Miami Hurricanes 2026 NFL draft candidates

The Miami Hurricanes had a robust displaying within the 2025 NFL Draft. Not solely was QB Cam Ward chosen #1 general by the Tennessee Titans, however 6 different Hurricanes had been drafted over the course of the three day draft held in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin.

As we flip the clock to the 2025 CFB season, let’s take a second and make a fast listing of the gamers on this roster who could possibly be the following crop of NFL draftees.

Potential 1st rounders

Clearly, that is the factor folks need to talk about most. So, after all, that is the place I’m beginning.

RT Francis Mauigoa

He’s most likely the perfect participant on the roster, and has the pedigree for a 1st spherical choose. There have been a plethora of comparisons made between Mauigoa and former Oregon and Detroit Lions star Penei Sewell…for good purpose. They’ve comparable stature, comparable efficiency, and have each been recruited and developed by Cristobal and Mirabal.

A starter because the second he set foot on campus in Coral Gables, Mauigoa has all the pieces a workforce might need as a high-end NFL draft choose on a quick monitor to beginning and being a franchise cornerstone. Solely a real junior, Mauigoa might come again to Miami after this upcoming season. However, with a robust efficiency, he ought to fulfill the predictions from many people of “3 years then a 1st spherical draft choose” and transfer on to the NFL a yr from now. There are different good candidates, however Mauigoa is my more than likely choose to be a 1st rounder in 2026.

QB Carson Beck

Picture by Todd Kirkland/Getty Photos

Already with almost 8,000 yards and 60 TDs to his credit score, Beck is a identified commodity on the highest ranges of school soccer. He’s a family identify from his 2 years beginning on the College of Georgia, and he’s getting into the sneakers vacated by the present #1 general draft choose: Cam Ward.

When you think about the truth that QB has such a excessive relative worth, there’s a straightforward logical path for Beck to ascend into the first spherical of subsequent yr’s draft. He’s going to have each alternative to place his identify and recreation in entrance of each NFL workforce but once more, and with a robust yr of efficiency, and GROWTH in his skillset (one thing that Cam Ward clearly confirmed in his yr at Miami), there’s an opportunity Beck follows him into the first spherical in 2026.

LT Markel Bell

Picture by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

Okay. Earlier than you begin reacting emotionally, hear me out. Bell is the prototype at Left Deal with, a 6’9” 340lb monster with measurement, power, wingspan and fast toes. A switch from Holmes Group Faculty, Bell instantly labored his approach into the rotation on Miami’s OL. And, when beginning LT Jalen Rivers missed 5 video games with a knee harm, Bell was the ready-made choose to step in and begin.

Bell wasn’t excellent, however the progress and improvement of his recreation over the course of the 2024 season was unbelievable. He was so good, in actual fact, that Miami continued to play him even after Rivers returned from harm. Miami rotated their left facet of the OL with the LT-LG pairs of Rivers and Matthew McCoy, and Bell and Rivers, enjoying almost an identical quantities of snaps.

Now, together with Bell as a possible 1st spherical NFL Draft choose is admittedly a bit speculative. However, whenever you mix his immense measurement, mission constant (or better) progress with one other full yr at Miami, and the elite developmental monitor document of Cristobal and Mirabal, it’s not exhausting to see Bell elevating into the first spherical. Bell was among the many most talked about gamers from Miami’s Professional Day in March…..and he didn’t even take part. However a number of NFL execs had been seen speaking to the huge sort out, and I’m positive he’s on the radar as a possible excessive draft choose due to that. There’s work to be completed to get there, but it surely’s very potential that Bell could possibly be firmly within the dialog for the highest of the 2026 NFL draft when all is claimed and completed.

DL Rueben Bain

Picture by Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos

The final participant on this a part of the listing, Bain is one other high recruit (like Mauigoa) who has displayed elite expertise, however has additionally battled his justifiable share of accidents.

Bain burst onto the scene and received ACC Defensive Rookie of the Yr in 2023. He was a terror all yr, with 9.5 TFL and seven.5 sacks, which additionally earned him third workforce All-ACC honors together with defensive ROY. The gifted defender took a step again in 2024, when he sustained a hamstring harm on the 2nd play of the season in a 41-17 win at Florida, and was by no means the identical the remainder of the yr. He returned to motion, however he was clearly affected by the hamstring harm, and that impacted his efficiency in 2024.

Now, down about 15lbs and seeking to regain the explosiveness he confirmed as a freshman, Bain appears to reintroduce himself to the NFL draft world with a robust efficiency in 2025. He, like Mauigoa, will likely be a real junior this upcoming season, so there’s the prospect he returns for his senior season in 2026. Both approach, he’s a possible 1st spherical NFL Draft choose if he performs like he did as a freshman and shrugs off the harm woes that plagued him in 2024.

Mid Spherical Picks (Spherical 2-4)

OL Anez Cooper

If there’s anybody who I feel might elevate themselves into the higher group, it’s Cooper. An enormous 6’6” 330lb Guard, Cooper has been a mainstay on Miami’s OL for the final 3 years. He was a revelation as a freshman, enjoying in 10 video games and beginning the final 4. Since then, he’s paired with the beforehand mentioned Francis Mauigoa on Miami’s formidable proper facet of the offensive line, continued his progress and improvement, and been a standout participant in his personal proper.

A two-time honorable point out All-ACC participant, Cooper might simply elevate himself into the higher portion of the following NFL Draft with one other sturdy season in 2025. There have been 7 Guards drafted within the high 3 rounds of this yr’s NFL Draft, and Cooper profiles in addition to these gamers, if not higher. With one other yr of improvement beneath Cristobal and Mirabal, Cooper ought to simply be a high 3 spherical choose this time subsequent April.

RB Mark Fletcher Jr.

A strong 6’2” 225lb again, Fletcher Jr. might work his approach into the dialog for a high 4 spherical choose in 2026.

With greater than 1100 yards and 14 TDs in 2 years, Fletcher Jr. has confirmed himself to be a useful RB on a dynamic and explosive offense. He improved his statistics from his freshman to sophomore season, and with one other step ahead as he takes over the beginning position from Damien Martinez, there’s a world through which Fletcher makes himself right into a high 4 spherical choose. That is after all assuming he develops, and his efficiency matches the event and scales with extra snaps. These elements, mixed with the low positional worth of RBs (which means they should go get the NFL cash whereas they will) might mix to make see Fletcher emerge as a mid spherical choose in 2026. And earlier than you ask, I don’t suppose he has the explosive athleticism of different backs which have been taken within the 1st spherical just lately, in order that’s why I’m projecting him a bit decrease.

LB Wesley Bissainthe

A 4 yr participant on Miami’s protection, Bissainthe has bodily traits NFL groups covet, and a robust (if imperfect) historical past of efficiency to his credit score. Bissainthe was a blue chip recruit and has been a foundational participant to Miami’s protection for years.

Bissainthe may have each alternative to guide a retooling Miami protection in 2025. And, in doing so, spherical out his draft profile and entice an NFL workforce to select him earlier than the tip of day 2. A stout 6’2” 220+lbs, Bissainthe has the dimensions wanted to be an affect participant at this place each on the faculty and NFL ranges. He’ll want an enormous yr and loads of affect performs to raise himself as much as this stage of the draft. Else, he might slip to day 3.

Late spherical picks (rounds 5-7)

DL Akheem Mesidor – A really gifted participant, Mesidor has struggled with accidents in his final 2 years at Miami. He has the flexibility to play each inside and out of doors on the DL, which might assist his draft inventory. He’ll want a really sturdy season to maneuver up into the mid-round dialog, particularly if he doesn’t put up eye-popping numbers on the athletic testing drills within the Draft Analysis course of.

DT David Blay – a breakout participant final yr for Louisiana Tech, Blay appears to step into a serious position with Miami and elevate his draft inventory. Blay clearly has measurement, expertise, and produced at a excessive stage in 2024: 46 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks en path to first workforce All-Convention USA accolades. If he performs equally (even together with his numbers falling a bit as he steps as much as a better stage of competitors), Blay could possibly be a draft candidate in 2026.

WR CJ Daniels – He’s a few years faraway from his breakout yr at Liberty, Daniels could possibly be the highest receiver for Miami and work his approach into draft consideration. There have been a number of productive Miami receivers who’ve been undrafted just lately although, so he’ll actually should play properly and check properly to buck that pattern.

WR/KR Keelan Marion – a current switch portal commit, the standout receiver was an All-American return man for BYU. If he exhibits the identical game-breaking skill for Miami that he did for BYU, he might simply work his approach into draft consideration.

LB Jaylin Alderman – A stable rotation participant at each Louisville and Miami in his profession, a stable yr and good athletic testing might put Alderman on the radar for a late spherical draft choose in 2026.

C James Brockermeyer – we all know Miami’s skill to develop OL is paramount, and Brockermeyer appears to learn from it. He’s a former blue chip recruit who performed main snaps at each Alabama and TCU earlier than transferring to Miami for his closing season. A powerful yr alongside the likes of Bell, McCoy, Cooper, and Mauigoa might pave the best way for Brockermeyer to be drafted in 2026.

OL Matthew McCoy – The participant on the OL with the very best variability for draft potential. I feel McCoy is unquestionably a draft choose, however I’m no positive 2026 is the yr for him to go. He’ll hopefully (for me) be the starter at LG once more, and with out having to rotate like final yr, he might elevate his inventory an excellent quantity. As of now I feel he’s a low-round prospect for the 2026 draft, however can be within the mid-round vary in 2027. However, if McCoy is the topic of that magic Miami OL improvement in a serious approach in 2025, I might see him leaving to be drafted this yr as properly.

DT Ahamad Moten Sr. – Moten Sr.’s improvement at Miami has been nothing in need of perfection. He’s turn into a high of the rotation participant at DT, and that figures to proceed. If he has a robust season, he might moderately work his approach into the dialog for the 2026 draft. Like McCoy, I feel one other 2 years at Miami would assist enhance his draft inventory additional, however he might work his approach into an honest draft grade for 2026 as properly.

Okay Bert Auburn – a standout kicker for 3 years at Texas, Auburn just lately transferred to Miami to take over after the tip of the Borregales kicking dynasty. With final yr’s kicker getting drafted, Auburn might comply with that very same path if he continues to make significant kicks for an additional potential playoff workforce.

These are my ideas on which Miami Hurricanes gamers are on the radar for the 2026 NFL Draft. Am I took excessive on somebody? Too low? Did I miss somebody altogether? Hop within the feedback and let me know.

Go Canes