Robert Duvall, Star Of ‘The Godfather’, Passes Away At 95

Robert Duvall,a Hollywood veteran known for movies likeThe Godfather,Apocalypse Now,To Kill a Mockingbird,and more, haspassed awayat the age of 95. His demise was announced by his wife, Luciana, on Monday, February 16, on Facebook.

"Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time," she said, before adding, "Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort."

The actor was an Oscar winner, having received the golden statuette for his 1983 movieTender Mercies.

Luciana, in her tribute to her husband, added that Duvall "gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented."

Robert Duvall's life and career revisited amid his demise

Image credits:Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Duvall was born in San Diego, California, in 1931. His father was a rear admiral in the US Navy, leading Duvall and his two brothers to be raised in Annapolis, Maryland, near the Naval Academy.

Duvall's father expected him to follow in his footsteps, but he chose to carve his own path.

Image credits:Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

"I was terrible at everything but acting. I could barely get through school," the actor toldPeoplemagazine in 1977.

Duvall joined the Army after high school and served in Korea, but when he returned home, his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion.

Image credits:CBS/Getty Images

Advertisement

Duvall studied drama at Principia College in Illinois before moving to New York to study under Sanford Meisner at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. His classmates included Gene Hackman, James Caan, and Dustin Hoffman.

Image credits:Warner Bros. Pictures

Duvall's Oscar forTender Mercieswas for his role as Mac Sledge, a washed-up country musician seeking redemption.

Image credits:American Zoetrope

InThe Godfather, Duvall portrayed Tom Hagen, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, though he did not win — like the five other times he was nominated for movies includingApocalypse Now,The Great Santini,The Apostle,A Civil Action, andThe Judge.

Duvall shared a message with his fans just months before his passing

Image credits:Bill Nation/Sygma/Getty Images

"To all my fans, have a happy Thanksgiving and a great year coming up," the actor said in a Facebook clip in November 2025. "God bless."

Duvall's final social media post, meanwhile, was a Facebook message on February 3 about his 2003 filmSecondhand Lions, starring Haley Joel Osment and Michael Caine.

Image credits:GP Images/Getty Images

"One day while filmingSecondhand Lions, the lion got out," Duvall joked just days before his passing. "Had he turned in my direction, I wouldn't be here today!"

Image credits:Library of Congress

Duvall had celebrated his milestone birthday on January 5 with a video clip that included pictures from his childhood as well as more recent footage. His wife put the video together.

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

Robert Duvall, Star Of ‘The Godfather’, Passes Away At 95

Robert Duvall,a Hollywood veteran known for movies likeThe Godfather,Apocalypse Now,To Kill a Mockingbird,and more, hasp...

Read More

IOC Defends Selling Controversial T-Shirt from Nazi-Era Olympic Games, Explaining Need to 'Safeguard' Intellectual Property

Olympic Shop

NEED TO KNOW

• A shirt commemorating the 1936 Berlin Olympics has sparked controversy online after selling out on the International Olympic Committee's website

• The 1936 Games took place when Germany was under the control of Adolf Hitler, who used them as an opportunity to promote Nazi ideology

• Although Hitler referred to Black athletes as "non-humans," track icon Jesse Owens emerged as the undeniable star of the Games that year after winning four gold medals

The International Olympic Committee explained its decision to sell a T-shirt commemorating the 1936 Berlin Games after it came under fire for doing so. The games, which were hosted by Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, were used by the politician as an opportunity to promote Nazi ideology.

The shirt, which was sold on the IOC's website, was a part of the committee's "Heritage Collection," which "celebrates the art and design of the Olympic Games," according to a description on thesite. "Each edition of the Games reflects a unique time and place in history when the world came together to celebrate humanity," it reads.

It appears that the shirt has since been removed from the website. However, it was previously available and listed as "out of stock" after selling out, according toCNN. An IOC spokesperson confirmed toThe Athleticthat the shirt had sold out.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the IOC explained the decision to sell the shirt, saying, "The IOC has a responsibility to safeguard Olympic Intellectual Property (IP) and ensure it is managed respectfully over time."

