Scout Notebook: Raiders Secure Top Pick, Falcons Axe GM & HC, New Evals Added & More
All Access Football counts you down to the 2026 NFL Draft with the latest news and notes from this past weekend sure to have draft ramifications.
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SCOUT NOTEBOOK: RAIDERS LAND NO.1 PICK, FALCONS FIRE STAFF
Welcome to the January 5, 2026 edition of the All Access Football Scout Notebook.
In this edition of the AAF Newsletter, the number one overall pick for the 2026 NFL Draft has been determined. Could ‘Sin City’ have their sights set on a quarterback? We discuss …
Plus, it only took several hours for the first pink slips of the NFL offseason to be handed out upon the conclusion of the regular season. We examine how a crossroads moment led to the demise of the latest general manager and head coach duo.
Monday Night Football. Not the kind your used to but a fascinating matchup is scheduled for tonight in Nashville, as the FCS National Championship features two schools with vastly different paths to the finals. We bring you the names you need to know when it comes to the draft radar.
All Access Football and NFL Draft Bible have been providing independent draft analysis for the past 24 NFL Draft cycles. You will not find more scouting reports on pro prospects anywhere on the planet! Our database continues to grow, as we have added 35 new player evaluations for your consumption. Enjoy them all below!
Keep it locked to All Access Football for non-stop draft coverage, as we cont you down to ‘Destination Pittsburgh.’ Later this week, we will post results from the FCS Combine, as well as the official roster for the College Gridiron Showcase, plus our exclusive coverage of the 80th Altrua HealthShare Hula Bowl.
The 2026 NFL Draft is just 108 days away …
RAIDERS SECURE TOP OVERALL PICK FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT
With the conclusion of the NFL regular season upon us, the Las Vegas Raiders have earned the No.1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Under first-year head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders sought out quarterback Geno Smith, whom Carroll coached in Seattle but the master plan morphed into one of the most dismal seasons in franchise history, resulting in a 3-14 overall record. It will be the first time that the Raiders choose No.1 overall since 2007, when they selected quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Fast forward nearly 20 years later and the organization once again is in need of a signal-caller. With 108 days still to go until the 2026 NFL Draft, it would appear that Fernando Mendoza is the front-runner to be chosen No.1 overall and is a story that will become one of the most discussed topics between now and April. Welcome to draft season!
ALL ACCESS FOOTBALL 2026 NFL DRAFT UNDERCLASSMEN TRACKER
FALCONS SERVE FIRST PINK SLIPS OF THE NEW YEAR
The Atlanta Falcons wasted little time issuing the first pink slips of the offseason, announcing that general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris have been fired on Sunday night. In five seasons as the Falcons general manager, Fontenot endured five consecutive years with a losing record, including a 16-18 mark over the past two seasons under Morris. The crossroads moment for this regime came when they selected Michael Penix with the No.8 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to four-year, $100M contract. While Penix has shown flashes, he tore his ACL in 2025, leaving Atlanta with more questions than answers entering 2026, as they seek their first winning season since 2017. For Fontenot, it would not be surprising to see him land back in New Orleans, where he spent 17 seasons in the team’s front office.
NEW: NFL DRAFT BIBLE HOT 100 PROSPECTS FOR THE 2026 NFL DRAFT
ILLINOIS STATE SEEKS TO COMPLETE CINDERELLA STORY
The FCS National Championship will be determined tonight in Nashville, as the Illinois State Redbirds (12-4) take on the Montana State Bobcats (13-2). The paths traveled to this point couldn’t be any more different. For Illinois State, they were far from impressive during the regular season with just a 2-3 record against ranked FCS opponents. However, they have rattled off four upset victories in a row during the playoffs, knocking off Southeastern Louisiana in round one. Next, came a shocking one-point win over defending champion North Dakota State, then another victory over UC Davis, before knocking off Villanova and becoming the first team to reach the championship after playing all their games on the road, since the playoffs expanded to 24 teams in 2010. The narrative couldn’t be more opposite for mighty Montana State, who has steamrolled their way to Nashville. After rattling off 10 straight victories to finish the regular season, the Bobcats have defeated Yale, Stephen F. Austin and Montana in the playoffs, winning by an average margin of 16.3 points per game. The FCS National Championship will air on ESPN at 7:30pm eastern time, below are some names you need to know when it pertains to the NFL Draft …
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP NFL DRAFT WATCH
#2 Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State, WR, rSr, 6021, 205, 4.53e (C/O 2026)
#1 Shadwel Nkuba II, Illinois State, S, rSr, 5115, 190, 4.52e (C/O 2026)
#66 Titan Fleischman, Montana State, OG, rJr, 6035, 300, 5.12e (C/O 2027)
#5 Caden Dowler, Montana State, S, Jr, 5112, 205, 4.57e (C/O 2027)
2026 DREAM BOWL ROSTERS ANNOUNCED — VIEW THEM HERE
ALL ACCESS FOOTBALL ADDS 35 NEW SCOUTING REPORTS
The front office staff at NFL Draft Bible has been hard at work in the film room breaking down top prospects for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Our database of scouting reports continues to grow by the day, as we have added 35 new prospect evaluations this past week. We have listed the new profiles added below, along with the corresponding scout who filed the report. Don’t forget to visit the AAF NFL Draft HQ, with over 1,000 draft-eligible players ranked and check back later this week for our exclusive on location coverage of the 80th Altrua HealthShare Hula Bowl.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: All scouting reports are cross-checked by Ric Serritella]
ADDED PLAYER EVALUATIONS:
ALABAMA: LB Deontae Lawson — Report Here (Filed By Dom Ambrose)
CLEMSON: OT Tristan Leigh — Report Here (Filed By Lauren Davidov)
COLORADO: QB Kaiden Salter — Report Here (Filed By Ryan Paglia)
FLORIDA STATE: OG Gunnar Hansen, C Luke Pettibon — Reports Here (Filed By Dom Ambrose)
FORDHAM: LB James Conway — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN: WR Camden Brown — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
LIBERTY: CB Brylan Green — Report Here (Filed By Lauren Davidov)
MARYLAND: OT Alex Herron — Report Here (Filed By Lauren Davidov)
MIAMI: WR CJ Daniels, WR Keelan Marion, OT Markel Bell, C James Brockermeyer, LB Mohamed Toure, LB Wesley Bissainthe, Future Watch: WR Malachi Toney. — Reports Here (Filed By Will Donoghue)
MICHIGAN: DT Rayshaun Benny — Report Here (Filed By Dom Ambrose)
MINNESOTA: DT Deven Eastern — Report Here (Filed By Will Donoghue)
MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD: QB Jack Strand — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
NEBRASKA: CB Ceyair Wright — Report Here (Filed By Dom Ambrose)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE: QB Cole Payton, RB Barika Kpeenu — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
NOTRE DAME: DT Gabriel Rubio — Report Here (Filed By Will Donoghue)
PENN STATE: RB Kaytron Allen — Report Here (Filed By Will Donoghue)
RUTGERS: LB Dariel Djabome — Report Here (Filed By Will Donoghue)
SOUTH CAROLINA: S DQ SMITH — Report Here (Filed By Lauren Davidov)
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE: OT Sam Hagen — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
TEXAS A&M: OT Dametrious Crownover, DT Albert Regis, CB Will Lee — Reports Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
TEXAS STATE: CB Jaden Rios — Report Here (Filed By Jarrett Reigel)
USC: DT Keeshawn Silver, CB DeCarlos Nicholson — Reports Here (Filed By Ryan Paglia)
WISCONSIN: OT Riley Mahlman, C Jake Renfro, CB Ricardo Hallman — Reports Here (Filed By Dom Ambrose)
NEW SERVICE: AAF COACHING CONCIERGE SERVICES
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Instead, why not retain us, and deploy Mook Williams, a veteran attorney and agent, and Ric Serritella, who has at least one connection in almost every major college football program and NFL team, and then simply bill against that retainer when you need us to do something for you?? We have a massive network, and we have sophisticated negotiation skills.
The retainer itself would be significantly less than the commission of one year of a mid-level coaching contract. Don’t need us very often? The retainer will last for years. Need a lot of work from us? Simply top off the retainer once it’s empty, to keep us working.
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OFFICIAL 2026 NFL DRAFT BIBLE (COMING IN APRIL)
The Official 2026 NFL Draft Bible is used by all 32 NFL teams and is the preferred draft guide for professional leagues around the globe. Compiled by REAL scouts, the Draft Bible delivers in-depth evaluations with boots on the ground analysis.
[The Official 2026 NFL Draft Bible — Included With All Access Football Annual Pass]
Scouting Reports: Detailed evaluations on draft-eligible prospects, with an equal emphasis on small school players from the mid-majors, FCS, DII and DIII ranks.
Projections & Rankings: The most accurate NFL Draft projections made available to the public. Over 1,000 players listed for the 2026 & 2027 NFL Draft Classes.
Official Measurements: True measurements and performance metrics from the NFL Scouting Combine and all-star game circuit, plus verified pro day numbers.
Background Reports: Learn about the players off the field with our background reports, which includes character, medical, high school profiles and stats.
Exclusive Interviews: On location across the nation, we gather quotes from players, coaches, general managers, scouts and various football industry professionals.
Final Mock Drafts: Our ultimate draft forecasts from the AAF scouting department.