The 2025 NFL regular season is just days away. The college football season is officially underway. Starbucks just brought Pumpkin Spice flavors back to the menu.
Fall is here, baby. It’s finally football season again, which means we can finally start getting an up-close look at some of the top prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. Even between now and the end of the 2025 college season, tons of prospects will emerge, and where things are at this point will be drastically different.
But even now, we still have a decent idea of team needs, top prospects, as well as a brand-new wrinkle in the 1st round with Micah Parsons going to the Green Bay Packers for multiple first-round picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark. Let’s take a look at our final 2026 NFL mock draft predictions before the start of the NFL regular season.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st-round predictions after Micah Parsons blockbuster
1. New Orleans Saints: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Arch Manning himself came out and publicly spoke against the idea that he was just already decided he was staying in school beyond this season. While that may end up being the case, I think it’ll be a case-by-case situation. If the Saints, Colts, or any other organization that the Manning family would approve of gets the #1 overall pick, you’d better believe Arch is going to declare. That is, assuming his stock is still this high at season’s end. After watching him play against Ohio State, maybe there was some wisdom in granddad's words.
Arch has been the #1 prospect since he was in middle school. He’s got some serious hype to live up to this year at Texas, but everything we’ve seen from him so far is indicative that he’s got what it takes to take his game to the next level. His struggles against Ohio State are noted, but not going to crush his draft stock just yet.
2. Cleveland Browns: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
There are some folks out there who believe Nussmeier is the QB1 of this class over Arch Manning or anyone else. Nussmeier has NFL bloodlines, he’s been productive in the SEC, and he’s perceived to have a higher floor than other QB prospects.
This is pretty much the exact type of prospect the Browns need at the quarterback position. The son of a coach, a guy with high football IQ, and someone whose talent level matches his work ethic and love for the game. The Browns can’t be taking shots on upside here. They need someone who is ready to take their job from Day 1.
3. Tennessee Titans: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Tennessee Titans made Cam Ward the #1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, so now they’ve got to do whatever it takes to properly surround him with talent. Unfortunately for the Titans, the work on the roster has only just begun. General manager Mike Borgonzi has one of the older rosters in the league and a roster that lacks long-term players at some of the cornerstone position groups.
One of those positions is the left tackle spot, where the Titans are giving Dan Moore a shot to be their starter this coming season. Moore was a castoff of a Steelers offensive line that needed a starter at that spot, so we’re already thinking this will be a position of need for the Titans in 2026.
4. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
The New York Giants are going to be a really interesting team to watch this year. I think they have more pieces to be in the mix for a playoff spot than what would be required to be picking this high in next year’s draft.
There would have to be a complete tank job going on at the quarterback position, and they’ve both raised the floor there and added an upside option in Jaxson Dart. With one of the best defensive lines in all of football, it’s hard to see the Giants truly being this bad, but I’m guessing they wouldn’t scoff at the chance to get Caleb Downs if they had the chance.
It’s hard to see a safety going this high, especially if Downs doesn’t blow everyone away with his pre-draft measurables. But he’s a great player who would be a fun fit for the Giants.
5. New York Jets: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
If the New York Jets end up picking this high in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’re going to be in the market for a quarterback. They’re taking a risk this season on Justin Fields, which isn’t a terrible idea given the rest of the roster around him. It’s a worthwhile shot to take, but obviously when you have a top five pick in the draft, you’re more than likely going to be in the quarterback market.
LaNorris Sellers is going to be one of the most interesting players at the college level to watch this coming season because of his dual-threat capabilities and big arm talent. More than just being a dual threat, Sellers has a great feel for escaping pressure in the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield.
6. Carolina Panthers: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Beggars can’t be choosers, and this is perhaps shaping up to be another non-ideal draft for a team like the Carolina Panthers that needs – in a desperate way – cornerstone pieces on the defensive side of the ball. Where the Panthers really need the most help is off the edge, but this draft is going to need someone to really emerge as a better overall prospect than Clemson’s Peter Woods.
And you never know what can happen over the next 3-4 months. Peter Woods, as of right now, is probably the best overall defensive player in the class. The Panthers wanted Milton Williams in 2025 free agency but couldn’t get him. If they had the shot to get a player like Woods, it would drastically change the outlook of their defensive front.
7. Indianapolis Colts: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Just like most teams picking in the top 10 picks of any mock draft, you’d have to assume the quarterback position is a big reason why the Colts would end up here. After the team’s decision to name Daniel Jones the starting quarterback, it’s even more believable that the Colts would be in the market for a top quarterback prospect in this range.
