B/R NFL Scouting Dept.'s Biggest Risers in 2026 NFL Draft Rankings After 1st Month

Talent evaluation evolves as the process ensues. Those who become steadfast in their assessments, particularly early in the process, are doing it wrong. Each week, more information is available, which means adjustments are necessary.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department reconvened in August and pieced together the site's initial 2026 NFL draft board based on summer evaluations. Now, the college football campaign has a full month in the rearview mirror, with October action set to begin.

Things have changed, because certain prospects have excelled early in the season and deserve recognition as potential top targets for April's event, starting with two talents at premium positions rising rapidly. In total, eight different individuals have cracked B/R's Top 25 after not initially appearing among the previous first-round projections.

CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

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In a draft class that's somewhat lacking in regards to elite talent, high-end play at a premium position will automatically thrust a prospect toward the top of the rankings.

Mansoor Delane was rather good during his time with the Virginia Tech Hokies. He's been fantastic as part of the LSU Tigers defense and helped elevate the entire unit.

"Soor is a guy we can put all over the secondary," defensive coordinator Blake Baker said in August. "He could be a corner, safety, nickel, dime."

Mostly, Delane's man-coverage skills were the primary benefit of adding him to the lineup. He's also been sticky in that area. However, his coverage in both phases this season has been stellar, particularly in zone, where an increased awareness has become apparent.

The 6'0", 191-pound defensive back has allowed the fourth-lowest quarterback rating (19.0) into his coverage, according to PFSN College.

With Tennessee's Jermod McCoy still recovering from an ACL injury, Delane has emerged as the class' top cornerback prospect. McCoy can reclaim his status by getting back on the field and showing minimal regression. However, two standout corners atop a class is always better than one.

QB Dante Moore, Oregon

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The quarterback class has shaken out quickly through the first five weeks of collegiate play, which created an opportunity for Oregon's Dante Moore to claim his current spot as the group's QB2.

Texas' Arch Manning, Penn State's Drew Allar, Clemson's Kade Klubnik and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier were all viewed as first-round possibilities at the onset of the 2025 campaign. However, each has disappointed to varying degrees, which places them firmly among the class' second tier of quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza improves each week as he gets more comfortable during his first season with the Hoosiers' system.

From there, Moore emerged as a legitimate prospect. The 20-year-old quarterback has always been gifted, entering the collegiate ranks as a 5-star recruit. However, he was forced to be patient. Then-head coach Chip Kelly wasn't keen on starting a true freshman during Moore's first and only season at UCLA. The signal-caller transferred to Oregon and sat behind Dillon Gabriel.

Now, Moore is flourishing during his first full season as a starting collegiate quarterback. He's completing 74.6 percent of his passes, with an impressive 14-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Moore has a tight, quick release and spins the ball well. The 20-year-old prospect is also a good athlete to extend plays and create outside of structure. Mainly, his demeanor at his age is abnormal.

"The dude breeds excellence," Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher said. "He's just very composed. I mean, he's 20 years old and the maturity out of him is incredible. Following up after Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix, that's no easy shoes to fill. He's obviously his own person, leads in his own way, and I love it. He's a competitor, and I'm glad to have him on our side."

DL Keldric Faulk, Auburn

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The B/R Scouting Department took a wait-and-see approach with Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk even though he had been highly regarded coming off an impressive 2024 campaign and a first-team All-SEC Freshman nod a season prior.

By slow-playing Faulk's status, something became clear along the way. His upside and raw physical tools are more than enough to warrant first-round consideration by NFL teams. The 6'6", 270-pound prospect just turned 21 last month. He's long, strong and consistently disruptive. His natural upside is immense to mold over time.

The reticence is built around a lack of polish, burst and flexibility. He's more of a straight-line defender at the moment. Though plans for usage will be key at the next level.

Currently, Faulk is deployed up and down the Tigers' defensive front. He's often lined up as a 4i, but he can play from a two-point on the edge all the way down to a 0-technique in specific pass-rush packages.

Faulk's versatility and physical tools at such a young age portend a problem for NFL blockers once he matures and hones his craft technically. This upside must be a part of an evaluation, hence his current ascension.

S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State

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In a typical safety class, Penn State's Zakee Wheatley is the top prospect all day long. The current crop of safeties is anything but normal, though. Even so, the position group's strengths don't undercut Wheatley status for early draft consideration.

Ohio State's Caleb Downs and Oregon's Dillon Thieneman are outstanding prospects, both of whom currently counted among B/R's top-10 prospects, with Downs residing as the No. 1 overall talent regardless of position.

