2026 NFL Draft: Scouting Combine’s Top 50 Prospects

The talent available in the 2026 NFL Draft is better than you think – it’s just spread out at different positions than some would prefer. Only two quarterbacks – Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson – are listed below. Likewise, Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is the only tight end included. But as with any class, there are also obvious strengths. I see high-end talent and quality depth at wide receiver and cornerback and all over the defensive line. And I’m higher in blockers of this class than most. With medical evaluations, player interviews and athletic testing — in that order of importance — coming up this week at the Scouting Combine, here’s how I currently rank the top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. 50. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana I’m less convinced that undersized defenders like Ponds will be among the first 50 players drafted than I am that he will ultimately prove he should have been. At just 5-foot-9 and 173 pounds, Ponds has obvious limitations, but he’s pound-for-pound the most physical and instinctive DB in this class with 33 assists — including seven interceptions — in three remarkable seasons at the college level. 49. Kyle Louis, OLB, Pittsburgh At just 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds, Louis won’t be a good fit for everyone. But frankly, I think it’s a mistake. Louis is very instinctive with an ultra-fast closing speed. He’s a proven big-play magnet with 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions over the past two seasons. 48. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M An athletic 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Bisontis looks and moves like a tackle — he even earned Freshman All-American honors at right tackle in 2023. He’s played even better inside left guard over the past two years, showing the early quickness and agility to best fit in a zone-blocking scheme. 47. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson Miller isn’t as agile or powerful as some of the higher-rated tackles on my board, but as a rare four-year starter who has faced elite competition every day in practice, he’s as safe as a Subaru. Miller has a somewhat lanky build and an upright stance that isn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing, but he is quick, smart, and has excellent hands for leading and holding. 46. ​​Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska With all due respect to Notre Dame’s dynamic duo of Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price, the sneakiest runner in this draft class is Johnson. This young man shifts gears and changes lanes as if he’s riding a street bike, regularly using crisp lateral jumps to posterize would-be tacklers. 45. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame With just 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns last year for Notre Dame, Fields undeniably lacks the eye-popping production of the other wideouts in my Top 50. The imposing 6-foot-4, 219-pounder wowed at the Senior Bowl, however, showcasing his physicality, sure hands and surprisingly accurate route running that likely would have generated more impressive stats in a more team-friendly offense. receivers. 44. Lee Hunter, NG, Texas Tech Another big winner at the Senior Bowl, Hunter (a native of Mobile, Alabama) dominated in the trenches with an astonishing combination of explosive first-step quickness and overwhelming brute strength. 43. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia Branch will likely generate comparisons to Tyreek Hill during the pre-draft process, including at the Combine, where I expect him to be among the fastest athletes in this class. Like Hill, Branch is at his best as a vertical threat or in the fast-paced game, providing the kind of instant spark to a passing attack that only elite speed can provide. 42. TJ, Parker, Edge, Clemson Like many of his former Clemson teammates, Parker was a victim of his own success, struggling to live up to expectations in 2025 after a dominant 2024 campaign that included 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and an FBS-leading six forced fumbles. He is a functional and sturdy edge defender whose game relies more on torque than contraction. 41. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame Price isn’t the athletic phenom that will earn fellow player Jeremiah Love a top-10 pick, but he’s actually the more fundamentally sound running back. He possesses the blend of vision, burst and contact balance of a future NFL bell cow and is one of this year’s most dynamic returners, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns on just 22 opportunities. 40. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Quick and coordinated, it was Lomu – not his more famous teammate Spencer Fano – who started the last two seasons at the critical left tackle position for the Utes. Just a redshirt sophomore still growing into his frame, Lomu is currently a better pass protector than run blocker, but he has a bright future if he commits to the weight room. 39. Anthony Hill Jr., ILB, Texas Hill was asked to play many roles during his three years at Texas, ranging from edge rusher to inside linebacker to nickel cornerback. This fact is a testament to Hill’s football IQ. Tape shows unusual agility for a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker, as well as reliable open-field tackling skills. 38. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State Another personal favorite, Johnson is one of the best technicians in this year’s strong class of cornerbacks, showing impressive route awareness and disciplined, confident moves to thwart throws in his direction. A three-year standout, Johnson was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, grabbing two of his four interceptions for scores. 37. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon A highly touted transfer from Purdue, Thieneman immediately played for an Oregon defense that saw several key members of the secondary fly to the NFL last year, bringing stability to the unit. Thieneman isn’t flashy, but his awareness, communication skills and dependable approach make him an NFL starter. 36. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami As a sixth-year varsity athlete, Mesidor (24) was literally a man among Miami’s boys a year ago, leading the ACC with 10.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles. He wins in more ways than any rider in this class, combining impressive physical traits like bursting, bending, and power with refined handplay and nuanced countermovements. 35. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma Thomas personifies the often-used scouting phrase of “converting speed into power,” routinely forcing would-be blockers onto their heels and knocking them off balance with an explosive blast, then driving them through the chest on a direct route to the ball carrier. At just 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds, Thomas is undersized for trench warfare and has previously struggled with durability, but the success rate for edge defenders who play with Thomas’ combination of speed and violence is high. 34. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State A native of Nigeria who grew up playing football and basketball, Iheanachor is a 6-foot-5, 325-pound investment for the future who seemingly just needs time to master the nuances of the position. His easy movement skills and natural power turned heads at the Senior Bowl. 33. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri Young capped a tremendous week of practice at the Senior Bowl by being named the National Team Player of the Game. At 6-foot-5, 262 pounds, Young isn’t as explosive with the ball as some of the undersized pass rush specialists listed earlier, but he is a passionate and physical tone-setter at the line of scrimmage. 32. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Simpson, a former 5-star recruit, torched the SEC for 28 touchdowns and a conference-leading 3,567 yards in his lone starting season in Tuscaloosa, showing the pro-caliber accuracy to project as a future NFL starter. The traits are undeniable – Simpson has a quick release, plenty of zip and great touch to make every NFL throw – but there have been some “deer in the headlights” moments on his tape. Additionally, the record of quarterbacks selected in the first round with 20 or fewer starts (Simpson has 15) is a bright red flag. 31. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina Cisse has all the traits to become a quality starter in the NFL, including a prototypical blend of size, speed and physicality in run support. His occasional mistakes on the tape seemed coachable, and with Cisse not turning 21 until July, he’s expected to only scratch the surface. 30. CJ Allen, ILB, Georgia Most of the best off-ball linebackers in this class are hybrid types with limited experience facing blockers and shedding them in the hole. Allen isn’t flashy, but he’s as close to a day-one starting middle linebacker as this class has to offer. He’s smart, tough and just scratching the surface of his potential at just 20 years old. 29. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo The ability to create turnovers is like catnip to football scouts, and few in this class offer a more tantalizing track record than the lanky, hard-hitting McNeil-Warren, who enters the NFL with nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 28. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Nickel cornerbacks have never been more in demand, and Terrell is my favorite among them in this class. The NFL legacy is playing significantly above his weight class (180 pounds), averaging 50 tackles over the past two seasons and generating eight forced fumbles in that span, including the best five in the ACC last year. 27. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois Using a blend of physicality and instincts that translates well to the professional game, Jacas led the Big Ten with 11 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2025 before delivering a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. Jacas may not have the twitch of some of this year’s best passers, but I see shades of a young DeMarcus Lawrence in Jacas’ game. 26. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon The only tight end to make my Top 50, Sadiq is cut from a different cloth than most players at his position, possessing a stocky 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame and a rare combination of explosive athleticism and physicality. There are bright flashes on his tape as a pass catcher, but he is already an NFL-caliber blocker, showing excellent leg drive and grip strength to control opponents. 25. Kayden McDonald, NG, Ohio State At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, McDonald is every bit the runner his frame suggests, complementing his dense, powerful frame with excellent balance and spatial awareness. He’ll never lead the NFL in sacks, but he’s no ball against the pass either, showing effort, power and surprisingly quick feet to play all three downs. 24. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington The whole point of playing receiver is to catch touchdowns, and with 20 touchdowns over the last two seasons, Boston is the most prolific scorer of this year’s top players. He should be able to continue this mastery of the r zone ouge in the NFL, using his 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame, timing, body control and strong hands to win above the rim. 23. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Hood travels in the receivers’ pocket as well as in the transfer portal, bouncing from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee over the past three years before entering the draft at just 20 years old. He’s an easy player with impressive ball awareness and run support, as well as a legitimate playmaker with touchdowns scored via interceptions and fumble recoveries. 22. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Similar in some ways to Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Woods is young (he turns 21 in March), powerful and athletic, with his best football still ahead of him. He combines his hands and feet well for such a young player, providing more impact on the quarterback than his five sacks in 35 college games would suggest. 21. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M With 28 combined rushing and receiving scores in 38 career games at Texas A&M and North Carolina State, Concepcion is easily the top point producer in this year’s outstanding receiver class. Concepcion’s first name is Kevin, but KC is his preferred nickname and it better describes the silky athleticism he uses to constantly create space. 20. Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama It’s not often that a man weighing 366 pounds can be described as muscular, but Proctor has as powerful a frame as you’ll see. What you see is what you get with Proctor, a bar brawler whose girth and power could ultimately push him inside to stand guard. 19. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida Pardon the pun, but Banks has made big money over the past two months, dominating at the Senior Bowl after missing seven games this year due to a broken foot that required surgery. At 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, with 35-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands, Banks is simply bigger than most others trying to block him, and he can get away with blocking rag dolls at times. 18. Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State At a dense 6-foot-4, 328 pounds, Ioane is perfectly built for battles in the trenches, absorbing would-be rushers with his broad frame and heavy hands. Although possible tackle converts could ultimately be drafted As noted earlier, Ioane is the consensus highest-rated “pure” interior offensive lineman in this class. 17. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee McCoy’s first two college seasons (at Oregon State and Tennessee, respectively) were so impressive that he maintained a first-round grade in my board even after missing the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury. When healthy, McCoy is a smooth coverage corner with excellent ball skills, breaking up 16 passes (with six interceptions) in that span. 16. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Simply put, Tyson has the best tape of this year’s crop of receivers. It’s not often that receivers of his size, contraction and tracking abilities come along. Tyson is a case of “buyer beware”, however, as he has missed multiple games due to injuries in each of the last three seasons. 15. Cassius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M Among my favorite defenders in this class, Howell has the burst and curvature to wreak havoc on the edge as a passer, and he’s also shown impressive change of direction and instincts in coverage, when asked to play without the ball. 14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC Lemon reminds me a lot of Golden Tate, a dynamic run-after-catch weapon who played 11 years in the NFL. Like the 5-foot-11, 197-pound Tate, Lemon is a tough matchup for cornerbacks due to a compact, almost RB-like frame coupled with dynamic speed and top-notch ball skills. 13. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia With a steady stream of NFL blockers ahead of him on Georgia’s depth chart, Freeling had to wait his turn before seeing the field in Athens, starting just 16 games before heading to the NFL early. But there’s no tackle in this class who looks more like an NFL left tackle than the loose and rangy 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling. 12. Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn If scouts were asked to draft the ideal defensive lineman for today’s NFL, he might look a lot like the long-armed 6-foot-6, 285-pound clay ball that is Faulk, whose size, strength and fluid athleticism provide great positional and schematic flexibility. As one of the youngest players in this class (he doesn’t turn 21 until September), Faulk continues to grow within his frame and will need to get stronger to realize his potential, but he has the physical and intangible attributes to become one of the best players in this draft. 11. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah A 6-foot-6, 310-pound dancing bear, Fano looks and moves more like a tight end than a traditional offensive lineman, excelling in pass protection because of his initial quickness, lateral agility and balance. A three-year starter with extensive experience at both tackle positions, Fano is one of the most pro-ready prospects in this class. 10. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Cornerback might just be the strongest position group in this draft, and Delane dominates it by a wide margin for me. He makes for a terrific man-to-man coverage corner, showing an easy change of direction and smooth acceleration to ghost receivers all over the field. He hasn’t allowed a single touchdown pass in 2025. 9. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Receiver is one of the best position groups in this year’s draft class, and Tate is at the top because of his ability to win in multiple ways. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has excellent body control, hand-eye coordination and courage to make contested passes, and he’s surprisingly slippery as a route runner with excellent tracking skills. 8. Sonny Styles, OLB, Ohio State A former defensive end turned linebacker who could eventually develop into an edge rusher, Styles is the ultimate ball of clay in this draft class. Styles possesses rare speed and agility for a 6-foot-5, 245-pound player, providing his future defensive coordinator with a movable chess piece that could be used in the same way the Seattle Seahawks employed star rookie Nick Emmanwori during their run to the Super Bowl. 7. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami It’s appropriate that Bain rhymes with pain, because there is no hope in this class that plays with more violence than the one who has stood out for three years in Miami. He enters the NFL with 33.5 tackles for loss generated in 38 college games. Bain’s relatively stocky frame at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds will be a talking point in every NFL war room, but teams shouldn’t make the mistake of overthinking his fit. 6. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Arguably the strongest, most pro-ready prospect in this draft class, Mauigoa simply engulfs opponents with his size and iron grip, reminding me of another student of Mario Cristobal, All-Pro Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions. Facing Miami’s vaunted pass rush every day in practice, Mauigoa has the look of a decade-long anchor at right tackle. 5. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech Simply put, Bailey is the best passer in this class, boasting a terrific blend of bursting, lateral agility and core flexibility to force whiffs from would-be pass protectors. The concern for some is that at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Bailey doesn’t have the size and power to be as effective in the running game, but that shouldn’t stop one of the few true matchup nightmares in this class from earning a top-10 selection. 4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Mendoza doesn’t have the strongest arm in this class, nor the most dynamic rushing threat. He is, however, the consensus best quarterback, offering an exceptional blend of anticipation, accuracy and balance to project as a long-time, high-level starter in the NFL. 3. Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame With all due respect to Heisman Trophy winner and likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Love is the best offensive prospect in this class — and frankly, I don’t think he’s particularly close. Love is not only the best in this class; he’s one of a handful of elite runners to enter the NFL since I started recruiting a quarter-century ago, offering a blend of size, quick feet and breakaway speed reminiscent of recent blue-chip backs Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson. 2. Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State A blue-chip talent who played primarily as an off-ball linebacker at Ohio State but possesses a knack for attacking off the edge, Reese is arguably the best prospect in this class. In terms of athleticism, versatility and career trajectory, I see a ton of similarities between Reese and another former Big Ten star you may have heard of: Micah Parsons. 1. Caleb Downs, South, Ohio State Sometimes scouting is easy. Whether at Alabama or Ohio State, Downs’ instincts, closing speed and reliable tackling in the open field consistently shined, predicting for years that his path to the NFL would be as a first-round draft pick. Downs won’t be the first player selected this year – safeties just aren’t valuable enough. But make no mistake, Downs comes with the highest floor, projecting as an immediate starter and building block for a lucky franchise.