This exercise demonstrates where and when the quarterbacks will be drafted this year. There were 15 players
chosen, with most of them projected to be taken in the NFL Draft. These rankings are based on a variety of
traits that each quarterback has and what has made them into the player they are today.
1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, 6’5” and 236 pounds:Mendoza is
the best pro-ready quarterback in the draft this year. He can read through all of his progressions. He also
has great footwork, with a clean and quick release. He passes the ball with deadly precision into tight
spaces. He also showcases the ability to help his receivers get open by throwing the ball with excellent
placement. Overall, he can make spectacular plays happen under duress, whether that is escaping the pocket or
throwing on the run using his mobility, which is a very underrated part of his game.
Draft Projection: Top 5
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama, 6’1” and 211 pounds:Simpson plays in a
pro-style offense, where he goes under center at times. He can go through all of his progressions and throw
completions while under pressure. His arm is not the most talented but it is above-average. The offense
utilized play-action by the use of RPO plays, which exhibited his mobility, showing that he can escape
pressure. He does need to understand when to run out of bounds or slide to avoid being hit though so he can
get himself out of harm’s way.
Draft Projection: Late 1st Round - Middle of the 2nd Round
3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, 6’2” and 203 pounds:Nussmeier is
the definition of a gunslinger. He has a great arm and is accurate. He also allows his receivers to adjust to
the ball. He shows the ability to throw off-platform and on the run. However, his arm is not the strongest and
he takes major risks. He throws the ball across his body, which some think is the cardinal sin of football.
He also passes the ball into traffic a lot, and makes things more difficult for himself by leaving the pocket
prematurely.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Middle of the 3rd Round
4. Drew Allar, Penn State, 6’5” and 228 pounds:Allar has one
of the best arms in the entire draft. He throws with ease, including passing into the deep parts of the field.
His arm is exceptional, as he can sidearm passes. He has the talent to do all of this despite not having clean
footwork, which leads to accuracy issues. Although he is not very mobile, he surprisingly extends plays and
improvises.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Late 3rd Round
5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson, 6’2” and 207 pounds:Klubnik has an easy
time throwing the ball into the intermediate parts of the field. He can also complete passes, even with
pressure in his face. Not only that, but when pressed into these situations, he lets his receivers adjust to
the ball. He checks it down to a player near him when he absolutely has to. His athleticism allows him to
extend plays and elude pressure.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Late 4th Round
6. Carson Beck, Miami (FL), 6’5” and 233 pounds:Beck is up
there in terms of being one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this draft. He reads through all of his
progressions and completes passes into tight spaces. He also lets his receivers make a play on the ball. His
arm talent is not the greatest and he has average arm strength. Because of this, he wins games for his team by
being an effective passer and making the right decisions.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Late 4th Round
7. Cole Payton, NDSU, 6’3” and 232 pounds:Payton has one of the
most talented arms in the draft, and yet, also has superb athletic abilities that most quarterbacks do not
have. He throws beautiful, accurate deep balls and also has the ability to take it the distance with great
speed by using his legs. He makes accurate passes to all parts of the field. There is a problem though, but to
a lesser degree, which is that he is a lefty. Due to this, it may take some time for his teammates to adjust
to his throwing style. There is also a major potential issue, and it is that he played at the FCS level. It is
a lower college level compared to where most of the prospects have played at. Not only that, but it is even a
bigger jump when playing in the NFL. He will need help to translate his abilities to the next level.
Draft Projection: Early 4th Round - Late 4th Round
8. Behren Morton, Texas Tech, 6’2” and 221 pounds:Morton has
good pocket awareness and throws the ball with satisfactory velocity to the short and intermediate parts of
the field. This is due to his quick release. However, he loses velocity on deep passes. He does go through all
of his progressions, permitting his receivers to track and locate the ball. He has shown an inability to stay
healthy for an entire season throughout his college career. He can also put the ball in harm’s way at times.
Draft Projection: Late 4th Round - Late 5th Round
9. Taylen Green, Arkansas, 6’6” and 227 pounds:Green is an
athletic specimen, being the fastest quarterback in the history of the NFL combine. He also recorded the
highest vertical jump for a quarterback. He is a dangerous weapon on the ground because of these attributes.
This lets him evade pressure and throw the ball to his receiver. Not only that, but he can throw the farthest
passes in the entire draft. However, his fundamentals are not good, as he is one of the most inaccurate
quarterbacks in this draft class. Speaking of now, he is a better runner than passer at this point in his
career. He could be an excellent quarterback one day, but needs serious development first.
Draft Projection: Early 5th Round - Late 5th Round
10. Jalon Daniels, Kansas, 6’1” and 219 pounds:Daniels
definitely has the ability to run and improvise with decent athleticism. His first instinct when escaping pass
rushers is to take off and run. He is not very strong due to his frame though. A high level of effort is
needed when driving the ball down the field, which helps him throw a good deep ball. He puts the ball where
only his receiver can catch it. He can throw it on the run and off-platform.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 6th Round - Middle of the 7th Round
11. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor, 6’4” and 216 pounds:Robertson is
an accurate and precise passer who stays in the pocket. He throws a good ball to all three levels of the field
(even though that was not the case during throwing drills at the combine). He allows his receivers to get open
and adjust to the ball. He also has a tight spiral on his throws too. Shockingly, he is somewhat mobile and
evades pressure when it is required.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 6th Round - Middle of the 7th Round
12. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, 5’10” and 207 pounds:Pavia is one
of the most underrated quarterbacks in this draft who keeps proving people wrong over and over again. Most of
the skepticism is because of his small stature. He throws with high effort and lets his receivers make
adjustments on the ball. He also locates the ball very well. He runs when it is absolutely necessary. He is a
gamer who never gives up and has been an underdog his entire college career. He needs that same mentality if
he wants to succeed at the next level.
Draft Projection: Early 7th Round - Late 7th Round
13. Luke Altmyer, Illinois, 6’2” and 210 pounds:Altmyer shows
decent athleticism but is average when it comes to throwing under duress. Instead, he steers clear of pass
rushers, which buys him time to throw the ball. It also helps his receivers get open. In addition, he allows
his receivers to adjust to the ball. He throws on the run, but his accuracy is a question mark to begin with,
so he should be advised against that. Instead, he should scramble more and try to get as many yards as he can
before sliding or running out of bounds.
Draft Projection: Early 7th Round - Undrafted
14. Joe Fagnano, UConn, 6’3” and 226 pounds:Fagnano had a
fantastic touchdown to interception ratio this past season, as it was 28:1. He finds the easy completions, is
very accurate and can throw with great anticipation. He also reads through all of his progressions. He has a
very high IQ, as shown by the ratio. He can tightrope passes by whipping his arm, using all of his strength to
throw it far with high velocity. He also allows his receivers to adjust to his passes, especially near the
endzone. He can throw on rollouts and on the run. He needs to learn how to slide more to avoid injury though.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 7th Round - Undrafted
15. Athan Kaliakmanis, 6’3” and 212 pounds:Kaliakmanis trusts his
receivers plenty to make the contested catch. He is definitely a pocket passer, and stands tall in there when
facing pressure. Even though pass rushers are trying to sack him to the ground, he will drop the pass into the
bucket for the receiver to come down with the catch. There is not much mobility to his game. He passes the
football with more loft than velocity. He does show the potential to look through his progressions, but he
does not do that very often.
Draft Projection: Undrafted
Top RB Rankings - NFL Draft 2026
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 8th, 2026
This article ranks 20 running backs from this draft class. These rankings factor in each player’s traits and
determine when they should (or not) be taken in the draft. This also takes into consideration what the player can
do now, as well as their future potential.
1. Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame, 6’0” and 212 pounds:Love has
spectacular speed to easily break loose to score a touchdown. He also has great receiving abilities, as he looks
like a natural receiver. He has the ability to make great cuts and is patient enough to see holes open up on the
offensive line. He does well at securing the ball. Overall, he is a special running back, and one of the best we
have seen coming out of college in the last few years.
Draft Projection: Top 10
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, 5’11” and 203 pounds:Price can
weave his way through traffic and has decent speed to turn the corner. He can also take it to the house. He is
very difficult to bring down and forces missed tackles. In addition, he can play on special teams as a returner.
He does have the ability to catch the ball naturally.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Middle of the 2nd Round
3. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, 6’0” and 219 pounds:
Singleton’s stature and strength allows him to break tackles. He is used as a goal line back, but that is not his
entire game. He is a speedster too, as he can make nice cuts and take it the distance rather quickly. He has easy
acceleration for his size. He also has the ability to play on special teams as a kickoff returner, and shows his
receiving prowess.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Middle of the 2nd Round
4. Jonah Coleman, Washington, 5’8” and 220 pounds:Coleman has
decent speed for his stature, but is still slower than most running backs. He can also win with great patience
and vision. He is a bruiser type of running back. Surprisingly, he does have an adequate spin move and has shown
the ability to hurdle defenders. However, he can be brought down somewhat easier than expected.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round - Early 3rd Round
5. Roman Hemby, Indiana, 6’0” and 207 pounds:Hemby is a very
physical runner who is a natural at catching the ball out of the backfield. He breaks tackles from time-to-time,
but keeps his legs churning and is a great goal line back. He can stiff arm people quite well. Additionally, he
has good vision and cuts, with above average speed to get away from tacklers.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round - Early 3rd Round
6. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas, 6’1” and 223 pounds:Washington
Jr. is a physical runner who can bulldoze people to the ground. He has great speed for someone of his size, but
it takes a while to build up. He has shown that he has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield too.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Early 3rd Round
7. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, 5’10” and 202 pounds:Johnson is not
as fast as many would have expected for his frame, though he does have the speed to turn the corner. Instead, he
is more of a bruiser who is a north-south runner. He is super tough to bring down and keeps his legs moving when
defenders are trying to tackle him. He has good balance and is also used near the end zone. He does have
satisfactory vision and a nice juke move. He can adequately change directions too. Not only that, but he has the
ability to catch passes.
Draft Projection: Early 3rd Round - Middle of the 3rd Round
8. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest, 5’10” and 188 pounds:Claiborne
has superb speed and catches the ball naturally. His speed allows him to take the ball to the house quite easily,
as he runs past almost everyone. He makes great cuts and he can accelerate easily. He is somewhat elusive but can
be tackled down easily due to his stature.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Late 3rd Round
9. Rahsul Faison, South Carolina, 5’11” and 208 pounds:Faison
shows great patience and breaks tackles due to his size. He also has quality speed for his frame, but could slow
down the further he runs down the field. He has some moves to get away from defenders to avoid tackles. He also
has decent balance. However, he will be 26 years old his rookie year and there are questions on whether he has
met his ceiling already because of his age.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Early 4th Round
10. Kaytron Allen, Penn State, 5’11” and 216 pounds:Allen is not
the fastest but has adequate speed for his size. He is very difficult to tackle and is used as a goal line back.
It will take multiple defenders to tackle him and he keeps his legs churning as this happens. He is also elusive
enough to elude tacklers. He has decent vision and a good stutter step. He surprisingly shows that he can catch
passes.
Draft Projection: Late 3rd Round - Middle of the 4th Round
11. Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M, 5’11” and 203 pounds:Moss can run
fast enough to turn the corner. He has great vision and decent cuts that help him get through the line of
scrimmage. He also has quality balance. He is very exhausting for defenders to tackle, as it takes multiple
people to bring him down and he carries them on his back at times. He is also utilized near the end zone.
