ESPN’s draft panel gathered on April 9 to stage a fantasy‑style superteam draft using only the 2026 class. Veteran analyst Mel Kiper Jr., alongside Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates, snake‑drafted ten‑man lineups under strict positional requirements. The exercise, aired on the First Draft podcast, let each expert showcase how they rank the year’s prospects.

Matt Miller secured the opening pick, selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He then filled his offense with USC’s Makai Lemon and Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, while bolstering the line with Blake Miller and Kadyn Proctor. On defense he grabbed Texas Tech edge David Bailey and Miami corner Jermod McCoy, constructing a roster that boasts the class’s top QB, WR and EDGE.

Kiper’s squad leaned on Notre Dame back Jeremiyah Love, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Georgia linebacker CJ Allen, creating a balanced attack many call the most versatile. Reid favored a defense‑first approach, loading his side with Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and LSU edge Rueben Bain Jr. The mock draft shows analysts’ positional preferences and gives fans a fresh view of the 2026 talent pool.