Mel Kiper Jr.Jan 14, 2026, 03:45 PM 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
play0:25End Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdownEnd Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdown
play0:29Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor rumbles his way to a 1st downKadyn Proctor takes the direct snap and hurdles his way to an Alabama first down.
play0:31Zachariah Branch makes incredible TD grab for GeorgiaGeorgia QB Gunner Stockton lobs it to Zachariah Branch in the end zone, who makes a leaping grab for the touchdown.
play0:18Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Dante Moore returning to Oregon for the 2026 season (2:53)Dante Moore says “coming back is the best thing for me” as he decides to stay at Oregon for the 2026 season. (2:53)
End Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdownEnd Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdown
Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor rumbles his way to a 1st downKadyn Proctor takes the direct snap and hurdles his way to an Alabama first down.
Zachariah Branch makes incredible TD grab for GeorgiaGeorgia QB Gunner Stockton lobs it to Zachariah Branch in the end zone, who makes a leaping grab for the touchdown.
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton lobs it to Zachariah Branch in the end zone, who makes a leaping grab for the touchdown.
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Coming off the College Football Playoff semifinals, I’m updating my top-25 Big Board ranking for the 2026 NFL draft class. And after quarterback Dante Moore announced he is returning to Oregon for another season, there is some movement at the top of the list.
Of course, the class will still change a lot more between now and April 23 when Round 1 begins in Pittsburgh. Players will rise and fall over the coming months. This is how I see the top of the class right now, but I will keep this list updated throughout 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 focusing 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.)
2025 stats over 15 games: 73.0% completion rate, 3,349 passing yards, 41 TD passes, 6 INTs, 6 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 22 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 12 games: 199 carries, 1,372 rushing yards, 18 rushing TDs, 27 catches, 280 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 (60 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.
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 2,600 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 11 run blocks since the start of last season.
2025 stats over 14 games: 76 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 71 pressures, 8 run stops, 3 forced fumbles, 4 pass breakups
A transfer from Stanford, Bailey gets after the quarterback. He had 14.5 sacks over three seasons for the Cardinal, and he matched that total in 2025 alone after notably becoming more of a finisher this season. His 20.2% pressure rate was the best in the nation — despite actually being lower than it was in 2024 (22.2%) and 2023 (22.1%).
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 watched 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 14 games: 77 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 9 run stops, 3 pass breakups, 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack
You can tell Styles is a former safety; he has outstanding speed, and his burst allows him to spy the QB. Watch for him to dominate at the combine and in predraft testing. Styles is also a dependable tackler and closes in a flash. He really took the next step this season, even as he adapted to a new system under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
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 almost 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 was consistent this season, and he should be the first tight end off the board.
The Colorado transfer lit up defenses for two seasons with the Sun Devils. Tyson’s superpower is being open even when it looks like he’s completely blanketed. It makes him essentially uncoverable in the red zone. He wins on 50-50 balls and outmuscles defensive backs. A hamstring injury cost him time this season, but he still posted solid numbers.
End Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdown
End Zone! Jordyn Tyson scores 4-yard rushing touchdown
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 ranked in the top 10 in the nation in receiving yards.
Fano started 12 games at left tackle in 2023 before moving to the right side in 2024, and he started 24 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.
2025 stats over 15 games: 63 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 68 pressures, 8 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.
McCoy didn’t play 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 in 2024. His on-the-ball production will get Day 1 interest.
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.
2025 stats over 14 games: 70 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 55 pressures, 11 run stops, 4 forced fumbles
The Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year has had a huge breakout season. Consider that he had zero starts, zero sacks and just 24 tackles over the previous two seasons. McDonald crushed all those numbers over 14 starts this season. He’s a force on the interior, with incredible strength and quickness for a player at his size. And McDonald is active and sniffs out the football to make plays.
Ioane drives defensive tackles off the ball and sustains his blocks well. He can get to the second level and torque defenders out of the way. And he’s incredibly agile at left guard for his size. Ioane had 32 career starts and gave up only two sacks over that time — both in 2023.
Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor rumbles his way to a 1st down
Kadyn Proctor takes the direct snap and hurdles his way to an Alabama first down.
2025 stats over 12 games: 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 11 pressures, 6 run stops, 2 pass breakups
Woods wasn’t elite in 2025, but the skill set is exactly what NFL teams covet. 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.
I am very impressed with the instincts and savviness Delane shows in coverage. He is a true technician and demonstrated excellent ball skills, with 27 pass breakups and eight interceptions over his four-year career. He excels in both man and zone coverage, and his 3.3 yards allowed per attempt on throws in his direction was fourth in the nation.