2026 NFL Draft · Pittsburgh

Decoding Prospect DNA

Pro comparisons and breakdowns for the top 32 NFL Draft prospects.

Draft Countdown · Apr 23, 5PM PDT

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Jump to a Prospect
01

Fernando Mendoza
QB • Indiana

Grade

90/100

Proj Pick

1

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Matt Ryan

Cerebral pocket passers can still win in the NFL -- especially when they have the kind of performance in high-pressure situations that Mendoza possesses.

Whiteboard MaestroNeedle ThreaderClutch Gene
DNA Profile
02

Rueben Bain Jr.
DE • Miami

Grade

92/100

Proj Pick

9

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Melvin Ingram

When a power end like Bain or Ingram lines up across from you, offensive linemen know they’re in for a long day.

Bowling BallViolent HandsIronman Stamina
DNA Profile
03

Arvell Reese
DE • Ohio State

Grade

90/100

Proj Pick

3

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Will Anderson

Elite physicality and explosiveness are an easy combination to bet on for front-seven prospects, even if they haven’t played a ton of football.

Tone SetterChess PieceExplosiveness
DNA Profile
04

Kadyn Proctor
OT • Alabama

Grade

85/100

Proj Pick

6

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Darnell Wright

If you want people moved in the running game and firm pockets in pass protection, these are your kind of offensive tackles.

Natural AthleteDancing BearMammoth
DNA Profile
05

Spencer Fano
OT • Utah

Grade

85/100

Proj Pick

20

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Bernhard Raimann

You can’t go wrong drafting athletes like Fano or Raimann who possess the natural coordination to make everything look easy.

Linebacker LocaterTechnicianElite Mirror
DNA Profile
06

Jermod McCoy
CB • Tennessee

Grade

90/100

Proj Pick

19

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Stephon Gilmore

The island-man corner is going out of style in the NFL, but McCoy can help revive it the way Stephon Gilmore did in New England en route to winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

Island CornerPterodactyl FrameLiquid Hips
DNA Profile
07

Jeremiyah Love
RB • Notre Dame

Grade

96/100

Proj Pick

4

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Jahmyr Gibbs

Everyone wants juice in the modern NFL, and no running back prospects in recent memory have had more of it than Love and Gibbs.

Home-run SpeedBallerina FootworkLord-a-leaping
DNA Profile
08

Caleb Downs
S • Ohio State

Grade

92/100

Proj Pick

12

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Earl Thomas

While Earl Thomas is obviously a lofty comp, Downs plays with the same incredible processing speed and all-around athleticism to be special.

Joystick MobilityFearlessFootball IQ
DNA Profile
09

Sonny Styles
LB • Ohio State

Grade

91/100

Proj Pick

7

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Tremaine Edmunds

There aren’t many comps for a 6-foot-4, nearly 250-pound linebacker who runs a 4.46-second 40-yard dash -- Styles is a different breed.

Window EraserSideline-to-sideline RangeTackling Machine
DNA Profile
10

Avieon Terrell
CB • Clemson

Grade

84/100

Proj Pick

39

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Trent McDuffie

When you see a dog mentality at corner the way Terrell and McDuffie play, it’s easy to bet on their games translating to the NFL.

Liquid HipsPeanut PuncherBallerina Footwork
DNA Profile
11

Ty Simpson
QB • Alabama

Grade

78/100

Proj Pick

21

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Derek Carr

Injury and experience concerns are paramount with Simpson, but his tape when fully healthy was easily first-round caliber.

Escape ArtistSpeed ReaderZone Beater
DNA Profile
12

KC Concepcion
WR • Texas A&M

Grade

83/100

Proj Pick

24

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Stefon Diggs

Concepcion is the type of athlete and route runner who can get open against any corner you put in front of him.

Penthouse ElevatorFerrari HandlingFreshman All-American
DNA Profile
13

Caleb Lomu
OT • Utah

Grade

82/100

Proj Pick

27

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Jake Matthews

It’s all there physically for Lomu to be a high-end pass protector in the NFL, but he needs to improve his strength and nastiness to realize that potential.

Independent HandsElite MirrorNatural Athlete
DNA Profile
14

Mansoor Delane
CB • LSU

Grade

82/100

Proj Pick

11

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Kamari Lassiter

There was no cornerback better in college football last year than Delane. He's one of the highest-floor prospects in the draft class.

Quick ReadBallerina FootworkDog
DNA Profile
15

Olaivavega Ioane
IOL • Penn State

Grade

82/100

Proj Pick

15

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Steve Avila

If you like boring guards that you won’t have to worry about in pass protection, Ioane is just the man to draft.

Osmium AnchorLab-built FrameGymnast Balance
DNA Profile
16

Francis Mauigoa
IOL • Miami

Grade

82/100

Proj Pick

5

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Teven Jenkins

He may have played right tackle in college, but if you built a guard in a lab, chances are they’d look a lot like Mauigoa

People MoverOsmium AnchorVice Grips
DNA Profile
17

Makai Lemon
WR • USC

Grade

81/100

Proj Pick

13

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Golden Tate

Lemon may not be a spectacular athlete or have a frame capable of mossing defenders, but he does everything about the receiver position well.

Dirty WorkLoose MoverArrogant Hands
DNA Profile
18

Carnell Tate
WR • Ohio State

Grade

81/100

Proj Pick

8

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Corey Davis

No school has a better track record of producing top receiver talent in recent years than Ohio State, and Tate has all the hallmarks of a high-floor NFL player.

Venus FlytrapTechnicianSmooth Operator
DNA Profile
19

Peter Woods
DT • Clemson

Grade

80/100

Proj Pick

22

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Mike Daniels

Woods has the explosiveness, bend and play strength to be a nightmare to keep out of quarterbacks’ laps.

Bowling BallHot KnifeGrown Man Strength
DNA Profile
20

David Bailey
DE • Texas Tech

Grade

79/100

Proj Pick

2

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Vic Beasley

Athletes as impressive as Bailey and Beasley don’t miss as pass rushers, even if their ceiling is debatable without a consistent power threat.

Lightning BoltTag ChampionStock Up
DNA Profile
21

Omar Cooper Jr.
WR • Indiana

Grade

79/100

Proj Pick

16

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Greg Jennings

Cooper showed about as much of a WR1 skill set as he possibly could in a limited slot role for the Hoosiers last fall.

Ankle BreakerSuction CupsRunning Back Frame
DNA Profile
22

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
S • Toledo

Grade

84/100

Proj Pick

36

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Kerry Rhodes

McNeil-Warren has all the tools and traits to be a playmaking box safety who’s always around the football in the NFL.

EnforcerWing DefenderInstinctual
DNA Profile
23

Jordyn Tyson
WR • Arizona State

Grade

78/100

Proj Pick

10

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Jerry Jeudy

Tyson has the panache of a true WR1 prospect, but his injury history may cause teams to opt for safer prospects in the class.

Ankle BreakerHigh RiserBallerina Footwork
DNA Profile
24

Kenyon Sadiq
TE • Oregon

Grade

82/100

Proj Pick

14

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Vernon Davis

Pure athletic tools got Vernon Davis drafted sixth overall back in 2006. How high can the similarly athletic Sadiq go 20 years later?

Track SpeedLinebacker LocaterRocked-up RB
DNA Profile
25

Monroe Freeling
OT • Georgia

Grade

78/100

Proj Pick

17

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Taylor Lewan

You can’t fake dominant pass protection in the SEC the way we saw from Freeling toward the end of last season.

Brick WallYoga MasterStock Up
DNA Profile
26

D’Angelo Ponds
CB • Indiana

Grade

78/100

Proj Pick

44

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Aaron Glenn

With all the odds stacked against him at his size, Ponds is the easiest player to root for in the draft class.

Arrogant SpeedFearlessQuick Read
DNA Profile
27

Chris Johnson
CB • San Diego State

Grade

78/100

Proj Pick

29

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Tre’Davious White

If you can get over the ordinary name and low level of competition, you’re getting one of the most complete corners in the draft class.

Ballerina FootworkQuick ReadLeader of Men
DNA Profile
28

Lee Hunter
DT • Texas Tech

Grade

80/100

Proj Pick

51

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Akiem Hicks

It’s hard to watch Hunter in the playoff game against Oregon and not come away thinking he’ll be an impact player in the NFL.

OL MolterTwo-gapperVersatile
DNA Profile
29

Blake Miller
OT • Clemson

Grade

76/100

Proj Pick

28

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Trevor Penning

It’s easy to buy into what Miller could become, given that his career is one of constant improvement in every aspect of playing the position.

Seasoned VetPeople MoverStock Up
DNA Profile
30

Akheem Mesidor
DE • Miami

Grade

76/100

Proj Pick

35

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Olivier Vernon

If you want an impact edge defender right now without having to pay premium draft capital to do so, Mesidor is your man.

Phone-booth QuicksActive HandsIronman Stamina
DNA Profile
31

Max Iheanachor
OT • Arizona State

Grade

76/100

Proj Pick

23

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Anton Harrison

Pair Iheanachor with a great offensive line coach, and you could very easily be looking at a perennial Pro Bowler with his ability.

HooperElite MirrorLab-built
DNA Profile
32

Kayden McDonald
DT • Ohio State

Grade

79/100

Proj Pick

40

Proj Team

Pro Comparison
Derrick Nnadi

Run defense -- particularly along the interior defensive line -- is growing in value at the NFL level with recent schematic trends, and there’s no better run defender in the draft than McDonald.

Block of GraniteForkliftHigh Moment of Inertia
DNA Profile
Mike Renner
Mike Renner Senior NFL Draft Analyst @mikerenner_

Mike Renner is one of the most respected NFL Draft analysts in the industry. With over a decade of experience evaluating prospects, he has built a reputation for detailed scouting reports, accurate big-board rankings, and insightful pro comparisons that front offices across the league pay attention to.

Before joining CBS Sports, Renner spent years at Pro Football Focus as the Lead Draft Analyst, grading every snap of every NFL game — developing a deep understanding of what separates good prospects from great ones. His Comparison Board pairs each top prospect with an NFL pro comp, breaking down the traits, tendencies, and measurables that connect them.