With the NFL scouting combine in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a closer look at the top prospects for April’s 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s Yahoo Sports NFL Draft expert Charles McDonald’s big board of his top 50 prospects.
1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs has been arguably the best defensive back in college football since his freshman year at Alabama. He won’t be the first pick in the draft because safeties tend to slide on draft day, but he has all the skills and smarts to immediately be one of the better safeties in the league from Day 1 with real deal upside to be an elite, premier defensive player in the league.
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2. Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State
Like Downs, there isn’t anything Reese can’t do in terms of his assigned tasks within the functions of linebacker and defensive end play. He can hammer the run, spot drop, play match and rush the passer. He has sky-high potential in any defensive scheme. This is a ready-made franchise front-seven player who should flirt with Pro Bowl status as a rookie.
3. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Bain has been an all-star defender pairing a powerful frame with high-end athleticism to be an impactful player for one of the best defenses in the country. Bain has a shot to be the first edge rusher off the board, and for all concerns about his arm length, he’s already adjusted his game around that to focus on power and leverage on his way to the quarterback.
Charles McDonald’s top 50 2026 NFL Draft prospects include Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Miami’s Rueben Bain. (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)
4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Assuming the Raiders do what’s expected, they have a shot to get their hands on a real-deal franchise quarterback prospect. Mendoza has high-end arm talent and helped Indiana’s offense run at machine-like efficiency en route to the first national championship in Indiana’s football history.
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5. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles caught the eyes of the national public with an absurd performance at the combine, but he’s more than a workout warrior. Styles, the third Ohio State defender in this top five, has the range and power that teams need from off-ball linebacker prospects. Elite linebackers have become a bit of a dying breed in the NFL, but Styles has a rare enough skill set to get them back on track.
6. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Bailey might be the best pass rusher in the draft. He has a combination of get-off, bend, creativity and technical skills that should immediately allow him to be productive off the edge in the NFL. Bailey has some worrisome reps against the run, but he has enough flashes that it’s reasonable to believe he can be an average player in that regard in the NFL. His pass rush skills are enough to take him high.
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7. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling likely cemented his status as a top-10 pick after an incredible workout at the combine, but his rise to the start of the draft has been in play since Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season. Over the past year, Freeling might be the most improved player in college football, moving from a struggling starter to a stalwart starter on one of the most physically imposing offenses in the country. His upside is through the roof.
8. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Clemson’s offense struggled at times this past season, but it wasn’t due to its offensive line play. For the first time in his entire tenure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an offensive tackle prospect who is drawing the attention of NFL scouts in the first round of the draft. Miller has primarily played on the right side of the line, but he has the athleticism to cleanly make a move over to the left side if his future team wants that.
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9. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
This is pure planet theory stuff here but Banks has a combination of size, athleticism and smarts to grow into an impact NFL defender. He played in only three games this season, but his ability to be disruptive off the snap and affect offensive lines is already incredibly impressive. The tackling has a long way to go, but everything else is NFL-ready.
10. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The premier running back in this draft and in college football this past season, Love is expected to be one of the first offensive skill players drafted. His agility and home run ability have teams excited about what he could add to their offense. He’s not a bruising back, but he’s got the big play ability to be a positive asset outside of it.
11. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Lomu hasn’t gotten as much fame and praise as his teammate Spencer Fano, but he might have a more NFL-ready body and game than Fano. Lomu is a big, powerful explosive run blocker with a nasty mean streak. He has upside to continue improving as a pass blocker.
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12. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is the unquestioned consensus top tight end in this year’s class. He doesn’t have prototypical size for the position, but his athleticism will immediately make him a matchup nightmare for linebackers and slot defensive backs. Sadiq isn’t necessarily a road-grader in the run game, but he gives enough effort in that regard to at least be functional for the run game.
13. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Woods is athletic and perhaps more important he’s versatile, with the ability to be disruptive from multiple alignments. He didn’t have the dominant season many projected entering the season, but he still showed enough to keep teams intrigued that he might be able to live up to the sky-high potential that his athleticism gives him.
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14. Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Mauigoa is one of the most highly-touted offensive linemen in this year’s draft class, with an outrageous size at nearly 6-foot-6, 330 pounds. He may have to kick inside to guard in the NFL. He’s a little slow on the edge at times and doesn’t have the greatest technique, but he’s so strong and powerful that he can make up for it in other ways.
15. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson has struggled with injuries over the past season, but when he’s at his best he’s an explosive down-field threat with legit speed and contested catch ability. Tyson has the potential to be a real WR1 in the NFL with his ability to be a game-breaker at “X receiver.” He just needs to be healthy in the NFL.
LSU’s Mansoor Delane is in the running to be CB1 of this NFL Draft. (Photo by Michael DeMocker/Getty Images)
(Michael DeMocker via Getty Images)16. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Smooth coverage skills are the name of the game when it comes to Delane. He has legitimate man coverage ability and ball skills to immediately be a capable starter in the NFL. His entire makeup all plays well in the NFL and Delane has the tools to keep growing.
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17. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate isn’t a burner but he does just about everything else at a high level. His ability to run routes, win on contested catches and overall body control should, at worst, make him a high-end WR2 in the NFL. He instantly raises the floor of whatever passing game he’s in.
18. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fano is a highly-skilled technician at left tackle for Utah and should slide in as a capable blindside protector immediately for his new team. He’s not always the most forceful mover of people, but his baseline traits make for a quality starter right away.
19. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy missed the 2025 season with an ACL injury, but he’s got the skills to still be considered for first-round consideration. McCoy has nice deep speed and an ability to play the sideline that should get him drafted fairly early.
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20. Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn
Faulk is an enigma. He is arguably the best run-defending defensive lineman in the draft, but his pass rush skills leave a lot to be desired. Still, he’s young enough where that can be developed. At worst, he will be a high-floor run defender who puts his defense in advantageous positions.
21. Vegas Ioane, G, Penn State
Ioane is one of the few high-end interior offensive line prospects in this draft. Even though he struggles at times with consistency, there aren’t many players who project as a Day 1 starting NFL offensive lineman. That alone should get the physical, athletic guard locked in as a top-40 selection.
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22. T.J. Parker, Edge/DL, Clemson
Clemson, as it has done for many years, has multiple highly-touted defensive linemen in consideration for the early portions of the draft. The athletic, heavy-handed Parker joins defensive tackle Peter Woods in the top-25 of this big board. Parker might not have the super athletic traits to end up as a perennial 10-sack player in the NFL, but he has the chance to at least be a plus starter on quality defensive lines in the future. At 263 pounds, Parker’s frame gives him the option to either be a true defensive end in a four-man front or get a little heavier to be a flex player in more creative defenses.
23. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The only thing Allen might be missing is elite speed as far as his draft profile goes. Allen earned time as a true freshman on Georgia’s talented defense and was ascend to a leadership role quickly. His smarts, physicality and willingness to do the dirty work helped make him a star in Athens and should help him get into the starting lineup quickly in the NFL.
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24. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Like his older brother A.J., a star cornerback for the Falcons, Avieon Terrell has a chance to be a first-round pick and true starting cornerback in the league. He might not be the most athletic corner in this draft, but he has the movement skills that should translate in a big way at the next level. Terrell might not ever be a true lockdown cornerback in the NFL, but he has enough skills to be considered early in the draft.
25. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Another offensive lineman? No way! Iheanachor showed his skills in a great back-and-forth with Texas Tech star pass rusher David Bailey. Iheanachor, despite being a little lesser known, has a high floor and even higher upside as someone who started playing football in JUCO just a few years ago. Even though he’s a redshirt senior, he has loads of untapped potential as a relatively new football player.
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26. R Mason Thomas, DL/Edge, Oklahoma
Every defense could use a dirty work edge defender and Thomas fits that bill easily. He doesn’t necessarily excel in every single task, but he is at least competent as an all-around player and shows real flashes of brilliance throughout his film. He was a big reason why the Sooners’ defensive line was one of the most feared in the country and should be a high-end rotation player at worst in the NFL.
27. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
It’s fairly surprising Ohio State exited the playoffs so quickly with as many Buckeyes that have appeared on this list. McDonald is another Ohio State defender who should hear his name called fairly early in April’s draft. McDonald is a classic nose tackle who can really clog up holes on the interior and help put his defense in advantageous spots by hunkering down and winning the early down plays. There’s some pass rush upside here, but the main thing is the main thing — stopping the damn run.
28. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
LSU had a bit of a strange season and that extends to its quarterback who was once projected to go at the top of the draft. Injuries thwarted what could have been a strong campaign for Nussmeier as a senior and he had some poor performances as a result. However, he reminded people that he has some physical skills and upside to tap into during a very strong performance at the Senior Bowl. It’s doubtful he ends up in the first round of the draft at this point, but he still may end up being a quality starter if he ends up in the right spot.
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29. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
Scott is an older prospect, who will be 25 at the start of his rookie year. He has the playmaking ability to immediately be a weapon in the secondary. Scott really made his presence felt during the Hurricanes’ run through the playoffs en route to the national championship. As an older slot defender, maybe this is a bit high for him, but the ability to win in multiple ways and get his hands on the ball as an aggressor in the secondary will be key for Scott as he enters the pros.
30. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Washington is putting yet another wide receiver into the NFL. Boston is a big, physical wide receiver who knows how to beat tougher zone coverages and excels at making himself an easy target for his quarterback. Boston hasn’t run the 40-yard dash yet, but if he can produce a fast time at Washington’s pro day, he might be able to solidify himself as a first-round pick.
31. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The second Volunteers corner on this list has some of the same similarities as teammate Jermod McCoy. Hood has some solid ball skills and ability to play man-on-man coverage that will boost his draft stock as April nears. Hood had an impressive combine workout, running a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash and jumping over 40 inches on the vertical leap.
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32. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Texas A&M had a smashmouth offense this past season that led it to a College Football Playoff berth, but the Aggies still threw the ball just enough to get Concepcion into first-round status. The former NC State standout slid right in to be one of the best wide receivers in the SEC and a consistent source of production through the air (as long as the quarterback play gave him a chance).
Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award, given to the most versatile player for his skills as a wideout and punt returner. (Photo by Joe Buvid/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
(Joe Buvid/ISI Photos via Getty Images)33. Zion Young, DL/Edge, Missouri
Young is a fun prospect to watch. He’s not the most explosive or bendiest pass rusher in the world, but he has a rugged approach to the game that should endear himself to teams looking for high-end depth on the edge of their defense. Young excels at stuffing the run and appears to have upside as a pass rusher.
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34. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Hill is like the opposite of CJ Allen. He has the speed, size and physicality that teams desperately want in the middle of their defense, but his attention to detail in terms of where he was supposed to be wasn’t always his strongest suit. He was banged up a bit during his final season with the Longhorns, but in a class that lacks defined star power at many positions, Hill may end up a beneficiary of teams taking a bet on his athletic upside.
35. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt was on the national stage this season and it might have a highly drafted prospect in Stowers this year. He is one of the most athletic pass catchers in this draft class. Stowers set a record for TEs with a 45.5-inch vertical leap at the combine and he continued his strong workout with a 4.51 40-yard dash. The athleticism transfers to the field as well, giving proof of concept that he’s not just a workout warrior.
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36. Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
Miller is not the most dynamic defensive lineman Georgia has had during the Kirby Smart era, but he’s a steady player who should be a quality piece on the interior in the NFL. He runs hot and cold, but his best tape is good enough to land him on this top 50 in what is perceived to be a weaker class.
37. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon will likely end up getting drafted way higher than this ranking when it’s all said and done — and there’s a lot to like. Lemon is a skilled receiver who was productive in Lincoln Riley’s offense for the Trojans, but his small frame gets him knocked down the big board a bit because he lacks prototypical size for the position.
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38. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Toledo is putting a big, physical safety in the league this year with the turbo-sized McNeil-Warren who projects as a starting, prototypical “strong” safety who plays in the box and delivers punishing hits whenever possible. He might not be the rangiest player in coverage, but for what he will be asked to do in the NFL, he’s fairly good at.
39. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Thieneman made plays all over Oregon’s defense following his transfer to the Ducks from Minnesota. He has a chance to sneak into the late first round of the draft after a strong performance at the combine. While Thieneman played just about everywhere in terms of possible safety alignments for Oregon, his speed and ball skills might make him a serious asset as a top-down safety.
