Jeff Legwold
Multiple Authors
During a dialogue final season about placing a scouting employees collectively, Washington Commanders normal supervisor Adam Peters revealed the timetable on how an NFL draft board is constructed.
“You’re building it, essentially, for a year every year,” Peters stated. “From the spring to the season to the combine, pro days, visits and back around to the next spring, when the scouts are looking at the calendar to see the first places they’re going to go. The real movement for players and grades in that time probably comes long before people might think it does.”
That makes the idea of a March “riser” rarer than a no-doubt franchise quarterback. The precise rise of a prospect up draft boards is a multi-month course of that consists of on-field manufacturing and predraft work.
With the 2026 NFL draft lower than two weeks away, we recognized seven gamers who’ve gained essentially the most floor for the reason that starting of the 2025 season. Last year’s list included two first-round offensive linemen in Armand Membou (No. 7, New York Jets) and Grey Zabel (No. 18, Seattle Seahawks). Here are the highest risers in 2026, beginning with among the best offensive sort out prospects on this class.
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 14
How far he climbed boards: Freeling opened his first season as a full-time starter labeled as a potential Day 2 decide by many scouts merely due to his measurables (6-foot-7, 315 kilos). But he is now a strong first-rounder after making 13 begins final season, holding up effectively in opposition to SEC move rushers and presenting some high-quality work within the predraft windup.
Turning level: Scouts who monitor the SEC stated they may see Freeling’s pass-protection approach enhance in actual time. His hand placement acquired higher all through the season in opposition to among the most explosive defensive gamers on this draft board. Games in opposition to Auburn and Texas final season are often talked about by evaluators.
Why he rose: Some of it’s physics. He has uncommon fluidity in his decrease physique for a participant his dimension and will be capable to add extra power since he will not flip 22 till July. He ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.93 seconds, has 34¾-inch arms and strikes like a decent finish in area. Freeling additionally confirmed high quality capacity to react to inside counters from rushers, get well, get his ft proper and win the play.
What they’re saying: “Honestly, yoga just really helps with injury prevention. It’s huge on getting comfortable, just being flexible, and also the mindfulness part. Being mindful of your body and how you feel is really important on how you stay twitchy and play fast on the football field.” — Freeling on how his coaching routine has helped him enhance
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 20
How far he climbed boards: There are a number of gamers in each draft with an intensive sufficient physique of labor to make league evaluators comfy. Then there are the gamers who shake issues up a bit on the Senior Bowl or the mix, forcing evaluators to take one other look. Thieneman matches into the latter bucket and has doubtless moved from a mid-to-late Day 2 decide into the primary spherical as a part of a sturdy security class.
Turning level: Thieneman has an intensive résumé as a three-year starter (two at Purdue, one at Oregon), with 302 tackles and eight interceptions in his profession. That’s a big pattern dimension. But then he uncorked a 4.37-second 40-yard sprint and a 41-inch vertical on the mix at 6-foot, 201 kilos. That makes people circle again.
Why he rose: Along with the statistical manufacturing, Thieneman shows glorious instincts. The greatest instance of that got here within the win over Penn State final season, as his interception of Drew Allar in double additional time sealed a Ducks win. Thieneman matches the NFL sport along with his body, attain and plus-level athleticism.
What they’re saying: “I just felt like his eyes are in the right spot and he doesn’t lose that eye contact. Guy understands what routes can be run out of what the offense is in and what he can eliminate. And he can move.” — AFC space scout
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 41
How far he climbed boards: Iheanachor has doubtless moved himself into early Day 2 consideration as a projection participant who has improved faster than anticipated. He moved to the United States from Nigeria as a youngster and didn’t play soccer till he enrolled at East Los Angeles College earlier than transferring to Arizona State.
Turning level: The 6-foot-6 321-pounder began 5 video games in his first season at Arizona State in 2023, but it surely’s his full résumé of 26 school begins that exhibits how far he has come. Scouts took word of Iheanachor’s one-on-one work in opposition to Texas Tech’s edge gamers last season, and he was persistently impactful in Senior Bowl exercises.
Why he rose: For some, the draft is about potential over manufacturing, and Iheanachor remains to be an ascending participant who must clean out some tough edges. But along with his dimension, mobility (4.95-second 40) and 83¼-inch wingspan, he has the qualities offensive line coaches need in a sort out.
What they’re saying: “I would mainly say [playing] defense, for real. Like, the slide in, boxing out, all that stuff. I feel like, as an offensive lineman, you need good feet … I mean, that’s one of the biggest standards.” — Iheanachor on how basketball helped transition to soccer in junior school
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 71
How far he climbed boards: Hurst has labored himself from a late Day 3 participant to at least one who might hear his title on Day 2. A 3-year starter — one at Valdosta State and two at Georgia State — after being a zero-star recruit as a prep participant, he has been a daily on the top-30 go to circuit in current weeks.
Turning level: It has been a gentle rise, as his play caught as much as his 6-foot-4, 206-pound measurables. Hurst had 1,004 receiving yards in a season that Georgia State had 3,049 passing yards; in different phrases, he accounted for about one third of the Panthers’ passing offense.
Why he rose: With a 4.42-second 40 on the mix at his dimension, Hurst presents as an intriguing choice for offenses. What groups should determine is how he’ll fare in opposition to skilled defensive backs, whereas Hurst should discover ways to implement his dimension to win the ball in tight locations.
What they’re saying: “You’d like to see more against the best corners, but I like the arc. He’s got a lot of good football waiting for him.” — NFC normal supervisor
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 146
How far he climbed boards: It varies amongst evaluators, as a result of there are some tough edges to Caldwell’s sport and his route tree wants be extra sturdy. But he has doubtless proven sufficient in a single season at Cincinnati (after three seasons at FCS Lindenwood) along with his high-end measurables to doubtlessly transfer from late Day 3 into early Day 3 consideration.
Turning level: Folks seen Caldwell’s remaining season at Lindenwood in 2024, when he averaged 19.5 yards per reception with 11 touchdowns and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the highest FCS participant. He flashed in his season with the Bearcats — his six landing catches got here in 5 video games — and his work on the mix was exhausting to dismiss.
Why he rose: Offenses looking for matchup wins within the pink zone will at all times discover Caldwell’s dimension/pace mixture. He was the tallest receiver on the mix at 6-foot-5, and his 4.31-second 40 was the second quickest amongst receivers who ran.
What they’re saying: “I look at the board, and you don’t see many guys with that kind of length who run like that. He needs work, he needs coaching, he needs to attack the ball, but the traits are there.” — AFC director of school scouting
Scouts Inc. rating: No. 222
How far he climbed boards: There is a smattering of evaluators who stated they may see the 6-foot-7, 228-pound Gentry sneaking into the late fourth or fifth spherical. The largest questions are what his physique will seem like after going by means of an NFL power program for a yr or two and the place he would match. And which may take important crystal ball expertise.
Turning level: Gentry had 12 begins for the Trojans final season a yr after enjoying solely 5 video games attributable to multiple concussions. He returned for USC’s bowl game to shut out the 2024 season and had no points in a 75-tackle season in 2025.
Why he rose: He labored out with the defensive linemen on the mix, and his measurements are tempting for groups that really feel he can add power and extra mass to enhance his capacity to get off blocks. He has an 86¼-inch wingspan and ran a 4.6 within the 40 at his professional day (some scouts had him within the 4.5s), which presents pass-rush choices. Gentry was additionally productive, with 5 compelled fumbles final season and 9 in his school profession.
What they’re saying: “He’s a unique body type, but he’s played a lot of games (52 over five seasons), has some sacks, knocks the ball down, gets the ball out. If he’ll put in the work, there are snaps for him, [he has] the kind of wingspan to attack the ball.” — AFC defensive coordinator
Scouts Inc. rating: Unranked
How far he climbed boards: Kpeenu exploded as a senior, with 1,005 speeding yards and 20 touchdowns final season, to emerge as a possible precedence free agent. But some within the league say he has the potential to squeeze into the draft late on Day 3.
Turning level: The Bison are recognized for producing offensive linemen who give operating backs a tidy yards-before-contact cushion, however Kpeenu averaged 5.3 yards per carry over his profession. That kind of manufacturing at all times will get a glance from scouts, and evaluators like his consistency and willingness to move defend. He additionally had seven video games final season with a minimum of two speeding touchdowns.
Why he rose: While his 4.68-second 40 at North Dakota State’s professional day will trigger some to pause, Kpeenu gained 10 or extra yards on 17% of his runs this previous season. He had two 100-yard speeding video games final season by which he carried the ball fewer than 15 instances (14 carries for 116 yards in opposition to Illinois State and 10 for 107 in opposition to St. Thomas). Teams additionally preferred what they noticed and heard from him on the American Bowl.
What they’re saying: “I’d take a flyer, he’s strong, finishes runs, tough and will commit in pass protection.” — NFC operating backs coach
