2026 NFL Mock Drafts

All the reasons you worry about a quarterback translating to the NFL don’t really apply to Mendoza. How will he perform under pressure? Mendoza has been as good as we’ve seen in that regard since Joe Burrow. How will he handle complex defenses? Mendoza’s ability to diagnose defenses and understand the finer points of the scheme is as good as it gets. Can we trust him as a leader? Mendoza took over a new locker room and went on a Cinderella run to a national title at Indiana. The only debate now is how high his ceiling can push in the NFL.

• 2025: Heisman Trophy winner (nation’s best player)
• 2025: Led Indiana to a 16–0 record and College Football Playoff National Championship

• Stands tall in tight pockets and attacks downfield
• Understands leverage and throws receivers open
• Remarkable dedication to his craft; all ball

• Heavy-footed when escaping pressure
• Gimmicky, screen/RPO-heavy Indiana offense
• Arm suffers on the move; not much of a creator on his own

The amoebic front sevens in the NFL have made talents like Reese all the more valuable in recent years. His ability to wear any hat on any down gives defensive coordinators incredible flexibility when calling plays. At only 20 years old, Reese is just scratching the surface of what he’ll become.

• 2025: Consensus All-American
• 2025: 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.0 TFL (all top-three on Ohio State)

• Doesn’t shy from contact; wants to go through linemen.
• Special range to track down ball carriers.
• Versatile body type that can bridge the gap between edge and off-ball.

• Fewer than 140 career pass-rushing snaps, with most coming as a blitzer.
• Very few pass-rush moves to speak of.
• Not a true edge-bender to take advantage of his first step.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds

Bailey was already quietly one of the best pass rushers in college football back in 2024, but it came in a limited role for a noncompetitive Stanford team. Transferring to Texas Tech sent his stock soaring as he became an every-down player and maintained his highly efficient work rushing the passer. Bailey finished with 14.5 sacks as he ran roughshod over just about every tackle in his way. He’s still a work in progress vs. the run, but his final tape against Oregon was easily his best in that regard.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American
• 2025: Second in FBS in pressures (81) behind Rueben Bain Jr. (83), despite playing two fewer games

• Elite burst off the ball; stresses tackles from the snap.
• Twitchy agility to knife inside tackles untouched.
• Great feel for avoiding contact with ghost moves.

• Wasn’t trusted on run downs at Stanford and still will give up ground.
• Spammed a limited move set that took advantage of less athletic tackles.
• Counters and ability to win late in reps were lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches

It doesn’t particularly matter what part of the running back position you want to hone in on; chances are Love is elite at it. He can make you miss in space, run away from defensive backs or run through linebackers. Out of the backfield, he looks like a wide receiver running routes. There’s nothing he can’t do to create instant offense.

• 2025: Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB); unanimous All-American
• 2025: Led FBS with 8 plays of 20+ yards

• Feet to get in and out of points of attack with ease.
• Elite top-end speed to turn medium gains into house calls.
• Natural hands and body control to create space as a receiver.

• Wasn’t a bell cow at the collegiate level; never took 200-plus carries in a season.
• Can get dancy in the backfield.
• Often leaves himself exposed going to his signature hurdle.

• 40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds

Every defensive coordinator dreams of having an athlete like Styles in the middle of their defense. He has the frame of a defensive end, movement skills of a cornerback and tackles better than anyone else in the draft class. There isn’t an aspect of defense where you feel like you have to hide him. The scary thing is, as someone who only switched to linebacker in 2024, Styles’ instincts should only get better.

• 2025: Second-team All-American
• 2024: One of three FBS players with 100+ tackles, 10+ TFL, 5+ sacks and 5+ PD

• Wingspan to shut down throwing windows.
• Range to go sideline to sideline or run the deep middle with ease.
• Physical, relentless tackler; rarely misses one-on-one.

• Average at reading keys; needs more reps.
• Below-average ball production for a top-flight prospect.
• Undeveloped skills taking on blocks as a blitzer.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.26 seconds
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 2 inches

Bain was an every-down problem for Miami last fall. His ability to not cede an inch in the running game while consistently collapsing pockets as a pass rusher brought the Hurricanes all the way to the national title game. His traits aren’t prototypical for the position, but it’s hard to dominate college football the way he did and not translate to the league.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; ACC Defensive Player of the Year; Ted Hendricks Award winner (nation’s top DE)
• 2025: 83 pressures (most in FBS since 2017); 9.5 sacks (5.0 in CFP)

• Power throughout the frame.
• Body control to shrink the strike zone and keep hands off him.
• Barely came off the field; nearly 900 snaps last year.

• Limited length can get him locked onto blocks.
• Doesn’t have the juice to threaten NFL tackles on the edge.
• Tweener traits that don’t quite fit a clean position.

Downs has arguably been the best safety in college football since the day he stepped onto Alabama’s campus in 2023. He was the first true safety to start Week 1 of his freshman year for Alabama in the Nick Saban era. His ability to process and diagnose on the back end is special. He also has easy movement skills similar to his brother, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, to finish plays. He’s one of the safest picks in the draft.

• Career: Sixth DB to be named Unanimous All-American twice (Johnnie Johnson, Kenny Easley, Deion Sanders, Tripp Welborne, Eric Berry)
• 2023-25: Only DB with 250+ tackles, 15+ TFL and 5+ INT over past three FBS seasons

• Play recognition is off the charts.
• Elite fluidity in space; changes direction with ease.
• Versatile enough to play any defensive back alignment.

• Tiny frame by NFL safety standards.
• Average ball production.
• Size could be an issue around the line of scrimmage.

From the Week 1 game against Texas, it was clear Tate returned to school a different player this fall. He became much more of a downfield weapon thanks to improved salesmanship as a route runner, and he simply stopped dropping passes. If you draft Tate, you won’t have to worry about whether he’ll be successful in the NFL

• 2025: Led FBS with 6 TD on throws of 30+ air yards
• 2025: Career highs in receiving yards (838) and receiving TD (9)

• Effortless mover for his size.
• Massive wingspan relative to his height that translates to a large catch radius.
• Can flip his hips on comebacks in a hurry to present a target.

• Lacks explosive twitch to leave defenders in the dust at the top of routes.
• Not a power player. Frame has room to grow but is still wiry.
• Production was nothing special over the course of his career.

• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds

One word came to mind after watching Fano’s 2025 tape: clean. There’s not much on tape that really worries you. He can mirror speed, latch quickly in the run game and generate explosive movement. The only question is how his frame will translate to the NFL at tackle, but at worst, you’re getting a high-end interior lineman.

• 2025: Fifth unanimous All-American in Utah history
• 2025: Outland Trophy winner (nation’s top interior OL)

• Exceptional at eliminating space.
• Establishes leverage on the move with ease.
• Hands and feet work together in pass sets.

• Arm length below the desired 33-inch threshold.
• Doesn’t impose his will when his hands latch.
• Can be too quick to get depth and allow inside moves.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.67 seconds
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.34 seconds

Tyson was the focal point of the Sun Devils passing attack the past two years for good reason. Watch a highlight reel of Tyson’s, and you’d swear he’s the next big thing at the NFL level. The shiftiness and explosiveness he possesses at the top of his routes is nothing short of elite. Unfortunately, he alternates those highlight-reel reps with ones where he’s stuck on more physical corners and where he’s overexaggerating his stems. There’s so much natural talent to work with, but he has to stay healthier than he has to make the necessary improvements.

• 2024-25: Led Big 12 in receptions (136); second in receiving yards (1,812) and TD (18) over past two seasons
• Younger brother of Cavaliers 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson

• Lateral bounce is off the charts; teleports at the top of routes.
• Elite elevation to haul in off-target passes.
• Uncoachable footwork; special ability to stop and start.

• Goes down on contact post-catch too often.
• Missed time every year (2025 hamstring, 2024 collarbone, 2022-23 ACL).
• Finesse receiver who avoids contact along his routes.

• Bench press: 26 reps

Mauigoa was a Day 1 starter for the Hurricanes who’s only gotten better in each successive season at right tackle. His ability to cave in his side of the line of scrimmage in the run game is special for someone who hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet. While he can struggle to find speedier edge rushers in space, once he gets his hands on defenders, he ends reps quickly.

• 2025: Consensus All-American (did not allow sack in final 12 games)
• High school: Five-star recruit; No. 6 overall player in Class of 2023

• Incredibly dense build; packs a ton of muscle onto his frame.
• Upper-body torque to move defenders out of the hole.
• Creative, independent hand usage in his sets.

• Average reactive athleticism; struggles to recover on the edge.
• Protected by a screen-heavy Miami passing attack.
• Gets lungey on the move and will leave his hands behind.

Proctor started at left tackle as a true freshman for Nick Saban -- an exclusive club in and of itself. His game has only improved by leaps and bounds since, with his final few games of 2025 being the best tape of his career. At only 20 years old, with freakish traits for a man his size, if that improvement continues, he has All-Pro potential.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; first-team All-SEC
• 2024-25: Allowed 5 sacks, 36 pressures (12 sacks, 36 pressures allowed as freshman in 2023)

• Prodigious size and strength.
• Incredible balance; almost never on the ground.
• Fluid athlete; was used on screens and took handoffs.

• Struggles to ride quicker rushers past the pocket.
• Expect a little more nastiness and dominance in the run game for his size.
• Weight fluctuated a lot over his career.

• 40-yard dash: 5.21 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 1 inches

Freeling looks like he was a create-a-player in EA Sports College Football. He truly has everything you could want physically, including the slender frame of a rocked-up tight end. Toward the end of last season, he wasn’t ceding an inch in pass protection. There’s still a ways to go for him technically, but the ceiling is sky-high.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC (coaches)
• 2025: 10th among Power Four OTs in pressure rate (2.6%) on “normal” pass-protection snaps (no screens, throws under 2.0 seconds, DL stunts), per Underdog Fantasy

• Explosive mover in space; can really jolt on contact.
• Exceptional at sinking and riding defenders past the top of the pocket.
• Deadens spiking defenders on stunts; passes off so well.

• Hands struggle to sustain blocks in the run game.
• Will overextend to engage defenders on the move.
• Hands and feet not always in coordination.

• 40-yard dash: 4.93 seconds
• Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

As far as athletic tools go, Sadiq is in truly rarefied air for the position. The best part is it shows on tape. Sadiq has no problem breezing past linebackers or running through cornerbacks after the catch. The only question is how much larger a role he can be featured in at the next level. The Oregon offense struggled to get the ball in his hands on little more than schemed targets, but the tape shows more route-running potential than that.

• 2025: First-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten TE of the Year
• 2025: Ranked first among FBS TEs in receiving TD (8), fifth in receptions (51) and tied for eighth in receiving yards (560)

• Crazy-tuned-up athlete with no fat to speak of on his frame.
• Feet to evade defenders consistently after the catch.
• Willing and able blocker in space and on the move.

• Likely never going to be much as a pure inline blocker at his size.
• Not comfortable securing off-target passes.
• Raw route runner who was never really a focal point of the offense.

• 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds
• Bench press: 26 reps
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 1 inches

There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL Draft, but some prospects are far safer on tape than others. Ioane qualifies as a prospect you won’t worry too much about becoming a bust in the NFL. That’s because he not only checks every physical box you could want to see for a guard, but his tape looks like that of an NFL veteran. He’s consistent play to play with his technique and has a calmness in pass protection that’s hard to fake. Ioane is a plug-and-play left guard.

• 2025: First-team All-American (CBS Sports)
• 2024-25: Did not allow a sack over final two seasons (27 starts, 776 pass-blocking snaps)

• Massive mitts that latch and don’t let go.
• Always has a base underneath him into contact.
• Doesn’t cede ground into the quarterback vs. power.

• Agility is average; elite quicks can expose him.
• Range to find linebackers is nothing special.
• Build likely limited to guard only.

• Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches

The case for Delane is easy to make. You don’t have a season as stingy as his in the SEC without the goods. There’s not much physically about him that I’d describe as “special,” but flip on the tape and you see the way he plays the game qualifies as such. He can play man or zone at a high level in the league.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American (14 catches allowed on 35 targets for 165 yards)
• 2025: Lowest passer rating allowed in SEC (24.1; min. 30 targets) and 11 PD (tied for second-most)

• Former wrestler, and it shows; takes control of one-on-one reps.
• Extremely consistent with his technique and patient in deployment.
• Very experienced as a four-year starter.

• On the lighter side, with moderate muscle mass on his frame.
• Small wingspan to affect the catch point against bigger wideouts.
• One-year wonder with a breakout senior year.

It’s hard to see an offensive tackle who moves as easily as Lomu does completely failing at the NFL level. His high-end athleticism, combined with natural coordination, makes him an easy prospect to bet on. There is glaring room for improvement in his technique and play strength, but if those are cleaned up, he’s a franchise left tackle.

• 2025: First-team All-Big 12
• 2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 7 pressures (2 sacks, 16 pressures allowed in 2024)

• Finds answers even when his technique isn’t the cleanest.
• Hands and feet work consistently in unison.
• Loose and flexible all-around athlete.

• Lacks a killer instinct in the run game to finish blocks.
• Anchor gets overwhelmed in pass protection too often.
• Attention to detail in technique is lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.99 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches

Dillon Thieneman burst onto the scene as a freshman at Purdue. The high-end athlete with tremendous production filled a major need for the Ducks and is likely to step into a starting role in the NFL. He shows the range and versatility to fill multiple roles but must refine his tackling form to maximize his potential. Thieneman is an instinctive player who can create turnovers at the next level.

• 2023-25: 306 tackles (third-most in FBS; most among DB)
• 2023: 6 INT (tied for third-most in FBS in first season at Purdue)

• Quick trigger to play downhill in run support.
• Versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary.
• High-IQ player who often finds himself in the right place at the right time.

• Often tackles low or to the side instead of using proper form (12.7% missed tackle rate in 2025, per TruMedia).
• Paths to the football can occasionally be indirect.
• Change of direction and recovery speed can take an extra beat.

• 40-yard dash: 4.35 seconds
• Bench press: 18 reps
• Vertical jump: 41 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches

If you can get past the gimmicky route tree that Cooper ran this past fall, you’ll see an incredibly well-rounded receiver. Cooper has great play strength, hands, burst and YAC ability. If you go back to his 2024 tape, where he played on the outside, you see an impressive vertical receiver as well. There’s more than enough on tape over the past two seasons to forgive his relatively late breakout.

• 2025: Tied for third in FBS in receiving TD (13)
• 2024: Led Big Ten in yards per reception (21.2)

• Numerous ways to break tackles after the catch; exceptional balance.
• Explosive out of breaks; leaves defenders reeling.
• Great hands over the middle of the field; rugged player.

• Afterthought in the Indiana offense until his senior season; late breakout.
• Gets by more as an athlete than a technician as a route runner.
• Limited slot route tree.

• 40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds
• Vertical jump: 37 inches

Keldric Faulk is a long edge defender who sets the edge in the run game but lacks the production typically associated with early-round picks. There’s precedent for this archetype -- players like Travon Walker -- becoming quality, reliable starters without ever turning into high-volume sack producers.

• 2025: 2.0 sacks, 5.0 TFL (after 7.0 sacks, 11.0 TFL in 2024)
• 2023: SEC All-Freshman Team

• Great length to finish plays from the backside.
• Will be 21 years old in September.
• Versatility to play on the edge or reduce inside in certain packages.

• Half-step slow off the snap.
• Hand usage must improve to deconstruct blocks.
• High pad level in the run game can limit effectiveness.

• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches

With Simpson, you saw flashes of “it”—the timing, footwork and processing necessary to play the game at the NFL level. It was for only about two-thirds of the season before injuries piled up, but quarterbacks have been drafted in the top five who’ve never even flashed “it” at the collegiate level. The track record of one-year starters isn’t strong at the position, but his tape for a one-year starter is so advanced that he could easily buck the trend.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC
• 2025: 3,567 passing yards (fourth-most in Alabama history)

• Nifty feet in the pocket to find space and escape tight quarters.
• Arm translates on the move; can make plays outside of structure.
• Creative at throwing receivers open in zone coverage.

• Trim frame for the position, with injuries that piled up throughout 2025.
• Doesn’t know when to give up on plays and had bad fumbles.
• Pressure noticeably sped up his process.

Woods has been on NFL radars since his true freshman season. The prodigious play strength and first-step quickness he’s shown are exactly what you need to be a star 3-technique in the NFL. We just haven’t seen the requisite skill development on tape. That’s not to say it won’t come. Dexter Lawrence was a similar case study before becoming the best nose tackle in the NFL. It’s just that Woods could have been a top-10 lock with more production last fall.

• 2025: First-team All-ACC
• 2023-25: Fourth-most pressures (54) and tackles (85) by ACC DT

• Sheds with violence; treats 300-plus-pounders like ragdolls.
• First step forces offensive linemen to consistently play from behind.
• Feet to cross the face of unsuspecting defensive tackles.

• Small frame; 3-technique only for a lot of schemes.
• More of an effort rusher than technique-based.
• Production took a big step backward from 2024 to 2025.

Iheanachor’s tape has to be viewed through the lens of his inexperience. He only started playing football when he got to East Los Angeles College in 2021. That’s incredible for two reasons: the first because of how good his tape is, and the second because he’s put on 80 pounds in the years since and still tested like a freak athlete. He’s obviously rough around the edges, but it’s all there for him to be special.

• 2025: Allowed 0 sacks on 453 pass-blocking snaps
• Background: Born in Nigeria; moved to United States at age 13; did not play football prior to enrolling at East Los Angeles College in 2021

• Outstanding posture in his pass sets; always able to react laterally.
• Relatively new to the game, with a basketball background that shows on tape.
• Able to run with linebackers at the second level for cutoffs.

• Bad habit of dropping his hands before contact in pass protection.
• Hips can fly open when defenders get to his edge.
• Struggles to cleanly engage while on the move.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

Concepcion combines downfield route-running chops with the ability to make defenders miss after the catch on underneath routes. He’s been producing since his true freshman season, when he hauled in 72 passes for 845 yards and 10 scores at NC State. His production never quite grew in the following years, unfortunately, and he developed a sizable issue with drops. If you can promise those drops get cleaned up, Concepcion has high-end starter potential.

• 2025: Paul Hornung Award winner (nation’s most versatile player)
• 2025: Three-time first-team All-SEC (WR, all-purpose, return specialist)

• Effortless mover; full route tree at his disposal.
• Physical for his size; initiates contact to create separation.
• Productive since Day 1 in college as NC State’s leading receiver.

• Drops a common theme for all three seasons.
• One-speed routes can limit effectiveness.
• Below-average wingspan and catch radius.

If you are going to take a corner in the first round who didn’t play at all the season prior, his tape better look like McCoy’s sophomore tape in 2024. He was the best corner in college football that season, with lockdown tape against the best in the SEC. Between his high-end athleticism and exceptional ball skills, McCoy has everything you could want to be a top-flight man corner in the NFL -- except junior tape.

• 2024: First-team All-SEC (4 INT, 9 PD, 44 tackles)
• Pro day: 4.40-second 40-yard dash

• Supreme all-around athlete; has everything you could want.
• Finds the ball in the air at a high level.
• Keeps connection with receivers from press throughout the route.

• Missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL last January.
• Can be reluctant to fill vs. the run.
• Eight penalties in 2024, even with no illegal contact in college.

• Bench press: 14 reps

Malachi Lawrence may not have gaudy numbers, but he checks many of the physical and stylistic boxes teams look for at the position. He has the frame and twitch to become productive in the NFL, paired with a nonstop motor. Lawrence also showed clear improvement on tape across his three seasons with the Knights.

• 2025: First-team All-Big 12
• 2023-25: One of seven FBS players with at least 5.0 sacks in each of past three seasons

• Violent, high-effort playing style.
• Broad shoulders and long arms.
• Has shown the ability to win with speed or power.

• Lean frame could use added bulk and play strength.
• More of an effort rusher than a consistent technical winner.
• Inconsistent from game to game.

• 40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
• Vertical jump: 40 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 10 inches

USC has been chock-full of NFL receivers the past couple of seasons, but it’s consistently been Lemon who has commanded targets every time he’s on the field. His reliability is his calling card, as he lays his body on the line over the middle of the field to haul in passes. While he may be limited to the slot in the NFL with his frame, he’ll put up big numbers in an offense that has a defined slot role.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American; Biletnikoff Award winner (nation’s top WR)
• 2025: Led Big Ten in yards after catch (502)

• Tough hands; no issues hauling in passes through contact.
• Changes direction effortlessly; no wasted movement.
• Turns into a running back after the catch; great vision and feel.

• Very small frame, with limited catch radius.
• Didn’t see press often, but when he did, he struggled to get off consistently.
• Speed to threaten corners vertically is lacking.

Keylan Rutledge is a solid, reliable interior offensive lineman who combines physical power with impressive mobility. He excels at moving defenders off the line of scrimmage and is surprisingly effective when pulling or blocking in space. While he’s generally a brick wall against power rushes, he can occasionally be caught out of position by quicker, more agile defensive linemen. Overall, his combination of a strong anchor and blocking range makes him a consistent interior presence.

• 2025: Brian Piccolo Award winner (ACC’s most courageous player) after overcoming injuries sustained in a December 2023 automobile accident
• 2023-25: Three-time first-team all-conference (C-USA in 2023; ACC in 2024-25)

• Powerful anchor that effectively stops bull rushes.
• Exceptional mobility in space, excelling at pulling and second-level blocking.
• Smart at handling stunts and blitzes with balanced footwork and patience.

• Struggles against twitchy defenders, occasionally getting beaten by quick moves.
• Vulnerable to being wrong-footed when dealing with high-speed B-gap rushes.
• Pad level can rise at times, allowing him to be pushed back on initial pass-rush moves.

• 40-yard dash: 5.05 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.54 seconds
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.54 seconds

Younger brother of Falcons cornerback and former first-round pick A.J. Terrell, Avieon is a distinctly different type of corner. He’s much more of a matchup zone/nickel-type corner whose value comes as a tackler and his ability to diagnose quickly. He forced eight fumbles over the past two seasons and is an outstanding run defender for his size.

• 2024-25: 21 PD, 8 FF (first player in FBS history with 20+ PD and 8+ FF in a two-year span)
• 2024-25: Tied second among FBS CB in sacks (4.0); third in TFL (9.0)

• Effortless transitions; no loss of speed.
• Hitter; wants to knock the ball loose.
• Agility to knife around blocks with ease.

• Average speed to make up ground when he falls out of phase.
• Bigger backs and receivers can impose their will on him.
• Limited experience in the slot, despite potentially being his role in the NFL.

• Bench press: 17 reps
• Vertical jump: 34 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 3 inches

You have to take in a handful of games to really appreciate how good Johnson is as a prospect. That’s because there’s really not much in the way of traits that jump off the tape immediately. After a few games, though, you realize you haven’t written down many negatives. He’s competitive, athletic and an especially quick processor when reading receivers’ routes. Put all that together and he looks like a safe bet to make the leap.

• 2025: Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
• 2025: Tied for most INT return TD in FBS (2)

• Controls his speed extremely well; always matching receivers’ throttle.
• Feet always under him and ready to change directions; nimble mover.
• Uniquely long torso and short legs; ideal build for a corner.

• Not a blazer downfield who can make up ground easily.
• Willing competitor, but lacks overt physicality to impose his will.
• Low level of competition; Cal was the only Power 4 team he faced the past two years.

• 40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
• Bench press: 17 reps
• Vertical jump: 38 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 6 inches

Miller was a Week 1 starter as a true freshman for the Tigers in 2022 and has played 3,762 career snaps since. All but 125 of those have come at right tackle. He saw his pressure numbers dwindle every season of his career as he consistently cleaned up bad habits over that span. If that upward trajectory continues with his explosive traits, he’s an easy starter projection.

• Career: Three-time All-ACC (first team 2024–25, third team 2023)
• Career: Clemson record-holder for snaps from scrimmage (3,778 in 54 games, all starts)

• Solidly built; not much bad weight on his frame.
• Gets off the ball and into defenders in a hurry in the run game.
• Easy depth in sets to match speedier rushers.

• Plays high in most aspects of the position.
• Lacks fluidity in his hips to ride defenders who get to his edges.
• Often struggled to alter course in space and find defenders as a puller.

• 40-yard dash: 5.04 seconds
• Bench press: 32 reps
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches

With McDonald, what you see is what you get. He is a two-down nose tackle through and through, but an elite one for someone who only just turned 21 years old. To dominate at such a strength-based position at that age is notable. His ability to play with consistent leverage is exceptional on tape and will be no fun to try to block in the NFL.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American; Big Ten DL of the Year
• 2025: 65 tackles (third-most by FBS DT); 9.0 TFL (led Big Ten DT)

• Super-stout anchor in the run game; great vs. double teams for a young DT.
• Active hands to get off blocks; can win late.
• Gets low into contact; can reset the line of scrimmage immediately.

• Not the kind of athlete to offer much more than a little pocket push as a pass rusher.
• Can get cut off on wide runs if he doesn’t read it at the snap.
• Smaller upper half for a defensive tackle; limits his ability to control defenders.

All the reasons you worry about a quarterback translating to the NFL don’t really apply to Mendoza. How will he perform under pressure? Mendoza has been as good as we’ve seen in that regard since Joe Burrow. How will he handle complex defenses? Mendoza’s ability to diagnose defenses and understand the finer points of the scheme is as good as it gets. Can we trust him as a leader? Mendoza took over a new locker room and went on a Cinderella run to a national title at Indiana. The only debate now is how high his ceiling can push in the NFL.

• 2025: Heisman Trophy winner (nation’s best player)
• 2025: Led Indiana to a 16–0 record and College Football Playoff National Championship

• Stands tall in tight pockets and attacks downfield
• Understands leverage and throws receivers open
• Remarkable dedication to his craft; all ball

• Heavy-footed when escaping pressure
• Gimmicky, screen/RPO-heavy Indiana offense
• Arm suffers on the move; not much of a creator on his own

Bailey was already quietly one of the best pass rushers in college football back in 2024, but it came in a limited role for a noncompetitive Stanford team. Transferring to Texas Tech sent his stock soaring as he became an every-down player and maintained his highly efficient work rushing the passer. Bailey finished with 14.5 sacks as he ran roughshod over just about every tackle in his way. He’s still a work in progress vs. the run, but his final tape against Oregon was easily his best in that regard.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American
• 2025: Second in FBS in pressures (81) behind Rueben Bain Jr. (83), despite playing two fewer games

• Elite burst off the ball; stresses tackles from the snap.
• Twitchy agility to knife inside tackles untouched.
• Great feel for avoiding contact with ghost moves.

• Wasn’t trusted on run downs at Stanford and still will give up ground.
• Spammed a limited move set that took advantage of less athletic tackles.
• Counters and ability to win late in reps were lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches

It doesn’t particularly matter what part of the running back position you want to hone in on; chances are Love is elite at it. He can make you miss in space, run away from defensive backs or run through linebackers. Out of the backfield, he looks like a wide receiver running routes. There’s nothing he can’t do to create instant offense.

• 2025: Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB); unanimous All-American
• 2025: Led FBS with 8 plays of 20+ yards

• Feet to get in and out of points of attack with ease.
• Elite top-end speed to turn medium gains into house calls.
• Natural hands and body control to create space as a receiver.

• Wasn’t a bell cow at the collegiate level; never took 200-plus carries in a season.
• Can get dancy in the backfield.
• Often leaves himself exposed going to his signature hurdle.

• 40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds

The amoebic front sevens in the NFL have made talents like Reese all the more valuable in recent years. His ability to wear any hat on any down gives defensive coordinators incredible flexibility when calling plays. At only 20 years old, Reese is just scratching the surface of what he’ll become.

• 2025: Consensus All-American
• 2025: 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.0 TFL (all top-three on Ohio State)

• Doesn’t shy from contact; wants to go through linemen.
• Special range to track down ball carriers.
• Versatile body type that can bridge the gap between edge and off-ball.

• Fewer than 140 career pass-rushing snaps, with most coming as a blitzer.
• Very few pass-rush moves to speak of.
• Not a true edge-bender to take advantage of his first step.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds

Tyson was the focal point of the Sun Devils passing attack the past two years for good reason. Watch a highlight reel of Tyson’s, and you’d swear he’s the next big thing at the NFL level. The shiftiness and explosiveness he possesses at the top of his routes is nothing short of elite. Unfortunately, he alternates those highlight-reel reps with ones where he’s stuck on more physical corners and where he’s overexaggerating his stems. There’s so much natural talent to work with, but he has to stay healthier than he has to make the necessary improvements.

• 2024-25: Led Big 12 in receptions (136); second in receiving yards (1,812) and TD (18) over past two seasons
• Younger brother of Cavaliers 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson

• Lateral bounce is off the charts; teleports at the top of routes.
• Elite elevation to haul in off-target passes.
• Uncoachable footwork; special ability to stop and start.

• Goes down on contact post-catch too often.
• Missed time every year (2025 hamstring, 2024 collarbone, 2022-23 ACL).
• Finesse receiver who avoids contact along his routes.

• Bench press: 26 reps

One word came to mind after watching Fano’s 2025 tape: clean. There’s not much on tape that really worries you. He can mirror speed, latch quickly in the run game and generate explosive movement. The only question is how his frame will translate to the NFL at tackle, but at worst, you’re getting a high-end interior lineman.

• 2025: Fifth unanimous All-American in Utah history
• 2025: Outland Trophy winner (nation’s top interior OL)

• Exceptional at eliminating space.
• Establishes leverage on the move with ease.
• Hands and feet work together in pass sets.

• Arm length below the desired 33-inch threshold.
• Doesn’t impose his will when his hands latch.
• Can be too quick to get depth and allow inside moves.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.67 seconds
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.34 seconds

Bain was an every-down problem for Miami last fall. His ability to not cede an inch in the running game while consistently collapsing pockets as a pass rusher brought the Hurricanes all the way to the national title game. His traits aren’t prototypical for the position, but it’s hard to dominate college football the way he did and not translate to the league.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; ACC Defensive Player of the Year; Ted Hendricks Award winner (nation’s top DE)
• 2025: 83 pressures (most in FBS since 2017); 9.5 sacks (5.0 in CFP)

• Power throughout the frame.
• Body control to shrink the strike zone and keep hands off him.
• Barely came off the field; nearly 900 snaps last year.

• Limited length can get him locked onto blocks.
• Doesn’t have the juice to threaten NFL tackles on the edge.
• Tweener traits that don’t quite fit a clean position.

From the Week 1 game against Texas, it was clear Tate returned to school a different player this fall. He became much more of a downfield weapon thanks to improved salesmanship as a route runner, and he simply stopped dropping passes. If you draft Tate, you won’t have to worry about whether he’ll be successful in the NFL

• 2025: Led FBS with 6 TD on throws of 30+ air yards
• 2025: Career highs in receiving yards (838) and receiving TD (9)

• Effortless mover for his size.
• Massive wingspan relative to his height that translates to a large catch radius.
• Can flip his hips on comebacks in a hurry to present a target.

• Lacks explosive twitch to leave defenders in the dust at the top of routes.
• Not a power player. Frame has room to grow but is still wiry.
• Production was nothing special over the course of his career.

• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds

Mauigoa was a Day 1 starter for the Hurricanes who’s only gotten better in each successive season at right tackle. His ability to cave in his side of the line of scrimmage in the run game is special for someone who hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet. While he can struggle to find speedier edge rushers in space, once he gets his hands on defenders, he ends reps quickly.

• 2025: Consensus All-American (did not allow sack in final 12 games)
• High school: Five-star recruit; No. 6 overall player in Class of 2023

• Incredibly dense build; packs a ton of muscle onto his frame.
• Upper-body torque to move defenders out of the hole.
• Creative, independent hand usage in his sets.

• Average reactive athleticism; struggles to recover on the edge.
• Protected by a screen-heavy Miami passing attack.
• Gets lungey on the move and will leave his hands behind.

Every defensive coordinator dreams of having an athlete like Styles in the middle of their defense. He has the frame of a defensive end, movement skills of a cornerback and tackles better than anyone else in the draft class. There isn’t an aspect of defense where you feel like you have to hide him. The scary thing is, as someone who only switched to linebacker in 2024, Styles’ instincts should only get better.

• 2025: Second-team All-American
• 2024: One of three FBS players with 100+ tackles, 10+ TFL, 5+ sacks and 5+ PD

• Wingspan to shut down throwing windows.
• Range to go sideline to sideline or run the deep middle with ease.
• Physical, relentless tackler; rarely misses one-on-one.

• Average at reading keys; needs more reps.
• Below-average ball production for a top-flight prospect.
• Undeveloped skills taking on blocks as a blitzer.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.26 seconds
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 2 inches

The case for Delane is easy to make. You don’t have a season as stingy as his in the SEC without the goods. There’s not much physically about him that I’d describe as “special,” but flip on the tape and you see the way he plays the game qualifies as such. He can play man or zone at a high level in the league.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American (14 catches allowed on 35 targets for 165 yards)
• 2025: Lowest passer rating allowed in SEC (24.1; min. 30 targets) and 11 PD (tied for second-most)

• Former wrestler, and it shows; takes control of one-on-one reps.
• Extremely consistent with his technique and patient in deployment.
• Very experienced as a four-year starter.

• On the lighter side, with moderate muscle mass on his frame.
• Small wingspan to affect the catch point against bigger wideouts.
• One-year wonder with a breakout senior year.

Downs has arguably been the best safety in college football since the day he stepped onto Alabama’s campus in 2023. He was the first true safety to start Week 1 of his freshman year for Alabama in the Nick Saban era. His ability to process and diagnose on the back end is special. He also has easy movement skills similar to his brother, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, to finish plays. He’s one of the safest picks in the draft.

• Career: Sixth DB to be named Unanimous All-American twice (Johnnie Johnson, Kenny Easley, Deion Sanders, Tripp Welborne, Eric Berry)
• 2023-25: Only DB with 250+ tackles, 15+ TFL and 5+ INT over past three FBS seasons

• Play recognition is off the charts.
• Elite fluidity in space; changes direction with ease.
• Versatile enough to play any defensive back alignment.

• Tiny frame by NFL safety standards.
• Average ball production.
• Size could be an issue around the line of scrimmage.

USC has been chock-full of NFL receivers the past couple of seasons, but it’s consistently been Lemon who has commanded targets every time he’s on the field. His reliability is his calling card, as he lays his body on the line over the middle of the field to haul in passes. While he may be limited to the slot in the NFL with his frame, he’ll put up big numbers in an offense that has a defined slot role.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American; Biletnikoff Award winner (nation’s top WR)
• 2025: Led Big Ten in yards after catch (502)

• Tough hands; no issues hauling in passes through contact.
• Changes direction effortlessly; no wasted movement.
• Turns into a running back after the catch; great vision and feel.

• Very small frame, with limited catch radius.
• Didn’t see press often, but when he did, he struggled to get off consistently.
• Speed to threaten corners vertically is lacking.

There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL Draft, but some prospects are far safer on tape than others. Ioane qualifies as a prospect you won’t worry too much about becoming a bust in the NFL. That’s because he not only checks every physical box you could want to see for a guard, but his tape looks like that of an NFL veteran. He’s consistent play to play with his technique and has a calmness in pass protection that’s hard to fake. Ioane is a plug-and-play left guard.

• 2025: First-team All-American (CBS Sports)
• 2024-25: Did not allow a sack over final two seasons (27 starts, 776 pass-blocking snaps)

• Massive mitts that latch and don’t let go.
• Always has a base underneath him into contact.
• Doesn’t cede ground into the quarterback vs. power.

• Agility is average; elite quicks can expose him.
• Range to find linebackers is nothing special.
• Build likely limited to guard only.

• Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches

There are so many knocks against Mesidor as a prospect. He’s old, he’s oft-injured, he’s unimpressive physically. But then you watch him play the game, and it’s hard not to root for him to overcome everything working against him. He plays inspired football down after down and has obviously spent years honing his craft. He’ll be a Day 1 starter in the league.

• 2025: Top five in FBS in sacks (12.5), TFL (17.5) and pressures (67)
• 2025 (CFP): 5.5 sacks, 23 pressures in 4 games

• Played everywhere along the defensive line in his career; started off as a nose tackle.
• Violent, active hands; always looking to shed.
• Plays off tackles’ movements so well; quick to read and counter.

• Mediocre athlete for an NFL EDGE; didn’t do any pre-draft testing.
• Already 25 years old; six seasons in college.
• Extensive injury history; multiple foot surgeries and a shoulder surgery.

If you can get past the gimmicky route tree that Cooper ran this past fall, you’ll see an incredibly well-rounded receiver. Cooper has great play strength, hands, burst and YAC ability. If you go back to his 2024 tape, where he played on the outside, you see an impressive vertical receiver as well. There’s more than enough on tape over the past two seasons to forgive his relatively late breakout.

• 2025: Tied for third in FBS in receiving TD (13)
• 2024: Led Big Ten in yards per reception (21.2)

• Numerous ways to break tackles after the catch; exceptional balance.
• Explosive out of breaks; leaves defenders reeling.
• Great hands over the middle of the field; rugged player.

• Afterthought in the Indiana offense until his senior season; late breakout.
• Gets by more as an athlete than a technician as a route runner.
• Limited slot route tree.

• 40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds
• Vertical jump: 37 inches

Proctor started at left tackle as a true freshman for Nick Saban -- an exclusive club in and of itself. His game has only improved by leaps and bounds since, with his final few games of 2025 being the best tape of his career. At only 20 years old, with freakish traits for a man his size, if that improvement continues, he has All-Pro potential.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; first-team All-SEC
• 2024-25: Allowed 5 sacks, 36 pressures (12 sacks, 36 pressures allowed as freshman in 2023)

• Prodigious size and strength.
• Incredible balance; almost never on the ground.
• Fluid athlete; was used on screens and took handoffs.

• Struggles to ride quicker rushers past the pocket.
• Expect a little more nastiness and dominance in the run game for his size.
• Weight fluctuated a lot over his career.

• 40-yard dash: 5.21 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 1 inches

Woods has been on NFL radars since his true freshman season. The prodigious play strength and first-step quickness he’s shown are exactly what you need to be a star 3-technique in the NFL. We just haven’t seen the requisite skill development on tape. That’s not to say it won’t come. Dexter Lawrence was a similar case study before becoming the best nose tackle in the NFL. It’s just that Woods could have been a top-10 lock with more production last fall.

• 2025: First-team All-ACC
• 2023-25: Fourth-most pressures (54) and tackles (85) by ACC DT

• Sheds with violence; treats 300-plus-pounders like ragdolls.
• First step forces offensive linemen to consistently play from behind.
• Feet to cross the face of unsuspecting defensive tackles.

• Small frame; 3-technique only for a lot of schemes.
• More of an effort rusher than technique-based.
• Production took a big step backward from 2024 to 2025.

Dillon Thieneman burst onto the scene as a freshman at Purdue. The high-end athlete with tremendous production filled a major need for the Ducks and is likely to step into a starting role in the NFL. He shows the range and versatility to fill multiple roles but must refine his tackling form to maximize his potential. Thieneman is an instinctive player who can create turnovers at the next level.

• 2023-25: 306 tackles (third-most in FBS; most among DB)
• 2023: 6 INT (tied for third-most in FBS in first season at Purdue)

• Quick trigger to play downhill in run support.
• Versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary.
• High-IQ player who often finds himself in the right place at the right time.

• Often tackles low or to the side instead of using proper form (12.7% missed tackle rate in 2025, per TruMedia).
• Paths to the football can occasionally be indirect.
• Change of direction and recovery speed can take an extra beat.

• 40-yard dash: 4.35 seconds
• Bench press: 18 reps
• Vertical jump: 41 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches

Keldric Faulk is a long edge defender who sets the edge in the run game but lacks the production typically associated with early-round picks. There’s precedent for this archetype -- players like Travon Walker -- becoming quality, reliable starters without ever turning into high-volume sack producers.

• 2025: 2.0 sacks, 5.0 TFL (after 7.0 sacks, 11.0 TFL in 2024)
• 2023: SEC All-Freshman Team

• Great length to finish plays from the backside.
• Will be 21 years old in September.
• Versatility to play on the edge or reduce inside in certain packages.

• Half-step slow off the snap.
• Hand usage must improve to deconstruct blocks.
• High pad level in the run game can limit effectiveness.

• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches

Miller was a Week 1 starter as a true freshman for the Tigers in 2022 and has played 3,762 career snaps since. All but 125 of those have come at right tackle. He saw his pressure numbers dwindle every season of his career as he consistently cleaned up bad habits over that span. If that upward trajectory continues with his explosive traits, he’s an easy starter projection.

• Career: Three-time All-ACC (first team 2024–25, third team 2023)
• Career: Clemson record-holder for snaps from scrimmage (3,778 in 54 games, all starts)

• Solidly built; not much bad weight on his frame.
• Gets off the ball and into defenders in a hurry in the run game.
• Easy depth in sets to match speedier rushers.

• Plays high in most aspects of the position.
• Lacks fluidity in his hips to ride defenders who get to his edges.
• Often struggled to alter course in space and find defenders as a puller.

• 40-yard dash: 5.04 seconds
• Bench press: 32 reps
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches

Chase Bisontis is a strong, versatile and dependable three-year starter with more than 1,950 snaps at both guard and center. He was arguably the most consistent performer on a solid Aggies offensive line and has the ability to thrive in both zone and gap schemes. Bisontis shows quick, active feet to cut off backside defenders and climb smoothly to the second level. He plays with a finishing demeanor and excellent functional strength. Still a young prospect, Bisontis has the tools to develop into a starter at either center or guard, and that versatility could help him stick in the league for a long time. The one concern: he committed 16 penalties over the past two seasons.

• 2025: Third-team All-SEC
• 2023: First-team Freshman All-SEC

• Strong overall player with powerful hands and the ability to anchor against power rushers; excels at snatching defenders.
• Effective puller who moves well in space, particularly in the run game.
• Physical presence who can move defenders off their spot; plays with a strong base, good knee bend and powerful hips.

• Struggles against twitchy, athletic rushers who work half a man in pass protection.
• Inconsistent footwork, eye discipline and technique versus quick defenders in protection.
• Has difficulty locking up defenders in space when pulling in pass protection.

• 40-yard dash: 5.02 seconds
• Bench press: 29 reps
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.78 seconds
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 9 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.53 seconds

It’s hard to see an offensive tackle who moves as easily as Lomu does completely failing at the NFL level. His high-end athleticism, combined with natural coordination, makes him an easy prospect to bet on. There is glaring room for improvement in his technique and play strength, but if those are cleaned up, he’s a franchise left tackle.

• 2025: First-team All-Big 12
• 2025: Allowed 0 sacks, 7 pressures (2 sacks, 16 pressures allowed in 2024)

• Finds answers even when his technique isn’t the cleanest.
• Hands and feet work consistently in unison.
• Loose and flexible all-around athlete.

• Lacks a killer instinct in the run game to finish blocks.
• Anchor gets overwhelmed in pass protection too often.
• Attention to detail in technique is lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.99 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches

Concepcion combines downfield route-running chops with the ability to make defenders miss after the catch on underneath routes. He’s been producing since his true freshman season, when he hauled in 72 passes for 845 yards and 10 scores at NC State. His production never quite grew in the following years, unfortunately, and he developed a sizable issue with drops. If you can promise those drops get cleaned up, Concepcion has high-end starter potential.

• 2025: Paul Hornung Award winner (nation’s most versatile player)
• 2025: Three-time first-team All-SEC (WR, all-purpose, return specialist)

• Effortless mover; full route tree at his disposal.
• Physical for his size; initiates contact to create separation.
• Productive since Day 1 in college as NC State’s leading receiver.

• Drops a common theme for all three seasons.
• One-speed routes can limit effectiveness.
• Below-average wingspan and catch radius.

T.J. Parker was a true freshman starter for the Tigers in 2023 and looked destined for big things early in his career. Unfortunately, he didn’t take a substantial step forward over the past two seasons. Parker is a limited athlete off the edge who wins with strength and technique. He projects as a high-floor, low-ceiling defender.

• 2024: Set Clemson single-season FF record (6); tied for second nationally and first among Power Five players
• 2024: 19.5 TFL, 11.0 sacks -- most by a Clemson defender since Clelin Ferrell (2018)

• NFL-ready edge setter with great pad level and physicality against the run.
• Long-arm bull rush that can collapse pockets; has the build to continue developing that power move.
• Productive from Day 1 in college football, starting as a true freshman.

• First step doesn't scare anyone.
• 2025 tape was worse than 2024.
• Only one true go-to move as a pass rusher (long arm).

• 40-yard dash: 4.68 seconds
• Vertical jump: 34 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 0 inches

Malachi Lawrence may not have gaudy numbers, but he checks many of the physical and stylistic boxes teams look for at the position. He has the frame and twitch to become productive in the NFL, paired with a nonstop motor. Lawrence also showed clear improvement on tape across his three seasons with the Knights.

• 2025: First-team All-Big 12
• 2023-25: One of seven FBS players with at least 5.0 sacks in each of past three seasons

• Violent, high-effort playing style.
• Broad shoulders and long arms.
• Has shown the ability to win with speed or power.

• Lean frame could use added bulk and play strength.
• More of an effort rusher than a consistent technical winner.
• Inconsistent from game to game.

• 40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
• Vertical jump: 40 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 10 inches

As far as athletic tools go, Sadiq is in truly rarefied air for the position. The best part is it shows on tape. Sadiq has no problem breezing past linebackers or running through cornerbacks after the catch. The only question is how much larger a role he can be featured in at the next level. The Oregon offense struggled to get the ball in his hands on little more than schemed targets, but the tape shows more route-running potential than that.

• 2025: First-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten TE of the Year
• 2025: Ranked first among FBS TEs in receiving TD (8), fifth in receptions (51) and tied for eighth in receiving yards (560)

• Crazy-tuned-up athlete with no fat to speak of on his frame.
• Feet to evade defenders consistently after the catch.
• Willing and able blocker in space and on the move.

• Likely never going to be much as a pure inline blocker at his size.
• Not comfortable securing off-target passes.
• Raw route runner who was never really a focal point of the offense.

• 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds
• Bench press: 26 reps
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 1 inches

Iheanachor’s tape has to be viewed through the lens of his inexperience. He only started playing football when he got to East Los Angeles College in 2021. That’s incredible for two reasons: the first because of how good his tape is, and the second because he’s put on 80 pounds in the years since and still tested like a freak athlete. He’s obviously rough around the edges, but it’s all there for him to be special.

• 2025: Allowed 0 sacks on 453 pass-blocking snaps
• Background: Born in Nigeria; moved to United States at age 13; did not play football prior to enrolling at East Los Angeles College in 2021

• Outstanding posture in his pass sets; always able to react laterally.
• Relatively new to the game, with a basketball background that shows on tape.
• Able to run with linebackers at the second level for cutoffs.

• Bad habit of dropping his hands before contact in pass protection.
• Hips can fly open when defenders get to his edge.
• Struggles to cleanly engage while on the move.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

Colton Hood has the top-end speed and hip fluidity to function in both man and zone. At times, he gets overly handsy and lacks the calm control that defines elite corners. He projects as an immediate starter, but how high he ultimately ascends may depend on his development.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC
• 2025: Only SEC player with 4+ TFL and 8+ passes defensed

• Physical at the catch point; plays through the receiver’s hands.
• Aggressive downhill in run support.
• Patient at the snap with quick feet to mirror and match.

• Panics and grabs when he loses leverage.
• Gives too much cushion underneath in zone at times.
• Essentially one year of starting experience.

• 40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds
• Vertical jump: 40.5 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches

Freeling looks like he was a create-a-player in EA Sports College Football. He truly has everything you could want physically, including the slender frame of a rocked-up tight end. Toward the end of last season, he wasn’t ceding an inch in pass protection. There’s still a ways to go for him technically, but the ceiling is sky-high.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC (coaches)
• 2025: 10th among Power Four OTs in pressure rate (2.6%) on “normal” pass-protection snaps (no screens, throws under 2.0 seconds, DL stunts), per Underdog Fantasy

• Explosive mover in space; can really jolt on contact.
• Exceptional at sinking and riding defenders past the top of the pocket.
• Deadens spiking defenders on stunts; passes off so well.

• Hands struggle to sustain blocks in the run game.
• Will overextend to engage defenders on the move.
• Hands and feet not always in coordination.

• 40-yard dash: 4.93 seconds
• Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

With Simpson, you saw flashes of “it”—the timing, footwork and processing necessary to play the game at the NFL level. It was for only about two-thirds of the season before injuries piled up, but quarterbacks have been drafted in the top five who’ve never even flashed “it” at the collegiate level. The track record of one-year starters isn’t strong at the position, but his tape for a one-year starter is so advanced that he could easily buck the trend.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC
• 2025: 3,567 passing yards (fourth-most in Alabama history)

• Nifty feet in the pocket to find space and escape tight quarters.
• Arm translates on the move; can make plays outside of structure.
• Creative at throwing receivers open in zone coverage.

• Trim frame for the position, with injuries that piled up throughout 2025.
• Doesn’t know when to give up on plays and had bad fumbles.
• Pressure noticeably sped up his process.

You have to take in a handful of games to really appreciate how good Johnson is as a prospect. That’s because there’s really not much in the way of traits that jump off the tape immediately. After a few games, though, you realize you haven’t written down many negatives. He’s competitive, athletic and an especially quick processor when reading receivers’ routes. Put all that together and he looks like a safe bet to make the leap.

• 2025: Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year
• 2025: Tied for most INT return TD in FBS (2)

• Controls his speed extremely well; always matching receivers’ throttle.
• Feet always under him and ready to change directions; nimble mover.
• Uniquely long torso and short legs; ideal build for a corner.

• Not a blazer downfield who can make up ground easily.
• Willing competitor, but lacks overt physicality to impose his will.
• Low level of competition; Cal was the only Power 4 team he faced the past two years.

• 40-yard dash: 4.40 seconds
• Bench press: 17 reps
• Vertical jump: 38 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 6 inches

All the reasons you worry about a quarterback translating to the NFL don’t really apply to Mendoza. How will he perform under pressure? Mendoza has been as good as we’ve seen in that regard since Joe Burrow. How will he handle complex defenses? Mendoza’s ability to diagnose defenses and understand the finer points of the scheme is as good as it gets. Can we trust him as a leader? Mendoza took over a new locker room and went on a Cinderella run to a national title at Indiana. The only debate now is how high his ceiling can push in the NFL.

• 2025: Heisman Trophy winner (nation’s best player)
• 2025: Led Indiana to a 16–0 record and College Football Playoff National Championship

• Stands tall in tight pockets and attacks downfield
• Understands leverage and throws receivers open
• Remarkable dedication to his craft; all ball

• Heavy-footed when escaping pressure
• Gimmicky, screen/RPO-heavy Indiana offense
• Arm suffers on the move; not much of a creator on his own

Bailey was already quietly one of the best pass rushers in college football back in 2024, but it came in a limited role for a noncompetitive Stanford team. Transferring to Texas Tech sent his stock soaring as he became an every-down player and maintained his highly efficient work rushing the passer. Bailey finished with 14.5 sacks as he ran roughshod over just about every tackle in his way. He’s still a work in progress vs. the run, but his final tape against Oregon was easily his best in that regard.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American
• 2025: Second in FBS in pressures (81) behind Rueben Bain Jr. (83), despite playing two fewer games

• Elite burst off the ball; stresses tackles from the snap.
• Twitchy agility to knife inside tackles untouched.
• Great feel for avoiding contact with ghost moves.

• Wasn’t trusted on run downs at Stanford and still will give up ground.
• Spammed a limited move set that took advantage of less athletic tackles.
• Counters and ability to win late in reps were lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches

Mauigoa was a Day 1 starter for the Hurricanes who’s only gotten better in each successive season at right tackle. His ability to cave in his side of the line of scrimmage in the run game is special for someone who hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet. While he can struggle to find speedier edge rushers in space, once he gets his hands on defenders, he ends reps quickly.

• 2025: Consensus All-American (did not allow sack in final 12 games)
• High school: Five-star recruit; No. 6 overall player in Class of 2023

• Incredibly dense build; packs a ton of muscle onto his frame.
• Upper-body torque to move defenders out of the hole.
• Creative, independent hand usage in his sets.

• Average reactive athleticism; struggles to recover on the edge.
• Protected by a screen-heavy Miami passing attack.
• Gets lungey on the move and will leave his hands behind.

The amoebic front sevens in the NFL have made talents like Reese all the more valuable in recent years. His ability to wear any hat on any down gives defensive coordinators incredible flexibility when calling plays. At only 20 years old, Reese is just scratching the surface of what he’ll become.

• 2025: Consensus All-American
• 2025: 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.0 TFL (all top-three on Ohio State)

• Doesn’t shy from contact; wants to go through linemen.
• Special range to track down ball carriers.
• Versatile body type that can bridge the gap between edge and off-ball.

• Fewer than 140 career pass-rushing snaps, with most coming as a blitzer.
• Very few pass-rush moves to speak of.
• Not a true edge-bender to take advantage of his first step.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds

From the Week 1 game against Texas, it was clear Tate returned to school a different player this fall. He became much more of a downfield weapon thanks to improved salesmanship as a route runner, and he simply stopped dropping passes. If you draft Tate, you won’t have to worry about whether he’ll be successful in the NFL

• 2025: Led FBS with 6 TD on throws of 30+ air yards
• 2025: Career highs in receiving yards (838) and receiving TD (9)

• Effortless mover for his size.
• Massive wingspan relative to his height that translates to a large catch radius.
• Can flip his hips on comebacks in a hurry to present a target.

• Lacks explosive twitch to leave defenders in the dust at the top of routes.
• Not a power player. Frame has room to grow but is still wiry.
• Production was nothing special over the course of his career.

• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds

Every defensive coordinator dreams of having an athlete like Styles in the middle of their defense. He has the frame of a defensive end, movement skills of a cornerback and tackles better than anyone else in the draft class. There isn’t an aspect of defense where you feel like you have to hide him. The scary thing is, as someone who only switched to linebacker in 2024, Styles’ instincts should only get better.

• 2025: Second-team All-American
• 2024: One of three FBS players with 100+ tackles, 10+ TFL, 5+ sacks and 5+ PD

• Wingspan to shut down throwing windows.
• Range to go sideline to sideline or run the deep middle with ease.
• Physical, relentless tackler; rarely misses one-on-one.

• Average at reading keys; needs more reps.
• Below-average ball production for a top-flight prospect.
• Undeveloped skills taking on blocks as a blitzer.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.26 seconds
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 2 inches

It doesn’t particularly matter what part of the running back position you want to hone in on; chances are Love is elite at it. He can make you miss in space, run away from defensive backs or run through linebackers. Out of the backfield, he looks like a wide receiver running routes. There’s nothing he can’t do to create instant offense.

• 2025: Doak Walker Award winner (nation’s top RB); unanimous All-American
• 2025: Led FBS with 8 plays of 20+ yards

• Feet to get in and out of points of attack with ease.
• Elite top-end speed to turn medium gains into house calls.
• Natural hands and body control to create space as a receiver.

• Wasn’t a bell cow at the collegiate level; never took 200-plus carries in a season.
• Can get dancy in the backfield.
• Often leaves himself exposed going to his signature hurdle.

• 40-yard dash: 4.36 seconds

Bain was an every-down problem for Miami last fall. His ability to not cede an inch in the running game while consistently collapsing pockets as a pass rusher brought the Hurricanes all the way to the national title game. His traits aren’t prototypical for the position, but it’s hard to dominate college football the way he did and not translate to the league.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; ACC Defensive Player of the Year; Ted Hendricks Award winner (nation’s top DE)
• 2025: 83 pressures (most in FBS since 2017); 9.5 sacks (5.0 in CFP)

• Power throughout the frame.
• Body control to shrink the strike zone and keep hands off him.
• Barely came off the field; nearly 900 snaps last year.

• Limited length can get him locked onto blocks.
• Doesn’t have the juice to threaten NFL tackles on the edge.
• Tweener traits that don’t quite fit a clean position.

One word came to mind after watching Fano’s 2025 tape: clean. There’s not much on tape that really worries you. He can mirror speed, latch quickly in the run game and generate explosive movement. The only question is how his frame will translate to the NFL at tackle, but at worst, you’re getting a high-end interior lineman.

• 2025: Fifth unanimous All-American in Utah history
• 2025: Outland Trophy winner (nation’s top interior OL)

• Exceptional at eliminating space.
• Establishes leverage on the move with ease.
• Hands and feet work together in pass sets.

• Arm length below the desired 33-inch threshold.
• Doesn’t impose his will when his hands latch.
• Can be too quick to get depth and allow inside moves.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.67 seconds
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.34 seconds

The case for Delane is easy to make. You don’t have a season as stingy as his in the SEC without the goods. There’s not much physically about him that I’d describe as “special,” but flip on the tape and you see the way he plays the game qualifies as such. He can play man or zone at a high level in the league.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American (14 catches allowed on 35 targets for 165 yards)
• 2025: Lowest passer rating allowed in SEC (24.1; min. 30 targets) and 11 PD (tied for second-most)

• Former wrestler, and it shows; takes control of one-on-one reps.
• Extremely consistent with his technique and patient in deployment.
• Very experienced as a four-year starter.

• On the lighter side, with moderate muscle mass on his frame.
• Small wingspan to affect the catch point against bigger wideouts.
• One-year wonder with a breakout senior year.

Downs has arguably been the best safety in college football since the day he stepped onto Alabama’s campus in 2023. He was the first true safety to start Week 1 of his freshman year for Alabama in the Nick Saban era. His ability to process and diagnose on the back end is special. He also has easy movement skills similar to his brother, Colts wide receiver Josh Downs, to finish plays. He’s one of the safest picks in the draft.

• Career: Sixth DB to be named Unanimous All-American twice (Johnnie Johnson, Kenny Easley, Deion Sanders, Tripp Welborne, Eric Berry)
• 2023-25: Only DB with 250+ tackles, 15+ TFL and 5+ INT over past three FBS seasons

• Play recognition is off the charts.
• Elite fluidity in space; changes direction with ease.
• Versatile enough to play any defensive back alignment.

• Tiny frame by NFL safety standards.
• Average ball production.
• Size could be an issue around the line of scrimmage.

Freeling looks like he was a create-a-player in EA Sports College Football. He truly has everything you could want physically, including the slender frame of a rocked-up tight end. Toward the end of last season, he wasn’t ceding an inch in pass protection. There’s still a ways to go for him technically, but the ceiling is sky-high.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC (coaches)
• 2025: 10th among Power Four OTs in pressure rate (2.6%) on “normal” pass-protection snaps (no screens, throws under 2.0 seconds, DL stunts), per Underdog Fantasy

• Explosive mover in space; can really jolt on contact.
• Exceptional at sinking and riding defenders past the top of the pocket.
• Deadens spiking defenders on stunts; passes off so well.

• Hands struggle to sustain blocks in the run game.
• Will overextend to engage defenders on the move.
• Hands and feet not always in coordination.

• 40-yard dash: 4.93 seconds
• Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

USC has been chock-full of NFL receivers the past couple of seasons, but it’s consistently been Lemon who has commanded targets every time he’s on the field. His reliability is his calling card, as he lays his body on the line over the middle of the field to haul in passes. While he may be limited to the slot in the NFL with his frame, he’ll put up big numbers in an offense that has a defined slot role.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American; Biletnikoff Award winner (nation’s top WR)
• 2025: Led Big Ten in yards after catch (502)

• Tough hands; no issues hauling in passes through contact.
• Changes direction effortlessly; no wasted movement.
• Turns into a running back after the catch; great vision and feel.

• Very small frame, with limited catch radius.
• Didn’t see press often, but when he did, he struggled to get off consistently.
• Speed to threaten corners vertically is lacking.

Dillon Thieneman burst onto the scene as a freshman at Purdue. The high-end athlete with tremendous production filled a major need for the Ducks and is likely to step into a starting role in the NFL. He shows the range and versatility to fill multiple roles but must refine his tackling form to maximize his potential. Thieneman is an instinctive player who can create turnovers at the next level.

• 2023-25: 306 tackles (third-most in FBS; most among DB)
• 2023: 6 INT (tied for third-most in FBS in first season at Purdue)

• Quick trigger to play downhill in run support.
• Versatility to play multiple positions in the secondary.
• High-IQ player who often finds himself in the right place at the right time.

• Often tackles low or to the side instead of using proper form (12.7% missed tackle rate in 2025, per TruMedia).
• Paths to the football can occasionally be indirect.
• Change of direction and recovery speed can take an extra beat.

• 40-yard dash: 4.35 seconds
• Bench press: 18 reps
• Vertical jump: 41 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches

If you are going to take a corner in the first round who didn’t play at all the season prior, his tape better look like McCoy’s sophomore tape in 2024. He was the best corner in college football that season, with lockdown tape against the best in the SEC. Between his high-end athleticism and exceptional ball skills, McCoy has everything you could want to be a top-flight man corner in the NFL -- except junior tape.

• 2024: First-team All-SEC (4 INT, 9 PD, 44 tackles)
• Pro day: 4.40-second 40-yard dash

• Supreme all-around athlete; has everything you could want.
• Finds the ball in the air at a high level.
• Keeps connection with receivers from press throughout the route.

• Missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL last January.
• Can be reluctant to fill vs. the run.
• Eight penalties in 2024, even with no illegal contact in college.

• Bench press: 14 reps

Tyson was the focal point of the Sun Devils passing attack the past two years for good reason. Watch a highlight reel of Tyson’s, and you’d swear he’s the next big thing at the NFL level. The shiftiness and explosiveness he possesses at the top of his routes is nothing short of elite. Unfortunately, he alternates those highlight-reel reps with ones where he’s stuck on more physical corners and where he’s overexaggerating his stems. There’s so much natural talent to work with, but he has to stay healthier than he has to make the necessary improvements.

• 2024-25: Led Big 12 in receptions (136); second in receiving yards (1,812) and TD (18) over past two seasons
• Younger brother of Cavaliers 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson

• Lateral bounce is off the charts; teleports at the top of routes.
• Elite elevation to haul in off-target passes.
• Uncoachable footwork; special ability to stop and start.

• Goes down on contact post-catch too often.
• Missed time every year (2025 hamstring, 2024 collarbone, 2022-23 ACL).
• Finesse receiver who avoids contact along his routes.

• Bench press: 26 reps

Proctor started at left tackle as a true freshman for Nick Saban -- an exclusive club in and of itself. His game has only improved by leaps and bounds since, with his final few games of 2025 being the best tape of his career. At only 20 years old, with freakish traits for a man his size, if that improvement continues, he has All-Pro potential.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; first-team All-SEC
• 2024-25: Allowed 5 sacks, 36 pressures (12 sacks, 36 pressures allowed as freshman in 2023)

• Prodigious size and strength.
• Incredible balance; almost never on the ground.
• Fluid athlete; was used on screens and took handoffs.

• Struggles to ride quicker rushers past the pocket.
• Expect a little more nastiness and dominance in the run game for his size.
• Weight fluctuated a lot over his career.

• 40-yard dash: 5.21 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 32.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 1 inches

There’s not a lot of holes to poke in McNeil-Warren’s tape from this past season other than his competition level and generally limited role compared to what some safeties are asked to do in the NFL. As an around-the-line-of-scrimmage kind of safety, McNeil-Warren can be special. He’s great in man against tight ends, he can thrive in underneath zone coverage and he’s a thumper vs. the run. He won’t be for everyone, but in that kind of role, he’ll thrive.

• 2025: Third-team All-American
• Career: 14 forced turnovers (9 FF, 5 INT)

• Forced-fumble machine with 11 in his career; comes into contact with violence.
• Balanced and light on his feet in space for a tall safety; changes direction with ease.
• Calculated risk-taker who consistently arrives to throws on time or before.

• Limited role kept him around the line of scrimmage and away from deep coverage.
• Average range.
• Rarely tested against high-end athletes with the competition Toledo faced.

• 40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
• Vertical jump: 35.5 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 2 inches

There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL Draft, but some prospects are far safer on tape than others. Ioane qualifies as a prospect you won’t worry too much about becoming a bust in the NFL. That’s because he not only checks every physical box you could want to see for a guard, but his tape looks like that of an NFL veteran. He’s consistent play to play with his technique and has a calmness in pass protection that’s hard to fake. Ioane is a plug-and-play left guard.

• 2025: First-team All-American (CBS Sports)
• 2024-25: Did not allow a sack over final two seasons (27 starts, 776 pass-blocking snaps)

• Massive mitts that latch and don’t let go.
• Always has a base underneath him into contact.
• Doesn’t cede ground into the quarterback vs. power.

• Agility is average; elite quicks can expose him.
• Range to find linebackers is nothing special.
• Build likely limited to guard only.

• Vertical jump: 31.5 inches
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 8 inches

Keldric Faulk is a long edge defender who sets the edge in the run game but lacks the production typically associated with early-round picks. There’s precedent for this archetype -- players like Travon Walker -- becoming quality, reliable starters without ever turning into high-volume sack producers.

• 2025: 2.0 sacks, 5.0 TFL (after 7.0 sacks, 11.0 TFL in 2024)
• 2023: SEC All-Freshman Team

• Great length to finish plays from the backside.
• Will be 21 years old in September.
• Versatility to play on the edge or reduce inside in certain packages.

• Half-step slow off the snap.
• Hand usage must improve to deconstruct blocks.
• High pad level in the run game can limit effectiveness.

• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 9 inches

Miller was a Week 1 starter as a true freshman for the Tigers in 2022 and has played 3,762 career snaps since. All but 125 of those have come at right tackle. He saw his pressure numbers dwindle every season of his career as he consistently cleaned up bad habits over that span. If that upward trajectory continues with his explosive traits, he’s an easy starter projection.

• Career: Three-time All-ACC (first team 2024–25, third team 2023)
• Career: Clemson record-holder for snaps from scrimmage (3,778 in 54 games, all starts)

• Solidly built; not much bad weight on his frame.
• Gets off the ball and into defenders in a hurry in the run game.
• Easy depth in sets to match speedier rushers.

• Plays high in most aspects of the position.
• Lacks fluidity in his hips to ride defenders who get to his edges.
• Often struggled to alter course in space and find defenders as a puller.

• 40-yard dash: 5.04 seconds
• Bench press: 32 reps
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 5 inches

As far as athletic tools go, Sadiq is in truly rarefied air for the position. The best part is it shows on tape. Sadiq has no problem breezing past linebackers or running through cornerbacks after the catch. The only question is how much larger a role he can be featured in at the next level. The Oregon offense struggled to get the ball in his hands on little more than schemed targets, but the tape shows more route-running potential than that.

• 2025: First-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten TE of the Year
• 2025: Ranked first among FBS TEs in receiving TD (8), fifth in receptions (51) and tied for eighth in receiving yards (560)

• Crazy-tuned-up athlete with no fat to speak of on his frame.
• Feet to evade defenders consistently after the catch.
• Willing and able blocker in space and on the move.

• Likely never going to be much as a pure inline blocker at his size.
• Not comfortable securing off-target passes.
• Raw route runner who was never really a focal point of the offense.

• 40-yard dash: 4.39 seconds
• Bench press: 26 reps
• Vertical jump: 43.5 inches
• Broad jump: 11 feet, 1 inches

Iheanachor’s tape has to be viewed through the lens of his inexperience. He only started playing football when he got to East Los Angeles College in 2021. That’s incredible for two reasons: the first because of how good his tape is, and the second because he’s put on 80 pounds in the years since and still tested like a freak athlete. He’s obviously rough around the edges, but it’s all there for him to be special.

• 2025: Allowed 0 sacks on 453 pass-blocking snaps
• Background: Born in Nigeria; moved to United States at age 13; did not play football prior to enrolling at East Los Angeles College in 2021

• Outstanding posture in his pass sets; always able to react laterally.
• Relatively new to the game, with a basketball background that shows on tape.
• Able to run with linebackers at the second level for cutoffs.

• Bad habit of dropping his hands before contact in pass protection.
• Hips can fly open when defenders get to his edge.
• Struggles to cleanly engage while on the move.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Bench press: 25 reps
• Vertical jump: 30.5 inches
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches

Concepcion combines downfield route-running chops with the ability to make defenders miss after the catch on underneath routes. He’s been producing since his true freshman season, when he hauled in 72 passes for 845 yards and 10 scores at NC State. His production never quite grew in the following years, unfortunately, and he developed a sizable issue with drops. If you can promise those drops get cleaned up, Concepcion has high-end starter potential.

• 2025: Paul Hornung Award winner (nation’s most versatile player)
• 2025: Three-time first-team All-SEC (WR, all-purpose, return specialist)

• Effortless mover; full route tree at his disposal.
• Physical for his size; initiates contact to create separation.
• Productive since Day 1 in college as NC State’s leading receiver.

• Drops a common theme for all three seasons.
• One-speed routes can limit effectiveness.
• Below-average wingspan and catch radius.

Woods has been on NFL radars since his true freshman season. The prodigious play strength and first-step quickness he’s shown are exactly what you need to be a star 3-technique in the NFL. We just haven’t seen the requisite skill development on tape. That’s not to say it won’t come. Dexter Lawrence was a similar case study before becoming the best nose tackle in the NFL. It’s just that Woods could have been a top-10 lock with more production last fall.

• 2025: First-team All-ACC
• 2023-25: Fourth-most pressures (54) and tackles (85) by ACC DT

• Sheds with violence; treats 300-plus-pounders like ragdolls.
• First step forces offensive linemen to consistently play from behind.
• Feet to cross the face of unsuspecting defensive tackles.

• Small frame; 3-technique only for a lot of schemes.
• More of an effort rusher than technique-based.
• Production took a big step backward from 2024 to 2025.

Chase Bisontis is a strong, versatile and dependable three-year starter with more than 1,950 snaps at both guard and center. He was arguably the most consistent performer on a solid Aggies offensive line and has the ability to thrive in both zone and gap schemes. Bisontis shows quick, active feet to cut off backside defenders and climb smoothly to the second level. He plays with a finishing demeanor and excellent functional strength. Still a young prospect, Bisontis has the tools to develop into a starter at either center or guard, and that versatility could help him stick in the league for a long time. The one concern: he committed 16 penalties over the past two seasons.

• 2025: Third-team All-SEC
• 2023: First-team Freshman All-SEC

• Strong overall player with powerful hands and the ability to anchor against power rushers; excels at snatching defenders.
• Effective puller who moves well in space, particularly in the run game.
• Physical presence who can move defenders off their spot; plays with a strong base, good knee bend and powerful hips.

• Struggles against twitchy, athletic rushers who work half a man in pass protection.
• Inconsistent footwork, eye discipline and technique versus quick defenders in protection.
• Has difficulty locking up defenders in space when pulling in pass protection.

• 40-yard dash: 5.02 seconds
• Bench press: 29 reps
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.78 seconds
• Broad jump: 8 feet, 9 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.53 seconds

If you can get past the gimmicky route tree that Cooper ran this past fall, you’ll see an incredibly well-rounded receiver. Cooper has great play strength, hands, burst and YAC ability. If you go back to his 2024 tape, where he played on the outside, you see an impressive vertical receiver as well. There’s more than enough on tape over the past two seasons to forgive his relatively late breakout.

• 2025: Tied for third in FBS in receiving TD (13)
• 2024: Led Big Ten in yards per reception (21.2)

• Numerous ways to break tackles after the catch; exceptional balance.
• Explosive out of breaks; leaves defenders reeling.
• Great hands over the middle of the field; rugged player.

• Afterthought in the Indiana offense until his senior season; late breakout.
• Gets by more as an athlete than a technician as a route runner.
• Limited slot route tree.

