2026 2-Round NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys find their next superstar RB, Saints get the face of their franchise, and the Browns QB carousel
Latest 2026 NFL mock draft ahead of the NFL season
The 2025 College Football season has already begun, and the NFL will also be here before you know it. We have seen rosters cut down on the NFL side this week, giving us a really firm understanding for what all 32 teams are going to look like, where the strengths lie, and the weaknesses remain. If you are a sicko like Joe DeLeone and I, we are always looking at where teams can improve.
All summer, we have been grinding along to evaluate as many 2026 NFL Draft prospects as possible. With these rosters being finalized, it feels like a great opportunity to project forward a little bit, and give an early look for how teams can attack the NFL Draft in April. It may be a long way off right now, but this process is always a volatile one, and can change so much from now until then.
To have even more fun, we decided to make it a two-round mock draft to discuss a larger pool of players. This isn’t a fully predictive mock considering so much can change, but there also has to be a general understanding about how teams operate, and players that could make legitimate sense for their needs. The draft order also wasn’t picked by us. We are operating from the latest Super Bowl odds from ESPN, so get mad at them.
We also didn’t include Texas quarterback Arch Manning in this exercise. As of today, the expectation is that Manning will more than likely return for the 2026 college football season. When that changes, so will our mock draft process.
Instead of going back and forth every selection, Joe and I opted to do eight selections in a row each, and they are labeled accordingly. Now sit back, relax, and remember the No. 1 rule: We don’t get mad at mock drafts, especially those in August.
1. New Orleans Saints: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
If Spencer Rattler is your starting quarterback, you need to start over. Sellers is the most athletically gifted QB prospect in this class. With a cannon of an arm, elite explosiveness, and the power to shrug off sacks, he can succeed early in New Orleans. – DeLeone
2. Tennessee Titans: TJ Parker, EDGE Clemson
Now that Tennessee has its quarterback, it must build a formidable front opposite him. Parker is the right man to jump-start their pass rush with his premier acceleration and closing speed. – DeLeone
3. Cleveland Browns: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Considering the drama surrounding the Browns’ quarterback room, they need to find a first-round talent to build around. Mendoza has the ball velocity to challenge tight windows and the decision-making to develop into a plus starter in the NFL. – DeLeone
4. New York Giants: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
It looks like the Giants have found their man in Jaxson Dart. With Evan Neal being such a flop of a pick, drafting a new correct tackle should be priority number one. Enter Shelton, who has the flexibility and foot speed to succeed across from Andrew Thomas. – DeLeone
5. New York Jets: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
If the Jets pick this high, it means that Justin Fields did not work. Klubnik has improved year over year at Clemson. His former five-star tools set him up to have a fantastic rookie year in New York. – DeLeone
6. Caroline Panthers: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Imagining a secondary of Jaycee Horn and McCoy is frightening. McCoy has the natural ball skills and easy hip fluidity to be a lockdown corner in the NFC South. – DeLeone
7. Indianapolis Colts: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
While Nussmeier may not be the first choice of the Colts, it’ll be their best option for resetting at quarterback. Considering they failed with a high upside and a super raw prospect, it’s unlikely they’d take that swing again with Drew Allar. Nussmeier has the aggressiveness and the arm strength to become a steady starter in Indy. – DeLeone
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Christian Wilkins’ chaotic departure opens the door for the Raiders to find a replacement. Banks looks like the next coming of Chris Jones with his combination of size and mobility. If Banks can build off of a solid year last year, he’ll be the top defensive lineman in this class. – DeLeone
9. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville): Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
The Browns are projected to start Dawand Jones at left tackle. That is, well, not great. World still needs technical refinement, but he has a chance to blossom this year with Oregon after transferring over from Nevada. He has all the foot quickness and length you could ever want at the position. – Roberts
10. Miami Dolphins: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
This is your traditional “take the best player available” selection. Woods has a strong argument as a top two to three best player in the class, but the board did not fall his way to go higher. While not the biggest defensive tackle of all time, Woods is a ball of chaos on the interior. – Roberts
11. New England Patriots: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Patriots have always loved the physical safeties that can give a defense a numbers advantage in the box, including guys like Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger. Downs is a different body type, but can do a lot of the same things. He is one of the better tacklers you will find from the safety position. There is a lot of Budda Baker in Downs’ game. – Roberts
12. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Linebacker has been a problem area for the Rams since they traded away Ernest Jones a couple of years ago. Styles is a rare athlete on the second level, having spent a lot of time at safety early in his career. The possibilities are endless with his combination of size, length, and range. – Roberts
13. Seattle Seahawks: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
There is still a big hole at right tackle for the Seahawks, and they could be best served to continue improving the offensive line in general. Lomu is a tremendous athlete at 6-6 and 304 pounds. Just a redshirt sophomore this fall, the future is very bright as he continues to add good weight to his frame. – Roberts
14. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
I am going to keep mocking a running back to the Cowboys until they start to listen. Love is a top-5 overall talent in this class, so getting him at this spot is a huge value. The 6-0, 214-pound athlete is one of those playmakers who is a threat to score every time he has the football in his hands. – Roberts
15. Arizona Cardinals: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Without googling it, who are the starting linebackers for the Arizona Cardinals currently? If you guessed Mack Wilson nd Akeem Davis-Gaither then you are correct, unfortunately. Allen adds a tackling machine who is a great communicator in the middle. He may be one of the easier evaluations in this entire class. – Roberts
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
There is always going to be a wildcard at quarterback that ends up going earlier than many people believe. That could be Leavitt this year, who has some of the highest highs of any quarterback in this class. If the game can begin slowing down a bit more for him this season, Leavitt has a chance to be very good. The upside is very easy to see. – Roberts
17. Chicago Bears: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles have loaded this offense with elite athletes at every position except for running back. Now they can plug in Singleton to be their home run threat and short yardage bruiser thanks to his rare blend of size and speed. – DeLeone
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
Reforming Tampa Bay’s secondary is going to be a multi-year process. The way to speed up that process is by adding a tall, long, and physical outside cornerback like Lee III. – DeLeone
19. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
One of the most surprising outcomes of the 2025 NFL Draft was the Broncos not picking an athletic tight end to add to their offense. Considering Sean Payton’s affinity for explosive tight ends, you’d think they’d prioritize it. While they signed Evan Engram, it would behoove them to draft Klare in 2026. His fluidity makes him a dangerous route runner and a threat after the catch. – DeLeone
20. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Theineman, S, Oregon
This is some really ambitious and creative analysis right here. Harrison Smith is too old, so they draft another reliable and instinctive strong safety? Considering their similarities, the pick makes too much sense not to project. – DeLeone
21. Houston Texans: Francis Mauigoa, IOL, Miami
The Texans attempted to duct tape together an offensive line to protect CJ Stroud this season. They cannot leave the first round in 2026 without adding a quality interior offensive lineman. Mauigoa has fantastic lower-body strength to become a stalwart on this unit. – DeLeone
22. Green Bay Packers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
The selection of Quay Walker hasn’t panned out, but they’ll have an opportunity to take another swing in 2026. Hill Jr. presents a unique skill set as an explosive athlete who always finds ways to create disruption. – DeLeone
23. Los Angeles Chargers: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
Jim Harbaugh is obsessed with developing his teams through the trenches. Orange would be the perfect Harbaugh guy as an unexpectedly athletic mammoth in the middle of the Chargers’ defense. – DeLeone
24. Los Angeles Rams: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The Rams’ long-term quarterback future is incredibly unclear. Whenever Stafford retires, McVay will want a young, moldable prospect with traits that fit his system. Allar has a massive arm and mobility that can be impactful on the run for Los Angeles. – DeLeone
25. Washington Commanders: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Commanders are quickly turning into one of the better all-around rosters in the NFL. Adding to the pass rush feels like the natural next step to compete for a Super Bowl. Faulk has the size (6-6, 288 pounds) and smoothness to win rushing both outside and in. He is a diverse weapon for a prospective defense. – Roberts
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
Ramsey may not be a player that everyone is familiar with, but that will change soon. There isn’t a more balanced safety in this class, and that includes Caleb Downs. The former UCLA transfer has the fluidity and range to make plays from depth, and the physicality to come down in run support. He is also a tremendous communicator on the back end. – Roberts
27. San Francisco 49ers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
It wasn’t too long ago that the 49ers had one of the best wide receiver groups in the entire league, but things have changed. Tyson brings a dynamic element to the table, having the long speed to create a ton of explosive plays. He also has the fluidity to run routes and win in multiple ways as a pass catcher. – Roberts
28. Kansas City Chiefs: Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Chiefs have a stellar cornerback in Trent McDuffie, and he also has the versatility to play both inside and out. Terrell also brings that same skill set to the table. Those two working together could create one of the more dynamic cornerback duos in the NFL. – Roberts
29. Detroit Lions: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Getting Aidan Hutchinson a partner in crime on the opposite side should be a priority for Dan Campbell and company. After a quiet start to the season, Dennis-Sutton really seemed to come into his own down the stretch of the season. He has an impressive combination of size and explosiveness, keeping his best days very much in front of him. – Roberts
30. Baltimore Ravens: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Ravens have also valued size tremendously up front on the offensive line. With Proctor possessing such imposing size and power, he could potentially work at either offensive tackle or inside at guard. That allows the formula to truly get the best five on the field up front. – Roberts
31. Buffalo Bills: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
The Bills have tried to continue investing in improving the pass rush, and Overton could be a key cog to that. At over 270 pounds, he is an extremely physical and explosive player off the edge. Overton also has the size and length to reduce down and rush from the interior as well. – Roberts
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Believe it or not, Lane Johnson isn’t going to play forever. The Eagles also could be unsettled at right guard with Tyler Steen slotting inside. Fano has the requisite movement skills and run game impact to play either position at a high level. – Roberts
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Round Two
33. New Orleans Saints: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
34. Cleveland Browns: Eric Singleton, WR, Auburn
35. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
36. New York Giants: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
37. New York Jets: Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M
38. Carolina Panthers: Emmanuel McNeil Warren, S Toledo
39. Indianapolis Colts: AJ Harris, CB, Penn State
40. Las Vegas Raiders: Xavier Chaplin, OT, Auburn
41. Jacksonville Jaguars: Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
42. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
43. New England Patriots: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
44. Atlanta Falcons: Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama
45. Seattle Seahawks: Greg Johnson, IOL, Minnesota
46. Arizona Cardinals: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
47. Dallas Cowboys: Kenton Sadiq, TE, Oregon
48. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rueben Bain, DL, Miami
49. Chicago Bears: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
50. Minnesota Vikings: DJ McKinney, CB, Colorado
51. Houston Texans: Jamal Haynes, RB, Georgia Tech
52. Denver Broncos: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
54. Los Angeles Chargers: Lawson Luckie, TE, Georgia
55. Green Bay Packers: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
56. Houston Texans: James Smith, DT, Alabama
57. Cincinnati Bengals: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
58. San Francisco 49ers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
59. Los Angeles Rams: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
60. Kansas City Chiefs: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
61. Detroit Lions: Christian Gray, CB, Notre Dame
62. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Scott, S, Illinois
63. Baltimore Ravens: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
64. Philadelphia Eagles: Anto Saka, EDGE, Northwestern
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