NJ.com's first NFL draft rankings of the offseason: Who ranks at the very top? A surprise name made the top five … and much more.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will speak on stage during the first round of the NFL draft in April. The 2026 NFL Draft is still two months away, but many of the key events — including next week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis and college pro days in March and April — that determine the draft slots of prospects are set to begin.
Using college All-22 film, stats and other factors, NJ.com compiled its first draft ranking of the offseason, ranking players 1 through 25. Some of these prospects could be perfect fits forAlthough Bain lacks ideal length , he compensates with powerful hands and upper-body strength. His bull rush, chop club and other power-based moves give offensive tackles problems, and his quickness allows him to slip blocks. Built more like a defensive tackle at 6-3, 270 pounds, he’s still able to win at the top off the rush. He finished this past season with 54 tackles and 9.5 sacks, proving to be a dominate game-wrecker.Downs has elite instincts, triggers downhill with lightning-quickness to make open-field tackles and has the range to be a center-field safety., he could potentially make the same impact on an NFL defense and become one of the league’s best safeties as a rookie.Love runs patiently and decisively with excellent vision. He maintains balance through tackle attempts and is a home-run threat on every carry — like in Notre Dame’s playoff game against Indiana last year, when he bounced a run to the outside for a 98-yard touchdown. His agile cutback shakes defenders, and his stiff arm sends them flying to the ground. In 2025, he rushes for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 27 receptions for 280 yards and three scores. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love rushes for a touchdown against Southern California's Kamari Ramsey during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in South Bend, Ind.He has shown elite ability off the edge, getting around/running through offensive tackles with a lethal ghost move and power rushes. He violently sheds offensive linemen to make plays against the run, eliminates the threat of scrambling quarterbacks with his sideline-to-sideline range and also does a good job in coverage. This past season, the 6-4, 243-pound linebacker recorded 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese drops back to defend against Miami during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. APA dominant slot can be just as impactful as a star X or Z receiver, and Lemon could be an Amon-Ra St. Brown-level player from the inside. Lemon has strong hands, making tough catches in traffic while absorbing big hits, and he is a crafty route runner who consistently gets open over the middle, especially against zone coverage. He is most dangerous after the catch, generating 502 yards in that area this past season. He’s powerful enough to run through defenders and quick enough to evade. The USC standout finished the year with 79 total receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Southern California wide receiver Makai Lemon celebrates after his touchdown with tight end Walker Lyons during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Eugene, Ore.Bailey is a twitched-up pass rusher with prototypical size and super long arms. He has totaled 21.5 sacks in the last two years, and his ability to bring down quarterbacks should translate well to the NFL. His pass-rush arsenal of spin moves, a ghost rush and long-arming make offensive tackles look silly. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore passes under pressure from Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey during the first half of the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. APAt 6-5, 243 pounds, Styles covers ground quickly with sideline-to-sideline range, and with his closing speed, he stifles running backs, tight ends and wide receivers, preventing them from gaining extra yards. The sure-handed linebacker only missed one tackle this past season. Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. catches a pass from quarterback Carson Beck before running int in for a touchdown in front of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles during the first half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. APMendoza may not rank as an elite prospect, but his accuracy and efficiency — 41 touchdowns to six interceptions and a 90.3 QBR this past season — combined with his size , above-average arm strength and processing skills make him worthy of a top-10 pick.Delane, a 6-0, 190-pound cornerback, plays zone effectively while also showing man-coverage ability, sticking to wide receivers like glue. He is an all-around playmaker, recording eight interceptions and forcing four fumbles during his collegiate career. He shuts down run plays and short passes with strong open-field tackling — and knifes around offensive lines on blitzes to create extra pressure and tip balls. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway passes under pressure from LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Baton Rouge, La. The uncertainty of how McCoy will bounce back after missing an entire season with a torn ACL could cause him to drop. At 6-0, 193 pounds, he effortlessly mirrors wide receivers in man and zone coverage — the type of skill NFL shutdown cornerbacks have. One of his best plays came against Alabama last season, when he locked up freshman sensation Ryan Williams in the back corner of the end zone and high-pointed the ball for an interception. Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy intercepts a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. Fano is extremely tall but also very thin . He’s very athletic, beating rushers with good footwork, sliding to pick up stunts and pulling on run/pass plays to kick out edge rushers and defensive tackles. He could be a weapon, especially in an outside-zone run scheme.Mauigoa anchors well in pass protection and drives defenders off the ball in the run game — he’s got a mean streak teams will love. Generally considered a safe prospect, the 6-6, 315-pounder struggles against speed rushers who are quick and flexible. Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa blocks Ohio State defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. during the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game between Ohio State and Miami Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. But the 6-4, 328-pound guard also thrives as a run blocker, driving his opponents off the ball and reaching the second level to cut off linebackers. With good positioning and leverage, he seals off defenders effectively. His physicality was on display this past season when he demolished linebackers and safeties 10-plus yards downfield. Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane blocks Nebraska defensive back Deshon Singleton off the field on a ruinning play during the second quarter on Nov. 22, 2025. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comTyson’s release package is so smooth it turns cornerbacks the opposite way. His explosiveness helps him win at every level of the field. Overall, the 6-2, 200-pound wide receiver has the ability of a No. 1 receiving option and ultimately could go in the top-10. He finished this past season with 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson makes a catch in front of Texas State cornerback Joshua Eaton during the first half of an NCAA college football game in San Marcos, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Tate has great size , paired with unbelievable body control, reliable hands and vertical speed. This past season, he recorded a 40-plus-yard catch in six different games and averaged 17.2 yards per catch. Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate, right, catches a touchdown as Western Kentucky defensive back Nazir Ward defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. McNeil-Warren is a large safety , who makes plays from center field, inside the box and in the slot. He delivers crushing hits and jars balls loose, finishing this past season with three forced fumbles. He’s also very solid in coverage. Last year, he contained Bowling Green standout Harold Fannin, who had an awesome rookie season this past year with the Browns. Miami running back Keyon Mozee is tackled by Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren during the first half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Detroit.A 6-3, 245-pound move tight end, Sadiq lines up from the slot and as an H-back, creating matchup problems for defenses. He gets open against slower safeties down the seam, turning those plays into touchdowns. Oregon found creative ways of getting him the ball to take advantage of his athleticism, and his NFL team would be smart to do the same. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq catches a pass for a first down as the No. 5 Ducks face the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl at the College Football Playoff semifinals from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 9, 2025. Even when not directly making the play, Banks is disruptive, pushing back guards and centers to stuff runs or create extra pressure on quarterbacks. But he could drop outside the first round because sometimes he makes no impact or misses easy tackles and sacks that turn into bigger plays. He finished his collegiate career with a 25.5% missed tackle rate. Florida players including Trevor Etienne , Caleb Banks and Graham Mertz celebrate after defeating Tennessee in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. An undersized pass rusher , Howell uses various moves, from a spin move to a chop-and-rip, to beat offensive tackles. He uniquely contorts his body to create good leverage. He is like a stick of dynamite, bending around the edge before a tackle can even get a hand on him. This past season, he recorded 11.5 sacks for the Aggies. Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell celebrates his sack of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 in Baton Rouge, La. Faulk won’t be a sack artist, but in a 3-4 scheme where he can set the edge and rush inside on passing downs, the 6-6, 285-pounder could be an impactful starter. He consistently sheds blocks and gets backfield penetration on run plays. His persistent motor — like when he chased down a Baylor running back all the way downfield to prevent a touchdown — and his playmaking ability — including batting passes at the line — also make him a good prospect. AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 18: Keldric Faulk #15 of the Auburn Tigers reacts during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. At 6-0, 190 pounds, Cisse has legit track speed and fluid hips, sticking with wide receivers downfield and making up ground when trailing. From a technique standpoint, he does a good job of getting his hands inside the wide receiver’s chest to force incompletions. Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion catches a pass as South Carolina's Brandon Cisse and Peyton Williams defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in College Station, Texas. At 6-3, 260 pounds, Parker uses his long arms and powerful hands to win up front, relying less on quickness or refined pass-rush moves. Strong, physical, defensive ends with length like Parker typically offer a high floor. He projects as a quality starter, but he must become more dynamic as a rusher to be a true difference-maker. His sack total dropped from 11 in 2024 to five this past season. Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker plays against SMU in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. Boston is a jump-ball expert, pulling down contested catches for touchdowns, and he also wins over the middle field with efficient route running. He is a smooth mover at 6-4, 209 pounds and should have no problem creating separation in the NFL. In 2025, he snagged 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston catches a touchdown against Oregon during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Seattle. Woods defeats guards with a powerful push-pull move, making him an effective run stopper. He is capable of rushing off the edge in sub-packages, and on the interior, his bull rush collapses pockets. Starting the year as a projected top-five pick, Woods’ inconsistency as a pass rusher caused his stock to plummet. He just doesn’t create enough pressure to warrant a top pick. However, he does have the strength and get-off explosion to develop into a better rusher. Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods celebrates after a touchdown against Duke during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. Abney is vastly underrated. He thrives in zone, jumping routes to break up passes and snag interceptions, but he can also excel in man, using his 6-0, 190-pound frame to bump and run. He’s very sticky in coverage, especially against NFL-caliber wide receivers. Last year, he performed well against Iowa State wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who were both drafted by the Texans on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden makes the catch against Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney II during the first half in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Atlanta. Downs would be a tone-setter on New York’s defense, Lemon could form one of the league’s best wide receiver duos with Malik Nabers, and Delane could finally give the Giants a legit No. 1 cornerback.McNeil-Warren could replace impending free agent Reed Blankenship and raise the ceiling of the defense, Sadiq could replace Dallas Goedert and become one of Jalen Hurts’ favorite targets, and Fano would finally give the Eagles a Lane Johnson successor.Cayden Steele covers the Philadelphia Eagles and sports commerce for NJ Advance Media. He joined NJ.com in 2023 after graduating from Temple University. In college, he interned at The Philadelphia Inquirer, the...
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