3 draft analysts' top 10 positional rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft class have notable disagreements stand out across the board

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A to Z Sports draft analysts dive into their top 10 prospects at each position in the 2026 NFL Draft. And they each share the rationale behind some of the hottest takes revealed by their rankings.

The long wait is almost over, football fans. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off this week on Thursday, April 24.

The top players of the class will hear their names called on Thursday when the first round is completed. A group of our NFL Draft analysts here at A to Z Sports decided now is the time to compare their top players in the class at each position.

Destin Adams, Kyle Crabbs, and Tyler Forness each share their top 10 prospects at each position below. This leads to some notable disagreements. Therefore, each of them dives into the rationale behind some of their rankings ahead of the big event.

Table of contents

• Quarterbacks
• Running backs
• Wide receivers
• Tight ends
• Offensive tackles
• Interior offensive linemen
• Edge rushers
• Defensive tackles
• Off-ball linebackers
• Cornerbacks
• Safties

Quarterbacks

Adams:
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
4. Cole Payton, North Dakota State
5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
6. Drew Allar, Penn State
7. Taylern Green, Arkansas
8. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
9. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
10. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)

“The top of this year’s quarterback class is pretty cut and dry. Mendoza, out of Indiana, is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders at pick one. And at some point, either in round one or in round two, Simpson, out of Alabama, will follow. After that, the fun begins at the position.

For me, the next tier in the class comes at three to six in my rankings. From LSU’s Nussmeier to Penn State’s Allar, I think this group has at least one season of high-level film to evaluate. The problem is that three of the four are not coming out of that season. And the fourth is Cole Payton, who played at the FCS level and is a more proven runner than he is a thrower right now.” – Destin Adams

Crabbs:
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
3. Cole Payton, North Dakota State
4. Drew Allar, Penn State
5. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
6. Taylen Green, Arkansas
7. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
8. Jalon Daniels, Kansas
9. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
10. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

Forness:
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
4. Cole Payton, North Dakota State
5. Drew Allar, Penn State
6. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
7. Haynes King, Georgia Tech
8. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
9. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
10. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Running backs

Adams:
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington
4. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
6. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
7. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
8. Kaelon Black, Indiana
9. Jam Miller, Alabama
10. J’Mari Taylor, Virginia

Crabbs:
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington
4. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
6. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
7. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
8. J’Mari Taylor, Virginia
9. Kaelon Black, Indiana
10. Adam Randall, Clemson

Forness:
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington
4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
5. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
6. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
7. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
8. Demond Clairborne, Wake Forest
9. Roman Hemby, Indiana
10. LeVeon Moss, Texas A&M

Wide receivers

Adams:
1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
2. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
3. Makai Lemon, USC
4. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
5. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
6. Chris Bell, Louisville
7. Denzel Boston, Washington
8. De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
9. Germie Bernard, Alabama
10. Chris Brazzell, Tennessee

Crabbs:
1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
3. Makai Lemon, USC
4. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
5. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
6. Denzel Boston, Washington
7. Chris Bell, Louisville
8. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
9. Ted Hurst, Georgia State
10. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

Forness:
1. Makai Lemon, USC
2. Carnell Tate, Ohio State
3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
5. Denzel Boston, Washington
6. Chris Bell, Louisville
7. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
8. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
9. Germie Bernard, Alabama
10. Ted Hurst, Georgia State

“I see quite a few differences between Makai Lemon and Omar Cooper Jr., and I made arguments for Lemon and against Cooper versus consensus in a series I did with A.J. Schulte. I highly recommend you read those for more in-depth thoughts on both players.

The biggest difference I see between the two players comes from how they play at their peaks and their consistency. Lemon is a well-rounded player who thrives in every aspect of playing wide receiver. He’s a better route runner, just as good after the catch as Cooper, and, despite his smaller stature, is a monster at the catch point. Lemon is more refined and a better player right now, and his ceiling is higher to me as well. Cooper is going to be a great asset in a wide receiver room, but not an alpha like Lemon will be.” – Tyler Forness

Tight ends

Adams:
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
3. Sam Roush, Stanford
4. Oscar Delp, Georgia
5. Jack Endries, Texas
6. Max Klare, Ohio State
7. Michael Trigg, Baylor
8. John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
9. Justin Joly, North Carolina State
10. Eli Rairdon, Notre Dame

Crabbs:
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
3. Sam Roush, Stanford
4. Oscar Delp, Georgia
5. Max Klare, Ohio State
6. Dallen Bentley, Utah
7. Matthew Hibner, SMU
8. Eli Rairdon, Notre Dame
9. Justin Joly, North Carolina State
10. Michael Trigg, Baylor

“You can count me among those sitting on the board of the ‘Sam Roush Fan Club’. This is a tight end prospect who was given a bunch of high-degree of difficulty blocking assignments in college, which should have him uniquely prepared for the rigors of the NFL. He’s a fully capable in-line player and probably would have had more prolific numbers if the passing game were more effective at Stanford. Roush, to me, still needs to grow as a route runner, but he should be a reliable zone buster at the start to go with his run-game & in-line contributions. He’s my TE3 in the class. 

Conversely, I am a little lower on Ohio State’s Max Klare than the consensus. He’s my TE5 in the 2026 NFL Draft. I like what Klare brings to the table as a whole, but I kind of saw a player who was well-rounded but didn’t have an elite element to his game. Maybe strong athletic testing could have changed my mind…but we didn’t get any. So, instead, he’s about 25 spots lower for me than the consensus.” – Kyle Crabbs

Forness:
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
3. Max Klare, Ohio State
4. Osar Delp, Georgia
5. Jack Endries, Texas
6. Justin Joly, North Carolina State
7. Sam Roush, Stanford
8. John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
9. Eli Raridon, Notre Dame
10. Tanner Koziol, Houston

Offensive tackles

Adams:
1. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
3. Spencer Fano, Utah
4. Caleb Lomu, Utah
5. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
6. Drew Shelton, Penn State
7. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
8. Blake Miller, Clemson
9. Gennings Dunker, Iowa
10. Austin Barber, Florida

Crabbs:
1. Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
2. Spencer Fano, Utah
3. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
4. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
5. Blake Miller, Clemson
6. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
7. Caleb Lomu, Utah
8. Travis Burke, Memphis
9. Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
10. Jude Bowry, Boston College

Forness:
1. Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
2. Monroe Freeling, Georgia
3. Spencer Fano, Utah
4. Caleb Lomu, Utah
5. Blake Miller, Clemson
6. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
7. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
8. Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
9. Markel Bell, Miami (FL)
10. Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Interior offensive linemen

Adams:
1. Vega Ioane, Penn State
2. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
3. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
4. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
5. Jake Slaughter, Florida
6. Conor Lew, Auburn
7. Logan Jones, Iowa
8. Sam Hecht, Kansas State
9. Trey Zuhn, Texas A&M
10. Brian Parker, Duke

Crabbs:
1. Vega Ioane, Penn State
2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
4. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
5. Sam Hecht, Kansas State
6. Gennings Dunker, Iowa
7. Keagan Trost, Missouri
8. Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame
9. Conor Lew, Auburn
10. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

Forness:
1. Vega Ioane, Penn State
2. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
4. Connor Lew, Auburn
5. Jake Slaughter, Florida
6. Sam Hecht, Kansas State
7. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
8. Brian Parker, Duke
9. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky
10. Logan Jones, Iowa

Edge rushers

Adams:
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
2. David Bailey, Texas Tech
3. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
4. T.J. Parker, Clemson
5. Malachi Lawrence, UCF
6. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
7. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
8. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
9. Romello Height, Texas Tech
10. Zion Young, Missouri

“Edge rusher is another position where I think the top two in this class are pretty set in stone for me. I could see either of Bain Jr. or Bailey being the first off the board. I do think Bain has more instances of flat-out taking over a game, though.

After the top two, I think the rest of the top ten, and even beyond into the top 14, are going to be graded very closely by teams. It depends on the flavor of edge rusher a team is looking for. The part of my ranking that differs most from my colleagues is that I list Barham out of Michigan as an edge, not an off-ball linebacker. He is still raw there for sure, but his ceiling at the pro level is significantly higher as an edge rusher, and he flashed this past year enough for me to believe that’s where he will play in the NFL.” – Destin Adams

Crabbs:
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
2. David Bailey, Texas Tech
3. TJ Parker, Clemson
4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
5. Zion Young, Missouri
6. Gabe Jacas, Illinois
7. Kendric Faulk, Auburn
8. Malachi Lawrence, UCF
9. Joshua Josephs, Tennessee
10. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Forness:
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
2. David Bailey, Texas Tech
3. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
4. Keldric Faulk, Auburn
5. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
6. T.J. Parker, Clemson
7. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
8. Zion Young, Missouri
9. Gabe Jacas, Illinois
10. Romello Height, Texas Tech

Defensive tackles

Adams:
1. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
2. Peter Woods, Clemson
3. Caleb Banks, Florida
4. Grace Halton, Oklahoma
5. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
6. Christen Miller, Georgia
7. Domonique Orange, Iowa State
8. Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
9. Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
10. Zane Durant, Penn State

Crabbs:
1. Christen Miller, Georgia
2. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
3. Caleb Banks, Florida
4. Peter Woods, Clemson
5. Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
6. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
7. Tyler Odyedim, Texas A&M
8. Domonique Orange, Iowa State
9. Albert Regis, Texas A&M
10. Zane Durant, Penn State

“I’m a big fan of Miller’s point of attack work. He’s built like a brick house and offers a stout anchor at the point of attack. With a prototypical build, Miller is well-equipped to play in high-traffic congestion and has demonstrated the ability to defeat double-teams and shed blockers to make stops in the run game. His ranking as my IDL1 in the class includes all of the above, but also ties in my belief for what he can be as a pass rusher. Miller has heavy, heavy hands and the ability to push the pocket – I think he’s the best blend of current role and upside to become a three-down caliber player. 

Conversely, I just didn’t see “it” with Peter Woods. I’ll fully acknowledge the flashes as a disruptive force up front. But the tape with Woods feels like a roller coaster, and he pairs that with a non-traditional athletic profile. Woods is missing length to clear his frame from blockers and didn’t always show great pad discipline at Clemson; he’d likely be best as a disruptor as a result. He just hasn’t consistently shown himself to be effective in such a role. That puts more projection into the equation and, as a result, he’s my IDL4.” – Kyle Crabbs

Forness:
1. Caleb Banks, Florida
2. Peter Woods, Clemson
3. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
4. Christen Miller, Georgia
5. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
6. Kaleb Proctor, SE Louisiana
7. Domonique Orange, Iowa State
8. Grace Halton, Oklahoma
9. Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
10. Tim Keenan III, Alabama

Off-ball linebackers

Adams:
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
2. Arvell Reese, Ohio State
3. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
4. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
5. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
6. Josiah Trotter, Missouri
7. CJ Allen, Georgia
8. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
9. Aiden Fisher, Indiana
10. Harold Perkins, LSU

Crabbs:
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
2. Arvell Reese, Ohio State
3. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
4. CJ Allen, Georgia
5. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
6. Josiah Trotter, Missouri
7. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
8. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
9. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
10. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

Forness:
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
2. Arvell Reese, Ohio State
3. C.J. Allen, Georgia
4. Jake Golday, Cincinnati
5. Josiah Trotter, Missouri
6. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
7. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
8. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
9. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
10. Harold Perkins, LSU

“The linebacker class is a fascinating group from top to bottom. Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are the top two players with a bullet, but outside of them, there is a lot of disparity. I am very high on C.J. Allen, who has every tool to be a successful three-down linebacker. There is still some work to do on his man-coverage ability, but his football IQ is through the roof, as defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann trusted him to run the defense on the field.

I’m also significantly lower on both Anthony Hill Jr. and Jacob Rodriguez. Most in the industry see them as these explosive downhill athletes who are next-level in that area. When watching their tape, I didn’t see the athleticism they both tested with on tape, and I saw them both have issues in coverage. I believe they will be capable players on the second level in a rotation, but not true difference makers.” – Tyler Forness

Cornerbacks

Adams:
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
3. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
4. Chris Johnson, San Diego State
5. Colton Hood, Tennessee
6. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
7. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
8. Treydan Stukes, Arizona
9. Malik Muhammad, Texas
10. Julian Neal, Arkansas

Crabbs:
1. Mansoor Delane, LSU
2. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
3. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
4. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
5. Colton Hood, Tennessee
6. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
7. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
8. Chris Johnson, San Diego State
9. Ephesians Prysock, Washington
10. Keionte Scott, Miami (FL)

Forness:
1. Avieon Terrell, Clemson
2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
3. Mansoor Delane, LSU
4. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
5. Colton Hood, Tennessee
6. Chris Johnson, San Diego State
7. Keith Abney, Arizona State
8. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
9. Will Lee III, Texas A&M
10. Ahmari Harvey, Georgia Tech

Safties

Adams:
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S
4. VJ Payne, Kansas State
5. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
6. A.J. Hauley, LSU
7. Kamari Ramsey, USC
8. Bud Clark, LSU
9. Genesis Smith, Arizona
10. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State

Crabbs:
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
2. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
4. Treydan Stukes, Arizona
5. Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina
6. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
7. AJ Haulcy, LSU
8. Kamari Ramsey, USC
9. VJ Payne, Kansas State
10. Bud Clark, TCU

Forness:
1. Caleb Downs, Ohio State
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
3. Treydan Stukes, Arizona
4. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
5. AJ Haulcy, LSU
6. Genesis Smith, Arizona
7. Bud Clark, TCU
8. Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
9. Kamari Ramsey, USC
10. Michael Taaffe, Texas

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