Who are the best NFL draft prospects for next year? Debating the No. 1 player at 11 positions
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Matt Miller
There will be plenty of movement in the rankings between now and the start of the 2026 NFL draft next April, but teams are already setting up their boards. That’s where this exercise comes in, as I’m dissecting the early buzz and taking a look at the best players by position.
This isn’t my knee-jerk opinion. Along with doing my early film study of the prospects in this class, I talked to scouts and personnel executives around the NFL to form this list. In those discussions, I attempt to answer a few questions: Who’s on top of another deep edge rusher class? Which talented offensive tackle gets the nod right now? And we’ll address the Arch Manning phenomenon and whether he’ll be in the class of 2026.
Let’s get started at quarterback, where a few signal-callers are in the mix to be the QB1.
Jump to position:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | IOL
DT | Edge | LB | CB | S
Quarterbacks
Before we get into it, let’s talk about Arch Manning. The Texas third-year sophomore is one of the hottest names in college football; he might be the face of the sport despite having only two starts under his belt. Manning is an electric talent and a promising pro prospect, but he has not proved himself NFL-ready just yet. Scouts agree, with every evaluator polled for this piece believing Manning will not leave Texas following the 2025 season — no matter the team’s level of success.
Now to the other quarterbacks. For the second year in a row, there is no clear-cut QB1 entering the season. This class doesn’t feature a prospect drawing the praise that Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence did, but we can’t forget about the rise of Jayden Daniels and Cameron Ward in back-to-back seasons as fifth-year starters. Scouts are keeping their eyes peeled for up-and-comers such as Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, but the current top quarterbacks both play in the South.
Klubnik finished his junior season on a tear. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound passer is smart and can carve up defenses when he gets into a rhythm — much as he did against Texas in the College Football Playoff, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns in a loss. Klubnik finished the season with 36 touchdown passes and six interceptions, a massive improvement from his 19-9 ratio in 2023.
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Could LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina make a splash this season?
Kirk Herbstreit joins “The Pat McAfee Show” to break down why South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Florida’s DJ Lagway are two quarterbacks to keep an eye on during the college football season.
Nussmeier, whose father is Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, showed in his first season as a starter that he has the arm talent and moxie to make big plays down the field. With four years of experience, the 6-2 and 200-pound QB is a player scouts believe can break out as he gets more starting reps.
“Nussmeier is the one that I’m most excited about because he’s so accurate and quick with his decision-making,” an AFC East area scout said.
That scout, and the rest of us, will be watching Aug. 30 when the two quarterbacks face each other at Clemson.
“Klubnik needs to prove he can elevate that offense consistently and not just be a point guard,” an AFC South area scout said. “Nussmeier has the bigger arm, he’s more dynamic as a mover and his upside is higher.”
A scout from the NFC West added: “Klubnik may have the cleaner résumé, but Nussmeier has the NFL starter skill set.”
It is a wide-open race. For now, I’m rolling with Klubnik as the best of the bunch, but I’m excited to see Mendoza in a new offense and Sellers in Year 2.
My early pick for the top QB: Klubnik
Running backs
The running back class in 2026 is a fun one, headlined by a Notre Dame rusher coming off a 17-touchdown season — but he could face stiff competition for RB1.
Love returns to South Bend fresh off a 1,125-yard season, though a postseason right knee injury limited him to 68 yards in the team’s final three games. His 98-yard run against Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals showed the vision, power and burst he typically employs. Now healthy, Love has the total package to be an elite NFL prospect at 6 feet, 206 pounds.
“Love is far and away the best back in the class,” an NFL general manager said. “Probably in college, period. At least on offense, he holds the largest gap between prospect No. 1 and prospect No. 2 at any position.”
The RB2 is debatable, thanks to a plethora of talented backs, with many of them forming strong duos. Texas features Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter, while Penn State’s pair of Singleton and Kaytron Allen look to be the 2025 version of Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson.
Singleton appears poised to break through thanks to his all-around game. At 6 feet and 227 pounds, the senior has power for days and the downhill speed to run away from defenders. He also has three-down versatility, with 41 receptions for five scores last season.
“Love is the guy, but Singleton might be a sneaky RB1 for teams that want some power and pop but value the passing game,” said a former NFL GM who still consults for clubs. “Chicago or New England, for example, are ideal fits for him.”
My early pick for the top RB: Love
Wide receivers
If you believe we’ve been in a golden era of wide receiver prospects, I won’t argue. But after seeing another pass catcher drafted in the top 10 last year (Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8), we might get a break from elite wideouts in 2026, barring a major breakout season.
