Here’s an updated NFL Draft big board as we pass the college season’s midpoint. The tricky part of publishing a list now is that many players — especially quarterbacks — could opt to return to school or transfer, so I’ve ranked everyone under the assumption they will declare. With college football shifting constantly, evaluations and rankings will keep changing.
1. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
A physical and explosive receiver who has produced at every level, Smith pairs size and strength with suddenness, consistently gaining yards after the catch and breaking tackles. He can build momentum on inside routes and burst out of breaks on outs and comebacks — a game-changing offensive weapon; at worst, a high-upside explosive pass-catcher reminiscent of elite jump-ball types.
2. Leonard Moore, CB, Notre Dame
Tall, rangy and instinctive, Moore uses length and body control to influence plays downfield and shadow top receivers effectively. He started as a true freshman and has the speed, timing and ball skills to be an elite cover corner, including slot versatility.
3. Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
A long, flexible pass rusher with sudden bend and twitch, Stewart can slither around blocks and create pressure with his first step. He needs to refine hand usage, but his wingspan and flashes of violent hand strikes give him high upside as an edge defender.
4. Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
An easy mover with length and punch in his hands, Seaton can lock onto defenders and be dominant in the run game while improving in pass protection. Continued refinement of hand placement and technique should make him a credible blindside tackle prospect.
5. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Despite limited starting experience, Mestemaker demonstrates advanced feel for the position, a strong arm that reaches all levels, and the ability to throw on the move. Tall with a long frame and decent athleticism, he shows creativity escaping pressure and layering passes over defenders, though decision-making can be inconsistent and he hasn’t faced the top tier of competition yet.
6. Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
An explosive, do-it-all defender for Texas, Simmons wins with a quick first step and can bend around tackles or drop into coverage. His agility and speed make him valuable as both a pass rusher and a front-seven chess piece.
7. Charlie Becker, WR, Indiana
A 6’4″ outside receiver with length and long speed, Becker has strong hands and excellent catch coordination. He shows enough quickness and route nuance to run a full route tree and raise his ceiling as a matchup weapon.
8. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Manning has the size, athleticism and aggressive pocket play that appeal to NFL evaluators, often squeezing throws into tight windows. Results have been inconsistent, and he can sometimes force plays rather than use his legs more, but his arm and mobility still present an intriguing pro profile if he cleans up decision-making.
9. Zereoue Williams, OT, Utah
A former basketball player with twitch and foot speed, Williams is still raw given limited football experience but displays the length and athleticism to develop into a long-term blindside protector, with enough power to contribute as a run blocker.
10. Chris Cole, LB, Georgia
Cole runs sideline-to-sideline, plays with urgency, and can make plays in both run defense and as a blitzer. His four-down capability and range fit the modern prototype for an NFL linebacker.
11. Ashton Hampton, CB, Clemson
A big, long corner who is effective in zone but projects especially well in man coverage, Hampton moves smoothly and uses size, foot speed and ball skills to challenge receivers on the outside — he has lockdown potential similar to some established pros.
12. Austin Simmons, QB, Missouri
(Note: Simmons reportedly re-signed with Missouri for 2027 but retains the option to explore the draft after the season; his ranking remains unchanged.) A natural thrower with aggression and top-end arm talent, Simmons has improved consistently and makes high-level throws from the pocket, though he must show sustained consistency under pressure; still young and with strong tape despite sometimes low scoring output for his team.
13. William Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
A powerful interior defender with quick hands and surprise mobility, Echoles can pop free early in reps, anchor against the run and stay active on passing downs. Young for his level, he combines bulk, strength and quick feet to be a disruptive interior piece.
14. David Stone, DL, Oklahoma
A versatile defensive lineman who has filled multiple spots along Oklahoma’s front, Stone is strong, keeps moving his feet through contact and can handle double-teams. He fits best when given opportunities as a DE-type rusher and is useful on stunts and twists, despite some early-season injuries.
15. Jackson Harris, WR, LSU
A large, fluid outside receiver who wins vertically and shows polish as a route runner, Harris makes contested catches and creates yards after the catch on in-breaking routes. He’s a well-rounded target who pairs hands with body control.
16. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
A compact but powerful pocket passer, Chambliss compensates for NFL-size questions with a strong, accurate delivery and excellent pocket operation. He throws well from awkward platforms and tight spaces and is similar in style to smaller pro quarterbacks who succeed with timing and movement.
17. Greg Johnson, OG/C, Minnesota
A steady, smart lineman who elevates teammates with consistent play and positional versatility, Johnson combines athleticism and punch, with center projecting as his long-term home.
18. Ahmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami
A violent, disruptive interior presence who hits the line low and fast, Moten wins with explosive hands and quickness and can be a consistent pass-rush threat up the middle while holding up in the run game.
19. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
An elite runner with size, power and surprising pocket consistency, Sellers pairs a high-end arm with outstanding athleticism and balance to avoid negative plays. He’s improved decisiveness recently and shows better accuracy and red-zone processing, making him an increasingly intriguing two-way playmaker who still needs refinement.
20. Melvin Siani, OT, Texas
A versatile tackle who started on the right before moving to left, Siani has excellent bend and light feet for his size and brings pop as a run blocker. He can be upright at times and needs cleaner hand work, but his athletic upside is compelling for a large, relatively new football player.
21. Lance Heard, OT, Kentucky
A massive left tackle with surprising mobility, Heard succeeds as a run blocker and pulling lineman, reaching the second level with fluidity. Hand usage and playing height can be inconsistent, but strength and tenacity produce winning reps.
