Combine workout was one of this year’s best. He needs to get stronger, but Stowers projects as a matchup monster out of the slot and wing in the NFL, warranting top-50 consideration. 25. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona StateProjection: Round 2Everything about the 5-foot-10, 187-pound Abney looks average except his tape — he’s among the most tenacious and competitive players in this class. 24. Connor Lew, C, AuburnProjection: Round 2A baby-faced 20-year-old who opted for the 2026 NFL Draft despite tearing his ACL in October, Lew nevertheless looks the part of a decade-long NFL starting center, offering an ideal blend of size, balance, agility and already grown-man strength. 23. Keyron Crawford, Edge, AuburnProjection: Round 2A late comer to the game who only switched from basketball to football as a senior in high school, Crawford needs to locate the ball quicker and learn to use his hands better to fend off blockers. But few in this class offer his zip and efficient change of direction off the edge. 22. Josiah Trotter, ILB, MissouriProjection: Round 2A downhill thumper with a unique frame, closing speed and NFL bloodlines, Trotter — who won’t turn 21 until April — has the look and energy of a longtime starting middle linebacker. 21. Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonProjection: Round 2Nickel cornerbacks have never been more in demand, and Terrell is my favorite among them in this class. The NFL legacy plays significantly above his weight class (180 pounds), averaging 50 tackles over the past two seasons and generating eight forced fumbles during that span, including an ACC-best five this past year. 20. Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas TechProjection: Round 2More decorated than a wedding cake after winning the Nagurski, Bednarik and Butkus awards, Rodriguez arguably should’ve been on my original list even before a terrific showing at the Combine. But I certainly won’t make the mistake of excluding him after he erased any doubts about his pure athleticism in Indy. 19. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, OregonProjection: Round 2A classic mauler whose square-ish 6-foot-4, 314-pound frame is seemingly all shoulders and thighs, Pregnon is one of the few true guards who projects as an immediate NFL starter. 18. Keionte Scott, DB, MiamiProjection: Round 2If he weren’t such an instinctive, passionate football player, Scott could make it as a travel guide, starring at Snow Junior College, Auburn and Miami, where he’s played safety, linebacker, nickel, cornerback and punt returner. I like him best at big nickel, where his instincts and physicality should shine brightest. 17. R Mason Thomas, Edge, OklahomaProjection: Round 2Reminiscent of another former Sooner — Broncos star Nik Bonitto — Thomas personifies the often-used scouting expression of “converting speed to power.” He routinely forces would-be blockers onto their heels and off-balance with an explosive burst and then bull-rushes them through the chest on a direct route to the ballcarrier. 16. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSUProjection: Round 2Feast or famine personified, Haulcy promises to be one of the more polarizing defenders of this class as he’s decisive and a heavy hitter but also hyper aggressive and prone to missed tackles. 15. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, IndianaProjection: Round 2I’m less confident that undersized defenders such as Ponds will be among the first 50 players drafted than I am about him ultimately proving he should’ve been. At just 5-foot-9, 173 pounds, Ponds has obvious limitations, but he’s pound-for-pound the most physical and instinctive DB in this class with 33 pass breakups — including seven interceptions — in three standout seasons at the collegiate level. 14. Christen Miller, DT, GeorgiaProjection: Round 2Miller elected not to participate in the timed drills at the Combine, but he’s just too good of a player to not include on this list. I don’t see a flashy athlete, but he has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 321 pounds) for blue collar run-stuffing duties. Miller’s length, strength and grit suggest that he’ll stick around in the NFL for a decade or more. 13. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&MProjection: Round 2An athletic 6-foot-5, 315-pounder, Bisontis looks and moves like a tackle — he even earned freshman All-American honors at right tackle back in 2023. He played even better inside at left guard the past two years, showing the initial quickness and agility to fit best in a zone-blocking scheme. 12. Anthony Hill Jr., ILB, Texas Projection: Round 2Hill was asked to play many roles during his three years at Texas, spanning from edge rusher to inside linebacker to even nickel cornerback. That fact speaks to Hill’s football IQ. The tape shows uncommon agility for a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker, as well reliable open-field tackling skills. 11. Zion Young, Edge, MissouriProjection: Round 1-2Among the most physical players in the entire class, Young pairs violent hands with ideal size (6-foot-6, 262 pounds) and strength to bully opponents at the line of scrimmage. He lacks the burst and bend around the corner, however, to expect much more in the NFL than the career-high 6.5 sacks he posted in 2025. 10. CJ Allen, ILB, GeorgiaProjection: Round 1-2Many of the top off-ball linebackers in this class are hybrid-types with limited experience taking on and shedding blockers in the hole. Allen isn’t flashy, but he’s as close to a Day 1 starting middle linebacker as this class has to offer. He’s smart, stout and just scratching the surface of his potential at just 20 years old. 9. Brandon Cisse, CB, South CarolinaProjection: Round 1-2Cisse has all the traits to become a quality NFL starter — including a prototypical blend of size, speed and physicality in run support. His occasional mistakes on tape seemed coachable, and with Cisse not turning 21 until July, the expectation is that he’s just scratching the surface. 8. Gabe Jacas, Edge, IllinoisProjection: Round 1-2Using a blend of physicality and instincts that translates well to the pro game, Jacas led the Big Ten with 11 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2025 before delivering a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. Jacas may lack the twitch of some of this year’s top pass-rushers, but I see shades of a young DeMarcus Lawrence in Jacas’ game. 7. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, ToledoProjection: Round 1-2The ability to create turnovers is like catnip to football scouts, and few in this class offer a more tantalizing track record of that than the lanky, hard-hitting McNeil-Warren, who enters the NFL with nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 6. Kayden McDonald, NG, Ohio StateProjection: Round 1-2At 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, McDonald is every bit the run-plugger his frame suggests, complementing his dense, powerful frame with excellent balance and spatial awareness. He isn’t going to ever lead the NFL in sacks, but he’s no slug against the pass, either, showing effort, power and surprisingly quick feet to play all three downs. 5. T.J. Parker, Edge, ClemsonProjection: Round 1-2Like several of his former Clemson teammates, Parker was the victim of his own success, struggling to live up to expectations in 2025 after a dominant 2024 campaign that included 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and an FBS-leading six forced fumbles. He’s a functional, rugged edge defender whose game is built more on torque than twitch. 4. Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonProjection: Round 1-2The whole point of playing receiver is to catch touchdowns, and with 20 TDs over the past two seasons, Boston is the most prolific scorer of this year’s top wideouts. He should be able to continue this red zone mastery in the NFL, using his 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame, timing, body control and strong hands to win above the rim. 3. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&MProjection: Round 1-2Stubby (30 1/4-inch arms) and less explosive (32.5-inch vertical jump) than expected, Howell slips down my board a bit after a disappointing Combine. But he remains one of my favorite prospects in this class because of his slipperiness off the edge and ability to drop into coverage. 2. Colton Hood, CB, TennesseeProjection: Round 1-2Hood travels as well in the hip pocket of receivers as he does in the transfer portal, bouncing from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee over the past three years before entering the draft at just 20 years old. He is an easy mover with impressive awareness of the ball and in run support, as well as a legitimate playmaker with touchdowns scored via interception and fumble recoveries. 1. Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeProjection: Round 1-2McCoy’s first two college seasons (at Oregon State and Tennessee, respectively) were so impressive that he maintained a first-round grade on my board even after missing the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury. When healthy, McCoy is a smooth cover corner with terrific ball skills, breaking up 16 passes (with six interceptions) over that span.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports