As the New Orleans Saints prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft, we take a look at the top 10 ranked players at various positions. The 2026 NFL Draft big board rankings are reflective of Bucky Brooks' top five prospects by position, ESPN's NFL Draft "Best Available" list, plus other consensus draft boards. To keep track of the latest NFL mock drafts for the Saints, check out Mock Draft Monday. Part of the Saints Path to the Draft presented by Cox.
Jeremiyah Love earned unanimous and consensus All-American honors in 2025 and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award after setting a Notre Dame single-season record with 21 total touchdowns and tying the school record with 18 rushing touchdowns. In 2025, he ranked among the FBS leaders in yards per carry (6.9), rushing yards (1,372), scrimmage yards (1,652) and total touchdowns (21). Love led Notre Dame in rushing in 2024 (1,125 yards, 17 rushing touchdowns) and 2025, finishing his career with 2,882 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, a 6.7 yards-per-carry average, 63 receptions and six receiving touchdowns.
Love is Bucky Brooks’ top-ranked running back and the #2 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 2.0 (RB1). Love could join Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis (10th in 1993) as the only Notre Dame RB in the common draft era to be selected in the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft. Love (4.36) had the 4th-best 40-yard dash by a Combine RB at least 6’ tall since 2003.
Jeremiyah Love's Combine Results
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 212 | Arms: 32 | Hands: 9 1/8
40-yard Dash: 4.36 | 10-yard Split: 1.55 | Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: DNP
Lance Zierlein on Jeremiyah Love:
"Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value. Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them. Urgency works in his favor, but he’ll occasionally miss open lanes when he gets too deep too quickly. Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps him pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait."
Emmett Johnson earned second-team Associated Press All-American honors in 2025 and was named Big Ten Running Back of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten. He led the FBS with 151.8 all-purpose yards per game and ranked fourth nationally with 1,451 rushing yards while scoring 12 rushing touchdowns and totaling 297 scrimmage touches, the fourth-most in the FBS. Johnson led Nebraska with 908 all-purpose yards in 2024 and finished his career with 2,460 rushing yards, 702 receiving yards, 3,162 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns over 41 games.
Emmett Johnson's Combine Results
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 202 | Arms: 30 1/4 | Hands: 9 3/4
40-yard Dash: 4.56 | 10-yard Split: 1.59 | Vertical Jump: 35.5
Broad Jump: 10-0 | 3-Cone: 7.32 | 20-yard Shuttle: 4.29 | Bench Press: 16
Emmett Johnson is Bucky Brooks’ 2nd-ranked RB on his By Position 1.0. Johnson (4.56) ran the slowest 40-yard dash among the 10 RBs that participated in 2026, however, 6 RBs had slower times at both the 2025 and 2024 Combines. Johnson measured similarly and ran an identical 40-yard dash to 2017 OROY Alvin Kamara.
Lance Zierlein on Emmett Johnson:
"Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts."
Jadarian Price earned third-team Associated Press All-American honors in 2025 and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, Jet Award and Pony Express Award. He tied for the FBS lead with two kickoff return touchdowns and led the nation with a 37.5-yard kickoff return average while adding 674 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in 12 games. In 2024, he totaled 746 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over 16 games. Price finished his career at Notre Dame with 1,692 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, a 6.0 yards-per-carry average, three kickoff return touchdowns and 794 kickoff return yards over 41 games.
Jadarian Price's Combine Results
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 203 | Arms: 30 7/8 | Hands: 9 5/8
40-yard Dash: 4.49 | 10-yard Split: 1.61 | Vertical Jump: 35
Broad Jump: 10-4 | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: 21
Price is the #43 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 2.0 (RB2) and the 3rd-ranked RB on Bucky Brooks' By Position 1.0.
Lance Zierlein on Jadarian Price:
"Tempo-driven back with smooth hips, elite vision and a nose for the end zone. Price is a more natural runner than his heralded teammate, Jeremiyah Love, but Price lacks Love’s pure explosiveness and pass-catching talent. Price is highly instinctive, stacking moves to contour to run-lane spacing and avoid tacklers for as long as possible. He moves like a zone back but has average downhill burst for a one-cut runner. Price is an average run finisher, but he has the leg strength and contact balance to carry on when hits aren’t flush. His feel for finding the right path is rare and helps bolster his touchdown totals. Limited third-down value could cap his draft slotting, but his talent as a runner should make him an excellent complementary back."
Jonah Coleman earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025 after leading Washington in rushing both seasons, totaling 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 and 758 yards with 15 touchdowns in 2025. He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award and the William V. Campbell Trophy in 2025. Prior to transferring, Coleman earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition at Arizona in 2023 after rushing for 871 yards and five touchdowns. He finished his collegiate career with 3,054 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns, 87 receptions for 838 yards and three receiving touchdowns over 50 games.
Jonah Coleman's Combine Results
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 220 | Arms: 28 7/8 | Hands: 9 1/8
40-yard Dash: DNP | 10-yard Split: DNP | Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: 22
Jonah Coleman is Bucky Brooks’ 4th-ranked RB on his By Position 1.0.
Lance Zierlein on Jonah Coleman:
"Team captain and productive three-down back. Coleman has a clear understanding of run-blocking schemes and protection duties. He knows where blocks are likely to develop and finds those spots. However, he lacks speed as an outside runner and has average burst between the tackles. He’s more of a tackle-slipper than a tackle-breaker, so it’s imperative that Coleman plays at a brisker pace to stay ahead of closing defenders. He projects as a Day 3 option who can compete for a job as a three-down backup."
Nicholas Singleton earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022 and 2023 and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2024 and 2025. He set Penn State career records with 5,586 all-purpose yards and 55 total touchdowns, including a school-record 45 rushing touchdowns, tied for the second-most in the FBS from 2022-25. Singleton rushed for 1,061 yards and a freshman school-record 12 touchdowns in 2022 while averaging 6.8 yards per carry, ranked seventh nationally. In 2024, he totaled 1,805 all-purpose yards, seventh in the FBS and first in the Big Ten, and became part of the first Penn State running back duo (with Kaytron Allen) to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He finished his career with 3,461 rushing yards, 102 receptions for 987 yards and 6,586 kickoff return yards over 53 games.
Singleton not participate at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine due to a foot injury.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 219 | Arms: 31 | Hands: 9 3/8
Nicholas Singleton broke Saquon Barkley’s Penn State record for career rush & all-purpose TDs (Barkley had 44 career rush TDs at Penn State). Singleton is Bucky Brooks’ 5th-ranked RB on his By Position 1.0.
Lance Zierlein on Nicholas Singleton:
"Well-built back with explosive speed whose 2025 season was flat after a strong 2024. Singleton is a linear runner who plays like his brake lines have been cut, affecting his ability to gather and elude tacklers or cut on demand. He has the speed to make defenses pay but displayed a lack of vision and instincts to put himself in position to do so, relative to his teammate Kaytron Allen. His size and speed will get attention, but his ability to return kicks and play on third downs could ultimately earn him a roster spot as a RB3."
Mike Washington Jr. earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2025 after leading Arkansas with 1,070 rushing yards and tying for the team lead with eight rushing touchdowns while ranking ninth in the FBS with 6.4 yards per carry. At New Mexico State in 2024, he led the team with eight rushing touchdowns. During his time at Buffalo, Washington led the team with 625 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. He concluded his collegiate career with 2,914 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns, 73 receptions for 470 yards and three receiving touchdowns over 51 games.
Mike Washington Jr.'s Combine Results
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 223 | Arms: 33 5/8 | Hands: 9 1/4
40-yard Dash: 4.33 | 10-yard Split: 1.51 | Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 10-8 | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: DNP
Mike Washington Jr. (4.33) ran the fastest 40-yard dash among the 2026 RB group at the Combine; tied for the fastest 40-yard dash by a 6’ or taller RB at the Combine since 2003 and tied for the 2nd-fastest 40-yard dash by a RB weighing 220+ lbs at the Combine since 2003.
Lance Zierlein on Mike Washington Jr.:
"Washington made stops at three different colleges and showed improvement with each move to a new school. He’s fast with loose hips and adequate agility. He’s not very sudden in tight quarters and is a step slow to see it and go when the hole opens. He can glide and swerve around interior traffic once he’s on the move, though. He has breakaway speed in the open field and is capable as an inside/outside runner. Running to his size with a greater degree of aggressiveness will be the key as he makes the jump. Washington has the traits and talent to become a solid rotational back."
Kaytron Allen earned third-team Associated Press All-American honors and first-team All-Big Ten recognition in 2025 after leading Penn State with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, both second in the Big Ten, while scoring at least one rushing touchdown in 11 of 12 games. He holds the school career record with 4,180 rushing yards. Allen was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and Co-Team Offensive MVP in 2023 after leading the team with 902 rushing yards, and he led the Nittany Lions with 1,108 rushing yards in 2024 as part of the program’s first 1,000-yard rushing duo. He finished his career with 4,180 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns and 70 receptions for 490 yards over 54 games.
Kaytron Allen's Combine Results
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 216 | Arms: 29 1/2 | Hands: 9 1/2
40-yard Dash: DNP | 10-yard Split: DNP | Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: DNP
Lance Zierlein on Kaytron Allen:
"Allen is productive with good size and vision but below-average explosiveness. He’s a fluid runner with ideal patience and a natural feel for when to cut off his blocks. He runs low to the ground with the strength to run through arm tackles and fall forward after contact. A feel for lane development allows him to fit any run scheme, but his lack of burst is likely to constrict the field and limit his ability to find explosive runs. Allen appears to lack third-down and special-teams value, but he could earn a spot as a solid backup."
Kaelon Black appeared in 55 career games with 16 starts at James Madison and Indiana, totaling 3,123 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns (17 rushing, six receiving). In 2025, he played in all 15 games for Indiana and recorded his first 100-yard rushing game as a Hoosier with 110 yards at Maryland while posting his first career multi-touchdown rushing performance at Purdue. He appeared in all 13 games in 2024 after transferring to Indiana. At James Madison, Black logged three 100-yard rushing games and earned a spot on the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll in 2022.
Kaelon Black was not invited to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 208
Demond Claiborne earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025 after leading Wake Forest with 907 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in 12 starts. He was a third-team All-ACC selection at running back and all-purpose in 2024, rushing for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Miami. Claiborne led the Demon Deacons in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in each of the last three seasons (2023-25). He finished his career with 2,599 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns, 55 receptions for 424 yards and two kickoff return touchdowns over 44 games.
Demond Claiborne's Combine Results
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 188 | Arms: 30 1/8 | Hands: 9
40-yard Dash: 4.37 | 10-yard Split: 1.59 | Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: 10-2 | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: DNP
Demond Claiborne ran a 4.37 40-yard dash, 3rd-fastest among 2026 running backs at the Combine. According to Next Gen Stats, Claiborne reached 23.71 mph during his 40-yard dash, the fastest top speed by a RB during a 40 since De’Von Achane in 2023 (24.12 mph).
Lance Zierlein on Demond Claiborne:
"Claiborne is a twitched-up, elusive slasher who can turn minimal gains into explosive runs. He's creative in tight quarters, using lateral agility and sudden feet to escape trouble. While willing to run between the tackles, his lack of size and strength limits his effectiveness in that area. His unpredictable nature -- sometimes pulling runs off-track when profit is available -- might frustrate coaches, but it also generates unexpected chunk plays. He projects as a middle-round, change-of-pace option and complementary back who can inject much-needed juice into a dull, predictable running game."
Roman Hemby earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors three times (Maryland: 2022, 2023; Indiana: 2025) and led his team in rushing yards in four seasons (Maryland: 2022-24; Indiana: 2025). In 2025, he started all 16 games for the national champions and rushed for a career-high 1,120 yards as one of two 1,000-yard rushers on the roster. At Maryland, he rushed for 989 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022, 680 yards in 2023 and 607 yards with six touchdowns in 2024. Hemby finished his career with 3,467 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns and 129 receptions for 1,086 yards over 57 games.
Roman Hemby's Combine Results
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 207 | Arms: 31 | Hands: 9 1/2
40-yard Dash: DNP | 10-yard Split: DNP | Vertical Jump: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP | 3-Cone: DNP | 20-yard Shuttle: DNP | Bench Press: DNP
Hemby did not participate in any testing at the combine. He will test at Indiana’s Pro Day on April 1.
Lance Zierlein on Roman Hemby:
"Hard-charging runner with average vision/burst but good decisiveness and the ability to finish through contact. Hemby is wired for hard running inside, but he has the one-cut quickness to succeed on zone carries. He has stop-start quickness to reset the run against penetration but rarely looks to elude tacklers once he hits it downfield. Punishing collisions are inevitable for defensive backs looking to tackle him in the open field. He’s willing in protection but must clean up mental errors. Hemby is a viable pass-catcher, which should add to his value as a likely Day 3 pick and potential three-down backup who can handle short-yardage carries right away."
