2026 NFL Draft watch: Owen McCown, TJ Finley, and the AAC’s top prospects

As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, the American Athletic Conference (AAC) continues to produce intriguing prospects, including University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) quarterback Owen McCown, Memphis offensive lineman Xavier Hill, and Tulane quarterback TJ Finley, who are all poised to draw interest from NFL scouts.

The AAC features one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft in East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel, who ranked 23rd on NFL Mocks' January Big Board. The AAC also had the second-most players drafted among the group of four conferences in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This offseason, the conference was hit hard by the transfer portal, losing several top prospects to bigger programs. Notable departures include quarterback Chandler Morris to Virginia, running back Makhi Hughes to Oregon, and cornerback Dontae Balfour to Texas Tech. Despite these losses, the AAC still has several intriguing prospects who will garner NFL interest next year.

3 AAC players to watch in the 2026 NFL Draft

Owen McCown, QB, UTSA

UTSA quarterback Owen McCown comes from a strong football pedigree—his father, Josh, and uncle, Luke, both enjoyed long NFL careers. A talented left-handed passer, McCown is one of the top small-school quarterbacks in the Group of Five. Last season, he threw for 3,434 yards and 25 touchdowns while keeping turnovers in check with just 10 interceptions.

Xavier Hill, OG, Memphis

Memphis offensive lineman Xavier Hill enters the 2025 season with a late-round draft grade on my board. His most notable trait is his raw power, making him an ideal fit for a gap-blocking scheme at the next level. A first-team All-AAC selection, Hill also offers versatility, having played every offensive line position except center.

TJ Finley, QB, Tulane

Tulane quarterback TJ Finley is an intriguing prospect with the physical tools to attract NFL scouts. Standing at 6-foot-7 and 238 pounds, he possesses impressive arm strength. However, his draft stock will depend on a strong bounce-back season. Finley struggled last year at Western Kentucky—his fourth of five college stops—appearing in just three games and throwing for 490 yards with one touchdown. Yet, his time at Texas State demonstrated his potential, as he set the school’s passing record and landed on the Senior Bowl watch list. If he can recapture that form at Tulane this season, he could emerge as a late-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.