2026 2-Round NFL Mock Draft: Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza come off the board quickly, while the Dallas Cowboys load up to fix their defense
Latest 2-round 2026 NFL mock draft features an elite quarterback run and dominance in the trenches
There are just two weeks left in the regular season of college football, and the NFL Playoffs are getting closer. Conversely, that means the conversations surrounding the 2026 NFL Draft will get louder, and draft season is nearly upon us. Invitations to the offseason events are already going out, and fans are doing thousands of mock drafts every week to try and save their favorite franchises.
With that in mind, we took a swing at our best guesses for how the first two rounds of the draft will go with the picture we have right now to try and fix each team’s most pressing needs heading into next season.
Tyler Forness took the odd-numbered picks, while AJ Schulte claimed the even-numbered picks
2026 2-Round NFL Mock Draft
Round One
1. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
This is prime trade-down territory for the Tennessee Titans, but we aren’t doing any trades in this mock draft. Arvell Reese is the best defensive player in the draft. He can do a little bit of everything and can be deployed in a similar way to Micah Parsons.
2. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Much like with the Titans, this feels like the perfect spot for a QB-needy team to leapfrog the Browns with a trade. With that provision out in this mock, however, I pivoted to the next biggest need I can see on this team.
Jermaine Eluemunor has been fine at right tackle but is an expiring free agent. If the New York Giants are serious about building around Jaxson Dart, the OL play has to improve from just fine.
3. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Cleveland Browns need a franchise quarterback, and they have their pick of the litter here. Dante Moore has everything that Kevin Stefanski will want to develop, including the ability to play on the move, something that he likes to do a lot.
Get a couple of wide receivers in the building, along with fortifying the offensive line, and the Browns could have a quick turnaround.
4. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain II, EDGE, Miami (FL)
So far, the results on the Tyler Shough experiment seem to be at least somewhat promising, which likely means the New Orleans Saints are out on a quarterback here at the top of the draft.
A trade back would also make sense (if the Saints ever considered trading back), but nabbing the top edge rusher on the board to replace Cameron Jordan would be my call here.
5. New York Jets: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The New York Jets beating the Browns means they will be less likely to get the first overall pick, but they get my top quarterback in the class. Fernando Mendoza has size, arm strength, and great ball placement to all levels of the field.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
I have no idea what the Las Vegas Raiders will end up doing in the draft, but that roster is so far in the dumps that they just need to stack up blue-chip prospects everywhere on the team. Caleb Downs screams Pete Carroll to me, and he’d go a long way in solving Vegas’s coverage woes.
7. Washington Commanders: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Washington Commanders have done a good job in building a core around Jayden Daniels, but they still don’t have a wide receiver who is twitchy in their route running.
Jordan Tyson profiles similarly to players like Jordan Addison with his ability to get open in all three levels of the field from any alignment, something they could use with Deebo Samuel set to hit free agency.
8. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Rams find gold here with the Atlanta Falcons pick turning into a potential quarterback of the future. Ty Simpson doesn’t boast the same elite arm talent the Rams are accustomed to with Matthew Stafford, but he is an elite-level pocket passer with the talent to be the future of the franchise, especially if he can sit for a year under Stafford in 2026.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Cincinnati Bengals are a disaster, but they could use more talent up front. After putting in major assets into edge rusher, they get Peter Woods, who can be a dynamic weapon on the interior, something they haven’t had since Geno Atkins.
10. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Arizona Cardinals could go anywhere, and I wouldn’t be shocked. I feel like this roster should be a lot closer to competing than it is so far, as they have talented players at multiple spots.
With James Conner and Trey Benson battling injuries and neither really locking down the future there, Arizona adds a blue-chip prospect here who would make their offense much more dynamic than it has been in recent weeks.
11. Miami Dolphins: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Tua Tagovailoa isn’t the guy for the Miami Dolphins, even though they want him to be. It just isn’t going to happen.
LaNorris Sellers is far from a guarantee, as he’s still inconsistent in multiple operational elements, but the raw tools are there with his excellent arm talent and rushing ability.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The ACL injury and not playing in 2025 might scare some teams from taking him early, but Jermod McCoy is the premier cover corner in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys could pull off a steal here and get the chance to add a true CB1 on the perimeter.
13. Minnesota Vikings: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Minnesota Vikings have done an excellent job of building a defense for Brian Flores, but the second level needs another weapon to pair with Blake Cashman.
Sonny Styles has the combination of size and athleticism that Flores can maximize to his advantage with simulated pressures.
14. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Baltimore Ravens’ pass rush has been the Achilles’ heel of the defense all season long, and that was true even before they traded away Odafe Oweh.
David Bailey’s frame might cause some concern, but his quick step and explosiveness as a pass rusher are why he leads the country in pressures right now, and he’d give Baltimore’s pass rush the juice it needs to turn things around.
15. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t draft this high very often, and they will need to maximize it with a high-profile player. Caleb Banks would give the Chiefs an inside player to develop, as Chris Jones gets older, and they can pair together to wreak havoc.
16. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
I don’t really need to write much about the Houston Texans’ offensive line, do I? Take the best lineman available and go home happy.
17. Carolina Panthers: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Carolina Panthers spent multiple resources to fortify their edge rusher room last year with Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, and they need help at cornerback opposite of Jaycee Horn to take the defense to the next level.
Mansoor Delane can thrive in any style of coverage, making it much easier to call a defense.
18. Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Keldric Faulk will be an interesting evaluation, as where he lines up might depend entirely on which team envisions for him in their scheme.
I do love his fit with the Lions, who love those bigger, true three-down defensive ends to anchor the outside of their defensive lines and collapse the pocket.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson
This one is very simple. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need cornerbacks who can play man coverage in Todd Bowles’ defense, and Aveion Terrell fits the bill.
20. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Browns came out of the draft with QB1 and another elite Ohio State wide receiver. Browns fans everywhere rejoice.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Remember when A.J. Brown played opposite of DK Metcalf at Ole Miss? Well, Chris Bell is exactly the prototype of Brown. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be too far down to get a top quarterback, but whoever plays quarterback for the Steelers will be set up for success.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
Much like Houston, the Los Angeles Chargers’ draft needs are simple. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt will be back manning the bookend tackle spots next season, but the interior has been dreadful all season long. Time to fix that.
23. San Francisco 49ers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
George Kittle isn’t going to be around forever, and, with the evolution of the heavy personnel sets, you know Kyle Shanahan is going to want to use those. Kenyon Sadiq is a much more physically imposing blocker than you would expect by looking at him, and he’s a dynamite receiver.
24. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson trades already look promising for the Cowboys, but they still desperately need more speed in the second level of their defense. Overshown’s return to full health should help, but getting the chance to add another elite-level athlete at linebacker would be my next step in fixing their defense.
25. Chicago Bears: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
The Chicago Bears need to fortify the interior of the defensive line, and Christian Miller is the kind of player who can do just that. He is a penetrating 3-tech who can attack the quarterback with ease.
26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Keon Coleman benching eliminates Buffalo’s presence on the perimeter. Time to give them a wide receiver who can create separation on the outside and win contested catches.
27. Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State
The Seattle Seahawks could potentially lose two of their top three cornerbacks with Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe hitting free agency. A.J. Harris provides Mike Macdonald with a starting-caliber cornerback who can play man and zone coverage.
28. New York Jets (via IND): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
With Sauce Gardner now on the Colts, the Jets use that pick to turn around and add another talented corner option to help replace him. A smooth athlete, Brandon Cisse’s frame and sticky-man coverage chops are a perfect fit for what Aaron Glenn wants to build defensively.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Rams have a versatile weapon in Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams has been a fantastic addition, but having another weapon to attack the intermediate levels of the field would elevate Simpson once he takes over.
Lemon can do that and then some. Adams will also be a free agent at the end of 2026 and seems likely to hang up the cleats, especially if the Rams can win another Super Bowl with him.
30. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The New England Patriots surprisingly don’t have as many holes on their roster as many once thought, but I’d like to see them continue to add to their pass rush.
Cashius Howell’s frame and lack of length aren’t a typical first-round profile, but he has been absolutely dominant this season and would be a seamless fit in their defense.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Philadelphia Eagles always focus on the trenches, and R. Mason Thomas is an explosive edge rusher who can get pressure by going around you or through you. The interior of that defensive line is dynamite, but they need help on the edge, and Thomas provides that.
32. Denver Broncos: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
What Denver does in the offseason will be fascinating to see, as it seems like the roster is just a consistent quarterback away from competing for Lombardi Trophies.
Since it seems like they won’t move off of Bo Nix anytime soon, I’d continue to double down on the elite defense and load up on the defensive line to replace John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach, who are free agents at the end of the season.
Second Round
33. Tennessee Titans: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
34. New York Giants: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
35. New Orleans Saints: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
36. New York Jets: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
37. Cleveland Browns: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
38. Las Vegas Raiders: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)
39. Houston Texans: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
40. Cincinnati Bengals: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
41. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
42. Atlanta Falcons: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
43. Miami Dolphins: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
44. New York Jets (via DAL): Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
45. Minnesota Vikings: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
46. Kansas City Chiefs: Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan
47. Houston Texans: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
48. Baltimore Ravens: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
49. Carolina Panthers: Jayce Brown, WR, Kansas State
50. Detroit Lions: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
51. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati
52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
54. San Francisco 49ers: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
55. Los Angeles Chargers: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
56. Green Bay Packers: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
57. Buffalo Bills: AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
58. Seattle Seahawks: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
59. Chicago Bears: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
60. Indianapolis Colts: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
61. Los Angeles Rams: Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC
62. New England Patriots: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
63. Philadelphia Eagles: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
64. Denver Broncos: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
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