2026 NFL Mock Draft: Arch Manning shockingly follows in family footsteps but isn't the QB1 in way-too-early predictions
2026 NFL Draft? Yes, you read that right. The 2025 NFL Draft is still a couple months away with plenty of debate still to be had on top incoming rookies for this year. But instead of focusing on all the noise right now, we'll be taking a look ahead to the future today. This particular mock […]
2026 NFL Draft? Yes, you read that right. The 2025 NFL Draft is still a couple months away with plenty of debate still to be had on top incoming rookies for this year. But instead of focusing on all the noise right now, we'll be taking a look ahead to the future today. This particular mock draft will highlight the best returning college football players in the nation potentially set to hear their names called in next year's NFL Draft like Arch Manning (QB, Texas), Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State), and many more!
We'll be drafting through just the first round. Draft pick order is simply based on reverse order of initial Super Bowl odds for next season according to Vegas, so if you want to complain about where your team is situated just call your favorite sports book.
If you've been following A to Z Sports NFL Draft content for long you may remember that we did this exercise last February. 21 of the 32 players from last year's way-too-early mock draft are now considered consensus first and second round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Six of them went back to school. Five are certainly going to get drafted this spring, and could possibly even sneak into Day 2. Let's see if we can do even better than last year's predictions this time around. Enjoy!
2026 NFL Mock Draft
1. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami
The Giants almost certainly draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, given that this year's group of passers isn't exactly the best bunch we've seen and New York could be in line to select the third or fourth best option depending on how the draft plays out it makes sense they're picking first according to sports books.
The Giants could definitely be in line to select the best right tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft to start opposite Andrew Thomas. Right now that looks like it's going to be Francis Mauigoa of Miami who stands at an impressive 6'6", 315 pounds with great length and athleticism.
2. Tennessee Titans: T.J. Parker, EDGE Clemson
The Titans are likely going to draft their franchise quarterback Cam Ward in round one and then grab one of the many strong offensive tackles likely available in the early second of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now they add to the defensive side of the ball to help build a strong foundation there with T.J. Parker of Clemson.
He's already posted two wildly impressive seasons with great pressure and win rates in pass rush. Parker piled up 18 sacks across his freshman and sophomore seasons alone. If he takes one more leap he'll easily project to be the best edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft class with fun physical traits galore.
3. Las Vegas Raiders: Cade Klubnik, QB Clemson
This selection might shock some in a class that could have Arch Manning and Drew Allar in it, but Cade Klubnik just took a massive leap forward in 2024.
Klubnik's 33 passing touchdowns trailed only Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders last fall and he threw less interceptions than either of them. He's more mobile than both too, as he put up nearly 500 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Klubnik was also much more efficient year over year for Clemson across the majority of his meaningful metrics.
Klubnik returns almost every single one of his offensive weapons including the talented Antonio Williams at wide receiver. The arrow is pointing up and that almost certainly continues. If you don't believe it, just check out some of the nine minutes of impressive plays from Cade Klubnik in the post below.
4. New England Patriots: Kadyn Proctor, OT Alabama
Kadyn Proctor had a rough start as he was thrust into starting action for Alabama as a true freshman, but stepped up big time last season. This former five star talent and monster of a man at 6'7", 370 pounds is a safe bet for first round capital in the 2026 NFL Draft and the Patriots essentially need to replace their entire offensive line to help keep Drake Maye on his feet.
5. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Downs, S Ohio State
Caleb Downs is probably the best overall prospect in the entire 2026 NFL Draft class, but safeties are not a premium position that ever goes first overall. The Panthers' safety play has been terrible enough that they might try and grab one in the 2025 NFL Draft, but either way, letting Caleb Downs drop past them would be a mistake. He can line up and win from a variety of pre-snap positions. Freshman All-American in 2023 with Alabama. Consensus All-American again in 2024 with Ohio State. Downs is special.
6. Cleveland Browns: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE Miami
If T.J. Parker isn't the number one edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft then it's probably Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami. Bain broke out as a true freshman with nearly 50 pressures and nine sacks. He could have had an even more impressive 2024, but a calf injury derailed things early. Once he got back nearly full speed he was a nightmare for opposing offenses. If Bain puts up an even more productive season in 2025 his traits should carry him up NFL Draft boards.
