Deep Dive of the 2026 NFL Draft Class — Position-by-Position Rankings

The 2026 Class: Overview

The 2026 NFL Draft is a defense-heavy class. Nine of Jordan Reid's top 10 play defense or OL. The consensus #1 overall is disputed between Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana — 2025 Heisman + CFP natty) and Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame — Doak Walker + unanimous AA). PFF and Daniel Jeremiah have Mendoza #1; ESPN's Reid has Love #1.

Strongest groups: EDGE rusher and off-ball linebacker (10+ R1-R2 EDGEs, first top-10 LB since 2020 possible with Sonny Styles). Weakest: QB depth after the top 2 (only Mendoza + Ty Simpson are clean R1 grades). Wild card: Safety — Caleb Downs is generational and three S prospects could go R1.

Quarterbacks — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana). 2025 Heisman + CFP natty champ; PFF's & Jeremiah's QB1.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Fernando Mendoza	Indiana	6-5 / 225	R1 top 5	2025 Heisman + CFP natty champ; PFF's & Jeremiah's QB1
2	Ty Simpson	Alabama	6-2 / 215	R1 20-40	Five-star 2022, broke out as first-year starter at Bama
3	Garrett Nussmeier	LSU	6-2 / 200	R2	Processor; accuracy plays up; senior leader
4	Drew Allar	Penn State	6-5 / 240	R2-R3	Toolsy size/arm; gun-shy in 2025
5	Carson Beck	Miami (FL)	6-4 / 220	R2-R3	UGA-to-Miami transfer; UCL surgery lingering
6	Cade Klubnik	Clemson	6-2 / 195	R3	High-character touch passer
7	Cole Payton	North Dakota State	6-3 / 225	R3-R4	FCS riser with pro processing
8	Avery Johnson	Kansas State	6-1 / 205	R4	Dual-threat mobility
9	Behren Morton	Texas Tech	6-2 / 205	R4-R5	Air-raid gunslinger
10	John Mateer	Oklahoma	6-1 / 210	R5	Transfer from Washington State
11	Sam Leavitt	Arizona State	6-2 / 205	R5-R6	2025 Big 12 breakout
12	Miller Moss	Louisville	6-2 / 215	R6	USC transfer
13	Gunner Stockton	Georgia	6-1 / 215	R6	Beck replacement at UGA
14	DJ Lagway	Florida	6-3 / 240	R6-R7	Power arm; decision-making shaky
15	Kaidon Salter	Colorado	6-2 / 205	R7	Dynamic runner

Running Backs — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame). 2025 Doak Walker winner; unanimous All-American.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Jeremiyah Love	Notre Dame	6-0 / 206	R1 top 5	2025 Doak Walker winner; unanimous All-American
2	Jadarian Price	Notre Dame	5-10 / 210	R2	Love's change-of-pace; sub-4.30 timed speed
3	Mike Washington Jr.	Arkansas	5-11 / 220	R2-R3	SEC workhorse
4	Jonah Coleman	Washington	5-9 / 225	R3	Bowling-ball power
5	Jadon Coats	Purdue	6-0 / 210	R3-R4	Transfer ascending
6	Emmett Johnson	Nebraska	5-11 / 200	R3-R4	Multi-purpose back
7	Nicholas Singleton	Penn State	6-0 / 225	R4	Power-speed combo
8	Kaytron Allen	Penn State	5-11 / 230	R4	Short-yardage hammer
9	Seth McGowan	Kentucky	5-10 / 210	R4-R5	Third-down ace
10	Demond Claiborne	Wake Forest	5-10 / 195	R5	Elusive ACC back
11	Jaydn Ott	Oklahoma	6-0 / 195	R5	Cal transfer, post-injury
12	Le'Veon Moss	Texas A&M	6-0 / 215	R5-R6	Power runner
13	Kalel Mullings	Michigan	6-1 / 230	R6	LB convert
14	Makhi Hughes	Oregon	5-10 / 215	R6	Transfer from Tulane
15	J'Mari Taylor	Virginia	5-10 / 205	R6	Under-recruited riser

