Daniel Jeremiah Drops 2026 NFL Draft Big Board Rankings for Mendoza, Jeremiyah Love & Top 50 Players

With the college season wrapped up and just one game remaining in the NFL season, the focus on the 2026 draft is rapidly picking up.

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah dropped his first top-50 big board on Tuesday, with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ranked No. 1 and 2 overall.

Here is the full top 10 on Jeremiah's list:

1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
3. Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
4. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
5. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
7. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
8. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
9. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
10. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Mendoza feels like a safe bet to be the No. 1 overall pick. This year is not regarded as having a lot of depth at the quarterback position, a point that was only emphasized when Dante Moore announced he was returning to Oregon.

Going by Jeremiah's big board, there is not another first-round talent at quarterback in this class. Alabama's Ty Simpson is the second-best player at the position, but he is ranked No. 40 overall.

Jeremiah cited Matt Ryan as a comparison for Mendoza, praising his "size, arm talent and competitive nature" after leading Indiana to its first national title.

The Las Vegas Raiders own the top pick in this year's draft. They would seem likely to pursue Mendoza as they look to reset coming off a 3-14 record this season, though Geno Smith remains under contract with a $26.5 million base salary in 2026.

Love's draft position will be a fascinating storyline to follow. He was unstoppable as Notre Dame's starter over the past two seasons, racking up 3,014 yards from scrimmage and 40 total touchdowns in 28 games.

Jeremiah praised Love's "dynamic" skill set that makes him effective as both a runner and receiver.

Bijan Robinson and Ashton Jeanty are the only running backs drafted in the top 10 since 2019. Najee Harris and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are the only other players at the position selected in the first round during that span.

This season felt like something of a comeback for the value of running backs. Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook and Jahmyr Gibbs were all driving forces for their offenses.

One thing that makes players like Robinson, McCaffrey and Gibbs so unique is their ability to make plays in the passing game, as well as what they do running out of the backfield.

If Love's pre-draft workouts allow him to show off those receiving skills, it wouldn't be a shock to hear his name called very early in the draft.