Three takeaways from Kiper's latest NFL Draft Big Board rankings

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Three takeaways from Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest NFL Draft Big Board rankings

By Daniel Morrison | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 1:24 PM ET

The NFL Draft is just a few weeks away. By now, the picture of what to expect is coming into view, and experts like ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. are sharing as much insight as is possible about this year's class of incoming rookies.

That has recently included Kiper releasing his latest Top 25 Big Board ahead of the NFL Draft. That includes a ranking of the best players, regardless of position, in this upcoming class. It is, of course, different from a mock draft in the fact that it's not predicting the order of picks, but arguing for the best available players.

There's plenty to take away from that latest Big Board. Here are three keys that are worth taking a look at.

1. Mel Kiper Jr. has two quarterbacks in his top 25

The quarterback position is one of the most hotly debated going into every NFL Draft. This year, it's unique, though, given that there is a clear No. 1 in Fernando Mendoza . He's expected to go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Kiper has him first on his Big Board.

The bigger question is about the second quarterback coming off the board. At this point, the expectation is that it's going to be Ty Simpson . The question is when. So, Kiper having him ranked No. 20 and as the second quarterback on his Big Board will go a long way in making him a first-round pick.

2. Ohio State is dominating the Big Board

Success in the NFL Draft has always helped in recruiting. That creates a kind of cyclical effect where teams that produce a lot of NFL talent recruit better, and then have more naturally talented players to prepare for the NFL. Among the programs known for that over the years has been Ohio State.

The Buckeyes are dominating Kiper's Big Board. That includes five players who are currently ranked in his top 25 overall. Linebacker Arvell Reese is the top-ranked among those at third overall. Linebacker Sonny Styles is right behind him at fourth. In total, four of those five Buckeyes are in Kiper's top 10.

3. This is an offensive line-heavy draft

Quarterbacks might be a little underrepresented in this year's NFL Draft, but the big guys who block for them are going to be littered all around the first round. That includes five offensive linemen who Kiper has ranked in his top 25. That includes four tackles and a guard.

The top-ranked among all of those is Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa. With massive amounts of experience, he has 2,700 career snaps. Right behind him are Spencer Fano from Utah, Monroe Freeling from Georgia and Kadyn Proctor from Alabama. The guard being represented is Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State. So, while quarterbacks might not fly off the board, it's a good year to build around them.

Daniel Morrison

Dan Morrison is a writer originally from Massachusetts, now residing in Florida. He spent four years at On3, working on the National News Desk there. Prior to that, he’s also contributed at Underdog Dynasty.

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