Mel Kiper 2026 NFL Draft Big Board and Examining Final Rankings Before Round 1
The 2026 NFL draft is almost here. With the first round set to begin in a matter of hours, it's time to look beyond mock-draft season and toward the real thing. As NFL prospects become NFL players over the next three days, fans may wonder just how these incoming stars are being viewed.
The experts certainly have their own opinions. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department released its final big board earlier this week. It covers the draft's top 300 prospects and is worth a look for anyone seeking a deep dive.
Bleacher Report will also have updated lists for the best remaining players on Friday and Saturday.
Here, though, we'll examine the final big board of draft-analysis pioneer and ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. Kiper provided his top 150 prospects, and we'll dive into some of the most notable rankings and trends here.
The Top 10
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Entering draft weekend, fans are usually intrigued by the biggest names and those likely to hear their names called first. Kiper's top 10 is as follows:
While not everyone considers Fernando Mendoza as the top player in the 2026 class, he's unquestionably the top quarterback and virtually guaranteed to go No. 1 overall. For Kiper, positional value matters, and Mendoza is "a franchise quarterback at the next level."
Kiper's No. 2 player is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, a difference-making runner and receiver who can transform an offense at the next level.
"Love isn't only an outstanding runner," Kiper wrote. "He also is a high-impact pass catcher. An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension to the offense."
As is the case for the Bleacher Report Scouting Department, defenders and wide receivers make up a large chunk of Kiper's top 10. What's interesting to note, though, is that he has offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano near the top of his draft board.
The offensive line is shaping up to be one of the deeper position groups for Round 1, and it'll start with some high-end talent.
For comparison, here's a look at the B/R Scouting Department's top 10:
Quarterbacks
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There is no uncertainty about which quarterback is the best in the 2026 class. It's Mendoza by a large margin. There aren't many questions about which quarterback will be taken off the board second, either.
Alabama's Ty Simpson is widely considered the second-best quarterback prospect in the 2026 class. What's unknown is how highly he'll be drafted and by which team. Most don't view him as a first-round prospect—he's the 44th-ranked player on the B/R board—but a team could take him on opening night for the fifth-year option.
"Simpson knows the game and competes on every down," Kiper wrote. "He's a battler who is always trying to make a play—sometimes to his detriment. And Simpson maneuvers well in the pocket, has a solid arm and can beat defenses with his legs when the passing play isn't there."
There's a chance that Mendoza and Simpson are the only prospects viewed as NFL starters in this class, though a few other signal-callers have intriguing potential. Overall, though, it's viewed as a shallow class.
Kiper's QB Rankings
Top O-Linemen and Defenders
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The 2026 class doesn't feature a ton of blue-chip talent. However, it's deep with potential role players who can become centerpieces for NFL teams. As previously mentioned, we're likely to see several offensive linemen taken on opening night.
Kiper's Top O-Linemen
Teams seeking defensive help will have plenty of options, too.
Kiper's Top Defenders
While fans don't always get excited about their teams drafting an offensive lineman or a defensive back, there will be some really valuable ones taken over the first two days of the draft.
Tackles like Mauigoa and Fano can be O-line anchors, while defenders like Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, and Caleb Downs can help forge defensive identities.
Many of this year's elite prospects play along the offensive line or on defense. Love is a special back, and receivers like Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson and Ohio State's Carnell Tate have the potential to be true No. 1 targets. However, we may look back on the 2026 class as one that built teams through the trenches.
In short, it's a good year to need help on defense or along the O-line because both groups feature talent and depth.
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