Draft prospects with true Round 1 grade: The 12 clear first-rounders

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft will see 32 players selected. But how many of those players have true first-round grades?

There's a difference between going in Round 1 and being graded in Round 1. Now that we're less than three weeks away from the opening of the 2026 draft on April 23 in Pittsburgh, I have made my final assessments on the players who I believe are no-brainer Day 1 guys. The average draft class has roughly 15 players who are deemed "first-round talents," though the number varies by team and scouting department. These special evaluations are reserved for prospects who would be Round 1 selections regardless of the year, and my own guideline is whether a player would have been a first-rounder in each of the past five classes.

I gave only 13 first-round grades in the 2025 class, the lowest number I had awarded at the time. But the 2026 class actually ended with fewer -- only 12. For context, the final list in 2024 had 18 names on it, and the 2023 list had 20.

Here are the players who deserve a first-round grade on my board, and I have added comparisons to current or recent former NFL players for each. (Players' overall rankings are in parentheses after their names.)

Jump to position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL
Edge | DT | LB | CB | S

Quarterback (1)

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (No. 2)

Comp: Joe Burrow

One year after zero quarterbacks had a true first-round grade, there is one in this class. Mendoza transferred to Indiana from Cal and developed into a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and potential No. 1 pick. He has outstanding pocket poise with expert-level touch to all areas of the field. My favorite trait is his ability to put the ball up for his receivers to make plays. And although his arm strength will never be elite, Mendoza protects the ball and is a great distributor. He threw for 41 touchdowns to six interceptions last season and has a game very similar to Burrow thanks to his deadly accuracy, poise in the pocket and penchant for making big plays in big moments.

Running back (1)

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (No. 1)

Comp: Reggie Bush

My top overall prospect, Love has three-down ability and quickness in space. The 6-foot, 212-pounder has runaway speed that led to multiple rushes of more than 90 yards in his college career. He glided to 1,372 yards last season with an average of 6.9 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns.

With elite speed and vision, plus a build that can handle consistent carries, he's the ideal NFL running back prospect. Love is on par with recent prospects such as Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in terms of talent and upside.

Wide receiver (2)

Makai Lemon, USC (No. 8)

Comp: Amon-Ra St. Brown

The 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner as the best receiver in college football, Lemon is a precise route runner with excellent hands (only three drops the past two seasons), the quickness to generate yards after the catch and the ability to create missed tackles in space. Lemon's limited size (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) might be an issue for some teams, but he is proven from the slot and has the toughness to play out wide against press coverage.

NFL teams drawn to the play of St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba should love the way Lemon competes on crossing and underneath routes and how well he wins with leverage and quick breaks in and out of routes.

Carnell Tate, Ohio State (No. 9)

Comp: Cooper Kupp

Another Ohio State first-round wide receiver? Yep. Tate exploded last season, at times eclipsing superstar sophomore teammate Jeremiah Smith. Tate's impact was obvious, with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games despite a lack of targets late in games due to Ohio State's domination.

On tape, Tate looks like Kupp or a Justin Jefferson-level prospect when comparing their college games. Tate is a polished, crisp route runner with the body control to adjust midroute or attack the ball in the air. He had one drop on 67 targets last season and showed he can consistently win in contested-catch situations.

Tight end (1)

Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (No. 11)

Comp: Vernon Davis

Even with eventual second-rounder Terrance Ferguson on the roster in 2024, scouts were buzzing about Sadiq. He didn't disappoint in his only season as a starter in 2025, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. The junior's best trait is his ability to attack the ball in the air and contort his body to make plays on it. Sadiq is a high-end mover with the speed, strength and leaping ability to be a matchup nightmare. He lacks elite size at 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, and he had six drops on 70 targets last season, but he projects as a difference-making move tight end in the pros.

Offensive tackle (1)

Francis Mauigoa, Miami (No. 7)

Comp: Darnell Wright

The 2026 offensive tackle class looked strong before the season began, but there's only one prospect with a true first-round grade. Mauigoa is a three-year starter at right tackle, though some in the NFL believe he would be better at guard due to a squared-off, squatty frame (6-foot-6, 329 pounds). His tape shows a consistent performer with awesome strength but limited balance to adjust to speed rushers. Mauigoa allowed only six pressures last season with non-mobile quarterback Carson Beck working behind him and gave up only two sacks in the past two seasons combined.

Interior offensive line (0)

The interior offensive line class doesn't feature a first-round grade, but there are strong contenders to be selected late in the first round. Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane ranks as a top-20 player on my board and has the consistent run game and pass protection skills at 6-foot-4, 320 pounds to be a starter in the NFL.

Edge rusher (1)

David Bailey, Texas Tech (No. 6)

Comp: Nik Bonitto

When Bailey transferred from Stanford, he was expected to become a force for the Red Raiders' defensive line. He did that with 69 pressures, 14.5 sacks and an edge pressure rate of 21.3% that was the best in the FBS. At 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds, Bailey's speed around the corner is evident on tape, and his production matches it. There might be size concerns, but Bailey is among the nation's most improved players and has become a top-10 prospect.

Defensive tackle (0)

The 2026 defensive tackle class has depth but no real first-round talents after a quiet season from Peter Woods (Clemson) and the failure of the rest of the class to produce pass-rushing talents worthy of a top pick. Though the class doesn't have a standout talent, there are impressive nose tackle and 1-technique prospects such as Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), Caleb Banks (Florida) and Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) who will push to be top-32 selections.

Linebacker (2)

Arvell Reese, Ohio State (No. 4)

Comp: Abdul Carter

Reese wasn't on the NFL radar entering last season, as he had limited starting reps before 2025. But he might be the first defensive player picked later this month. Reese's production exploded in new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's scheme. Working as both a linebacker and a pass rusher, Reese posted 69 tackles, 18 pressures and 6.5 sacks while showing speed and power around the edge reminiscent of Micah Parsons and Carter in their transformations from linebacker to edge rusher.

Reese is still a work in progress, but his production and impact last season point to a player with the talent to quickly be an NFL difference-maker at linebacker or on the edge. His pro position is a subject of debate among NFL scouts, with most telling me he'll likely begin his career at linebacker with reps as an edge rusher in order to fully learn that position -- which is what Parsons did in his rookie season.

Sonny Styles, Ohio State (No. 5)

Comp: Fred Warner

Ohio State might take the "Linebacker U" label this year to go along with the "WRU" tag it has earned in recent years. Styles is a Warner-like linebacker who has elite range and tracking ability while tipping the scales at 6-foot-5, 244 pounds. His size and athletic ability are rare and are backed up by production (83 tackles, one interception, one sack last season) that points to his NFL-readiness.

Styles' player profile and consistent production over the past three seasons make him one of the easiest evaluations in this class. He's a rookie starter and has the tools of a future All-Pro.

Cornerback (2)

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (No. 10)

Comp: Christian Gonzalez

McCoy looked like a future top-10 pick during his sophomore season in 2024. He has an all-around NFL game at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, but an ACL injury suffered in January 2025 kept him out last season. McCoy's six interceptions the previous two seasons show his ball skills and instincts. While there were questions about his pro readiness, his showing at the Tennessee pro day emphatically answered them. There will be some rust that NFL teams must be comfortable with if they are going to use an early pick on him.

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (No. 12)

Comp: Trent McDuffie

Delane emerged as the best cornerback in the FBS. The Virginia Tech transfer was a lockdown presence, allowing only 10 completions last season and grabbing two picks. Delane lacks ideal NFL size with shorter arms on a 6-foot frame, but his play has been outstanding and he has a ceiling similar to McDuffie's.

play

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Mansoor Delane comes up with an interception

Mansoor Delane grabs interception vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

Safety (1)

Caleb Downs, Ohio State (No. 3)

Comp: Budda Baker

If you could create the ideal safety prospect, it would look like Downs. The 6-foot, 206-pounder is an elite open-field tackler with the closing speed to run down ball carriers and dominate angles in space. Downs can do it all, often lining up in multiple assignments depending on where the defense needs him. His four interceptions the past two seasons speak to his ball skills but also to the fact that offenses avoid him.

One rival offensive coach told me that they identify Downs on pre-snaps over a linebacker or key pass rusher -- he's that impactful. Safeties are rarely drafted in the top five, but Downs should not be overlooked. He could have a role like Baker or Kyle Hamilton immediately as a rookie starter.