Get to know the 2026 NFL Draft: Media members analyze favorite prospects in the class
This year’s NFL Draft media collaboration features 34 unique analysts breaking down 36 prospects from the 2026 class.
The 2026 NFL Draft is only ten days away. This is one of my favorite and most stressful times of year, marked by Arif Hasan’s annual consensus big board, The Huddle Report’s mock and big board competitions, and this collaboration with some of the most active analysts in the NFL Draft space.
I reached out to more than 30 colleagues in the media and asked them to submit a few sentences on some of their guys in the 2026 class. This exercise focuses on projected Day 2 and Day 3 prospects to spotlight players who might otherwise be overshadowed by their Day 1 counterparts. I frame this as a final chance to pound the table for some of our favorite prospects before draft night.
I only informed a few late additions of who other writers selected. The vast majority of the contributors submitted their choices blindly. This led to three players receiving multiple write-ups, but I think that’s an important part of the process. It highlights some of the more undervalued and beloved prospects in the class.
This annual media collaboration is one of my favorite posts to put together. It’s a great chance to network with other people in the space, shine a light on some incredible talent (on and off the field), and learn more about a few prospects.
Please show some love and check out all the media members who contributed to this collaboration. Their social media accounts and work are linked at the top of their sections. I am truly grateful for their time and effort, especially during this busy part of the draft cycle.
This is the third year of this project. Before we dive into the 2026 selections, I want to highlight some picks from the past two years.
In 2025, Donovan Ezeiruaku (JP Acosta), Terrance Ferguson (Nick Baumgardner), Tate Ratledge (Brandon Thorn), Quincy Riley (Tyler Forness), Jonas Sanker (Dante Collinelli), Marques Sigle (Noah K.M. Chang), Upton Stout (Brent Sobleski), and Bhayshul Tuten (Blaine Grisak) were some of the best selections. You can view the full 2025 version here.
In 2024, fewer people participated, and the prompt was slightly different. Cooper Beebe (Max Chadwick), Jalyx Hunt (Joe DeLeone), and Byron Murphy II (James Foster/Ian Cummings) were some of the big call outs.
2026 NFL Draft Prospects on Offense
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report & Trench Warfare
Keylan Rutledge, G Georgia Tech
Keylan Rutledge is a densely-built, heavy-handed interior player with explosive power on contact and the ability to generate movement once he gets attached. He plays with a level of strain and finish that shows up consistently and reflects both his play demeanor and the adversity he’s overcome, including a car accident that nearly cost him his foot. Rutledge is battle-tested, on and off the field, and displays the size, power and temperament of a durable, long-term starting guard.
Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic
Skyler Bell, WR Connecticut
I could honestly give you a few tight ends this year, as the 2026 tight end class is very deep and could feature quality players on day three (perhaps beyond). However, I’ll go with a wide receiver this year and nominate UConn’s Skyler Bell as a guy who will more than likely find a way into an NFL receiver rotation somewhere. Bell’s smaller, but he’s a great route runner with good speed and body control. [He produced] more than 100 catches last year. It’s hard to see a situation where he’s not pushing for a job somewhere next year.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football & Sports Network
Caleb Tiernan, OL Northwestern
Caleb Tiernan is generally viewed as a mid-to-late Day 2 prospect on the consensus board, but I have a fringe top-50 grade on him and think he deserves credence early in Round 2. At 6’8”, 323 pounds, with sub-33-inch arms, his build is unorthodox, but I think he counteracts the leveraging concerns and expands his utility with athleticism, physicality, and two-phase excellence. He bends and aligns his base well in pass protection, has balanced footwork, and displays patient and precise hands. In the run game, he’s rangy in space, powerful on down and base blocks, and punishing all the way to the whistle. I’d give him a chance to start at tackle but also think he has the requisite leveraging profile to acquit himself at guard.
