Jack Brentnall's Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft
By Jack Brentnall
A mock draft?! In August?! I know, it’s early. In truth, this is less about who lands where and more about providing a list of the biggest names you should be watching to get ready for draft season.
A couple of disclaimers. First, the draft order is based on Super Bowl odds. If you don’t like it, blame the sports books. And second, while I’ve scouted over 100 players, there are still plenty of prospects I haven’t got to yet, so if a player you love is missing, there is a good chance that is why.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into it.
1. New Orleans Saints
Arch Manning - QB, Texas
Manning might go back to school for 2026, but until we know that for certain he’s going to be appearing in mock drafts. Despite his inexperience he plays with exceptional poise in the pocket and is a calculated risk taker. He follow in his grandfather’s footsteps here and lands with the Saints.
2. Cleveland Browns
Cade Klubnik - QB, Clemson
If the Browns are picking at No. 2 again, it has to be a quarterback. Klubnik still needs some development, but he showcases NFL-ready arm strength and athleticism and developed into a decisive and sound passer in 2024.
3. Tennessee TItans
Peter Woods - IDL, Clemson
If you are looking for the best player in the class regardless of position it is probably Peter Woods. The Clemson defensive tackle has a special blend of size, power, and quickness that makes him a nightmare to contain on all three downs.
4. New York Giants
Spencer Fano - OT, Utah
The Giants could do with more investment in their offensive line, especially at the right tackle spot. Fano is an elite athlete with the light feet to mirror and redirect vs quicker rushers, as well as the grip strength and torque to create movement in the run game.
5. New York Jets
LaNorris Sellers - QB, South Carolina
The Jets need a long term plan at quarterback, and Sellers has the traits to take a swing on. He is a huge passer with a live arm, quickness, and some of the best strength I’ve seen in a quarterback. He has to show development as an in structure passer in 2025, but he has top five upside.
6. Carolina Panthers
Jermod McCoy - CB, Tennessee
The Panthers had the worst defense in the NFL last season and it is going to take more than one season to fix it. The prospect of putting McCoy opposite Jaycee Horn is too good to turn down. McCoy is set to return early in the season from his torn ACL and if he can play like he did in 2024, he should be a top 10 pick.
7. Indianapolis Colts
Aidan Chiles - QB, Michigan State
This is my first big flag plant of this mock draft. You won’t see Chiles mentioned in many mocks, but the Michigan State man has a dual-threat skillset with some of the best processing skills in the class. If he can clean up his accuracy issues in 2025 there is genuine first round upside there.
8. Las Vegas Raiders
Jordyn Tyson - WR, Arizona State
The Raiders have a pair of elite young weapons in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, so why not add another. Jordan Tyson is the clear WR1 in the 2026 class for me, offering the combination of athleticism, route running, and after the catch creativity to be a real star in the NFL.
9. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville)
Isaiah World - OT, Oregon
The Browns offensive line is not what it used to be, and if they are going for a quarterback at No. 2, they need to invest in protecting him. At 6’5” and 321 lbs, World is a huge tackle that offers noticeably light and fluid feet for a big man. He looks set for a big season with Oregon after transferring from Nevada.
10. Miami Dolphins
Caleb Downs - S, Ohio State
Miami’s secondary needs investment, and the best defensive back left on the board is Caleb Downs. While I don’t think he’s the generational prospect some are labelling him, he is an exceptional processor that makes his impact felt against the run and the pass.
11. New England Patriots
Caleb Banks - IDL, Florida
After investing in one side of the trenches last season, I can see the Patriots bolstering the other in 2026. Banks is a huge defensive tackle, standing at 6’6” and 334 lbs with 35” arms. He needs to work on his pad level, but he showcases impressive quickness, strength, and a red hot motor.
12. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta)
Jeremiyah Love - RB, Notre Dame
The Rams have two first round picks so I feel comfortable having them take a swing on a running back here. Love is comfortably the best running back in this class. He is a tough and physical runner with the speed to rip off breakaway runs. He should get more work in the passing game this season too.
13. Seattle Seahawks
TJ Parker - EDGE, Clemson
I like the idea of giving Mike McDaniel another talented defensive lineman to work with, and that’s exactly what TJ Parker is. The Clemson edge is a talented hand fighter and sound run defender with a penchant for splash plays, logging 12 sacks and five forced fumbles in 2024.
14. Arizona Cardinals
Rueben Bain Jr. - EDGE, Miami
The Cardinals love big-bodied edge rushers, and Bain gives them just that. The Miami edge is a reliable run defender who possesses the raw power to collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. His alignment versatility will also appeal to a defensive coach like Jonathan Gannon.
15. Dallas Cowboys
Keldric Faulk - EDGE, Auburn
I’m baking in a bit of development for Faulk here. He has a lot of room to grow as a technician, but his upside is readily apparent, with elite size and impressive quickness. I have no idea what the future holds with Micah Parsons in Dallas, but Faulk would have a role even if Parsons stays.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
DJ McKinney - CB, Colorado
The Steelers have Darius Slay on a one-year rental at cornerback this season and need a long-term answer across from Joey Porter Jr. That’s where McKinney fits in. He’s an impressive catch point competitor with really impressive football IQ. With Travis Hunter gone, he’s going to be the star of Colorado’s defense this season.
