Top 10 Returners in the 2026 NFL Draft

For the second straight year, we’re looking at the draft’s best returners. We had a few hits a year ago, and we’ll try and meet or exceed that success this time around. Returners are more important than ever under the new kickoff rules the NFL implemented in 2024. Field position is critical, and it’s always nicer to start a drive at the 35 than at the 25. These top 10 returners in the 2026 NFL Draft will help teams do just that, so let’s meet them!

For this list, I’m only looking at players who had returning experience in college. An NFL team could use another player as a returner come training camp, but there’s no way to know how they’ll perform if they’ve never filled that role. The bulk of them are receivers, with a couple of RBs mixed in, but they all have speed and/or shiftiness. Interestingly, no defensive prospects made the cut this year. See the full list (starting with the #1 prospect) below!

Also, make sure to follow us on X/Twitter, where you can get in touch with us and be the first to know when a new post is up!

1. WR/KR/PR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa

We have to start with one of the best college returners in recent memory. No other player had more than Wetjen’s 4 total return TDs last season (1 KR, 3 PR). His 26.8-yard-per-PR average also paced all FBS players. At 5’9″, he’s small for a receiver, but he’s also prone to being lost by kick coverage teams. Wetjen’s 4.47-s 40 time is nothing to sneeze at either, showing that he has breakaway speed. What sets him apart though is his vision, which enables him to then use his quickness to hit holes with conviction. For the price of a 7th-round pick, a team could have a backup slot guy who would double as a prolific returner in the NFL.

2. RB/KR Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

I’ve stated several times now that Price is the best RB coming out of Notre Dame in this draft. When I’ve said that, I wasn’t even considering his special teams value. His vision as a runner translates extremely well to the KR game, where his 37.5 yards per return led all qualified players. Price took 2 kicks to the house last year, demonstrating both his long speed and acceleration. The only question with him is whether you’d want a good starting RB exposed on special teams. If he returns kicks in the pros though, he’ll be an asset. Price is a threat to go the distance on every touch because he’s just so hard to track down.

3. WR/PR/KR Caullin Lacy, Louisville

While Lacy has some experience returning kicks, he’s a premium punt returner. His physical profile is a lot like Wetjen’s. Lacy is 5’9″ but a tick slower at 4.55 s in the 40. What he lacks in elite speed he makes up for in short-area quickness. Lacy often makes the first defender miss after catching a punt, immediately changing the situation from no gain to a chance at breaking a big return. He broke to punt returns for scores last year, including a 93-yard masterpiece. I’m not sure that Lacy is in line to be drafted, so there’s practically no cost to bring him in for his special teams value. He can make a career out of that skill.

4. WR/PR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Concepcion might be higher if I wasn’t worried about his pro team being afraid to deploy him on special teams. He’s a potential first-round pick, and the slot receiver isn’t built to withstand too much extra punishment. There’s no denying that the man can fly though. He plays faster than his 4.46-s 40 time, and he broke two PR TDs last season. Concepcion often looks like he’s toying with the players trying to cover him. Some of his moves can’t be taught, and the way in which he earns yards after catches appears during his returns. It’s hard to tackle a man if you can’t get hands on him, and that’s where Concepcion shines.

5. WR/KR/PR Zachariah Branch, Georgia

I always give a little extra weight to players who return both kicks and punts due to their versatility. That gives Branch the 5th spot, as the next few players are close. Branch is flat-out fast, with a 4.35-s 40 time. He has both long speed and short-area quickness, making him very tough to bring down. Though he returned more often at USC, he had two TDs in 2023 (1 of each type) and has maintained good averages on his returns since then. Despite his 5’9″, 177-lb build, Branch is projected to be a day-2 pick. Perhaps he needs to bulk up slightly, but Branch is an electrifying weapon who can provide juice in the return game.

6. WR/KR Barion Brown, LSU

Unique among all players on this list, Brown returned six kicks for TDs during his college career. That tells you a lot about his explosiveness, which was confirmed by his Combine workout. Admittedly, those long TDs fluff Brown’s KR averages a bit, so he’s slightly boom or bust. However, with the NFL’s kickoff rules, Brown’s baseline return distance should be enhanced, and ST coaches will salivate at his ability to break one at any time. As a potential WR3 or backup player, Brown should only cost a late-round pick. Compared to other receivers expected to go in that range, Brown’s ST prowess makes him stand out.

7. WR/PR Hank Beatty, Illinois

Beatty had less opportunities in 2025 (13) than he did in 2024 (22), but he made the most of them. He finished 9th in the FBS in yards per PR (16.4) while also taking one to the house. Without a score the prior year, his average of 14.1 was a little lower but actually presents better due to improved consistency. There’s some variance in the 2025 numbers due to the small sample size, but we can say for sure that Beatty is a quality punt returner who should be available in rounds 6-7. If teams can draft punters in that range, they can take solid slot WRs who are also really good on special teams. Beatty may surprise people.

8. RB/KR Damon Bankston, New Mexico

I’ll admit that I’m projecting here with Bankston. He qualified for this list by having SOME college returning experience, but it wasn’t very much. In 4 years at Weber State, he returned just 4 kicks total. Upon joining UNM last year, he took 12 kicks for a whopping 434 yards and 2 scores. A TD every 6 returns is not sustainable, but he clearly comes with great potential. If you want bang for your buck, I’m not sure there’s a better option than Bankston. He’s a back who averages 5.6 YPC, catches the ball well out of the backfield, runs 4.43, and explodes on kick returns. All that and he might not even cost his pro team a draft pick.

9. WR/PR/KR Kevin Coleman Jr, Missouri

The well-traveled Coleman played at 4 schools in 4 years. He started at Jackson State, where he did a bit of KR work in 2022 and looked good. At Louisville the following year, he mostly handled punts but wasn’t fantastic. He improved as a PR at Mississippi State and Missouri in succession, culminating in his first return score with the Tigers in 2025. A productive slot receiver at several colleges, Coleman brings the requisite shiftiness for returning punts. He has good hands (so no muff fears) but a small frame (174 lbs). It should only take a mid-round pick to obtain him, and I really like his floor on both offense and special teams.

10. WR/KR Michael Wortham, Montana

For our last returner, I went with a guy who’s on almost nobody’s radar. Playing at an FCS school, Wortham didn’t get invited to the Combine despite his 1569 scrimmage yards and 17 total TDs in 2025. That alone tells you he has some skill, but let’s look specifically at the return aspect. Over 3 years, Wortham returned 91 kicks for 2,528 yards and a TD with zero muffs. He has an insane amount of experience and consistent production. His 4.48-s 40 time is legit, and the gadget player is simply a joy to watch with the ball in his hands. For a guy who you could probably get as a UDFA, why not give Wortham a shot?