2026 NFL Mock Draft – Overreaction

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Monday, Jan. 5, 2025.
2026 NFL Mock DRAFT – WALT’S | CHARLIE’S
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The overreaction mock draft is back! You never know what outside-the-box thinking will end up being prophetic.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders grab their quarterback of the future.

In 2025, Mendoza has completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,172 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has five rushing touchdowns as well. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder has a quality arm, reads the field well, makes good decisions, and has dangerous pocket passing ability. Mendoza played well for Cal in 2024. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza has good size, and it will be interesting to see how he develops at Indiana.



2. New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Jets take their starter of the future.

Moore has been a dynamic point-producer for the Ducks in 2025, making plays with his arm and legs. In 2025, Moore has completed 73 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Moore (6-3, 203) is a dangerous quarterback who is tough to defend. He has shown impressive arm talent and feel as a passer. Moore throws some beautiful deep balls and shows impressive composure and poise for a young player.



3. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
With Kyler Murray on his way out, Arizona grabs its next hope for a true franchise quarterback.

Simpson has been phenomenal in 2025, leading the Crimson Tide to some big wins against tough opponents. In 2025, Simpson had completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,500 yards with 28 touchdowns, five interceptions, and two rushing touchdowns. Simpson has shown some serious arm talent, making some beautiful throws downfield with superb ball placement to beat tight coverage. In tight games, Simpson made some great passes to lead his team to wins over Georgia and Missouri. Simpson is accurate, smart, has a strong arm, and throws with timing and anticipation. Simpson has shown superb ball security this season as well, with excellent decision-making.



4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Tennessee could use more talent for the middle of their defense.

In 2025, Reese had 69 tackles with 6.5 sacks, two passes broken up, zero forced fumbles, and zero interceptions. Team sources feel that Reese is a special player as they like his instincts in combination with being big and athletic. Reese is a sideline-to-sideline run defender who is tough at the point of attack. He is also capable of dropping into coverage, moves well in zone, and is a dangerous pass rusher. At 6-foot-4. 238 pounds, Reese is a large linebacker with a versatile skill set. In 2024, Reese had 43 tackles with .5 sacks as a rotational backup.



5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Giants go with the best player available and grab a safety upgrade for the deep middle of their defense.

In 2025, Downs had 68 tackles with two interceptions, two forced fumbles, three passes broken up, and one sack. In 2024, Downs had 76 tackles with six passes broken up and two interceptions. Downs was phenomenal for Alabama in 2023, recording 107 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up, and a forced fumble. After the season, he transferred to Ohio State. Downs (6-0, 205) could be a plug-and-play starter and could be a Pro Bowl safety early in his pro career.



6. Dallas Cowboys: David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
TRADE! Dallas moves up in a trade with the Browns. Jerry Jones wants to get in front of Washington to ensure they don’t take this dynamic quarterback hunter. The Cowboys could stay in-state to grab an explosive edge rusher to replace Micah Parsons. Bailey and Quinnen Williams next to each other could be a nightmare for offensive lines.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey is a fast edge rusher with serious speed off the ball and the ability to bend around the corner. In 2025, he had 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes batted, and 52 tackles. In 2024, he recorded 31 tackles with seven sacks and five forced fumbles with Stanford. Bailey has natural quarterback hunting ability and could be a riser in the pre-draft workouts.



7. New York Jets: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
TRADE! New York moves up in a trade with Washington. The Jets need a receiver across from Garrett Wilson and more weapons for their young quarterback. Here’s a receiver that could remind Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand of Amon-Ra St. Brown. Tyson would be a great fit and an asset to grow with Dante Moore.

Tyson had 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns while missing some time with injuries. On top of being a good wideout, Tyson has blocked well. Tyson was a dangerous weapon for the Sun Devils in 2024 as he hauled in 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tyson is quick with easy acceleration. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has adequate size and showed big-play ability in 2022, averaging 21.4 yards per reception (22-470-4). Team sources have durability concerns with Tyson as he missed time with injuries in each season in college.



8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Saints need more weapons for Tyler Shough. Here’s a back that could remind Kellen Moore of what Saquon Barkley did in his offense. New Orleans got little production out of their rushing offense, and Love could be dynamic behind their talented young offensive line.

In 2025, Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 1,372 yards with 18 touchdowns. He had 27 catches for 280 yards with three touchdowns receiving, and Love has blocked well in pass protection In 2024, Love had a breakout season for the Fighting Irish, producing a lot of clutch plays to help the Irish reach the National Championship. As a sophomore, Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 1,125 yards with 17 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 237 yards. Love has a strong build and is a physical downhill runner. Love is a talented runner with speed and instincts. He reminds me of Nick Chubb at Georgia.



9. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Chiefs need more playmakers and weapons for Pat Mahomes. Here’s a replacement for Travis Kelce.

