The 2026 NFL offseason is already flying by as the first few waves of NFL Free Agency have come and gone, a ton of huge trades have gone down (and one has been redacted), and the picture for each roster around the league is starting to take shape.
The 2026 NFL Draft order has seen some major changes over the last handful of weeks with the Broncos and Dolphins striking a blockbuster trade sending Jaylen Waddle to Denver for a trio of draft picks, including number 30 overall in the 1st round.
With picks changing hands this offseason and teams addressing major needs in free agency, how might the first three rounds of the draft look in April? You probably have a better chance of a perfect bracket in the March Madness pool than you do of having a perfect mock draft, but these are some interesting team and player scenarios to ponder and maybe some good fits now that the dust is starting to settle a little bit.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 1st-round mock draft predictions
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Everybody knows how the 2026 NFL Draft is going to start. The Las Vegas Raiders will have another new franchise quarterback to build around with the arrival of Fernando Mendoza, who is going to be coming into the NFL with high expectations. Some of the rumors floating around out there seem to indicate that the Raiders don’t necessarily want to throw Mendoza to the wolves, so they will either have to sign a veteran or give Aidan O’Connell another shot.
Mendoza is coming into the NFL, at the very least, with a much better offensive line than anyone else playing QB for the Raiders in recent years has had, if only just for the addition of Tyler Linderbaum at center. The Raiders also did a lot better of a job already this offseason of revamping their defense through free agency, and getting Maxx Crosby back in the wild saga that transpired at the beginning of free agency.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
It’s been an intriguing offseason for the New York Jets, who have a ton of moving parts once again on their roster this offseason. Nothing surprising going on here.
General manager Darren Mougey apparently never saw a trade he didn’t like, and has certainly made some fascinating moves, including bringing quarterback Geno Smith and linebacker Demario Davis back to the Jets to close out their NFL careers (presumably). The Smith move is an obvious precursor to something more long-term at some point, but that may not be this offseason.
The tough part about the Jets sitting here in the 2nd overall spot is that they should be in prime position to get a young quarterback, but that player isn’t in this class. Arvell Reese is a very solid prospect, but how much does Geno Smith raise the floor of this team? Are Mougey and Aaron Glenn going to be around to see their project through?
3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Arizona Cardinals might have the worst roster in the NFL at this point, and they’re going to need a couple more draft classes to fix it. Especially with the dead cap from the Kyler Murray contract now being part of the equation, this is a multi-year rebuilding situation, and they just need core players at premium positions who can make an impact as fast as possible.
This is not a great draft class for some positions, but pass rushers seem to be overflowing at the top of most boards out there, and David Bailey is undoubtedly one of the best.
Bailey can play with his hand in the ground or standing up, so defensive coordinator Nick Rallis will get a chance to use him as a bit of a chess piece. He’s got the type of pass rush ability that translates immediately to the next level.
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans are in a pretty great position heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. Head coach Robert Saleh has a franchise QB in place, he’s assembled a really strong staff, and the Titans just had a really strong start to the offseason in NFL Free Agency. They also made a trade, sending T’Vondre Sweat to the Jets for former first-round pick Jermaine Johnson.
The Titans have revamped their defensive front, and even though they still have needs defensively, it’s impossible to pass on a talent like Jeremiyah Love, who could make life so much easier for a young quarterback like Cam Ward.
Even with Tony Pollard on the roster, the Titans’ roster is already strong enough on paper that they could make some noise in the AFC South this season. Adding a player like Love would push them even closer to the goal of upending everyone else in the division.
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The New York Giants started off the 2026 offseason the right way by bringing in John Harbaugh as their new head coach. They’ve got a talented roster on both sides of the ball, but obviously, a lot of injury question marks heading into this upcoming season.
This will be a big year for a number of people in the Giants’ organization, likely somewhat of an audition year as they get ready for the John Harbaugh “era”, if everything goes well. That means general manager Joe Schoen needs to do whatever it takes to put the best possible team together for Harbaugh, and Sonny Styles can be a major impact player for a defense that already has a lot of really strong pieces.
Styles is an ultra-athletic prospect at the linebacker position with outstanding size and versatility. He’s a weapon who can be used in coverage, as a pass rusher, and just flying around as an off-ball linebacker.
6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
As much as I’ve opposed this idea in the past, I can’t deny the possibility of the Browns going after Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling here with the 6th overall pick. New head coach Todd Monken came up to the NFL from the Georgia program back in 2023, so he’s going to get as good of a personal evaluation on Freeling from his old boss Kirby Smart as he will any prospect in this class.
Freeling is also one of the true left tackles in this draft class with true left tackle traits. Sometimes you can project guys from one side to the other, but the Browns have already made a number of major renovations to their offensive line this offseason, and Freeling could simply be the final piece of the puzzle.
He’s big, long, athletic, and while he’s raw in some areas of his game, the Browns can afford to be patient while they let him go hit his marks in the running game and bowl people over.
7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Washington Commanders found a ton of success going to the Ohio State well for Terry McLaurin a handful of years ago, maybe they will be able to find similar success with Carnell Tate here in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Tate is one of the best offensive weapons in this year’s class, obviously, and while he might not have the same type of flash as other WR1 types of prospects through the years, he’s going to be a tremendous help to any offense he gets drafted to.
These receiver prospects coming from the Ohio State program are just so refined when they come into the league. They know how to get open, they know how to find soft spots against zone coverage, they’ve got good hands, and they have a great feel for winning against all types of defensive backs. Tate is no exception. He’s going to be a really solid pro for a long time, and will pair up nicely with Terry McLaurin in Washington.
8. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain, EDGE/DL, Miami
With the likelihood that Cameron Jordan is not coming back this upcoming season, the New Orleans Saints have to brace themselves for a reality they have not had to face as a franchise since 2010. It will be a new era in many regards for this Saints team, but you’ve got to love the way this team played at the end of last season when Tyler Shough took over as the starting quarterback.
The Saints look like they could truly be one of the more interesting NFC teams in 2026, and getting a playmaker for the defensive line like Rueben Bain could help take them to the next level.
Bain was a mainstay in the top five picks of most 2026 NFL mock draft predictions for a long time, but some question marks have arisen about his length and where he will ultimately land positionally at the next level. We’ll let Brandon Staley worry about that.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
There is nothing set in stone about the Chiefs using their top pick in this year’s draft on the cornerback position, of course, but you certainly have to think it’s one of the top two or three options for them here in the 9th overall spot. The Chiefs struck one of the first blockbuster trades in an offseason that has, up to this point, been full of them.
They sent veteran cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 1st-round pick and then some, but after losing McDuffie (and most of their starting defense, it felt like), the need for a cornerback who can fit Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is more pronounced than ever.
Mansoor Delane would be a great fit here if he’s on the board, and the Chiefs are probably banking on either him or Jermod McCoy being available. They have to get one of the top corners in the class, there’s no question about it.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
One of the biggest issues the Cincinnati Bengals have had since Joe Burrow became their franchise quarterback? Keeping Burrow healthy. Keeping him on the field. The offensive line has obviously been part of the reason why Burrow is constantly having to miss time due to injuries, so the Bengals have to do whatever it takes to keep him upright and in the game.
Francis Mauigoa played right tackle at Miami, but projects as a starter at either tackle or guard at the next level. He plays with great physicality and has tremendous size at 6-foot-5, 329 pounds.
The Bengals have a big-money left tackle in Orlando Brown as well as a first-rounder on the other side in Amarius Mims, so they’d likely slide Mauigoa inside to guard in this scenario.
11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Is there a more wide-open team in the 1st round of this year’s draft than the Miami Dolphins right now? There might not be. And the reason for that is that new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley have come in and blown this roster up.
And we are talking about blowing up the roster to epic proportions.
The Dolphins will, effectively, be unrecognizable the next time they take the field. Malik Willis is getting a shot as the starting QB to replace Tua Tagovailoa, whose departure felt like the most obvious inevitability of the 2026 offseason. But after trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins (and cutting Tyreek Hill), the Dolphins have an obvious need to upgrade at receiver.
Makai Lemon can provide some instant offense to a group that will obviously need it.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Cowboys’ fan base might not be jumping at the opportunity to draft a player with the 12th overall pick who just missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but the Cowboys could also be taking the most worthwhile gamble you can possibly take here in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jermod McCoy is such a talented outside corner with his combination of physicality and ball skills, and Dallas has been quietly in the process of completely reloading at the cornerback position over the past couple of offseasons. Although McCoy has been working his way back from injury, he’s been extremely patient with the process and is making sure he can work out for teams before the draft.
If the Cowboys give the medical sign-off, this could be a big-time steal. He might have gone in the top 10 picks without hesitation if not for the ACL injury.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
The Los Angeles Rams are loaded on both sides of the ball, especially after bringing in a couple of former Kansas City Chiefs players – Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson – to upgrade the cornerback position. The revamping of the secondary continues here as the Rams simultaneously get another playmaker for their defensive backfield, while also taking the best player on the board.
Caleb Downs is typically regarded as a top-10 prospect, if not top-5 overall, and he has the type of versatility NFL coaches covet in their defensive backs. He might not be playing outside corner anytime soon, but for a team like the Rams, he can play in the slot, he can play in the dime, he can play deep, and ultimately just give them another weapon as they load up for a Super Bowl run.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Oh look, it’s the Baltimore Ravens back in the first round! Who could have thought that the biggest trade of the 2026 offseason would be called back because of a failed physical?
The Ravens and Raiders took their Maxx Crosby trade, and everyone got a mulligan. The Ravens got their draft picks back, as well as Trey Hendrickson in free agency. The Raiders got a motivated Maxx Crosby back on their roster after big spending in NFL Free Agency.
And with the mulligan giving the Ravens a second chance here in the 1st round, they have to go after Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane. He’s a perfect fit to slot in at the left guard position as Baltimore will likely have to do some renovating on the interior following the loss of Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Buccaneers are sticking close to home here in the 1st round of this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, taking Miami’s star pass rusher Akheem Mesidor and making it two Hurricanes pass rushers in the top 15 overall picks.
Although Mesidor is going to be older as a rookie this coming season (turns 25 in early April), he’s also pro-ready off the edge with his expansive pass rush arsenal and ideal size for the edge rusher position. Mesidor has been getting hands-on coaching from former Dolphins pass rusher and Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who has close ties with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles from their time together in Miami.
The ties that bind are crucial in the NFL. And Mesidor fills one of the Buccaners’ most obvious needs as we watched this team completely collapse in the second half of last season.
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The New York Jets have Garrett Wilson (for now) and AD Mitchella the wide receiver position, but not much other than that.
And the AD Mitchell pickup in the trade to acquire Sauce Gardner was really a dart throw at Mitchell’s talent. The depth chart at receiver is weak, and the Jets have every reason to take advantage of a player like Jordyn Tyson still being on the board here for Geno Smith and whoever ends up being their quarterback of the future.
Tyson is one of the top big-play threats in this year’s draft, and a player who feels like he’s getting devalued for no other reason than the passage of time. Perhaps the one reason his stock is cooling is that teams have questions about his overall durability, but the talent is undeniable.
17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Maybe there were more fans of the Detroit Lions who saw the Taylor Decker cut coming, but that was a move that took me and many others by surprise. The Lions opened up a gaping hole at the left tackle position, so they’re going to have to figure out a way to fix that position while they’re still in this Super Bowl window.
A prospect like Kadyn Proctor could step in and be an immediate starter for Detroit, and this might be the best long-term landing spot for him.
Proctor is ultra-talented, he has phenomenal size, and he’s an athletic big man. The questions surrounding his game have not really been about what you see on the field, but the management of his weight off of it. If the Lions can help him get that under control consistently, he’s going to start for a long time in the NFL.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
This is one of the best draft classes at the safety position that we’ve seen in quite some time. The top of the class is great with players like Caleb Downs, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Dillon Thieneman all likely landing in the top 25 players on most teams’ boards.
The order in which they all fall will be dependent on how NFL teams view their projection and what they might be missing. The Vikings obviously said goodbye this offseason to Harrison Smith, who has been the heart and soul of their defense for a long time.
Without Smith in the fold, defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to need someone he can trust on the back end in all aspects of playing the safety position, and Dillon Thieneman might be the best all-around playmaker, with McNeil-Warren a better option in the box and attacking.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Carolina Panthers got some of the worst production out of the tight end position in the NFL last season, at least when it comes to the passing game. They were one of just a couple of teams to be outside the top 32 qualifying tight ends completely, so getting a playmaker in the passing game at the tight end position will be something they have circled in this draft.
And because of his talent and athletic traits, the Panthers might be a little bit surprised to find Kenyon Sadiq falling into their laps in this class.
Sadiq has the classic look of a “move” tight end, built like he’s chiseled out of stone and moving around like a wide receiver. Bryce Young has some great options at running back and wide receiver, and getting a tight end like Sadiq could push this offense over the top.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
I could see the Dallas Cowboys trying to trade down from one of their two spots in the first round to get some extra darts on day two of this year’s draft. Not that they wouldn’t just stay put and take guys like Jermod McCoy and Cashius Howell, because both of those guys would fill some major needs, but you certainly get the impression that they could better take advantage of the depth of this year’s class.
The Cowboys still need players at linebacker and safety, and could be a great landing spot here with this selection for someone like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. But the pass rush off the edge is a major problem area for this team, even after trading for veteran Rashan Gary with the Packers.
Cashius Howell won’t have to move very far from Texas A&M and could immediately provide the type of boost the Cowboys need off the edge in the pass rush department.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
The Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have their quarterback situation figured out at the time of this post being written, but everyone is assuming the same thing: Aaron Rodgers will come back for a swan song sequel in 2026.
The Steelers are typically good for one of two things early in the NFL Draft: Offensive line or defensive trenches. And here, they might be getting one of the top steals of the first round in Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano.
There is so much talk at this time of year about offensive linemen and their arm length metrics. Fano’s arm length checked in at under 33 inches, which, for an offensive tackle, is definitely not ideal. He could be looking at a slide inside to the guard position at the next level, but still has the ability to be a longtime starter regardless.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
With the 1st overall pick the Las Vegas Raiders got Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Here with the 22nd overall pick, the Los Angeles Chargers scoop up his college teammate to come catch passes from Justin Herbert.
It’s been rather surprising to see how much the Chargers have lacked at the receiver position despite so much investment in it. Quentin Johnston hasn’t exactly lived up to the billing of a first-round draft pick. Ladd McConkey regressed in his second NFL season. The jury is still out on a number of other guys in this offense, but when Keenan Allen comes in after one year away and is still the most reliable target, something’s up.
The Chargers need to find a younger go-to weapon for Herbert to get the ball to, and it could be someone like Cooper, who has a really well-rounded skill set at the position.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
It might not be too long before we’re looking at 2026 NFL Mock Draft scenarios with the Eagles having multiple first-round picks if they ever decide to trade away AJ Brown. Or maybe that will be more so the 2027 NFL Draft. To be determined…
For now, we’re going to keep one eye on 2027 anyway, as the Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman go back to the trenches after a couple of years off. Howie Roseman absolutely knows that he’s on borrowed time with Lane Johnson at the starting right tackle position, and if Johnson is entering his last season with the team, Blake Miller could be the perfect heir apparent.
He’s big, he’s got great length, he’s athletic, and he is a much better value here than the prospects at the Eagles’ other top positions of need (EDGE, receiver).
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Cleveland Browns probably figured Jerry Jeudy had reached a new proverbial floor in his game after the way he played in 2024, but his catch percentage plummeted last year, and it’s clear that he can’t be anything more than a secondary threat at this particular point in time.
The Browns need another receiver who gives the quarterback some margin for error, so they’d probably be okay reaching a little bit here for Washington’s Denzel Boston, a big-bodied receiver with some of the strongest hands in the class.
When the ball is thrown up in Boston’s direction, he’s coming down with it. He has a huge advantage over smaller defensive backs at the catch point, not just because he’s 6-foot-4, but because he’s ball-dominant. The Browns desperately need someone like this in their receiver group.
25 Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
Even though the Bears have worked to replace them in NFL Free Agency, the losses of players like Kevin Byard, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker could really hurt in the long run. For a defense that led the NFL this past season in total takeaways, the Bears still have to work to make sure they do everything in their power to make sure that’s still part of the unit’s DNA.
Taking Emmanuel McNeil-Warren accomplishes exactly that.
McNeil-Warren has no business falling this far down the board with his combination of size and athletic traits, but there’s no way the Bears would complain about it. Getting a safety in the 1st round isn’t the ideal way to spend the pick, but this is a team with championship aspirations, and the Bears need as many playmakers on the back end as they can get.
