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As NFL talent evaluators put the finishing touches on their scouting reports for the 2026 draft class, they will look at current professionals with similar characteristics as another data point to project prospects’ performance in the professional game. Most scouts use professional comparisons to paint a picture of which NFL decision-makers make the calls when they’re on the clock.
As the 2026 draft approaches, here are my pro lineups for the top prospects in this year’s class.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Heisman Trophy winner is poised to come off the board as the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday. Mendoza impressed scouts with his intelligence, tenacity and management skills, while showing exceptional accuracy and touch as a pace passer. The combination of skills and a winning pedigree makes it easy to imagine Indiana’s star player thriving as QB1 for a team running a system that prioritizes error-free football and efficient play.
Although Mendoza lacks elite physical tools, his superpowers as a high-IQ game manager could translate into better performance and production than his natural talent suggests.
Professional comparison: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Mendoza is a throwback in terms of a pocket passer. It worked for former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, who made five Pro Bowls in 10 NFL seasons.
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The silky pass catcher checks all the boxes as a potential No. 1 receiver. Tate can impact the game as a three-level playmaker, displaying big-play potential as a vertical threat or catch-and-run specialist. Additionally, the Ohio State star displays elite route running skills by twisting defenders into knots with his electric stop-and-go quickness and ballerina-like body control.
With Tate also showing off ridiculous ball skills and body control as an acrobatic pass catcher, the 6-foot-2, 194-pounder is a dominant weapon on the perimeter with “takeover the game” potential as a pro.
Pro Comparison: Rams WR Davante Adams
Caleb Downs, South, Ohio State
It’s hard to find a safety with a high IQ, positional flexibility, ball skills and a “hit the stick” mentality that allows him to play as a center fielder or hybrid linebacker in a multi-faceted scheme. Downs not only excels as a jack-of-all-trades, but he has also mastered the art of playing in a “see the ball, get 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 change of play in the middle of the field, Downs’ versatility and adaptability gives him a chance to become a star as the designated playmaker in a creative defensive scheme.
Professional Comparison: Cardinals S Budda Baker
David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The energetic speed runner took college football by storm in his lone season with the Red Raiders. Bailey terrorized opponents with his speed, quickness and burst, as he showcased a “dip-and-rip” maneuver and a nifty spin move to harass quarterbacks in the backfield. The persistent pressure and constant chaos created by his relentless approach force offensive coordinators to alter their pass protection schemes when dealing with the dynamic passer.
As Bailey becomes acclimated to the pro game and elite pass protectors, the shifty sack artist could produce double-digit sacks each year as a rushing specialist.
Pro 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, QB, Alabama
The precise and quick passer functions like a coach on the field, with his instincts, awareness and anticipation allowing him to pick apart coverages with surgical precision. Simpson’s pocket mechanics and impeccable footwork make him a quarterback coach’s dream at first glance. With his most ardent supporters citing the Crimson Tide’s 2025 hot start and ridiculous numbers as proof of his franchise quarterback’s potential, the polarizing quarterback must overcome his inexperience, lack of size and deficiencies in arm talent to defy the odds as a lightweight quarterback.
While teams have gambled on “starters” in past drafts (Mark Sanchez, 2009; Cam Newton, 2011; Kyler Murray, 2019; Trey Lance, 2021; Mac Jones, 2021; and Anthony Richardson, 2023), the disappointing success rate will force Simpson to play beyond expectations to justify his draft status. In a league in which schemes and play calls matter as much as supporting cast, Simpson must find his way to a team with a system that makes the game easier for the quarterback.
Pro comparison: 49ers QB Brock Purdy
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
After making the transition from safety to linebacker at Ohio State, Styles could flourish as a designated playmaker dominating the game between the hashes. As a speedy linebacker who can stuff running backs in the hole or run with tight ends and put receivers over the middle, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder exhibits rare traits as an off-ball linebacker in a passing league.
With his size, length and athleticism, which reduces passing lanes in the middle of the field, Styles is a potential difference maker for a defense using a “sight and break” system designed to create 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 edge defender is a violent ass-kicker with heavy hands and a mean temper. Bain outplays and outlasts blockers, showcasing an alpha-dawg mentality that is reflected in his relentless approach and competitive stamina. With a sturdy game that complements his explosive first step and all-out effort, Miami’s star player is the junkyard dog no one wants to face in a critical loss.
In a league where sack production can create blind spots for some evaluators, Bain’s energy, effort and physicality make him a vital piece of any defensive puzzle.
Pro Comparison: Eagles DE Brandon Graham
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The NFL’s transformation into a passing-centric league has forced coaches and scouts to view cornerback “Nickel” as the 12th starter. As a high-IQ defender with exceptional ball skills and a devastating finishing move (forced fumbles), Terrell is the prototypical defender that every defensive coordinator covets in the starting lineup.
While some scouts question his top speed and burst, old-school coaches prefer instinct and awareness over athleticism. Terrell’s knack for playing the ball and stifling routes as a zone-based coverage corner should draw rave reviews from teams looking for a plug-and-play option on the perimeter.
Pro Comparison: Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey
