NFL Draft Radar: ESPN highlights Auburn stars, future opponents in top five lists

ESPN Draft Analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid put together top five lists for 2026 draft-eligible players at each position. Several Auburn players made the lists as well as players the Tigers will face in 2025.

Matt Miller and Jordan Reid put together their personal top-five lists at each position, based on the tape they’ve already watched and the conversations they’ve had with people around college football and the NFL. Then they dove a little deeper. At each position, they identified one prospect whose stock is complicated by a variety of outside factors (transfers, injuries, position changes, etc.) and called out one prospect still flying under the radar outside the top five.

Quarterback

Auburn did not have a quarterback ranked in the top five, but a quarterback that the Tigers will face was mentioned. Miller and Reid picked Oklahoma’s John Mateer as the “player outside of the top five to watch.”

Mateer has the makings of a riser. He broke out last season at Washington State, passing for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores. He’ll get a chance to perform on a bigger stage after transferring to Oklahoma. – Miller

Running back

Again, Auburn was not mentioned here, but a future opponent was–and it happens to be Oklahoma again. Former Cal running back, now Oklahoma Sooner, Jaydn Ott is the pick for “player outside of the top five to watch.”

 Ott entered last season with considerable 2025 draft buzz after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns at Cal in 2023. But his 2024 campaign was spoiled by a Week 1 right ankle injury that lingered the entire season, holding him to 385 yards and four touchdowns. Ott has since transferred to Oklahoma and is looking to bounce back as a senior. – Reid

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Wide receiver

Matt Miller included Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. in his top five at No. 3. Ranked ahead of Singleton, Miller has Clemson’s Antonio Williams and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson.

Tight end

Both Miller and Reid have ranked Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers in their top five’s. Auburn will face Stowers again in 2025. The Tigers have faced Stowers twice in the last two years, first with New Mexico State, then with Vanderbilt. In 2023, Stowers had 4 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against Auburn. In 2024, Stowers had 2 catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Miller considers Stowers as the top draft-eligible tight end in the country, Reid considers Stowers No. 2 in the country.

Offensive Tackle

Both Miller and Reid consider Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor to be the No. 2 draft-eligible offensive tackle in the country. Reid elected Proctor as “toughest to rank.”

There are mixed feelings about the 6-7, 360-pound junior. On one hand, he’s a massive tackle prospect with otherworldly blocking strength. But his moments of brilliance are countered by plenty of disappointing stretches. He tends to float against lesser competition, losing attention to detail and not using his power advantage. Scouts want to see more consistency from Proctor in 2025, and many believe he can be a top-15 pick if he shows it. – Reid

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Offensive Guard

Miller and Reid have future Auburn opponents all throughout their top five lists for guard.

For Miller, Missouri’s Cayden Green is No. 1, Texas A&M’s Ar’maj Reed-Adams is No. 2, Alabama’s Jaeden Roberts is No. 3, and Arkansas’ Joshua Braun is No. 4.

For Reid, Missouri’s Cayden Green is No. 2, Texas A&M”s Ar’maj Reed-Adams is No. 3, Alabama’s Jaeden Roberts is No. 4.

Center

Reid has Auburn’s Connor Lew as his No. 1 draft-eligible center in the country. Miller does not list Lew. Both Miller and Reid list Missouri’s Connor Tollison as No. 4 and No. 5 on their lists. According to Reid, Tollison is the hardest one to rank.

Despite getting Day 2 grades from scouts I’ve talked to, Tollison decided to return for his senior season. He fell off a bit toward the end of last season due to a knee injury. Although the 2026 center class looks deep, Tollison is a player to watch — especially if he returns to his pre-injury form. He has started 35 games, with every snap coming at center. – Reid

Edge rusher

Auburn’s Keldric Faulk makes both lists. He comes it at No. 3 for Matt Miller and at No. 1 for Jordan Reid. Ranked ahead of Faulk are Clemson’s TJ Parker and Miami’s Rueben Bain.

Defensive Tackle

Miller has Alabama’s Tim Keenan ranked as the No. 2 best draft-eligible defensive tackle. Reid has Keenan at No. 5. Reid also has Georgia’s Christen Miller in the top five.

Linebacker

Both Miller and Reid have Alabama’s Deontae Lawson and Georgia’s CJ Allen listed in their top five draft-eligible linebackers.

Safety

Alabama’s Keon Sabb was named as the player outside the top five to watch.

After serving as a reserve on Michigan’s national championship defense in 2023, Sabb transferred to Alabama and started last season with a flourish. But after grabbing two interceptions in his first seven games, he suffered a broken foot that had to be surgically repaired. He should start again at free safety as a rangy, instinctive ball hawk who generates turnovers. – Reid