The 2026 class is defense-dominant and unusually deep at the back seven. Nine of ESPN Jordan Reid's top 10 prospects play defense or offensive line. The top of the class — Mendoza, Love, Styles, Reese, Bain, Bailey, Mauigoa, Downs — is as deep at "blue-chip" prospects as any recent class not named 2024. The middle rounds are thick with starter-quality EDGE, LB, and DB prospects. Where it falls short: no generational #1 QB (Mendoza is a great prospect, not Andrew Luck), a shallow WR class after the top 5, and a below-average TE group outside of Kenyon Sadiq.
| Position | 2026 Grade | Nearest Comp (recent) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | B- | 2022 class (Pickett era) | Top-heavy with Mendoza + Simpson; thin after. |
| RB | B | 2023 (Bijan Robinson era) | Jeremiyah Love is a top-5 all-time RB prospect; depth drops. |
| WR | B- | 2022 (Wilson / London) | No alpha WR1 like Harrison Jr. or Chase — just a strong trio. |
| TE | C+ | 2022 (McBride era) | Sadiq top-20; cliff behind. |
| OT | B | 2023 (mid-tier class) | Solid top-5 but no bookend blue-chippers. |
| IOL | B+ | 2023 (Skoronski / Torrence) | Deep tier of starter-grade G/C. |
| EDGE | A | 2022 (Walker / Hutchinson) | Deepest EDGE class in years; five viable R1s. |
| IDL | B+ | 2024 (Murphy II / Newton) | Peter Woods headlines a solid top tier. |
| LB | A+ | 2014 (broadest LB class pre-modern era) | First top-10 LB since Isaiah Simmons in 2020 possible. |
| CB | A- | 2019 (Murphy / Baker / Williams) | Four potential R1 corners; outside + nickel depth. |
| S | A- | 2017 (Adams / Hooker / Baker) | Caleb Downs is generational; three R1 safeties possible. |