Mel Kiper Jr.Apr 21, 2026, 06:00 AM 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 XMultiple Authors
play0:49Caleb Downs’ NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
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Jadarian Price’s NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price.
KC Concepcion’s NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion.
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It’s time to head to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL draft. Round 1 begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App. Before we get to all the exciting picks, wild trades and overall chaos, I’m updating my Big Board one last time.
My usual disclaimer still stands: This is not a mock draft or a prediction of where players will be drafted Thursday. These are my personal rankings focusing on talent — the best players based on what I’m seeing and my own evaluations. OK, let’s get to it.
2025 stats over 16 games: 72.0% completion rate, 3,535 passing yards, 41 TD passes, 6 INTs, 7 rushing TDs
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 in the 2025 season). Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his 4.36 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.
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 4.46 speed, and his burst allows him to spy the QB. His explosion popped at the combine, with a 43½-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. Styles is also a dependable tackler and closes in a flash. He really took the next step last season, even as he adapted to a new system under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
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
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.
Caleb Downs’ NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
Check out some of the top highlights from Ohio State’s Caleb Downs.
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 last season, but he still posted solid numbers.
Here’s a true mauler. Mauigoa is fun to watch for the way he just destroys pass rushers at the point of attack. He had more than 2,700 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 allowed two sacks and blew only 13 run blocks since the start of the 2024 season.
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 did a great job of keeping his big frame between the pass rusher and his QB. He is technically sound, ran 4.91 in the 40-yard dash and shows good punch to compensate for his lack of ideal arm length. But with 32⅛-inch arms, I think he could kick inside in the pros.
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 third in the nation in receiving yards per game in 2025.
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.
Freeling is still developing — he started 18 games in college, and only five of those came before last season. But his year-over-year improvement stood out, especially in pass protection. He’s quick out of his stance (4.93 in the 40-yard dash), shows good hand placement and is alert when dealing with stunts. With long 34¾-inch arms, Freeling does a nice job taking away the inside move of edge rushers, too. He needs to work on his run blocking, though.
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 in 2025.
Mansoor Delane’s NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
Check out some of the top highlights from LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
2025 stats over 16 games: 70 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 71 pressures, 9 run stops, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT
His arms are much shorter than most scouts prefer at 30⅞ inches, and teams will have to be comfortable with that. But opponents have to account for him in their game plans, and he can keep them guessing even then with his inside-outside flexibility.
After two seasons at Purdue, including a six-INT campaign in 2023, Thieneman transferred to Oregon and made an immediate impact. He moves all over the defense, lining up as a deep safety, in the box, split wide and over the slot. Thieneman reads the QB well and can close in a hurry, though he needs to clean up his tackling. He’s a savvy player, and he can be a force against the run, too.
Miller has a ton of experience as a four-year starter (54 starts), and he was more consistent in 2025 than in past seasons. His game really grows on you. As a right tackle, he does a good job keeping his frame between the pass rusher and his QB, and he can handle spins and secondary pass-rush moves. Miller can also get downfield to make blocks in the run game.
Boston has developed into a nuanced route runner who uses his size and physicality to shield defenders from the football. His length and catch radius make life miserable for opposing cornerbacks. And the way Boston quickly finds openings in coverage jumps out on tape, helping him to 14.2 yards per catch on the 2025 season. He has Velcro-esque hands, allowing him to go high or low to haul in difficult receptions.
2025 stats over 13 games: 58 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 46 pressures, 16 run stops, 2 forced fumbles
The Michigan State transfer had two great seasons at Missouri, making an impact as a pass rusher and run defender. Young consistently seals off the edge. He’s powerful and plays with sustained intensity, with one of the best motors among the edge rushers in the class. I see strong hands, good eye discipline, burst and impressive lateral quickness on the tape, too. Young crashes down the line.
Zion Young’s NFL draft profileCheck out some of the top highlights from Missouri’s Zion Young.