The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a month away, and Baltimore Beatdown is proud to introduce our Top 51 Big Board! We are also excited to bring Yuri (@Yuri_Ravens on X) aboard to help us scout the 2026 class!
Our Big Board is Ravens-centric, meaning it is weighted based on positions and skillsets Baltimore should be prioritizing in April. It will, of course, evolve over time – for example, Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks was in the top 10 before his second foot injury in eight months dropped him
to an honorary 51st spot. Included with today’s rankings are brief write-ups about some of our favorite prospects.
Without further ado, here’s the top 50!
1. Rueben Bain (EDGE, Miami)
2. Francisco Mauigoa (OT, Miami)
3. Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
4. David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
5. Arvell Reese (EDGE, Ohio State)
6. Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia)
7. Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
8. Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
9. Spencer Fano (OL, Utah)
10. Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
11. Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
12. Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
13. Jeremiah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
14. Jordan Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
15. Keldrick Faulk (EDGE, Auburn)
16. T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
17. Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)
Akheem Mesidor will turn 25 years old before the draft, which will be a turn-off to some evaluators. But with that age comes a strong history of production. Mesidor collected 35.5 sacks and 52.5 tackles for loss across 65 college games, including 12.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs in 2025, both top-five marks in the nation. He is physical and energetic with a burgeoning bag of pass rush moves that produced a 20.8% win rate last year. Mesidor also sets a hard edge against the run, though, like fellow Hurricane EDGE Rueben Bain, he lacks ideal height and length for the NFL. (Nikhil Mehta)
18. Aveion Terrell (CB, Clemson)
19. Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
20. Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
21. K.C. Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
22. Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
23. Olaivavega Ioane (G, Penn State)
24. Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
Zion Young is one of the most violent and physical defenders in the 2026 draft class, consistently bringing a relentless edge to every snap. At 6-foot-6 with 33-inch arms, he uses his length effectively to control blockers, playing with power and intensity at the point of attack as a run defender while stacking and peeking to locate the ball. His motor runs hot throughout games, and he pairs that effort with a powerful bull rush that ranks among the best in the class, regularly walking tackles back into the pocket. Young also flashes an effective swipe move to disengage and finish as a pass rusher. His production backs up the tape, posting a 9.3% run stop rate and an impressive 25% pass rush win rate, highlighting both his disruptive ability against the run and his consistent pressure generation. (Yuri)
25. Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
26. Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
27. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
28. Christen Miller (DT, Georgia)
Christen Miller is a powerful defensive tackle who profiles as an NFL-ready run defender with untapped pass rushing potential. His production (11.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks in three years) is relatively uninspiring, but an 11.3% pass rush rate and 19 pressures in each of the last two seasons indicate there is more to develop. He has a quick first step and a long-arm that can put blockers on their heels, but his plan tends to peter out quickly. Miller has an instinctive feel of how to work through blocks, which shows up most often in 1-on-1 encounters in run defense, but he lacks the size and anchor of a true nose tackle in the middle of the defense. (Nikhil Mehta)
29. Max Iheanachor (OT, Arizona State)
30. Gracen Holten (DT, Oklahoma State)
Gracen Halton is an uber-athletic interior defensive lineman whose explosiveness consistently stresses offensive lines. With excellent get-off at the snap, Halton regularly wins early in the rep, using his quickness to split gaps and slip between blockers before plays can develop. He thrives on movement up front, executing stunts and twists effectively and using his speed to beat offensive tackles and guards around the edge of games. Against the run, he slashes aggressively through zone concepts, penetrating the backfield and disrupting plays before they fully materialize. Despite not having elite length, Halton compensates with powerful, active hands that generate consistent pop and knockback, allowing him to create leverage and reset the line of scrimmage. (Yuri)
31. Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE, Penn State)