17. Chicago Bears
Caleb Tiernan - IOL, Northwestern
Tiernan has played at tackle in college, but with his arm length coming in at just 32.5”, he is likely kicking inside in the NFL. Chicago signed Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson this year, but with Thuney turning 34 next season and Jackson’s issues with injuries, Tiernan may see the field sooner than you think.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Sonny Styles - LB, Ohio State
As someone who loves to watch Brian Flores’ defense, I just want to throw talented, athletic, and versatile players at him and see what he can cook up. Styles fits the bill in all of those three areas. A former safety, Styles has special movement skills for a 243 lbs linebacker. His ability as a blitzer will endear him to Flores too.
19. Houston Texans
Kadyn Proctor - OT, Alabama
The Texans have done a lot of work on their offensive line this offseason, but I’m not really sure that any of it helps to fix the problem. With a shift towards a more downhill run game coming under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, Proctor is the perfect fit. He’s a man mountain at 6’7” and 360 lbs and plays with real physicality.
20. Denver Broncos
Denzel Boston - WR, Washington
The Broncos look to have something in Bo Nix, so getting talent around him is key. Courtland Sutton turns 30 this season and starts getting very expensive after 2026. Boston should be a nice replacement for him, offering size, strength, and soft hands.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Bell - WR, Louisville
The Bucs just took a first round receiver in the last draft, but with Mike Evans hitting free agency next offseason and Chris Godwin turning 30 next offseason, there’s merit in taking another. Bell’s skillset complements Emeka Egbuka’s nicely, giving the Bucs a big-bodied, explosive pass catcher with serious YAC ability.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Francis Mauigoa - IOL, Miami
Teams will be divided on whether Mauigoa is a guard or tackle. I see him more as a guard, which fits well with what the Chargers need. He’s an ox in the trenches, with a great anchor and strength to uproot defensive lineman. That’s perfect for a Greg Roman offense.
23. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay)
Avieon Terrell - CB, Clemson
The Cowboys have their boundary corners locked down in DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs, but they have a big hole at nickel. Terrell has played primarily on the boundary at Clemson, but his quick twitch athleticism and willingness as a run defender makes him well suited to kicking inside.
24. Washington Commanders
Max Klare - TE, Ohio State
The Commanders have one of the oldest receiving corps in the NFL. Injecting some youth into that group makes a lot of sense, especially with Zach Ertz hitting free agency in 2026. Klare is a talented pass catcher who can also get the job done as an inline blocker. He looks set for a big year at Ohio State after transferring from Purdue.
25. Cincinnati Bengals
Jaeden Roberts - IOL, Alabama
The Bengals needing offensive line help might be an old narrative, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Roberts is one of my favourite offensive linemen in the class. Whilst he might not be elite in any area, he is good across the board and that’s exactly the skillset the Bengals could use.
26. San Francisco 49ers
Antonio Williams - WR, Clemson
The 49ers recently traded for Skyy Moore, which tells you a lot about their outlook at wide receiver. With Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from a torn ACL and MCL they could do much worse than adding a dynamic playmaker like Williams, whose explosiveness and YAC ability gives the offense a different skillset.
27. Los Angeles Rams
Keith Abney - CB, Arizona State
The Rams’ long-term outlook at corner isn’t great, with a pair of starters who are the wrong side of 30. Abney is a smooth and fiesty corner with ball skills and determination against the run. That is a winning combination of traits.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Kenyon Sadiq - TE, Oregon
This feels like it will be Travis Kelce’s final season in Kansas City. You’re not likely to ever find a player of his calibre again, but Sadiq does offer exceptional athleticism and the potential to be a mismatch weapon in the passing game. He feels like a breakout candidate this season.
29. Detroit Lions
Matayo Uiagalelei - EDGE, Oregon
The Lions still need to get themselves another edge rusher that can operate opposite from Aidan Hutchinson, and Uiagalelei just feels like a Lions defensive lineman. He is a big and powerful edge-setter who has also had impressive backfield production in college.
30. Buffalo Bills
Bray Hubbard - S, Alabama
Hubbard is one of the guys I’d be pounding the table for in a draft room. The Alabama man is a former quarterback, whose background shows in how he reads the game. His alignment versatility and ability coming downhill would be a welcome addition to Buffalo’s defensive backfield.
31. Baltimore Ravens
Christen Miller - IDL, Georgia
There is no glaring need on the Ravens roster right now, and with that in mind I’d always lean towards investment in the trenches. Miller’s game is built around powerful hands that create genuine knockback. His ability to hold his ground as a run defender is notable too, and he would give the Ravens even more talent on defense.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Singleton - WR, Auburn
What do you get for a team who has everything? The answer is another dynamic receiver! Singleton is a true burner who can stretch the field and who has the ball tracking ability to make clutch plays. That skillset is perfect for a passer like Hurts who loves the deep ball.
Jack Brentnall
Head of NFL Draft Content
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.