Draft board update

A first look at Dane Brugler’s early 2026 rankings shows Manning and Downs high in the pecking order, with strong depth on the line and at the edge.

Brugler's 2026 draft board places Arch Manning and Caleb Downs in the top five

Brugler released his first big board for the 2026 NFL Draft, a snapshot that blends past tape with future projection. The list is heavy on offensive linemen and quarterbacks early, and it is led by Peter Woods at No. 1, a Clemson defensive lineman who has impressed as both a defender and a disruptor. Arch Manning checks in at No. 2, with chatter that his NFL jump could stretch into 2027 as his family history and Texas setting add to the storyline. Kadyn Proctor sits at No. 3 and Caleb Downs at No. 4, signaling how evaluators value a prototype left tackle and a versatile safety who can run schemes at a high level.

The board also highlights a mix of other top talents across positions, including high-ceiling edge players and young quarterbacks who could shape the early rounds. Brugler notes that this is a starting point built from recent previews and that rankings will shift as more tape arrives this summer and fall. This process will determine how the 2026 class lands in the top 50 and how teams weigh positional value against raw potential.

The ranking mirrors a familiar draft pattern: premium value placed on big blockers and dual-threat quarterbacks, with a growing emphasis on versatile, scheme-proof defenders. Manning’s No. 2 spot shows how much evaluators weigh pedigree and playing context, especially when a quarterback lands in a program with a strong coaching staff and surrounding talent. The board also treats Caleb Downs as a top all-around safety who could force a rethink of how teams value non-traditional playmakers in the back end. Overall, Brugler’s list signals a class with depth across the trenches and the skill positions, but with early volatility tied to tape and development this fall.

Highlights

The 2026 class is already taking shape, and the on-field reality this fall will rewrite many lines of the board.