University of Kwazulu-Natal

2026 Nfl Draft Big Board Ohio State Stars Rising Wrs Headline Top 50

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
2026 nfl draft big board ohio state stars rising wrs headline top 50

As the calendar nears November, more NFL fans are considering their teams' futures - specifically in April for the NFL Draft. The 2025 NFL season hasn't gone as well as hoped for some teams across the league and they'll look to find future stars to build around in the next draft class. They'll be rewarded with an intriguing group of prospects. The 2026 NFL Draft was initially touted as one rife with quarterback talent. That hasn't exactly panned out as expected thanks to multiple potential first-round quarterbacks regressing (Texas' Arch Manning) or suffering season-ending injuries after inconsistent performances (Penn State's Drew Allar). Still, some passers have risen in the ranks thanks to breakout seasons.

They're not alone. Wide receiver was initially expected to be a one-player position in the first round - Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson - but players from multiple different programs are playing their way into first-round consideration. Offensive tackle offers few finished products but plenty of talented, traits-filled prospects for coaching staffs to mold into long-term starters. It's a good year to need a linebacker, too, as well as versatile edge rushers. Now that the calendar has flipped into November and most of the college football season has played out, it's time to roll out the initial 2026 NFL Draft big board top 50. It's still pretty early in the evaluation process, of course.

I have watched quite a bit of many college players, but there is much more to see and learn from the prospects as the college season progresses into bowl season and then workout/pro day... The initial rankings here are based more on college tape and looking for NFL-translatable skills, with less emphasis on athletic measurements or off-field pluses and minuses. The most reliably great player in college football, and his range, vision, quick reactions and extremely high football IQ should make Downs an instant impact talent at the next level. Doesn't look like an elite athlete, which could limit his draft ceiling but not his draft ranking. A sprinter with instant acceleration, Love is a 214-pound load of a runner. Power, check.

Vision, check. Hands, check. Ability to string moves together, nearly check. Strong shades of a bigger Jahmyr Gibbs. Woods has picked up his interior pass-rush skills just a tick in 2025. He's handily the best run defender in the class and uses his hands, shoulders and quick feet to get off blocks a la prime Chris Jones in KC.

He makes everyone around him better, something that really stands out when he's not on the field. It may not be the quarterback class we'd hoped for, but it still looks like a step up from last year. After that, though, there aren't a ton of position groups I'd call "loaded" relative to recent expectations. It's part of why we've already seen so many teams feel comfortable unloading their first-rounders. That doesn't mean there isn't talent to be had, however. It simply means scouts are going to have to work overtime to parse through a less clear-cut draft order than we've seen in recent years.

If you're looking for position groups with quality depth -- even if they aren't traditionally drafted highly -- interior offensive line and linebacker are where I'd start. There are 13 interior offensive linemen and nine linebackers represented in the top 100 below, both large numbers compared to the typical yearly crop that goes in the top three rounds. With that context in mind, let's dive into how the class stacks up in early November. Bain is putting together the best season for a defensive end at the collegiate level since Aidan Hutchinson. Like Hutchinson, Bain isn't a cookie-cutter edge prospect. The Hurricanes defender has a defensive tackle build with shorter arms than ideal on the edge.

It's no matter -- he already has 44 pressures this season. Woods has been on scouting radars since he was a true freshman. He's as powerful a true junior defensive tackle as you'll see and won't turn 21 until a month before the draft. He'll be even more disruptive in the pros than he is in Clemson's defense. As we enter the final stretch of the 2025 college football season, the top names in the 2026 NFL Draft class are beginning to separate themselves from the pack. The draft may still be months away, but the college football landscape is already shaping the conversation.

As the regular season winds down, bowl games and the College Football Playoff will serve as the final proving ground for the nation’s best talent — and this year’s NFL Draft Big Board looks... Over the past several months, I’ve been studying film and grading the top players eligible for next April’s draft. This updated Top 50 Big Board and position-by-position rankings will continue to evolve through the rest of the season, into the pre-draft process, and up to Round 1 in Pittsburgh on April 23, 2026. At the top, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs headlines the class with elite instincts, versatility, and a pro-ready skill set. Right behind him, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. anchors one of the strongest defensive line groups in college football.

Offensively, the quarterback battle between Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Dante Moore (Oregon), and Ty Simpson (Alabama) continues to shape the draft narrative — though all three still hold college eligibility, keeping their 2026 status fluid. That uncertainty is part of what makes this draft cycle so fascinating. With NIL opportunities allowing top underclassmen to return, several key players could reshape the 2026 class by staying in school. Even so, the overall depth — particularly along the defensive front — is undeniable. From Rueben Bain Jr. and Clemson’s Peter Woods anchoring the trenches to a talented group of corners and linebackers, this class looks loaded on defense.

On the other side of the ball, the wide receiver group is emerging as one of the deepest in recent memory, led by Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, and USC’s Makai... 👉 Click here to jump to the individual player rankings The top prospects available for the 2026 NFL Draft. After breaking down the 10 prospects to know at every position in addition to 10 wild cards to know, here’s an early look at PFF’s top-50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Downs, who transferred from Alabama last offseason, has been the most valuable safety in college football over the past two seasons according to PFF’s wins above average metric. His 91.7 PFF grade in that span is second among all FBS safeties, while his 91.2 coverage grade is third.

Downs is also a fantastic run defender, leading all players on this list with 35 run-defense stops and an 88.5 run-defense grade since 2023. Downs is an incredibly versatile player who can thrive at free safety, slot corner or in the box. Not to mention, he’s a dynamic punt returner as well. Parker’s 12 sacks in 2024 led all returning Power Four edge rushers, and he’s one of three in that same group who posted 80.0-plus grades both as a pass rusher and as a run... Parker has a devastating bull-rush thanks to his power at 6-foot-3, 265 pounds. He has all the makings of a top-10 selection next April if he can put together a similarly strong junior year.

Every Saturday gives us new tape. Every Sunday changes what teams need. And every week, the gap between what fans think they know and what the league is actually preparing for gets a little wider. The Draft Scout’s Top 25 Big Board isn’t a snapshot of one Saturday afternoon or a reaction to one highlight clip—it’s a living, evolving evaluation built on full-game study, coach and scout calls, and... And as the college football season settles into the stretch run, the board is shifting in real time. Some prospects are locking in Round 1 résumés.

Some are fading. And a few are about to make the kind of late-season jump that only shows up if you’re watching every snap. If you want the full positional breakdowns, expanded scouting reports, and weekly movement as the draft picture crystallizes, make sure you’re subscribed. This is where the draft conversation starts—and where you’ll stay a step ahead of everyone else. Subscribe to The Draft Scout to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

People Also Search

As The Calendar Nears November, More NFL Fans Are Considering

As the calendar nears November, more NFL fans are considering their teams' futures - specifically in April for the NFL Draft. The 2025 NFL season hasn't gone as well as hoped for some teams across the league and they'll look to find future stars to build around in the next draft class. They'll be rewarded with an intriguing group of prospects. The 2026 NFL Draft was initially touted as one rife wi...

They're Not Alone. Wide Receiver Was Initially Expected To Be

They're not alone. Wide receiver was initially expected to be a one-player position in the first round - Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson - but players from multiple different programs are playing their way into first-round consideration. Offensive tackle offers few finished products but plenty of talented, traits-filled prospects for coaching staffs to mold into long-term starters. It's a good year t...

I Have Watched Quite A Bit Of Many College Players,

I have watched quite a bit of many college players, but there is much more to see and learn from the prospects as the college season progresses into bowl season and then workout/pro day... The initial rankings here are based more on college tape and looking for NFL-translatable skills, with less emphasis on athletic measurements or off-field pluses and minuses. The most reliably great player in co...

Vision, Check. Hands, Check. Ability To String Moves Together, Nearly

Vision, check. Hands, check. Ability to string moves together, nearly check. Strong shades of a bigger Jahmyr Gibbs. Woods has picked up his interior pass-rush skills just a tick in 2025. He's handily the best run defender in the class and uses his hands, shoulders and quick feet to get off blocks a la prime Chris Jones in KC.

He Makes Everyone Around Him Better, Something That Really Stands

He makes everyone around him better, something that really stands out when he's not on the field. It may not be the quarterback class we'd hoped for, but it still looks like a step up from last year. After that, though, there aren't a ton of position groups I'd call "loaded" relative to recent expectations. It's part of why we've already seen so many teams feel comfortable unloading their first-ro...