Part 3 of my 2026 NFL Draft Big Board series gets into prospects 11–20, and this is where the board starts showing more personality.
The top 10 is where it seems everyone lives. That’s where the obvious names get argued over, even though my top 10 may not have been very obvious, and national boards all start looking the same.
This next draft prospect group is different.
This is where I started leaning into players I would trust at the next level. A polished receiver, a safety with production, two offensive linemen who can be long-term answers, and a tight end with some tantalizing athleticism.
11. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Carnell Tate may be the most pro-ready receiver in the class. He just looks polished and showcased that at Ohio State game after game.
I know Carnell Tate didn’t light the NCAA on fire with his stats, but in 2025 he caught 51 passes for 875 yards and 9 touchdowns, averaging 17.2 yards per catch.
I like this blend of efficiency and downfield production, and it is exactly what I want to see from a receiver in this range.
Player comp: Michael Pittman Jr.
Carnell Tate is not a pure blazer, but a reliable chain-mover who can win downfield, through contact, and plays well in a structured offense, much like Michael Pittman Jr.
12. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
I love a smart, athletic safety and Dillon Thieneman is one of those guys. He sees the game faster than other players and his college resume shows this attribute.
In 2025, he finished with 44 solo tackles, two interceptions, and five passes defended at Oregon, and his earlier college stats showed even more ball production.
Player comp: Jessie Bates
I’ve seen Dillon Thieneman play with range and instincts. He’s not stuck in one role as he can play deep, rotate, and work in multiple safety alignments, which is why the Bates comparison makes sense.
13. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Players like Spencer Fano make it easy for people like me to give a fan first evaluation.
He profiles as a clean offensive tackle draft prospect, and the numbers back it up. PFF graded him at 83.9 overall in 2025, with an 81.5 pass-blocking grade and a 79.9 run-blocking grade. Those grades don’t do him justice as he gave up 0 sacks and 0 hits allowed in 2025.
Player comp: Tristan Wirfs-lite
I think this comp works because Spencer Fano tested like a rare athlete for the position. He had the top overall score among tackles, finishing first in the three-cone, and running one of the fastest 40 times in the tackle group.
14. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Monroe Freeling is one of the players in this range where I’m betting on movement traits and upside. I think the combine helped him in a major way after running a 4.93 forty with a 1.71 10-yard split, plus a 33.5 vert, and 9’7” broad jump. That’s amazing for a big boy.
Player comp: Kolten Miller
Viewed as a true left tackle, Freeling has high pass-protection upside. His athletic profile is almost identical to Kolten Miller. Both move well in pass protection and have elite measurables.
15. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Kenyon Sadiq feels like a modern tight end, and I like that a lot. In 2025, he had 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns who ran a 4.39 forty at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Player comp: Greg Olsen with rare traits
Kenyon Sadiq has the movement skills, receiving value, and all-around tight end profile to impact the passing game the way Greg Olsen did, but Sadiq brings more straight-line explosiveness.
16. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
I think Makia Lemon is one of the easiest receiver draft evals in this range because the production is there. He finished 2025 with 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. That kind of volume plus scoring gives him a really strong case at this point of the draft board.
Player comp: Chris Olave
Makai Lemon feels like a Chris Olave style receiver to me. He wins with smooth route running, separation quickness, body control, and polish rather than overpowering defenders with size.
17. Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
Ioane is my grown-man guard draft prospect. He allowed zero sacks, zero hits, and only four hurries across 613 blocking snaps in 2025.
This is a player who also has experience on both sides of the line and handles stunts and bull rushers well.
Player comp: Wyatt Teller with cleaner pass protection
Ioane brings a mauling run-game power much like Teller, but with much better pass pro as seen from him allowing no sacks in 2025.
18. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
This is one of my favorite draft rankings in this range because it’s a conviction call. Rodriguez posted 63 solo tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, and a sack in 2025, and that kind of all over the place production is hard to ignore.
Player Comp: Jack Campbell if you shrunk his frame
The Jack Campbell vibes are there because he plays like a true every-down linebacker who diagnoses quickly, piles up tackles, handles traffic well, and brings a steady presence in the middle.
19 Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
Keionte Scott is another player that I’m fine with being stronger on than the consensus. In 2025, he had 42 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, and five passes defended.
That’s the kind of stat line I like because of the versatility.
Player comp: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
I don’t think this because they are the same player, but more because of their DB tweener appeal. Slot, safety, and movable player it doesn’t matter Kieonte Scott gets the job done.
20. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
CJ Allen is still a top-20 player in this draft. I just view him lower than some because he’s more of a throwback linebacker. He finished 2025 with 47 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, and the Georgia pedigree shows up in how physical and reliable he looks.
Player comp: Alex Singleton
I like this comp because both of these players are just gritty players. They are strong run defenders who do just enough in coverage to get by and stay a high-level linebacker.
Everyone can rank the players at the top of a draft, but this is the area where conviction starts showing up for me. I’ve got a few players here that I’m not moving just because it would make the board feel safer.
Stay tuned for the draft prospects at 21-30.
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