A consensus ranking of the top 100 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft has been compiled from six sources, including ESPN and Pro Football Focus. The rankings aim to provide a clearer picture amidst the variance found in individual analyses.
Key points
Consensus rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft are provided.
Rankings are averaged from six different sources.
Sources include ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and CBS Sports.
Players not listed by some sources are adjusted in the rankings.
The draft is scheduled to take place in 2026.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomes fans to the 2025 NFL Draft before the first round on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomes fans to the 2025 NFL Draft before the first round on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
As you read through draft prospect rankings from around the Internet, you’re bound to notice the overwhelming variance. It’s hard to know which one to believe. So let’s see how a consensus of analysts would view the 2026 NFL Draft prospects.
When rankings were averaged, players who weren’t on a particular list were calculated as if they had been ranked one position higher than the total number in that ranking. For example, if a player didn’t appear on Reid’s list of 500, the average was calculated as if they had been ranked 501st.
Please note that these rankings are intended for informative purposes and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any Arrowhead Pride staff member.
On both Friday and Saturday, we’ll publish new top-100 lists showing only the players still available. After the seventh round concludes, we will also reveal the rankings’ top 100 undrafted free agents. So as you watch the draft unfold for the Kansas City Chiefs, keep an eye on these rankings.
Below the table, you’ll find some fun facts about the combined rankings.
The first column shows each player’s consensus ranking. The second column shows their position and their ranking within it.
Top 100 Prospects (Pre-Draft)
Rk
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
A total of 731 players appeared on at least one of the six lists, with the top 199 prospects appearing on each ranking. Not surprisingly, there is notable disagreement on how this draft stacks up, even at the top. Three lists began with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at the top (who will undoubtedly be the first overall selection Thursday night.
Two analysts ranked Notre Dame running back Jerimiyah Love as the top player, while one list started with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
Here’s how many players made at least one of the lists for each position, followed by the number of those ranked within the first three rounds (or the first 100 picks) and the percentage of the total.
Quarterback 32 (3 — 9%)
Tackle 58 (8 — 14%)
Guard 50 (6 — 12%)
Center 28 (5 — 18%)
Tight end 49 (3 — 6%)
Running back 52 (3 — 6%)
Fullback 2 (0 — 0%)
Wide receiver 98 (17 — 17%)
Defensive tackle 64 (8 — 13%)
Edge rusher 74 (17 — 23%)
Linebacker 66 (7 — 11%)
Cornerback 78 (16 — 21%)
Safety 53 (7 — 13%)
Placekicker 9 (0 — 0%)
Punter 11 (0 — 0%)
Long snapper 6 (0 — 0%)
The Chiefs have frequently been tied to edge rushers, cornerbacks, and wide receivers throughout the draft process. As you can see, those three positions have the most players ranked in our top 100.
Kansas City has also recently been linked to the draft’s top tackles. When he spoke on Thursday, general manager Brett Veach revealed that he sees bookend depth dropping sharply at the end of the first round.
Our rankings agree. While seven tackles are ranked at No. 31 or above, only one other tackle appears in the top 100. That player, Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, is widely expected to kick inside to guard as a pro.
With the team currently having three of the top 40 selections, it is not surprising that Kansas City has met with many of these players in the draft process. You can learn about the Chiefs’ confirmed draft visits here.
Q&A
What are the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft?
The top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft are ranked based on a consensus from six different sources, averaging their rankings to create a unified list.
How were the 2026 NFL Draft rankings calculated?
The rankings were calculated by averaging the positions of players from six sources, with adjustments made for players not listed by certain analysts.
Which sources were used for the 2026 NFL Draft consensus rankings?
The consensus rankings were derived from ESPN, Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports, Pro Football Network, and Draftek.
Why is there variance in NFL Draft prospect rankings?
Variance in NFL Draft prospect rankings occurs due to differing evaluation criteria and opinions among analysts and scouting sources.
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