2026 NFL Draft final combined big board: Buckeyes defender is No. 1, with Fernando Mendoza right behind him and Rueben Bain Jr. top-5

· Yahoo Sports

This is it. The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, so it’s time to lock in prospect rankings ahead of the offseason’s marquee event.

Here are the top 75 players of this draft class, combining the individual big boards of Yahoo Sports NFL Draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, and using a ranking methodology of averaging a player’s position on both boards, with any player unranked on either board assigned a value of 76.

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Latest NFL mock draft | Big Boards: Consensus Top 75 • Nate Tice • Charles McDonald

A true defensive weapon. It’s hard to not notice Reese on the field even if he lines up all over it. Reese was a revelation this season. He can impact the game on the edge as both a run defender and pass rusher, and has real off-ball linebacker chops chasing down run plays sideline-to-sideline and in coverage. Reese is an outstanding athlete with strength and speed, and plays with an energy that is also infectious. In an NFL with more creative defensive coordinators who are willing to move their front seven defenders around, Reese is the ultimate version of a do-it-all defender. Even if he moves to playing on the edge full-time, he has already flashed the bend and explosiveness to win consistently as a pass rusher, with even more to tap into. If he stays off-ball, he reminds me of Jaylon Smith before he suffered his knee injury at Notre Dame. — Nate Tice

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, a loose arm and good overall frame. Mendoza can put some real zip on the football on underneath and intermediate throws. He made field out throws with college hashes seem routine. His footwork has polish and he already has rapid improved pocket movement. He also 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. Those are encouraging signs 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.

There are some similarities to Matt Ryan. Mendoza 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 the real 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 he’s getting credit for, with a floor and polished understanding to play right away and not be a disaster. — NT

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 upside to be an elite, premier player in the league. — Charles McDonald

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

Bain has been an all-star, pairing a powerful frame with high-end athleticism to be an impactful player for one of the best defenses in the country. Bain has a shot to be the first edge rusher off the board and for all concerns about his arm length, he’s already adjusted his game around that to focus on power and leverage on his way to the quarterback. — CM

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

Freeling likely cemented his status as a top-10 pick after an incredible workout at the scouting 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 piece of one of the most physically imposing offenses in the country. His upside is through the roof. — CM

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

A smart player who is 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 shows 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 has a feel for playing in zone coverage and timing up his breaks on the football and that’s going to translate right away in the NFL. — NT

Clemson’s offense struggled at times last 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 drew 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

A long-legged and fluid outside receiver, Tate has good hands and is comfortable extending for catches away from his body, with a real knack for coming down with catches near the sideline. He has good game speed and can eat up ground with his strides, sometimes surprising cornerbacks with how quickly he is able to close space. Tate’s best asset as a route runner is his ability to throttle speeds and sink into his routes. He has a real feel for finding space against zone coverage and his sideline catches are just so enjoyable to watch. I really like Tate’s game as a pass catcher who checks a lot of boxes, even if he might not have the highest of ceilings. He can help out any offense and team setup. — NT

Lomu hasn’t gotten as much fame and praise as teammate Spencer Fano, but he might have a more NFL-ready body and game. He’s a big, powerful explosive run blocker with a nasty mean streak and has upside to continue improving as a pass protector. — CM

Mauigoa has good size and plays with a wide, balanced base. He is a strong and efficient mover, with his smarts showing up in how quickly he moves to his assignment in the run game, maximizing what might be a lack of high-end overall athleticism. He already displays polished technique with his hand usage as well. Guard might be his best spot in the NFL, but he is a good enough athlete to have a chance to stay on the outside because he completely understands what he is as an athlete and football player. He can sometimes get out over his skis when working to the second level or working to finish a play, something that again might indicate a lack of top-end athleticism. He still should be an instant starter at the next level because of his clean technique, size, smarts and overall game. — NT

Here’s the unquestioned, consensus top tight end in this year’s class. Sadiq doesn’t have prototypical size for the position, but his athleticism will immediately make him a matchup nightmare for linebackers and slot defensive backs. Sadiq isn’t necessarily a road grader in the run game, but he gives enough effort to at least be a functional asset toward the run game. — CM

