Poor Landing Spots for Top 10 2026 NFL Draft Prospects

Quarterback Sam Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and as of Sunday, he is a Super Bowl champion. However, Darnold didn't win his first ring with the team that drafted him.

Much to the chagrin of the New York Jets, Darnold was on team No. 5 when he lifted the Lombardi Trophy as an entrenched starter.

Darnold's recent success, along with his early struggles, serves as a reminder that landing in an unfavorable situation can make even a top-tier prospect look like a bust in the NFL.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest 2026 draft board is headlined by a pair of enticing defensive prospects, a Heisman-winning quarterback, and a running back with the potential to be special. As promising as the group is, however, finding the right fit will be critical.

Brent Sobleski of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department recently examined ideal fits for the draft's top six prospects. Here, we'll examine the other side of the proverbial coin and dive into spots the top 10 players should hope to avoid.

1. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

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Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is the top-ranked prospect at any position in this year's draft. A versatile playmaker who gained pro-style experience under Matt Patricia this past season, his floor is extremely high, and it's hard to see him as an outright bust with any team.

However, Downs is at his best working closer to the line of scrimmage and may lack the tools to excel early as a back-end safety.

Downs may not reach his ceiling in a pure deep-safety role that doesn't take advantage of his positional versatility. Of course, it's hard to imagine any defensive coordinator forcing a blue-chip prospect like Downs into a situation that doesn't maximize his talents.

It's less difficult, though, to envision Downs landing with a team that simply doesn't value the safety position. The Cincinnati Bengals, for example, could desperately use a player with Downs' capabilities, but they may never be willing to give him a second contract.

Cincinnati used to have a playmaker at free safety in Jesse Bates III. The Bengals let him play out his rookie contract, gave him the franchise tag in Year 5, and let him leave in free agency after that. Downs could see a similar fate with the Bengals, who have generally shied away from paying defenders.

Downs might put up strong numbers in a talent-starved Cincinnati defense, but he'd probably also have to wait five or more years before seeing a second contract.

Worst Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals

2. Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

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Like Downs, Miami edge-defender Rueben Bain Jr. is a high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who is unlikely to flop in any defensive setting.

The 6'3", 275-pound sack artist has a strong early burst, immense power, and a high motor. This combination of traits made him one of the most disruptive defenders in the country this past season.

That said, Bain does lack the ideal combination of length and straight-line speed to rush from wider alignments.

Bain won't fall far in the draft, but of teams in the top 10, the Washington Commanders are probably the worst fit for him—assuming they used a heavy 3-4 base alignment under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.

Jones spent the past three seasons working under Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who relied heavily on 3-4 looks.

This isn't to say that Bain wouldn't be productive in Washington or that Jones wouldn't adapt his defense to accentuate Bain's best traits. However, the Commanders don't have the deepest edge-rushing rotation, meaning Bain would see a lot of double teams coming off the edge.

Bain simply may not have the length, speed, and hand-usage skills needed to be at his best as the focal point of a 3-4-based pass rush.

Worst Landing Spot: Washington Commanders

3. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is another top-tier prospect who doesn't carry much bust potential. The 6'0", 214-pound dual-threat has the potential to be an every-down back and a legitimate star in the NFL.

"Love is a dynamic and explosive running back who possesses the skill set to be a complete weapon in an NFL offense. He combines home-run top-end speed with route-running and pass-catching ability to impact the offense in multiple ways," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

Of course, Ashton Jeanty's disappointing 2025 campaign serves as proof that a role-versatile prospect can still land in a bad situation.

For Love, landing with the Arizona Cardinals could lead to a similarly good-not-great rookie campaign. Arizona's offensive line was ranked 26th overall by Pro Football Focus this past season, and the Cardinals have serious questions at quarterback.

New head coach Mike LaFleur may try to make it work with Kyler Murray, but the Cardinals "would like" to find trade partners for him, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. If Murray is out, Arizona may opt to run it back with Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett is a fine bridge starter, but he may not threaten defenses enough to consistently create soft defensive fronts for running backs to exploit.

Love should hope to land with a stable quarterback situation and a quality offensive line.

Worst Landing Spot: Arizona Cardinals

4. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is the top quarterback prospect in this year's draft, the only one viewed as a first-round lock, and very likely to go to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall.

While the Raiders might not provide Mendoza with a truly ideal situation, there's a lot to like about the potential pairing. New head coach Klint Kubiak is an innovative play-caller who just helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl, and Las Vegas also has offensive weapons in Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker.

While Las Vegas had the league's lowest-graded offensive line last season, according to Pro Football Focus, it has $87.8 million in projected cap space with which to address the issue.

Is there a chance that a team offers a trade package that the Raiders can't ignore? It's possible, and Mendoza had better hope that such an offer doesn't come from the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns also have a new offensive head coach (Todd Monken) and a bad offensive line (ranked 31st by PFF). However, that's where the similarities between Las Vegas and Cleveland end.

The Browns have arguably the worst receiving corps in the league, a running back in Quinshon Judkins who is coming off a severe leg injury, and a troublesome cap situation.

With a projected cap deficit of $19.5 million, they are unlikely to fix any of their offensive issues quickly.

Worst Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns

5. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

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There really isn't much to dislike about LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. The 6'0", 190-pound defensive back has the combination of size, speed, and sticky coverage skills needed to consistently thrive on the perimeter. The former Virginia Tech star should interest every NFL team in need of cornerback help.

Naturally, though, Delane would be more valuable in some defenses than others. Specifically, his skill set makes him best-suited for a man-heavy coverage scheme. His consistency in zone has been more of an issue.

"Tends to let his eyes wander from responsibilities in zone coverage," Daniel Harms of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Keeping his eyes on receivers entering his zone and shifting to the quarterback will be key."

This doesn't mean that Delane is a complete liability in zone coverage. However, he's most productive as a lockdown cover corner in man. He should hope to land with a team that would use him in such a role.

The New Orleans Saints might not be that team. The Saints utilized zone coverage just under 78 percent of the time this past season, according to Sharp Football Analysis, while running pure man coverage less than 16 percent of the time.

Additionally, the Saints could field an underwhelming pass rush in 2026 if they lose Cam Jordan (10.5 sacks in 2025) in free agency, which would make it easier for opposing quarterbacks to exploit any lapses in coverage Delane would have.

Worst Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints

6. LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

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Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is a bit of a hybrid prospect whose value at the next level will depend heavily on his role.

At 6'4" and 243 pounds, he has the size and speed needed to be a 3-4 pass-rushing linebacker, an early-down run-stopper, or some combination of the two.

However, Reese isn't polished enough yet to excel as a true three-down, off-ball linebacker.

"Change of direction, lateral movement skills and lack of short-area quickness hinder his ability to cover tight ends and running backs in man coverage or make plays on the ball in zone coverage," Matt Holder of the B/R Scouting Department wrote.

In fact, the 20-year-old is a bit raw overall, which makes a team in need of immediate help like the Kansas City Chiefs a poor fit. The Chiefs are looking to get back into the playoff mix sooner than later, and they may have to do much of their rebuilding through the draft while facing a $58 million cap deficit.

Additionally, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo tends to bring his pass rush from the defensive end position.

In Kansas City, Reese would be more likely to be a rotational run-defending linebacker in the mold of impending free agent Leo Chenal.

Reese should be hoping to land with a team that utilizes his edge-rushing skills in order to get that sweet pass-rusher money in his second contract.

Worst Landing Spot: Kansas City Chiefs

7. CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

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For Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, his best and worst NFL situations may have more to do with expectations than with his skill set.

He has the skill and proven production needed to challenge to be this year's top cornerback prospect—if he were fully healthy.

