Although it may be onerous to mission how NFL draft prospects will fare within the professionals, we will get a greater sense of their future by making one-to-one comparisons. So we requested a lot of our NFL draft analysts and faculty soccer consultants to choose their favourite prospect-to-player comparisons for the 2026 class.
Their comps had been made based mostly on model of play, bodily measurements, manufacturing and flexibility — or some mixture of all these traits. And we opened up the likelihood for former NFL gamers to be chosen.
Who does Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza remind us of? Which NFL professionals are good matches for star defenders reminiscent of Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.? Let’s get into our 15 favourite prospect-to-pro comps for this draft class.
Many of the edge rusher prospects are 265 kilos (T.J. Parker and Rueben Bain Jr.) or much less, however Faulk is 6-foot-6 and 276 kilos. The Auburn product’s capability to play each inside and out of doors makes him just like the 287-pound Jordan, who has performed defensive finish in each 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. — Aaron Schatz, NFL analyst
Fano’s athleticism jumps out and may be harnessed whether or not he stays at deal with or begins off inside. The Utah lineman had virtually similar mix measurements to Cross, though his arms are shorter, which could result in a transfer to protect. Each Cross and Fano excel with their footwork and transfer fluidly to achieve leverage on defenders. — Adam Rittenberg, faculty soccer reporter
Tyson (Arizona State) makes use of his quickness to separate and has the velocity and YAC capability to be an uncoverable receiver towards man protection. Like Jeudy, he may be too complicated in his releases and wrestle with physicality by the route. However a wholesome Tyson may be each a big-play risk and high-volume receiver within the league. — Ben Solak, NFL analyst
Cooper had a breakout season for Indiana in 2025, hauling in 13 receiving touchdowns. Over 50% of his receiving yards in 2025 had been yards the catch, the world of his recreation that finest mirrors Rice’s talent set. Cooper does a wonderful job of organising blocks. He is affected person, has good imaginative and prescient and exhibits the general contact steadiness to chew up yards. — Discipline Yates, NFL draft analyst
That is by the prism of Parsons as a prospect in 2021. At 6-foot-3 and 246 kilos, Parsons ran a 4.36-second 40 at his professional day; he flashed elite pass-rush abilities (6.5 profession sacks at Penn State) and physicality to be impactful off the ball. At 6-foot-4, 241 kilos, Reese ran a 4.46 on the mix; he has additionally flashed an elite end within the go rush (seven profession sacks) and play recognition off the ball. Like Parsons, some groups may give each parts an extended search for Reese, however the Ohio State defender will not be 21 till August, and the probabilities are intriguing. Reese may be the perfect pure prospect within the class. — Jeff Legwold, Broncos reporter
Sorry, I could not choose only one — I’ve a second comp right here. At 6-foot-7, 315 kilos, Freeling has an identical construct to Jones, who measured in at 6-foot-5, 313 kilos on the 2023 mix. In his one season as a full-time starter at Georgia, Freeling confirmed the size Jones had (every with 84-inch wingspans) and a sub-5.0 time within the 40. Freeling will not flip 22 till July, however his form of potential is coveted in a left deal with prospect. — Legwold
At 6-foot-6 and 329 kilos, Mauigoa has been the mannequin of consistency at proper deal with since stepping foot on Miami’s campus. He is nearly as good because it is available in each space, serving as a bodily run blocker on the level of assault and a gentle go protector who can shortly cancel out rushers. Just like Wright, Mauigoa faces questions on if he ought to transfer to protect. However I firmly imagine Mauigoa has the potential to be a high-level starter at proper deal with. — Jordan Reid, NFL draft analyst
Coleman adopted coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington, main the Huskies in speeding makes an attempt (156), speeding yards (758) and speeding touchdowns (15) in 2025. Compactly constructed at 5-foot-8 and 220 kilos, he’s a bodily runner with improbable cut-back capability and substantial quickness. Although his passing work was restricted to checkdowns in faculty, his palms stay dependable, making him a stable beneath choice out of the backfield. He has the potential to instantly thrive in a backfield rotation, complementing a sooner and extra elusive operating mate the way in which Montgomery did in Detroit. — Liz Loza, fantasy and sports activities betting author
Let’s start with the similarities of their management, smarts and soccer instincts — I see a match there. Then Louis has the remainder of the bundle, together with a strong decrease physique, explosive capability, fast change of course, stable protection abilities, loads of vary, blitz capability, the traits to be an area participant and toughness. The Pitt product shall be an All-Professional in due time. — Louis Riddick, NFL analyst
An influence strider at 6-foot-2, 222 kilos, Bell (Louisville) has the bodily profile to play by contact at a number of ranges of the sphere, creating explosive performs along with his legs. He averaged 17.1 yards per catch in 2024 and will go as excessive because the second spherical — simply as Brown did in 2019. — Matt Bowen, NFL analyst
Kinds is a uncommon athlete at 6-foot-5 and 244 kilos with 4.46 velocity, nice size and loads of vary to be an element as a protection linebacker. Like Warner, Kinds has superior capability to lock down in protection and make an influence as a go rusher (9 profession sacks). Warner’s finest belongings are his vary and instincts, and although Kinds remains to be growing that diagnosing capability, the potential is there for the Ohio State standout. — Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst
This goes properly past their comparable frames (Department is 5-foot-9, 177 kilos; Flowers is 5-foot-9, 183 kilos). Very like Flowers, Department is lightning fast and close to not possible to include as soon as he will get into open house, displaying explosive burst and unimaginable acceleration. The Georgia receiver has that very same capability to take a quick-game go on a slant or display and create a piece play after the catch. I am an enormous fan of Department, and I feel he may go on Day 1, simply as Flowers did in 2023. — Mel Kiper Jr., NFL draft analyst
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Zachariah Department makes unimaginable TD seize for Georgia
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton lobs it to Zachariah Department, who makes a leaping seize in the long run zone for the landing.
I see Mendoza very a lot in the identical gentle as when Ryan got here out from Boston School in 2008. Mendoza is a greater athlete than given credit score for (see: landing run within the CFP title recreation), and like Ryan, he does a wonderful job along with his footwork within the pocket. In addition they have comparable builds and arm power. — Mike Tannenbaum, NFL analyst
Watch McCoy’s 2024 tape (earlier than he sat out the 2025 season due to an ACL tear) and you may see most of the qualities that made Gilmore an elite man nook in New England: measurement, physicality on the line of scrimmage, fluid footwork and restoration velocity. Time will inform if his ball abilities are comparable, however the Tennessee standout recorded 4 picks that season and was constantly in place to make performs. — Mina Kimes, NFL analyst
Bain is a compact, stout edge defender in an identical mildew to Graham and wins with energy and violent palms. Each gamers have excessive motors and constantly make performs within the backfield, together with the pursuit of operating backs from the bottom. Like Graham, Bain can line up as far out because the large 9 approach or counter as an inside go speeding choice. — Turron Davenport, Titans reporter
