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In the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft — which will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh — NFL Network draft guru and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah ranks his top 50 draft-eligible prospects.
NOTES:
Tune in for live coverage of Panini Senior Bowl practice Jan. 27-29 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network and NFL+.
NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the East-West Shrine Bowl beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 27.
NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the Senior Bowl game beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 31.
Mendoza is a very accurate thrower with excellent size, toughness and enough athleticism. He operates well out of shotgun and leans heavily on the RPO game. He has fast hands, makes good decisions and is accurate on those quick throws. To see him make more NFL-type throws, it’s helpful to study his pass attempts on third-and-7-plus — that’s where he shows the velocity to drive the ball in the seam and also displays pinpoint placement on back-shoulder throws. He will occasionally hold the ball too long, hunting big plays in those situations. He is insanely tough, routinely hanging in the pocket and absorbing big hits. He picks his spots as a runner, but he has logged some HUGE conversions (SEE: the national title game). His size, arm talent and competitive nature remind me of Matt Ryan coming out of Boston College.
Love is a dynamic weapon as a runner and receiver. On inside runs, he runs high/narrow, but he explodes to and through the hole. He will drop a level lower on contact and has the lower-leg drive to bounce off defenders. He doesn’t always let things develop because he can get skinny through narrow passages. He has elite speed on outside runs to capture the corner and take it the distance. He has a rare ability to make defenders miss without gearing down. His spin move is electric. In the passing game, he can run routes like a wideout. He’s smooth, polished and natural. He plucks the ball effortlessly. In pass protection, he is both aware and willing, but he’s best utilized out in the route. Overall, Love is a home run hitter and will immediately expand the playbook for his drafting team.