Faulk is a smooth athlete who can bend and knife inside on stunts and really disrupt run games. He has developed a much better pass rush plan this season and with vastly improved hand usage. He is built like a traditional 4-3 defensive end, but Faulk aligns across the defensive line for Auburn and can be used as an inside pass rusher and even as a two-gapper in a three-down front. Faulk isn’t strictly a flashy player against the pass. He is willing to scrap against the run and will meet pullers at the point of attack and absolutely dominates tight ends in the run game. His fluidity, length and hard-working style has all the makings of a disruptive edge. Faulk still has room for improvement, but he’s young and has already shown the ability to take over games, but not quite consistently. Even if it doesn’t always show up in the box score, Faulk is already a strong run defender who will translate to the next level. Even if he becomes just an average pass rusher, that’s a good defender to have on your team. — NT

McCoy is a quick-twitch athlete who constantly makes plays on the football. He has good size and already shows the footwork and patience to stay sticky with receivers and be consistent in man coverage. McCoy suffered an ACL injury in January of 2025, and he hasn’t played or really done much since then to show teams where he is at physically. There are times where he is indifferent against the run, but his skill set and athleticism are just too fun of a package at the cornerback spot to drop too far. — NT

Woods is athletic, versatile and has the ability to be disruptive from multiple alignments. He didn’t have the dominant season many projected for him coming into the 2025 season, but he still showed enough to keep teams intrigued that he might live up to the sky-high potential that his athleticism gives him. — CM

Fano is a highly skilled technician at left tackle for Utah and should slide in as a capable blindside protector immediately for his new team. He’s not always the most forceful mover of people, but his baseline traits make for a quality starter right away. — CM

A big, long right tackle who came to football late and went to JUCO before joining Arizona State, Iheanachor can easily be labeled as a “project,” but his film indicates more polish and refinement than you’d expect. He has ideal size and is an excellent athlete who can stay balanced and latched onto his blocks. His hand usage got much cleaner and more patient throughout his final season, an indication of the way Iheanachor can adjust and refine his game quickly. I’m bullish on Iheanachor. He has the strength to move defenders in the run game and is comfortable taking on the better athletes in pass protection. He can stay on the right side but has the movement skills to bump over to the left side down the road for a team that continues to develop him. He’s an exciting combination of tools with enough real film that playing right away won’t be too much for him. — NT

Tyson has struggled with injuries over the past year, but when he’s at his best he’s an explosive downfield threat with legit speed and contested catch ability. Tyson has the potential to be a WR1 in the NFL with his ability to be a game-breaking “X.” He just needs to be healthy. — CM

This is pure planet theory stuff here but Banks has a combination of size, athleticism and smarts to grow into an impact NFL defender. He played in only three games this season, but his ability to be disruptive off the snap and affect offensive lines is already impressive. The tackling has a long way to go, but everything else is NFL-ready. — CM

Ioane is one of the few high-end interior offensive line prospects in this draft. He is largely a solid guard, and even though he struggles at times with consistency, there aren’t many players who appear to project as a Day 1 starting offensive lineman in the NFL. That alone should get the physical, athletic guard locked in as a top-40 selection. — CM

A smooth route runner in a big frame, Boston can easily get in and out of his breaks and is agile enough to be a dangerous punt returner despite being 6-foot-4, 212 pounds. Boston is a hands catcher with range who can quickly transition into a runner because of the confidence he has in his ball skills. His ability to consistently adjust for the football, combined with his frame, makes him a weapon along the sideline and in the red zone. Boston has build-up speed with the ball in his hands and can pull away with his long strides, and to cap it all off he has a knack for the little things like blocking and route timing. While Boston doesn’t seem to have overwhelming speed or burst, he is a fluid athlete who can win in isolated situations and at all three levels. It’s not easy to find a true “X” wide receiver body type with actual skills like this. — NT

As it has for many years, Clemson is sending multiple highly-touted defensive linemen into the draft. The athletic, heavy-handed Parker joins defensive tackle Peter Woods in the top 25 of this big board. Parker might not have the super athletic traits to end up as a perennial 10-sack player in the NFL, but he has the chance to at least be a plus starter on quality defensive lines in the future. At 263 pounds, Parker’s frame gives him the option to either be a true defensive end in a four-man front or get a little heavier to be a flex player in more creative defenses. — CM

Concepcion is an explosive weapon that has had college coaches at multiple stops figuring out every type of way to get the ball in his hands. He’s a twitchy athlete that can create big plays as a receiver, rusher or returner and evolved his game to showcase a more “real” wide receiver skill set in 2025 at Texas A&M in terms of winning on the outside. His route running still lacks polish, but his play strength, balance and quickness helps him stay free and create space from physical cornerbacks. Concepcion can create with the ball in his hands, something always highly valued, but still needs to refine his route tree and consistency catching the football (seven drops this past season on some easily catchable passes, too).

