NFL Draft 2026 Big Board

Rank 1

Arvell Reese

LB
Ohio State

6' 4"

Height

243

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Player Snapshot

There isn’t anything Reese can’t do in terms of his assigned tasks within the functions of linebacker and defensive end play. He can hammer the run, spot drop, play match and rush the passer. He has sky-high potential in any defensive scheme. This is a ready-made franchise front-seven player who should flirt with Pro Bowl status as a rookie. — Charles McDonald

6' 4"

Height

243

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Player Snapshot

There isn’t anything Reese can’t do in terms of his assigned tasks within the functions of linebacker and defensive end play. He can hammer the run, spot drop, play match and rush the passer. He has sky-high potential in any defensive scheme. This is a ready-made franchise front-seven player who should flirt with Pro Bowl status as a rookie. — Charles McDonald

Attributes

Brick House

Gumby

Rocket

Player Comparisons

Rank 2

Fernando Mendoza

QB
Indiana

6' 5"

Height

225

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Mendoza’s production and Indiana’s success went through the roof under Curt Cignetti, but just traits-wise, Mendoza has a lot to like. He’s a tall athlete with good size (all 236 pounds of him in Indianapolis) with a loose arm and good overall frame. Mendoza can put some real zip on the football on underneath and intermediate throws, making attempts with college hashes seem routine because of how consistently he can put those throws on the money. His footwork has polish and he already has rapidly improved pocket movement. He already shows encouraging snaps of progressing and moving in the pocket to find answers on true passing downs and in high-leverage situations like third down and in the red zone. He’s consistently accurate at all three levels of the field, which is probably his standout trait. He already shows off a knack for locating the football away from defenders and is willing to push the ball in all types of situations, an encouraging sign against the tighter NFL windows he’ll face.

Mendoza is also a good athlete who can create a bit with his legs (but prefers to win as a thrower). He is an intriguing package of traits and polish with a high IQ (he’s deadly in two-minute situations) and real feel for the position. To me, there are some similarities to Matt Ryan. He took a lot of sacks at Cal, but was cleaned up in Indiana’s much friendlier surroundings. Indiana’s offense is RPO-heavy, but Mendoza shows an ability to drop back consistently and find the right answer. Mendoza has a style, accuracy, and set of tools that point to a higher ceiling than what he’s getting credit for right now, with a floor and polished understanding to play right away and not be a total disaster. — Nate Tice

6' 5"

Height

225

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Mendoza’s production and Indiana’s success went through the roof under Curt Cignetti, but just traits-wise, Mendoza has a lot to like. He’s a tall athlete with good size (all 236 pounds of him in Indianapolis) with a loose arm and good overall frame. Mendoza can put some real zip on the football on underneath and intermediate throws, making attempts with college hashes seem routine because of how consistently he can put those throws on the money. His footwork has polish and he already has rapidly improved pocket movement. He already shows encouraging snaps of progressing and moving in the pocket to find answers on true passing downs and in high-leverage situations like third down and in the red zone. He’s consistently accurate at all three levels of the field, which is probably his standout trait. He already shows off a knack for locating the football away from defenders and is willing to push the ball in all types of situations, an encouraging sign against the tighter NFL windows he’ll face.

Mendoza is also a good athlete who can create a bit with his legs (but prefers to win as a thrower). He is an intriguing package of traits and polish with a high IQ (he’s deadly in two-minute situations) and real feel for the position. To me, there are some similarities to Matt Ryan. He took a lot of sacks at Cal, but was cleaned up in Indiana’s much friendlier surroundings. Indiana’s offense is RPO-heavy, but Mendoza shows an ability to drop back consistently and find the right answer. Mendoza has a style, accuracy, and set of tools that point to a higher ceiling than what he’s getting credit for right now, with a floor and polished understanding to play right away and not be a total disaster. — Nate Tice

Attributes

Dart Thrower

Howitzer

Player Comparisons

Rank 3

Caleb Downs

S
Ohio State

6' 0"

Height

205

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Downs has been arguably the best defensive back in college football since his freshman year at Alabama. He won’t be the first pick in the draft because safeties tend to slide on draft day, but he has all the skills and smarts to immediately be one of the better safeties in the league from Day 1 with real deal upside to be an elite, premier defensive player in the league. — CM

