The shockwaves of the NCAA denying Trinidad Chambliss his waiver were felt all the way up the draft board.
Without that additional year, Chambliss has no choice but to declare for the draft. It largely changes how the first-round picks turn out.
Then there's his lawsuit that leaves the door wide open for his return, and the "growing optimism" surrounding his case makes the situation worse.
This leaves the NFL scouting experts flying blind when drafting their 2026 NFL Mock Draft boards.
Trinidad Chambliss's draft stock in a pickle
For now, Chambliss is largely considered a first-round pick, should the verdict go sideways.
ESPN's Mel Kiper believes that teams with Top 10 picks on the hunt for their next QB, like the Jets, would probably wait for the middle of the first round to draft a QB.
"For the Jets fans screaming that the team needs a quarterback, I'm with you. There just isn't another passer worthy of a top-two selection right now after Dante Moore decided togo back to Oregonfor another season."
"Perhaps that changes. Maybe the Jets go get a veteran and make this irrelevant anyway, waiting for 2027, instead, when they have three first-rounders. But right now, New York is better off taking the top defensive prospect on the board -- and maybe getting lucky at the QB position when it is back on the board in the middle of Round 1.
Part of Chambliss' draft stock being mid Round 1 is the uncertainty surrounding his lawsuit.
The true potential of his draft stock can only be decided once the official verdict is in.
Until then, everyone will contunue being stuck in the holding pattern.