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The 2026 NFL Draft is nearly upon us. We can be reasonably sure the Las Vegas Raiders will take Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. After that, it's a crapshoot.
All 32 franchises value this year's crop of emerging young pros differently. There are thousands of different ways to process and analyze hours of game film, pre-draft workouts and personal interviews to determine which players will be stars and contributors on Sunday.
That's one of the best things about the NFL Draft; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some teams will make what look like reaches in order to lock in a prospect they can't go without. Others will hope their sleepers slide to less expensive picks only to be sniped by an aggressive rival. And some hyped player will linger on draft boards significantly longer than anyone thought (though it's unlikely we'll get another Shedeur Sanders situation).
That makes it impossible to know what the consensus prospect ranks are this, or any, spring. But after a season of watching games, then an offseason of digesting film, workouts and analysis from trustworthy sources, I've got my wish list set. Behold, FTW's 2026 NFL Draft big board.
Where do my biases shine hardest? I'm higher on productive college players and may over-value interior linemen after Tyler Lindenbaum's record-setting contract this spring. I'm lower on bigger wideouts with questions to be answered about their separation skills. And receivers named "Bell" got a boost because I love their film even if they (Chris and Skyler) have huge boom/bust capabilities.
With that out of the way, let's look at my top 79.
Who is he? Twitchy, uber-productive pass rusher capable of making an immediate Pro Bowl impact.
Who is he? Versatile, athletic linebacker who can serve as a pass rusher or off-ball menace.
Who is he? Explosive tailback who can give you prime Le'Veon Bell reps.
Who is he? Do-it-all defensive back and rising tide that can do just about everything from the middle of the field.
Who is he? The guy who made Indiana -- INDIANA -- a national champion.
Who is he? Athletic, well-tested left tackle who continues to exceed expectations.
Who is he? Building-sized wrecking machine.
Who is he? Uber-athletic off-ball presence who fills holes violently and has the turn-and-run to be a passing down deterrent.
Who is he? The latest link in a chain of trustworthy, all-around solid Ohio State wideouts capable of being a reliable chain-mover on Sundays.
Who is he? The smoothest cornerback in this draft (and probably a few others in either direction).
Who is he? Instinctive route runner who understands the moment a cornerback is over-extended and immediately makes him pay.
Who is he? Uber-productive edge rusher whose arm length probably won't affect his stock but off-field concerns -- namely a reckless driving citation after a crash that left a passenger dead -- may.
Who is he? [Explosion sounds]
Who is he? Sticky corner who looks the part, missed 2025 due to a torn ACL, then lit up his pro day workout to remain firmly in the top 20.
Who is he? Elite athlete who can torch defenses up the seams or serve as a lane-sealing blocker.
Who is he? Persistent pass rushing threat with great size and strength but some age and injury-related concerns.
Who is he? The man thrived at Purdue, then proved he could do it at Oregon, too.
Who is he? One-year starter with plenty to prove but all the tools to be 2026's best blocker.
Who is he? Long, rangy safety with preternatural ball skills and the ability to impact the game on the ground or through the air.
Who is he?Author of 2025's greatest catch and the exact kind of clutch you want on third down.
Who is he? A wideout who runs like lightning crackles and splits across the sky.
Who is he? Enormous interior lineman with the foundation to shrink pockets from the inside-out.
Who is he? Utah's other athletic, experienced edge protector with quick feet and solid recovery skills.
Who is he? A.J. Terrell's little brother, who plays like it.
Who is he? Talented cover-corner equally useful in press or off situations thanks to elite closing skills.
Who is he? Slightly too-small off-ball linebacker who remains incredibly productive and able to adjust to anything.
Who is he? A 300-pound keg of dynamite who sets off chain reactions at the point of contact.
Who is he? Either A.J. Brown or Treylon Burks, thanks to a big frame, dynamic speed, solid hands and questions left to answer.
Who is he? A rising tide of an edge rusher whose explosion may not play on Sundays the way it does on Saturdays.
Who is he? Rangy downfield threat with the size and tracking to haul in deep 50/50 balls.
Who is he? Enormous human whose lack of quickness (see: enormous) may lure him inside, but he should be an asset either way.
Who is he? Experienced, long-limbed edge protector with the ability to mirror speed rushes or react to cuts and moves back inside.
Who is he? Three-down edge presence whose strength shined in the jump from Bowling Green to A&M and should be similarly useful on Sunday.
Who is he? The latest blue-chip athlete out of Georgia primed to raise Howie Roseman's eyebrow.
Who is he? Prototypical NFL edge rusher coming off a down year after his 11-sack 2024.
Who is he? Double-team demander and dispatcher in the middle.
Who is he? Lock solid interior lineman who is an unsexy pick but can create sexy results (seven-yard runs).
Who is he? Beefy edge presence who lacks elite speed but makes up for it in his ability to thrive through contact.
Who is he? Interior stalwart with experience playing tackle in the SEC and versatility to be an asset at multiple positions.
Who is he? Inexperienced, high-ceiling blocker who didn't play organized football until junior college but has the athleticism to be a problem (complimentary).
Who is he? The ideal of what you'd expect from an Iowa lineman with All-Pro capabilities, short arms be damned.
Who is he? A supercharged Mike Gesicki, whose blocking is a concern but holy moly can he create havoc in the slot.
Who is he? Big bodied wideout and big play machine with questions to answer about shaking coverage, especially at the line.
Who is he? An immovable, gap-shooting run-game roadblock deserving of the name "Big Citrus."
Who is he? Aggressive corner who wants to press WR1s into a fine paste.
Who is he? High floor interior lineman who should be able to deliver quality road-grading blocks for the next decade.
Who is he? Power pass rusher who could use a few more ways to win but has the strength to keep knocking NFL tackles backward.
Who is he? Absurd athlete who plays a bit tall but has all the tools to be a dynamic three-down edge menace.
Who is he? End with a great first step and great cardio but a smaller-than-ideal frame.
Who is he? Do-everything off-ball linebacker who can handle duties in coverage or crash to the line of scrimmage to erase run plays or bring value on a blitz.
Who is he? Long, lean and stupid-fast wideout with boom/bust potential who needs to add more tools to his box.
Who is he? Slot/nickel presence who will fight you every step of the way once you're in his line of sight.
Who is he? 240-pound deterrent in the middle of the field with the athleticism to fill multiple roles.
Who is he? Smaller corner with blazing speed and aggressive tackling instincts likely slated for the slot.
Who is he? Big nickel back who has the length to work outside but brings long arms and elite speed to the middle.
Who is he? Busy defensive back with chops against the pass and run despite good-not-great athleticism and smoothness.
Who is he? Over the middle presence who can absorb hits but never quite had a college breakout.
Who is he? Coach's son quarterback who processes well but has a limited resume behind him.
Who is he? Another one of Jeremiah Trotter's sons who creates havoc much like their father.
Who is he? Angry-running mutant with breakaway speed and a penchant for falling forward.
Who is he? Very good running back emerging from Jeremiyah Love's shadow, capable of beefing up a platoon or earning true RB1 reps.
Who is he? Relatively limited pass rusher who wins enough with speed and power for it to work on Sundays.
Who is he? Grittier than rock salt center who understands pre-snap analysis and adjusts accordingly, but is coming off a torn ACL.
Who is he? Powerful, productive defensive end with solid athleticism but a tendency to lose leverage against savvy linemen.
Who is he? Absolute missile of a linebacker likely slated for a hybrid safety/slot role due to a lack of size.
Who is he? Dynamic receiving tight end who can be deployed from multiple fronts and be a menace in short, medium and long range.
Who is he? Smaller edge presence with janky, unpredictable motions that make him a headache to stay in front of.
Who is he? Pass-rushing 3 technique lineman with a remarkable burst off the snap but short arms and modest counting stats.
Who is he? Trey's brother, a ridiculous wideout who can be an immediate downfield threat.
Who is he? An absolute repellent of a center who thrives in pass protection, though he's got work to do on running downs.
Who is he? Big-bodied lane clogger who fires into the backfield but remains flawed as a pass rusher.
Who is he? Tenacious, violent defender despite a small frame and a whole lot of penalties related to being a tenacious, violent defender.
Who is he? College tackle who may have to move inside, where quick feet and easy progressions should make him a capable contributor.
Who is he? Big sideline presence with the catch radius to bring a little Drake London to his new team.
Who is he? Physical corner with incredible explosiveness but a minor penchant for making mistakes that snowball.
Who is he? Well-anchored, trustworthy center who thrives above what his weight suggests.
Who is he? Twitchy, reliable wideout who creates space and can thrive as a WR2/WR3 type right away.
Who is he? Wide-bodied, long-armed anchor in the middle who battles into the backfield (31 TFLs the last three seasons) but may lack the explosiveness to be a constant NFL threat.
Who is he? Shifty run-after-catch merchant capable of pumping up a flawed quarterback with big gains.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL Draft big board: Top 79 players, led by an accomplished edge rusher
Continue reading...
All 32 franchises value this year's crop of emerging young pros differently. There are thousands of different ways to process and analyze hours of game film, pre-draft workouts and personal interviews to determine which players will be stars and contributors on Sunday.
That's one of the best things about the NFL Draft; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some teams will make what look like reaches in order to lock in a prospect they can't go without. Others will hope their sleepers slide to less expensive picks only to be sniped by an aggressive rival. And some hyped player will linger on draft boards significantly longer than anyone thought (though it's unlikely we'll get another Shedeur Sanders situation).
That makes it impossible to know what the consensus prospect ranks are this, or any, spring. But after a season of watching games, then an offseason of digesting film, workouts and analysis from trustworthy sources, I've got my wish list set. Behold, FTW's 2026 NFL Draft big board.
Where do my biases shine hardest? I'm higher on productive college players and may over-value interior linemen after Tyler Lindenbaum's record-setting contract this spring. I'm lower on bigger wideouts with questions to be answered about their separation skills. And receivers named "Bell" got a boost because I love their film even if they (Chris and Skyler) have huge boom/bust capabilities.
With that out of the way, let's look at my top 79.
1. EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
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Who is he? Twitchy, uber-productive pass rusher capable of making an immediate Pro Bowl impact.
2. LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Who is he? Versatile, athletic linebacker who can serve as a pass rusher or off-ball menace.
3. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Who is he? Explosive tailback who can give you prime Le'Veon Bell reps.
4. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Who is he? Do-it-all defensive back and rising tide that can do just about everything from the middle of the field.
5. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Who is he? The guy who made Indiana -- INDIANA -- a national champion.
6. OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Who is he? Athletic, well-tested left tackle who continues to exceed expectations.
7. OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Who is he? Building-sized wrecking machine.
8. LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Who is he? Uber-athletic off-ball presence who fills holes violently and has the turn-and-run to be a passing down deterrent.
9. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Who is he? The latest link in a chain of trustworthy, all-around solid Ohio State wideouts capable of being a reliable chain-mover on Sundays.
10. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Who is he? The smoothest cornerback in this draft (and probably a few others in either direction).
11. WR Makai Lemon, USC
Who is he? Instinctive route runner who understands the moment a cornerback is over-extended and immediately makes him pay.
12. EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
Who is he? Uber-productive edge rusher whose arm length probably won't affect his stock but off-field concerns -- namely a reckless driving citation after a crash that left a passenger dead -- may.
13. IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Who is he? [Explosion sounds]
14. CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Who is he? Sticky corner who looks the part, missed 2025 due to a torn ACL, then lit up his pro day workout to remain firmly in the top 20.
15. TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Who is he? Elite athlete who can torch defenses up the seams or serve as a lane-sealing blocker.
16. EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Who is he? Persistent pass rushing threat with great size and strength but some age and injury-related concerns.
17. S Dillon Theineman, Oregon
Who is he? The man thrived at Purdue, then proved he could do it at Oregon, too.
18. OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Who is he? One-year starter with plenty to prove but all the tools to be 2026's best blocker.
19. S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Who is he? Long, rangy safety with preternatural ball skills and the ability to impact the game on the ground or through the air.
20. WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Who is he?Author of 2025's greatest catch and the exact kind of clutch you want on third down.
21. WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
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Who is he? A wideout who runs like lightning crackles and splits across the sky.
22. DL Caleb Banks, Florida
Who is he? Enormous interior lineman with the foundation to shrink pockets from the inside-out.
23. OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Who is he? Utah's other athletic, experienced edge protector with quick feet and solid recovery skills.
24. CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Who is he? A.J. Terrell's little brother, who plays like it.
25. CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Who is he? Talented cover-corner equally useful in press or off situations thanks to elite closing skills.
26. LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Who is he? Slightly too-small off-ball linebacker who remains incredibly productive and able to adjust to anything.
27. DL Peter Woods, Clemson
Who is he? A 300-pound keg of dynamite who sets off chain reactions at the point of contact.
28. WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Who is he? Either A.J. Brown or Treylon Burks, thanks to a big frame, dynamic speed, solid hands and questions left to answer.
29. EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Who is he? A rising tide of an edge rusher whose explosion may not play on Sundays the way it does on Saturdays.
30. WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Who is he? Rangy downfield threat with the size and tracking to haul in deep 50/50 balls.
31. OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Who is he? Enormous human whose lack of quickness (see: enormous) may lure him inside, but he should be an asset either way.
32. OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Who is he? Experienced, long-limbed edge protector with the ability to mirror speed rushes or react to cuts and moves back inside.
33. EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Who is he? Three-down edge presence whose strength shined in the jump from Bowling Green to A&M and should be similarly useful on Sunday.
34. LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Who is he? The latest blue-chip athlete out of Georgia primed to raise Howie Roseman's eyebrow.
35. EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson
Who is he? Prototypical NFL edge rusher coming off a down year after his 11-sack 2024.
36. DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Who is he? Double-team demander and dispatcher in the middle.
37. IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
Who is he? Lock solid interior lineman who is an unsexy pick but can create sexy results (seven-yard runs).
38. EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois
Who is he? Beefy edge presence who lacks elite speed but makes up for it in his ability to thrive through contact.
39. IOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Who is he? Interior stalwart with experience playing tackle in the SEC and versatility to be an asset at multiple positions.
40. OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Who is he? Inexperienced, high-ceiling blocker who didn't play organized football until junior college but has the athleticism to be a problem (complimentary).
41. OL Gennings Dunker, Iowa
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Who is he? The ideal of what you'd expect from an Iowa lineman with All-Pro capabilities, short arms be damned.
42. TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Who is he? A supercharged Mike Gesicki, whose blocking is a concern but holy moly can he create havoc in the slot.
43. WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Who is he? Big bodied wideout and big play machine with questions to answer about shaking coverage, especially at the line.
44. DL Domonique Orange, Iowa State
Who is he? An immovable, gap-shooting run-game roadblock deserving of the name "Big Citrus."
45. CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Who is he? Aggressive corner who wants to press WR1s into a fine paste.
46. IOL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
Who is he? High floor interior lineman who should be able to deliver quality road-grading blocks for the next decade.
47. EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
Who is he? Power pass rusher who could use a few more ways to win but has the strength to keep knocking NFL tackles backward.
48. EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Who is he? Absurd athlete who plays a bit tall but has all the tools to be a dynamic three-down edge menace.
49. EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
Who is he? End with a great first step and great cardio but a smaller-than-ideal frame.
50. LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Who is he? Do-everything off-ball linebacker who can handle duties in coverage or crash to the line of scrimmage to erase run plays or bring value on a blitz.
51. WR Chris Brazzell, Tennessee
Who is he? Long, lean and stupid-fast wideout with boom/bust potential who needs to add more tools to his box.
52. CB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Who is he? Slot/nickel presence who will fight you every step of the way once you're in his line of sight.
53. LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Who is he? 240-pound deterrent in the middle of the field with the athleticism to fill multiple roles.
54. CB Keionte Scott, Miami
Who is he? Smaller corner with blazing speed and aggressive tackling instincts likely slated for the slot.
55. CB Treydan Stukes, Arizona
Who is he? Big nickel back who has the length to work outside but brings long arms and elite speed to the middle.
56. S A.J. Haulcy, LSU
Who is he? Busy defensive back with chops against the pass and run despite good-not-great athleticism and smoothness.
57. WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
Who is he? Over the middle presence who can absorb hits but never quite had a college breakout.
58. QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Who is he? Coach's son quarterback who processes well but has a limited resume behind him.
59. LB Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Who is he? Another one of Jeremiah Trotter's sons who creates havoc much like their father.
60. RB Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
Who is he? Angry-running mutant with breakaway speed and a penchant for falling forward.
61. RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
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Who is he? Very good running back emerging from Jeremiyah Love's shadow, capable of beefing up a platoon or earning true RB1 reps.
62. EDGE Derrick Moore, Michigan
Who is he? Relatively limited pass rusher who wins enough with speed and power for it to work on Sundays.
63. IOL Connor Lew, Auburn
Who is he? Grittier than rock salt center who understands pre-snap analysis and adjusts accordingly, but is coming off a torn ACL.
64. EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Who is he? Powerful, productive defensive end with solid athleticism but a tendency to lose leverage against savvy linemen.
65. LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Who is he? Absolute missile of a linebacker likely slated for a hybrid safety/slot role due to a lack of size.
66. TE Max Klare, Ohio State
Who is he? Dynamic receiving tight end who can be deployed from multiple fronts and be a menace in short, medium and long range.
67. EDGE Romello Height, Texas Tech
Who is he? Smaller edge presence with janky, unpredictable motions that make him a headache to stay in front of.
68. DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
Who is he? Pass-rushing 3 technique lineman with a remarkable burst off the snap but short arms and modest counting stats.
69. WR Bryce Lance North Dakota State
Who is he? Trey's brother, a ridiculous wideout who can be an immediate downfield threat.
70. IOL Logan Jones, Iowa
Who is he? An absolute repellent of a center who thrives in pass protection, though he's got work to do on running downs.
71. DL Christen Miller, Georgia
Who is he? Big-bodied lane clogger who fires into the backfield but remains flawed as a pass rusher.
72. CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Who is he? Tenacious, violent defender despite a small frame and a whole lot of penalties related to being a tenacious, violent defender.
73. OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Who is he? College tackle who may have to move inside, where quick feet and easy progressions should make him a capable contributor.
74. WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
Who is he? Big sideline presence with the catch radius to bring a little Drake London to his new team.
75. CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Who is he? Physical corner with incredible explosiveness but a minor penchant for making mistakes that snowball.
76. IOL Sam Hecht, Kansas State
Who is he? Well-anchored, trustworthy center who thrives above what his weight suggests.
77. WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
Who is he? Twitchy, reliable wideout who creates space and can thrive as a WR2/WR3 type right away.
78. DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Who is he? Wide-bodied, long-armed anchor in the middle who battles into the backfield (31 TFLs the last three seasons) but may lack the explosiveness to be a constant NFL threat.
79. WR Skyler Bell, Connecticut
Who is he? Shifty run-after-catch merchant capable of pumping up a flawed quarterback with big gains.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL Draft big board: Top 79 players, led by an accomplished edge rusher
Continue reading...
