As much fun as we all had during the 2025 NFL Draft, the 2026 NFL Draft will be even more fun due to the simple fact that there's an exponential increase in quarterback intrigue. Although we play the game of musical chairs every year at the quarterback position in the NFL, there might be a third of the league looking for new starters next offseason.
And the 2026 NFL Draft class could deliver in a substantial way.
This 2026 NFL mock draft will look at the entire first round of next year's draft, which is a futile exercise in accuracy but a fun exercise when it comes to prospects you should have eyes on. As always, there will be players who end up going undrafted or late in next year's draft who are on this list, and plenty of players who emerge from the depths as well.
What position and prospects could your team be targeting in the 2026 NFL Draft?
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 1st Round Predictions
1. Cleveland Browns: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Say what you want about where Arch Manning is at with his game currently. There is always projection involved in the NFL Draft and Arch has been one of the most highly coveted players at the most important position for a long time. If he completely flames out for Texas this year, it would be a shock. Unlike other QBs we all know with the last name Manning, Arch is a dual threat and a heck of an athlete. He’s been on the Trevor Lawrence, Andrew Luck track since before he even got to high school.
2. Tennessee Titans: TJ Parker, DL, Clemson
The Titans got their franchise quarterback – Miami star Cam Ward – with the 1st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Mike Borgonzi is going to have some tough decisions to make if his team is this bad this coming year, but what to do at the top of the draft might be brutal. Do you take another swing at QB if Ward plays poorly or do you go after another cornerstone piece? I think Borgonzi will give Ward at least another year. TJ Parker had 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and a whopping 6 forced fumbles last season.
3. New Orleans Saints: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The New Orleans Saints will have their choice of nepo babies in next year’s draft, in all likelihood. If they were to take Arch Manning, it would be a full-circle moment considering the team has not selected a first-round QB since they took Archie Manning back in the 70s. If they take Garrett Nussmeier, they’ll be taking the son of their current offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier. All kidding about the nepo babies aside, either would be fantastic picks based on what we know about those guys now.
4. New York Giants: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The New York Giants just traded up into the 1st round for Jaxson Dart in 2025, but if they are picking this high again next year, they might be doing a total reset from the top down. That could mean a new quarterback. But maybe Dart gets out there and shows something this year. They need to continue to build around the QB offensively anyway and Kadyn Proctor can help do that.
5. New York Jets: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
When he gets to the NFL, Cade Klubnik will be one of the most experienced quarterbacks in his draft class, and that seems to matter more and more to NFL teams these days. Klubnik has been a starter at Clemson since 2022 and they have such a loaded roster this year that he has a chance to make his case for the #1 overall pick. He’ll be in the spotlight week after week. The Jets will likely need a new QB if they are bad enough to earn a top-5 pick.
6. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
It’s not often these days that you see safety prospects as coveted as Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. The Ohio State program was “gutted” this past year of so many guys who went off to the NFL, but maybe their top draft-eligible prospect for 2026 is on the back end of the defense. And the Panthers are kind of a rare team right now that could justify a top-10 pick at the position considering how badly they need pieces on that side of the ball.
7. Cleveland Browns: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
The Browns took Arch Manning with their top pick in this 2026 NFL mock draft, and here they get Oregon Ducks offensive tackle Isaiah World to block for him. A 6-foot-8 mammoth at the position, World is transferring to Oregon from the Nevada program and trying to establish himself as a top-10 pick in next year’s class. He could end up being the first tackle off the board with a big year.
8. Indianapolis Colts: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Making his debut in our 2026 NFL mock draft series is Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. After spending the first few years of his college career at Cal, Mendoza is transferring to Indiana to play for the Hoosiers and further develop his skills as a future NFL starting quarterback. He has been one of the top flavors of the offseason for many in the NFL Draft community and now that he’s in Bloomington, he could quickly endear himself to his future NFL fan base.
9. Las Vegas Raiders: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
There are a lot of potential quarterback-needy teams in next year’s draft, but the Raiders have the benefit of being able to be patient. You would think Geno Smith would raise this team’s floor a bit higher than this, but if the Raiders are within striking distance, they could be a great landing spot for someone like Sellers, who is still only 19 years old at the time this post is being written. Sellers is a dynamic dual-threat at the position who could skyrocket up boards this coming season.
