Florida is set to have a strong presence in the upcoming NFL draft, with four players projected to be picked in the top 15 and potentially seven in the first round. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is favored to be the first overall pick, marking the first time a Florida high school player has been selected first since 1965.
The state of Florida will be well represented in the NFL draft.
Four players from Florida high schools are expected to go in the top 15 picks, and as many as seven could go in the first round.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (Columbus) is as close to lock to go No. 1 overall as it gets. If/when Mendoza goes No. 1, he will be the first player from a Florida high selected No. 1 overall since 1965 when the New York Giants picked running back Tucker Frederickson (South Broward).
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Indiana Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds (5) reacts after making a stop Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (32) reacts after recording a sack during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette (6) carries the ball for a touchdown after a fumble during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Carson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes throws the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football Playoff
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Florida Gators defensive back Devin Moore (28) breaks up a pass intended for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell (86) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Patrick Payton (6) retrieves a fumbled ball by South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) passes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Jason Clark/Getty Images)
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Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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Indiana Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds (5) reacts after making a stop Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game against the Miami (FL) Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
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Sep 20, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (32) reacts after recording a sack during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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Nov 29, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette (6) carries the ball for a touchdown after a fumble during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
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Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
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Carson Beck #11 of the Miami Hurricanes throws the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels during the 2025 College Football Playoff
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Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Florida Gators defensive back Devin Moore (28) breaks up a pass intended for Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell (86) during the second quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
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Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Patrick Payton (6) retrieves a fumbled ball by South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
After Mendoza, it's pretty much a guessing game as to where former Florida prep stars will end up.
Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa and Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate will extend IMG Academy's record streak of first-round draft picks to seven consecutive years. Miami edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor both are expected to go in the first round.
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas both could hear their names called toward the end of the first round.
Here are some likely landing spots for players from Florida high schools:
High school: Columbus
Most likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders (No. 1)
Letās not complicate this. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, clearly is the top quarterback in the draft and itās almost impossible to imagine the Raiders looking at anyone else here.
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) against the Mississippi Rebels during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
High school: IMG Academy
Most likely landing spots: Arizona Cardinals (No. 3), New York Giants (No. 5), Cleveland Browns (No. 6), Miami Dolphins (No. 11), Baltimore Ravens (No. 14)
Mauigoaās landing spot likely will be determined by what position a team sees him playing at the next level. If itās Arizona, Mauigoa almost certainly will be penciled is as a starting offensive tackle. If itās New England, Cleveland or Miami, his versatility as a tackle or guard will work in his favor. Itās hard to see him slipping past Miami, but Baltimore could take him as a guard if he does surprisingly fall that low.
High school: IMG Academy
Most likely landing spots: New York Giants (No. 5), Cleveland Browns (No. 6), New Orleans Saints (No. 8), Miami Dolphins (No. 11), Las Vegas Rams (No. 13)
Tate is widely considered the top wide receiver in the draft and, in a passing league, it would be a bit of a surprise to see him fall out of the top 10. The Giants could pair Tate with Malik Nabers and the Browns could keep him in state. The Saints, Dolphins and Rams all need wide receiver help, too.
High school: Miami Central
Most likely landing spots: Tennessee Titans (No. 4), New Orleans Saints (No. 8), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9), Miami Dolphins (No. 11), Dallas Cowboys (No. 12) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 15)
Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes pressures Tommy Castellanos #1 of the Florida State Seminoles during the fourth quarter of the game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Is there a player in this draft more polarizing than Bain? He has elite pass rushing skills but lacks ideal length and some scouts are legitimately concerned about his short arms. The recent news about him being involved in a fatal car crash in 2024 further throws his draft prospects in flux. But teams are desperate for pass rushers, so Bain has a bunch of potential landing spots. If he does start to slip midway through the first round, it wouldnāt be surprising to see a team trade up for him.
High school: Clearwater Academy International
Most likely landing spots: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 15), Detroit Lions (No. 17), Dallas Cowboys (No. 20), San Diego Chargers (No. 22), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 23), Buffalo Bills (No. 25), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 29), New England Patriots (No. 31)
Mesidor is an interesting prospect. He led the Hurricanes in sacks in 2025 and was a star of throughout Miamiās run to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. The issue with Mesidor is that he is 25 years old. That isn't a huge issue, but it does mean that he will likely fit better ā from a timeline perspective ā with teams that are closer to competing for a title than teams that are rebuilding.
High school: Lakewood
Most likely landing spots: Minnesota Vikings (No. 18), Carolina Panthers (No. 19), Dallas Cowboys (No. 20), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 23)
Dec 23, 2025; Boca Raton, FL, USA; Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) celebrates a third down stop against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
McNeil-Warren appears to be a lock to be the first non-Power 4 player off the board and the third safety selected overall, after Ohio Stateās Caleb Downs and Oregonās Dillon Thieneman. McNeil-Warren is a long, quick and physical safety with ball skills. Ā The late teens would be his ceiling, but hearing his name called in the 20s or 30s makes a lot of sense.
High school: Cardinal Gibbons
Most likely landing spots: Kansas City Chiefs (No. 30), New England Patriots (No. 31), Seatle Seahawks (No. 32)
Thomas might be the best speed rusher in the draft, which could help him sneak into the late first round. If he doesnāt go in the first round, expect him to go in the top half of the second round.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida players in NFL draft: Likely landing spots in first round
Four players from Florida high schools are projected to be selected in the top 15 picks, with up to seven potentially going in the first round.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is considered a strong favorite to be the first overall pick.
The last Florida high school player selected first overall was Tucker Frederickson in 1965.
Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback from the Indiana Hoosiers.
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