3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Dolphins go boom or bust at quarterback, Browns pounce on risky signal caller, and star WR falls

Teams make a couple of risky bets at the quarterback position, and one of the top players in the draft falls down the board in this 3-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

Adam Holt, Destin Adams, Rob Gregson, Travis May
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Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Senior Bowl is behind us, and come Monday morning, the league’s attention will shift to the NFL Combine, where NFL Draft season builds to a fever pitch.

To gear up for Super Bowl Sunday, our A to Z Sports NFL Draft staff of Rob Gregson, Adam Holt, Travis May, and Destin Adams present a 3-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft with plenty of surprises.

2026 NFL 3-round Mock Draft

Round One of 2026 NFL Draft

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This class is shaping up to be a year with just one consensus first-round QB. The Raiders earned the first pick and get the privilege to select Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza, fresh off leading the Indiana Hoosiers to their first National Championship in football. – Adams

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

There’s no denying the physical upside and abilities of Arvell Reese. He stands at 6-4, more than 240 pounds, and possesses the necessary athleticism to stick with wide receivers in coverage and long-arm offensive tackles. Reese needs to round out his conventional pass rush attack if the Jets are going to use him in that way, but he can immediately slide in as a game-changing defensive force at off-ball linebacker. – May

3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

The Arizona Cardinals are likely starting from scratch this offseason. With Mike LaFleur named head coach, I expect a heavy emphasis on quarterback and offensive line play. Given the best player at the former of those two positions is off the board, give me the dancing bear that is Mauigoa. He’s a mauler in the run game with the feet to be full-time tackle. – Gregson

4. Tennessee Titans: Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

I expect the Titans to stick to the trenches at this selection, and the value of Bain makes a lot of sense. He is a phenomenal run defender with inside/outside versatility. At the same time, he proved during the College Football Playoff that he can get after quarterbacks as well. That Miami defensive line was ruthless, and Bain plays with a consistent motor that Robert Saleh will truly appreciate. – Holt

5. New York Giants: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Giants could go a lot of different ways, but I have them selecting LSU star CB Mansoor Delane. The Giants have a ton of young talent on offense and on the defensive line. Here, they can add an exciting young player to their secondary to help grow and develop. – Adams

6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Spencer Fano is the perfect athletic offensive tackle that should help the Cleveland Browns begin rebuilding their offense around whoever they decide to invest in at quarterback. Fano brings a solid balance of strengths in both pass and run blocking, and should be able to play either tackle spot, regardless of where the Browns want him long-term. – May

7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Commanders’ defense was on it’s last legs in 2024, and that unit completely fell apart in 2025. Regression from key players like Mike Sainristil and Bobby Wagner didn’t help, but this team needs a pass rush. Bailey is arguably the best pure pass rusher in this class and his college resume proves that. Dan Quinn has done his best work when he can rush with four, and Bailey presents that opportunity. – Gregson

8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

New Orleans will value helping Tyler Shough this offseason. Whether it comes at wide receiver or running back, I would be surprised if they don’t give him another playmaker for their offense. Caleb Downs was a consideration here, but Kellen Moore opted for the most electric running back in the entire draft instead. – Holt

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

I wouldn’t be surprised if this pick is a certain WR come April, but the emphasis for the Chiefs in both free agency and the draft revolves around keeping Patrick Mahomes upright in 2026. Assuming Josh Simmons is back at left tackle, bookending the other side with Lomu, while Creed Humphrey anchors the middle, makes me feel a lot better about that unit. – Gregson

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

Awesome value for a Cincinnati defense that was frustrating once again in 2025. Downs is a utility weapon for a defense and can bandage multiple areas of weakness for a unit at the NFL level. I do not have concerns about his speed or strength that some folks have already hinted at. Positional value can fall by the wayside in this scenario for the Bengals. Draft the talent. – Holt

11. Miami Dolphins: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The writing on the wall has the Dolphins moving on from Tua Tagovailoa. This class doesn’t have an excess of QB talent, so to land a potential long-term starter, they might have to reach on a prospect higher than his consensus draft range. Ty Simpson is viewed as a fringe first-round pick. He was at one point considered a candidate for the first pick and the Heisman Trophy. So here I have Miami replacing one Alabama QB product with another. – Adams

12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Sonny Styles is the best pure off-ball linebacker in the class — even better than Arvell Reese. Styles is an elite athlete in coverage thanks to his background as a defensive back prior to shifting to linebacker. He missed just one tackle all last season according to multiple charting services. He can find himself out of place in traffic against the run, but the Cowboys still get a top-tier round one defender here. – May

13. Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Rams move this pick in a blockbuster trade leading up to the draft, but for now, they stick and pick the best corner in the class in my opinion. A secondary that was either battered, bad or both, in 2025, I love the idea of McCoy locking down a side of the field and Chris Shula manipulating his scheme on the other side. – Gregson

14. Baltimore Ravens: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Carnell Tate doesn’t have the perfect production profile thanks to splitting targets with a handful of first-round picks (Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jeremiah Smith, just to name a few). However, that doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the best intermediate-deep threats in the last few drafts. He has a prototypical dominant outside wide receiver build, speed, and route-running ability too. The Ravens get their 1b to pair with Zay Flowers. – May

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Faulk is a tad polarizing given he will need more development to turn into a three-down player in the league, but sign me up for 6-6, nearly 285 pounds with first-step explosion, and fluid hips every day of the week. Especially for the Buccaneers defense, which struggled to generate a pass rush for most of the season .

16. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Makai Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award (for being the best WR in college football) and finished the regular season with more receiving yards than any other power conference wide receiver. He plays bigger than his smaller frame suggests with a high contested catch rate. Lemon should be a reliable go-to target for a long time in New York. – May

17. Detroit Lions: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Ahead of the college football season, TJ Parker was believed to be a top-five player in the country. Every way-too-early mock draft out there had him being selected in the top 10, but now, with a rough final year at Clemson, many view him as a fringe first-rounder. The Lions need a long-term partner in crime for Aiden Hutchinson, and Parker has all the talent in the world to be a really good one at that. – Adams

18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks made waves at the Senior Bowl for some splash plays, and I would expect he hears his name on day one. He is simply too quick and powerful at his size to pass up at this point of the first round. Minnesota could lose some talent along its DL this offseason, and Banks can impact a Brian Flores unit as a rookie. – Holt

19. Carolina Panthers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Panthers have been looking for a new leader in their EDGE room ever since trading star pass rusher Brian Burns to the Giants. Texas A&M Cashius Howell has the makings to be a day one starter and could very well develop into Carolina’s best pass rusher quickly. – Adams

20. Dallas Cowboys: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

If the board falls this way, where the Cowboys miss all of the true round one edge rushers, they likely go cornerback. Avieon Terrell is a feisty, disciplined physical corner that packs a punch at 5-11, 180 pounds. He might project to play more in the slot according to some scouts, but he played over 75 percent of his snaps outside for Clemson. – May

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

With Mendoza long gone and the Dolphins taking Ty Simpson, the Steelers have to address the WR position here. Enough with the smaller, slot WR body types. Pittsburgh goes out west for the third year in a row in round one and finds a big-bodied, ball-winner who dominates at the catch point and brings vertical element to the Steelers’ offense alongside DK Metcalf.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Tyson at 22 is a bit of a fever dream to me – considering he’s my WR1 in the class. The medical portion of his process will determine where he goes in April. While wideout is not the top need for Jim Harbaugh’s team, giving Justin Herbert another target on the outside is valuable. We do not know how long Keenan Allen has left in his playing career, so get a head start on that potential roster hole here. – Holt

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Dallas Goedert is an impending free agent. Sadiq is the top TE in this class and is a freak athlete. I’d be excited to see him in an offense led by new OC Sean Mannion in Philly, who played a role in the elevation of Packers TE Tucker Kraft in recent seasons. – Holt

24. Cleveland Browns: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

As of this writing, Trinidad Chambliss is still pursuing an additional year of college football eligibility. However, it’s looking more and more like that isn’t going to happen. Good for the NFL and the Browns here. Chambliss put up a ridiculously efficient season where he scored 30 total touchdowns to just three interceptions as one of the most wildly impressive dual-threat quarterbacks in recent history. The Browns swing for the fences here to fix QB. – May

25. Chicago Bears: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

“You don’t often see Peter Woods fall all the way to pick 25, but if he does, this might be the dream first-round selection for the Bears. Woods can solidly secure the interior of the Bears’ defensive line for 2026 and beyond. And the Bears land one of the few consensus first-rounders in this year’s class.”
– Adams

26. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

“After the fiasco of a press conference where Bills ownership was still throwing people under the bus for picking Keon Coleman there’s no way they don’t add wide receiver help, and early. KC Concepcion is a YAC weapon who averaged more than seven yards after catch per reception in 2025. He is a do-it-all, line-up-anywhere, win-everywhere kind of wide receiver. This would be a huge win for the Bills and Josh Allen.” – May

27. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

The 49ers’ defense performed at a high level despite the injuries all season, but they have missed that lockdown element ever since the departure of Charvarius Ward. Putting Cisse across from Renardo Green and parlaying that with the front seven would make this defense borderline unstoppable.

28. Houston Texans: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State

The Texans had one of the most dominant defenses we’ve seen in the NFL in quite some time in 2025. Their offensive line was considered the team’s Achilles’ heel, but they played solidly throughout the year. In the end, it was CJ Stroud’s poor play that sank their season. He has to be better for Houston to achieve its goals. Landing one of the top offensive linemen in the class, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, should help to get the most out of Stroud going forward. – Adams

29. Los Angeles Rams: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

We’re doubling up on the defensive side of the ball for the Rams here, and they should consider doing just that come April. Nate Landman is an excellent inside backer, but placing him alongside a field general like Allen, especially after drafting McCoy, would take this unit over the top.

30. Denver Broncos: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald is a game wrecker on the inside. While Denver has some bigger DTs under contract going forward, none of them have the physical nature of McDonald at this point of their careers. He would not be forced into a huge role in year one, but he could still have a notable impact for one of the top defenses in all of football. – Holt

31. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)

Mesidor might be an older edge rusher prospect, but the Patriots need help there, and he was a huge reason with Miami made it to the national championship game this year. He was the thunder to Rueben Bain’s lightning as a powerful 280-pound monster off the edge on the other side for the Hurricanes, logging over a dozen sacks in 2025. The Patriots upgrade their defensive front immediately. – May

32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Seahawks’ secondary has been amazing this season, but CB2 is a spot worth monitoring in the offseason. We’ve seen multiple players fill that role, and Riq Woolen is set to be a free agent. I won’t be shocked if Mike Macdonald values adding a potential starting CB, whoever gets here, to his unit to slow down the NFC West’s talent on offense. – Holt

Round Two of 2026 NFL Draft

33. New York Jets: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
34. Arizona Cardinals: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
35. Tennessee Titans: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
37. New York Giants: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
38. Houston Texans (via WAS): Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
39. Cleveland Browns: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Lee Hunter, DT, Cincinnati
42. New Orleans Saints: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
43. Miami Dolphins: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
44. New York Jets (via DAL): Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
45. Baltimore Ravens: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
47. Indianapolis Colts: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
48. Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
49. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
50. Detroit Lions: Will Lee, CB, Texas A&M
51. Carolina Panthers: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
52. Green Bay Packers: LT Overton, DL/EDGE, Alabama
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Samuel Hecht, IOL, Kansas State
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
57. Chicago Bears: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
58. San Francisco 49ers: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
59. Houston Texans: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
60. Buffalo Bills: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
61. Los Angeles Rams: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
62. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
63. New England Patriots: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
64. Seattle Seahawks: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Round Three of 2026 NFL Draft

65. Arizona Cardinals: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
66. Tennessee Titans: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
68. Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ): Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
69. Houston Texans (via NYG): Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
70. Cleveland Browns: Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
71. Washington Commanders: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
72. Cincinnati Bengals: Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
73. New Orleans Saints: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami (FL)
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
75. Miami Dolphins: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
76. Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Harold Perkins Jr., LB/EDGE, LSU
78. Indianapolis Colts: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
79. Atlanta Falcons: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
80. Baltimore Ravens: Darrell Jackson, DL, Florida State
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET): Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
82. Minnesota Vikings: Logan Jones, IOL, Iowa
83. Carolina Panthers: Jack Endries, TE, Texas
84. Green Bay Packers: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
86. Los Angeles Chargers: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
87. Miami Dolphins (via PHI): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
89. Chicago Bears: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
90. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
91. Buffalo Bills: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
92. San Francisco 49ers: Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama
93. Los Angeles Rams: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
94. Denver Broncos: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
95. New England Patriots: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
96. Seattle Seahawks: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

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