Well, boys and girls, the NFL Draft is upon us again. It’s a time where most wives look at their husbands with bemusement for regarding these next three days as their adult Christmas. But we love it, don’t we?
As I’ve written before, one thing every team does when building a draft board is organize players into tiers. At the top are the blue-chip prospects — the players viewed as potential franchise cornerstones. This is considered a relatively weak draft at the top with perhaps less than 12-15 true blue-chip prospects.
The value is considered to be in the 2nd and 3rd rounds because so many players have Day 2 grades. Several teams are already looking to move back in the first round, but there aren’t many players considered worthy of moving up for unless the compensation is right.
The 2027 draft is already being hailed as one of the best in more than a decade. It will be interesting to see how many teams give up assets in next year’s draft to maneuver in this one. If I were a GM, I would defer trade compensation to next year whenever possible.
It’s a useful framework, but it also highlights how subjective this process is. Teams are evaluating thousands of players, and there’s rarely full agreement even within a single building, let alone across the league. Scheme fit, medicals, character and physical thresholds all shape how a player is ultimately valued.
Another reality I’ve touched on before: Even though 257 players will be drafted, most teams don’t stack boards anywhere near that deep. Many don’t even get to 150.
Last year, eighty-four of my top 100 players were selected within the first 100 picks. Still, this board would look different if it were built for a specific system or roster.
Even so, this year I wanted to expand it to a full 257 players to match the draft itself and reflect the full range of prospects who will hear their names called.
With that said, here are my Top 257 Prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame running back. | Notre Dame Athletics
Rank-Name-Position-School
1. Jeremiyah Love (RB) Notre Dame
2. Sonny Styles (LB) Ohio State
3. Arvell Reese (EDGE) Ohio State
4. Caleb Downs (S) Ohio State
5. David Bailey (EDGE) Texas Tech
6. Fernando Mendoza (QB) Indiana
7. Francis Mauigoa (OT) Miami
8. Olaivavega Ioane (IOL) Penn State
9. Carnell Tate (WR) Ohio State
10. Mansoor Delane (CB) LSU
11. Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE) Miami
12. Makai Lemon (WR) USC
13. Jordyn Tyson (WR) Arizona State
14. Spencer Fano (OT) Utah
15. Jermod McCoy (CB) Tennessee
16. Monroe Freeling (OT) Georgia
17. Dillon Thieneman (S) Oregon
18. Kadyn Proctor (OT) Alabama
19. Kenyon Sadiq (TE) Oregon
20. Keldric Faulk (EDGE) Auburn
21. Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) Miami
22. Omar Cooper Jr. (WR) Indiana
23. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S) Toledo
24. Blake Miller (OT) Clemson
25. Denzel Boston (WR) Washington
26. Colton Hood (CB) Tennessee
27. Max Iheanachor (OT) Arizona State
28. Caleb Lomu (OT) Utah
29. Chris Johnson (CB) San Diego State
30. Zion Young (EDGE) Missouri
31. KC Concepcion (WR) Texas A&M
32. T.J. Parker (EDGE) Clemson
33. Kayden McDonald (DT) Ohio State
34. Peter Woods (DT) Clemson
35. Malachi Lawrence (EDGE) UCF
36. CJ Allen (LB) Georgia
37. Avieon Terrell (CB) Clemson
38. Jacob Rodriguez (LB) Texas Tech
39. Cashius Howell (EDGE) Texas A&M
40. Ty Simpson (QB) Alabama
41. Brandon Cisse (CB) South Carolina
42. Anthony Hill Jr. (LB) Texas
43. R Mason Thomas (EDGE) Oklahoma
44. Christen Miller (DT) Georgia
45. Chase Bisontis (OG) Texas A&M
46. Gabe Jacas (EDGE) Illinois
47. Antonio Williams (WR) Clemson
48. Keionte Scott (DB) Miami
49. Jadarian Price (RB) Notre Dame
50. Germie Bernard (WR) Alabama
D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana cornerback. | Indiana Athletics
51. D’Angelo Ponds (CB) Indiana
52. Lee Hunter (DT) Texas Tech
53. Emmanuel Pregnon (OG) Oregon
54. Jake Golday (LB) Cincinnati
55. Keylan Rutledge (OG) Georgia Tech
56. Treydan Stukes (DB) Arizona
57. Zachariah Branch (WR) Georgia
58. Derrick Moore (EDGE) Michigan
59. Bud Clark (S) TCU
60. Kyle Louis (LB) Pitt
61. Caleb Banks (DT) Florida
62. Eli Stowers (TE) Vanderbilt
63. Chris Bell (WR) Louisville
64. A.J. Haulcy (S) LSU
65. Jaishawn Barham (EDGE) Michigan
66. Caleb Tiernan (OT) Northwestern
67. Keyron Crawford (EDGE) Auburn
68. Chris Brazzell II (WR) Tennessee
69. Malachi Fields (WR) Notre Dame
70. De’Zhaun Stribling (WR) Ole Miss
71. Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE) Penn State
72. Josiah Trotter (LB) Missouri
73. Jalon Kilgore (S) South Carolina
74. Gennings Dunker (T/G) Iowa
75. Keith Abney II (CB) Arizona State
76. Logan Jones (OC) Iowa
77. Ted Hurst (WR) Georgia State
78. Malik Muhammad (CB) Texas
79. Max Klare (TE) Ohio State
80. Domonique Orange (DT) Iowa State
81. Bryce Lance (WR) North Dakota State
82. Mike Washington Jr. (RB) Arkansas
83. Elijah Sarratt (WR) Indiana
84. Jake Slaughter (OC) Florida
85. Deion Burks (WR) Oklahoma
86. Gracen Halton (DT) Oklahoma
87. Tacario Davis (CB) Washington
88. Sam Hecht (OC) Kansas State
89. Garrett Nussmeier (QB) LSU
90. Brenen Thompson (WR) Mississippi State
91. Jalen Farmer (OG) Kentucky
92. Tyler Onyedim (DT) Texas A&M
93. Oscar Delp (TE) Georgia
94. Romello Height (EDGE) Texas Tech
95. Joshua Josephs (EDGE) Tennessee
96. Davison Igbinosun (CB) Ohio State
97. Daylen Everette (CB) Georgia
98. Austin Barber (OT) Florida
99. Connor Lew (OC) Auburn
100. Travis Burke (OT) Memphis
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska running back. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN
101. Skyler Bell (WR) UConn
102. Ja’Kobi Lane (WR) USC
103. Chandler Rivers (CB) Duke
104. Sam Roush (TE) Stanford
105. Markel Bell (OT) Miami
107. Cole Payton (QB) North Dakota State
108. Genesis Smith (S) Arizona
109. Zakee Wheatley (S) Penn State
110. Chris McClellan (DT) Missouri
111. Julian Neal (CB) Arkansas
112. Taylen Green (QB) Arkansas
113. Beau Stephens (OG) Iowa
114. Trey Zuhn III (OL) Texas A&M
115. Darrell Jackson Jr. (DT) Florida State
116. Carson Beck (QB) Miami
117. Justin Joly (TE) NC State
118. Devin Moore (CB) Florida
119. Brian Parker II (T/G) Duke
120. LT Overton (EDGE) Alabama
121. Jonah Coleman (RB) Washington
122. Bryce Boettcher (LB) Oregon
123. Kamari Ramsey (S) USC
124. Keyshaun Elliott (LB) Arizona State
125. VJ Payne (S) Kansas State
126. Drew Allar (QB) Penn State
127. Will Lee III (CB) Texas A&M
128. Kaleb Proctor (DT) SE Louisiana
129. Marlin Klein (TE) Michigan
130. Febechi Nwaiwu (IOL) Oklahoma
131. Dametrious Crownover (OT) Texas A&M
132. Eli Raridon (TE) Notre Dame
133. Nicholas Singleton (RB) Penn State
134. Harold Perkins Jr. (LB) LSU
135. Jimmy Rolder (LB) Michigan
136. Nick Barrett (DT) South Carolina
137. Keagen Trost (OT) Missouri
138. Kage Casey (T/G) Boise State
139. Will Kacmarek (TE) Ohio State
140. Zane Durant (DT) Penn State
141. Justin Jefferson (LB) Alabama
142. Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB) TCU
143. Kaytron Allen (RB) Penn State
144. Rayshaun Benny (DT) Michigan
145. Josh Cameron (WR) Baylor
146. Max Llewellyn (EDGE) Iowa
147. Billy Schrauth (OG) Notre Dame
148. Drew Shelton (OT) Penn State
149. Cyrus Allen (WR) Cincinnati
150. Kendal Daniels (LB) Oklahoma
Nate Boerkircher, tight end from Texas A&M via Nebraska. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN
151. Nate Boerkircher (TE) Texas A&M
152. Albert Regis (DT) Texas A&M
153. Jadon Canady (CB) Oregon
154. Michael Trigg (TE) Baylor
155. Charles Demmings (CB) Stephen F. Austin
156. Jude Bowry (OT) Boston College
157. Kendrick Law (WR) Kentucky
158. Aiden Fisher (LB) Indiana
159. Logan Taylor (OG) Boston College
160. Caleb Douglas (WR) Texas Tech
161. Caden Curry (EDGE) Ohio State
162. Jakobe Thomas (S) Miami
163. Ephesians Prysock (CB) Washington
164. Michael Taaffe (S) Texas
165. Jack Kelly (LB) BYU
166. Jack Endries (TE) Texas
167. Wesley Williams (EDGE) Duke
168. Dalton Johnson (S) Arizona
169. Dontay Corleone (DT) Cincinnati
170. Demond Claiborne (RB) Wake Forest
171. Colbie Young (WR) Georgia
172. Reggie Virgil (WR) Texas Tech
173. Parker Brailsford (OC) Alabama
174. Malik Benson (WR) Oregon
175. Ar’maj Reed-Adams (OG) Texas A&M
176. Isaiah World (OT) Oregon
177. Logan Fano (EDGE) Utah
178. Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR) Missouri
179. Deontae Lawson (LB) Alabama
180. Robert Spears-Jennings (S) Oklahoma
181. Toriano Pride Jr. (CB) Missouri
182. Jalen Huskey (S) Maryland
183. Wade Woodaz (LB) Clemson
184. J.C. Davis (OT) Illinois
185. Bishop Fitzgerald (S) USC
186. Diego Pounds (OT) Ole Miss
187. Joe Royer (TE) Cincinnati
188. Red Murdock (LB) Buffalo
189. Xavian Sorey Jr. (LB) Arkansas
190. Wesley Bissainthe (LB) Miami
191. Domani Jackson (CB) Alabama
192. TJ Hall (CB) Iowa
193. Latrell McCutchin Sr. (CB) Houston
194. Trey Moore (EDGE) Texas
195. Hezekiah Masses (CB) California
196. Jager Burton (OC) Kentucky
197. Jeff Caldwell (WR) Cincinnati
198. Dallen Bentley (TE) Utah
199. Lorenzo Styles Jr. (DB) Ohio State
200. Quintayvious Hutchins (EDGE) Boston College
DeShon Singleton, Nebraska defensive back. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN
201. Zxavian Harris (DT) Ole Miss
202. George Gumbs Jr. (EDGE) Florida
203. Riley Nowakowski (TE) Indiana
204. Bryson Eason (DT) Tennessee
205. Mason Reiger (EDGE) Wisconsin
206. DJ Campbell (OG) Texas
207. Jam Miller (RB) Alabama
208. Anez Cooper (OG) Miami
209. DeMonte Capehart (DT) Clemson
210. Le’Veon Moss (RB) Texas A&M
211. J. Michael Sturdivant (WR) Florida
212. Max Bredeson (TE/FB) Michigan
213. Eric Rivers (WR) Georgia Tech
214. Michael Heldman (EDGE) Central Michigan
215. Cade Klubnik (QB) Clemson
216. J’Mari Taylor (RB) Virginia
217. Alex Harkey (OG) Oregon
218. Cameron Ball (DT) Arkansas
219. Nadame Tucker (EDGE) Western Michigan
220. Matt Gulbin (OC) Michigan State
221. Josh Cuevas (TE) Alabama
222. Eli Heidenreich (RB) Navy
223. Anthony Lucas (EDGE) USC
224. Avery Smith (CB) Toledo
225. Jaylon Guilbeau (CB) Texas
226. Kaelon Black (RB) Indiana
227. Evan Beerntsen (OG) Northwestern
228. DeShon Singleton (S) Nebraska
229. Caden Barnett (OG) Wyoming
230. Thaddeus Dixon (CB) North Carolina
231. Dae’Quan Wright (TE) Ole Miss
232. Jordan van den Berg (DT) Georgia Tech
233. Vincent Anthony Jr. (EDGE) Duke
234. Jeremiah Wright (OG) Auburn
235. Chris Hilton Jr. (WR) LSU
236. Fernando Carmona (OG) Arkansas
237. Rene Konga (DT) Louisville
238. Tyreak Sapp (EDGE) Florida
239. Carsen Ryan (TE) BYU
240. Carver Willis (OG) Washington
241. Matthew Hibner (TE) SMU
242. Brandon Cleveland (DT) NC State
243. Enrique Cruz Jr. (OT) Kansas
244. Collin Wright (CB) Stanford
245. Adam Randall (RB) Clemson
246. Tanner Koziol (TE) Houston
247. Taurean York (LB) Texas A&M
248. Jack Pyburn (EDGE) LSU
249. Kaden Wetjen (WR) Iowa
250. Sawyer Robertson (QB) Baylor
251. Trey Smack (K) Florida
252. Pat Coogan (OC) Indiana
253. Fa’alili Fa’amoe (OT) Wake Forest
254. Ryan Eckley (P) Michigan State
255. Joe Fagnano (QB) UConn
256. Aaron Hall (DT) Duke
257. Cian Slone (LB) NC State