The 2026 NFL Combine has passed, Pro Days have wrapped up, and scouts and front‑office personnel from across the league are finishing their draft boards in preparation for April’s NFL Draft.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 NFL draft.
When is the 2026 NFL draft?
The 2026 NFL draft will begin with the first round on Thursday, April 23. Rounds 2 and 3 occur the following day, and the draft will conclude on its third day with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 25.
Where is the 2026 NFL draft?
Pittsburgh — home of the Steelers — will host the 2026 NFL draft.
How to watch the 2026 NFL draft
Live coverage of the NFL draft can be found on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and the NFL Network. Coverage is also available on NFL+, ESPN Select, ESPN Unlimited and Fubo TV.
Watch the NFL Draft on ESPN+
How are NFL draft prospects graded?
Using NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s grading scale, players are evaluated based on their physical traits, on-field performance and projected role. Here’s how that scale breaks down.
For context, the highest-graded player in the year’s entire draft class was former Ohio State linebacker/defensive end Arvell Reese, who earned a rating of 7.04. Reese ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the defensive end position, clocking a 4.46, and is considered a top-five draft pick after earning All-American and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors in 2025.
Similar to high school recruiting rankings, these evaluations aren’t an exact science. They’re projections, and players can ultimately exceed or fall short of them.
For example, before becoming a multiple-time Pro Bowler, George Kittle received a 5.90 grade. Similarly, former Iowa State Cyclones football quarterback Brock Purdy was given a 5.57 rating before outperforming that projection at the NFL level.
What Iowa football players are graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?
Here is a breakdown of the prospect grades for Iowa football players according to NFL.com. Combine data, including 40‑yard dash and vertical jump results, is listed where available, though not all 2026 draft‑eligible players were invited to or participated in the Combine.
Which Iowa State football player is graded ahead of the 2026 NFL draft?
Out of the more than 350 players given a draft prospect grade by NFL.com, only one Cyclone was recognized among the prospects.
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange was rated the fifth highest out of 34 defensive tackles with a prospect grade of 6.24 (will eventually be an average starter). The 2025 All-Big 12 third-team member is the 78th highest-rated player according to NFL.com.
The Kansas City native was invited to the 2026 NFL Draft Combine and appeared in Indianapolis to interview with teams, but opted not to participate in the on‑field drills. Most mock drafts have Orange projected as a Day 2 NFL draft pick.
Last year’s starting offensive linemen, James Neal III and Jim Bonifas, were among about a dozen former Cyclones who participated in Iowa State’s Pro Day on March 24 to raise their draft profiles or improve their chances of signing as undrafted free agents.
Northern Iowa also held its pro day on March 23, while Iowa hosted its on March 26, which featured all of the aforementioned players along with former Hawkeyes such as quarterback Mark Gronowski and defensive lineman Aaron Graves, all of whom worked out in front of scouts from all 32 NFL teams.
Kadyn Proctor graded as a top NFL Draft prospect
NFL.com gave former Southeast Polk football star Kadyn Proctor a 6.45 prospect grade, claiming he “Will become a good starter within two years.” Proctor tied with former Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson as the 10th-highest rated prospect, according to NFL.com.
ESPN projects the former Alabama offensive lineman to be drafted with the 24th pick by the Cleveland Browns. Proctor, a native of Des Moines, is fourth among all offensive lineman prospects according to USA TODAY.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: When is the NFL draft? See prospect grades for Iowa, Iowa State players.
Reporting by Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
