2026 NFL Draft Stuff

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Mel Kiper Jr.'s Top 25 Big Board​

1. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
5. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
6. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
7. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
8. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
9. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
11. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
12. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
13. David Bailey, OLB, Texas Tech
14. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
15. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
16. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
17. Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
18. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
19. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
20. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
21. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
22. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
23. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
24. Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
25. A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
 

View: https://haydenshapiro.medium.com/2026-nfl-draft-big-board-1-0-c50a9dc74211


Dane Brugler beat me by one day… but my NFL Draft Big Board 1.0 is here! As always, hit the follow button for more 2026 Draft content, and leave your thoughts below. Who’s too high/low? Let’s kick things off with this year’s highest-riser, a do-it-all, Swiss-army-knife defender who won’t call Columbus, Ohio, home for long, Arvell Reese.

1 Arvell Reese, LB Ohio St

Reese possesses a freakish combination of speed and power. His meteoric draft rise is due to his ability to flip a game completely upside-down despite playing on the defensive side of the football. He is most effective as a pass-rusher, and, to be honest, is the closest thing we’ve seen to Micah Parsons since, well, Micah Parsons.

2 Rueben Bain Jr., ED Miami (FLA)

Bain Jr. makes big plays when big plays need to be made. His quick first step, along with absurd strength, continuously gives offensive linemen nightmares. He’ll be an immediate starter and every-down player wherever he ends up.

3 Ty Simpson, QB Alabama

Simpson has everything you want in a franchise-leading signal-caller and a pretty high floor. To help put your “it’s only one season” chants to rest, go watch Alabama’s win against Missouri. Simpson is clutch and has a certain swagger in the way he plays. That gunslinger mentality and all the confidence in the world make Simpson the first quarterback listed here.

4 Peter Woods, DL Clemson

Woods has a rare blend of power and technique. He uses brute strength to defeat blocks, but plays with an elegance that can’t go understated. He disengages quickly and also played on the edge for the Tigers in 2024, proving how he fits literally any scheme, whether he’s playing with his hand in the dirt or as a 3–4 defensive end; he’s going to do damage and do it right away.

5 Kenyon Sadiq, TE Oregon

Sadiq’s prowess as a blocker makes him a blue-chip TE prospect, but it’s not the only thing he can do. He wins jump balls and is dangerous down the seam. He plays with a level of violence and versatility that scouts are going to drool over.

6 Kadyn Proctor, OT Alabama

Proctor is a mammoth of a human being. At 6-foot-8 and nearly 370 pounds, his technique and footwork are sound, and his base is extremely strong. He can kick into guard, too. There has to be a team that sees this and says, “Oh–we’ve got to have that guy,” just based on his intangibles, the things you can’t teach.

7 Caleb Downs, SAF Ohio St

Downs is a brilliant football player. He just has a mind for the game; he is always in the right spot and is a tremendous tackler. He gives up top, slot, and box flexibility, as well.

8 Dante Moore, QB Oregon

Moore makes off-platform throws look easy and fires out of every arm slot possible. He is one of those silent killers who you just don’t want to play against in the clutch. The reason he’s at 8 and not 3 is because he really only has one quality win, and that was against Penn St.

9 Carnell Tate, WR Ohio St

Tate is one of the most fluid route-runners I’ve watched this year, and he’s 6-foot-3 and 200-plus pounds. He is tremendous at bringing in contested balls and would add a vertical and red zone threat to whatever offense he calls home.

10 Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame

Love’s acceleration and elusiveness are spectacular; really, he is nearly impossible to control in space. With that being said, Love runs tall at times, and also does not wait for all of his blocks to develop — two things that might not be an issue in college, but could turn worrisome in the NFL.

11 Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana

Mendoza is calm, collected, and has a very, very high floor. The reason he’s down at 11 is because I am still wondering how high the ceiling is. He’s currently in an RPO, dink-and-dunk heavy offense right now, and that gives me some thoughts that he is scheme-dependent

12 Makai Lemon, WR USC

When elite post-catch playmaking and great body control met each other a long time ago, they had a baby, and its name is Makai Lemon. Lemon tracks the ball extraordinarily well despite his sub-6-foot frame and can make anyone miss in a phone booth when the ball is in his hands. Oh, and his name is elite; “Makai Lemon” is a superstar’s name.