"This stewardship relies amongst other things, on IP rights, including trademarks, which are held for all editions of the Olympic Games and their respective key assets, including for Berlin 1936," they said. "The validity of these trademarks depends on their actual use. If they are not used by their owner, other parties could use them for their purposes."

Getty Images

They continued, "As part of this responsibility, the IOC maintains an Olympic Heritage Collection that reflects more than 130 years of Olympic art and design. This collection presents assets such as emblems, pictograms, posters and mascots from every edition of the Games as historical artifacts."

"Maintaining a use of these historical elements also helps ensure they are not abused," the spokesperson said. "In recent years, this stewardship has enabled the IOC to reduce widespread unauthorized third-party use of 1936 Games related assets."

Bearing the official poster for the 1936 Olympics designed by Franz Würbel, the shirt features an image of a man with laurels around his head and his arm raised out of the frame. The Olympic Rings appear behind him, and the Brandenburg Gate is superimposed in front of him.

While Jesse Owens emerged from the 1936 Berlin Olympics as a huge winner, taking home four gold medals in the track and field categories, the Games were marked by the blatant promotion of Nazi propaganda.

Hitler referred to Black competitors such as Owens as "non-humans," while photos from the events show the prominent display of swastikas and people making the Nazi salute.

Speaking to CNN, Christine Schmidt, co-director of the Wiener Holocaust Library in London, commented on the Games that year, saying, "The Nazis' fascist and antisemitic propaganda infiltrated their promotion of the games, and many international Jewish athletes chose not to compete."

Schmidt added, "The IOC would be minded to consider whether any aesthetic appreciation of these games can be comfortably separated from the horror that followed."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In their statement shared with PEOPLE, the IOC said they recognize "the profound historical context surrounding the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games."

"The 1936 Games also brought together 4,483 athletes from 49 countries competing in 149 events and included remarkable sporting achievements - among them those of Jesse Owens - that remain an important part of Olympic history," they said. "The broader historical context of these Games is explored in detail at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne."

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

IOC Defends Selling Controversial T-Shirt from Nazi-Era Olympic Games, Explaining Need to 'Safeguard' Intellectual Property

Olympic Shop NEED TO KNOW A shirt commemorating the 1936 Berlin Olympics has sparked controversy online after selling out on the Interna...

Read More

Alternate dates with Spa offer Barcelona reprieve on F1 calendar

BARCELONA (AP) — Barcelona will carry on staging Formula 1 races for another six years after an agreement was made for it to alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Circuit de Catalunya has been replaced by Madrid as host of the Spanish Grand Prix this year but will continue on the calendar and become the venue for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June.

Under the terms of the agreement with F1, Barcelona will continue to stage a race in 2028, 2030 and 2032, alternating with Spa-Francorchamps.

"Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come," F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali said.

"The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience, both for attendees at the race and for the city as a whole."

Advertisement

The new F1 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.

AP auto racing:https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Formula 1:https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

Alternate dates with Spa offer Barcelona reprieve on F1 calendar

BARCELONA (AP) — Barcelona will carry on staging Formula 1 races for another six years after an agreement was made for i...

Read More

8 Olympic Athletes Who Were Stripped of Their Medals

Mike Powell /Allsport; Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty; Branger/Roger Viollet via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Throughout the history of the Olympic Games, several athletes have had their medals stripped away

• Jim Thorpe and Jordan Chiles are among the American athletes who have seen their gold, silver or bronze medals revoked

• The 2026 Winter Olympics officially began on Feb. 6 in Milan

It's the crowning achievement of a lifetime when an athletewins an Olympic medal, but sometimes their hard-earned hardware can be stripped away.

Over the years, there have been instances when the powers that be — the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic Games, or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which has arbitral jurisdiction over all matters related to theOlympic Games— have ruled that an athlete must return their gold, silver or bronze medals for different reasons.

