My first version of the top 100 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft Class was released on the heels of the NFL Scouting Combine. Though there are no massive changes at the top of my second version below, there is some notable movement a little farther down -- and a few new names making their debuts.
Some eye-opening pro-day results (both good and bad) helped shape this latest iteration, and I was able to make more calls to NFL people to check on the league values of multiple prospects. Some of the feedback can be seen in the updated rankings.
This list is a pure mixture of my own observations along with how some evaluators view the prospects -- and after all, their opinion carries more weight than mine when it comes to the 2026 NFL Draft. Up/down arrows reflect changes from Version 1.0.
NOTE: NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23-25.
Arvell Reese
Ohio State · LB/Edge · Junior
Ohio State didn't ask Reese to do a lot of what he could be asked to do at the NFL level: rush the passer. His talent is immense, but it is imperative that the 20-year-old's next team has a plan for him.
Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior
It would not shock me if Styles ended up as one of the best all-around players in this class. Styles' tape was better, in general, than Reese's; if you find a missed tackle on there, email me.
Fernando Mendoza
Indiana · QB · Junior (RS)
His strong pro-day performance put a bow on a terrific college career and should be the precursor to the Raiders selecting him first overall. Mendoza's intangibles are outstanding, and his tangibles aren't bad at all.
Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior
Love's limitations as an inside runner -- even as hard as he runs -- give me the slightest pause when considering his all-around profile, but there's a star back here if a team uses him correctly. His receiving skill is undersold after being underused by Notre Dame.
David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
Bailey is an ultra-explosive linear edge rusher with elite get-off, though he needs to improve his consistency in run defense and expand his pass-rush arsenal.
Caleb Downs
Ohio State · S · Junior
Downs has put up two years of elite tape and grades out as a future defensive captain. Set his ordinary physical traits aside; he's special in almost every other way.
Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami · Edge · Junior
I don't believe Bain will slide in this draft. Any concerns one might have about his arm length (30 7/8 inches) aren't exactly meaningless, but he's too explosive and determined to fail.
Mansoor Delane
LSU · CB · Senior
Like Downs, Delane won't wow you with his raw traits, but he just gets the job done consistently and efficiently. He has a great feel for playing corner, which is obvious after watching just a few games.
Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior
Tate reminds me a bit of Nico Collins" data-link="/players/nico-collins/" data-slug="nico-collins"> Nico Collins, who has developed into a clear No. 1 for the Texans. There isn't anything mind-blowing about Tate's game, but he's just so darned smooth and polished.
Spencer Fano
Utah · OL · Junior
Even with short arms (32 1/8 inches) and smaller hands (9 inches), the athletic Fano should start off at left tackle, I believe, before he's moved anywhere else. Make him show you he can't play that spot.
Francis Mauigoa
Miami · OL · Junior
Mauigoa's best home might be at guard. I think he'll be drafted as a tackle first, but he isn't bust-proof at that position, given the development he still needs to show in pass pro. Still, he has a high ceiling and would be a plus run blocker inside or out.
Makai Lemon
USC · WR · Junior
Setting aside his ordinary traits, Lemon is tough, scrappy and highly productive. I've heard mixed opinions from some team evaluators, but he could be a volume producer and serve as a quality safety net.
Jermod McCoy
Tennessee · CB · Junior
McCoy's pro-day workout -- at which he ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash -- helped him after he missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but there still could be teams concerned with his medical evaluation for the long term
Olaivavega Ioane
Penn State · OG · Junior (RS)
He's the rare guard-only prospect who belongs in the top half of Round 1. Ioane could slip a bit past that, but he appears to have too strong a toolkit to fall out of the first.
Kadyn Proctor
Alabama · OL · Junior
There's so much to like about Proctor's sheer mass (6-foot-7, 352 pounds) and light feet, and he could be tried at tackle or guard, but he always seems to leave you wanting more on tape, where he doesn't dominate like you might expect.
Monroe Freeling
Georgia · OT · Junior
Freeling's upside has him on the rise, but his inexperience could make for some balky moments while he develops. Still, I expect him to go high -- perhaps higher than this slot.
Jordyn Tyson
Arizona State · WR · Junior (RS)
Tyson is nearly the total package as a receiver, but how much will questions about his durability hurt him after he logged just one season with double-digit games (2024)? I think some teams will have hesitation when it comes to him.
Kenyon Sadiq
Oregon · TE · Junior
Evan Engram" data-link="/players/evan-engram/" data-slug="evan-engram"> Evan Engram is a popular comp for Sadiq, who also gives effort as a blocker. I think some team in Round 1 will give him a chance as a "Joker" type weapon, even if he might not be ready for a high-volume role early.
Keldric Faulk
Auburn · Edge · Junior
There's some question about Faulk's ability to penetrate at a high level, thanks to his lack of elite quickness, but his ability to reduce down inside expands his repertoire.
Dillon Thieneman
Oregon · S · Junior
Thieneman just fits the mold of the modern split-field safety who does everything at a good level or higher. I think he'll be a longtime starter and more the playmaker he was at Purdue, where he logged six picks and nine pass breakups in two seasons.
KC Concepcion
Texas A&M · WR · Junior
The more I've watched Concepcion, the more dangerous I think he'll be as a triple threat, and the less concerned I am about some of the concentration drops he had on tape last season.
Akheem Mesidor
Miami · Edge · Senior
Injuries (he missed all but two games in 2023 and had surgery on torn ligaments on the bottoms of both feet) and age (he's 25) could make some teams hesitant, but Mesidor's production (35.5 sacks, 52.5 tackles for loss) and pass-rush talent are too good for him to slide far.
Peter Woods
Clemson · DT · Junior
We don't have a complete athletic picture of Woods, who didn't work out at the NFL Scouting Combine and ran a 10-yard dash instead of a 40 at Clemson's pro day, and his production was scant in college, but at his best, he's a quick, high-energy penetrator who can have dominant flashes.
Denzel Boston
Washington · WR · Junior (RS)
He's grown on me. Boston doesn't always wow you, but he finds ways to separate consistently enough and make contested catches when he needs to.
Colton Hood
Tennessee · CB · Sophomore (RS)
Hood is young and worth developing, able to naturally stick with vertical routes and willing to hit, but he's also not instant coffee as a player.
Omar Cooper Jr.
Indiana · WR · Junior (RS)
Cooper might lack the explosiveness of a typical No. 1 target, but he could be a higher-end WR2 who does a lot of things well or very well.
T.J. Parker
Clemson · Edge · Junior
There are some stretches in games where Parker can be quiet, but he really does have most of what you're looking for (size, length, speed, pass-rush ability) in an edge defender.
Avieon Terrell
Clemson · CB · Junior
I think his size limitations (5-11, 186 pounds) will hurt his draft stock a bit, but he's a hyper competitive player who will take on all comers, which is what I love most about Terrell.
Cashius Howell
Texas A&M · Edge · Senior
If it makes anyone feel better after his arm length measured 30 1/4 inches at the combine, Howell checked in at 31 inches at his pro day, which is pretty close to Micah Parsons" data-link="/players/micah-parsons/" data-slug="micah-parsons"> Micah Parsons (31 1/2 inches) and Trey Hendrickson" data-link="/players/trey-hendrickson/" data-slug="trey-hendrickson"> Trey Hendrickson (32 inches). Howell will be best suited for schemes that account for his smaller, lighter frame, but his caliber of rush skill is very appealing.
Kayden McDonald
Ohio State · DT · Junior
Arguably the best double-team dispatcher in the draft, McDonald fills a specific role but should be fairly scheme-diverse and can instantly upgrade your run stopping.
Blake Miller
Clemson · OT · Senior
Miller's resume includes 54 starts and nearly 4,000 snaps, most of them at right tackle. He's not the quickest or the strongest, but Miller just gets the job done.
