2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Three quarterbacks, a handful of defensive linemen, and some surprises headline the first mock draft of the year.

We’re back. It’s always NFL Draft season for us, but with the college football season coming to a close and the NFL playoffs a month away, the world is ready to join us. This class stacks up interestingly to recent ones, with the potential for three first-round quarterbacks — one more than last year — and a trio of wideouts that would land in the first round in almost any year. The trenches have a bunch of dudes, and this linebacker class is a lot of fun.

Projecting trades in mock drafts is nearly impossible. Still, with the current draft order, it feels inevitable given the supply and demand for quarterbacks (I limited it to one trade because I’m a coward). I’m using the current order instead of projecting, since there’s so much to sort out.

1. Cleveland Browns (from TEN) | Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Trade details: CLE sends No. 7, No. 39, a 2027 first-round pick, and Jerry Jeudy to TEN for No. 1, No. 101, and JC Latham.

While most NFL Draft analysts think the Browns will have Fernando Mendoza as their No. 1 quarterback, I think they’ll roll with the smarter, younger, higher-upside option in Moore. The Oregon quarterback has been on a heater over the last month, and he’ll have more opportunities to prove he should be the top quarterback in the College Football Playoff. He doesn’t have the biggest arm, but his athleticism, ability to layer the ball, and anticipation separate him from the rest of this class.

2. New York Giants | Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Giants have plenty of needs, but the No. 1 priority should be keeping Jaxson Dart on the field. Jermaine Eluemanor has been fine this season, but they need a young, long-term option at right tackle to keep this offense as efficient as it’s been with Dart under center. Fano wasn’t as dominant this year as he was in 2024, but his movement skills and athleticism are easily the best in class.

3. New Orleans Saints | Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Reese has been a revelation this season, with Matt Patricia’s arrival as the defensive coordinator unlocking him in ways most NFL teams could. Reese will receive Micah Parsons comparisons, mostly because he’s not yet refined as a pure edge rusher, but not quite good enough in coverage to be a pure linebacker. That said, he’s an athletic freak with the tools to become one of the NFL’s elite defensive forces, and the Saints need playmakers on that side of the ball.

4. Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

While the Raiders definitely need more than just a quarterback to fix their issues, it’ll be hard to pass on Mendoza. The Indiana star won’t wow anyone with physical tools, though he has more than enough arm strength to push to all three levels with zip. He is excellent pre-snap, and his carefulness and playmaking ability give him high upside. He’s probably just prime Kirk Cousins, but most teams would love that level of quarterback play. The Raiders certainly would.

5. Tennessee Titans (from CLE) | Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

After snagging Jerry Jeudy in the trade, the Titans double down to snag Carnell Tate, the star wideout from Ohio State. Tate developed significantly as a true junior, improving his route running and generating more separation, while keeping his elite ball-winning ability that naturally comes with his 6-foot-three frame. Tate has kept pace with 2027 WR1 Jeremiah Smith this year, and his stock should continue to rise. The Titans have struggled to put pieces around Cam Ward, with rookie fourth-rounder Chimere Dike stepping up as the leading wideout in Calvin Ridley’s extended absences. They need to retool the entire room, and adding Jeudy and Tate would get that process started.

6. Washington Commanders | Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Commanders have just 26 sacks on the season, and their inability to field a competent pass-rush on the edges has been problematic in a handful of games. Bain is going to be a prospect most people overthink, if only because he has short arms and could be considered vertically challenged for the edge position. However, he’s an elite athlete with absurd bend around the edge, and a motor that gives him double-digit sack upside. He’d be the best value pick, thus far.

7. New York Jets | Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Simpson’s inclusion in this draft is still very much a question, as his potentially final performance against Georgia was abysmal. Still, he is the best quarterback in the draft at reading the field, has enough athleticism and arm talent to offer upside (and arguably more upside than Mendoza). He is generally accurate to all three levels, and the heater he went on throughout the middle of Alabama’s season was as good as any quarterback prospect film I’ve watched in the last few years. The Jets just need someone who throws with anticipation (and a new offensive coordinator, but that’s another article), and Simpson excels there.

