42 Players Granted Special Eligibility for 2026 NFL Draft

League announces underclassmen and degree-holding players eligible for April draft in Pittsburgh

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a football game or NFL draft event, with sharp planes of color representing the teams and players involved.The 2026 NFL Draft will feature a diverse pool of talented players, each with their own unique path to the professional level.Today in Pittsburgh

The NFL has announced that 42 players have been granted special eligibility for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, including 21 underclassmen who have completed their degree requirements while retaining college football eligibility. The list includes a mix of top prospects who applied before the new 'soft' deadline as well as others who met the traditional January 14 cutoff.

Why it matters

This move by the NFL aims to provide more flexibility and clarity for both players and organizers of all-star games leading up to the draft. The league has implemented new deadlines to aid in the planning process, while still allowing qualified underclassmen to enter the draft pool.

The details

Among the 42 players granted special eligibility, 16 applied before the new January 5 'soft' deadline, while another 26 submitted their applications by the traditional January 14 cutoff date. This list does not include players participating in the FCS National Championship Game, who have a separate January 23 deadline. Each player has completed three years of college football and formally renounced their remaining NCAA eligibility.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 23 to April 25 in Pittsburgh.
  • The new 'soft' deadline for special eligibility applications was January 5.
  • The traditional special eligibility deadline was January 14.
  • Players in the FCS National Championship Game had a January 23 deadline.

The players

Keith Abney

DB, Arizona State

C.J. Allen

LB, Georgia

Aaron Anderson

WR, LSU

Chase Bisontis

G, Texas A&M

Denzel Boston

WR, Washington

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This announcement highlights the NFL's efforts to provide more flexibility and clarity for both players and organizers leading up to the draft, while still maintaining eligibility requirements. The new deadlines aim to aid in the planning process for all-star games and the draft itself.