2026 NFL draft: Execs, scouts, gamers on high prospects

When the NFL mix begins in Indianapolis this week, it is going to be the following step within the analysis course of forward of the 2026 NFL draft (April 23-25, ESPN and ABC).

Every spring presents prime alternatives for NFL groups to scout prospects: the all-star video games (Senior Bowl in Cellular, Alabama, and the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, among the many extra notable), the mix and particular person professional days main as much as this 12 months’s draft in Pittsburgh. Groups even have the chance to herald as many as 30 gamers to their facility throughout the spring. Whereas every group scouts occasions in a different way, there are main issues they’re searching for at every cease.

“The soccer side, that is what resonates proper now. We’re making an attempt to verify the issues we see after which clearly you discover out who the fellows are that love this sport and are doing all of the little issues to assist their profession alongside and assist the group obtain their targets,” mentioned New Orleans Saints operating backs coach Joel Thomas, who coached the American group throughout the Senior Bowl, in January.

Groups on the mix will interview gamers, run them via exercises and share medical data. Professional days and top-30 visits enable groups to work together with gamers who selected to skip the mix or who weren’t invited to the occasion.

One NFC govt instructed ESPN that evaluating gamers’ draft shares after their seasons can nonetheless be troublesome to measure. “A lot of the work that will get accomplished after the season is normally an affirmation or affirmation of what you consider already,” he mentioned.

The place do issues stand proper now? ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, Jeremy Fowler and Roman Modrowski used the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl and Tremendous Bowl as alternatives to ballot executives, coaches and gamers on three massive questions concerning the class. Will the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 choose and draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza? Who’s the most effective prospect on this class, no matter place? And which prospects shall be most enjoyable to observe on Sundays this fall? (Every reporter requested a query, and the variety of responses differs from query to query.)

Leap to a query:
Will the Raiders hold the No. 1 choose?
Who’s the most effective prospect within the class?
Who’re NFL gamers most excited to observe?

Will the Raiders hold the No. 1 choose and choose Fernando Mendoza?

Preserve the choose: Eight votes
Commerce the choose: Zero votes

The Raiders are sensible to stay noncommittal within the public eye, however individuals across the league see via that. To executives and scouts, the reply to this query is clear-cut: There’s zero probability the Raiders transfer out of the highest spot and move on drafting the QB out of Indiana.

“By no means say by no means, however by no means,” mentioned an AFC exec concerning the Raiders shifting from the highest choose whereas evoking a line made well-known by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Getting a succesful beginning quarterback on a rookie contract is the envy of most entrance places of work. The Raiders have that probability — maybe the one probability in a draft with one slam-dunk passer on the high. That is Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who confirmed out in his ultimate collegiate season. It was a efficiency of the ages, just like star turns by Joe Burrow (Cincinnati) and Jayden Daniels (Washington) throughout their ultimate seasons at LSU.

“The Raiders’ roster is dangerous, however Mendoza is the most effective passer within the draft and it is not shut,” an NFC govt mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t move that up. He is correct to all ranges of the sector with an excellent arm, plus-size and good character.”

Those self same evaluators consider Mendoza may very well be an excellent match for a Raiders group that wants a dose of his enthusiasm.

“That may be his superpower,” a separate NFC govt mentioned concerning the QB’s demeanor. “… He is actually that centered, and I believe guys will gravitate towards that.”

Just a few voters weighed the choice, if buying and selling the primary choose might land an enormous fish reminiscent of Burrow or Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. However such offers are thought-about unlikely at greatest.

The Raiders ranked final within the NFL in whole offense final season (245.3 yards per sport). Mendoza will not have a lot expertise round him in Vegas in Yr 1, but it surely would not shock if the Raiders spend aggressively alongside the offensive line and talent positions in free company. Vegas’ near-$88 million in wage cap area ranks second behind the Tennessee Titans. — Fowler

Who’s the most effective prospect within the class, no matter place?

Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State: 5 votes
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame: Three votes
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State: One vote
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: One vote

Since roughly the time Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning was chosen with the No. 1 choose of the 1998 NFL draft, there appear to be two draft boards that groups have every year: the quarterback board and all people else. Twenty-one quarterbacks have been chosen No. 1 prior to now 28 drafts, together with seven of the previous eight years.

So, when requested about the most effective prospect on this 12 months’s draft, each scout or personnel govt that was polled was fast to say they consider Mendoza would be the No. 1 choose. They usually mentioned that Mendoza was simply the most effective quarterback on the board and is definitely top-of-the-line gamers within the draft.

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Why Fernando Mendoza is Subject Yates’ high prospect within the 2026 draft

Subject Yates and Ben Solak focus on what makes Fernando Mendoza the highest general participant within the 2026 NFL draft.