There are multiple candidates to be that player, and the discussion starts with Tyson, thanks to his skills and the situation around him. At 6-1 and 195 pounds, Tyson is a downfield burner who caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Leavitt.
Tyson’s biggest issue? Drops. He had seven last season and must clean that up to achieve WR1 status.
“Tyson makes the hardest catches look easy and the easiest catches look hard,” a rival Big 12 coach said. “He has legit NFL talent, first-round talent even, but that’s my holdup on proclaiming him a first-round guy.”
Battling Tyson for top honors is a handful of talented receivers, but no definitive competitor. That could change if Lemon lives up to the hype he has generated this summer. The 5-11, 190-pound junior showed flashes with 52 catches, 764 yards and 3 scores in 2024, but both he and the USC offense were inconsistent. That hasn’t stopped scouts from praising what he could become in 2025.
“Lemon is my pick for a breakout guy,” an NFC South area scout said. “He closed out so good last year [133 yards against Notre Dame, 99 against Texas A&M], and the USC offense should be better all-around this year. That’ll help him get more one-on-one looks.”
For now, Tyson gets the nod, but he and Lemon will see a push from players such as Isaiah Horton (Alabama), Antonio Williams (Clemson), Eric Singleton Jr. (Auburn), Denzel Boston (Washington) and Elijah Sarratt (Indiana).
My early pick for the top WR: Tyson
Tight ends
The 2025 draft saw two tight ends picked in the top 14 and five in the top 50, marking another strong year for the position. Though we are unlikely to see two tight ends drafted as early in 2026, the class should have plenty of top-100 talents.
Leading the class is Stowers. At 6-4 and 225 pounds, he might not have traditional in-line tight end size, but he has elite movement ability as a route runner and offers flexibility in his alignments.
A creative team can play Stowers anywhere from H-back to slot receiver. Scouts are torn on his ideal usage, though, and questions remain about his ability to win against top-tier teams.
“He’s just like Harold Fannin Jr. was last year,” one AFC West area scout said. “Small guy with good quicks, but he disappears when pressed, and he’s not a fit for a lot of schemes. He’s a big slot only. He’ll never play on the line of scrimmage.”
Others love Stowers’ versatility, with an NFC South scout calling him the “clear-cut TE1 in this class.”
With Terrance Ferguson‘s success last season, Oregon’s offense is evolving into somewhat of a tight end pipeline to the NFL. Up next is Sadiq, a 6-3, 245-pound junior who showed potential last season while catching two touchdowns on 24 receptions as the team’s No. 2 tight end.
Sadiq’s experience as a high school receiver is apparent in his route running, and he’s too fast for most linebackers or safeties.
“If you want a breakout player, it’s [Sadiq]. Especially with Evan Stewart hurt [he tore a patellar tendon in early June], Sadiq is primed to blow up,” an AFC West scout said.
It’s a tough battle between two very different players, but Stowers’ résumé gives him the early edge.
My early pick for the top TE: Stowers
Offensive tackles
We saw three offensive tackles drafted in the top 10 in April, but the 2026 class might actually have better talent. And these three are the headliners of an exciting group.
“I loved last year’s class, but each of the top dogs were guys who might be guards long term,” an NFL general manager said. “This year? We’ve got real-deal tackles.”
The first of those real-deal tackles is Fano. An elite run blocker, Fano has played left and right tackle for the Utes. At 6-6 and 302 pounds, he has the balance and agility to man the edge of an NFL offensive line even if there are already whispers about arm length concerns. Fano, who has started 24 games, saw his sacks allowed drop from three in 2023 to only one in 2024, as he switched from the left side to the right.
Proctor is the biggest (6-7, 360 pounds) and strongest of the group, and the player scouts are the highest on if he can reach his upside. He has the ability to maul defenders in a way that no other tackle in the class can. Proctor’s evolution as a tackle prospect over the second half of the 2024 season has scouts thinking he turned a corner.
“If you watch him against Georgia or South Carolina, two teams with great defensive lines, he looked like a top-five pick,” one AFC South area scout said. An NFC East scout added: “It’s so rare to see someone that big move so well. There’s not a great player comp for him because of that.”
Proctor allowed three sacks last season, a marked improvement from the nine surrendered in 2023.
We can’t sleep on Mauigoa as a potential top tackle. In some ways, he’s very similar to Armand Membou in terms of agility and movement skills. A two-year starter at right tackle, Mauigoa allowed no sacks and was flagged only three times last season while protecting 2025 No. 1 pick Cameron Ward. Perhaps most impressive was Mauigoa’s blown run block rate of 0.06% — just two blown blocks in 13 games.
These three represent the top of the class, but there are others scouts are excited to see. Evaluators also mentioned Xavier Chaplin (Auburn), Drew Shelton (Penn State) and Isaiah World (Oregon) as potential No. 1 tackles. Proctor might lead the group right now, but this is a diverse tackle class with many potential risers.
My early pick for the top OT: Proctor
Interior offensive linemen
A battle for the class’ top interior offensive line spot will be a fun one between two very talented players.
Missouri developed Membou into a top-10 player in the 2025 draft, and sources within the coaching staff are equally high on Green entering 2025. The 6-5, 320-pound lineman enters the season as a two-year starter at left guard, and there has been some internal conversation about making him a left tackle because of his agility and tools. Green didn’t surrender a sack last season.
Slaughter has a chance to be the best run and pass blocker among interior linemen in the class thanks to his instincts, poise, power and agility. At 6-4 and 308 pounds, he doesn’t have elite anchor ability but moves exceptionally well and has range to pull, trap and get to the second level.
“What I love about both guys is they’ll face an absolute wreck of a schedule for most offensive linemen,” an AFC scouting director said. “They’ll be battle-tested by the end of November, and we’ll get some clean looks at their pro ability.”
Slaughter and Green are both talented, but Green’s versatility and résumé as a pass protector gives him the nod.
My early pick for the top IOL: Green
Defensive tackles
The 2026 defensive tackle class doesn’t have great top-end depth or many notable playmakers. It’s basically Woods against the field, and he is primed to go wire to wire as the top prospect.
“This is a pretty weak class,” an NFC South area scout said. “There are a few guys outside of Woods, but they’re nose tackle or 1-tech types. If you needed a 3-tech, I hope you got him last year.”
Woods, a 6-3, 315-pound junior, notched three sacks and 17 pressures last season, proving himself as a top-notch run defender. He did that while splitting time between the edge and interior, a role that often limited his pass-rush advantages because he was expected to play in space. If unleashed on the interior, Woods has top-10 ability.
Challenging him will be Banks and a cast of characters waiting to break out. The 6-6, 329-pound Banks can play anywhere from a 5-technique to a nose alignment. He performed well last season, with 4.5 sacks and 20 pressures.
“Banks could be this year’s Byron Murphy II, where you see the talent coming and then boom — he puts it all together and is unstoppable,” an NFL defensive line coach said.
Woods seems like a lock as the top defensive tackle, and that’s where he’ll start on my board.
My early pick for the top DT: Woods
Edge rushers
The tightest battle of any position outside of quarterback comes at edge rusher, where the talent in the 2026 class represents an exciting mixture of top-of-the-round talents and very good depth.
Parker put together a 12-sack season in 2024 while emerging as a well-rounded run defender. His quickness off the ball stands out, but scouts praised his ball-rush ability.
“Parker has the best tools of any of them,” an AFC East area scout said. “He sets up blockers well and finishes with a mean streak. And you need power to play in the pros.”
Like Parker, Faulk brings a combination of speed and power at 6-6 and 288 pounds. With seven sacks last season, he proved his skill set of length, power and quickness can produce in the SEC. Now, a big season is expected.
“Faulk is going to get the Arik Armstead comparisons, but I think he’s athletic enough to stay in space in the pros,” an AFC North area scout said. “But you love that he can kick inside, too.”
Parker, Faulk, Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), David Bailey (Texas Tech) and others are vying for the top spot in a group that could easily produce six first-rounders. Right now, Parker is the best of the bunch.
My early pick for the top Edge: Parker
Linebackers
The off-ball linebacker position has been devalued, but Hill’s versatility will have scouts buzzing about the next Abdul Carter or Micah Parsons-level prospect.
A debate has emerged about Hill’s best position. At Texas, he plays primarily as an off-ball linebacker, but the 6-3, 235-pound defender produced eight sacks last season with some elite blitzing skills. On 80 snaps as an edge rusher, he produced 11 pressures, and he has the body type to add the necessary weight to play in space on the end of the line.
“Hill is definitely getting drafted as an edge,” a longtime NFL scout said. “He’s a great linebacker, but he’s too valuable coming off the corner and getting the quarterback. I just hope Texas lets him do more of it this year.”
Allen will draw the most attention from teams looking for a traditional three-down linebacker. He emerged as a leader on the Bulldogs’ defense last season while racking up 71 tackles, 11 pressures, 1 interception and 7 pass breakups.
“Allen is a wrecking ball,” an NFC South area scout said. “That dude does it all, and he’s so fast at reading and reacting.”
We’re once again comparing two players who are listed at the same position but play it very differently. I’ll go with Hill, who has a chance to be a top-five pick come April.
