NOTE: Article written on 10/17. Now that we’re about halfway through the college football regular season, it’s time for maybe the most fun exercise of the draft process. Today, I’ll be going through my second mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft!
There are a couple of house rules. This mock is based on my own personal draft board, not the consensus board, and we will also be using the team order provided by PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator. Let’s get started!
1. New York Jets
Fernando Mendoza - QB, Indiana
The New York Jets kick off my 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 by selecting their franchise QB, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. With the Jets at 0-6, Justin Fields just not being the guy, a solid offensive line built up, and a true WR1, it’s time to invest in a franchise QB. Mendoza possesses plus arm talent, is accurate at all three levels of the field, and displays great pre- and post-snap processing.
2. Cleveland Browns
Dante Moore - QB, Oregon
The Cleveland Browns are on the board, and they’ll be the next to select their franchise QB, Oregon’s Dante Moore. The Browns QB room is a bit of a mess, and I’m not a long-term believer in either of their rookie signal callers, so quarterback just has to be the selection here. Moore is inexperienced, as this is his first full season as a starter, but the arm talent, the ability to play on time, and his ability to find the open man are worth spending a top-five pick on.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE, Miami FL
The Baltimore Ravens have had a dreadful first third of the 2025 season, and surely they won’t finish this high in the draft, but it hasn’t been pretty defensively, so why not take the best defensive player in college football, Miami FL EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. With the trade of Odafe Oweh, the disappointing play of 2025 second round pick Mike Green, and Kyle Van Noy nearing the end of his career, the Ravens EDGE room needs some juice. Bain Jr. is as dominant a player as you’ll find in this class, able to forklift any offensive lineman in this class with explosive aggression, all while kicking butt in the run game.
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4. Miami Dolphins
Peter Woods - IDL, Clemson
The Miami Dolphins are gunning for wholesale change across the organization, and with holes all over the roster, they select the best player on the board, Clemson IDL Peter Woods. Miami spent a first-round pick on Michigan IDL Kenneth Grant in this past draft, and he hasn’t performed well, and neither has most of that Dolphins defense. While Clemson has been really disappointing, Woods has not; he’s still the same dominant player he was last year, especially in the run game.
5. New Orleans Saints
Keldric Faulk - EDGE, Auburn
The New Orleans Saints are up next, and while I considered QB here, with how Spencer Rattler has played in 2025, I chose to fill their gaping hole at EDGE with Auburn’s Keldric Faulk. Franchise legend Cameron Jordan is on the verge of retirement, Chase Young is very hit or miss, and while Carl Granderson is a productive player, they need to add some juice to that room. Faulk is still a little raw, but he’s a rare athlete at his size and has improved the more technical areas of his game by a considerable margin.
6. Tennessee Titans
Jordyn Tyson - WR, Arizona State
The Tennessee Titans are now on the clock, and the entire state is begging for Cam Ward to get some help, and they’ll do just that by selecting Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson. Calvin Ridley hasn’t played well and is now battling a hamstring injury, Elic Ayomanor has flashed but has had his rookie moments, and Chimere Dike is still developing as an all-around receiver. Tyson is the best receiver in this class with great hands, electric route running, major juice after the catch, and would ultimately provide the Titans with the true WR1 they’ve been searching for since they traded A.J. Brown.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
Spencer Fano - OL, Utah
The Cincinnati Bengals have the next selection, and objective number one is to protect Joe Burrow, so enter Utah OL Spencer Fano. The Bengals' offensive line has been much of a joke during Burrow’s career, with seemingly not much urgency to fix that issue. Fano is an athletic freak who is a plus run and pass blocker, as well as potentially being able to play on the interior or stick at tackle.
8. Las Vegas Raiders
Ty Simpson - QB, Alabama
The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t had the season they had hoped for, and I think now is the time to make a high draft capital investment in their next franchise QB, Alabama’s Ty Simpson. I’m a Geno Smith guy, but he certainly hasn’t played well in 2025, not that the rest of the offense or the scheme has helped him much, but he needs to play better. With the money tied up in Smith, this would be a good opportunity for the inexperienced Simpson, who has shown cerebral play so far in 2025, to sit and learn for a year and then take over.
9. New York Giants
Olaivavega Ioane - G, Penn State
The New York Giants find themselves on the clock, and they’ll turn in their selection for who I believe to be the best interior offensive lineman in this class, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. Jaxson Dart feels like the Giants guy at QB moving forward, and while a weapon for him to throw to would certainly be a useful selection here, I’m an offensive line guy first, offensively speaking. Ioane is an absolute roadgrader, may be the strongest player in this draft, and would fill a hole on the Giants' interior.
10. Arizona Cardinals
Arvell Reese - LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals round out the top 10 by selecting Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese. The Cardinals could go in a few directions here, but Reese is a top-three player on my board, so I couldn’t let him fall any farther. Whether it’s at off-ball LB or at EDGE, Reese will be a dominant force in both phases at the next level.
