Christian Williams' Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft
With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, Christian Williams takes a look at the 2026 NFL Draft prospects.
The 2025 NFL Draft is behind us, and NFL scouts already have their eyes on next year’s prospects. Arch Manning is set to start at Texas, but the assumption is that he will stay for two seasons and push his name into the 2027 Goblet of Fire. Drew Allar, a player who would’ve undoubtedly been selected inside the top five last weekend, is back for another crucial year of development. The offensive tackle class is loaded, with a freak of nature at Alabama and a surprisingly impressive Big 12 player standing above the rest. Projecting the next group is always tough; late risers and underrated prospects move into the group as the college football season starts and progresses. Still, last year’s 1.0 nailed down 11 of the 32 first-round players, with many returning to school. Here’s how I see the 2026 NFL Draft, with a way-too-early lens.
The pick order was developed from reverse Super Bowl winner odds. I don’t wholly agree with this order; please do not yell at me in the comments.
Sure, the Saints took Tyler Shough with a top-40 pick last year. Still, if they’re picking first, something must have gone wrong. Allar displays every trait a high-level NFL quarterback possesses, and he likely would have been a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft had he declared. He must become more consistent this fall, but big performances against the top dogs on the way to a potential national championship for Penn State should vault him into No. 1 overall discussions.
The Browns have an offensive line problem brewing (among other issues), and what better way to address that than by taking the largest human available? Proctor’s flashes are as elite as any, and he has unlimited tools. He sometimes struggles with consistent foot speed and balance, but his ceiling is significantly higher than any of the 2025 offensive tackles.
First, I don’t expect the Jets to land here. If they do, a quarterback should be on the table. Here, they go with Woods, an elite, explosive defensive tackle with excellent gap control and burst when rushing the passer. Woods is a massive human at 6’3, 315 (he was 259 pounds in high school, showing off his commitment to rounding into a full-time defensive tackle), and I expect him to be a top-ten pick next year.
After getting their franchise quarterback and investing a top-75 pick on Femi Oladejo last weekend, the Titans return to the edge-rusher well for Parker. Parker’s length and power define his game, with 16.5 sacks, six fumbles forced, and 90 tackles during his first two seasons. He won’t display the most bend in the 2026 class, but he’s a pro-ready, double-digit sack upside player who should hear his name called early next spring.
Candidly, Fano is currently better than Proctor. He’s one of the better offensive tackles I’ve evaluated in the last few years. Still, Proctor has slightly more upside, pushing him to OT1, and the Giants reap the rewards. Fano is an excellent mover with powerful hands and outstanding technique. He would have been a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that doesn’t change here.
McCoy is the prototypical island corner, with excellent strength and physicality in press-man coverage, outstanding athleticism, and ball skills to compete with the NFL’s best. Jeremiah Smith put that projection to the test in the College Football Playoff last year, and McCoy had one of his worst games, so evaluators will hope to see more consistency against the top talent in 2025.
The Colts' quiet tanking for Arch Manning in 2027 shouldn’t be ruled out, but I have them resetting their quarterback timeline under a new regime in this scenario. Klubnik was the most underrated quarterback in 2026 quarterback discussions until Jordan Reid made him the first pick in his way-too-early mock for ESPN, as his development with field vision, ball placement, and confidence down the stretch indicated a huge rise could be on the horizon. Especially with the talent Clemson boasts at wideout in 2025.
Downs will likely be my No. 1 player in the class, but positional value pushes him down the board slightly. He excels in every facet of the game, with outstanding football IQ, coverage skills, tackling ability, and playmaking talent. Downs is in the Kyle Hamilton tier of safety prospects, and he’ll grade out as a blue-chip prospect when I finalize grades next spring.
Overton took a massive leap in 2024 after arriving at Alabama, but the production didn’t follow. He’s an explosive player with long arms and can play multiple positions along the defensive line. After generating 39 pressures in 2024, Overton will look to become a more dominant sack producer and work his way into the top ten of next year’s draft.
The 2026 wide receiver class has more questions than answers. Tate served as the No. 3 wideout on his own team, and he’ll be the No. 2, at best, in 2025. Still, he’s a tall player with smooth movement skills, playing for a program that’s putting wideouts in the first round at a higher rate than any other school. He’ll need to continue developing as a route runner; with his expanded role, I expect a giant leap.