If you’ve been reading through our 2026 NFL mock drafts all offseason, you’ve undoubtedly seen this fit between the Colts and Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is a favorite right now of a lot of folks on “Draft Twitter” who loved what he put on tape at Cal last season. Now that he’s transferred to Bloomington, he’s got a chance to win over the home crowd before even taking a snap for the Colts.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
There’s no question that the Las Vegas Raiders have raised their floor offensively this offseason. Getting Geno Smith to come in at quarterback and take over for Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell is huge. Getting Ashton Jeanty to come be the lead back instead of guys like Alexander Mattison.
Again, the floor has been raised.
But GM John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll gave us our clearest indicator yet that this is a multi-year rebuild when they started adding a bunch of reclamation projects on the defensive side of the ball. We’ll see if any of the dart throws can actually hit, but this team needs defensive cornerstone pieces in the worst way. Keldric Faulk is perceived as one of the players this college season with such a high ceiling thanks to his size, traits, and positional versatility.
9. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
If the Cleveland Browns take a quarterback with their top pick, they’ve got to make sure they keep on adding pieces around him. Besides their rough quarterback situation, the Browns also have some pieces in transition on the offensive line beyond this year.
Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Teven Jenkins, and Ethan Pocic are all slated to hit free agency. The Browns also just moved on from former first-round pick Jedrick Wills, who is recovering from an injury and sitting out the 2025 season.
This is an area of the roster GM Andrew Berry is going to need to pour into in a significant way. Having multiple first-round picks in a draft class that is supposed to be loaded at both quarterback and offensive line couldn’t be more perfect for Cleveland.
10. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Miami Dolphins just picked up a number of players to upgrade their cornerback position, at least on paper, before the start of the season. The problem is, you’re not exactly upgrading the position when you’re just snatching up guys who were recently cut by other teams.
The cornerback position could be a massive problem for the Dolphins in 2025 with the likes of Rasul Douglas, Storm Duck, Jason Marshall Jr., and JuJu Brents on the depth chart. It’s clear where the Dolphins need to mamke a big investment in the 2026 NFL Draft, and getting someone like Jermod McCoy would be a gift from the football gods for this team.
Even with McCoy recovering from an injury suffered late last season, the Dolphins would probably jump at the chance to add him to the roster right now if they could.
11. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
I’m fascinated to see where the New England Patriots go this season, and what needs will really emerge around young quarterback Drake Maye. As of right now, it’s understandable why the Patriots are considered to be a potential breakout team. It’s also reasonable to expect the Patriots will struggle a little bit at times because of the fact that they have so many needs at core positions.
Hopefully, they can get a big year out of rookie Will Campbell, but the Patriots have longer-term issues right now at right tackle, wide receiver, and off the edge. If they can add someone like TJ Parker to the roster next offseason, it would at least give them a young player with big upside in the pass rush department to build around on that side of the ball.
We know Mike Vrabel is going to continually emphasize the trenches, so I’d be surprised if this wasn’t an offensive lineman or defensive lineman/edge rusher.
12. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Los Angeles Rams are obviously going to be a team to watch at the quarterback position in next year’s draft. The Matthew Stafford saga for this team has reached a concerning point because not only are there constant rumors of retirement, but there is seemingly the constant threat of Stafford missing time due to injury.
With that being said, we’ll have something more on the quarterback position later. Sometimes you’ve got to take advantage of the depth at certain position groups in a draft class, or lack thereof. The cornerback position in this year’s draft is not considered to be deep, so the Rams might have to move there early and maybe take advantage of the QB depth later on.
Getting a potential Day 1 starter here like Avieon Terrell would be a huge difference-maker for the Rams’ defense.
13. Seattle Seahawks: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
It’s going to be really interesting to see how things go for the Seattle Seahawks this year on the offensive side of the ball. This team had a horrendous offensive line last year, so they’ll be expecting Grey Zabel to make an impact, but what kind of needs do they have going forward?
Well, they still might have significant needs on the offensive line, but they’re passing on those here because of a potentially even more desperate need at wide receiver. I’m not expecting the Cooper Kupp addition to last more than a year or two, and the Seahawks don’t have much depth at this position right now at all.
They could very well be in the market for a 1st-round receiver and in this instance, they’d have the chance to take the first one off the board. Jordyn Tyson has been outstanding since transferring from Colorado and gives you another playmaker on the outside to put with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the long haul.
14. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauioga, OL, Miami
The Arizona Cardinals have one of the most improved all-around rosters over the last 2-3 years in the NFL. They’ve done a great job of rebuilding and reloading since Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort took over, and they’ve got a real shot this year to make some noise in the NFC West.
Finishing in this spot would be a tremendous disappointment for the Cardinals, but they’d be able to take advantage of this draft’s depth on the offensive line. The tackle position is so strong in this year’s draft and the Cardinals could be saying goodbye to Jonah Williams in the 2026 offseason. Williams is set to hit free agency, and there are only so many assets you can allocate to the offensive line.
Maybe the Cardinals will try to re-sign Williams, but it wouldn’t be the worst idea to reset the clock there with a player on a rookie contract.
15. Dallas Cowboys: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
The Cowboys had a pretty high ceiling before the Micah Parsons trade, but now, the ceiling is low and the floor is even lower. Some have even speculated that they are taking to try to get Arch Manning. While I wouldn’t go that far, it’s pretty clear that Jerry Jones is okay with his team being bad, if that does end up being the case.
Trading away Micah Parsons was a bit of a calculated risk for the Cowboys because they do have a bunch of young guys off the edge who could be something. But after losing DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency and now Parsons, this is a position group that’s going to need attention.
Matayo Uiagalelei has the juice off the edge and could give the Cowboys another top-flight edge rusher prospect to build around along with Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The Pittsburgh Steelers are obviously going with the opposite of a “youth movement” in 2025. But they could completely shift that mindset in 2026. The major hurdle here is the failure that was Kenny Pickett in the 2022 NFL Draft for the Steelers. That pick has understandably haunted the fan base a bit, and perhaps spooked them from taking a mid-late 1st-round quarterback if it comes to that.
But not every quarterback picked at this point in the draft is destined to be a reach or a future bust. Drew Allar has been a polarizing player because of his inconsistency, but the physical talent and competitive nature are difficult traits to ignore. He’s expected to be one of the biggest risers in this year’s class and could be in the spotlight late into the College Football Playoffs.
The Steelers are only getting one year out of Aaron Rodgers, so they’ll have to have some type of long-term plan in place. They could even try to pair Allar with someone like Kirk Cousins if they want to go the Band Aid route again.
17. Chicago Bears: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
We know the running back position is mission critical for Ben Johnson’s offense based on the way they absolutely dominated on the ground when he was in Detroit. And while Bears fans are understandably excited about the potential of this team under Johnson in 2025, it might take a couple of years (and a couple of draft classes) to really start seeing his vision truly come to fruition.
The running back position is poised for an overhaul in Chicago, as the fan base is most excited about 7th-round pick Kyle Monangai more than anyone else. With all do respect to Monangai, it’s likely we’re going to see Chicago go after some upgrades at the position in 2026 and here they just so happen to get the RB1 of this class.
With the running back position back en vogue in today’s NFL, it’s possible Love won’t be on the board this late, but he would be a perfect addition for the Bears.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
For the past couple of years, the Minnesota Vikings have had one of the most enviable collections of offensive skill talent in the league. Slowly but surely, Father Time is having his way, and the Vikings have not only gotten older at the skill positions but they’ve also had issues off the field with former first-round pick Jordan Addison.
Next year will be a contract year for Addison, who will serve a suspension the first three games of the 2025 season. The Vikings might not be ready to pay him big money with the contract they already gave out to Justin Jefferson, and this team has been scrambling a bit for receiver depth, giving up a 4th-round pick for veteran Adam Thielen.
I think the cornerback position is more of a pressing need for the Vikings, but they may have to go to free agency to address that spot. The wide receiver position is not great in this class but Chris Bell has some intriguing size (6-3, 227 pounds) and speed, and could end up being a fast riser in this year’s class.
19. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
We saw a complete overhaul of the offensive line in Houston this past offseason, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a complete overhaul of the defensive line in 2026.
Although, don’t rule out more tweaks to the offensive line…
The Texans have a ton of players on the defensive front slated to hit free agency in 2026: Sheldon Rankins (32), Foley Fatukasi (31), Tim Settle (29), Denico Autry (36), and Darrell Taylor (29) are all part of that rotation this year with expiring contracts. The need on the defensive line for some youth is obvious.
Caleb Banks is a big body out of Florida who could come in and be part of the rotation right away. This will be a crucial year for his development at Florida as there is talk that he might be destined for Day 2 at best because of off-field concerns.
20. Denver Broncos: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
If you want to go offensive line or linebacker here, I don’t think anyone in Denver is going to disagree or complain. The Denver Broncos are in a great spot for both the present and future, and we saw evidence of just how quickly GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton revamped this roster when they used the 20th pick in this year’s draft on cornerback Jahdae Barron, who is going to be 4th on the depth chart as a rookie.
In other words, the Broncos are drafting the best player available the offseason after taking on $90 million in dead cap. They have done extremely well adding to the roster. One of the biggest strengths of this team is the defense, but the linebacker position is a huge question beyond this season.
Getting a team captain like Sonny Styles fits this teams M.O., but Styles would also be such a fun addition next to Dre Greenlaw. A former safety with elite size (6-4, 243 pounds) and range, Styles would keep that Denver defense humming.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
You don’t often see off-ball linebackers going in the first round of the NFL Draft these days, but here we have guys going back-to-back picks in the top 21 overall.
It’s a testament to the lack of top-end talent right now at other premium position groups in this year’s draft class as well as teams that make the playoffs perhaps addressing more immediate needs. And frankly, the linebacker position is becoming one of those position groups that teams are allocating $15-17M per year on contract extensions.
The Buccaneers need to get younger at the linebacker position and CJ Allen could be an ideal fit for them in this upcoming class. He plays all three downs and has been a starter for the Bulldogs since he was a freshman. He’s got the chance to establish himself as the top off-ball linebacker in the class early this season.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
In all of our 2026 NFL mock draft scenarios, the position featured the least has been the tight end position.
All throughout the 2025 NFL Draft process, we had the Los Angeles Chargers going after Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, and for obvious (Jim Harbaugh) reasons. The Chicago Bears made Loveland a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, wiping him off the board for the Chargers and everyone else rather quickly.
The Chargers also missed out on Evan Engram in the 2025 offseason, watching him sign with their division rival Broncos instead. Because of the team’s need at tight end going relatively unaddressed, we can fire up this idea of the Chargers taking a 1st-round tight end yet again. The hype surrounding Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq is only beginning and he might soon play himself out of range for a team like the Chargers.
23. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah
There were no offensive linemen named “Tyler” to consider here for the Dallas Cowboys, so we had to settle for a Caleb.
The Cowboys are in an interesting situation here as this is the selection they received in the Micah Parsons trade. Well, one of them. The Cowboys’ needs for the upcoming draft are not likely going to take shape until we start seeing games played and figure out what their direction will be after this year. Are they in it for the long haul with Dak Prescott? Are they going to continue blowing things up?
Jerry Jones loves taking offensive linemen with premium picks and Lomu has outstanding potential. He might not declare for next year’s class with the depth at tackle, but he’d be a starting right tackle candidate down the line.
24. Washington Commanders: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
The Washington Commanders are entering the 2025 season with the league’s oldest roster, which just feels extremely odd.
The Commanders obviously reached the NFC Championship game last year, and while they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Commander fan base is understandably giddy about the future of the organization more than I can personally recall in my time doing this. Jayden Daniels is the source of that excitement, and the Commanders did a great job of getting pieces around him on offense this offseason.
Defensively is another story. Dan Quinn is banking on his scheme being the big difference-maker for this team in 2025, but the Commanders have issues off the edge that will have to be addressed in the 2026 offseason. Getting a versatile player like LT Overton would be a nice fit and value at this spot.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
As much as everyone wants to just back the Bengals into a defensive corner with this pick slot (understandably so), they are also going to have to keep taking shots at the offensive line until they find a formula that actually works.
The Bengals might have to make major changes on the offensive line after the 2025 season and with all they’ve invested in Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and MIke Gesicki, their hit rate in the draft has to be high. They just made a last-minute addition of Dalton Risner to the roster before the start of the season, proof that they’re not sold on their starting five at this point.
They’ve got all of Ted Karras, Lucas Patrick, and Cordell Volson slated to hit free agency in 2026 along with Orlando Brown Jr. being a potential cut or trade candidate. As much as it would make sense for them to go “Defense, No Matter What” in this pick slot, you have to look at the offensive line as well.
26. San Francisco 49ers: Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
The San Francisco 49ers have to be forward-thinking with this draft class once again in 2026. The 2025 class of players they brought in was heavy on the defensive side of the ball, and those guys are all going to have a chance to do something special in 2025 with Robert Saleh back in the fold as defensive coordinator.
But I like an offensive focus for the Niners in the 2026 NFL Draft, especially with the investment they just made in quarterback Brock Purdy. The 49ers can’t risk Purdy having any protection issues whatsoever, and they’ve got to throw darts at talented offensive linemen, especially because Trent Williams isn’t going to play forever.
Drew Shelton is going to get a lot of attention this year as NFL teams will have eyes on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, and he could end up being one of the top risers in the class.
27. Los Angeles Rams: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
The Los Angeles Rams need to figure out their long-term plan at the quarterback position. They’ve got to figure out what their solution is going to be whenever Matthew Stafford does decide to hang up the cleats. Teams in their situation typically don’t play their hand too early, but there is always going to be demand for quarterbacks in the NFL and not everyone can wait for the Jordan Loves or the Jalen Hurts’ just falling into their laps.
With that in mind, I love the idea of the Rams getting a player like Cade Klubnik in next year’s draft. Projections for him have been all over the map as we’ve had him in the 1st overall slot, top 10, and out of the first round entirely. Klubnik is an experienced player who would be able to pick up on Sean McVay’s offensive scheme quickly and operate at a high level.
Because of how good Clemson is expected to be, Klubnik has a real shot to be the top senior QB off the board, but might not have the traits that pop off the screen to be picked in the top 10.
28. Kansas City Chiefs: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that has been carried significantly by their defense in recent years. Of course, that isn’t a statement meant to diminish Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, but the Chiefs’ offense has been in the middle of the pack scoring-wise, and their defense has put them in situations to win a lot of tight games.
A lot of tight games.
They need to do whatever it takes to make sure there is no drop-off for that side of the ball anytime soon. They got George Karlaftis locked into a contract extension this past offseason and also used Day 2 picks on players like Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte to fortify the front. But getting more pass rushers is never a bad idea.
Especially with Felix Anudike-Uzomah looking more like a bust than anything, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Chiefs dip back into this position again.
29. Detroit Lions: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
There are a few things the Detroit Lions look for in prospects, but hard-nosed lovers of the game top the list. The way Anthony Hill Jr. plays the game, you can argue no one seems to exude a love for the game more right now at the college level.
The Lions used a first-round pick a couple of years back on Jack Campbell out of Iowa, a player who embodied what it means to be a “hunter” at the linebacker position. Hill is another guy with those types of traits. He has the obvious: Size, speed, range, playmaking ability. But what will really endear him to a team like the Detroit Lions is that he’s got a nose for the football and is physical every single snap.
The Lions need difference makers defensively and Hill has the chance to be one of the best in this upcoming class as a former five-star prospect who has put it together at the college level.
30. Buffalo Bills: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Buffalo Bills have a lot of question marks at the wide receiver position this coming season, though they don’t lack talent. They gave a new contract to Khalil Shakir, who is their best guy after the catch. They have a big bodied target potentially ready to break out in Keon Coleman. They have free agent Josh Palmer coming in as a potential deep threat and big-play guy.
Do the Bills have an every-down target eater? Do they need one?
I would argue they absolutely do, and that’s where someone like Carnell Tate could come into play. The Ohio State program is always going to have receivers drawing first-round attention because of how great those guys have been at the NFL level in recent years, and Tate could be one of the next ones, even if he’s not going to get the same level of hype as someone like Jeremiah Smith.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
There are very few negative things you can say about the Baltimore Ravens’ roster right now. They look like they have arguably the best roster in the NFL, and with general manager Eric DeCosta pulling the strings, does anyone really expect that to change anytime soon?
The Ravens have a situation on their hands at tight end, however. All three of Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar are slated to hit free agency in 2026, and it’s possible they could lose at least two of them. If that happens, the tight end position will once again be in focus for the Ravens in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they’d almost have their pick of the litter here.
Max Klare is a transfer from Purdue to Ohio State this year who is probably going to start building up some steam for the 2026 NFL Draft before too long. He had 685 yards and four touchdowns last year for the Boilermakers and could break out in a big way this coming year.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Chaplin, OT, Auburn
The Philadelphia Eagles are a team that’s always looking to upgrade in the trenches on both sides of the football. We’ve seen general manager Howie Roseman deviate from that a little bit in recent years, so I would expect that he’s going to go back to his familiar well in short order.
Xavier Chaplin is an intriguing transfer to watch this year, moving from Virginia Tech to Auburn. He’s got great size at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds, and while he’s considered to be a little raw, it’s nothing a little time at Jeff Stoutland University can’t fix.
The Eagles have the best offensive line developer in the entire NFL, and someone like Chaplin could be a worthwhile risk-reward option here late in the first round as the Eagles are already replacing a starter at right guard this year and Lane Johnson will be 36 next May.