Particle.news
Download on the App Store

PFF Unveils 2026 NFL Draft Position Rankings, Elevating Defense at the Top

The release provides a data-driven baseline for early evaluations using three-year grades, position quick reads plus interactive draft tools.

Overview

  • PFF spotlights defensive playmakers at the front of the class, with edge defenders, cornerbacks and safeties occupying a large share of the early board.
  • Three quarterbacks land inside PFF’s top 30—Ty Simpson (No. 20), Fernando Mendoza (No. 23) and Dante Moore (No. 27)—signaling a tighter upper tier than last cycle.
  • The comprehensive rankings cover every position group and pair evaluations with three-year player grades to frame production and projection.
  • Position-by-position Quick Reads accompany the rankings, and users can build custom boards with PFF’s Big Board Builder or run drafts via the Mock Draft Simulator.
  • The defense-led outlook tracks with earlier early-cycle projections and sets an initial framework for ongoing mock drafts and team assessments ahead of April 2026.