Top 2026 NFL Draft prospects reveal what teams will be getting if they call their name Thursday night

The agelong hold is over, arsenic nan 2026 NFL Draft is group to footwear disconnected connected Thursday nighttime successful downtown Pittsburgh pinch what's expected to beryllium rather nan entertaining first round.

It's a virtual fastener that nan Las Vegas Raiders, owners of nan No. 1 wide pick, prime Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza to statesman nan draught successful hopes he tin beryllium their franchise man for years to come. From there, nan mock drafts are each complete nan place, which is ever a motion for immoderate fun, and moreover chaos, arsenic nan draught rolls along.

However, location are those who person cemented themselves arsenic first-round talent entering Thursday night, whether it's done nan NFL Combine and Pro Day workouts, top-30 visits to different franchises, what they put connected portion during their assemblage careers, aliases each nan above.

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Arvell Reese of Ohio State participates successful nan 2026 NFL Scouting Combine astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected Feb. 26, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Either way, nan prospects person done each they tin do -- now it's up to nan teams to find if they fresh what they request to succeed.

Fox News Digital had nan privilege of speaking to immoderate of those imaginable first-round picks starring up to nan commencement of nan NFL Draft, and each of them was asked nan aforesaid question: "What will an NFL squad beryllium getting from you if they were to telephone your sanction connected draught night?"

Here are immoderate of their answers:

OHIO STATE OLB ARVELL REESE: "I deliberation an NFL squad is going to get personification who loves nan game, who loves football. Then, they’re going to get personification who plays nan crippled violently. ...On apical of that, you person to play pinch relentless effort. So, I deliberation an NFL squad is getting that retired of maine — personification who plays pinch relentless effort, personification who looks guardant to playing violently. You person to look guardant to playing it violently."

Reese is rather nan beingness specimen, opinionated moving a sub-4.5 40-yard dash astatine nan NFL Combine astatine 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, and galore experts judge he tin still turn into his assemblage and his crippled connected nan field. He was named an All-American successful 2025, racking up 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for nonaccomplishment for nan Buckeyes, though their play ended by nan hands of nan Miami Hurricanes successful nan first information of nan College Football Playoff.

Now, Reese heads into nan draught looking astatine a perchance short nighttime erstwhile nan timepiece starts ticking. Some person him mocked to nan New York Jets astatine No. 2 overall, and galore judge he won't beryllium disposable erstwhile nan apical 10 picks are made. Either way, nan separator rusher is viewed arsenic an contiguous effect subordinate connected nan protect statement wherever he lands.

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OHIO STATE S CALEB DOWNS: "I would picture [myself] arsenic a very instinctual subordinate pinch a awesome mind for nan game, but besides each nan beingness attributes that you’re going to need. A subordinate that, wherever you consciousness for illustration nan ball’s at, that’s wherever you want him to be. Put him astatine nan [point of attack] and he’s going to do what he does."

Caleb Downs of nan Ohio State Buckeyes looks connected earlier nan College Football Playoff quarterfinal crippled against nan Miami Hurricanes astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Dec. 31, 2025. (CFP/Getty Images)

A protect Swiss Army knife, Downs has simply made plays each passim his assemblage career, which began astatine Alabama earlier transferring to nan Buckeyes and helping them triumph nan 2025 nationalist championship.

Like his Ohio State teammate successful Reese, Downs isn't expected to beryllium disposable aft nan first 10 picks, but wherever precisely he lands remains to beryllium seen. The New York Giants astatine No. 5 has been a celebrated spot, particularly considering nan comparison to Kyle Hamilton, whom John Harbaugh coached pinch nan Baltimore Ravens earlier moving connected to New York. But teams for illustration nan Washington Commanders (No. 7), New Orleans Saints (No. 8) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) are besides intriguing to watch, arsenic is simply a imaginable trade.

