The 2026 NFL Draft is still eight months away, but the evaluation process is perpetually ongoing. And in a lot of ways, the summer months are the most important because they lay the foundation for the countless hours of work done before teams are on the clock.
A summer Big Board is based on past tape with projection built in, which means there will be natural fluctuation in the rankings once we get new tape throughout the season. Abdul Carter debuted at No. 2 in last year’s preseason top 50 and stayed there through the process, but multiple other prospects (Carson Beck …) tumbled based on their play.
But we need a starting point. Over the last two months, my position previews ranked a total of 414 draft-eligible players ahead of the 2025 season. Here, I’ve narrowed those lists down to the top 50 prospects.
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One of the top defensive line recruits out of high school three years ago, Woods almost immediately lived up to the hype as a Freshman All-American at Clemson. The Alabama native continued his promising play last season, bouncing between defensive end and defensive tackle while helping the Tigers win the ACC.
Woods is one of the best 2026 NFL Draft prospects I’ve studied thus far. He’s not Jalen Carter — I can’t go that far. However, could he be a 90-percent version of Carter in the NFL? I think that is a realistic projection.
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There is plenty of belief that Manning won’t make the NFL jump until 2027 — both of his uncles (Peyton and Eli) played four seasons in college. His grandfather, Archie Manning, went so far as to say “he’ll be at Texas” beyond this season. There will be a lot of factors that go into his decision.
Regardless of when Manning enters the NFL, the early teases of his talent suggest he is headed for big things. With one of the top play callers in the sport and a ton of talent around him in Austin, Manning is set up for a 2025 season in which he can match the lofty hype.
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A five-star recruit out of high school, Proctor was one of the top players in the 2023 class and became a freshman All-American at left tackle for the Tide. After a brief transfer back home to Iowa, the Des Moines native returned to Alabama and earned second-team All-SEC honors last season.
It will be easy to lump Proctor in the same bucket as Evan Neal or D.J. Fluker and expect him to be the next massive Alabama linemen to fall short of expectations in the NFL. And Proctor is far from a finished product (see last year’s Michigan tape). But when you focus on his freaky talent, at that size, it is easy to understand why NFL scouts talk about him as a future first-round pick.
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It would be easy to argue that Downs is the best all-around football player in the 2026 NFL Draft class. However, he still may be drafted outside the top 10 (like Kyle Hamilton and Minkah Fitzpatrick) because of the way the NFL values his position in the draft. Over the last 15 years, only one safety (Jamal Adams) was selected in the top 10 — and Downs doesn’t have elite size or speed to get a testing bump during the process.
With his scheme-proof talent, though, he will be universally liked by scouts and coaches.
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Faulk is one of the best draft-eligible prospects I have studied so far this summer. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Mykel Williams — he’s long, physical, athletic and also happens to be one of the youngest players in the upcoming draft class (Faulk won’t turn 20 until Sept. 7). However, I think Faulk has shown better consistency and overall versatility through two college seasons than Williams had. It hasn’t mattered if he’s lined up as the nose, wide nine or any technique in between, Faulk has been productive.
His traits are outstanding, and I’m excited to see him this fall.
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At this time a year ago, Ashton Jeanty was the slam-dunk RB1 prospect. Same thing with Bijan Robinson going into the 2022 season. And this year feels similar with Love, who is the 2026 NFL Draft’s unquestioned top running back prospect. Jeanty and Robinson were ultimately drafted top 10; Love has the talent to join them.
With Jeanty now playing for the Raiders, Love is college football’s clear top running back, and it will be interesting to see how the Irish balance the priority of getting him the football while also keeping him fresh. Were it not for Love’s knee injury in last year’s College Football Playoff, the Irish might have won the national title. Regardless of Notre Dame’s team success, Love has the talent to be the top playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
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He is still figuring out several areas as a passer. However, Sellers (who just turned 20 this summer) is composed and smart, with striking physical gifts. There are numerous highlights from the 2024 season when he looks like vintage Cam Newton with his Houdini-like acts to escape trouble.
Though understandably raw, Sellers has put examples on film of him winning in structure and from the pocket. Hopefully, another year of maturation and better pass protection will increase the frequency of those moments. If Sellers takes another step in his development as a passer, plenty of teams will be buyers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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One of the highest-ranked recruits in Utah history, Fano immediately earned his way onto the field as a true freshman as the Utes’ starting left tackle. He kicked over to right tackle as a sophomore last season and was even better, earning multiple All-America nods. With arguably the best offensive tackle tandem in college football, Kyle Whittingham thinks his 2025 group will be the “best offensive line” at Utah since he became head coach 21 years ago.
