The 2026 NFL Draft pairs: Six pairs of players, same position, same team

Q: What are the six player pairs in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The article identifies six pairs of players at the same position from the same team, highlighting their potential draft positions and relative skills.

Q: Why are some players considered better than their counterparts in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Players are deemed better based on their performance, skill set, and potential impact, although the second player in each pair is still a viable early-round pick.

Q: How does the 2026 NFL Draft strategy differ from simply picking the top player?

The draft strategy focuses on assembling the best overall talent collection rather than just selecting the highest-ranked player, considering team needs and player fit.

Q: What impact do the second players in each pair have on the 2026 NFL Draft?

The second players in each pair are expected to be drafted within a round or two of their counterparts, indicating their significance as impact players despite being ranked lower.

The 2026 NFL Draft pairs: Six pairs of players, same position, same team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NFL Draft is upon us once again. The Draft, despite common sentiment, is a complicated equation of factors. While many fans think it to be a complete gamble, the draft is almost equal parts art and science.

The draft is layered and nuanced. The Draft is not a race to get the top guy on the board. It is a puzzle to acquire the best collection of talent based on how the board falls.

The 2026 NFL Draft has six "pairs" of players that could come off the board in the first two days (or three rounds) of the draft. In each of these pairs, one player is deemed to be significantly better than the other. However, the second of the two in the pair are still good enough to be real considerations early, even after their better counterpart is off the board.

In one case the second in the pair is the second-best player at that position in the entire draft. In other cases, the second will go a round or two later than the first but still be considered an impact player. Typically, the second in a pair is thought to be noticeably lower. For these six pairs, the drop off from the first to the second will not be that wide.

In each of the following examples, both players in the pair play the same position and play for the same team. Both players are expected to come off the board relatively early (Rounds 1-4).

2026 NFL Draft Pairs

Arvell Reese - Sonny Styles

The Ohio State pair is the most interesting as well as the two names that should come off the board closest to each other and higher than anyone else on this list. Both prospects have been discussed recently as potentially being top 5 picks. Arvell Reese is most commonly mocked to the Jets at No. 2 overall.

Sonny Styles is getting mocked as high as Tennessee at No. 4 overall but typically no later than the Bengals at No. 10. If draft analysts are anywhere near correct on this, Ohio State could have not only two players, but two linebackers selected in the top 10. If either falls beyond the top 10 it would be considered a substantial value pick.

Jeremiyah Love - Jadarian Price

Jeremiyah Love is the running back prize in this draft and it's not close. The gap between Love and Price could be an entire round or more. Love should go top 5 but is a consensus lock to go earlier than running backs are expected to go.

Jadarian Price on the other hand, is the RB2 in this draft according to a majority of draft analysts. His range today is somewhere between the mid 20s and the middle of the second round.

Both backs project to being significant contributors if not featured backs on their future NFL team. The dividing factor is that the things Price is not great at, Love is great at. Love is a once in five years evaluation while Price is a very good NFL prospect.

Rueben Bain Jr - Ahkeem Mesidor

The pair of Rueben Bain Jr and Ahkeem Mesidor is a case of overthinking small details. Neither of which is a perfect evaluation. Bain has short arms. It's a very simple concept. If Bain was longer and rangy, he would be considered to be in the Myles Garrett/Max Crosby mold. The short arms are going to likely prevent him from being in the top 5 conversation.

Mesidor is 25. Many NFL teams like to get guys when they are closer to 20-22. It allows them to believe there is a longer development ramp and more prime years for a prospect. Both of these knocks have almost nothing to do with the production they provide. However, teams worry about these types of things. Even with those concerns, there is a reality where Bain goes top 10 or close to it and Mesidor still goes in the first round.

Omar Cooper Jr - Elijah Surratt

Omar Cooper Jr and Elijah Surratt are simply two different flavors of the same type. Do you want a smaller, shiftier receiver who is dynamic with the ball in his hands? Or do you want a sure handed, bigger possession style receiver?

Whatever the answer is, Indiana has a receiving option to fit. Omar Cooper Jr will likely go ahead of Surratt for stylistic reasons. Both are outside the big three of Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon, but both could be selected in the first 60 picks. The Indiana receivers are a pick the flavor you want situation.

Francis Mauigoa - Markel Bell

Francis Mauigoa and Markel Bell might have the widest gap between their respective eventual draft position. Both of these are massive men that will be paid to push other men around. Mauigoa is an absolute refrigerator with legs. At 6'6, 315 he is ideal at right tackle. The problem is if Mauigoa was a left tackle, he could go as high as No. 2 overall. If he slides, it's because he plays right tackle, nothing more.

Bell on the other hand introduces an additional concern that should have him fall significantly further than Mauigao. Bell is 6'9, 345 pounds. While that might sound great, there is a size threshold where a tackle can be too big. There is an awful track record for offensive tackles over 6'6 and over 360 pounds. Thankfully Bell only has the height concern. At 6'9, there are almost no examples of a tackle being dominant at that height. Due the size concern, Bell currently projects somewhere between the late second round and the fourth round. The largest gap among these 'pairs'.

Cashius Howell - Romello Height

Cashius Howell and Romello Height might be the most interesting pair. Especially for teams not drafting in the top half of the rounds. For the first half of the 2025 season, it seemed there was a race for DE1 in this draft between Rueben Bain Jr and Cashius Howell. Eventually David Bailey took that spot by season's end. Howell, once thought to be a top 15 prospect, could be had in the 20s or slightly later in the first round.

Height played the opposite end from Howell at College Station. Despite being a little light in the pants for a hand in the dirt EDGE, Height managed to finish 2025 with 10 sacks and almost 12 tackles for loss. For a team with other priorities early, Romello Height could be a bit of a steal.