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40. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State
Another Penn State edge dominated the scouting combine — stop me if you’ve heard this before. Dennis-Sutton, a long-time contributor for the Nittany Lions’ defense over the years, cemented his status as at least a Day 2 pick by having an outrageous workout relative to his size. Dennis-Sutton had nearly a 40-inch vertical leap and was an inch away from 11 feet on the broad jump. He cemented himself as one of the most explosive players in this draft class and has a solid all-around game to give him credence beyond the athletic results.
41. Connor Lew, G, Auburn
Lew was a tough player for Auburn’s offense and he has a chance to be a high-floor interior starter on an NFL team that needs offensive line help. Lew unfortunately tore his ACL in October, but he did put up enough solid tape beforehand to possibly end up as a Day 2 pick in April.
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42. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Like most players who worked out at the scouting combine, Cisse helped himself by having some incredibly explosive jumps that match the tape of a feisty, athletic cornerback who should be able to step in and play in a variety of schemes. He fell underneath the radar playing for an underachieving Gamecocks team, but he has a chance to flourish in the NFL.
43. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
Howell is a bit more of an idea than a solidified edge prospect who should be starting early in his NFL career. He was fast at the scouting combine, but had some poor scores in the jumps that highlight a concern with him as a player: the ability to be stout and explosive at the point of attack, and not sacrifice the integrity of the defense. This is a player who feels like the ultimate boom-bust defensive lineman in this year’s class.
Georgia wideout Zachariah Branch had a solid workout at the scouting combine earlier this month. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
(Cooper Neill via Getty Images)44. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Branch set the Bulldogs record for receptions in a year during his lone season at Georgia, showing off the elite athleticism and agility that made him such an exciting player at USC prior to joining UGA. Branch is not the biggest wide receiver out there who will win at the catch point, but it’s going to be difficult to find many players in this class who are more dynamic than Branch once he gets the ball in his hand.
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45. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
Pregnon is not the flashiest guard out there, but he gets the job done. The former Wyoming and USC transfer was a mainstay in Oregon’s offense last season and should be a capable starter at the next level. He has some leverage issues to fix, but a potential starting guard is going to get drafted highly in this class. He’s probably going to be best in a gap scheme that utilizes his ability to be explosive in short areas.
46. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
Mesidor was the “other” edge rusher for Miami, racking up 12 sacks on one of the toughest defenses in college football. Mesidor can be a bit streaky in terms of down-to-down play and doesn’t always operate within the structure of the defense, but he still has a chance to be a strong piece of a pass rush rotation in the NFL, which are always hard players to find.
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47. Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
Here’s another player who played a huge role in Oklahoma’s defensive resurgence under head coach Brent Venables. Halton is not the biggest interior player out there, but he makes up for being a 290ish-pound defensive tackle with strong technique and considerable athleticism to get up the field and wreak havoc for offenses. Depending on what weight he plays at in the NFL, he may be just a high-octane rotational piece, but that’s valuable by itself.
48. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
While Fernando Mendoza got a ton of praise for Indiana’s offense (rightfully so), he wasn’t exactly throwing to nobodies out there. Cooper had an incredible season for the Hoosiers and should set a fairly high floor as an NFL slot receiver. He should continue to fit into that role in the NFL and he did just enough as an outside wide receiver when he got his reps there to add some flexibility to his game in the NFL.
49. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
Indiana’s defense had some incredible moments of high-end play throughout its run to the national title, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Ponds. He is on the smaller end at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, but his 43.5-inch vertical jump shows that he should have the athleticism to make up for it in tough situations in the NFL. He’s going to be a slot-only player, but those guys tend to be more important in real, live football reps relative to how much they get paid or where they get drafted.
50. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Like his teammate Omar Cooper Jr., Sarratt had a very consistent season and launched himself into consideration for being drafted within the top couple rounds. Sarratt is a smooth, big-bodied receiver who immediately built strong chemistry with Fernando Mendoza and can potentially profile as a dirty work, starting WR2 in a good NFL offense.