{"id":668215,"date":"2026-03-20T02:57:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T02:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/668215\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T02:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T02:57:16","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-field-yates-top-50-draft-player-rankings-see-big-shakeup-for-espn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/668215\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft: Field Yates Top 50 draft player rankings see big shakeup for ESPN"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL combine has concluded and for some, so has their pro day. In response, Field Yates has overhauled his latest top 50 player rankings<\/a> ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Notably, these rankings do not correspond with where Yates believes these players will be drafted. Instead, they should be thought of as the best remaining currently available to be drafted. <\/p>\n

Former Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza has long since been considered the top overall prospect in this cycle, and remains atop Yates\u2019 rankings. Below you can find his full list, from No. 1 through No. 50. <\/p>\n

Mendoza helped Indiana to an undefeated national championship-winning season that resulted in him winning the Heisman Trophy. He finished the year throwing for 3,535 yards, 41 passing TD (48 overall) and six interceptions to go with a 72.0% completion percentage.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cFresh off a\u00a0Heisman Trophy\u00a0winning season, Mendoza is an experienced quarterback with functional athleticism. He has ideal body armor for an NFL quarterback at his size, which he used in college to stay tough and durable against aggressive defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JeremiyahNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. (MICHAEL CLUBB\/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

In 12 games this season, Love rushed for 1,372 yards on 199 carries to go with 18 rushing touchdowns. He added 27 catches for 280 receiving yards and three touchdowns through the air as well.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cPut your positional value conversations aside while discussing Love, as the Notre Dame star has every necessary skill for an elite running back. He has excellent speed and overall acceleration, posting a 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine and averaging nearly 7.0 yards per carry over the past two seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bailey transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford as a part of the Red Raiders\u2019 stellar portal class last offseason. He played three seasons for the Cardinal, where he amassed 14.5 sacks over that span. Bailey matched that total in his lone season in Lubbock, helping lead the team to a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cBailey routinely hurled offensive tackles onto their heels last season, allowing him to barrel through with brute force at the point of attack. He\u2019s not a dominant force yet defending the run, but he has the size to improve in that area. He posted an astonishing 71 pressures in 2025 to go along with three forced fumbles, bringing him to eight over the past two seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2024, Reese has combined for 112 tackles for the Buckeyes. He finished 2025 with 69 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. As a result, he earned All-American status in 2025 and was a member of the Buckeyes\u2019 national title squad two seasons ago.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cReese still needs time to develop, relying more on athleticism than crafty pass-rush moves at this juncture. But that\u2019s an understandable reality given his lack of experience as a pass rusher. His upside is extremely enticing given how fluidly he moves at his size.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SonnySonny Styles (Mick Walker\/Lettermen Row)<\/p>\n

Styles was a sure tackler this past season with 83 stops to go with three pass breakups, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. He also recorded a career-best 100-tackle season during Ohio State\u2019s national title-winning season two years ago.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cThough Styles\u2019 profile has risen to new heights after a\u00a0combine performance\u00a0for the ages (including a 43\u00bd-inch vertical jump), the former safety is much more than just an athletic dynamo. His game is also highlighted by forceful tackling, a quick trigger defending the run and natural coverage instincts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caleb Downs learned under both Ryan Day and Nick Saban during his three-year run in college. He\u2019s turned into every bit of the prospect many expected him to be as a former five-star recruit. On the field, Downs finished the 2025 season with 68 combined tackles, a PBU, one sack and a pair of interceptions.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cDowns was used in a litany of ways throughout his college career, as he has the versatility to patrol in the center of the field or function as a linebacker in the box against the run. His physicality at the point of attack stands out, as he has impressive power blended with a tenacious mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carnell Tate finished the season having caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine receiving touchdowns. His 17.2 yards per catch earned him the reputation as an explosive playmaker downfield, and many expect that to continue in the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cTate has wiry strength and plays faster than his 40-yard dash time of 4.53 seconds. His superpowers are his hands (one drop in 2025 and 10\u00bc-inch hands), disciplined route running and body control. \u2026 Tate also has versatility to play in a big slot role in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (Neil Gershman, Zooba Images)<\/p>\n

Mauigoa finished the 2025 season playing 826 offensive snaps for the Miami Hurricanes. He allowed just two sacks and 10 pressures across 440 pass block snaps. He played 814 snaps at right tackle in 16 games. <\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cMaugioa started in every game over three college seasons, playing all but 11 snaps at right tackle. He has a strong, thick lower half, with exceptional balance and footwork in pass protection. He is light, fluid and reactive enough to handle elusive edge rushers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordyn Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns for the Sun Devils during the 2025-26 season. During his career, Tyson has caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns after beginning his career playing for Deion Sanders at\u00a0Colorado<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cThere is a good debate about which receiver is the best in this class, with Tyson possessing a dynamic skill set that is led by explosiveness. He had a down season in 2025 production-wise, but that was due to a lingering hamstring injury and shoddy quarterback play.\u201d<\/p>\n

With 20.5 sacks on his career including 9.5 during Miami\u2019s run to the national title game this season \u2014 Bain is one of the best pass rushers in this class. He\u2019s always a threat to any QB,\u00a0finishing first among EDGE rushers with 54 hurries and second with 67 pressures in college football this season.<\/p>\n

Yates<\/strong>: \u201cHe is at his best when engaging with offensive tackles and barreling through them, plus he can contribute as a violent run defender (nine run stops in 2025). Bain isn\u2019t a premier athlete, but he\u2019s a full-tilt rusher who wears down opponents and would be best in an even front at the NFL level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Field Yates NFL Draft player rankings No. 11-50<\/p>\n

