7 2026 NFL Draft Prospects Flying up Scouting Dept. Rankings

The top of the 2026 NFL draft class has changed dramatically through the course of the college football campaign, with multiple options ascending well beyond their standing entering the season.

Specifically, quarterback has endured a major overhaul, with Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar and Cade Klubnik falling out of favor. With those names dropping to varying degrees, others have stepped up as elite options.

However, the replacements include only one quarterback pushing his way near the top of the heap (beyond Indiana's Francisco Mendoza, who entered this season as Bleacher Report's QB1).

Among those who have skyrocketed during the process are defensive linemen, who have provided significant reinforcements.

In total, seven prospects stand above the rest based on their performance, with accompanying traits, to earn early consideration.

LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

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Arvell Reese went from being a part-time contributor during his Ohio State career to a potential top-five draft pick.

Reese has had a rocket strapped to his back all season, with 55 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. His flexibility as an off-ball linebacker/edge-rusher exponentially increased his value, particularly with his natural explosiveness and flexibility when working as a pass-rusher.

"Early in his career, he could have very easily been discouraged because he didn't play as much early on," Ohio State head coach Ryan Day told reporters. "We moved him to the defensive line for a couple of months and all those things helped him."

Day added: "Now his athletic ability, his mindset and now his understanding of what goes on in that [linebacker] room with what James Laurinaitis has done in terms of just the football IQ in that room has allowed him to play at a high level."

During the 2025 cycle, Abdul Carter made the full-time transition from off-ball linebacker to edge-defender and worked his way into a top-three draft pick.

Reese is a slightly different defender physically, but he displays excellent play-strength and multiple ways to attack opposing quarterbacks—which is exactly why his draft stock has gone through the roof, to the point where he's now in the conversation for the No. 1 overall selection.

QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

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Ty Simpson's success this fall is a byproduct of perfectionism coupled with letting go to a degree. While these two points come across as contradictory, they made him into the starting quarterback he is today.

"He is a perfectionist when it comes to throwing and he's very infatuated with the footwork and the finish and how the ball is supposed to spin correctly and stuff," Simpson's father, Jason, told ESPN's Mark Schlabach. "Now I think he's kind of learned to just complete the pass, man, and move on. We'll fix that in the offseason."

Simpson didn't become Alabama's starting quarterback until his fourth season on campus.

"He was wound so tight and was always looking at how well he did compared to how well somebody else did," former Alabama head coach Nick Saban said about the quarterback during his early years with the program. "It was almost like a guy in competition to see who sells the most cars. They're scurrying around worrying about what the other guys are doing, not totally focused on what they're doing. If he made a bad play, he'd get totally frustrated about it and make another bad play."

Now, Simpson's greatest traits are those which developed through polar opposites. The 22-year-old displays excellent footwork, particularly when navigating the pocket. His ball placement is another strength. At the same time, he's letting the ball rip and not being afraid to make mistakes.

While the Indiana Hoosiers' Fernando Mendoza remains QB1 on B/R's position rankings, Simpson will be preferred some NFL teams based on his style of play.

Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

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A pair of Texas A&M Aggies defensive ends heard their names called in the first or second rounds of the 2025 NFL draft. Cashius Howell is better and more productive than both despite playing behind them last season.

Howell's 10.5 sacks (and counting) this season are more than Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton combined to make during the 2024 campaign. Howell is tied for third in the nation with his current sack total.

In order to reach elite status, the Bowling Green transfer needed to add size and strength. He did so this past offseason.

"According to A&M's strength and conditioning team, per Saturday's game broadcast, Howell bumped up his top speed by 17 percent, increased his vertical jump by 7 inches, raised his bench press max from 300 to 350 pounds and improved his squat from 435 to 500 pounds," the Austin American-Statesman's Tony Catalina reported.

The improved core strength allows Howell to take full advantage of his quickness to get upfield and turn the corner, even when offensive tackles try to run him wide. The pass-rusher plays with good pad level coupled with the flexibility to be a consistent threat working off the edge, hence his jump in production.

The 6'2", 248-pound Howell might not have ideal length or size, but he understands how to attack blockers, get by them and close on quarterbacks.

Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders program has taken a completely different approach this fall, leaning heavily into NIL opportunities, with David Bailey serving as the star attraction.

Bailey is college football's best pass-rusher and leads the FBS with 11.5 sacks. He presents a complete repertoire, too.

The Stanford transfer sets everything up with his speed rush. His quickness off the edge, coupled with a lethal spin move, tends to keep offensive tackles on their heels. As a result, he varies up his pass-rush plan at times, converts speed-to-power and plays through the blocker. He usually wins quick and clean but knows how to counter.

"I think that just comes down to the coaching I'm receiving right now," Bailey said in October, per the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Don Williams. "Coach (C.J.) Ah You's taught me a lot of different techniques and tricks and pass-rushing techniques to help me finish on the quarterback and help me with my rush. I think it comes down to that. And obviously getting faster and stronger as the years go on, I think that has something to do with it."