Wide Receivers — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Carnell Tate (Ohio State). Top WR1; CeeDee-grade separator.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Type	Scouting Nugget
1	Carnell Tate	Ohio State	6-2 / 205	R1 top 10	X	Top WR1; CeeDee-grade separator
2	Jordyn Tyson	Arizona State	6-0 / 195	R1 15-25	Z	Best intermediate + post-route runner in class
3	Makai Lemon	USC	5-11 / 190	R1 15-28	Slot	2025 Biletnikoff Award winner; 718 P4-lead YAC
4	Denzel Boston	Washington	6-3 / 215	R1 20-32	X	Zone-beater, contested-catch specialist
5	Omar Cooper Jr.	Indiana	5-10 / 195	R1 25-32	Slot	Mendoza's #1 target; YAC
6	KC Concepcion	Texas A&M	5-11 / 190	R2	Z	'Best separator in class'
7	Chris Bell	Louisville	6-3 / 210	R2	X	Size/speed ceiling
8	Germie Bernard	Alabama	6-0 / 205	R2	Slot	Dig route ace
9	Malachi Fields	Notre Dame	6-4 / 215	R2-R3	Slot	Zone specialist; Z-convertible
10	Chris Brazzell II	Tennessee	6-5 / 195	R2-R3	X	Fluid hips, intermediate separator
11	Skyler Bell	UConn	6-1 / 195	R3	Z	Productive G5
12	Elijah Sarratt	Indiana	6-1 / 215	R3	Slot	Zone-beater
13	Ja'Kobi Lane	USC	6-4 / 200	R3	X	Contested catch
14	Bryce Lance	North Dakota State	6-4 / 200	R3-R4	X	Explosive FCS athlete; Trey Lance's brother
15	Antonio Williams	Clemson	5-11 / 190	R3-R4	Slot	Technical; size-limited
16	Ted Hurst	Georgia State	6-2 / 205	R4	Slot	Freak athlete
17	Zachariah Branch	Georgia	5-10 / 175	R4	Slot	Screen master; USC transfer
18	Deion Burks	Oklahoma	5-9 / 190	R4	Slot	Competitive
19	De'Zhaun Stribling	Ole Miss	6-3 / 215	R4-R5	X	Big frame
20	Brenen Thompson	Mississippi State	5-10 / 180	R5	Slot	4.26 burner
21	Aaron Anderson	LSU	5-9 / 180	R5	Slot	Daniels-era slot weapon
22	Kevin Coleman Jr.	Missouri	5-10 / 185	R5	Slot	Transfer, stat producer
23	Eric Rivers	Georgia Tech	6-0 / 190	R5-R6	Z	Former FIU transfer
24	Josh Cameron	Baylor	6-2 / 205	R6	X	Big 12 riser
25	CJ Daniels	Miami (FL)	6-2 / 205	R6	X	ACC transfer

Tight Ends — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon). Athletic freak; flex alignment.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Kenyon Sadiq	Oregon	6-3 / 241	R1 15-25	Athletic freak; flex alignment
2	Eli Stowers	Vanderbilt	6-4 / 240	R2	Former QB, receiving TE
3	Max Klare	Ohio State	6-4 / 245	R2-R3	Purdue transfer
4	Sam Roush	Stanford	6-5 / 250	R3	Y-TE; blocker + hands
5	Oscar Delp	Georgia	6-5 / 240	R3	SEC veteran
6	Justin Joly	NC State	6-4 / 250	R3-R4	Two-way versatile
7	Michael Trigg	Baylor	6-3 / 245	R4	Transfer from Ole Miss
8	Eli Raridon	Notre Dame	6-7 / 255	R4	Red-zone target
9	Jack Endries	Texas	6-4 / 245	R4-R5	Cal transfer
10	Marlin Klein	Michigan	6-6 / 250	R5	German athlete

