Matt BowenApr 13, 2026, 06:15 AM ETCloseMatt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on “NFL Matchup.” After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.Follow on XMultiple Authors
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Best short-area burst: Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
Best rushing vision/instincts: Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Best ball security as ball carrier: Jonah Coleman, Washington
Best pass-protecting back: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Fastest pass catcher: Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Most explosive pass catcher: Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Most elusive pass catcher: Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Best receiving instincts: Antonio Williams, Clemson
Best body control/ball tracking: Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Best ball security as pass catcher: Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Best in-line blocking tight end: Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M
Best at opening running lanes: Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Most explosive pass rusher: Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Most rangy on second level: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Fastest closing speed to ball carrier: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Most instinctive at second level: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Best pedal transition: Chris Johnson, San Diego State
Best backfield vision: Keith Abney II, Arizona State
Most urgency in coverage: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Best safety in run support: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Of course, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the QB1 and likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. But does he have the strongest arm in the class? Best pocket mobility?
To answer those questions, I put together my annual list of the best at everything — the skill superlatives of this year’s draft class. I have 100 different categories across all positions, picking out where certain prospects separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Which running back is fastest? Which wide receiver has the best hands? Which edge rusher has the quickest first step?
Mendoza’s 7.1% off-target rate was the third lowest in the nation last season. He can deliver a runner’s ball from the pocket on in-breakers and crossers at a consistent clip.
At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, Allar is a fastball thrower who can drive the ball to every level of the field. He has the physical tools NFL teams seek at the position.
Mendoza doesn’t have elite arm strength, but he executes deep throws with timing and location. On attempts of 20 or more air yards in 2025, he completed 53.8% (fourth highest in the nation) and threw 11 touchdowns.
Mendoza plays in rhythm as a passer, throwing with pace and touch to layer the ball into openings at the second level. Plus, he can target the back shoulder on fade routes.
When the pocket is firm, Simpson plays with pro-ready mechanics, syncing his footwork and upper body together. And there are a lot of NFL-type throws on his tape.
Nussmeier maintains positive eye level in the pocket, shuffling to reset his throwing window when the walls start to close in. He took only 15 sacks in 2025.
Nussmeier can alter his arm angles, and he gets the ball out with speed. He’s a high-RPM thrower with an aggressive mentality. His 2.58-second average time to throw was in the top 25 nationally last season.
Check out some of the top highlights from LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.
Compared with the rest of the QB prospects, Mendoza plays with accelerated vision from the pocket. He can quickly read the post-snap coverage rotations to find favorable matchups and open windows. Mendoza led the nation in 2025 with 41 touchdown passes.
On pocket attempts of 10-20 air yards, Simpson passed for 1,143 yards. That’s the highest in this draft class. Simpson finds the windows on dig routes, seams, curls and corners — all NFL concepts.
Mendoza threw only six interceptions last season, and his decision-making improves in critical field position. He had an FBS-high 27 red zone touchdown passes in 2025, and he didn’t throw a pick inside the 20-yard line over the past two seasons.
Beck completed 73.2% of his throws from inside the pocket in 2025 (sixth best in the nation). He works through his progressions at a consistent rate, finding and often delivering to his backside read.
Pavia has the second-reaction ability to create off-schedule, and he will use his legs to extend plays as a passer. He completed 64.6% of his throws outside of the pocket in 2025, the best in this draft class.
King rushed for 951 yards and 15 touchdowns last season; he had 36 rushing scores over three seasons at Georgia Tech. With 4.46 speed, King can get loose on the perimeter or in the open field. On designed carries, he shows great vision and toughness.
Green, who tied Jeremiyah Love with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time at the combine, is a long strider who can create conflict for opposing defenses when he breaks containment. Green had 464 yards on scramble attempts last season.
King played through injuries at Georgia Tech, and his ability to run between the tackles — in low red zone situations — jumps out here.
Washington ran a 4.33 in the 40 at the combine — at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds. He has the straight-line speed to rip off explosive plays, with 13 rushes of 20 or more yards last season (10th most in FBS).
With his 4.36 speed, Love just needs a crease to break off a big run, and he will erase pursuit angles on the perimeter. Love rushed for 18 touchdowns last season, the third most in the nation.
Claiborne ran a 4.37 at the combine, and he shows the second-level burst to jet past linebackers. He rushed for 21 touchdowns over the past two seasons.
At 6-foot-3, 232 pounds, Randall switched from receiver to running back before the 2025 season. He can generate power in his pads when he gets on a north-south track and find the end zone on goal-line carries. There’s a lot of upside here given his limited experience at running back.
Taylor forced 70 total missed tackles last season (tied for 12th most in the FBS), using both his pad level and lower-body balance to shed tackles at multiple levels of the field.
Love has the stop-start ability to shake defenders, plus he is a rapid accelerator with the ball. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season, which tops the draft class.
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Saquon Barkley praises 2026 NFL draft prospect Jeremiyah Love.
Price combines his high-level vision with lateral quickness to dart through slices of daylight. He has a natural feel as a creator. In 2025, Price had 11 rushing touchdowns and 24 rushes of 10 or more yards.
Coleman had 552 carries during four college seasons with Washington and Arizona, and he fumbled only three times.
Love had 55 receptions and five touchdowns over his past two seasons, and his route tree will expand as a pro. Love should be viewed as a playmaker in the league, similar to Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson.
Love’s pass-blocking ability adds to his three-down profile in the NFL. He had 109 pass-blocking reps over the past two seasons, allowing only one pressure.
A glider with separation ability at multiple levels of the field, Tate is well-versed in manipulating man coverage in the route stem. He caught 51 passes for nine touchdowns last season.
Thompson ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time in this class. He’s a vertical blazer who averaged 18.5 yards per catch last season.
Cooper is an explosive, powerful strider who will run through open-field tackle attempts. He can play inside or on the perimeter, averaging 7.3 yards after the catch last season.
Concepcion is a dynamic mover, and that shows up on the tape versus press and at the top of the route. He creates instant separation and leverage to the ball. Concepcion averaged 70.7 receiving yards per game in 2025.
Branch forced 28 missed tackles last season, the fifth most of any receiver in the country. He can scoot, using his 4.35 speed and lateral cutting ability to get free in the open field.
The slot receiver brought in 70 receptions in 2025, and he didn’t have a drop. Beatty has special teams upside as a returner, too.