While failing a drug test or using banned substances like performance-enhancing drugs is the most common reason for medals to be rescinded, some instances are more nuanced and unique. In the case of American gymnastJordan Chiles, the revoking decision could potentially be reversed, though it's rare.

Chiles' bronze medal from the2024 Paris Olympicswas taken after a dispute regarding the timing of a judging inquiry. On Jan. 29, 2026, Chiles'appeal was granted, with the Swiss Federal Supreme Court referring her case back to the CAS to examine new evidence that could prove the inquiry was filed within the appropriate timeframe.

With the2026 Winter Olympicsunderway on Feb. 6 in Milan, discover the American athletes who've had their Olympic medals taken away and why.

Jim Thorpe, 1912 Summer Olympics

George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty

Jim Thorpe, regarded as one of the greatest athletes of his time, was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. He placed first in both the pentathlon and decathlon.

The following year, the IOC stripped Thorpe of his medals and erased his records because he had made a small sum of money playing two seasons of summertime semi-pro baseball. At the time, this was a violation of the elitist Victorian rules of amateurism,perSmithsonianmagazine.

In July 2022, the IOC announced that it would change itsofficial websiteto display Thorpe as the sole gold medal winner of the two events.

The change came on the 110th anniversary of Thorpe receiving the medal in the decathlon.

"It's long past time," Pulitzer-winning journalist David Maraniss told PEOPLE of Thorpe's medals being reinstated. "This decision by the IOC is 110 years too late, but better late than never."

Maraniss continued, "When Jim's medals were rescinded after his brilliant performances in Stockholm, the move went against Olympic rules, common sense, and public opinion."

Rick DeMont, 1972 Summer Olympics

Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated via Getty

Rick DeMont — a former competitive swimmer with several world records to his name — won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich for his first-place finish in the men's 400-meter freestyle.

After his victory, the IOC revoked his gold medal after he tested positive for a banned substance in his post-race urinalysis. DeMont, an asthmatic, regularly took Marax (an ephedrine derivative) to control his wheezing and did so in the Olympic Village before the race.

DeMont didn't deny his usage, nor hide the fact that he took Marax; however, the U.S. medical team failed to check if it contained any banned substances. According to theLos Angeles Times, he sued the U.S. Olympic Committee for mishandling the situation and fought to get his medal. Despite DeMont's efforts, his gold medal was not restored.

Lance Armstrong, 2000 Summer Olympics

Bob Martin /Sports Illustrated via Getty

Former professional road racing cyclistLance Armstrongwasstripped of his bronze medalfrom the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, a full 13 years after finishing third in the men's individual road cycling time trial.

The IOC asked for his medal back after the athlete admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career.

The revocation of Armstrong's medal was one of the most highly followed cases in American history, resulting in his lifelong ban from Olympic sports. He was alsostripped of his Tour de France titlesand other cycling accolades earned since 1998.

Advertisement

Marion Jones, 2000 Summer Olympics

Former track star Marion Jones won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She finished first in the 100-meter sprint, 200-meter sprint and 4×400-meter relay and third in the long jump and 4×100-meter relay.

In October 2007,CBS Newsreported that Jones' medals were revoked after she admitted that she lied to a grand jury when she stated that she had never taken performance-enhancing drugs.

Not only did the IOC strip her of her medals and records that December, but she was also sentenced to six months in jail and two years of supervised release, perABC News.

Tyler Hamilton, 2004 Summer Olympics

Doug Pensinger/Getty

Revered as one of the greatest American cyclists, Tyler Hamilton won a gold medal in the individual time trial at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a doping test that had a positive A sample.

Meanwhile, Hamilton's B sample was frozen, which prevented it from being tested. Therefore, the athlete wasn't docked for a doping violation and was initially allowed to keep his gold medal, according to theBBC.

However,The New York TimesreportedHamilton admitted to past doping and voluntarily surrendered his gold medal to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2011. The IOC officially stripped him of it the following year.