He’s kind of what Kadarius Toney was supposed to be. — NT

The strength of McDonald’s game is his, well, strength. He is a true run-stuffing defensive tackle, with the typical pass rushing abilities associated with such a profile. He has good initial pop and can plug the interior and hold up against double-teams, which makes him a valuable player on early downs, with the added bonus of having the awareness and soundness to actually be involved in the tackle on the play; 65 combined tackles and a steady helping of TFLs is not nothing for a player usually tasked with eating blocks. He needs to continue to add to his pass rush arsenal and plan to make him a more dynamic player, but he’s still an easy enough mover that he can stay on the field on pass rushing downs. It’s easy to envision McDonald as an effective plugger. — NT

Like his older brother A.J., a star cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, Avieon Terrell has a chance to be a first-round pick and a longtime NFL starter. He might not be the most athletic corner in the draft, but he has the movement skills that should translate in a big way at the next level. Terrell might not ever be a true lockdown cornerback in the NFL, but he has enough skills to be considered early in the draft. — CM

Hood is a frisky cornerback who can consistently stay sticky in man coverage. He does a great job of never getting out of whack with his footwork and will stay balanced while staying latched onto his assignment. He is a good athlete who can close quickly on the football, and his competitiveness really shows up when defending the run. He’s a consistent tackler and doesn’t play with any fear. Hood’s competitive style can get him in trouble at times as he can get a little too handsy, but he checks a lot of boxes as an athlete and with his ability to play in man and having the awareness and burst to fit into zone-heavy schemes as well. — NT

A toolsy safety with size and explosiveness, McNeil-Warren plays with an edge on every snap that’s palpable. It’s hard to not notice where the future NFL prospect is located when watching Toledo’s defense. He’s a hard hitter who also has the length and range to play as the deep safety in coverage. His burst and physicality show up when he has to come down and play the run or when jarring the ball loose from pass catchers over the middle. He has a knack for being around the ball and forced a heaping of fumbles, but can be a bit inconsistent in how he closes in the run game. I like McNeil-Warren’s game in any type of modern defense, with his size being an asset against bigger wide receivers and athletic tight ends, there’s something to him and how he is always around the football. — NT

The only thing Allen might be missing is elite speed as far as his draft profile goes. Allen earned time as a true freshman on Georgia’s talented defense and ascended to a leadership role quickly. His smarts, physicality and willingness to do the dirty work helped make him a star in Athens and should help him get into the starting lineup quickly in the NFL. — CM

Thieneman did a little bit of everything for the Ducks, including being used in a rover position that is becoming increasingly popular. Being centrally located, whether on the back end as a deep safety or playing somewhere in the box, is where Thieneman does his best work. He is perfect for teams that will run quarters-based coverages that allow him to be a true two-way defender against the run and pass and would unlock his play recognition, overall athleticism and burst to close on the football. But I think he can find a role in any type of defense and be a good player for a long time. — NT

A quick and twitchy route runner, Lemon does his damage primarily from the slot. While Lemon doesn’t have outstanding size he can play bigger than his height and weight because of his great hand-eye coordination and ball skills. Those traits show up in contested catch situations and in the red zone. Lemon is a chainmover from the inside and also a big-play threat because of his speed, after-catch ability and knack for finding soft spots against zone. I have questions about how Lemon’s game will look on the outside or against more press-happy NFL cornerbacks. If he can win from on the ball and show that press doesn’t stifle him as much as it did at times in college against larger cornerbacks, then Lemon’s ceiling and thus value is higher. But, as of right now, I consider him a slot-only player, a good one, but I can get only so high with that archetype. — NT

Hill is like the opposite of CJ Allen. He has the speed, size and physicality that teams desperately want in the middle of their defense, but his attention to detail in terms of being where he is supposed to be schematically wasn’t always his strongest suit. He was banged up a bit during his final season with the Longhorns, but in a class that lacks defined star power at many positions, he may end up a beneficiary of teams taking a bet on his athletic upside. — CM

