Gavin Riley’s top 50 2026 NFL Draft prospects
This is my first deep dive into the 50 names defining the 2026 cycle.
The 2026 draft is quickly approaching. With the process in full swing, which has included record-breaking vertical jumps and some 40-times that had scouts double-checking their stopwatches in Indy, the board is officially shaking up. We’ve got a defensive-heavy class this year and a “Big Three” at receiver that’s starting to look like a lock.
Here is my top 50 for the 2026 class.
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love is the most electric college running back since Saquon Barkley. He was the undisputed heartbeat of the Irish offense, winning with 4.36 speed and a “joystick” ability to make the first three defenders miss. He was fourth in the nation in yards per carry (6.9), but it’s his natural hands in the pass game that make him a three-down superstar. He is the safest, most impactful player in this draft.
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Hoosier legend is a lock for the No. 1 pick. Fresh off a Heisman season and a National Championship, Mendoza is a 6’5”, 236-pound specimen with the processing speed of a ten-year vet. He finished with 48 total touchdowns and only 6 interceptions, showing a rare blend of pocket poise and a “big-game” gene that NFL GMs will kill for. He has “franchise savior” written all over him.
3. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs, essentially, is a coach on the field. He picks up defensive systems instantly and plays with the range of a center fielder. He is the most instinctive safety to enter the draft in a long time.
4. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles is a lab-grown defender. He shattered the Combine with a 43.5-inch vertical at nearly 245 pounds. His transition from safety to linebacker has been flawless, giving him the range to erase tight ends in man coverage while possessing the frame to stack and shed guards. He’s the ultimate modern-day chess piece for a creative defensive coordinator.
5. Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State
Reese has shades of Micah Parsons. He creates a nightmare for offensive lines because you never know if he’s dropping into a hook-curl or firing off the edge. He’s an unfinished work of art, but his 4.46 speed and closing burst are unusual for a man his size. He’s a blue-chip athlete with the highest ceiling of any defender in the draft.
The rest of the big board: 6-50
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami: Ignore the arm length concerns. Bain is a scheme-wrecker who wins with a violent bull rush and an elite pass-rush IQ. He’s a high-motor powerhouse who was the focal point of every ACC offensive coordinator’s nightmare.
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech: Bailey is the twitchiest pass rusher in this class. He led the country with 14.5 sacks and over 70 pressures, winning almost entirely on a lightning-quick first step and a devastating dip-and-rip move. He ran a 4.5 40-yard dash in Indy, confirming the track speed we see on tape. He’s a hungry dog off the leash who will contribute 10+ sacks early in his career.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU: The clear CB1, with Jermod McCoy still recovering from his ACL tear and not having played all year. Delane is a silky-smooth technician with 33-inch arms who hasn’t given up a touchdown in over a dozen starts. He’s a lockdown boundary corner who makes difficult mirroring look easy.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC: The Biletnikoff winner is a high-volume slot weapon. He isn’t the biggest, but he’s a master of finding soft spots in zone and is nearly impossible to touch in the open field.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: Tate is an X receiver, from none other than the Ohio State factory, who catches everything in his zip code. He led the Big Ten in contested-catch touchdowns and runs some of the crispest intermediate routes I’ve seen in years.
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State: The best pure interior lineman in the class. Ioane is a people mover with a powerful anchor. If you want to run the ball between the tackles, you draft this guy.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State: A versatile target who can align at all three receiver spots. Tyson is a vertical threat who improved his route-running significantly under Hines Ward’s coaching.
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami: A massive mauler who won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s best lineman. Whether he stays at tackle or moves to guard, he is a Day 1 starter who resets the line of scrimmage on every run play.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee: McCoy has elite ball skills and a background as a wide receiver that shows up when the ball is in the air. He’s sticky in press and has the recovery speed to erase early mistakes. The problem is, he didn’t play at all in 2025 as he continues to recover from a torn ACL.
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah: The Outland Trophy winner is a technician with elite movement skills. He’s played both tackle spots and inside, offering the kind of five-position versatility that builds championship offensive lines.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama: A high-variance gunslinger with an elite arm. When Simpson is on, he looks like a top-five pick; he just needs to iron out the occasional turnover-worthy throw to reach his full potential.
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida: At 6’6” and 335 pounds, Banks is an immovable object. He’s more than just a space-eater, though—he has the raw power to collapse pockets from the interior.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia: Freeling is a projection based on his elite athletic traits. He’s 6’7” and ran a sub-5.0 40, showing the mobility to be a dominant zone-blocking tackle.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon: Sadiq is a matchup nightmare who moves like a wideout but blocks like a tackle. He’s a red-zone weapon who can win at all three levels of the field.
