Selecting a bust in the NFL Draft can set a franchise back for years, if not longer. Teams need to hit on all of their draft picks, but especially their first-round selections. At the end of the day, though, sometimes even the most highly touted prospects fail to successfully make the transition from collegiate to professional ball. So, which 2026 NFL Draft prospects have major bust potential?
5. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, RB
Jeremiyah Love is the clear-cut top running back prospect in this draft. Some even view him as a generational ball carrier, and it is possible he will become a rare running back in this era to be drafted within the first five picks. It is somewhat unfair to say he has bust potential, because it does seem more likely that Love will become a top-tier running back in the NFL.
However, it is a risky proposition anytime a team invests such premier draft capital into the running back position. Career lifespans at the position just aren’t all that long, and teams oftentimes don’t want to give a second contract to players at the position because of the beating they take.
The good news is that Love is coming into the NFL with plenty of tread left on the tires. He was backed up by Jadarian Price at Notre Dame, who happens to be the number two running back in this draft class according to most experts. Price afforded Love the opportunity to stay fresh and not overwork himself in college. That is great for his NFL outlook, but Love’s draft projection still makes it very likely that he can become a draft bust.
4. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, WR
While thin at running back and quarterback, the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with receivers. There is plenty of depth at the position, including players who will be drafted late in the first round, and others who should be drafted high but could fall due to the surplus of players at the position. There are even some great late-round gems in the pass-catching department.
What most is getting fans excited is the big three of receivers, all of whom could be top 15 or even top 10 selections. That elite group of receivers includes Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson. Of that group, the Arizona State receiver seems like the most likely not to become elite.
For starters, Tate and Lemon had better numbers last season. They also have more clearly translatable skill sets for the next level. Tate’s hands are already top of the line, and Lemon is an elite route runner who should shine in getting open from day one. Tyson, meanwhile, is a little bit more of a boom or bust prospect. Tyson has had some major drop issues, and his medical history is a concern.
3. Keldric Faulk, Auburn, Edge
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There are plenty of edge rushers projected to go within the first two rounds of the 2026 Draft, so NFL teams in need of pass rushing help should avoid Keldric Faulk. Faulk is extremely raw and has very little collegiate production. The Auburn product had just two sacks this past season and only 10 over three years with the Tigers.
Getting after the quarterback, which is Faulk’s primary role, won’t come with any more ease against NFL competition. Faulk does have all the physical traits, but Shemar Stewart was the most recent example in a long line of players who were physically gifted but lacked collegiate production and didn’t pan out at the next level.
If Faulk does figure out the nuances of football, he has all the potential in the world. These high-risk, high-reward players bust out of the NFL far too often, though.
2. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, LB
Jacob Rodriguez has become a draft darling for the Twitter scouting community. Fans love the production he put up at Texas Tech. As a senior, the linebacker had 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. Rodriguez is a fast off-ball linebacker who covers a lot of space and can stop the run from sideline to sideline.
He also thrives in coverage, which is a necessity for linebackers in the modern game. However, Rodriguez is far from perfect, which is why NFL teams seem to be lower on him than Twitter users. For starters, Rodriguez is just 231 pounds. He may struggle, especially in the run, against bigger and more athletic players at the next level. Rodriguez isn’t necessarily advanced at plugging rushing lanes.
He also has short arms. That, combined with his slight frame, will make it tough for Rodriguez when offensive linemen get a hold of him. Rodriguez seems like a better college player than NFL player, and that is why he has serious bust potential.
1. Ty Simpson, Alabama, QB
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The 2026 NFL Draft is thin at the quarterback position. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza is slated to go first overall after leading Indiana to one of the best seasons in college football history, but there is next to no quarterback talent behind him in this class. The list of other quarterbacks who are hoping to hear their names called on draft day includes Ty Simpson, Garrett Nussmeier, Cole Payton, Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Diego Pavia, and Taylen Green.
Most of those players are projected to be mid-to-late round draft choices, though, if not undrafted free agents. Simpson is the one quarterback besides Mendoza that has a chance to go in round one. Teams get desperate for quarterbacks and often reach for players at the position, and if a franchise did that with Simpson in the first round, it would be a huge mistake.
The Alabama quarterback only has one year of collegiate starting experience. That alone is a red flag, but he also doesn’t have nearly as high of a ceiling as other raw quarterback prospects that have declared for the draft in the past. Simpson really struggled in the back half of his season with Alabama, too.
At 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, Simpson doesn’t necessarily look the part of a star quarterback. His arm strength and accuracy leave a lot to be desired, and while Simpson can scramble, he isn’t an elite running quarterback, either. Simpson has draft bust written all over him, especially if he does end up being drafted within the first 32 picks.
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