2026 3-round NFL Mock Draft: Rams go all in on replacement for Matthew Stafford while Raiders, Browns, and Jets fix their quarterback woes
Arch Manning steps back into the limelight alongside Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza, while Arvell Reese and Carnell Tate continue Ohio State’s NFL Draft dominance
The holidays are upon us, which means we are sadly approaching the end of the NFL season. While the playoff picture is starting to take shape, fans of the other half of the league are already firing up every mock draft simulator they can to try and fix their franchise in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Who are the most talented prospects in the country that could save your favorite franchise and find themselves selected inside the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft?
2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft
Round One
1. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
This one is a no-brainer here. The Titans need to stack as much blue-chip talent as they can throughout their roster, and Arvell Reese is the best player in the draft. He may be labeled as a linebacker, but I like him best as an edge rusher, where he can use his tremendous athletic tools in more of an attacking role.
2. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain II, EDGE, Miami (FL)
I briefly considered the thought of New Orleans trading down here, but Mickey Loomis has never once traded down in his entire tenure as general manager of the Saints. That’s not a joke. With that in mind, the Saints have to address their biggest non-QB issue on the roster, as I think they’ll give Tyler Shough another year to prove himself. Rueben Bain II is the best non-Reese edge rusher in this class, and his size and power profile fit the traits the Saints have coveted there for years.
3. Los Angeles Rams (via NYG): Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Trade: The Los Angeles Rams send picks No.9, No. 29, and a 2027 1st to the New York Giants in exchange for picks No. 3 and No. 103
Yes, really, that says Arch Manning. He’s been playing the best ball of his career over the last month, and I’d tell him to declare when the season ends (whether he does or not is TBD). He’s the most talented quarterback of the top guys, and his pedigree is going to attract every NFL team. General manager Les Snead has a strong relationship with the Mannings and Arch Manning specifically, and I know he would give up a handsome price for Manning.
Manning getting a season to sit behind Matthew Stafford under Sean McVay would be a perfect scenario for his NFL development, and that has to be an attractive option for everyone involved.
4. Las Vegas Raiders: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Dante Moore has been rumored to return to Oregon for awhile, but after his last month or so of tape, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t throw his name in the ring, as he’d be an easy top contender to be a top-five pick and first quarterback off the board. His timing, mechanics, accuracy, and decision-making are all top-notch. He’ll earn plenty of comps to C.J. Stroud as the draft process goes on.
5. Cleveland Browns: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
I have no idea who or what will be left behind of the Browns’ front office and coaching staff next season, but I do know that they will be taking a quarterback at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft no matter what. Mendoza is a strong pocket passer with excellent timing, accuracy, and processing speed. He’s more of a throwback quarterback compared to so many of the improvisation stars of today, but that’s a good thing in my opinion.
6. Washington Commanders: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
It’s a bit of a risky gamble to take a corner who didn’t play all season long, but it won’t affect my evaluation of Jermod McCoy much. He’s the top coverage corner in this class and an elite athlete to boot. The Commanders need to continue adding talent to what has been a mostly lifeless secondary this season if they want to compete with the receiving talent in the NFC East.
7. New York Jets: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
This season has revealed that the Justin Fields gamble has failed, and it’s time for the Jets to move on and find their next quarterback. I think Ty Simpson would be a great fit in Tanner Engstrand’s offense behind their offensive line, as he’s a strong pocket passer, much like Jared Goff with Engstrand in Detroit. He doesn’t boast elite physical tools, but he is more than capable of driving the football at every level of the field.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Cardinals are in a weird spot, as they clearly don’t believe in Kyler Murray anymore, but they are too competitive to pick high enough for those top quarterbacks and they still need capital to fill out the rest of their roster. I imagine they’ll play for a quarterback in free agency (or perhaps roll with Jacoby Brissett as a bridge quarterback). Regardless, they need elite talent, and Woods is the best talent available.
9. New York Giants (via LAR): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Jermaine Eluemunor has been fine at right tackle but is an expiring free agent. If the Giants are serious about building around Jaxson Dart, the OL play has to improve from just “fine”. After trading down with the Rams and picking up a handsome price in the meanwhile, the Giants can turn this room into a real strength of the team.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Bengals’ pass rush has fallen off with Trey Hendrickson out, and he’s likely gone at the season’s end. Faulk has been an inconsistent evaluation (as everything with Auburn has been this season), but I think NFL teams will covet his profile as a power rusher and three-down defender in a fairly weak pass rusher class at the top.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
It’s been an uncomfortable season for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy has backfired in impressive fashion, and they don’t really have many other options with the top quarterbacks off the board and little capital to pursue one. They might as well just take best player available here, and I’d actually be really intrigued by Downs’ fit in that defense as the Harrison Smith replacement.
12. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Miami has turned it around in recent weeks as the winners of three straight, salvaging what looked like a disastrous season. However, you, dear reader, are next up at cornerback for the Dolphins this season. They need a serious influx of talent in their secondary, and Delane has been a lockdown cornerback for the Tigers this season.
13. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Kansas City Chiefs are first in the league in perfectly blocked runs but are also dead last in explosive run percentage. I’m sure many will bemoan taking a running back in the first round, but Love is the best player available here and would go a long way in solving the Chiefs’ biggest problems on offense.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Broderick Jones has been a struggle at left tackle, proving to be the weakest link despite the rest of the Steelers’ offensive line developing into one of the best young units in the NFL. Lomu’s physical profile won’t be for every team with his lack of length, but his athleticism and rare technique make him a ready-made NFL pass protector to take over at left tackle.
15. Carolina Panthers: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tetairoa McMillan has delivered (and more) on his draft status, but I’d really like to see Carolina stack up another elite wide receiver into that room to pair with McMillan. The draft class really dries up for Carolina’s top needs, so stacking up best player available isn’t a bad strategy here.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Tyler Guyton has taken strong steps this season and the interior of Dallas’s offensive line is turning into a strength of the team, but right tackle has been a struggle. They can (and should) cut Terence Steele as a cap casualty this offseason. Dallas might try the free agent route (though that isn’t really appealing), but I think Mauigoa is a seamless fit in the identity the Cowboys are establishing up front.
17. Detroit Lions: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Lions’ worst problem keeps biting them this season, as they truly have had little pass rush opposite of Aidan Hutchinson (who isn’t the quickest pass rusher out there either). They have to get that solved this offseason beyond a token effort, and Bailey would be a great step in the right direction.
18. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Texans don’t have a lot of needs that match up with the talent left on the board, so I love the idea of taking a home run swing here. Caleb Banks has only played in three games this season, but was a dynamic force in all of them. Banks stepping up in the middle of what is already an awesome Texans’ defensive line would build perhaps the most intimidating unit in the entire league.
19. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar are all pending free agents, and I can’t imagine Baltimore will be able to bring all of them back. Time to take a freak athlete and slide right into that spot left behind. Sadiq is a ready-made big play threat, and his receiving chops would make him Lamar’s best friend.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Lavonte David appears ageless, but even he won’t be able to do this forever, and the rest of Tampa Bay’s linebacker corps has been nothing short of dreadful this season. Positional value will drop Styles’ down, but he is an excellent three-down linebacker who can slide right in as a MIKE linebacker at the next level and deliver as a rookie.
21. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Eventually, the Bills have to address their issues along the defensive line and invest in a serious run defender there, right? McDonald has been an absolute bully up front for the Buckeyes, and his elite play strength and stack-and-shed ability would be a massive (literally) boon in solving Buffalo’s biggest problem.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Eagles can’t solve their biggest issue until they move on from Jalen Hurts’ monster contract, but I feel like after this season, they won’t tolerate another season of A.J. Brown being a “distraction” (even if he is correct) and could trade him out, especially if that free cap space can be used to retain Jaelen Phillips. Thus, they’ll need a replacement for Brown to fit in Philadelphia’s go-ball, punkin-chunkin style of offense they have built for Hurts.
23. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Jets have already kept Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall to put around Ty Simpson in this scenario, but adding Lemon here would give them a quick separator that could be a go-to target for Simpson and draw coverage away from Wilson.
24. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
With Brandon Aiyuk on his way out and potentially Jauan Jennings following, the 49ers need to replenish the talent in their wide receiver room. Boston is a tremendous X receiver prospect, with excellent contested catch ability and ability to serve as a strong vertical threat.
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will return to man the tackle spots, but the Chargers’ interior is a mess. Ioane is the best guard prospect in this class, and could slide right in at either spot to shore up the Chargers’ biggest weakness.
26. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
I’ve always been a believer in the tradition of pairing a rookie quarterback with another playmaker in the same class, and the Browns can do just that here. Bell’s physical style of play, contested catch prowess, and after-the-catch ability will draw him plenty of comparisons to A.J. Brown throughout the draft process.
27. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Shavon Revel has shown promise since he returned from injury, but Dallas’s secondary is far from fixed. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up spending one of their two firsts on fixing their pass coverage, especially in a class where it dries up quickly.
28. Seattle Seahawks: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been a sensation this season, but the rest of Seattle’s wide receiver corps has been a steady disappointment. Part of that is the design of the offense, but perhaps it would open up more through the air if they added a true threat in a player like KC Concepcion.
29. New York Giants (via LAR): Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
The Giants have been one of the worst passing defenses in the league this season, and are already going to be cleaning house in the secondary with a new coaching staff on the way. Time to get a fresh young playmaker to come in and add a splash into that secondary.
30. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
If there is a weakness in the Broncos’ elite defense, it’s been their linebacker play in coverage. CJ Allen can slide right into the middle of their defense and solve that problem right away with his tremendous movement skills. He looks like a ready-made WILL linebacker for the league.
31. Chicago Bears: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bears’ biggest problem this season has been their lack of a consistent pass rush, though I have been intrigued by the growing flashes of Austin Booker. They are 27th in the league in pressure rate despite one of the largest blitz rates in the league, and they need to take significant steps here in the offseason to maintain their momentum. Howell doesn’t have a perfect first-round profile with his lack of length, but he’s been one of the best pass rushers in the country this season for the Aggies.
32. New England Patriots: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
The board didn’t exactly fall great for New England here, but I like the fit of Zion Young in New England the more I considered it. The Patriots have long coveted those prototypical long, physical edge rushers who can play on all three-downs. He needs to keep growing his bag of pass rush moves, but Young has a constantly hot motor, is a force in the run game, and has plenty of power to collapse the pocket, driving quarterbacks up into the waiting arms of Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.
Round Two
33. Tennessee Titans: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
34. New York Giants: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
35. Las Vegas Raiders: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
36. New Orleans Saints: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
37. Houston Texans (via WAS): Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
38. New York Jets: Brian Parker II, C, Duke
39. Arizona Cardinals: Brendan Sorsby, QB, Cincinnati
40. Cleveland Browns: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
42. Minnesota Vikings: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
43. Atlanta Falcons: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
44. Miami Dolphins: Justin Joly, TE, NC State
45. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
46. Kansas City Chiefs: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
47. Carolina Panthers: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
48. New York Jets (via DAL): Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
49. Houston Texans: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
50. Detroit Lions: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
51. Baltimore Ravens: Austin Siereveld, G, Ohio State
52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State
53. Philadelphia Eagles: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
54. Indianapolis Colts: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
55. Buffalo Bills: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
56. San Francisco 49ers: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
57. Jacksonville Jaguars: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
58. Los Angeles Chargers: Quincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE, Arkansas
59. Green Bay Packers: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
60. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
61. Los Angeles Rams: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
62. Denver Broncos: Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan
63. Chicago Bears: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
64. New England Patriots: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
Round Three
65. Tennessee Titans: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
66. Las Vegas Raiders: Cayden Green, G, Missouri
67. New Orleans Saints: Xavier Scott, CB, Illinois
68. Houston Texans (via NYG): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
69. Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ): Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
70. Arizona Cardinals: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
71. Cleveland Browns: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
72. Washington Commanders: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
73. Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
74. Atlanta Falcons: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
75. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Haulcy, SAF, LSU
76. Miami Dolphins: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
77. Kansas City Chiefs: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
78. Pittsburgh Steelers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
79. Carolina Panthers: Waymond Jordan, RB, USC
80. Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL): Josh Hoover, QB, TCU
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET): Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC
82. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Zakee Wheatley, SAF, Penn State
83. Baltimore Ravens: Matayo Uiagalalei, EDGE, Oregon
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
85. Indianapolis Colts: CJ Daniels, WR, Miami (FL)
86. Buffalo Bills: Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
87. Miami Dolphins (via PHI): Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio State
88. San Francisco 49ers: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
89. Los Angeles Chargers: Bear Alexander, DT, Oregon
90. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
91. Green Bay Packers: Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Alabama
92. Seattle Seahawks: Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
93. Los Angeles Rams: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
94. Denver Broncos: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
95. Chicago Bears: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
96. New England Patriots: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State