Last week, Indianapolis hosted the annual NFL Combine. While it may not be the first event of the draft cycle, it often is the entry point for a large portion of NFL fans. Now that prospects have been measured and put their raw athleticism on display, we could think of no better time than to introduce Behind the Steel Curtain’s first Big Board for the 2026 Class.
Below, you will see BTSC’s ranking of our top 100 prospects. The rankings were compiled by combining the ranks of BTSC’s own Ryland Bickley, Joey Bray, and Ryan Parish, and then calculating and sorting by the average score. Take a look at our ranks, and then stick around for more discussion from our panel of experts. Of note, these ranks are not explicitly given with a Steelers focus. While we might rank a player higher than another, that doesn’t guarantee they’d fit better with Pittsburgh. However, because we all cover the Steelers, that bias is sure to creep in occasionally.
### Rank ### BTSC Consensus ### Joey Bray ### Ryland Bickley ### Ryan Parish ### Biggest Differential
1 Fernando Mendoza 1 1 3 2
2 Rueben Bain Jr. 2 2 1 1
3 Arvell Reese 3 5 2 3
4 Jeremiyah Love 5 3 6 3
5 Sonny Styles 6 4 4 2
6 Caleb Downs 4 6 7 3
7 Francis Mauigoa 7 7 8 1
8 Mansoor Delane 11 8 5 6
9 Olaivavega Ioane 14 9 11 5
10 Makai Lemon 9 13 13 4
11 David Bailey 8 14 15 7
12 Jordyn Tyson 12 16 9 7
13 Carnell Tate 10 15 14 5
14 Avieon Terrell 14 10 10 4
15 Jermod McCoy 16 11 16 5
16 Spencer Fano 13 12 21 9
17 Kenyon Sadiq 20 20 12 8
18 Lee Hunter 15 19 20 5
19 CJ Allen 19 21 19 2
20 Dillon Thieneman 22 23 23 1
21 Akheem Mesidor 23 25 22 3
22 Max Iheanachor 39 17 17 22
23 Peter Woods 37 18 18 19
24 Monroe Freeling 17 24 34 17
25 Chris Johnson 26 30 25 5
26 Kayden McDonald 28 33 24 9
27 Caleb Banks 18 27 41 23
28 Omar Cooper Jr. 27 32 27 5
29 Cashius Howell 29 26 33 7
30 Denzel Boston 32 29 30 3
31 Emmanuel Pregnon 31 35 28 7
32 Ty Simpson 30 39 26 13
33 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 35 22 39 17
34 KC Concepcion 33 28 40 12
35 TJ Parker 36 40 31 9
36 R Mason Thomas 40 31 43 12
37 Keldric Faulk 24 34 58 34
38 Chase Bisontis 44 36 38 8
39 Jacob Rodriguez 25 45 48 23
40 Colton Hood 41 38 44 6
41 Zion Young 38 43 45 7
42 Brandon Cisse 51 41 35 16
43 Davison Igbinosun 34 44 51 17
44 Christen Miller 53 48 29 24
45 Caleb Lomu 48 46 42 6
46 Blake Miller 58 42 37 21
47 D’Angelo Ponds 47 37 60 23
48 Keith Abney II 52 60 32 28
49 Jake Golday 45 53 52 8
50 Keionte Scott 46 50 54 8
51 AJ Haulcy 42 62 49 20
52 Kaydn Proctor 43 49 62 19
53 Gabe Jacas 49 63 46 17
54 Eli Stowers 50 61 50 9
55 Dominique Orange 57 51 53 6
56 Josiah Trotter 54 56 55 2
57 Chris Brazzell II 56 55 57 2
58 Treydan Stukes 71 52 61 19
59 Anthony Hill Jr 59 47 81 34
60 Joshua Josephs 78 68 47 31
61 Connor Lew 66 64 67 3
62 Caleb Tiernan 65 71 65 6
63 Max Klare 63 91 56 35
64 Derrick Moore 75 NR 36 64+
65 Kyle Louis 55 86 74 31
66 Kamari Ramsey 67 84 64 20
67 Germie Bernard 68 77 70 9
68 Garrett Nussmeier 70 74 72 4
69 Genesis Smith 79 70 68 11
70 Bud Clark 69 66 85 19
71 Malik Muhammad 64 79 80 16
72 Keylan Rutledge 95 54 75 41
73 Mike Washington Jr. 82 81 63 19
74 Ja’Kobi Lane 77 65 86 21
75 Romello Height 60 72 NR 40+
76 Jadarian Price 91 58 88 33
77 Chris Bell 88 59 94 35
78 Jonah Coleman 89 76 77 13
79 Dontay Corleone 61 97 84 36
80 Antonio Williams 85 57 NR 43+
81 Sam Hecht 86 80 78 8
82 Malachi Lawrence NR 82 66 34+
83 Jake Slaughter 83 90 76 14
84 Darrell Jackson Jr. NR 89 59 41+
85 Will Lee III 76 92 82 16
86 Gennings Dunker 80 73 NR 27+
87 Drew Allar 72 88 NR 28+
88 Chandler Rivers 74 NR 87 26+
89 LT Overton 87 83 93 10
90 Zakee Wheatley 97 67 99 32
91 Gracen Halton 62 NR NR 38+
92 Elijah Sarratt 96 75 96 21
93 Ted Hurst 92 87 89 5
94 Emmett Johnson NR 94 73 27+
95 Zachariah Branch NR 69 NR 31+
96 Eric McAlister NR NR 69 31+
97 Brian Parker II NR 93 79 21+
98 Julian Neal NR NR 71 29+
99 Dani Dennis-Sutton 73 NR NR 27+
100 Deion Burks NR 78 NR 22+
After ranking all these prospects, what are some trends or themes you notice with this draft class?