Thus far in 2025, Sadiq has 46 catches for 531 yards and eight touchdowns. Sadiq flashed in 2024 with 24 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Sadiq is a dangerous receiver with upside. Team sources are raving about Sadiq as a talent and mismatch weapon. Even though he is not a big tight end, Sadiq blocks hard and really battles defenders. He is fast, athletic, an excellent route-runner, has good hands, and can pick up yards after the catch. He looks like a real weapon for the NFL.



10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Bengals could use a true No. 1 cornerback for their defense.

Delane had 45 tackles with two interceptions and 11 passes broken up in 2025. Delane is an instinctive defender with a quality skill set for the next level. In 2024, he had four interceptions with seven passes defended, two forced fumbles, and 54 tackles with Virginia Tech. In 2023, he had one interception, one pass batted, and 54 tackles. He had eight breakups with an interception in 2022 as a freshman. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder has good size to him with upside to continue to get better as he gains experience.



11. Miami Dolphins: Kayden Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Dolphins need to add more tackle talent.

Overall, Proctor played well in 2023 as a freshman. Except for struggling against Michigan in the college football playoff, Proctor was generally reliable in protecting Jalen Milroe. Proctor (6-7, 360) is a massive left tackle with a very good skill set of size and strength. Proctor is quick and athletic for his size, but some might feel he could be a right tackle candidate for the NFL. The tapes against Missouri and South Carolina suggest that. NFL team sources say they have concerns about Proctor’s weight. They feel he will lose weight for the combine and pre-draft process, but they are worried he won’t keep the weight off and could get too heavy. That could cut down on his effectiveness as a pro player.



12. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
TRADE! Cleveland moves down in a deal with Dallas. The Browns need two offensive tackles to help improve the protection for their young quarterback. Here’s a right tackle.

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Fano has a lot of talent and has played well at tackle for the Utes. He has been a versatile tackle with 11 starts at left tackle and 13 at right tackle heading into the 2025 season. For the most part, Fano played on the left side in 2023 and on the right side in 2024. Fano is fast, athletic, and plays with a mean streak. He is a force as a run blocker and shows a lot of athleticism to take away speed rushers. A lot of teams could fall in love with his tape.



13. Los Angeles Rams: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Rams go with a long-term right tackle. If necessary, Maiugoa could start out at guard and move to tackle. He would be an asset to protect Matthew Stafford and open holes for Kyren Williams.

Mauigoa was a star recruit and one of the top players in the nation. After choosing the Hurricanes, Mauigoa has been a starting tackle the past three seasons. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder has a quality skill set with upside, but has not been dominant. Some team sources feel he might be better off moving inside to guard in the NFL, but he could be a starting right tackle or guard in the NFL.



14. Baltimore Ravens: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Ravens need more defensive line talent next to Nnamdi Madubuike, and Madubuike is coming off a serious injury. Here is a disruptive nose tackle that is a good scheme fit for Baltimore.

McDonald has been a disruptive and productive defender for the Buckeyes in 2025. He totaled 65 tackles with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass batted. The 6-foot-3, 326-pounder has size, quickness, and athleticism. He has upside to improve as he gains experience.



15. Philadelphia Eagles: Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
TRADE! Philadelphia moves up in a trade with Tampa Bay. Howie Roseman is always aggressive and looks to draft defensive line talent in the first round. Philadelphia could use some young defensive end talent. Josh Sweat left in free agency, Za’Darius Smith retired, and Brandon Graham is not a long-term starter. Roseman moves up for Bain to be the replacement for Graham.

Bain has 45 tackles, 8.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. At the point of attack, Bain (6-3, 275) is strong and violent. He is tough to set the edge in the ground game, and Bain battles hard on every snap with relentless effort. In the pass rush, he shows some quickness and power, but some team sources feel that Bain is a tweener tackle/end. Bain was injured to start 2024 and didn’t debut until early October. He totaled 23 tackles with 3.5 sacks. In 2023, Bain had an excellent freshman season for Miami, totaling 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 44 tackles.



16. Washington Redskins: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
TRADE! After Dallas moves up for David Bailey, Washington moves down in a trade with the Jets. Washington needs to get Jayden Daniels more help. Deebo Samuel is a free agent, but even if he’s re-signed, he’s not a long-term No. 1. Here’s a big receiver and mismatch weapon to go across from Terry McLaurin.

Boston had 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns.. After Washington lost a trio of good receivers to the NFL, Boston enjoyed a breakout season for the Huskies in 2024. He had 64 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 209-pounder has mismatch size and looks like he is just scratching the surface of his potential.

Go to Overreaction 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.


Other 2026 NFL Mock Drafts:


2026 NFL Mock Draft – Walt’s


Charlie Campbell’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft

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