Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick Jeremiyah Love poses with his jersey and his parents during a press conference at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. Source: Imagn

2026 NFL Draft Rookies: Top 10 Players To Watch Out for Ft. Jacob Rodriguez

April 25, 2026 | 12:33 PM EDT

The 2026 NFL Draft is almost in the rear-view mirror. The next time that the NFL will be broadcast to a national audience will be on the doorstep of the first games of 2026. However, before then, there’s still plenty to soak in about what took place in April.

While many names will come and go from the event, some names will steal headlines this season. Here’s a look at the top rookie names to know.

NFL Draft Rookies to Keep Eyes On

#10 – Makai Lemon, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Makai Lemon improved every season through his three-year college career, earning more than 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. Lemon has already seen plenty of attention during his transition to the NFL, but expect him to get even more in September.

As the presumptive successor to A.J. Brown, Lemon will have big shoes to fill. He will be measured by his ability to slide in as the team’s top-two receiver and challenged to usurp the top spot shortly after it was essentially given to DeVonta Smith in 2025.

#9 – Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans

Carnell Tate didn’t have the same numbers as Lemon in 2025, but his abilities jumped off the tape. Tate was seen by most as the top wide receiver prospect of the WR class and the Titans nabbed him.

Cam Ward will be looking to kick open the door to the top of the AFC this season, and Tate could be the battering ram. Tate saw his yards per game double between 2024 and 2025. He also won it all in 2024, so he knows what it takes.

#8 – Caleb Downs, S, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys had every reason to go all-in on defense and Jerry Jones didn’t disappoint. Caleb Downs will be a leader in the clubhouse and charged with setting an example for the rest of the team to follow.

Downs finished in the top 10 in Heisman voting in 2025. After learning his first lessons from Nick Saban in Alabama, Downs won it all in 2024 with Ohio State. If Dallas is going to get over the hump finally, the franchise will need playoff-experienced rookies like Downs.

#7 – Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rueben Bain Jr. was arguably the first big name discovered by the NFL zeitgeist as the offseason transition occurred. Bain stopped 25 plays behind the line of scrimmage in 16 games in 2025 and logged an interception.

Now staying local as a former member of the Miami Hurricanes, Bain will have every reason to hit the ground running while playing in his element. Bain also earned 54 combined tackles (his career best) in 2025.

#6 – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals’ decision to draft Jeremiyah Love is a controversial one in terms of roster construction, but Love will surely be a name defenses must know going forward. Rookie running backs often have their best seasons early in their career, so 2026 will be a huge one for Love.

Love scored 40 touchdowns from scrimmage over his last two seasons and finished third in Heisman voting. He also led his conference in rushing yards, yards per rush and rushing touchdowns in 2024 and 2025.

Put simply, there is no shortage of accolades with Love. Rise or fall, fans will hang the Cardinals’ final result on deciding to use the team’s top pick on a running back.

#5 – Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Miami Dolphins

Jacob Rodriguez wasn’t picked in the first round, but was clearly a first-round talent. Rodriguez finished fifth in Heisman voting, led his conference in solo tackles in 2024 and 2025 and led the FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025.

He also accrued four interceptions that same season. Teams that fail to take account of him will be in for a painful lesson this season.

#4 – Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders

While Jacob Rodriguez will get plenty of attention in the end, Sonny Styles has already received an overwhelming amount of attention from fans and the media. As such, expect the pattern to continue into August and September.

Sonny Styles will be the de facto Bobby Wagner successor for Dan Quinn. As such, expect the bar to be set around 100 tackles, a bar that Styles has already crossed in 16 games of action in 2024.

#3 – Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants

Arvell Reese might not receive a proportionate amount of attention relative to his pure talent, which is substantial. However, after finding his way onto a pass rush with Abdul Carter, who was seemingly 1% away from taking the NFL by storm in 2025, Reese could get non-stop favorable matchups.

Put simply, Reese could be enough to put the unit over the top, resulting in huge numbers for Carter and himself. Of course, he will need to learn the basics quickly in August, but once he does, offensive lines won’t know who to double-team.

#2 – David Bailey, Edge, New York Jets

David Bailey’s initials were what his pressure felt like in 2025. By accruing a conference-leading 19.5 tackles for loss and an FBS-leading 14.5 sacks (Sports Reference), Bailey forced quarterbacks to play like there was an additional defensive back looming in the backfield.

Happy feet, skittishness, and fear defined the symptoms plaguing quarterbacks in 2025, and Bailey was the cause. Expect a similar schematic focus on stopping him in the NFL.

#1 – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

Fernando Mendoza won it all in 2025 and was brought to Las Vegas to do it all again in 2026, 2027 and beyond. Mendoza enters a tough-as-nails division loaded with quarterbacks and star coaches.

As such, it won’t be easy for him, but his attempt to turn the AFC West on its head once again will be the subject of headlines, whether they are good or bad. Either way, expect plenty of attention on the No. 1 overall pick who led the FBS in touchdown passes and won the Heisman.