{"id":760797,"date":"2026-02-18T18:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/760797\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T18:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T18:11:27","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-consensus-rankings-which-defender-will-come-off-the-board-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/760797\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft consensus rankings: Which defender will come off the board first?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Tech edge David Bailey was a consensus All-American with 19.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Christian Petersen \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Feb. 18, 2026Updated 12:34 pm EST<\/p>\n

As the NFL descends on Indianapolis for its annual scouting combine, the 2026 draft class<\/a>\u00a0continues to come into focus.<\/p>\n

Our consensus NFL Draft board combines rankings from a wide range of experts to identify how the top prospects are viewed relative to the rest of the class. In theory, by the time we reach draft weekend, these rankings should help give us a handle on how the picks could (or, at least, should) play out.<\/p>\n

The updated consensus top 100:<\/p>\n

(Note: Our previous consensus board<\/a> included 50 prospects, hence the large number of players without a previous ranking on our new board.)<\/p>\n

NFL Draft consensus board (Feb. 18)<\/p>\n

RKPlayerPosSchoolPrev RkChange<\/p>\n

1<\/p>\n

Fernando Mendoza<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

Arvell Reese<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

1<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

Jeremiyah Love<\/p>\n

RB<\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

Caleb Downs<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

David Bailey<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

0<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

Rueben Bain Jr.<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

7<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

7<\/p>\n

Sonny Styles<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

10<\/p>\n

+3<\/p>\n

8<\/p>\n

Carnell Tate<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

9<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

9<\/p>\n

Francis Mauigoa<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

+2<\/p>\n

10<\/p>\n

Spencer Fano<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

8<\/p>\n

-2<\/p>\n

11<\/p>\n

Jordyn Tyson<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

-5<\/p>\n

12<\/p>\n

Mansoor Delane<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

16<\/p>\n

+4<\/p>\n

13<\/p>\n

Makai Lemon<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

15<\/p>\n

+2<\/p>\n

14<\/p>\n

Keldric Faulk<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

12<\/p>\n

-2<\/p>\n

15<\/p>\n

Jermod McCoy<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

14<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

16<\/p>\n

Kenyon Sadiq<\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

17<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

17<\/p>\n

Peter Woods<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

13<\/p>\n

-4<\/p>\n

18<\/p>\n

Avieon Terrell<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

18<\/p>\n

0<\/p>\n

19<\/p>\n

Kadyn Proctor<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

25<\/p>\n

+6<\/p>\n

20<\/p>\n

Denzel Boston<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

20<\/p>\n

0<\/p>\n

21<\/p>\n

Cashius Howell<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

22<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

22<\/p>\n

Caleb Banks<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

23<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

23<\/p>\n

Vega Ioane<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

21<\/p>\n

-2<\/p>\n

24<\/p>\n

Kayden McDonald<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

19<\/p>\n

-5<\/p>\n

25<\/p>\n

Caleb Lomu<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

24<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

26<\/p>\n

Akheem Mesidor<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

33<\/p>\n

+7<\/p>\n

27<\/p>\n

Ty Simpson<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

26<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

28<\/p>\n

CJ Allen<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

29<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

29<\/p>\n

Monroe Freeling<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

30<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

30<\/p>\n

KC Concepcion<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

27<\/p>\n

-3<\/p>\n

31<\/p>\n

T.J. Parker<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

32<\/p>\n

+1<\/p>\n

32<\/p>\n

Brandon Cisse<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

28<\/p>\n

-4<\/p>\n

33<\/p>\n

Dillon Thieneman<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

41<\/p>\n

+8<\/p>\n

34<\/p>\n

Colton Hood<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

31<\/p>\n

-3<\/p>\n

35<\/p>\n

R Mason Thomas<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

38<\/p>\n

+3<\/p>\n

36<\/p>\n

Lee Hunter<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

47<\/p>\n

+11<\/p>\n

37<\/p>\n

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

42<\/p>\n

+5<\/p>\n

38<\/p>\n

Christen Miller<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

34<\/p>\n

-4<\/p>\n

39<\/p>\n

Zion Young<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

40<\/p>\n

Chris Johnson<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

39<\/p>\n

-1<\/p>\n

41<\/p>\n

Chris Bell<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

35<\/p>\n

-6<\/p>\n

42<\/p>\n

Omar Cooper Jr.<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

43<\/p>\n

Anthony Hill Jr.<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

43<\/p>\n

0<\/p>\n

44<\/p>\n

Jake Golday<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

37<\/p>\n

-7<\/p>\n

45<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Pregnon<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

