The NFL 2026 Draft is approaching, featuring 32 top prospects. Their success may depend on landing with teams that fit their skills and schemes.
Key points
NFL 2026 Draft is approaching
32 prospects expected to be first-round picks
Success depends on team fit and scheme
Sixteen prospects will attend the draft in person
Ohio State v Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 29: Arvell Reese #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in action against Giovanni el-Hadi #58 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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We all know that to make it this far, all of these gentlemen are extremely talented. But sometimes talent isn’t enough. To land with the team that has the perfect scheme for your capabilities is everything.
The NFL 2026 Draft is days away. Thirty-two prospects will hear their name called in the first round. Sixteen of the potential first-round picks will be attending the draft in person. But hearing your name is just the first step.
So, before the draft officially starts, here are the top-32 prospects and the team that has the best scheme fit for their talents.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal - Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Miami v Ohio State
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 31: Malachi Toney #10 of the Miami Hurricanes attempts to evade a tackle by Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during the College Football Playoff Quarter Final Game at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
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Top 32 NFL Draft Prospects
Edge, Arvell Reese, Ohio State University, 6’4”, 243lbs: Best scheme fit with the New York Jets. Reese will be at his best when playing in a 3-4 defense on a hybrid system. He excels as an off-ball linebacker, blitzing from the line or as a situational edge rusher. Aaron Glenn’s defense uses a 3-4 base and 3-4 principles. The defense is flexible, often using 3-4 fronts with three interior linemen.
Safety, Caleb Downs, Washington, 6’0”, 205lbs: Best scheme fit is with the Washington Commanders. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones typically builds his secondaries around players who can play in the box, at safety, and/or in nickel. Downs has aptly demonstrated the ability to play high safety, in the slot, and defend the run.
Running Back, Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame, 6’0”, 214lbs: The best fit is a zone-heavy scheme that uses Love’s receiving skills and elite ability to accelerate. The Green Bay Packers utilize zone concepts on 70% of their runs. However, they do not have a pick in the first round. Love has most often been mock-drafted to the Tennessee Titans and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, whose offenses are known for zone-heavy schemes, especially the wide zone and the power gap concept.
Quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, Indiana University, 6’5”, 225lbsMendoza’s game is best when it’s in rhythm. He has great intermediate accuracy and elite touch, especially on back shoulder passes. This fits Klint Kubiak’s West Coast/Shanahan style offense that he ran last year with Sam Darnold. The Las Vegas Raiders are the best scheme fit for Mendoza.
Linebacker, Sonny Styles, Ohio State University, 6’4”, 243lbs: Styles can play downfield and cover elite tight ends, in addition to being able to blitz. This aligns him with the Dallas Cowboys for the best scheme fit. The Cowboys lack a middle linebacker and need the “movable chess piece” that Styles is.
Top Prospects and Their Best Scheme Fit
Tennessee v Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - SEPT. 27: Colton Hood #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers returns an interception for a touchdown during the first quarter of a football game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
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We know that there are more than 32 top prospects, which is why the NFL Draft goes seven rounds, and even then, players undrafted get a chance to make the 53-man roster or participate on the 17-player practice squad.
So, who is your top prospect that didn’t make this list?
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Q&A
Who are the top 32 prospects for the NFL 2026 Draft?
The article lists 32 talented players expected to be first-round picks in the NFL 2026 Draft.
What factors influence where NFL draft prospects land?
The perfect scheme and team fit for a player's capabilities are crucial for their success after being drafted.
When is the NFL 2026 Draft taking place?
The NFL 2026 Draft is scheduled to occur in the coming days.
How many prospects will attend the NFL 2026 Draft in person?
Sixteen of the potential first-round picks will attend the NFL 2026 Draft in person.
