Field YatesJan 16, 2026, 06:40 AM ETCloseField Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs.Follow on X
play0:26Texas Tech shuts down Oregon on 4th-and-goalTexas Tech’s David Bailey stuffs Dante Moore’s throw on fourth down to end Oregon’s drive.
play0:23Mansoor Delane comes up with an interceptionMansoor Delane grabs interception vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
play0:18Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
EJ Manuel: Smart move by Dante Moore to return to Oregon (1:25)EJ Manuel and Mike Tannenbaum react to Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon instead of entering the NFL draft. (1:25)
Texas Tech shuts down Oregon on 4th-and-goalTexas Tech’s David Bailey stuffs Dante Moore’s throw on fourth down to end Oregon’s drive.
Mansoor Delane comes up with an interceptionMansoor Delane grabs interception vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
With that disclaimer out of the way, here is my initial ranking for the top 25 prospects in the 2026 class. Quarterback Dante Moore’s announcement that he’s returning to Oregon shook some things up, as I had him at No. 2 before his decision. Beyond my top 25, I also have my rankings by position listed at the bottom. (Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.)
The Heisman Trophy winner brings a comprehensive skill set led by exceptional accuracy to all levels of the field, a powerful arm and a rock solid stature. Mendoza has completed 73% of his passes this season (third-highest in FBS), including five separate games with a completion percentage north of 85%. He has 41 touchdowns passes to six interceptions.
With 6.5 sacks in 2025, I think Reese is suited for a full-time rusher role in the NFL. But his versatility will be a plus for whichever team picks him.
The last safety drafted in the top 10 was Jamal Adams in 2017 (No. 6 overall). Downs is positioned to end that streak, seeming to have zero weaknesses. He can wreak havoc near the line of scrimmage as a run defender and play coverage underneath. He has the speed and acceleration to be a capable blitzer if called upon. He can also easily patrol the deep middle portion of the field.
It is rare for a safety to be a tone-setter for a defense, but Downs fits into that category. He was an instant contributor and leader at Alabama as a freshman before he transferred to Ohio State for two seasons. He is a hard-hitting tackler who can change the complexion of any NFL defense upon arrival, and he finished 2025 with 67 tackles and two interceptions.
Bailey has a ton of traits that NFL teams will be enamored by, but his physicality stands out on tape. He is a forceful player who can truly disrupt the quarterback. And he was arguably the best player on the most dominant front seven this season.
Texas Tech’s David Bailey stuffs Dante Moore’s throw on fourth down to end Oregon’s drive.
Fano was a standout pass protector during his three seasons at Utah, two of which were played at right tackle (after a year at left tackle in 2023). He allowed a measly four pressures and zero sacks on 749 snaps at right tackle in 2025. He has nimble and light feet to match and mirror rushers and the ability to redirect and also handle cross-face rushers.
Fano’s listed weight has some scouts thinking he could be moved inside to guard, but I’m bullish that he is best suited at right tackle. And though he could thrive in any scheme, a zone rushing attack would be a premiere fit given his light feet.
Tyson is a natural separator who is very comfortable picking up extra yards after the catch. He has handled punt return duties in the past, has excellent ball skills and has the speed to rattle off big plays. A hamstring injury limited his play this past season, but his full college body of work is terrific. He had just one drop on 100 targets in 2025, racking up 711 yards and eight TDs.
Styles is a former safety whose range and coverage skills shine on tape. He can cover a ton of ground in a hurry, making him a scheme fit for pretty much any team and giving him an advantage against athletic NFL tight ends. Styles showed off timing and anticipation as a blitzer during the 2024 season, helping him reach six sacks and eight pressures. His great length has made his transition to a new position look easy.
Woods was a highly-touted prospect coming into the season, but he has likely fallen out of the top-five pick range after a modest 2025 campaign. He wreaks havoc in the run game, with quickness both up the field and laterally. His power at the point of attack allows him to lock out blockers and subsequently disengage. And while he registered only five sacks in three seasons, his impact goes beyond the box score.