13 Keldric Faulk, DL Auburn

Faulk moves extremely well and is a bit of a tweener, as he lines up primarily on the edge with Auburn, but is fully capable of being a rush-DT or 3–4 end. He has really quick hands and sheds at lightning speed; he just needs to add to his pass-rush repertoire.

14 Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona St

An injury-plagued career puts Tyson at 14, but if you ignore that, which is hard to do, he might be the best pure wideout in this class. He has a plethora of tricks up his sleeve, and his release package is unreal. He also catches everything thrown his way, despite inconsistent QB play.

15 Vega Ioane, IOL Penn St

Ioane is a mauler, a true pitbull at guard. He has been the best player on Penn State’s offense this season and is a big reason why their run game is so good. He has guard/center flexibility, too.

16 Kayden McDonald, DL Ohio St

McDonald has the ability to flat-out force a team not to run up the gut. He sheds quickly, sure, but his base his so strong that it forces guards to stay put and try to block him rather than drive him back to clear a lane.

17 Zion Young, ED Mizzou

I am higher on Young than most, but he truly reminds me of a less twitchy Aidan Hutchinson. He works harder than anyone in-game and is a leader/captain off the field. I like his length, too, but his intensity and mentality are what I really love.

18 Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami (FLA)

Muaigoa offers a high floor and high ceiling, which is why he is at 18. He doesn’t do anything insanely well, but also doesn’t have any glaring holes in his game whatsoever.

19 Mansoor Delane, CB LSU

Come back to this article when Delane’s measurements are scolded because, unfortunately, he is not as fast or long as a star corner in today’s league is but boy can he shadow a wideout in man. He is strategically aggressive and is never flagged, speaking to his ability to stick in man-coverage.

20 Sonny Styles, LB Ohio St

Styles is a tremendous athlete. He might need to go to a team that deploys him everywhere to succeed, but he is just 20 years old, and his ceiling is sky high.

21 David Bailey, ED Texas Tech

This might be the highest I’ve ever had a designated pass-rusher, but it’s well deserved. Bailey wins with his first move more often than not and flies off the edge.

22 Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee

McCoy has yet to play this year due to injury, but he is a tremendous athlete who happens to have great ball skills and even better production. If he didn’t tear his ACL, he’d be in top 10 talks.

23 Spencer Fano, OT Utah

Yes, the 305-pound frame worries me, but if Fano goes to a zone blocking scheme, he could transform into one of the better linemen in the NFL pretty quickly.

24 Aveion Terrell, CB Clemson

Terrell plays with an attitude, and I’m all here for it. Being undersized, he might have to play in the slot, but that doesn’t worry me one bit, given his skills in the flat and tackling prowess.



25 Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina

Cisse is going to end up running the fastest 40-yard dash out of any guy on this list, and in this NFL, speed is everything; that, and his zone coverage, make him a top 25 prospect.

26 Germie Bernard, WR Alabama

Bernard lines up everywhere and offers great hands wherever he is. He is also very underrated with the ball in his hands after he makes the catch.

27 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF Toledo

McNeil-Warren is another Toledo product whose best days are yet to come. He can be deployed in the box or up top.

28 Quincy Rhodes Jr., ED Arkansas

Rhodes Jr. is a long, edge-setting machine who can line up inside the tackles or out. He is the lone bright spot on the worst defense in the SEC.

29 CJ Allen, LB Georgia

Allen is a very smart linebacker who stops the run at a very high rate. He offers less in coverage, but he hits hard and has a great motor.

30 Jonah Coleman, RB Washington

Coleman’s low pad-level makes him nearly impossible to tackle. He is going to be a popular fantasy handcuff next year wherever he goes because of how dominant he’s been at Washington.

31 R Mason Thomas, ED Oklahoma

At just 6-foot-1, Thomas needs to move fast — and that he does. His first step is incomparable to anyone else in this class. He is the primary pass-rush option for one of the country’s best defenses.

32 Denzel Boston, WR Washington

Boston is a tremendous jump-ball threat with sneaky YAC ability. His lanky frame gives QBs the luxury of just putting the ball anywhere near him; odds are, he can get it.

33 A’Mauri Washington, DL Oregon

There is so much that Washington has not shown us yet, and that’s what intrigues me. His huge frame (330+ pounds) preaches nose-tackle, but with how quickly he moves his feet, it has to be believed that there is more to unpack about his game.

34 Jayden Maiava, QB USC

Maiava has a rocket for an arm and is the true dark-horse of this QB class.

35 T.J. Parker, ED Clemson

A bad 2025 year at Clemson has tanked Parker’s stock, but if you watch last year’s film, you know how violent and productive Parker can be.

36 Dominique Orange, DL Iowa St

Nicknamed “Big Citrus” is cool, sure, but it doesn’t speak to how good Orange is at his job. He has a fire-hydrant build and eats blockers, making it hard for opponents to run the ball effectively.

37 Gennings Dunker, OT Iowa

Dunker can play anywhere on the line and will do it with ferocity. His mean, mauling style of play has me intrigued.

38 Matayo Uiagalelei, ED Oregon

Uiagalelei has immense upside, but a lackluster year at Oregon keeps him in the 30–40 range. He plays the run well, though, and with an attitude.

39 Jake Golday, LB Cincinnati

A former FCS pass-rusher, Golday has the makings of a hidden gem. If teams can get over his lack of coverage skills and make a specific package for him, which is a lot to ask, he could end up being a top defender in this pool of players.

40 Chris Bell, WR Louisville

Bell is going to carve out a Deebo Samuel-like role in the NFL if he can just improve on creating separation. Once he has the ball, though, watch out.

41 Cashius Howell, ED Texas A&M

Howell is a bit of a one-trick pony, but his trick is great. He is a true lightning bolt off the edge.

42 KC Concepcion, WR Texas A&M

Another Aggie here that does damage wherever he is. Concepcion would also give a team a remarkable return man.

43 Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL Oregon

Pregnon has shot up my board because of his rare blend of technique and physicality. He is rarely flagged and hasn’t allowed a sack all season.

44 Carter Smith, OT Indiana

Smith has long arms and is a punisher in the run game. He can move to guard, too.

45 Colton Hood, CB Tennessee

Hood stepped up when McCoy went down and didn’t look back. His press skills are great, as well.

46 Christen Miller, DL Georgia

Miller has more than he’s put on display, and that’s worrisome. If he can turn it around and just eat blocks like he did last year, he is going to rise on this list.

47 Deontae Lawson, LB Alabama

Lawson lacks ideal size and speed, but he is a pure playmaker. He always steps up when the Crimson Tide needs him most, and that’s a trait I can’t ignore.

48 Brendan Sorsby, QB Cincinnati

Sorsby does everything pretty well, nothing crazy, and offers some sneaky arm talent.

49 Caleb Banks, DL Florida

Where to put Banks was tough, but he has barely played this year. If you go strictly off size, height, weight, speed — he’s a first-round guy in my book. He just doesn’t have the production that the other top d-linemen do.

50 Kaytron Allen, RB Penn St

Allen is going to chip away at you three yards at a time, and it is going to hurt. He is a true bruiser and is best suited in a power-back or goalline role.

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Denzel Boston, WR, Wash.
The more I see, the more I like. He would be the best WR the Rams could draft, IMO. He has the size and speed to go with great hands and the ability to high point and make contested catches.
He would fit this offense while being the heir apparent to Adams.
Gotta be a 1rst rounder because he will not last until the bottom of the 2nd.
 
Memphis Ram said:
5 Kenyon Sadiq, TE Oregon

Sadiq’s prowess as a blocker makes him a blue-chip TE prospect, but it’s not the only thing he can do. He wins jump balls and is dangerous down the seam. He plays with a level of violence and versatility that scouts are going to drool over.
Click to expand...
Don't let Sean see this.

Memphis Ram said:
10 Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame

Love’s acceleration and elusiveness are spectacular; really, he is nearly impossible to control in space. With that being said, Love runs tall at times, and also does not wait for all of his blocks to develop — two things that might not be an issue in college, but could turn worrisome in the NFL.
Click to expand...

Love reminds me a little of Eric Dickerson. Eric had an extra gear and when he hit the hole he went from stopped to top speed in a couple steps. I see that in Love.
 
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