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon: Thieneman is a ballhawking safety who led the country in interceptions for a stretch. He’s a possible Day 1 starter who rarely misses a tackle in the open field.
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami: A veteran rusher who wins with technique and heavy hands. He’s a high-floor prospect who will provide immediate production as a rotational or starting end.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana: Cooper Jr. forced 27 missed tackles last season (tied for 4th in the FBS) and has some of the best contact balance in the class.
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: A scrappy, physical corner who plays with a massive chip on his shoulder. He’s smaller than some of the top-tier guys but makes up for it with elite anticipation.
K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M: An all-purpose weapon who won the Paul Hornung Award. He can catch, run, and return, making him a “manufactured touch” dream for an NFL coach.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo: A small-school gem who plays much faster than he tests. He’s a smart, rangy safety who always seems to be around the football.
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington: A 6’4” physical specimen who excels as a chain-mover. He uses his frame beautifully to box out corners on third-down slants and red-zone fades.
C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia: Allen is the latest sideline-to-sideline linebacker from the Georgia factory. He’s incredibly fast and hits like a ton of bricks when he fills the hole.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: Woods is an elite interior disruptor who has been double-teamed his entire college career. His get-off for a man of his size is genuinely startling.
Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt: A former quarterback turned tight end. He’s still learning the nuances of the position, but his athleticism is elite for a TE, which helped make him one of the most productive players at the position the past couple of years.
Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M: A refined pass rusher with a spin move that should be illegal. He’s undersized but wins with elite bend and a relentless motor.
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson: A four-year starter with a ton of experience. Miller is a reliable, tough tackle who should be a safe pick in the middle rounds.
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina: A late riser who looked spectacular during the Senior Bowl. He’s a height-weight-speed prospect who is just starting to put it all together.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State: A broad-framed run stuffer. McDonald is the guy you want if you’re tired of giving up four yards a carry on the ground.
D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana: A ballhawk who was a vital part of Indiana’s title run. He has a natural nose for the ball and plays bigger than his frame.
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas: A violent blitzer who can also play off the ball. Hill is at his best when he’s moving forward and attacking the line of scrimmage.
Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn: A long, powerful end who excels as a run defender. He needs to expand his pass-rush arsenal, but the physical tools are all there.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech: A fast, active linebacker who thrives in pursuit. He’s an all-gas player who contributes on both defense and special teams.
Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M: A tough, technically sound interior blocker who plays with a nasty streak. He’s a high-floor prospect who projects as a long-time starter.
Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame: A 1B back at Notre Dame who would be a 1A almost anywhere else. He’s a powerful runner with surprising breakaway speed.
Max Klare, TE, Ohio State: A reliable security blanket. Klare is the guy you go to on 3rd-and-6 when you absolutely need a completion.
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State: A long, rangy corner with elite speed. He’s still raw technically, but you can’t teach his physical dimensions.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama: A 350-pound people mover who you can move out wide for some trickery. He’s a project, but his power in the run game is second to none in this class.
Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF: A freak athlete who exploded at the Combine with a 4.52 40-yard dash at 253 pounds. He is a high-ceiling speed rusher who closes on quarterbacks like he’s shot out of a cannon.
T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson: A high-floor rusher who understands leverage and hand placement. He projects as a solid, every-down starter at the next level.
Connor Lew, OG, Auburn: An athletic guard who is excellent in space. He’s at his best when he’s pulling or getting to the second level.
Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech: A mountain of a man who is nearly impossible to single-block. He’s a specialized run-stuffer who will help any interior defense.
Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington: A bowling ball of a runner with elite contact balance. He’s a guy who thrives on 20+ carries a game and wears defenses down.
Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame: A 6’4” boundary target who solidified his stock with a 38-inch vertical in Indy. He’s a premier contested-catch specialist who uses his massive frame to box out corners and move the chains.
R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma: A twitchy, high-motor pass rusher with 17 career sacks and an elite 85.3 PFF grade. He wins with a lightning-quick first step and refined hand work that makes him a Day 1 situational weapon.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama: A reliable, high-IQ technician who led the Tide in receiving during their 2025 title run. While he isn't a burner, he posted a standout 6.71-second 3-cone drill in Indy, proving he has the elite short-area agility to win in the slot and as a Day 1 possession target.