The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, so it's a good time to share some intel and insights from around the league.

Every draft has its surprises, and everyone will spend this week trying to figure out what will happen once Round 1 begins. A few days before the 2025 draft, this column suggested , "New [Jaguars] GM James Gladstone -- who has 10 picks to work with, including four in the top 90 -- might not be that predictable. As one league executive said recently: 'Jacksonville is a wild card -- watch.'"

Sure enough, moments after the Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 selection, the Jaguars traded the No. 5 pick, a second-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a future first-rounder to the Browns in exchange for a fourth-rounder, sixth-rounder and the No. 2 pick -- which Jacksonville used on cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter .…