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As NFL talent evaluators put the finishing touches on their scouting reports on the 2026 draft class, they will look at current pros with similar traits as another data point to project how prospects could perform in the pro game. Most scouts use pro comparisons to paint a picture for NFL decision makers who make the decisions when they are on the clock.
With the 2026 draft approaching, here are my pro comps for the top prospects in this year’s class.
Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana
The Heisman Trophy winner is sure to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. Mendoza has impressed scouts with his intelligence, toughness and management skills, while also displaying pinpoint accuracy and touch as a pace passer. The combination of skills and a winning pedigree makes it easy to imagine the Indiana standout thriving as QB1 for a team that runs a system that prioritizes mistake-free football and creating key plays.
Although Mendoza lacks elite physical tools, his superpowers as a high-IQ playmaker could result in better performance and production than his natural talent would suggest.
Career Comparison: Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff
Mendoza is a step back in terms of a pocket passer. It has worked for former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, who made five Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The smooth pass catcher checks all the boxes as a potential number one receiver. Tate can impact the game as a three-level playmaker, showing big-play potential as a vertical threat or catch-and-run specialist. Additionally, the Ohio State star displays elite route-running skills by turning defenders into knots with her electric stop-and-go quickness and dancer-like body control.
With Tate also displaying ridiculous ball skills and body control as an acrobatic pass catcher, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is a dominant perimeter weapon with the potential to “take over the game” as a pro.
Pro Comparison: Rams WR Davante Adams
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
It’s difficult to find a safety with a high IQ, positional flexibility, ball skills and a “hit the stick” mentality that allows him to play center fielder or hybrid linebacker in a multifaceted scheme. Downs not only excels as a jack of all trades, but he has also mastered the art of playmaking in a “see the ball, receive the ball” defensive scheme.
While skeptics dismiss his impact potential due to his modest physical traits, evaluators who love “ball players” easily identify the game-changing skills the Ohio State star brings to the table. Considering how championship-level defenses thrive with a game-changer in the middle of the field, Downs’ versatility and adaptability give him the opportunity to emerge as a star as a designated playmaker in a creative defensive scheme.
Pro Comparison: Cardinals S Budda Baker
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The energetic sprinter took college football by storm during his lone season with the Red Raiders. Bailey terrorized opponents with his speed, quickness and explosion, while displaying a “dive and rip” maneuver and a deft spin move to harass quarterbacks in the backfield. The persistent pressure and constant chaos created by his relentless approach forces offensive coordinators to alter their pass protection plans when facing the dynamic pass rusher.
As Bailey acclimates to the professional game and elite pass protectors, the crafty sack artist could produce double-digit sacks annually as a rushing specialist.
Career Comparison: Giants OLB Brian Burns
When David Bailey focused on rushing the passer last season, his game took off. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
[How One Key Question Changed David Bailey’s NFL Future]
Ty Simpson, quarterback, Alabama
The fast-paced, accurate passer operates like a coach on the field, with his instincts, awareness and anticipation allowing him to select coverages with surgical precision. Simpson’s impeccable pocket mechanics and footwork make him a quarterbacks coach’s dream at first glance. With his strongest supporters citing the 2025 Crimson Tide’s excellent start and ridiculous numbers as proof of his franchise quarterback potential, the polarizing quarterback must overcome his inexperience, lack of size, and arm talent deficiencies to defy the odds as a lightweight quarterback prospect.
While teams have gone for “rookies” in previous drafts (Mark Sanchez, 2009; Cam Newton, 2011; Kyler Murray, 2019; Trey Lance, 2021; Mac Jones, 2021; and Anthony Richardson, 2023), the disappointing hit rate will require Simpson to play above and beyond expectations to justify his status on draft day. In a league where scheme and playmaking matter as much as the supporting cast, Simpson must find his way to a team that has a system that makes play easier for the quarterback.
Career Comparison: 49ers QB Brock Purdy
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
After a successful transition from safety to linebacker at Ohio State, Styles could flourish as a designated playmaker who dominates the game between the hashes. As a quick-flow linebacker who can get running backs in the hole or run with tight ends and set receivers up the middle, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder exhibits uncommon traits as an off-ball linebacker in a passing league.
With his size, length and athleticism reducing passing lanes in the middle of the field, Styles is a potential difference-maker for a defense that employs a “look and break” scheme designed to generate more turnovers.
Pro Comparison: 49ers LB Fred Warner
[Will Ohio State Have Four Top-10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?]
Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The disruptive rim defender is a violent ass-kicker with heavy hands and a nasty temper. Bain outworks and outlasts blockers, displaying an alpha mentality reflected in his relentless focus and competitive stamina. With a tough game that complements his explosive first step and all-out effort, the Miami standout is the junkyard dog no one wants to face in a critical drop.
In a league where sack production can create blind spots for some evaluators, Bain’s energy, effort and physicality make him an essential piece of any defensive puzzle.
Pro Comparison: Eagles DE Brandon Graham
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The NFL’s transformation into a pass-centric league has forced coaches and scouts to view cornerback “Nickel” as the 12th starter. As a high-IQ defender with excellent ball skills and a devastating knockout (forced fumbles), Terrell is the prototypical slot defender that every defensive coordinator covets in the starting lineup.
While some scouts question his top speed and explosion, old-school coaches prefer instincts and awareness over athleticism. Terrell’s ability to make plays on the ball and smother routes as a zone-based coverage cornerback should result in rave reviews from teams looking for a plug-and-play option on the perimeter.
Pro Comparison: Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey
