With three weeks until the draft, NFL teams are finishing up top-30 visits and starting to zero in on players who fit their schemes and cultures. Here are some close-to-final thoughts on a series of topics I was asked about some of the top prospects in this class.
All rankings via CBS Sports prospect rankings.
Best player
Running back value is generally undervalued, but Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs’ immediate success has proven a franchise back is worth its weight in gold — and Jeremiyah Love is that guy.
He has exceptional vision and patience, is a weapon as a receiver and has home-run ability every time he touches the ball. Love also has good ball security (one fumble in 2025), along with excellent durability and low tread on the tires. His lateral quickness and explosiveness stand out, and he possesses multiple elite traits that should translate.
He gives you an instant-impact player who can be a difference-maker and has the traits to be an elite running back for a long time.
Safest pick
Caleb Downs has been exceptional as a three-year starter at both Alabama and Ohio State and gets rave reviews from every coaching staff and teammate for his professionalism and attention to detail. Safety isn’t usually a premium position, but Downs will step in on Day 1 as an impact player and upgrade for almost any franchise.
He’s a high-IQ leader who excels in both phases. He can erase tight ends, play in the box as a run defender and is an excellent tackler in space. Downs isn’t limited athletically, has shined on the biggest stages and has a very low probability of not at least having a solid career as a starting safety.
Highest ceiling
Arvell Reese is a unicorn as a box linebacker and has the ability to excel there, but also shows flashes as an edge defender with limited yet effective pass-rush ability. He brings elite twitch and instincts, along with the size and length to hold up in multiple spots.
Reese has some strong reps off the edge and is extremely dynamic as a part-time rusher, showing speed-to-power and a quality long-arm move. His pass-rush ceiling is high with detailed coaching, repetition and time on task, and you have to think his long-term projection is on the edge if he goes in the top 10. He’s nowhere near a finished product as a pass rusher, but if his development continues trending upward, watch out.
Is Arvell Reese an EDGE or LB? What I learned watching every snap
JP Acosta
Biggest risk/reward
Jermod McCoy was a talented prospect and one of the better corners in the country in 2024 but missed the entire 2025 season rehabbing a torn ACL. He had a really impressive workout for scouts this week. McCoy has the ability to be one of the top corners and an impact player with his ball-hawking skills and press coverage ability.
Taking any player in the first round after missing a full season carries risk, but if his medicals check out — and it appears they did — and his change-of-direction ability holds, he could be a steal. It’s possible he needs time to adjust to NFL speed, but it’s also possible he’s fully healthy and ready to go on Day 1.
Who I’m buying low
Peter Woods was one of the most disappointing prospects in the country in 2025, and the only explanation may be some sort of injury. He’s a mega-talented player who was steady and impactful in his first two seasons at Clemson, despite playing out of position at times in 2023. There are still impressive reps on film, but taking him high in the first round is a gamble.
Woods needs to ramp up his effort and elevate his play if he’s going to be the impact player he’s shown flashes of as a rookie. He has good power and leverage against double teams and flashes lateral quickness on stunts to get home. Teams want consistency, and his uneven 2025 tape raises red flags.
I don’t buy the hype
Blake Miller is an ironman and model of consistency, starting 54 games in four seasons at Clemson. He’s a solid player who has improved each year and brings a professional approach to development. I don’t see the athleticism or awareness for him to be an instant NFL starter at tackle.
He struggles with hand timing in pass protection, which can get him in trouble against athletic edge defenders. He also gets beat on the edge when he plays like a catcher instead of a striker. At times, he struggles to anchor as a mostly vertical setter and doesn’t always have his feet rooted when absorbing contact. He ends up on the ground too often in the run game and struggles to sync his hands and hips for maximum power. His inability to correct some of these issues, despite extensive experience, is concerning.
Best player who won’t go in Round 1
Caleb Banks is, in my opinion, the most talented defensive tackle in the draft, but his foot surgeries are a major concern and likely push him out of the top 32 picks. Teams are hesitant to guarantee money to a player with that medical history, especially after he played just 96 snaps last season. He had surgery early in the year after the LSU game, returned for the final two games and had a strong week in Mobile. He was injured again at the combine but should be ready for training camp.
Banks is a rare athlete for his size with fluid movement skills, but multiple foot injuries for a big-bodied player are a concern. If he stays healthy, he has All-Pro upside.
2026 NFL seven-round mock draft: Steelers, Jets, Cardinals among teams targeting QBs as 11 come off the board
Josh Edwards
Current darling I could see falling
I’m a big fan of Akheem Mesidor and think he’s the most NFL-ready pass rusher in the class and could be an impact rookie. Still, I could see him slipping for several reasons.
He’ll be 25 as a rookie and had a foot injury in 2023 that cost him time. He doesn’t have the ideal frame or length teams covet on the edge, and he lacks consistent speed-to-power conversion, which is critical at the next level.
Mesidor was a great player and teammate at Miami, but it wouldn’t surprise me if a team overthinks the measurables.
Day 2 steal
Chris Bell is one of the best receiving prospects in the draft but suffered an ACL injury in November that will impact his stock. There may be some patience required early in his rookie year, but the payoff could be significant.
Bell has great size and is a highly skilled, explosive receiver with No. 1 potential. He creates space with his route stems and makes ridiculous catches look routine. He also shows the ability to separate, and his game speed stands out.
Player I’d pound the table for
Brent Key has built Georgia Tech’s identity around toughness and physicality, and Keylan Rutledge embodies that. He’s the kind of player who can have a long career as an NFL starter.
He’s physical, moves well and plays through the whistle. Rutledge is an excellent puller, thrives in space and can wipe out defenders with ease. He’s also strong in pass protection, showing patience, technique and a sturdy anchor. He’s consistent, fundamentally sound in both phases and exactly the type of player you want in your foxhole.
