Texas Tech edge David Bailey was a consensus All-American with 19.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Christian Petersen / Getty Images
Feb. 18, 2026Updated 12:34 pm EST
As the NFL descends on Indianapolis for its annual scouting combine, the 2026 draft class continues to come into focus.
Our consensus NFL Draft board combines rankings from a wide range of experts to identify how the top prospects are viewed relative to the rest of the class. In theory, by the time we reach draft weekend, these rankings should help give us a handle on how the picks could (or, at least, should) play out.
The updated consensus top 100:
(Note: Our previous consensus board included 50 prospects, hence the large number of players without a previous ranking on our new board.)
NFL Draft consensus board (Feb. 18)
RKPlayerPosSchoolPrev RkChange
1
Fernando Mendoza
QB
2
+1
2
Arvell Reese
LB
1
-1
3
Jeremiyah Love
RB
4
+1
4
Caleb Downs
S
3
-1
5
David Bailey
EDGE
5
0
6
Rueben Bain Jr.
EDGE
7
+1
7
Sonny Styles
LB
10
+3
8
Carnell Tate
WR
9
+1
9
Francis Mauigoa
OT
11
+2
10
Spencer Fano
OT
8
-2
11
Jordyn Tyson
WR
6
-5
12
Mansoor Delane
CB
16
+4
13
Makai Lemon
WR
15
+2
14
Keldric Faulk
EDGE
12
-2
15
Jermod McCoy
CB
14
-1
16
Kenyon Sadiq
TE
17
+1
17
Peter Woods
DT
13
-4
18
Avieon Terrell
CB
18
0
19
Kadyn Proctor
OT
25
+6
20
Denzel Boston
WR
20
0
21
Cashius Howell
EDGE
22
+1
22
Caleb Banks
DT
23
+1
23
Vega Ioane
IOL
21
-2
24
Kayden McDonald
DT
19
-5
25
Caleb Lomu
OT
24
-1
26
Akheem Mesidor
EDGE
33
+7
27
Ty Simpson
QB
26
-1
28
CJ Allen
LB
29
+1
29
Monroe Freeling
OT
30
+1
30
KC Concepcion
WR
27
-3
31
T.J. Parker
EDGE
32
+1
32
Brandon Cisse
CB
28
-4
33
Dillon Thieneman
S
41
+8
34
Colton Hood
CB
31
-3
35
R Mason Thomas
EDGE
38
+3
36
Lee Hunter
DT
47
+11
37
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S
42
+5
38
Christen Miller
DT
34
-4
39
Zion Young
EDGE
NR
NR
40
Chris Johnson
CB
39
-1
41
Chris Bell
WR
35
-6
42
Omar Cooper Jr.
WR
NR
NR
43
Anthony Hill Jr.
LB
43
0
44
Jake Golday
LB
37
-7
45
Emmanuel Pregnon
IOL
36
-9
46
Max Iheanachor
OT
NR
NR
47
Germie Bernard
WR
40
-7
48
Blake Miller
OT
NR
NR
49
Eli Stowers
TE
NR
NR
50
Max Klare
TE
NR
NR
51
Keionte Scott
CB
NR
NR
52
D’Angelo Ponds
CB
NR
NR
53
Caleb Tiernan
OT
45
-8
54
Chris Brazzell II
WR
NR
NR
55
A.J. Haulcy
S
NR
NR
56
Zachariah Branch
WR
44
-12
57
Keith Abney II
CB
46
-11
58
Derrick Moore
EDGE
NR
NR
59
Gabe Jacas
EDGE
50
-9
60
Jadarian Price
RB
NR
NR
61
Chase Bisontis
IOL
49
-12
62
Davison Igbinosun
CB
NR
NR
63
Gennings Dunker
OT
NR
NR
64
Elijah Sarratt
WR
48
-16
65
LT Overton
EDGE
NR
NR
66
Connor Lew
C
NR
NR
67
Antonio Williams
CB
NR
NR
68
Romello Height
EDGE
NR
NR
69
Josiah Trotter
LB
NR
NR
70
Malachi Fields
WR
NR
NR
71
Dani Dennis-Sutton
EDGE
NR
NR
72
Darrell Jackson Jr.
DT
NR
NR
73
Kyle Louis
LB
NR
NR
74
Devin Moore
CB
NR
NR
75
Domonique Orange
DT
NR
NR
76
Deontae Lawson
LB
NR
NR
77
Jake Slaughter
IOL
NR
NR
78
Trinidad Chambliss
QB
NR
NR
79
Kamari Ramsey
S
NR
NR
80
Zakee Wheatley
S
NR
NR
81
Joshua Josephs
EDGE
NR
NR
82
Jacob Rodriguez
LB
NR
NR
83
Ja’Kobi Lane
WR
NR
NR
84
Julian Neal
CB
NR
NR
85
Carson Beck
QB
NR
NR
86
Joe Royer
TE
NR
NR
87
Keyron Crawford
EDGE
NR
NR
88
Ar’maj Reed-Adams
IOL
NR
NR
89
Dontay Corleone
DT
NR
NR
90
Garrett Nussmeier
QB
NR
NR
91
Chandler Rivers
CB
NR
NR
92
Malik Muhammad
CB
NR
NR
93
Michael Trigg
TE
NR
NR
94
Isaiah World
OT
NR
NR
95
Nicholas Singleton
RB
NR
NR
96
Ted Hurst
WR
NR
NR
97
Sam Hecht
IOL
NR
NR
98
Billy Schrauth
IOL
NR
NR
99
Gracen Halton
DT
NR
NR
100
Genesis Smith
S
NR
NR
Fernando Mendoza is almost a lock to be the first offensive player taken in the ’26 draft, but what about the first defensive pick?
Mendoza has taken over the top spot from Arvell Reese on the consensus board, but I’m not confident Reese will be the first defensive player selected. Though the Ohio State standout could be an edge rusher in the NFL, some have him slotted as an off-ball linebacker — and that’s why he may slip behind some of his defensive counterparts. Some teams simply won’t want to invest a high draft pick on a player who may play off the ball.
So, who is likeliest to jump Reese? I’m actually going to skip past the next defensive player on the consensus board, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, and land on David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr. Those two are squarely penciled in as edge rushers, which would make it easier for a front office to pull the trigger.
Reese and Downs may be the better prospects, but it’s hard not to factor in positional value when comparing them to Bailey or Bain.
Feb 18, 2026
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