Many league observers believe the 2026 NFL draft class is not a strong one overall. To further strengthen the claim, there just aren’t many sure things in this class.
In 2026, there are no quarterbacks, wide receivers or offensive lineman on the list. There are just not enough evidence that there are fool-proof talent here.
Yes, I like Fernando Mendoza. He is, by far, the best quarterback in this draft and the Las Vegas Raiders should feel great about taking him with the No. 1 overall pick. But is Mendoza a true can’t-miss quarterback prospect? I’m not sure we can say that. The same goes for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. He’s worthy of being a top pick, but are there risks, sure.
So here goes our truncated list of bust-proof draft prospects:
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
You know it’s a strange draft when the most sure thing is a running back. It wasn’t long ago when the position was an early round after thought. But this kid can play. There are no real concerns about him at all and he should easily be a top-five pick. He will make some team very happy.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs
It won’t surprise me if we look back at this draft class and consider Downs the best player. He has major potential. He is simply a plug-and-play safety. He hits like a classic NFL safety and he rarely makes mistakes. He can quickly define a defense and be the face of the franchise-type. Running backs and safeties at the top of the list? Yes, positional value is basically out the window in this draft. Accept it; embrace it.
Delane should be a sure 10-top pick. He is very consistent, which is important at this position. He is a prototypical cornerback who is known for his tight coverage. He has a deep tool box that should help have a long career as a No. 1 corner.
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
It’s a good year to need a top-level safety. McNeil-Warren may not the ceiling that Downs has, but he is a special prospect. He has great size and he is an athletic force. He is a highly productive player. There’s just nothing not to like about this prospect.
Miami pass rusher Akheem Mesidor
We’ve bypassed other pass rushers such as Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey. They could be taken with the second and third picks. We’re not saying Mesidor is going to be a better NFL player than Reese and Bailey. Yet, we are very comfortable that he will be a good player and provide great production from a player who will likely be taken in the second half of the first round. We don’t have much worry that he will bust. Mesidor has clean tape and his fundamentals are strong for a pass rusher coming into the league. He has a great motor and he is also good against the run. He already looks like he knows how to play the NFL game.
Hunter may not be the first player at is position taken and others are solid prospects. But we really like what we see from Hunter. He looks like an NFL-ready nose tackle. He will be one of those guys that sticks around for a decade and cashes in on a couple of big contracts during his career. He’d be a great get early in the second round.
