Way Too Early 2026 Mock

There will not be another pick here; if by some miracle the Raiders pull off a stunning trade for Lamar Jackson or something like that, then the team trading into this spot would be picking Mendoza anyway.

The Jets are saved by Dante Moore foolishly deciding to return to school, because he would have been an incredible reach at #2 overall in this weak QB class. Instead, how about infusing some high-end talent back into the defense? (The offense is actually surprisingly filled with building blocks other than at QB.)

Here’s another team that needs a long-term solution at QB, as Kyler Murray will not be back and as Jacoby Brissett (who has a year left on his contract) is just a possible bridge guy. But like the Jets, I can’t see Arizona forcing a QB pick here. Instead, perhaps Mauigoa will be seen as a nice bookend to Paris Johnson on the OL.

The Titans are in desperate need of talent at WR for Cam Ward. However, to me this feels a bit early for the likes of Tyson, Lemon, or Tate. Instead, how about a blue-chip defender for new coach Robert Saleh? In terms of the WR need, the Titans are loaded with cap space, so in addition to possibly looking at WR’s later in the draft, perhaps the team will be in on some guys in free agency such as Alec Pierce, Wan’Dale Robinson, etc.

We saw the Chargers take Joe Alt a couple of years ago when there was speculation that they could go WR. Well, here’s another Harbaugh brother, and I have no doubt that he has final say over personnel (sorry, Joe Schoen). Perhaps he will also elect to subscribe to the notion that protecting the QB is paramount, and if so, Fano could be in play.

The once-strong OL on this team has turned into a disaster. Proctor goes as the #3 OL in the top 6 picks, and the Browns will hope that the iffy success rate of Alabama tackles in the NFL doesn’t come to pass here.

This team is badly in need of defensive reinforcements. Bain had a dominant 2025 and CFP run with Miami, and the only question appears to be a below-average arm length. Still, you turn on the tape, and the motor and athleticism are there. Adam Peters came from the 49er front office, a team that had valued arm length in DL’s. Would Peters pass on Bain for the same reason? Who knows.

A lot of people will connect Jeremiyah Love to the Saints or Chiefs, but the recent history of high RB draft picks is not good for the teams drafting them. For example, sure, Bijan Robinson has been an exceptional RB for the Falcons, but has the team done anything at all with him? Why no, no they haven’t. Tyson could be the top WR off the board and the team could use another aerial weapon for QB Tyler Shough, who looked better than anyone could have expected last season. This is especially true after Rashid Shaheed was dealt away.

Yes, the Chiefs need a RB with a pulse, but I still think that a RB this high might not come to pass, so I will eschew Love in this very early exercise. Instead, let’s opt for the possible top CB this year.

Well we know that Duke Tobin goes for measurables. Hence, the poor-looking Shemar Stewart pick last year. This defense is a disaster, and Trey Hendrickson will be moving on. Perhaps they will dip into this year’s talented crop of edge players.

This is just a guess that Sadiq is a huge riser in the draft process and that his athletic testing will help him, and apart from Jaylen Waddle, more aerial weapons are going to be needed because Tyreek Hill will almost certainly not be on the team next season. The new GM (and coach) are both coming from a Green Bay system that prioritizes athleticism.

In serious need for defenders in general and certainly in the secondary, Downs makes sense if he falls out of the top 10, which he may due to positional value. On the other hand, I could see him going as high as #5 overall to the Giants: Harbaugh has seen firsthand how important Kyle Hamilton is to the Ravens defense, so it wouldn’t shock me if they viewed Downs as a leader for the defense.

With the emergence of McClendon at RT, I don’t see the Rams needing to force a tackle pick here. Lemon should run a good 40 time and is a solid route-runner. Davante Adams won’t be around forever, also, so I could see the team opting for another productive WR to pair with Puka Nacua for the long term.

The Ravens DL has fallen into a state of disrepair. (Great work, Eric DeCosta!) This just has to be addressed early and often in this year’s draft and possibly in free agency as well.

Tampa Bay surprised many last year with the selection of Egbuka in the 1st Round, as WR was not thought to be a position of need. Well, this time, maybe Love will be too difficult to pass up. Consider that Rachaad White is a free agent, Sean Tucker will be entering the final year of his deal, and starter Bucky Irving flopped last season with both injuries and ineffectiveness. The offense struggled more than expected a season ago, and Love would give them an immediate jolt in a likely pairing with Irving.

The Jets once again go defense in an effort to infuse youthful talent into Aaron Glenn’s team. Without legit improvement on that side of the ball in 2026, it’s doubtful that Glenn will get a third year as the head coach. Frankly, he’s a bit lucky that he’s getting a second year. McCoy is coming off a torn ACL suffered in January 2025, but he should be ready to roll during the draft process in terms of working out. If he does well, it should quell those injury concerns. If he doesn’t, he’ll fall out of the 1st Round.

This may have gone unnoticed by too many, but the Detroit OL was not close to the level it had been in the previous couple of years. LT Taylor Decker is aging, C Frank Ragnow retired, and G Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency. Perhaps Lomu can be a guard initially, and perhaps he can form a bookend with Penei Sewell in time.

Cisse is a man coverage CB, and with as often as Brian Flores blitzes, his corners are often asked to play 1-on-1 outside.

A big-time defender for the middle of the field for Ejiro Evero’s defense, assuming that Evero doesn’t get a head coaching gig somewhere.

Yes, more help in the secondary for Dallas with its second pick of the 1st Round. They sorely, sorely need it.

I’m not sold on Simpson, not by a long shot, but the Steelers need to take a swing at the position yet again. Yes, the last time they did that, Kenny Pickett did not work out. But as they usher in a new era with Mike Tomlin departing, I’m guessing that they hire a young coach like Chris Shula and perhaps they are actually ready to let a young guy sink or swim.

Zion Johnson hits free agency after his 5th-year option was declined, and the former 1st Round pick produced 4 middling seasons in LA. We know that Harbaugh wants to build through the trenches, and after the injuries a season ago to both tackles, Ioane would be a welcomed presence at this juncture as the likely #1 pure guard in the class.

I firmly believe that AJ Brown’s time in Philadelphia has come to a close and that he will be traded this offseason. As a result, another ready-to-play WR could be needed, so enter Tate.

Cleveland goes OL again in the 1st Round with the intriguing potential of World. Their entire OL is up for free agency and while 1 or 2 of them may be back, it’s a great bet that at least one of the 2 picks in this round will be spent at this position.

It’s no secret that the Bears need to improve their pass rush, so Parker could fit the bill.

Brandon Beane, you somehow scapegoated Sean McDermott to your owner, even though it was your roster management that led to the horrific WR corps that you gave Josh Allen this season. The Bills need a boundary receiver that can win on the outside.

Hood would seem to be a guy who will test well athletically, and if he does, he could be a 1st Round pick. The 49ers are recovering from a cavalcade of injuries on the defensive side of the ball.

It may not matter if CJ Stroud torpedoes Houston’s season again next year in the playoffs, but one thing the club needs to improve is its OL. Dunker could be a solution at either RT or a guard spot.

The Rams have not typically targeted linebackers early in drafts, but this regime has an affinity for Texas players, so I will take a stab at one here.

The Pats add to their talent base in getting after the top AFC QB’s.

More high-end talent for a unit that led the NFL in sacks in 2025.

A McDonald for coach Macdonald’s already-strong DT crew!