theScore's football editors offer their insights from the most notable moves, emerging trends, and interesting picks throughout Rounds 4-7 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
👉 More: Recapping all 257 picks
Indiana's championship pedigree pays off
The Hoosiers set a school record for NFL draft picks on the heels of their national championship. Eight Indiana studs heard their names called through seven rounds: quarterback Fernando Mendoza, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, running back Kaelon Black, wideout Elijah Sarratt, tight end Riley Nowakowski, center Pat Coogan, and linebacker Aiden Fisher. Only five Indiana players were drafted in total from 2020-25. If there's one thing NFL teams love, it's a winner. - Daniel Valente
Special Navy picks
The seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft was marked by touching moments featuring former Navy players.
The Bengals owned the 226th overall pick and had it announced by a representative of the Pat Tillman Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to honor the Arizona Cardinals safety turned U.S. Army Ranger who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. With the selection, Cincinnati picked Navy defensive lineman Landon Robinson.
Four picks later, the Steelers selected another Midshipmen player, running back and Pittsburgh native Eli Heidenreich at No. 230. The versatile tailback was in attendance for Day 3 of the NFL draft and was visibly emotional after hearing his name called. It's only the second time ever (and the first since 1956) in which multiple Navy players were selected in the same NFL draft. - Caio Miari
Saints stockpiling at WR
The Saints didn't select a single receiver in last year's draft. This year, they used three of their first seven picks on wideouts. It's the first time since 1996 that the franchise has drafted three receivers. With a glaring need at WR2 behind Chris Olave and a developing quarterback in Tyler Shough, it's no surprise they focused on addressing the position.
After taking Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 and speedster Bryce Lance in the fourth round, New Orleans went back to the well for LSU's Barion Brown in the sixth round. Though he never exceeded 628 yards in a season with Kentucky or LSU, Brown's been electric on special teams. He returned six kickoffs for touchdowns over his four years in college. Sounds like a perfect replacement for Rashid Shaheed, who was traded to the Seahawks last year. - Daniel Valente
Browns get a unicorn in QB Taylen Green
The Browns selected one of the draft's most remarkable athletes to start the sixth round in quarterback Taylen Green. The Arkansas product took the combine by storm, setting new records for quarterbacks in the broad jump and vertical jump. His 4.36 40-yard dash time was also the second-fastest ever by a signal-caller.
The 6-foot-6 quarterback's workout was so impressive that it created buzz about a potential position switch to receiver or tight end. Browns general manager Andrew Berry already shut that down, saying Green will play quarterback, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. That leaves Cleveland with Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Green on its QB depth chart. Ultimately, Green is a sixth-round lottery ticket, but he's as intriguing as a late-round quarterback gets. - Daniel Valente
Brotherly love all around
Those inside the game tend to describe the NFL as a brotherhood. Well, this year's draft took that literally. The trend started with the Falcons drafting Avieon Terrell on Day 2 to pair him with his brother A.J. It continued Saturday as the Saints drafted wideout Bryce Lance, the brother of Chargers quarterback Trey Lance, in the fourth round. With their next pick, the Saints chose defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr., whose brother Sonny Styles was selected seventh overall by the Commanders on Thursday. Get ready for some sibling rivalries in 2026. - Daniel Valente
Cowboys know where they need to improve
The Cowboys used five of their first six picks on defense. It's the most draft capital they've allocated there since they started the 2021 draft by taking a defensive player with each of their first six picks. That's the influx of talent this unit needs after allowing an NFL-worst 30.1 points per game last season. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker will be smiling from ear to ear as he stares at his haul of safety Caleb Downs, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, linebacker Jaishawn Barham, cornerback Devin Moore, and defensive lineman LT Overton. - Daniel Valente
The Chiefs' backfield is one to watch
The Chiefs traded up in the fifth round to select their first offensive player in Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson. It's incredible value to draft our No. 3-ranked back with the 161st pick. It also puts the finishing touches on a totally reimagined running back room.
The Chiefs signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency. He's one of the best in the business at creating yards after contact. Johnson produces extra yardage his own way too: He forced 68 missed tackles as a rusher last year, more than any other running back in this draft, per PFF. It's been a while since Kansas City had a dynamic backfield, but this one-two combo has the potential to be a serious problem for opposing defenses. - Daniel Valente
Bills land All-American wideout
Giving Josh Allen more weapons has been a priority for the Bills. It'll be interesting to see how UConn wideout Skyler Bell - their newest fourth-round selection - fits. Bell was a consensus All-American in 2025 after catching 101 passes for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 6-footer amassed 835 yards after catch and offers great contested-catch ability.
Bell was also a finalist for the 2025 Biletnikoff Award recognizing college football's most outstanding wide receiver. His fall to Day 3 was a relative surprise, but he could end up being a steal for the Bills, who also traded for receiver DJ Moore earlier in the offseason. - Caio Miari
Can Jets develop Klubnik?
New York's quarterback room welcomed another passer Saturday, with the Jets moving up in the fourth round to draft former Clemson starter Cade Klubnik 110th overall. Klubnik is coming off an underwhelming season with the Tigers. He threw for 16 touchdowns while averaging 245.3 passing yards per game, down from 36 touchdowns and 259.9 yards in 2024.
Klubnik was once considered a top quarterback prospect and made 40 starts during his Tigers tenure. He's never thrown double-digit interceptions in a season. The Jets will now try to develop him into a capable NFL quarterback. In a perfect world, Klubnik will play at least one or two seasons behind veteran Geno Smith before potentially getting a shot to become QB1. - Caio Miari
Chiefs can't stop adding defenders
The Chiefs needed to rejuvenate their defensive unit after losing key defensive backs this offseason. They traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, and Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook left in free agency. Kansas City's defensive front also regressed in 2025, ranking 18th in pressures after placing sixth in that category in '24, according to Pro Football Reference.
As a result, the Chiefs have built an all-defense draft class through four rounds in 2026. Kansas City traded up to land top cornerback prospect Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall and used another first-round pick on defensive lineman Peter Woods. Andy Reid's outfit then spent a Round 2 selection on edge rusher R Mason Thomas before taking another corner, Jadon Canady, 109th overall in the fourth round. - Caio Miari
Chargers give McDaniel more speed
Los Angeles used a fourth-round pick to add a home-run hitter with blazing speed to an offense led by new coordinator Mike McDaniel. Wide receiver Brenen Thompson spent the 2025 season at Mississippi State and led the SEC with 1,054 receiving yards. He averaged a whopping 18.5 yards per catch. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder also ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine with an official time of 4.26 seconds.
During his time with the Miami Dolphins, McDaniel built the league's fastest and most dynamic offense with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Co. It's safe to say he'll enjoy the Thompson selection. - Caio Miari
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 25, 2026
Raiders end McCoy's fall in 4th round
Las Vegas made one of the draft's most interesting moves to start Round 4. The Raiders traded up one spot with the Bills to take Jermod McCoy 101st overall, ending the Tennessee cornerback's long fall. Talent-wise, McCoy is one of the premier corners in the 2026 class. However, some NFL teams are concerned that he has a degenerative knee issue. He's reportedly recovered from a torn ACL that sidelined him in 2025, but he could face another extended absence. Clubs believe a bone plug that was used to fix a cartilage defect in his knee may need to be replaced via another surgery.
Still, the Raiders decided to take the risk, which makes sense at this point in the draft. We'll get more clarity on McCoy's availability during the offseason. For now, Las Vegas landed a very promising corner who could become a quality NFL starter. He may not fix the Raiders' short-term cornerback problems, but he could eventually become the future of their secondary. - Caio Miari