11. Houston Texans
Trevor Goosby - OT, Texas
The Houston Texans are on the board to kick off the teens, and like the Bengals, the main objective is to protect their QB, C.J. Stroud, and they’ll do so by selecting Texas OT Trevor Goosby. Stroud has all the pass-catching weapons he could ask for, but while I’m a long-term believer in Aireontae Ersery, the Texans' offensive line is suspect at best. Goosby is the best offensive lineman left on my board, and his fluid athleticism, length, and grip strength would be a skill set the Texans need greatly.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Caleb Downs - S, Ohio State
The Dallas Cowboys are up next and are in a weird spot after the Micah Parsons trade, and with holes all over their defense, they’ll select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. You could certainly advocate for EDGE, LB, or CB here, but with neither of Dallas’s safeties playing well, Downs is a rock-solid selection. Downs may be the smartest safety we’ve seen in a decade, and his athletic range and ball skills would give Dallas an All-Pro caliber safety for the next decade.
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13. Carolina Panthers
Mansoor Delane - CB, LSU
The Carolina Panthers are on the clock, and they’ll select LSU CB Mansoor Delane. A lot of arguments could be made for this selection, from EDGE to IDL to LB to safety, but the opportunity to create an elite CB duo with Jaycee Horn and Delane was something I couldn’t pass up. Delane has outside CB size and athleticism, is a sticky man cover corner, has high IQ in zone, and is tentatively my CB1 until someone we’ll discuss later takes the field in 2025.
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14. Kansas City Chiefs
Kenyon Sadiq - TE, Oregon
The Kansas City Chiefs are tentatively higher in the draft than they’ve ever been in the Patrick Mahomes era, and in need of Travis Kelce’s successor, they’ll draft Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq. Kelce has noticeably regressed over the last couple of years, and having just turned 36, it’s very possible that this is the last year of his Hall of Fame career. Sadiq would be the perfect fit, able to excel in the short passing game on RPOs, stretch the field vertically, and bring the run blocking that the Chiefs have lacked from this position.
15. Washington Commanders
Makai Lemon - WR, USC
The Washington Commanders are on the clock, and I chose to give Jayden Daniels another weapon, that being USC WR Makai Lemon. Terry McLaurin has had an injury-riddled 2025, and while Deebo Samuel has been decent, Washington is in need of another WR that can win their one-on-one matchups. Lemon is the best route runner in this class, and his vertical athleticism would strike fear into opposing secondaries.
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16. Chicago Bears
David Bailey - EDGE, Texas Tech
The Chicago Bears are next up, and in need of some pass rush help next to Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter Sr., they’ll select Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey. Bailey is one of two deadly Texas Tech EDGE rushers and is an absolute ball of electricity off the edge. He’s a designated pass rusher for now, but he’s a dang good one.
17. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
Jermod McCoy - CB, Tennessee
The Los Angeles Rams are now on the clock with the first rounder from the trade with the Falcons this past draft, and they’ll select Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy. The Rams have been able to scheme around some of their perceived defensive inefficiencies, mainly due to their dominant defensive line, but a potentially elite CB could take them to an even higher level. McCoy is coming off an ACL tear, and it’s questionable whether he’ll suit up for Tennessee in 2025, but his 2024 tape is elite, and, if healthy, he’d be the consensus CB1.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Jeremiyah Love - RB, Notre Dame
The Minnesota Vikings are next up, and they’ll go best player available here by drafting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love. Aaron Jones’s body seems to be breaking down a bit as he gets into his 30s, and with Jordan Mason being under contract for just one more season, Love could be the next great Viking RB. He combines great vision, explosion, and play strength with plus receiving capabilities, and would be dynamite in that Minnesota offense.
19. Buffalo Bills
Carnell Tate - WR, Ohio State
The Buffalo Bills are up next, and Josh Allen needs a true WR1 that can win on the outside, which is why they’ll select Ohio State WR Carnell Tate. Keon Coleman hasn’t been very productive, and Khalil Skahir is purely a slot receiver. Tate has improved in all facets from 2024 and would be a true X receiver for Allen to feed.
20. Denver Broncos
Sonny Styles - LB, Ohio State
The Denver Broncos are up next, and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put Ohio State LB Sonny Styles in this defensive scheme. A converted safety, Styles is an athletic freak at 6’5” and 243 pounds and plays with aggression while also being a high-IQ defender.
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21. Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
Francis Mauigoa - OT, Miami FL
Next up are the Cleveland Browns, and in need of offensive line help, and they’ll select Miami FL OT Francis Mauigoa. Cleveland’s offensive line is aging and regressing at a pretty considerable rate, so they’re in big need of young talent on that front. Mauigoa could be a guard or a tackle at the next level, and his combination of athleticism and strength would be a welcome sight for the Browns.
