The NFL playoffs are down to the last four teams, soon to be two of them fighting it out for another Lombardi Trophy. The majority of the NFL is, as Bill Belichick might say, "On to" the 2026 NFL Draft.
The college football season is finally finished, with the Indiana Hoosiers going on an incredible run thanks largely to quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is all but solidified as the #1 overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. Even if there is minimal drama with that pick, there will be plenty of fun twists and turns with this offseason.
Our latest 2026 NFL mock draft will take a look at the first two rounds in full, with Mendoza getting things started in the #1 slot. How will teams address their biggest needs? What are the strongest positions in this class, and which prospects might be the best fit for every situation?
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Giants get Jaxson Dart another weapon in 1st-round predictions
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders have a no-brainer choice here with the 1st overall pick. There is nothing really preventing them from operating this entire offseason under the belief that Fernando Mendoza will be the #1 overall pick in the draft, and hopefully (for the Raiders’ sake) they’re able to agree upon that decision as quickly as possible.
This team has plenty of major fish yet to fry in the 2026 offseason, starting with still being in need of a head coach. I suppose if you think about the fact that the top pick is a foregone conclusion, it’s not really a big deal that they don’t have a coach just yet. The assumption would obviously be that the Raiders are looking at someone who is still currently coaching, and the most talked about names up to this point are Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak and Broncos QB coach Davis Webb.
Either of those guys would seem to be perfect for the development of a young player like Mendoza.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The New York Jets, as we will likely say a million times throughout the course of this offseason, are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Obviously, this team feels like it has a decent foundation with some of the players on the roster. Obviously, they feel like Aaron Glenn is the right man for the job in terms of being the team’s head coach going forward.
The major bummer for this team is, they already tried a transition year at the quarterback position, so what in the world are they going to do for 2026? Justin Fields represented a calculated risk at the position, and it was an abject failure. At this point, if the Jets can’t get Fernando Mendoza, then they’ve got to be ready to simply add as many building blocks as possible.
Arvell Reese can absolutely be that for them as one of the most dynamic playmakers defensively in all of college football.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
The Arizona Cardinals are another team here at the top of the draft order without a head coach. And that’s not really a surprise, because they had to be considered one of the worst job openings in the NFL.
There are obvious question marks about Kyler Murray’s health and longevity with the franchise beyond this season. The Cardinals lack foundational roster pieces compared to most of the other teams with head coach vacancies, and all of that uncertainty is going to require something not many head coaches are afforded these days: Time.
The one position we have consistently gone back to for this Cardinals team is the offensive tackle position, where Jonah Williams is set to depart in free agency. Francis Mauigoa has been rising (back) up the board lately it seems, so while he might not sell a bunch of jerseys, he’d be a smart pick here.
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Tennessee Titans have their brain trust and building blocks of the future. General manager Mike Borgonzi is finally going to start seeing his vision come to fruition after hiring Robert Saleh as his new head coach, and you figure that with Saleh in the fold, that Titans defense can be expected to take a huge jump forward this coming season.
The same will be expected for quarterback Cam Ward, who would probably love to see another Miami Hurricanes prospect coming to Nashville with the team’s top pick in the draft. The Titans are 100 percent in the “take the best player on the board” category. They need as many building blocks as they can get, and there’s no reason to be picky.
And with a defensive head coach in the mix, you would have to think that’s the direction they’ll lean in this slot.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The New York Giants have made one of the biggest splashes already this offseason, hiring John Harbaugh as the team’s next head coach. Of course, with a coach like Harbaugh coming in, you expect him to be the tide to raise all boats in the harbor.
But he’s a very long-tenured head coach and he has just inherited a very young roster. And I’m not going to sit here and call it an “immature” roster, but I think Harbaugh has to definitely reign in all of this talent. And he’s going to need some no-nonsense types of guys to help be younger leaders on this team.
Carnell Tate can absolutely be that. He not only will help with the growth of young QB Jaxson Dart, but Tate can help give the Giants a dynamic trio at receiver going forward, assuming they find a way to keep Wan’Dale Robinson.
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Cleveland Browns are entering the 2026 NFL Draft in one of the worst and least-enviable positions I’ve ever seen for a franchise. They have no long-term answer at the quarterback position. At the time of this post being written, they don’t have a head coach in place. They have major concerns along the offensive line and at the wide receiver position. The best thing the Browns’ offense has going for it moving forward is Harold Fannin Jr.
They need to start adding pieces immediately. We’ll see if Quinshon Judkins can return to form next season, but getting him some help on the offensive line is non-negotiable. What once looked like one of the most promising areas of this team is about to be completely dismantled. The Browns are almost starting completely from scratch here.
