Miami saw 7 players get drafted in the 2025 NFL draft. Here’s a quick list of early candidates to join them in 2026.
The Miami Hurricanes had a strong showing in the 2025 NFL Draft. Not only was QB Cam Ward selected #1 overall by the Tennessee Titans, but 6 other Hurricanes were drafted over the course of the 3 day draft held in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
As we turn the clock to the 2025 CFB season, let’s take a second and make a quick list of the players on this roster who could be the next crop of NFL draftees.
Potential 1st rounders
Obviously, this is the thing people want to discuss most. So, of course, this is where I’m starting.
RT Francis Mauigoa
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He’s probably the best player on the roster, and has the pedigree for a 1st round pick. There have been a plethora of comparisons made between Mauigoa and former Oregon and Detroit Lions star Penei Sewell…for good reason. They have similar stature, similar performance, and have both been recruited and developed by Cristobal and Mirabal.
A starter since the moment he set foot on campus in Coral Gables, Mauigoa has everything a team could want as a high-end NFL draft pick on a fast track to starting and being a franchise cornerstone. Only a true junior, Mauigoa could come back to Miami after this upcoming season. But, with a strong performance, he should fulfill the predictions from many of us of “3 years then a 1st round draft pick” and move on to the NFL a year from now. There are other good candidates, but Mauigoa is my most likely pick to be a 1st rounder in 2026.
QB Carson Beck
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Already with nearly 8,000 yards and 60 TDs to his credit, Beck is a known commodity at the highest levels of college football. He’s a household name from his 2 years starting at the University of Georgia, and he’s stepping into the shoes vacated by the current #1 overall draft pick: Cam Ward.
When you consider the fact that QB has such a high relative value, there is an easy logical path for Beck to ascend into the 1st round of next year’s draft. He’s going to have every opportunity to put his name and game in front of every NFL team yet again, and with a strong year of performance, and GROWTH in his skillset (something that Cam Ward clearly showed in his year at Miami), there’s a chance Beck follows him into the 1st round in 2026.
LT Markel Bell
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Okay. Before you start reacting emotionally, hear me out. Bell is the prototype at Left Tackle, a 6’9” 340lb monster with size, strength, wingspan and quick feet. A transfer from Holmes Community College, Bell immediately worked his way into the rotation on Miami’s OL. And, when starting LT Jalen Rivers missed 5 games with a knee injury, Bell was the ready-made pick to step in and start.
Bell wasn’t perfect, but the growth and development of his game over the course of the 2024 season was incredible. He was so good, in fact, that Miami continued to play him even after Rivers returned from injury. Miami rotated their left side of the OL with the LT-LG pairs of Rivers and Matthew McCoy, and Bell and Rivers, playing nearly identical amounts of snaps.
Now, including Bell as a potential 1st round NFL Draft pick is admittedly a bit speculative. But, when you combine his immense size, project consistent (or greater) growth with another full year at Miami, and the elite developmental track record of Cristobal and Mirabal, it’s not hard to see Bell elevating into the 1st round. Bell was among the most talked about players from Miami’s Pro Day in March…..and he didn’t even participate. But multiple NFL execs were seen talking to the massive tackle, and I’m sure he’s on the radar as a potential high draft pick because of that. There’s work to be done to get there, but it’s very possible that Bell could be firmly in the conversation for the top of the 2026 NFL draft when all is said and done.
DL Rueben Bain
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The last player on this part of the list, Bain is another top recruit (like Mauigoa) who has displayed elite talent, but has also battled his fair share of injuries.
Bain burst onto the scene and won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023. He was a terror all year, with 9.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks, which also earned him 3rd team All-ACC honors along with defensive ROY. The talented defender took a step back in 2024, when he sustained a hamstring injury on the 2nd play of the season in a 41-17 win at Florida, and was never the same the rest of the year. He returned to action, but he was clearly affected by the hamstring injury, and that impacted his performance in 2024.
Now, down about 15lbs and looking to regain the explosiveness he showed as a freshman, Bain looks to reintroduce himself to the NFL draft world with a strong performance in 2025. He, like Mauigoa, will be a true junior this upcoming season, so there’s the chance he returns for his senior season in 2026. Either way, he’s a potential 1st round NFL Draft pick if he performs like he did as a freshman and shrugs off the injury woes that plagued him in 2024.
Mid Round Picks (Round 2-4)
OL Anez Cooper
If there’s anyone who I think could elevate themselves into the upper group, it’s Cooper. A massive 6’6” 330lb Guard, Cooper has been a mainstay on Miami’s OL for the last 3 years. He was a revelation as a freshman, playing in 10 games and starting the last 4. Since then, he’s paired with the previously discussed Francis Mauigoa on Miami’s formidable right side of the offensive line, continued his growth and development, and been a standout player in his own right.
A two-time honorable mention All-ACC player, Cooper could easily elevate himself into the upper portion of the next NFL Draft with another strong season in 2025. There were 7 Guards drafted in the top 3 rounds of this year’s NFL Draft, and Cooper profiles as well as those players, if not better. With another year of development under Cristobal and Mirabal, Cooper should easily be a top 3 round pick this time next April.
RB Mark Fletcher Jr.
A powerful 6’2” 225lb back, Fletcher Jr. could work his way into the conversation for a top 4 round pick in 2026.
With more than 1100 yards and 14 TDs in 2 years, Fletcher Jr. has proven himself to be a valuable RB on a dynamic and explosive offense. He improved his statistics from his freshman to sophomore season, and with another step forward as he takes over the starting role from Damien Martinez, there’s a world in which Fletcher makes himself into a top 4 round pick. This is of course assuming he develops, and his performance matches the development and scales with more snaps. Those factors, combined with the low positional value of RBs (meaning they need to go get the NFL money while they can) could combine to make see Fletcher emerge as a mid round pick in 2026. And before you ask, I don’t think he has the explosive athleticism of other backs that have been taken in the 1st round recently, so that’s why I’m projecting him a bit lower.
LB Wesley Bissainthe
A 4 year player on Miami’s defense, Bissainthe has physical traits NFL teams covet, and a strong (if imperfect) history of performance to his credit. Bissainthe was a blue chip recruit and has been a foundational player to Miami’s defense for years.
Bissainthe will have every opportunity to lead a retooling Miami defense in 2025. And, in doing so, round out his draft profile and entice an NFL team to pick him before the end of day 2. A stout 6’2” 220+lbs, Bissainthe has the size needed to be an impact player at this position both at the college and NFL levels. He will need a big year and plenty of impact plays to elevate himself up to this level of the draft. Else, he could slip to day 3.
Late round picks (rounds 5-7)
DL Akheem Mesidor – A very talented player, Mesidor has struggled with injuries in his last 2 years at Miami. He has the versatility to play both inside and outside on the DL, which could help his draft stock. He’ll need a very strong season to move up into the mid-round conversation, especially if he doesn’t post eye-popping numbers on the athletic testing drills in the Draft Evaluation process.
DT David Blay – a breakout player last year for Louisiana Tech, Blay looks to step into a major role with Miami and elevate his draft stock. Blay clearly has size, talent, and produced at a high level in 2024: 46 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks en route to first team All-Conference USA accolades. If he performs similarly (even with his numbers falling a bit as he steps up to a higher level of competition), Blay could be a draft candidate in 2026.
WR CJ Daniels – He’s a couple of years removed from his breakout year at Liberty, Daniels could be the top receiver for Miami and work his way into draft consideration. There have been several productive Miami receivers who have been undrafted recently though, so he’ll really have to play well and test well to buck that trend.
WR/KR Keelan Marion – a recent transfer portal commit, the standout receiver was an All-American return man for BYU. If he shows the same game-breaking ability for Miami that he did for BYU, he could easily work his way into draft consideration.
LB Jaylin Alderman – A solid rotation player at both Louisville and Miami in his career, a solid year and good athletic testing could put Alderman on the radar for a late round draft pick in 2026.
C James Brockermeyer – we know Miami’s ability to develop OL is paramount, and Brockermeyer looks to benefit from it. He’s a former blue chip recruit who played major snaps at both Alabama and TCU before transferring to Miami for his final season. A strong year alongside the likes of Bell, McCoy, Cooper, and Mauigoa could pave the way for Brockermeyer to be drafted in 2026.
OL Matthew McCoy – The player on the OL with the highest variability for draft potential. I think McCoy is definitely a draft pick, but I’m no sure 2026 is the year for him to go. He’ll hopefully (for me) be the starter at LG again, and without having to rotate like last year, he could elevate his stock a good amount. As of now I think he’s a low-round prospect for the 2026 draft, but would be in the mid-round range in 2027. But, if McCoy is the subject of that magic Miami OL development in a major way in 2025, I could see him leaving to be drafted this year as well.
DT Ahamad Moten Sr. – Moten Sr.’s development at Miami has been nothing short of perfection. He’s become a top of the rotation player at DT, and that figures to continue. If he has a strong season, he could reasonably work his way into the conversation for the 2026 draft. Like McCoy, I think another 2 years at Miami would help boost his draft stock further, but he could work his way into a decent draft grade for 2026 as well.
K Bert Auburn – a standout kicker for 3 years at Texas, Auburn recently transferred to Miami to take over after the end of the Borregales kicking dynasty. With last year’s kicker getting drafted, Auburn could follow that same path if he continues to make meaningful kicks for another potential playoff team.
Those are my thoughts on which Miami Hurricanes players are on the radar for the 2026 NFL Draft. Am I took high on someone? Too low? Did I miss someone altogether? Hop in the comments and let me know.