My early pick for the top LB: Hill
Cornerbacks
The top cornerback in the country might not see the field early in the season, as McCoy tore an ACL during offseason workouts in January.
The 6-foot, 193-pound defender had four interceptions last season and showed the closing speed and reaction agility to erase wide receivers while being able to play the ball in the air. He has shutdown cornerback potential if he returns from injury in the same form as when we last saw him.
Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, has a complete game at 5-11 and 180 pounds that features quickness, stout ability in the run game and elite timing. He has a knack for knocking away passes at the catch point.
“McCoy is the best in the country, but he’s a question mark for us right now,” an NFC scouting director said. “If he’s out, Terrell is the cleanest in terms of technique, even if he’s undersized.”
We’ll agree. McCoy is the No. 1 corner until something changes.
My early pick for the top CB: McCoy
Safeties
No disrespect meant to Thieneman or the many other talented safeties in college football. But this one isn’t close.
Downs enters the season as my top overall prospect and a rare talent at safety. One GM told me Downs could be a first-round pick at running back if he wanted to go the Travis Hunter route and play both sides of the ball. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Downs has size, strength, speed and versatility to play in the box or as a single-high defender.
“He would be a top-five safety in the NFL today if he was eligible,” the GM said. “He’s Kyle Hamilton but faster and more explosive.”
While Thieneman won’t challenge Downs’ standing, he’s a good player. A transfer from Purdue, he was handpicked by coach Dan Lanning to lead the back end of Oregon’s defense. Thieneman is a playmaker with alignment versatility. He is a potential first-round pick with elite ball skills and the closing speed to thrive as a free safety in Lanning’s defense.
Thieneman, Michael Taaffe (Texas) and other very talented safeties would be candidates for the top spot in most years, but Downs is a rare prospect holding it down as the top safety and No. 1 overall player in the class.
My early pick for the top S: Downs
Some have had a few. Some have had many. The Oregon Ducks seemingly come up with a new one every week.
The topic is, of course, alternate uniforms. The best of the best have become beloved staples of the fall calendar for college football fans. Just as many, though, have been relegated to the dustbin of history (or at least a campus storage closet). A vaunted few have risen to an even higher tier: cult classic.
With the 2025 college football season approaching, we decided to run through the extensive catalog of alternate uniform offerings in the sport since 2000 and parse through it all to determine some of the most memorable — for better or for worse.
We broke our superlatives list down into a number of categories — three broad, three specific, each with multiple nominations, and six exclusive awards. Some of these categories reward aesthetic beauty. More prefer just plain zaniness.
Here are the best, worst and wildest of alternate uniforms from the past 25 years.
Best in show
In the nominations for our best of the best, we covered a wide range of topical ground. From distinct colors to well-executed throwbacks, our five picks offer an array of different ways to make an alternate uniform pop.
Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors: Retro and rainbow, 2015
Florida International Panthers: Miami Vice, 2024
Houston Cougars: Paying homage to the Oilers, 2023
Florida Gators: Simplistic throwback perfection, 2019
SMU Mustangs: Repping Dallas, 2019
Most … ambitious
It’s always encouraging when a team is willing to try something new — creativity and boldness are two traits that help make college football fun. That said, not every outside-the-box alternate uniform idea is created equal. We’re not necessarily saying these uniforms are bad, but they definitely were… enterprising.
Florida Gators: Gator-print, 2017
Michigan State Spartans: Neon green, 2019
Colorado Buffaloes: Throwbacks gone too simplistic, 2009
Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Yankee Stadium crossover, 2018
Miami Hurricanes: Orange sleeves, 2005
Craziest helmets
A great — or poor — helmet can make or break a uniform, so we created a separate category for some of the most notable lids. Bonus points were awarded for distinctiveness, regardless of how well-executed.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers: Big Red front and center, 2024
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Honeycomb theme, 2012
Utah Utes: Rose Bowl specials, 2022
Georgia Bulldogs: Georgia tries grey, 2011
Virginia Tech Hokies: The flexing HokieBird, 2012
Most “State-triotic”
A key element of college football is representing a school’s hometown or home state. These three schools went the furthest in going above and beyond to fulfill that mission, incorporating their state’s flag into their alternate uniforms. The aesthetic results were varied.
Maryland Terrapins, 2011
Colorado State Rams, 2017
Texas Tech Red Raiders, 2014
Best from the final frontier
An unlikely source of quality alternate jerseys in recent years? Outer space. In fact, space-themed uniforms produced enough impressive alternates that we deemed it worthy of its own category. Here are the best of the best to have drawn inspiration from the stars.
UCF Knights: Space U, 2023
Purdue Boilermakers: Honoring the school’s astronauts, 2019
Air Force Falcons: Representing the Space Force, 2022
Best tribute
Context matters for uniforms, too. Almost all alternate uniforms represent or honor something, but some threads have particularly special motives. These two alternates have established themselves as particularly distinguished in the backstory category.
Boston College Eagles: The red bandana series
The Eagles have donned uniforms featuring a red bandana pattern and a “FOR WELLES” nameplate once a year since 2014. The uniforms pay homage to Welles Crowther, a Boston College alum who died saving lives in the Sept. 11 attacks while wearing a red bandana.
UAB Blazers: The Children’s Harbor series
A tradition since 2016, UAB has worn special jerseys for select games as part of a partnership with Children’s Harbor, a service center for seriously ill children and their families in Birmingham, Alabama. The Blazers’ Children’s Harbor jerseys feature the names of patients on the back in place of those of players.
Worst trend to never catch on
Block letter jerseys
A very brief but nevertheless unfortunate stint in the pantheon of alternate uniform history was the spurt of designs in the early 2010s featuring jerseys with block letter logos front and center. Of the assorted pitfalls an alternate uniform can hit, these ran the gauntlet.
Changing the aesthetics for the jerseys of teams with classic traditional threads? Check. Unwieldy designs without grounding in a school’s history or tradition? Check. Creating a strange on-screen viewing experience? Check. Blissfully, these never took hold outside of a few Big Ten one-offs.
Lifetime achievement award
Oregon
Undoubtedly the most prolific uniform-producing school, the Ducks put out more uniform combinations in a season than some programs do in a decade. Instead of trying to choose which categories to slot them into — since they’ve produced enough memorable combinations to be involved in just about every option, really — we’re simply giving the Ducks a lifetime achievement award, showcasing a short palette of their range here.
Best alternate uniform reveal series
Notre Dame
While there have been plenty of great alternate uniform reveals, nobody in the game has committed to a bit quite like Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish started in 2022, parodying “The Hangover” to unveil their uniforms for that year’s Shamrock Series game in Las Vegas. They’ve since established the movie parody lane as their niche, riffing “Jerry Maguire” in 2023 and “Wolf of Wall Street” in 2024.
Some guys CAN handle Vegas
Feel It. October 8 pic.twitter.com/HdzdAOaCDs
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) July 27, 2022
Best consistent yearly alternate uniform matchup
The Army-Navy game
Admittedly, there are not a ton of matchups producing alternate uniform matchups on an annual basis. Or any, for that matter. But it simply wouldn’t be an alternate uniform story without plaudits being given to the level of detail put into Army and Navy’s respective uniforms on a yearly basis for their rivalry game in recent years. So, like Oregon, we’ve created a specific category to highlight some of the best Army-Navy alternate uniform showdowns.
Techs Stick Together unity award
Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech, 2007
It felt right to end this piece with an “alternate” uniform that, while very much not intentional, was certainly memorable. On November 1, 2007, Virginia Tech played a routine road game against Georgia Tech. There was just one issue — some of the Hokies’ jerseys had gone missing. As a result, four Virginia Tech players had to play with the only extra uniforms on hand: Yellow Jacket road jerseys, with new names scrawled on the back and “Georgia Tech” blacked out on the front.
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David Hale
At a media event Friday, North Carolina Central coach Trei Oliver was asked about the most ridiculous moments he has faced in coaching, and his response set off alarms across the state of Virginia.
Oliver said he found a Virginia Tech assistant coach on the sideline for one of North Carolina Central’s games last year and suggested the coach was there to lure his star running back, J’Mari Taylor, into the transfer portal.
“Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back,” Oliver told reporters, according to WRAL News. “That was pretty bold. I couldn’t believe it.”
Oliver didn’t name the running back, but he said the player later transferred to Virginia. Taylor was a first-team all-conference player who is now on Virginia’s roster.
Oliver said he needed assistant coaches to calm him down on the sideline, noting several told him, “He’s just down here visiting.'”
“But I knew what it was,” Oliver said.
Virginia Tech released a statement Saturday saying this was the first time the issue had been raised and that the school would investigate.
“This is the first time the issue has been brought to our attention, and no concern has previously been shared with us through any formal channel,” the team said. “Virginia Tech takes all NCAA rules seriously and is committed to conducting our program with integrity. We are reviewing the matter internally and will address any findings appropriately.”
Taylor, a graduate transfer, will be part of the Virginia backfield rotation this season, and Oliver said he will be rooting for his former player at his new school — particularly when the Cavaliers play Virginia Tech on Nov. 29.
“Thank God he went to UVA,” Oliver said, “and UVA is going to beat the smoke out of them other folks.”
The 2025 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner, with contending teams deciding what they need to add before 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31.
Could Jarren Duran be on the move from the Boston Red Sox? Will the Arizona Diamondbacks deal Eugenio Suarez and Zac Gallen to contenders? And who among the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies will go all-in to boost their 2025 World Series hopes?
Whether your favorite club is looking to add or deal away — or stands somewhere in between — here’s the freshest intel we’re hearing, reaction to completed deals and what to know for every team as trade season unfolds.
More: Top 50 trade candidates | Passan’s preview | Fantasy spin
Jump to: Completed deals | Latest intel
Completed deal tracker
Yankees make another deal for infield depth
The New York Yankees acquired utility man Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two minor leaguers. Story »
Royals get outfielder in trade with D-backs
The Kansas City Royals acquired veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-hander Andrew Hoffmann. Story »
Yankees land infielder McMahon in deal with Rockies
The New York Yankees are acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon in a trade with the Colorado Rockies, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grades »
Mets get bullpen help from O’s
The New York Mets have acquired left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grades »
Mariners start trade season with deal for Naylor
The Seattle Mariners have acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Brandyn Garcia and right-hander Ashton Izzi are headed back to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Seattle Mariners for first baseman Josh Naylor, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grades »
MLB trade deadline buzz
July 27
Can Mets find an ace at deadline? The market has been very thin in teams offloading, but according to sources, the Mets continue to look around to see whether there’s a match for a starting pitcher capable of taking the ball for a Game 1, Game 2 or Game 3 of a postseason series. Merrill Kelly of the Diamondbacks could be that guy, or maybe it’s Seth Lugo of the Royals, or the Padres’ Dylan Cease. Perhaps it’s one of the two big-time starters who will be under team control beyond this season, the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara or the Twins’ Joe Ryan. The Mets’ rotation was exceptional early in the year, before injuries and natural regression began to take a toll, and the team could use a boost in the front end of this group as they fight the Phillies for NL East supremacy. — Buster Olney
Which way will deadline bubble teams go? The staredown continues as deadline week begins, with perhaps as many as a half-dozen teams waiting to declare their status. “This weekend is big for a lot of teams,” said one evaluator.
The Rays, who appeared to be gathering momentum a month ago, are now just a game over .500, and given the organization’s longstanding focus on maximizing the value of their players, some rival evaluators think they could now be considering dealing some pieces away.
The St. Louis Cardinals are two games over .500, with the industry waiting to see whether they will deal closer Ryan Helsley. The expectation is that they will, given the tough NL playoff landscape. The Tigers could be interested, maybe the Phillies, Mets, Dodgers or Yankees.
The Los Angeles Angels are now five games under .500, and the presumption is that they will eventually move some players before the deadline, but the Angels don’t always operate in the way teams typically do. Taylor Ward has drawn interest from other organizations. — Olney
July 25 updates
Will the Royals trade Lugo — or extend him? Seth Lugo is an intriguing name in the trade market, but rival evaluators don’t sense the Royals are especially motivated to make a deal. Kansas City could also use this moment to explore an extension with Lugo, to keep their deep well of starting pitching intact. — Buster Olney
Angels’ deadline plans coming into focus: Any confusion about whether the Angels will add or subtract ahead of the trade deadline has seemingly cleared up in recent days, with a four-game losing streak that has them five games under .500.
The Angels are telling teams their pending free agents are available, sources with knowledge of the situation said. That includes third baseman Yoan Moncada, utility infielder Luis Rengifo, starting pitcher Tyler Anderson and closer Kenley Jansen. Left fielder Taylor Ward, controllable through 2026, can also be had with the right deal.
The Angels famously never rebuild under owner Arte Moreno and are prone to adding even in times when they seem like long shots to contend — most notably in 2023, when they not only held on to Shohei Ohtani but also traded for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez before collapsing in August.
At this time last year, they tried to move the likes of Anderson and Rengifo but did not believe they would have received enough back to justify holding on to them through the following season. And so it is worth noting: Even if the Angels do decide to punt on 2025, their goal would be to contend again next season.
Any moves they make would probably be geared toward that. By trading away rentals, the Angels will try to use the trade deadline to add accomplished players who can help the team next year. — Alden Gonzalez
What the Astros might be looking for: The Astros’ best fit in a hitter is someone who could play second base or left field, and they can move Jose Altuve accordingly. Per FanGraphs, the Astros have a 94.5% chance to reach the postseason; they lead the Mariners by five games in the AL West. — Buster Olney
How Arizona could shape the trade deadline: The Diamondbacks informed other teams in the past that they would “probably” be dealing away players, but even after trading Josh Naylor to Seattle, it’s unclear just how far Arizona will go. If the D-Backs decided to go all-in on trading veterans, they could reshape their organization significantly, by moving free-agents-to-be Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and, of course, Eugenio Suarez.
The perception of other front offices is that Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick does not want to completely offload, especially with the Dodgers drifting back toward the pack in the NL West — and as of Thursday night, Suarez wasn’t even officially on the market.
The Diamondbacks, who reached the World Series in 2023 after winning just 84 games during the regular season, won their first three games after the All-Star break, but have subsequently lost three in a row. What some rival evaluators believe is that if the D-Backs keep dealing, it’ll be because of a nudge from the front office. Arizona has been extensively scouting other organizations in preparation. — Buster Olney
White Sox starter drawing interest from contenders: About a half-dozen or more scouts will be in attendance at Rate Field on Friday night when Adrian Houser takes the mound for the White Sox. He has compiled a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts for Chicago after being picked up midseason. Teams don’t believe they’ll have to give up a lot to acquire him, and he could make for a good back-end starter or depth piece for a contender. The White Sox are likely to move him at his peak, and Friday could be the final look for those who are interested. — Jesse Rogers
July 24 updates
Could Mets land this deadline’s top slugger? Eugenio Suarez could be an intriguing option for the Mets as they’ve gotten little production out of Mark Vientos at third base. And if things work out and Suarez wants to stay — and they want him to — he could also provide protection for the Mets at first base in case Pete Alonso moves on next season. The Mets rank 23rd in OPS at third, so why wouldn’t they inquire about Suarez, knowing they can hand the position back to Vientos in 2026 if they wish. — Jesse Rogers
July 23 updates
Houston is in the market for a third baseman: Add the Astros to the list of contenders looking for a third baseman. With All-Star Isaac Paredes expected to miss significant time because of what manager Joe Espada described as a “pretty serious” right hamstring strain, the Astros have begun poking around for available third basemen. One of them is the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon, who also has drawn interest from a few other clubs.
The 30-year-old represents a solid veteran option. McMahon is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs, and the metrics indicate he has been one of the top defensive third basemen in the majors this season. He is under contract over the next two seasons for $32 million, so he wouldn’t be just a rental, which should raise the Rockies’ asking price. — Jorge Castillo
A big addition to the available deadline starting pitching options? A surprise name has emerged in the starting pitcher market: Dylan Cease, who will be eligible for free agency at year’s end. Perception of other teams is that the Padres are intent on making a push for the playoffs and would use Cease to help fill other roster needs. Mets, AL East teams, Cubs among teams that have talked about him. — Buster Olney
How Cubs are approaching deadline: The Cubs are looking for a starting pitcher first and foremost, but won’t part with any top prospects for rentals. They would be willing to trade a young hitter for a cost-controlled pitcher or one already under contract past this season. They are desperate to add an arm who can help while Jameson Taillon recovers from a calf injury. Bullpen games in Taillon’s place haven’t gone well. — Jesse Rogers
Will Twins trade top pitchers? Several high-profile teams are in need of bullpen help ahead of the trade deadline — including the Mets, Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers — and the Twins have two of the best available in Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran. The sense is that at least one of them will be traded, but those who are looking for relief help expect the asking price to be very high, partly because both of them are controllable through 2027 and partly because the Twins’ uncertain ownership situation has clouded the approach with those who are not pending free agents.
The Twins are widely expected to trade outfielder Harrison Bader, super-utility player Willi Castro, starter Chris Paddack and lefty reliever Danny Coulombe. But Jax, Duran and young starter Joe Ryan are the ones who would bring back the biggest return. The Twins are said to be listening on everyone. But the team being up for sale since October, and in limbo ever since prospective buyer Justin Ishbia increased his ownership stake in the White Sox in early June, has complicated matters with longer-term players. — Alden Gonzalez
July 22 updates
An Orioles starting pitcher to watch: It seems very likely that Charlie Morton (3.47 ERA last 12 appearances) will be traded, within a relatively thin starting pitching market with a lot of teams looking for rotation help — the Padres, Yankees, maybe the Mets or Astros; a number of teams have expressed interest. In the past, Morton has had a preference to pitch for a team closer to the East Coast and his Florida home, but he doesn’t control that. O’s GM Mike Elias does. — Buster Olney
Will Cleveland deal All-Star outfielder? The player asked about the most on the Guardians’ roster is Steven Kwan, but given that he is two and a half years away from free agency, it’s unlikely he’ll be traded, according to sources. Kwan’s slash line this year: .288/.352/.398. He also has 11 stolen bases and has made consecutive All-Star appearances. — Olney
Braves not looking to move Murphy: Sean Murphy‘s name has been tossed around in trade speculation, but according to sources, he will not be available. Atlanta’s catcher is playing well this year and will be playing under a high-value contract for the next three seasons — $15 million per year from 2026 to 2028, plus a team option in ’29. And the Braves are set up well with the right-handed-hitting Murphy and left-handed-hitting Drake Baldwin perhaps sharing the catching and DH spots into the future. — Olney
Why the 2022 Cy Young winner isn’t the most in-demand Marlins starter: Edward Cabrera has become more coveted than Sandy Alcantara, who teams believe might take an offseason to fix. Alcantara’s strikeout-to-walk ratio is scary low — just 1.9 — and his ERA is 7.14. Cabrera, on the other hand, is striking out more than a batter per inning and his ERA sits at 3.61. The 27-year-old right-hander will come at a heavy cost for opposing teams. — Jesse Rogers
How Kansas City is approaching the trade deadline: The Royals have signaled a willingness to trade, but with an eye toward competing again next year — meaning they aren’t willing to part with the core of their pitching staff. Other teams say Kansas City is (unsurprisingly) looking to upgrade its future offense in whatever it does.