22. Xavier Gilliam, DT, Tennessee
A compact, powerful interior player who steamrolls blockers, Gilliam wins quickly with strong hands and uses his stout frame to make an impact against the run and inside pass rush.
23. Nick Marsh, WR, Indiana
A reliable, balanced receiver with strong hands, control and savvy finding soft spots in zone, Marsh is also an excellent blocker and projects as a power slot who can contribute across multiple alignments.
24. Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
A twitchy corner with length and ball skills, Robinson has refined technique and discipline this season, showing the burst and awareness to close on underneath throws quickly.
25. Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
A thick-bodied back with surprising quickness, Baugh runs with balance, can pass protect, and is a natural catcher of the ball. He isn’t an elite long-speed threat but provides downhill burst and every-down value.
26. Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
A tall (6’4″) outside corner who thrives against high-low concepts, Jones mixes length and vertical speed to stay with receivers on crossing routes and contested plays. With a bit more refinement he could be an exciting long-term perimeter piece.
27. Boubacar Traore, Edge, Notre Dame
A strong-handed, physical rusher who can affect both the run and pass, Traore uses burst and aggressiveness to be difficult to block and has flashed effective spin moves — there are shades of Jared Verse in his play.
28. Jamari Johnson, TE, Oregon
A coordinated, reliable pass catcher who can stretch the field, Johnson isn’t elite explosively but shows balance, route savvy and enough blocking ability to be a multi-phase tight end with contested catch upside.
29. Trey’Dez Green, TE, LSU
A 6’7″ athletic tight end with clear basketball traits, Green wins with size, ball skills and the ability to be isolated as a receiving mismatch. He can produce yards after the catch and is a red-zone threat; he has battled a knee issue this year but has returned productively.
30. Tae Johnson, Safety, Notre Dame
A long, rangy safety with the ability to cover deep and also operate near the box, Johnson closes ground quickly, is an effective tackler and blitz presence. Though he’s missed most of the season with a foot injury, his athleticism and play instincts make him intriguing.
31. Trevor Lauck, OT, Iowa
A physical run-game finisher who remains light on his feet, Lauck shows awareness and quickness in movement. He can be caught too high in pass sets, which makes him susceptible to speed rushers, but his patience and hand usage are solid.
32. Sebastian Cheeks, Edge, Wisconsin
A twitchy, energetic edge who transitions from speed to power well, Cheeks constantly attacks on every snap and holds up in the run game while creating pressure as a rusher.
33. Kingston Lopa, Safety, Cal
A major riser, Lopa’s rare combination of size (listed 6’5′) and versatility lets him play slot, box or deep, and his interception production highlights his range. He’d be a creative defensive weapon against today’s bigger slot threats and tight ends.
34. Yhonzae Pierre, Edge, Alabama
A relentless rusher who can set the edge and contribute in coverage, Pierre has expanded his pass-rush toolkit this year and shown more power against the run.
35. Reed Harris, WR, Arizona State
A long, springy receiver with easy movement and catching range, Harris can play inside or outside and presents vertical threats with the ability to collect yards after the catch despite his lanky frame — think a slimmer version of a bigger-field vertical target.
36. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas
A tantalizing blend of size, twitch and length who can stretch the field and attack all levels, Coleman has been maddeningly inconsistent with drops and poor blocking. His talent is evident but he needs a more consistent finish to the season to regain upward momentum.
37. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, LB, Notre Dame
A powerful downhill linebacker who consistently flashes as a run-stopper and blitzer, Viliamu-Asa can shred blocks on contact and has shown enough range to be viable in coverage.
38. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
A composed operator with good arm strength and on-the-move accuracy, Moore has focused on footwork and timing and often finds clean answers to defensive problems. He can be conservative and defer to safer options, and his production stalled somewhat before a serious concussion in 2026; his next move — return, transfer, or declare — remains open.
39. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami
Extremely productive in his first year at Miami, Mensah is a sharp processor who maximizes timing and placement over raw arm strength. He benefits from a favorable environment and schedule but consistently finds the right spot and demonstrates clean mechanics similar in feel to accurate pro-style quarterbacks.
40. CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
An advanced thinker who manipulates cadence and pre-snap adjustments effectively, Carr knows the offense inside-out and gets the ball where it needs to be. He lacks elite physical traits and can struggle under pressure or when forced to create, making him a high-IQ, limited-tools evaluation.
41. Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
42. Sahir West, Edge, UCLA
43. Bear Alexander, DT, Oregon
44. Cayden Green, OG, Missouri
45. A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
46. Luke Reynolds, TE, Virginia Tech
47. Justin Scott, DT, Miami
48. KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia
49. Vicari Swain, CB, South Carolina
50. DJ Vonnahme, TE, Iowa
51. Omarion Miller, WR, Arizona State
52. Corey Myrick, Safety, Clemson
53. Deuce Alexander, WR, Ole Miss
54. KJ Duff, WR, Rutgers
55. Carter Smith, OG, Indiana
56. Sammy Omosigho, LB, UCLA
57. Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon
58. AJ Holmes, DT, Texas Tech
59. Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR, Alabama
60. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson
Just missed:
Mike Matthews, WR, Tennessee
Wayshawn Parker, RB, Utah
Kade Pieper, C, Iowa
Devan Thompkins, DL, Alabama
Fan Take: This midseason big board matters because it highlights the next wave of impact players who could reshape NFL rosters — from true game-changing pass catchers to versatile defensive pieces — and it shows where teams might prioritize needs. How these prospects finish the season or decide about returning to school will directly influence draft strategy and the short-term competitiveness of several franchises.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
