The final big board for the 2026 NFL Draft ranks the top 257 prospects overall and by position. With the draft approaching, evaluations from the college season and all-star events have concluded.
Key points
Final big board ranks top 257 NFL Draft prospects
Rankings include evaluations from college football season
With about three weeks remaining before the first-round of the 2026 NFL Draft goes on the clock, the pre-selection process has come to an unofficial close. The on-field evalutions through college football season, all-star games, the Combine and pro days are in the rearview mirror.
All eyes are now forward on how good of players the draff-worthiest prospects will be. Here's an updated, expanded and final look (barring injuries or other developments) at the most likely players to be taken sometime in Rounds 1 through 7:
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 236 pounds)
Mendoza lived up to his potential coming over from Cal and then some, taking college football by storm as a strong-armed, athletic and accurate pocket passer with clutch leadership and intangibles. He sent his stock into the stratosphere with his Heisman Trophy and national championship season, a la Joe Burrow in 2019, to lock himself down as the Raiders' best option for No. 1 overall pick.
2. Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State (6-4, 241 pounds)
Reese broke out as a terrific, rangy, all-around transcendent second-level defender to the point that he will be an intriguing chess piece with pass-rush juice for the NFL.
Downs is the ultimate triple-threat playmaker with his outstanding ball-hawking skills in coverage, cleanup instincts against the run and return-game juice. He dominated everywhere on the field for the Buckeyes as expected.
4. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (6-2, 263 pounds)
Bain went from versatile pass rush for multiple fronts to blossoming into a superstar during Miami's CFP run with some dominant play, also rounding out into a force against the run.
Styles is strong at leading and covering plenty of ground vs. the run. He shot up boards playing with Downs and Reese with his emergent play in coverage.
Love is a powerful, explosive runner with the athleticism, strength and vision to become a reliable workhorse in the NFL, much like he was for the Fighting Irish.
7. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-4, 251 pounds)
Bailey has some natural explosive qualities as a pass rusher and grew more into that potential after transferring from Stanford. He also has special dropback coverage skills for the position.
8. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (6-2, 192 pounds)
Tate is the classic, strong route-running receiver with big-play ability and quickness in the open field after the catch. He took over as the Buckeyes' next great downfield target.
9. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (6-6, 315 pounds)
Mauigoa kept tapping into his big upside as a pass protector and better learned how to use his frame as a run blocker. He had a great impact in fueling the Hurricanes' CFP championship drive.
10. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (6-2, 203 pounds)
Tyson is a smooth route-runner all over the field who can deliver as a downfield threat and a reliable intermediate target.
Delane had a big year using his size and sound physical coverage and he can handle multiple schemes. He has some shutdown potential for the NFL.
12. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-3, 298 pounds)
Woods is a dominant, powerful run stopper who also has great quickness as an inside pass rusher, making him the easy top interior line prospect in this class.
13. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-1, 188 pounds)
McCoy is capable of moving around well to handle all types of receivers in coverage with his size and instincts. He also has a strong nose for making big plays on the ball.
Mesidor got more attention with Bain during the Hurricanes' run, too, showing off explosive pass-rush athleticism for his size. He can continue to rise into early first-round consideration.
15. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6-6, 302 pounds)
Fano is a nasty, powerful run blocker for the outside who delivered more on his pass-protecting upside. He can dominate at right tackle in the NFL or even slide inside.
Terrell is the younger brother of fellow Clemson star A.J., a top starter for the Falcons. Avieon plays very physically for his size to help his coverage. That also makes him a rare back-end run-stopping force.
17. Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-6, 276 pounds)
Faulk is a power-based pass rusher who is exceptional vs. the run. He should garner some more Myles Garrett comparisons in the pre-draft process.
18. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (6-3, 241 pounds)
Sadiq should be the latest smooth route-running tight end to land in the first round after a big season as the Ducks' go-to guy for Dante Moore.
19. Makai Lemon, WR, USC (5-11, 192 pounds)
Lemon is loaded with savvy athleticism and route-running skills. He can be a dominant slot receiver in the NFL in the mold of former Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown.
20. Olaivavega Ioane, G/C, Penn State (6-4, 330 pounds)
Ioane has risen up boards as a sturdy mauler who has great blocking footwork and quickness in relation to his size and power.
Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman
Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
21. Dillon Thienman, S, Oregon (6-0, 201 pounds)
Thieneman is a solid all-around veteran safety with the ability to make plays everywhere vs. the run and pass.
Howell is a fluid athlete who uses all of his speed and quickness for his effective wide pass-rush repertoire and can have an immediate situational impact.
23. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (6-6, 304 pounds)
Lomu is a well-rounded, big-framed blocker who can keep rising up draft boards if he can put it all together with his power and athleticism.
24. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana (6-0, 196 pounds)
Cooper is rising up boards after being a sharp route-running receiver with reliable hands for Mendoza. His versatility to produce in the slot and outside will have wider appeal.
25. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (6-7, 366 pounds)
Proctor has natural athleticism for his massive frame and can often engulf defensive linemen, especially in pass protection. He just needs to refine his game to get more consistent all-around with his technique.
26. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (6-3, 326 pounds)
McDonald is powerful and relentless working upfield against the run and has stood out more of late for his inside pass-rush juice.
27. T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-4, 265 pounds)
Parker is an instinctual, quick and highly productive pass rusher who is also a major asset against the run.
28. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (6-7, 315 pounds)
Freeling is an immediate starting right tackle with his massive frame and power as a run blocker, but he is also showing quickness and footwork upside in relation to his size to think he can develop into a reliable pass-protecting left tackle.
Concepcion has great speed and quickness, allowing him to be a natural big playmaker both in stretching the field and bursting in the open field after the catch.
30. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State (6-6, 330 pounds)
Iheanachor is an intriguing raw athletic talent with his size to develop into a dominant left tackle with the right coaching.
Simpson can offer great short-to-intermediate accuracy plus winning intangibles with some upside to develop his arm and technique as a downfield pocket passer.
35. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech (6-4, 318 pounds)
Hunter should continue to be very productive as a complementary run stopper after starring in that capacity for the Red Raiders.
36. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee (6-0, 193 pounds)
Hood has a good blend of toughness, physicality and speed to make a lot of plays in man coverage, but he needs to be more consistent overall in his technique.
Miller is best suited for 3-4 or 4-3 work up front because of his natural run-stopping frame, but he also has the quickness to quickly develop as an inside pass rusher.
38. C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia (6-1, 230 pounds)
Allen is a classic Bulldogs linebacker with his speed, playmaking instincts, off-the-charts intangibles and sound, physical tackling.
39. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina (6-0, 189 pounds)
Cisse covers a lot of ground vs. the run, including using his size well to burst into his coverage assignments, but he likely would fit best early, covering the big slot.
40. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida (6-6, 327 pounds)
Banks moves very well for his size and is trying to continue to raise his overall stock as a run stopper and inside pass rusher.
41. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State (5-10, 187 pounds)
Abney will have great value as a versatile corner who can handle any type of coverage assignment, outside or inside, solid vs. spectacular.
42. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville (6-2, 222 pounds)
Bell is impressing with his uncanny strength and toughness to win as a physical route runner to overpower a lot of smaller or same-sized corners.
43. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas (6-2, 238 pounds)
Hill is the classic active all-around linebacker with his ability to stop the run, make plays in coverage and get to the quarterback on blitzes.
Price, overshadowed by Jeremiyah Love in college, is a well-rounded athletic back in his own right who would fit best in a zone-blocking running scheme.
50. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana (5-9, 182 pounds)
Ponds channels Brent Grimes as a corner who plays bigger than his size and fights hard to win any coverage assignment.
51. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati (6-5, 239 pounds)
Golday is one to watch for a steady rise with dynamic athleticism and a strong, powerful finish as a tackler.
52. Chris Brazell II, WR, Tennessee (6-4, 190 pounds)
Brazell is a massive receiver who uses his size well to post up in coverage and also is a run blocking asset.
53. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF (6-4, 253 pounds)
Lawrence brings nice power and size as a quick pass rusher and has room to grow vs. the run.
54. Keionte Scott, S, Miami (5-11, 193 pounds)
Scott has proved to be a well-rounded cover corner who does a little of everything well to help a defense.
55. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU (6-0, 215 pounds)
Haulcy has a good blend of linebacker-like thumping and nose to force takeaways in coverage.
The first thing that stands out for Tiernan is his size, but he also is technically sound with good footwork to compensate for less than top-end athleticism.
Height has decent size, but overall, he's limited to being a very dynamic pass rusher or situational defender until he can bulk up and get stronger vs. the run.
66. Genesis Smith, S, Arizona (6-2, 202 pounds)
Smith is a lanky and big cover man for the inside with a chance to be this year's Nick Emmanwori.
67. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas (6-1, 233 pounds)
Washington is a strong versatile runner who has solid power for inside and burst to the outside and has gotten more attention as someone who can handle a bigger workload late in the process.
Williams has some explosive qualities to his game that make him an intriguing, quick developmental project on Day 2.
69. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma (6-3, 293 pounds)
Halton is a bit undersized but teams have found it difficult to knock him too much for that with his immense quickness that helps disrupt so much in the backfield.
70. Anthony Lucas, EDGE, USC (6-6, 256 pounds)
Lucas looks the part of a dominant engulfing pass-rushing with his frame, but consistency and honing technique are his key pro challenges.
71. Gennings Dunker, G/C, Iowa (6-5, 315 pounds)
Dunker will either excel at right tackle or slide inside to guard to use his nasty, tough run blocking to a great extent. He can be dominant at times with pure power and has athletic upside to boot.
72. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State (6-4, 243 pounds)
Klare can be the new Colston Loveland coming out of the Big Ten with his athletic pass-catching and ability to get open on downfield routes.
73. Sam Hecht, G/C, Kansas State (6-4, 300 pounds)
Hecht lacks ideal size and power to some, but to others, he can't miss because of his smarts and technique in blocking and line calling.
Josephs is a very active and aggressive pass rusher who is also relentless in blowing up run plays in the backfield. He needs to be more consistent and start faster on his rush.
Overton is an experienced, versatile pass rusher with his size, power, and athleticism.
82. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh (6-0, 220 pounds)
Louis is.a bit undersized, but he can be an intriguing coverage and run cleanup safety hybrid in the bigger Reed Blankenship vein.
83. Jalon Kllgore, S, South Carolina (6-1, 210 pounds)
Kilgore is a natural big cover man as corner hyrid who can either help in the slot or be effective outside ffor some teams.
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michael trigg
84. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor (6-4, 240 pounds)
Trigg stands out most as a receiver with his work downfield with his speed and his good hands for the red zone, with a lot of inconsistency in between.
Ramsey isn't a blazer but he's a technically sound inside cover man who has shown the instincts to make a lot of big plays.
86. Devin Moore, CB, Florida (6-3, 198 pounds)
Moore is getting more Day 2 attention for his size, savvy and shiftiness in coverage.
87. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU (6-2, 203 pounds)
Nussmeier's NFL coaching pedigree pays off and his quick release, accuracy and ability to hang tough as a smart pocket passer, giving him some buzz to jump Simpsons.
88. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke (5-10, 185 pounds)
Rivers is a smart, savvy nickel corner who can have an impact in the way of the Texans' Jalen Pitre.
89. Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas (6-2, 203 pounds)
Neal is a durable and physical player vs. the run to add another element to his big-bodied, steady and durable coverage.
Crawford will bring a lot of energy and production as a situational pass rusher at first.
95. Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri (6-4, 313 pounds)
McClellan flashes with his strong arm and sturdy feet to make big plays and can develop more to become more consistent from down to down.
96. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State (6-3, 203 pounds)
Wheatley is a rangy playmaker who handles himself well in coverage because of that tough frame with athleticism.
97. Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona (6-1, 190 pounds)
Stukes has some age (will soon turn 25) and past injury issues but has shot up because of his tenacity and willing to execute well across the secondary.
98. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State (6-6, 315 pounds)
This physical and sturdy run defender can beef up any pro rotation right away with his play.
Slaughter is solid with his agile blocking, a huge asset in pass protection. He has the smarts to fit best as a starting center.
111. Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida (6-2, 273 pounds)
Sapp packs a run-smashing wallop for his smallish frame, giving him room to improve with the quickness aspects of his game.
112. Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M (5-11, 226 pounds)
York stands out for being a tough, aggressive and instinctual starter with a chance to tap into more playmaking upside.
113. Isaiah World, OT, Oregon (6-8, 318 pounds)
World is a massive natural outside run blocker trying to get healthier and better in shape to be trusted as a regular starting tackle.
114. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State (6-5, 228 pounds)
Allar has no issues with hanging in the pocket with his size and delivering strong throws all over the field, but his execution and efficient need to be more consistent.
Brailsford is strong and solid with his interior run blocking and is only a middle-rounder because his game lacks the spectacular.
119. Hezekiah Masses, CB, California (6-1, 179 pounds)
Masses is getting more attention late for being such an aggressive and productive on-ball playmaker.
120. Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State (5-11, 216 pounds)
Allen is a compact strong power runner with some underrated qualities for passing downs.
121. Austin Barber, OT, Florida (6-6, 314 pounds)
Barber is sturdy and experienced, giving him appeal as a backup to help a team in running and passing.
122. Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College (6-5, 314 pounds)
Bowry has impressive natural pass-protecting qualities but would benefit from becoming stronger in the running game.
123. Bryce Lance, WR, Notre Dakota State (6-3, 204 pounds)
Trey's brother spent a lot of time in college as a savvy playmaker flashes most with his size and explosiveness outside.
124. Carson Beck, QB, Miami (6-5, 233 pounds)
Beck is most intriguing for his prototypical size, experience and intangibles. He has a chance if he can improve his mechanics to be more accurate and his decision-making ot be more efficient.
125. Tyren Montgomery, WR/RB, John Carroll (5-11, 190 pounds)
Montgomery is a dynamic offensive weapon from a small school trying to find the ideal fit for his usage, perhaps the Saints or Broncos.
126. Billy Schrauth, G/C, Notre Dame (6-4, 305 pounds)
Schrauth is the classic strong and smart reliable run blocker often produced by the Fighting Irish.
127. Zxavian Harris, DT, Mississippi State (6-8, 330 pounds)
Harris is an appeal massive run-stunning tackle who needs to develop more pass-rush pop to see regular starting time.