2026 NFL draft: Top 5 centers, per Draft Wire
Draft Wire's Curt Popejoy has updated center rankings for the NFL draft.
The Arizona Cardinals seem set at center with Hjalte Froholdt expected to start for the fourth consecutive season. However, he enters the final year of his contract, and there is no clear replacement behind him should he depart in free agency. So it is completely reasonable to think the Cardinals could draft a center later this month.
Who are the best centers in the draft? Draft Wire's Curt Popejoy, in his offensive positional rankings , gives us the top five. Top 5 center prospects, per Draft Wire Connor Lew, Auburn Sam Hecht, Kansas State Parker Brailsford, Alabama Jake Slaughter, Florida Matt Gulbin, Michigan State Popejoy believes both Lew and Hecht will be Day 2 steals for a team.
The Cardinals probably wouldn't consider a center before Round 3, so watch for those names on Day 2 or the other guys on Day 3. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify , YouTube or Apple podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 2026 NFL draft: Top 5 centers, per Draft Wire