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers raises the National Championship Trophy after Indiana defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers raises the National Championship Trophy after Indiana defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
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RP: I think the most obvious thing I can point to has to do with the overall talent. We’ve heard there are fewer blue-chip talents in the first round this year, and that this class will quickly devolve into a “choose your flavor” style draft. I think nothing could illustrate this more than looking at our top 21 players — who are all relatively tightly clustered in our individual ranks — and then how quickly we swing to much wider differences in opinion on them. The number of players whose ranks are separated by 20 slots or more in our rankings is quite telling.
RB: I’ll echo Ryan by saying that the list gets very subjective after the first 10-15 names, although this will clear up as a stronger consensus forms with more tape watched later in the draft process. However, it does feel like the late first-round group of names runs into the Day 2 talent pool a bit more than usual this year. That’s to say, I think a lot of teams -- the Steelers included -- may not love the way the board breaks for them picking in the 20s in Round 1.
JB: A lot of the best players in this draft play positions that aren’t viewed as “premium positions” by the NFL. Two perfect examples of this are Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Both players are unquestionably top 5 talents in this draft to me, but positional value may affect their draft position. I think it will be incredibly interesting to see how different organizations attack this draft on night one. I think Ryland said it perfectly; some teams may not like the way the board falls for them. Will teams go best player available and choose the talent? Or will they shoot for someone at a premium position who may not be as impressive of a prospect?
Which position group has the most talent?
MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 29: Kansas State Wildcats safety Vj Payne (7) in the snow before a Big 12 football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Kansas State Wildcats on November 29, 2025 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - NOVEMBER 29: Kansas State Wildcats safety Vj Payne (7) in the snow before a Big 12 football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and Kansas State Wildcats on November 29, 2025 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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RB: I’ll cheat and say the defensive back group as a whole, especially as the lines between safety and slot cornerback continue to blur in modern defenses. There’s plenty of first-round talent such as Caleb Downs and Jermod McCoy, but a great mix of Day 2 names as well. I also like the wide range of skill sets, from slot demons such as D’Angelo Ponds to long, boundary types such as Davison Igbinosun. I think it’s a great year to find secondary help, even if it’s scheme-specific. I think it’s a great year to find secondary help, even if it’s scheme-specific. I also think this inside linebacker class is one of the most exciting ones we’ve had in recent memory.
JB: This is going to be a defense-heavy draft, and the talent in the corner and safety class is truly remarkable. There is such a wide range of guys who can make an impact for a team instantly that won’t go on Day 1 of the draft. The second and third rounds are going to produce guys like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Bud Clark, guys with productive college careers and who have chances to be impact starters in year one. I know Ryan and I are always shocked that Kansas State’s VJ Payne is available in the 7th round of pretty much any PFF mock draft sim you do thus far. The point is, you can wait and grab a corner and safety late and likely walk away with a starter or two.
RP: It’s a tight race between edge rushers, cornerbacks, and safeties. I think I have to give the nod to the edge class, not only because they have the most players represented (16), but because they are more densely clustered near the top of the board as well. During this exercise, whenever they were players in those three position groups ranked similarly for me, I more often than not would lean towards the pass rushers. That’s a good shout on VJ Payne, though, a player I put in my top-100.