36<\/p>\n

-9<\/p>\n

46<\/p>\n

Max Iheanachor<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

47<\/p>\n

Germie Bernard<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

40<\/p>\n

-7<\/p>\n

48<\/p>\n

Blake Miller<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

49<\/p>\n

Eli Stowers<\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

50<\/p>\n

Max Klare<\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

51<\/p>\n

Keionte Scott<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

52<\/p>\n

D’Angelo Ponds<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

53<\/p>\n

Caleb Tiernan<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

45<\/p>\n

-8<\/p>\n

54<\/p>\n

Chris Brazzell II<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

55<\/p>\n

A.J. Haulcy<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

56<\/p>\n

Zachariah Branch<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

44<\/p>\n

-12<\/p>\n

57<\/p>\n

Keith Abney II<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

46<\/p>\n

-11<\/p>\n

58<\/p>\n

Derrick Moore<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

59<\/p>\n

Gabe Jacas<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

50<\/p>\n

-9<\/p>\n

60<\/p>\n

Jadarian Price<\/p>\n

RB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

61<\/p>\n

Chase Bisontis<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

49<\/p>\n

-12<\/p>\n

62<\/p>\n

Davison Igbinosun<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

63<\/p>\n

Gennings Dunker<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

64<\/p>\n

Elijah Sarratt<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

48<\/p>\n

-16<\/p>\n

65<\/p>\n

LT Overton<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

66<\/p>\n

Connor Lew<\/p>\n

C<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

67<\/p>\n

Antonio Williams<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

68<\/p>\n

Romello Height<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

69<\/p>\n

Josiah Trotter<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

70<\/p>\n

Malachi Fields<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

71<\/p>\n

Dani Dennis-Sutton<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

72<\/p>\n

Darrell Jackson Jr.<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

73<\/p>\n

Kyle Louis<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

74<\/p>\n

Devin Moore<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

75<\/p>\n

Domonique Orange<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

76<\/p>\n

Deontae Lawson<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

77<\/p>\n

Jake Slaughter<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

78<\/p>\n

Trinidad Chambliss<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

79<\/p>\n

Kamari Ramsey<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

80<\/p>\n

Zakee Wheatley<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

81<\/p>\n

Joshua Josephs<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

82<\/p>\n

Jacob Rodriguez<\/p>\n

LB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

83<\/p>\n

Ja’Kobi Lane<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

84<\/p>\n

Julian Neal<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

85<\/p>\n

Carson Beck<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

86<\/p>\n

Joe Royer<\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

87<\/p>\n

Keyron Crawford<\/p>\n

EDGE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

88<\/p>\n

Ar’maj Reed-Adams<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

89<\/p>\n

Dontay Corleone<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

90<\/p>\n

Garrett Nussmeier<\/p>\n

QB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

91<\/p>\n

Chandler Rivers<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

92<\/p>\n

Malik Muhammad<\/p>\n

CB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

93<\/p>\n

Michael Trigg<\/p>\n

TE<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

94<\/p>\n

Isaiah World<\/p>\n

OT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

95<\/p>\n

Nicholas Singleton<\/p>\n

RB<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

96<\/p>\n

Ted Hurst<\/p>\n

WR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

97<\/p>\n

Sam Hecht<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

98<\/p>\n

Billy Schrauth<\/p>\n

IOL<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

99<\/p>\n

Gracen Halton<\/p>\n

DT<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

100<\/p>\n

Genesis Smith<\/p>\n

S<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

NR<\/p>\n

Fernando Mendoza is almost a lock to be the first offensive player taken in the \u201926 draft, but what about the first defensive pick?<\/p>\n

Mendoza has taken over the top spot from Arvell Reese on the consensus board, but I\u2019m not confident Reese will be the first defensive player selected. Though the Ohio State standout could be an edge rusher in the NFL, some have him slotted as an off-ball linebacker \u2014 and that\u2019s why he may slip behind some of his defensive counterparts. Some teams simply won\u2019t want to invest a high draft pick on a player who may play off the ball.<\/p>\n

So, who is likeliest to jump Reese? I\u2019m actually going to skip past the next defensive player on the consensus board, Ohio State\u2019s Caleb Downs, and land on David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr. Those two are squarely penciled in as edge rushers, which would make it easier for a front office to pull the trigger.<\/p>\n

Reese and Downs may be the better prospects, but it\u2019s hard not to factor in positional value when comparing them to Bailey or Bain.<\/p>\n

\"Connections:\"Connections:<\/p>\n

Feb 18, 2026<\/p>\n

Connections: Sports Edition<\/p>\n

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms<\/p>\n

Find the hidden link between sports terms<\/p>\n

Play today’s puzzle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Texas Tech edge David Bailey was a consensus All-American with 19.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. Christian…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":760798,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[331,7,4725,2972,6,69,4721],"class_list":{"0":"post-760797","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-college-football","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-indiana-hoosiers","11":"tag-miami-hurricanes","12":"tag-nfl","13":"tag-ohio-state-buckeyes","14":"tag-texas-tech-red-raiders"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116092987440858705","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/760797","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=760797"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/760797\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/760798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=760797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=760797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=760797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}