7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Entering the 2026 offseason, the mission should be pretty clear for the Washington Commanders. Of course, they want to see Jayden Daniels fully healthy for his third NFL season, and will have some areas to address offensively, but this offseason really needs to be all about loading up on the defense.
Specifically, the Commanders need to be ready to go absolutely crazy on the defensive front. General manager Adam Peters has seen the value of doing exactly that from his time with the 49ers, but the Commanders neglecting the defensive front in the past couple of years has created the need we see for them today.
David Bailey was one of the most consistently dominant pass rushers in college football this past season and should be an impact player right away for Washington.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
If you’re the New Orleans Saints, you’ve got to be feeling amazing going forward. The Carolina Panthers just won the division with a losing record. The Buccaneers are trying to run it back with a group that just completely collapsed in the second half of the season. The Falcons don’t have a first-round pick and will be breaking in a new head coach/GM duo.
The Saints have continuity. They arguably have the most promising long-term QB situation of any team in the division. And they have a chance to get a lot better in the 2026 offseason. With some major health questions and concerns at receiver going forward, I can’t think of a better scenario for the Saints in the 1st round of this draft than being able to take either Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson, who would both be absolute gifts from the football gods to young QB Tyler Shough.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
A lot of people might look at this situation and think the Chiefs would be a no-brainer for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, but I don’t think a skill player is what the team needs in the 1st round. The Chiefs finished with the 7th-fewest sacks in the NFL this past season, and the in ability to get to the quarterback consistently was a huge issue for them.
The Chiefs have so much going on this offseason. The injury and recovery of Patrick Mahomes are worth monitoring, especially because he’s now on the other side of 30. The team brought back Eric Bieniemy as the offensive coordinator, but why? The offensive line is in shambles.
The Chiefs need players who can keep them in tight games, and top-tier pass rushers can help do that.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
One of our favorite 2026 NFL mock draft picks so far this offseason has to be Caleb Downs to the Cincinnati Bengals. You’ve got a little bit of fan service here with an Ohio State prospect staying in-state to play for the Bengals, but this pick would make sense for a number of other reasons.
The Bengals’ pass defense was laughably bad this past year, ranking 26th in passing yards allowed and 29th in passing touchdowns allowed despite only being thrown on an average number of times (15th). Getting a playmaker on the back end like Caleb Downs will be essential for this team, and he also fits the “best player available” category.
The Bengals can’t paint themselves into a corner here and only take whoever is the best EDGE guy on the board. They need to stick to their board and not draft just for need, but combine need with player value.
11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Miami Dolphins were one of the million teams to fire both their general manager and head coach this past year, and you can’t really fault them for it. It’s been a fascinating start to the offseason already, as the Dolphins have had a bit of Green Bay flavor to the offseason.
They hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager, and he promptly hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as his new head coach. That duo is going to be on the hunt for a new quarterback, first and foremost, but are they going to find him with this pick?
That doesn’t feel likely. So they need to look at this roster overall and attack premium positions. The cornerback room for Miami was bad going into the season, and then they suffered injuries on top of it. They might have played above expectations, but I don’t know if they could justify passing on their top corner if he’s still sitting there.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Depending on how the Cowboys set up their draft board, this could actually end up being kind of a rough scenario for them. We know the Cowboys have to attack their defense, and after hiring Christian Parker to run that unit, maybe there’s an added emphasis to the defensive backfield with this pick.
But how about a player who has freaky size and athletic traits, used to be a safety, and can come in and immediately fly around the field and make impact plays?
The Cowboys probably would love to see one of the top EDGE guys still on the board here, but in a draft with so few blue-chip players, a guy like Sonny Styles stands out as a risk worth taking. He’d be a solid piece for them, even if the positional value isn’t there in this pick slot.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
For the longest time, we’ve been banging the drum that the biggest need for the Los Angeles Rams is in the defensive backfield. The Rams came into this season with question marks at the cornerback position, and they showed their cards when they tried (and failed) to trade for veteran Jalen Ramsey.
The reunion wasn’t in the cards.
As the season has gone along, the Rams’ need for help at the cornerback position has revealed itself more and more. Even with a defense that has been among the league leaders in takeaways this season, you can see the need here. And the opportunity to get Jermod McCoy, who might be the best player at his position in the class, would be a steal.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The game of musical chairs at head coach around the NFL is starting to see some of the most desirable seats filled. The Baltimore Ravens filled their head coaching vacancy with a familiar face. Jesse Minter left the Los Angeles Chargers to come and coach the Ravens after spending a handful of years working on John Harbaugh’s staff starting in 2017.
Now that he’s worked for both Harbaughs extensively, Minter appears ready to bring his own flavor to this head coaching gig, which hasn’t had anyone new since 2008. The Ravens were susceptible throughout the 2025 season on the defensive front with just one defensive lineman (Travis Jones) having more than three QB hits on the season.
Peter Woods might have seen his stock slip a little bit this past season, but he’s got the ability to be a steal for Baltimore playing in Minter’s scheme.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might have more needs heading into the 2026 offseason than anyone is really comfortable admitting. Mike Evans is a free agent again, the offensive line struggled badly with injuries this past year, and the defensive front simply wasn’t good enough in the second half of the season.
Something that just one player is not going to be able to fix is the fact that the Bucs were 32nd in the NFL this past year in red zone defense. Yikes. That is not the stat category you want to be worst in the NFL in, but here we are.
No matter what the situation is, a great pass rush can help any defense. The Bucs need to add here because there were only two players (YaYa Diaby, Vita Vea) on the defensive front with more than six quarterback hits overall.
16. New York Jets (from Colts): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The New York Jets’ situation was laid out earlier in this mock draft, and I still think it’s just an extremely unenviable position to be in. The Jets are going to move on from Justin Fields this offseason, there’s almost no question about that. So what is the pivot? Is there a veteran out there who can help raise the floor of this team?
I’m not sure who that would be at this point, but the Jets will have a plan in place. One player in this year’s draft class who is getting so many mixed opinions is Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. At one point, Simpson was considered the #2 overall player by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, which means he was hearing NFL teams liked the guy.
And that isn’t likely to die down completely. Jets GM Darren Mougey can take a calculated risk like this while leaving his 2027 options open. Think of this as a more expensive Tyler Shough-type of investment.
17. Detroit Lions: Vega Ioane, OL, Penn State
The Detroit Lions drafted one of the best interior offensive linemen in the entire 2025 class in guard Tate Ratledge, who looks like he’s going to be a stud for a long time coming. The Lions don’t have to mess around with a good thing there, but they do need to upgrade the center position.
After providing a really nice jolt in his second stint with the team, the luster has worn off with Graham Glasgow, and the center position has become one of this team’s primary concerns going forward. Vega Ioane played guard at Penn State, but can the Lions teach him to play center?
He might be the best interior offensive lineman in this class, and you would have to think that if anyone could do it, it would be them. He has the physical style of play this team absolutely loves.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Minnesota Vikings are going to need to do anything they possibly can to make life easier for young quarterback JJ McCarthy, whose uncertain future is as much about his health at this point as it is about his ability to play the game. We saw Kevin O’Connell doing Coach of the Year type stuff at the end of the 2025 season, but the jury is still very much out on McCarthy.
How can the Vikings properly support him? Give him a dynamic threat at running back. Aaron Jones is not going to be around much longer, and even if the Vikings do run it back with Jordan Mason, they would not be able to justify passing on an all-around weapon like Love, who was one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football this past season.
Not only do they have a need at running back, but keep an eye on receiver here as well with the off-field issues surrounding Jordan Addison.
19. Carolina Panthers: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Carolina Panthers backed into the playoffs this year, but even with a losing record, they gave the Los Angeles Rams all they could handle. And that actually happened in Carolina twice this season.
The Panthers might have had the Rams on the ropes, but they went into the playoffs playing with house money, and everyone knew they were going to be in for another reload on defense this offseason. It looks like GM Dan Morgan hit on the selection of Nic Scourton, who showed some good things in his rookie year, but that edge group in Carolina needs more work.
And they could stay local here with the selection of TJ Parker, who might not have unanimous first-round grades anymore, but was once considered a can’t-miss prospect. The bang for their buck here could be similar to the Falcons getting James Pearce Jr. late in the 1st round last year.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
I don’t know that getting Sonny Styles and Avieon Terrell could be considered a “bad” haul by the Cowboys in the draft, but certainly you would like to see things fall a little differently if you’re a Cowboys fan.
And the draft often requires patience. You can’t just take positions in the draft, you have to take players. And we know the Cowboys need help at every level of the defense right now. After moving on from Trevon Diggs this past year, the Cowboys sent a clear signal that they are in the market for more help at the cornerback position. Even if the Cowboys have high hopes for second-year player Shavon Revel in 2026, they are going to need to add to this position group.
Terrell has NFL bloodlines and should have a relatively high floor at the next level.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
In many 2026 NFL mock draft projections, we’ve had the Steelers taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with this pick. And you’ll probably see that again/plenty this offseason, but if they can’t get Simpson, where do they turn?
The next most obvious area of need for the Steelers has got to be the wide receiver position. Almost any and every rumored wide receiver trade that has gone down over the past couple of years, it feels like the Steelers have been involved or rumored to be involved. Even after acquiring DK Metcalf, the Steelers need more help here.
Makai Lemon presents them with some variance in terms of his playing style and obviously size, and would add a much needed playmaker to the passing game for whoever is throwing passes.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon
If there is one team who should be drafting position over anything else in the first round this year, it’s got to be the Los Angeles Chargers…right? The Chargers have one of the most obvious needs of any team in the NFL: Protect Justin Herbert.
They have done a horrendous job of that. Obviously, season-ending injuries to Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater played the biggest role in their woes this past year, but the signing of free agent guard Mekhi Becton was a bust, and the Chargers simply couldn’t keep Herbert upright long enough to make any sort of run in the 2025 season.
They have long-term concerns with Slater as well, whose injury (patellar tendon) has not been something a lot of players have actually been able to come back from and play at the same level. Regardless, the offensive line must be addressed with this selection.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
If there’s one selection we could manifest in the 2026 NFL Draft, it might be putting Kadyn Proctor on the Philadelphia Eagles. Get this talent with Jeff Stoutland and watch him thrive.
Proctor’s NFL projection has been all over the place because of inconsistent play at Alabama, but he certainly doesn’t lack physical traits. The former five-star prospect has shown why he was a five-star at times, and it might just require the right coach at the next level to unlock his potential.
The Eagles have a phenomenal tackle duo for the time being in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, but how much longer does Johnson (36 years old in May) have? This would be a great value of a pick, and we already know that Eagles GM Howie Roseman loves to take athletic specimen in the trenches early.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Once again, the Cleveland Browns are just not in a great spot offensively right now. At all. They are going to need to revamp so many different areas of that team, and thankfully for their sake, they’ll have a fresh set of eyes leading the coaching staff.
Whoever comes in to coach the Browns needs to do everything possible to fit players to his scheme, not the other way around. This is going to be another evaluation year for the Browns, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make some noise in the process.
Jerry Jeudy was the Browns’ leader in targets at the wide receiver position last year, and he caught less than 50 percent of his targets. I’m not even sure he’s going to be around much longer. The idea of getting a big-bodied receiver like Denzel Boston with a massive catch radius is appealing.
25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
The Chicago Bears were opportunistic on the defensive side of the ball this season, forcing more takeaways than any other team in the league. However, they were simultaneously one of the worst teams in the NFL at defending both the run (27th) and pass (22nd). They need to upgrade their defensive personnel from the inside-out, and luckily for them, this looks like a pretty strong class – especially at the top – of players on the defensive front.
One player who is frequently projected to the Bears in the first round these days is Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, who could help tremendously a defensive unit that ranked 29th in yards per carry allowed (5.0) this past season.
The Bears saw the value of raising the floor in the trenches offensively this year, now they need to do the same defensively in 2026.
26. Buffalo Bills: Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The way the 2025-26 season just ended for the Buffalo Bills was…not what anyone had in mind. In a year without Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, the Bills faltered once again. Owner Terry Pegula is fed up, to the point that he just fired Sean McDermott.
And the decision to fire McDermott seemingly had nothing to do with the idea that there was an alternative out there he immediately wanted. The Bills interviewed Philip Rivers for their head coach vacancy, for crying out loud.
This is a team that is desperate for some type of solution. The one thing we can’t ignore is the team’s need for playmakers. Keon Coleman won’t be around much longer, Josh Palmer was a bust of a signing, and Curtis Samuel can’t be relied upon.
Getting a playmaker like Kevin Concepcion, who had a great year for the Aggies, would be a phenomenal start.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu OT, Utah
The 49ers invested a ton in the defensive side of the ball during the 2025 NFL Draft, and I would fully expect general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to shift the focus to the offensive side of the ball.
The 49ers might have bigger issues right now than just their personnel on either side of the ball with that electricity plant situation going on next to their training facility. This is one of the most oft-injured teams in the NFL and it has to be something other than just bad luck at this point.
But ultimately, we know that this 49ers team needs to look at revamping parts of the offensive line. I’m not going to sit here and say any one player in this upcoming draft class is the heir apparent to Trent Williams, but they need to start at least thinking about that.
28. Houston Texans: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Because of the pure lack of blue-chip talent in this year’s incoming class, I think we’ll see Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq drafted a lot higher than this. When it comes to game-changing talent and playmaking abilities, he’s going to be one of the most coveted players in the class. But how often have we really seen it work out for teams taking 1st-round tight ends?
That might still scare teams off, even if Sadiq grades out higher than most of the other prospects going ahead of him.
But the Texans could really benefit from having a player like this. He would give CJ Stroud another “easy button” in the passing game, and could really boost this team in an area they struggled this year: The red zone. The Texans ranked 30th in the NFL in red zone conversion rate.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
As much as we’ve talked about the Rams finding the successor to Matthew Stafford whenever he decides to hang up the cleats, this just might not be the year for that. The 2027 NFL Draft class at the quarterback position is far superior, and the Rams might be more inclined to take their chances there.
Unless there is someone who rises throughout the pre-draft process, this pick should probably be something other than a quarterback for the Rams. And there is one fit I love more than almost any other for this team if they do go after an offensive lineman: Gennings Dunker.
The Iowa Hawkeyes crank out offensive linemen just about every year, and those guys are almost always perfect fits for the McVay/Shanahan style of offense. This would be an instant A-plus grade.
30. New England Patriots: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The New England Patriots had the worst sack differential in the entire NFL this season. Meaning, as a team, they allowed 47 sacks and had just 34 sacks as a defense, for a sack differential of -13.
There are obviously two things that would help that, right? Pass protectors and pass rushers.
I think we’re going to see the Patriots be ultra aggressive in NFL free agency in pursuit of pass rush help. Maybe they make another huge splash by bringing in Trey Hendrickson who is almost certainly leaving the Bengals, or maybe they can swing a trade for Maxx Crosby. Either way, I think they set their sights high in that category.
The offensive tackle position could be addressed here with Georgia’s Monroe Freeling. We know Josh McDaniels loves UGA players transitioning to his offense at the pro level.
31. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Denver Broncos had the best defense in the NFL this season in so many metrics, but one area the team had to sort of “patch” things together throughout the year was at linebacker. Alex Singleton was out briefly with a testicular cancer diagnosis. Dre Greenlaw missed significant time due to injury. Drew Sanders, a third-round pick in 2023, hasn’t played all year.
The team’s most consistent player at linebacker for two straight years has probably been Justin Strnad, who will once again be a free agent in 2026.
The Broncos need some longer-term solutions at linebacker going forward, and CJ Allen is a dawg in multiple ways. He would be a great fit here.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Seattle Seahawks close out the first round of this 2026 NFL mock draft by strengthening a strength. They traded up to get South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori in 2025, and that seemed to work out pretty darn well for them.
Now, they could go after the next great potential Gamecock defensive back in Brandon Cisse, who would add even more playmaking ability to their secondary.
The Seahawks are one of the most well-rounded rosters in the league right now, but any chance they get to add to the depth of that defense, they have to be aggressive. There are a number of important players in that secondary coming up on expiring deals (Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, Josh Jobe).
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 2nd-round predictions
33. New York Jets: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
34. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
35. Tennessee Titans: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
37. New York Giants: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
38. Houston Texans: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
39. Cleveland Browns: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
41. Cincinnati Bengals: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
42. New Orleans Saints: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
43. Miami Dolphins: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
44. New York Jets: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
45. Baltimore Ravens: LT Overton, EDGE/DL, Alabama
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
47. Indianapolis Colts: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
48. Atlanta Falcons: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
49. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
50. Detroit Lions: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
51. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern
52. Green Bay Packers: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
57. Chicago Bears: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
58. San Francisco 49ers: Connor Lew, OL, Auburn
59. Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
60. Buffalo Bills: Zakee Wheatley, SAF, Penn State
61. Los Angeles Rams: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
62. New England Patriots: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
63. Denver Broncos: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
64. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
We have a handful of teams making their first selections here in the second round of this 2026 NFL mock draft, and they seemingly all had the same general idea: The need to upgrade defensively.
The Colts are going to be a fascinating team to watch in the 2026 offseason because they are loaded in the weapons department offensively, but how will they deal with the Daniel Jones situation? Either way, you can't pass up the chance to get a good value in the pass rush department on Day 2 of the draft.
The Falcons need to add some youth to the defensive backfield, and a playmaker like Keith Abney II at the cornerback position would be a really solid value on Day 2.
The Packers have one of the most obvious needs for cornerback help in the NFL, and they'll probably attack that position group through both NFL Free Agency and the draft.
The Jaguars could easily look to re-sign him, but Andrew Wingard is currently one of the team's most prominent free agents on the defensive side of the ball. If they lose him, they'll need to find someone capable of coming in and playing snaps right away.