Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock Draft

The dust is starting to settle on the 2025 draft. Most of the notable undrafted free agents have found their initial landing spots and teams are finalizing their camp rosters. Before we turn the page to the summer, let’s take an early look at how the 2026 draft could play out.

First, a disclaimer. This far out, it is virtually impossible to project team needs for next year’s draft. This year’s rookies haven’t even started mandatory minicamp yet! As such, this exercise is much more about highlighting players to watch this upcoming college season than specific prospect-to-team fits. I tried to avoid giving teams players at positions they’re loaded at or just picked highly in this draft, but beyond that, this is a player showcase.

Draft order is based on Tankathon’s projected 2026 draft order. Later this summer, I’ll do my summer scouting series for the 2026 class, so stay tuned for that in the future. Without further ado, let’s dive in:

1 — Cleveland Browns: Texas QB Arch Manning

Yes, it’s the year of (maybe?) Arch Manning. Even though he’s only started two games in college, he is draft-eligible in 2026. Currently, it sounds like the plan is for Manning to play two more years of college ball before declaring, but plans can change. He’s the current betting favorite for the Heisman, and in that scenario, it’s hard to see him staying.

As for the Browns, they need a rookie quarterback reset after the Deshaun Watson debacle. If either of their two 2025 rookie signal-callers (Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders) pan out, their plans might change. But given the draft capital invested, that seems unlikely.

2 — Tennessee Titans: Clemson ED T.J. Parker

Parker was arguably the best pass rusher in the country last year. Entering his junior year, he can build on that production and he has prototypical NFL size at 6-3 and 265 pounds.

3 — New Orleans Saints: Ohio State S Caleb Downs

Downs is pretty unambiguously the best draft-eligible returning player in college football going into the season. It would be unprecedented for a safety to go this high, but Downs has the pedigree and production to make teams think about it.

4 — New York Giants: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

A transfer from Oregon State, McCoy had a fantastic debut season for the Volunteers. As a true sophomore, he picked off four passes and knocked down nine others. He’s extremely athletic and a fluid mover in coverage.

5 — New York Jets: Penn State QB Drew Allar

Behind Manning, the 2026 quarterback class is tough to parse with so much unproven talent. Allar might have been a potential top-10 pick had he declared this year, but he chose to return to school to boost and solidify his stock after getting feedback from the NFL draft advisory committee. He enters the season as the best quarterback in the Big 10. 

6 — Carolina Panthers: Clemson DT Peter Woods

Despite playing out of position at edge rusher last year, Woods was productive, winning against offensive tackles with quickness and power. There’s a chance he plays himself into top-three pick range with another great year.

7 — Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

Let’s get Manning some blindside protection. Proctor checks in at an absurd 6-7, 369 pounds, but he’s light on his feet despite his size. A true dancing bear, he has an enormous ceiling in the NFL.

8 — Indianapolis Colts: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell

Yeah, Clemson’s defense is loaded. Terrell is the younger brother of Falcons CB AJ Terrell and he too is putting together a phenomenal Tigers career. His ball skills and tenacity in run support stand out.

9 — Las Vegas Raiders: Utah OT Spencer Fano

A mauler in the run game, Fano was PFF’s top-graded tackle as a true sophomore. His road-grader mentality would be a welcome addition to a Raiders organization embracing an old-school, ground-and-pound identity under HC Pete Carroll.

10 — New England Patriots: Miami ED Rueben Bain Jr.

Though various injuries held him back last year, “Hurricane” Bain is still one of the most athletic and productive returning players in the country. With a fully healthy season of tape, he could easily push higher than this.

11 — Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Hill excels as a pass rusher and man-cover defender, wreaking havoc on opposing passing games. His on-ball production is stellar, even by linebacker standards. He led the SEC in forced fumbles (4) and tackles for loss (17). 

12 — Arizona Cardinals: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

At times, Love was the Fighting Irish’s entire offense, and he almost carried the team to a national title. He has breakaway speed and churns out tough yards over the course of a game. Love finished with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on just 163 attempts over 16 games. 

13 — Seattle Seahawks: Florida C Jake Slaughter

The best returning interior lineman in football, Slaughter played against many of the top defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft and performed admirably. He excels in space and can redirect quickly in pass protection.

14 — Miami Dolphins: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

Mauigoa might be the OT1 in 2026 before it’s all said and done. He plays right tackle for the Hurricanes and is a staunch pass blocker, with impressive mirroring ability at his size.

15 — Dallas Cowboys: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson

Next year’s wide receiver class isn’t looking as strong as it has in recent years. Tyson, though, enjoyed a breakout season for the Sun Devils before suffering a shoulder injury and missing the postseason. His length is a major boon at the catch point.

16 — Pittsburgh Steelers: South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

Sellers could be next year’s version of Jalen Milroe — or at least what Milroe was supposed to be. He’s the toolsiest quarterback in this class, with a plus frame and rocket arm to stretch the field. He’s also a fantastic runner, generating chunk plays against some of football’s best defenses. 

17 — Chicago Bears: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman

It’s been a tale of two seasons so far in Thieneman’s college career. The Purdue transfer was a freshman All-American in 2023 before struggling along with the entire Boilermakers’ defense in 2024. Now with the Ducks, Thieneman is a true single-high safety, with plus athleticism and range to cover on the back end.

18 — Minnesota Vikings: Texas CB Malik Muhammad

I love Muhammad’s length on tape. He excels at staying in phase with the receiver and making plays on the football without drawing flags. So far he has just one career interception, though, so if he pulls down a few more of those, he could be in a good spot to declare early after his true junior season in 2025. 

19 — Denver Broncos: Auburn ED Keldric Faulk

A powerfully built run stuffer listed at 6-6 and 288 pounds, Faulk took a leap as a sophomore. The next stage in his development will be as a pass rusher, where he showed flashes in 2024 with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss, but needs to put it all together.

20 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alabama ED LT Overton

A transfer from Texas A&M, Lebbeus Thomas Overton took a huge leap forward last year as a pass rusher — on tape. The production continued to lag but another big year in 2025 and could push Overton up boards. He can play on the edge as well as on the interior, and might be best as a 3-4 defensive end.

21 — Houston Texans: Michigan ED Derrick Moore

A true edge rusher, Moore’s athleticism and potential has outstripped his production with the Wolverines to this point in his career. Michigan is losing a lot of talent on their defensive line, and Moore will be relied on to step up and have a breakout season.

22 — Los Angeles Chargers: Auburn WR Eric Singleton Jr.

A true speed threat with plus athleticism, Singleton played the first two years of his career at Georgia Tech. He’s one of the most productive returning receivers in college football.

23 — Green Bay Packers: Penn State CB AJ Harris

A breakout star in the Nittany Lions’ secondary who transferred in from Georgia, Harris enters his true junior year with the chance to be one of the best corners in the country. He had an incredibly productive sophomore campaign and has good length on the outside.

24 — Los Angeles Rams: Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt

A transfer from Michigan State, Leavitt was sensational as a redshirt freshman. At times, he carried the Sun Devils’ offense to new heights, especially when RB Cam Skattebo was playing through injury. If he takes another step forward, he’ll be in the first-round conversation.

25 — Cincinnati Bengals: Duke CB Chandler Rivers

Though he’s likely to play in the slot in the NFL, Rivers played all over the Blue Devils’ defense over the last two years, primarily at outside corner. He’s been exceptionally productive and has the feisty attitude you love to see from undersized corners.

26 — Washington Commanders: Alabama LB Deontae Lawson

A pro at reading quarterbacks in coverage, Lawson is a beast in run defense as well. He’s consistently around the football and makes plays in both phases.

27 — San Francisco 49ers: Texas A&M WR Kevin Concepcion

Concepcion started his career at N.C. State before transferring to the Aggies this offseason. He had a fantastic true freshman season as a versatile slot weapon before struggling in an underwhelming Wolfpack offense in 2024.

28 — Buffalo Bills: Indiana ED Mikail Kamara

An edge defender with old-school size, Kamara is at his best pinning his ears back and getting after passers. He’s not as bendy as some of these other prospects, but he has great speed and power.

29 — Detroit Lions: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik

No, the Lions probably won’t need a quarterback. But Klubnik is one of several quarterback prospects with a wide range of outcomes this year. If he builds on what he did last season, he’ll be in play in this range, as he has ideal arm talent and some mobility for the next level.

30 — Baltimore Ravens: Texas A&M LB Taurean York

A thumper of a run-stuffer, York is an undersized tackling machine. He knifes through the line to make routine plays in the backfield and rarely misses a tackle if he puts hands on the ball-carrier.

31 — Kansas City Chiefs: Ohio State TE Max Klare

Another transfer from Purdue, Klare was one of the lone bright spots in an anemic Boilermakers’ offense in 2024. He’s a field-stretcher who can play in-line or in the slot, with a full route tree and some wiggle after the catch.

32 — Philadelphia Eagles: Alabama S Bray Hubbard

A big-hitting safety, Hubbard stepped into a major role in the Crimson Tide’s defense in 2024. He’s versatile, with plenty of experience at free safety, box safety, and slot cornerback.