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Mendoza and Love Dominate the Top Tier
Fernando Mendoza didn’t just throw in Indianapolis; he launched missiles. The Indiana quarterback solidified his QB1 status after a flawless 16-0 national championship run and a staggering 91.6 overall grade. He reads the field with cold precision, dissecting secondary coverages before the snap.
On the ground, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love separated himself from the pack. The Doak Walker Award winner blasted through drills, backing up his 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Watching Love hurdle defenders on tape brings back memories of vintage workhorse backs. He runs angry. He punishes tacklers. Love isn’t just a prospect; he carries the weight of a young man who fought through high school injuries just to get a Division I scholarship offer. That grit showed up when he clocked a blazing 4.36-second 40-yard dash under the stadium lights.
The Front Seven Rebuild
Scouts froze when Ohio State’s Arvell Reese hit the turf. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound linebacker moves like a defensive back. He racked up 69 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season, blanketing tight ends in coverage and blowing up run plays in the backfield. Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey matched that intensity, proving his 14.5 sacks were no fluke with a blistering 4.50-second 40. The chilly wind during his Lubbock pro day didn’t deter the evaluators, who turned the sidelines into a sea of NFL team jackets just to watch him bend the edge.
“I didn’t come here to run around cones. I came here to prove I’m the most violent edge rusher in this class. Check the tape.”
— David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Draft Implications / What Comes Next
The Steelers sit in a fascinating spot approaching April. The offensive line needs bullies, and Utah’s Spencer Fano or Miami’s Francis Mauigoa fit the exact profile of a Pittsburgh trench warrior. Both move defensive tackles against their will. But the sheer depth of this defensive class gives General Manager Omar Khan massive leverage. He can let the board fall to him.
If a generational talent like Ohio State safety Caleb Downs slides due to positional value, Pittsburgh must pull the trigger. Downs bagged 68 tackles and two interceptions while erasing deep threats all season. He processes offensive motions pre-snap faster than most veteran safeties. Passing on a defensive quarterback of that caliber usually haunts a franchise for a decade.
This top 125 list forms the foundation. Expect fluid movement as we compile our final Depot draft grades over the next three weeks. The medical red flags will leak. The private workout whispers will spread. We track every rumor and verify every number before the commissioner steps up to the podium.
