Matt MillerApr 10, 2026, 06:00 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 XMultiple Authors
play0:51Saquon Barkley: ‘I’m a big fan’ of Jeremiyah LoveSaquon Barkley praises 2026 NFL draft prospect Jeremiyah Love.
play1:31Why draft stocks of Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane have risenJordan Reid breaks down the players who saw their NFL draft stocks rise after their pro days, including Rueben Bain Jr.
play0:57Kalen DeBoer: Ty Simpson is a first-round NFL talentAlabama coach Kalen DeBoer details his team’s QB battle as well as what a team would be getting in Ty Simpson.
play0:24De’Zhaun Stribling hauls in 13-yard TD pass from Trinidad ChamblissTrinidad Chambliss finds De’Zhaun Stribling with the quick pass for an Ole Miss touchdown.
play0:10Sawyer Robertson connects for 18-yard TD passSawyer Robertson throws 18-yard touchdown pass vs. Utah
play0:27Michael Washington trucks a Texas defender en route to an Arkansas TDMichael Washington shrugs off a tackle to find the end zone for Arkansas vs. Texas.
play0:33Jacob Rodriguez comes up with the INT for Texas TechBear Bachmeier is picked off by Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders the ball back.
Riddick: Mendoza showed he’s ‘way ahead’ in preparations for NFL (1:32)Riddick: Fernando Mendoza showed he’s ‘way ahead’ in preparations for NFL. (1:32)
Saquon Barkley: ‘I’m a big fan’ of Jeremiyah LoveSaquon Barkley praises 2026 NFL draft prospect Jeremiyah Love.
Why draft stocks of Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane have risenJordan Reid breaks down the players who saw their NFL draft stocks rise after their pro days, including Rueben Bain Jr.
Jordan Reid breaks down the players who saw their NFL draft stocks rise after their pro days, including Rueben Bain Jr.
Kalen DeBoer: Ty Simpson is a first-round NFL talentAlabama coach Kalen DeBoer details his team’s QB battle as well as what a team would be getting in Ty Simpson.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer details his team’s QB battle as well as what a team would be getting in Ty Simpson.
De’Zhaun Stribling hauls in 13-yard TD pass from Trinidad ChamblissTrinidad Chambliss finds De’Zhaun Stribling with the quick pass for an Ole Miss touchdown.
Sawyer Robertson connects for 18-yard TD passSawyer Robertson throws 18-yard touchdown pass vs. Utah
Michael Washington trucks a Texas defender en route to an Arkansas TDMichael Washington shrugs off a tackle to find the end zone for Arkansas vs. Texas.
Jacob Rodriguez comes up with the INT for Texas TechBear Bachmeier is picked off by Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders the ball back.
This list is based on film study, predraft events and conversations I’ve had with NFL scouts and evaluators during this draft cycle. I included my scouting reports for each prospect in the top 50, and my rankings by position are at the bottom. I also included my grade and a player comp for each of the top 50.
Saquon Barkley: ‘I’m a big fan’ of Jeremiyah Love
Saquon Barkley praises 2026 NFL draft prospect Jeremiyah Love.
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.
Delane starred at Virginia Tech for three seasons before transferring to LSU, where he 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 last 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.
Why draft stocks of Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane have risen
Thieneman is a productive, versatile safety with proven ball skills and eight career interceptions. After transferring from Purdue, Thieneman shined as the quarterback of Oregon’s secondary and proved his tools in deep coverage and playing in the box. A true free safety with 4.35 speed, Thieneman could be a top-20 pick thanks to his high football IQ and NFL readiness after three seasons as a college starter. Teams looking for a versatile, playmaking safety will love his tape.
When Caleb Lomu arrived at Utah, Fano flipped from left tackle to right tackle and 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 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.
Freeling’s movement skills, agility and quickness were easy to see in his one season as a starter and carried over to his combine workout. Freeling posted an impressive 4.93 40-yard dash at 315 pounds, and his tape against elite SEC pass rushers matched what we saw in Indianapolis. A true left tackle, his pass protection upside is very high and points to a future as a rock-solid starter.
A 54-game starter at right tackle, Miller comes to the NFL battle-tested and with 34-inch arms that show up throughout his tape. He steadily improved throughout his four seasons at Clemson, allowing only two sacks and nine pressures last season. With high-end quickness and lateral movement ability, Miller fits in zone schemes and has the recovery agility to make up for missed punches in pass protection. He profiles as a high-floor starting right tackle.
A pass rusher eraser, Lomu did not allow a sack in 12 starts last 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.
The SEC leader in sacks last season (11.5), Howell has risen from a Day 3 prospect with a great motor and limited upside to a potential starter for 3-4 defenses. His size won’t endear him to every team, but his explosive bend around the edge plays well in a stand-up role where his natural leverage and speed can win. Shorter arms (30¼ inches) and a smaller frame might lead to a later draft-day result, but Howell can flat-out play.
Mesidor is a productive, smart edge rusher with the fast-rush tools and pro-ready moves to make an instant impact. He’s an older prospect (25 years old) and has less-than-ideal measurables, but his finesse rush moves are well developed, and he produced 58 pressures with 12.5 sacks in a breakout 2025 season. While he might be best suited in a stand-up pass rusher role, Mesidor’s pursuit skills and motor would be perfect in a 3-4 defense.
Parker reemerged after a three-sack performance in the season finale against South Carolina, but his stock tailed off after he registered 11 sacks in 2024. He seemed primed for a top-10 ranking then, and though that hasn’t held up, he still flashes high-end potential and traits. Parker has the power and heavy hands to be an effective 4-3 defensive end and can consistently beat double-teams to set the edge in run defense.
Young was productive in two seasons at Missouri after transferring from Michigan State. He’s a powerful, edge-setting presence who had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season while alternating between the left and right edge spots. He’s a long, powerful 4-3 prototype with 33-inch arms 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.
Cisse profiles as a man coverage cornerback, with the size and speed to cover the boundary. He had only one interception last season after transferring from NC State but allowed only 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 last 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.
No matter where he has played (he started at NC State before transferring), Concepcion has produced. He had 185 catches for 2,218 yards and 25 touchdowns in three seasons and is a dangerous punt returner (two touchdowns last season). His size will typecast him as a slot receiver, but Concepcion has Tank Dell qualities, such as elite quickness and top-end burst. He could be a big contributor immediately in an offense that values yards after the catch on underneath routes.
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 125 catches for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns combined over the past two seasons. But Boston’s concentration and hand strength might be his most impressive traits, as he had only three drops on 198 targets since 2024.