Pound the Table - NFL Draft Prospects YOU Want on Your NFL Team

When you scout hundreds of prospects every season, you begin to identify some prospects as favorites, even though that was never a goal when the process started. Some prospects just combine the effort with the production or athletic upside that they magnetically draw your attention and your eyes just always seem to find him on the field. These prospects do not necessarily have the size, length, speed, agility, strength, leaping ability, or explosiveness that the top prospects at their position display but they have all flashed the upside to be developed into NFL starters or significant contributors under a patient coaching staff. The seven prospects who made the 2026 Pound the Table are all players who could have been drafted a round or two earlier in the SNS Final Seven-Round Mock Draft (to be released Thursday morning!) and are prospects who should become quality NFL contributors and potentially starters within the next couple of seasons.

First Round – Jacob Rodriguez / LB / Texas Tech

Projected Selection – 2 Rd / Pick 44 (Jets)

Rodriguez, SNS’ number two ranked LB and number 32 overall prospect, is a turnover producing machine with 4 INTs and 7 forced fumbles recorded this past season, but is not considered a first-round draft candidate due to the low priority that NFL teams place on off-the-ball LB and a perceived lack of athleticism in Rodriguez’s game. But Rodriguez proved at the NFL Scouting Combine that he is a better athlete than many scouts had him pegged after showing out in Indianapolis - 4.57 40 / 38.5” Vertical / 10’1” Broad / 6.90 3-Cone Drill (best time among LBs). Rodriguez possesses excellent read and react skills – vision like a RB and finds and fills gaps in run support. Rarely takes a misstep and fires up the alley and seeks contact. Fantastic instincts. Great range – speed and agility to go sideline-to-sideline due to foot speed and superior instincts. Rarely missteps or gets fooled. Very proficient in punching the ball out of the ball carrier’s hand and creating fumbles. Form tackler. Breaks down well in space to secure the tackle. Effective in zone coverage with the eyes and lateral agility to make a lot of plays on the ball in space although he is tighter in the hips than desired. Tightness in his hips limits his ability to cover elusive receivers but matches up well with most TEs in space. Rodriguez profiles as an immediate starter who is worth a first-round selection on Thursday evening even though that is almost certainly not going to happen.

Second Round – Ted Hurst / WR / Georgia State

Projected Selection – 3 Rd / Pick 95 (Patriots)

Hurst, SNS’ number 13 ranked WR and number 85 overall prospect, is a rapidly ascending talent whose combination of size, length (6032 / 206 lbs / 32 & 5/8” Arms), speed (4.42 40), and explosiveness (36.5” Vertical / 11’2” Broad) make him a potential starting outside WR in the NFL possibly as soon as this fall. Hurst lines up out wide and in the slot to take advantage of match-ups. Strong, reliable hands – can reach back, make the catch, and not lose stride. Capable of making the one-handed, spectacular catch. Athletic with very good body control. Possesses explosive, breakaway speed where he eats up ground in huge chunks and runs through pursuit angles. Excellent leaping ability – can sky, high point the ball, and win jump balls consistently. Very strong and wins the ball consistently at the catch point. Coordinated and possesses solid body control. Hurst still needs to sharpen his routes and become more of a technician – rounds his route and needs to sinks hips and create better separation at the break point – but his issues are correctable. Hurst would be a steal of a third-round pick who plays like a first-rounder and is an eventual starter.

Third Round – Sam Hecht / OC / Kansas State

Projected Selection – 4 Rd / Pick 108 (Broncos)

Hecht, SNS’ number seven-ranked IOL and number 95 overall prospect, profiles as a potential immediate starting center in the NFL. But the quality depth of this year’s center class is likely to depress many prospects value. In the 2026 SNS Final Mock Draft, Hecht fell to the fourth round even though he grades out as second-round center prospect. Hecht has desired size, adequate length (6042 / 303 lbs / 31 & 5/8” Arms) and plays with excellent leverage and bend. Excellent base and balance – rarely on the ground. Very athletic. Climbs out to the second level effectively and gets good fits on LBs in space. Excels at combo blocking on the second level. Extends and locks out in pass protection. Nice punch placement and excellent grip strength. Hecht redirects and picks up blitzers well. Smart and conducts the line calls. Hecht is very durable and looks like a long-term NFL starter.

