DJ's Top 20 Draft Prospects

Boston is a wide receiver with exceptional ball skills and production, lining up both outside and in the slot. He uses upper body strength to power through press coverage and his large frame to wall off defenders at all three levels. He is an outstanding ball winner with a huge catch radius, capable of playing above the rim in the red zone and making outstanding catches. After the catch, he relies more on physicality than finesse to gain extra yards. His skill set is compared to Courtland Sutton's coming out of SMU. McNeil Warren is a tall, long safety prospect with fantastic production and high energy. He is an explosive player who can range off the hash to make plays on the sideline, drive on throws in front of him, and run through wideouts. He possesses very fluid, smooth change-of-direction ability in space. Against the run, he is aggressive to the alley and explodes into ball carriers, capable of unlocking his hips on contact. Overall, he is described as a bouncy, twitchy athlete with Pro Bowl potential. Mazi Smith was a highly productive edge rusher with an ideal frame, relentless motor, and pass rush instincts. Against the pass, his game emphasizes power over pure speed, using a shake bull rush to get offensive tackles on their heels and incorporating a push-pull move for pressures. Once he creates separation, he can corner and bend toward the quarterback. He wins early when rushing inside over guards, continuously working his hands and refusing to stay blocked. Against the run, he has enough length and a powerful base to firmly set the edge against tackles and consistently overpower tight ends. He is considered a better version of 2025 second-round pick Nick Scorton. Powell is a slightly undersized edge rusher with outstanding twitch, tenacity, and production. Despite lacking ideal length, it did not hinder him in the games studied. As a pass rusher, he wins in various ways: with early speed, power, or instincts to counter oversetting offensive tackles. He plays with a blend of violence and awareness. Against the run, he can roll his hips and use leverage to set the edge, with the burst to knife through and make plays behind the line, and chases with outstanding effort on the backside. He is an energetic force off the edge, despite prototypical measurements. Hood possesses average size but excellent play speed and toughness. In press coverage, he is patient and balanced before using his hands to redirect at the line of scrimmage. He is fluid in turning, opening, and mirroring underneath, with ample speed to cover vertical routes. From off coverage, he trusts his eyes and is efficient with his plant and drive on balls in front. He is consistently in position downfield, able to locate and play the ball. Against the run, he is willing to fight through blockers and is a reliable tackler in space. Hood is a complete player expected to be a solid starter immediately. Tyson is an explosive receiver with many "wow" plays. He is a fluid mover, incorporating various releases and creativity into his route running, with suddenness off the line and out of breaks. He can weave to unbalance cornerbacks before exploding away. He makes incredible catches on deep balls, tracks the ball easily over the shoulder, and can hover in the air while waiting for it. After the catch, he has wiggle to make defenders miss and excellent speed to pull away. Durability issues throughout his college career are the only factor limiting his grade. McCoy had an outstanding 2024 season but missed 2025 due to an ACL tear. He excels in press coverage, effectively landing a one-hand jam while maintaining balance to stay on the hip and mirror. He is always in control of his movement. In zone coverage, he sets traps, knowing he can recover to make plays on the ball, with impressive ability to elevate and play the ball. He is a capable tackler in space but lacks physicality and effort against the run. He was dominant in 2024, except for a playoff game against Ohio State. McCoy has the speed, movement, and ball skills to start immediately. Maui Noa is a big, powerful right tackle prospect with a massive lower body and a firm base in pass protection. He has average foot quickness but can bend his knees and anchor against power rushers. He is a fluid mover and patient with his punch, possessing strong hands to steer and control once latched. In the run game, he can uproot and displace defenders with upper torque and leg drive. He is more of a one-track player at the second level, capable of swallowing linebackers when not needing to adjust in space. He is projected to be a dominant run blocker immediately and functional in pass protection. Fano, after starting at left tackle as a freshman, played right tackle for two seasons. He has excellent size, strength, and quickness. In pass protection, he is quick out of his stance, easily covering speed rushers or riding them upfield. Despite lacking ideal length, he stalls bull rushers due to core strength and knee bend, though he occasionally oversets. In the run game, he can latch, turn, and dump defenders at the point of attack, and is quick to climb to the second level to wall off linebackers. He is an explosive people mover with upside, despite developing as a pass protector. Yoh Omameh was a dominant left guard with a thick, proportioned build and outstanding strength and power. In pass protection, he can bend his knees, redirect, and stay attached to defenders, handling power with ease and showing awareness on stunts. In the run game, he latches on, runs his feet, and consistently looks to finish, demonstrating tremendous upper torque to toss defenders out of the hole. He takes proper angles to the second level and can adjust in space. His temperament, toughness, and ability to anchor suggest he will be an impact starter from day one. Downs is a versatile safety prospect with outstanding instincts and intangibles, primarily lining up as a nickel, strong safety, or nickel backer. In the passing game, he is a smooth mover, using his eyes and instincts to limit windows. He is physical and fast enough to mirror tight ends in man coverage, snagging a pair of interceptions in each of his three seasons. He is an outstanding blitzer with timing and feel. He excels against the run, taking proper angles, attacking ball carriers, and is a dependable tackler. He handles most defensive communication, praised for intelligence and leadership. Downs is a plug-and-play starter who elevates teammates. Tate is a tall, long wideout with outstanding play speed and production. He uses suddenness to defeat press coverage and covers ground quickly with his long stride, attacking defenders' leverage in off coverage. He has strong, reliable hands in traffic and tracks the ball beautifully over his shoulder, accessing an extra gear when the ball is in the air. He is a loose athlete, adjusting well to back-shoulder throws, and efficient with his footwork when working back to the quarterback. While not exceptionally dynamic with the ball in his hands, he is very productive. He should immediately impact the vertical passing game. Delane is one of the most consistent players, making coverage look easy with his loose and fluid change of direction. He excels in press coverage, rerouting and mirroring across the field. In zone, he plays with instincts and awareness, often going unchallenged due to tight coverage. When attacked, he locates and makes plays on the ball. He actively participates in the run game, closing space quickly and operating as a physical, reliable tackler. Delane has the tools to match every receiver style, whether vertical threats or bigger, more physical players. Makai Lemon is a favorite player, described as a wideout with a running back's body and a linebacker's temperament. He excels in the slot, winning with quickness and understanding route tempo, consistently winning in traffic. He is efficient with his steps and explodes in and out of breakpoints. He plays bigger than his size, winning several 50/50 balls on elevated throws. His performance against Iowa, with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, showcased his craftsmanship. He is ultra-competitive after the catch, breaking tackles and fighting for yards. He draws comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Bain is a thick, square edge rusher with short arms, whose tape is filled with disruption, destruction, and dominance. As a pass rusher, he lacks an elite get-off but wins with leverage, power, and polish. Launching from a four-point stance, he can uproot offensive tackles to access the quarterback. He possesses a nasty chop-rip, a violent hump move, and a nifty Eurostep. Against the run, he ragdolls tight ends, and his motor to chase is unrelenting. Despite lacking ideal speed and length, he takes over big games and key moments, described as a certified junkyard dog, reminiscent of Trent Cole. Styles is a tall, long, and rangy linebacker prospect who smoothly transitioned from safety. In the run game, he quickly reads and fills to make tackles, using his length to press off blocks and demonstrating outstanding lateral range. He is a firm, reliable tackler with stopping power. Styles is also outstanding in coverage, running with slot receivers and mirroring tight ends. He is an explosive blitzer, capable of running over running backs. His performance in the Big Ten title game confirmed his capabilities, making him the best defender on the field, reminiscent of Fred Warner. Bailey is an ultra-explosive edge rusher with outstanding production, operating from both two- and four-point stances. His game centers on his get-off and winning early. He gains ground quickly and uses a nasty dip-rip move before flattening to the quarterback. He models his game after Von Miller and incorporates tips from Demani Jackson and Aidan Hutchinson. He complements his speed rush with a sudden inside spin move and flashes the ability to convert speed to power, an area for improvement. Against the run, he plays with effort and backside range but needs to improve consistency and physicality at the point of attack. His ability to create short corners to the passer is exceptional. Reese is a very fluid and explosive athlete used as a chess piece in defense, lining up off-ball at linebacker, rushing off the edge, and occasionally spying the quarterback. He projects best as an edge rusher, possessing elite speed and bend. He can overpower tight ends, tackles, and running backs with a runway, generating significant power. While lacking polish as a rusher, this is seen as developable. He has strong hands, can match and mirror tight ends and running backs in coverage, and generates credible knockback power on the frontside against the run, with elite speed to chase from the backside. Reese is compared to Jaylen Walker from the 2025 draft. Love is a dynamic weapon as both a runner and a receiver. On inside runs, he is a little high and narrow but explodes through holes, dropping lower on contact and bouncing off defenders with lower leg drive. He can be impatient but gets skinny through narrow passages. He has elite speed on outside runs to capture the corner and can go the distance, making defenders miss without gearing down, with an electric full-speed spin move. In the passing game, he runs routes like a wideout—smooth, polished, and natural—plucking the ball effortlessly. In pass protection, he is aware and willing but excels in routes. Love is a home run hitter, expected to immediately expand his drafting team's playbook. Mendoza is a very accurate thrower with excellent size, toughness, and sufficient athleticism. Operating out of the gun, he leans heavily on the RPO game, has quick hands, makes good decisions, and is very accurate on quick throws. His third and seventh-plus down reels showcase NFL-type throws, demonstrating velocity to drive the ball in the seam and pinpoint placement on back-shoulder throws. He occasionally holds the ball too long, hunting big plays, an area for refinement. He is incredibly tough, routinely hanging in the pocket and absorbing big hits. He picks his spots as a runner but has converted huge plays, as seen in the national championship game. His size, arm talent, and competitive nature are compared to Matt Ryan, and he is expected to achieve early success.