It’s “The Beast” Week here at The Athletic, and as always, draft expert Dane Brugler has given us a lot to digest.

So, what stands out as we reach the stretch run on the 2026 NFL Draft conversation? Senior NFL Draft writer Nick Baumgardner and NFL Draft editor Chris Burke take a look at some of the most important takeaways from “The Beast” — and what they all mean moving forward.

1. Let’s start with Dane’s top 100: What jumped out to you in the updated rankings?

Nick Baumgardner: The tight end class is impossible to ignore this year. More importantly, the league feels ready to take advantage of some of these guys in more creative ways. Dane has four tight ends in the top 100 (Kenyon Sadiq, Eli Stowers, Max Klare and Oscar Delp) and two more (Justin Joly and Sam Roush) just outside of it. All six of those players could make an impact next year.

You can keep going, though. It feels like “The Beast” has draftable grades on more tight ends than in any other year. Even with some of the potential undrafted free agents (Dan Villari, Jeremiah Franklin, Jack Velling), I could make a case they’re draftable, too. It’s an insanely deep tight end class — one I think we’ll all be writing about and watching for a long time.

Chris Burke: You have to scroll down the list for … a while before you get to the No. 2 QB, Ty Simpson (No. 42 overall). The lack of obvious top-end talent in that group has been a ’26 draft talking point since the start of the college football season, and it’s held up.

On the other side of the ball, it’s hard to miss the number of potential impact playmakers there are, really at all three levels. Of course, we have potential top-20 picks up top — Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Mansoor Delane, David Bailey, etc. — but you can roll all the way through the top 100 and find players who should be able to contribute right away. Just in the range between Nos. 75 and 84 on the list, Dane has versatile hybrid Kyle Louis, edge Derrick Moore, linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and safety Bud Clark. Put any of those guys on a depth chart and it gets better.

2. Dane has 17 quarterbacks with draftable grades (although the grades of QBs 11-17 are of the “seventh round to UDFA” variety). Of the potential sleepers there, which prospects are most intriguing?

Baumgardner: Hopefully, more NFL GMs take Dane’s advice this year and stop kicking the can on these quarterbacks. This is not an elite quarterback class, but — as I’ve mentioned a few times this cycle — it’s indicative of what we’re going to see from here on out, barring some sort of elite outlier year. Name, image and likeness money is pulling guys with borderline first-round grades back to school, which is watering down the top of each class.

But (as we see this year), it’s not necessarily watering down the overall depth. Teams have to stop kicking the can down the road and start taking chances on some of these guys in later rounds. They won’t all be Brock Purdy, but you might surprise yourself with a Cade Klubnik or Joe Fagnano. Drew Allar is a walking collection of top-end NFL quarterback traits, too — there is no reason a QB with that type of physical talent should be waiting around late into Day 3.

My favorite sleeper is Iowa’s Mark Gronowski. He was pretty rough for most of last season, but he also wasn’t healthy. His performance in Iowa’s bowl game and showing at the Shrine Bowl absolutely opened some eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go somewhere on Day 3.

Burke: Klubnik is the one I’ll be watching. Dane has a fifth-/sixth-round grade on him, so he should land right in that sweet spot where he could outperform expectations just by being a competent backup and spot starter. His athleticism/arm combination always has been exciting, and there are NFL offensive coordinators who could design a game plan around his strengths (and avoid his weaknesses).

Klubnik tends to skip his reads, bail on the pocket and force things, and it’s tough to teach QBs to slow down once they’re in the NFL. So, we’ll see how much progress he can make. He’s well worth a shot on Day 3, though — and I probably could make a Day 2 argument.

3. With less than two weeks until the draft, which prospects feel as if they’re “rising” up boards?

Baumgardner: UCF’s Malachi Lawrence. I had him just outside the first round in our three-round mock before “The Beast” was released and was glad to see Dane slotted him right around that spot (first-/second-round grade). When you combine his get-off with a nearly 82-inch wingspan, you can see why he is a serious problem for offenses. It’s not just his speed, either. He’s twitchy, his hands are very active, and he feels like the type of guy who just keeps leveling up the more he plays. Most boards had him outside the top 100 before the all-star circuit, but the NFL has been higher on him pretty much the whole way.

A few other names popping now that more people are getting to their tape: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, who is a ridiculous burner (even if he’s small and has drop issues); Michigan edge/LB Jaishawn Barham, who’s still raw, but long and extremely physical; and Iowa guard/tackle Gennings Dunker.

Burke: Nick mentioned Concepcion, and this receiver class as a whole seems to be picking up steam, even as injury concerns hover over Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (Dane’s WR3). Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon might be the only two receivers with legitimate top-10 hope, but Dane has eight receivers in his top 50, and 13 in the top 75.

How many teams picking in the back half of Round 1 — especially those that were in the playoffs last season — could use someone like Concepcion, Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston or Germie Bernard to get a nudge closer to the top? There’s going to be an early run on receivers.

4. Flip side: Are they any prospects whose range feels tenuous right now — guys who could be potential “fallers” come draft weekend?

Baumgardner: I’m a bit surprised Dane dropped Georgia linebacker CJ Allen to No. 46. I still think Allen is a top-35 prospect and a safe bet to start as a rookie somewhere. His pre-draft process wasn’t as eye-popping as some others, such as Jacob Rodriguez. Same time, he’s more of a steady hand than an explosive game wrecker, which could put him into typical linebacker territory on some NFL boards.

Another guy who drew a lot of attention during the season (and throughout his career as a splash player) was Oklahoma edge R Mason Thomas. When I turn the tape on there, though, I just don’t see an NFL starter. He looks like a package player who can’t play on first or second down until the fourth quarter. He’s 6 feet 2 inches tall and 241 pounds (with 31 5/8-inch arms), and I’m not sure he can hold another ounce. You’re probably playing him in the 230s by October, if we’re honest.

I actually thought Dane was generous putting him at 44. He’s a top-100 player, but, for me, in a range much closer to No. 100 than 50.

Burke: Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is going to be tough to pin down heading into the draft. He is immensely talented and has the skill set to lock up all of those receivers I shouted out last question. But he hasn’t played since 2024. Even after his impressive pro day, will NFL GMs have enough confidence in his health and time frame to spend a top-20 pick on him? We’ve seen injuries drive really good players into Day 2.

And I wouldn’t necessarily describe this as a “fall,” but there was an earlier window in which Simpson looked as if he might get pushed up the board almost entirely because of positional need. Water found its level on Dane’s board, though — an early- to mid-Round 2 landing spot definitely feels like a safer bet for the Alabama QB.

5. Quick one to end on: As you try to figure out Round 1, what will have your attention in the coming days?

Baumgardner: Who is going to trade up for one of these linebackers, safeties, tackles … or RB Jeremiyah Love? Quarterbacks usually drive early trades in the draft, but I’m also on board with placing Simpson outside the first round. There are seven tackles, however, with first-round grades. Will there be a tackle-needy contender willing to move into the top 10 for Spencer Fano or Francis Mauigoa?

I also refuse to live in a world where Caleb Downs isn’t standing out on boards, if he makes it beyond No. 10. The same is true of Love.

Burke: Picking up on that Downs/Love note, we’ve seen over the past few drafts that teams are very slowly breaking away from traditional notions of “premium” positions and leaning into talent. Downs and Love deserve to be in the top 10 this year, and Sadiq is another break-from-the-norm test — he should not be falling deep into the teens.

Is the top of the draft going to be all offensive tackles, cornerbacks and edge rushers (plus Fernando Mendoza)? Or are teams going to take these phenomenal talents at those so-called non-premium positions?