Jack Brentnall’s Top 50: 2026 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings 1.0
By Jack Brentnall
With the draft declaration deadline now passed, we have clarity on which players are eligible to hear their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After months of grinding tape, this is my first Top 50 big board of the draft cycle.
Positional value is factored into these rankings, and this board is very much an early snapshot. There will inevitably be movement as the draft season progresses and more information comes into focus.
If a notable name is missing, there’s a strong chance I simply haven’t reached their tape yet, as I’ve studied roughly 150 prospects so far with plenty more still to come.
1. Fernando Mendoza - QB, Indiana (6-5, 225, rs-Junior)
Mendoza might not be a blue-chip quarterback prospect, but he has the accuracy, touch, and processing ability to be a good NFL starter. His toughness and ability to come up clutch in big situations weigh heavily too.
2. Sonny Styles - LB, Ohio State (6-5, 243, Senior)
Styles is an incredibly well-rounded prospect and the best linebacker I’ve scouted since Micah Parsons was coming out of Penn State. His safety background shows up in his movement skills, and he pairs that with excellent eyes and strong take-on ability versus the run.
3. Arvell Reese - LB, Ohio State (6-4, 243, Junior)
Reese might require a little more projection than his Buckeyes teammate, but what he showed in one year as a starter was rare. He has the size, athleticism, and strength to play off-ball or kick down and play as a true edge. He is still just scratching the surface of his potential.
4. Carnell Tate - WR, Ohio State (6-3, 195, Junior)
Tate is an easy player to project to the NFL. He has boundary size, a detailed release package, and an innate understanding of how to attack defenders with subtle movements and fakes throughout the route. He offers the best hands in the class as well.
5. Jermod McCoy - CB, Tennessee
McCoy missed all of 2025 with a torn ACL, but his tape as a sophomore in 2024 shows a player well worthy of being taken this high. He is a sticky, physical corner who excels in man coverage and has strong ball skills.
6. Caleb Downs - S, Ohio State (6-0, 193, Junior)
The positional value debate will be a big part of Downs’ pre-draft evaluation, but in a draft short on top-tier talent, he feels like a very safe, NFL-ready prospect. He has some of the best football IQ you’ll see, along with the right blend of zone coverage feel and run support.
7. Makai Lemon - WR, USC (5-11, 190, Junior)
Lemon might not be the biggest receiver, but he’s a consistent separator who wins with sticky hands and short-area quickness. He’s also a talented creator after the catch, with 21 forced missed tackles in 2025.
8. Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE, Miami (6-3, 275, Junior)
Bain’s measurables are going to divide opinion, but his ability to be a consistent disruptor against both the run and the pass is too much to ignore. He’s a powerful, technically refined rusher who posted a 23.5 percent pass rush win rate in 2025.
9. David Bailey - EDGE, Texas Tech (6-3, 250, Senior)
Bailey showed serious growth in his lone season at Texas Tech, developing from a one-dimensional designated pass rusher into an exceptional one who can also survive on early downs. His explosiveness and variety of rush moves will keep tackles on their toes.
10. Jeremiyah Love - RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 212, Junior)
If it weren’t for positional value, Love would be much higher on this list. He is one of the best running back prospects to come out in recent years, with an ideal combination of size, speed, and three-down difference-making ability.
11. Francis Mauigoa - OT, Miami (6-6, 315, Junior)
Mauigoa is a physical presence in the trenches, with the polish to translate seamlessly to the NFL. He has strong, independent hands to stun rushers on contact, along with a stout anchor to maintain the pocket in pass protection.
12. Peter Woods - IDL, Clemson (6-3, 315, Junior)
Woods might not have wowed with box score production in 2025, but there were plenty of moments on tape that showed why he’s long been talked about as a top-10 pick. He has rare burst for his size, paired with the knockback power to reset the line of scrimmage.
13. Caleb Banks - IDL, Florida (6-6, 325, rs-Senior)
Banks is one of the most physically imposing players in college football and plays with violent hands that overwhelm opponents. He missed much of 2025 with a foot injury, but when he was on the field, he was a consistent disruptor.
14. Blake Miller - OT, Clemson (6-6, 315, Senior)
Miller is in the conversation for the most athletic tackle in this year’s class, and he pairs that with four years of starting experience at the Power Four level. He has smooth feet to mirror in pass protection and is a much meaner presence in the run game than he gets credit for.
15. Jordyn Tyson - WR, Arizona State (6-1, 195, rs-Junior)
Tyson’s blend of route-running savvy and reliable hands is easy to buy into. He maximized his opportunities at Arizona State and put plenty of spectacular catches on tape. If it weren’t for a long and concerning injury history, he’d rank much higher.