A sticky blocker, Fano is one of the 10 best prospects I have studied this summer. NFL scouts share the same excitement, and they also praise his intelligence and no-ego mindset.
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Parker has been a stud since he arrived at Clemson. After his Freshman All-America season in 2023, he followed up with 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks and a school-record six forced fumbles as a sophomore. His overall consistency needs to be better, but he plays with a ton of energy and can continue to unlock his talent as he becomes a technician.
The Clemson defense is well-stocked with NFL talent for the 2026 draft class, and that starts with Parker, who is on the path to becoming a top-15 pick.
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Instead of taking the NFL off-ramp, the “Nuss Bus” returned to school — but he would have finished as my No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class (behind Cam Ward). Based on how NFL teams feel about him, I think he would have been the second passer drafted.
If you blended the skill sets of Tony Romo and Baker Mayfield, the result would look something like Nussmeier. Aside from the physical talent and mannerisms, his toughness, energy and command of how to play the position are reasons to be optimistic about his projection. With a former quarterback and current NFL offensive coordinator for a father (Doug Nussmeier), there isn’t much mystery about how he developed his feel for the position and football IQ.
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A native of Whitehouse in East Texas (the same hometown as Patrick Mahomes), McCoy was a state champion track athlete in the long jump and triple jump, although he went mostly overlooked as a football recruit. McCoy signed with Oregon State and led the team in passes defended as a true freshman. He transferred to Knoxville before last season and put together an All-America 2024 season, leading the team in passes defended (13) and interceptions (four), and finishing third in tackles (44).
Were he fully healthy, McCoy would have been CB1 in these preseason rankings, but the unknowns knock him down a spot (for now). With a complete recovery, he can be one of the better defensive prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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One of Deion Sanders’ few missteps when he arrived in Boulder was not keeping Tyson after he led Colorado in receiving yards as a true freshman in 2022. Tyson (who suffered a torn ACL, MCL and PCL late in the 2022 season) wanted to stay but felt unwanted after meeting with Sanders and the other coaches. Instead, he landed at Arizona State, sat out most of 2023 and emerged as one of the nation’s top receivers in 2024 under the tutelage of Sun Devils wide receiver coach Hines Ward.
In addition to his significant knee injury, Tyson also missed last season’s Big 12 championship and the Sun Devils’ thrilling playoff game against Texas with a broken collarbone — staying healthy will be paramount to his draft evaluation. However, with his quarterback and offensive coaches all returning, the opportunity is there for Tyson to be a Biletnikoff award finalist and favorite for WR1 in the 2026 draft.
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A lesser-known high school recruit, Chaplin redshirted at Virginia Tech in 2022 before becoming the Hokies’ starting left tackle the last two seasons. Once he jumped into the transfer portal, Auburn made him a priority to round out its offensive line.
Because he is both raw and incredibly talented, there is a wide range of outcomes for Chaplin as a pro prospect. If he continues to develop his body and discipline, the power, length and talent are there for him to be a first-round pick. Scouts are excited about his potential, but they also need to see continued progression this season before stamping him with an NFL-starter grade.
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According to most recruiting outlets, it was a two-man race between Kadyn Proctor and Mauigoa for the OT1 spot in the 2023 high school class. Mauigoa signed with Miami — and his older brother, Francisco, joined him in Coral Gables (and ultimately was drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Jets).
A left tackle as a senior at IMG Academy, Mauigoa has started all 26 games at right tackle in his two college seasons. Some NFL scouts see him as more of a guard than a tackle down the line, but they all expect him to be a future NFL starter with first-round potential.
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One of the top recruits out of Arizona in the 2023 class, Lomu committed to Utah over Michigan and was Whittingham’s second-highest-ranked recruit that year (behind Fano). He spent the 2023 season developing his body for the college level, then became a starter for the 2024 season.
Still a very young player, Lomu isn’t a polished technician at this point and needs to continue developing his body and core strength before he is ready for NFL snaps. But he is an easy mover with the athletic tools and body type that have NFL teams bullish about his future. Based on long-term potential, it could be argued Lomu belongs ahead of Fano.
