The 2025 NFL Draft just ended, and everyone hopes the players they grabbed carry them to the promised land. It’s never too early to start looking at the future of the NFL. Teams like Cleveland and the Los Angeles Rams already have two first-round picks and potential franchise-changing players, including Arch Manning, could be available in the Draft. Let’s jump in and take a look at this way-too-early 2026 NFL first-round mock draft.
Obviously, the draft order is not set for the 2026 NFL Draft yet. So, I used the odds for “fewest wins” and gave the favorite, the Cleveland Browns, the #1 overall pick. According to these odds, the Buffalo Bills end up with the 32nd and final pick as the longest shot in this category. I could insert a joke about how they’ve never won a Super Bowl, but that in and of itself is the joke.
The Browns make out well with the #1 overall pick as well as the 10th selection, which they acquired in the trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams picked up the Atlanta Falcons’ first-rounder after a trade that also happened during the draft for the Falcons to select James Pearce Jr. That ends up being the #12 overall selection for the Rams, who ended up in the playoffs according to the odds.
It appears that this could be another quarterback-heavy year in the NFL Draft. Six quarterbacks go off the board in the first 12 picks. There are a lot of question marks on quite a few teams at the position going into 2025. One running back is selected, and it’s to the Cowboys. They’ll finally address the position for real, right?
Way Too Early 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft
| 1 |  Browns Arch Manning | QB | Texas |
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| Arch may or may not leave college after next season, which will be his first as a collegiate starter. But if he does, he’s proven to be a solid talent, and the bloodline of NFL quarterback royalty will be too good for the Browns to pass up on. Unless, of course, like Uncle Eli, he refuses to play there. | ||||
| 2 |  Saints | LaNorris Sellers | QB | South Carolina |
| Saints fans will be devastated if they are picking at number two and miss out on Arch Manning. But such is life here. The Tyler Shough experiment likely didn’t work out, and it’s time to reset with this dual-threat potential superstar. | ||||
| 3 |  Giants | Kayden Proctor | OT | Alabama |
| The Giants have likely changed coaching staffs if they are picking at number three. They’ll likely give Jaxson Dart another year to show what he can do, and this 6’7” 360-pounder will help anchor Dart’s offensive line. | ||||
| 4 |  Jets | Drew Allar | QB | Penn State |
| It’s another year where the quarterback run goes early. I’m hoping for a good season from Justin Fields in 2025, but if the Jets are picking at #4, it wasn’t so. Drew Allar looks the part at 6’5”, 240 pounds. Allar has shown he has all the tools; if he can put together a strong senior season for the Nittany Lions, expect to see him go early. | ||||
| 5 |  Titans | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami |
| The Titans have made their bed with #1 overall pick Cam Ward in 2025. They’ll reunite him with a talent who only allowed one sack in 2024 while protecting Ward for the University of Miami. | ||||
| 6 |  Raiders | Cade Klubnik | QB | Clemson |
| If the Raiders' season goes this poorly, they could be yet another team looking for a new answer at quarterback. I don’t see Tom Brady being too patient with the quarterback position if the Raiders aren’t winning. Klubnik has drawn comparisons to division rival Bo Nix. | ||||
| 7 |  Panthers | Sam Leavitt | QB | Arizona State/b> |
| The 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with quarterback talent, and we’ve now seen five drafted in just the first seven picks. The Bryce Young experience is over. Levitt is another all-around quarterback who could make an impact at a high level right away. | ||||
| 8 |  Colts T.J. Paker | ED | Clemson |
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| After a massive quarterback run, the Colts are left with the best pass rusher on the board. It’s a position that needs a youthful influx on the Colts, and they’ll address that here. | ||||
| 9 |  Dolphins | Jermod McCoy | CB | Tennessee |
| Jalen Ramsey is likely on the move, and the Dolphins will get their pick of whatever defensive back they’d like, as they are still all on the board. McCoy is a physical corner with great awareness. | ||||
| 10 | Browns Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State |
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| After securing Arch Manning at #1, the Browns add the top receiving option in the draft with the 10th overall pick. Tyson was electric as a sophomore last year for the Sun Devils with over 1,000 receiving yards. He has a great combination of speed and catch range. | ||||
| 11 |  Cowboys | Jeremiyah Love | \RB | Notre Dame |
| They passed on running back in 2025, but ended up with the top option in 2026. Love averaged a nice 6.9 yards per carry in 2024 for the Fighting Irish and also had 237 receiving yards. | ||||
| 12 |  Rams Garrett Nussmeier | QB | LSU |
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| It’s a bit of a luxury pick for the Rams as they use the Falcons' early pick here to address their future at quarterback. It might be great for Nussmeier if Stafford has one more season in him, and the LSU star can learn behind a legend. He’s a little raw, but he has the talent. | ||||
| 13 |  Steelers | Peter Woods | DT | Clemson |
| Cam Heyward isn't getting any younger for the Steelers, and while they drafted Derrick Harmon last year, this is a great opportunity to pair up a young, versatile duo to lead what is always a tough Steelers defense up front for years to come. Woods also has great pass-rush ability and can be moved to the edge occasionally. | ||||
| 14 |  Seahawks | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah |
| Did the Sam Darnold experiment work out? Picking at 14, either it worked out okay, or Jalen Milroe took over and looked okay. Either way, let’s shore up that offensive line for whoever is taking snaps at quarterback with an athletic, versatile offensive tackle. | ||||
