PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! The NFL Draft is in the rearview, and for some mock draft aficionados like Matty Kiwoom, it’s already time to start looking at the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s Matty’s way-too-early 2026 NFL mock draft.
As the 2025 NFL season starts to crawl, the football world (mainly the sickos like me) are already looking to map out the 2026 NFL Draft. This way-too-early mock draft dives into the potential prospects who could dominate headlines a year from now, based on current college performances, team needs, and my eyes, ears, and wisdom of my experiences.
Before anyone spends any time thinking about the draft order, I used implied season win totals as the placeholder because the draft order will inevitably shift. It is impossible to predict the future a few days from now, and here I am giving it a try for a year out.
Bookmark this article, save it until next year, and either be incredibly impressed or get a good laugh.
2026 NFL Mock Draft Round 1
1. Cleveland Browns – Edge, T.J. Parker, Clemson
Obviously, the Browns will be tempted to take a signal caller with the 1.01, but T.J. Parker is a wrecking ball that posted 12 sacks in 2024. Matching him up with Graham and Garrett would be ferocious.
2. New Orleans Saints – QB, Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Sorry, Tyler Shough isn’t the guy. Kellen Moore uses the 1.02 to take his QB of the future. Garrett Nussmeier is tough, accurate, and the kind of player Moore can build around.
3. New York Jets – QB, Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Sorry (again), if the Jets are picking up here, then Justin Fields is done and dusted. Cade Klubnik has improved throughout his time at Clemson, and another strong campaign would propel him into the QB 1 conversation.
4. New York Giants – S, Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The team builders in New York wouldn’t survive another stinker of a season, but the next regime could easily give Dart another year and decide to take potentially the best overall player in this class. This pick would also make Caleb Downs the highest-selected safety since Eric Berry.
5. Las Vegas Raiders – QB, Drew Allar, Penn State
Drew Allar could be a top 5 pick, or he could be a Day 3 pick. A good 2025 season would make it really tough for QB-needy franchises to pass on the 6-5, 235-pound signal caller that has all the tools to develop at the next level.
6. Carolina Panthers – DL, Peter Woods, Clemson
Peter Woods is a tank that can dominate with strength and agility. The Panthers would love to see him available when their pick comes up.
7. Tennessee Titans – OT, Spencer Fano, Utah
This pick would give the Titans not one, not two, but three Round 1 picks on the offensive line taken in the last handful of years. Spencer Fano is a dog. Whether he plays inside or outside, the Titans will want to protect Cam Ward at all costs.
8. Indianapolis Colts – CB, Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Jermod McCoy is a superior athlete who loves to make plays. It is easy to see a scenario where he goes inside the top 10 when you watch the tape.
9. Miami Dolphins – OT, Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor can earn himself a lot of money if he plays well in 2025. He has the size, athleticism, and the prospect pedigree to be the top O-lineman in the class.
10. Dallas Cowboys – LB, Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Anthony Hill is electric and could end up being the Cowboys’ 2.0 version of Micah Parsons.
11. Cleveland Browns (via JAX) – CB, Avieon Terrell, Clemson
After snagging Parker, the Browns also added their next CB 1 and Clemson teammate, Avieon Terrell. Amongst a stacked defense, Terrell stands out, and it’s only a matter of time until he joins his brother in the league.
12. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) – QB, Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger, and the Rams can use one of their two first-rounders to secure their next chapter at QB. Sam Leavitt has a lot of potential, and under Sean McVay, he’d have a great shot at reaching that potential.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers – QB, LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
The ten-wins-a-season streak is in jeopardy regardless of what Aaron Rodgers does. Mike Tomlin bringing in a freak athlete like LaNorris Sellers would further elevate the excitement in the AFC North.
14. Chicago Bears – Edge, Tyreak Sapp, Florida
Tyreak Sapp is flat out scary coming off the edge…period.
15. Seattle Seahawks – WR, Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
If Cooper Kupp can’t stay healthy, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks are going to NEED help at the WR position. Jordyn Tyson checks a lot of boxes and has the skills to be the first pass catcher off the board in 2026.
16. Houston Texans – OT, Francis Mauigoa, Miami
If Francis Mauigoa puts together a strong 2025 campaign, he may not be available at this point in Round 1, given his pedigree and talent. But if he is, the Texans will sprint their card up to the commissioner.
17. New England Patriots – TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Eli Stowers has been playing football in college for a while, and he continues to get better. Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels would know exactly how to maximize Stowers’s play-making ability.
18. Arizona Cardinals – WR, Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr, and Elijah Sarratt would make a skilled group of pass catchers to get the most out of Kyler Murray‘s accuracy.
19. Cincinnati Bengals – C, Jake Slaughter, Florida
Ted Karras isn’t going to man the center of Joe Burrow‘s offensive line forever. Jake Slaughter is agile, tough, and would give the Bengals an immediate starting interior lineman.
20. Los Angeles Chargers – Edge, Reuben Bain Jr., Miami
Reuben Bain Jr. has the talent and athleticism to propel himself up the draft board. If he can stay on the field and show out like he did as a freshman, he won’t be here at 20. Chargers need a jolt from their edge rushers, and Bain would provide that.
21. Minnesota Vikings – RB, Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Fantasy managers STAND UP. Jeremiyah Love was great in 2024 and checks the boxes needed to be a round 1 pick. Move over Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones…Mr. Love is RB 1 for the Vikings.
22. Green Bay Packers – CB, Malik Muhammad, Texas
The Packers didn’t do much to bolster their cornerback room in 2025. Malik Muhammad isn’t a freak athlete, but knows how to make plays and causes QBs to look elsewhere.
23. Denver Broncos – S, Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Denver grabbed their thumper in Talanoa Hufanga, and now they get their center fielder in Dillon Thieneman.
24. Washington Commanders – Edge, Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Of all these picks, this one might look the worst. Keldric Faulk showed a ton of growth in 2024, and with a similar jump in 2025, he will be one of the top rushers picked, especially due to his ability to stop the run.
25. Los Angeles Rams – CB, Tacario Davis, Washington
Tacario Davis is reunited with Jedd Fisch and looking to get back into the Day 1 conversation after a rough 2024. The 6-4 cornerback would provide the Rams with a big-bodied physical corner that they do not have right now.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB, Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Deontae Lawson is a weapon on defense. Field general, tough, and has shown a strong ability to make plays in coverage in the middle. The Bucs didn’t take the Bama backer in 2025…they do this time.
27. Detroit Lions – OT, Gennings Dunker, Iowa
Dan Campbell guy…period.
28. San Francisco 49ers – CB, Chandler Rivers, Duke
Chandler Rivers is a baller, plain and simple. The Niners haven’t invested in the secondary recently, and Rivers provides the defense with another versatile playmaker.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – RB, Jonah Coleman, Washington
Do not care…Jonah Coleman may be my favorite player I’ve watched so far. He is an absolute wrecking ball and gives the Chiefs their next dog in the backfield.
30. Baltimore Ravens – Edge, Mikail Kamara, Indiana
Mikail Kamara isn’t a big-bodied edge rusher, but his 18 sacks over the last two years speak for themselves. He is quick and a perfect Kyle Van Noy replacement.
31. Philadelphia Eagles – OL, Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
Ar’maj Reed-Adams may be the best run blocker in this class. The Eagles bring in a guy who will keep the Tush Push alive and well.
32. Buffalo Bills – WR, Denzel Boston, Washington
The Bills like to roster big wide receivers who have the skill set to make big-time plays for Josh Allen and the offense. Denzel Boston is 6-4 and over 200 pounds. A big year at Washington brings him into the round 1 conversation.
Well, folks, there you have it—a wildly speculative 2026 NFL Mock Draft that’s about as reliable as a weather forecast for next summer’s barbecue! With a full season of college football and NFL chaos still to come, these picks are more for fun than a crystal ball prediction.
Injuries, breakout stars, and surprise team meltdowns will surely shake things up, but dreaming about the next crop of NFL talent is half the fun. So, grab a snack, laugh at how wrong this might end up being, and let’s check this 2026 NFL mock draft in February to see how close Mr. Kiwoom got!
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