o
ESPN Rankings
(Did Not Make the Top-10)
DeForest Buckner, Defensive Tackle ) #12 )) (Honorable Mention)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...coaches-scouts
Laiatu Latu, Edge Rusher ) #17 )) (Also Receiving Votes)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...coaches-scouts
Alec Pierce, Wide Redeiver ) #17 )) (Also Receiving Votes)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...coaches-scouts
Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle ) #19 )) (Also Receiving Votes)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...coaches-scouts
Daniel Jones, Quarterback ) #19 )) (Also Receiving Votes)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...coaches-scouts
(Made the Top-10)
Jonathan Taylor, Running Back ) #5
"Taylor was pumping out top-3 votes this year in appreciation of a stellar 6-year campaign despite shaky quarterback play around him. He appeared on all but one of the ballots, and nearly 30% of his votes were within the top-3.
"Taylor has 69 career rushing tTD's. Only Derrick Henry (84) has more since 2020.
"'Really special in space,'" an NFL coordinator said. "'Once he hits the 2nd and 3rd levels with some space to operate, he's uniquely talented.'"
"That showed in 2025, when Taylor's 4 rushes of 40-or-more yards trailed only Jahmyr Gibbs.
"The presence of Daniel Jones has helped Taylor, both in play-action and in the passing game. Taylor caught a career-high 46 passes last season."
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...r/90974351007/
Tyler Warren, Tight End ) #5
"Warren was considered a can't-miss prospect coming out of Penn State in 2025 ...... and it appears draft evaluators were correct.
"'He lived up to expectations,'" an NFC scout said. "'He's a true Y who can handle the point-of-attack run game assignments, but carried over his versatile, game-impacting receiving ability that showed up during his Penn State days.'"
"Warren had 817 receiving yards ...... 125 of which came after first contact ...... in Year 1, ranking 3rd among all rookies. He accounted for 42 first downs and one dropped pass on 111 targets.
"'He can kick your ass in the run-game on one play, and win as a receiver on the next,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said."
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...r/90974351007/
Sauce Gardner, Cornerback ) #9
"Once again, Gardner is the most polarizing cornerback on the list. He's a star player who is paid like one and garnered two 1st-round picks in a mid-season trade from the New York Jets to the Colts. He has long been a Pro Football Focus favorite. He has rare length for the position, and he breaks up passes at a high rate.
"But his turnover production is poor ...... he has only 3 INT's in 4 NFL seasons ...... and several evaluators have pointed out that he misses tackles and holds too much.
"'Sauce lost the sauce,'" an NFL offensive coach said. "'Now, he got traded for a reason ...... he's a long strider, and has the confidence to overshadow his weaknesses. He can press and play Cover 2. But he's not going to tackle all of the time, he's not going to crack-replace, and when playing zone, sometimes he's not playing it correctly. It's just hard for him to hold up over the course of the game.'"
"Some coaches have asserted that they believe that a full season with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, a defensive backs coach by trade, will help his consistency.
"To be sure, Gardner's 9 pass-breakups on 293 coverage snaps (3.1%) last season led the league, based on percentage. And his 39 passes defended since entering the league in 2022 tie with Denzel Ward for 2nd most by any player over that span, trailing only Alontae Taylor (40.)"
"'Not many CB's move like him,'" an NFL personnel evaluator said. "'He moves like a much smaller man. But he's not making plays at the same rate that he was when he played for the Jets.'"
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...r/90974351007/
o