26. Buffalo Bills: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
At some point, some team is going to take a chance on Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, and I think they’re going to be happy they did it.
For the majority of the 2025 offseason, Woods was getting talked about as though he was guaranteed a spot in the top 10 picks of this year’s draft. That’s how well he played in the 2024 season at Clemson, but as we know, the volatility of NFL Draft stock can be brutal for prospects if you’re not putting up huge numbers every single game, especially if you had high expectations going into the year.
The Buffalo Bills could use help in the trenches on both sides of the ball after losing both David Edwards (guard) and AJ Epenesa (defensive end), but Woods gives them another option for the rotation immediately at defensive tackle.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah
There is definitely some intrigue developing here with the 49ers and starting left tackle Trent Williams, whose contract situation has brought about some trade rumors for as early as this year.
I’m not sure the 49ers are going to move on from Williams at this point, but they could definitely seek out his future replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft, even as high as the first round. And Caleb Lomu is an interesting candidate for that opportunity. At 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, Lomu has the ideal frame for a left tackle at the NFL level, and he’ll keep filling out that frame the longer he’s in the pros.
He’s been the starting left tackle at Utah, and that’s where he projects best in the NFL. In an offense like Kyle Shanahan’s, he’s sort of tailor-made from a physical standpoint. This would be an outstanding fit for both the team and player.
28. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Houston Texans have undoubtedly set themselves up for another year of dominating defense. They brought in Reed Blankenship as an underrated pickup from the Eagles to join their loaded secondary, and they invested in the defensive line depth already by adding pieces like Logan Hall and Dominique Robinson.
After adding to the offensive line during NFL Free Agency, the Texans are set up well here in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft to possibly take a chance on someone like Caleb Banks.
We talk about it in every mock draft projection, but Banks is a rare athlete on the defensive line at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, 35-inch arms, and tremendous athletic traits. He only played three games this past year, and there are some off-field concerns, but the Texans could be a great environment for him to thrive as a pro.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Kansas City Chiefs lost just about their entire defense in NFL Free Agency, and nobody is really discussing it because they signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
Talk about throwing the media off the scent.
While Walker is an exciting addition to the Chiefs’ offense and run game that has struggled to find anyone competent enough outside of Kareem Hunt to handle the majority of duties, the defense needs work (drastically so) at all three levels.
The Chiefs lost Leo Chenal in free agency to the Washington Commanders, and will undoubtedly be looking to replace him in a linebacker-loaded draft class. CJ Allen would be an awesome pickup this late in the 1st round. Even though he’s not built like Chenal in terms of size and athletic traits, Allen more than makes up for it with his instincts and football IQ.
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Dating back to last year’s draft class, the Miami Dolphins have been a team we’ve circled as needing help at the cornerback position.
That’s certainly still true as the rebuilding project for this franchise continues.
The Dolphins got a lot of really great NFL Draft capital from the Denver Broncos in the trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. They added picks in the 1st and 3rd rounds, while giving up a higher 4th-round selection and getting Denver’s later pick in the 4th.
With their first pick from that trade haul, the Dolphins finally address that cornerback position with Tennessee’s Colton Hood, who played some dominant football this past season in the absence of another stud prospect, Jermod McCoy.
31. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Just like you figure someone is going to take a shot at some point on Peter Woods, someone is going to take a risk on another Clemson stud prospect in TJ Parker.
The 2024 tape is simply too good.
Parker’s production took a nosedive this past season, but he could still be exactly what the doctor ordered for the New England Patriots. He can hold up immediately at the NFL off the edge with his outstanding size, and he’s got the ability to stay on the edge or slide inside on passing downs right away.
Given the fact that he had a down year in 2025, Parker could end up being one of the top draft steals in 2026 if he goes to a situation like New England’s.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
We have yet another Clemson Tigers prospect here to close out the first round of this 2026 NFL mock draft scenario, which seems fitting based on the way the other 31 picks have gone.
Avieon Terrell is the brother of Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell, and could be a big-time pickup for a team like the Seattle Seahawks. The reigning Super Bowl champions are set up really well to defend their title this coming season, but they did take some hits this offseason in the secondary.
Terrell looks like he’ll be a better slot defender at the next level than on the outside, but you simply have to take the best player on your board here and let the rotation be worked out by Mike Macdonald and his coaching staff.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 2nd-round mock draft predictions
33. New York Jets: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
34. Arizona Cardinals: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
35. Tennessee Titans: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
37. New York Giants: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
38. Houston Texans (from Washington Commanders): Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
39. Cleveland Browns: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
42. New Orleans Saints: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
43. Miami Dolphins: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
44. New York Jets (from Dallas Cowboys): Ty Simpson, CB, Alabama
45. Baltimore Ravens: Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
47. Indianapolis Colts: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
48. Atlanta Falcons: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
49. Minnesota Vikings: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
50. Detroit Lions: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
51. Carolina Panthers: Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
52. Green Bay Packers: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
54. Philadelphia Eagles: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
57. Chicago Bears: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
58. San Francisco 49ers: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
59. Houston Texans: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
60. Chicago Bears (from Buffalo Bills): Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
61. Los Angeles Rams: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
62. Denver Broncos: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
63. New England Patriots: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
64. Seattle Seahawks: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
Aside from a few teams making their debut in this mock draft here in the second round, we've got the New York Giants finally addressing the running back position by taking Notre Dame's Jadarian Price after missing out on Jeremiyah Love in the 1st round. The Giants have been rumored to be interested in many backs this offseason, including Love and free agent Kenneth Walker, but they haven't landed anyone.
Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy might not be cutting it for the new coaching staff, so Price comes in as the presumptive new lead back.
We've also got the New York Jets taking a shot here on Ty Simpson, and they might have to do that at the top of the round. We'll see which teams are interested in taking a chance on Simpson with how little experience he has starting at the college level, but he has the type of talent teams simply will risk their jobs over.
And in the second round, is it really that dramatic? It's a risk worth taking if you're the Jets or Browns in this round.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Complete 3rd-round predictions
65. Arizona Cardinals: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
66. Tennessee Titans: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
68. Philadelphia Eagles (from New York Jets): Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
69. Houston Texans (from New York Giants): Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State
70. Cleveland Browns: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
71. Washington Commanders: Kamari Ramsey, DB, USC
72. Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
73. New Orleans Saints: Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
75. Miami Dolphins: Gracen Halton, DL, Oklahoma
76. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Dallas Cowboys): Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
78. Indianapolis Colts: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
79. Atlanta Falcons: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
80. Baltimore Ravens: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Detroit Lions): Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
82. Minnesota Vikings: Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State
83. Carolina Panthers: Genesis Smith, SAF, Arizona
84. Green Bay Packers: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
86. Los Angeles Chargers: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
87. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia Eagles): Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Zakee Wheatley, SAF, Penn State
89. Chicago Bears: Bud Clark, DB, TCU
90. Miami Dolphins (from Houston Texans): Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
91. Buffalo Bills: Sam Hecht, OL, Kansas State
92. Dallas Cowboys (from San Francisco 49ers): Devin Moore, CB, Florida
93. Los Angeles Rams: Logan Jones, OL, Iowa
94. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
95. New England Patriots: Jake Slaughter, OL, Florida
96. Seattle Seahawks: Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska
97. Minnesota Vikings (comp): Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia
98. Philadelphia Eagles (comp): Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
99. Pittsburgh Steelers (comp): Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
100. Jacksonville Jaguars (comp): Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
We've got a couple of interesting quarterback selections here in this round to discuss, the first of which is the Arizona Cardinals taking a shot on North Dakota State signal caller Cole Payton. Payton is a scrambler, more than most quarterbacks coming out of the college ranks, but he's got skills that have the NFL very intrigued. To the point that he's considered a mortal lock for Day 2 at this stage.
On almost the complete opposite end of the round, we have the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a third-round dart throw on Drew Allar of Penn State. Allar is one of the most polarizing prospects in the class who has been getting talked about for a really long time thanks to his tools, but he's got the flashes that will have NFL teams drooling no matter what.
We've also got the Eagles taking the heir apparent to Dallas Goedert in this round with their selection of Ohio State tight end Max Klare, and the Buccaneers doubling up on the linebacker position with Kyle Louis. Louis is an interesing stylistic contrast to other linebackers in this class as a very small player at the position who can almost function as an extra defensive back in certain situations.