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A.J. Terrell put together a strong resume at Clemson before becoming a first-round draft pick of the Falcons in 2020 — and later signing a contract that made him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history. That is a big shadow for his younger brother to escape, but Avieon Terrell is building his own legacy and has the tape of a future first-rounder.
Cornerbacks standing under 5-11 and weighing less than 190 pounds are rarely drafted in the top 25, but teams are willing to overlook mediocre size for competitors who make up for their lack of inches with athleticism and ball skills (see Denzel Ward). Although he needs to find better balance with his aggressive play style, Terrell’s makeup and talent will be easy sells in an NFL war room.
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Sadiq is in position for a true breakout season, especially with Oregon offensive play caller Will Stein describing him as “one of the best players in college football.” With Terrance Ferguson now in the NFL, Sadiq will be the go-to tight end for Oregon’s offense, and an integral part of the passing game, even more so with wide receiver Evan Stewart expected to miss the season with a knee injury.
Given his talent as both a receiver and blocker, Sadiq has the potential to earn the TE1 crown.
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The Oregon defensive front was loaded last season, with three starters who became top-100 draft picks (Derrick Harmon, Jordan Burch and Jamaree Caldwell). Uiagalelei was the fourth starter, and he has a shot to be the highest-drafted of the group.
The younger brother of former top quarterback recruit DJ Uiagalelei, Matayo was highly recruited himself and hasn’t disappointed (10.5 sacks last season). With his well-rounded skill set, Uiagalelei reminds me of JT Tuimoloau, who led the Big Ten in sacks in 2024 and was a 2025 second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts. Neither player wows with their get-off, but both are agile and play with polish, physicality and strength. It is easy to envision Uiagalelei becoming a solid pro.
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My No. 1 criterion when scouting defensive linemen: Draft the guys who hate to be blocked. Banks qualifies because of the different ways he can unwind from blocks or power through contact. He led the Gators in pressures last season and should do so again in 2025, especially considering the dominant way he finished last season (check out his LSU and Ole Miss tapes).
Although he is a work in progress in several areas (both on and off the field), Banks is long and strong and still has plenty of untapped potential. Several NFL teams have stamped him this summer with second-round grades.
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Mendoza is a super-interesting prospect, both on and off the field. A native of Miami with a deep Cuban heritage (his grandparents immigrated to the U.S.), he is the son of former college athletes and grew up wanting to play quarterback for the Hurricanes. However, his hometown team didn’t recruit him, so he initially committed to Yale before Cal entered the mix.
Mendoza worked his way up the depth chart in 2023 and impressed scouts last season as a redshirt sophomore, despite an inconsistent supporting cast in Cal’s quick-game offense. Now under the tutelage of Curt Cignetti at Indiana, Mendoza is primed to take another jump in his development. He is a very well-rounded quarterback and checks boxes — both physically and mentally — that have evaluators excited for his NFL future. He gives off Jared Goff vibes, and the first round is a realistic goal.
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After Hugh Freeze was hired as Auburn’s head coach, one of his first moves was flipping Lew from Miami to be part of his initial Tigers recruiting class. Lew broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman, then had some hiccups early on his sophomore tape before playing at a high level over the second half of the 2024 season. Lew is one of the youngest true juniors in this class (still just 19), which is exciting when forecasting his upcoming development.
With his smooth athleticism, processing and makeup, Lew has several of the key traits NFL teams look for at the center position.
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Allen broke into the Bulldogs’ starting lineup as a true freshman after Jamon Dumas-Johnson was injured, and he never gave the job back. His tape last season showed an every-down backer with natural diagnose skills and the ability to cover ground quickly. And he doesn’t miss tackles — he strikes with accurate angles and the play strength to put ball carriers on the ground.
If Allen continues to ascend in his second year as a starter, he will lay claim to LB1 in this draft class.
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A consensus five-star recruit out of high school, Overton was one of the top prep players in Georgia. He was part of a headline-grabbing class for Texas A&M, which also included fellow five-stars Walter Nolen and Shemar Stewart, both first-round picks in April. Overton, one of the youngest seniors in the 2026 draft class (will turn 21 in October), spent two years in College Station before transferring to Alabama, where he came off the bench last season as a key part of the defensive line rotation.
Overton ranks No. 4 among edge rushers (and as the No. 1 senior edge rusher) because his flashes have been better than his body of work. His summer grades from NFL teams are more in the Day 2 range, but he has the talent to cement himself in the first round if he puts better down-to-down consistency on his 2025 tape.
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Styles checks a lot of boxes that will be scouting catnip for NFL teams. A former five-star recruit, he is a 20-year-old senior with rare physical traits and the son of a former Super Bowl champion linebacker. On top of his freaky tools, he was voted an “Iron Buckeye” this spring for his training and discipline, and one member of Ohio State’s staff told me Styles is “one of the best leaders in the program.”
Styles isn’t quite the speed demon that Isaiah Simmons was coming out of Clemson, but there are certainly similarities between the two as former safeties and rare size-speed athletes. Simmons has struggled to become a consistent NFL starter, but he was a top-10 draft pick because the NFL will always bet on athletic traits. Styles has a chance to be a first-round pick for the same reasons.
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A former three-star recruit, Bell was the 170th-ranked wide receiver in the 2022 recruiting class and came off the bench his first two seasons at Louisville. He became a starter last season and led the team with 17.1 yards per reception (43 catches for 737 yards and four touchdowns). Bell did lose his former quarterback (Tyler Shough, now in New Orleans) for his final season, but Miller Moss transferred in from USC and will have a chance to thrive in Jeff Brohm’s offensive system.
Based on his rare size/speed mix, Bell enters the season as my top-ranked senior wide receiver prospect. Part of that projection is the expectation that Bell will take another step this season and prove to NFL teams that he belongs in the early rounds.
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Last season, Shelton replaced former first-rounder Olu Fashanu at left tackle for the Nittany Lions and teased an intriguing skill set, even if the results were more unsettled than ideal.
Now with a full year as a starter under his belt, his 2025 tape should show off less thinking and more of Shelton unlocking his big-man twitch to win his assignments.
A five-star quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class, Allar became Penn State’s starter as a sophomore and made noticeable strides last season as a junior. Had he declared early, he would’ve had a good chance to be the second quarterback taken in the 2025 draft class. Instead, he (wisely) returned for his final season in Happy Valley.
Allar has familiarity with his play caller, as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki enters his second year in that role. And Penn State boasts the best offensive line it has had in years, along with upgraded talent at the wide receiver position and arguably the best running back duo in the country.
The opportunity is there for Penn State to finally break through under James Franklin and not only win the Big Ten but also a national championship. Can Allar handle that weight and take another jump in his development? The NFL will be watching closely.
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With both starting tackles from last season now in the NFL, Oregon faced questions at the position this offseason — and World looks like a major answer.
The Nevada transfer put himself on the NFL radar with a promising junior season and now he will be tested against better competition in the Big Ten. World (who has 34 1/2-inch arms) needs to improve in the run game this season, but his pass protection is what could land him in the first round next April.
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Highly recruited out of Mater Dei (Calif.) High, Bailey was a Freshman All-American at Stanford. He then led the team in sacks and tackles for loss as both a sophomore and junior despite not being a regular starter. He also tallied five forced fumbles in 2024, the fourth most in the FBS. Amid a coaching change this offseason, Bailey jumped into the transfer portal and landed at Texas Tech as one of the most impactful spring signings.
With his bend, power and explosiveness off the edge, Bailey has the pass rush juice to have a Nik Bonitto-like impact in the NFL. He is one of the top senior defensive prospects I have studied this summer.
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Dabo Swinney has consistently attracted top quarterbacks to Clemson, with several (such as Trevor Lawrence) becoming hits while others (see DJ Uiagalelei) have been whiffs. A five-star recruit out of Texas powerhouse Westlake, Klubnik was the prize quarterback in the 2022 recruiting class and has been closer to Lawrence than Uiagalelei for the Tigers.
Like Garrett Nussmeier, Klubnik had a ton of promising video but made a wise move to return for his senior season. Both QBs enter their final season with a chance to be the first senior quarterback selected in 2026.
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A top Chicago recruit by way of IMG Academy, Tate was the fourth receiver (behind Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming) in 2023, and the third option (behind Jeremiah Smith and Egbuka) in 2024. Tate finished his sophomore year with 52 catches for 733 yards and four touchdowns.
Ohio State is breaking in a first-year quarterback and play caller in 2025 and has to replace several established starters from last year’s national title-winning squad. But the Buckeyes have arguably the top receiving duo in college football, and Tate will be a crucial weapon as defenses attempt to limit Smith. He enters the season as more of a Day 2 draft pick, but with the chance to rise.
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Though all eyes were on Travis Hunter when watching the Colorado defense last season, McKinney was on the other side of the field impressing NFL scouts with his athleticism and cover skills. He redshirted at Oklahoma State in 2022 and came off the bench in 2023 before transferring to Colorado before the 2024 season. McKinney finished second on the team (behind Hunter) in passes defended and interceptions last year, including a pick six against his former team (Colorado’s only pick six in 2024).
Given his gradual improvements over last season, I’m eager to see what McKinney puts on tape in his second year in Boulder. Although his straight-line speed might not be elite, he has the size and cover skills to be an early-round draft pick and potential NFL starter.
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Hill arrived in Austin as a five-star recruit with a ton of fanfare, which he lived up to as a Freshman All-American in 2023 and second team All-American in 2024. Because of his resume and production, NFL hype has followed.
NFL scouts don’t currently view Hill as a slam-dunk first-round pick — as one put it to me: “His traits are good, but I can’t call any of those traits ‘outstanding.’” But Hill is an easy player to like because of his size, speed and hunting skills.
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Georgia always has dudes on the defensive line, even if the frequent rotation and run-first mindset limit production on the stat sheet. Miller ranked 17th on the team in defensive snaps last season, but he was among the Georgia leaders in exciting flashes, primarily against the run.
With Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse off to the NFL, Miller will see a bump in his playing time, and the talent is there for him to cement top-50 status in the 2026 class.
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Last season, as a sophomore, Weeks moved into a starting role and immediately put himself on the NFL radar with his play speed and clean-up talent. He finished the 2024 season with a team-best 125 tackles plus double-digit tackles for loss and three forced turnovers (two fumbles, one interception).
Weeks suffered a gruesome dislocated ankle and broken tibia in the bowl game and underwent offseason surgery. However, he is expected to be full-go by the end of summer — and the Tigers need his energy on defense. Aside from his talent, Weeks has the type of football character that will endear him to NFL coaches (Brian Kelly: “Whit is our driver. … He’s got incredible passion. It rubs off on our entire defense.”).
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Lemon separated himself as the Trojans’ most consistent weapon in 2024 (team-leading 52 catches for 764 yards). Working primarily out of the slot, Lemon has benefitted from a lot of quick hitters and open zones, but he’s also routinely created space for himself, showing off athleticism and hands down the field.
Because of some of his size and strength limitations, Lemon doesn’t have as high an NFL ceiling as others on this list. However, his quickness, technique and overall instincts at the position raise his floor. His understanding of how to beat coverage separates him from other pass catchers who might have better tools but lack Lemon’s nuance.
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The Buckeyes haven’t had a tight end selected in the first two rounds in 30 years (Rickey Dudley, No. 9 in 1996). Klare has the talent to change that and become a top-60 pick.
Everyone is familiar with Jeremiah Smith and the potential of the receivers in Columbus. Still, Klare might be the key to unlocking Ohio State’s offense, especially with a first-year starter at quarterback. Klare led the Boilermakers in receiving last season (by a large margin), and there was still a lot of meat left on the bone in that offense. There will be more mouths to feed in the Buckeyes’ offense, but Klare will be in a better situation to allow his talent to shine.
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Because of his lack of tape, I have struggled to confidently rank Goosby this summer. The redshirt sophomore saw extensive snaps at left tackle late last season and earned his first start in the playoff game versus Arizona State.
Goosby tends to play too tall and spends too much time on the ground, but his feet, grip and basic understanding of how to finish are extremely promising — which has forced me to bump him up every time I’ve watched him the last few weeks.
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As one NFL scout described him, Bain is a “which tape did you watch?” type of prospect. If it’s the Louisville film or multiple games from 2023, Bain looks like a prospect worthy of early first round love. But multiple other games (Florida, Duke, etc.) from last season show a promising yet frustrating player who struggles to unlock his skill set.
If he can flash more of dominant power and body control he showed in 2023, Bain will move up these rankings throughout the season.
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Andy Lewis / USA Today
After starting his college career at UCLA, Ramsey moved across town and joined USC prior to the 2024 season, following defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn (who also left the Bruins for the Trojans). Last season, Ramsey was one of the top coverage safeties in college football — and one of the few bright spots for an inconsistent USC defense.
He considered leaving school early and entering the 2025 NFL Draft, where he would have had a good chance of being a Day 2 pick. But one more season at the college level could help him compete for top-60 status next April.
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Most players on this list have been playing football for well over a decade, going back to the pee-wee level. Iheanachor is not one of them. The Nigeria native started playing three years ago at the juco level — and a year later was in the Sun Devils’ starting lineup at right tackle.
Iheanachor is clearly raw in several areas, but he has played impressively considering his inexperience. The tools are tantalizing.
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A former three-star recruit from the Atlanta area, Young began his college career at Michigan State, where he became a starter as a freshman. (He was one of seven Spartans charged with misdemeanor assault after a postgame incident in the Michigan Stadium tunnel following a 2022 game.) After Michigan State fired Mel Tucker, Young entered the portal and transferred to Missouri before the 2024 season.
Although the stat sheet production has been modest (5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2024), Young is built like an NFL player and his best football is still ahead of him. Scouts are optimistic he can follow a similar path to that of former Missouri edge defender Darius Robinson and become a top-60 pick with continued development as a senior.
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After two years at Iowa Western Community College and another at Kansas State, Lee transferred to College Station last season as a redshirt junior. Not only did the St. Louis native become an immediate starter for the Aggies, he also took home second-team All-SEC honors after posting a team-high 12 passes defended.
With his length, fluidity and coverage awareness, Lee enters the season as my top-ranked senior cornerback prospect with a Day 2 draft grade.
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Despite having a wildly inconsistent defense last season, Oklahoma boasted several well-established prospects. However, Thomas was the top draft-eligible prospect on Oklahoma’s defense and led the team in both tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks (9.0). He would have been a top-100 pick in 2025 but elected to return for his senior year.
With a short, compact frame and limited length, Thomas won’t be an ideal fit for every scheme. However, because of his explosiveness off the line, Thomas has cornering skills to finish at the top of his rush and affect the pocket, which could keep him on an NFL field for a long time.
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Harris is the type of prospect who continued to grow on me the more I studied him.
There aren’t a ton of splash plays or ball production on his tape, but he also didn’t give up a ton of big plays. Isolating his traits, Harris is a good-sized athlete with the competitive profile to match up well against NFL size and strength on the outside.
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I like Leavitt as a prospect much more than his “QB7” ranking would indicate. There is a lot about his profile that I think translates well to the NFL, specifically his ability to take care of the football and find solutions when things start to fall apart.
Though there are several areas where he needs development, Leavitt showed enough last season — as a first-year starter — that he has me excited for his future.
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After waiting his turn behind JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, Jackson now becomes a starter for the Buckeyes and is a prime breakout candidate.
With his length and play strength, he sets a firm edge and can drive blockers backward as a pass rusher. Scouts are eager to see his development this season as he sees more consistent snaps.
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Joseph Maiorana / USA Today
Boston College is a program known for producing offensive linemen, including three draft picks over the last two years (Ozzy Trapilo, Drew Kendall, Christian Mahogany).
Berry is next up in the pipeline. He uses an active punch to stay square to rushers. With another jump in his development in 2025, the left tackle can crack the top 50.
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The top transfer wide receiver in the portal this offseason, Singleton combined for 1,468 receiving yards in his two seasons at Georgia Tech, despite an inconsistent quarterback and passing attack. Now at Auburn, he joins a loaded wide receiver depth chart, although he might face some of the same quarterback issues.
Singleton’s video is almost identical to Elijah Moore’s college film at Ole Miss — a smaller target with dynamic speed. Moore is on his third NFL team and has yet to cement himself as an impact starter, but he was a top-40 draft pick because of his playmaking speed. Singleton could see himself drafted early on Day 2 for the same reason.
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On paper, Jackson has verified first-round measurables (6 feet 5 1/4 inches, 341 pounds with 35 1/4-inch arms, 11 1/8-inch hands and an 86-inch wingspan).
The tape isn’t nearly as consistent as you’d want to see from a potential first-rounder, but Jackson teases the game-wrecking talent (versus the run and rushing the passer) that NFL teams target early in the draft.
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(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Joe Robbins, Tim Warner, Robin Alam / Getty Images)
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