Matt MillerDec 5, 2025, 06:40 AM ETCloseMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.Follow on X
play0:29Julian Sayin finds Carnell Tate for their 2nd TD connectionJulian Sayin and Carnell Tate connect for the pair’s second touchdown for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.
play0:43Germie Bernard’s late TD wins it for AlabamaGermie Bernard takes it to the house for a 25-yard rushing touchdown to seal a 29-22 win over South Carolina.
play0:35Zion Young gets the strip sack on Ty SimpsonZion Young punches the ball away from Ty Simpson and Missouri recovers deep in Alabama territory.
play0:48C.J. Carr finds Jadarian Price for an Irish TDC.J. Carr airs it out for 12-yard touchdown pass
play0:57Eli Stowers scores a TD right before halftime for VanderbiltDiego Pavia throws over the middle to Eli Stowers, who breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown.
play0:40Emmanuel McNeil-Warren picks off Central Michigan ChippewasPicked! Emmanuel McNeil-Warren hauls in the interception
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)
Julian Sayin finds Carnell Tate for their 2nd TD connectionJulian Sayin and Carnell Tate connect for the pair’s second touchdown for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.
Germie Bernard’s late TD wins it for AlabamaGermie Bernard takes it to the house for a 25-yard rushing touchdown to seal a 29-22 win over South Carolina.
Germie Bernard takes it to the house for a 25-yard rushing touchdown to seal a 29-22 win over South Carolina.
Zion Young gets the strip sack on Ty SimpsonZion Young punches the ball away from Ty Simpson and Missouri recovers deep in Alabama territory.
Eli Stowers scores a TD right before halftime for VanderbiltDiego Pavia throws over the middle to Eli Stowers, who breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren picks off Central Michigan ChippewasPicked! Emmanuel McNeil-Warren hauls in the interception
We have time — around 4½ months — before the 2026 NFL draft starts April 23 in Pittsburgh. But it’s officially time to debut my rankings of the best prospects in the class.
The list below is based on film study and conversations I’ve had with NFL scouts and evaluators over the past several months. These rankings can — and will — change between now and April as I study more film, have more conversations and see these players in person at all-star games and the combine. Players will rise and fall, and others will return to school.
I included my scouting reports for each prospect in the top 50, and my rankings by position are at the bottom. Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk. Let’s get to it, starting with a player who could be a generational talent at his position.
Reese wasn’t on the NFL draft radar before the season but has shot up the board as one of the nation’s most productive and promising players. A hybrid defender who plays linebacker and edge rusher, there are obvious comparisons to Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter. Reese has the length, elite burst and power to be dangerous off the edge, as evidenced by his 6.5 sacks this season in a part-time edge role. His flexibility and athletic tools at a premium position could make Reese the No. 1 pick.
Another year, another top-10 wide receiver prospect for the Buckeyes. Tate is a big receiver with elite contested-catch ability down the field, along with strong hands and body control that allow him to consistently win on 50-50 passes. Tate’s penchant for sitting in space and picking up tough yards makes him a pro-ready WR1. He might not have elite top-end speed, but Tate’s ability to box out defenders and create separation on routes makes him special.
Julian Sayin finds Carnell Tate for their 2nd TD connection
Julian Sayin and Carnell Tate connect for the pair’s second touchdown for Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.
Delane starred at Virginia Tech for three seasons before transferring to LSU, where he has emerged as the nation’s best cornerback. He doesn’t have elite length but simply makes plays, with two interceptions and only 10 catches allowed this season. Delane’s fluid movement, vision and quickness are a fantastic combination, and his recovery ability allows him to be a matchup cornerback in pretty much any scheme.
Woods is a 3-technique defensive tackle with the quickness to be an immediate pocket disruptor in the NFL. He gets double-teamed a lot because offensive linemen struggle to match his first step in one-on-one situations. Woods has the strength to counter that, accumulating five career sacks and 42 hurries despite the extra attention. Though his lack of sack production could limit his upside for some teams, Woods’ position-specific traits are good enough to make him a top-10 pick.
Allen is the ideal middle linebacker in a modern defensive scheme, packing a punch as a hitter when arriving at the ball and showing the fast processing skills to easily flow to the ball on inside and outside runs. Besides their shared school, it’s easy to see why he is compared to Roquan Smith, as they have similar coverage instincts and burst when keying on the ball. Allen is also tough, returning for the Georgia Tech game two weeks after suffering a knee injury.
Bailey was the nation’s most impactful defensive transfer, finishing the regular season with an FBS-leading 12.5 sacks after arriving from Stanford. He also has 62 pressures (second most in the FBS). Bailey’s first step causes problems for offensive tackles, and he counters well with leverage and strong hands. He is also relentless in pursuing the ball, which has helped him rack up 18.5 tackles for loss this season.
A pass rusher eraser, Lomu has not allowed a sack in 12 starts this season while yielding only six pressures in his second year starting at left tackle. His toughness and elite lateral quickness are notable, but Lomu’s best trait is how well he opens his hips to recover against speedy pass rushers with his long, lean frame. Many teams want him to add strength and bulk to his frame, but he’s an ideal fit for zone schemes.
When Lomu arrived, Fano flipped from left tackle to right tackle and has thrived. Some NFL scouts see him as a candidate to move to the interior as a guard or center, given his lack of size and his elite run-blocking traits, but Fano has more than held things down at tackle the past two seasons, allowing only one sack. He is perfect for a zone scheme, with his explosive first-step ability and a violent finish that result in plenty of pancakes.
Styles fits the mold of the long, fast versatile linebacker prospect who is regularly drafted in the first round. His speed, length, power in his hands and range jump off the tape. And as a former safety, Styles knows how to turn and move in coverage, too. Though Arvell Reese has gotten much of the Ohio State defensive attention, Styles has 69 tackles and one interception this season and has shown pass-rush ability (six sacks in 2024).
A big-play boundary receiver, Boston has elite size and speed with explosive burst off the line of scrimmage. That makes him an ideal X receiver and a dangerous vertical threat. He has been a consistent performer, registering 119 catches for 1,589 yards and 19 touchdowns combined over the past two seasons. But Boston’s concentration and hand strength might be his most impressive traits, as he has only two drops on 189 targets since 2024.
Cisse profiles as a man coverage cornerback, with the size and speed to cover the boundary. He has only one interception this season after transferring from NC State but has allowed just 13 receptions and a completion percentage of 39.4% when targeted. His length allows him to limit targets, then eliminate their impact with his closing speed. Cisse is a dream in a man scheme, thanks to his sticky coverage, fluid hips and elite change-of-direction skills.
The younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell is a sudden and versatile player who can make an impact in the slot or out wide. He has elite ball production, with three sacks and five forced fumbles this season and 21 pass breakups dating to 2024. Despite lacking elite size, Terrell undercuts routes well and has the closing speed to impact the ball in the air. He’s not an outside press corner but has the quickness to excel as a nickel or slot defender.
Young has been productive in two seasons at Missouri after transferring from Michigan State. He’s a powerful, edge-setting presence who has 6.5 sacks and 42 pressures this season while alternating between the left and right edge spots. He’s a long, powerful 4-3 prototype with 34-inch arm length and active hands that allow him to separate from blockers. Young’s closing speed is better than his first step, but his relentless backfield penetration against SEC offensive linemen has stood out.
Zion Young punches the ball away from Ty Simpson and Missouri recovers deep in Alabama territory.
I rarely put nose tackle prospects in Round 1, but I’m making an exception for McDonald. He is impactful against the run, with his anchor strength, but also has the necessary quickness and leverage to be a pocket-collapsing menace. McDonald has three sacks and seven pressures on 174 pass-rush snaps and posted 51 tackles in run defense. The first-year starter is built for a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.
Defensive coordinators like Steve Spagnuolo dream of players like Overton, whose frame and experience in multiple alignments mean he can be deployed anywhere from 3-technique to a wide-9. His length and power stand out on tape, as do his size and speed. Overton is coming off his most productive season, with four sacks and 19 pressures, highlighting his development after he toyed with entering the 2025 draft.
Uiagalelei broke out with 10.5 sacks in 2024 and followed that up nicely this season, with five sacks and 40 pressures. He’s consistently around the football and making plays in the backfield. Uiagalelei has scheme versatility, combining the size of a 4-3 defensive end with the ability to be a standup rusher in a 3-4 scheme. His first-step quickness is matched with violent, strong hands. All of these factors could make him a riser during the predraft testing process.