NFL Mock Draft season is officially underway, as a good chunk of the teams in the league are already looking forward to the 2025 season and the best way to possibly turn their misfortune into something that can get their teams turned around quickly.
With this class regarded as incredibly deep as far as quarterbacks go, teams at the top of the draft have to be feeling good about their chances to land their next star. This draft is also ideal for teams who need a pass rusher, run-stuffing defensive tackle, or fast-moving inside linebacker.
With the trade deadline approaching, it's time to truly take stock of the 2026 Draft and see where the top prospects are projected to land.
2026 2-round NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
1. New Orleans Saints: Reuben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
If Tyler Shough manages to impress, the Saints could keep this pick and use it on the Draft's top player. Bain profiles as a high-floor end who should challenge for Pro Bowls right away due to his freakish pass rush traits.
2. New York Jets: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Jets need to get Aaron Glenn a true franchise quarterback to work with, and Mendoza appears to be running away with the title of QB1. With prototypical size, a rocket arm, and a sharp brain, Mendoza will likely enter 2025 as the OROY favorite.
3. Tennessee Titans: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Titans could easily go with a pass rusher here, but getting Cam Ward a new best friend should be the top priority for this team. With elite route-running and ball skills, Tennessee could build their passing game around Tyson.
4. Cleveland Browns: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson has been surging up draftboards after flexing an NFL-ready arm, tremendous intermediate accuracy, and some impressive pre-snap skills. Cleveland needs a quarterback with more upside than Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders
5. Miami Dolphins: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Miami is in desperate need of star power in multiple key areas, especially on the defensive line. If Woods is as dominant as he has become in college, and Kenneth Grant turns it around, the Dolphins may have the defensive tackle room locked in for the next half-decade.
6. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The best pure right tackle in this class, Mauigoa should be able to slide in alongside left tackle Andrew Thomas as the Giants go about building Jaxson Dart a wall up front. With Tyson gone, the Giants still need to prioritize protecting Dart.
7. Baltimore Ravens: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk is a perfect Ravens-type player, as he can play multiple spots on the defensive line while excelling in all of them. Baltimore's defense has been pitiful, but a player like Faulk could change the calculus instantly.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Geno Smith's sudden regression has thrown the Raiders into the quarterback market. While Moore needs some development, he has a wickedly strong arm and tremendous accuracy on intermediate throws and profiles as a strong starter.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fano may be the best offensive lineman in this class. The Arizona offense is having trouble taking that next step due to iffy wide receiver and offensive line talent, and Fano should change the starting lineup's complexion right away.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Downs is the safest player in the class, as there seems to be very few possible futures in which he turns out to be anything less than a high-end starter. A horrid Cincinnati defense needs someone like him anchoring that unit.
11. Washington Commanders: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Washington is now coming to the realization that their defense is not as far along as it seemingly believed it was. The pass rush has been the worst offender, and Parker's athletic gifts give him a high ceiling under Dan Quinn.
12. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Reese has been the best overall defensive player in college football this season, flexing his muscles as both a pass rusher and dynamite coverage linebacker. He would instantly be the best linebacker the Rams have had in a half-decade.
13. Minnesota Vikings: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
In a weak cornerback class, McCoy's injury won't be enough to dissuade a Minnesota team that is getting very thin in the secondary from taking someone who is a ferocious man-coverage DB with the ability to tackle in the open field.
14. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
No team needs offensive line help as badly as Houston, and Proctor's athletic ability could make him either a bookend tackle in tandem with Aireontae Ersery or as a guard right next to him. Proctor's size and movement skills are worth developing.
15. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Dallas' secondary is just putrid, meaning they might need to spend their top pick on the best available defensive back. Delane has been white hot of late, which could lead to him challenging McCoy for CB1.
16. Carolina Panthers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Carolina's defense remains an incredible work in progress, as their linebacker room is hurting outside of a developing Trevin Wallace. Styles is a reliable run-stuffer who is getting better in coverage with each game.
17. Chicago Bears: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love is, without question, the best running back in this class, and the Bears need someone who could eventually beat out D'Andre Swift for the starting job. Love's power, vision, and quickness are all exemplary.
18. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Lomu could protect Simpson, all while becoming the first in a long line of young offensive tackles who can fix a wretched frontline. Lomu has been one of the most dominant players in college football this season.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Steelers may look for a quarterback to replace Aaron Rodgers, but adding another giant target in Tate next to DK Metcalf would give whoever becomes the next signal-caller another high-end vertical target.
20. San Francisco 49ers: Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
The interior of San Francisco's offensive line has taken a massive step backward in quality this season. Ioane is looking more like a first-round pick every single week, especially with a lack of quality guards in this class.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
LA has neglected the interior of their defensive line for years now. Banks has been hurt this year, but a healthy Banks is someone who can be both a quality run-stuffer and worthwhile interior disruptor.
22. Kansas City Chiefs: A'Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
Chris Jones has been fighting for his life as the lone high-end interior rusher in the Kansas City stable. Washington's strength and ability to move mountains in run defense should get Andy Reid's head turned.
23. Los Angeles Rams: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Sellers is this year's "traits" prospect. With the wrong staff, Sellers could get people fired. With Sean McVay, his ballistic arm and impressive mobility could give the Rams even more quarterback stability after Matthew Stafford.
24. Detroit Lions: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell would represent yet another opportunity for Detroit to improve their secondary after Terrion Arnold has struggled. Just as versatile and disruptive as his older brother AJ, Avieon should shoot up the Lions' depth chart.
25. Buffalo Bills: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
The Bills' safety room is such a critical weakness that not even Josh Allen can fix this roster. Thieneman is a smart player who hits like a ton of bricks and should immediately impress Sean McDermott.
26. Seattle Seahawks: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Bailey is one of the best players in the draft when it comes to the simple art of rushing the passer. If he can add a few pounds, he could be the next great Mike Macdonald pass rusher that hits his stride.
27. Denver Broncos: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon was born to play for a coach like Sean Payton, as he is electric and crafty at the line of scrimmage. Bo Nix will love to get someone who can finally evolve into a WR2 next to top man Courtland Sutton.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bucs have tried to hold off their need to use a top pick on a pass rusher for a few years now, and Howell's recent surge to the top if the country's sack charts make him the ideal candidate to supplant Haason Reddick.
29. New England Patriots: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
The Patriots have remade their defense on the fly, but Mike Vrabel needs a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher with a ceaseless motor and deep toolbox of moves like Uiagalelei to perfect his ideal New England defensive line.
30. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Dallas Goedert does not have long left as a starting tight end for this team, and Sadiq has clawed out of the ranks of a very poor tight end class thanks to his unparalleled pass-catching over the middle.
31. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas
Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn are two of the worst starting linebackers in the league. Picking the hard-hitting, smart Hill and pairing him with fellow Longhorn DeMarvion Overshown injects new life into the moribund unit.
32. Indianapolis Colts: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
Overton can play in multiple defensive line spots, and Indianapolis will likely use him as such in Lou Anarumo's defense. Overton would have been a Top 50 pick last year if he declared, and the Colts will ensure his first-round status.
Round 2
33. New York Jets: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
34. Tennessee Titans: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
35. New Orleans Saints: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
36. Miami Dolphins: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
37. New York Giants: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
38. Cleveland Browns: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
39. Las Vegas Raiders: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
40. Arizona Cardinals: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
41. Baltimore Ravens: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
42. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
43. Cincinnati Bengals: Gennings Dunker, OT/IOL, Iowa
44. Minnesota Vikings: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
45. Houston Texans: Xavier Chaplin, OT, Auburn
46. Atlanta Falcons: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
47. Dallas Cowboys: Dominique Orange, DT, Iowa State
48. Carolina Panthers: AJ Harris, CB, Penn State
49. Jacksonville Jaguars: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
50. Chicago Bears: Kamari Ramsey, SAF, USC
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
52. Los Angeles Chargers: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
53. Kansas City Chiefs: Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan
54. San Francisco 49ers: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
55. Detroit Lions: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
56. Los Angeles Rams: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
57. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Slaughter, IOL, Florida
58. Buffalo Bills: Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
59. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
60. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
61. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
62. New England Patriots: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
63. Green Bay Packers: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
64. Indianapolis Colts: Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas