Best of the Best 2026
Just the sharpest minds, the cleanest boards, and the most consistent mock draft performance.
These NFL analysts/sites relentlessly outpace the field on accuracy and insight. Trusted by longtime fans, they surface the truth often months before the mainstream catches up.
Lou Pickney
MockDraftNFL.com • DKDB
Signature: Consistently high marks in mock draft accuracy, top independent analyst.
Edge: Spots trends early (e.g. NIL QB impact), challenges consensus in thought-provoking ways.
Walter Cherepinsky • Charlie Campbell
WalterFootball
Signature: Unflinchingly honest opinions, well-sourced, at times provocative.
Edge: Campbell is legit and every NFL team reads his stuff.
Luke Easterling
Athlon Sports
Signature: High-volume, consistent mocks with clean positional notes.
Edge: Tracks risers and fallers with reliable cadence.
Brent Sobleski
Bleacher Report
Signature: Trench-first evaluations, OL/DL clarity and scheme fit detail.
Edge: Breaks down leverage, hand usage, and anchor like a coach’s clinic.
Sam Teets
Sports Talk with Sam Teets
Signature: In-depth player reviews and analysis on his Substack.
Edge: Translates deep knowledge into accurate projections.
Ian Cummings • James Fragoza • Cam Mellor
Pro Football Network (PFSN)
Signature: Accuracy-driven boards, granular positional scouting.
Edge: Synthesis of tape + data to catch emergence cycles early.
Jaime Eisner • Justin Melo • Keith Sanchez
The Draft Network
Signature: Independent voices with strong scouting depth.
Edge: Role-based grading that translates cleanly to team fits.
Trevor Sikkema
Pro Football Focus (PFF)
Signature: Analytics-first evaluations that expose hidden production and risk.
Edge: Predictive metrics to validate tape and flag outliers.
Peter King
Peter King Substack
Signature: Outsider insight with some helpful lists.
Edge: Opinionated and honest.
Matt Hoover
Tankathon
Signature: Real-time draft order update.
Edge: Strong big board information and odds/projections.
For More Information
2026NFLDraft.com
Valuable information for anyone planning to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in person in Pittsburgh.