Exclusive: NFL insider Jason La Canfora uses his knowledge and sources to predict the 2026 Draft top 10
- “He’s my favorite lineman in the draft,” said one longtime NFL personnel guy. “I’m kicking him inside in nickel and watching him kick ass.”
- “Even if he stays on the right side (and isn’t a left tackle), I think he’s their guy,” one general manager told me. “Rebuilding the line will take more than one offseason.”
- “This kid, with (Rams coach Sean) McVay or (49ers coach Kyle) Shanahan, would absolutely (stinking) crush it,” said one longtime NFL exec.
Rueben Bain Jr of the Miami Hurricanes speaks at a media day conference ahead of the 2026 College play-offs (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The top 10 picks in the 2026 draft are anything less than certain with the event now just a few weeks away.
There is a growing consensus among NFL executives and scouts about a core of players – between 14-18 – who are seen as the standouts of this group and players who will almost certainly be among the first 32 selections. But stacking them is a different proposition entirely and with so few quarterbacks in the mix it leaves the top dozen or so picks very much up for interpretation.
Overall, there are eight players that, based on weeks of conversations with people intimately involved in this process either working for teams or as agents, I feel very strongly will be among the top 10 picks. But even then, they could go in various orders, and all it takes is for one team to do something deemed odd or outside-the-box, and the entire process can go in a direction few would have predicted.
If you think of the top 10 picks by position group – even allowing for trades (and I’d set the over/under on trades in the top 10 picks at 1.5 right now – and lean over) – then the math comes into focus a bit. We are getting a quarterback with the first pick; a running back, a linebacker, two defensive linemen, at least one offensive lineman (maybe two), a couple of defensive backs, and a receiver (or two) probably comprise the rest. Of the top 10 picks, I’d posit at least a half dozen are sure things, but that number feels a lot lighter than in many years past.
Here’s a look at how I’d project the top 10 as we head into April:
Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana), Raiders
Nothing to see here. The draft starts with the second-overall pick. This one has been a sure thing for months.
Rueben Bain, Jr (DL, Miami), Jets
Playing a hunch that the evaluators I really trust, who aren’t concerned about Bain’s “short arms” or ability to wreak havoc lined up inside or outside. “He’s my favorite lineman in the draft,” said one longtime NFL personnel guy. “I’m kicking him inside in nickel and watching him kick ass.” From everything we gather this pick could go down to the wire. I also wouldn’t be stunned if Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles hears his name called here.
Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami), Cardinals
Plenty of folks in the NFL think they jump on an impact pass rusher here, but with a rookie head coach who is (hopefully) a QB guru, and the franchise a year away from addressing that critical position (think 2027 draft and the Arch Manning tankathon), several top execs from other teams think they take the best tackle in this draft and start fortifying a long-suffering line now. “Even if he stays on the right side (and isn’t a left tackle), I think he’s their guy,” one general manager told me. “Rebuilding the line will take more than one offseason.”
Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State), Titans
Plenty of folks have them grabbing dynamic running back Jeremiyah Love here. I get it. But this is a defensive-minded head coach in Robert Saleh who comes from a coaching family tree where late-round picks and dudes off the street ran for 1,000 yards year after year in that outside zone system. Saleh’s defense in San Francisco had no one healthy who could rush the passer, the pressure rate was inept, and this Titans roster has fallen hard in that regard. Trading for Jermaine Johnson was a stop-gap measure and when Saleh was with the Jets they poured resources into his side of the ball.
Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State), Giants
We keep hearing new Giants coach John Harbaugh loves him. And we think Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson could tap into his hybrid skillset like he did with safety-turned-weak-side linebacker Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore.
TRADE Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State), Saints from Browns
The Saints love OSU WRs and with the Browns being so heavily tied to Tate, why take any chances here? They think second-year QB Tyler Shough has a chance to stick and take their shot at what could be the most-impactful pass catcher in this draft class. The head coach is an offensive guy. He needs some toys.
Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame), Commanders
The best way to protect and incubate franchise QB Jayden Daniels is to finally give him a feature back to absorb hits, sustain drives and make dynamic plays for him in the screen game. Love is seen as a safe play, and after getting too cute in their roster acquisitions last year, Washington doesn’t overthink this one. “I think seven is the floor for this kid,” another GM told me.
TRADE Makai Lemon (WR, USC), Rams from Browns
We’ve seen the Browns play the long game before and hoard picks and try to be positioned for certain QB drafts in the future. Is 2026 a full tank? They always prize future picks and the Rams are the ultimate “f dem picks” franchise and they find themselves already picking way higher (13th) than they are accustomed to. “This kid, with (Rams coach Sean) McVay or (49ers coach Kyle) Shanahan, would absolutely (stinking) crush it,” said one longtime NFL exec. Go big or go home and don’t risk Chiefs coach Andy Reid maybe grabbing him a pick later.
David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech), Chiefs
We got a little bold here with some wild trades and, perhaps, too many skill guys going too high. Bailey is a top-10 pass rusher and we could see the Chiefs keeping their fingers crossed about improving the OL through trade for a veteran, or nabbing a free agent, and leaning into fortifying a pass rush that is long in the tooth in some spots and simply lacking in others.
Caleb Downs, (DB, Ohio State), Bengals
Cincy stays in state and the run on Buckeyes continues. Cincy’s defense has been broken for years, they can’t take risks on projects and they need multi-faceted defenders who can make an impact at multiple levels of the defense. They’ve seen Hamilton’s presence in Baltimore and Downs gets comps to him. Checks a lot of boxes.