Ryan Wilson's final NFL Draft Big Board vs. the consensus: Where they agree and differ

A full look at Wilson's top 100 reveals where he aligns with the consensus and where his rankings diverge

Ryan Wilson

Apr 13, 2026

3:14 pm ET

•

11 min read

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Before looking ahead, it's instructive (and maybe even entertaining) to look back at my preseason big board, published Aug. 28, 2025. Clemson DL Peter Woods was my No. 1 player, followed by Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor, Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk, and Utah OTs Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu to round out the top five.

The quarterbacks who made my preseason top 50: Texas' Arch Manning (No. 9), LSU's Garrett Nussmeier (No. 11), Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (No. 15) and Penn State's Drew Allar (No. 17). In my final top 100 Big Board below, I have exactly three quarterbacks -- and only one from that group.

A year ago, on my final Big Board for 2025, I also had just three QBs in the top 100 -- Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart. In reality, five went in the top 94: Ward, Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel. That uncertainty makes the process fun -- trying to suss out which players teams like, what they'll do on draft weekend, and then looking back in the years that follow to see who was closest to the truth.

Like the 2025 class, there isn't much depth at quarterback, but there are a lot of good players at other positions. If your favorite team needs offensive linemen, defensive backs, linebackers, tight ends or wide receivers, you're in luck because you'll find them well into Day 3.

One last thing: instead of just giving you a list of names, I wanted to see how my final board stacked up against the consensus board from NFL Mock Draft Database.

In the table below, you'll find my final Big Board ranking for each player, followed by the consensus ranking and a final column showing the difference. A positive number means I'm higher on the player; a negative number means I'm lower.

Alright, let's get to it!

FINAL RANKPLAYERCONSENSUSDIFFERENCE1

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

-1

Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

-2

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

-7

Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

-5

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Makai Lemon, WR, USC

-4

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

-4

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

-8

T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

Peter Woods

CLEM • DL • #11

2023-25: Fourth-most pressures (54) and tackles (85) by ACC DT

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In talking to people around the league, Clemson DL Peter Woods (No. 6 on my final Big Board) could end up going in the bottom of Round 1, but for me, he's a top-10 talent. Like every other member of the Clemson program, Woods had a down 2025 campaign -- especially compared to the season before. He weighed 298 pounds during the pre-draft process but played closer to 320 in 2024, which feels more reflective of the player he'll be in the NFL.

His game is built on dominating the line of scrimmage, and despite average arm length (31¼ inches) and testing numbers (29-inch vertical), he consistently wins with leverage, violent hands and power. He's also scheme-versatile, lining up just about everywhere along the defensive line, and plays with a high motor. Even without a deep pass-rush arsenal, Woods' ability to control gaps, defeat double teams and consistently reset the line of scrimmage is a big reason he's my DL1.

Jeremiyah Love

ND • RB • #4

2025: Doak Walker Award winner (nation's top RB); unanimous All-American

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Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love (No. 11) is one of the most dynamic players in this draft class. I don't think that's in dispute. But I also don't think he's one of the top two or three players in this class. That's not a slight to Love, but more an acknowledgment that while he's certainly in the same conversation as recent high first-round running backs, if you're asking me to rank him alongside Saquon Barkley (second overall, 2018), Bijan Robinson (eighth overall, 2023), Jahmyr Gibbs (12th overall, 2023) and Ashton Jeanty (sixth overall, 2025), it would look like this:

- Saquon Barkley

- Bijan Robinson

- Jahmyr Gibbs

- Ashton Jeanty

- Jeremiyah Love

All are elite talents, but I liked the four other backs slightly more than Love based on their college tape. That doesn't mean Love w