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a prototype edge defender with elite athletic traits, highlighted by a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score at the NFL Combine that shows up clearly on tape. With a 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame featuring 33-inch arms, he combines size, explosiveness, and flexibility to threaten tackles in multiple ways, frequently dipping under lunging blockers before ripping through the edge. He pairs that move with a well-timed spin that complements his outside rush, giving him a developing but effective pass-rush toolkit. His 17.36% pass rush win rate places him in the same statistical range as elite former college edge rushers like Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and Aidan Hutchinson. Dennis-Sutton also brings alignment versatility, capable of sliding inside against guards and winning with superior athleticism. Against the run, he maintains strong gap integrity and uses his length to set a firm edge and anchor at the point of attack. (Yuri)
32. Kadyn Proctor (OL, Alabama)
33. Emmanuel Pregnon (OL, Oregon)
34. Lee Hunter (DT, Cincinnati)
35. Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
36. Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
37. Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
38. Keonte Scott (CB, Miami)
39. Blake Miller (G/T, Clemson)
40. Joshua Josephs (EDGE, Tennessee)
Joshua Josephs is a twitchy edge rusher with a prototypical frame (6-foot-3, 240 pounds, 34-inch arms) who forced six fumbles and produced a 21.3% pass-rush win rate in 2025. He primarily wins as a pass rusher with first-step explosiveness and speed, utilizing a cross-chop move while leveraging his arm length to disengage from offensive tackles and create pressure. He also shows natural leverage and solid pad level as a run defender, allowing him to engage blockers effectively at the point of attack. With a frame capable of adding 15–20 pounds, Josephs has clear developmental upside to improve his play strength and become a more complete defender against the run while maintaining his pass-rush impact. (Yuri)
41. Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
Gabe Jacas has earned comparisons to new Raven Trey Hendrickson after two very productive seasons at Illinois. His physicality and relentless motor yielded 6.5 tackles for loss and 19.0 sacks over the last two seasons, though sheer determination will not go quite as far in the NFL. Refinine Jacas’ violent hands into a coordinated pass rushing plan will help his 15.2% pass rush win rate translate to the pros, and his power against the run should show up right away. (Nikhil Mehta)
42. Caleb Lomu (OT, Utah)
43. Chris Bell (WR, Louisville)
44. Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (6’0”, 193) is an athletic outside corner with excellent long speed and fluid hips that allow him to transition smoothly and change direction without losing momentum. His 4.4 speed helps him stay in phase downfield and recover if initially beaten over the top. Johnson recorded four interceptions in 2025, showcasing strong post-snap instincts and diagnostic ability. He is particularly effective in zone coverage, where he reads quarterback leverage well and breaks aggressively on the football, allowing just a 41.9% catch rate on 43 targets in 2025. Beyond coverage, Johnson is also active in run support, demonstrating a willingness to come downhill and contribute physically, finishing with 14 stops. (Yuri)
45. Keith Abney (CB, Arizona State)
46. Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
47. Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, UCF)
Malachi Lawrence is a highly athletic edge rusher who consistently stresses offensive tackles with his speed and burst off the line. His 9.9 Relative Athletic Score reflects the explosiveness and movement skills that show up on tape, highlighted by impressive initial acceleration and the bend and ankle flexion needed to corner effectively at the top of the rush. Lawrence wins primarily with speed but complements it with a polished set of pass-rush moves, including a cross-chop, swim, and two-hand swipe that help him disengage from blockers and maintain momentum toward the quarterback. His 17.54% pass rush win rate underscores his ability to generate consistent pressure and disrupt the pocket. (Yuri)
48. Chris Brazzell (WR, Tennessee)
49. R Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
50. Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
Sam Hecht allowed zero sacks or quarterback hits and just 18 total pressures across 824 pass blocking snaps in the last two seasons. While not an elite physical specimen, he is a strong athlete with consistent technique and a good understanding of leverage that overcomes his less-than-ideal size/strength profile. Hecht is a scheme-diverse lineman who can lead the way on pull blocks or play off teammates in combos and double-teams. He also displays the requisite communication and football I.Q. to man the center position in the NFL. (Nikhil Mehta)
51. Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
Caleb Banks is a 6’6”, 327-pound defensive lineman with 35-inch arms who offers notable versatility along the front, capable of aligning anywhere from 5-technique to 3-technique. He posted a 20% pass-rush win rate in 2024 and but only played three games in 2025 due to a foot injury. A broken foot suffered before the Combine makes his 9.84 Relative Athletic Score all the more impressive, but also underscored his injury risk and dropped him to this honorary No. 51 spot on our big board. Banks possesses rare mobility and can deconstruct blocks quickly using a swipe or arm-over, while his initial punch generates significant pop, often jolting offensive linemen backward before he follows with a powerful bull rush to collapse the pocket. (Yuri)
Traditional statistics via Sports-Reference.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.
