The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off in Indianapolis in a few days. I’ll be there once again, taking in all the prospect workouts and interviews, talking with scouts, agents, coaches and media to get a better feel for how April’s draft might play out.
It’s been a while since I updated the top 103 players for the big board, and the Combine makes for a good time to reset where I stand on the class. Here’s how the prospects stack up entering Combine week.
1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State: Versatile defensive weapon with a ridiculously high football IQ and potential impact, a la Kyle Hamilton or Brian Branch. Biggest question is his size, but Downs isn’t small at a listed 6-0/200.
2. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame: Dynamic back with home run-hitting speed and excellent receiving skills. His consistency of production across opponents and usage really stands out.
3. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: The Heisman winner and national champion thrives on ball placement, leadership and toughness--both physical and mental. High-floor and as NFL-ready as a quarterback prospect can be.
4. Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami FL: Oft-dominant edge presence with outstanding closing burst and power in both run and pass defense. I don’t buy (much) into the length concerns.
5. Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State: Moved from off-ball LB to pass rusher and didn’t lose quickness or instincts despite gaining bulk. Still growing, too.
6. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: The latest standout Buckeyes wideout brings length, immaculate hands and litheness in space, with very nuanced route running skills already.
7. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State: A converted safety, Styles still offers coverage skills like a DB but has stepped up his power and quickness in run defense. Good fit for the modern NFL game.
8. Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State: Absolute annihilator in the run game, with just enough quickness and length in pass protection. Best phone-booth blocker prospect in a good while.
9. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU: Outstanding route recognition and mirror skills, Delane has the length and strength to match up outside. Reminds me more than a little of Denzel Ward.
10. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: Elite athlete still developing as an overall football player on the inside. Some boom/bust risk but his boom could be glorious.
11. Kenyon Saddiq, TE, Oregon: Do-it-all tight end with ready hands and ability after the catch, and his blocking and route-running are well-developed coming out of Oregon.
12. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami FL: Powerful right tackle who could also kick inside and be an elite RG prospect, Mauigoa will work best in a gap/duo style of blocking scheme.
13. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech: Lightning-quick pass rusher with a nice variety of ways to win. Run defense and strength are viable questions, but Bailey gets after the QB better than anyone else in this draft.
14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC: It’s cliché to compare Lemon to former USC WR and current All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, but the similarities are uncanny. Lemon isn’t quite that high-end, but it could be close.
15. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S. Toledo: Outstanding prototypical strong safety, but McNeil-Warren has enough range and savvy to make an impact in split schemes. Finds the ball extraordinarily well.
16. K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M: Lethal in the open field with instant speed and wiggle from both the slot and outside. One of the most improved players in the country after transferring from NC State and expanding his route profile.
17. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah: Very athletic, long pass-protection specialist who is still developing technically but has a sky-high ceiling despite already being 24.
18. Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson: Smart, quick-twitch outside corner with great feet and eyes. Technique is outstanding, though he lacks strength and size.
19. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah: Quick, long competitor with experience at both tackle spots. Lacking in anchor strength and run-blocking oomph, though there is potential growth with both.
20. T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson: Parker has optimal size and speed. The 2024 version is a top-5 pick in this draft, but the 2025 version isn\\\'t a first-rounder.
21. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
22. Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
23. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
24. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
25. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson: When Miller puts it all together, and he’s done that more than a few times at Clemson, he has Pro Bowl potential. Making it happen consistently is the challenge. Got better at it in 2025.
26. Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
27. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State: Would be a top-15 prospect and challenge for best-in-class if not for a meaty injury history that will likely keep him from consideration for some NFL teams. I tend to err hard on the side of caution with injuries, so it docks Tyson quite a bit here.
28. Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
29. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington: Big-framed wideout with great hands and the ability to win at all levels of the defense, and he’s also best-in-class at blocking. Some risk of being too big for his own good.
30. C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
31. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
32. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
33. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
34. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
35. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
36. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
37. R Mason Thomas, EDGE , Oklahoma
38. Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
39. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
40.Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
41. Chris Bell WR, Louisville: Bell was ranked in my top 25 before tearing his ACL recently, which will sideline him for most, if not all of his rookie season.
42. Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
43. Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
44. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
45. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
46. Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
47. Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
48. Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
49. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
50. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
51. Genesis Smith, S Arizona: Outstanding length and range as a single-high safety with impressive coverage instincts.
52. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
53. Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State
54. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
55. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
56. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
57. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
58. Gabe Jacas, DL, Illinois
59. Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
60. Brian Parker, OL, Duke: Played tackle at Duke but looks like a center in the NFL, one with high-end potential that he teased in the Senior Bowl week.
61. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami FL
62. A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State
63. Kenyatta Jackson, EDGE, Ohio State
64. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
65. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami FL
66. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
67. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
68. Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
69. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
70. Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
71. Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
72. Ja\\\'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
73. Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn: Would have been about 25 spots higher but a torn ACL really impacts Lew, who relies more than most centers on being more athletic than the guy he’s blocking. Still has much higher potential than this ranking.
74. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
75. Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
76. Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
77. Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M
78. Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
79. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
80. Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
81. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
82. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
83. D\\\'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
84. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
85. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
86. Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona
87. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
88. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh: He’s an ILB in a short safety body, which isn’t going to work for everyone. His play echoes Bobby Wagner as a prospect, and that’s a tantalizing upside.
89. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
90. Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
91. Bud Clark, S, TCU
92. Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
93. Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
94. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
95. Tacario Davis, CB , Washington: Extra-long outside corner who developed better eyes and feet after transferring from Arizona. If the ball skills and block shedding come along, I’m underselling Davis at this rank.
96. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
97. De\\\'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
98. Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
99. Josh Moten, CB, Southern Miss
100. Emmett Johnson, RB. Nebraska
101. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
102. Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, Texas Tech
103. Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State: Could be the fastest player in Indy, and his receiving skills are still blooming. Size/usage concerns for a receiver with outside-type skills but a slot body, a la early Tyler Lockett.