- Jeremiah Smith leads the 2027 NFL Draft Big Board: The Ohio State wide receiver occupies the No. 1 spot after two elite seasons to begin his college career.
- Quarterbacks populate the top of the rankings: Texas' Arch Manning and Oregon's Dante Moore rank second and third, respectively, while eight other quarterbacks appear in the top 150.
- Texas places three prospects inside the top 10: Manning, edge defender Colin Simmons and offensive tackle Trevor Goosby give the Longhorns three of the first seven players on the board.
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1. WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
There are several intriguing quarterbacks in this class, but like Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier last season, many are unproven. Jeremiah Smith, however, is as established as it gets for a 20-year-old entering his true junior year.
He has been the best wide receiver in college football since enrolling. Already with two complete elite seasons under his belt, Smith is more often discussed in the same realm as Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson Jr. than with more recent wide receiver prospects.
2. QB Arch Manning, Texas
Likely the most-discussed player in this class to date, Manning took a major step in the right direction in late 2025 after a shaky start. He has a size advantage over many other top quarterback prospects, with an ideal NFL build and legitimate athleticism. However, the grandson of football royalty will need to display much more consistency next season to make teams feel confident investing a first-round pick.
3. QB Dante Moore, Oregon
Last year, Moore looked like a completely different player from the struggling freshman he was at UCLA. He can be a tad more erratic than Julian Sayin, but his bright spots are among the best in the class. Moore led the FBS in big-time throws (30) last season.
4. ED Colin Simmons, Texas
As it stands, Simmons is the best front-seven defender in the 2027 draft. His 59 pressures led the SEC last season, as did his PFF pass-rushing grade (91.7). He isn’t as big as some may wish (listed at 240 pounds), but his freakish combination of explosiveness at the snap and bend around the corner makes him an easy case for the top five in 2027.
5. CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Pound for pound, Moore may be the most gifted player in this class behind Jeremiah Smith. His PFF overall grade (91.8) ranked highest among college cornerbacks last year. Quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 45.1 when throwing into his coverage, and he came down with five interceptions. Now the most established cornerback in college football, Moore could be due for a quiet 2026, as opposing quarterbacks often won’t even look his way.
6. ED Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
Stewart took a noticeable step back in 2025, earning a 73.6 PFF grade compared to an 80.9 mark a year prior as a true freshman. The 2026 season will be a big year for Stewart to make good on the hype he has garnered throughout his college career. While his ceiling is one of the highest in the 2027 class, his two most recent games included seven pressures against Texas A&M, followed by zero against Clemson. Stewart needs to find consistency to maintain his top-10 status.
7. T Trevor Goosby, Texas
Goosby undertook the small task of replacing first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. on the Longhorns' offensive line in 2025, but exceeded all expectations with a very strong season, earning a PFF grade of 83.3. Scouts will fawn over his size and agility profile.
8. WR Cam Coleman, Texas
Coleman never found the success many anticipated at Auburn. As the fifth overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, his raw talent is undeniable, and with more consistency at quarterback, many believe he could be in for a special 2026 campaign. He will be just 20 years old on draft day.
9. T Jordan Seaton, LSU
Seaton was a highly touted recruit coming from IMG Academy and surrendered just seven pressures on more than 300 pass-blocking snaps last year. His run blocking, however, remains a concern. Seaton’s PFF run-blocking grade (52.0) ranked among the bottom 20 of 150 returning FBS offensive tackles.
10. T Cayden Green, Missouri
Green transitioned from guard to tackle and has looked excellent at either position. His positional versatility and outstanding consistency (he allowed just seven pressures last season) are his strongest assets.
11. S KJ Bolden, Georgia
Bolden draws comparisons to fellow Georgia alum Javon Bullard due to his nickel versatility and high football IQ. He missed just four of his 82 tackle attempts last season — his missed tackle rate (4.9%) ranked second among returning safeties.
12. CB Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
Opposing quarterbacks completed just 28.9% of passes thrown in Kelley Jones’ direction last year. The leader of the Mississippi State defense personifies the idea that nothing comes easy. He is listed at 6-foot-4 with a lengthy wingspan.
13. G Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
Siereveld performed better against the pass than the run last season, but faced some tough assignments for the Buckeyes. Perhaps most impressively, he committed just two penalties on more than 800 offensive snaps.
14. LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame
Viliamu-Asa led college football in PFF run-defense grade (94.0) last season. He also tallied 23 pressures and four sacks as a pass-rusher. In coverage, he allowed a passer rating of 55.0. The sample size may be small (435 snaps), but when he’s on the field, he plays like the very best linebacker in the nation.
15. DI A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
Washington could have declared this past season and would have gone within the first two rounds. Instead, he’ll return to Oregon in hopes of locking in a place in the first round next year. He’s a freak athlete who could turn heads at the combine next year. On the field, his calling card is batting passes at the line — his eight batted passes led the FBS last season.
16. T Carter Smith, Indiana
The 2027 class is shaping up to be another strong group of offensive tackles and is headlined by Smith after he decided to return for a fifth season with the national champion Hoosiers. He allowed single-digit pressures across 16 games, protecting Fernando Mendoza’s blind side in 2025 en route to winning Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors.
17. DI Will Echoles, Ole Miss
Echoles transitioned from one side of the trenches to the other only a few years ago. His production speaks for itself. He led all Power Four interior linemen in pressures (39) and defensive stops (35) last season.
18. CB Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
Robinson has played just 550 defensive snaps and doesn’t necessarily need to declare for the 2027 draft, but if he does, he will be viewed as a top prospect. The second overall recruit in the 2024 class possesses some of the most fluid hips you’ll find. He recorded four interceptions last year and allowed just 15 receptions on 35 targets. Robinson still needs to fill out his frame, but otherwise, he ticks every box at the position.
