2026 NFL Mock Draft: Surprise QB goes first overall and Round One sees stretch of difference making defensive backs
2026 NFL Mock Draft showcases talented signal callers at the top with multiple top talents left out.
The 2026 NFL Draft is getting closer each day, and the first six weeks have shown us quite a bit about what this draft class can be.
There are a lot of uncertainties in this class, especially at the quarterback position. Going into the year, the hype was focused on Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, and LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. However, none of these players are in this mock draft, mainly because they haven’t been very good.
This isn’t going to what we see in April, but it’s a good litmus test for what would happen if the NFL Draft occurred today and give fans players to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Here is what that looks like in the second week of October.
2026 NFL Mock Draft
1. New York Jets: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
If you’ve never heard of Mendoza, you are in for a treat. He’s got everything you could want from a modern day franchise quarterback. At 6-5 and 225 lbs, Mendoza can see the entire field and attack every blade of grass with a strong, accurate arm. He consistently hits tight windows with ease and has plus accuracy down the field.
2. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Going into the season, Moore was a complete unknown. The five-star quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class spent a season at UCLA, but it ended up being a disaster. He transferred out to Oregon in hopes of development and it worked. Moore has been one of the best players in the country, and taken the Oregon offense to a more explosive level.
3. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Ravens don’t get to pick this high very often, having picked in the top 10 just four times with the last being Ronnie Stanley, and three is the highest they would have ever picked. Woods is a dominant force on the interior that could change the Ravens’ defensive front with Nnamdi Madubuike when he returns next season.
4. Miami Dolphins: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
This could be a quarterback spot if a new regime takes over, but they have a lot of money invested in Tua Tagovailoa, and the dead salary cap to get out of the contract is brutal. Fixing the defense should be a priority and Reese can be a weapon on the second level. You can ask him to blitz, play the run, and drop into coverage. With the investments they made on the defensive line last year, Reese is the kind of player to take advantage of that.
5. New Orleans Saints: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Kellen Moore helped Jalen Hurts win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Sellers is arguably a supercharged version. He’s got the size of a franchise quarterback, an arm to make every throw, and the athleticism to eat up yards on the ground.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
There is only one defender in this class who has shown to truly take over a game, and that’s Bain. He’s been a dominant force across multiple games, including taking over the fourth quarter. Imagine his pass rush prowess opposite of Maxx Crosby for the next 5-10 years
7. Tennessee Titans: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Titans made it a priority to fix the offensive line before they selected Cam Ward first overall. Unfortunately, they haven’t quite fixed the issue. Fano can come in and play left tackle for Dan Moore, who hasn’t quite worked out the way they had hoped, or sit for a year and learn before taking over.
8. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
The Giants spent a first-round pick last year to get their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart. They got Andrew Thomas back, but there are issues on the offensive line with inconsistencies at both guard spots and right tackle. Mauigoa is likely going to kick inside at the next level, but he’s an ass kicker who can make an impact.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Offensive line is going to be a very popular one for the Bengals, but this isn’t a very good OL class, especially for interior players. The second round makes more sense for that spot, and the Bengals are preparing to lose Trey Hendrickson. Parker, Myles Murphy, and Shemar Stewart would be a great trio to build upon for the future.
10. Kansas City Chiefs: Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Chiefs can go a multitude of different directions in the first round, but continuing to find youth at cornerback will be a priority. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are both eligible for contract extensions, and the Chiefs may not be able to pay both. McCoy can step in and play man coverage right away and do everything that Steve Spagnuolo wants him to do.
11. Carolina Panthers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
I’m not going to beat around the bush. Bryce Young isn’t the guy, and the Panthers are in a tough spot. Optically, taking another Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback isn’t going to be the best. However, Simpson isn’t the same quarterback. He can make every throw, has good size, and can make things happen with his legs. The raw talent is better than what Young brought to the table, and that’s something the Panthers need.
12. Houston Texans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Texans have major offensive line issues, but they’ve already spent numerous resources on it. There will certainly be tweaks to it, but running back is getting older. Love is the best running back in this class and can help C.J. Stroud immensely.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
This one is pretty simple. The Cardinals run too much of their passing offense out of heavy sets because they don’t have the manpower outside of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. They need a player with some speed who can get open on all three levels of the field. Tyson can do that and then some with a play style not too dissimilar to Justin Jefferson.
14. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
This is a little off the wall for the Cowboys, but they have taken defensive backs early before. Downs is one of the best players in college football, but he likely won’t test extremely well. Pair that with safety being devalued in the first round, and the Cowboys get a really talented player at a lower draft slot than they should.
15. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Will the Rams take the cornerback position seriously? This might be the year, as they could have upward of four players leave via free agency. Delane has been excellent this season after transferring from Virginia Tech, and has vaulted himself into the first round discussion.
16. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Offensive tackle is the default for the Bears, but getting help for Montez Sweat is also a priority. Faulk is an explosive player who offers the size that Dennis Allen craves for his 4-3 defense, including being a very good run defender.
17. Washington Commanders: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Another raw pass rusher from Texas A&M? They are becoming a factory at this point, and the Commanders are in need of youth at edge rusher. They can afford to take an upside swing with a dominant force on the interior like Daron Payne.
18. Los Angeles Rams: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Another cornerback? Yes, the Rams need to make serious investments here. Offensive line is another spot they could target, but this is just a weak class for it. Terrell, the brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback A.J. Terrell, is a very similar player who can make an impact quickly for the Rams.
19. New England Patriots: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
If you want to see what Ioane can do, go watch him play against the Oregon Ducks. He is a mauler on the interior, and the Patriots could use that on their offensive line to help Drake Maye. This feels like a Mike Vrabel pick because he’s an ass kicker.
20. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
This feels like giving Bo Nix one of his favorite targets from Oregon, but he only had five receptions in 2023, which was Nix’s last year in college. Sadiq doesn’t have the same frame as Jimmy Graham, but he can be that same type of joker up the seam and in the red zone.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Connor Lew, C, Auburn
The offensive line has been a disaster for the Chargers this season, mainly due to injuries, but the center position has been the worst of them all. Lew is the best center in the class and would immediately stabilize the interior of the offensive line.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Vikings spent a lot of capital to improve the defensive line, but the one thing they don’t have is an explosive disruptor under the age of 30. Banks is massive at 6-5 and over 330 lbs with plenty of pass rush juice to impact the passer. This is the exact type of player that the Vikings need to build upon.
23. Seattle Seahawks: A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State
Riq Woolen feels like he’s on his way out as he doesn’t quite fit what Mike Macdonald wants to do. Replacing him to fortify the secondary that plays a lot of man coverage is a smart move, and Harris has the size and skills to do just that.
24. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
Jerry Jones said when the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons that they needed to bulk up their run defense. They get that help with the Packers’ pick in selecting Washington, who is a premier run defender in college football with the ability to two-gap and eat up blockers.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Steelers acquired DK Metcalf this offseason to stretch the field, but they don’t have the guy to win underneath with quickness and route running. Lemon gives the team that and then some, as there isn’t a quarterback that they need to invest in at this spot.
26. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Browns have route runners on the roster, but they don’t have anyone with real size. Boston gives them that at 6-4, along with the ability to run a full route tree and excellent body control to attack the ball in the air. Oh, and he can return punts.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
Thomas fits what Todd Bowles wants in an edge rusher. He’s got explosiveness around the arc and can attack the chest of offensive linemen. They need some more youth at edge rusher to pair with YaYa Diaby, and he can do just that.
28. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Lions need to find someone at offensive tackle who can eventually replace Taylor Decker. They have developmental player Giovanni Manu who could take over, but Lomu is a better option. They could move Sewell back to the left side and keep Lomu at RT, but Lomu could slide over to the left and take over for Decker in time.
29. Buffalo Bills: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Matt Milano can’t play forever, and the Bills will need someone to take over for him. Styles is a versatile player who can rush the passer, play the run, and cover in the open field. He would be a great fit for what Buffalo wants to do on defense.
30. San Francisco 49ers: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
Taking an edge rusher in a second consecutive year feels off, but the 49ers lost Nick Bosa to another torn ACL. With the uncertainty there, along with needing to bolster the pass rush in general, Overton is massive for an edge rusher at 280+ lbs, but he’s got great movement skills and can kick inside on pass rush downs for extra juice.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
Cornerback continues to be an issue for the Colts. They waived JuJu Brents in final cuts and traded for Mekhi Blackmon from the Vikings. They need to get better at cornerback, and Abney is a good fit for Lou Anarumo’s defense. He’s sticky in man coverage and has the movement skills to play well in zone.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Last year, general manager Howie Roseman bucked his own trends by prioritizing Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. This year, he gets back to his roots of prioritizing premium positions. Tate is a very good receiver who can be a versatile player at X, Y, or Z, allowing DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown to move around a little bit on offense.
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