Offensive Tackles — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Francis Mauigoa (Miami (FL)). 2025 Jacobs Blocking Trophy; consensus All-American.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Francis Mauigoa	Miami (FL)	6-5 / 330	R1 top 5	2025 Jacobs Blocking Trophy; consensus All-American
2	Spencer Fano	Utah	6-5 / 310	R1 top 10	Freshman AA trajectory; LT anchor
3	Monroe Freeling	Georgia	6-7 / 320	R1 12-22	SEC blindside
4	Kadyn Proctor	Alabama	6-7 / 352	R1	352-pound tackle with 32.5" vertical
5	Blake Miller	Clemson	6-6 / 315	R1	ACC three-year starter
6	Max Iheanachor	Arizona State	6-6 / 320	R1-R2	2025 breakout
7	Caleb Lomu	Utah	6-5 / 300	R2	Fano's counterpart
8	Markel Bell	Miami (FL)	6-6 / 325	R2-R3	RT replacement
9	Caleb Tiernan	Northwestern	6-8 / 315	R2-R3	Length freak
10	Brian Parker II	Duke	6-6 / 305	R3	ACC

Interior OL (C/G) — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State). 'Nasty streak'; top G in class.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Olaivavega Ioane	Penn State	6-4 / 315	R1 20-32	'Nasty streak'; top G in class
2	Chase Bisontis	Texas A&M	6-5 / 320	R2	Power mover
3	Emmanuel Pregnon	Oregon	6-5 / 315	R2	Transfer from USC
4	Keylan Rutledge	Georgia Tech	6-4 / 310	R2-R3	Athletic pulling
5	Jalen Farmer	Kentucky	6-3 / 310	R3	SEC veteran
6	Connor Lew	Auburn	6-3 / 300	R3	Top C in class
7	Logan Jones	Iowa	6-3 / 300	R3	Blocking pedigree
8	Sam Hecht	Kansas State	6-4 / 300	R3-R4	Big 12 center
9	Billy Schrauth	Notre Dame	6-4 / 305	R4	ND continuity
10	Jake Slaughter	Florida	6-3 / 300	R4	SEC center

EDGE Rushers — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Arvell Reese (Ohio State). EDGE/LB hybrid (Parsons comp).

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Arvell Reese	Ohio State	6-4 / 243	R1 top 5	EDGE/LB hybrid (Parsons comp)
2	Rueben Bain Jr.	Miami (FL)	6-3 / 275	R1 top 10	2025 ACC Defensive Player of the Year; 9.5 sacks
3	David Bailey	Texas Tech	6-3 / 250	R1 top 12	Unanimous AA, Big-12 DL of Year
4	Keldric Faulk	Auburn	6-5 / 270	R1	Base end with pass-rush juice
5	TJ Parker	Clemson	6-3 / 260	R1	Senior Bowl standout
6	Akheem Mesidor	Miami (FL)	6-4 / 265	R1	Pairs with Bain
7	Cashius Howell	Texas A&M	6-3 / 255	R1	Bowling Green transfer
8	Gabe Jacas	Illinois	6-4 / 255	R1-R2	Big Ten producer
9	Zion Young	Missouri	6-5 / 255	R2	Michigan State transfer
10	Malachi Lawrence	UCF	6-3 / 260	R2	Big 12 riser
11	Joshua Josephs	Tennessee	6-4 / 260	R2	SEC
12	Mike Green	Marshall	6-3 / 245	R2	G5 bender
13	Derrick Moore	Michigan	6-3 / 255	R2-R3	Big Ten
14	Dani Dennis-Sutton	Penn State	6-5 / 260	R2-R3	2024 hype rebound
15	R Mason Thomas	Oklahoma	6-3 / 245	R3	Speed rusher

Interior DL — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Peter Woods (Clemson). Penetrator 3-tech.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Peter Woods	Clemson	6-3 / 315	R1 10-20	Penetrator 3-tech
2	Kayden McDonald	Ohio State	6-2 / 320	R1	NT anchor
3	Caleb Banks	Florida	6-5 / 325	R1	Size/length
4	Christen Miller	Georgia	6-4 / 310	R1-R2	UGA pipeline
5	Lee Hunter	Texas Tech	6-3 / 320	R1-R2	UCF transfer
6	Gracen Halton	Oklahoma	6-2 / 310	R2	Big 12
7	Domonique Orange	Iowa State	6-5 / 330	R2-R3	Big 12 mauler
8	Kaleb Proctor	SE Louisiana	6-3 / 315	R3	FCS upside
9	Darrell Jackson Jr.	Florida State	6-4 / 325	R3	ACC
10	Rayshaun Benny	Michigan	6-4 / 310	R3	Big Ten