Draft Projection: Early 4th Round - Late 4th Round
12. Terion Stewart, Virginia Tech, 5’9” and 222 pounds:Stewart has
beyond ridiculous speed for his stature. He starts off with an exceptional burst, but slows down the farther he
runs. He has some balance and elusiveness. He is not as physical as he should be for his stature. He can change
directions decently and utilizes a nice spin move.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 4th Round - Early 5th Round
13. Robert Henry Jr., UTSA, 5’9” and 196 pounds:Henry Jr. has
enough speed to break loose. Whether that will translate to the NFL level is a question mark, as he ran the
40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds at the NFL Combine. He has an exceptional burst to get through the hole created by
his offensive linemen and also makes opponents miss around the line of scrimmage thanks to his substantial
patience and cuts. He also has excellent balance. He is not very physical, which is expected for his size, but
did show off his talents against Texas A&M, who play in one of the best conferences in all of college football.
He can catch the ball and even line up as an outside receiver.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 4th Round - Early 5th Round
14. Jam Miller, Alabama, 5’10” and 209 pounds:Miller has decent
vision but does not have the speed that matches up with his frame. He can make defenders miss because of quality
cuts and gets through traffic to break loose. Surprisingly, he can be used as a receiver too, despite his lack of
high-quality traits.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 5th Round - Late 5th Round
15. J’Mari Taylor, Virginia, 5’10” and 199 pounds:Taylor has a
surprising amount of strength for his frame, as he breaks tackles because of his tough running style. Due to this,
he can also be used as a goal line back. He will not be stopped at will and has great balance. He can also find
ways to get through the line of scrimmage and has exceptional speed.
Draft Projection: Late 5th Round - Early 6th Round
16. Kaelon Black, Indiana, 5’10” and 211 pounds:Black has adequate
speed and he does have somewhat of a decent burst, but is better at changing directions. He can also make nice
moves to avoid tacklers, along with good balance. He has the ability to find his way through traffic and shows
that he can break loose at times. He did show his receiving skills at his previous college, James Madison
University. Physicality is a big part of his game which compensates for his lack of speed.
Draft Projection: Early 6th Round - Middle of the 6th Round
17. Adam Randall, Clemson, 6’3” and 233 pounds:Randall was a
receiver who switched positions and is now a running back, and that shows up on the field. Not only that, but he
has satisfactory speed, even with his stature. He has good vision in the backfield and showcases some quality
moves to get away from defenders. He has somewhat above average balance. He also plays on special teams as a
kickoff returner. He does have physicality to his game, but sometimes it does not show up. He can churn his legs
at times but also gets tackled easier than expected.
Draft Projection: Early 6th Round - Middle of the 6th Round
18. Seth McGowan, Kentucky, 6’0” and 223 pounds:McGowan is one of
the most physical runners, as he is very hard to tackle. He does utilize nice cuts, but is not the fastest. He
does have acceptable speed for his size though, with the ability to turn the corner.
Draft Projection: Late 6th Round - Late 7th Round
19. Dean Connors, Houston, 6’0” and 206 pounds:Connors has excellent speed, in addition
to great vision and the ability to find ways to get through the line of scrimmage. He also has nice moves to
elude tackles. Once he reaches the open field, not many people can reach him. He is exceptional at changing
directions and has the ability to catch passes. However, he has almost no physicality to his game, as he gets
tackled quite easily and falls after immediate contact.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 7th Round - Undrafted
20. Chip Trayanum, Toledo, 5’11” and 227 pounds:Trayanum is
somewhat difficult to tackle because of his above average strength and balance. These traits allow him to break
through tackles. He can weave his way through the line of scrimmage, even though he is slower than other running
backs of his stature. Surprisingly, he shows the ability to catch the ball, though not very often.
Draft Projection: Undrafted
Top WR Rankings - NFL Draft 2026
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 23rd, 2026
This write-up evaluates 20 wide receivers from this draft class. These players will be ranked based on their
attributes on the football field. It focuses on how well they did in college and what their future holds at the NFL
level.
1. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6’2” and 203 pounds:Tyson is used all
over the formation and is used in motion. He typically is thrown the ball near the line of scrimmage because of his
ability to break tackles and his substantial short-area quickness. He can somewhat elude tacklers and he can hurdle
defenders too. He is a bit speedy and runs excellent routes, finding the open spot in the zone. He is superb at
tracking and catching the ball, as he makes some crazy catches, along with high-pointing the ball. He is a
significant hands catcher but he does need to work on holding on to the ball better.
Draft Projection: Top 10
2. Makai Lemon, USC, 5’11” and 192 pounds:Lemon’s speed is
extremely exceptional, which makes it difficult for defenders to catch up to him. He has extraordinary short-area
quickness and is a significant route runner who uses moves to avoid getting tackled by defenders. He also has the
ability to hurdle defenders. He is a pure hands catcher and surprisingly does a quality job at catching contested
passes despite his size. He can also play on special teams, both as a punt and kickoff returner. However, his
small stature does make it easier to tackle him.
Draft Projection: Top 15
3. Carnell Tate, Ohio State, 6’2” and 192 pounds:Tate has
exceptional route-running skills, as he can get defenders to bite on fakes. He shows the ability to keep his feet
inbounds when catching the ball and this is because of his decent balance. He avoids tacklers and finds the open
spot in the zone to make his quarterback’s life easier. He does a good job at catching the football without using
his body. He can track and high point the ball. He also adjusts to the pass. He battles with defenders at the
catch point to make the contested catch. He was a great deep threat at the college level. However, this may not
translate to the NFL level, as he is not the fastest player.
Draft Projection: Top 15
4. Denzel Boston, Washington, 6’4” and 212 pounds:Due to Boston’s
stature, he is difficult to bring down. He can also elude tacklers and has adequate short-area quickness for his
frame. He has quality build-up speed too. At his size, he shocks people with his above average route-running. He is
also used in motion and on special teams as a punt returner. He high points the pass and tracks the ball well. He
is very physical at the catch point. However, he does have some concentration concerns when trying to catch the
pass.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 1st Round - Early 2nd Round
5. Zachariah Branch, Georgia, 5’9” and 177 pounds:Branch’s speed is
elite, along with his short-area quickness and elusiveness. He is able to run away from everyone on the field. He
utilizes superior moves to avoid defenders. He can turn anything into a huge play and can take on contact when
making the catch. However, he relies more on his speed than route-running. If he does not improve the latter, he
decreases his chances of being a full-time player.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Middle of the 2nd Round
6. Chris Bell, Louisville, 6’2” and 222 pounds:Chris Bell is
beyond fast compared to others of his stature. He is great at running routes and is used in the slot. He is an
outstanding hands catcher and can make contested catches, some of which are acrobatic. He also high points the ball
and has the body control to stay inbounds. He has substantial build-up speed and is tough to tackle but sometimes
plays smaller than his size. Therefore, he may not be as physical as others expect. Unfortunately, an ACL tear last
season may raise some concerns for teams.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Late 2nd Round
7. Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana, 6’0” and 199 pounds:Cooper Jr. is an
exceptional route runner and is excellent at finding the open spot in the zone. He can make contested catches and
high points the ball. He is also an expert at concentrating on the catch before getting hit. He has decent body
control due to his significant balance. He has considerable short-area quickness and speed. He can adjust to the
pass too. Additionally, he has somewhat good physicality.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Late 2nd Round
8. Skyler Bell, UConn, 6’0” and 192 pounds:Skyler Bell has
exceptional speed and quick feet. These aforementioned traits allow him to take it to the house. He is used in
motion and is excellent at tracking the ball down. He can adjust to the pass very well and also high point the
ball. He makes acrobatic catches and is more physical than expected for his stature.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round - Late 2nd Round
9. Elijah Sarratt, Indiana, 6 '2 ½” and 210 pounds:Sarratt is an
all-around reliable player, as he has decent short-area quickness and is a clean route runner. He is a dependable
receiver who can be relied on in clutch situations. He can adjust his body to make the catch and tracks the ball
well. He can make circus-like catches, high point the ball, and is somewhat physical. His build-up speed is a
little faster compared to others with his frame. He also has exceptional body control.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Middle of the 3rd Round
10. Deion Burks, Oklahoma, 5’10” and 180 pounds:Burks is super
fast, which lets him do an excellent job of tracking the ball. Due to his speed, he can be used in motion. There
are shocking elements to his game though, as he makes contested catches with defenders draped all over him. He can
keep his feet inbounds and also adjust to the ball as well. He is more physical than expected. However, on film, he
does not have as much short-area quickness compared to others with his frame.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Middle of the 3rd Round
11. Ja’Kobi Lane, USC, 6’4” and 200 pounds:Lane has extraordinary
build-up speed, with a surprising amount of body control and the ability to keep his feet inbounds. He is used in
the slot at times. He adjusts to the pass very well. He also uses his size to his advantage, as he can make
contested catches, and allows him to high point passes at the catch point. He uses his physicality to battle with
defenders and prepares to get hit before catching the ball. He can also make spectacular catches too. He is a
decent route runner and only uses his hands to catch the ball. However, he does have some concentration concerns.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Middle of the 3rd Round
12. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame, 6’ 4 ½” and 218 pounds:Fields is
the most physical wide receiver in this class. He high points the ball and is superb at catching contested passes
without using his body. He can track the ball well and makes amazing catches when necessary. He runs satisfactory
routes and he somehow keeps his balance despite his frame. He is a very slow player and wins with physicality, not
speed.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Late 3rd Round
13. Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, 6’4” and 198 pounds:Brazzell II
is a faster receiver for his size, which lets him play like a smaller receiver. He can also find the open spot in
the zone to make life easier on his quarterback. He is great at adjusting and high pointing the ball thanks to his
long arms. He runs decent routes and is exceptional at tracking the ball. He also makes impressive catches, even if
they are contested. However, he is not a physical receiver and uses his speed instead.
Draft Projection: Late 3rd Round - Early 4th Round
14. Josh Cameron, Baylor, 6’ 1 ½” and 220 pounds:Brazzell II is a
faster receiver for his size, which lets him play like a smaller receiver. He can also find the open spot in the
zone to make life easier on his quarterback. He is great at adjusting and high pointing the ball thanks to his long
arms. He runs decent routes and is exceptional at tracking the ball. He also makes impressive catches, even if they
are contested. However, he is not a physical receiver and uses his speed instead.
Draft Projection: Late 3rd Round - Early 4th Round
15. Germie Bernard, Alabama, 6’1” and 206 pounds:Bernard has
excellent body control and route-running skills. He finds the open spot in the zone and has decent short-area
quickness. He has exceptional speed and gets faster the more he runs down the field. He has great physicality and
breaks tackles. He also maintains his balance. Alabama used him all over the formation, not only in motion, but
also as a running back. That is reminiscent of NFL receiver, Deebo Samuel.
Draft Projection: Early 4th Round - Middle of the 4th Round
16. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, 6’0” and 196 pounds:Concepcion is not
the fastest for his size, though he makes it up in a multitude of ways. He has extraordinary vision, substantial
spatial awareness and takes proper angles to get away from defenders. He has decent short-area quickness and shows
off some elusiveness. He also has an excellent juke move. He is more physical than expected, as he can break
tackles and high point the pass well considering his frame. He is also exceptional at catching contested passes.
He is a pure hands catcher, as he does not need to use his body to make the catch. He is also used on special teams
as a punt returner.
Draft Projection: Early 4th Round - Late 4th Round
17. Antonio Williams, Clemson, 5’ 11 ½” and 187 pounds:Despite
Williams’ size, he is a little more physical than expected. He makes contested catches from time-to-time and shows
the ability to high point the ball. He can also keep his legs churning. He is used in motion a lot and is a slot
receiver by nature. He gets open during scrambling drills so the quarterback can throw the ball to him. As
expected, he has good speed and short-area quickness. He can also weave his way through traffic to escape
defenders. He was a deep threat for Clemson, but he should not be utilized this way in the NFL, as that is not the
best way to use him. He can also be used on special teams as a punt returner.
Draft Projection: Late 4th Round - Middle of the 5th Round
18. Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech, 6’3” and 187 pounds:Virgil is a
smooth athlete who runs good routes and is very quick. These traits help him avoid defenders at a high rate. He
also adjusts his body and high points the ball well with the help of his long arms. He has excellent body control
and is able to keep his feet inbounds. Surprisingly, he is somewhat physical considering his weight, as he can
battle through contact to catch the ball.
Draft Projection: Late 5th Round - Late 6th Round
19. CJ Daniels, Miami(FL), 6’2” and 202 pounds:Daniels is not the
fastest or most physical receiver for his size, but he is reliable. He can find an open spot in the zone to help
his quarterback get rid of the ball. He has the ability to catch contested passes and adjust his body to make the
catch if necessary. He is good at tracking the ball and is a decent route runner. He uses nice moves to get away
from defenders. Additionally, he is an extraordinary talent at making unbelievable catches.
Draft Projection: Early 6th Round - Middle of the 7th Round
20. Eric McAlister, TCU, 6’4” and 194 pounds:McAlister has
outstanding physicality, as he is very difficult to tackle. He has satisfactory body control and showcases that
when he high points the ball. He also tracks the ball well. He has somewhat quick feet and a great spin move to
avoid tacklers. However, he has average speed, and does not improve the further he runs down the field. There are
also major concerns, as he has ball security issues and uses his body to catch the ball. It also looks like he only
knows how to run simple routes.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 7th Round - Undrafted
Top TE Rankings - NFL Draft 2026
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 31st, 2026
This is an evaluation of 15 tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft. The players will be ranked
based on how they contributed to their college teams and what their projections are at the
next level.
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, 6’3” and 241 pounds:Sadiq
has excellent speed and great balance for someone of his size. His physicality is exceptional, as
defenders will not be able to tackle him by the legs. He shows off his extraordinary athleticism by
weaving through traffic, hurdling defenders, and is a smooth athlete. Because of this, he can also
track the ball well. Oregon used his traits to their advantage by putting him in motion and using
him on screens. He has significant body control, which allows him to adjust his body and high point
the ball. He can catch contested passes with ease too.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 1st Round - Early 2nd Round
2. Michael Trigg, Baylor, 6’4” and 240 pounds:Trigg
is beyond athletic and has substantial speed, along with quick feet. Additionally, he is a very
physical player, as it is super difficult to tackle him to the ground. Both attributes help him
separate from defenders. He high points the pass with ease and adjusts to the ball. He is also used
in the slot.
Draft Projection: Early 2nd Round - Middle of the 2nd Round
3. Joe Royer, Cincinnati, 6’5” and 247 pounds:
Surprisingly, Royer has significant athleticism. He has very good speed for his size and is somewhat
quick. Because of this, he is used all over the formation. He has great balance and can high point
the pass. He is an exceptional hands catcher and makes the tough catches look easy. As expected for
his size, he is wearying for defenders to bring him down to the ground.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round - Late 2nd Round
4. Max Klare, Ohio State, 6’4” and 246 pounds:Klare
is a prominent athlete for his size due to his decent speed and body control. His short-area
quickness also allows him to be an excellent route runner. Due to these traits, he is used all over
the formation and in motion. On top of that, he can be used on screens too. He has above-average
physicality, so he is hard to tackle. His athleticism allows him to adjust to the pass. He has
considerable concentration, which allows him to catch the ball consistently.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round - Late 2nd Round
5. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, 6’4” and 239 pounds:
Stowers has excellent speed and is an exceptional route runner. This allows him to be used as a deep
threat. He can high point the ball and adjust his body to catch the pass. He shows some physicality,
but still gets tackled easier than other tight ends, and is also not very flexible.