8. Arizona Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (FL)

Mauigoa is an interesting player to gauge, as most NFL teams will likely agree that his best NFL position will be inside. Fortunately for Arizona, they need both tackle and guard, and snagging a player with massive upside as a run blocker and one of the best anchors in the class would do wonders for a run game that tends to succeed no matter who is at running back. The Cardinals are my darkhorse to trade up for one of the three quarterbacks, though.

9. Los Angeles Rams | Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Rams taking a wideout makes no sense when you consider what Davante Adams has done in his age-32 season. But he’s 32, Matthew Stafford has very little time remaining in his career, and the Rams should be in full pursuit of a short-term dynasty. Tutu Atwell is a free agent, and replacing him with Lemon, a super-charged slot with outside versatility, an absurd catch radius, and unlimited playmaking ability, would be one of the most significant upgrades possible.

10. Cincinnati Bengals | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs is a top-five player in this class, but the nature of the safety position suggests he’ll fall out of that range. Still, he’s arguably the best safety prospect in the last decade — only Kyle Hamilton can challenge him — due to his unreal football intelligence, toughness, and athleticism. Downs would change the identity of a Bengals defense that has disappointed regularly in 2025.

11. Minnesota Vikings | Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

While the Vikings definitely have larger needs, it’s critical to have a strong running game if they’re going to continue giving J.J. McCarthy a shot, a reality I expect despite the dreadful start to his career. Leaning on a player like Love, arguably a better prospect than Ashton Jeanty was in 2025, would make life easier for Kevin O’Connell and company. Love is an athletic freak with patience, quick feet, and elite contact balance. He’s the clear No. 1 back in the class, and he could easily wind up a top-ten pick when the draft process plays out.

12. Miami Dolphins | Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Dolphins have plenty of issues to fix, but the main problem is that they’re softer than Charmin along their offensive line. Proctor isn’t what most people envision when they think of an ideal Dolphins offensive lineman, but the Dolphins need to reconsider what they believe is their ideal offensive lineman. Proctor is a mammoth with excellent movement skills and enough to work with as a pass protector to feel good about his upside (he’s still a work in progress there).

13. Kansas City Chiefs | Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Woods reminds me of Byron Murphy, the Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle who dominated at Texas a few years ago. Woods had more modest production, but he offers more as a run defender than Murphy did as a prospect. His elite athleticism and ability to use powerful hands and understand leverage give him the upside to be one of the NFL’s premier defensive linemen, and lining him up next to Chris Jones would make the Chiefs’ defensive line look significantly better.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers | Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Steelers have a severe wide receiver problem, with just DK Metcalf offering above-average play throughout 2025. Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson have had moments, and the team prefers to use 800 tight ends instead of wideouts, but they still need to upgrade. Tyson is among the big three who will be considered WR1 differently across all 32 teams, and his ability to complement Metcalf would likely make him one of the top options for Pittsburgh. His route running is unmatched in the class, and his body control and ability to generate yards after the catch give him a No. 1 option upside in the NFL.

15. Carolina Panthers | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders won the Big 12 this weekend, mainly due to their elite defensive line, headlined by Bailey and another player we’ll discuss shortly. Bailey is a good athlete with absurd bend and a high motor, which has led to 29 career sacks — 14 this season. His 74 pressures lead college football, and the Panthers could use a Brian Burns replacement a few years later. What better way than to get a new version of Brian Burns?

16. Dallas Cowboys | Keldrick Faulk, EDGE/DT, Auburn

The Cowboys invested in the interior of their defensive line this season, but also traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Replacing that pass rush is critical if they plan to be in “win-now” mode, as Jerry Jones continues to parrot. Faulk is a high-upside athlete with flashes of brilliance as both a pass-rusher and run defender. He hasn’t yet put it all together, and he’ll be compared to Mykel Williams throughout this process for those reasons. He would join Donovan Ezeiruaku, Quinnen Williams, and Osa Odighizuwa to form one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

17. Detroit Lions | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

While Mansoor Delane has had a more recent great season due to McCoy's season-ending injury in January, the latter is still going to be CB1 for quite a few teams. When we last saw him, he was getting cooked by Jeremiah Smith, which minimized one of the most impressive cornerback seasons I’ve seen since I watched Sauce Gardner’s Cincinnati film. The Lions have a significant problem in their secondary. Terrion Arnold hasn’t lived up to expectations yet, and D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin have struggled throughout 2025. McCoy’s propensity to win in press-man coverage would give them what they thought they were getting in Arnold.

18. Houston Texans | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Texans are a strange team, mostly because I don’t think they’ll be picking this high when all is said and done. On top of that, their primary needs don’t align with this pick. So insert Sadiq, the absurdly athletic tight end with a tenacity not often seen out of undersized players at the position, elite receiving skills, and the upside to be an Evan Engram (Good Blocker Version). The team likes their current tight end room, but with the reliance on the position in the offense, they’ll likely look to double down and strengthen that strength this offseason.

19. Baltimore Ravens | Gennings Dunker, OT/G, Iowa

The Ravens are giving up an unusually high amount of sacks this season. A lot of the blame can go to Lamar Jackson, who has struggled in uncharacteristic ways after returning from his injury. Still, the team should look to upgrade its offensive line, where Roger Rosengarten and Daniel Faalele make up the right side. Dunker is a Ravens-type, with elite movement skills and run-blocking ability, and enough athleticism to continue improving as a pass blocker. His best position may be at guard, but I think teams would prefer to try him on the outside first.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Lavonte David is in his LeBron Era, but the one LeBron is in right now (apologies if you don’t watch basketball). SirVocea Dennis hasn’t taken the step forward the team projected, and the team desperately needs a stronger linebacker room. Insert Styles, one of the most improved players in college football. Styles comes with immense upside, a better understanding of the position (he’s a former safety), and some of the best range in the class. In this scenario, the Buckeyes send two of their linebackers into the first round after their inevitable national championship.

21. Buffalo Bills | Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Bills have more holes in their roster than most would have projected before the 2025 season, but most of them can be attributed to a poor offensive coordinator. They’ve actually excelled in pass defense this year, and Christian Benford has remained an excellent player. They drafted Maxwell Hairston last year, and there have been signs of high upside in his play, but his health has been problematic. Tre White is their other option currently, and they’re going to need a solution there. Insert Delane, who gives them more flexibility to play more man coverage. Delane has been the best corner in the nation at LSU this year, with blanket coverage, elite click-and-close ability, and remarkable ball skills. He’s a different flavor, but he’s also arguably the best player available here.

22. Philadelphia Eagles | T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

The Eagles love to draft players whose stock “fell” throughout the year and draft process, and Parker is certainly in that bucket. The team felt the need to add two edge rushers midseason (Brandon Graham, fresh out of retirement, and Jaelan Phillips from Miami), indicating they’ve been disappointed with the output of their edge room. Phillips has been unreal since joining Philadelphia, and he looks like a long-term piece. Nolan Smith has provided some good snaps, but he hasn’t quite put it all together yet. Parker gives them something different: a strong edge-setting, run-defending, powerful edge rusher. This is not-so-quietly a spot for a wideout, for what it’s worth.

23. New York Jets (from IND) | KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Concepcion has put together an excellent season after a down year last year (it helps when you have good quarterback play). He’s one of the best route runners in the class, has elite acceleration out of his stems, and is a menace with the ball in his hands. The Jets have precisely one good receiver, and that wouldn’t be good enough for a rookie quarterback to succeed with. They add to the barren room here.

24. San Francisco 49ers | Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The 49ers completely retooled their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they continue to build it here (they need a wide receiver, but I think they will go with a veteran instead). McDonald should have been off the board earlier, but that’s just not how the board fell. He’s a massive people-mover who understands leverage and hand utilization remarkably well. He eats up the middle of the Ohio State defense and allows the linebackers and safeties the freedom just to play cleanup duty. He’s also underrated as a pass-rusher. The 49ers would roll into 2026 with a slew of high-upside defensive linemen to make another run at the Super Bowl in 2027.

