The 2026 NFL draft saw 257 prospects selected by NFL teams. Some franchises fared better over the three days than others -- I was down with what the Raiders did, in particular -- but this exercise is looking at picks on the individual level. The top 100 picks, in fact.
Talent is a big factor in these rankings, but we dove deeper than that. We factored in value (where a player was drafted vs. where he was ranked predraft), scheme fit, how the selection addressed a need, what the prospect brings on the field and what draft assets were given up or added via trade in getting each player. Every round is represented, and 40% of this list consists of Day 3 picks.
Which picks crack the top 10? What moves in Rounds 4 to 7 make the list? And which teams filled this list with multiple highly ranked additions? Let's stack the best 100 picks of the 2026 draft, starting with one of the best defenders in the class.
Note: When each player was selected is listed by Round-Pick in parentheses.
Jump to the best pick of each round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
1. Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys (Pick 1-11)
My final overall ranking: No. 3
My favorite pick of the draft, Downs will be an immediate playmaker in new defensive coordinator Christian Parker's scheme. A three-time All-American and a national champion, Downs' work ethic and culture-setting ability are as important as his on-field skills. He has football savvy and a great feel for the game, which gives him alignment versatility and will allow him a faster acclimation than most rookies. The expectation is that he'll become a high-end starter with All-Pro potential during his rookie contract. The combination of player, need and value made this the best pick of the 2026 draft.
2. Jermod McCoy, CB, Las Vegas Raiders (Pick 4-101)
My final overall ranking: No. 10
There's always a really good player who slips due to injury. Ranked as my No. 10 overall prospect, McCoy fell to No. 101 based on concerns that a surgical procedure he had done following a January 2025 ACL tear might need to be redone. But McCoy was cleared to work out at Tennessee's pro day and excelled with a 40-yard dash time of 4.38 seconds. Las Vegas aggressively attacked its secondary needs, but getting McCoy here could be the weekend's biggest steal if he's healthy. It was a smart bet to make and shows that general manager John Spytek is correctly thinking about risk, value and potential.