22. Los Angeles Rams
Connor Lew - C, Auburn
The Los Angeles Rams are back on the clock, and while you could argue for Matthew Stafford’s successor here, he doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon, so I chose to give him some help in the form of Auburn center Connor Lew. The Rams’ offensive line is fine, but a player as talented as Lew is hard to pass up. He’s a great athlete, a technician with his hands, and is as accurate as anybody at the second level of the defense.
23. Detroit Lions
Colton Hood - CB, Tennessee
The Detroit Lions are up next, and in desperate need of CB help, they’ll select Tennessee CB Colton Hood. Terrion Arnold hasn’t been what Detroit has hoped, and while D.J. Reed is a nice player, he is approaching his 30s. Hood has been a welcome surprise for Tennessee out of the transfer portal, filling the void of the injured McCoy, and showcasing sticky coverage, great ball skills, and a willingness to tackle in run support.
24. Seattle Seahawks
Brian Parker II - OL, Duke
The Seattle Seahawks are on the clock, and they’ll go back to the offensive line well for the second straight year in the first round, selecting Duke OL Brian Parker II. The interior offensive line for Seattle has been rough outside of Grey Zabel. Parker is a tackle for Duke, but will almost certainly convert to the inside, where he’ll bring athleticism and refined technique to the table.
25. New England Patriots
Denzel Boston - WR, Washington
The New England Patriots are on deck, and I chose to give Drake Maye another weapon in Washington WR Denzel Boston. New England’s WR core has been quite the surprise in 2025, but with Stefon Diggs on the wrong side of 30, a true WR1 is needed. Denzel Boston would give New England a true X receiver, bringing size, plus route running, and elite hands to the table.
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26. Los Angeles Chargers
T.J. Parker - EDGE, Clemson
The Los Angeles Chargers are up next, and while the argument could be made for IOL, I chose to give their pass rush some more juice with the selection of Clemson EDGE T.J. Parker. LA just traded for Odafe Oweh, but he’s on an expiring deal, and with Khalil Mack only getting older, they could use another EDGE presence to pair with Tuli Tuipulotu in the future. Parker has been disappointing, honestly, in 2025, but I’m still betting on the high-end power flashes he’s shown throughout his career.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Christen Miller - IDL, Georgia
The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock, and in dire need of interior defensive linemen, they’ll select Georgia’s Christen Miller. While they did draft Alfred Collins and C.J. West in the 2025 draft, two players who I was high on, their interior defensive line may be the worst in the NFL. Miller still hasn’t fully broken out as a pass rusher, but there are high-end flashes, and the run defense is exceptional.
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28. Philadelphia Eagles
Joshua Josephs - EDGE, Tennessee
The Philadelphia Eagles are up next, and I chose to give them yet another pass rusher, this time being Tennessee’s Joshua Josephs. The Eagles EDGE room is a bit by committee currently, and why not continue to add to that? Josephs has been flat-out dominant for Tennessee in 2025, seemingly making game-changing plays every week, using his athleticism and nearly 35-inch arms to his advantage.
29. Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
Cashius Howell - EDGE, Texas A&M
The Dallas Cowboys are back on the clock with the first round pick from the Parsons trade, and in need of pass rush help, they’ll keep Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell in state. Nobody can fill the void left by Parsons, but they must stockpile pass rushers to at least be a productive unit. Howell has historically short arms, but his effort, athleticism, and hand usage make him a deadly EDGE presence.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers
Chris Brazzell II - WR, Tennessee
The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the clock, and they’ll select Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II. I know Aaron Rodgers had said that this would be his final season, but I’ll believe that when I see it. Brazzell II has exploded onto the scene, and at 6’5” and 200 pounds, he’d create a dominant, vertical receiving duo with DK Metcalf.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Romello Height - EDGE, Texas Tech
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are up next, and they’ll select the other half of Texas Tech’s deadly EDGE duo, Romello Height. Tampa hit on the Yaya Diaby selection a couple of years ago, but with Haason Reddick on an expiring deal, and with me not being the highest on Chris Braswell, EDGE makes sense here. Height is not a run defender right now, but he strikes legit fear into every offensive tackle that attempts to keep him from burying their QB.
32. Indianapolis Colts
Keith Abney II - CB, Arizona State
The Indianapolis Colts round out this mock draft with the selection of Arizona State CB Keith Abney II. The Colts have been the surprise of the NFL, mainly thanks to their offense, and they could use an outside corner opposite Charvarius Ward. Abney II is a smooth athlete with elite reactionary skills and could possibly turn Indianapolis’s secondary into a shutdown unit.
Final Thoughts
And that concludes my second 2026 NFL Mock Draft. I’m very excited to continue the scouting process through the rest of the season as we lead up to the NFL Draft next April. Make sure you stay on the lookout for the start of my defensive “Build A Prospect” series.