Nussmeier had an inconsistent final season as he survived the death throes of the Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge. He has a below-average build and isn’t an overwhelming athlete, but his gunslinger mentality maximizes every concept that’s run for him and he knows how to get the ball in play. Nussmeier will push the ball and does so with clean timing and ball placement. He has plenty of arm and maximizes it with his timing. He can get himself in trouble with his aggression, but he really makes constant good decisions with the football and plays to win the game rather than just find the safest answer. I see a potential solid starter in the right situation with a good understanding of properly playing quarterback. — NT

Young is a fun prospect to watch. He’s not the most explosive or bendiest pass rusher in the world, but he has a rugged approach to the game that should endear himself to teams looking for high-end depth on the edge of their defense. Young excels at stuffing the run and appears to have the upside to keep progressing as a pass rusher. — CM

Miller is not the most dynamic defensive lineman that Georgia has had during the Kirby Smart era, but he’s a steady player who should be a quality piece on the interior in the NFL. He runs hot and cold, but his best tape is good enough to land him on this top 50 in what is perceived to be a weaker class. — CM

Vanderbilt was on the national stage this past season and it might have a highly drafted prospect in Stowers, who is one of the most athletic pass catchers in the draft. Stowers set a record for TEs with a 45.5-inch vertical leap and he continued his strong workout by running a 4.51 40-yard dash. The athleticism transfers to the field as well, giving some proof of concept that he’s not just a workout warrior. — CM

Every defense could use a dirty work edge defender and Thomas fits that bill easily. He doesn’t necessarily excel in every single task he’s asked to do, but he is at least competent as an all-around player and shows flashes of brilliance throughout his film. He was a big reason why the Sooners’ defensive line was one of the most feared in the country and should be a high-end rotation player at worst in the NFL. — CM

Age (he will be 25 on draft day) and medicals are going to be Mesidor’s big hang-ups. But, man, he can rush the passer and is relentless in doing so. Mesidor can vary his pass rush moves and has shown the ability to win with an arsenal of moves or with power. He doesn’t have overwhelming length, but can get his hands inside to drive blockers back. He also has aligned across the defensive line over his college career, opening up positional versatility for sub packages at the next level. Mesidor looks like he can be a good secondary pass rusher for a team that plays with relentless energy. But he might be maxed out as a player, too. — NT

Good things seem to happen when the ball goes Cooper’s way. Cool things seem to happen, too. Cooper’s contact balance and ball skills lead to exciting, and explosive, plays. He is a tough runner with burst, feels like the first tackler never brings him down. There is some rigidness with his movement, but he is strong and can keep his feet going and find ways to create a few yards with the ball in his hands. His hand-eye coordination is also an asset and makes him a valid weapon in the red zone and in contested situations. He primarily worked from the slot, but has some strong reps on the outside. He at the very least looks like he can be a strong inside option that can moonlight on the outside, too. He’s almost like a premium version of Khalil Shakir. — NT

A mountain of a man, Proctor can completely wipe out defenders as soon as he gets his hands on them in the run game. Despite being so large, Proctor has above-average balance and footwork. Like most large players, he can play high at times and can get caught getting slow out of his stance against speedier edge rushers. He can also lack sustain in pass protection and fall off his blocks in the run game against players he’s unable to fully latch onto, something that might get harder at the next level. Proctor still has to work on his consistency, but he’s young, and his weight (352 pounds) was encouraging at the combine. His tools probably have NFL offensive line coaches excited to try and take Proctor’s game to the next level. But I have reservations when considering the history of players succeeding with his frame. — NT

Bisontis is an explosive athlete who can fire out of his stance. His athleticism shows up with his ability to bend, create leverage and readjust his blocks with some real pop on delivery. Bisontis is light on his feet as a puller and can consistently adjust when working on the second level. He can get upright as a pass protector, which will cause his footwork and balance to unravel, and combined with his lack of overwhelming length (31 3/4-inch arms) led to some flags in his career. He looks like an early starter at guard who can fit in any type of scheme because of his movement ability and play strength. — NT

Smooth. That’s the best way to describe Johnson. An easy mover who can mirror wide receivers without getting too handsy. Johnson has the athleticism and balance to play in man coverage, but he also has the awareness and eyes to be a valid zone corner with real ball skills to take advantage of his positioning. He’s a competitive player willing to take on blockers and is more than willing to stick his nose in to make the tackle. Overall, Johnson looks like a good outside starting corner that can fit in any type of defensive scheme at the next level. — NT