10. New England Patriots: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The New England Patriots are growing as a team and as a roster, and I think they could be one of the league’s top surprise teams this coming year. Either way, we know that with Mike Vrabel leading the charge as this team’s head coach, they are going to emphasize the trenches heavily. They went after Will Campbell in this year’s first round, and looking into the crystal ball for next year, they get Clemson’s 315-pound star defensive tackle Peter Woods, an ascending player on the interior with big-time traits.
11. Los Angeles Rams: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
We could be looking at a record-setting quarterback class at this pace. If you read the breadcrumbs, teams were really emphasizing the quarterback class in 2026 as opposed to the one that just came out in 2025, and the Rams collected an extra first-round pick for next year. They’ll be rooting for the Falcons to stink each week, and if they can get a pick anywhere near the top 10, they’ll be within striking distance of getting Matt Stafford’s heir apparent.
12. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Just like with safety Caleb Downs, you don’t see too many off-ball linebackers popping up at the top of NFL Draft rankings these days. But Anthony Hill Jr. is not your average stack linebacker. He can rush the passer, play in coverage, and fly around the field wherever you line him up. He’s a heat-seeking missile out there and would be a great addition to a Cardinals defense that absolutely loaded up on defense in this year’s draft.
13. Seattle Seahawks: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider loves those big, long tweeners on the defensive side of the ball, and at every position group. Keldric Faulk is a 6-foot-6 edge player who can float around the defensive line and cause havoc. He’s better as a run defender at this point but nobody’s going to be surprised if he puts it all together and racks up 12 or more sacks this coming season.
14. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
It’s rare that we would see the first cornerback come off the board this low in the order, but the Miami Dolphins wouldn’t be complaining. This is a roster that has been absolutely gutted in recent years in the secondary, and it might get worse before it gets better with a Jalen Ramsey trade on the horizon. McCoy is a physical ballhawk at the cornerback position who has six interceptions and 16 passes broken up over his first two collegiate seasons.
15. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Believe it or not, the Dallas Cowboys still haven’t adequately addressed their terrible running back position. They took a couple of free agent shots in the dark on guys like Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, but they’re more likely to be back in the 1st-round market next year. Jeremiyah Love can join the recently rejuvenated Cowboys passing attack with the arrival of George Pickens.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: LT Overton, DL, Alabama
NFL teams are going to be expecting LT Overton to take yet another big leap forward in his overall game in his second season with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The former Texas A&M transfer has the size of a quintessential 3-4 defensive end and would be an ideal fit for a Steelers team that just added to the middle of their defense with Oregon’s Derrick Harmon.
17. Chicago Bears: Reuben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Chicago Bears have adequately addressed the offensive side of the ball in recent years, although a makeover at running back could be next on the docket. They need to continue to add playmakers to the defense as well and Miami’s Rueben Bain is considered one of the top breakout players to watch for in 2025. He had 7.5 sacks as a freshman before being limited to just nine games last year. He’s got the talent to be a 1st-round rusher.
18. Minnesota Vikings: AJ Harris, CB, Penn State
The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of questions and holes around their roster, which is still one of the better rosters in the league, but the defensive backfield is where some of the most significant questions are right now. The Vikings passed on corners for the most part in the 2025 NFL Draft, pushing that to the top of the priority list in 2026. AJ Harris is a former Georgia transfer who looked really solid last year at Penn State, breaking up five passes and notching four tackles for loss.
19. Denver Broncos: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Denver Broncos have their bookend tackles secured currently, but they could be doing some slight reshuffling on the offensive line next offseason if they decide to move on from Ben Powers’ contract. Garett Bolles isn’t getting any younger and the Broncos haven’t drafted a tackle – in any round – since they took Bolles back in 2017. They could put Fano in at guard and have him kick back out to tackle when he’s ready.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Francis Mauioga, OT, Miami
The Buccaneers keep Francis Mauioga in Florida in this 2026 NFL mock draft. The Bucs have one of the best left tackles in the NFL in Tristan Wirfs, but Mauioga can play on the right side or they could kick him in to the guard position. With all of the investments the Bucs have made elsewhere on their roster, they are going to need as many quality, cost-effective linemen as they can find.
21. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Houston Texans have one of the best and most loaded rosters in the league, but even they are not without fault. One of the areas this team might need to address early in next year’s draft is the interior defensive line. Luckily for them, many of the top guys have fallen down the board in this mock draft because of the run on quarterbacks early on. Caleb Banks is a playmaker on the defensive line who will have positional versatility at the next level.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
With the way Dani Dennis-Sutton finished last season, he might be in line to land much closer to the top 10 of next year’s draft than this. But the Chargers wouldn’t likely complain. Although the Chargers had a strong draft overall, they have a wide variety of needs remaining on the defensive side of the ball, especially off the edge after the departure of Joey Bosa in free agency. This would be a steal for them.
23. Green Bay Packers: DJ McKinney, CB, Colorado
With so many eyes on the CU program the last couple of years, more prospects are going to benefit besides just Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. Although, to say Sanders benefitted might be a stretch at this juncture. Either way, the Packers like their corners to have bigger frames and the 6-foot-2 McKinney fits the bill. He’s going to be tested plenty this year as the presumptive CB1 with Travis Hunter off to Jacksonville.
24. Los Angeles Rams: Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson
Another prospect from the loaded Clemson roster flies off the board here in the top 25 of this 2026 NFL mock draft. The Los Angeles Rams already got a quarterback of the future earlier in this mock with Penn State’s Drew Allar coming in as Matt Stafford’s heir apparent, but they still need help in the secondary. Aveion Terrell is the brother of AJ Terrell and just like his big bro, he’s got NFL-level chops at the position.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
NFL teams are going to be hoping that someone in this upcoming wide receiver class really emerges, because nobody at that position has come off the board yet in this mock draft. When in doubt, however, just draft the next guy coming out of Ohio State. Brian Hartline gets those guys ready for the NFL and Carnell Tate has already proven that he doesn’t need the spotlight to be highly productive. The Bengals will want to continue to run 3WR sets and Tate could be their third guy behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
26. Washington Commanders: Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State
I don’t think enough people are talking about Nick Singleton as a possible 1st-round back at this point. The Washington Commanders were said to be interested potentially in TreVeyon Henderson in this year’s draft, but they went the wiser long-term route and took the offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. in the 1st round. With so many new pieces coming in over the last couple of years, they could afford the luxury of a 1st-round back in this spot. Keep surrounding Jayden Daniels.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
I’m not sure what factors determined this 2026 NFL mock draft order, but the 49ers being this low on the board after next season would be an all-time coaching job by Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh. If the 49ers are this good in 2025, give Shanahan coach of the year. There have been so many moving parts on that roster, it’s hard to see the 49ers not struggling this year. They need more help on the offensive line and Caleb Lomu makes it two Utah tackles off the board in the first round.
28. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
If we weren’t thinking about it, we could have almost made it all the way through this 2026 NFL mock draft without a single Georgia Bulldogs player getting picked. Can you even imagine? The Georgia roster has obviously had tons of turnover and plug-and-play guys off to the NFL in recent years, so they were bound to have a down year at some point. CJ Allen could keep the 1st-round trend going as one of the best off-ball linebackers in the class.
29. Detroit Lions: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
The Detroit Lions might be in worse shape off the edge this coming season than anyone realized. Aidan Hutchinson’s idea of coming back last year if the Lions made the Super Bowl looks even more far-fetched when you see the video he posted to social media of his recovery process. He doesn’t look remotely close to coming back to the field. The Lions will need pass rush help and Matayo Uiagalelei was a beast last year with 10.5 sacks as a sophomore.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson is a former Colorado transfer who has done an awesome job since getting to Arizona State, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He has a chance to push himself up to that WR1 status with another big year for the Sun Devils. The Baltimore Ravens are always about value, and Tyson could end up being the best offensive player on the board in this scenario.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
The Kansas City Chiefs already did a work this offseason revamping both the offensive and defensive lines. They managed to get Josh Simmons in the first round while snagging Omarr Norman-Lott and Ashton Gillotte later on. This Kansas City team saw what a dominant group of guys on the defensive front can do in a big game, and they’re not going to settle for status quo. Christen Miller gives them another weapon on the front four.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Even if Dallas Goedert’s contract situation is resolved for the time being, the Eagles might still have long-term questions at the tight end position. This draft class is not nearly as strong as last year’s at the tight end spot, but Eli Stowers is one guy to watch as of right now who could go off the board within the top 32 picks overall. The former Texas A&M and New Mexico State transfer finally had a breakthrough year last year and could be in line for TE1 status in 2026.
READ MORE: Latest 2025 Offseason Power Rankings