Ted Hurst, WR Georgia State
There aren’t many wide receivers who stand at 6’4”, 206 pounds that run a 4.42-second forty-yard dash and remain underrated, but Ted Hurst still isn’t receiving the recognition that he deserves. He produced impressively in each of his four collegiate seasons. Hurst began by compiling over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first two seasons with Valdosta State before transferring up and averaging about 1,000 yards per season at Georgia State. He can win with speed, strength, ball-tracking, and body control extremely well. Yes, he needs to add some layers to his route tree, but Hurst will be an absolute steal if he isn’t gone by the middle of round three.
Max Chadwick, Preferred Walk-On
Jake Slaughter, C Florida
In a strong center class, Jake Slaughter stands apart to me as the best of the bunch. He has three years of elite production in the SEC, often dominating defensive tackles who would go on to become first round picks. He must add some play strength, but the tape and the athletic gifts point to a quality starting center in the league, which would be a steal for a team if he goes in the fourth round like he’s currently projected.
Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report
Sam Roush, TE Stanford
A Stanford tight end tends to be safe pick, right? In Sam Roush’s case, his upside is immense, while providing a high floor based purely on his in-line abilities. Roush is the best blocking tight end in this year’s class. As a result, he brings instant Y-tight end capabilities, with untapped potential as a receiver. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq posted historic workout numbers for a tight end at this year’s NFL combine. Roush’s effort may have been just as impressive, with a near-10 relative athletic score at 6’6” and 270 pounds. Better quarterback play can unleash Roush as a big, effective target over the middle of the field.
Jacob Infante, Pro Football & Sports Network
Logan Jones, C Iowa
I’m riding for Iowa center Logan Jones in this draft cycle. He was only ranked No. 123 on the PFSN expert consensus board, but I have had him ranked at No. 79 on my board. He’s a high-level athlete with plenty of experience starting at the Big Ten level. His explosiveness off the snap is tremendous, and his body control blocking on the move has impressive over the course of his collegiate career. Jones also has impressive raw weight room strength that can see him drive defenders off the ball in the run game.
Cory Kinnan, Daft on Draft & Browns Wire
Oscar Delp, TE Georgia
Georgia tight end Oscar Delp is an enigma. A former high recruit tasked with following in the footsteps of Brock Bowers, he never quite lived up to the hype. It did not help that he never got to see the field under the guidance of Todd Monken at Georgia, and that the quarterback play was subpar when he took over the starting job, but the production remained the same over the last three seasons: under 300 yards.
However, the tape is the tape. Delp is explosive off the ball, does enough as a blocker, and cleaned up catch uncomfortability from 2024 to 2025. The skillset is too good to overlook. Delp has the profile of a player who will exceed expectations at the NFL level based on college production.
Joe DeLeone, A to Z Sports & Best Pod Available
Mike Washington Jr., RB Arkansas
Mike Washington Jr. is a player I believe can be a high-impact running back in the NFL. His athletic profile for a bigger running back prospect provides him with the juice to create big plays when he breaks into space. He also has a bruising physical presence that I love in running backs, along with the vision needed to find rushing lanes. He checks every box we look for in running back prospects to become consistent primary backs in an offense. If he goes on to become a consistent 1,000-yard rusher for the next 5-7 years, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Jack Brentnall, The Touchdown & Pro Football & Sports Network
Kage Casey, OL Boise State
Kage Casey won’t win any measurables contests, but he is an experienced lineman with polished and precise fundamentals. His punches are consistently well timed and accurate, and he has the strength to displace defenders in the run game. Teams will be split on whether he’s a guard or a tackle at the next level, but he’s simply a very good football player.
Dante Collinelli, The Casual NFL Draft Analyst
Jalen Farmer, G Kentucky
Jalen Farmer stood out immediately at the Senior Bowl with his above-average size, power, and aggressiveness. Farmer was mauling defenders on Day 1, and a quick glance at the tape revealed that was just par for the course. The Kentucky product is one of the most powerful and aggressive guards in this entire class. He consistently drives defenders off their spots and tries to finish them into the ground. He’s not passive in pass protection, either. Farmer looks for work if left unblocked and punishes jumpers.