25. Los Angeles Chargers | Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Chargers found a midseason solution in their edge room by acquiring Odafe Oweh, giving them the flexibility to invest in the interior defensive line. Banks missed most of 2025 with an injury, but his late-season flashes indicate the upside he generates with his powerful hands and ability to eat space in the middle remain. He can’t tackle, but he gets in the backfield as a pass rusher more often than players his size should. There’s some Akiem Hicks in his game, and he would fit in nicely with an already good group of defensive linemen.

26. Cleveland Browns (from JAX) | Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas

I was shocked at how much I liked Goosby when I visited the film. Only a redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-seven elite athlete popped off the film on occasion this year. Of course, he could very well go back to school. But if Texas doesn’t make the playoffs (they’re not likely to), the last time we see Goosby in 2025 will be easily his best film as a pass blocker, an indication things may be starting to click. If he declares, he may go higher than this on athletic upside alone.

27. Dallas Cowboys (from GB) | Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

I want to be clear that Hill’s 2025 film has not been first-round worthy. I would argue his 2024 film showed some concerning things, too. Still, I believe he’s a traits-based, upside pick that the Cowboys can afford with a second first-rounder. He still has impeccable football intelligence, works excellently downhill (pun intended), and can continue to improve as a coverage defender. He reminds me a lot of Roquan Smith.

28. Seattle Seahawks | Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

The Seahawks going interior offensive line two years in a row sounds crazy until you consider how bad their interior offensive line has been over the last few years. It still is, with Anthony Bradford struggling throughout a lot of this season. If the Seahawks want Sam Darnold to continue succeeding, they need to protect him from interior pressure a lot better. Ioane is easily the best pass protector in the interior offensive line class, with an anchor that compares to Tyler Booker from last year, and the athleticism to be a mover in the run game, something the Seahawks will require in their offensive linemen.

29. Los Angeles Rams | Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State

The debate for the second group of cornerbacks will be interesting throughout this draft process, but I’m going with massive riser Abney to the Rams here. Abney has been remarkable for two straight years, with excellent ball skills, some unmatched mirror ability, and the speed to carry fast wideouts vertically. Quarterbacks are completing under 50% of the balls they throw Abney’s way, and their passer rating is just 46.1. Abney should continue to rise throughout the next few months.

30. Denver Broncos | Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech

I struggle with the Broncos if Kenyon Sadiq isn’t on the board, mostly because they don’t exactly have any team needs (I know that sounds crazy, but on paper and in practice, they’re one of the best-constructed teams in the NFL). Still, they get Height here, a standup edge rusher in the Nik Bonitto mold who can offer more depth and upside than some of the team’s rotational pieces. Height has arguably been better than David Bailey this year, but his age will likely push him behind his former teammate. He’s the type of bendy edge that the Broncos have found success with, though, and he could add a ton of flexibility to a Super Bowl-contending roster.

31. Chicago Bears | Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Jaylon Johnson’s lack of availability has really hurt the Bears’ defense this year, and Tyrique Stevenson has reverted to his inconsistent version that talked trash to fans before blowing coverage on a Hail Mary and causing toxic quarterback discourse because of QB Winz™. I digress. Cisse and Abney are in the same group of sticky coverage defenders with great change-of-direction and ball skills. They’re the same size, too. Cisse would vastly improve the upside of the Bears’ secondary.

32. New England Patriots | Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

I’d love to draft a tackle here, but I don’t think there’s one worthy of a first-round pick here. I expect Caleb Lomu to return to school (he should), and the others have so many holes in their game that it’s challenging to bring them into the back of the first. The consolation prize, Boston, would be a direct replacement for Mack Hollins as a sure-handed possession receiver who can inject juice into an offense when it’s struggling to move the ball. He’s a good route runner, especially for his size, and he fits the mold of receiver the Patriots have excelled with in 2025. Another new weapon for what should be a Super Bowl-contending team.

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