This year, the 2026 NFL Draft is taking place here in Pittsburgh on the North Shore. The three-day event will last from Thursday, April 23, to Saturday, April 25. This year’s senior class was giant, but only a few names are being talked about around the league.
Draft Locks
Kyle Louis
The highest-ranked player coming out of this year’s senior class has the potential to sneak into the first three rounds. If the redshirt junior has a good Combine, it will boost his draft stock up into day two of the draft. If reports of a potential position switch to safety are true, Louis could jump even higher, but right now, he is a day-three prospect in a deep inside-linebacker draft.
Desmond Reid
The speedy senior running back is projected to be a late-round draft pick somewhere near the 5th to 7th round. There are a ton of running backs in this year’s class, and Reid is ranked No. 19 by Pro Football Focus.
Rashad Battle
Sixth-year man Rashad Battle received an invitation to the American Bowl, which is a showcase for players ranked in the 4th through 7th round. It offers seniors ranked in the lower rounds that usually wouldn’t get the spotlight to boost their draft stock.
Declared Players
Pitt has seven other players who have declared, including redshirt senior wide receiver Raphael “Poppi” Williams, sixth-year senior running back Jalynn Williams, sixth-year tight end Jake Overman, sixth-year wide receiver Deuce Spann, sixth-year cornerback Tamon Lynum, fifth-year safety Kavir Bains-Marquez and redshirt senior Javon Mclntyre.
All of these guys have a chance at an invite to the combine and a chance at getting drafted or picked up as undrafted free agents.
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