Fourth Round – Caleb Douglas / WR / Texas Tech

Projected Selection – 5 Rd / Pick 154 (Bills)

Douglas, SNS’ number 19 ranked WR and number 125 overall prospect, lasts until the fifth-round due to the depth of the WR position, specifically the large quantity of big and long outside WRs like Douglas. Douglas has an excellent combination of size (6034 / 206), length (32 & ½” Arms) and speed (4.39 40) that NFL teams desire in their outside WRs. Douglas is a smooth route runner with deceptive quickness – subtle movements and agility allow him to gain separation against man coverage. Very good hands – can snag the ball outside the frame of his body. Uses size well as a red zone threat in the end zone. Good YAC ability due to speed and nimbleness. Douglas tracks the ball in the air well. Outstanding deep speed and is a home run threat anytime he touches the ball. Lacks some desired strength and can have difficulty defeating the jam against physical CBs but is an experienced and talented WR with starting potential in the NFL. Douglas would be a steal in the fifth round.

Sixth Round – Micah Pettus / OT / Florida State

Projected Selection – 6 Rd / Pick 191 (Patriots)

Pettus, SNS’ number 18 ranked OT and number 159 overall prospect, possesses a fantastic combination of size / length (6067 / 351 lbs / 34” Arms / 83 & 7/8” Wingspan) that gets every OL coach excited. Although he is a waist-bender who is too easily defeated when the defender gets underneath his pads, Pettus is a powerful drive blocker who can push DL around with pure strength. Slides well, and combined with his wingspan, his lateral agility makes it difficult to beat him with pure speed. Very difficult to bull rush when he keeps his pads low. Throws a powerful punch that can rock an EDGE backwards. Pettus may not bend or move well enough to slide inside to OG but premium size make him an OT prospect worth developing. Pettus’ length and lateral agility make him an ideal candidate to be a quality swing back-up OT in the NFL and would be a great late round selection.

Sixth Round – Robert Henry / RB / UTSA

Projected Selection – 6 Rd / Pick 195 (Buccaneers)

Henry, SNS’ number 11 ranked RB and number 139 overall prospect, is an average-sized RB with adequate height, frame, and mass (5090 / 196 lbs). But Henry is a smooth athlete with very light feet and dances his way through the hole like a scat back. Very good agility and C.O.D ability. Instinctive and patient runner. Very good burst and acceleration through the hole – very good second gear. Good contact balance – bounces off tackle attempts like a pinball. Stronger than his size would indicate and falls forward consistently – runs behind his pads and grinds through arm tackles. Extremely fast with great long speed – true home run threat. Henry needs to improve his blocking ability to stay on the field on passing downs but his running skill is already NFL-ready. Henry profiles as a quality back-up RB with starting potential down the line. He could be the 2026 NFL Draft’s version of Jacorey Croskey-Merritt (Commanders) as late round gems with starting potential in the NFL.

Seventh Round – Diego Pavia / QB / Vanderbilt

Projected Selection – 7 Rd / Pick 253 (Ravens)

Although rated as a seventh-round draft pick (number 11 QB and number 247 overall prospect), for a team like Baltimore, a mobile, playmaking signal caller like Pavia makes a lot of sense where it would seem to be a reach for other clubs. Pavia will not fit many NFL offensive systems due to size limitations (5097 / 207 lbs) but he is very athletic and quick – dangerous rolling out or on taking off on designed runs. Throws well rolling out to either side. Very good scrambling ability and can gain yards in chunks on the ground. In other words, he shares a lot of similarities to Lamar Jackson, making him an ideal developmental QB to stash as the team’s third QB.

 NFL Security Screenings are Shaking Up NFL Draft Boards

Background checks completed by NFL Security personnel are shaking up teams' draft boards as we hit the home stretch of the player evaluation process. Ruben Bain / EDGE / Miami, Fl, SNS' number 3 ranked EDGE / number 8 overall prospect and Zachariah Branch / WR / Georgia, SNS' number 6 ranked WR / number 44 overall prospect recently have had come to light that both prospects have had run-ins with the law. Bain was arrested back in 2024 for careless driving that resulted in a death, but the charges were dropped and Bain has been open and honest with NFL teams about the situation. Bain's draft status should be largely unaffected and he should be a top half of the first-round selection. Branch's situation is a bit more complicated and has yet to fully play out. Branch was arrested early Sunday morning and is facing misdemeanor charges of obstructing public sidewalks/streets - prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. According to the Athens Clarke County arrest log, he was booked at 1:26 a.m. and released at 3:44 a.m. after posting $39 bond. NFL teams have plenty of questions about how this situation unfolded and what role, if any, that alcohol or drugs played in the arrest. Branch is likely to fall down draft boards but is still a likely day two selection and should be drafted by the end of the third round on Friday evening.

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