Matt Bowen picking the best traits of the players in the draft, some of those he choose:
Strongest arm? Fastest offensive and defensive playmakers? Quickest first step? Let's hand out superlatives for this NFL draft class.
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Best receiving back: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Love had 55 receptions and five touchdowns over his past two seasons, and his route tree will expand as a pro. Love should be viewed as a playmaker in the league, similar to Detroit's
Jahmyr Gibbs and Atlanta's
Bijan Robinson.
Best pass-protecting back: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Love's pass-blocking ability adds to his three-down profile in the NFL. He had 109 pass-blocking reps over the past two seasons, allowing only one pressure.
Best route runner: Carnell Tate, Ohio State
A glider with separation ability at multiple levels of the field, Tate is well-versed in manipulating man coverage in the route stem. He caught 51 passes for nine touchdowns last season.
Best red zone target: Denzel Boston, Washington
Boston caught seven of his 11 touchdowns last season on red zone throws. He can create separation on quick slants, but it's the one-on-one fade routes that highlight his strengths. He can climb the ladder to high-point or adjust to make some clutch grabs.
Best receiving instincts: Antonio Williams, Clemson
A reliable slot target with steady production (130 receptions over the past two seasons), Williams has the coverage awareness to settle in open grass when facing zone looks. And he can create his own leverage to defeat man coverage underneath.
Most instinctive OL: Logan Jones, Iowa
Jones is steady in pass protection and had experience in a multiple-run scheme at Iowa. He has the field awareness to identify pressure and late movement to anchor the offensive front.
Best pass-rush moves: David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey has a full menu of pass-rush moves to attack the pocket. The 4.5 speed is there to help him get upfield and bend to dip under blockers. He can win with speed-to-power but also has multiple inside counters. Bailey's 14.5 sacks tied for the most in the FBS, while his 71 pressures tied for second.
Best coverage instincts: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Downs unpacks route combinations with speed, which allows him to cut or drive on crossers and over routes from depth. Plus, he can anticipate breaks in man coverage to stay connected with receivers.
Best secondary blitzer: Keionte Scott, Miami
Scott has a strong sense of timing and feel as a blitzer from overhang or slot alignments. And he has the speed to get to the quarterback. In addition to his five sacks, Scott had 21 pressures in 2025.
Best nickel traits: Keionte Scott, Miami
Scott fits best as a low-zone nickel, giving him playmaking upside in the right scheme. He has a tone-setting demeanor near the line of scrimmage, leading all FBS cornerbacks with nine run stops in 2025. Scott had two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five sacks last season.
Best tackler: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
With a 6-foot-5, 244-pound frame, Styles uses his long tackling radius to wrap up ball carriers. He played 642 defensive snaps at Ohio State last season, and he missed only two tackles.
Fastest closing speed to ball carrier: Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Styles runs clean lines at the second level, using his short-area speed to arrive at the ball. Plus, he can close the edges on perimeter concepts. Styles
ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash at the combine.