Every year, the NFL Draft is packed with amazing prospects who have incredible abilities and athletic traits most people could only dream of. Those prospects are often celebrated for their achievements leading up to the Draft, and deservedly so. This post will not celebrate those attributes. Instead, we’ll celebrate something most of these athletes have no control over: their names. Here is a list of some of the prospects with the best names, surnames, and nicknames in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Food and Drink
Makai Lemon,
WR, USC
Dominique Orange, DT, Ohio State
Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky
Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
Jager Burton, C, Kentucky
Jam Miller, HB, Alabama
Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio State
Positional Puns
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina (a corner named Cisse like in “cease and desist”)
Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech (“only” 6’3″)
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama (Germie has some sick moves)
Jake Slaughter, C, Florida (killing the opposing defensive line)
Genesis Smith, S, Arizona State (I’ve been in on Genesis since the beginning)
Isaiah World, OT, Oregon (at 6’8″ and over 300 lbs, that is an appropriate last name)
Kage Casey, OT, Boise State (putting edge rushers in a Kage)
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State (bringing the Payne on defense)
Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin (sounds like “maul man,” which is appropriate for a tackle)
Squirrel White, WR, Florida State (a quick, under 5’10 receiver nicknamed Squirrel)
Scooby Williams, LB, Texas A&M (Scooby will solve the mystery of the other team’s offense)
Diego Pounds, OT, Ole Miss (335 of them, actually)
Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland (if you want a real dog in your secondary)
Damonic Williams, DT, Oklahoma (imagine playing against a big dude like that named Damonic)
Brett Thorson, P, Georgia (puts some thunder into his kicks)
“No, not that one”
Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
Roy Williams, Edge, Northern Illinois
Marcus Allen, CB, North Carolina (in fairness, he is the son of the *that* Marcus Allen)
Marvin Jones Jr, Edge, Oklahoma (also a former Lions wide out)
DeVonta Smith, CB, Notre Dame
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Overall Great Names
Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati (The Godfather)
Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
Hezekiah Masses, CB, Cal
Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State
Maverick McIvor, QB, Western Kentucky
Amari Niblack, TE, Texas A&M
Jacobian Guillory II, DT, LSU
Chamon Metayer, TE, Arizona State
Ka’ena Decambra, C, Arizona
Namdi Obiazor, LB, TCU
What do you think Panthers fans? Who has the best name in the 2026 Draft? Did I miss anyone? Sound off in the comments!
