Some initial draft grades from Lance at NFL.com

[morasp]

Arvell Reese Edge OSU 7.12

Mansoor Delane CB LSU 6.8

Carnell Tate WR OSU 6.75
David Bailey Edge Texas Tech 6.75
Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana 6.73
Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame 6.71
Makai Lemon WR USC 6.7
Rueben Bain Jr. Edge Miami 6.7

Caleb Downs S OSU 6.49
Spencer Fano OT Utah 6.44
Francis Mauigoa OT Miami 6.48
Keldric Faulk Edge Auburn 6.49
Jordan Tyson WR ASU 6.46
Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama 6.45
Avieon Terrell CB Clemson 6.43
Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon 6.42
Sonny Styles LB OSU 6.42
Colton Hood CB Tennessee 6.42
Akheem Mesidor Edge Miama 6.41
Denzel Boston WR Washington 6.4
KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M 6.4
Olaivavega Ioane G Penn St 6.4

Peter Woods DT Clemson 6.39
Cashius Howell Edge Texas A&M 6.38
Jermod MCCoy CB Tennessee 6.37
Caleb Lomu OT Utah 6.36
Ty Simpson QB Alabama 6.35
Caleb Banks DT Florida 6.34
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo 6.33
Dillon Thieneman S Oregon 6.32
Monroe Freeling OT Georgia 6.31
Jake Golday LB Cincinnati 6.3

CJ Allen LB Georgia 6.29
Brandon Cisse CB South Carolina 6.27
Blake Miller OT Clemson 6.26
R Mason Thomas Edge Oklahoma 6.25
T.J. Parker Edge Clemson 6.24
Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech 6.24

 

[jazzcat22]

IF Styles is there at 12, do they select him, or still do a slight trade down, pick up a 2nd round pick. And still get a decent player.

 

[morasp]

IF Styles is there at 12, do they select him, or still do a slight trade down, pick up a 2nd round pick. And still get a decent player.

That would be a nice problem to have.

 

[morasp]

Caleb Downs S OSU Comp Jalen Pitre

Overview​

Productive, high-effort safety with three years of starting experience in big games at Alabama and Ohio State. Downs is an alpha who brings immense juice on each snap. He’s at his best when deployed near the line as a box safety or big nickel back. He’ll gamble a little bit as a run defender, but he makes more than enough disruptive plays near the line of scrimmage to make up for it. He’s fluent in man or zone over the first two levels and is rarely fooled by play-action or misdirection. While he’s quick to close and strike underneath, there are hints of caution that prevent him from making more plays on the football. Downs isn’t the biggest, fastest or most versatile player, but he consistently puts his stamp on games.

Strengths​

• Agent of disruption near the line of scrimmage.
• Does not hesitate to step up in run support.
• Mirrors slashing runners with twitchy change of direction and body control.
• Becomes tackle magnet once the run spills outside the tackle box.
• Disciplined in processing stacks, bunches and route combinations.
• Denies receiver leverage from off-man coverage.
• Explodes laterally to mirror breaks and stays sticky through transitions.
• Plays with outstanding awareness and is hard to con with misdirection.
• Good instincts and burst to close on crossers and digs.
• Quick finisher from short zone and consistently limits YAC against the quick game.

Weaknesses​

• Races off the edge and dives wildly into the backfield.
• Downhill appetite can get him trapped in the trash.
• Inconsistent wrapping and running through tackles.
• Focuses too much on the receiver instead of locating the ball.
• Lacks length to defend jump balls downfield.
• Has some trouble with the size of “Y” tight ends in man coverage.

Sources Tell Us​

“He plays a lot like Budda (Baker) when he was coming out of Washington. Similar mentality and playing style.” – NFC scouting director

 

[morasp]

Sonny Styles LB OSU Comp Fred Warner

Overview​

Styles began his Ohio State career as a safety, but he settled in at linebacker in 2024. He’s improved in diagnosing play development. The former Buckeye diffuses block attempts with crisp hand strikes and leverages run fits with force/anchor strength. There are times when he slips back into a containment-based approach, but he has plenty of short-area quickness and pursuit speed to get where he needs to go. He can make an impact from multiple spots on the field and is a plus man-cover talent. Styles is an emerging player with the traits and versatility to garner longer looks by NFL evaluators. He could see his stock soar leading up to draft day.

Strengths​

• Lines up the defensive front and makes adjustments if needed.
• Disciplined in sifting through pre- and post-snap eye candy.
• Pops and separates from climbing blockers with a crisp punch.
• Constricts run fits by using size, force and technique.
• Scrapes quickly to the action without losing leverage.
• Impressive talent for slipping through traffic and into tackles.
• Versatility/athleticism can be weaponized for coverage disguise.
• Gains depth and widens to the flats with above-average quickness.
• Impeccable tackle finisher.

Weaknesses​

• Recognition of blocking schemes needs more work.
• Can afford to crank up the urgency at times.
• Slow to reaccelerate on stop/start movements in pursuit.
• Tight hips prevent fluid change of direction from downhill flow.
• Inconsistent shading zone drops to quarterback’s eyes.
• Average instincts and physicality as a blitzer.

Sources Tell Us​

“It’s hard to look at him and think that he was ever a safety with that frame. And he’s always been wired like a linebacker.” – AFC regional scout

 

[Stash]

IF Styles is there at 12, do they select him, or still do a slight trade down, pick up a 2nd round pick. And still get a decent player.

