2026 NFL Draft Prospects: YA BOY List
For the past several years, I have planted my flag on several NFL draft prospects that I believe I am higher on than consensus. I call it my “YA BOY” list. For several years, I kept my lists to myself, tweaking my process as an amateur “scout.” But starting in 2024, in my fifth year of refining my process, I felt good enough to go public with it.
For transparency’s sake, you can find 2025’s list here, along with a link for prior years. You can see both the good and the bad; I don’t hide my misses. You’ll notice that in earlier years, I focused a lot on Top 100 picks. As time has gone on, I’ve tried to take a deeper dive, and focus on players throughout every round of the draft. My hope is that, moving forward, the annual edition of this article will provide context into my rationale for each player, and help me further refine which characteristics, stats, and measurables are meaningful and which are not.
Now, the disclaimer: I have no training to scout NFL players. I do not watch film. Rather, I rely on statistics, advanced analytics, and scouting reports. Based on that information, and based on the data that has had a high correlation with success in past years, I identify the guys that I believe in more strongly than the general public does. I intentionally write this column before the NFL draft so that my views are not influenced by landing spot. I use PFF’s “Big Board” as an estimation of where each player is likely to be drafted, so when you see a projected round next to a player’s name, that’s where the projected round comes from. Beneath each player, I’ll list the reasons why he is MY BOY for this draft class. You’ll notice a consistent theme: I love guys who graded well per PFF, and I love guys who were All-Americans.
1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (Projected 1st round)
Yeah, Love is a consensus first round pick. Not really going out on a limb there. But I think he is the best player in the draft regardless of position and is the sole blue-chip prospect on offense. He is the best running back I’ve ever seen in college. I don’t watch film, but I do religiously follow Notre Dame, so maybe this is a fanboy take (but I’m usually pretty measured with my Notre Dame evals). This dude is the best running back to come out of Notre Dame since Jerome Bettis. He’s like a bigger version of LeSean McCoy, but with more power and hurdling people sprinkled in. He’s got home run jets to take it to the house, pass catching chops, and a nose for the end zone. The first-team All-American has ideal size at 6’0, 212 lbs, and boasts a PFF grade of 93.7. He ran a 4.36 forty at the combine and has a 117.33 speed score. He boasted a 10.5% target share in college and forced 62 missed tackles. He had 1100+ yards rushing and 17+ touchdowns in each of his final 2 seasons, and despite splitting a backfield with projected Top-100 pick Jadarian Price. He is the total package. If he can stay healthy in the NFL, he is a Hall-of-Fame level talent.
2. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (2nd)
I kept waffling between Johnson and Arizona’s Treydan Stukes, and ultimately landed on Johnson because he’s 3 years younger. He is a 2nd-team All-American who posted a 91.6 PFF grade and a 9.82 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), barely outside the top-50 at the position since 1987. I like betting on corners who are young, productive, and top-tier athletes.
3. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt (2nd)
The former QB really blossomed once he transitioned to tight end. He had 2.55 Y/RR in his final season, and 2.34 Y/RR for his career. Those are outstanding numbers for a wide receiver, let alone a tight end. He posted an 86.9 PFF grade and a 114.9 speed score to go along with a 9.46 RAS. I’m not sure if he’s a tight end or a WR in the NFL, but there’s a lot to like about this kid’s pass-catching chops.
4. Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State (3rd)
Perhaps the poster boy for this year’s YA BOY list. Dennis-Sutton was a five-star recruit who was reasonably productive in college and tested off the charts. His 39.5” vert and 10’11” broad jump are both elite numbers, and his 9.96 RAS is tantalizing. According to PFF, he was above average in both run defense (77.7 grade) and pass rush (83.9). He is the prototypical size for a defensive end at 6’6, 256 lbs. He posted 147 total pressures in college, including 25 sacks, and it seems that he is just scratching the surface of his potential. This is a great guy to add to any defensive line on Day 2, with the athleticism to become a multi-time Pro Bowler if the right coaching staff can fully unlock his talents.
5. Eric McAlister, WR, TCU (4th)
Analytics bros love him but scouts and film guys worry, especially due to his slender frame (6’4, 194 lbs.) and off the field issues (criminal charges). But the third-team All-American is definitely worth a flier on Day 3. His Y/RR in his best season was 3.03, and his career Y/RR was a very-good 2.86. He’s equally good versus man and zone. He also forced 27 missed tackles in his best season, which is the best number among any WR in this class. I also like to key in on players who posted better than 50 YPG in their first three seasons and more than 85 YPG in their final season, and McAlister checks that box as well with 54 and 97, respectively. His best season PFF grade is 84.1, which is also above my thresholds. He can play inside and out (82% of his college snaps came out wide and 18% came in the slot). With best-season totals of 71 catches, 1173 yards, and 10 TDs, this is the sort of guy that should be able to carve out a role in any offense.
6. Landon Robinson, DT, Navy (4th)
Robinson is a tick undersized for a defensive tackle at 293 lbs., but that doesn’t worry me because the service academies tend to keep their athletes more fit than bulky. I’m confident that the First Team All-American can add the necessary weight once he gets in an NFL strength and conditioning program. He had an 84.7 pass rush grade, along with 34 pressures in his best season and 71 pressures overall. I like him as a situational pass-rusher from the 3T spot.
7. Pat Coogan, C, Indiana (5th)
Who is the only player to appear in each of the last two national championship games? Pat Coogan. He was the starting center for the Irish in 2024 when they lost to Ohio State, and the starting center for IU when they beat Da U. This tells you that the guy is a winner and can hold up under pressure when the lights are the brightest. He had a 78.0 PFF grade in his best season, which is a tremendous number under PFF’s overly critical grading system for interior offensive linemen.
8. Eli Heidenreich, RB, Navy (6th)
It’s a rare YA BOY list that features two prospects from Navy, yet here we are. I love me some Eli Heidenreich. He posted an 86.1 PFF grade and had an absurd 44.5% target share as a running back. He tallied 109 receptions in college, which is a remarkable total for a Navy team that doesn’t throw much. He had a 9.23 RAS, bolstered by a 4.44 forty and a 1.55 ten-yard split. Although he is undersized for an NFL back at 198 lbs., his 6’0 height suggests he might be able to move full-time to slot WR.
9. Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (7th)
I’m not certain he’ll make it as a quarterback, but he’s a superb athlete (9.99 Relative athletic score, 2nd among all QBs since 1987), and that’s worth taking a chance on. With a position switch, he could be a useful tight end or wide receiver like Terrelle Pryor, Hines Ward, or Logan Thomas.
10. Keagan Trost, OT, Mizzou (7th)
He’d probably be picked higher if he wasn’t so old. He’s a 7th year senior and will be a 25-year-old rookie. But if you’re just looking for someone as tackle depth with the potential to be more, you could do worse than the Third-Team All-American. Assuming the spot vacated by first round pick Armand Membou at Mizzou, Trost dominated with a 92.0 PFF grade, a 91.4 run blocking grade, and an 85.4 pass blocking grade. Plus, he absolutely dominated in my proprietary “success rate” metric, with an “elite” score of 96.07%. There is a high correlation between NFL success and linemen who have a success rate above 96% in college. In Round 7 (or really, any time on late day 3) I’ll take a shot on that type of profile, regardless of the athlete’s age.