Best available CB in 2026 NFL Draft: Updated results, top prospects still on board originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL Draft has arrived. No more conjecture or hypothetical. Five months of preparations and the biggest job interview in the world will now become real.Viewers have become accustomed to certain similarities. The best quarterbacks, edge rushers, offensive linemen and cornerbacks are towards the top, while running backs, safeties and linebackers are less prioritized at the top. In 2026, they throw out almost all the positional tendencies and trends.The cornerback group could be the proverbial 'embarrassment of riches' group. Not considered the best position group in the draft, cornerback might be the deepest.As many as six cornerbacks should be first round picks. However, half of them will slide to second due to the team prioritizing other positions. This will come in handy for teams looking to add a cornerback. Good players are going to slide, increasing the value of those picks when they are made.
The 2026 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Pittsburgh (ESPN, ABC and NFL Network-- available on Fubo), The Las Vegas Raiders will likely select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
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