Farmer also has a nice athletic profile. His broad jump was in the 83rd percentile, and his 10-yard split was in the 78th. He’s not some plodder who can only win in a phone booth. Farmer can get a tad too aggressive when run blocking, and his pass protection technique needs some work, but he projects like a solid starting guard in pretty much any scheme.
Tyler DeSena, Miami Dolphins On SI
Sam Roush, TE Stanford
With new-age nickel defenders allowing teams to stay physical with lighter personnel, it’s more important than ever to have offensive weapons with multiple skillsets. Stanford tight end Sam Roush is just that. Roush is a capable and willing blocker who can play on the line of scrimmage, and at 6-6, he moves with a rare fluidity in space. He slots in as a zone-beating “Y” who can quickly eat up free yards, with the potential for much more as he learns to better use his frame.
Blaine Grisak, Rams On SI & Turf Show Times
Bryce Lance, WR North Dakota State
In recent years, we’ve seen FCS wide receivers make the jump to the NFL and have success. Cooper Kupp won the triple crown and a Super Bowl MVP with the Rams, Christian Watson has been a featured piece of the Packers’ offense, and Jalen Coker has found some success with the Panthers.
My first Bryce Lance experience came in the 2024 FCS semi-finals when he had six catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns against South Dakota State. He then had a career-high nine catches for 107 yards in the national championship. While he didn’t match his 17 touchdowns from his junior season last year, Lance still showed off his explosiveness. This is one of my favorite mid-round wide receivers. His deep-ball tracking ability is among the best of the class, and his 9.98 RAS showcases the type of athlete that he is. If he hits his ceiling, we could be looking at a player similar to Alec Pierce.
Daire Carragher, Packer Report for 247Sports
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR Ole Miss
De’Zhaun Stribling, a breakout weapon for Ole Miss during their playoff push, brings rare experience and proven production to this receiver class, logging over 3,000 offensive snaps across five seasons and three conferences. He closed the 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, racking up 420 yards over his final five games, while flashing a strong blend of size, vertical speed, and contested catch ability.
Stribling tracks the ball exceptionally well downfield and has some of the most reliable hands in the class. While he isn’t overly sudden in short areas, he erased any concerns about his long speed with a 4.36 forty at the combine, backed by strong explosiveness testing. At 23, he may lack the developmental upside of younger prospects, but his polish and physical traits give him a clear pathway to early contributions as a dependable outside target.
Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets & Chiefs Wire
Eli Raridon, TE Notre Dame
Two right ACL tears have Eli Raridon floating in a medical gray area that will likely see him removed from several teams’ boards. Looking past the medicals, Raridon is towering 6’6”, 245 lb. athlete with room to bulk up into the 250s. Raridon excels at finding and sitting in space versus zones and is fast enough to stress or stack linebackers on downfield routes. He is a multi-level threat with the ability to win on deep digs, overs, corners, and down the seam. Raridon completes catches through heavy contact over the middle of the field. While inconsistent, he offers value as an in-line and insert blocker. He needs to add mass and refine his hand usage to become more impactful in this area of his game.
2026 NFL Draft Prospects on Defense
Brett Kollmann, All 32 on YouTube & The Bootleg Football Podcast
Kayden McDonald, IDL Ohio State
“My guy” this year is absolutely Kayden McDonald, and that is partly just because he plays such an underrated position when it comes to the structure of a defense. Nobody ever really thinks about pure nose tackles, but there are few things *more* noticeable to a team’s fans than when that team doesn’t have an actual good nose.
Every great defense in history that got off the field on third down started by having a dominant first down defense, and that ability to stop the run is exactly what McDonald brings. He is the boulder that the entire unit orbits around. He is what dictates the math. Sure, he doesn’t rush the passer - but he is what ALLOWS the rest of the unit to actually get chances to rush in the first place.
