Which Prospects To Look Out For In The 2026 NFL Draft
- Gareth Evans
- 5 hours ago
- 7 min read
The 2026 NFL Draft takes centre stage tomorrow, as college football’s top talent waits to hear their names called by one of the league’s 32 franchises. For these players, it’s a defining moment. In a matter of seconds, careers are launched, futures reshaped, and expectations set.
Players taken with first round selections, made tomorrow, will be under the spotlight immediately. These young men often relocate across the country almost instantly after their name is called and carry the weight of a fan base from day one. Which players need to be on your radar?
Who to look out for?
Offense
Six wide receivers could be selected in the first round
The 2026 NFL Draft boasts a deep class of wide receivers. While six pass catchers could hear their name called in Round One, three are arguably in a tier above the rest. Any of Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC) or Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) could be taken first with both New York teams, Cleveland, Washington, New Orleans, Miami and the L.A. Rams all looking for help at wideout in the top half of the first round.
Look for Indiana's Omar Cooper, Jr., Washington's Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion of Texas A&M to be off the board by the time the second round starts on Friday.
Tennessee's Chris Brazzell II could be a steal for a receiver-needy team picking in the third round. At 6'5" and 200lb, Brazzell led the SEC in receiving yards this season and hauled in nine touchdowns, having been an All-American as a freshman at Tulane.. He posted 177 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia, putting NFL scouts on alert.
One of the finest pass catching talents available is Oregon's impressive tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the best at his position by some distance. At 6'3" and 245lbs, he is a physical receiver who can block well. Sadiq had an outstanding combine, running a 4.39 40-yard dash and jumping a 43-inch vertical. In a recent mock draft for The Touchdown, I had him mocked at No.19 to Carolina, where he could give the Panthers their best tight end since Greg Olsen.
Offensive line talent is high
The depth of receiver is matched by the quality of offensive lineman in the NFL Draft this year. Six could be taken in the first round. Utah tackles Spencer Fano, who allowed no sacks this season, and Caleb Lomu, with 24 college football game starts at just 21 years old, were superb bookends for the Utes. The enormous Miami tackle Francis Mauioga, from American Samoa, could be the first of his position taken, potentially by Cleveland at No.6.
In addition to the Browns, the New York Giants, Arizona, Baltimore and Detroit are among the teams keen to bolster their offensive lines. The Lions might be interested in Georgia's 6'7", 315lb Monroe Freeling to replace Taylor Decker at left tackle, where he would slot neatly in opposite the outstanding Penei Sewell.
The Ravens desperately need interior line help to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson and boost Derrick Henry's production in the run game. Penn State's Olaivega Ioane is the best interior lineman in the draft, and in the eyes of some analysts, the best player in the draft. He would be a great fit for Baltimore, who pick at No.14.
Two Notre Dame backs could go in Round One
Running back is a position that is not traditionally valued highly in the NFL Draft. There have been exceptions in recent years. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty was taken by the Las Vegas at No.6 last year, Bijan Robinson (Texas) was drafted at No.8 by Atlanta in 2023 and Penn State's Saquon Barkley was selected as the second overall pick in 2018.
Expect Jeremiyah Love to be another exception. The standout Notre Dame back averaged 6.9 yards per carry in college where his coaches felt his receiving skills were good enough to become a specialist in that position. I don't see him making it out of the top five picks. He will go to either Arizona, Tennessee or the Giants unless a team trades up for him.
Love's team mate Jadarian Price is arguably the second best back in this draft class. The load shared in the Fighting Irish backfield has reduced wear and tear on both these individuals which will be a bonus for teams considering them. Price led the FBS in kickoff returns, scoring two touchdowns, so brings an additional dimension to consider for NFL teams.
Penn State duo Nic Singleton and Kaytron Allen should be the next backs taken and keep an eye on Texas A&M's Le'Veon Moss who was averaging 6.3 yards per carry before his season-ending injury.
