Ty's 2026 NFL Draft Preview

The first round of the NFL draft starts tomorrow night. I'm not the biggest fan of this multi day draft, but it is a tv show and I'm sure whatever network airs the draft will get a ton of viewers. I know my son will be watching along with a bunch of other people. I will not, but I will be keeping track of where some of these players start their careers. Anyway, with the draft coming up, I will do my preview of some players and my thoughts on them. Unlike the past, where I would rank a few players, I'm going to go through some surefire first rounders and my thoughts on them. I'll name a player, give a sentence or two on my idea of how they'll be as a pro and then move on. Let's stop wasting time, let's get to the preview.

The player on the top of everyone's list seems to be Fernando Mendoza. And if I was listing players, he would be on the top of mine as well. Mendoza is a ready made quarterback prospect. He has all the tools to succeed in the league and he is football crazy. I respect his decision to stay home with his family for the draft. The only downside, he will be playing for the Raiders, who are a moribound franchise. Mendoza has the talent to turn them around, but it is going to take a few years.

Caleb Downs may be the best defensive prospect in the draft. If I were a defensive needy team, I'd try everything I could to move up and draft him. He is great in coverage, he can hit and he's an incredibly smart player. If not for Mendoza being in this draft, Downs would be the consensus number 1 player.

David Bailey is a great edge rusher. He plays the game with anger and joy. He is a throwback style player. I love his motor and his desire to play. I don't read much into the Jets canceling a meeting with him. Bailey has all the tools to be a pro bowl caliber player.

Arvell Reese is another buzzsaw off the edge. He has a super mean streak. He can be impossible to block at times. I know he spent a ton of time in Michigan's backfield last season. He is as good a player to build a defensive line around.

I'm a little skeptical of the Jeremiyah Love ascension. Don't get me wrong, he is a great player. It is his position that worries me. Running backs have such a short shelf life in the NFL. He is going to need to improve his pass catching and blocking if he wants to be an every down back. I think if put in the right situation, he could succeed. But that all depends on where he gets picked.

Ruben Bain is another edge rusher who many had as the top player going into the season. He didn't have the massive year statistically wise than many expected, but that is because he was double and triple teamed all year. He also showed up big time in Miami's playoff run, and their defense was the main reason why they made the run to the title game.

Outside of Mendoza, none of the QB's really do much for me. Ty Simpson is inaccurate and not very mobile. Drew Allar was not as great in college as he should have been, and he's coming off an injury. Carson Beck is older than a bunch of starters currently in the NFL. And Garrett Nussmeier just got some unfortunate medical news.

Outside of Love, this running back class is thin. Kaytron Allen is eligible, but he split time in Penn State's backfield. Navy's running back is eligible, but all Navy does is run. This running back class is devoid of true, deep talent.

What about the pass catchers? Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon may be the best players in this class. They both have separating speed, great hands and run solid routes. Denzel Boston is tall and quick. He could be a future number 1 wideout on an NFL team. KC Concepcion is solid and may be the most rounded receiver in this class. Kenyon Sadiq is the top tight end and he is the best tight end in this class. He should have a solid career.

The o line has some studs. Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa are the top tackles and I would be very happy if my team needed an o lineman and they drafted one of these guys.

The cornerback class is deep and talented. I already mentioned Caleb Downs, but we also have Mansoor Delane, D'Angelo Ponds, Avieon Terrell and Jermod McCoy. These dudes are all talented and can start from day one in the NFL.

The linebacking group falls off after Sonny Styles and CJ Allen. I'm not high on Jacob Rodriguez at all. He is a pure college player. Josiah Trotter needs time to grow into an NFL player. And Jake Golday seems to be a step or two too slow for the NFL.

Who would I be if I didn’t talk about a few Michigan players that are in the draft. I loved watching Derrick Moore at Michigan and I'm going to love watching him in the pros. I am very hopeful that Green Bay will take him. That would be ideal for me. Marlin Klein has the tools to be a solid NFL tight end, but he struggled to stay on the field for weeks at a time. Dominic Zvada is a good kicker. He won't get drafted, but he should get a chance somewhere and I could see him sticking around the NFL for a long time. And I am very hopeful that Donovan McCulley can find a place and stick around. He is big, has great hands and is faster than you think. He and Andrew Marsh gave me the most hope when Michigan would throw the ball last season.

That's it for my NFL draft preview. I'm sure these kids are excited to see what the future holds for them and I'm stoked to see where they end up playing next season. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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