Tag: first round

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils receiver Jordyn Tyson poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Saints sign first-round WR Jordyn Tyson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints signed first-round draft pick Jordyn Tyson to his four-year rookie contract on Friday.

Tyson, the eighth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, will receive $32.5 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $20.1 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option for the wide receiver out of Arizona State.

Named a third-team All-American for the second straight season, Tyson had 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns last season despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. He recorded four 100-yard outings and twice caught 10 or more passes.

In 2024, Tyson caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 scores in 12 games for the Sun Devils before missing the final two games with a broken collarbone. The latter contest was a College Football Playoff loss to Texas.

The Allen, Texas, native amassed 136 catches for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 24 games for the Sun Devils.

Tyson spent the spent 2022 season at Colorado before transferring to Arizona State. He had 22 receptions for 470 yards and four TDs in nine games for the Buffaloes before sustaining a major season-ending knee injury that led to him redshirting at Arizona State in 2023.

He’s the younger brother of 2024 NBA first-round pick Jaylon Tyson, who was selected 20th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

–Field Level Media

Apr 24, 2026; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns first round draft pick Spencer Fano talks to the media during an introductory press conference at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns sign 1st-rounder Spencer Fano, 7 other picks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns signed first-round draft pick Spencer Fano to his four-year rookie contract on Friday.

Fano, the ninth overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, will receive $32.2 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $19.9 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option for the offensive lineman.

Fano played in 37 games (36 starts) over three seasons at Utah, including time at both left and right tackle. He won the 2025 Outland Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best college interior lineman on offense or defense.

The Browns also signed Washington wide receiver Denzel Brown (second round), Florida tackle Austin Barber (third), Alabama center Parker Brailsford (fifth), Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson (fifth), Cincinnati tight end Joe Royer (fifth), Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (sixth) and BYU tight end Carsen Ryan (seventh).

Cleveland has yet to sign Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion (first round) and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (second).

–Field Level Media

CFP first round: What to know about Alabama at Oklahoma

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College Football Playoff First Round
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
Norman, Okla.
Consensus odds: Oklahoma -1.5, Total 41.5

Oklahoma and Alabama square off in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but the Southeastern Conference rivals need no introduction.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the opening game of the first-ever 12-team CFP bracket, but it’s the second time they’ve played in five weeks.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Oklahoma comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “… The enormity of the challenge is real. We’re going to have to be an improved version of ourselves.”

Getting into the 12-team playoff settles as a pretty strong statement from two teams entering fall camp with questions — or at the very least, uncertainty — at quarterback and beyond.

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job. DeBoer said he hadn’t talked to anyone about another job and didn’t plan to.

“Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,” DeBoer said. “And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there.”

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

FILM-ROOM FOCUS: A matchup between Oklahoma’s secondary and Alabama’s wide receivers highlights the elite position group crossover on Friday night.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide. Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bowen said beyond the one-on-one matchups, he’s expecting a better showing from the OU defense.

“We caused turnovers, which saved us. We didn’t have a highly detailed and executed game from the defensive side,” Bowen said. “I feel like we’re focusing on fixing those mistakes and having a better game overall instead of just the matchup.”

HEALTH WATCH: Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding top defensive linemen. The Sooners’ R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week’s game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won’t be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

PRO DAY: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor widely is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen available in the 2026 NFL Draft and might work into conversations as a top-five draft pick.

He’s massive and moves with the ease of a skill-position player, the foundation for why he allowed just four sacks over the last four seasons. The game against the Sooners will be a prime opportunity for Proctor to showcase his talents.

Oklahoma features one of the deepest defensive lines in all of college football, even if Thomas remains out. Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr. on the outside and a deep group of interior defensive linemen will give Proctor plenty of opportunities to put (more) good film in the hands of scouts and further solidify his first-round status.

FUTURE IS HERE: Oklahoma redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis (6-foot-3, 314 pounds) has played a significant role for the Sooners’ offensive line late in the season as one of three freshmen to break into the starting lineup.

True freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are the others. Pierre-Louis has started the last four games and not only performed well in his own rite, but has added an aggressive edge to the group. Pierre-Louis figured to continue to carve out a bigger role after being one of the top guard prospects in the 2024 class. While the Sooners lose Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons up front, the trio — led by Pierre-Louis — have a chance to help anchor Oklahoma up front for the next couple of years.

NOTEWORTHY: DeBoer is 19-5 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents and only once active FBS coach has more wins over ranked teams (Kirby Smart, Georgia, 26). DeBoer is 6-2 against top-10 opponents.

–Field Level Media

May 9, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) walks off the field after rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns sign first-round DT Mason Graham

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns first-round draft pick Mason Graham signed his four-year rookie contract.

Graham’s representation told multiple outlets on Tuesday that the deal was fully guaranteed and is worth $40,874,191, which is slightly more of the rookie scale ($40,806,872), per Spotrac.

The contract includes a $26.4 million signing bonus, per Spotrac, and the standard fifth-year option.

The Michigan defensive tackle was selected by the Browns with the fifth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Cleveland entered the draft with the No. 2 pick and moved back in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, acquiring a first-rounder in 2026 as part of the package.

Graham, who was the Rose Bowl MVP in Michigan’s win over Alabama, totaled 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2024.

In 37 games at Michigan, Graham had 107 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, three passes defended and one forced fumble.

–Field Level Media

Apr 27, 2023; Kansas City, MO, USA; Alabama quarterback Bryce Young on stage after he was drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young drafted No. 1, then Texans pull 2-3 punch

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterbacks and Texans were prevalent in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, which began with Alabama QB Bryce Young going first overall to the Carolina Panthers.

Three of the top four picks were quarterbacks, and the Houston Texans shook up the first round by acquiring the No. 3 pick from the Arizona Cardinals. The move ushered in a new foundation for the rebuild in Houston under coach DeMeco Ryans. Arizona traded back up to No. 6 in a swap with the Detroit Lions, who moved to No. 12.

Young is the first Alabama player selected No. 1 since 1948 (Harry Gilmer) and the only Nick Saban-coached player to go first in the draft.

“It’s a dream come true,” Young said. “I can’t be more excited. I’m blessed to be a Panther.”

Houston followed suit. The Texans went with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second pick and used No. 3 on Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon went fifth to the Seattle Seahawks, and the Cardinals took Stroud’s blindside protector and Buckeyes teammate Paris Johnson Jr. to play left tackle.

“I’m just here to work,” Johnson said. “When I heard Cardinals, it sent chills through my body. I wanted the Cardinals.”

Texas college products stepped onto the stage and out of the Texans’ Thursday shadow. Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson went No. 7 to the Las Vegas Raiders, who were considered a prime landing spot for Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, before Texas running back Bijan Robinson was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

The Super Bowl champion Eagles traded a fourth-round pick to move up one spot to No. 9 and drafted Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who will be paired with college teammate Jordan Davis on the dominant defensive front in Philadelphia. Some scouts felt Carter was the No. 1 player in the draft, but his no-contest plea to drag racing charges related to the death of a former teammate and university staffer amplified questions about his maturity and character.

“It’s a lot,” Carter said on stage of his emotions. “It’s time to work. The Eagles got the best player in the draft. Day 1 when I get there, it’s time to work.”

Philadelphia’s trade dropped the Bears, who entered February with the No. 1 pick in the draft, down one more spot before they selected Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright with the 10th pick. Wright could play right tackle or guard, helping bolster a Chicago offensive line that allowed Justin Fields to be sacked a league-high 55 times last season.

The well-traveled No. 12 pick that began with the Cleveland Browns, went to the Texans for Deshaun Watson and was traded to Arizona and then Detroit on Thursday night was a surprise second running back in the top 12, Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Steelers traded up to get Georgia left tackle Broderick Jones with the 14th overall pick in a run on blockers that included the Tennessee Titans adding Northwestern offensive tackle Peter Skoronski at No. 11. Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness went No. 13 to the Green Bay Packers.

–Field Level Media