The NFL season is finally here. College Football just kicked off. With football finally back it’s time to take a look at the best players in the sport who will likely be making their way to the pros as soon as next spring via the 2026 NFL Draft.

The A to Z Sports NFL Draft team of analysts has done an excellent job predicting future drafts in recent years. This past spring for instance, our team’s collective rankings predicted nearly 90% of the variance in the Top 100 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. That’s going to be hard to beat, but our team of more than a dozen draft analysts has already gotten their way-too-early collaborative Top 100 big board put together again to see if we can predict the future once more.

We’ve added a few new faces to our NFL Draft team this year, so here are all the contributors (and the teams they primarily cover) who helped with these rankings and will be pumping out excellent draft content year-round here:

Adam Holt – New Orleans Saints
AJ Schulte – Oklahoma Sooners
Brentley Weissman – Oregon Ducks
Destin Adams – Indianapolis Colts
Ian Valentino – LSU Tigers
Joe DeLeone – New York Giants
Kelsey Kramer – Georgia Bulldogs
Kyle Crabbs – Miami Dolphins
Rob Gregson – Pittsburgh Steelers
Ryan Roberts – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Tyler Forness – Minnesota Vikings
Travis May – College Football & NFL Draft Managing Editor
Zach Berry – Texas Longhorns

For those unfamiliar with our prospect grading system we’ll be using throughout this upcoming season, it’s a scale from 1 to 10 (that you’ll see in parentheses next to each prospect). 9+ is first round. 8-8.99 is possible first round. 7-7.99 is day two. 6-6.99 is possible day two or early day three. 5-5.99 is mid day three. 4-4.99 is late day three. Everything below 4 is undrafted free agent territory. Enjoy the big board, and let us know what we got right or wrong @AtoZSportsNFL on X!

First Round 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

1. T.J. Parker, EDGE Clemson (9.9)
2. Peter Woods, DL Clemson (9.85)
3. Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee (9.68)
4. Spencer Fano, OT Utah (9.47)
5. Caleb Downs, SAF Ohio State (9.4)
6. Keldric Faulk, EDGE Auburn (9.32)
7. Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State (9.31)
8. Cade Klubnik, QB Clemson (9.3)
9. Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame (9.2)
10. Kadyn Proctor, OT Alabama (9.19)
11. Caleb Banks, DL Florida (9.14)
12. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE Miami (FL) (9.06)
13. Isaiah World, OT Oregon (9.03)
14. Malik Muhammad, CB Texas (9.03)

The Clemson trio of T.J. Parker (EDGE), Peter Woods (DL), and Cade Klubnik (QB) might surprise some here following their Week 1 loss to the LSU Tigers, but they’re all still very much in the mix for early first round NFL Draft capital.

Parker is a twitched up athlete with production to match off the edge. Peter Woods is likely the DT1 by a wide margin thanks to his positional flexibility and ability to win from anywhere up front. Cade Klubnik is the real wildcard in this first tier though. Our A to Z Sports team ranks him anywhere from QB1 to QB6 in the class. He’ll need to play a ton better than he did to open the season to remain up in this group.

Safeties typically don’t earn early top five overall spots on NFL Draft big boards, but Caleb Downs is an exception. Freshman All-American in 2023. All-American overall in 2024. Nearly 200 tackles and double-digit passes defended through just two years. He might be the best player regardless of position in the entire class.

The only other two defensive backs in this first tier, Jermod McCoy and Malik Muhammad, don’t have a ton to prove in 2025 given how dominant they have been for the last two years. McCoy just needs to recover fully from injury and get back to who he was last season. Muhammad’s already proving he’s cleaned up his tackle discipline with a half dozen stops through just a week.

There’s going to be some stiff competition this year among offensive tackles and edge rushers. Spencer Fano, Kadyn Proctor, and Isaiah World seem to have an early lead thanks to their physical traits (and Fano’s consistency), but this first tier likely widens this fall. Keldric Faulk and Rueben Bain were both dominant for Auburn and Miami respectively in Week 1, but there are a handful of worthy challengers who might leap up to join them.

Spencer Fano vs. UCLA. OL performance of the week from what I've watched pic.twitter.com/j3G7gddWzC

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) August 31, 2025

Possible First Round 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

15. Arch Manning, QB Texas (8.99)
16. Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State (8.92)
17. LaNorris Sellers, QB South Carolina (8.91)
18. David Bailey, EDGE Texas Tech (8.89)
19. Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami (FL) (8.87)
20. A.J. Harris, CB Penn State (8.87)
21. Denzel Boston, WR Washington (8.86)
22. Jake Slaughter, IOL Florida (8.85)
23. Dillon Thieneman, SAF Oregon (8.72)
24. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE Penn State (8.67)
25. Anthony Hill Jr., LB Texas (8.67)
26. Eli Stowers, TE Vanderbilt (8.65)
27. Nicholas Singleton, RB Penn State (8.58)
28. Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State (8.57)
29. Antonio Williams, WR Clemson (8.5)
30. Darrell Jackson Jr., DL Florida State (8.46)
31. Garrett Nussmeier, QB LSU (8.43)
32. LT Overton, EDGE Alabama (8.42)
33. Cayden Green, IOL Missouri (8.36)
34. Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE Oregon (8.32)
35. Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson (8.3)
36. Kenyon Sadiq, TE Oregon (8.22)
37. CJ Allen, LB Georgia (8.13)
38. Max Klare, TE Ohio State (8.12)
39. Drew Allar, QB Penn State (8.1)
40. Makai Lemon, WR USC (8.1)
41. Mansoor Delane, CB LSU (8.07)
42. Eric Singleton Jr., WR Auburn (8.05)
43. Caleb Lomu, OT Utah (8.04)
44. Drew Shelton, OT Penn State (8.04)
45. Makhi Hughes, RB Oregon (8.01)

Will the real QB1 please stand up? Our A to Z Sports draft analysts have Cade Klubnik just a head of this bunch, but it’s no surprise to see four quarterbacks in the “possible first round” tier here.

Arch Manning disappointed for about three quarters of his first game against Ohio State, but flashed his elite potential with a handful of throws. LaNorris Sellers still needs to take a step forward with his pass efficiency, but he’s already off to a good start there with his accuracy in Week 1. Garrett Nussmeier put on a clinic against Clemson in his first 2025 action. Drew Allar took care of business against Nevada in his first game too as he synced up with his new wide receiver weapons early.

It’s unlikely (especially now) that Arch Manning declares, but this next group looks like they’re already going to be a in tight battle for the QB1 spot in this class here soon. Sellers’ special mobility and play-extending magic. Nussmeier’s ability to diagnose and play field general for LSU. Drew Allar’s easy arm talent and developing deep game. They all have the tools–they just need to continue to separate from the pack this fall.

People will see this and still say Lanorris Sellers can’t throw pic.twitter.com/6HU9LjgvGf

— ??????? (@beamerball212) September 2, 2025

The wide receiver class does not look especially deep this season (at least right now). While it might look nice to see five potential receivers who could rise up and compete with Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) for the top spot, this is quite a projection for most of them. Carnell Tate is a verified stud who might end up going early in the first round with a strong showing this season alongside Jeremiah Smith for Ohio State. After that, there’s a tough battle for WR3 between four options who are quite different from one another: Denzel Boston (true outside X), Antonio Williams (more of a slot projection), Makai Lemon (speedy YAC weapon), and Eric Singleton (do-everything WR).

All three top tight end talents in Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon), and Max Klare (Ohio State) should be in line for significant receiving roles this year themselves and seem to be forming an early tier break after them. Their mix of top tier physical traits and ball skills should keep them atop most big board rankings for the position all year.

If any player surprises and rises far above this group into early first round discussion outside of the quarterbacks it’s likely going to be Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE Penn State. He’s the next man up in Penn State’s long line of elite edge players and already dominated Week 1 with five tackles, a sack, several pass rush pressures, and two force fumbles.

#PSU EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton picked right up where he left off in the CFP last year. Explosive first step, disruptive as a run defender and pass rusher. Had 2 forced fumbles and active with a couple of other pressures along with a sack. pic.twitter.com/S6a5TrhtmZ

