Daniel Jeremiah's top 50: 2026 NFL Draft prospect rankings 1.0
Rank
2
Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame · RB · Junior
Love is a dynamic weapon as a runner and receiver. On inside runs, he runs high/narrow, but he explodes to and through the hole. He will drop a level lower on contact and has the lower-leg drive to bounce off defenders. He doesn’t always let things develop because he can get skinny through narrow passages. He has elite speed on outside runs to capture the corner and take it the distance. He has a rare ability to make defenders miss without gearing down. His spin move is electric. In the passing game, he can run routes like a wideout. He’s smooth, polished and natural. He plucks the ball effortlessly. In pass protection, he is both aware and willing, but he’s best utilized out in the route. Overall, Love is a home run hitter and will immediately expand the playbook for his drafting team.
Rank
3
Arvell Reese
Ohio State · Edge · Junior
Reese is a fluid and explosive athlete. Ohio State used him as a chess piece on defense. He aligned off the ball at linebacker, on the edge as a rusher and occasionally was deployed as a QB spy. He projects best as an edge rusher at the next level. When he rushes off the edge, he flashes elite speed and bend. He can overpower OTs, TEs and RBs when he has a runway. He lacks a polished rush plan, and there are times when he’s a little late off the snap. He can match/mirror TEs and RBs in coverage. Against the run, he can generate knock-back power on the front side and has elite speed to chase from the back side. Overall, Reese reminds me a lot of 2025 first-round pick
Jalon Walker.
Rank
4
David Bailey
Texas Tech · Edge · Senior
Bailey is an ultra-explosive edge rusher with outstanding production. He operated out of both a two-point and four-point stance in Texas Tech’s scheme. His game is all about get-off and winning early in the down. He eats ground in a hurry and uses a dip/rip move before flattening quickly to the passer. He complements his speed rush with a sudden inside spin move. He flashes the ability to convert speed to power, but that is an area where he can improve at the next level. Against the run, he plays with effort and range from the back side but needs to improve his consistency and physicality when holding the point of attack. Overall, Bailey has areas to address, but his ability to create short corners to the passer is exceptional.
Rank
5
Sonny Styles
Ohio State · LB · Senior
Styles is a tall, long and rangy linebacker prospect. He made a smooth transition from safety to linebacker during his college career. In the run game, he’s quick to key, read and fill to make tackles. He uses his length to press off blocks and has outstanding lateral range to pick up production on the perimeter. He’s a firm, reliable tackler with stopping power on contact. Styles is outstanding in coverage. He can carry slot receivers down the seam and smoothly mirrors tight ends all over the field. He’s an explosive blitzer and will run over running backs who try to block him in pass pro. Styles’ performance in the Big Ten title game against Indiana answered any questions about his game, as he was the best defender on the field in that matchup. He reminds me of
Fred Warner as a player.
Rank
6
Rueben Bain Jr.
Miami · Edge · Junior
Bain is a thick, square edge rusher with short arms. His game tape is littered with disruption, destruction and dominance. As a pass rusher, he lacks an elite get-off, but he wins with leverage, power and polish. He launches out of his four-point stance, uproots offensive tackles and forces open one of their shoulders to get to the quarterback. He has a nasty chop/rip move, violent hump move and nifty Euro step. Against the run, he ragdolls tight ends and his motor to chase is unrelenting. Overall, he might lack ideal speed and length, but those shortcomings haven't stopped him from taking over big games in key moments. His drafting team is adding a certified junkyard dog, similar to former Eagle Trent Cole.
Rank
7
Makai Lemon
USC · WR · Junior
Lemon is one of my favorite players in this draft. He is a wideout with a running back's body and a linebacker's temperament. He is at his best working in the slot. He wins with quickness off the line, understands how to tempo routes and consistently wins in traffic. He doesn't waste steps and he can explode in and out of the break point. He plays bigger than his size, displaying several 50/50-ball wins on elevated throws. To see his entire repertoire, just throw on the Iowa tape. He was a craftsman in that game and couldn't be covered (10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown). He is ultra-competitive after the catch, breaking tackles and fighting for yards. Overall, Lemon is going to draw a lot of comparisons to
Amon-Ra St. Brown, and they are warranted.
9.
Carnell Tate
Ohio State · WR · Junior
Tate is a tall, long wideout with outstanding play speed and production. He has excellent suddenness to defeat press coverage, and he covers ground quickly with his long stride. He attacks defender's leverage when they play him in off coverage. He has strong/reliable hands in traffic and tracks the ball beautifully over his shoulder down the field. He can access an extra gear when the ball is in the air. He is a loose athlete and that shows up when he adjusts to balls thrown on his back shoulder. He is efficient with his footwork when working back to the quarterback. He's not exceptionally dynamic with the ball in his hands. Overall, Tate should provide an immediate impact in the vertical passing game.
Rank
10
Caleb Downs
Ohio State · S · Junior
Downs is a versatile safety prospect with outstanding instincts and intangibles. He moved around in Ohio State's scheme but primarily lined up underneath as a nickel, strong safety or nickel 'backer. In the passing game, he is a smooth mover and utilizes his eyes/instincts to close and limit windows. He's physical and has enough speed to mirror tight ends in man coverage. He didn't get challenged much at the college level, which limited his ball production, though he did snag a pair of interceptions in each of his three seasons. He is an outstanding blitzer, showing timing and feel. He excels against the run. He takes proper angles, attacks ball-carriers and is a dependable tackler. He handles most of the communication for the defense and the staff raves about his intelligence and leadership. Overall, Downs lacks "wow" traits, but he's a plug-and-play starter who makes others better around him.
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