2026 NFL draft: Early look at top prospects at each position

In the 14 years I've covered the NFL draft, one statement from a general manager has stuck with me: "Smart teams scout ahead."

The 2025 NFL draft might be more than three months away, but that doesn't mean teams aren't already preparing for the 2026 draft. The best front offices prepare for future classes to inform their decisions on the upcoming one. Teams knew the 2025 draft class was weak at quarterback, so they loaded up in 2024 by selecting six signal-callers in the first 12 picks.

Lack of quarterback star power shouldn't be an issue in 2026. But don't bank on Texas' Arch Manning definitely being in this class. The nephew of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning is talented, but he might start two seasons in college before entering the NFL, which would put Arch in the 2027 draft class. The expanded College Football Playoff has also altered the entry deadline. While most players had to declare by the standard Jan. 15 deadline for the 2025 class, players in the CFP National Championship game have until Jan. 24 to make a decision. So the 2026 class could still change as a result.

Who are the top names to know for next year? Let's dive in and take a first look at the class of 2026.

Quarterbacks

Drew Allar, Penn State

Allar would have been a QB1 candidate had he decided to enter the 2025 draft. At 6-foot-5, 238 pounds, he has a build which scouts have compared to Bills quarterback Josh Allen and brings big-time arm talent. He's entering his third season as a starter for Penn State after completing 66.5% of his passes in 2024 for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His QBR of 78.1 ranked 15th in the FBS.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Klubnik showed his NFL potential in Clemson's first-round loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns. That capped a season in which he passed for 3,636 yards, 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions with a QBR of 78.7 (11th in the FBS). The 6-2, 210-pound Klubnik doesn't have the biggest arm, but he is accurate and savvy moving in and out of the pocket.

Sleeper: Carson Beck, Miami

Running backs

Makhi Hughes, Oregon

Hughes dominated in two seasons at Tulane, compiling a combined 2,779 yards and 22 touchdowns. The 5-11, 210-pounder ran for 1,401 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 and will get a chance to star on a bigger stage at Oregon. Hughes' production and excellent pop and power make him an RB1 candidate in 2026.

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Love provided big-play pop for the Fighting Irish as a sophomore, rushing for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on only 148 carries (7.3 YPC). He's a powerful runner at 6-foot, 206 pounds but also has the long speed to run away from defenses -- check out his 98-yard touchdown against Indiana in the first round of the playoffs. Love's combination of size and speed reminds me of Packers running back Josh Jacobs.

Jaydn Ott, California

Ott was considered one of the top backs in the 2025 draft, but a lingering ankle injury limited him to 385 yards this past season after he rushed for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. When healthy, the 6-foot, 210-pound Ott is the total package, as he is an NFL-caliber receiver out of the backfield. He'll be a top-100 pick if he can stay healthy and produce in 2025.

Sleeper: Quintrevion Wisner, Texas

Wide receivers

Nyck Harbor, South Carolina

Harbor's potential is off the charts; he is built like Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf and has rare skills for a 6-5, 235-pound player. Harbor has been more upside than production thus far, but he has a chance to significantly improve upon his 2024 production (26 catches, 376 yards, 3 touchdowns) and shoot up draft boards.

Evan Stewart, Oregon

Stewart was considered a top-50 prospect in the 2025 draft, but he decided to return to Oregon. The former five-star recruit is a speedster at 6-foot, 175 pounds and was productive in 2024, with 48 receptions for 613 yards and five touchdowns. He has a knack for spectacular catches and has a chance to thrive as the Ducks' No. 1 receiver.

Antonio Williams, Clemson

Williams is my No. 1 returning receiver, possessing a blend of legitimate WR1 tools and production (75 catches, 904 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024). Even though he's only 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Williams' ability to track the ball helps him play bigger, and he has sprinter-type speed that allows him to create yards after the catch.

Sleeper: Duce Robinson, Florida State

Tight ends

Oscar Delp, Georgia

Delp's stats this season won't blow you away (21 catches, 248 yards, 4 touchdowns), but Georgia's offense isn't catered toward tight ends. Delp has everything an NFL team would want as far as size (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) and movement ability, and he can run, catch and block at a high level. He can play both in-line and in the slot.