19. ED Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
A former five-star recruit with desirable tools, Pierre was a highly disruptive pass-rusher in his first season as a starter at Alabama in 2025. He has yet to show the all-around quality of Crimson Tide predecessors Will Anderson or Dallas Turner, but Pierre possesses the high-end upside that NFL executives constantly covet in Round 1.
20. DI David Stone, Oklahoma
Stone has long been regarded as a future top-10 pick, and he proved why as a sophomore last year. He has the versatility to play as either a 1-technique or 3-technique interior rusher, with outstanding anchor and awareness against the run, as evidenced by his 80.7 PFF run-defense grade last year.
21. QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Carr is a decent candidate to stay in school for an extra season, considering he will only be a redshirt sophomore next season, but he’s already getting the ball out fast (2.54 seconds on average) and looking like a natural leader at the position. If he can replicate his success from last year, he could declare and get drafted very early.
22. DI Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
Moten’s highest snap count from this past year came in the National Championship Game, when he was unable to lay a glove on Fernando Mendoza. Despite this, he had 10 multiple-pressure outings and fit right in on a defense flooded with NFL talent.
23. QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State
After breaking multiple records for North Texas last season and falling one game short of the College Football Playoff, the 2025 passing yards leader has followed his coach to Oklahoma State, where a strong season in the Big 12 could significantly elevate the draft stock of this former zero-star recruit.
24. S Brauntae Johnson, Notre Dame
Johnson was the third-highest-graded player on the Notre Dame defense a year ago. An injury in the 2026 season opener means Johnson has now missed time in each of his three seasons in South Bend. When healthy, he has looked like one of the best free safeties in college football.
25. HB Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
There is no true standout running back in this class yet. Hardy led the SEC in rushing yards last season, and his 25 carries of 15-plus yards led college football. While his contact balance is as good as you’ll see, he remains largely unproven as a receiver (22 yards last year), which will limit his ceiling unless addressed.
26. ED John Henry Daley, Michigan
The highest-graded returning edge defender in college football has followed his head coach to the Big House for 2026. His 18.3% pressure rate at Utah last season was among the best in the sport.
27. CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson
It feels like Clemson produces a top cornerback every cycle. Hampton isn’t quite at the same level as Aveion Terrell yet, but he has all the tools along with a terrific willingness to get involved in run support. He missed just three tackles on 40 attempts in 2025.
28. WR KJ Duff, Rutgers
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Duff is a behemoth on the perimeter. He is one of Rutgers’ highest-ranked recruits in recent years and has backed it up, ranking third among receivers eligible for the 2027 draft in PFF overall grade. Duff’s 22 contested catches led the FBS last season.
29. ED Damon Wilson II, Miami
Wilson has big shoes to fill after transferring to Miami to take over from Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. There are few doubts about Wilson’s pass-rushing ability, as he tallied 54 total pressures last year. Run defense is a much bigger weakness for Wilson, however, as he must improve on his 59.5 career run-defense grade.
30. TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon
Johnson is bidding to make it back-to-back top tight end selections for the Oregon Ducks, who sent Kenyon Sadiq to the NFL this year. Johnson graded higher than Sadiq and profiles as a more traditional in-line tight end, aligning there nearly twice as often as Sadiq in 2025.
31. QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
The pocket passer tasked with throwing the ball to Smith was arguably just as impressive in his first season as a starter. Julian Sayin ranked first among FBS quarterbacks in PFF overall grade last season. He’s excellent at keeping the ball out of harm’s way, as evidenced by his 1.4% turnover-worthy play rate in 2025, which ranked second among FBS quarterbacks.
No matter how well Sayin performs next season, it will be impossible for him to shake doubts surrounding his size (6-foot-1, 208 pounds) and lack of mobility (just 11 scrambles last season) during the pre-draft process.
32. DI Justin Scott, Miami
Overall PFF grades of 73.9 and 75.8 in Scott’s first two collegiate seasons highlight his already-high floor, while his raw traits will captivate NFL franchises in need of a big, athletic presence on the defensive interior. It wasn’t easy to stand out on a defensive line that also boasted Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, but the Hurricanes believe Scott will be their next big defensive export.
33. HB Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami
Fletcher most recently scored two touchdowns in the National Championship Game and returns to Miami as one of the most established names in college football. He is a gap-style runner at heart who thrives between the tackles.
34. T Trevor Lauck, Iowa
Lauck is one of the few Power Four left tackles in college football to go without allowing a single sack last season. It should be noted that he comes from Iowa’s run-heavy offense, but Lauck is a steady, technically sound pass protector above all else.
35. G Greg Johnson, Minnesota
On a draft board dominated by underclassmen, Johnson is one of the few top 2027 draft prospects with four full years of college football experience. He has logged more than 100 snaps at guard, center and tackle, but his home will likely remain on the interior at the next level. Johnson has allowed just four career sacks entering 2026.
36. LB Rasheem Biles, Texas
Biles is sensational when playing downhill toward the football. He finished 2025 ranked among the top five returning linebackers in both PFF run-defense grade (89.3) and pass-rushing grade (82.9). Biles is undersized for the NFL, but he plays one of the few positions where the league will often overlook size concerns.
37. G Kade Pieper, Iowa
Unlike Trevor Lauck, Pieper is every bit the bulldozing run blocker we’ve come to expect from the Iowa pipeline. He ranked fifth among guards in college football in PFF overall grade last year and committed just one penalty despite playing in some raucous Big Ten environments. Pieper is expected to take over as the starting center in 2026.
38. S Jackson Bennee, Utah
Bennee is one better tackling campaign away from significant first-round hype. In coverage last season, few were better. He primarily played in the slot for Utah but has experience as a box defender and deep safety. Bennee missed 23.3% of his tackle attempts but recorded four interceptions and allowed only one deep completion.
39. S Koi Perich, Oregon
Perich was a breakout freshman in 2024, when he earned an 88.9 overall PFF grade. Year 2 at Minnesota was not as favorable, but his junior-year transfer to Oregon will give Perich a major role for one of college football’s most-watched programs. At minimum, Perich is one of the draft’s most versatile players. He has experience lining up across the defensive formation and contributing in every facet of special teams, including as a punt returner, and has even played 50 snaps on offense.
40. ED Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State
Jackson led the Buckeyes’ defense in pressures and sacks a year ago. After a mass exodus of defensive talent to the 2026 NFL Draft, Jackson somewhat surprisingly returned to Columbus. His grades have been solid over four years, and the Buckeyes have a strong track record of producing edge defenders selected within the first 50 picks.
41. TE Trey’Dez Green, LSU
Green is a fascinating prospect, having played for LSU’s basketball team as recently as last spring. Across just 11 games last year, his seven receiving touchdowns were second in college football behind Kenyon Sadiq. Drops are an issue (five last year), but he is a freak athlete with tantalizing traits.
42. WR Duce Robinson, Florida State
Robinson is a freak athlete standing at 6-foot-6 with backgrounds in baseball and swimming, but he boxes out defenders in the red zone like a basketball player. His 3.03 yards per route run was the sixth-best mark in college football last year.
43. S Ty Benefield, LSU
Benefield was at the end of every play for Boise State’s defense last year. He produced 104 total tackles last year, bringing his career tally to 227. Benefield carries over 600 snaps of experience in three different areas (slot, box, deep safety). While he rarely puts a foot wrong, he lacks a true standout attribute.
44. WR Charlie Becker, Indiana
Becker had only seven receptions by Week 11 of last season but closed out the year as a hero for the Hoosiers with 290 yards and seven contested receptions over the course of their playoff run. He will not have the luxury of catching passes from Fernando Mendoza again, but Becker should be freed up for more opportunities now that Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt are off to the pros.
45. QB Darian Mensah, Miami
Mensah takes over from Carson Beck to lead his third college program in as many seasons. His 56 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over two seasons look very impressive on the surface. However, his higher turnover-worthy play rate should not be ignored. Mensah has 16 fumbles in 27 career games.
46. LB Chris Cole, Georgia
Cole was a highly ranked recruit who had to wait patiently in the wings as Georgia cycled through top defensive talent. Despite playing only 420 snaps in 2025, Cole logged an impressive 42 tackles, 25 of which were defensive stops. Unsurprisingly for a Kirby Smart defender, Cole plays fast and physical and should excel in pre-draft athletic testing.
47. ED Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
The Ducks likely have the strongest defensive line in college football on paper, and Uiagalelei is the pick of the bunch. He’s coming off his best season yet, earning a career-high 82.4 PFF overall grade in 2025. His 52 pressures ranked 11th in the Power Four.
48. CB Zabien Brown, Alabama
Brown has not been without his woes in Alabama’s secondary. He produced three single-game grades below 50.0 this past year, but the highlights — including a 99-yard pick-six against Tennessee — are impossible to ignore. Brown is a high-pedigree recruit (former No. 2 overall player in the state of California) and possesses ideal size for the position.
49. WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
Now going by Coleman-Williams, the teenager nicknamed “Hollywood” has been box-office in several games and utterly unremarkable in others. His 17 drops on 114 career catchable targets are a notable red flag, and he struggled to produce late last season, with only 116 yards over his final five appearances. But Coleman-Williams’ raw talent will keep him in first-round conversations. Born in February 2007, Coleman-Williams will turn 20 ahead of next year’s combine.
50. HB Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
Lacy led college football in rushing first downs last season, but his five drops were also the most among running backs. If he declares early, teams will be intrigued by his youth, ideal build and clear ability to shoulder an RB1 workload.
51. ED Will Heldt, Clemson
Heldt has improved his PFF grade year over year since entering college football, first at Purdue and now at Clemson. He registered 10 sacks in 2025 and is off to another strong start in 2026, even if the team around him has struggled.
52. QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
The rise of Trinidad Chambliss from backup quarterback to legitimate draft prospect was one nobody anticipated. From a production perspective, there are hardly any more effective quarterbacks in college football, but concerns about his size (5-foot-11) and age (he will be 25 years old as a rookie) are unavoidable drawbacks in his draft evaluation.
53. DI Anthony Smith, Minnesota
Smith isn’t going to blow evaluators away with his play, but he has inside-out versatility and 1,500 snaps of consistent, quality play at Minnesota with another season yet to go. He profiles as a high-floor prospect with equal ability defending the pass and the run.
54. HB Jadan Baugh, Florida
Baugh has been productive every year at Florida while playing against some of the nation’s top competition. He has prototypical measurables for the position, with a listed height and weight similar to Saquon Barkley’s. He wins through contact and plays with superb balance. There is also nothing to suggest he won’t become a useful piece in an NFL passing attack.
55. T Jacarrius Peak, South Carolina
Peak was a multi-year starter at NC State who has since flipped Carolinas in the transfer portal. Very few prospects bring more than 2,000 snaps of offensive tackle experience into their final year of college football. If Peak can return to the run blocker he was two seasons ago, he could quickly shoot up the board.
56. WR Ryan Wingo, Texas
Wingo will play second fiddle to superstar transfer Cam Coleman in the Texas passing offense, but Arch Manning has built plenty of chemistry with Wingo after the two spent three years playing together. Given his size (6-foot-2), the Longhorns will hope to see Wingo fare better in contested situations in 2026 after going 8-for-24 to start his college career. Whichever team lands Manning near the top of the draft could well come back to the board for his big-bodied target on Day 2.
57. QB Jayden Maiava, USC
Maiava had already taken more than 1,000 collegiate dropbacks entering the 2026 season. Unlike some other quarterback prospects, few unknowns remain about his game. Maiava has NFL-caliber size but commits turnover-worthy plays just as often as he makes big-time throws. His traits and sneaky rushing ability (14 career rushing touchdowns) could tempt a needy team into drafting him early.
58. ED Clev Lubin, Louisville
Lubin’s college career began at Army. Now at his fourth program, he continues to produce at every stop, earning a 92.8 PFF grade since 2024. His pass-rush win rate (24%) led the Power Four last year.
59. DI A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech
Playing on the same defensive line that boasts 2026 prospects David Bailey and Lee Hunter, it’s easy to overlook just how impressive Holmes was last year. His PFF run-defense grade (88.1) ranked third among all interior defenders, while he also ranked sixth among defensive tackles in pressures (37). With many of his running mates off to the NFL, the question will be how Holmes can cope with increased attention in 2026.
60. QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Once billed as a potential future No. 1 overall pick, Sellers hasn’t developed at the rate some hoped he would over four years at South Carolina. After earning a promising 77.4 overall PFF grade as a redshirt freshman, Sellers took a step back to 73.4 in 2025. His rushing ability gives him a solid floor regardless of his surrounding talent, but questions rightfully remain about his ability to process defenses — his career average time to throw is more than 3.2 seconds.
61. S Bray Hubbard, Alabama
Hubbard is a relatively rare three-star recruit success story at Alabama. With PFF grades of 89.2 and 84.6 in his last two seasons, he has been one of the Crimson Tide’s best players overall. Hubbard’s 22 defensive stops against the run led SEC safeties last year, and he has a nose for the football, too, with four interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2025.
62. LB Ben Roberts, Texas Tech
Roberts’ last two seasons with the Red Raiders could not have looked more different. He improved his PFF grade from 56.6 to 86.3 last year, including an elite coverage grade with four interceptions and no touchdowns allowed. The next step is seeing how Roberts fares without running mate Jacob Rodriguez next season.
63. C Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
The man known as “Poncho” anchored one of college football’s best offensive lines last season. His play dipped as the year progressed. If he can return to the form he displayed in late 2024, Laloulu could be considered the top center in this class.
64. WR Wyatt Young, Oklahoma State
It’s difficult to know who was chiefly responsible for all of North Texas’ offensive success last season, but Young certainly played his part. He finished 2025 ranked third in both receiving yards and PFF receiving grade. Young possesses the ideal build and route-running savvy of an NFL slot receiver.
65. QB Sam Leavitt, LSU
Leavitt is a total gunslinger and hopes his new partnership with Lane Kiffin can help him return to the elite form he displayed in 2024, when he delivered a PFF grade of 88.5. Leavitt will require thorough medical vetting pre-draft due to a foot injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely and has since required multiple surgeries.
66. QB Brendan Sorsby, N/A
Sorsby was the hottest name in the transfer portal coming from Cincinnati, where he threw 26 touchdowns with only five interceptions. Most impressively, Sorsby took just seven sacks on 114 pressures — the second-lowest sack rate in college football. He won't put any 2026 film on tape, so evaluators will be working from his Cincinnati résumé while he prepares for the draft.
67. ED Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
Perkins is listed as an edge defender but spends the majority of his time as an off-ball linebacker. He has shown the ability to rush the passer in the past (17 sacks between 2023 and 2025), but he is quite undersized against bigger linemen. Perkins’ best football comes as a run defender in the box.
68. T PJ Williams, SMU
Williams was once a highly touted recruit to Texas A&M who instead found his footing in Dallas with the Mustangs. He is one of the oldest players in our top 150, having opted to return for his sixth season, and the highest-ranked right tackle. Williams held Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor to just two pressures.
69. CB Jamari Sharpe, Indiana
The only Indiana defender on this list, Sharpe excelled on the opposite side from D’Angelo Ponds last season. On 30 coverage snaps against Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith in the Big Ten title game, Sharpe was not targeted. Later in the Rose Bowl, Ty Simpson threw eight passes in his direction, yielding just 34 yards. Finally, Sharpe recorded the championship-sealing interception to close out the season in Miami.
70. T Lance Heard, Kentucky
There can’t be many players to have taken snaps for LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky in college football history. Heard’s tour of the SEC has given him experience against some of the biggest and best pass-rushers the sport has to offer, and he has played both left and right tackle. Heard has allowed just five career sacks entering 2026.
71. TE Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech
Carter will be a slightly older prospect as a redshirt senior in 2026. He led all returning tight ends in receiving yards (624) last season, and his missed tackles forced (23) led all tight ends.
72. CB Brice Pollock, Texas Tech
As one of the leaders in the secondary for the Big 12 champions, Pollock does everything at a high level. With zero touchdowns surrendered and five interceptions last season, Pollock’s 35.7 passer rating allowed is the best mark among all returning starting cornerbacks.
73. DI Ezra Christensen, Colorado
Christensen enjoyed a breakout season at New Mexico State last year and now takes his talent to the Power Four. His 40 pressures and six sacks resulted in an 88.3 PFF pass-rushing grade that led the FBS. The 3-technique pass-rusher must now adjust to a higher level of competition to maintain his top-100 status.
74. G Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati
Tengesdahl was PFF’s highest-graded run blocker on the offensive interior last year aside from those in triple-option offenses at military academies. If not for two disappointing outings in pass protection to begin last season, he would have graded at an elite level in that facet as well. He is a player to keep an eye on.
75. WR Reed Harris, Arizona State
Harris enjoyed a rapid rise early in the 2026 season with marquee performances in each of his first two appearances. The Boston College transfer had 345 receiving yards after just two games at Arizona State. He is a huge target, listed at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds. An uber-reliable option, Harris hasn’t dropped a pass since 2024.
76. CB Vicari Swain, South Carolina
The Gamecocks’ defense looked like it had a mirror running down the middle of the field last season, with Swain and former teammate Brandon Cisse looking and playing like identical players. Cisse was drafted in the second round, and Swain is good enough to warrant the same status. He also has five career punt return touchdowns.
77. WR Mario Craver, Texas A&M
Craver’s 207-yard performance against Notre Dame last year put him on the map and perfectly encapsulated how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. He is extremely undersized, but teams in need of a slot receiver will value his competitive nature.
78. S Corey Myrick, Clemson
Myrick enjoyed a breakout campaign with Southern Miss before hitting the portal and joining Clemson this offseason. He was the highest-graded returning safety in PFF last season, allowing just 109 yards in coverage on 33 targets. Myrick played all over the formation last year, but he is at his best when aligned as a deep half-field safety.
79. ED Adam Trick, Texas Tech
Texas Tech is happy to reload and attack once more via the transfer portal, and this time it has acquired Trick from Miami (Ohio). Trick’s 67 pressures led all returning college football players, and given Texas Tech’s keen eye for pass-rushing talent from its last shopping spree, it is fair to believe Trick could be their next major difference-maker.
80. ED Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
Rhodes is on the larger end of the spectrum for edge defender prospects, and NFL teams will love his blend of size and explosiveness. He took a step back as a run defender in 2025, and his senior season has gotten off to a slower start than hoped. Still, Rhodes has shown enough quality against top offensive tackles to warrant a top-100 ranking.
81. C Justin Evans, Nebraska
Evans started at left guard for the Cornhuskers in 2024 before moving inside to center this past season. Evans’ 78.6 PFF grade ranked seventh in college football and is the highest among returning Power Four centers.
82. G Luke Montgomery, Ohio State
As a senior, Montgomery will act as a veteran leader for the Buckeyes offense in 2026. He did not allow a single sack during the regular season, but his play faltered slightly against Indiana and Miami down the stretch, which accounted for six of his 16 pressures allowed and all three sacks.
83. CB Chris Peal, Syracuse
Peal has struggled to come away with turnovers in his college career (0 interceptions), but he does everything else correctly. His phenomenal tackling, willingness against the run and sticky coverage to limit big gains led to a PFF grade (85.1) that ranked highest in the ACC last season.
84. G Anthonie Knapp, Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish are always good at producing an offensive lineman. Knapp isn’t regarded in the same sphere as Joe Alt or Quenton Nelson, but he weathered early storms against Rueben Bain and Cashius Howell in his first two games of 2025 before bouncing back to allow just six pressures after Week 5. Knapp’s best football is still ahead of him, and while he may be best suited inside as a pro, all 1,530 of his career snaps to date have come at left tackle.
85. ED Princewill Umanmielen, LSU
Umanmielen is one of several prospects to follow head coach Lane Kiffin from Oxford to Baton Rouge. Despite a high pressure rate in his first two college seasons, he managed to log just one sack. The sacks have since caught up, and finishing in the backfield is now one of the strongest parts of Umanmielen’s game.
86. LB Sammy Brown, Clemson
Brown is a conventional off-ball linebacker who particularly excels as a run defender. He recorded 50 run stops over his first two seasons at Clemson and is an elite athlete who reached a top speed of almost 22 mph in 2025.
87. S Adon Shuler, Notre Dame
Shuler will be a three-year starter by the time he’s finished at Notre Dame and has aligned all over the defense. He already stepped into a vocal leadership role for Marcus Freeman’s unit in 2025. Tackling remains one of Shuler’s only major concerns (19.6% career missed tackle rate). He isn’t asked to blitz the quarterback often, but on the six snaps when he did last year, he generated pressure on all six, including two sacks.
88. WR Nick Marsh, Indiana
Marsh was seen as a huge transfer portal coup for Curt Cignetti after back-to-back 600-yard campaigns at Michigan State. He proved much more dynamic after the catch in the latter, forcing 28 missed tackles compared to just six a year earlier. Listed at 6-foot-3, Marsh is a constant threat in traffic, but he must cut down on the focus drops that have been a recurring issue to date.
89. ED Jordan Ross, LSU
A transfer from Tennessee without a start to his name, Ross is highly touted within college football circles. His 13 career pressures and two sacks on 130 pass-rushing snaps do not exactly scream early-round prospect, but the former four-star recruit has many SEC observers taking note as a potential breakout star in 2026.
90. WR Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
Harbor has yet to live up to the billing in Columbia, but he is perhaps the best raw athlete in the class. Listed at a gargantuan 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, he could reportedly run in the 4.3 range at next year’s combine. Even if he continues to struggle with production in 2026, someone will take him off the board given his athletic profile.
91. CB Christian Gray, Notre Dame
In a similar vein to Nyck Harbor, I am not ready to completely give up on Christian Gray just yet. He is coming off a disastrous junior season, which included a PFF coverage grade (51.0) and nine total penalties. Gray will receive no shortage of opportunities to prove himself to NFL decision-makers, as quarterbacks want nothing to do with Leonard Moore on the other side of the formation.
92. LB Tony Rojas, Penn State
Rojas is returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season after just four games. Before the injury, he appeared to have improved from his somewhat disappointing play in 2024 and looked more like the promising freshman he was in 2023. There is buzz that if he is back to his best, Rojas could test well at the NFL combine. He has raw speed at linebacker that few others can match, while still maintaining respectable size.
93. ED Teitum Tuioti, Oregon
Another member of this ferocious Oregon defensive front, Tuioti made 47 defensive stops last season — the most among Power Four edge defenders. Tuioti needs to produce with more consistency as a pass-rusher next season (outside the top 50 in pressures last year), but with plenty of room to grow, he could easily rise into the first round.
94. CB John Nestor, Minnesota
Nester is on track for a career year in 2026, earning an 85.6 overall PFF grade through five weeks. Much of that success has come from his work as a tackler, with 15 tackles and seven defensive stops, but he has also held up well in coverage. Nester has allowed just nine catches on 17 targets for 48 yards, with one touchdown surrendered, while recording an interception and two pass breakups for a 53.8 passer rating allowed.
95. WR Omarion Miller, Arizona State
Miller’s breakout 2025 season at Colorado was followed by a portal move to Arizona State. He’s one of several bigger-bodied receivers on the 2027 big board, but a career average of more than 8 yards after the catch shows he is much more than an aerial target. Miller is a genuine weapon with the ball in his hands.
96. WR Cooper Barkate, Miami
Barkate posted three productive seasons in the Ivy League at Harvard before a successful stop at Duke last season, and now he heads to Coral Gables alongside quarterback Darian Mensah. He enters 2026 with nearly 3,000 yards of collegiate experience and the ability to win both in the slot and out wide.
97. CB Romanas Frederique Jr., Miami
Frederique looked like a future top-10 pick after his debut season at Miami in 2024. Despite his team reaching the national championship a year later, Frederique missed five games down the stretch of the regular season due to injury and did not look like himself in the playoffs. Injury issues have continued in 2026, and it’s unclear how much we will see of him before the draft. If he does declare, however, some team will be enticed by his earlier film.
98. S Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
McClain has earned overall PFF grades of 81.3 and 77.8 in his first two seasons of college football. He has seen an expanded role in 2026 after Caleb Downs departed for Dallas. McClain doesn’t quite have the unwavering consistency of Downs in coverage, but he’s a reliable tackler who rarely whiffs (six career missed tackles).
99. S Jelani McDonald, Texas
McDonald has been one of college football’s highest-graded run-defending safeties since 2024. He possesses the ideal athletic traits you could want from a safety, and scouts love his competitive nature. You can line him up anywhere, but McDonald appears most comfortable near the line of scrimmage.
100. ED Boubacar Traore, Notre Dame
Traore finished last season with an 80.3 overall PFF grade and is Notre Dame’s biggest pass-rushing threat in 2026. Noticeable improvement over time, along with coveted traits including his explosive first step, gives Traore the potential to be drafted well above this ranking.
101. S Zach Lutmer, Iowa
Lutmer excelled against both the pass and the run in 2025, his first season as a starter for the Hawkeyes. Quarterbacks had a 59.3 passer rating when throwing in his direction. Lutmer came away with three interceptions and forced nine additional incompletions.
102. TE Peter Clarke, Temple
A British-born graduate of the NFL Academy in London, Clarke was still learning the intricacies of the sport when he posted a 90.5 overall PFF grade last season, which led all FBS tight ends. Having opted to stay at Temple, he looks set to receive a major target share in 2026.
103. WR Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
Wesco Jr. has missed time due to injury on multiple occasions throughout his college career, but he has been one of the ACC’s top receivers when available. He averages more than 17 yards per catch for his career in Death Valley.
104. T Melvin Siani, Texas
Siani has jumped from Temple to Wake Forest and now Texas in three years. He has shown improvement at every stop, and although he may not be the heaviest tackle in the 2027 class, Siani has the requisite length to stay on the exterior of the offensive line at the next level.
105. T Niki Prongos, Stanford
Prongos is a redshirt senior; however, he only started playing football in his final year of high school, so this is a rare case in which what looks like an experienced collegiate starter may actually possess even more untapped potential as a pro. He has unfortunately begun the 2026 season on the sideline due to injury.
106. QB Drake Lindsey, Minnesota
It’s not entirely clear if Lindsey will declare for the 2027 draft or if he feels an additional year in college football, perhaps paired with a transfer to a top contender, is the best course to take. A 68.7 PFF passing grade last season, in his first year as a starter, was nothing to write home about. However, NFL executives will love his size, natural arm strength and consequent upside.
107. ED Anto Saka, Texas A&M
Saka played somewhat sparingly over three years at Northwestern but consistently logged pressure rates above 15% when he was on the field. He recorded only six total sacks across 2024 and 2025, but he’s constantly disruptive and has a chance to prove his worth against quality SEC offensive tackles.
108. DI Tavion Gadson, Kentucky
Gadson showed flashes of excellence last season and earned an 81.5 PFF pass-rushing grade. He didn’t always have much to work with when commonly aligned over the center, but a new defensive scheme at Kentucky this year gives Gadson room to show what he can offer as a true 3-tech defensive tackle.
109. CB Jyaire Hill, Michigan
Hill has featured heavily over the past few years at Michigan. He’s one of the only players remaining from the Wolverines’ 2023 national title-winning team, and his career PFF grades have been consistently solid. Hill has dropped more interceptions than he has held onto, but it’s not all about big plays. He provides legitimate consistency in both man and zone coverage.
110. TE Andrew Rappleyea, Penn State
Rappleyea doesn’t provide the same spark in the receiving game as Penn State alumni like Tyler Warren and Mike Gesicki, but with NFL offenses doubling down on their usage of 12 and 13 personnel, Rappleyea’s quality run-blocking experience as an in-line tight end is a real asset.
111. HB Nate Frazier, Georgia
At the forefront of Georgia’s offense, Frazier will never lack eyes on his film. He has yet to deliver a 1,000-yard rushing season, but Frazier’s brash, no-nonsense rushing style, paired with his well-respected work rate, draws comparisons to former Bulldog Nick Chubb.
112. DI Bear Alexander, Oregon
Playing alongside several other top draft prospects on the Oregon defensive line, it can be difficult for Alexander’s tape to stand out. His best football comes on early downs as a true run-stuffing anchor in the middle of the defense. Alexander’s stat sheet won’t always look attractive, but his effectiveness against the run does not go unnoticed.
113. HB Isaac Brown, Louisville
Brown is rather undersized for a running back and doesn’t have much receiving ability to speak of. He has also missed time due to injury in the past. That said, it’s hard to argue with back-to-back PFF rushing grades of 84.9 and 89.9 to start his college career. Brown makes defenders miss in a phone booth and packs a punch after contact, too — he gained more than 5 yards after contact on average last season.
114. DI Melkart Abou Jaoude, North Carolina
Abou Jaoude’s PFF pass-rushing grade has improved with every season, and teammates rave about his work ethic. The 2025 season was one to forget for Bill Belichick’s North Carolina defense, but Abou Jaoude’s 12 sacks were one silver lining.
115. S Dashawn Spears, LSU
Spears is entering a starting role for the first time in 2026, but what a defense he gets to do it on. He was elite across just 245 snaps last season as a sophomore, earning a 90.1 overall PFF grade. He was clinical against the run and also allowed a passer rating of just 29.9.
116. ED Taylor Wein, Oklahoma
The SEC has no shortage of potential NFL edge defenders. Wein didn’t record his first career sack until his third season in Norman. His lack of size makes him somewhat of a tweener, but he has shown he can also be effective dropping into coverage.
117. WR Jordan Faison, Notre Dame
Faison aligns out wide for Notre Dame but may be best suited to the slot at the next level. You could argue he is a jack of all trades, master of none. NFL teams will view him as a safe, high-floor option in the middle rounds.
118. QB Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Iamaleava, whose best football probably came during his time at Tennessee. He has further tapped into his dual-threat ability in recent seasons, and his lanky frame may attract scouts who envision further upside.
119. T Ian Moore, Ohio State
Moore is a former highly rated recruit entering his first full-time season as a starter in 2026. Long arms and huge hands leave little doubt that he can remain at tackle in the NFL. He must prove his worth protecting one of the most important blind sides in college football.
120. G Joseph Borjon, San Diego State
The first Group of Five offensive lineman on the list, Borjon brings mammoth size at a listed 6-foot-9 and 338 pounds. There are several areas of his game in need of major refinement, and his college career has been up and down, but there’s simply no teaching the size he brings to the position.
121. CB Jalen Mayo, Houston
Mayo was a standout at FCS Stephen F. Austin before transferring in-state to Houston for 2026. His 90.3 overall PFF grade at the FCS level was the highest of any returning safety. Mayo is a really fun athlete who plays faster than every other player on the defense.
122. S Braden Awls, Iowa State
Awls joined Iowa State following a breakout 2025 season at Toledo, where he missed just one tackle against the run and made 18 defensive stops.
123. CB Kayin Lee, Tennessee
Lee has primarily played on the perimeter throughout his college career but looks adept in the slot, too. He allowed only three touchdowns in three years at Auburn before transferring while hauling in just as many interceptions.
124. T Jesse Perry, Tennessee
Perry boasts monstrous size and has played more than 300 snaps at both tackle and guard at Tennessee. It’s unclear where his best position will be at the next level, but for now he’s an equally useful pass protector at either spot. Perry has surrendered three career sacks entering 2026.
125. TE Brett Norfleet, Missouri
A four-year SEC starter with the requisite size to succeed at the next level, Norfleet is not unlike the litany of tight ends selected on Day 2 of the 2026 draft. However, entering his senior season, he had just one career game with more than 50 receiving yards against Power Four opposition.
126. DI Francis Brewu, Notre Dame
Brewu logged two quality seasons at Pitt and looked immediately outstanding in his Notre Dame debut at Lambeau Field, earning a 90.5 overall PFF grade against Wisconsin. He looks to be expanding his pass-rushing repertoire with each season.
127. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Florida
Florida is Singleton’s third team in as many seasons. At Auburn, Singleton was unable to replicate the same level of production he achieved as a teenager at Georgia Tech. He profiles as a slot receiver at the next level but does have some sneaky contested-catch ability despite his smaller frame.
128. G Desmeal Leigh, Youngstown State
Leigh would be Youngstown State’s fourth drafted player of the 21st century and the third offensive lineman selected from the school in the Super Bowl era. He played just one season of football in high school but boasts all the measurables one could want at offensive tackle. Leigh’s pass-protection grades have outperformed his run-blocking grades in all five seasons of FCS play.
129. T Fox Crader, Oregon
Crader’s 2026 campaign has gotten off to a rough start. After posting an 88.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, Crader allowed the first three sacks of his career across Oregon’s first two games of the 2026 season. Perhaps the struggles can be attributed to a switch from left tackle to right tackle.
130. ED Quintavius Johnson, Georgia
Not all Georgia defenders were legendary recruits. Johnson arrived in Athens as the 60th-ranked player in the state but has been able to carve out a meaningful role thanks to his disciplined run defense on early downs. Johnson is merely serviceable as a pass-rusher, and his upside may not be as high as that of other edge defenders in this class, but he’s able to set the edge in style.
131. ED J’Mond Tapp, Memphis
A former four-star recruit, Tapp’s career had been trending in the wrong direction after he started at Texas before moving to Arizona State and then Southern Miss. A breakout 2025 campaign in the Sun Belt, featuring a 90.0 overall PFF grade, has the arrow pointed upward again for this versatile defensive lineman. Now at Memphis, his fourth program in as many years, the hope is that Tapp has finally put all the pieces together, albeit against a lower standard of competition.
132. LB Whit Weeks, LSU
Pre-draft athletic testing likely won’t do Weeks any favors — he’s below average in that regard. Coaches will fall in love with his on-field play, though. He is a high-quality presence in the locker room, and even on one of the most loaded defenses in college football, he finds a way to make his own plays every week.
133. S Faletau Satuala, BYU
The former top recruit in the state of Utah is one of the most athletically imposing players in this class. Satuala lines up all across BYU’s defense, but his best football comes close to the line of scrimmage, where his blend of size and instincts draws upside comparisons to Kyle Hamilton.
134. ED Sahir West, UCLA
West can play both on the interior and off the edge but runs the risk of falling into no man’s land with his tweener build. His breakout 2025 season at James Madison included 36 pressures, an 80.5 overall PFF grade and an ensuing transfer to the West Coast.
135. LB E.J. Lightsey, Georgia Tech
Lightsey jumped ship from Georgia to Georgia Tech after it appeared he wasn’t going to see much action while buried on Kirby Smart’s loaded depth chart. His game-to-game consistency is among the best in this class. He has just one career game with a PFF grade below 50.0.
136. DI Horace Lockett, UCF
The man mountain wearing No. 0 for the UCF defense is the first player anyone notices when they turn on the tape. Standing 6-foot-6 and 355 pounds, Lockett is every bit the prototypical early-down run stopper up the middle you would imagine him to be. He looked excellent to begin 2025 before missing the final three-quarters of the season due to injury. With fewer than 400 snaps entering 2026, Lockett must prove he is capable of handling a more sustained workload.
137. LB Matt Rose, Stanford
Rose has tasted victory only 10 times over his first three years of college football with Stanford’s struggling program, but he’s rarely been part of the problem. An 80.3 overall PFF grade last year was highlighted by standout performances against the run versus Cal, Miami and Florida State.
138. CB Tre’Quon Fegans, Jacksonville State
Fegans started his career as a four-star recruit at USC, and two stops later, he finally found his potential at Jacksonville State. Now in his senior year, Fegans has prototypical NFL measurables and plays with superb confidence in man coverage.
139. TE Eli Finley, Louisiana Tech
Finley has looked good in all four seasons at Louisiana Tech. He likely would have had opportunities to transfer to the Power Four but opted to stay. He stayed in to block on 31% of his passing snaps last season and looks as comfortable doing so as an additional offensive lineman. The rise of 13 personnel across the NFL has coaches clamoring for players like Finley.
140. T Elijah Paige, USC
Paige’s 2025 season was marred by injury troubles, but he looked great when available. Paige went sack-free on 170 pass-blocking snaps and has continued that form into 2026, when he has looked like one of college football’s best left tackles. Paige should have the physique to remain at tackle at the next level.
141. WR Yannick Smith, SMU
Kevin Jennings’ newest target at SMU, Smith has settled in nicely after two productive seasons at East Carolina. He profiles as an outside Z receiver with slot versatility.
142. WR Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
One of the more recognizable names among college football fans, Sategna has cut his teeth in the SEC, including a 960-yard season at Oklahoma. He’s one of the smaller slot receivers on the draft board, and it’s no surprise that he’s most dangerous after the catch.
143. C Anthony Boswell, Houston
It’s not a strong draft for centers, which may tempt Boswell into declaring as an underclassman if he senses an opportunity to go earlier than expected due to positional need. The 2026 season is just his second as a collegiate starter, but he’s yet to put a foot wrong — or allow a sack — at Toledo and now Houston.
144. TE Luke Reynolds, Virginia Tech
These tight ends are lining up for mid-round selections. Reynolds was among the massive portal class that followed James Franklin from Penn State to Virginia Tech. He has begun 2026 in impressive style with 164 yards in his first two games after some felt he didn’t make the expected jump in 2025.
145. HB LJ Martin, BYU
Martin’s power-running style has taken the BYU offense to heights it didn’t previously imagine were possible. The senior will surpass 3,000 career rushing yards in 2026, including 2,000 yards after contact. He’s also an adept receiving back.
146. WR Brandon Inniss, Ohio State
Inniss has been stuck behind some of the greatest wide receiver prospects in recent memory for much of his college career. He’s played at Ohio State for four years but has only two games with more than 50 receiving yards. He has talent, is well-regarded in the locker room and will hear his name called on draft day.
147. C Austin Kawecki, Wisconsin
Kawecki’s 2026 season has gotten off to a disappointing start, with significant interior disruption allowed in each of his first two games. He spent four years at Oklahoma State, starting in the last of those seasons, and looked fairly solid in all facets of offensive line play.
148. DI Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech
Copeland began his collegiate career at Army, defending the triple option in practice, and stopping the run remains the highlight of his game. Pass-rushing upside is limited for this 300-plus-pound defensive tackle, but he has a high floor on early downs.
149. S Bryce Thornton, Florida
As Thornton’s career has progressed, he has become more comfortable playing in the box. He has three straight years of above-average grades in run defense and coverage, and he can also be quite a menacing blitzer.
150. QB DJ Lagway, Baylor
Lagway is an enigma at quarterback. He is a former top-ranked quarterback recruit in America. His time at Florida saw more downs than ups, but he showed fleeting moments of brilliance. His draft standing will hinge heavily on this season at Baylor, and it’s reasonable to assume he returns for another year of college football. However, his unteachable arm talent and athleticism mean that whenever he does pull the trigger and declare for the draft, he will have his fair share of fans.
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