Ah You played five seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the 2007 class. A deeper pass-rushing tool box makes Bailey deadly when working off the edge. Some NFL teams may not be as comfortable with his abilities as a run defender, but value always exists in a defender who can regularly harass opposing quarterbacks.

WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee

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Big, fast and talented is the combination every NFL team wants in a prospect regardless of position. It's even more tantalizing when it's a wide receiver.

The offensive game at the professional level evolved into the reliance of creating chunk plays. Defenses countered by leaning heavily on creating pre-snap confusion, while marrying shell coverages to force opponents into being patient in the hopes they'll make a mistake or two along the way.

Tennessee's Chris Brazzell II is 6'5", with the vertical speed to take the top off of any defense. Against the Georgia Bulldogs in September, the junior prospect caught six passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns. He currently ranks among the nation's Top 12 in receiving yardage (808) and touchdown receptions (eight).

Questions automatically arise whenever a Tennessee prospects is mentioned, because Josh Heupel's system doesn't necessarily translate to the NFL because it's built around college football's wide hashmarks to stretch an opponent horizontally and naturally create vertical passing opportunities.

For Brazzell, his status as an ascending prospect is built simply around his size, speed and production. He's a more talented route-runner than Tennessee's recent receiver prospects. He is fluid for a man his size with nimble feet to show he can run a full route tree effectively.

Furthermore, he responded upon becoming a focal point of the Volunteers' passing attack. The Tulane transfer had to bide his time last season with Dont'e Thornton, Bru McCoy and Squirrel White in the same lineup. Brazzell may not lead the team in receptions this season, but he holds a distinct advantage in yardage.

Granted, whatever NFL team invests in Brazzell definitely desires a deep threat. However, his selection can provide awesome return as the wide receiver continues to develop and show more of his natural skill set.

QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

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Trinidad Chambliss is easily the best story in college football. He's also an outstanding football player.

Chambliss transferred from a Division II program in Ferris State, where he didn't become a full-time starter until his fourth year on campus, and wasn't in Ole Miss Rebels' opening-day lineup. Instead, he got his chance to take over Lane Kiffin's offense when Austin Simmons suffered an ankle injury.

The Rebels staff had every intention of Simmons returning to the lineup when he was ready.

"He's doing good," Kiffin told reporters prior to Ole Miss' Week 4 contest against Tulane. "I would anticipate Austin being fine to play and being our starting quarterback."

Chambliss didn't relinquish the job, though. He's earned his status at QB1, with outstanding performances for the nation's seventh-ranked squad.

The 6'0", 200-pounder has elements of an early Russell Wilson to his game. He may not have prototypical size, but he delivers the ball and creates outside of structure. Unlike Wilson, Chambliss doesn't have a baseball background. Instead, he starred on the hardwood.

"As a quarterback, you have to distribute the ball, find zones in the defense, find matchups and take your matchups with wide receivers throwing down the field," Chambliss said, per The Athletic's Austin Meek. "In basketball, as a point guard, that's basically the same thing."

In eight starts, Chambliss threw for over 300 yards in five contests, including a season-high 353 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in his starting debut.

The Maxwell Award semifinalist may not be a first-round pick because of his build and less than one season starting at the FBS level. However, Chambliss' history shows he's a playmaker up for any challenge.

DL Bear Alexander, Oregon

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Bear Alexander finally looks like the caliber of player everyone expected him to be when he entered the collegiate ranks as a highly regard recruit, then played for three different programs.

On a talented Oregon defensive front that features multiple future NFL draft picks, he has been the most dominant. The redshirt junior's raw power and nimbleness creates a wrecking ball in the middle of the defense.

A'Mauri Washington may have more natural upside, with Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti getting significant run as the group's play-makers, but Alexander's performance stands out upon viewing his film.

Alexander is an absolute load and highly disruptive when he's operating at full tilt. His ability to reset the line of scrimmage is as good as anyone else potentially available in the 2026 draft class.

The Georgia and USC transfer always had the ability, hence why he's now played for three different pipeline programs. At the same time, many questioned his dedication after jumping schools, but work ethic shouldn't be viewed as a problem for the talented defender.

"He puts in more time when it comes to film study," Oregon head coach Dan Lanning told reporters this summer. "When it comes to extra work, than almost anybody in our program. And I think that speaks to his commitment. I also think he realized, 'Hey, this is an opportunity for me to really set the stage for what am I going to be defined as moving forward.' And he realized, everybody wants individual success, but I think Bear's one of those guys that realize that comes through team success. He's a guy that understands what the standard looks like, and there was some in between there for him."

As a result, everything clicked this fall, with Alexander playing his best football. He's no longer an enigma. He's now a legitimate prospect who's no longer viewed as someone wasting opportunities.

NFL scouting departments will do their due diligence. In doing so, they should see a player who wants to be great and can immediately help a defensive front.