| 15 |  Texans | Isaiah World | OT | Oregon |
| Another young quarterback who needs more protection. The Texans have made big changes in the last few years to their offensive line and should continue to do so going forward. World is massive at 6’8” 312 lbs. He didn’t give up a single sack in 2024. |
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| 16 |  Bears Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State |
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| Downs flies all over the place. He’s great at shutting down the middle of the field and has also been great for the Buckeyes, blitzing and making tackles in the backfield. He’ll help shore up a Bears defense that’ll really be looking to compete in 2026. |
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| 17 |  Cardinals | Rueben Bain Jr. | ED | Miami |
| Bain is another player you’ll find all over the backfield. In 2024, he already looked like a first-round pick with 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. He’ll bolster a Cardinals pass rush that still needs more help. | ||||
| 18 |  Patriots | Ja’Kobi Lane | WR | USC |
| The Patriots' wide receiver room has a lot of questions, and even if that pink stuff helps Stefon Diggs perform well this year, they need to think about more help for Drake Maye post-Diggs. At 6’4”, 195lbs, Lane gives Maye a huge target and a potential stand-out #1. |
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| 19 |  Vikings | AJ Harris | CB | Penn State |
| It was a bit surprising the Vikings didn’t address their defensive back position a little more in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it’s hard to see them not doing so in 26. The Georgia transfer has great vertical speed. |
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| 20 |  Bengals | Anthony Hill Jr. | LB | Texas |
| They needed all defense in 2025, and that’s the same story in 2026. Keep filling out a young defense and building it up. Hill is speedy, shift, can cover the whole field, and still racked up 15.5 tackles for loss last season for the Longhorns. | ||||
| 21 |  Chargers | Caleb Banks | DT | Florida |
| Jim Harbaugh likes a tough defense. Banks brings that up front, and is versatile enough to move around on the line and take some snaps as a pass rusher. He’ll immediately bolster the front of the Chargers' defense. | ||||
| 22 |  Packers | Domani Jackson | CB | Alabama |
| Jaire Alexander returned for another season, but the Packers are going to have to address this defensive back position. Jackson was a five-star recruit who got off to a slow start at USC. It all seems to be clicking for him now, and he could help the Packers out. | ||||
| 23 | Rams Caleb Tiernan | OT | Northwestern |
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| They got their quarterback of the future in Garrett Nussmeier earlier on with the Falcons' pick. Now, they can finally fix their right tackle issues. Tiernan is an older prospect who should be ready to plug and play and handle whatever the NFL throws at him. | ||||
| 24 |  Broncos Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State |
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| Has Ohio State turned in WRU? Tate is the next prospect in a long line of receivers who, so far, have been pretty successful in the league. Tate has shown all the traits and gets his chance to shine with Emeka Egbuka off to Tampa Bay. | ||||
| 25 |  Commanders | CJ Allen | LB | Georgia |
| The Commanders have focused heavily on the offensive side of the ball these last few years. Bobby Wagner is there for now, but the Commanders need to focus on a plan to succeed the veteran. Allen has been the man in charge of one of the toughest defenses in college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and should be a great fit in Washington. | ||||
| 26 |  Buccaneers | Harold Perkins Jr. | LB | LSU |
| It’s a mini linebacker run as playoff teams attempt to strengthen the middle of their defense. It’s been a great run for Lavonte David as one of the best linebackers in the league. Many thought they’d address this position in the 25 Draft, but feels like one they can’t overlook in 26. |
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| 27 |  49ers Avieon Terrell | CB | Clemson |
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| The 49ers have a lot of questions in their backfield and still haven’t found a true replacement for Charvarius Ward. Terrell has been described as a “pest” to opposing wide receivers. Terrell is the older brother of AJ, the Falcons' defensive back, and has him to lean on to help him learn the ropes. | ||||
| 28 |  Lions | Kendrick Faulk | ED | Auburn |
| Faulk is still a little rough around the edges as he enters his Junior season, but he’s got all the tools. He can play all along the defensive line and is a high-energy player. Exactly what Dan Campbell is looking for. | ||||
| 29 |  Chiefs | Dillon Thieneman | S | Oregon |
| Kansas City is lacking long-term answers at safety, with Mike Edwards and Bryan Cook both free agents after 2025. Thieneman plays with an urgency that will be attractive to the Chiefs and is a nuisance in the run-stopping game. | ||||
| 30 |  Eagles Dani Dennis-Sutton | ED | Penn State |
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| The rich get richer with this one. The Eagles have to look at restructuring their pass rush, and Dennis-Sutton has all the tools. He’s tremendously athletic, and his measurables are off the charts. He’ll be one to watch this year and could shoot up draft boards. | ||||
| 31 |  Ravens | Eric Singleton | WR | Georgia Tech |
| If they are picking at 31, that means they made it to the Super Bowl but fell just short. Lamar Jackson needs more weapons in the receiving game, and Singleton fits their high-speed offense well. | ||||
| 32 |  Bills | David Bailey | ED | Texas Tech |
| The Bills need a defensive pass rusher, and they’ll get a versatile one here. The Stanford transfer can play off the edge and slide in at linebacker. He’s explosive and possesses rare athletic traits. | ||||