Nose tackles matter, people!
Trevor Sikkema, NFL Stock Exchange
A.J. Haulcy, S LSU
A player who I would consider one of “my guys” in this draft class is LSU safety A.J. Haulcy. I first got eyes on him early in the 2025 college football season, and I have been a huge fan ever since. Where a lot of safeties nowadays are more slender and quicker, Haulcy has a throwback build (220 lbs.) to really pack a punch at contact. That is an even better bonus since he is at his best patrolling the middle of the field. His ability to read quarterbacks’ eyes and targets in that MOF role is excellent, and he has recorded 10 career interceptions and 19 career forced incompletions as well. Where some safeties’ coverage production is more lucky than good, Haulcy’s production is self-made. He doesn’t have top tier range, but for two-safety defensive schemes, he can be an impact player.
R Mason Thomas, Edge Oklahoma
R Mason Thomas is one of the coolest prospects in this edge class to me. He’s not going to win with prototypical size or length measurements, but he has one of the quickest first steps in the entire class and bends at a very high level. He’s been productive against SEC opponents and has played his best against big time competition. His ghost move is up there as one of the best single moves a prospect can use in the class. I also love his motor; despite being undersized, he gives tight ends all they can handle in the run game, and you can’t run away from him. I feel strongly about Thomas being a quality pass rusher in the NFL.
Treydan Stukes, DB Arizona
Treydan Stukes is a versatile chess piece with the athleticism & experience to thrive at multiple spots in the defensive backfield. He can match up with any skill position and plays the ball effectively at the catch point. Pending medicals, Stukes is worth a top 50 pick.
Dalton Wasserman, Preferred Walk-On
Skyler Gill-Howard, IDL Texas Tech
All the spotlight has rightfully been on Texas Tech stars David Bailey, Romello Height, and Lee Hunter, but we shouldn’t forget about the explosiveness and athleticism of Skyler Gill-Howard. He dominated MAC competition at Northern Illinois and was well on his way to a terrific 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury. His lack of size will limit him to a 3-technique role in the NFL, but in a class that lacks proven interior pass rushers, he’s someone I would push for early on Day 3.
Jack Brentnall, The Touchdown & Pro Football & Sports Network
Jaishawn Barham, Edge Michigan
Jaishawn Barham is exactly the sort of edge that fits today’s NFL. He is an explosive mover with a violent playstyle and heavy hands. He shows the ability to win in multiple ways as a pass rusher, but what really stands out is his versatility as a hybrid front seven player. He will be a real weapon in a defense that gets creative with stunts and simulated pressures.
Ephesians Prysock, CB Washington
Ephesians Prysock is one of the most underrated corners in this class, with an NFL frame, length, and excellent zone feel and route recognition. He’s a fluid athlete and delivers a powerful jab at the line of scrimmage, but he needs to work on consistency with timing and location to dictate in press-man. Prysock is a willing run defender, but focusing on technique will make him more dependable against the run. His instincts and zone prowess give him a great floor for competing at the next level, with upside as a man-coverage boundary corner.
Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports & Best Pod Available
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB TCU
TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr is a player who could surprise some folks and end up being a top-100 selection despite a lack of media hype. The former Cal transfer is an outstanding athlete who does his best work playing in pursuit. His range is as good as just about anyone in the linebacker class, presenting some intriguing upside to work with as a run and chase WILL. Elarms-Orr’s processing is still a tick slow, but his eyes do work to the right spots consistently. If that can improve, he has a chance to become a quality starter by year two to three of his first contract.
Devin Jackson, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Devon Marshall, CB North Carolina State
Devon Marshall, who began his career at Villanova, challenges wide receivers at the line of scrimmage, can easily flip his hips in coverage, and has excellent recovery speed if a receiver gets a step ahead of him. Over the last two seasons at N.C. State, Marshall has forced 24 incompletions, including nine against Florida State alone. Marshall’s anticipatory skills breaking on underneath routes and his ability to turn and run vertically with wide receivers make him one of the most underrated players in the draft, especially after dominating the Shrine Bowl and not getting a combine invite.
Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports, Locked On Dolphins, Locked On NFL Scouting and Touchdown, Miami!
Treydan Stukes, DB Arizona
Count me in on Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes. I love his versatility, I love his story, and it seems as though his football journey has carved out a player who would be an asset and leader in just about any locker room in the NFL. Stukes’ coverage diversity and ability to play physically in the nickel got a big boost by the leap in ball production in 2025, and I do believe that, health willing, he’s going to be an impact defender. In this current day and age of matching down and distance versus matching personnel, a defensive coordinator will have his life made a whole lot easier by having a secondary option like Stukes on-hand to provide answers for both. It’s a ‘more you can do’ league, after all.
Alex Katson, Huskies Wire, Chargers Wire, Wide Left, and Football Sheets
Jadon Canady, DB Oregon
I get that Oregon’s Jadon Canady will be an older rookie and has an ACL tear on his resume, but I’ll take players like him on my team any day. He can play outside, in the nickel, or at safety - where he had an interception against Washington in the red zone that was impressive live but gets even more impressive the more I go back to that All-22. We’ve seen smaller players who are smart, sound, and confident carve out long careers as starters in the slot over and over again. That all describes Canady, who also brings nice closing acceleration and light feet to the table. I think he’ll be a multi-year starter for somebody.
Russell Brown, The Draft Report & Lions Wire
Keionte Scott, DB Miami
Keionte Scott may be an older prospect (25), but I don’t see him slowing down as he enters the NFL. Like the energizer bunny, Scott plays 100 mph and can be a weapon for a defense. Effective as a blitzer, he makes offensive tackles and running backs look foolish with how he can lower his pad level and slip under blocks to the quarterback on a consistent basis. In coverage, there are times that he struggles to locate the football or hesitates when flipping his hips, but he closes quickly on routes that break to the sideline and shouldn’t have an issue covering tight ends. Overall, Scott should be a plug-and-play starter for an NFL defense due to his versatility and high effort level.
TJ Wengert, 32BeatWriters & TEEJ
Gracen Halton, IDL Oklahoma
Halton is a twitchy 3-tech who fires off the line of scrimmage with fast, violent hands. As a pass rusher, I see a player who’s quick to swipe hands and shows a deep enough pass-rush bag to keep working even if he loses on the initial move. While I love who Halton is as a one-on-one pass-rush winner, a big reason I’d be comfortable taking him as early as late Round 2 is his ability to stop the run as well. Halton has active eyes, good lateral quickness, and plays with natural leverage at the point of attack. Where he truly excels as a run defender is with his first-step juice, paired with his ability to reduce his surface area and get skinny when shooting gaps.
Ahmari Harvey, CB Georgia Tech
Last year, my guy was Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley. This year, it’s a similar player in Georgia Tech cornerback Ahmari Harvey. I’m going to value him significantly higher than everyone else, but that’s more than fine. He’s got everything I want in a cornerback: good size, athleticism, and will kick you in the face just because he can. He pairs all the dog in the world with a willingness to defend the run and attack the football. Harvey has what it takes to thrive in the league.
Charles Demmings, CB Stephen F. Austin
I love watching small-school cornerbacks play against other draft-eligible wide receivers because it gives you a good gauge of how talented they are. This season, Charles Demmings matched up against Incarnate Word’s Jalen Walthall and outshined him, holding him to six catches for 47 yards. Truthfully, Demmings is the type of cornerback that translates every year. He has good size and athleticism and shines in man coverage, with the ability to flip his hips and match with wide receivers. He’ll need to become a little more consistent in zone coverage and with his eyes, but both traits will likely get cleaned up with better coaching. If his ball skills and production translate -- and I have no reason to believe they won’t -- Demmings is going to be a late-round steal for a team and has the potential to start as a rookie in the right system.
Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire & Vikings Wire
D’Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana
If D’Angelo Ponds was even two inches taller, he would be a top ten player in this class. Because of his size, he is going to be a tremendous value for someone on day two. Some folks may have him off their boards completely, but that is going to be their loss. Ponds showed time and again in 2025 that he is just a damn good football player, something that not enough teams have. Ponds can play the nickel, outside corner, and also be a tremendous help on special teams, as he showed at times. The bottom line is he’s one of the top players, in my eyes, in this class, and that should be the case for everyone.
Jaden Dugger, LB Louisiana
My Day 3 sleeper pick is someone I’ve kept an eye on ever since the Shrine Bowl, and that’s Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger. After routinely catching my eye on Frisco, I just knew I had to get to his film, and I came away impressed. A former safety, Dugger’s coverage ability pops off the film. He looks comfortable handling tight ends down field in man coverage and projects to be able to be an effective pole runner in coverage at the next level.
You can tell he’s still learning how to play linebacker and “reading the triangle,” as his run defense was a work in progress, but I was encouraged by him routinely directing his teammates and calling out the defense. With his length (would have the longest arms and wingspan of any linebacker drafted in the last decade) and coverage ability, as well as his value as a blitzer, I think Dugger could be a really intriguing subpackage linebacker at the next level. He could also be an effective special teamer while he grows his run defense. I’m willing to bet on the traits here.
Jalon Kilgore, S South Carolina
Jalon Kilgore is the type of defensive back that can wear different hats on a defense depending on what scheme he’s in. He has the ability to play the nickel/overhang position as well as play a traditional safety. Kilgore has 4.4 speed and a thickly built frame that allows him to be a factor close to the line of scrimmage, as well as on the back end. He projects best in a split safety role playing from top down with upside as a tight end eraser playing as a slot defender.
Christian Thomas, LB Maine
I’m a sucker for uncovering some hidden gem during a late-night scouting session, and Christian Thomas was this year’s “find.” Not only was Thomas incredibly productive, leading the team with 120 tackles and 12 tackles for loss, but he also checks the boxes from a height/weight/speed perspective at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. Frankly, I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about Thomas because he’s the kind of linebacker that NFL teams love with his versatility, pass rush ability, and special teams upside.
Last season, Thomas was one of the more productive pass rushers in the FCS, with most of his production coming as a blitzing linebacker. I think that’s his best fit for an NFL team, too (think Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.), but he can also put on more weight and become a true edge rusher. It’s hard to know if he’ll get drafted, but even if he isn’t, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him carve out a role as an undrafted free agent.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge Penn State
First off, I need to go on the record and say, there are a few prospects who many like to argue about whether or not they’ll be selected early in this year’s draft, and they absolutely should be. Those guys are San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson, Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
My guy for the 2026 NFL Draft has to be Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. He tested very well at the Combine and showed the ability to play in a variety of defensive fronts with his size and pass rush upside potential. He has a strong lower body that allows him to execute bull rushes and set the edge against the run, with flashes of good hand technique and bend to provide a strong pass rush. There’s still some rawness to his pass rush ability, but the untapped potential is sky high. He needs to clean up some missed tackles, which is one of the reasons he probably goes late on day two, but the raw ability to be a strong edge rusher in the NFL is there, which is why I’d take him earlier than many would agree with.
Michael Taaffe, S Texas
Michael Taaffe is a high school receiver/corner who walked on at Texas and has been starting at safety for the Longhorns since midway through the 2023 season. His background as a high school cornerback is really evident from his tape, as he has an impressive combination of balance, footwork, transitions, and processing/recognition skills. He’s able to drop into single-high coverages, play Cover-2, or shade over the slot and pattern-match. From a coverage perspective, he’s already a nice player, and he managed to intercept seven passes over his two-and-a-half years as a starter.
