Now that the 2025 NFL Draft is over, you know what that means! It’s time to shift the focus over to the 2026 NFL Draft that will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A lot can change between now and the end of the 2025 NCAA football season. But at this time, the 2026 class projects to be highlighted by a series of can’t-miss quarterback prospects.
So without further ado, let’s dive into our way-too-early first edition of the 2026 NFL first-round mock draft, based on how we see the standings and postseason playing out.
Who are the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft?
1. New Orleans Saints: Arch Manning
Derek Carr could miss significant time in 2025, leaving Spencer Rattler or rookie Tyler Shough (SHUCK) to start behind center if it gets to that scenario..
The Saints have a bottom-10 defense, a leaky offensive line, a 30-year-old running back in Alvin Kamara, and only Chris Olave as a game-changing pass-catching threat.
It all adds up to New Orleans being football’s worst team in 2025. And 55 years after the Saints drafted his grandfather, Archie, it’s a full-circle moment for the family with the club taking Arch at No. 1 overall.
2. Cleveland Browns: Cade Klubnik
As much as we’d like to see Shedeur Sanders defy all odds and succeed right off the bat, the Browns will likely give the starting duties to Kenny Pickett and/or Joe Flacco, depending how things shake out.
The Browns play in the unforgiving AFC North division and lack the pieces on both sides to make a leap in 2025. The tank is on again, and it leads to them selecting another highly-touted QB in Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.
3. Tennessee Titans: Kadyn Proctor
We know the Titans used 2023 and 2024 NFL first-round picks on linemen Peter Skoronski and JC Latham, but Proctor is as close to a “can’t-miss” offensive tackle as it gets.
The 6-foot-7, 369-pound bulldozer could serve as Cam Ward’s blindside protector for the next decade-plus. Even if Latham and Skoronski both hit their ceilings, we’re sure one of the men can move to guard to make room for Proctor.
4. New York Giants: Caleb Downs
The Giants just grabbed their hopeful long-term QB in Jaxson Dart, and they’re loaded in the front seven after taking Abdul Carter. Here, they can bolster their defense by taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who’s already being touted as a “generational” prospect.
Downs would form a dangerous defensive back tandem with Dru Phillips and can be a special weapon to combat Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Jayden Daniels in the NFC East.
5. New England Patriots: Anthony Hill Jr.
The Pats added plenty of juice on defense with the additions of Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, and Milton Williams this NFL offseason. By getting the do-it-all linebacker out of Texas, Mike Vrabel now has the new leader on his defense who can be this era’s Dont’a Hightower in Foxborough.
6. New York Jets: Garrett Nussmeier
The Jets signed Justin Fields to a reasonable two-year “show me” deal. Either he cements himself as a capable starter or serves as a bridge option until the Jets find their new QB.
Even if Fields does well, though, the Jets will find it tough to pass on the talents of this special LSU talent with world-class accuracy and a nice rocket arm that could help Garrett Wilson enter the next stratosphere of wide receivers.
7. Carolina Panthers: T.J. Parker
The Panthers continue to search for their new “alpha male” pass-rusher after trading Brian Burns to the Giants last offseason.
One year after passing on an edge rusher to take wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the Panthers’ patience pays off with the Clemson edge rusher falling right into their laps.
8. Indianapolis Colts: Drew Allar
The way-too-early guess here is that Anthony Richardson “breaks” in a “make-or-break” season, forcing the Colts to try over at quarterback. AGAIN!!!
Of course, there will be a new GM replacing Chris Ballard to make the pick here. After striking out on Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, and A-Rich, the Colts roll the dice on the calm and poised Penn State QB who can start throwing darts immediately to Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr.
9. Cleveland Browns (From Jacksonville Jaguars): Ja'Kobi Lane
With the Browns getting their new QB at No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, they can snag the best pass-catcher on the board to form a dynamic duo with Jerry Jeudy.
Suddenly, an offense with Klubnik, Jeudy, Lane, Quinshon Judkins, and that elite offensive line has the makings to be a top-five unit in a short time.
10. Las Vegas Raiders: Francis Mauigoa
Raiders fans are already questioning whether Geno Smith may want a QB here. But if the Miami offensive tackle is available here, the Raiders simply can’t pass on him. Just ask Tom Brady about the importance of an elite blindside protector.
Mauigoa is one of the top offensive line prospects of the past decade, and the Raiders can always trade up for a QB later on. But an offensive nucleus of Mauigoa, Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty and Kolton Miller leaves a lot of room for long-term optimism.
11. Arizona Cardinals: Keldric Faulk
The Cardinals signed Josh Sweat and used a first-round pick on Walter Nolen to fix up their leaky pass-rush. But another explosive edge rusher like Faulk could take this unit to another level and give Arizona the weaponry to deal with Matt Stafford, Brock Purdy, and Sam Darnold in the NFC West.
12. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): Spencer Fano
The Rams could consider a QB here if Matthew Stafford retires, but remember that they have two first-round picks. Here, they can’t pass on hulking and polished Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, who can shore up one side of the o-line for years to come.
13. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson
Even if Tyreek Hill has a big year, and even IF he commits to Miami for 2026, he’ll be entering his age-32 season and nearing the end of his best-before date in the NFL.
The Dolphins line up the perfect replacement plan by taking Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson to do damage with Jaylen Waddle in the post-Hill era.
14. Dallas Cowboys: Carnell Tate
We’re semi-sure that one day, Jerry and Stephen Jones will address the need for a No. 2 receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb. After surprisingly neglecting the position at this year’s draft, they stay patient and take the Ohio State product to step in as Dak Prescott’s new WR2.+
15. Seattle Seahawks: Jeremiah Love
Assuming the Seahawks let Kenneth Walker leave for free agency, they can take the best running back here in Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
The Seahawks have Sam Darnold, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Cooper Kupp to lead the passing game. They add one more special element in the hard-running Love, who could become Seattle’s best RB since Marshawn Lynch.
16. Chicago Bears: Peter Woods
The Bears have a three-headed monster on the defensive line in Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter Jr., and newcomer Grady Jarrett. But Chicago plays in the NFL’s toughest division and could always use more help in the front seven to deal with the three potent offenses that reside in their division.
Adding Woods to the mix would give Ben Johnson some more assistance in dealing with Josh Jacobs and Jahmyr Gibbs.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Malik Muhammad
The 6-foot, 190-pound Muhammad has the size and range to be an All-Pro-caliber shutdown corner. And the Vikings need that more than anything, considering six of their games a year come against Jared Goff, Caleb Williams, and Jordan Love.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sam Leavitt
Aaron Rodgers or no Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers need to line up a long-term solution after surprisingly passing on Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Milroe in this year’s draft.
In an ideal world, Rodgers plays well in 2025 and decides to come back for another year in 2026. The Steelers would then have the Arizona State QB to learn behind the four-time MVP for a year before handing him the reins.
19. Denver Broncos: Denzel Boston
We were mildly surprised to see Denver wait until round three to take a receiver this year. As we keep saying, Bo Nix needs a reliable complement to Courtland Sutton if the Denver offense is to take that next step.
They can finally address that need here in round one, with the big-bodied Boston slotting in as Nix’s new special weapon. The 6-foot-4, 209-pound Boston would give the Broncos a big-time mismatch nightmare in the red zone.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A.J. Harris
The Bucs have finished with a bottom-five pass defense in consecutive years, but we keep waiting for them to find a capable solution.
Penn State corner AJ Harris has the ideal combination of size and athleticism to be a Marshon Lattimore-caliber shutdown corner in the NFL. His ball-hawking skills would make Harris the perfect fit in Todd Bowles’ aggressive defense.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks
Everyone knows how much Jim Harbaugh loves to build his team in the trenches. But with Joey Bosa gone and Khalil Mack now on a year-to-year basis, this is the perfect opportunity to get another game-wrecker who can shore up the Bolts’ run defense while opening up more holes for LA’s edge rushers.
22. San Francisco 49ers: Dillon Thieneman
The 49ers lost All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga and top corner Charvarius Ward in free agency this year. Fortunately, the 2026 draft has its fair share of day-one defensive back starters who can single-handedly transform their secondary.
Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman can become the Tyrann Mathieu-like chess piece for Kyle Shanahan’s defense.
23. Houston Texans: Blake Miller
The Texans completely rebuilt their o-line this NFL offseason after letting CJ Stroud take 52 sacks. Really, all Houston needs to do is put up a competent o-line to close the gap with the top dogs in the AFC.
Getting Clemson’s Blake Miller would be a nice start. If he comes as advertised, Miller can become Stroud’s long-term blindside protector.
24. Los Angeles Rams: LaNorris Sellers
As we suggested earlier, the Rams can wait until their second day-one pick to take Stafford’s successor. Ideally, Stafford would play again in 2026 and buy the Rams more time to develop the dual-threat QB out of South Carolina before he takes over Sean McVay’s offense.
McVay hasn’t worked with a mobile QB yet as head coach of the Rams, so he’ll be thrilled to work with Sellers once Stafford time is up.
25. Green Bay Packers: Avieon Terrell
The Packers have one of the league’s best front sevens, but their secondary struggled against the top-tier offensive units last year…despite fielding All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney.
Clemson corner Avieon Terrell is a certified ball-hawker who had two picks, three forced fumbles, and 12 pass breakups last year. Him and McKinney wouldn’t quite be Richard Sherman-Earl Thomas good, but perhaps not too far off?
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr.
Yes, the Bengals used their 2025 first-round pick on edge rusher Shemar Stewart. But why stop there, especially if Trey Hendrickson plans to leave in free agency next year?
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain Jr. is explosive off the edge and would help Cincy fight back against Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson in the AFC.
27. Washington Commanders: Jermod McCoy
If there’s one clear weakness in Washington’s defense, it’s at cornerback. Marshon Lattimore struggled in coverage after coming over in the NFL trade deadline deal, and asking second-round pick Trey Amos to be the solution isn’t fair.
Dan Quinn oversaw the development of many great defensive backs as DC of the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. No doubt he’d love McCoy’s skill set and turn him into a steady cover guy.
28. Buffalo Bills: Antonio Williams
Unless Keon Coleman takes a big step forward in 2025, the Bills will still lack a capable No. 1 receiver on the roster.
Coleman and Khalil Shakir are better off as secondary options, so the Bills take a chance on the crafty Clemson route-runner and deep threat to expand the field for Josh Allen. And this is before we mention the presence of running back James Cook and tight end Dalton Kincaid.
Time to take your offense to another level, Mr. Allen.
29. Detroit Lions: David Bailey
The Lions bolstered their defensive line by using their first-round pick this year on Tyleik Williams, but they still need to find another pass rusher to complement superstar Aidan Hutchinson.
Stanford’s David Bailey, who had seven sacks and five forced fumbles last season, just feels like the perfect addition to Dan Campbell’s “bully ball” group.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Deontae Lawson
The Ravens love taking defensive players out of Alabama in the early rounds, but Lawson especially stands out as an ideal fit for John Harbaugh’s group.
Baltimore loves supremely athletic players with high football IQs. We know they’ve spent most of their recent first-round NFL draft picks on defense, but Lawson could form a scary-good linebacker tandem with Roquan Smith.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Dani Dennis-Sutton
Eagles GM Howie Roseman loves loading up on linebackers and defensive linemen in the early rounds these days, so why stop now? I mean, the philosophy has produced two NFC Championship banners and a Super Bowl 59 crown over the last three years.
Philly will likely cut or release edge rusher Bryce Huff if he doesn’t bounce back from a disappointing individual season. They can find another day-one starter and cheap replacement in the Penn State product, who had 8.5 sacks in 2024.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Isaiah World
If our calculations are correct, the Chiefs will have won Super Bowl 60 after reshaping their offensive line unit. But they’ll surely be out of Jawaan Taylor’s toxic contract by next year’s draft, opening up room to find another bookend alongside 2025 first-round pick Josh Simmons.
Oregon’s Isaiah World, a hulking 6-foot-8 transfer from Nevada, is the pick to cement the bookend spots in front of Mahomes over the long run.