Robert Garcia’s Top 60 Prospects & 2026 NFL Draft Preview

Hear ye, hear ye, the NFL DRAFT has descended upon the city of Champions built of wrought iron and glorious lore!

That may be a bit much considering most draft gurus are describing this year’s draft class as a good ‘starter’ but not a ‘star’ filled draft. I only have 15 prospects listed as true first round talents with about five of them being prospects that could go in the top 10 of any draft.

We lack elite talent and depth at several positions but if you need an offensive lineman, this is a good year with the possibility of 10 coming off the board in round one. The defensive backfield also has some top tier talent led by Caleb Downs out of Ohio State and LSU’s Mansoor Delane. There are some intriguing prospects along the edges of the defensive line and at the slot position with some shifty wide receivers.

A flash back to 2022 when Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback selected in round one could take place but I’m thinking someone jumps into the back of the round to grab Ty Simpson out of Alabama. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is guaranteed to be selected number one in this year’s draft giving the Raider’s some hope. After that we could see a ton of trades throughout round one.

Without further ado, here is a look at my top 60 overall prospects, and the best at each position and the heralded yearly Mock Draft!

Tier One – Players with 1st Round Grades
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB - Notre Dame
2a. Arvell Reese, EDGE - Ohio State
2b. David Bailey, EDGE - Texas Tech
4. Sonny Styles, LB - Ohio State
5. Caleb Downs, S - Ohio State
6. Mansoor Delane, CB - LSU
7. Carnell Tate, WR - Ohio State
8. Fernando Mendoza, QB - Indiana
9. Olaivavega Ioane, G - Penn State
10. Kenyon Sadiq, TE - Oregon
11. Francia Mauigoa, OT - Miami
12. Makai Lemon, WR - USC
13. Jermond McCoy, CB – Tennessee
14. Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE – Miami
15. Dillon Thieneman, S - Oregon

Tier Two – Best of the Rest
16. Jordyn Tyson, WR - Arizona
17. Spencer Fano, OL - Utah
18. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S - Toledo
19. Monroe Freeling, OT - Georgia
20. Omar Cooper, WR - Indiana
21. Kadyn Proctor, OT - Alabama
22. Colton Hood, CB - Tennessee
23. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE - Miami
24. Caleb Lomu, OT - Utah
25. Kedric Faulk, EDGE - Auburn
26. Avieon Terrelll, CB - Clemson
27. KC Concepcion, WR - Texas A&M
28. Cashius Howell, EDGE - Texas A&M
29. Germie Bernard, WR - Alabama
30. Blake Miller, OT - Clemson
31. Denzel Boston, WR - Washington
32. Chris Johnson, CB - San Diego State
33. Jadarian Price, RB - Notre Dame
34. Ty Simpson, QB - Alabama
35. Malachi Lawrence, EDGE - UCF
36. Kayden McDonald, DT - Ohio State
37. Keylan Rutledge, G - Georgia Tech
38. Peter Woods, DT - Clemson
39. Jacob Rodriguez, LB - Texas Tech
40. Keionte Scott, CB – Miami

41. Anthony Hill Jr, LB - Texas
42. Chase Bisontis, OL - Texas A&M
43. Max Iheanachor, OT - Arizona State
44. Lee Hunter, DT - Texas Tech
45. T.J. Parker, EDGE - Clemson
46. CJ Allen, LB - Clemson
47. D’Angelo Ponds, CB - Indiana
48. R Mason Thomas, EDGE - Texas A&M
49. Brandon Cisse, CB - South Carolina
50. Treydan Stukes, S - Arizona
51. Zion Young, EDGE - Missouri
52. Caleb Banks, DT - Florida
53. Jake Golday, LB - Cincinnati
54. Chris Brazzell, WR - Tennessee
55. Christen Miller, DT - Georgia
56. Kyle Louis, LB/S - Pittsburgh
57. Emmanuel Pregnon - Oregon
58. Antonio Williams, WR - Clemson
59. Bud Clark, S - TCU
60. Deni Dennis-Sutton, EDGE - Penn State

Top Prospects at each Position

*BOLDED PLAYERS below are prospects I really like!

OFFENSE

Quarterbacks
1. Fernando Mendoza - Indiana - The former Cal product took his game to a championship level with outstanding performances at Oregon and Penn State, while leading the Hoosiers to their first National Championship.
2. Ty Simpson - Alabama
3. Garrett Nussmeier - LSU
4. Drew Allar - Penn State
5. Cole Payton - North Dakota State
SLEEPER: Good luck picking one!

Running Backs
1. Jeremiyah Love - Notre Dame
2. Jadarian Price - Notre Dame - Everyone is talking about J-Love but there is a ton to like about Price who stood out at this year’s combine.
3. Emmett Johnson - Nebraska - The Minnesota product would look great back home in Purple where he could show off his versatility as a runner and pass catcher.
4. Mike Washington Jr - Arkansas
5. Kaytron Allen - Penn State
6. Demond Claiborne - Wake Forest
7. Nicholas Singleton - Penn State
8. Jonah Coleman - Washington
9. Adam Randall - Clemson
10. J’Mari Taylor - Virginia
SLEEPER: Eli Heidenreich – Navy

Wide Receivers
1. Carnell Tate - Ohio State
2. Makai Lemon - USC - Lemon would be a perfect match for the Rams!
3. Jordyn Tyson - Arizona State
4. Omar Cooper Jr - Indiana
5. KC Concepcion - Texas A&M - This Aggie may be the most explosive receiver after the catch in this year’s draft.
6. Germie Bernard, WR - Alabama
7. Denzel Boston - Washington
8. Chris Brazzell, WR - Tennessee
9. Antonio Williams, WR - Clemson
10. Zachariah Branch - Georgia
SLEEPER: Chris Bell – Louisville

Tight Ends
1. Kenyon Sadiq - Oregon - Sadiq is a better physical talent that former All-Pro tight-end Vernon Davis. He may also have a higher ceiling.
2. Eli Stowers - Vanderbilt
3. Max Klare - Ohio State
4. Sam Roush - Stanford
5. Justin Joly - NC State
SLEEPER: Jack Endries - Texas

Tackles
1. Francia Mauigoa - Miami
2. Spencer Fano - Utah
3. Monroe Freeling - Georgia
4. Kadyn Proctor - Alabama - If Proctor can keep his weight under 340 pounds, Proctor has the talents to be an All-Pro player at tackle.
5. Caleb Lomu - Utah
6. Blake Miller - Clemson
7. Max Iheanachor - Arizona State
8. Caleb Tiernan - Northwestern
9. Dametrious Crownover - Texas A&M
10. Drew Shelton - Penn State
SLEEPER: Austin Barber - Florida

Interior
1. Olaivavega Ioane - Penn State - Ioane may be the safest pick in this year’s draft. Great character and he hasn’t given up a sack in two years and is a mauler in the run game and a very stout pass protector.
2. Keylan Rutledge - Georgia Tech
3. Chase Bisontis - Texas
4. Emmanuel Pregnon - Oregon
5. Gennings Dunker - Iowa
SLEEPER: Alex Harkey - Oregon

DEFENSE

Tackles
1. Kayden McDonald - Ohio State
2. Peter Woods - Clemson
3. Lee Hunter, DT - Texas Tech - Hunter is a monster against the run and has continued to develop as inside pass rusher. His best football should be in front of him.
4. Caleb Banks - Florida
5. Christen Miller - Georgia
SLEEPER: Zane Durant - Penn State

Edge
1a. Arvell Reese - Ohio State
1b. David Bailey - Texas Tech - Bailey has a great first step and has been a dominant pass rusher. He will need to improve his finish as a rusher and become a dependable option against the run.
3. Rueben Bain Jr - Miami
4. Akheem Mesidor - Miami
5. Kedric Faulk - Auburn
6. Cashius Howell - Texas A&M
7. Malachi Lawrence - UCF
8. T.J. Parker - Clemson
9. R Mason Thomas - Texas A&M
10. Zion Young - Missouri
SLEEPER: Nadame Tucker - Western Michigan

Linebackers
1. Sonny Styles - Ohio State - Styles may be the most physically gifted athlete at the linebacker position. He has experience playing safety and has the best upside in this year’s draft.
2. Jacob Rodriguez - Texas Tech - Instincts, intensity, range and great intangibles make Rodriguez a great option for someone later in round one.
3. Anthony Hill Jr - Texas
4. CJ Allen - Clemson
5. Jake Golday, LB - Cincinnati
SLEEPER: Harold Perkins Jr - LSU

Cornerbacks
1. Mansoor Delane - LSU - Delane is consistent, has great hips, can play the boundary and is not intimidated against the run. He is both adept against the zone and in man coverage.
2. Jermod McCoy - Tennessee - If McCoy can get back to his 2024 form, he will be the best cornerback to come out of this year’s draft.
3. Colton Hood - Tennessee
4. Avieon Terrell - Clemson
5. Chris Johnson - San Diego State
SLEEPER: Malik Muhammad - Texas

Safeties
1. Caleb Downs - Ohio State - One of my favorite players in this year’s draft. Downs can play on different levels in the secondary. He is not afraid to come up and lay a hit, blitz the quarterback, or man up against physical tight ends. Teams were afraid to challenge him on the collegiate level.
2. Dillon Thieneman - Oregon
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – Toledo
4. Treydan Stukes, S - Arizona
5. Bud Clark, S - TCU
SLEEPER: Zakee Wheatley - Penn State