While Taaffe isn’t the biggest safety prospect, his tackling improved this past season, which should help address concerns about his ability to hold up in run support. He has experience on all special teams units as well, including as a gunner, giving him upside while he continues to add additional bulk to his frame, which should help him work his way through traffic and add more reliability to his game when playing the run on early downs. I wouldn’t have any problem considering Taaffe on the second day of the draft, and it looks like he could slip into the third day, which could give a team a nice value pick in the mid-rounds.
Dalton Wasserman, Preferred Walk-On
D’Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana
D’Angelo Ponds may be my favorite player in this class to the point where I would consider selecting him late in the first round despite his diminutive stature. If he were the same size as Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy, there’s a good chance he would be CB1 for me. I think he plays the position better than anyone in the class. His technique and footwork are outstanding.
Sam Teets, Sports Talk with Sam Teets & Chiefs Wire
Tyre West, Edge Tennessee
Tyre West is a densely built lineman at 6’2”, 283 lbs. and displays some ability to reduce inside. He was buried in a deep Tennessee edge room but is a viable mid-Day 3 selection who hasn’t received much attention this cycle. West gets off the line quickly and plays low enough to the ground to slip the tackle’s initial punch and bend around the outside track. He has a developed pass rush arsenal, but his best moments come when he converts speed to power to put blockers on skates and flush the quarterback out of the pocket. West’s explosive lateral agility makes him an athletic mismatch capable of winning across the guard’s face when reduced inside. His work in run defense is less polished and could prevent him from seeing significant action early in his career.
Blaine Grisak, Rams On SI & Turf Show Times
Keionte Scott, NB Miami
Last season, Nick Emmanwori showed that, when used correctly, having a versatile defensive back can take a defense to the next level. Emmanwori is a special athlete, and Mike Macdonald is one of the best defensive minds in the league. The value of a tone-setting nickel cornerback is officially back, and Miami’s Keionte Scott is the guy that I want. Scott is an aggressive player and the way he attacks against the run is second to none. He thrives playing near the line of scrimmage. While he has some limitations in coverage, he might be the best blitzing defensive back from the slot in this class. The league is moving toward positionless defensive backs, and Scott fits that mold perfectly.
TJ Wengert, 32BeatWriters & TEEJ
D’Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana
What D’Angelo Ponds lacks in ideal NFL size, he more than makes up for with intangibles like eye discipline, confidence, and fearlessness. He shows great eyes in off-zone coverage, patience when pressing at the line of scrimmage, and enough long speed to turn and run. His size may ultimately push him inside to nickel, but I’ve been pounding the table for years that teams should be treating that position as a premium roster spot. Frankly, with how fearless Ponds is as a tackler, nickel might be the best place to maximize that skill while still capturing his impact in coverage.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football & Sports Network
Louis Moore, S Indiana
Louis Moore doesn’t get a ton of buzz in this safety class, but I’m a big fan of what he has to offer for win-now teams or teams in need of more cohesion and playmaking on the back end. He’ll be a 25-year-old rookie, but he was a staple for the championship-winning Indiana Hoosiers defense in 2025. He snagged six interceptions, and per TruMedia, only allowed 0.4 yards per coverage snap. Coverage is where he thrives the most. He has some of the best spatial management skills in the class in zone coverage, gliding on his pedal and incorporating kick-slides to keep leverage before planting-and-driving overtop breaks with elite reactive quickness and efficiency.
But what also impressed me with Moore is how physical he is at 191 pounds, with just 29 5/8” arms. In spite of his size, he’s not afraid to surge into contact, impose his will, and jar his opponent’s composure. Athletically, I marked him as competent but not elite, but in the NFL, the best safety play is underscored by elite processing, instincts, and willing physicality. Moore has all of that in spades. Best in two-high alignments but with some single-high utility, I compare him favorably to Julian Love.
Great article, particularly love the Devon Marshall and Charles Demmings selections as deeper cuts and a big fan of Keylan Rutledge and Dani Dennis-Sutton