McCoy's tape is among the class' best," Harms said in the B/R Scouting Department's post-Super Bowl mock draft. "He's incredibly athletic and physical, which allows him to play both man and zone with smooth transitions. The 6'0", 193-pound corner is long, twitchy, and displays excellent closing speed."

However, McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL and may not test well, if at all, this spring or be at 100 percent during his rookie season. He might benefit from sliding a bit in the draft and landing with a team that doesn't expect him to be a star right away.

A team picking in the top five, like the New York Giants, might expect too much. Compounding the potential issue in New York is the fact that McCoy might immediately be asked to hang with speed division-rival receivers like DeVonta Smith and CeeDee Lamb.

According to NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein, McCoy "struggles to stay in phase against speedy route benders" and "loses poise and will grab when the rep becomes challenging."

Worst Landing Spot: New York Giants

8. Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

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Like Reese, Texas Tech's David Bailey is best suited to be a speed-rusher in a 3-4 alignment. Unlike Reese, he may be limited to being a pure pass-rusher, albeit a potentially productive one.

Bailey has a blazing-fast first step, and he led the FBS with 14.5 sacks this past season. His skills as an edge-rusher should translate to the NFL, but the Stanford product may lack the size and play strength needed to consistently set the edge and defend the run.

"Stanford had Bailey listed at 238 pounds in 2024 and Texas Tech's listing at 250 looks generous," Holder wrote. "Lacks the strength to be an effective run defender; he struggles to get extension on blocks and has skinny legs, which makes setting the edge against offensive linemen difficult."

Bailey should look to land with an odd-front defense that uses him as a high-volume pass-rusher and the headliner of its pass rush. The Browns would not be that team.

While the Browns don't have a defensive coordinator yet, head coach Todd Monken has already said he doesn't plan to change the scheme used by Jim Schwartz the past three years. That means Bailey would be joining a 4-3 scheme and would likely be stuck in a rotational role opposite Myles Garrett.

Worst Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns

9. WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

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Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson has a good chance to be the first wide receiver off the board in April. With a 6'2" and 200-pound frame, alignment versatility, and good separation skills, Tyson has all the tools to be a true go-to receiver at the next level.

The biggest concern with Tyson is an injury history that has included missed time in each of the past three seasons. If Tyson's combine medicals check out, he's likely to be valued as a future No. 1 receiver in the draft.

Tyson should hope to land with a team that can use him in a No. 1 role, ideally with a solid all-around offense and strong quarterback play. He should hope not to land with a team like the New York Jets.

The Jets already have their No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson, but they're lacking just about everything else offensively. New York has arguably the most questionable quarterback situation in the NFL, the league's 32nd-ranked passing offense, and an offensive line that was ranked 22nd by Pro Football Focus.

The combination of Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook continually underwhelmed last season, and there's no guarantee that the Jets will find a quarterback upgrade this offseason. New York could try pairing Tyson with a rookie like Alabama's Ty Simpson or LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, but Tyson should hope that he lands in a far more stable situation.

Worst Landing Spot: New York Jets

10. DL Peter Woods, Clemson

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Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods is an intriguing prospect because he has the agility and athleticism needed to be a potent interior pass-rusher but lacked sack production at the collegiate level (five in three seasons).

However, he is an outstanding run defender who might be a great interior sack artist in the NFL with some specialized coaching.

At 6'3" and 310 pounds, though, Woods lacks the ideal length for defensive tackle. He also lacks the overall size needed to be a space-eating nose tackle in a 3-4 defense.

Woods would be a poor fit for a team running a 3-4 base defense and in need of an immediate difference-maker. Instead, he should hope to land with an even-front defense that will allow him to use his athleticism to attack and won't need him to be a high-volume pass-rusher right away.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers run a 3-4 base and have their nose tackle in Vita Vea, though he's entering a contract year. They also have an immediate need for pass-rushing help, which Woods may need time to provide.

Worst Landing Spot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers