NFL Draft 2026: Running Backs, Safeties Challenge Positional Norms

PITTSBURGH — The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, and early expectations suggest the first round could put long-standing positional value models under pressure. Several of the most discussed prospects play positions that teams have often treated as less premium at the top of the board, including running back, safety, and off-ball linebacker.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is projected as the No. 1 overall pick. Beyond that, however, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs are among the players expected to challenge how teams weigh “value” versus pure talent on Day 1.

An AFC director of college scouting said the highest-graded players in this class are largely not quarterbacks or left tackles. The official described the top of the board as featuring high-value edge players alongside standout talents at other positions, a mix that could influence how teams approach early selections.

That setup points to a draft in which clubs may lean more heavily on overall grades rather than defaulting to conventional position-based priorities. If teams believe the best players available sit outside the usual premium buckets, the early rounds could reflect a willingness to deviate from traditional draft charts.

Among the edge prospects, Reese is highlighted for a rare combination of age and athletic profile. He will not turn 21 until August, and he is credited with elite versatility along with a 4.46-second 40-yard dash.

Love is drawing attention as a running back with top-end speed, posting a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He is described as showing strong running ability while also offering receiving skills, traits that can broaden how teams deploy him within an offense.

Another edge rusher, Bailey, is noted for production metrics, having led the FBS in pressure rate since 2023. Downs, meanwhile, is characterized as a safety with a high football IQ and the flexibility to line up across multiple defensive roles.

How teams reconcile these profiles with established positional frameworks remains uncertain until picks are made Thursday night and through the first round. The early portion of the draft will indicate whether front offices stick to traditional value assumptions or allow this class’s grading distribution to reshape their opening-night decisions.