DRAFT NEWS

As much as on-field production matters, the NFL loves prospects that checks boxes. Height, weight, hand size, arm length, wingspan, 40 time, vertical and broad jumps, and bench press reps are the primary boxes that scouts want checked. When a prospect with great on-field production does not check these boxes, their draft stock typically plummets. Bain and Howell were two of the most impactul EDGE defenders in the country. But both prospects have short arms and that worries N

The 2026 NFL Draft will be one of the fastest and most talented group of athletes to enter the NFL in decades, if not ever. Specifically, the WRs, TEs, OLT, OG, OC, EDGEs, IDL, LBs, CBs, and Safeties are loaded with plug and play starters that should be ready to contribute from day one in the NFL. The two positions loaded with the most top end talent are EDGE and OT who combined should account for 16-20 of the first 32 picks next month.

The 2026 NFL Draft OT class is unusually deep with quality starting potential outside pass blockers with the size, length, and lateral agility desired by NFL teams. Eighteen OT made the Big Board 150 with five prospects earning top 33 grades. There are few true franchise OTs in this draft with the top two prospects (Mauigoa and Fano) being ORTs, although Fano could project to the QB's blind side in the NFL.

For many football fans, the Super Bowl signals the end of football for seven months - a depressing thought. But for draftniks like us, Kenneth Walker's Super Bowl MVP Award just reminds us of the importance of the NFL Draft is for acquiring talent - Walker was SNS' number one ranked RB in the 2022 NFL Draft after his Doak Walker Award winning season at Michigan State. Seattle selected him the second round and immediately plugged him in as a starter and now the Seahawks are Wo

The 2026 NFL Draft QB class looked like it could have been special at the beginning of the 2025 college football season but the reality of the class is there are few potential starting QBs in this draft and only one that could project to being a franchise QB - Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. Another ten or so prospects look like potential developmental starting QBs. The remaining QBs figure to fight for a roster, or more likely, a practice squad spot next fall.

The Big Board 100 is a direct reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of the 2026 NFL Draft class. WR is the most represented position on this Big Board with 14 prospects listed, which indicates the wide array of talent available at the WR position. The best talent of this draft is along the offensive and defensive lines where 38 of the 100 prospects listed are either OTs, IOL (OG and OC), EDGEs, or IDL.

The Niners are trying to rebuild on the fly and decide to get a pass rushing partner for All-Pro Nick Bosa. Williams, a former 5-star has elite skills that he just started to tap last season in Athens. Williams has difficulty staying healthy but flashes superb burst and natural strength. The Niners believe his talent is too good to pass.

Chicago desperately needs to upgrade OLT but feel that there is no prospect worth selecting here. Surprisingly, Loveland gets selected before Tyler Warren but he fits what new coach Ben Johnson wants in a TE - a mismatch piece used over the middle to take advantage of safeties and LBs in coverage, much like Lions use TE Sam LaPorta.

And the fall has finally stopped. Sanders is the second QB that Cleveland has drafted (Dillon Gabriel) which seems like a less than ideal situation. But at least, this drama has ended.

Booker and Ezeiruaku address team needs after the retirement of Zack Martin and the departure of DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency. Revel has excellent size and length and displayed quality ball skills in his last healthy season in 2023. Blue is an explosive RB that has been missing in Dallas for years. Mafah is a powerful inside runner who has had a heavy workload in college and is likely to have a short NFL career. James is a fast, rangy LB in the mode of DeMarvon Overshown.

The Bills pass defense was the albatross around the Bills' neck last year that the team could never overcome. Hairston, who led the SEC in interceptions in 2023, is both very fast (4.28 40) and exceedingly quick. Hairston will most likely play slot but has the size and experience to man the outside in upstate NY.

The Jags deal up to get the second pick in the draft. But the cost was steep - pick #5, a second round pick (#36), a fourth round pick (#126), and a 2026 first round pick for the second pick, a fourth rounder (#104), and a sixth round pick (#200). Jacksonville uses the second selection on Travis Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner who will try to play offense and defense in the NFL.

SNS presents the final mock draft in the run up to the 2025 NFL Draft, that kickoffs Thursday evening in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This mock takes a crack at predicting how the 32 teams use their 257 combined picks over three days and seven rounds. SNS utilized the Comprehensive Eligibility Tracking (CET) database, NFL Teams Needs reports, and the SNS Big Board 300 (ALL AVAILABLE HERE AT SNS!) to conduct this simulated draft.

The SNS 2025 BIG BOARD 300 is the final rankings of the best 300 draft-worthy prospects available in this weekend's draft, which will select 257 prospects in seven rounds over the three-day event.

Ashton Jeanty / RB / Boise State 1. Travis Hunter / ATH / Colorado 2. Abdul Carter / EDGE / Penn State 3. Kelvin Banks / OT / Texas 4. Mason Graham / IDL / Michigan 5. Ashton Jeanty / RB / Boise State 6. Will Johnson / CB / Michigan 7. Jalon Walker / LB-EDGE / Georgia 8. Tyler Warren / TE / Penn State 9. Armand Membou / OT / Missouri 10. James Pearce / EDGE / Tennessee 11. Cam Ward / QB / Miami, Fl 12. Derrick Harmon / IDL / Oregon 13. Tetaroia McMillan / WR / Arizona 14. Nic

SNS Position Rankings for April's draft, revision 01, compiled after the Shrine and Senior Bowl practices and games.

SNS Top 150 prospects available in April's draft, revision 01 compiled after the Shrine and Senior Bowl practices and games.