The NFL season officially wrapped up Sunday night in Santa Clara, and the Seattle Seahawks left no doubt about who was best. From the opening whistle to the final snap, they controlled every phase of the game, overpowering the New England Patriots to secure their second Lombardi Trophy. Kenneth Walker delivered a performance for the ages, becoming the first running back since Terrell Davis to earn Super Bowl MVP honors - a rare feat in today’s quarterback-dominated era.
With the 2025 season now in the rearview mirror, the league has already flipped the page to 2026. The coaching carousel has come to a stop - most notably with the Las Vegas Raiders hiring Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak - and scouting departments across the NFL are deep in draft prep mode.
Free agency is just around the corner, but make no mistake: the draft machine is already rolling at full speed. We’re 71 days out from the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, and the next two months will be all about risers, sleepers, and team fits.
Let’s take a closer look at two Kentucky prospects who are starting to generate real buzz.
Jalen Farmer: A Day 2 Name to Watch
When Jalen Farmer declared for the NFL Draft back in mid-December, it raised some eyebrows. The veteran guard had just wrapped up his fourth year of college football, splitting time between Florida and Kentucky, and was set to be the lone returning starter on the Wildcats’ offensive line. But now, that decision is starting to look more and more like a calculated move.
Farmer was widely projected to be one of the top interior linemen in the SEC next season had he returned, but his draft stock is already climbing. Dane Brugler of The Athletic recently released his initial top-100 big board, and Farmer cracked the list at No. 81 overall - putting him squarely in the mix for a Day 2 selection.
What makes Farmer intriguing to NFL evaluators? He’s got the tools.
Long arms, a powerful leg drive, and the kind of functional strength that shows up consistently in the run game. He’s not just a mauler - he’s got enough awareness and recovery ability in pass protection to keep defenders at bay, even when he loses the initial hand fight.
There are still some technical areas to clean up, particularly with pad level, but the foundation is there.
Bottom line: Farmer looks like a future NFL starter. He’s already showing up in mock drafts, and his performance at the Senior Bowl only helped his case.
If he hears his name called in the third round, it wouldn’t be a shock. He’s on track to be Kentucky’s first offensive lineman drafted since Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard in 2022 - and the first Wildcat off the board this year.
Kendrick Law: Versatility That Could Pay Off on Day 3
Kendrick Law’s college journey took a turn when he transferred from Alabama to Kentucky ahead of the 2025 season. A former top-100 recruit out of Louisiana, Law never quite found his footing in Tuscaloosa. But in Lexington, he finally got the chance to show what he could do.
And he made the most of it.
Law led the Wildcats in targets (64), receptions (53), and receiving yards (540) this past season, while also contributing on special teams as a kick returner, punt returner, and even as a gunner on punt coverage. That kind of versatility is gold for NFL teams looking to round out their rosters on Day 3 of the draft.
He may not be a polished WR1-type, but Law brings a gadget-style skill set that can be deployed in creative ways. He’s explosive, strong through contact, and dynamic with the ball in his hands - traits that caught the eye of NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who recently highlighted Law as one of his favorite wideouts he’s studied so far.
Law made a strong impression at the Shrine Bowl and will get another chance to boost his stock at the NFL Combine in a few weeks. If he tests well, he could solidify himself as a fifth- or sixth-round pick - the kind of player who carves out a role early through special teams and situational packages.
Next Stop: Indianapolis
The NFL Draft process unfolds in stages, and we’re about to enter one of the most important ones: the Scouting Combine. Beginning February 23 and running through March 2 at the Indiana Convention Center, this annual event brings together draft prospects, scouts, coaches, executives, and media for a jam-packed week of evaluations, interviews, and behind-the-scenes conversations.
For prospects, it’s a chance to test, compete, and make their case in front of all 32 teams. For teams, it’s a critical piece of the evaluation puzzle - especially when it comes to medicals, measurables, and intangibles that don’t always show up on tape. And for agents and general managers, it’s the unofficial kickoff to free agency negotiations.
Kentucky will have six players participating in the Combine, and how they perform in Indianapolis could shape how the rest of their draft journey unfolds. From there, it’s on to pro days, private workouts, and top-30 visits before the draft finally arrives in April.
The Wildcats could be in for a busy Day 3, but there’s still plenty to be sorted out between now and then. The Combine will give us our next big wave of answers - and maybe a few surprises, too.