2026 NFL draft: Every first-round grade prospect, plus comps - ESPN

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft will see 32 players selected. But how many of those players have true first-round grades?

There's a difference between going in Round 1 and being graded in Round 1. Now that we're less than three weeks away from the opening of the 2026 draft on April 23 in Pittsburgh, I have made my final assessments on the players who I believe are no-brainer Day 1 guys. The average draft class has roughly 15 players who are deemed «first-round talents,» though the number varies by team and scouting department. These special evaluations are reserved for prospects who would be Round 1 selections regardless of the year, and my own guideline is whether a player would have been a first-rounder in each of the past five classes.

I gave only 13 first-round grades in the 2025 class, the lowest number I had awarded at the time. But the 2026 class actually ended with fewer — only 12. For context, the final list in 2024 had 18 names on it, and the 2023 list had 20.

Here are the players who deserve a first-round grade on my board, and I have added comparisons to current or recent former NFL players for each. (Players' overall rankings are in parentheses after their names.)

Jump to position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL
Edge | DT | LB | CB | S

Comp: Joe Burrow

One year after zero quarterbacks had a true first-round grade, there is one in this class. Mendoza transferred to Indiana from Cal and developed into a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and potential No. 1 pick. He has outstanding pocket poise with expert-level touch to all areas of the field. My favorite trait is his ability to put the ball up for his receivers to make plays. And although his arm strength will never be elite, Mendoza protects the ball