A disappointing quarterback class
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the consensus prediction to be the first overall pick. While the most talented player in the draft may be Ohio State’s defensive back Caleb Downs, Mendoza is the winner of the Heisman Trophy, presented to the best player in college football, and led Indiana to one of the most unlikely national championships in years.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza is the exception to an underwhelming crop of draft available college football quarterbacks. Alabama's Ty Simpson may sneak into the latter stages of the first round, but this year's quarterback class pales into comparison with the passing talent expected to emerge in the 2027 NFL Draft. The likes of Arch Manning (Texas), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Dante Moore (Oregon) and Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss) will send NFL teams scrambling for position in late April next year.
Defense
The linebacker and edge classes are loaded
It's a toss up between Texas Tech's David Bailey and Ohio State's Arvell Reese as to who is taken by the New York Jets with the No.2 pick. Bailey, the NCAA leader with 14.5 sacks is an explosive pass rusher while Reese is more of a hybrid defender who can play linebacker or edge rusher and is outstanding against the run.
In addition to receiver Carnell Tate and Reese, two other Ohio State Buckeyes could be selected in the top 10. Sonny Styles made 53 career starts for Ohio State and boosted his draft stock with a stunning series of workouts at the NFL Combine.
Miami duo Rueben Bain Jr. and Akeem Mesidor are highly regarded and could join Keldric Faulk (Auburn), T.J. Parker (Clemson), C.J. Allen (Georgia) and Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) as first round picks.
Texas Tech's emerging off-ball linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, dubbed "The Whiskers of West Texas" by FOX commentator Gus Johnson due to his impressive moustache, was the first in his position to be in the top five of Heisman Trophy voting since Manti Te'o in 2012.
Look out for Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas who could be selected in the second round. Hill, Jr. is an aggressive blitzer with 17 sacks in his college career. He is just 20 years old.
A talented safety class in an undervalued position
Caleb Downs is a powerful, fast defender and the most talented player in the draft. National champion in 2024, All-American in 2024 and 2025 and Jim Thorpe Award winner for the best defensive back in college football, he plays at safety, a criminally undervalued position and as such, will be a steal for whoever selects him outside the top five.
In addition to receiver Carnell Tate, Reese and Styles, Downs should be the fourth Ohio State Buckeye to be selected in the top 10.
Oregon's Dillon Thieneman is a strong tackler and good blitzer who can play at either safety or cornerback, and could be an option for one of the Dallas Cowboys' two first round picks, at either No.12 or No. 20, while the big, rangy Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could join former first-rounder Quinyon Mitchell as another Toledo defensive back making his name in the NFL.
Cornerbacks continue to offer value
Kansas City, picking at No.9 and Miami, at No.11 will be interested in either of the top two cornerbacks in the draft, LSU's Mansoor Delane and Tennessee's Jermod McCoy. The Chiefs lost Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in free agency so will be desperate to restock their secondary. Delane is a smooth, fluid shutdown corner who made the All-SEC first team. McCoy's stock has been rising despite losing the 2025 season to injury. He made four interceptions in 2024 and adds value as a run stopper.
McCoy could be joined by Volunteers team mate Colton Hood in the first round. Hood conceded just one touchdown in his entire college football career and broke up 10 passes. Clemson's Aveion Terrell made 39 career starts with three interceptions. The Chiefs (again) and Seahawks could be interested in Hood and Terrell late in Round One.
Teams to watch
Both New York teams, Cleveland, Kansas City, Miami and Dallas have two picks in the first round. Thanks to the recent Dexter Lawrence trade, the Giants are picking at No.5 and No.10. That could land them Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs. Will these teams use their additional pick as leverage to improve their draft position in a loaded 2027 class, or to trade back down for additional picks and value this year?
Teams without a first round pick
Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars all sit out Thursday due to picks dealt in previous trades, so will be looking for gems later on in the draft.
Let's see what happens
This is why I love the NFL Draft. It’s not just about which player goes to which team, it’s about how quickly stories can develop and how the players peform. Some of these names will define the next decade, others will quietly exceed expectations while some, sadly, will prove to be busts. That’s where the intrigue lies. Let’s see how it unfolds.
Saturdays Under The Lights
Tony and I look at the 2026 NFL Draft in more depth on the latest episode of the podcast.
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