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Tagovailoa already had a short stint with the Seahawks but was let go after a few days. Now, the former Maryland Terp will have a chance to earn a spot with the Cardinals. The younger brother of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Tagovailoa enters the league with a fraction of the NFL pedigree as Tua. Like Tua, Taulia also spent time at Alabama but transferred to Maryland ahead of the 2020 season, where he went on to start 37 games for the Terps from 2021 through 2023. An undersized prospect (5’11/208) who is prone to turnovers, Tagovailoa didn’t earn an invite to the combine and may not be long for the NFL, but may get a few more shots to stick on a roster in the coming months.

Rogers (6'3/330) was a four-star DT and the top player from Michigan in the 2020 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. His recruiting rating was largely based on his early physical maturation, but he never quite lived up to the billing at Kentucky, before finding success on a more scheme-friendly Auburn defense. Rogers is a stout one tech who is adept at taking up blockers, especially against the run. Whether it’s a duo or zone concept, he is able to occupy multiple gaps by either threatening to split blockers or bouncing between the two laterally. Rogers struggles to disengage with blockers, but makes up for it by being able to anchor effectively. An average get-off and pitiful 1.18 RAS underlie his poor pursuit, though not for lack of effort. With a frame that has already reached peak development, it is not likely Rogers has any upside rushing the passer. His best role at the next level is probably on early downs to eat up blockers for linebackers on the second wave of defensive linemen.

Hailing from South East Missouri State, Flournoy (6’1/202) first popped on the national map when he impressed at the Senior Bowl. The former JUCO prospect transferred to South East Missouri State for the 2022 season and immediately went for 62-1016-7 his first year on campus. He was limited to just nine games in 2023 and finished the year with a line of 59-825-7 and averaged 15.2 YPR for his career. In Dallas, the rookie will have a tough time cracking the team’s wide receiver rotation barring a string of wideout injuries.

A 2021 enrollee, Bullard (5’10/198) took over a starting slot role in 2022, where he logged 510 of his 624 snaps and recorded 46 tackles, 7.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks while earning an 80th percentile PFF defensive grade. Bullard saved his best for the CFP National Title game with a two interception performance that earned him the game’s Defensive MVP Award. Bullard built on his MVP showing by having the best season of his career, holding opponents to a 34.0 NFL passer rating while shifting to the back line and playing 362 of his 596 snaps at free safety. His 88.9 PFF cover grade ranked fifth nationally, as Bullard allowed a microscopic .27 yards per coverage snap with a 32% forced incompletion rate. On the tackling front, Bullard sports a very respectable 9.2% missed tackle rate while grading in the 78th percentile. He’s on the short side, but his Combine weight of 198 pounds and dense frame help him bring the pain over the middle when called upon. While his lack of length and poor 33” vertical (34th%) suppresses his overall athletic profile, there’s nothing wrong with an 8.25 Relative Athletic Score. Bullard has the smarts to diagnose route concepts and not get baited, while also having the heft to make his presence felt across the middle. His stubby proportions present challenges with his sideline-to-sideline and deep range, but he’s a plus defender with the action coming at him. Bullard is a self-made, undersized grinder who is best suited in a scheme that can utilize his slot and free safety versatility.

Melton (5’110/187) is a three-time, fourth-team All-Big Ten DB that started 40-of-43 career games with the Scarlet Knights. Melton’s 4.39s 40-yard dash speed allows him to give a large cushion pre-snap in order to bait the quarterback, who sometimes underestimates his cheetah-like closing speed. A certified box checker, he can play both man and zone coverage extremely well when called upon, recording a QBR of 65.7 while allowing 24 completions on 44 targets this year. His elite ball skills are evident in the 16 pass break ups and five interceptions he draped on Big Ten opponents over the past two seasons. The four-year starter has impeccable timing that keeps him in phase even if he pursues a bad angle, as is shown in his superb 9.57 Relative Athletic Score. Melton could improve on his route recognition/backpedal, as he is occasionally susceptible to double moves. An elite special teams player who blocked multiple punts throughout his collegiate career, as well as fielding a few returns. Melton is a top-flight Big Ten corner who has the talent to fill a rotational slot/boundary role in the NFL.

As of right now, the Cowboys’ top running backs are Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. Dallas will next take the podium at pick No. 56. Brooks is the favorite to be the first running back drafted and most analysts see him as a second-round talent. There isn’t much dot-connecting to do here because Jones is doing most of it for us. All signs point to the Cowboys drafting Brooks if he makes it to them. Brooks was an elite runner in his lone season as a starter at Texas but is coming off a torn ACL. Though it was late in the season, all reports indicate he will be ready by Week 1, if not earlier.

It appears the Vikings’ dreams of trading up with the Patriots to No. 3 overall have been dashed, and that if they want one of the draft’s “big four” at quarterback, it will have to be McCarthy somewhere outside the top three. There are so many moving parts — including a potential Broncos trade up, or the Giants selecting McCarthy at No. 6 — but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Michigan product does “fall” after months and months of uncertain draft speculation.

The Pats’ intentions have been the source of much intrigue, but they need a quarterback as badly as anyone. It would have taken a truly irresponsible offer on someone else’s behalf to move down — we are looking at you, Minnesota — and it evidently did not arrive. We’ll know for sure in roughly 90 minutes.

“The Chiefs have really been working to see if they can get up from 32,” Palmer said. “The thought around the league is it’s would be for one of the speedy wide receivers.” It’s the second report today that the Chiefs would like to move up amidst their receiver uncertainty as they await word on Rashee Rice’s suspension. A “speedy” wideout was also a dire need even before Rice’s legal woes. Texas burner Xavier Worthy would fit the bill better than anyone, but the Chiefs would maybe have to move up too far to get him.

In other words, they are doing everything they can to find a way to draft UNC QB Drake Maye. The Vikes’ accumulation of extra first-round capital was a transparent play to move up, though it was probably always going to come down to draft night and the right offer either materializing or trade-up competition fading away once the true price was known. Thankfully, we only have to wait a few more hours to find out.