2026 2-round NFL mock draft: QB Fernando Mendoza lands in a massive market, Cowboys load up for Dak Prescott, and Browns shock everyone

Quarterbacks dominate the top picks, offensive targets fly off the board, and defensive upside finishes round one.

Adam Holt, Destin Adams, Rob Gregson, Ryan Roberts, Tyler Forness
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Dec 6, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) and quarterback Alberto Mendoza (16) walk on field for warm ups before the 2025 Big Ten championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

As 2025 comes to a close, the 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner for every team. The NFL playoff picture and its seeding will shake out during this final weekend of the regular season. With that, it is worth looking at a projection for the first two rounds of the upcoming draft.

Myself, Rob Gregson, Destin Adams, Tyler Forness, and Ryan Roberts at A to Z Sports have collaborated for a 2-round mock draft exercise. This scenario does not include trades. Every pick includes a description from the writer who made the selection, explaining the choice.

2026 2-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

I don’t know how you watch the Raiders and don’t think a change from the top down is needed, but that starts with a new quarterback. Mendoza might be the “safer” quarterback, but the game-changer is Moore. He raises the floor of an offense with his legs, and while inexperienced, he’s shown the arm talent and intangibles to be a plus starter from the pocket. Vegas restarts with sizzle and substance. — Gregson

2. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Punting on Jaxson Dart feels a little premature given all of the injuries and coaching changes in New York. Instead, let’s give him some protection with arguably the best OL prospect in the draft. Fano and Thomas would form a tackle duo that New York can comfortably march into the season with. — Gregson

3. New York Jets: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

I know the Jets have acquired a ton of draft capital for 2026 and 2027, but this team was horrible on offense in 2025. It’s easy to say that you can wait for a QB class that should be better on paper in 2027, but if the Jets lose the way they did this year in 2026, the regime may not be around. Mendoza’s elite football intellect and precision passing feel like a safe bet, even for the Jets. — Gregson

4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State

There are so many different areas of need for the Titans that you really can’t go wrong, but it’s never a bad idea to take the best player in the draft, especially when his versatile skillset can solve multiple issues on the Titans’ defense. With a quarterback in place and a new staff likely on the way, no need to get cute in Tennessee. Take your layups. — Gregson

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

With the top passers off the board and the Cardinals at a crossroads, I would rather see Arizona go best player available and build up the foundation of the team. With Paris Johnson on one side and Mauigoa on the other, Arizona has a built-in safety net for whoever is throwing footballs in Cardinal red in 2026. — Gregson

6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Tyson is the most talented wideout in this class. His body control, route running, and hands have molded him into a very impressive WR prospect for 2026. The Browns need more talent for whoever is playing quarterback next season and beyond.

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

Bailey continues to rise up mock drafts, and that won’t stop here. He’s an ultra productive pass rusher for one of the top defensive units in the country. The Commanders had one of the worst defensive lines in the entire NFL this season and must force changes there.

8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Giving Tyler Shough another big-bodied target makes all the sense in the world during the 2026 NFL Draft. Tate is a smooth mover at his size and presents a different skillset from Chris Olave, who had a phenomenal year with Shough at QB. Great fit.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

Fans may clamor for offense here, but given the board, grabbing Bain here is fantastic value. Kansas City needs more consistently in their pass rush, and Bain improves both their pass defense and run defense immediately. His versatility and strength are both exciting aspects to his game.

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

Defense, defense, defense. Downs is arguably the most impactful defender in college football. Let him join the Bengals secondary, who has some young talent already, and make waves as a play maker on the back end.

11. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

People would have forgotten just how good of a player McCoy is, but when healthy, he’s an elite prospect. The Rams could use a press man cornerback that plays with this level of angst. McCoy has the look of a CB1 and a dominant cover man on the next level. — Roberts

12. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Dolphins secondary was a strength in the not too distant past, but now it needs to be overhauled. Delane is a good blend of requisite size, movement skills, and intelligence. He could start for the Dolphins on the outside, as well as playing in the slot when needed. — Roberts

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

The Buccaneers need to get younger and more talented on the edge. While Faulk hasn’t put it together yet, his combination of size, athleticism, and upside is immense. — Roberts

14. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

There is a legitimate argument that Love is a top five player in the 2026 class. With quarterback Dak Prescott still playing good football, as well as a dynamic wide receiver duo in place, Love would bring a unique skill set out of the backfield. He would be a star in Dallas. — Roberts

15. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Life after Taylor Decker at left tackle is an important conversation for the Lions to have. They also need to upgrade their interior, so adding a talented offensive lineman with some flexibility like Lomu is inportant. Still young, his upside is also still very high. — Roberts

16. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

The Ravens’ defense has severely missed the game-changing presence that Nnamdi Madubike brought to the interior of their defensive line. He’s on the air with a neck injury, which makes his future tricky to predict. In this mock, Clemson DT Peter Woods falls in their lap and would be able to start right away, and either play with Madubike or help fill the void. — Adams

17. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

I’m sure some of you reading this will think that South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse going at pick 17 to the Vikings is a reach. In my opinion, it’s not that I just don’t think the consensus has caught up with how talented he truly is, but don’t worry, it will soon enough. Solid size at 6-0 and is going to test really well athletically. He would be perfect for Brian Flores defense, and mark my words, he’s one of the best CBs in the class. — Adams

18. New York Jets (via IND): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

With their first selection in this mock, the Jets landed their QB of the future in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. So, with their second first-round pick, I think they should use the ‘best player available’ tactic, and to me, that points to one player. If you ask me, Ohio State LB Sonny Styles can fit in any defense and is one of the best players in this upcoming draft class. He would be quite the get for a Jets team that needs more premium talent. — Adams

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

The Panthers have been a great team this year. They enter Week 18 in the driver’s seat to be named the NFC South champions. This team has shown they are ready to win games earlier than many realized. So this pick needs to be someone who can produce right away. Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell has shown how dominant a pass rusher he can be this season. That just so happens to be something the Panthers have been looking for since they traded away Brian Burns. — Adams

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

One of my favorite fits in round one is Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers need a speedy, quick route winner opposite DK Metcalf, and Concepcion is that to a tee. I have no idea who the QB will be for the Steelers next year, but whoever it is would have quite the duo to work with. — Adams

21. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson

Despite having put a ton of resources into the cornerback position, the Cowboys don’t have much to show for it. Terrell plays eerily similar to his brother A.J., who plays on the Atlanta Falcons. They desperately need someone to hit at cornerback. — Forness

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

With Peter Woods having gone a few picks earlier, there is only one defensive tackle left with pass rush potential worthy of a first-round pick. Banks is coming off of a serious foot injury, which is a concern, but he did return this season and thrived against Ole Miss and Florida State. Putting him in the middle of Jesse Minter’s defense would be tremendous. — Forness

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Howie Roseman often prioritizes premium positions in the first round, and Jahan Dotson is a free agent. Lemon can play both Z and in the slot, displaying good route running and ball skills across the board. — Forness

24. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Bills wanted to get an X-receiver with good ball skills and separation ability when they drafted Keon Coleman, but the problem was they drafted Keon Coleman. Boston will be a really good asset for the Bills as both a deep threat and route runner in all levels of the field, giving Josh Allen a non-slot receiver he can finally rely on. — Forness

25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Dennis Allen’s defense hasn’t been consistent this season, and have relied on turnovers a little too much. They need more beef in the middle, and McDonald is a top-tier nose tackle that will pair well with Gervon Dexter in stopping the run. — Forness

26. Houston Texans: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Texans have a few needs, but they have done a good job of mitigating their issues with coaching. Since they spent a lot of resources on the offensive line last year, they may allow their young players to develop and fortify in free agency with this being a poor class. Sadiq may be a “luxury pick,” but the evolution of 12 and 13 personnel this season makes it less of a luxury, while having a successor to Dalton Schultz. — Gregson

27. Los Angles Rams: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Rams have one of the better rosters top to bottom in the NFL, but the unit that needs the most help is the secondary and the CB room in particular. Hood is a physical presence that can bring back some of the swagger and tenacity of the Jalen Ramsey days. — Gregson

28. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders all started games for the Browns in 2025, and all of them struggled. Simpson was the first pick in the draft at one point, and he’s a deep run in the College Football Playoff from being back in that conversation. Armed with two picks in the first round, Cleveland can afford to take the better prospect up top and swing at quarterback later on night one. — Gregson

29. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

The 49ers have done a remarkable job amid all their injuries, and that includes the depth at LB, but that defense was on another level when Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw were patrolling the middle. Putting C.J. Allen next to Warner feels like a cheat code as he develops next to one of the best to ever play the position. — Gregson

30. New England Patriots: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

I don’t know if there is a single player in this draft that screams Mike Vrabel more than Olaivavega Ioane. A mauler in the run game who is a brute at the point of attack, giving Drake Maye (who might win MVP) some extra protection while further developing the run game, feels like a can’t lose situation for New England. — Gregson

31. Denver Broncos: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Broncos secondary is already a strength, but adding an instinctual leader like Thieneman would be pretty cool to see. Denver has long-term question marks for one of their safety spots, and Thieneman can start day one in the pros.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

This sort of athletic chess piece for Mike Macdonald’s defense is a fun landing spot. The Seahawks defense could use another high upside linebacker, and Hill fits both the scheme and the need for Seattle. This only takes their great defense to the next level.

Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft

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