Jordan Chiles, 2024 Paris Olympics

Naomi Baker/Getty

Chiles had an impressive run at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris,earning a team all-around goldwith the rest of the U.S. gymnastics team on July 30 and abronze in the individual floor exercisecompetition on Aug. 5.

The American gymnast wasstripped of her bronze medalfive days later after a CAS judge ruled in favor of two Romanian gymnasts, Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. They finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The decision to revoke Chiles' medal came after a protest by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, which claimed that the difficulty score inquiry submitted by the American's coachpassed the one-minute deadline. (Chiles originally finished in fifth place, before the inquiry that boosted her score to a medal.)

Chiles hasn't given up on the quest to get her medal back. In September 2024, shefiled an appealin the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. Her appeal was granted in January 2026, with the case still ongoing.

Carl Lewis, 1988 Summer Olympics

Focus on Sport/Getty

Carl Lewisis one of only a handful of athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals. His medal-removal case at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, differed from the previously mentioned athletes, as his place was bumped up following the disqualification of his competitor.

Canada's Ben Johnson originally won gold in the 100-meter final. However, after a failed drug test that ultimately disqualified him from the competition, Johnson was required to hand over the top prize to Lewis. The American traded his silver medal for an Olympic gold that year.

Jason Turner, 2008 Summer Olympics

Phil Walter/Getty

Jason Turner's case at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was similar to that of Lewis' medal switch-up in Seoul two decades prior. The American shooter originally placed fourth in the 10-meter air pistol competition, but ultimately topped the podium after his competitor's disqualification.

His opponent, North Korea's Kim Jong-su, initially won the bronze medal. Days later, the Vietnamese gymnast tested positive for the banned substance propranolol,perThe Guardian, forcing him to give up his medal to Turner.

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

8 Olympic Athletes Who Were Stripped of Their Medals

Mike Powell /Allsport; Mehmet Murat Onel/Anadolu via Getty; Branger/Roger Viollet via Getty NEED TO KNOW Th...

Read More

Dolphins reportedly release edge rusher Bradley Chubb

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release edge rusher Bradley Chubb, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Last season, Chubb had 47 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He was able to play all 17 games after missing the 2024 season with atorn ACL.

The Dolphins are releasing veteran edge Bradley Chubb, per source.pic.twitter.com/u0Lscp3rxI

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)February 16, 2026

The 29-year-old had been with the Dolphins since 2022, after beingacquired from the Denver Broncosat the trade deadline for running back Chase Edmonds and a first-round pick. Chubb signeda five-year, $110 million extensionwith the Dolphins shortly after getting moved.

Despite being under contract until 2027, Chubb was expected to be moved this offseason after the Dolphins did not move him at the trade deadline. After restructuring his contract last offseason, Chubbreportedlyhas a cap number of more than $31M for 2026.

Despite turning 30 in June, expect teams to be interested in the two-time Pro Bowler before the start of free agency. In his last three full seasons, Chubb has had at least eight sacks.

For the Dolphins, moving on from Chubb continues to signal a rebuild. The Dolphins tradedJaelan Phillipsbefore the trade deadline andJalen Ramseybefore the season. The team also hiredJeff Hafley as head coach and Jon-Eric Sullivanas general manager this offseason.

While the Dolphins have recently moved on from some of their defensive pieces, there are still questions surrounding what the team will do offensively. The Dolphins are expected to try tomove quarterback Tua Tagovailoaafter he got benched in favor of seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers in Week 16.

The Dolphins signedTagovailoato a four-year, $212.1 million extension in July 2024. They reportedly already owe him $54 million guaranteed in 2026, and another $3 million of Tagovailoa's 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, March 15.

Cutting Tagovailoa would leave a $99 million dead-money salary-cap charge, the largest in NFL history, while designating him as a post–June 1 cut would spread the money over two years.

Coming off a 7-10 season, expect the Dolphins to have more decisions to make.

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

Dolphins reportedly release edge rusher Bradley Chubb

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly release edge rusher Bradley Chubb, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Last...

