Northwestern’s 2026 NFL Draft prospects
It’s the most effective day of the yr: draft day.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins tonight (Thursday, April 23) with the primary spherical, adopted by the second and third rounds on Day 2 (Friday, April 24) and rounded out with rounds 4, 5, six and 7 on Day 3 (Saturday, April 25). For Northwestern, there may be one identify that’s virtually actually going to be known as, plus just a few others that might be introduced. Here are the Wildcats to regulate for the 2026 NFL Draft:
For Northwestern offensive linemen, the 2020s have been an enormous success by way of making the NFL. In 2021, Rashawn Slater was chosen thirteenth total by the Los Angeles Chargers. Two years later, in 2023, Peter Skoronski was taken eleventh total by the Tennessee Titans. Although it might be shocking to listen to Caleb Tiernan’s identify in Round 1, it needs to be penciled in that he is a Day 2 decide, or on the newest, an early Day 3 decide.
Offensive line comes at a premium within the NFL Draft, particularly this yr, the place a run on offensive tackles appears greater than inevitable. Tiernan would not essentially fall into the tier of being chosen as a part of the run on O-line, however the groups that do not get their man early will seemingly have a look at Tiernan close to the Round 2 to Round 3 flip. ESPN’s Jordan Reid launched a seven-round mock draft on April 20, 2026, during which he had Tiernan go to the Titans at decide No. 66, the second decide of the third spherical.
Tiernan brings expertise from his time enjoying at Northwestern, beginning in each sport throughout the final three seasons with the Wildcats. Tiernan was additionally on the roster similtaneously Skoronski, so he was capable of study from him and certain nonetheless will get recommendation from his time up to now within the NFL, particularly with Tiernan a candidate to maneuver inside to protect. He excels in cross safety and has a robust anchor — each issues which might be valued extremely by NFL groups — however at occasions struggled towards high-end athletes.
There are some issues about Tiernan’s arm size and hand dimension, making him a participant who will greater than seemingly bump inside to play guard on the skilled degree, with the power to nonetheless play on the skin if want be. His quickness and skill to dam whereas on the transfer additional improve his potential as a guard or a swing deal with who can ultimately elevate himself right into a beginning function.
My prediction: early to center of Round 3
Hubbard is the second Northwestern participant whose identify might be known as through the 2026 NFL. Before the 2025 school soccer season, the Wildcat edge rusher receiving all the excitement was Anto Saka. But now, Hubbard has outplayed his former teammate.
Hubbard completed his remaining collegiate season with a career-high 7.5 sacks, good for first on the Wildcats and ninth within the Big Ten. He did this in simply 11 video games as properly, lacking the ultimate two regular-season contests. The two seasons prior, Hubbard had six sacks in every season, together with his profession whole throughout 46 video games amounting to twenty.5 sacks.
Hubbard is healthier as a cross rusher than a run defender. His athleticism, mixed together with his change-of-direction, agility and burst, permits him to succeed when speeding the quarterback. The downside is that his dimension and power restrict him within the run sport, making his function on the skilled degree extra of a rotational cross rusher.
My prediction: mid-to-late seventh spherical
Beerntsen is the second Northwestern offensive lineman with a shot at getting drafted. If he have been to get chosen, it might virtually actually be on Day 3, and certain close to the tip of it in Round 7. Beerntsen has expertise, beginning in 51 collegiate video games. While the quantity of run he is gotten is nice, Beerntsen will likely be an older rookie after seven seasons of school soccer. This is one thing that might draw groups away from utilizing a decide on him.
In his lone season with the Wildcats, Beerntsen was a staple on one of many Big Ten’s finest O-lines, beginning all 13 video games and permitting zero sacks or quarterback hits. Per PFF, he has been graded out as a top-five guard within the Big Ten in run blocking and in common grade, whereas additionally being close to the highest at his place within the nation. Even although most of his profession was spent on the FCS degree, many NFL gamers have had profitable careers that got here from that background.
Beerntsen is a really sturdy run blocker, one thing NFL groups might see as a motive to take a shot on him, whilst a rotational guard (and even middle) early on. He strikes effectively, particularly for his dimension, and brings a variety of toughness. The foremost downside, other than being an older rookie, is that his dimension is not splendid for an NFL participant. If he needs to succeed, a transfer inside to middle is all of the almost definitely. His tape is constant within the run sport, however its size might be an issue within the NFL.
My prediction: late seventh spherical