Luke Hasz, Ole Miss

I've had my eye on Hasz since watching him in practice at Arkansas prior to his freshman season. He is moving to Ole Miss after catching 42 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the Razorbacks. He never had great quarterback play at Arkansas, so I'm excited to see what the 6-3, 241-pound Hasz can produce in Ole Miss' pass-happy scheme.

Brett Norfleet, Missouri

Norfleet never quite got going this past season, as he couldn't shake an early-season shoulder injury. But the 6-foot-7, 235-pound tight end is in position to move up draft boards as Missouri's top returning pass-catching threat. Norfleet was considered a Day 2 prospect for the 2025 draft but could now break out like Penn State's Tyler Warren did this past season.

Sleeper: Max Klare, Ohio State

Offensive tackles

Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Even though the 6-6, 315-pound Mauigoa plays right tackle at Miami, he has the skills to line up at either side in the NFL. He showed drastic improvement in 2024, not allowing a sack after giving up five the year before as a true freshman. He could be the top overall prospect in the 2026 draft if he continues to improve.

Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

At 6-7, 360 pounds, Proctor jumps out on tape. The left tackle possesses elite strength and good movement ability for his size, allowing him to mirror-and-match with smaller pass rushers and serve as a bulldozer in the run game. He's also improving, going from nine sacks allowed as a true freshman in 2023 to three this past season. Proctor's stock is on the rise.

Ethan Onianwa, Ohio State

Onianwa had a stellar three-year run at Rice before transferring to Ohio State, highlighted by a 2024 season in which he didn't allow a sack and only committed two penalties. Transitioning to the Big Ten will be a challenge for the 6-6, 345-pound Onianwa, but scouts are giddy about his potential. He would have been a likely Day 2 pick in the 2025 draft but could improve that position with the Buckeyes.

Sleeper: Caleb Lomu, Utah

Interior offensive line

Parker Brailsford, Alabama

Many scouts were surprised that Brailsford returned to Alabama, as his 2024 tape showed tremendous growth. At 6-2, 275 pounds, Brailsford is a center with awesome first-step quickness who plays with easy leverage and has better anchor strength than expected for his size. He would be a perfect fit for a zone-blocking team and is one of the FBS' best run blockers.

Cayden Green, Missouri

Missouri's line was loaded this past season, but Green stood out the most to me, even more than likely top-50 pick Armand Membou. The 6-5, 316-pound Green has good movement skills and all-around strength that pops on tape. There have been talks about him being moved to tackle; he has Round 1 ability there and at guard.

Connor Tollison, Missouri

Tollison would have been my top-ranked center had he entered the 2025 draft, but a late-season injury brought him back to Mizzou for another season. While he could stand to add weight and strength, the 6-4, 286-pound Tollison is one of the nation's best interior linemen. His movement traits make him great for a wide-zone-blocking scheme.

Sleeper: Roderick Kearney, Florida

Edge rushers

Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Bain burst onto the scene with 7.5 sacks as a freshman before falling to 3.5 during an injury-filled 2024 campaign in which he missed four games. But the 6-3, 275-pounder has an incredibly high ceiling. He had 20 pressures despite the injuries, and his first-step quickness, length, burst and power make him a difference-making pass rusher.

T.J. Parker, Clemson

Parker will start the 2026 draft process as my No. 1 overall player after a breakout sophomore season. He had 11 sacks and six forced fumbles to anchor a talented Clemson defensive line and already has NFL-ready size at 6-3, 265 pounds.

Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Uiagalelei broke out in 2024, as his 10.5 sacks put him on NFL scouts' radar. He has pro size at 6-5 and 270 pounds and lines up as a true 4-3 defensive end for Oregon, which is where he would fit in the NFL. He is the total package as far as strength, speed and production.