• 40-yard dash: 4.42 seconds
• Vertical jump: 37 inches

With McDonald, what you see is what you get. He is a two-down nose tackle through and through, but an elite one for someone who only just turned 21 years old. To dominate at such a strength-based position at that age is notable. His ability to play with consistent leverage is exceptional on tape and will be no fun to try to block in the NFL.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American; Big Ten DL of the Year
• 2025: 65 tackles (third-most by FBS DT); 9.0 TFL (led Big Ten DT)

• Super-stout anchor in the run game; great vs. double teams for a young DT.
• Active hands to get off blocks; can win late.
• Gets low into contact; can reset the line of scrimmage immediately.

• Not the kind of athlete to offer much more than a little pocket push as a pass rusher.
• Can get cut off on wide runs if he doesn’t read it at the snap.
• Smaller upper half for a defensive tackle; limits his ability to control defenders.

With Simpson, you saw flashes of “it”—the timing, footwork and processing necessary to play the game at the NFL level. It was for only about two-thirds of the season before injuries piled up, but quarterbacks have been drafted in the top five who’ve never even flashed “it” at the collegiate level. The track record of one-year starters isn’t strong at the position, but his tape for a one-year starter is so advanced that he could easily buck the trend.

• 2025: Second-team All-SEC
• 2025: 3,567 passing yards (fourth-most in Alabama history)

• Nifty feet in the pocket to find space and escape tight quarters.
• Arm translates on the move; can make plays outside of structure.
• Creative at throwing receivers open in zone coverage.

• Trim frame for the position, with injuries that piled up throughout 2025.
• Doesn’t know when to give up on plays and had bad fumbles.
• Pressure noticeably sped up his process.

T.J. Parker was a true freshman starter for the Tigers in 2023 and looked destined for big things early in his career. Unfortunately, he didn’t take a substantial step forward over the past two seasons. Parker is a limited athlete off the edge who wins with strength and technique. He projects as a high-floor, low-ceiling defender.

• 2024: Set Clemson single-season FF record (6); tied for second nationally and first among Power Five players
• 2024: 19.5 TFL, 11.0 sacks -- most by a Clemson defender since Clelin Ferrell (2018)

• NFL-ready edge setter with great pad level and physicality against the run.
• Long-arm bull rush that can collapse pockets; has the build to continue developing that power move.
• Productive from Day 1 in college football, starting as a true freshman.

• First step doesn't scare anyone.
• 2025 tape was worse than 2024.
• Only one true go-to move as a pass rusher (long arm).

• 40-yard dash: 4.68 seconds
• Vertical jump: 34 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 0 inches

Malachi Lawrence may not have gaudy numbers, but he checks many of the physical and stylistic boxes teams look for at the position. He has the frame and twitch to become productive in the NFL, paired with a nonstop motor. Lawrence also showed clear improvement on tape across his three seasons with the Knights.

• 2025: First-team All-Big 12
• 2023-25: One of seven FBS players with at least 5.0 sacks in each of past three seasons

• Violent, high-effort playing style.
• Broad shoulders and long arms.
• Has shown the ability to win with speed or power.

• Lean frame could use added bulk and play strength.
• More of an effort rusher than a consistent technical winner.
• Inconsistent from game to game.

• 40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
• Vertical jump: 40 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 10 inches

Jadarian Price can step into a running back rotation and contribute immediately. There is also an argument that he may have more untapped potential as a pro, considering teammate Jeremiyah Love handled most of the third-down opportunities in Notre Dame’s offense. Price profiles as a starting-caliber running back in a class that lacks many.

• 2025: Ninth FBS player ever with 10+ rush TD and 2+ KR TD in a season
• 2025: Third-team All-American return specialist (AP)

• Good vision and patience to find open gaps between the tackles.
• Versatility with experience returning kicks.
• Good top-end speed and burst.
• Fluid runner who can break down and redirect to daylight.

• Four career fumbles, including three in 2025.
• Below-average power element.
• Limited third-down opportunities in college with Love handling most of that role.

• 40-yard dash: 4.49 seconds
• Bench press: 21 reps
• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 4 inches

All the reasons you worry about a quarterback translating to the NFL don’t really apply to Mendoza. How will he perform under pressure? Mendoza has been as good as we’ve seen in that regard since Joe Burrow. How will he handle complex defenses? Mendoza’s ability to diagnose defenses and understand the finer points of the scheme is as good as it gets. Can we trust him as a leader? Mendoza took over a new locker room and went on a Cinderella run to a national title at Indiana. The only debate now is how high his ceiling can push in the NFL.

• 2025: Heisman Trophy winner (nation’s best player)
• 2025: Led Indiana to a 16–0 record and College Football Playoff National Championship

• Stands tall in tight pockets and attacks downfield
• Understands leverage and throws receivers open
• Remarkable dedication to his craft; all ball

• Heavy-footed when escaping pressure
• Gimmicky, screen/RPO-heavy Indiana offense
• Arm suffers on the move; not much of a creator on his own

The amoebic front sevens in the NFL have made talents like Reese all the more valuable in recent years. His ability to wear any hat on any down gives defensive coordinators incredible flexibility when calling plays. At only 20 years old, Reese is just scratching the surface of what he’ll become.

• 2025: Consensus All-American
• 2025: 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.0 TFL (all top-three on Ohio State)

• Doesn’t shy from contact; wants to go through linemen.
• Special range to track down ball carriers.
• Versatile body type that can bridge the gap between edge and off-ball.

• Fewer than 140 career pass-rushing snaps, with most coming as a blitzer.
• Very few pass-rush moves to speak of.
• Not a true edge-bender to take advantage of his first step.

• 40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds

Mauigoa was a Day 1 starter for the Hurricanes who’s only gotten better in each successive season at right tackle. His ability to cave in his side of the line of scrimmage in the run game is special for someone who hasn’t even turned 21 years old yet. While he can struggle to find speedier edge rushers in space, once he gets his hands on defenders, he ends reps quickly.

• 2025: Consensus All-American (did not allow sack in final 12 games)
• High school: Five-star recruit; No. 6 overall player in Class of 2023

• Incredibly dense build; packs a ton of muscle onto his frame.
• Upper-body torque to move defenders out of the hole.
• Creative, independent hand usage in his sets.

• Average reactive athleticism; struggles to recover on the edge.
• Protected by a screen-heavy Miami passing attack.
• Gets lungey on the move and will leave his hands behind.

Bain was an every-down problem for Miami last fall. His ability to not cede an inch in the running game while consistently collapsing pockets as a pass rusher brought the Hurricanes all the way to the national title game. His traits aren’t prototypical for the position, but it’s hard to dominate college football the way he did and not translate to the league.

• 2025: Consensus All-American; ACC Defensive Player of the Year; Ted Hendricks Award winner (nation’s top DE)
• 2025: 83 pressures (most in FBS since 2017); 9.5 sacks (5.0 in CFP)

• Power throughout the frame.
• Body control to shrink the strike zone and keep hands off him.
• Barely came off the field; nearly 900 snaps last year.

• Limited length can get him locked onto blocks.
• Doesn’t have the juice to threaten NFL tackles on the edge.
• Tweener traits that don’t quite fit a clean position.

One word came to mind after watching Fano’s 2025 tape: clean. There’s not much on tape that really worries you. He can mirror speed, latch quickly in the run game and generate explosive movement. The only question is how his frame will translate to the NFL at tackle, but at worst, you’re getting a high-end interior lineman.

• 2025: Fifth unanimous All-American in Utah history
• 2025: Outland Trophy winner (nation’s top interior OL)

• Exceptional at eliminating space.
• Establishes leverage on the move with ease.
• Hands and feet work together in pass sets.

• Arm length below the desired 33-inch threshold.
• Doesn’t impose his will when his hands latch.
• Can be too quick to get depth and allow inside moves.

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds
• Vertical jump: 32 inches
• 20-yard shuttle run: 4.67 seconds
• Broad jump: 9 feet, 3 inches
• 3-cone drill: 7.34 seconds

From the Week 1 game against Texas, it was clear Tate returned to school a different player this fall. He became much more of a downfield weapon thanks to improved salesmanship as a route runner, and he simply stopped dropping passes. If you draft Tate, you won’t have to worry about whether he’ll be successful in the NFL

• 2025: Led FBS with 6 TD on throws of 30+ air yards
• 2025: Career highs in receiving yards (838) and receiving TD (9)

• Effortless mover for his size.
• Massive wingspan relative to his height that translates to a large catch radius.
• Can flip his hips on comebacks in a hurry to present a target.

• Lacks explosive twitch to leave defenders in the dust at the top of routes.
• Not a power player. Frame has room to grow but is still wiry.
• Production was nothing special over the course of his career.

• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds

Bailey was already quietly one of the best pass rushers in college football back in 2024, but it came in a limited role for a noncompetitive Stanford team. Transferring to Texas Tech sent his stock soaring as he became an every-down player and maintained his highly efficient work rushing the passer. Bailey finished with 14.5 sacks as he ran roughshod over just about every tackle in his way. He’s still a work in progress vs. the run, but his final tape against Oregon was easily his best in that regard.

• 2025: Unanimous All-American
• 2025: Second in FBS in pressures (81) behind Rueben Bain Jr. (83), despite playing two fewer games

• Elite burst off the ball; stresses tackles from the snap.
• Twitchy agility to knife inside tackles untouched.
• Great feel for avoiding contact with ghost moves.

• Wasn’t trusted on run downs at Stanford and still will give up ground.
• Spammed a limited move set that took advantage of less athletic tackles.
• Counters and ability to win late in reps were lacking.

• 40-yard dash: 4.50 seconds
• Vertical jump: 35 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 9 inches

Tyson was the focal point of the Sun Devils passing attack the past two years for good reason. Watch a highlight reel of Tyson’s, and you’d swear he’s the next big thing at the NFL level. The shiftiness and explosiveness he possesses at the top of his routes is nothing short of elite. Unfortunately, he alternates those highlight-reel reps with ones where he’s stuck on more physical corners and where he’s overexaggerating his stems. There’s so much natural talent to work with, but he has to stay healthier than he has to make the necessary improvements.

• 2024-25: Led Big 12 in receptions (136); second in receiving yards (1,812) and TD (18) over past two seasons
• Younger brother of Cavaliers 2024 first-round pick Jaylon Tyson

• Lateral bounce is off the charts; teleports at the top of routes.
• Elite elevation to haul in off-target passes.
• Uncoachable footwork; special ability to stop and start.

• Goes down on contact post-catch too often.
• Missed time every year (2025 hamstring, 2024 collarbone, 2022-23 ACL).
• Finesse receiver who avoids contact along his routes.

• Bench press: 26 reps