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7. New York Jets: Drew Allar, QB Penn State
Drew Allar has all the physical traits of a first round quarterback. The arm strength. The build. This past season he added the production and efficiency to go along with the impeccable physical profile too. The Jets need a new franchise quarterback and they aren't in perfect position to land one in the 2025 NFL Draft. Allar should have three strong seasons of play under his belt after this coming fall. Jets take their swing on the upside with Allar.
8. New Orleans Saints: Arch Manning, QB Texas
Arch Manning at 8? He should automatically go first overall, right? Wrong. The truth is that the Manning crew has made it quite clear that Arch quite likely will not be entering the 2026 NFL Draft. There's no reason to rush and force his development. However, even if he puts up a good season he'll still only have one full year starting, so despite his last name Arch Manning would be a bit more of a projection than most first round quarterback picks.
But does he have the talent to be an early first round quarterback? Absolutely. Arch Manning was a five star recruit for reason, with far superior athleticism when compared to both of his uncles, Eli and Peyton (as you can see in the post below). He flashed some of that ability last fall already. If he does somehow declare in 2026 after a strong 2025 campaign the Saints would be insane not to select the grandson of Archie Manning, who spent 10+ seasons playing QB in New Orleans.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars: Peter Woods, DL Clemson
Peter Woods is the most versatile defensive line player returning to college football in 2025. He can win from any pre-snap gap on along the defensive front and dominates against both the run and pass. If the Jaguars don't take Mason Graham (DL, Michigan) this year Woods could be an easy pick here. He's posted pressure and win rates nearly 50% about expected positional marks in pass rush. Given the talent returning around him there's a chance he levels up even beyond that.
10. Indianapolis Colts: Nico Iamaleava, QB Tennessee
This one might be a bit premature for the Colts, but if Anthony Richardson fails to complete even 50% of his passes and tosses more interceptions than touchdowns again next season then his athletic upside just frankly won't matter anymore.
Nico Iamaleava showed flashes of greatness in 2024 and frankly already played better than Richardson ever did in college. He needs to continue showing his impressive mobility while improving the consistency as an accurate downfield thrower against his toughest competition, but first round capital is certainly within his possible 2026 NFL Draft outcomes.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee
The Steelers may attempt to address their terrible cornerback play in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they might as well double up with back to back first round picks in two separate drafts either way. Their perimeter consistency has been rough. Jermod McCoy might not be a household name yet, but he will be in 2025. McCoy excels in almost every type of coverage, plays well in space, aggressive in man, and is an extremely smart cornerback.
12. Atlanta Falcons: LT Overton, EDGE Alabama
Had LT Overton declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this spring he would have played much of his rookie year at age 20. He reclassified as a recruit, finishing high school and getting to college a year early, so he was a bit raw early on.
However, this past season Overton finally grew into the disruptive force on the edge and over offensive tackles that we all knew he could be. Overton is 6'5", 283 pounds, and can likely play anywhere from 4i-tech to true edge in the NFL. The Falcons need to get younger up front while maintaining athleticism, size, and explosiveness. Overton helps them check every box there.
13. Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Hill Jr., LB Texas
Anthony Hill Jr. won Freshman All-American honors in 2023 and only leveled up from there in 2024. He'll enter 2025 as one of the favorites to win the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker who can do it all. The Cowboys already need better linebacker play right now, but unless they address something soon, the position might be priority number one in 2026 and Micah Parsons has already said he wants to play with Hill.
14. Seattle Seahawks: LaNorris Sellers, QB South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers boasts the freakiest upside of any quarterback in the 2026 class thanks to his insane athletic profile. He accounted for 29% of South Carolina's rushing yards while also tossing 17 passing touchdowns in his first season as a full-time starter last fall. He has one of the most athletic trios of wide receivers in the nation returning in 2025 too.
Sellers could go nuclear and explode with one of the most impressive seasons we've seen in years this fall if he continues improving as a passer. The Seahawks might be ready to move on from Geno Smith in 2026, and if so taking a chance on a completely different type of quarterback might be refreshing to fans.
15. Arizona Cardinals: Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State
Carnell Tate emerged in 2024 as the WR3 for Ohio State alongside generational talent Jeremiah Smith and 2025 NFL Draft first round pick Emeka Egbuka. This fall he should slide right into the 100+ target role as the outside wide receiver opposite Smith and quickly ascend to clear first round status. In this scenario he joins his former Ohio State teammate Marvin Harrison Jr. as they create a dynamic duo for the Cardinals.
16. Denver Broncos: Suntarine Perkins, LB/EDGE, Ole Miss
These next two picks are a bit of a projection based on the raw football talents more so than any other selections in this mock draft, but the potential is there. Suntarine Perkins, a former five star linebacker recruit plays most of his snaps as an edge rusher for Ole Miss, but is far too small to do that with much frequency in the NFL (6'1", maybe 215 or 220 pounds).
However, thanks to his freak athleticism, range, and instincts, he can be a hybrid "star" role at the next level if a team wants to get the most out of him. Take this highlight play below for instance. He lines up on the right edge, drops into coverage, sprints into the backfield on the complete opposite side of the field with his wild closing speed, and drops Jalen Milroe for a loss. If used correctly his upside is enormous.
17. Miami Dolphins: Harold Perkins, LB/EDGE LSU
Along quite similar lines to Suntarine Perkins, Harold Perkins could be an incredibly fun do-it-all weapon in a hybrid linebacker and edge role. When he was still just a true freshman he tallied 10 sacks, an unfathomable 25% pass rush pressure rate, and somehow dominated in coverage as well. His sophomore and junior campaigns were lower quality due to defensive coordinator changes and significant injury, but the potential first round talent is there if he puts it all together this fall.
18. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, EDGE Auburn
Keldric Faulk was the best player in the country that almost no one knew existed in 2024. Auburn's season was largely forgettable, but Keldric Faulk's dominance up front was not. He ranked top five in pass rush pressures and win rates consistently from the beginning of last season and never let up. He's a freakish 6'6", 290 pounds with enough strength and leverage control to destroy any offensive tackle. He also essentially never misses a tackle. The Bears would be stealing if Faulk fell to them here.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Whit Weeks, LB LSU
It's unlikely that this many off-ball linebacker types go round one in the modern NFL, but the talents at the position in 2026 are looking like the best we've seen in a good while. Weeks, a true sophomore in 2024, stepped up big time when Harold Perkins went down with injury and now projects to play alongside him all season for 2025.
Weeks brought pressure on a staggering 36% of his pass rush attempts, tallied over 100 tackles on just 700 snaps, and showed off top tier athleticism all season long. If he takes yet another step forward he will likely be an early 2026 NFL Draft pick. With Lavonte David just about done, the Buccaneers get their next special linebacker talent here.
20. Minnesota Vikings – Nicholas Singleton, RB Penn State
Nicholas Singleton would have already been early selection in the 2025 NFL Draft had he declared, but he most definitely will be in 2026. Singleton consistently boasts some of the most insane on-field player tracking data every year, which NFL teams will be salivating over until we finally get to see him destroy his NFL Combine with absurd size-adjusted athletic metrics. The Vikings need running back help badly and Singleton helps remedy that.
21. Los Angeles Chargers – Evan Stewart, WR Oregon
Ladd McConkey's breakout rookie year was nice, but the Chargers still need to keep adding weapons around Justin Herbert. Evan Stewart is in line to be the WR1 for the Oregon Ducks this fall and should break out as one of the most productive wide receivers in the nation. He boasts five star skills, elite speed, and should perfect his craft in year four.
22. Houston Texans: Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love was the most productive and electric playmaker among all true freshman and sophomore running backs in college football last season. He could be the best running back in the entire nation this year. Love averaged over seven yards per touch as he amassed nearly 1400 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2024. Joe Mixon will be 30 years old playing on an expiring contract in 2026. The Texans level up with more explosion, getting much younger at their feature back position.
23. Los Angeles Rams: Sam Leavitt, QB Arizona State
When Sam Leavitt claimed that he was the better quarterback in the Texas versus Arizona State College Football Playoff game he was absolutely correct. Leavitt is a fast processor, boasts above average arm strength, solid accuracy, avoids pressure well, and posted the eighth highest overall QB efficiency profile in the nation last season among power conference quarterbacks as a true sophomore. Sean McVay will love Leavitt and take a shot as his long-term Matthew Stafford replacement here.
24. Washington Commanders: Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State
Among all returning power conference wide receivers in college football, only Jeremiah Smith posted more receiving yards than Jordyn Tyson in 2024, and it took Smith four more games to do it. This pick is bit of a correlation play with the Sam Leavitt projection as they'll be relying on each other all season long at Arizona State. If both stay healthy, they could put up potential Heisman and Biletnikoff Award-winning seasons. The Commanders find their WR2 (and maybe future WR1) for new franchise QB, Jayden Daniels.
25. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Harris, CB Penn State
The 2026 NFL Draft class doesn't look extremely deep at the moment, but A.J. Harris definitely looks like a first round cornerback. He's got the pedigree, the speed, the length, and posted strong coverage metrics in 2024. He needs to avoid the explosive play allowed here and there, but overall he's a strong candidate to be CB2 next year. The Packers can't pass on that.
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE Penn State
Dani Dennis-Sutton has prototype measurables at 6'5", 265 pounds. He's strong, long, and already as three straight seasons with solid marks in his key pass rush rate stats. And to top it all off he can drop out into coverage and make diving interceptions like in the post below. The Bengals need a better second edge defender opposite Trey Hendrickson so they lock DDS up here.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Jake Slaughter, IOL Florida
There are always emergent offensive line prospects who sneak into round one of the NFL Draft, but they're usually offense tackles. Jake Slaughter has exclusively played center for Florida, but has graded out as one of the best in the country with physical measurements that should allow him to kick out and play guard some as well if necessary. Jake Brendel's contract expires after 2026 when he'll be 34 years old. Slaughter immediately improves the interior of the line, offering greater athleticism at center.
28. Detroit Lions – Nyck Harbor, WR South Carolina
This one feels like a long shot, but not because he lacks talent. Nyck Harbor logged a 10.11-second 100-meter dash last spring at 6'5", 235 pounds. He is an absolute freak of nature who could have played edge rusher for South Carolina the moment he got on campus, but opted to play wide receiver instead.
Harbor led Gamecocks receivers in yards last season with some highlight plays (that you can watch in his post below), but it was still a small sample of success. If LaNorris Sellers–his quarterback–breaks out then it's likely that Harbor puts up a bonkers performance with him. The Lions get the true X wide receiver they have lacked just as Jameson Williams' contract is set to expire.
29. Buffalo Bills: Spencer Fano, OT Utah
The Bills don't need an offensive tackle right this second, but Dion Dawkins will be near the end of his contract and well into his 30s by the time this pick is made. Fano has spent significant time playing both tackle spots and might even project better as a guard given his size and length. He could immediately improve either guard spot as a rookie and eventually become the future at left tackle.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Malik Muhammad, CB Texas
The Ravens don't need a corner in 2025. However, by 2026 Marlon Humphrey's massive contract will be in its final year, and cornerback depth disappears after he and Nate Wiggins. Malik Muhammad was already a star opposite Jahdae Barron in 2024 for the Texas Longhorns, but he should be the leader and the face of the secondary this season. If Muhammad just gets rid of his 2-3 explosive plays allowed per year he's a Top 40 pick.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Damon Wilson, EDGE Missouri
It's not too often that the player who is supposed to be the Georgia Bulldogs' best returning edge rusher departs for a lesser school but that's exactly what happened this offseason. Damon Wilson was Georgia's most effective edge rusher down the stretch in 2024, but he'll be playing for Missouri in 2025. The Chiefs draft Wilson after a breakout year and he ends up playing his NFL ball just two hours from Missouri's campus.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Parker Brailsford, IOL Alabama
Cam Jurgens' contract will be expiring after 2025, so Philadelphia will once again probably be looking for a new center. We don't typically see even one, let alone two, prospects who profile as centers get first round draft capital, but that's just how special Parker Brailsford has been throughout his career so far.
Brailsford was special at Washington in 2023. A bit inconsistent for Alabama in 2024, but still great. Now, with a final strong season in year two with the Crimson Tide, Brailsford could sneak into round one of the 2026 NFL Draft going to a team that only really needs a center and nothing else.
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We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you want to check out some of the plays that might eventually make Sam Leavitt (QB, Arizona State) a first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft just watch his highlights video below!