Sleeper: Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Defensive tackles

Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State

At 6-5, 330 pounds, Jackson has the dimensions of a space-eating defensive tackle and the agility and movement skills of a smaller defensive end. He had 3.5 sacks in 2024 and would have had a top-100 grade from NFL scouts if he had entered the upcoming draft, but a breakout season in 2025 could make his draft stock rise even more.

LT Overton, Alabama

Overton might have been a first-rounder in the 2025 draft had he declared, but he could cement himself as a Round 1 pick in 2026. At 6-5, 283 pounds, Overton has a potent combination of size and speed that scouts love, as he can play defensive tackle and defensive end. He had two sacks this past season in a heavy rotation and will start the 2026 draft process with a first-round grade.

Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods reminds me a lot of former Clemson defensive tackle and current Raiders standout Christian Wilkins. The 6-3, 315-pound Woods is an ideal 3-technique in the NFL and has Round 1 potential. He had three sacks and 17 hurries as a sophomore this past season despite missing three games due to injury.

Sleeper: Lee Hunter, UCF

Linebackers

Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Hill did it all this past season, with 15.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks and 1 interception. He can spy mobile quarterbacks, drop into zone coverage or rush passers off the edge and in the blitz. Off-ball linebackers aren't usually given top-10 grades, but the 6-3, 235-pound Hill could be an exception.

Harold Perkins Jr., LSU

Perkins was projected to be a first-rounder in the 2025 draft but had his season cut short by a right knee injury in late September. That, plus some regression in his draft stock, have him back at LSU. Perkins can play all three downs, with 13 career sacks and two interceptions. At 6-1, 225 pounds, there's debate on where Perkins fits in the NFL, but he's an elite playmaker.

Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss

Ole Miss' defense was loaded in 2024, with three players in my top 40 of the 2025 draft, but Perkins often stood out as the best of the group. He can rush off the edge (10.5 sacks), drop into coverage (one interception) and make tackles in space. At 6-1, 210 pounds, Perkins is undersized and might need to transition to safety in the NFL, but his talent is undeniable.

Sleeper: Aiden Fisher, Indiana

Cornerbacks

Tacario Davis, Washington

Davis had Round 1 hype in the 2025 class after breaking up 14 passes for Arizona in 2023. Things were quieter in 2024, but he moves on to Washington and reunites with Jedd Fisch, his former coach at Arizona. Davis has ideal NFL size at 6-4, 190 pounds and very good closing speed. If he can make more plays on the ball (only one career interception), he could be CB1.

Josh Moten, Marshall

Moten broke out with five interceptions last season, his second productive campaign after transferring from Texas A&M. His slight build (6-1, 165 pounds) is a bit of concern, but Moten has shown great ball skills along with being silky smooth in transitions and possessing speed to carry receivers down the field. A bit more weight could have him ranked high on the corner board.

Malik Muhammad, Texas

Muhammad has started since arriving at Texas and has scouts buzzing about his development potential. He didn't have an interception this past season, but he broke up 11 passes. He must work on defending deep balls (allowed six passes of more than 20 yards), but his movement ability coupled with great size and length (6-foot, 190 pounds) make Muhammad a Round 1 candidate.

Sleeper: DJ Harvey, San Jose State

Safeties

Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Downs could be the best returning player at any position entering the 2025 season. He was a unanimous All-America selection this past season after transferring from Alabama, picking off one pass while adding 61 tackles. He is an eraser in coverage and has the size (6-foot, 205 pounds) to eliminate receivers and tight ends over the middle.

Keon Sabb, Alabama

Sabb made an impact this past season after transferring from Michigan before suffering a season-ending injury in October. The 6-1, 206-pound Sabb has four interceptions in two college seasons and is the size of a prototypical NFL safety. He has top-50 potential.

Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Thieneman is an impact safety who had six interceptions as a freshman at Purdue in 2023. Quarterbacks stayed away from him this past season, but the 6-foot, 207-pound Thieneman registered 104 tackles for the Boilermakers before transferring to Oregon. While Downs seems set as the top safety in the class, Thieneman's tape projects him as a solid Round 1 option.

Sleeper: Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech