Mel Kiper Jr.Oct 14, 2025, 06:40 AM ETCloseMel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on “SportsCenter,” ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+.Follow on X
play0:31Makai Lemon leaps two defenders in must-see fashionMakai Lemon electrifies USC’s kick return with two hurdles over the defense.
play0:31Horton’s 16-yard TD catch puts Alabama on topTy Simpson connects with Isaiah Horton for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Alabama the lead.
play0:39LaNorris Sellers keeps his footing for an epic South Carolina TDLaNorris Sellers’ second effort pays off as he dives into the end zone to put the Gamecocks on the board.
play0:50Zachariah Branch takes off for a blazing Georgia TDZachariah Branch snags the rock and turns on the jets to pull the Bulldogs closer.
play0:38Clemson’s Avieon Terrell forces a fumble on Bauer SharpAvieon Terrell hits Bauer Sharp as he’s falling and Ricardo Jones picks it up for Clemson.
Why Oregon’s Dante Moore tops Riddick’s 2026 QB prospect list (0:42)Louis Riddick details why Oregon’s Dante Moore tops his list of 2026 NFL draft QB prospects. (0:42)
Makai Lemon leaps two defenders in must-see fashionMakai Lemon electrifies USC’s kick return with two hurdles over the defense.
Horton’s 16-yard TD catch puts Alabama on topTy Simpson connects with Isaiah Horton for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Alabama the lead.
LaNorris Sellers keeps his footing for an epic South Carolina TDLaNorris Sellers’ second effort pays off as he dives into the end zone to put the Gamecocks on the board.
LaNorris Sellers’ second effort pays off as he dives into the end zone to put the Gamecocks on the board.
Zachariah Branch takes off for a blazing Georgia TDZachariah Branch snags the rock and turns on the jets to pull the Bulldogs closer.
Clemson’s Avieon Terrell forces a fumble on Bauer SharpAvieon Terrell hits Bauer Sharp as he’s falling and Ricardo Jones picks it up for Clemson.
We’re now seven weeks into the 2025 college football season, and the top names in the 2026 NFL draft class are starting to emerge from the pack. I’ve spent the past few months watching tape on the best players eligible to get drafted, and I’m ready to roll out my debut top-25 Big Board ranking.
Of course, the class will change a ton between now and April 23, when Round 1 begins in Pittsburgh. But for now, this is how I see the top of the class, starting with a talented QB prospect. I will keep this list updated throughout the rest of the season and into predraft events. I have scouting reports for the top 25 overall, and I have stacked the best of the best at every position at the bottom.
A key note to please remember: This is not a mock draft or a prediction of where players will be drafted. These are my personal rankings based on talent — the best players based on what I’m seeing and my own evaluations. Let’s get started. (Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.)
Moore is a third-year sophomore with some impressive traits. His accuracy has been solid all season, and he shows good touch on his deep ball. Moore can throw from different arm angles with precision and delivers strikes while rolling either left or right out of the pocket. He can scramble a bit too.
Moore started five games at UCLA in 2023 before sitting behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024, so he has only 11 career starts to date. Moore is still developing and will be only 20 years old at draft time. But the toolbox is loaded, and he plays with true command of the Ducks’ offense. I see a lot of confidence in Moore’s game; nothing ever seems to faze him.
2025 stats over six games: 100 carries, 530 rushing yards, 8 rushing TDs, 14 catches, 160 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs
Love reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush. The 20-year-old has vision and burst between the tackles and to the outside, and he can break tackles with ease (29 forced missed tackles on the season). Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his breakaway speed too. But Love isn’t only an outstanding runner. He also is a high-impact pass catcher. An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension of the offense.
2025 stats over six games: 71.2% completion rate, 1,423 passing yards, 17 TD passes, 2 INTs, 2 rushing TDs
Mendoza transferred to Indiana after playing two seasons at Cal, and his game has taken off. The key? He has cut down on sacks, with only six so far this season after taking 41 in 2024. Mendoza is getting the ball out quicker. And while he doesn’t have a huge arm, he can make all the necessary NFL-level throws. His ball placement is fantastic. I wouldn’t consider him a dual threat, but Mendoza also has enough mobility to pick up first downs as a scrambler.
2025 stats over six games: 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 3 pressures, 4 run stops, 2 pass breakups
Woods hasn’t been elite in 2025, but the skill set is exactly what NFL teams covet. He just needs to finish strong over the second half of the season. In the pros, Woods would fit nicely at 3-technique, though he has the versatility to move around on a defensive front. He plays on the inside the majority of the time, but he also can be disruptive off the edge. His strength will intrigue a lot of NFL teams no matter where he lines up.
This kid is a warrior who plays with passion. I’d want Lemon on my roster. He snatches the ball away from his body in an attacking manner then runs with a fierce approach after the catch. He is one of my favorite players in the class, and he currently ranks second in the nation in receiving yards.
Makai Lemon leaps two defenders in must-see fashion
Makai Lemon electrifies USC’s kick return with two hurdles over the defense.
Downs — the brother of NFL wide receiver Josh Downs and the son of former NFL running back Gary Downs — is basically an extension of the defensive coordinator. His football knowledge shows in his play; it’s obvious when you watch him in the Ohio State defense. But what really impressed me is how well he picked up Nick Saban’s system as a 2023 freshman at Alabama before transferring.
He diagnoses quickly thanks to excellent pre-snap instincts, and that allows him to play faster than his straight-line speed might suggest. Plus, Downs is solid in coverage, and he is a very reliable open-field tackler.
2025 stats over five games: 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 24 pressures, 3 run stops, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT
But even with all those A-level traits, it’s actually Bain’s hustle that really stands out to me. He never takes a play off and fires at the ball on every play. His arms are shorter than most scouts prefer, but there’s so much to like with his game. Opponents have to account for him in their game plans, and he can keep them guessing even then with his inside-outside flexibility.
Fano started 12 games at left tackle in 2023 before moving to the right side in 2024, and he has started 17 games there over two seasons. Working opposite another highly regarded bookend in Caleb Lomu, Fano does a great job of keeping his big frame between the pass rusher and his QB. He is technically sound and shows good punch to compensate for his lack of ideal arm length.
If you could draw up the perfect NFL 4-3 defensive end, it would be Faulk. He’s what I call an “LTPer” — someone who looks the part. He can win with outside and inside moves, and he moves blockers with his super powerful hands. I see good overall instincts on tape too. Faulk makes his presence felt against the run and the pass, and he is scheme versatile.
McCoy hasn’t played yet in 2025 after suffering a torn ACL in January, but he still has the chance to be the first cornerback off the board in April. He began his college career at Oregon State, picking off two passes there in 2023. McCoy’s ball-hawking traits really emerged once transferring to Tennessee, as he picked off four passes and broke up nine last season. Even if he doesn’t make it back onto the field this season, his on-the-ball production will get Day 1 interest.
Sadiq is loaded with physical traits. He has the explosion to hurdle defenders in the open field. He has the vision and speed to cause conflict after the catch, with more than half his 2025 yardage coming after the ball is in his hands. And he’s nearly impossible to match against because of his quickness and size. Sadiq has been consistent this season, and he could be the first tight end off the board.
Like teammate Peter Woods, Parker hasn’t been as productive in 2025 as he was in 2024 (11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss). But there’s still a lot to like in Parker’s profile, and at his best, he’s a sack artist. He can play staying up or with his hand in the dirt, and he beats blockers with outstanding speed-to-power and active hands. I love Parker’s ability to make plays in pursuit; when his initial charge is thwarted, he redirects and quickly finds another way to pressure the QB.
2025 stats over six games: 70.9% completion rate, 1,678 passing yards, 16 TD passes, 1 INT, 2 rushing TDs
His lack of experience might be a concern, as Simpson didn’t start a game until this season, but the production is hard to ignore. Simpson knows the game and competes on every down. He’s a battler who is always trying to make a play — sometimes to his detriment. And Simpson maneuvers well in the pocket and can beat defenses with his legs when the passing play isn’t there.
Ty Simpson connects with Isaiah Horton for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Alabama the lead.
Terrell is a proven cover man, much like his brother, A.J. Terrell Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons. Avieon is consistent and reliable in man coverage. He can flip his hips, turn and run with the fastest wideouts, and still be able to locate the ball in the air to make the play at the right moment. He had 12 pass breakups last season, and he is limiting opponents to 3.6 yards per attempt in his direction this season (top 40 in the nation).
Here’s a true mauler. Mauigoa is fun to watch for the way he just destroys pass rushers at the point of attack. He has more than 2,000 snaps at right tackle and has the pass protection skill to stick there, but he could absolutely slide inside and become a Pro Bowl-caliber guard at the next level. Mauigoa has allowed one sack and blown only five run blocks since the start of last season.