ESPN Shakes Up 2026 NFL Draft Top 50 Rankings After Senior Bowl

Jeremiyah Love, Caleb Downs, and Arvell Reese lead the way in updated rankings.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:31pm

ESPN's Jordan Reid has overhauled his 2026 NFL Draft Top 50 player rankings following last week's Senior Bowl practices. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love tops the list as the projected top overall pick, followed by Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Arvell Reese. The rankings saw significant movement with several players rising and falling after strong or disappointing showings in Mobile.

Why it matters

The updated rankings provide a glimpse into how NFL teams and scouts are evaluating the top prospects ahead of the upcoming NFL Combine and college pro days. These rankings will continue to shift as players impress or disappoint in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The details

The top 10 players in Reid's updated rankings are: 1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame; 2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State; 3. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State; 4. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami; 5. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami; 6. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana; 7. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech; 8. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State; 9. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU; 10. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft will take place on April 23.
  • The NFL Combine is scheduled for later this month in Indianapolis.
  • College pro days will be held throughout March and April.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A running back from Notre Dame who is widely considered the top overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft and a near certainty to be a Top-10 pick.

Caleb Downs

A safety from Ohio State who has established himself as one of college football's most consistent defenders over the past two seasons.

Arvell Reese

A linebacker from Ohio State who has the physical makeup to play multiple positions and is considered a potential future Pro Bowler.

Rueben Bain Jr.

An EDGE rusher from Miami who had a breakout season in 2025, recording 5 sacks during the Hurricanes' run to the CFP national championship game.

Francis Mauigoa

An offensive tackle from Miami who is considered the best offensive lineman in this year's draft class and a potential plug-and-play starter either inside or out.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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