I just did a mock draft where I managed to get Delane at 12 and Sonny Styles at 20!

Needless to say, I was ecstatic!

 

[morasp]

Mansoor Delane CB LSU Comp Quinyon Mitchell​

​

Overview​

Delane is one of the top cornerbacks in a CB-rich draft. He excels in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides. Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football. While he locks in on the route at times, he’s rarely oblivious to the quarterback’s actions, allowing him to slam catch windows shut and play the football. He played through a core muscle injury for much of the 2025 season and still performed at an elite level. Delane’s emergence over the past two years might be indicative of what’s to come, as he’s shown lockdown potential.

Strengths​

• Loose-limbed, highly athletic and efficient in his movements.
• Throws jabs and slides feet to cut off release from press.
• Gets hands on the route quickly and flows tightly to the route.
• Anticipates breaks from off coverage and pounces to erase separation space.
• Tracks quarterback without losing route awareness in zone coverage.
• Makes sharp overlaps to play the throw from deep zone drops.
• Smothers the catch point like a dominant shot blocker.
• Full-contact thumper ready to jar the ball loose.
• Engulfs and wraps up pass-catchers to quickly end the play.

Weaknesses​

• Plays tall in space, limiting transition quickness at times.
• Can be baited by clever route combinations in deep zone.
• Aggressive hand usage to redirect, which will bring flags.
• Needs to become more consistent in locating deep throws.
• Can be tardy breaking down as an open-field tackler.

Sources Tell Us​

“His coverage is very mature. He’ll be one of the top 10 to 12 corners pretty quick.” – AFC scouting director

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Mansoor Delane CB LSU Comp Quinyon Mitchell​

​

Overview​

Delane is one of the top cornerbacks in a CB-rich draft. He excels in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides. Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football. While he locks in on the route at times, he’s rarely oblivious to the quarterback’s actions, allowing him to slam catch windows shut and play the football. He played through a core muscle injury for much of the 2025 season and still performed at an elite level. Delane’s emergence over the past two years might be indicative of what’s to come, as he’s shown lockdown potential.

Strengths​

• Loose-limbed, highly athletic and efficient in his movements.
• Throws jabs and slides feet to cut off release from press.
• Gets hands on the route quickly and flows tightly to the route.
• Anticipates breaks from off coverage and pounces to erase separation space.
• Tracks quarterback without losing route awareness in zone coverage.
• Makes sharp overlaps to play the throw from deep zone drops.
• Smothers the catch point like a dominant shot blocker.
• Full-contact thumper ready to jar the ball loose.
• Engulfs and wraps up pass-catchers to quickly end the play.

Weaknesses​

• Plays tall in space, limiting transition quickness at times.
• Can be baited by clever route combinations in deep zone.
• Aggressive hand usage to redirect, which will bring flags.
• Needs to become more consistent in locating deep throws.
• Can be tardy breaking down as an open-field tackler.

Sources Tell Us​

“His coverage is very mature. He’ll be one of the top 10 to 12 corners pretty quick.” – AFC scouting director

I have a feeling that if the Cowboys take Delane they are going have him play the slot and put Bland on the outside permanently. Giving some of the comments that’s been made this offseason, they really miss Jourdan Lewis and looking for somebody to man that role. I think Delane’s skill set is tailor-made for the slot.

 

[jazzcat22]

I just did a mock draft where I managed to get Delane at 12 and Sonny Styles at 20!

Needless to say, I was ecstatic!

That would be a great draft.

 

[reddyuta]

Clemson guys even after an utter flop show in the season are being artificially rated high,thankfully NFL team watch games

 

[reddyuta]

thelast time a safety was drafted in the top 10 was Jamal Adam's in 2017 and Adams was amazing in College, just saying Downs has a good chance of dropping to 12.

 

[gtb1943]

I think Reese is being somewhat over rated at this point.

 

[DoctorChicken]

IF Styles is there at 12, do they select him, or still do a slight trade down, pick up a 2nd round pick. And still get a decent player.

I would hope they just roll with Styles.

We really, really need an alpha LB. Is trading down to get an extra 2nd or whatever worth passing on a potential future Top-5 NFL LB?

 

[beware_d-ware]

That Reese grade is shocking to me. At that level, we are talking about a nearly guaranteed stud. An Aidan Hutchinson, Ja'Marr Chase, Penei Sewell type prospect.

I don't see Reese as a guaranteed stud. He's got the athletic tools of one, but right now, he's kind of a B+ linebacker and B+ edge rusher who happens to have A+ physical ability. And it's not really clear which position he fits better at. We shouldn't have any questions about a blue chip prospect's position fit in the NFL - unless maybe it's Travis Hunter and we're asking "is he CB1 and WR1".

 

[gtb1943]

That Reese grade is shocking to me. At that level, we are talking about a nearly guaranteed stud. An Aidan Hutchinson, Ja'Marr Chase, Penei Sewell type prospect.

I don't see Reese as a guaranteed stud. He's got the athletic tools of one, but right now, he's kind of a B+ linebacker and B+ edge rusher who happens to have A+ physical ability. And it's not really clear which position he fits better at. We shouldn't have any questions about a blue chip prospect's position fit in the NFL - unless maybe it's Travis Hunter and we're asking "is he CB1 and WR1".

he does seem to be versatile which might account for his overall value.
But I always want a master of one rather then a good one at several