It's officially time for the 2026 offseason, which promises to be full of fireworks from free agency all the way to the 2026 NFL Draft.
NFL teams have already delivered this offseason with 10 teams making head coaching changes, including some blockbuster franchises having openings like the Ravens and Steelers. It's been a wild offseason already, and we've barely even gotten started.
In this 2026 NFL mock draft, we're going to take a look at not just the top 32 picks overall, but the top 100 picks overall. This year's draft class is not top-heavy, but there is some nice depth overall and some steals to be had on Day 2 and Day 3. And we're going to try to predict all of the top 100 picks in this class by looking at every team's biggest needs, coaching connections to incoming players, pending free agents, and much more.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Jets reload for the future; WRs fly off the board early
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
At this point, the Raiders’ offseason is coming into focus quite nicely. After the Super Bowl, they’ll officially be able to name Klint Kubiak as their new head coach. And for Denver Broncos fans, that will be a bitter pill to swallow because Gary Kubiak – Klint’s father – has meant so much to that organization through the years.
And perhaps the next generation can help revive a rival franchise. Kubiak is inheriting a team with one of the best offensive weapons in the league (Brock Bowers), an up-and-coming star at running back in Ashton Jeanty, and now Fernando Mendoza to lead the way.
The biggest offseason questions for the Raiders will soon shift to the offensive and defensive lines, where Maxx Crosby appears to be holding firm in his demand to be traded. We’ll see what happens.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The New York Jets have an opportunity in this draft class to really reset the roster. The problem is that the timing is not great.
This is not a very top-heavy draft class. This is not a draft class that has big-hitters at the premium positions, either. But the clock is ticking for GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, who are both heading into their second season with the franchise.
Getting a player like Arvell Reese, who could shift to the EDGE full-time if the Jets want that to happen, is nothing to scoff at. There might not be a bunch of elite QB, OT, WR, or EDGE prospects in this class, but Reese will be an immediate weapon.
3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
As you’ll see throughout the course of this 2026 NFL mock draft, the Texas Tech defense was absolutely loaded with prospects this past season. And the best of the bunch might very well be David Bailey when it’s all said and done. After playing three seasons at Stanford, Bailey was considered one of the top recruits in the country this past year, and he showed out in a big way.
He had 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in an absolutely dominant year. One of the top traits Bailey brings to the table, and why he’s ascending to this point is the fact that he has 8 forced fumbles over the last two seasons, 10 forced fumbles in his college career combined.
The Arizona Cardinals need to reset at the foundation of the roster, and getting a premier edge rusher prospect like this would be huge.
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Titans have built a really strong foundation over the last year. General manager Mike Borgonzi didn’t exactly inherit the best possible situation, but he pushed a lot of the right buttons. Getting Cam Ward was obviously a great pick for this team, even though his rookie year wasn’t perfect, he made progress week after week.
When you look at the state of the Titans’ roster right now, it’s clear that they need upgrades at a lot of spots, but the presence of coaches like Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll will really help with the utilization of these young guys on both sides of the ball.
Rueben Bain might not be the type of edge prospect you usually see this high in the draft, but he’s going to be a really solid and consistent pro.
5. New York Giants: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The New York Giants have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball, but almost none of them come without major question marks at this point. And those question marks all have to do with injuries.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is at the forefront of that with concussions becoming an issue this past season, and the team really needs to make sure he adjusts his play style at least a little bit.
With Dart entering year two, the Giants have to surround him with more talent. Malik Nabers will be coming back from injury, as will Cam Skattebo, but the Giants could lose Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency. This past season emphasized this team’s need for more weapons at receiver and Makai Lemon is emerging as the potential WR1 from this class.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Cleveland Browns have needs at nearly every position group offensively. It’ll be interesting to see what the team decides to do with the quarterback position, but this isn’t the 2024 NFL Draft. This isn’t a loaded class, by any stretch, so they are going to need to do whatever it takes to set the table for the next quarterback.
And whoever ends up playing quarterback for this Browns team would probably love throwing to Carnell Tate. The Browns need to revamp their offensive line as well, but the receiver position was a disaster last year. Jerry Jeudy is not a WR1, and Tate has both the hands and route tree to be a high-volume WR1 at the next level.
7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Commanders would probably prefer to get their hands on David Bailey or Rueben Bain here in the 1st round, but Jeremiyah Love wouldn’t be a bad consolation for them. The running back position has some nice secondary types of players right now for new offensive coordinator David Blough, but having a featured weapon like Love would be huge.
Blough comes from Detroit where he saw the value of having a back who has the explosiveness and three-down abilities of someone like Love, and how much of a game-changer that can be for an offense overall. The Commanders have plenty of other needs to look at addressing, but someone like Love is a game-changing weapon that can cause you to reevaluate your draft plan overall.
It would be huge for Jayden Daniels to have a playmaker like this to share the load, and Blough could really build something special with those two in the backfield.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The 2025 season was illuminating for the Saints, in a number of ways. First of all, Kellen Moore looks like a really good head coach. Second, Tyler Shough looks like he could end up being the team’s long-term franchise quarterback.
Even though he took over for Spencer Rattler midway through the season, Shough ended up winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Saints now know they can go into this offseason with a quarterback to build around, and getting Shough help at wide receiver is desperately needed.
Chris Olave has just one year left on his deal, but the Saints could re-sign Olave and get Jordyn Tyson as another big-play threat. Tyson has been one of the most consistent explosive weapons over the past two seasons at Arizona State, and would be a perfect fit for Kellen Moore’s offense.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Kansas City Chiefs are entering their most brutal offseason of the Patrick Mahomes era. It starts with the fact that Mahomes is recovering from a major knee injury late in the season, but it extends to the fact that the Chiefs are in huge trouble against the salary cap. Couple the fact that they are in salary cap trouble along with not drafting very well over the past handful of years, and you have a recipe for disaster in 2026.
It’s going to require general manager Chris Ballard to do some serious gymnastics, and the coaching of Andy Reid, as well as the player leadership of the veterans who have been to that mountaintop, to get this Chiefs team back on track.
One of the top needs of this Chiefs team is at the cornerback position and getting another playmaker to go along with Trent McDuffie. Mansoor Delane could be a huge pickup for this Kansas City secondary and allow Steve Spagnuolo to stay aggressive with his blitz packages.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
At this point, the Cincinnati Bengals are becoming the most boring team in the 1st round of these 2026 NFL mock draft scenarios. Pretty much every time I put together one of these predictions, it’s difficult for me to justify passing on Caleb Downs in this pick slot for another prospect, even though the Bengals have plenty of other needs.
They could go for an offensive lineman here, they could look for defensive line/edge players, or they could go after a cornerback. But Downs is the best bang for your buck, and he’s not going to have to move very far.
He’s got one of the highest floors of any prospect in this draft class, and would be a massive upgrade for that Cincinnati secondary. Their defense needs as much help as it can get.
11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The job has only just begun for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. With Hafley having defensive roots (and defensive backfield roots, at that), the no-brainer scenario here is to focus on the cornerback position. And you can’t deny that someone like Mansoor Delane or Jermod McCoy would be a great pickup for the Dolphins here.
But to raise the floor of your team, you need to raise the level of your trench play. And getting Spencer Fano, who might be the best offensive lineman in this class, would be huge to start revamping that offense as a whole. The Dolphins run the ball well, if nothing else, and getting a road grader like Fano could help them keep that train chugging along.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
What we saw from the Dallas Cowboys this past season was a desperate need for any type of defensive help whatsoever. The Cowboys would probably love to land a one-for-one replacement for Micah Parsons with this pick, but this is not the draft class for that. The reality is, they don’t just need help off the edge.
They need help everywhere.
And while he plays maybe the most non-premium of defensive positions, Sonny Styles could upgrade the Dallas defense substantially. He’s got a huge frame, versatility playing in coverage or attacking the line of scrimmage, and he’s a converted safety with top-tier athletic traits. He would be a great building block for Dallas.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
If the Los Angeles Rams have one major weakness on their roster heading into the 2026 offseason, it’s the cornerback po
sition. And that was one of the top weaknesses of their roster going into the 2025 offseason as well.
They made some trades to try and supplement the overall lack of talent there (after missing out on Jalen Ramsey), bringing in guys like Emmanuel Forbes and Roger McCreary. Those were worthwhile darts to throw, but the Rams need to invest at least one of their first-round picks in the defensive backfield.
This team has the type of pass rush to completely dominate week in and week out, and a playmaker like Jermod McCoy – who excels in press-man coverage – would be the perfect type of player to complement that.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Ravens made one of the most shocking moves of the 2026 offseason, firing head coach John Harbaugh and replacing him with someone who has the same type of DNA in Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter is a branch off the Jim Harbaugh tree and will know the culture that is expected in Baltimore.
And the culture that’s expected in Baltimore is to dominate on the line of scrimmage. That simply didn’t happen this past year, at least defensively. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Ravens go after a defensive lineman here, but the offensive line might need some attention as well.
The Ravens could take the best guard on the board in Vega Ioane, who had a great year at Penn State in 2025, and plug him into the starting lineup immediately.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Buccaneers collapsed in epic fashion in the second half of the 2025 season. Despite the horrendous collapse, they decided not to throw their name into the ring of needing a new head coach, and are giving Todd Bowles another shot to get the job done.
Since the Bucs are deciding to run it back, the one non-negotiable for this franchise is to upgrade the pass rush. YaYa Diaby looks like a player, and the Bucs have invested in the interior of the defensive line (Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey), but the edge group needs help.
The team tried to bring in veteran Haason Reddick this past offseason, and they ended up getting so desperate for help off the edge that they called Shaq Barrett out of retirement. Cashius Howell would be a gift from the football gods for this roster.
16. New York Jets (from Colts): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Indianapolis Colts sent this pick to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner, and the Jets might look to replace him.
This isn’t considered the best cornerback class we’ve seen in recent memory, but the Tennessee program has a couple of guys who should be instant impact players at the next level. Although Jermod McCoy gets most of the fanfare, he didn’t play this past season. It was Colton Hood out there playing the CB1 role for the Vols program, and he was awesome in it.
The Jets need as many building blocks as they can get, and Hood gives them a top-tier talent at a premium position here. If he tests well, he could solidify top-20 status in this class.
17. Detroit Lions: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
The Detroit Lions have an obvious identity offensively, and they were missing a little bit of that over the course of the 2025 season. Although they found an absolute gem at the guard position in Tate Ratledge last year, the center position was horrendous with veteran Graham Glasgow having arguably his worst season yet as a pro.
The Lions need to replace him, and while the ideal scenario may be to keep Ratledge at the guard position, it’s possible that Francis Mauigoa in this pick slot would be a dream come true. The Lions could put Mauigoa in the starting lineup at the right guard position, shift Ratledge to center, and keep that offensive line playing at an elite level.
Detroit also needs EDGE rusher help but they would be cooking with gas on the offensive line if they can make this pick happen.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
There are a lot of interesting developments going on with the Minnesota Vikings already this offseason. They fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and may not be replacing him until after the 2026 NFL Draft. The quarterback position is likely getting a veteran added to the mix this offseason to push JJ McCarthy, possibly out of the starting lineup permanently.
It may sound crazy, but Adofo-Mensah might be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people in this organization on the hot seat. Kevin O’Connell’s hands are not completely clean in the Sam Darnold situation. This is a big offseason for him.
And the Vikings might be looking at having to move on from Jordan Addison this offseason. He’s become a liability off the field. Getting a player like Denzel Boston to pair up with Justin Jefferson would help whoever is throwing passes for this team.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Carolina Panthers were one of only a couple of teams this past season to not have a single tight end rank in the top 32 at the position in terms of total receiving yards this past season. Tommy Tremble is a solid all-around player at the position, but this Panthers offense lacks a true threat in the passing game at that position.
Kenyon Sadiq was outstanding this past year for Oregon, and even though the Panthers have gone heavy investing in the offensive side of the ball in recent draft classes, you can’t pass on a talent like this when Bryce Young’s development and progression are hanging in the balance.
With Sadiq in the mix, you have a group of skill players that most teams around the league would really envy. Tetairoa McMillan had a great rookie season, Jalen Coker is emerging, and the backfield took a huge step forward for this team in 2025. A tight end like Sadiq is the missing piece.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Dallas Cowboys, as we previously mentioned, have needs at every level of the defense. They made the trade last year to get Quinnen Williams from the New York Jets, taking the interior defensive line off the board here in the 1st round (in all likelihood).
They still need help off the edge, in a big way, but they could also look at cornerbacks and safeties here. After taking Sonny Styles earlier in this mock draft, the Cowboys set their sights on upgrading in the trenches.
Akheem Mesidor had an amazing year for Miami this past season as they rolled to the National Championship Game, racking up 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. One of the only reasons why he’s not projected to go higher is the fact that he was a six-year player at the college level, so he’ll enter the NFL with the expectation that he hits the ground running.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
It would be extremely ironic and hilarious if the Steelers would take a wide receiver in this pick slot after all those years Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers had together in Green Bay where they infamously didn’t use 1st-round draft capital on offensive weapons. But in this case, the Steelers are sticking to their roots and going after a big man with their top pick.
For my money, Kadyn Proctor might be one of the top risk/reward prospects in this year’s class, and I think some team is going to be glad they took the chance on his talent. You just don’t see many big men with his movement skills and athleticism, so a team like the Steelers could be getting one of the best values here.
Proctor needs to make sure he keeps his weight in check at the next level, but he looks like a longtime starter if that’s a non-issue. Protecting Aaron Rodgers – assuming he’s coming back – is a good way to invest this pick.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE/DL, Auburn
We almost always have the Chargers taking an offensive lineman in this pick slot, and that still wouldn’t be a bad idea. With the long-term outlook for Rashawn Slater a bit of an unknown given the nature of his injury, it might even be a corner the Chargers back themselves into. However, if they are going to reload a little bit on the defensive side of the ball, they could get a really versatile piece in Auburn’s Keldric Faulk.
Faulk has been consistently projected as a top-15 player in this class for most of the season, but his stock has dropped a little bit as of late. That could be to the Chargers’ benefit, because both Odafe Oweh and Khalil Mack are set to hit free agency. The Chargers could slide Faulk inside on passing downs and he can become an every-down edge as his career progresses.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
If there’s one team in this year’s draft that feels like the “Caleb Banks” team, it’s got to be the Philadelphia Eagles, right?
Howie Roseman has gone off of his usual beaten path plenty in recent years, making Quinyon Mitchell the first cornerback the Eagles have taken with a top pick since 2002, as well as going after an off-ball linebacker last year in Jihaad Campbell.
Those were both home run picks, but Roseman is going to be itching to get back to what he knows best: The big men. The Eagles have a long history of going after players like Banks, who would be another ultra-athletic big man with measurables that are going to be off the charts. Similar to Kadyn Proctor on the offensive line, there are some risks involved here (and Banks missed some time to injury in 2025), but this is the risk/reward part of the 1st round and the Eagles are always willing to take these kinds of gambles.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Cleveland Browns have themselves a brand-new head coach in Todd Monken, who might end up being a pretty solid hire for them despite the initial wave of reaction being pretty disappointing. The Browns need to establish an identity as a run-first team, and if they’re going to do that, they need to have some fresh blood on the offensive line.
When you look at the Cleveland offensive line from this past year, you might see five new starters in 2026. The Browns should be expected to hand out some of the biggest contracts to free agent offensive linemen on the free agent market, maybe making a trade for someone as well, but a 1st-round tackle is definitely on the table here.
And with a player like Monroe Freeling from Georgia, Monken is going to get as good of a personal evaluation as anyone considering his relationship with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.
25. Chicago Bears: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The Bears, or some smart team, is going to go back to some of their notes on this 2026 class from right after the 2024 season. I’ve said it a million times at this point, but this is not a top-heavy draft class in terms of the blue-chip talent. Before the 2025 college season started, one of the players who was routinely projected as a top-5 overall pick was Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Teams like the Bears – or teams picking in the back half of round one, in general – should be going back to their scouting notes on Woods from what they saw in the 2024 season. Progression is not always linear, and Woods could end up being an absolute steal this late.
The Bears need another interior presence, and Woods could be a force if the Bears can get him to play at his peak on a consistent basis.
26. Buffalo Bills: Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
I don’t think there’s any question about what direction the Buffalo Bills are going to be looking first in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bills will also probably be huge players on the free agency and trade market when it comes to the wide receiver position, because this was a true problem area for the team almost the entire year.
And the Bills tried just about everything, didn’t they? They have a 2nd-round pick in Keon Coleman who is getting called out by the owner. They tried the free agency route with Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore. They added Brandin Cooks in-season. They’ve simply got to make a splash (or two) to upgrade this position.
KC Concepcion had a huge year for Texas A&M and is one of the best big-play receivers in the draft. He could be a new go-to threat for Josh Allen.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah
Get an athletic big man in the building for the 49ers and let him cook in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme. The 49ers have been in need of spending a high draft choice in the tackle position for quite some time, and now might be the best time for them to pull the trigger on someone.
Trent Williams can’t play forever. At least, we think Trent Williams can’t play forever. At some point, the best tackle of his generation is going to call it quits, and the 49ers have to have a plan in place. They have simply invested far too much in Brock Purdy to not have their bases covered there.
Caleb Lomu is a bit raw compared to other tackles in this class, and he needs to develop some better core strength to hold up against all types of rushers at the next level, but he’s got long-time starter written all over him.
28. Houston Texans: Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
The Houston Texans have a pretty straightforward appraoch when it comes to this top pick: Go after a big man.
It doesn’t really matter if the Texans go after an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman here, because they’re going to need both, and they have another pick just 10 short spots away. They’ll be able to get two of their top targets within this pick range or maybe even trade up if there’s someone they really like.
But they don’t have to look far beyond their own backyard for Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter, yet another Red Raider going in the first couple of rounds of this mock draft (spoiler alert). His pass rush arsenal is still developing, but when it comes to playing against the run, maintaining leverage, and shedding offensive linemen, he’s already pro-ready.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
If you’re the Los Angeles Rams, you’ve got to be doing everything you possibly can to capitalize on the Matthew Stafford era, however long it lasts. And it’s tremendously helpful to know this early in the offseason process that Stafford is, in fact, coming back for another season.
The Rams can plan accordingly this offseason, and one area that’s going to have to be addressed is the right tackle spot. Rob Havenstein has been the longtime starter there at the right tackle for the Rams, and he’s a trusted player at a crucial spot. But even if he comes back, he’ll be turning 34 in May and the Rams have to have a plan in place for when he does hang up the cleats.
Blake Miller has been a starter at right tackle for Clemson and is rising in the pre-draft process already. He could be a Day 1 player if the Rams need him to be.
30. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
For a team that has had one of the best defenses in the NFL the last handful of seasons, you might think the Broncos would shift their focus to the offensive side of the ball for a pick or two in the 1st round. The last time the Broncos used a first-round pick on an offensive player – other than Bo Nix – was Jerry Jeudy back in 2020.
But the defense has needs going forward as well, and we saw how important it was this past season for that unit to be operating at its peak ability all season long. The linebacker position has been one short-term fix after another for the Broncos. Both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are pending free agents, while there are some early rumblings the team could move on from 2025 free agent pickup Dre Greenlaw after a disappointing year.
CJ Allen is one player from this draft class who just screams consistency and would be a great culture fit for this Denver team.
31. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Just like the Chicago Bears might want to look back at their 2024 notes on Peter Woods, the New England Patriots might want to look back at their 2024 notes on his teammate, TJ Parker. Parker exploded in the 2024 season with 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and a whopping six forced fumbles. He was a one-man wrecking crew for Clemson in 2024 but took a step back in 2025.
It’s important to question why that happened as opposed to just assuming that he’s fallen off the map as an NFL prospect completely. Maybe in a best-case scenario, you’ve got yourself a poor man’s Bradley Chubb here. And with a coach like Mike Vrabel, you have to assume that he will reach his ceiling as a player.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Seattle Seahawks have done such a great job in recent years of drafting and developing talent on both sides of the ball. They’ve reset and reloaded a roster that was a Super Bowl contender with almost a completely different group of 53 guys a handful of years ago, a different coaching staff, etc.
One of the areas of this roster that appears poised for a bit of a makeover in the 2026 offseason is the cornerback position, where Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe are both set to become free agents. The same is true for safety Coby Bryant.
Seattle will identify fits from this class and find someone capable of stepping into the lineup immediately, and Brandon Cisse looks like a great fit. Although he wasn’t at South Carolina with Nick Emmanwori, you can’t help but think they’d love to dip into that talent pool once again.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Jets take a risk on QB in full 2nd-round predictions
33. New York Jets: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
34. Arizona Cardinals: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
35. Tennessee Titans: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
37. New York Giants: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
38. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon
39. Cleveland Browns: Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
41. Cincinnati Bengals: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
42. New Orleans Saints: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
43. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
44. New York Jets: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
45. Baltimore Ravens: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
47. Indianapolis Colts: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
48. Atlanta Falcons: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
49. Minnesota Vikings: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
50. Detroit Lions: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
51. Carolina Panthers: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
52. Green Bay Packers: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
57. Chicago Bears: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
58. San Francisco 49ers: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
59. Houston Texans: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
60. Buffalo Bills: Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State
61. Los Angeles Rams: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
62. Denver Broncos: Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah
63. New England Patriots: Brian Parker II, OT, Duke
64. Seattle Seahawks: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
We start off the second round of this 2026 NFL mock draft with a bang, as the New York Jets spend a pick on Ty Simpson. And the thinking behind this one is very similar to the thinking behind the Tyler Shough pick for the Saints last year.
You are getting a guy in Simpson who lacks in-game experience, but certainly doesn't lack talent. He's got the chops to play at the NFL level, but the sample size on him is just not there compared to other recent prospects. This is the point in the draft where you can afford to take the risk, especially with as many picks as the Jets have in the next couple of drafts.
We also have a number of teams making their first pick in this mock draft scenario, and I love the Colts keeping Elijah Sarratt in the state of Indiana as well as the Falcons keeping Zachariah Branch in Georgia. You do a little fan service and address your need for more playmakers in the process.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Complete third-round predictions
65. Arizona Cardinals: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
66. Tennessee Titans: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
68. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
69. Houston Texans: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
70. Cleveland Browns: Carson Beck, QB, Miami
71. Washington Commanders: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
72. Cincinnati Bengals: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati
73. New Orleans Saints: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
75. Miami Dolphins: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
76. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kamari Ramsey, DB, USC
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jake Slaughter, OL, Florida
78. Indianapolis Colts: AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
79. Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
80. Baltimore Ravens: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
81. Jacksonville Jaguars: Connor Lew, OL, Auburn
82. Minnesota Vikings: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
83. Carolina Panthers: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
84. Green Bay Packers: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
86. Los Angeles Chargers: Sam Hect, OL, Kansas State
87. Miami Dolphins: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State
89. Chicago Bears: Zakee Wheatley, SAF, Penn State
90. Miami Dolphins: Logan Jones, OL, Iowa
91. Buffalo Bills: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
92. San Francisco 49ers: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
93. Los Angeles Rams: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
94. Denver Broncos: Keylan Rutledge, OL, Georgia Tech
95. New England Patriots: Beau Stephens, OL, Iowa
96. Seattle Seahawks: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
97. Minnesota Vikings: Genesis Smith, SAF, Arizona
98. Philadelphia Eagles: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
99. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
100. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalon Kilgore, SAF, South Carolina
Near the top of the third round, we have the Las Vegas Raiders taking Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., pairing him up with his Hoosiers teammate Fernando Mendoza. I absolutely love it when teams take advantage of the chemistry that's already been built between a quarterback and receiver/skill player, and give those guys a chance to build on that at the next level.
It doesn't always work out, but it's usually worth a shot.
Another pick in this third-round projection that I absolutely love is Emmett Johnson to the New Orleans Saints. You talk about a hand-in-glove fit to possibly replace Alvin Kamara, who is supposedly on the trade block (again) this offseason...It doesn't get much better than that.
The last pick that really could be a ton of fun is Ja'Kobi Lane to the Los Angeles Rams. He'd be able to stay in Los Angeles to be a vertical threat for Matthew Stafford. He's obviously not the same body type as Tutu Atwell, but could give the Rams an even more dynamic vertical presence.