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Edge, David Bailey, Texas Tech, 6’3”, 250lbs: Bailey has an elite first step that helped him accumulate 14.5 sacks in the 2025 season. He fits perfectly as a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 wide 9 defensive end. His best scheme fit is the Seattle Seahawks. It is an aggressive blitz-centric defense that will allow him to attack the edge.
Cornerback, Mansoor Delane, LSU, 6’0”, 190lbs: The Los Angeles Rams are the best fit for Delane. Delane fits their need for corners who can play both man and zone. His ability to “read route combinations,” and process information on the fly is the defensive football IQ the Rams traditionally look for in their defensive players.
Offensive Tackle, Spencer Fano, Utah, 6’5”, 311lbs: While concerns regarding his arm length (32 ⅛) may have him moved to guard or center, his ideal fit would be the Baltimore Ravens. Fano can play outside zone with heavy motion blocking schemes, which puts him squarely in line with the Ravens high-intensity running schemes.
Edge, Rueben Bain, University of Miami, 6’2”, 276lbs: Bain is projected as a 4-3 defensive end or a versatile 3-4 hybrid linebacker. His best scheme fit is with the Dallas Cowboys, who value versatility and power-based rushing over the long arm profile. (Bain’s arms measure 30 ⅞”).
Wide Receiver, Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State University 6’2”, 203lbs: Tyson’s injury history makes him a questionable top-10 selection. However, his on-field stats highlight his potential ceiling. The best fit for Tyson is a vertical West Coast hybrid offense that allows him to act as the “X” receiver and manages his snaps to protect from injury. The Kansas City Chiefs are the best scheme fit for Tyson.
Wide Receiver, Carnell Tate, Ohio State University, 6’2”, 192lbs: Tate can easily be ahead of Tyson and will most likely be drafted as the first wide receiver off the board. Tate fits best in a system that needs that reliable intermediate-to-deep threat. That would be WR2 to Chris Olave in New Orleans, in a scheme that focuses on both vertical passes and a balanced, pro-style offense.
Guard, Olaivavega Ioane, Pennsylvania State University, 6’4”, 320lbs; Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers are the best fit for Ioane’s physicality in the run game and the ability to anchor in the passing game.
Tight End, Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, 6’3”, 241lbs: The Baltimore Ravens lost both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to free agency. Sadiq is a vertical threat and a willing blocker in the run game. As mocked by the GoingFor2 podcast, to the Ravens, this is a perfect fit for both the passing and run game in Baltimore.
Offensive Tackle, Francis Mauigoa, University of Miami, 6’5”, 329lbs: Mauigoa is projected as right tackle or interior guard. The Los Angeles Rams use a mix of gap and zone blocking, which fits with Mauigoa’s skill set that oozes physical dominance in zone-heavy schemes.
Wide Receiver, Makai Lemon, University of Southern California, 5’11”, 192lbs: Again, the Rams are the best fit for a prospect, especially this prospect. Sean McVay’s use of 11 personnel requires versatility, and a technical route runner who can operate in the slot and move around the formation.
Edge, Keldric Faulk, Auburn, 6’6”, 276lbs: Best suited for Buffalo Bills and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonard, whose defensive schemes require strong run-stopping on the edges. Faulk brings instant high-level run defense and can align inside or outside.
Cornerback, Jermod McCoy, University of Tennessee, 6’0”, 188lbs: McCoy did not play the 2025 season due to a torn ACL that happened at the end of the 2024 season. Tape from the 2024 season demonstrates McCoy would thrive in a scheme that uses single-high safety coverage and requires cornerbacks to work in isolation. The perfect fit is the New York Jets, who put a priority on man coverage and putting their cornerbacks out on an island.
Safety, Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, 6’0”, 201lbs: Thieneman can play in the box, blitz, or cover high. This matches what Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings rely on: blitz-heavy packages with positional versatility. Having Thieneman will also take care of the Harrison Smith issue.