Ponds is just a football player. He lacks size, but he’s explosive, intelligent and tenacious, a combination that lets him play bigger than his size and impact games constantly. I understand if there’s a cap on how high he ends up going, but Ponds could stick on the outside in a zone-heavy system because of his explosiveness and ball skills. Or he could end up being a slot dynamo because of his toughness, awareness and competitiveness. Just a player you like having on your team. — NT

Scott is an older prospect, who will be 25 at the start of his rookie year, but he has the playmaking ability to immediately be a weapon in the secondary. Scott really made his presence felt during the Hurricanes’ run through the playoffs en route to the national championship game. As an older slot defender, maybe this is a bit high for him, but the ability to win in multiple ways and get his hands on the ball as an aggressor in the secondary will be key. — CM

Another Penn State edge has dominated the scouting combine, stop me if you’ve heard this before. Dennis-Sutton has been a longtime contributor for the Nittany Lions’ defense and he cemented his status as at least a Day 2 pick by having an outrageous combine workout relative to his size (6-5, 256). Sutton had nearly a 40-inch vertical leap and was one inch away from 11 feet on the broad jump, firmly cementing him as one of the most explosive players in his draft class. He has a solid all-around game to give him credence beyond the athletic results. — CM

Lance, yes he’s Trey’s brother, is a springy athlete who is a valid three-level weapon because of his size, ball skills, speed and overall athleticism. Despite being all of 6-foot-3, Lance is consistently smooth getting in and out of his breaks, with real burst to maximize the separation he creates. He easily overwhelmed the FCS competition, but that matches his high-end testing at the combine. Lance benefits from routes that allow him to use his speed, and his route running could still use further polish, but he snatches the football consistently away from his body, shows loose movement on vertical route stems, and has explosive play ability that never goes out of style. — NT

Jacas should smoothly fit the role of a dirty work defender in an NFL team’s edge rotation. He gets a bit too buried in winning his assignment and becoming disconnected from what’s happening in the play, but that’s not a fatal flaw and can be viewed as a positive for some teams. The upside here is likely a quality EDGE2 for a team with a true leadoff pass rusher. — CM

Pregnon is not the flashiest guard out there, but he gets the job done. The former Wyoming and USC transfer was a mainstay in Oregon’s offense last season and should be a capable starter at the next level. He has issues to fix in terms of leverage, but a potential starting guard is going to get drafted highly in this class. He’s probably going to be best in a gap scheme that utilizes his ability to be explosive in short areas. — CM

Howell is a bit more of an idea than a solidified edge prospect who should be starting early in his NFL career. He ran fast at the scouting combine, but had some poor scores in the jumps that highlight a concern: the ability to be a stout, explosive player at the point of attack while not sacrificing the integrity of the defense. Howell feels like the ultimate boom-bust defensive lineman in this year’s class. — CM

Like most players who worked out at the combine, Cisse helped himself by having some incredibly explosive jumps that match the tape of a feisty, athletic cornerback who should be able to step in and play in a variety of schemes. He fell underneath the radar playing for an underachieving Gamecocks team, but he has a chance to flourish in the NFL. — CM

Stukes is a former walk-on and older prospect, but it’s hard to not to love how he plays. He is smart and shows off his experience with his play recognition and how he can read the quarterback, with a real feel for when to break on the football when working from the slot. He has good size and length, and tested well, but is better going forward than when he has to flip his hips. That’s why I like him best as a starter in the slot who can hold his own in coverage with the size and tackling skills to hold up against the run, with the added bonus of being a tough defender against underneath quick hitters and as a blitzer. Stukes also provides safety versatility in two-high schemes or with defenses that like to disguise and invert their coverages. I’m a fan of Stukes’ game. — NT

Orange is a sturdy body in the middle but will surprise blockers with his quickness and violence right after the snap. Orange will get into the backfield and disrupt plays, but doesn’t have a lot of production to speak of. Some of that is because of how Iowa State plays defense, but some of that is also Orange’s lack of consistency in capitalizing on his instant wins. He also shows real effort in trying to run after the quarterback and ball carriers down the field on things like draws and screens. I do think there’s something here with his length, quickness and strength to both eat blocks and get into the backfield. His passing down role is still limited, but he is valid on defensive loops and twists to stay on the field on late downs. Overall, I like Orange's combination of length, violence, and quickness that speaks more than what his college career production pointed to. — NT

Crawford is a fireball off the edge. He is a bendy athlete who can turn the corner while maintaining his speed and balance. His acceleration is notable when he is closing on the football, and that athleticism shows up when he is asked to drop into coverage as well (which is part of the reason his pass rush production is more good than outstanding). He doesn’t have ideal length and is still learning the more advanced aspects of rushing the passer, but his twitch and relentlessness, along with some positional versatility — he was asked to drop in coverage at a decent clip — make him a prospect easy to like, even without high-end production and the lack of real size to hold up at the point of attack in the run game. — NT

Simpson is willing to let that football fly. Even with less-than-ideal size (6-1, 211 pounds) at quarterback, Simpson has plenty of arm to push the football and is willing to do so. He has a consistently quick release and can push the ball without having much room in the pocket to work from. He is a good athlete who can create a bit with his legs. While Simpson’s overall accuracy is solid enough, he can have moments where throws get away from him, and his aggressive style can also lead to negative plays and stretches. The optimistic view is that he wasn’t healthy for all of 2025 and that he should improve with more starts. The pessimistic view is that’s because he would take a few too many hits on a smaller frame and is already 23. Simpson’s ceiling is fairly low, but his aggression and good understanding of timing will give him fans among talent evaluators who think he can overcome his less-than-ideal build and the low amount of career starts with more to tap into. — NT

Like his teammate Omar Cooper Jr., Sarratt had a very consistent season at Indiana and launched himself into consideration for being drafted within the first couple rounds. Sarratt is a smooth, big-bodied receiver who immediately built strong chemistry with Fernando Mendoza and can profile as a dirty work, starting WR2 in a good NFL offense. — CM

Connor Lew was a tough player for Auburn and he has a chance to be a high-floor interior starter on teams that need offensive line help. Lew tore his ACL in October, but he put up enough solid tape beforehand to possibly end up as a Day 2 pick. — CM

The other Notre Dame running back is a talent in his own right. Price wins with his vision and ability to tempo his runs. His strength and balance make him an effective runner between the tackles, but he has enough speed to get to the edge. He’s also been a dynamic kick returner in his career, something that only adds to his appeal. Price is also a valid receiver and pass protector who can stay on the field for every down and fulfill a variety of roles. He should be a good pro who can split a backfield or eat a majority of touches as long as his size can withstand it. — NT

Rutledge was one of the anchors of Georgia Tech’s offense last season, which leaned heavily on its run game. He excelled in the run game and in pass protection, while showing off impressive athleticism in the open field. Rutledge should be an early starter in the NFL. — CM

Branch set the Bulldogs’ record for receptions in a year during his lone season at Georgia, showing off the elite athleticism and agility that made him such an exciting player at USC beforehand. Branch is not the biggest wide receiver (5-8, 188) who will win at the catch point, but it’s going to be difficult to find many players in this class who are more dynamic than Branch once he gets the ball in his hands. — CM

A tall but quick athlete who plays with polished technique, Barber has been a consistent player despite turmoil in Gainesville. Barber doesn’t have crazy length, but he has light feet, technique and solid strength that allow him to be effective as a run and pass blocker. He has experience at both tackle spots, with good, consistent play and enough tools to make him an interesting Day 2 option. — NT

Rodriguez is well known to college football fans and presents an intriguing profile for the NFL. He’s not always great at playing physically in the box, but he’s a good athlete, smart and a strong tackler. He probably needs a strong defensive line in front of him to be the best version of himself in the NFL. — CM

Halton is another standout who played a huge role in Oklahoma’s defensive resurgence under Brent Venables. He is not the biggest interior player out there, but he makes up for being a 290ish-pound defensive tackle with strong technique and considerable athleticism to get up the field and wreak havoc on offenses. Depending on what weight he plays at in the NFL, he may be just a high-octane rotational piece. That’s valuable. — CM

Raridon has the size, strength and experience to be a legit in-line “Y” tight end at the next level. He has the length and clean technique, along with athletic bend, to sustain as a run blocker (and even accomplish tasks like backside cutoffs), with enough pop to move edge defenders consistently at the college level. What makes me excited about Raridon as a prospect is the fact that he combines his size and blocking ability with real athletic ability to stretch the field and adjust for the football. Raridon has suffered two ACL injuries, but played every game over his past couple of seasons in South Bend. A “Y” tight end that can hold up in-line and also be a valid threat as a receiver is a hard player profile to find. — NT

Tiernan has an unusual build considering he’s 6-8, 323 pounds with 32-inch arms, but he’s a quality blocker who might have a future at guard if the length issues inhibit him at tackle. He’s not the smoothest mover, but he’s explosive in short spaces and can generate a lot of force on first impact. — CM