Downs had 164 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and 12 passes defended passim 44 profession assemblage games, earning himself 2 All-American nods successful nan process during his clip astatine Ohio State. If a squad is looking for a versatile defender, who tin excel nary matter nan assignment, Downs has positioned himself arsenic that man successful this draft.

ALABAMA QB TY SIMPSON: "I deliberation it starts pinch my characteristic and really I tin return complete a locker room and a franchise. Aa s quarterback, you want to spell successful there, rally nan troops, and beryllium an power to group there. So, each 30 visits, each clip I talked to a team, each clip I Zoom’d pinch them, I hoped to show my personality, my leadership, but besides my shot knowledge and shot IQ. The pat speaks for itself, but a feline who gets group to elevate their play astir him is what you want successful a quarterback. I afloat consciousness for illustration I tin do that."

Simpson's assurance is what makes him who he is connected nan shot field, whether it's threading a walk done defenders to his intended target, aliases utilizing his legs to prime up important yardage. He told Fox News Digital that his Christian religion plays a ample portion successful playing assured and free, and he afloat intends to bring that to whichever NFL franchise wants him.

Ty Simpson of nan Alabama Crimson Tide runs pinch nan shot against nan Indiana Hoosiers successful nan College Football Playoff quarterfinal astatine Rose Bowl Stadium successful Pasadena, Calif., connected Jan. 1, 2026. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)

Will that beryllium successful nan first round? While Simpson has maintained his position that he has first-round talent, it will beryllium absorbing to spot if an NFL squad thinks nan aforesaid done nan first 32 picks. If he doesn't get taken connected Thursday night, galore mock drafts judge he will beryllium taken quickly connected Friday, possibly to nan Arizona Cardinals, nan squad pinch nan No. 3 wide prime successful nan first round, but besides nan 2nd wide prime successful nan 2nd round. The Jets are besides intriguing pinch 4 picks successful nan apical 44 (Nos. 2, 16, 33, 44).

Either way, Simpson is excited to deed nan crushed moving and beryllium his worthy to whichever franchise takes him this week.

TEXAS TECH LB JACOB RODRIGUEZ: "I deliberation they’re astir to get personification who’s consistent. Somebody who is of awesome characteristic and integrity, and personification you want to put successful a activity position. I deliberation it’s somebody, particularly successful nan mediate of nan defense, tin occurrence guys up to get them fresh to play and person personification who’s going to beryllium steady. I’m really excited to get to wherever I get nan privilege of surviving and playing in, but much excited to meet nan people, meet my teammates and each nan group I’m going to beryllium around."

Rodriguez wasn't ever nan epitome of nan modern time mediate linebacker -- he wanted to beryllium a backmost coming retired of precocious schoolhouse successful North Texas. He initially went to nan University of Virginia pinch that successful mind earlier nan Red Raiders believed he could make nan move to defense, arsenic they saw him arsenic a information aliases mediate linebacker.

The modulation was worthy nan risk, arsenic Rodriguez quickly developed into a protect anchor for Texas Tech, and he genuinely elevated his game, and draught stock, during nan 2025 season. Rodriguez won nan Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Dick Butkus and Vince Lombardi Awards successful 2025, while being named a unanimous All-American aft racked up a career-high 128 mixed tackles (11 for loss), 4 interceptions, 1 sack, six passes defended and 2 fumble recoveries, 1 of which he brought backmost for six points. His 7 forced fumbles led each of assemblage shot done 14 games.

Texas Tech protect backmost Jacob Rodriguez leaves nan section earlier nan crippled against Oklahoma State astatine Jones AT&T Stadium connected Oct. 25, 2025. (Michael C. Johnson/Imagn Images)

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Rodriguez's portion has gotten amended by nan season, and possibly he's not moreover astatine his champion yet considering nan position change. But there's nary questioning his speed, aggression, and precocious shot IQ should construe successful nan NFL.

Will he beryllium a first-round pick? That remains to beryllium seen, but he shouldn't past agelong successful nan 2nd information arsenic personification who has cemented himself a apical imaginable successful this year's draught class.

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