➡️ The Leggy 100: Best players in this draft class

21.04.2026, 08:37 espn.com

Welcome to the NFL draft that could challenge the math. The top of this 2026 board is filled with players who carry the highest grades but also bring questions about positional value. Running backs, safeties and off-ball linebackers inspire a lot of debate this year.

"Especially early in this draft, we're all going to be presented with positional value and the football grades," an AFC director of college scouting said. "The best players on this board, for the most part, aren't quarterbacks, they're not left tackles. You've got high-value edge players and really, really good players at other positions."

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 pick Thursday night when the draft opens at 8 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and the ESPN app). But players such as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs will test the value charts early on Day 1.

With those factors in mind, here is my annual top-100 list. This isn't a mock draft, just a pure ranking of the top prospects without positional value in mind. Thanks, as always, to all those around the league who took the time to chat and answer piles of questions about this annual project.

Note: Listed 40-yard dash times are best verified or electronically timed.

See more NFL draft rankings:Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 241 pounds | 40 time: 4.46 seconds

An electric player with the brightest of futures, given he won't turn 21 until August. Reese is a dynamic rusher who has shown burgeoning counter moves that are already difficult for opposing tackles. He also has the bend of the best pass rushers, sets a forceful edge when needed and can be impactful off the ball. Reese is a rare player with elite versatility.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 212 | 40 time: 4.36

It is one metric among many, but Love ran the same 40 time at the combine as Lions Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023, and Love was 13 pounds heavier. His run skills, vision and explosiveness -- eight plays of 20 yards or more, and he forced more than 50 missed tackles last season -- are enough to put him here. But Love's route-running/receiving skills will force plenty of evaluators to consider taking a running back this high on the board.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 251 | 40 time: 4.50

Since the start of the 2023 season, Bailey led the FBS with a pressure rate of 21.6% over that span, higher than any player with at least 25 games played over those three seasons. He's active, sudden and presents a problem for blockers on every down. Bailey tallied 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 2025.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 244 | 40 time: 4.46

Styles is a former safety who is quick and decisive to the ball in run defense. He's also a quality tackler who can match slot receivers as well as tight ends in coverage. His 40 time, 43½-inch vertical jump and 11-foot-2 broad jump were eyebrow-raising exclamation points. His 12-tackle day in the Big Ten championship game was circled by many scouts.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 206 | 40 time: Did not run

Some say Downs' traits are not elite, but his best trait might be that he's the best football player on the board. He understands what offenses want to do from snap to snap, makes his team better, and is a high-end tackler and productive blitzer. He can play the nickel, safety or dime linebacker.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 182 | 40 time: 4.38

Delane's game is NFL-ready, given he's far more adept at affecting the release of opposing receivers than most prospects and has top-end speed with man or zone versatility. He doesn't allow much separation at the top of the route, and he has faced some of the best receivers in this draft. Delane was credited with 27 pass breakups in his career.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 236 | 40 time: DNR

The top quarterback on the board and the expected No. 1 pick. Mendoza's game is built on precision, with no red zone interceptions over the past two seasons and plenty of big-moment production. He consistently hits his receivers in stride. He quickly recognizes and attacks defensive mistakes. The courage he showed to absorb significant hits at times -- see: Big Ten championship game -- will be an issue as a pro if his limited pocket mobility doesn't improve. Scouts also say he rarely throws over the middle.

Field Yates and Ben Solak discuss what makes Fernando Mendoza the top player in the 2026 NFL draft.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 327 | 40 time: 5.14

All 42 of Mauigoa's career games were starts at right tackle -- 2,709 snaps -- and he projects as a long-term starter in the league. Some see a future guard, but his intelligence, power and footwork in pass protection suggest an immediate starter at right tackle. He allowed a pressure rate of just 1.1% this past season in 525 pass-block plays, easily the best of any player with at least 450 chances.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 263 | 40 time: DNR

There has been plenty of discussion about Bain's arms -- 30⅞ inches at the combine -- and history has said that is not the profile of a first-round pass rusher. But his play demeanor and ability to disrupt as well as the separation he creates with the power and speed of his hands make him a potential mismatch in the pass rush and an every-down NFL option.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 192 | 40 time: 4.53

Any consternation about his timed 40 is alleviated by his repeated abilities to separate from defenders, track the ball smoothly and make contested catches. He is one of the most polished receivers on the board and understands the power of leverage. Tate averaged 17.2 yards per catch this past season, though he missed three games with a calf injury.

Ohio State WR Carnell Tate chats with Rich Eisen about the teams he has visited so far leading up to the NFL draft.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192 | 40 time: 4.40

McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL tear, so NFL medical staffs will have substantial input about where he'll ultimately be drafted. But his work in 2024 was first-round-worthy. As a prep athlete, McCoy was a Texas state champion in both long jump and triple jump, as well as an all-state baseball player. That full-body athleticism and movement shows up in his play. He had six interceptions and 16 pass breakups in 25 career games.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 203 | 40 time: DNR

His selection likely depends on the comfort level teams find with an extensive injury history that includes a torn ACL, MCL and PCL, as well as a fractured collarbone and a hamstring injury that derailed his 2025 season. At full strength, Tyson can line up all over the formation, is a 50-50 ball wizard and has vast WR1 potential.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 311 | 40 time: 4.91

He started at least one season at both tackle spots for the Utes -- the past two at right tackle -- and smoothly took snaps at center for teams at the combine. Because of that, some evaluators believe Fano has five-position ability. He's likely a quicker fit for a zone scheme team with his athleticism.

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 352 | 40 time: 5.21

Proctor's 11-yard reception on a screen pass against Georgia last season was a mark-it-down play for a prospect with his size and movement skills. His weight will be monitored closely in the league -- scouts believe he played at more than 360 pounds in 2025, while he was 352 at the combine and 358 at his pro day. He has plenty of rough edges to smooth in technique, but the power, movement and quickness at his size are rare.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 241 | 40 time: 4.39

There is an array of NFL playcallers who will see the possibilities of a well-rounded route tree for Sadiq, who is bigger and/or faster than virtually all of the defensive backs or linebackers he will face in coverage. He had 260 of his 560 receiving yards in 2025 after the catch. Sadiq had a smattering of drops (seven over the past two seasons), but he will be a high-volume receiver the moment he walks into an NFL facility.

Ben Solak breaks down Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq as an NFL draft prospect comparable to George Kittle.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 274 | 40 time: 4.68

The lure of potential is big here, as Faulk is one of the youngest players in the draft -- he'll turn 21 in September -- yet has three seasons of SEC experience. While scouts believe his 2024 season was better (seven sacks) than his work in 2025 (two), there is maturity and skill in how he rushes the passer. Faulk should be effective as an inside rusher in nickel looks as well.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320 | 40 time: DNR

Ioane is the top-rated interior lineman, with 32 starts over the past three seasons. He played with slightly more quickness in 2025, as he was a bit lighter than he had been in previous seasons. Ioane is a powerful drive blocker in the run game who makes it a long day for the power pass rushers on the interior. He also has the reach to keep the defenders at bay.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 213 | 40 time: 4.52

Some might see some limitations for McNeil-Warren in the space-and-cover world of the NFL, but he is consistently around the ball with one high-impact collision after another. He forced eight fumbles over four seasons at Toledo.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 194 | 40 time: 4.53

With the suddenness and fluidity in his game, Lemon projects to have immediate impact as a high-volume slot receiver. He could face issues against more physical cornerbacks near the line of scrimmage, but his ball skills, ability to adjust to throws and route precision are NFL-ready. He had the fewest drops -- one -- of any WR prospect coming off a 1,000-yard season in 2025.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 199 | 40 time: 4.42

Though Cooper frequently played in the slot last season for the national champions, he showed productivity on the outside in previous years -- his 21.2 yards per catch in 2024 ranked fourth highest in FBS. Cooper is a forceful runner after the catch who can also line up to carry the ball from scrimmage.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 201 | 40 time: 4.35

Thieneman has quite the résumé, with at least 95 tackles in each of the past three seasons. He showed up