Which position group was the hardest to rank?
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) rushes at Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 13, 2025, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Joshua Josephs (19) rushes at Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) during the college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs on September 13, 2025, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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JB: I think the wide receiver class is very subjective this year. There seems to be a consensus first tier of receiver prospects in Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, and Carnell Tate. However, even ranking those guys is still widely debated after the Combine and Senior Bowl. Omar Cooper Jr. has been a riser since December and was all the buzz in Indianapolis last week. A phenomenal workout seemingly catapulted him into first-round considerations. I’m not sure how many receivers end up going night one, but there seem to be about five or six that someone may be way higher on than you think.
RP: Not to sound like a broken record, but I’m gonna say the edge class again. There are a lot of talented players, with a wide array of body types and playstyles. It’s clear who the top guys are, but there’s a whole cluster of players, particularly the fringe first-rounders and second-round talents, that are not separated by much.
RB: I’ll agree with Ryan again — there are a lot of intriguing edge rushers in this top 100, and I could see that order changing later in the draft cycle. Other positions that came to mind for me were running back and tight end. Neither are heavily represented in the top 100 besides the two blue-chippers (Kenyon Sadiq and Jerimiyah Love), but there’s a glut of late Day 2/early Day 3 guys at both positions still vying for places in the next tier.
Which of your player ranks are you questioning most after seeing how the others ranked them?
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: OL Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs gets set at the line during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday January 1, 2026 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: OL Monroe Freeling #57 of the Georgia Bulldogs gets set at the line during the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday January 1, 2026 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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RB: Weirdly enough, it’s Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, whom I haven’t been the highest on this draft cycle. However, Ryan ranked him at No. 34, Joey at No. 17, and I had at No. 24. But now Freeling seems to be a consensus top-10 pick in a number of national mock drafts. His upside is out of this world, but his technique gives me some pause -- and maybe some buyer beware after what happened with another promising Bulldog O-lineman in Broderick Jones. I’m still forming an opinion on Freeling.
RP: For me, I think it has to be Darrell Jackson Jr. I thought 59 was about right for him, but with Ryland barely having him make the cut (89) and Joey not ranking him at all, I’m wondering if I’m overvaluing the traits of a physically gifted, but flawed player. Jackson has a lot of the similarities to a guy like Joshua Farmer from last year — same school, long arms, up and down production — that I tend to fall for.
JB: Admittedly, I have been a huge fan of Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez for quite some time now. I have him ranked as the number 25 overall player on my board, 20 spots higher than anyone else. While he is a bit undersized, I do believe that whoever takes Rodriguez is getting the perfect mix of intelligence and college production to stick right in the middle of their defense. I do see where Ryan and Ryland have their questions about Rodriguez, especially given the depth of the linebacker class. Rodriguez is not nearly the athlete that someone like Sonny Styles may be, but I am now questioning if I value Rodriguez a bit too much.
Which ranking are you standing by most despite the gap in our opinions?
ORLANDO , FL - DECEMBER 27: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (77) protects the pocket during the Pop-Tarts Bowl between BYU Cougars and the and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO , FL - DECEMBER 27: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge (77) protects the pocket during the Pop-Tarts Bowl between BYU Cougars and the and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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RP: Y’all are sleeping on UCF edge Malachi Lawrence. Insane twitch, highly productive — 68 pressures, 12 sacks, 29 stops, 3 forced fumbles over the past two seasons — with length on top of it. He had a 34.7% pass rush win rate in 2025 against true pass sets per PFF. For those wondering, true pass sets exclude screens, play action, designed rollouts, and throws under two seconds. I debated with myself whether I had Lawrence too low (66), and Ryland and Joey’s ranks won’t sway me from that.
JB: Ryan and Ryland are sleeping on one of the biggest combine risers in Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling. Freeling had the second-highest relative athletic score by any offensive lineman since 1987. While measurements don’t mean everything, Freeling has impressive size at 6’7 and 315 pounds with 343/4” arms. Freeling plays a premium position in a class that is very subjective after the first 15 names. If teams want to prioritize addressing a premium position like left tackle early, we could see Freeling, who only allowed six pressures last season, to go much earlier than expected.
RB: I continue to think George Tech’s Keylan Rutledge will be a riser as the draft cycle moves forward. Sure, his balance and anchor are still a bit inconsistent, but he tested incredibly well at the Combine, and that athleticism is all over his tape. Plus, I love his mentality and versatility as an interior O-lineman. He has great pop as a blocker as well.
