{"id":139744,"date":"2025-06-18T13:51:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/139744\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T13:51:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T13:51:15","slug":"cbs-sports-ranks-top-50-players-to-watch-this-season-for-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/139744\/","title":{"rendered":"CBS Sports ranks Top 50 players to watch this season for 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NFL Draft<\/a> is always in the back of everyone\u2019s mind while watching college football. As the 2025 season approaches, the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a> is rounding into focus, as a myriad of impressive athletes will compete for the attention of 32 professional franchises. <\/p>\n

With that in mind, Josh Edwards<\/a> and Ryan Wilson<\/a> of CBS Sports<\/a> ranked the Top 50 players to watch<\/a> for the 2026 NFL Draft ahead of this year\u2019s college football campaign. Of course, there\u2019s some huge names who you already know, and some players you\u2019re going to want to hear about before the games begin.<\/p>\n

Leading the way is Arch Manning<\/a>. That\u2019s a given. But who else adorns the list? Check that out below, and see which 50 players should be on the NFL\u2019s radar at the moment.<\/p>\n

Regardless of your thoughts pertaining to Arch Manning, there\u2019s no one else that could lead the way. The Texas quarterback has become a media darling, and he\u2019s the top quarterback option going into the season for the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

He flashed last season, tossing nine touchdowns and two interceptions in limited play. The training wheels are off for 2025. If he leads the Longhorns to greatness, Manning will be tough to pass up.<\/p>\n

\"CalebMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Caleb Downs has become the premier defensive player in all of college football. In two seasons, one with Alabama and one with Ohio State, all he\u2019s done is become a lockdown defensive back at both stops.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s only has four interceptions in two seasons, but that\u2019s because quarterbacks avoid him at all costs. He might be the best overall player available when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around. <\/p>\n

Alabama knows a thing or two about developing offensive lineman. Kadyn Proctor seems to be next in line for the Crimson Tide.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen who the team\u2019s quarterback will be, but they\u2019ll be well protected by Proctor when the time comes. The NFL loves their offensive lineman, and he\u2019ll be a premium pick when it\u2019s time to turn pro. <\/p>\n

Spencer Fano is CBS Sports\u2019 top-ranked player inside the Big 12. It\u2019s for a good reason, as he\u2019s been extremely solid for the Utes throughout his career.<\/p>\n

Edwards noted the NFL is a family affair for Fano. Four of his uncles in Gabe Reid, Spencer Reid, Teni Palepoi and Anton Palepoi played in the\u00a0NFL, as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ruebenPhotos by Neil Gershman<\/p>\n

Rueben Bain Jr. bursted onto the scene in 2023. He was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-ACC third-team as a true freshman.<\/p>\n

2024 was an uneven season, but his potential has NFL teams circling his name. With heightened expectations, expect him to make a jump for the Hurricanes.<\/p>\n

Francis Mauigoa has been pegged for greatness since arriving in Miami. He has everything you\u2019d want in a professional offensive lineman.<\/p>\n

If he keeps Carson Beck<\/a> upright, NFL teams will take notice. He could challenge Kadyn Proctor for the honor of being the first offensive lineman taken in 2026. <\/p>\n

Garrett Nussmeier continues to rise up NFL Draft boards. He would\u2019ve been an interesting pick this past season, but he opted to remain with LSU for a chance to win a national title.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll be his first goal. Afterwards, the professional level will call his name, and the New Orleans Saints seem like a perfect fit. His father is their offensive coordinator. <\/p>\n

\"TJMandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

TJ Parker is one of the leaders on Clemson\u2019s stingy defense. The Tigers are expected to make a leap once again in 2025, and he\u2019ll be a big reason why they do, if it comes to fruition. <\/p>\n

Last season, he racked up 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. Those are impressive numbers, and if he can do better in 2025, he won\u2019t have to wait long to hear his name called in 2026.<\/p>\n

While Arch Manning is the star for Texas on the offensive side of the ball, Anthony Hill Jr. holds it down on the defensive side. He\u2019s been invaluable throughout his time with the Longhorns.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Hill accumulated 113 total tackles, eight sacks and four forced fumbles. We\u2019ll see what he has in store for an encore. <\/p>\n

Talk about a dominating force. Peter Woods evokes memories of former Clemson greats along the defensive line, like Dexter Lawrence<\/a> and Christian Wilkins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Will he reach the heights those two have in the NFL? That remains to be seen, but a run at a national title with the Tigers is on the docket for 2025. <\/p>\n

CBS Sports\u2019 Top 50 players to watch for the 2026 NFL Draft \u2014 Nos. 11-50:<\/p>\n

11. QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana<\/a>
12. CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee<\/a>
13. EDGE LT Overton, Alabama<\/a>
14. LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU<\/a>
15. WR Antonio Williams, Clemson<\/a>
16. QB Drew Allar, Penn State<\/a>
17. EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon<\/a>
18. CB Chandler Rivers, Duke<\/a>
19. EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma<\/a>
20. WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State<\/a>
21. RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame<\/a>
22. OT Xavier Chaplin, Auburn<\/a>
23. EDGE Tyreak Sapp, Florida<\/a>
24. LB CJ Allen, Georgia<\/a>
25. OT Isaiah World, Oregon<\/a>
26. CB Daylen Everette, Georgia<\/a>
27. WR Eric Singleton Jr., Auburn<\/a>
28. CB Jalon Kilgore, South Carolina<\/a>
29. CB A.J. Harris, Penn State<\/a>
30. OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern<\/a>
31. LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss<\/a>
32. OT Austin Barber, Florida<\/a>
33. CB Malik Muhammad, Texas<\/a>
34. RB CJ Baxter, Texas<\/a>
35. LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama<\/a>
36. WR Aaron Anderson, LSU<\/a>
37. OT Caleb Lomu, Utah<\/a>
38. LB Whit Weeks, LSU<\/a>
39. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State<\/a>
40. CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
<\/a>41. IOL Josh Thompson, LSU
<\/a>42. RB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State<\/a>
43. WR Denzel Boston, Washington<\/a>
44. TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon<\/a>
45. S Malik Spencer, Michigan State<\/a>
46. TE Max Klare, Ohio State<\/a>
47. LB Taurean York, Texas A&M<\/a>
48. DL Christen Miller, Georgia<\/a>
49. IOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama<\/a>
50. IOL Jake Slaughter, Florida<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The NFL Draft is always in the back of everyone\u2019s mind while watching college football. As the 2025…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":139745,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[9382,26732,32674,11867,5242,18114,5782,5783,32675,5784,26733,5787,9385,5788,5790,20644,11870,5792,26734,26735,7,5795,5796,5797,9389,18116,26736,9391,5798,32676,32677,5799,26737,5802,5803,32678,32679,5804,11877,6,15,6958,32680,5806,5807,5808,5809,11879,5810,32681,18117,32682,26738],"class_list":{"0":"post-139744","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-a-j-harris-23-central","9":"tag-aaron-anderson-22-edna-karr","10":"tag-anthony-hill-18-dematha-catholic","11":"tag-antonio-williams-22-dutch-fork","12":"tag-arch-manning-23-isidore-newman","13":"tag-austin-barber-21-trinity-christian-academy","14":"tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","15":"tag-caleb-lomu-23-highland","16":"tag-caleb-tiernan-21-detroit-country-day","17":"tag-carnell-tate-23-img-academy","18":"tag-chandler-rivers-22-beaumont-united","19":"tag-christen-miller-22-cedar-grove","20":"tag-cj-allen-23-lamar-county-comprehensive","21":"tag-cj-baxter-jr-23-edgewater","22":"tag-daylen-everette-22-img-academy","23":"tag-denzel-boston-22-emerald-ridge","24":"tag-deontae-lawson-21-mobile-christian-school","25":"tag-drew-allar-22-medina","26":"tag-eric-singleton-jr-23-alexander","27":"tag-fernando-mendoza-22-columbus","28":"tag-football","29":"tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","30":"tag-garrett-nussmeier-21-marcus","31":"tag-harold-perkins-22-cy-park","32":"tag-isaiah-world-21-lincoln","33":"tag-jake-slaughter-21-trinity-catholic","34":"tag-jalon-kilgore-23-putnam-county","35":"tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","36":"tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","37":"tag-jordan-tyson-14-fishburne-military-school","38":"tag-josh-thompson-21-fenton","39":"tag-kadyn-proctor-23-southeast-polk","40":"tag-kenyon-sadiq-23-skyline-senior","41":"tag-lt-overton-22-milton","42":"tag-malik-muhammad-23-south-oak-cliff","43":"tag-malik-spencer-22-buford","44":"tag-mansoor-delane-22-archbishop-spalding","45":"tag-matayo-uiagalelei-23-st-john-bosco","46":"tag-max-klare-22-st-xavier","47":"tag-nfl","48":"tag-nfl-draft","49":"tag-nicholas-singleton","50":"tag-parker-brailsford-22-saguaro","51":"tag-peter-woods-23-thompson","52":"tag-r-mason-thomas-22-cardinal-gibbons","53":"tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","54":"tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","55":"tag-suntarine-perkins-23-raleigh","56":"tag-t-j-parker-23-central","57":"tag-taurean-york-23-temple","58":"tag-tyreak-sapp-21-st-thomas-aquinas","59":"tag-whit-weeks-23-oconee-county","60":"tag-xavier-chaplin-22-whale-branch"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}