Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese ranks first in ESPN\'s initial top 50 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. The junior has emerged as the best player on the Buckeyes\' defense and is considered one of the biggest risers regardless of position. ESPN\'s Jordan Reid released the rankings based on film study and conversations with NFL scouts.
Reid projects Reese as a hybrid defender with Pro Bowl potential early in his NFL career. The 6-foot-4, 243-pound junior excels both as an off-ball linebacker and edge rusher. Ohio State teammate Caleb Downs ranks second at safety, while Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love sits third.
Oregon\'s Dante Moore leads the quarterback class after transferring from UCLA. The 6-foot-3 junior has completed 72.8% of his passes for 2,190 yards with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. Indiana\'s Fernando Mendoza ranks second among quarterbacks after transferring from Cal, throwing for 2,641 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Alabama\'s Ty Simpson rounds out the top three quarterbacks. He has passed for 2,787 yards with 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. The Crimson Tide junior has a 66.9% completion percentage but has fumbled six times.
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane leads all defensive backs in the rankings at sixth overall. Tennessee\'s Jermod McCoy ranks 12th despite missing the entire season with a torn ACL suffered in January. He had four interceptions in 2024 before the injury.
\"Opinions on McCoy are mixed because of the injury and him potentially being out the entire season,\" Reid wrote.
Miami guard Francis Mauigoa ranks eighth overall and projects as the top interior offensive lineman. Utah tackles Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano rank 15th and 17th respectively as the highest-rated pure tackles.
ESPN\'s Top 50 NFL Draft Prospects for 2026
1. Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
5. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
6. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
7. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
8. Francis Mauigoa, G, Miami
9. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
10. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
11. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
13. Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
14. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
15. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
16. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
17. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
18. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
19. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
20. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
21. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
22. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
23. A\'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
24. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
25. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
26. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
27. Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon
28. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
29. LT Overton, Edge, Alabama
30. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
31. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
32. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
33. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
34. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
35. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
36. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
37. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
38. Quincy Rhodes Jr., Edge, Arkansas
39. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
40. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
41. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
42. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
43. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
44. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
45. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
46. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
47. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
48. Logan Jones, C, Iowa
49. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
50. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Top 5 By Position
Quarterbacks
1. Dante Moore, Oregon
2. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
3. Ty Simpson, Alabama
4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
5. Jayden Maiava, USC
Running Backs
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington
4. Justice Haynes, Michigan
5. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Wide Receivers
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
2. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
3. Makai Lemon, USC
4. Denzel Boston, Washington
5. Chris Bell, Louisville
Tight Ends
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
3. Max Klare, Ohio State
4. Jack Endries, Texas
5. Joe Royer, Cincinnati
Offensive Tackles
1. Caleb Lomu, Utah
2. Spencer Fano, Utah
3. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
4. Trevor Goosby, Texas
5. Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Guards
1. Francis Mauigoa, Miami
2. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
3. Cayden Green, Missouri
4. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
5. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
Centers
1. Logan Jones, Iowa
2. Connor Lew, Auburn
3. Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
4. Jake Slaughter, Florida
5. Parker Brailsford, Alabama
Edge Rushers
1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State
2. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
3. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
4. David Bailey, Texas Tech
5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Defensive Tackles
1. Peter Woods, Clemson
2. A\'Mauri Washington, Oregon
3. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
4. Caleb Banks, Florida
5. Christen Miller, Georgia
Linebackers
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
2. CJ Allen, Georgia
3. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
4. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
5. Jarred Kerr, Virginia
Cornerbacks
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
3. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
4. Colton Hood, Tennessee
5. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Safeties
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
3. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
4. A.J. Haulcy, LSU
5. Bray Hubbard, Alabama
Via Jordan Reid/ESPN