Each of you had a handful of players you excluded from your board who were ranked by at least one other panelist: Joey (8), Ryland (6), Ryan (8). Which prospect do you just not get the hype for?
ATHENS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 15: Noah Thomas #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a touchdown with Zachariah Branch #1 during a game between University of Texas and University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 15: Noah Thomas #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a touchdown with Zachariah Branch #1 during a game between University of Texas and University of Georgia at Sanford Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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JB: I was interested to see that Ryan had Florida State’s Darrell Jackson ranked as the 59th best player on his board. While these are only preliminary rankings, I am not on board with Jackson. He has done nothing in my eyes to improve his stock thus far during the draft process. I was not impressed with Jackson at all this past season with the Seminoles. He often looked slow and relied on being bigger than the person in front of him rather than utilizing any kind of rush move. Perhaps I need to watch more of Jackson, but I like several potential Day 2 defensive line prospects over him.
RB: To me, these preliminary rankings are the equivalent of preseason college football standings. They’re useful as a landmark to gauge risers and fallers from later in the process, but I’m not deep enough into my draft preparation to be doing much flag-planting yet. That said, I still don’t entirely see it yet with Derrick Moore. He certainly has some intriguing traits, but lacks the ideal burst and bend I like to see from early-round edges -- which is especially concerning as his calling card is not run defense.
RP: He might end up being a productive player for some team, but I have zero interest in Zachariah Branch. I heard a podcast joke that he was an industry plant, and I have to agree. Yes, he’s insanely twitchy, but at his size — 5’9, 177 pounds, sub-30” arms — I don’t know how much his athleticism will translate into actual football. He ran such a limited route tree in college; Branch only caught 14 balls that traveled more than 10 yards downfield in 2025. That means 77.4% of his targets came on screens or passes of less than 10 air yards. His ceiling is a Zay Flowers type of player, but his floor is so much lower.
Likewise, you each had two players ranked that neither of your fellow panelists ranked. Make a case for those prospects.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Julian Neal #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tips a pass in the end zone in the second half that was thrown to KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 45-42. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Julian Neal #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tips a pass in the end zone in the second half that was thrown to KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 45-42. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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RB: See my blurb about flag-planting earlier. I certainly wouldn’t say Zachariah Branch or Deion Burks are “my guys” in this draft cycle, and I’d agree they both fit the “middling Chiefs draft pick” archetype that understandably comes across as a negative. But both have encouraging production against SEC defenses, as well as more compact frames (versus being straight-up tiny) than they’re often given credit for. Plus, both have speed and quickness that jump off the screen. I, too, am wary of their manufactured touches in college, but I certainly see how their athleticism could translate into solid roles in the pros as well.
RP: McAlister is a dynamic threat at receiver with size, speed, and wiggle. An off-the-field confrontation in 2024 led to an arrest and might take him off some boards, but he managed to keep his nose clean in 2025. The Steelers need players who can create yards after the catch, and McAlister brings that in spades. Plus, he would be an immediate upgrade as a return man in special teams.
As for Neal, he’s a long-limbed press corner with a track record of being a disruptor in coverage. That includes two interceptions and eight PBUs in 2025. He’s allowed just a 52% completion rate against 98 targets over the past two seasons. I’m not sure what more he needs to do to get into the top-100.
JB: Gracen Halton is a disruptive defensive tackle from Oklahoma with a quick get-off. The big issue with Halton is his size. Halton also played a role with the Sooners that played to his strengths, allowing him to utilize his get off to rush rather than be an impact run stopper. These things will keep him out of a lot of top-100 boards, but if Halton goes to a team that has defensive tackle depth (whispers “Steelers”), he could be a great rotational piece for a team early in his career with plenty of tools to develop.
Dani Dennis-Sutton is also someone I think people are sleeping on in this cycle for a lot of the same reasons people are sleeping on most Penn State prospects in this class. I get that the team did not meet their expectations entering the season, but Dennis-Sutton was one of the bright spots on that team. Dennis-Sutton did not miss a game his entire career with the Nittany Lions, and saw an increase in production every year. He earned 1st-Team All-Big 10 honors with 8.5 sacks and 11.5 TFL’s. No player this productive in college football’s best conference from this past season should be getting left out of the top 100.
What do you think of BTSC’s initial rankings? Who is our panel too low on? Too high? Get in the comments and let us know! Stay tuned for our next updated Big Board near the end of March.