Linebackers — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Sonny Styles (Ohio State). Safety-to-LB convert; elite coverage.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Sonny Styles	Ohio State	6-4 / 235	R1 top 5	Safety-to-LB convert; elite coverage
2	CJ Allen	Georgia	6-0 / 230	R1 15-25	Three-down throwback
3	Jacob Rodriguez	Texas Tech	6-1 / 240	R1-R2	Sideline-to-sideline
4	Josiah Trotter	Missouri	6-2 / 230	R2	Trotter bloodline
5	Anthony Hill Jr.	Texas	6-2 / 235	R2	SEC three-down
6	Jake Golday	Cincinnati	6-2 / 230	R2-R3	G5 hitter
7	Kyle Louis	Pittsburgh	6-1 / 225	R3	Pitt playmaker
8	Deontae Lawson	Alabama	6-2 / 235	R3	SEC
9	Keyshaun Elliott	Arizona State	6-1 / 225	R3	Big 12 riser
10	Bryce Boettcher	Oregon	6-2 / 230	R3-R4	Two-sport athlete

Cornerbacks — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Mansoor Delane (LSU). First-team All-SEC, Thorpe finalist.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Mansoor Delane	LSU	6-1 / 190	R1 top 10	First-team All-SEC, Thorpe finalist
2	Jermod McCoy	Tennessee	6-0 / 195	R1 12-20	SEC press corner
3	Chris Johnson	San Diego State	6-1 / 195	R1 20-28	MWC lockdown
4	Avieon Terrell	Clemson	5-11 / 190	R1	AJ Terrell's brother
5	Colton Hood	Tennessee	6-0 / 195	R1-R2	Colorado transfer
6	D'Angelo Ponds	Indiana	5-10 / 185	R2	Mendoza's corner
7	Brandon Cisse	South Carolina	6-0 / 190	R2	Ohio State transfer
8	Keith Abney II	Arizona State	5-11 / 185	R2-R3	Big 12 riser
9	Keionte Scott	Miami (FL)	5-10 / 185	R3	Auburn transfer / nickel
10	Treydan Stukes	Arizona	5-11 / 195	R3	Versatile

Safeties — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Caleb Downs (Ohio State). 2025 Lott Trophy + Jim Thorpe Award winner.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round	Scouting Nugget
1	Caleb Downs	Ohio State	6-0 / 205	R1 top 3	2025 Lott Trophy + Jim Thorpe Award winner
2	Dillon Thieneman	Oregon	6-0 / 205	R1 top 15	Purdue transfer; rangy ball-hawk
3	Emmanuel McNeil-Warren	Toledo	6-1 / 200	R1 20-32	G5 riser
4	A.J. Haulcy	LSU	6-0 / 215	R2	Houston transfer
5	Kamari Ramsey	USC	6-0 / 205	R2	UCLA transfer
6	Zakee Wheatley	Penn State	6-1 / 200	R2-R3	Physical
7	Genesis Smith	Arizona	6-0 / 205	R3	2025 breakout
8	Bud Clark	TCU	6-0 / 195	R3	Big 12
9	Michael Taaffe	Texas	6-0 / 205	R3-R4	Walk-on story
10	Jalon Kilgore	South Carolina	6-0 / 200	R4	SEC flex

Kickers — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Dominic Zvada (Michigan). Top consensus kicker.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round		Scouting Nugget
1	Dominic Zvada	Michigan	6-2 / 200	R5-R7		Top consensus kicker
2	Trey Smack	Florida	6-1 / 195	R6-R7		3-year 80%+ starter

Punters — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Brett Thorson (Georgia). 2025 Ray Guy winner.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round		Scouting Nugget
1	Brett Thorson	Georgia	6-4 / 220	R5-R6		2025 Ray Guy winner
2	Ryan Eckley	Michigan State	6-3 / 210	R6-R7		Led nation in avg (48.5)

Long Snappers — Deep Dive

Top of the class: Garrison Grimes (BYU). Consensus #1 long snapper.

#	Name	School	HT/WT	Round		Scouting Nugget
1	Garrison Grimes	BYU	6-2 / 235	R7-UDFA		Consensus #1 long snapper

2026 NFL Draft Class — Position by Position