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The WR1 debate will include Tyson if his medicals hold up, though every year he plays, the likelihood of that decreases; he’s had a knee injury, an arm injury, and a collarbone injury since hitting the college field. Still, when healthy, he’s one of the nation’s top receivers with impressive twitch and the ability to get upfield in a hurry. Tyson finished his 2024 with three 100+ yard games, and I anticipate his connection with QB Sam Leavitt will continue to be fruitful.
The Cowboys scooped up Shavon Revel Jr. at a surprising value in the third round last weekend, but they still need more. DaRon Bland is set to hit free agency following the 2025 season, and Kaiir Elam is a projected starter. Insert Muhammad, the Texas corner with immense upside. Muhammad sometimes struggled with uncertainty in 2024, and he’ll need to improve against the run. Still, his athleticism and stickiness in coverage give him the upside to go in the top half of the first round next spring.
While Fano is the prize of the Utah offensive line, Lomu is a nice consolation. Lomu is a nasty player with powerful hands who plays with tenacity and fire. He has quick feet, allowing him to mirror quick edge defenders. He struggles with overextension, constantly going face-first against long edge rushers. Still, with more time to bulk up and work on the little things, Lomu would be an excellent addition to a Miami offensive line that will likely need more help after this season.
With the left tackle in place, the Patriots choose to use back-to-back first-round picks on tackles, selecting Mauigoa here. The Miami offensive tackle is still developing, with inconsistent footwork, balance issues, and less fire than some other tackles in the class. Still, he’s an elite athlete with excellent movement skills who should take another step this year. The Patriots would get two young tackles to protect Drake Maye for the foreseeable future.
The Seahawks went interior offensive line in the first round last weekend, and they get a new tackle here. Charles Cross has been excellent, and Abe Lucas does well when he’s healthy, but the Seahawks may need to look at a better contingency plan if he deals with injury issues again. Barber plays with controlled energy, consistently pushing to the second level with fluidity and strength. He has impressive feet and hand placement in pass protection. He does overextend occasionally, but another year of development should put him in this territory of the draft.
Many project Sellers inside the top ten, and if he takes a massive leap, he could get there. I’m choosing to be cautiously optimistic with the quarterbacks, and Sellers slides a bit in this one. Sellers is the prototypical rushing quarterback with a game-breaking ability reminiscent of Justin Fields in his Chicago days. He can break sack attempts with ease, has a hose of an arm, and shows flashes of an elite player. Still, he’s inconsistent, struggles with anticipatory throws, and will need to get significantly better to be in this range. I hope he does.
The slide for Faulk ends here, with the tweener nature of his game pushing him down some boards. Faulk is an explosive player with powerful hands and a more refined plan than many edge rushers in the class. He consistently throws offensive linemen backward, has alignment versatility, and should become a stalwart as a pass-rushing 3-technique with 5-technique ability at the NFL level.
The Bears kicked the can down the road on running back — maybe not by choice, but rather how the board fell — and enter 2025 with D’Andre Swift as their starter. They’ll need to upgrade if Ben Johnson’s offense is to operate as efficiently as it did in Detroit, and Love’s style is one that he’s never had. He’s a big, powerful runner who breaks tackles with ease and offers creativity in the open field. He’s not Ashton Jeanty — not many are — but he’d be an immediate 200+ touch back in an explosive offense.
The Broncos have invested a ton into their linebacker room, but Hill’s availability at this pick feels too good to pass up. Hill is a versatile linebacker, but his game models the old-school linebacker, a trait Sean Payton will likely covet. He’s an outstanding tackler, with remarkable strength to wrap up with one arm when needed. He’s effective enough in coverage, but he’s best when moving downhill. With Dre Greenlaw in town, the Broncos could use a stronger running mate. Hill is that and more.
Harris was a standout performer on an impressive Penn State team in 2024, with an excellent performance in the Big Ten Championship to highlight his breakout season. Harris is an elite athlete with oily hips, impressive instincts — especially in zone coverage — and enough physicality to hold up against bigger wideouts. Harris is my No. 2 cornerback, and I won’t be shocked if he’s a top-ten pick after Penn State shines in 2025.
It’s early, but I’d imagine very few players in this class play with a motor as active as Sapp’s. He has inside-out versatility, with some of his best snaps coming from inside alignments. His first step is remarkable, and the combination of his leg drive and hand power gives him enough upside to warrant a first-round selection. He doesn’t have elite length, but he makes up for it with an unrelenting motor. He was incredibly productive and assuming that continues, this Florida defensive line should be incredible to watch in 2025.
After dealing with injuries, Bain fell into a sophomore slump in 2024, but that doesn’t change how high his upside remains. At 275 pounds, Bain exhibits outstanding hip and ankle bend, eliminating angles with ease and wreaking havoc on pockets. He’s a powerful player who offers more than enough as a run defender, and at his best, he’ll challenge T.J. Parker for the No. 1 edge rusher spot in next year’s draft.
The Packers passed on cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft, and rumors that Jaire Alexander could return are swirling. Still, getting an undersized, fluid athlete with excellent play speed and a nose for the football in next year’s draft wouldn’t be a bad idea. Terrell — yes, he’s A.J. Terrell’s brother — should test well and become the next Clemson cornerback to reach first-round status.
While a more tools-oriented quarterback makes more sense for the Rams and Sean McVay, Nussmeier falling in their lap would be an automatic selection. As Matthew Stafford approaches his final years, getting a succession plan in place is important. Nussmeier could end up the No. 1 quarterback in this class. He throws with impressive anticipation, places the football well, and will boast one of the most impressive wide receiver rooms in the country. Arm strength questions remain, but Nussmeier has all the mental capabilities to become a high-level NFL starter.
While George Kittle just signed a three-year contract extension, the 49ers aren’t exactly set up to run heavy sets right now. Insert Eli Stowers, a former quarterback turned tight end who has phenomenal movement skills and the ability to create yards after the catch. He’s just 225 pounds, making him more of a large wideout than an in-line tight end, but Kyle Shanahan would be creative enough to get the most out of Stowers. This tight end class has questions, and Stowers’ receiving ability could push him into this range of the draft.
Singleton is this year’s TreVeyon Henderson — a player with inconsistent advanced metrics whose athleticism, health, and development push him inside the top 40 of the draft. Here, he lands in the first round, with the Bengals getting another weapon for Joe Burrow and ignoring the offensive line; a tradition as good as any in the NFL. Singleton has game-breaking speed and breakaway ability, and his ascension and growth between the tackles, as well as his receiving workload, should put him on more radars throughout the year.
Many believe Uiagalelei is a top-ten pick, but I see too many limitations to project him there at this point. He’s an excellent power rusher and edge setter, with regular pass-rush wins due to an active motor. He reminds me of George Karlaftis, though, as someone who will slide in the draft due to a lack of bend and juice around the edge. A Karlaftis career arc would be an outstanding outcome, if his first three years are any indication.
Lawson stood out throughout the 2024 season, but he fell into the shadow of first-round pick, Jihaad Campbell. Still, another year of development in coverage, and the ability to lead what should be an excellent Alabama defense, should vault him into top-50 consideration. He’s a physical tackler who operates downhill with excellence, and his elite athleticism should shine in 2025. He has the grit Dan Campbell and the Lions covet, and I won’t be shocked if he lands inside the first round next year.
While Sapp was the initial reason for turning on the Florida film, Banks stole the show a few times. He’s an explosive, 6-foot-five and 325-pound man who consistently beats interior offensive linemen with quickness and hand power. His consistency is concerning, though, pushing him to the Ravens, where he’d inevitably become a Hall of Fame inductee.
When I watched Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman Jr., it was often Spears-Jennings popping off the screen. He has an innate nose for the football, consistently flying to it and making a play. His coverage ability needs to improve, but as a gap-filling run defender, there aren’t many safeties in the country better (well… the one that went inside the top ten is, but he’s better than everyone at everything).
I’ve been a fan of Dennis-Sutton for a while now, with excellent length and a motor that propels him to success despite his lack of elite bend. He’s a good, not great, athlete, but his pass-rush plan is up there among the best in this class. He gets off the line well, but he’ll need to continue improving as a run defender, as he regularly gets pushed out of position, opening up the Penn State defense for chunk runs. Still, he has an entire season to prove he’s as good as I believe his ceiling is.
Wilson reportedly hit 23 mph in a game last year before a hip injury sidelined him for the year, and the buzz suggests he’s moving even faster now that he’s fully recovered from the injury. Wilson is a small wideout, but he has elite separation ability when he’s asked to run real routes (something Florida should do more), and he is easily the best YAC player in the class. Wilson has intense target competition after Florida loaded up this offseason, but I think he’ll be a major piece to an explosive offense with DJ Lagway under center.