There are some questions from scouts regarding his height and arm length, so it won’t surprise me if his range winds up a little bit lower than this — but those are not significant concerns in my eyes.
Delane spent his first three collegiate seasons at Virginia Tech before one year at LSU. He has the size of an NFL cornerback and was terrific in coverage this past season. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete just 27.7% of their passes when he was the targeted defender, the third-lowest rate in the country. Plus, his instincts and strong balls skills led to 11 pass breakups.
The key question scouts are sifting through with Delane is his speed. If he opts to run a 40-yard dash during the predraft process, that could have a major impact on his ceiling in April.
Mansoor Delane grabs interception vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Faulk checks all the boxes with his measurables, but he followed up a very promising 2024 season with a less dominant 2025 (seven sacks in 2024 versus two in 2025). He is smooth and bendy off the edge, and some scouts have compared Faulk to Mykel Williams — San Francisco’s first-round pick in 2025 — because of their frames. But I’d argue Faulk has higher upside as a rusher if he can consistently hone his talents. He didn’t do that enough this past season.
Lomu took over for Fano as Utah’s starting left tackle in 2024, and he has been a steadying force since then. He has adept pass protection skills, not allowing a single sack in 792 snaps this season. Lomu can also add to the run game as an accurate striker when climbing to the second level. He will have to add some bulk in order to stay at tackle in the NFL, though.
There might not be a more complex evaluation of potential first-round picks than McCoy, who missed all of the 2025 season after tearing his ACL last January. His 2024 tape was exceptional, including four interceptions and nine pass breakups. If McCoy were eligible to declare for the 2025 draft, he may well have been a top-15 selection — the tape was that sharp. But with a year away from football, it’s much harder to peg his range.
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Dante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Ioane is a ready-to-roll guard in the NFL. He plays with bullying power to displace players in the running game and create lanes for backs. He is capable of getting to the second level and is a generally fluid mover in space. Penn State often moved Ioane around the line to take advantage of his movement skills, and he has been downright stellar as a pass protector with zero sacks allowed over the past two seasons.
Boston is more than just a big target on the perimeter. He showed alignment versatility from the slot, plus his understanding of zone coverage and route running makes him effective in the intermediate passing game. However, his size will be enticing for teams that need a red zone threat. He snagged 20 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons, which is tied for the third-most in the country over that time span. Boston’s play speed improved each year at Washington as well.
There is an old school nature to Allen’s game, as Georgia’s defensive quarterback brings some serious physicality. He is fearless in the running game, brings some pass rush juice and has solid coverage skills. Allen allowed a completion percentage of just 47.4% when targeted as the primary defender this season. His intelligence during the snap comes up on tape, and there is a strong track record of recent Georgia linebackers translating to the NFL level. Allen is next up.
The younger brother of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell Jr., Avieon Terrell packs a ton of punch within his relatively small frame. He was all over the field for Clemson in 2025, finishing with three sacks, nine pass breakups and an astounding five forced fumbles. He is a true “find the football” cornerback, which should translate well to the NFL.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 2. Ty Simpson, Alabama 3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss 4. Drew Allar, Penn State 5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame 2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame 3. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska 4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State 5. Jonah Coleman, Washington
1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State 2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State 3. Makai Lemon, USC 4. Denzel Boston, Washington 5. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon 2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt 3. Joe Royer, Cincinnati 4. Max Klare, Ohio State 5. Jack Endries, Texas
1. Francis Mauigoa, Miami 2. Spencer Fano, Utah 3. Caleb Lomu, Utah 4. Monroe Freeling, Georgia 5. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
1. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State 2. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech 3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon 4. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M 5. DJ Campbell, Texas
1. Logan Jones, Iowa 2. Connor Lew, Auburn 3. Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M 4. Jake Slaughter, Florida 5. Parker Brailsford, Alabama