Read More

Jay Manuel Reveals the Status of His Friendship with Tyra Banks 14 Years After He Exited “America's Next Top Model” (Exclusive)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• In the new Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, Jay Manuel reveals that he wanted to leave the show much earlier than he actually did

• When he told host and friend Tyra Banks about his desire to exit, Manuel claims she didn't take the news well

• Banks says in the documentary that she did not want to talk about what happened with Manuel

Tyra Banks and Jay Manuel have a long, winding relationship, both professionally and personally.

Banks, 52, brought Manuel, 53, on forAmerica's Next Top Modelwhen it launched its first cycle in 2003. He had previously worked with her as a makeup artist, so when she needed a creative for the show on UPN, she called him up.

For several cycles of the show, the two friends worked together seamlessly, however, Manuel says he got to a point where he decided he was ready to move on to other things. In Netflix's new documentaryReality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model, Manuel reveals the story of his falling out with the model.

Manuel decided in cycle 8 that he was ready to part ways with the show, so he emailed Banks to thank her for everything.

Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

"She didn't respond," he shares in the documentary. "It was probably the longest three days ever. And she ultimately wrote back just three words. 'I am disappointed.' After that email exchange, all communication just stopped. It should've been the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart, but that did not happen."

Despite wanting to be free of the show, Manuel ended up coming back for cycle 9 at the request of the higher-ups in the network. He was told they just wanted him for one more cycle while they figured out who could replace him. He reveals in the documentary that he had hoped that coming back would give him the opportunity to address Banks.

He quickly realized that would not happen.

"Tyra chose not to speak with me at all while the cameras were off. When they were on, she'd speak to me," Manuel tells PEOPLE exclusively of what happened when he returned to film. "After [trying to leave], I did cycle 9, which was ... torture for me. I was so broken by the end of that cycle because of the mental torture of what was going on."

InReality Check, Banks was asked if she would talk about what went down with Manuel, and she declined, saying she "should call" him and deal with it personally.

"I never got that phone call," Manuel tells PEOPLE of what Banks said when they filmed the documentary about a year ago. "I don't think I'm getting a phone call. She's got my number."

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Manuel shares that he last saw Banks in 2017 (five years after he exited the show in 2012 alongside fellow panelists Miss J Alexander and Nigel Barker) when they were at BeautyCon. He says they had a "really nice conversation."

"Other than that, we've had no communication of any sort, text, email, anything," he says. "Tyra and I were close, and when we were in New York shooting, or even in L.A. shooting, she'd be at my house or I'd be at her house, and we would really download. But at the same time, and she knows this to be true, the things that are those really, really trusted important things that she has said to me, I will never repeat. I will forever honor my relationship with her in the past."

Despite everything that happened, Manuel says he's still "very open" to talking to Banks if she wants to.

"I'm in a healed place," he says. "I wish her no ill will."

That includes feeling healed from the way he, Barker and Alexander were removed from the show after cycle 18 in 2012. As the documentary shows, the three were unceremoniously removed together and thought they would be given an opportunity to make a statement to share the news. However, a "leak" in the media claimed all three were "fired."

Manuel tells PEOPLE how it felt to go through that — and what he claims really happened.

Larry Busacca/WireImage

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On a two-year contract at the time, Manuel says he was actually already planning to be done at the end of cycle 18, but that wasn't the case for Barker and Alexander, whom he claims were in the middle of four-year contracts. Just before the "leak" happened, Manuel says all three of them received a phone call telling them their time on the show was over.

"[The network] always was looking for drama. The ratings were going down. They literally threw us under the bus," Manuel claims, adding that the whole situation felt like a "slap in the face."

The show continued for six more cycles, four of which included Banks still at the helm. She was eventually replaced as host by Rita Ora for the final two cycles.

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Modelis streaming on Netflix now.

Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

Jay Manuel Reveals the Status of His Friendship with Tyra Banks 14 Years After He Exited “America's Next Top Model” (Exclusive)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty NEED TO KNOW In the new Netflix documentary Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Mo...

