Mock Draft
4/28/25
16 min read
Way-Too-Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Who Is Next Year's Top QB?
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books! After 257 draft choices, countless additional undrafted free agent deals were made during the last 48 hours.
And while the story of the 2025 season is only just beginning to be written, the work to prepare for three days of chaos for next year's draft starts now.
A big part of every journey is taking the first step. We'll do that here, with a way-too-early snapshot of some of the top names projected to be a part of the 2026 class.
The draft order is set vs. the latest 2025 Super Bowl odds, whereas the picks are made with one eye towards the perceived long-term needs of the teams and the other to the perceived growth and development of some of college football's standouts.
Way too Early 2026 Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Browns
Selection: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Cleveland will undoubtedly be thrilled to take the next step in its journey to move on from the Deshaun Watson farce at quarterback. If the Browns finish with the top spot after spending two mid-round picks and acquiring Kenny Pickett this offseason, look for them to go for a toolsy quarterback.
There's plenty of buzz over the latest addition to one of the NFL's royal families, but Arch doesn't have anywhere near the tools or upside you'll get with Sellers.
2. New Orleans Saints
Selection: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Allar flirted with the idea of declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft after making significant leaps in his play in 2024. His return for another season should have him more polished and closer to being ready to fulfill his potential as a big-armed pocket passer with subtle mobility.
His pairing with New Orleans would come in part thanks to the Saints' second-round investment in Tyler Shough — it's not a big enough marriage to prevent a marquee pick.
3. New York Giants
Selection: Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson
New York added Darius Alexander to play inside next to Dexter Lawrence, but barring a monster rookie season, there should still be plenty of reps to go around inside.
Woods is a disruptive, powerful presence that could help the Giants combat the powerful lines building in the NFC East.
4. Tennessee Titans
Selection: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Titans bid farewell to Harold Landry and replaced him in the pass rush room with second-round pick Femi Oladejo. However, there's a lot of opportunity to be found with this group, and Parker is a powerful player who led Power Four pass rushers in sacks in 2024.
His pairing with Oladejo would give the Titans a pair of dense, intense rushers off the edge to work with long-term.
5. New York Jets
Selection: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson was a revelation in 2024. He's a Colorado transfer who became a matchup problem down the stretch for the Sun Devils amid their push to the College Football Playoff.
He was sorely missed in ASU's upset bid against Texas due to a shoulder injury, but his encore opportunity in 2025 could see him as a top pass-catching prospect.
6. Carolina Panthers
Selection: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Carolina exercised its fifth-year option on OT Ikem Ekwonu, but the long-term status of the other tackle position is very much up in the air.
Mauigoa is a prolific mauler with rare agility for a player of his size. If not for quarterback needs elsewhere in the top-5 of this scenario, he'd be a shoo-in to be gone.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Downs might be the best available player in the country based on his 2024 performance. The problem, of course, is that he plays safety, which teams don't typically target early.
Downs is worth the exception, as he can do nearly anything you could need in coverage and is a tremendous run defender.
8. Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Print the jerseys. Go ahead! The Colts are entering 2025 with what has been described as an open competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones at quarterback.
Richardson will need a big year to take the pressure and negative perception off his status with the team. Jim Irsay would not be mad about landing (another) Manning.
9. Cleveland Browns
Selection: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns traded away from a potential generational talent in Travis Hunter this weekend. But if the result a year from now is a long-term quarterback and a new staple for an aging offensive line, it would be well worth the late pivot this year.
10. New England Patriots
Selection: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
New England is currently in the process of overhauling the middle of its defense amid the arrival of Mike Vrabel this offseason.
LBs Jack Gibbens and Robert Spillane have the potential to be a sufficient duo, but how long is Spillane's runway? He'll be 30 this season. Hill Jr. is a disruptive force in the middle.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
The Seahawks added Nick Emmanwori to their secondary this year. He's a potent addition alongside Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. But putting another supersized corner like Davis opposite Woolen will fill this secondary out with their fair share of physical freaks.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Selection: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Atlanta entered the draft with a need at corner opposite A.J. Terrell. Surprisingly, they didn't do much with that spot.
Instead, they opted to double-dip with pass rushers via Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., McCoy, an athletic, disruptive corner who would be an awesome addition and solution.
13. Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Banks scorned a jump to the NFL this offseason to return to Florida for his senior season.
The Louisville transfer has size and disruption in the heart of the line, with room for more production if he can cut down on some of his missed tackle challenges once he's created backfield havoc.
14. Miami Dolphins
Selection: Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina
Tyreek Hill is on borrowed time in Miami. He's due more than $35 million in 2026 after quitting on the team in the 2024 season finale and a parade of questionable decisions off the field.
Miami will need another marquee passing game weapon to go opposite Jaylen Waddle, and Harbor is an absolute freak athlete with the kind of speed the Dolphins will undoubtedly love.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Boston is a big-bodied target who thrives on the outside. He appears due for a breakout season in 2025 after appearing on the scene in 2024.
Boston had just 66 career receiving yards in his first two seasons before an 834-yard and nine-touchdown season. He would pair quite well with Marvin Harrison Jr. to give the Cardinals a pair of physical receivers outside.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Pittsburgh appears to be angling for the Aaron Rodgers band-aid. The team bypassed quarterbacks early before securing Will Howard on Day 3.
Howard is a good add at that stage of the game, but Nussmeier was trending towards a potential first-round ticket last season before falling apart down the stretch.
17. Chicago Bears
Selection: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain Jr. wasn't quite the same version of himself in 2024 as a freshman star in 2023. But he's a powerful, explosive presence that would be a welcome addition to the Bears' front.
There's no such thing as too many good pass rushers, and Bain Jr. showcased just how disruptive he could be with nearly 50 pressures as a freshman.
18. Denver Broncos
Selection: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen is a rangy, sure-fire tackler on the second level. The Broncos may have other needs, but they'd be wise to protect themselves from the durability questions that may come with Dre Greenlaw, and Allen would be an incredible partner next to the former 49er when both are healthy and on the field.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Tampa's pass rush help for 2025 comes in the form of Haason Reddick on a one-year contract and Day 3 rookies Elijah Roberts and David Walker.
Faulk is a supersized rusher, not dissimilar to the build of Elijah Roberts. However, his production in the SEC is hard to ignore — he posted 45 pressures on just more than 300 rush opportunities in 2024.
20. Houston Texans
Selection: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
You can rest assured that DeMeco Ryans will ensure his defense has all the pressure players they need to keep the heat on.
Dennis-Sutton has "got next" as the marquee Penn State pass rusher and should be in contention for an early draft choice.
21. Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane decided to forego the NFL Draft and instead transferred to LSU. One would imagine the extra experience in the SEC will help elevate his profile and boost his resume even more.
He nearly doubled his career ball production in 2024, but will need to make sure he plays disciplined this upcoming season. If he does, he could be a sturdy answer for the Vikings' secondary.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Khalil Mack is here for a good time but not a long time. Mack will play his age-34 season on a one-year deal with the Chargers, leaving room for a new face long-term.
Bailey will likely find monster production after transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech. He posted more than a 20 percent pressure rate for the Cardinal in 2023 and 2024.
23. San Francisco 49ers
Selection: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
San Francisco's long-term offensive line outlook could best be described as shaky.
How much longer can Trent Williams go at the level that he does? With no draft picks this year on the line, the stage is set for new blood next year.
24. Green Bay Packers
Selection: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
The Packers needed a cornerback in 2025 before the draft, before anything happened with Jaire Alexander. Now, on the other side?
The only corner the Packers drafted was seventh-rounder Micah Robinson. Everette is the next in line among a talented pipeline of Georgia corners and boasts good size on the outside.
25. Washington Commanders
Selection: LT Overton, DL, Alabama
Washington has been committed to rebuilding the trenches this offseason under Dan Quinn after its 2024 breakout. But playing in the NFC East means your line can't just be "good" — or you may fall off the pace.
Adding the supersized Overton to the Commanders' defensive front gives them the power and depth they'll need to go toe to toe with Philly and Dallas on the line.
26. Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Cincinnati will try to make it work in 2025 with its wide receiver duo and some mid-round guards as its marquee additions on offense.
Next year, adding a new element to the group can be something they can aspire for — and a running back like Love would be one heck of an extra layer to have to defend.
27. Los Angeles Rams
Selection: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
The annual Matthew Stafford saga figures to continue after this season. At some point, the Rams will be on the clock and determine that a talent fits and can give them the ceiling they need to continue to contend.
The CFB Playoff version of Klubnik we saw last season may have a chance of being that guy.
28. Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
We don't know enough about Miller to know that he will be ready to make this kind of leap.
However, the Georgia kids usually do, especially when they're highly coveted recruits. Miller is a redshirt junior in 2025, coming off a sturdy and productive season as a member of Georgia's rotation.
29. Buffalo Bills
Selection: Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
Bills center Connor McGovern is in a contract year in 2025. Is Sedrick Van Pran-Granger going to earn the Bills' trust enough from the bench to claim the long-term job if Buffalo doesn't re-sign McGovern?
If not, Slaughter is a sturdy blocker in the middle with less than 20 pressures allowed in the last two seasons (730 pass protection reps).
30. Detroit Lions
Selection: Nic Anderson, WR, LSU
If Detroit moves on from Jameson Williams, having a big-play field stretcher could be on the shopping list for 2026. After transferring to LSU, Anderson is looking to recapture his 2023 magic this year.
At Oklahoma in 2023, Anderson posted nearly 21 yards per catch and 10 scores — he's a supersized receiver with enough juice to get down the field.
31. Baltimore Ravens
Selection: Darrell Jackson Jr., DL, Florida State
Baltimore will miss Michael Pierce, even if Travis Jones is ready to be "the man" in the middle. Still, the Ravens always aspire to be deep in the trenches.
Jackson Jr. is a 330-pound defender in the middle who enjoyed a breakout campaign with Florida State in 2024, posting 30 pressures. If he takes another leap, he could be in line as a rising member of the class.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Selection: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
Igbinosun likely would have been a mid-round pick had he chosen to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Instead, he chose to run it back with Ohio State and try to fortify his draft stock.
The success rate of Ohio State corners doing so is hit and miss, but he's got all the tools to make it happen. He'd be an awesome pairing with Quinyon Mitchell.
