Six rising 2026 NFL Draft prospects who belong in top 50 player conversation

Scouting every week is full of swings and pitfalls.

Instead of reacting to highs and lows of a single game, the focus should be on the body of work, which is why I wait until we get through Halloween before updating my NFL Draft board. Two months of evidence provide a much better understanding of a prospect’s talent level and NFL projection.

While we’re still a month away from my midseason top 50, I wanted to write about six prospects who didn’t make the preseason board but are on track to make the updated version — a few of them with very high rankings.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

There were four quarterbacks in the top 25 of my preseason rankings. Two of those QBs — LaNorris Sellers and Fernando Mendoza — are still in that mix. The other two — Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier — haven’t lived up to that high billing, for different reasons.

Based on the first month of the season, Moore deserves to join the top tier.

A year removed from his disastrous freshman season at UCLA, Moore wasn’t in the first-round conversation over the summer. However, after spending the 2024 season behind Dillon Gabriel and developing in key areas, Moore has emerged as one of the top passers in college football.

His poise in the pocket, accuracy downfield and ability to extend plays have all been exciting parts of his success through five games. There is a growing consensus among NFL scouts that Moore will be part of the 2026 NFL Draft class.

We’re still dealing with a small sample size and a very young player, so there is plenty more to learn before stamping Moore with a final draft grade. Based on his current trajectory, however, NFL teams expected to be picking high in the draft and in search of a young quarterback have to be excited about Moore’s potential. It would be ironic if he went from backing up Gabriel in Eugene to starting in front of him in Cleveland.

Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Whether he is spying, blitzing, dropping or mirroring the run, Reese’s impact shows up on every drive of every game, which is why he has been my favorite prospect to study so far in 2025. Some linebackers possess length and power, while others have agility and closing speed. Few have it all in one package, like Reese.

I put this out on social media last week, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Reese is the first Buckeye drafted in April. As expected, the pushback was strong from those presuming Caleb Downs is a lock for that billing, but keep an open mind. Downs is awesome. Still, even though he will be universally liked by anyone who watches him play, a lot of NFL teams won’t use a top-15 pick on a safety with his profile (average size and ball production, better near the line of scrimmage).

As an off-ball linebacker, Reese also plays a position that isn’t typically drafted super high. Still, his versatility to do just about anything you want in the front seven increases his value. With his talent and upside, Reese should land somewhere in the top half of Round 1.

A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

With 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and zero sacks through five games, the stats don’t necessarily support Washington as a top-50 prospect. However, the tape and talent absolutely do.

Listed at 6 foot 3 and 330 pounds, Washington has remarkable explosion for a player that size, which allows him to burst off the ball and give blockers the slip. However, he also has the power and play strength expected of someone with his build.

After barely playing as a freshman and seeing rotation time last year as a backup, Washington still has a lot to clean up before fully unlocking all of his talent. NFL teams will gladly bet on his traits and potential, though, likely somewhere in the first round.

Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

The Penn State offensive line has been up and down this season, but Ioane (Yo-wahn-ay; he also goes by “Vega”) has been the one constant, both as a run blocker and in pass protection.

A fourth-year junior, Ioane had a third-round grade over the summer, and that projection has only improved a month into the season. He was stout and alert in pass protection against Oregon, and he put reps on tape that show him mauling in the run game and pulling near the goal line. Ioane projects as an NFL starter and has put himself in the mix to be the first guard drafted.

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

A riser we have been talking about since the season kicked off, Delane has been on the early-round radar for a few years (he made my top 50 going into the 2024 season). However, the Virginia Tech transfer is playing his best ball now as a senior.

With short arms and average speed by NFL standards, Delane won’t be loved by everyone, especially those teams that would rather bet on high-upside athletes at the position. What separates him is his coverage intelligence (in both man and zone) and competitive temperament, which makes it challenging to target him. Delane has allowed just six receptions on 20 targets so far this season.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

McNeil-Warren (6-3 1/2, 210) has rare size for a backend defender, with quality athleticism and ball skills to make plays. Primarily asked to line up in the boundary, he will also handle man-to-man duties in the nickel and play some free safety.

The Toledo coaches say McNeil-Warren improves daily as his football IQ continues to develop, and they are excited about where he will be in a few years when his anticipation catches up with his physical traits.

McNeil-Warren entered the season with a third-round grade, but he continues to move up with his strong start.

(Top photo of Arvell Reese: Ian Johnson / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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