11. Georgia<\/a><\/strong> OT Monroe Freeling<\/a><\/strong>
12. Utah<\/a><\/strong> OT Spencer Fano<\/a><\/strong>
13. Alabama<\/a><\/strong> OT Kadyn Proctor<\/a><\/strong>
14. Penn State<\/a><\/strong> OG Vega Ioane<\/a><\/strong>
15. Tennessee<\/a><\/strong> CB Jermod McCoy<\/a><\/strong>
16. LSU<\/a><\/strong> CB Mansoor Delane<\/a><\/strong>
17. USC<\/a><\/strong> WR Makai Lemon<\/a><\/strong>
18. Oregon<\/a><\/strong> TE Kenyon Sadiq<\/a><\/strong>
19. Oregon<\/strong> S Dillon Thieneman<\/a><\/strong>
20. Clemson<\/a><\/strong> DT Peter Woods<\/a><\/strong>
21. Miami<\/strong> EDGE Akheem Mesidor<\/a><\/strong>
22. Auburn<\/a><\/strong> EDGE Keldric Faulk<\/a><\/strong>
23. Indiana<\/strong> WR Omar Cooper<\/a><\/strong>
24. Oklahoma<\/a><\/strong> EDGE R Mason Thomas<\/a><\/strong>
25. Missouri<\/a><\/strong> EDGE Zion Young<\/a><\/strong>
26. Toledo<\/a><\/strong> S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren<\/a><\/strong>
27. Washington<\/a><\/strong> WR Denzel Boston<\/a><\/strong>
28. Utah<\/strong> OT Caleb Lomu<\/a><\/strong>
29. Alabama<\/strong> QB Ty Simpson<\/a><\/strong>
30. Texas A&M<\/a><\/strong> WR KC Concepcion<\/a><\/strong>
31. Clemson<\/strong> CB Avieon Terrell<\/a><\/strong>
32. Clemson<\/strong> OT Blake Miller<\/a><\/strong>
33. Tennessee<\/strong> CB Colton Hood<\/a><\/strong>
34. Ohio State<\/strong> DT Kayden McDonald<\/a><\/strong>
35. Texas A&M<\/strong> EDGE Cashius Howell<\/a><\/strong>
36. Georgia<\/strong> LB CJ Allen<\/a><\/strong>
37. Texas A&M <\/strong>OG Chase Bisontis<\/a><\/strong>
38. Arizona State<\/strong> OT Max Iheanachor<\/a><\/strong>
39. Clemson<\/strong> EDGE T.J. Parker<\/a><\/strong>
40. South Carolina<\/a><\/strong> CB Brandon Cisse<\/a><\/strong>
41. San Diego State<\/a><\/strong> CB Chris Johnson<\/a><\/strong>
42. Georgia<\/strong> DT Christen Miller<\/a><\/strong>
43. Notre Dame<\/strong> RB Jadarian Price<\/a><\/strong>
44. Cincinnati<\/a><\/strong> LB Jake Golday<\/a><\/strong>
45. UCF<\/a><\/strong> EDGE Malachi Lawrence<\/a><\/strong>
46. Florida<\/strong> DT Caleb Banks<\/a><\/strong>
47. Texas<\/strong> LB Anthony Hill Jr. <\/a><\/strong>
48. Georgia Tech<\/strong> OG Keylan Rutledge<\/a><\/strong>
49. Missouri<\/strong> LB Josiah Trotter<\/a><\/strong>
50. Texas Tech<\/strong> LB Jacob Rodriguez<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL combine has concluded and for some, so has their pro day. In response, Field Yates has…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":668216,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[253987,6836,155666,6841,6843,248044,34331,6846,230216,6848,34333,34335,282348,34337,6851,253988,155667,207345,6857,248045,1841,1318,82356,203237,256470,72778,6873,6874,34367,6881,203240,253989,6886,203241,203242,6893,265196,203243,256475,248046,1317,1315,1316,73494,6902,34379,6905,6907,6908,62,6910,33168,67,132,68,6914,256481],"class_list":{"0":"post-668215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-akheem-mesidor-20-clearwater-academy-international","9":"tag-anthony-hill-23-ryan","10":"tag-arvell-reese-23-glenville","11":"tag-avieon-terrell-23-westlake","12":"tag-blake-miller-22-strongsville","13":"tag-brandon-cisse-23-lakewood","14":"tag-caleb-banks-21-southfield","15":"tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","16":"tag-caleb-lomu-23-highland","17":"tag-carnell-tate-23-img-academy","18":"tag-cashius-howell-21-rockhurst","19":"tag-chase-bisontis-23-don-bosco-prep","20":"tag-chris-johnson-24-aledo","21":"tag-christen-miller-22-cedar-grove","22":"tag-cj-allen-23-lamar-county-comprehensive","23":"tag-colton-hood-23-eagles-landing-christian-academy","24":"tag-david-bailey-22-mater-dei","25":"tag-denzel-boston-22-emerald-ridge","26":"tag-dillon-thieneman-23-westfield","27":"tag-emmanuel-mcneil-warren-22-lakewood","28":"tag-fernando-mendoza-22-columbus","29":"tag-football","30":"tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","31":"tag-jacob-rodriguez-21-rider","32":"tag-jadarian-price-22-denison","33":"tag-jake-golday-21-arlington","34":"tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","35":"tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","36":"tag-josiah-trotter-23-st-josephs-prep-school","37":"tag-kadyn-proctor-23-southeast-polk","38":"tag-kayden-mcdonald-23-north-gwinnett","39":"tag-kc-concepcion-23-chambers","40":"tag-keldric-faulk-23-highland-home","41":"tag-kenyon-sadiq-23-skyline-senior","42":"tag-keylan-rutledge-22-franklin-county","43":"tag-makai-lemon-23-los-alamitos","44":"tag-malachi-lawrence-21-dupont-manual","45":"tag-mansoor-delane-22-archbishop-spalding","46":"tag-max-iheanachor-22-king-drew-medical-magnet","47":"tag-monroe-freeling-23-oceanside-collegiate-academy","48":"tag-ncaa","49":"tag-ncaa-football","50":"tag-ncaafootball","51":"tag-omar-cooper-22-lawrence-north","52":"tag-peter-woods-23-thompson","53":"tag-r-mason-thomas-22-cardinal-gibbons","54":"tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","55":"tag-sonny-styles-22-pickerington-central","56":"tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","57":"tag-sports","58":"tag-t-j-parker-23-central","59":"tag-ty-simpson-22-westview","60":"tag-united-states","61":"tag-unitedstates","62":"tag-us","63":"tag-vega-ioane-22-graham-kapowsin","64":"tag-zion-young-22-westlake"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=668215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/668215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/668216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=668215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=668215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=668215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}