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matt miller
multiple authors
first round of 2026 nfl draft 32 players will be selected in this. But how many of those players have Truth First round grades?
There’s a difference between going in the Round 1 and getting a grade in the Round 1, and now that we’re just two months away from the opening of the 2026 Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23, I’ve identified the players I believe are Day 1 picks. The average draft class consists of approximately 15 players who are considered “first-round talent”, although the number varies by team and scouting department. These special evaluations are reserved for prospects who would have been Round 1 selections regardless of the year, and my own guideline is whether a player would have been a first-rounder in each of the previous five classes.
I gave only 13 grades in the first round class of 2025Lowest number I’ve ever given. But there are actually fewer in the 2026 class this time – only 11. for reference, Final list in 2024 There were 18 names on it, and 2023 list There were 20.
Here are the players who deserve a first-round grade on my board. (Players’ overall rankings are in parentheses after their names, and I’ll have the last update in April.)
Go to status:
cubby | RB | wr | te | ot | IOL
Edge | DT | LB | CB | S
quarterback (1)
A year after zero quarterbacks had actual first-round grades, there is one in this class. mendoza transferred to indiana from cal and evolved into a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback And the potential No. 1 pick. He has excellent capabilities with expert level command of all areas of the field. My favorite trait is the ability to make plays with the ball in front of the receiver. And although his arm strength will never be elite, Mendoza protects the ball and is a great distributor. He threw for 41 touchdowns to six interceptions last season and his game is very similar to his Jared Goff.
run back (1)
My top overall prospect, Love has three-down ability and quickness in space. The 6-foot, 214-pounder has blazing speed that led to several rushes of more than 90 yards in his college career. He rushed for 1,372 yards with an average of 6.9 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns last season.
Elite speed and vision, along with a structure that can handle consistent carries, makes him the ideal NFL running back prospect. love is equivalent to recent possibilities bijan robinson And Jahmir Gibbs In terms of talent and progress.
Wide Receiver (2)
The 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner as the best receiver in college football, Lemon is an accurate route runner with excellent hands (only three drops over the past two seasons), the quickness to generate yards after the catch and the ability to make missed tackles in space. Lemon’s limited size (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) may be an issue for some teams, but he’s proven from the slot and has the toughness to play out wide against press coverages.
NFL teams that watched the game Jackson Smith-Njigba And Amon-Ra Saint Brown Gotta like the way Lemon competes on crossing and underneath routes and how well he wins with leverage and quick breaks in and out of routes.
Another first round wide receiver from Ohio State? Yes. Tate exploded last season, outclassing superstar sophomore teammates at times Jeremiah Smith. Tate’s impact was evident, despite a lack of targets late in games due to Ohio State’s dominance, with 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games.
On tape, Tate looks alike Justin JeffersonLevel prospects when comparing their college sports. Tate is a polished, crisp route runner who has the body control to adjust to the middle route or attack the ball in the air. He had one drop in 67 targets last season and showed he can consistently win in contested-catch situations.
0:44
Carnell Tate outruns 2 Wisconsin defenders for Ohio State TD
Julian Sion allowed it to fly to Carnell Tate for a spectacular Wisconsin vs. Ohio State touchdown.
tight end (1)
Even with an eventual second rounder terence ferguson On the roster in 2024, scouts were discussing Saadiq. He did not disappoint in his only season as a starter in 2025, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior’s best attribute is his ability to contort his body to attack the ball in the air and make plays on it. Sadiq is a high-end mover whose speed, strength and leaping ability can be a nightmare. He lacks elite size at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, and he had six drops on 70 targets last season, but he projects as a difference-maker in the pros.
Offensive Tackle (1)
The 2026 offensive tackle class looked strong before the season started. Perhaps it will prove stronger after the combination, but for now there is only one possibility with a true first-round grade. Mauigoa is a three-year starter at right tackle, although some in the NFL believe he would be better at guard due to his square, squat frame (6-foot-6, 315 pounds). His tape shows a consistent performer with amazing strength, but limited balance to keep up with faster runners.
Mauigoa allowed only six pressures with a non-mobile quarterback last season carson beck Worked behind him and gave up just two sacks combined over the past two seasons.
Interior Offensive Line (0)
The interior offensive line class does not feature first-round grades, but there are strong contenders to be selected in the late first round. Penn State Guard olivevega ione Ranked as a top 40 player on my board and the 6-foot-4, 330 pounder has the consistent run game and pass protection skills to become a starter in the NFL. Oregon Guard Emmanuel Pregnon and Auburn Center Connor Lew Can enter that range also.
Edge Rusher (2)
When Bailey transferred from stanfordHe was expected to be a force for the Red Raiders’ defensive line. He did so with 69 pressures, 14.5 sacks and a 21.3% pass pressure rate that was best in the FBS. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Bailey’s speed around the corner is evident on tape, and his production matches it. There may be concerns about size, but Bailey is one of the best players in the country and has become a top-10 prospect.
Arguably the best player in college football last season, Benn was a consistent, frustrating presence for opposing quarterbacks. With 71 pressures and 9.5 sacks, Ben has gone from mid-to-late first-round pick to certified top 10 pick. There are rumors that his arms will be shorter than 32 inches, but Ben has proven that he can excel against top competition – as evidenced by the 23 pressures and five sacks he recorded during Miami’s playoff run.
Defensive Tackle (0)
The 2026 defensive tackle class has depth but no real first-round talent after a quiet season peter woods (Clemson) and the failure of the rest of the class to produce pass-rushing talent worthy of a top pick. While this class doesn’t have extraordinary talent, there are impressive nose tackle and 1-technique prospects such as lee hunter (Texas Tech), Caleb Banks (Florida) and kayden mcdonald (Ohio State) who will try to be a top-32 selection.
Linebacker (2)
Reese was not on the NFL radar entering last season, as he had limited starting reps entering 2025. But he could be the first defensive player selected in April. Reese’s production exploded in new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s scheme. Serving as both a linebacker and pass rusher, Reese posted 69 tackles, 18 pressures and 6.5 sacks while showing speed and power around the edge that was reminiscent of Micah Parsons And abdul carter In his transitions from linebacker to edge rusher.
Reese is still a work in progress, but his production and impact last season point to a player who has the talent to become an NFL difference-maker at linebacker or on the edge. His professional status is a subject of debate among NFL scouts, with most telling me that he will likely begin his career as a linebacker with reps as an edge rusher to fully learn that position – which is what Parsons did in his rookie season.
Ohio State may carry the “Linebacker U” label this year along with the “WRU” tag it has earned in recent years. styles is one fred warner-Like a linebacker who has elite range and tracking ability while weighing in at 6-4,243 pounds. His size and athletic ability are rare and backed by production (83 tackles, one interception, one sack last season) that points to his NFL-readiness.
Styles’ player profile and consistent production over the past three seasons make him one of the easiest evaluations in this class. He’s a rookie starter and has the tools of a future All-Pro.
Cornerback (0)
Neither cornerback currently has a true first-round grade, but there are two players on the radar who should be considered top-15 picks and could push their way into a 90-plus rating on my board by the end of April.
tennessee cornerback jermod mccoy Looks like a future top 10 pick during his sophomore season in 2024. He has an all-around NFL game at 6-foot and 193 pounds, but a acl injury He missed most of last season due to a hamstring injury suffered in January. McCoy’s six interceptions over the past two seasons reflect his ball skills and instincts, but questions remain about his pro preparation after missing a year. If NFL teams are going to use an early pick on him there will be some rust they should be comfortable with.
And then there’s LSU Mansoor DelaneyJoe emerged as the best cornerback in the FBS. The Virginia Tech transfer was a lockdown presence, throwing only 10 completions and two picks last season. With short arms on a 5-foot-11 frame, Delaney lacks ideal NFL size, but his play has been excellent.
Security (1)
If you could create the ideal safety prospect, it would look like Downs. The 6-foot, 205-pound junior is an elite open-field tackler who possesses the closing speed to bring down ball carriers and dominate angles in space. Downs can do it all, often lining up in multiple assignments depending on where the defense needs him. His four interceptions over the past two seasons reflect his ball skills, but also the fact that offenses avoid him.
An opposing offensive coach told me he identifies downs on pre-snap better than a linebacker or key pass rusher – that’s how effective he is. Safeties are rarely included in the top five, but downs should not be overlooked. he could be the one kyle hamilton-Immediate role as a novice starter.