Right-handed starter Seth Lugo will be the most-watched Royal before the deadline, since he holds a $15 million player option for 2026 “that you’d assume he’s going to turn down,” said one rival staffer. That’ll make it more difficult for other teams to place a trade value on him: The Royals could want to market him as more than a mere rental, while other teams figure he’ll go into free agency in the fall when he turns down his option. — Olney
What the Dodgers need at the deadline: The Dodgers’ offense has been a source of consternation lately, with Max Muncy out, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman slumping, and key hitters tasked with lengthening out the lineup — Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto — also struggling.
But the Dodgers’ focus ahead of the deadline is still clearly the bullpen, specifically a high-leverage, right-handed reliever. Dodgers relievers lead the major leagues in innings pitched by a wide margin. Blake Treinen will be back soon, and Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol are expected to join him later in the season. But the Dodgers need at least one other trusted arm late in games.
It’s a stunning development, considering they returned the core of a bullpen that played a big role in last year’s championship run, then added Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates in free agency. But Scott and Yates have had their struggles, and there are enough injury concerns with several others that it’s a need. — Alden Gonzalez
Which D-backs starter is most coveted? The Diamondbacks are getting as many calls — if not more — about Zac Gallen as they are for Merrill Kelly, even though the latter starting pitcher is having the better season. Teams interested in adding to their rotations still have more faith in the 29-year-old Gallen than the 36-year-old Kelly. — Rogers
Who are the White Sox looking to deal? Chicago’s Adrian Houser seems likely to move, as a second-tier starter who has performed well this season. The 32-year-old right-hander was released by the Rangers in May but has been very effective since joining the White Sox rotation, giving up only two homers in 57⅔ innings and generating an ERA+ of 226. Nobody is taking those numbers at face value, but evaluators do view him as a market option. The White Sox also have some relievers worth considering.
But it seems unlikely that Luis Robert Jr. — once projected as a centerpiece of this deadline — will be dealt, unless a team makes a big bet on a player who has either underperformed or been hurt this year. The White Sox could continue to wait on Robert’s talent to manifest and his trade value to be restored by picking up his $20 million option for next year, which is hardly out of the question for a team with little future payroll obligation. — Olney
Why Rockies infielder could be popular deadline option: Colorado’s Ryan McMahon is the consolation prize for teams that miss out on Eugenio Suarez — if he’s traded at all. The Cubs could have interest and would pair him with Matt Shaw as a lefty/righty combo at third base. — Rogers
Does San Diego have enough to offer to make a big deal? The Padres have multiple needs ahead of the trade deadline — a left fielder, a catcher, a back-end starter. How adequately they can address them remains to be seen. The upper levels of their farm system have thinned out in recent years, and their budget might be tight.
The Padres dipped under MLB’s luxury-tax threshold last year, resetting the penalties. But FanGraphs projects their competitive balance tax payroll to finish at $263 million this year, easily clearing the 2025 threshold and just barely putting them into the second tier, triggering a 12% surcharge.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller might have to get creative in order to address his needs. One way he can do that is by buying and selling simultaneously. The Padres have several high-profile players who can hit the market this offseason — Dylan Cease, Michael King, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez — and a few others who can hit the open market after 2026. Don’t be surprised to see Preller leverage at least one of those players, and their salaries, to help fill multiple needs. — Gonzalez
Which Orioles could be on the move? Not surprisingly, Baltimore is perceived as a dealer and is expected by other teams to move center fielder Cedric Mullins, first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn and some relievers. — Olney
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