Offensive Tackle, Monroe Freeling, University of Georgia, 6’7”, 315lbs: Freeling is best suited for outside zone and move-heavy blocking schemes. This fits best with the Detroit Lions, who use mobile blockers in a pin and pull with zone variations.
Wide Receiver, K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M, 5’11 ⅝”, 196lbs: Kyle Shanahan’s Niners offense that relies on immediate production on complex, motion-heavy plays, fits Concepcion’s quick bursts, elite yards after the catch, and ability to separate.
Offensive Tackle, Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, 6’7”, 352lbs: Proctor played left tackle at Alabama but may be moved to right tackle or guard. He is best in a power-based or “gap” blocking scheme and would best fit in a run-heavy offense, like the Baltimore Ravens, which operated at a 54.5% run rate last season.
Safety, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, 6’3”, 201lbs: Warren is most valuable when playing near the line of scrimmage or in the “robber” position. He is capable of immediately improving the run defense of a team. Best fit: the Pittsburgh Steelers and new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Wide Receiver, Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana University, 6’0”, 196lbs: Cooper is a yards after the catch monster. His best fit is with a team that needs a slot/outside receiver. The Buffalo Bills could utilize Cooper as their intermediate zone breaker with his ability to produce against the zone coverage.
Cornerback, Chris Johnson, San Diego State, 6’0”, 193lbs: Willing tackler in the run game and only allowed a 16.1 passer rating when targeted. He is best in press-man schemes that require boundary coverage and discipline. The best fit is the Las Vegas Raiders and their defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard.
Defensive Tackle, Caleb Lomu, Utah, 6’6”, 313lbs: Lomu best fits in a scheme that prioritizes movement over raw power. He is considered one of the most refined pass blockers, so a zone blocking scheme with the emphasis on pass protection. This fits with the Niners, and Lomu could be the replacement for when Trent Williams is gone.
Cornerback, Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5’11”, 186lbs: Terrell best fits press man coverage systems that allow him to mirror receivers. He is also best when used as a “chess piece” and not solely a boundary corner. The Indianapolis Colts ranked 11th in defensive snaps in cornerback press-man coverage; the Colts do not have a pick in the first round. So, the Baltimore Ravens, who used press-man coverage at a rate of 38.9% last season, are the best fit for Terrell.
Wide Receiver, Denzel Boston, Washington, 6’4”, 212lbs: Boston’s size, toughness, and strong hands make him a red zone target. He will be best with an aggressive quarterback with good ball placement. Drake Maye of the New England Patriots would be a great fit for Boston. Maye was known for his aggressiveness and elite ball placement, finishing the season with a 72% completion percentage.
Defensive Tackle, Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, 6’2”, 326lbs: McDonald is the best run defender in the draft. Last season, he was responsible for nine tackles for loss, seven tackles for no gain, and 30 run stops. He would best fit taking on the double teams in the Houston Texans' defense, allowing their elite linebackers and edge rushers to go one-on-one.
Defensive Tackle, Peter Woods, Clemson, 6’3”, 298lbs: Woods can play across the line, but his best fit is in a one-gap system like the Cincinnati Bengals run.
Edge, T.J. Parker, Clemson, 6’3”, 263lbs: Although he is not an elite athlete off the edge, Parker finished the season with 24 quarterback hits. He also had six sacks, but four came in the game against South Carolina. He is best suited for a 4-3 defensive end role of 3-4 outside linebacker. Best fit is with the Chicago Bears.
Offensive Tackle, Max Iheanachor, Arizona State University, 6’5 ⅞”, 321lbs: Iheanachor is best at outside zone running with zone-heavy blocking schemes. The best fit is those teams with mobile offensive lines. The best fit could be the Arizona Cardinals with new head coach Mike LaFleur and offensive line coach Justin Frye.
Edge, Malachi Lawrence, University of Central Florida, 6’ 4 ⅜”, 253lbs: Lawrence is at his best as a situational pass rusher. The best fit for Lawrence is in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ blitz-heavy schemes.
