Mock Draft 1.0
Full First Round: 32 Picks for the 2026 NFL Draft
What is a Mock Draft?
A mock draft simulates what teams might do on draft day. Analysts study team rosters, coaching preferences, and organization history to predict each selection. The goal is matching the right player to the right situation.
Mock drafts change constantly. A quarterback injury in Week 10 shifts the entire board. Free agency signings remove positions of need. Combine testing vaults unknown prospects into first-round consideration.
This early projection gives you a starting point. Expect changes after the college football season concludes, after the Senior Bowl, and especially after the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Arch Manning | QB • Texas
The Panthers finally find their franchise QB replacement. Manning brings elite pedigree and arm talent to Charlotte.
Tetairoa McMillan | WR • Arizona
The Raiders add a true WR1 to unlock their offense. McMillan is a contested catch machine with size to dominate.
Travis Hunter | CB/WR • Colorado
A generational weapon. Whether he plays offense, defense, or both, Hunter changes games in Nashville.
James Pearce Jr. | EDGE • Tennessee
The Giants bolster their pass rush with the most explosive edge defender in this class.
Will Campbell | OT • LSU
Protecting the QB is priority number one. Campbell is a plug-and-play left tackle for the next decade.
Mykel Williams | DL • Georgia
A freakish athlete who can disrupt the pocket from anywhere on the defensive line.
Luther Burden III | WR • Missouri
Adding more firepower to the offense. Burden is electric with the ball in his hands.
Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT • Texas
Shoring up the offensive line to keep their young QB upright for years to come.
Benjamin Morrison | CB • Notre Dame
A lockdown corner to anchor the secondary. Morrison tracks the ball and plays with confidence.
Nic Scourton | EDGE • Texas A&M
Explosive power rusher to revitalize the defensive front in New Orleans.
Malaki Starks | S • Georgia
A rangy playmaker who can cover ground sideline-to-sideline. Starks erases mistakes on the back end.
Mason Graham | IDL • Michigan
A disruptive force in the middle. Graham has elite quickness and can penetrate gaps instantly.
Abdul Carter | EDGE • Penn State
Explosive edge defender with elite burst off the line. Can win with speed or convert to power.
Colston Loveland | TE • Michigan
A modern tight end with receiver-like movement skills. Creates mismatches against linebackers and safeties.
Decone King | CB • Penn State
A physical press-man corner who excels at disrupting timing at the line of scrimmage.
Emeka Egbuka | WR • Ohio State
Polished route runner who finds soft spots in zones consistently. Extremely reliable hands.
Harold Perkins Jr. | LB • LSU
A versatile weapon who can rush the passer or drop into coverage. Chess piece for coordinators.
Quinshon Judkins | RB • Ohio State
A violent runner with excellent contact balance. Judkins wears defenses down over four quarters.
Emery Jones Jr. | OT • LSU
Powerful right tackle who mauls defenders in the run game. Has the feet to mirror speed rushers.
Ollie Gordon II | RB • Oklahoma State
Highly productive back with rare size-speed combination. A threat to score from anywhere on the field.
Shemar Stewart | DL • Texas A&M
Long, disruptive defender who can play multiple spots along the defensive line.
Tacario Davis | CB • Arizona
Long corner with excellent ball skills. Physical at the catch point and tracks deep passes well.
Derrick Harmon | DT • Oregon
Powerful interior presence who can collapse the pocket and stop the run at the point of attack.
Trey Amos | CB • Ole Miss
Fluid athlete with good size. Comfortable in press and off coverage. Solid tackler in run support.
Donovan Jackson | OG • Ohio State
Powerful guard who excels in the run game. Physical finisher who plays through the whistle.
Walter Nolen | DT • Ole Miss
Massive interior defender with surprising quickness. Commands double teams and frees up linebackers.
Xavier Watts | S • Notre Dame
Ball-hawking safety who led the nation in interceptions. Reads quarterbacks and breaks on balls quickly.
Aireontae Ersery | OT • Minnesota
Athletic tackle with excellent feet. Can play either side and fits the 49ers zone-blocking scheme.
Jack Sawyer | EDGE • Ohio State
High-motor rusher who never quits on plays. Good against the run and improving as a pass rusher.
Danny Stutsman | LB • Oklahoma
Sideline-to-sideline linebacker with excellent instincts. Vocal leader who commands the defense.
Josh Simmons | OT • Ohio State
Versatile lineman who can play guard or tackle. Athletic and experienced in a pro-style offense.
Princely Umanmielen | EDGE • Ole Miss
Physical edge setter with improving pass rush moves. Adds youth to the Chiefs defensive rotation.
Potential Trade Scenarios
Teams Most Likely to Trade Up
Any team that misses on Arch Manning will consider trading up. The Giants and Raiders currently hold top-five picks, but if either falls outside the Manning sweepstakes, expect aggressive moves. History shows teams pay premium prices for franchise quarterbacks.
Trade Down Candidates
Teams with deep rosters often trade back to accumulate picks. The Titans sitting at pick 3 could slide to pick 8 and still land a blue-chip prospect while adding a future first-rounder. The 2018 Bills trade up for Josh Allen cost them two firsts, a second, and more.
How We Build This Mock Draft
Our projections start with team needs. We analyze current rosters, upcoming free agents, and salary cap situations. A team with money to spend in free agency might skip a position in the draft and vice versa.
Coaching and front office history matters. Some general managers always pick the best player available. Others target specific positions in early rounds. We study their track records to predict tendencies.
Finally, we factor in scheme fit. A 3-4 defense values different edge rushers than a 4-3 scheme. West Coast offenses want different receiver profiles than vertical passing attacks.
Reference: Draft order projections based on current standings via Tankathon. Prospect grades reference ESPN NFL Draft analysis.
Mock Draft FAQs
How accurate are NFL mock drafts?
Most mock drafts correctly predict 25-30% of first round picks. Accuracy increases closer to draft day as team needs become clearer. Trade predictions remain the hardest part to nail.
Why do mock drafts change so often?
Team needs shift constantly. Free agency signings, trades, injuries, and coaching changes all impact draft strategy. A team might go from needing a quarterback to needing a tackle within weeks.
Which team picks first in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The draft order depends on the 2025 season standings. Teams with the worst records pick highest. The NFL's new lottery system adds uncertainty for the bottom three teams.
Will teams trade up for Arch Manning?
Multiple teams could pursue Manning via trade. Franchise quarterbacks command massive trade packages. Expect teams outside the top three to offer multiple first-round picks to move up.