2026 NFL Draft Superlatives: Who Wins OROY, DROY? Largest Steal? Finest Upside?

[ad_1] With the 2026 NFL Draft within the books, it’s time to make daring predictions.

Who takes Rookie of the 12 months honors? Who’ll be the largest steal? Who winds up as the largest star years down the road?

Listed below are my way-too-early superlatives for the 2026 class:

Offensive Rookie of the 12 months: RB Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals With quarterback uncertainty and the shortage of a real No. 1 broad receiver, the Cardinals may run their offense via Love in 12 months 1, enabling him to place up monster numbers. The previous Notre Dame star is positioned to be Arizona’s finest offensive participant not named Trey McBride.

2026 stats projection: 225 carries for 1,265 yards and eight TDs; 46 receptions for 398 yards and three TDs

Jeremiyah Love flashes the center fingers after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals within the first spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Photograph by Cooper Neill/Getty Photos)

Defensive Rookie of the 12 months: DE Rueben Bain Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bain could have slipped a bit within the first spherical, however as Tampa Bay's decide at No. 15, he landed in an amazing state of affairs with a defensive-minded head coach in Todd Bowles. The eye standout nostril deal with Vita Vea attracts from the inside offensive line may open up advantageous matchups on the sting for Bain.

2026 stats projection: 8.0 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 1 compelled fumble

Steal of the draft: TE Eli Stowers, Philadelphia Eagles The athletic Stowers broke the vertical bounce report for tight ends on the mix. Final season at Vanderbilt, he gained the John Mackey Award as faculty soccer’s high tight finish — in simply his third yr taking part in the place. His progress could possibly be exponential in Philly, the place he’s positioned to be Dallas Goedert’s successor.

2026 stats projection: 36 receptions for 387 yards and three TDs

QB1 in 5 years: Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders Not less than for now, Mendoza’s solely challenger for this spot seems to be Ty Simpson, who the Rams picked as Matthew Stafford's eventual successor. Not solely does the No. 1 general decide have the sting in bodily traits and clutch performances, however his well-documented mindset makes it exhausting to consider that he gained’t be at the very least a median starter. Plus, Mendoza has the best quarterback of all time in his nook in Tom Brady, a Raiders minority proprietor.

2026 stats projection: 62.5% completion fee for 3,744 yards and 18 TDs with 10 INTs

Fernando Mendoza speaks as Raiders normal supervisor John Spytek (left) and head coach Klint Kubiak (proper) look on throughout a information convention at crew headquarters. (Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photos)

Finest long-term participant: S Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys The one knock on Downs is that he performs a place that isn’t extremely valued within the trendy NFL. Broadly considered a generational expertise, Downs has the instincts, mind, versatility and play demeanor to grow to be one of many league’s high safeties for a few years to come back.

2026 stats projection: 2 INTs, 11 move breakups, 94 tackles, 3.0 sacks (Professional Bowl)

Largest rookie breakout: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Miami Dolphins The Large 12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months joins a Dolphins crew that has two established off-ball linebackers in Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson. However Rodriguez's playmaking means makes him a candidate to be top-of-the-line gamers on new head coach Jeff Hafley’s protection by season's finish. Rodriguez recorded 10 compelled fumbles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions and 10 move breakups over his final two seasons at Texas Tech.

2026 stats projection: 77 tackles, 2 INT, 3 PBUs, FF

Jacob Rodriguez was a playmaking machine at Texas Tech and figures to be an integral a part of the Dolphins' protection as a rookie. (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photos)

Most professional prepared: G Vega Ioane, Baltimore Ravens The 14th general decide, Ioane could possibly be one of many Ravens’ finest offensive linemen from Day 1. He made 32 begins for Penn State at left guard.

2026 stats projection: 17 begins at LG

Highest upside: CB Jermod McCoy, Las Vegas Raiders McCoy is a mid-first spherical expertise who fell into the fourth spherical after lacking the 2025 season with a torn ACL. If he’s wholesome, the previous Tennessee star has the potential to be a playmaking CB1 within the NFL.

2026 stats projection: INT, 4 PBUs, 29 tackles (10 video games)

High playmaker: WR Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans Now out of the shadow of Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, Tate is positioned to totally present what he’s able to as a WR1 on the NFL stage. His contested catching means, ball-tracking expertise and route-running effectivity will make him a pleasant and a high-volume goal for Titans quarterback Cam Ward.

2026 stats projection: 61 receptions for 896 yards and seven TDs

Finest match: OL Keylan Rutledge, Houston Texans The Texans have desperately wanted to stabilize their offensive line for QB C.J. Stroud, and Rutledge — who made 43 begins at proper guard in his faculty profession — slots in at certainly one of Houston’s guard spots. Rutledge posted the highest athletic rating for guards on the NFL Mix, based on Subsequent Gen Stats, which can serve him in each move safety and the run recreation.