Read More

2026 NFL mock draft: Top 10 features Makai Lemon, run on pass rushers

The 2025 NFL season came to an end with the Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots inSuper Bowl 60.

The football world has nowshifted to offseason mode. That will leave NFL fans grappling with their first Sundays without football and looking forward to any and all NFL events throughout the 2026 offseason.

NFL OFFSEASON SCHEDULE:Important dates, free agency, draft, more

The 2026 NFL Draftwill, of course, be the marquee event. The league's annual labor allocation serves as a beacon of hope for NFL teams looking to land top-end talents and orchestrate quick turnarounds, as the New England Patriots andWashington Commandershave done in recent seasons.

How willthe 2026 NFL Draftshake out? It's still too early to say definitively, as the 2026 NFL Combine will affect draft boards, while free agency will influence which positions teams target with their picks.

But here's USA TODAY Sports' latest projections about how the first round will go with those important events looming.

2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action

2026 NFL mock draft

1.Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

We can probably write this pick in pen. Mendoza led Indiana to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy while showing off elite accuracy, anticipation and ball-placement skills. He has all the tools needed to be a reliable pocket passer in the NFL, andworking with Klint Kubiakcould quickly unlock his potential.

2.New York Jets: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The Jets aren't likely to take a quarterback here withDante Moore going back to school. Instead, they'll look to add a blue-chip talent to their barren roster. Reese enjoyed a breakout season for Ohio State, racking up 6.5 sacks while showing off great versatility playing on the edge and as an off-the-ball linebacker. He's a great athlete and will be a valuable Swiss Army knife for Aaron Glenn's defense.

3.Arizona Cardinals: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

Mike LaFleur may like to add a top-tier tackle with this selection, but finding a pass-rushing partner for Josh Sweat should also be high on the first-year coach's wish list. Bailey posted an FBS-high 14.5 sacks last season while showing great burst off the edge. The All-American is as pro-ready as they come.

4.Tennessee Titans: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)

The Titans don't have much pass-rushing talent outside of Jeffery Simmons. Bain has an unorthodox build for an edge rusher at 6-3, 275 pounds with short arms, but he was terrific during Miami's national championship run. Robert Saleh will love his pro-ready physicality and power, which should help improve Tennessee's run defense.

5.New York Giants: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

The Giants could look at a right tackle here if Jermaine Eluemunor leaves in free agency. If not, adding a receiver to pair with Malik Nabers and give Jaxson Dart two high-end receiving targets could be in order. Tate has great size at 6-3, 190 pounds and – like many Ohio State wide receivers under Brian Hartline – is a great route-runner.

6.Cleveland Browns: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)

TheBrowns' entire starting offensive line is set to hit free agency. That will leave Todd Monken's team rebuilding the unit, and Mauigoa is a great starting point. The 6-6, 335-pound tackle is a powerfully built, plug-and-play right tackle who figures to be a road-grade run blocker.

7.Washington Commanders: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Commanders would probably like to land one of the top-three edge rushers here, but all are off the board. Instead, they will settle for Downs, who fills a need at safety and is arguably the best player in the draft. The Ohio State product has great football IQ and was excellent in coverage for the Buckeyes. He should quickly emerge as a difference-maker in the NFL.

8.New Orleans Saints: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Tyler Shough enjoyed a better-than-expected rookie season in New Orleans. Kellen Moore will want to surround him with more talent in 2026, and adding a receiver to pair with Chris Olave should be high on his wish list. Lemon isn't big (5-11, 196 pounds) or overly athletic, but he has great separation skills and strong hands, making him an ideal slot weapon at the pro level.

9.Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

It almost seems unfair to give Love to the Chiefs. He's a well-built back (6-0, 214 pounds) who has breakaway speed and the receiving skills needed to be a three-down workhorse. Love would be a major upgrade over the Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt duo, and Kansas City could lean on the rookie to carry its offense as Patrick Mahomesworks his way back from a torn ACLearly in the season.

10.Cincinnati Bengals: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Failing to land a top-three pass rusher or Downs is probably Cincinnati's nightmare scenario. Even so, the Bengals are desperate for defensive help at all levels, and McCoy could turn their cornerback room into a strength. He's a bit of a mystery after missing the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL, but his play in 2024 could help him become the top cornerback off the board if his medicals check out.

11.Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Miami's top two cornerbacks from last season, Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones, are set to be free agents.New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafleywill want to add talent to the cornerback room anyway, and Delane – an All-American who allowed just a 31.3 passer rating last season, perPro Football Focus– would give the team a true, No. 1 option at the position.

12.Dallas Cowboys: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

The Cowboys will likely address defense early and often in the draft as they look to rebuild the unit for the post-Micah Parsons era. Styles is well-built at 6-4, 240 pounds and has athleticism that allowed him to be a sideline-to-sideline, three-down playmaker for Ohio State. He would be a stabilizing force in the middle of Dallas' defense.

13.Los Angeles Rams(fromAtlanta): OT Spencer Fano, Utah

TheRamsare well-positioned to take the best player available with the 13th pick. Fano – an experienced tackle with great footwork and room to add to his 6-6, 308-pound frame – qualifies as such here, and also fills a potential need for the team afterRob Havenstein's retirement. Fano would battle Warren McClendon Jr. for the starting right tackle job and significantly improve the team's tackle depth.

Advertisement

14.Baltimore Ravens: G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

Guard was one of theRavens' biggest weaknesses last season, and their interior offensive line could take an even bigger blow if center Tyler Linderbaum leaves in free agency. Ioane is the clear-cut best interior blocker in this year's draft, and Jesse Minter may have an interest in adding him after seeing how the Chargers' poor interior blocking was the team's undoing in 2025.

15.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has typically preferred to add players who were high-end producers in college. Howell fits the bill after logging 11.5 sacks during his final collegiate season and would provide an upgrade to Tampa Bay's lackluster edge rush.

16. New York Jets (fromIndianapolis): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Could the Jets target a quarterback like Ty Simpson here? Sure, it's possible. But with Aaron Glenn needing to win early to cool his hot seat, it seems more likely New York will trust a veteran while continuing to build up the rest of its roster. Tyson is an elite separator with 6-2, 200-pound size. He has great ball skills and would pair well with Garrett Wilson.

17.Detroit Lions: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Someone is going to take a chance on Proctor in the first round. The Alabama product was a three-year starter and has great movement skills considering his 6-7, 360-pound frame.Dan Skipper retiredduring the offseason, and 32-year-old Taylor Decker may not be far behind him, so the Lions could use a high-upside successor like Proctor to pair with Penei Sewell long-term.

18.Minnesota Vikings: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

TheVikingscould stand to add more talent to their secondary for 2026. Targeting a safety like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren here could be in play, but adding Terrell – a disruptive cornerback with NFL bloodlines – feels like a more prudent play for a Minnesota squad that could use more upside at corner.

19.Carolina Panthers: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

The Panthers invested two Day 2 picks in edge rushers last season, but could still stand to add talent at the position. Faulk has a massive 6-6, 285-pound frame that could give him inside-outside versatility in Ejiro Evero's defense. He's also one of the draft's youngest players and won't turn 21 until September, giving him plenty of room for growth at the NFL level.

20. Dallas Cowboys (viaGreen Bay): Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

The Cowboys would probably love to land the Styles and Faulk combination with their two top-20 picks, but they'll happily settle for Parker in this scenario. Parker didn't quite build upon his 11-sack 2024 season as many had hoped, but he still has the physical talent needed to blossom into a quality NFL starter. Dallas will be happy to add him as a potential long-term partner for Donovan Ezeiruaku.

21.Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

The Steelers desperately need to add a true No. 2 receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Boston boasts a 6-4, 209-pound frame, has great contested-catch abilities and would give Pittsburgh a big-bodied receiver combination that would give opposing defensive coordinators headaches.