The fact Wheatley is also found among the class' Top 20 speaks to the position's strength and his skill set. The senior prospect serves as the eraser on Penn State's loaded defense. He displays fantastic range and makeup speed, while also showing a quick trigger to play downhill and bring a physical presence.

At this juncture, the main complaint about his play in 2025 is not seeing him enough in single-high safety situations. Otherwise, Wheatley has been stellar.

Some may look at safety as a non-premium position, which it's been traditionally. The talent to have someone along the back line capable of making plays consistently and cleaning up mistakes is far too valuable in today's NFL.

IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

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Every draft cycle, a ready-made guard emerges and becomes an early-round selection on his way toward being a Day 1 NFL starter. Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane is this year's top candidate for that specific niche.

During this year's draft, Tyler Booker and Grey Zabel fit the bill as first-round draft picks. Ioane's game is more reminiscent of Booker than Zabel. The 2024 second-team All-Big Ten performer is a true mauler, looking to bury his assignment at every turn. His power at the point of attack is impressive and his greatest asset.

The 6'4", 328-pound guard is a physical tone-setter. He also shows better-than-expected agility for zone blocking, pulls and reaching second-level assignments. He's going to look for work and finish plays well past their origination points.

As a pass-blocker, Ioane stays square and displays strong hands to set the depth of the pocket. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed only one quarterback hit during the '24 campaign, without a sack allowed.

Plug-and-play blockers are extremely valuable in a world where offensive linemen are woefully underdeveloped. As a result, depth across the league is woefully thin. Ioane can complete and even elevate an entire unit.

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

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The Toledo Rockets are rapidly becoming a pipeline program for defensive back prospects. Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has a chance to be another difference-maker along the lines of former teammate Quinyon Mitchell, albeit at different positions.

Not to be lost in this conversation, Maxen Hook was a quality safety prospect as well, though he went undrafted.

McNeil-Warren is yet another safety in a loaded positional class capable of being a quality defender either as a free or strong safety. He can be deployed all over the field because of how disciplined the senior prospect is with his reads.

The 6'2", 202-pound defender is excellent against the run. Interestingly, McNeil-Warren has forced nine fumbles throughout his collegiate career, including three already this season. He's also second on the Rockets in total tackles. When working in space, his length helps shrink throwing lanes making him a strong option in zone coverage schemes.

The standout safety has been a quality performer since he took over a full-time starting role in 2023. However, he missed the last five games of the '24 campaign, which meant he needed time to reestablish himself at the start of this season. He's done so wonderfully to place his name alongside multiple top-end safeties.

WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

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Ho hum, another Ohio State wide receiver looks like a future first-round pick. It may be a bigger surprise when one of Brian Hartline's proteges isn't viewed as a top threat.

Carnell Tate may not be WR1 on the current Buckeyes squad, not with Jeremiah Smith on the same roster. However, this program has produced multiple elite NFL targets who were in the same boat during their time in Columbus. Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson and Emeka Egbuka are recent examples after playing alongside the likes of Parris Campbell, Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr.

Tate is somewhat different than anyone else mentioned, because he's a more physical target. Ryan Day's system is a quarterback- and wide receiver-friendly scheme. It helps create ample throwing lanes, which is hugely beneficial for the talent often found within the blueblood program's lineup.

The 6'3", 195-pound Tate doesn't have the same burst compared to some of the other names, but he understands how to use body positioning and win contested catches. The junior prospect also does the little things to help his offense succeed, particularly with his ability to block on the edge.

Ohio State has yet to truly feature Tate, but he's going to explode for a huge game at some point this season.

S Tao Johnson, Utah

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The outrageous amount of depth found among the 2026 safety crop continues with Utah's Tao Johnson. The junior prospect is less polished than the four previously mentioned safeties. However, his natural play-making skills are apparent.

Johnson originally committed to the Utes as a wide receiver. He even played some quarterback in high school. As a true freshman, he appeared in five games as part of Utah's offense. He converted to defensive back full time in 2023, when he took over as the squad's nickel back.

His understanding of routes and balls skills from his wide receiver days are apparent in how the 6'1", 200-pound redshirt junior plays. Plus, he has the athleticism to cover a lot of ground.

"Speed. He's got really good speed over the top. He's got great ball skills," defenisve coordinator Morgan Scalley said earlier this year, per Joe Coles of the Deseret News. "… Cole and Sione were very good, very good safeties, could play on the back end, but Tao just with his ability to cover ground is really pleasant to see back there."

Johnson can bring the flexibility as a legitimate free safety, provide slot-coverage reps or both depending on the situation he enters at the NFL level.