Mel Kiper Jr.
CloseMel Kiper Jr.
Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has served as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN since 1984. He is a regular contributor on “SportsCenter,” ESPN studio shows and ESPN Radio. He is the co-host of the First Draft podcast, and he writes regularly for ESPN+.
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Matt Miller
CloseMatt Miller
NFL draft analyst Matt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.
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Jordan Reid
CloseJordan Reid
NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. Jordan joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio. He played quarterback at North Carolina Central University and then went on to coach there from 2014-18.
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Field Yates
CloseField Yates
ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs.
Multiple Authors
Apr 9, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
It’s our favorite time of the year, when we have our NFL draft analysts build superteams made up solely of players from this year’s class. Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates played out a 10-round, 40-pick draft to build the ultimate fantasy teams of draft prospects. For the full draft and some spirited debate, check out the newest edition of the “First Draft” podcast.
Here’s how this worked: Kiper, Miller, Reid and Yates snake-drafted to fill out starting lineups. Each roster had specific required positions: one quarterback, one running back, two pass catchers, one offensive tackle, one interior offensive lineman, two front-seven defenders and two defensive backs. Our experts were allowed to draft positions in any order and move the more versatile prospects around a little bit. (You might see some offensive tackles kick to the interior even if that won’t happen in the NFL.)
The superteam draft also provided a unique way of looking at the class, touching on positional value, how each analyst stacks his personal board and which prospects could provide the most impact at the next level. Which team ended up with the best offense and most dominant defense? Let’s start at the top with Miller and then go pick by pick.
See all 40 picks of the draft in orderRosters: Miller | Kiper | Reid | Yates
Watch the full roster reveal on ‘First Draft’
The picks
The draft order was randomized, with Miller landing the first pick. But because it is a snake format, Yates had back-to-back selections at Nos. 4 and 5, and Miller didn’t pick again after No. 1 until No. 8. And no trades were allowed.
1. Miller: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana2. Kiper: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame3. Reid: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State4. Yates: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
5. Yates: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State6. Reid: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah7. Kiper: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon8. Miller: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
9. Miller: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State10. Kiper: Jordyn Tyson, WR, ASU11. Reid: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M12. Yates: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
13. Yates: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama14. Reid: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU15. Kiper: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon16. Miller: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
17. Miller: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee18. Kiper: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami19. Reid: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami20. Yates: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
21. Yates: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana22. Reid: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington23. Kiper: Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia24. Miller: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Editor’s Picks
1 Related
25. Miller: Blake Miller, OL, Clemson26. Kiper: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri27. Reid: Max Iheanachor, OL, Arizona State28. Yates Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
29. Yates: Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah30. Reid: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU31. Kiper: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia32. Miller: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
33. Miller: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas34. Kiper: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State35. Reid: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech36. Yates: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
37. Yates: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana38. Reid: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington39. Kiper: Carson Beck, QB, Miami40. Miller: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Miller’s team
QB: Fernando MendozaRB: Mike Washington Jr.WR/TE: Makai LemonWR/TE: Carnell TateOT: Blake MillerG/C: Kadyn ProctorDL/LB: David BaileyDL/LB: Akheem MesidorDB: Jermod McCoyDB: Avieon Terrell
Miller on his team: Earning the No. 1 overall pick meant looking at positions where the talent and depth wouldn’t last until I came back on the board at each turn. In a class with just one starting-level quarterback, I had to take Mendoza and then build a team around him. Plus, having the stand-alone best quarterback gives me an immediate strength over the other rosters.
To support Mendoza, I took my top two best pass catchers and grabbed back-to-back offensive linemen. Proctor could slide inside despite playing left tackle his entire college career. On defense, my plan was to play to the strengths of this class, though I was shocked to find Bailey and McCoy in Round 4. Overall, my team features QB1, WR1, EDGE1 and CB1 on my board with other elite talent sprinkled throughout the roster.
Kiper’s team
QB: Carson BeckRB: Jeremiyah LoveWR/TE: Kenyon SadiqWR/TE: Jordyn TysonOT: Monroe FreelingG/C: Francis MauigoaDL/LB: Zion YoungDL/LB: CJ AllenDB: Dillon ThienemanDB: Chris Johnson
Kiper on his team: I’m not sure I’ve ever felt better about my roster in all the years we’ve done these superteams drafts. You guys just let me have all the players I wanted! Playmakers=winning, and I have them up and down this lineup.
My offense will run through Love, who should have plenty of gaps to exploit behind the blocking of my top two-ranked tackles. I waited until my final pick for a QB because the class drops off so much after Mendoza, but I’m happy to land my QB3 in Beck. He’ll have familiarity behind former teammates in Mauigoa and Freeling, and the after-the-catch ability of Sadiq and contested-catch prowess of Tyson will lead to some big plays.
Then I have speed, length and ball hawking on defense. My one regret: I probably should have taken Bailey instead of Thieneman at No. 15, but the edge group is just deeper than the safety class. Doesn’t matter — I’m dominating the rest of these teams.
Get ready for the 2026 NFL draft
• Mocks: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates• Rankings: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates• Big questions, intel for all 32 teams• Team needs | Best by position | Comps• Latest buzz | Full draft order | More
Reid’s team
QB: Garrett NussmeierRB: Jonah ColemanWR/TE: KC ConcepcionWR/TE: Denzel BostonOT: Max IheanachorG/C: Spencer FanoDL/LB: Rueben Bain Jr.DL/LB: Jacob RodriguezDB: Caleb DownsDB: Mansoor Delane
Reid on his team: With the No. 3 pick, I missed out on Mendoza but wanted to build an elite defense and dependable offensive line. Defense seemed like the right side to attack first, as I believe Downs is the best prospect on that side of the ball. After that, I added Fano as an interior blocker; he’s capable of playing any spot inside despite primarily playing right tackle in college.
Then, I found two skill players who could complement each other in Concepcion and Boston. Regardless of concerns about length, Bain and Rodriguez rounded out an outstanding defense that will be tough to score on. My team strictly relied on what I see on tape — I’m not really worried about measurables.
Yates’ team
QB: Ty SimpsonRB: Jadarian PriceWR/TE: Omar Cooper Jr.WR/TE: Germie BernardOT: Caleb LomuG/C: Olaivavega IoaneDL/LB: Sonny StylesDL/LB: Arvell ReeseDB: Emmanuel McNeil-WarrenDB: D’Angelo Ponds
Yates on his team: My strategy going into this was logical — identify the weak positions in this class and the gaps within positional ranks to make sure I stayed ahead of a specific spot in my rankings. My first two picks reflected that, as Ioane is easily the best pure guard, and I have Styles graded a full round higher than any other standup linebacker.
I also felt it was essential to get a top-two quarterback and running back since there’s a decided drop-off at the third spot in each position. And finally, good luck getting past my team in the trenches, especially with Reese — Styles’ high-upside teammate — off the edge.
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