Trotter could be a steal on Day 2 of the draft. He dealt with a a nagging knee injury throughout the draft evaluation process, but he presents a lot of upside as a 21-year-old prospect who shows a ton of physicality. The son of former Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter could be one of the better linebackers from this draft class in a few years. — CM

Bell is if Adonis played wide receiver. A player with a top-shelf combination of height, weight and burst, Bell made Miami’s defense look slow once the ball was in his hands. He is still raw as a route runner and benefits from routes that let him build up his speed and not have him do too many nuanced breaks, but he can snatch the football without breaking stride with his big hands (10 inches at the combine) and he eats up yards after the catch with his size and explosive athleticism. Bell is more of a force of nature than a wide receiver at this point. He suffered an ACL injury and is still a raw player, but there is a fun bundle of tools to work with for a team that can be patient with his development. His draft range is going to be wide depending how each team weighs how much development he needs. — NT

Stribling has experience working from outside and in the slot. He has good size with big hands who can snatch the football in tight spaces and is a willing blocker with good strength in the run game. Even as a long strider with a bigger frame, he is not stiff and is fluid enough to move around players, with real burst to get upfield with the ball in his hands. He is an older prospect (23), which limits his appeal. But I really like Stribling’s combination of strength, ball skills and long speed as a receiver. He can make an impact early as a blocker, too, which opens up possibilities for snaps as a power slot. — NT

This linear and long edge defender flashes quick hands. Lawrence has straight-ahead speed but has rigidness when moving side to side. He’s an all-or-nothing player who can have trouble redirecting as a pass rusher and disengaging as a run defender if his initial burst or flurry of hands doesn’t work, and won’t get in on as many tackles because of it. Having said that, when he gets a step, he will make plays in the blink of an eye when his advanced hand usage works. — NT

Moore brings a high level of functional strength that gives him a chance to develop into a quality front seven player if he lands with the right team. He’s a bit slow to react to blocking schemes and where the ball is, but the physical profile and ability to be productive improves his profile. — CM

Fields is a big outside wide receiver (6-foot-4 1/2, 218 pounds) who wins with his size, ball skills and surprising quickness for a player with his frame (and a lack of timed speed, considering Fields ran just a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine). He really grew on me the more I studied him. He’s physical and not overly fast, but has good ball skills and has little nuances to his route running that help him out. And even though he is a bigger prospect who lacks that high-end timed speed, Fields is able to comfortably get in and out of his breaks and create space for himself on breaking routes. He’s a competitive player (he ran down an interception return against Boston College and made a great tackle) who could benefit from more snaps inside as a power slot. You’re hoping he can end up as a Jauan Jennings-like player, another former quarterback turned physical wide receiver like Fields. — NT

Dunker is the classic Iowa offensive lineman. He can play right tackle but might have his skill set maximized as a guard in the NFL, where he can be a bit more scheme-diverse. Regardless, he has high upside as another offensive lineman who showed out at the scouting combine. — CM

Feisty is the best way I can describe Abney. He has quick feet and consistently closes with a burst on the football. Even though he doesn’t have great size (5-10, 187), Abney plays physically and is willing to tackle. Abney can get a bit too upright in his backpedal, and it can lead to penalties when combined with his lack of size and tendency to get handsy in coverage, which is why I like him best primarily in the slot. I could see a defense that majors in Cover 2 or Cover 6 (like the Seahawks, for example) as being a good fit if they want to try Abney on the outside because of his awareness, tenacity and nose for the football. — NT

Bernard is the rug that ties the wide receiver room together. He can do a lot of things well, and can be an effective and winning player in a variety of roles. He is a good route runner from the slot and on the outside, and can consistently snatch the football away from his body. He can pick up yards after the catch with his contact balance and toughness, even if he doesn’t have true gamebreaking speed. He’s also a willing blocker unafraid to scrap with defenders. Bernard might not have star potential, but he is one of those players that fit any type of offense and personnel around him. — NT

Delp didn’t always get the usage he looked destined for as a freshman at Georgia, but he still has a solid profile as a prospect. He confirmed his elite athleticism at Georgia’s Pro Day, running a 4.48 40-yard dash and leaping 38 inches in the vertical jump. He’s also a productive blocker who was key for Georgia’s run game over the years. He could see a big jump in the NFL. — CM

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