22.Los Angeles Chargers: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

The Chargers figure to address the trenches with their first-round pick. They would probably prefer to add a plug-and-play guard or center, but Woods could also be on their radar. Once considered a top-10 talent, Woods figures to slip after an inconsistent season at Clemson. He still shows flashes of explosive, pass-rushing ability, so pairing him with Teair Tart would be an intriguing combination in Los Angeles.

23.Philadelphia Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

The Eagles' top-three tight ends from 2025 are all set to be free agents, including Dallas Goedert. If Sadiq lasts this long, he would be a perfect replacement. The Oregon product profiles as a big-time vertical threat and recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns while working with Dante Moore last season. It's easy to imagine him developing into a solid safety valve for Jalen Hurts and eventually improving as a blocker.

24. Cleveland Browns (fromJacksonville): WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

At some point, the Browns need to add a down-the-field receiver to Monken's offense. Concepcion has great deep speed, averaging a career-best 15.1 yards per reception in his lone season with the Aggies, and is also an elite returner. He's on the smaller side at 5-11, 190 pounds, but it's worth noting Monken's top receiver with the Ravens was Zay Flowers (5-9, 183 pounds).

25.Chicago Bears: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

Banks could end up being a quick riser after starring at the Senior Bowl. He played just three games in 2025 due to injury, but many believed he had top-15 potential entering the season. The Bears can take a swing on the 6-6, 331-pounder to fill the team's need for an upgraded pass rush in addition to Montez Sweat.

26.Buffalo Bills: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

The Bills are desperate to add receiver talent around Josh Allen. This might be slightly early for Brazzell, but his combination of size (6-5, 200), burst off the line and production – he had 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns at Tennessee last season – could help him sneak into the end of the first round.

27.San Francisco 49ers: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

The 49ers need a short-term upgrade at left guard and a long-term successor for Trent Williams at left tackle. Lomu would be an ideal fit, as he could begin his career as an athletic guard while working to fill out his lean 6-6, 305-pound frame before moving to tackle.

28.Houston Texans: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Freeling figures to rise during the draft process, as the 6-7, 315-pound tackle has tantalizing traits that simply can't be taught. The Texans took an upside swing on a similarly huge tackle, Aireontay Ersery, last season and could envision Freeling becoming a long-term bookend for him.

29. Los Angeles Rams: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

Matthew Stafford confirmed he would return in 2026after winning the NFL MVP, but the 38-year-old is undoubtedly in the twilight of his career. The Rams would be wise to soon invest in a successor and Simpson's accuracy, ability to navigate the pocket and field-reading capabilities would make him a natural fit in Sean McVay's offense.

30.Denver Broncos: LB CJ Allen, Georgia

TheBroncosdon't have many needs, so they could be positioned to take the best player available here. Allen was a productive, do-it-all linebacker for the Bulldogs and generated 88 tackles, 8 TFL and 3.5 sacks last season while allowing just an 87.8 passer rating. It's fun to imagine him taking on a significant role in Denver's already tenacious defense.

31.New England Patriots: Edge Zion Young, Missouri

The Patriots have a few clear-cut needs, including a high-end receiver and a long-term successor for Morgan Moses at right tackle. However, their most pressing need is on the edge, where their top sack artist – K'Lavon Chaisson – is set to be a free agent. Young posted career-best marks in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (16.5) at Missouri last season and has the motor and tenacity that will appeal to Mike Vrabel.

32.Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

Two of Seattle's top-three cornerbacks – Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe – are set to be free agents in 2026. If either leaves, Seattle will need to replenish its depth. Cisse is athletic, physical and allowed just 18 receptions and a 78.9 passer rating last season. He and Devon Witherspoon would combine to create an imposing cornerback tandem.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NFL mock draft: Top 10 features Makai Lemon, run on pass rushers

byAdministrator

in

February 16, 2026

2026 NFL mock draft: Top 10 features Makai Lemon, run on pass rushers

The 2025 NFL season came to an end with the Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots inSuper Bowl 6...

Read More