“Nevertheless it will not be a Mario Williams-type 12 months,” an NFC common supervisor mentioned. “I do not see many, if any, situations the place [Mendoza] does not go No. 1, regardless of the place all people is graded. There shall be some grades a bit greater.”

Williams was one of many seven nonquarterback No. 1 picks over these previous 28 drafts when the Houston Texans chosen him No. 1 in 2006. He was finally named to 4 Professional Bowls to go along with one first-team All Professional choice in his 11-year profession, however Vince Younger (No. 3), Matt Leinart (No. 10) and Jay Cutler (No. 11) had been the first-round quarterbacks that 12 months.

On the subject of who the most effective prospect is within the 2026 class no matter place, that honor primarily based on our polling goes to Reese. The Ohio State linebacker/edge rusher was a multitask participant within the Buckeyes’ protection, boasting athleticism, physicality and walk-in starter capacity as a three-down participant. He has monumental potential as an edge rusher to go along with his huge array of off-ball skills.

Love, who had 35 speeding touchdowns over the previous two seasons mixed, acquired probably the most votes after Reese. For a league searching for explosive performs, the Notre Dame operating again is a participant who might emerge in an enormous manner, and the actual fact he is not thought-about a scheme-dependent again will make his checklist of NFL suitors longer. — Legwold

Which draft prospects are present NFL gamers most excited to observe on Sundays?

Two weeks earlier than he helped the Seattle Seahawks win Tremendous Bowl LX, first-team All-Professional defensive finish Leonard Williams watched Mendoza lead Indiana to the nationwide championship. Mendoza’s iconic scramble-and-stretch over the aim line was some of the memorable in championship sport historical past, however there was one thing else that caught with Williams.

“He simply appears like a fantastic, humble child,” Williams mentioned throughout Tremendous Bowl week. “He simply appears like he is completely happy to be there, wherever he is at. I believe that kind of perspective, mixed along with his athleticism and playmaking capacity, he’ll change a locker room wherever he goes.”

Mendoza’s 27 pink zone touchdowns (with out an interception) had been probably the most within the FBS, and his 79.2% adjusted completion proportion ranked second within the nation. However Mendoza additionally made an impression when the ball wasn’t in play.

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Who will the Jets draft at No. 2?

Subject Yates and Mina Kimes speculate on what the Jets might do with the No. 2 choose on this 12 months’s NFL draft.

“Being within the league for [11 years], it is not all the time about your capacity to play, it is about your capacity — particularly at quarterback — to affect a group. His demeanor and his nature, the best way he’s to the core, you’ll be able to see it,” Williams mentioned.

Patriots guard Mike Onwenu mentioned he is excited to see what Mendoza can do within the NFL, too.

“Based mostly on the 12 months he had, and seeing him as a pacesetter, seeing him tackle the group and seeing him tackle the media, he went from second to second,” Onwenu mentioned.

Patriots Professional Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez mentioned he is most wanting ahead to welcoming Arizona State extensive receiver Jordyn Tyson to the NFL, although. Tyson has battled accidents the previous two seasons, however ESPN’s Subject Yates has him going No. 8 to the Saints in his most up-to-date mock draft.

Gonzalez’s curiosity within the 6-foot-2, 200-pound extensive receiver extends past the stats.

“He is from the identical space as me, close to Dallas,” Gonzalez mentioned. “And we have now the identical agent. So I obtained to know him somewhat bit. Nice man, nice athlete. Excited to see him on this league, and he’ll be a fantastic participant.”

Patriots special-teamer Alex Austin additionally selected Tyson after watching a few of his highlights on YouTube.

“He is actual athletic,” Austin mentioned. “I am excited to see what he does. I believe he could be a nice weapon. He is reliable.”

Seahawks rookie security Nick Emmanwori had a standout season after being named a first-team All-American at South Carolina. It was no shock that a few of the prospects Emmanwori has his eye on have S.C. ties.

“I like [South Carolina CB] Brandon Cisse,” Emmanwori mentioned, “and [Clemson WR] Antonio Williams. … I performed [Williams] in highschool, performed him in school, he is from Irmo, South Carolina, which is the place I am from. Hometown rival. Nice school profession. These are the dudes I have been maintaining with popping out of faculty.”

Emmanwori additionally talked about Ohio State’s Reese and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane among the many prospects he’s most excited to observe.

Mendoza wasn’t the one participant who had a robust championship sport. Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. had a sack and a pair of.5 tackles for a loss. “He is an thrilling participant,” Patriots linebacker Jack Gibbens mentioned of him. “I watched him in a few the playoff video games and he looks as if he is positively somebody to observe.”

And eventually, Seahawks defensive deal with Jarran Reed selected Alabama receiver Germie Bernard because the prospect he is most excited to observe.

“Why? Trigger I went to Alabama,” Reed mentioned. — Modrowski

ESPN Saints reporter Katherine Terrell contributed to this story.