2026 NFL draft Big Board: The 100 best players in this class, ranked
Published in Football
There is a difference between predicting the draft and understanding it.
A mock draft is a study in team need, league tendencies, smoke screens and self-preservation. A big board is more honest. It strips away the noise and asks a simpler question: Who are the best players in this class?
That is what this list is meant to answer.
My final 2026 NFL draft Big Board is not an attempt to mimic the first round or dress consensus up as conviction. It is a ranking of the 100 best prospects in this year’s class as I see them right now, built on film, projection, production, athletic profile and pro translatability.
According to The Huddle Report, I was the second-most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print last season, and I tied for first overall from 2019 through 2023. I’ve also submitted my Top 100 to The Huddle Report in each of the past four years, ranking among the top 20 over that stretch and tying for 14th out of 81 last season.
Here is my final 2026 NFL draft Big Board:
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame, Jr.
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State, Jr.
3. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State, Sr.
4. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State, Jr.
5. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State, Jr.
6. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami, Jr.
7. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana, Jr.
8. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech, Sr.
9. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State, Jr.
10. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU, Sr.
11. Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami, Jr.
12. Makai Lemon, WR, USC, Jr.
13. Spencer Fano, T, Utah, Jr.
14. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson, Jr.
15. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon, Jr.
16. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee, Jr.
17. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State, Jr.
18. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon, Jr.
19. Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn, Jr.
20. Monroe Freeling, T, Georgia, Jr.
21. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana, Jr.
22. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson, Jr.
23. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State, Sr.
24. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington, Jr.
25. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo, Sr.
26. Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama, Jr.
27. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech, Sr.
28. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M, Jr.
29. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame, Jr.
30. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami, Sr.
31. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson, Jr.
32. Blake Miller, T, Clemson, Sr.
33. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M, Sr.
34. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee, So.
35. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State, Jr.
36. Caleb Lomu, T, Utah, So.
37. Christen Miller, DT, Georgia, Jr.
38. Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State, Sr.
39. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana, Jr.
40. C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia, Jr.
41. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri, Sr.
42. Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF, Sr.
43. Bud Clark, S, TCU, Sr.
44. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas, Jr.
45. Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona, Sr.
46. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt, Sr.
47. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina, Jr.
48. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma, Sr.
49. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama, Jr.
50. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois, Sr.
51. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama, Sr.
52. Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech, Sr.
53. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville, Sr.
54. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State, Sr.
55. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida, Sr.
56. Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M, Jr.
57. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State, Jr.
58. Logan Jones, C, Iowa, Sr.
59. Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh, Jr.
60. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami, Sr.
61. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma, Sr.
62. Skyler Bell, WR, Connecticut, Sr.
63. De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss, Sr.
64. Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson, Jr.
65. Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan, Sr.
66. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke, Sr.
67. Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas, Sr.
68. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia, Jr.
69. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU, Sr.
70. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame, Sr.
71. Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech, Sr.
72. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana, Sr.
73. Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech, Sr.
74. Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee, Jr.
75. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon, Sr.
76. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan, Sr.
77. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State, Sr.
78. Jake Slaughter, C, Florida, Sr.
79. Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma, Sr.
80. Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas, Jr.
81. Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn, Sr.
82. Gennings Dunker, T, Iowa, Sr.
83. Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri, So.
84. Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina, Jr.
85. Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee, Jr.
86. Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati, Sr.
87. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State, Sr.
88. Caleb Tiernan, T, Northwestern, Sr.
89. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State, Jr.
90. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State, Sr.
91. Austin Barber, T, Florida, Sr.
92. Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky, Jr.
93. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia, Sr.
94. Markel Bell, T, Miami, Sr.
95. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State, Sr.
96. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State, Sr.
97. Tacario Davis, CB, Washington, Sr.
98. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU, Sr.
99. Justin Joly, TE, NC State, Sr.
100. Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State, Sr.
©2026 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.







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