2026 NFL Draft Headquarters: Scouting Reports, Position Rankings, Big Boards

Welcome to Draft Season

This is the central hub for all of my 2026 NFL Draft work, updated regularly to provide convenient access to read scouting reports, boards and the supporting podcasts with Jon Ledyard. At the end of the process, I’ll post boards as stand-alone pieces. If you want full breakdowns of the top players (the strengths, weaknesses, and, most importantly, schematic fits) or to go scouring for late-round gems, this is the place to be.

This season, I’ll be putting out scouting reports and writing articles for prospects. If there is anything else you want to see or read, let me know in the comments section below.

As always, thank you for supporting The Read Optional. Draft season is where the majority of subscribers join. Jon and I like to think we do things a little differently on the pod, and this season I’ll be returning to my scouting roots for full reports on hundreds of prospects. If you haven’t signed up for a premium subscription yet, there has never been a better time

Draft Boards

Top-300 Horizontal Board — One Sheet

Interactive Big Boards

Mock Draft

The One And Only Mock Draft

Scouting Reports

Quarterbacks

Podcast

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Quarterbacks

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (Grade: 7.76)

Tier Three — Solid Starter

2. Ty Simpson, Alabama (6.64)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (5.95)

4. Cole Payton, North Dakota State (5.25)

5. Carson Beck, Miami (5.03)

Tier Five — Camp Level

5. Taylen Green, Arkansas (4.75)

6. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (4.64)

7. Drew Allar, Penn State (4.35)

8. Mark Gronowski, Iowa (4.30)

9. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor (3.91)

10. Maverick McIvor, Western Kentucky (3.85)

Running Backs

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Running Backs

Tier One — Impact Starter

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (8.62)

Tier Two — Quality Starter

Tier Three — Rotational/High Backup

2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame (6.75)

3. Mike Washington, Arkansas (6.28)

4. Jonah Coleman, Washington (6.20)

Tier Four — Backup/Development

5. Kaelon Black, Indiana (5.80

6. Eli Heidenreich, Navy (5.78)

7. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest (5.50)

8. Kaytron Allen, Penn State (5.40)

9. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska (5.34)

10. Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M (5.30*) *Medical flag

Wide Receivers

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Wide Receivers — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Wide Receivers — Part II

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Wide Receivers — Part III

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Carnell Tate, Ohio State (7.80)

2. Makai Lemon, USC (7.51)

3. KC Concepcion, Texas A&M (7.50)

4. Omar Cooper, Indiana (7.25)

5. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (7.19*) *Medical flag

6. Chris Bell, Louisville (7.16* ) Medical flag

7. Elijah Sarratt, Indiana (7.08)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotation

7. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt (6.76)

8. Chris Brazzell, Tennessee (6.70)

9. Denzel Boston, Washington (6.56)

10. De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss (6.50)

11. Germie Bernard, Alabama (6.35)

12. Ted Hurst, Georgia State (6.28)

13. Antonio Williams, Clemson (6.20)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

11. Zachariah Branch, Georgia (5.85)

12. Bryce Lance, NDSU (5.78)

13. Deion Burks, Oklahoma (5.54)

14. Skyler Bell, UConn (5.50)

15. Malachi Fields, Notre Dame (5.35)

16. Brennan Thompson, Ole Miss (5.10)

17. Ja’Kobi Lane, USC (5.08)

18. Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech (5.02)

19. Zavion Thomas, LSU (5.02)

Tier Five — Camp Level

Tight Ends

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Tight Ends

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon (7.48)

Tier Three — Solid Starter / High-End Backup

2. Oscar Delp, Georgia (6.80)

3. Sam Roush, Stanford (6.70)

4. Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M (6.66)

5. Will Kacmarek, Ohio State (6.58)

6. Max Klare, Ohio State (6.50)

7. Eli Raridon, Notre Dame (6.20)

Tier Four — Backup/Development

8. Justin Joly, NC State (5.70)

9. Joe Royer, Cincinnati (5.68)

10. Tanner Koziol, Houston (5.62)

Offensive Tackles

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Offensive Tackles — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Offensive Tackles — Part II

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Monroe Freeling, Georgia (7.44)

2. Max Iheanachor, Arizona State (7.40)

3. Blake Miller, Clemson (7.35)

4. Spencer Fano, Utah (7.18)

5. Kadyn Proctor, Alabama (7.06)

Tier Three — Solid Starter / High-End Backup

6. Caleb Lomu, Utah (6.84)

7. Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern (6.18)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

8. Jude Bowry, Boston College (5.98)

9. Markel Bell, Miami (5.92)

10. Austin Barber, Florida (5.90)

11. Travis Burke, Memphis (5.85)

12. Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M (5.85)

13. Gennings Dunker, Iowa (5.58)

14. JC Davis, Illinois (5.44)

15. Cage Casey, Boise State (5.10)

16. Diego Pounds, Ole Miss (5.02)

Interior Offensive Linemen

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: IOL — Part I — Guards

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: IOL — Part II — Centers

Tier One — Impact Starter

1. Vega Ioane, Penn State (8.28)

Tier Two — Quality Starter

2. Francis Mauigoa, Miami (7.45*) *Medical flag

3. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M (7.45)

4. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech (7.28)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotation

5. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (6.90)

6. Jake Slaughter, Florida (6.15*) *Center only

7. Sam Hecht, Kansas State (6.10*) *Center only

8. Connor Lew, Auburn (6.0*) *Center only

Tier Four — Backup / Development

9. Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma (5.98)

10. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky (5.95)

11. Logan Jones, Iowa (5.86*) *Center only

12. Brian Parker II, Duke (5.74)

13. Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M (5.70)

14. Logan Taylor, Boston College (5.70)

15. Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame (5.45)

16. Anez Cooper, Miami (5.25)

17. Matt Gulbin, Michigan State (5.20)

Tier Five — Camp Level

17. Pat Coogan, Indiana (4.92*) *Center only

18. Beau Stephens, Iowa (4.89)

Edges

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Edges — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Edges — Part II

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Edges — Part III

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Edges — Part IV

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami (Grade: 7.94)

2. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech (7.74)

3. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami (7.46*) *Medical flag

4. Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF (7.45)

5. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan (7.34)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational/High-Value Sub-Package

6. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M (6.95*) *Pass-rush specialist

7. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma (6.95*) *Pass-rush specialist

8. Keyron Crawford, Edge/Hybrid, Auburn (6.84)

9. Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois (6.70)

10. Keldric Faulk, DL/Edge, Auburn (6.55)

11. TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson (6.45*) *Heavy end

12. Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech (6.45*) *Pass-rush specialist

13. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State (6.38)

14. Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee (6.26*) *Pass-rush specialist

15. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri (6.16)

16. Derrick Moore, Edge, Michigan (6.15)

17. Nadame Tucker, Edge, Western Michigan (6.05*) *Pass-rush specialist

Interior Defensive Line

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Interior DL — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Interior DL — Part II

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Christen Miller, Georgia (7.28)* Medical flag

2. Caleb Banks, Florida (7.06*) *Medical flag

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational/High-Value Sub-Package

3. Domonique Orange, Iowa State (6.90)

4. Kayden McDonald, Ohio State (6.85)

5. Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana (6.80)

6. Peter Woods, Clemson (6.80)

7. Gracen Halton, Oklahoma (6.48)

8. Bryson Eason, Tennessee (6.15)

9. Chris McClellan, Missouri (6.10)

10. Darrell Jackson, Florida State (6.10)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

9. Lee Hunter, Texas Tech (5.85)

10. DeMonte Capehart, Clemson (5.79)

11. LT Overton, Alabama (5.75)

12. Tim Keenan, Alabama (5.68)

13. Jackie Marshall, Baylor (5.60)

14. Zane Durant, Penn Stat (5.58)

15. Albert Regis, Texas A&M (5.50)

16. Nick Barrett, South Carolina (5.10)

17. Dontay Corleone, Clemson (5.08)

Linebackers

Podcasts:

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Linebackers — Part II

Tier One — Impact Starter

1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State (Grade: 8.83)

2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State (8.47)

Tier Two — Quality Starter

3. CJ Allen, Georgia (7.65)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational/High-Value Sub-Package

4. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State (6.98)

5. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (6.95)

6. Josiah Trotter, Missouri (6.84*) *Medical flag

7. Jake Golday, Cincinnati (6.75)

8. Anthony Hill, Texas (6.70)

9. Kyle Louis, Pitt (6.67)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

10. Justin Jefferson, Alabama (5.95)

11. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon (5.91)

12. Deontae Lawson, Alabama (5.60)

13. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU (5.50)

14. Aidan Fisher, Indiana (5.44)

15. Jimmy Rolder, Michigan (5.25)

16. Harold Perkins, LSU (5.10)

17. Taurean York, Texas A&M (5.08)

Tier Five — Camp Level

15. Red Murdock, Buffalo (4.97)

Cornerbacks:

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Cornerbacks — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Cornerbacks — Part II

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Cornerbacks — Part III

Tier One — Impact Starter

1. Mansoor Delane, LSU (8.09)

2. Jermod McCoy, Tennessee (8.04*) *Medical flag

Tier Two — Quality Starter

3. Chris Johnson, San Diego State (7.34)

4. D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana (7.28)

Tier Three — Low-End Starter/Rotation

5. Colton Hood, Tennessee (6.98)

6. Avieon Terrell, Clemson (6.78)

7. Julian Neal, Arkansas (6.75)

Tier Four — Backup/Development

8. Brandon Cisse, South Carolina (5.95)

9. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State (5.90)

10. Keith Abney II, Arizona State (5.76)

11. Devin Moore, Florida (5.68*) *Medical flag

12. Ephesians Prysock, Washington (5.65)

13. Chandler Rivers, Duke (5.60)

14. Malik Muhammad, Texas (5.45)

15. Charles Demmings, Stephen F Austin (5.38)

16. Hezekiah Masses, Cal (5.18)

17. Will Lee III, Texas A&M (5.05)

Safeties:

Podcasts

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Safeties — Part I

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Safeties — Part II

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Safeties — Part III

2026 NFL Draft Tiers & Evaluations: Slot Corners/Overhangs

Hybrids

Tier One — Impact Starter

1. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (Grade: 8.74)

Tier Two — Quality Starter

2. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon (7.93)

3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (7.15)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational/High-Value Sub-Package

4. Treydon Stukes, Arizona (6.74)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

5. VJ Payne, S, Kansas State (5.95)

6. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State (5.84)

7. Bud Clark, S, TCU (5.73)

Tier Five — Camp Level

Post Safety

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. AJ Haulcy, LSU (7.12)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational/High-Value Sub-Package

2. Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami (6.35)

3. Dalton Johnson, Arizona (6.15)

4. Bishop Fitzgerald, S, USC (6.05)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

5. Michael Taaffe, S, Texas (5.68)

6. Genesis Smith, S, Arizona (5.21)

Tier Five — Camp Level

Slot/Overhangs

Tier One — Impact Starter

Tier Two — Quality Starter

1. Keionte Scott, S/Nickel, Miami (7.05)

Tier Three — Solid Starter/Rotational

2. Treydon Stukes, S/Nickel, Arizona (6.74)

3. Jadon Canady, S/Nickel, Oregon (6.16)

Tier Four — Backup / Development

4. Jalon Kilgore, S/Nickel, South Carolina (5.84)