16. KC Concepcion - WR, Texas A&M (5-11, 190, Junior)
Concepcion was one of the breakout stars of the 2025 season, moving from a gadget role at NC State to a highly productive, three-level threat at Texas A&M. His route-running detail and jitterbug quickness make him a natural separator.
17. Olaivavega Ioane - IOL, Penn State (6-4, 323, rs-Junior)
Ioane is a big, powerful guard who showcases an elite anchor in pass protection and the ability to displace defenders in the run game. He’s not the most fleet of foot, but if you want power, he’s your man.
18. Mansoor Delane - CB, LSU (5-11, 191, Senior)
What Delane lacks in prototypical size and length, he makes up for with refined technique and easy movement skills. He’s outstanding in man coverage and has real ball skills, forcing nine incompletions on 34 targets in 2025.
19. Spencer Fano - OT, Utah (6-6, 302, Junior)
Fano is a high-level athlete who wins with elite movement skills. He’s smooth and fluid as a pass protector and has vice-like grips to latch and sustain in the run game.
20. Caleb Lomu - OT, Utah (6-6, 304, rs-Sophomore)
Like his Utah teammate, Lomu is an exceptional athlete. He offers more refined hand usage than Fano and has strong eyes when tested with stunts and twists, though he still has plenty of room to develop in the run game.
21. Treydan Stukes - CB, Arizona (6-1, 195, rs-Senior)
Stukes is flying under the radar at the moment, but I expect him to rise as draft season rolls on. He is an outstanding athlete with blazing speed, and his versatility in the nickel or as a deep safety is ideally suited to modern, disguise-oriented defenses.
22. Kenyon Sadiq - TE, Oregon (6-3, 245, Junior)
Sadiq is the clear frontrunner in an otherwise underwhelming tight end class. He’s a little undersized, but he’s an easy mover with great feel after the catch. He’s also a solid blocker, with a mean streak coaches will love.
23. Emmanuel Pregnon - IOL, Oregon (6-5, 320, rs-Senior)
Pregnon made significant strides with Oregon in 2025 after transferring from USC. He has an ideal build with good proportional length and accurate hands to refit and control blocks. He’s a steady interior presence.
24. Avieon Terrell - CB, Clemson (5-11, 180, Junior)
The brother of Falcons cornerback A.J., Terrell has a chance to join the exclusive club of siblings drafted in the first round. He is a smooth, twitchy athlete with a knack for forcing fumbles, recording eight since 2024.
25. Keith Abney - CB, Arizona State (5-10, 195, Junior)
A former four-time speed skating champion, Abney plays with the fluidity and flexibility you would expect. He has some of the best zone instincts in the class and the speed to turn and run in man coverage.
26. Josiah Trotter - LB, Missouri (6-2, 237, Junior)
If you want a heat-seeking missile to help your run defense, look no further. Trotter shows an exceptional ability to read and deconstruct blocks, with powerful hands that rock linemen on contact. He’s still only 20 years old.
27. Colton Hood - CB, Tennessee (6-0, 195, rs-Sophomore)
In Jermod McCoy’s absence, Hood became the star of Tennessee’s secondary in 2025. He’s a good athlete with ideal length and impressive press coverage technique. He also shows plenty of tenacity as a run defender.
28. Monroe Freeling - OT, Georgia (6-7, 315, Junior)
Freeling is another high-level athlete at offensive tackle in this class. His run-blocking technique needs some work, but he’s already a dependable blindside protector with a firm outside punch.
29. Genesis Smith - S, Arizona (6-2, 204, Junior)
Smith is a prototypical free safety. He showcases exceptional range as a deep centerfielder, along with the fluid hips to turn and run with receivers. He has good eyes and an innate feel for zone coverage.
30. Keldric Faulk - EDGE, Auburn (6-6, 270, Junior)
Faulk is a big, physical run-defending edge with the length to control and shed blocks. His limitations as a pass rusher explain why I’m lower on him than consensus, but he profiles as a dependable early-down edge with tools worth developing.
31. Kayden McDonald - IDL, Ohio State (6-3, 326, Junior)
In most draft classes, a run-stuffing nose tackle wouldn’t rank this high, but given the state of this class and the direction the NFL is heading, McDonald will have plenty of fans. He’s a stout presence who can handle double teams and keep linebackers free to make plays.
32. Lee Hunter - IDL, Texas Tech (6-4, 330, rs-Senior)
While Hunter is built like a prototypical nose tackle, his best plays come when he gets a chance to let loose and fire off the ball at the quarterback. His quick, violent hands are routinely too much for blockers to withstand.
33. Malachi Lawrence - EDGE, UCF (6-4, 263, rs-Senior)
The ability to get after the passer is hugely valuable, and Lawrence does exactly that. His explosiveness and deep arsenal of moves allow him to consistently create disruption. He recorded a staggering 34.7% win rate on true pass sets.
34. Ty Simpson - QB, Alabama (6-2, 208, rs-Junior)
Simpson has plenty to bet on from an NFL perspective, including his comfort over the middle of the field, pre-snap processing, and decision-making. His smaller frame, durability concerns, and spotty accuracy keep him out of the first-round conversation for me.
35. Denzel Boston - WR, Washington (6-4, 209, rs-Junior)
Boston offers prototypical boundary receiver size with soft, reliable hands. He has the body control and catch radius to make plays in traffic and shows real toughness creating yardage after the catch.
36. TJ Parker - EDGE, Clemson (6-3, 265, Junior)
Parker didn’t take the leap in 2025 that many projected, but he remains a solid prospect. He’s a good hand fighter with sound run-defense fundamentals and the strength to overwhelm as a pass rusher.
37. Cashius Howell - EDGE, Texas A&M (6-2, 249, rs-Senior)
Howell will be a litmus test for how much arm length truly matters at edge rusher. He’s an explosive athlete with a deep pass-rush bag, capable of winning inside, outside, and through the chest, but his short arms and stockier frame won’t be for everyone.
38. CJ Allen - LB, Georgia (6-1, 235, Junior)
The fourth linebacker in my top 40, Allen is a classic thumper in the front seven. He’s at his best working downhill, where he shows good strength and outstanding open-field tackling ability.
39. Germie Bernard - WR, Alabama (6-1, 209, Senior)
Bernard’s game reminds me quite a bit of Chris Godwin. He’s unlikely to ever be an alpha boundary receiver, but he’s a sure-handed pass catcher with solid route-running chops and real toughness after the catch.
40. D'Angelo Ponds - CB, Indiana (5-8, 174, Junior)
Ponds’ shorter stature won’t suit every defense, but it’s hard not to love his tenacious, scrappy play style. He’s a reliable open-field tackler and fluid athlete in coverage. Kicking inside to the nickel is likely his best role.
41. Darrell Jackson Jr. - IDL, Florida State (6-5, 341, rs-Senior)
Jackson is one of the most physically imposing players in the class. With a massive frame and excellent proportional length, he consistently resets the line of scrimmage in the run game. He has room to grow as a pass rusher, but the early-down skill set is firmly in place.
42. Brandon Cisse - CB, South Carolina (6-0, 190, Junior)
Cisse is still developing the finer points of the cornerback position, but he’s a high-level athlete with ideal boundary length. He’s a physical man-coverage defender, and that play style carries over to the run game.
43. Emmett Johnson - RB, Nebraska (5-11, 200, rs-Junior)
Johnson is a jitterbug in the backfield, with impressive lateral quickness and razor-sharp cuts. He lacks bell-cow size, but his big-play potential, hands, and route-running ability make him a legitimate playmaker.
44. Zion Young - EDGE, Missouri (6-5, 262, Senior)
Young is a big, heavy-handed edge rusher who overwhelms opposing tackles on contact. He has a mean bull rush to collapse the pocket and can be relied upon to set the edge on early downs.
45. Christen Miller - IDL, Georgia (6-4, 305, rs-Junior)
Miller’s blend of powerful hands and explosiveness gives him serious disruptive potential along the interior, even if it hasn’t yet translated to box score production.
46. Dillon Thieneman - S, Oregon (6-0, 205, Junior)
Thieneman has a rocked-up, NFL-ready frame that he pairs with serious speed. He’s comfortable kicking down into the slot against bigger receivers and offers plenty of catch-point production.
47. Chris Brazzell - WR, Tennessee (6-5, 200, rs-Junior)
He may be 6’5″, but Brazzell has the burst and fluidity of a much smaller receiver. He flashes impressive body control at the catch point and enough route nuance to create separation at all three levels.
48. Chris Bell - WR, Louisville (6-2, 220, Senior)
Bell’s torn ACL clouds his projection and will prevent him from testing during the pre-draft process, but the movement skills are evident on tape. He still has room to grow as a route runner, but the speed, power, and YAC ability are undeniable.
49. Jake Golday - LB, Cincinnati (6-4, 237, rs-Senior
A former edge rusher turned linebacker, Golday is an excellent athlete with good size and speed. His instincts are still developing, but he’s already a dependable open-field tackler and can be trusted to deconstruct blocks in the run game.
50. Kamari Ramsey - S, USC (6-0, 202, rs-Junior)
Ramsey is an instinctive safety who reads run and pass concepts well. He has experience in the slot and as a deep safety, along with the smooth movement skills to be effective in man coverage.
JACK BRENTNALL
HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.