NFL announces 63 players who officially left college for the 2026 draft

The NFL has announced that 42 players have been granted special eligibility for the 2026 Draft, which will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Additionally, 21 underclassmen who have met degree requirements while retaining college football eligibility are also eligible for selection. Sixteen players applied for special eligibility by the early "soft" deadline on January 5, designed to aid in planning and invitations for all-star games, while 26 others met the traditional deadline of January 14. These players have complied with the NFL's three-year eligibility rule and have formally renounced their college eligibility. Players from the FBS National Championship Game have until January 23 to declare.