My Guys: One Prospect I’m Betting On at Every Position (2026 NFL Draft)

Kevin looks at one player per position that he's betting on in the 2026 NFL draft.

You can scroll through a dozen draft articles right now and see the same names at the top of every position.

That’s not what this is. This isn’t a “best players in the class” list, and it’s not me just taking the safest bet at each spot. We all know who those guys are. Players like Jeremiah Love don’t need another article telling you they’re good. That doesn’t mean I’m out on them, it just means that’s not the point here.

This is about my guys. The players I keep coming back to, offense and defense. The ones where the traits, flashes, usage, or projection all come together in a way that makes me want to lean in. In some cases, that means passing on the obvious name and digging deeper into a position group to find the player I believe in most, not just the one everyone agrees on. So that’s what this is. One player at every position I’m betting on in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor

Quarterback is tough this year. It just is. I could’ve gone chalk here. I believe in guys like Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and if you want to bet on those profiles, I get it. But that’s not what this is. Let’s have a little fun and go deeper.

Sawyer Robertson is a name I’ve been on since last year after doing a full profile on him, and the more I’ve sat with it, the more it makes sense. This is a developmental piece, no question but it’s a profile that screams capable NFL backup with upside to be more if things break right. He’s got the size, the movement, and just enough playmaking to keep things alive when it breaks down. What stood out to me is how comfortable he became as the year went on. You could see Baylor start to trust him more at the line, giving him control, letting him operate. That matters. This isn’t a finished product, but it’s a bet on growth. And at quarterback, that’s where you find value.

Traits That Win

• Size/Frame – prototypical NFL build

• Pocket Movement – navigates pressure, keeps eyes downfield

• Functional Mobility – extends plays, can create off-script

• Pre-Snap Control – showed growth handling the offense

What Makes Him Different

This is a projection play. You’re not betting on elite traits. You’re betting on a quarterback who understands how to operate, who can manage an offense, and who has just enough athleticism and toughness to keep plays alive. That combination gives him a real pathway to sticking at the next level, even if it starts as a QB2. There’s a world where this develops into more if the decision-making and consistency tighten up.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the size + feel for the position translating into a long-term NFL backup with spot-start upsideand if the development hits, there’s more there than people think.

Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

I’ve been on the Jadarian Price train for two years now, I’m not hopping off. I thought about going deeper here. Adam Randall crossed my mind, but sometimes you don’t need to overthink it. Stick with the guy you’ve believed in.

Price has always been intriguing. Highly productive high school player, elite track background, and then the early setback with the Achilles. A lot of guys don’t come back the same from that but he did. And more importantly, he kept improving.

He’s been stuck behind Jeremiah Love, which has capped the production, but that’s also part of why I’m in. There’s less wear, and we haven’t seen the full version of what he can be. When he gets space, you see it; burst, long speed, the ability to flip a play. And as the 2025 season went on, the vision and patience started to come along too. This is a bet on what it looks like when he finally gets a backfield to himself.

Traits That Win

• Burst/Long Speed – can hit home runs when he finds daylight

• Contact Balance – runs through glancing contact, stays upright

• Lateral Agility – can weave through tight spaces

• Patience – improved as the season progressed

What Makes Him Different

There’s more here than the surface-level production shows. You’re betting on an efficient player who hasn’t been run into the ground, paired with explosive traits that translate. He’s not a finished product between the tackles yet, and the passing-down role is still developing, but the flashes are strong enough to project a bigger role at the next level. In a weaker RB class, that matters even more. Opportunity + traits is how you find hits at this position.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the explosiveness + untapped workload leading to Day 2 capital and a landing spot where he can carve out a real role early.

Skyler Bell, WR, UConn

This is exactly the type of receiver I want to bet on in this format. Skyler Bell isn’t going to be in a lot of people’s top five, and that’s fine. The late breakout is going to turn people off, and I get it. But if you actually look at what he did once he became the guy, it’s hard to ignore.

Over 1,200 yards, 100+ catches, double-digit touchdowns, this wasn’t just production, it was dominant usage. He commanded targets, carried the offense, and showed he could win in multiple ways. And when you go back to the tape, the traits match it.

What really stands out is how quickly he creates space. The acceleration, the ability to sink and get in and out of breaks, and then turn short catches into real gains after the catch, it all translates. You’re looking at a player who can win underneath right away, but still has more vertical upside than he’s been given credit for.

And honestly, some of the touchdowns left on the field at UConn? Those are hitting at the next level with better quarterback play.

Traits That Win

• Acceleration – eats cushion instantly, creates separation

• Route Burst – sinks hips, explodes out of breaks

• Target Earning – showed true WR1 usage profile

• YAC Ability – turns short catches into chunk plays

What Makes Him Different

This is a projection on role + growth. Bell already profiles as someone who can earn targets underneath early in his career. That’s a valuable trait that translates quickly. But the part I keep coming back to is the untapped vertical element. The testing says it’s there. The flashes say it’s there. It just wasn’t fully unlocked in that offense. If that piece develops, you’re not just looking at a volume slot, you’re looking at a complete receiver who can threaten all three levels.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the target-earning ability + untapped vertical upside turning Bell into a productive NFL starter with real fantasy value.

John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming

Tight end was tough for me. There are a lot of guys I like in this class, and you could go a bunch of different directions depending on what you’re betting on. But this is the kind of swing I want to take.

John Michael Gyllenborg isn’t a complete tight end right now, and that’s exactly why he fits this piece. This is a traits bet. One of the more explosive athletes at the position, and when you watch him, you see flashes of a player who can stress a defense vertically in ways most tight ends just can’t.

He’s not going to win in-line. That’s not his game. But move him around, put him in space, get him matched up on safeties or linebackers, and now you’ve got something. You see it on seam routes, you see it when he builds speed, and you see it after the catch. This is a projection but at tight end, that’s where you find difference-makers.

Traits That Win

• Explosiveness – one of the better athletes at the position

• Vertical Threat – can stress seams and overs

• Alignment Versatility – slot, backfield, move piece

• Run After Catch – finishes runs, creates chunk plays

What Makes Him Different

This is a role-based bet with upside. Gyllenborg isn’t going to step in and play 70% of snaps right away. The blocking limitations are real, and that’s going to cap early usage. But the receiving profile is where this gets interesting. In the right system, one that moves tight ends, uses space, and creates matchups, he can carve out a role quickly. And if the route running develops even a little, now you’re talking about a player who can become more than just a package piece. At tight end, that’s all you need. One skill that translates, and the rest can grow.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the explosiveness + vertical ability earning him a role early, with the upside to grow into a mismatch receiving tight end if the development hits.

Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College

I wanted to make sure I hit an offensive lineman in this piece, because this is another spot where you can find real value if you’re willing to project a little. Jude Bowry fits that perfectly. This is a traits bet all the way. The testing backs it up, but you also see it on tape, he can move. Fires out of his stance, stays square in his sets, and has the foot speed to handle edge rushers. In a league that continues to lean into wide zone and movement-based schemes, that matters. He’s not a finished product. The 2025 tape was inconsistent, and the technique can fall apart on him especially with his hands. But when it’s right, it looks like a starting-caliber player. And that’s what I’m betting on. This is the type of offensive lineman you take and develop.

Traits That Win

• Movement Skills – ideal for zone-heavy schemes

• Pass Set Footwork – stays square, mirrors speed

• Burst Off the Ball – gains ground quickly in sets

• Versatility – tackle with potential inside flexibility

What Makes Him Different

This comes down to projection and fit. Bowry isn’t going to be for every team. The arm length and play strength are real concerns, and that’s going to push him down boards. But put him in the right system, one that emphasizes movement, angles, and getting linemen into space, and now those weaknesses are less exposed. And if the tackle development stalls, the move inside to guard makes a lot of sense. His athleticism would play even better there, especially as a puller. That flexibility gives him multiple paths to sticking.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the movement skills + positional flexibility turning Bowry into a valuable swing lineman with a path to starting in the right scheme.

Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan

Yeah, this one’s a homer pick. I don’t care. I’ve watched a lot of Derrick Moore, and this is the type of edge I want to bet on. Not the flashiest player in the class, not the bendy, speed-around-the-corner type but a guy who just wins with power, length, and feel for rushing the passer.

Moore took a real step forward this past year, and the production finally matched what you see on tape. Double-digit sacks, consistent disruption, and a player who understands how to collapse a pocket. When he gets into his rush, it’s over. He builds momentum, gets into your chest, and walks you back.

He’s not a finished product. The run defense can run hot and cold, and he’s not going to win with elite first-step quickness. But when you’re talking about projecting to the next level, I’ll take a player who knows how to generate pressure and finish plays. Especially in a loaded edge class, this is the type of guy who can get overlooked.

Traits That Win

• Power Rush – collapses the pocket with strength and leverage

• Length – disrupts passing lanes, controls blockers

• Pass Rush Feel – understands how to work into pressure

• Finishing Ability – closes once he gets home

What Makes Him Different

This is a bet on play style translating. Moore isn’t going to win like some of the top guys in this class. He’s not bending the edge and running the arc. But he doesn’t need to. His game is built on getting into the body of offensive linemen and forcing quarterbacks off their spot. That plays. And when you look at how teams are building defensive lines, there’s always a role for a power-based rusher who can win inside, collapse pockets, and rack up pressures. Add in his experience in multiple alignments, and there’s flexibility to how he gets used.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the power + pass rush feel translating into a starting edge who consistently generates pressure, even if it looks different than the rest of the class.

Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

I thought about going deeper here. There are some linebackers you can talk yourself into, especially in a class like this. But sometimes you just don’t need to. Anthony Hill Jr. is one of those players I just flat-out enjoy watching play football. He pops immediately. The instincts, the speed, the way he closes, it’s all there. This is what a modern linebacker is supposed to look like. He’s not just productive, he was disruptive. Tackles, TFLs, sacks, forced fumbles; he’s impacting the game at every level. And what stands out the most is how clean everything looks. No wasted movement, no hesitation. He sees it, triggers, and finishes.

You can line him up anywhere. Off-ball, blitzing, in coverage, it doesn’t matter. He plays fast, but he plays under control. That combination is what separates him. This one isn’t complicated.

Traits That Win

• Instincts – diagnoses quickly, no wasted steps

• Range/Speed – sideline-to-sideline playmaker

• Versatility – impact vs run, pass, and as a blitzer

• Finishing – reliable tackler with strong close

What Makes Him Different

This is what the position is becoming. Hill isn’t just a linebacker, he’s a weapon. He can stay on the field all three downs, match up in coverage, and still be a factor getting after the quarterback. That kind of versatility is what teams are prioritizing right now. And unlike some projection players, this isn’t theoretical. He’s already doing it at a high level against top competition. There’s a real floor here, which is rare for the position.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the instincts + versatility translating immediately into a three-down impact linebacker with Pro Bowl upside.

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

I know the discourse around Caleb Downs has been all over the place. Positional value, ceiling debates, whatever it is. I don’t care. When I tell you he’s one of the best defensive prospects I’ve ever watched, I mean it. He just plays the game differently. The instincts, the recognition, the way he sees things before they happen; it’s rare. He’s always around the ball, always in the right spot, and always making something happen. You don’t teach that. What stands out is how complete he is. You can play him in the box, drop him in coverage, blitz him, it doesn’t matter. He impacts the game at every level. And the production backs it up. This isn’t projection. He’s been doing it since day one. This is one of those evaluations where you don’t overthink it.

Traits That Win

• Instincts/Processing – sees it early, reacts instantly

• Range/Closing Burst – gets to the ball in a hurry

• Versatility – box, coverage, blitz usage

• Playmaking – consistent disruption across phases

What Makes Him Different

This is what elite looks like. Downs isn’t just checking boxes; he’s controlling games. He understands angles, spacing, route concepts, and how offenses are trying to attack him. That’s why he’s always a step ahead. He’s not the biggest or most physically overwhelming safety, but it doesn’t matter. His feel for the game elevates everything else. You’re getting a day-one impact player with leadership, production, and the ability to be the centerpiece of a defense.

The Bet

👉 I’m betting on the instincts + all-around impact translating immediately into one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, this is what it’s about. Not just following rankings. Not just agreeing with consensus. It’s about trusting what you see and being willing to stand on it. Some of these guys are projections. Some are traits bets. And some, honestly, are just players I believe in every time I turn on the tape. I’m not going to hit on all of them. That’s part of it. But if I’m right on a few? That’s where the edge comes from. These are my guys.