Max Iheanachor
Arizona State · OT · Senior
Iheanachor is oozing with upside, but you sometimes have to remind yourself how new to football he is. He'd be an excellent long-term investment late in the first or early in the second round.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Toledo · S · Senior
He's a tall, rangy safety who earned a reputation for big plays (nine forced fumbles, five INTs), but McNeill-Warren's coverage instincts look a bit underdeveloped right now.
Caleb Lomu
Utah · OT · Sophomore (RS)
Lomu has a good frame and can move, but he's not quite the athlete Spencer Fano is, and he's more of a finesse blocker than a power guy.
CJ Allen
Georgia · LB · Junior
Allen's highlight reel isn't littered with a ton of flashy plays or massive hits, but he has a high floor because of his instincts and football IQ.
Chris Johnson
San Diego State · CB · Senior
Johnson had his hands full at the Senior Bowl, but he's a very polished and natural corner with decent traits. He could be a longtime starter, even if he's never a star.
D'Angelo Ponds
Indiana · NB · Junior
Fernando Mendoza stole the IU pro day headlines, but Ponds ran a reported 4.36 40-yard dash, reinforcing his status in my mind as easily one of the best players, pound for pound, in this class.
Anthony Hill Jr.
Texas · LB · Junior
There has been some recent buzz in draft media coverage surrounding Hill, who is a three-down linebacker with enough athleticism to compensate for average size (6-2, 238 pounds). He can cover, rush and tackle and could start Day 1 for some teams.
Caleb Banks
Florida · DT · Senior
Banks has all the earmarks of a boom-or-bust pick, with a worrisome injury history (including time lost to a foot injury last season and another foot injury reportedly suffered at the combine) and record of inconsistent play. His high notes and pro-ready body are highly enticing, however.
Ty Simpson
Alabama · QB · Junior (RS)
With only one season of tape -- about half of it really good -- and a smaller frame (6-1, 211 pounds), Simpson has some knocks against him. But some team is going to roll the dice on the arm talent and off-schedule playmaking we saw early in the SEC slate, before injuries began to pile up.
Zion Young
Missouri · Edge · Senior
His ordinary pro-day testing numbers put a tiny damper on what had been a very positive pre-draft process to that point. Young still will have his share of suitors, though. He has a pro-made physique and plays with an edge.
Brandon Cisse
South Carolina · CB · Junior
You see him allowing some separation on tape, but Cisse appears to have some makeup speed -- and a 4.41 40 at SC's pro day backed that observation up nicely.
Gabe Jacas
Illinois · Edge · Senior
Jacas' pro-day testing (he reportedly ran a 1.59-second 10-yard split) should help his case after a hamstring injury prevented him from working out at the combine. He's a bully of a rusher with anvils for hands. It wouldn't even stun me if he went late in Round 1.
Jacob Rodriguez
Texas Tech · LB · Senior
I've been pegging him as an early Day 2 selection for most of the pre-draft process, but I am starting to think someone might take a chance on Rodriguez's elite intangibles late in Round 1. His stock seems to keep soaring in league circles.
Lee Hunter
Texas Tech · DT · Senior
There is a wide variety of opinions on Hunter's value among NFL evaluators, but his mass, nastiness and power will be enough to convince some team to take him on Day 2.
Chase Bisontis
Texas A&M · OG · Junior
He could be the second true guard to go off the board. Bisontis is a high-floor, medium-ceiling blocker with no glaring pitfalls as a prospect.
Malachi Lawrence
UCF · Edge · Senior
I might have overhyped him a tad by putting him late Round 1 in a recent mock, but Lawrence's testing was too good for him to last very long, even in a deeper Edge class. While his tape is good, not elite, he's an energetic rusher with great get-off.
Christen Miller
Georgia · DT · Junior (RS)
Miller is adept at using his hands to defeat blocks and leveraging his way into the backfield, even if he never was a huge producer (four sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss) at Georgia, where lower snap totals in the Bulldogs' deep rotation capped his playmaking.
R Mason Thomas
Oklahoma · Edge · Senior
With size limitations (6-2, 241 pounds) and an injury history that requires vetting, Thomas won't be for everyone, even with his natural rush ability. A 7.40-second three-cone time at his pro-day workout also didn't help his draft cause.
Jake Golday
Cincinnati · LB · Senior
He still appears to be developing his LB instincts, but Golday also clearly has the athleticism and desire to develop into a very useful player in time. His 6.89-second three-cone time at Cincinnati's pro day should open some eyes.
Jadarian Price
Notre Dame · RB · Junior (RS)
Not quite as fast or strong as college teammate Jeremiyah Love, Price nonetheless does a lot well and has the look of an eventual starter. His 4.28-second short-shuttle time at Notre Dame's pro day is a number befitting a DB.
Chris Bell
Louisville · WR · Senior
Bell is nearly four months into his recovery from an ACL tear, which means his readiness to start the 2026 season is in question, but the upside for this 222-pounder with YAC ability appears strong.
Chris Brazzell II
Tennessee · WR · Junior (RS)
Recent Tennessee receivers have been a mixed bag in the NFL, but Brazzell's length, hands and vertical ability give him a chance to be a big-play threat in the right system.
Josiah Trotter
Missouri · LB · Sophomore (RS)
With terrific bloodlines and LB instincts that the son of four-time Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter has been developing since he was in the cradle, he brings intensity and a propensity for knifing into the backfield for TFLs.
Germie Bernard
Alabama · WR · Senior
Bernard might never have the deep-threat chops to be more than a highly reliable and tough No. 2, but he could help an offense raise its floor with strong hands and great effort as a blocker.
A.J. Haulcy
LSU · S · Senior
I don't know if he'll ever turn into Xavier McKinney" data-link="/players/xavier-mckinney/" data-slug="xavier-mckinney"> Xavier McKinney at safety, but Haulcy has good size (6-foot, 215 pounds) and proven ball production (10 career INTs, 19 pass breakups) and should be able to make plays if his lack of elite speed doesn't hold him back.
Keionte Scott
Miami · DB · Senior
After three years of nondescript play at Auburn, Scott was weaponized into a slot demon and blitzer at Miami. He'll turn 25 in August and has some tackling issues, but teams seem very interested in his services, especially after his 4.33-second 40-yard dash at Miami's pro day.
Eli Stowers
Vanderbilt · TE · Senior
Hyper-athletic "move" tight end and converted QB who has the receiving chops to surprise people with how high he's drafted, even if Stowers' blocking is a real limitation.
Keith Abney II
Arizona State · CB · Junior
Abney has two solid years of tape and is a quality athlete, but his smaller frame (5-10, 187 pounds) and lack of slot reps worry me just a bit. I'd try him outside but be prepared to move him inside if needed.
Zachariah Branch
Georgia · WR · Junior
Branch is a slot weapon and punt return threat who can add some zest to a team wanting to bring speed to the lineup, but his small frame (5-9, 177 pounds) and limited route tree could cap his ceiling a bit.
Kyle Louis
Pittsburgh · LB · Junior (RS)
For teams that use a high rate of nickel personnel, Louis can act as a hybrid safety-linebacker who can handle coverage duty with good speed. He plays with urgency and intensity.
Emmanuel Pregnon
Oregon · OG · Senior
A guard-only prospect with solid tape but few dominant stretches, Pregnon profiles as a steady, massive, starter-grade blocker inside.
Derrick Moore
Michigan · Edge · Senior
A somewhat limited athlete, Moore wins with power and desire and will make his battles into personal vendettas. He's a tough, solid rotational edge who should be fairly pro-ready.
Zakee Wheatley
Penn State · S · Senior
Wheatley is a long safety with limited range. He's also still developing, but his traits are worth investing in. His pro-day times in the three-cone (6.89) and short shuttle (4.11) made me sit up in my chair.
Caleb Tiernan
Northwestern · OT · Senior
Tiernan has a somewhat unusual frame, measuring 6-7 but with fairly short arms (32 1/4 inches). He could be tried at guard, but most of his 43 career starts were at left tackle. Though he's sneaky athletic, he's hardly dominant.
Ted Hurst
Georgia State · WR · Senior
Hurst was a fun watch at the Senior Bowl, where the competition clearly was not too big for him. He moves well, is tough to jam and can get vertical. A potential star if provided with the proper development in the right environment.
Max Klare
Ohio State · TE · Junior (RS)
Natural, savvy receiver who could be a steady producer if given chances to catch the ball regularly. Klare doesn't offer much as a blocker but fits the detached TE role well.
Domonique Orange
Iowa State · DT · Senior
Orange is a space eater with forklift strength and a good motor, although his pass-rush utility is pretty limited at nose tackle.
Genesis Smith
Arizona · S · Junior
A long, linear post safety with ballhawking skills, Smith has open-field tackling concerns that make him something of a risky last line of defense.
Malachi Fields
Notre Dame · WR · Senior
The more I've studied Fields, the more I think I overrated him in the first version of the top 100. He's a big possession receiver with a chiseled frame and some quickness but not much vertical speed or natural separation ability.
Devin Moore
Florida · CB · Senior
Moore's injury history is a bit troublesome, and his pro-day 40 times in the low 4.6s will limit his appeal schematically, but for zone teams that seek length in their corners, Moore could be a fit.
Treydan Stukes
Arizona · NB · Senior
Arizona's “other” safety, Stukes was a key part of the Wildcats defense and offers plus athleticism in a leaner frame, likely profiling best as a nickel. He's also turning 25 in September.
Michael Trigg
Baylor · TE · Senior
If teams are comfortable with Trigg after some past off-field issues, as well as his below-average blocking, he could be a terrific receiving weapon. The potential is strong, especially if he's paired with a veteran mentor.
Keyron Crawford
Auburn · Edge · Senior
Crawford is a late bloomer who looks the part and had a solid Senior Bowl week, but his limited production and the lack of a full athletic-testing picture could keep him out of Round 2.
Austin Barber
Florida · OL · Senior
A 6-7 college tackle who could be tried inside in the NFL, Barber had two rough early outings (against Miami and Texas A&M) but finished the season strong.
Antonio Williams
Clemson · WR · Junior (RS)
Williams' role might always be limited by his frame, and he lacks a defined superpower, but his quickness and production can't be overlooked. He improved his three-cone time from 7.0 seconds at the combine to 6.76 at Clemson's pro day.
LT Overton
Alabama · Edge · Senior
As the NFL goes more positionless on defense, Overton has a chance to make it as a hybrid defender. But his recent pro-day weight of 287 pounds (up 13 from the combine) tells me some teams might like him better as an interior penetrator.
Dani Dennis-Sutton
Penn State · Edge · Senior
DDS was a combine star who has everything you want in an edge, for just about any system. He might never be an elite rusher and has had some knee injuries, but there's a solid player to be molded.
Gennings Dunker
Iowa · OL · Senior
Some teams might try him at right tackle before kicking him inside. Dunker has shown some stiffness in pass protection, but he's a bar bouncer in the run game.
Jaishawn Barham
Michigan · Edge · Senior
You have to have a plan for Barham: Is he an off-ball LB? A developmental rusher? Will he take on a hybrid role? But whatever the strategy, Barham is the type of explosive, high-energy disruptor who'll help out in some way.
Keylan Rutledge
Georgia Tech · OG · Senior
Leaving him off the top 100 last time was an oversight. Rutledge plays out over his skis at times, but he has the demeanor, force and reach to make it as a mauling guard.
Romello Height
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
Height turns 25 next week, and his build might restrict him to being a 3-4 OLB rusher. He's just OK against the run but has some tangible rush talent worth mining and is a better athlete than advertised.
Darrell Jackson Jr.
Florida State · DT · Senior
Similar to Caleb Banks, Jackson is a hulking specimen who offers flashes of greatness and streaks of disappointment. Can a great DL coach coax the best from Jackson, or will he always leave you wanting more?
Elijah Sarratt
Indiana · WR · Senior
Sarratt was highly regarded inside the Hoosiers program for his reliability and pro-ready attentiveness. He's steady and highly productive but might always have a cap to his big-play ability.
Brenen Thompson
Mississippi State · WR · Senior
Thompson is a speed demon who can be a weapon in the right OC's hands and with the right quarterback, but he has room to grow before he's a well-rounded receiver.
Davison Igbinosun
Ohio State · CB · Senior
He's a toolsy and long-framed corner who started as a freshman and never missed a game. However, Igbinosun is penalty-prone, has limited ball production and will give too much cushion in coverage.
Chris McClellan
Missouri · DT · Senior
He's a thick, long-framed scheme-wrecker who elevated his game in 2025 with a handful of big plays at timely junctures. McClellan can thrive as a one-technique in a slanting scheme.
Malik Muhammad
Texas · CB · Junior
I'd like to see him get stronger and improve his tackling, but Muhammad has natural feel in coverage and will have a chance to make it on the outside.
Jalen Farmer
Kentucky · OG · Junior (RS)
He might only be a guard, but Farmer is a sneaky-good athlete with nice length. After never showing much at Florida, he really emerged last season at Kentucky.
Related Links
Bryce Lance
North Dakota State · WR · Senior
Trey Lance's little brother turns 24 in August, but he has the kind of vertical prowess, athletic traits and college production (at the FCS level) that virtually guarantee a Day 2 slot.
Gracen Halton
Oklahoma · DT · Senior
His size worried me and kept him off my first top 100, but the feedback I've received on Halton has been pretty positive. I expect a team to take a chance on this interior penetrator with a hot motor on Day 2.
Bud Clark
TCU · S · Senior
Being a three-time captain with 15 career INTs is a good start for a prospect. His age (turning 24 in May) isn't ideal, but Clark's strong showings at the Senior Bowl and combine have his stock on the uptick.
Joshua Josephs
Tennessee · Edge · Senior
Adding strength will be a Year 1 goal for Josephs, but he has the kind of natural pass-rush ability and length that typically earns a top-100 selection.
Logan Jones
Iowa · C · Senior
I wanted to find a spot in the top 100 for the undersized but athletic and technically sound Jones. Iowa guys just get it done, and Jones still is relatively new to the position after switching from the D-line a few years ago.
Garrett Nussmeier
LSU · QB · Senior
Nussmeier might never be anyone's unquestioned starter, but he's helped boost his stock after a disappointing final season with a solid Senior Bowl and combine. He has NFL bloodlines and NFL arm talent, and that'll get him far in a QB class with loads of questions.
Skyler Bell
Connecticut · WR · Senior
Bell just missed the cut last time, but his pro-day times (4.11-second shuttle, 6.65-second three-cone) were too good to ignore following a standout combine performance. He made some wild catches last season and big plays both early and late in games.
Mike Washington Jr.
Arkansas · RB · Senior
Washington was another player I hated leaving out in the first top 100, so he makes it for version 2.0. He was productive on a bad team, stood out at the combine and has the body to withstand wear and tear.
Deion Burks
Oklahoma · WR · Senior
I won't panic after a subpar three-cone time (7.21 at 184 pounds) at his pro day. Burks still has the burst and post-catch creativity to be a YAC threat in the league.
Markel Bell
Miami · OT · Senior
At this point, I'd be shocked if Bell lasted past Day 2, because Trent Brown" data-link="/players/trent-brown/" data-slug="trent-brown"> Trent Brown-sized tackles don't grow on trees and the OT talent drops off precipitously after a certain point. He's scheme-specific but has the rarest of traits that can't be taught.
Connor Lew
Auburn · C · Junior
The former wrestler has a sawed-off frame and suffered a torn ACL in October, which figures to put his early-career readiness in doubt. But if you can wait, he might be the best run-blocking center in the class.
DROPPED OUT:
Trey Zuhn III, OL, Texas A&M (previously ranked No. 84 in version 1.0)
Jake Slaughter, C, Florida (No. 87)
Justin Joly, TE, N.C. State (No. 93)
Eric McAlister, WR, TCU (No. 95)
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan (No. 97)
Kage Casey, OT, Boise State (No. 98)
Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State (No. 99)
Julian Neal, DB, Arkansas (No. 100)