Draft Projection: Late 2nd Round - Early 3rd Round
6. Justin Joly, N.C. State, 6’ 3 ½” and 241 pounds:
Joly has very quick feet and is a good route runner with decent speed. He can find his way around
traffic and makes moves to avoid tacklers. It is exhausting to tackle him to the ground. In fact, it
takes quite a few defenders to complete this task. He catches passes with unbelievable body control,
which allows him to high point the pass. He has adequate physicality for his stature.
Draft Projection: Early 3rd Round - Late 3rd Round
7. Sam Roush, Stanford, 6’6” and 267 pounds:Roush
has excellent speed for his size. He lines up as an in-line tight end, where he blocks defenders. He
also runs routes from the same spot. He is a special route runner, but the routes are often short.
However, ball security issues have risen and is not the most physical for his frame. He needs to
play like someone with his stature, and become more physical.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 3rd Round - Early 4th Round
8. Oscar Delp, Georgia, 6’5” and 245 pounds:Delp is
a smooth athlete for his size, which allows him to run great routes and has excellent speed. His
feet are somewhat quick. He can make some crazy catches due to his exceptional ability to adjust to
the pass. He has decent physicality, but it is not the best compared to others of his frame. He
plays smaller than he is, so physicality needs to be a more important part of his game. In addition,
he has some concentration issues, as he cannot complete the catch from time-to-time.
Draft Projection: Late 3rd Round - Early 4th Round
9. Josh Cuevas, Alabama, 6’3” and 245 pounds:Cuevas
has good speed and great physicality for his frame. Also, he has the ability to hurdle, but his
short-area quickness is average. His decent body control allows him to adjust to the ball. However,
he runs rather simple routes, so his route tree needs to grow.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 4th Round - Early 5th Round
10. Marlin Klein, Michigan, 6’6” and 248 pounds:Klein
has great speed and has satisfactory short-area quickness. Because of this, he runs good routes. He
is also able to adjust to the pass well and has decent physicality.
Draft Projection: Early 5th Round - Late 5th Round
11. Dallen Bentley, Utah, 6’4” and 253 pounds:Bentley
is somewhat fast, which is expected for his stature. However, he is a good route runner and can
adjust to the ball also. He is physical, as it takes a few players to tackle him. He also has the
ability to play on special teams. However, his body control is not the greatest and has some
possible ball security issues.
Draft Projection: Early 5th Round - Early 6th Round
12. Carsen Ryan, BYU, 6’3” and 255 pounds:Ryan has
superb physicality for his stature. He also has very quick feet and can also adjust to the ball.
These traits allow him to make contested catches and have good route-running skills. His speed and
short-area quickness are adequate. However, his potential ball security issues need to be resolved.
Draft Projection: Middle of the 6th Round - Undrafted
13. Lake McRee, USC, 6’4” and 243 pounds:McRee has
considerable speed. He is a great hands catcher and tracks the ball well. His good body control
allows him to adjust to the pass. He runs some decent routes as an intermediate to deep threat.
Draft Projection: Late 6th Round - Undrafted
14. Eli Raridon, Notre Dame, 6’6” and 245 pounds:
Raridon has outstanding speed, which gives him the ability to track the ball. He also runs good
routes. In addition, he is used all over the formation. Due to his great body control, he can adjust
to the pass very well. His height allows him to high point the ball and make the contested catch.
However, he needs to be more physical for someone of his size.
Draft Projection: Late 6th Round - Undrafted
15. Tanner Koziol, Houston, 6'6 ½” and 247 pounds:
Koziol’s height allows him to high point the ball and can catch the ball with the defender draped
all over him. He can also adjust his body to make the catch. He has somewhat quick feet and has the
ability to keep his feet in bounds. He does run some great routes and is used all over the formation.
However, he is slow and not as physical as expected for someone of his stature.