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) August 31, 2025

Day Two 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

46. Tacario Davis, CB Arizona (7.99)
47. Keon Sabb, SAF Alabama (7.99)
48. Christen Miller, DL Georgia (7.94)
49. Domani Jackson, CB Alabama (7.93)
50. Darius Taylor, RB Minnesota (7.92)
51. Kamari Ramsey, SAF USC (7.9)
52. Tyreak Sapp, EDGE Florida (7.88)
53. Tim Keenan III, DL Alabama (7.78)
54. Parker Brailsford, IOL Alabama (7.76)
55. Michael Taaffe, SAF Texas (7.74)
56. Gabe Jacas, EDGE Illinois (7.72)
57. Mikail Kamara, EDGE Indiana (7.6)
58. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR USC (7.6)
59. Blake Miller, OT Clemson (7.57)
60. Dontay Corleone, DL Cincinnati (7.55)
61. Anto Saka, EDGE Northwestern (7.53)
62. Barion Brown, WR LSU (7.51)
63. Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL Oregon (7.5)
64. Zachariah Branch, WR Georgia (7.49)
65. Trey Moore, EDGE Texas (7.42)
66. Charles Jagusah, IOL Notre Dame (7.41)
67. Deontae Lawson, LB Alabama (7.4)
68. Marlin Klein, TE Michigan (7.4)
69. Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State (7.38)
70. Damon Wilson, EDGE Missouri (7.35)
71. Whit Weeks, LB LSU (7.33)
72. Xavier Scott, CB Illinois (7.32)
73. Nyck Harbor, WR South Carolina (7.32)
74. Connor Lew, IOL Auburn (7.22)
75. Justice Haynes, RB Michigan (7.22)
76. Gennings Dunker, OT Iowa (7.21)
77. Kaytron Allen, RB Penn State (7.15)
78. Austin Barber, OT Florida (7.14)
79. Rod Moore, SAF Michigan (7.14)
80. Jonah Coleman, RB Washington (7.11)
81. Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana (7.1)
82. Elijah Sarratt, WR Indiana (7.1)
83. Kage Casey, OT Boise State (7.08)
84. Deion Burks, WR Oklahoma (7.08)
85. Rayshaun Benny, DL Michigan (7.02)
86. Aaron Anderson, WR LSU (7.02)
87. Cashius Howell, EDGE Texas A&M (7)

Once big boards get outside the top 40 or 50 that’s where opinions always start to diverge every single year. This year is no exception. Our A to Z Sports staff were all over the place with rankings of players in this group, but most all of them were safely day two projections given their special athleticism or long resume of experience.

The position groups with the most volatility and upside on day two will likely be the running backs and edge defenders.

Darius Taylor (Minnesota), Justice Haynes (Michigan), and Jonah Coleman (Washington) all three already exploded with productive performances to begin the season. That should continue. Nicholas Singleton is a tier up from this group and likely stays there given his elite physical traits, but his backfield mate for Penn State, Kaytron Allen, should certainly put up a fight with this entire group of running backs given his decisiveness and vision too.

The EDGE group in this day two tier almost all boast strong enough traits or production to vault themselves up into round one discussion. Gabe Jacas (Illinois) and Damon Wilson (Missouri) already snagged two sacks in Week 1 action. Mikail Kamara has over 100 pass rush pressures over the last two seasons. Tyreak Sapp and Cashius Howell have consistent pass rush plans that allow them to get to quarterbacks consistently. The talent is so deep at edge this year that this entire group could shuffle around quite a bit this season.

Awesome run by #Michigan RB (and one of the best RBs in the 2026 class) Justice Haynes.

Patient with TE trap and the LG to seal, bursts through the lane, navigates 2nd level, and speed to separate.

159 yards and 3 TDs for @justicehaynes6 in Week 1.

Big one vs. Oklahoma Sat.… pic.twitter.com/eJx9nSkvfY

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) September 4, 2025

Possible Day Two 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

88. DJ McKinney, CB Colorado (6.98)
89. Jaeden Roberts, IOL Alabama (6.94)
90. Daylen Everette, CB Georgia (6.88)
91. Zane Durant, DL Penn State (6.88)
92. Jack Endries, TE Texas (6.88)
93. Lawson Luckie, TE Georgia (6.86)
94. R Mason Thomas, EDGE Oklahoma (6.84)
95. Derrick Moore, EDGE Michigan (6.84)
96. Suntarine Perkins, LB Ole Miss (6.84)
97. Caleb Tiernan, OT Northwestern (6.83)
98. J.C. Davis, OT Illinois (6.83)
99. Harold Perkins, LB LSU (6.78)
100. CJ Baxter, RB Texas (6.76)

Once our A to Z Sports team got outside the first 87 prospects we reached the point in the draft where the prospects began to blend together. Not because they all look the same, but rather because many of them simply have questions that didn’t allow our team to rank them too confidently just yet.

Jaeden Roberts (IOL, Alabama) needs to stay healthy and get some faster feet before his size and strength push him up too high on our board. Jack Endries and Lawson Luckie have huge opportunities at Texas and Georgia this year, but they need to put exclamation marks on their profiles this season with solid production and improved blocking consistency. R Mason Thomas is quite undersized, but extremely productive at edge. Suntarine and Harold Perkins are both crazy athletic defenders, but Suntarine is way too small while Harold needs to find his actual role at the next level.

The 2026 NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board is still a work in progress, and the coming college football games will certainly change things, but this is a great place to start as we look ahead to next spring.

We’ll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!