2026 NFL Mock Draft: Sure, I'll put Arch Manning in one

Will Arch Manning actually declare? Who knows. But he's eligible so we might as well mock him somewhere.

Will Texas quarterback Arch Manning declare for the 2026 NFL Draft or won’t he? I don’t think it particularly matters in August, but he has the goods whenever he does. Who does it harm to throw him in a mock draft?

Week 0 has come to an end, and now a full slate of games is heading to our TV screens this weekend. This includes Manning opening his season on the road against the defending national championship-winning Ohio State Buckeyes. What more could a football fan and an NFL Draft analyst ask for?

So, as college football returns, I will be writing a new mock draft every Monday. These are not predictive. These are meant to be informational and introduce the audience to new names, fits for familiar names, and more.

Let’s celebrate the return of football with our first mock draft of the year!

Disclaimer: Draft order is based on preseason Super Bowl betting odds + needing to account for AFC/NFC playoff slotting at the back end of the round (FanDuel)

1. New Orleans Saints: QB Arch Manning, Texas

Returning home and to the franchise that his grandfather played quarterback for, the New Orleans Saints land the crown jewel. While Arch Manning might not declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, he does in this simulation after seemingly keeping that door open this past week.

The Saints are going to be quite bad. They should find themselves in a position to land the prince that was promised. New Orleans gets their quarterback of the future here.

2. Cleveland Browns: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

I’ve been a Fernando Mendoza truther from the beginning (my summer scouting QB1!). There is no reason to back down from that now. While the Browns drafted two rookies a year ago, that won’t stop them from drafting another this year if they’re in a position to land a top talent.

Mendoza is a quick-witted football player, has a plus arm, navigates the pocket at a high level, and even has the athleticism to pick up chunks of yards with his legs when needed. Could Mendoza finally be the answer to the Browns’ quarterback woes?

3. New York Jets: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Starting this 2026 NFL Draft mock draft with a run on quarterbacks, the New York Jets go in the same direction. Listen, Justin Fields is only guaranteed $10 million beyond this season. If the Jets are picking third overall, then it means the Fields experience ended the same way his tenures with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers did.

To replace Fields, the Jets select one of the strongest quarterbacks in recent memory. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers possesses the innate ability to turn sacks into explosives, has a howitzer of an arm, and continues to develop in an NFL-ready offensive structure.

The sky is the limit for Sellers if he puts it all together in 2025.

4. New York Giants: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

The first non-quarterback is off the board! While I don’t think drafting Jaxson Dart in the first round a year ago would prohibit them from drafting another one early in 2026 (especially since another top-five pick would mean both Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are out the door), the three best ones just went off the board.

Instead, the Giants just opt to take the best overall player in the draft. They already have a wealth of riches along their defensive line, but adding another elite Clemson prospect is the right move here. Peter Woods heads to the Big Apple to join his fellow Tiger alum, Dexter Lawrence.

5. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

After selecting Cam Ward and spending numerous assets along their offensive line over the last three years, the Titans will continue to look at ways to take pressure off their presumed quarterback of the future. The best way to do that? Build a dominant run game.

And Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard aren’t necessarily the legs that are going to get that done. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, however? Yeah, that’ll do the trick.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

The Las Vegas Raiders just re-signed left tackle Kolton Miller. And now they are in a position to land my top-graded offensive tackle from summer scouting to bookend him with.

Utah’s Spencer Fano is an athletic marvel who has an elite core and disciplined hands. While he is a bit undersized now, he has the frame to add a healthy amount of good weight and really fill out into an elite all-around player.

7. Carolina Panthers: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Opposite of Jaycee Horn, the Carolina Panthers are currently slotting journeyman veteran Mike Jackson. Getting a real running mate for McCoy should be a priority for a fairly weak backend unit. A linebacker would also be appropriate for the Panthers, but seventh overall is early.

Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is one of the very best players in the country and is expected to be back early in the season after tearing his ACL in January. If he returns to dominant form, then McCoy will be one of the first defensive players off the board as he is here.

8. Indianapolis Colts: QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Scouts don’t love Cade Klubnik. Both NFS and BLESTO gave him a Day 3 grade. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has him as his 30th overall prospect. However, when looking at taking a quarterback early on, Klubnik has the tools you hunt.

His arm is probably in the B+ range, but he possesses good flexibility to manipulate windows and throw from multiple arm slots. Add in that he likely runs a 40-yard dash in the 4.5s as well, and we’re cooking. Out of the tier of seniors between Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, and Drew Allar, the Clemson quarterback is the one I’m taking every time.

The Colts go from a quarterback who made just 12 collegiate starts to one who will be a four-year starter by the time he declares for the draft.

9. Miami Dolphins: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Miami Dolphins need help in their secondary. However, with McCoy off the board, the dropoff at the cornerback position is substantial. Instead, here they look to compensate for the loss of Jevon Holland in free agency by drafting the Ohio State All-American Caleb Downs.

There are a bunch of holes on the Dolphins’ roster, and they could potentially tear it all down with a bad year this year. So drafting a safety ninth overall feels a bit wreckless. But alas…

10. New England Patriots: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Quarterback in year one of the rebuild, his left tackle in year two, now it’s time to get him a big-time playmaker. With the 10th overall pick here, the New England Patriots land Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.

After breaking out with the Sun Devils a year ago, Tyson is the consensus WR1 entering the 2025 season. If he stays healthy, he and quarterback Sam Leavitt will keep it rolling. And if they do, then Tyson is going to get drafted quite early.

He becomes Drake Maye’s new best friend here.

11. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

The Browns drafted an Alabama offensive tackle with the tenth pick in 2020, but that shouldn’t scare the fanbase away from trying their hand at another one here. Kadyn Proctor is a mammoth of a man who possesses enormous strength and explosiveness at his size.

All of the Browns’ offensive linemen are either influx or entering a contract year. They are going to have to rebuild the unit from scratch. Landing a cornerstone piece like Proctor would be a stellar start to that as they look to protect Mendoza for the future.

12. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): LB C.J. Allen, Georgia

The Los Angeles Rams might need to draft a quarterback, given the health of Matthew Stafford. However, they’ve never proven to be desperate enough to reach out of need. And with four quarterbacks already off the board, they don’t do that here.

Instead, as the NFL gets back to pounding the rock on the ground, the Rams upgrade their linebacker room with the top second-level defender in the class. Georgia’s C.J. Allen is a massive upgrade from Nate Landman and Omar Speights, and gives the Rams a boost at the second level of their defense.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

While the Rams haven’t proven to be desperate at the quarterback position, the Steelers have. Since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have reached on Kenny Pickett in the first round, brought in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, and now turn to Pat McAfee’s grey-bearded best friend.

With Aaron Rodgers only on a one-year deal, the Steelers are going to be back in the market for a quarterback again next year. With all of Manning, Mendoza, Sellers, and Klubnik already off the board, the Steelers select LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

14. Seattle Seahawks: DL Keldrick Faulk, Auburn

Give Mike MacDonald a defensive lineman with inside-out versatility and let him cook. While I came in lower on Keldrick Faulk than consensus, it is truly hard to find 32 players who are worthy of going in the first round of this year’s class. And 32 players have to.

The good thing about Faulk entering the 2025 season is that he’s just 19 years old. So while I didn’t necessarily love his 2024 tape, I see a requisite skillset from him that could lead to a massive jump. He lands 14th overall here.

15. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Clemson’s T.J. Parker is a better pass rusher than Faulk, who just went one pick earlier today. However, the ceiling with Parker is lower than Faulk. Parker does, however, have a nice power profile to win through the chest and put his best tape out there at the end of the season.

The Cowboys have a Micah Parsons situation to work through and may have to invest another valuable asset in the position. That’s the direction they take here, pairing Parker with Donovan Ezieruaku, their second round pick from this past season.

16. Arizona Cardinals: OL Cici Mauigoa, Miami

Miami offensive tackle Cici Mauigoa is an interesting one. I don’t quite know what to do with him. I think he’d be better off at guard based on his struggles against speed along the outside shoulder and because of his body type.

The Arizona Cardinals could use a guard or a right tackle, so I’m not quite sure my indecision about what to do with him impacts them here. They take him at the mid-way point through this mock draft.

17. Chicago Bears: OT Isaiah World, Oregon

Oregon left tackle Isaiah World is a big, big dude. He can decleat defenders in the run game, but moves well for his size as a pass protector as well. He’s mean and is set for another leap after transferring from the University of Nevada.

The Chicago Bears have rebuilt their offensive line, and even drafted a new toy for Ben Johnson to play with last year in Colston Loveland. They still have a hole at left tackle, though. World fills that hole.

18. Los Angeles Chargers: C Connor Lew, Auburn

Soon, we will have the conversation about Auburn center Connor Lew being one of the very best players in the draft class, dropped on big boards because of positional value. Do you know who won’t care about that? Jim Harbaugh who is dedicated to running the football down the throats of his opponents.

After drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round this past year, the Chargers now take Lew to upgrade their offensive line and to continue to stick to their identity.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Keith Abney II, Arizona State

Keith Abney II is a player that I am going to remain steadfast on as the season begins. The tape he put out against first round pick Matthew Golden and the Texas Longhorns in the college football playoffs is that good.

And here he lands with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While they drafted Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish (nickel) last year, the Bucs have to work through the contract of Zyon McCollum, and are going to part ways with Jamel Dean after the season.

The cornerback room is not completed. Abney II gives them that rounded-out room.

20. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

One of my favorite players in the 2026 NFL Draft class, the elder statesman Caleb Banks has some of the highest highs on tape that you’ll see. And as the Cincinnati Bengals are desperate to overhaul their defense, starting in the interior might be their best move.

Banks is long, explosive, and provides the ability to kick out to five-tech when asked to. He fits the bill of what the Bengals need upfront defensively to turn around an incredibly poor unit.

21. Minnesota Vikings: RB Nick Singleton, Penn State

The Minnesota Vikings have built a roster to point where they can afford a luxury pick. In fact, the one area on their roster where an infusion of youth and explosiveness is needed is the running back room. That’s the move they make here.

Penn State running back was once one of the top recruits in the nation, and has been starting at Penn State since he was a freshman. Singleton is a mean runner, Isaih Pacheco-like, and provides a boost in the passing game as both a receiver and a pass protector.

He joins the Vikings here.

22. Los Angeles Rams: OT Trevor Goosby, Texas

Texas offensive tackle Trevor Goosby hasn’t even started a full season yet. He’s spot-started at both left and right tackle in Austin, however, and did so at a high level. Not to mention the games that he spot-started in were high-leverage games.

Now slated to start at left tackle for the Longhorns, Goosby has the chance to become perhaps OT1 in this class. For now, I’m going to tame my expectations a bit until we get some more tape. But make no mistake, the upside is tremendous with Goosby.

He lands with the Rams here as they come back on the clock.

23. Washington Commanders: WR Chris Bell, Louisville

Narrowly avoiding being forced to trade Terry McLaurin, the wide receiver depth behind him is a Deebo Samuel decline away from being quite bad. And if Deebo doesn’t work out? There is another 227-pound wide receiver in this class with immense explosiveness that the Commanders could add to their wide receiver room.

Louisville’s Chris Bell is one of “my guys” from this class. I would pound the table for him. He’s that good. Look for him to prove it with Miller Moss this upcoming season.

24. Denver Broncos: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Sean Payton loves versatile players that he can weaponize. Usually, that’s offensively, but this time, the Denver Broncos add a defensive weapon. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, a legitimate 6-foot-4 and 235-pound converted safety. He runs like a safety, looks like a linebacker, and is only at the beginning stages of his development.

Entering his senior year of college as well, Styles is only 20 years old. He would be a massive upgrade over Alex Singleton next to Dre Greenlaw in Denver, as Drew Sanders cannot seem to catch a break with his health.

25. San Francisco 49ers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is on the more raw side of any wide receiver we’ve seen drafted highly over the past half-decade. However, his natural fluidity and physical gifts are on par with CeeDee Lamb. If he can refine all of the small details like stem leverage and late hands while tracking, then he has the chance to be one of the more talented wide receivers in the nation.

The San Francisco 49ers used to have a wealth of riches at wide receiver. However, Brandon Aiyuk is coming off a torn ACL and has been in trade rumors in back-to-back seasons, Deebo Samuel was just traded, and Jauan Jennings is in a contract year. Even with Ricky Pearsall on the roster, this is a massive need for the Niners.

Tate fits the bill here.

26. Houston Texans: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

The Houston Texans took the patch job route when repairing their offensive line this offseason. After trading away Laremy Tunsil, they went out and traded for and signed older veterans on short-term deals. They still need a talented young player on a rookie contract to add stability to the room.

Utah’s Caleb Lomu moves like a tight end but has the core strength of an offensive tackle. While he has some spacing issues to overcome and is a bit stiff in his knees, the ceiling on Lomu is high. He lands with the Texans here at the backend of the first round.

27. Green Bay Packers: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

I am coming in a bit lower on Avieon Terrell, cornerback out of Clemson, than most. I love the tools. He is twitchy, has long speed to hang over the top, and his ball skills are tremendous.

However, I question how confident a player he is. Despite the tools, his trigger lags. This is because he’s hesitant about what he is seeing in front of him. On a loaded Clemson defense, though, Terrell has the chance to put it all together.

The Green Bay Packers take him here, in need of an upgrade in their cornerback room.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Travis Kelce is in the last year of his contract and coming off the worst season of his career. The Chiefs have to think about life after Kelce.

And that leads them to Oregon’s ultra-athletic pass catcher Kenyon Sadiq.

While Sadiq’s production was limited a year ago, playing behind second round pick Terrance Ferguson, he made the most of his touches. Oregon would throw him screens and even give him end-arounds. Look at what he did with the ball in his hands in the Big 10 championship game as well, hurdling a Penn State defender on his way to the endzone.

With Evan Stewart out for the season in Eugene, Sadiq enters the 2025 season as perhaps the Ducks’ top receiving threat. His production is due to match the talent he shows on tape.

29. Detroit Lions: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama

While the Detroit Lions drafted Tyleik Williams a year ago, addressing the interior of their defensive line, they did not land Aidan Hutchinson a running mate to bookend their defensive line with. They do that here.

Alabama’s LT Overton is an interesting player. He’s more fluid than a player you would expect for his size, but isn’t quite as explosive or powerful as you’d anticipate him to be. He’s still a solid pass rusher and provides inside-out versatility. And now he’s a Detroit Lion.

30. Buffalo Bills: S Kamari Ramsey, USC

Addressing the cornerback position last year with the selection of Maxwell Hairston, the Buffalo Bills add another player to their secondary again in this mock draft. Taking some relief off of Hairston and Christian Benford, the Bills take USC’s ball hawk safety Kamari Ramsey.

Ramsey is the best true over-the-top safety in the class. He possesses an endless range and the ball skills to get his hands on the football and create turnovers. While his tackling has to get better, he’ll be the last line of defense for a reason. Ramsey addresses a massive need for Buffalo here.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Makai Lemon, USC

The Philadelphia Eagles flat out do not have a hole on their roster outside of maybe Tyler Steen at right guard. Even then, that is more of an unproven than it is a hole right now. So they can afford a luxury pick.

They traded for Jahan Dotson a year ago to fill in as their slot receiver, and he was modest at best. Why not use a late first rounder on a new slot that also has Z versatility? I went back and forth between Auburn’s Eric Singleton and USC’s Makai Lemon here.

Ultimately, Lemon’s professional route running and understanding of how to hunt out green grass win out here. He now gives Jalen Hurts a third wide receiver to pair with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

32. Baltimore Ravens: DT Christen Miller, Georgia

Like the Eagles, it’s hard to find a position where the Baltimore Ravens have a glaring need. So why not just continue to bolster the interior of their defensive line? The Ravens have paid Nnamdi Madubuike big money, Travis Jones is on his way to that as well, and Broderick Washington is on a cheap extension.

That room looks set, but with Jones and Madubuike both soon to be on big deals, adding depth to the position on a rookie contract is vital. Georgia’s Christen Miller does that while also giving them a Day 1 player to rotate in when Madubuike or Jones have to come off the field for a breather.