6' 0"

Height

205

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Downs has been arguably the best defensive back in college football since his freshman year at Alabama. He won’t be the first pick in the draft because safeties tend to slide on draft day, but he has all the skills and smarts to immediately be one of the better safeties in the league from Day 1 with real deal upside to be an elite, premier defensive player in the league. — CM

Attributes

Professor X

Rocket

Chameleon

Player Comparisons

Rank 4

Sonny Styles

LB
Ohio State

6' 5"

Height

243

Weight

Sr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Styles caught the eyes of the national public with an absurd performance at the combine, but he’s more than a workout warrior. Styles, the third Ohio State defender in this top 10, has the range and power that teams need from off-ball linebacker prospects. Elite linebackers have become a bit of a dying breed in the NFL, but Styles has a rare enough skill set to get them back on track. — CM

6' 5"

Height

243

Weight

Sr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Styles caught the eyes of the national public with an absurd performance at the combine, but he’s more than a workout warrior. Styles, the third Ohio State defender in this top 10, has the range and power that teams need from off-ball linebacker prospects. Elite linebackers have become a bit of a dying breed in the NFL, but Styles has a rare enough skill set to get them back on track. — CM

Attributes

Professor X

Rocket

Player Comparisons

Rank 5

Rueben Bain

DE
Miami (FL)

6' 3"

Height

270

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Bain is a strongly built defender who can impact the game in a variety of roles. He has the strength to hold his own at the point of attack and can constantly knock blockers back in one-on-one situations. He has light feet and can bend and is effective on defensive twists and games, too. Bain was one of the best defenders in college football this season, bullying blockers into the quarterback’s lap and showing up in big moments. Bain’s arm length is a talking point, and it shows up at times as he tries to disengage, but he does a great job of mitigating it because of how quickly he gets off the football and how he can get into blockers. Bain is kind of the epitome of what this draft is full of: good football players with a blemish that makes you squint. His build and powerful play style remind me a lot of Brandon Graham. — NT

6' 3"

Height

270

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Bain is a strongly built defender who can impact the game in a variety of roles. He has the strength to hold his own at the point of attack and can constantly knock blockers back in one-on-one situations. He has light feet and can bend and is effective on defensive twists and games, too. Bain was one of the best defenders in college football this season, bullying blockers into the quarterback’s lap and showing up in big moments. Bain’s arm length is a talking point, and it shows up at times as he tries to disengage, but he does a great job of mitigating it because of how quickly he gets off the football and how he can get into blockers. Bain is kind of the epitome of what this draft is full of: good football players with a blemish that makes you squint. His build and powerful play style remind me a lot of Brandon Graham. — NT

Attributes

Brick House

Gumby

Player Comparisons

Rank 6

Jeremiyah Love

RB
Notre Dame

6' 0"

Height

214

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Player Snapshot

Every touch has a chance to go to the house with Love. And while he has legit home run ability, he knows how to throttle between speeds to use it effectively. Love has good vision and is a strong runner who can take a steady stream of touches. He has the size and vision to work between the tackles and has a knack for setting up his blocks as a runner, all while constantly staying balanced and square to the line. The only blemish is his more upright running style. Love is a game-changer in the backfield and can turn any touch into a touchdown. If a running back is to get selected early in the draft, he has to have every-down ability as a runner, receiver, and pass protector. Love checks those boxes in permanent ink. — NT

6' 0"

Height

214

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Player Snapshot

Every touch has a chance to go to the house with Love. And while he has legit home run ability, he knows how to throttle between speeds to use it effectively. Love has good vision and is a strong runner who can take a steady stream of touches. He has the size and vision to work between the tackles and has a knack for setting up his blocks as a runner, all while constantly staying balanced and square to the line. The only blemish is his more upright running style. Love is a game-changer in the backfield and can turn any touch into a touchdown. If a running back is to get selected early in the draft, he has to have every-down ability as a runner, receiver, and pass protector. Love checks those boxes in permanent ink. — NT

Attributes

Phonebooth

Rocket

Player Comparisons

Rank 7

Monroe Freeling

OT
Georgia

6' 7"

Height

315

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Freeling likely cemented his status as a top-10 pick after an incredible workout at the combine, but his rise to the start of the draft has been in play since Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season. Over the past year, Freeling might be the most improved player in college football, moving from a struggling starter to a stalwart starter on one of the most physically imposing offenses in the country. His upside is through the roof. — CM

6' 7"

Height

315

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Player Snapshot

Freeling likely cemented his status as a top-10 pick after an incredible workout at the combine, but his rise to the start of the draft has been in play since Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season. Over the past year, Freeling might be the most improved player in college football, moving from a struggling starter to a stalwart starter on one of the most physically imposing offenses in the country. His upside is through the roof. — CM

Attributes

Road-grader

Clamps

Dancing Bear

Player Comparisons

Rank 8

David Bailey

OLB
Texas Tech

6' 3"

Height

250

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Bailey is pure heat off the edge. He was a designated pass rusher during his time at Stanford, but showed real game-breaking flashes on his limited snaps. On a more extended run at Texas Tech, Bailey’s explosive athleticism constantly showed up with his ability to quickly turn the corner on offensive tackles. His violent hands and relentless energy kept blockers off-kilter. Bailey had a great showing in Indianapolis, with testing and measurements (6-foot-4, 251 pounds, 33 3/4-inch arm length, 4.5 40-yard dash) that makes you hopeful that he can keep improving against the run. While he has come a long way against the run, and plays hard, he seems like he will never be better than average there. But the reason a team would draft Bailey high is because of his ability to get after the quarterback. He can rack up pressures when he’s on the field, and any player who can win their one-on-one opportunities is going to be highly valued. — NT

6' 3"

Height

250

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Bailey is pure heat off the edge. He was a designated pass rusher during his time at Stanford, but showed real game-breaking flashes on his limited snaps. On a more extended run at Texas Tech, Bailey’s explosive athleticism constantly showed up with his ability to quickly turn the corner on offensive tackles. His violent hands and relentless energy kept blockers off-kilter. Bailey had a great showing in Indianapolis, with testing and measurements (6-foot-4, 251 pounds, 33 3/4-inch arm length, 4.5 40-yard dash) that makes you hopeful that he can keep improving against the run. While he has come a long way against the run, and plays hard, he seems like he will never be better than average there. But the reason a team would draft Bailey high is because of his ability to get after the quarterback. He can rack up pressures when he’s on the field, and any player who can win their one-on-one opportunities is going to be highly valued. — NT

Attributes

Rocket

Gumby

Player Comparisons

Rank 9

Mansoor Delane

CB
LSU

6' 0"

Height

190

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

A smart player who’s quick to read and react in coverage, Delane has had strong moments as both a zone and man coverage defender this season. He has the twitchiness to stay sticky in man coverage and his high football awareness showed up in zone coverage, where he has a knack for reading quarterbacks and making plays on the football. Delane doesn’t have top-end length and his athleticism might be more good than great, but he just has a feel for playing in zone coverage and timing up his breaks on the football, and that’s going to translate right away at the next level. — NT

6' 0"

Height

190

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

A smart player who’s quick to read and react in coverage, Delane has had strong moments as both a zone and man coverage defender this season. He has the twitchiness to stay sticky in man coverage and his high football awareness showed up in zone coverage, where he has a knack for reading quarterbacks and making plays on the football. Delane doesn’t have top-end length and his athleticism might be more good than great, but he just has a feel for playing in zone coverage and timing up his breaks on the football, and that’s going to translate right away at the next level. — NT

Attributes

Glove

Player Comparisons

Rank 10

Blake Miller

OT
Clemson

6' 6"

Height

315

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Clemson’s offense struggled at times this past season, but it wasn’t due to its offensive line play. For the first time in his entire tenure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an offensive tackle prospect who is drawing the attention of NFL scouts in the first round of the draft. Miller has primarily played on the right side of the line, but he has the athleticism to cleanly make a move over to the left side if his future team wants that. — CM

6' 6"

Height

315

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Player Snapshot

Clemson’s offense struggled at times this past season, but it wasn’t due to its offensive line play. For the first time in his entire tenure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an offensive tackle prospect who is drawing the attention of NFL scouts in the first round of the draft. Miller has primarily played on the right side of the line, but he has the athleticism to cleanly make a move over to the left side if his future team wants that. — CM

Attributes

Clamps

Dancing Bear

Player Comparisons