Alabama QB Ty Simpson and Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza are starting to take over the quarterback race and, at this point, appear likely to be the first couple of quarterbacks off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. Not only is the quarterback hierarchy starting to show itself, but other positions like edge rusher, receiver, and OL are also standing out. The 2026 NFL Draft is starting to show that it is actually loaded with talent at key positions. 

Check out my latest 2026 NFL mock draft to see where I have these talented players headed.

2026 NFL Mock Draft

1. Tennessee Titans

Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

The Tennessee Titans find themselves back atop the NFL Draft. Last year, their focus was on seeing their future franchise quarterback, and they appear to have done that by drafting Cam Ward. Although Ward seems to be a talented player, the Titans are still picking No. 1 overall because they have plenty of other holes to fill. So in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the No. 1 overall pick, they go with Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese. Reese has drawn many comparisons to players like Micah Parsons and has a clear path to being an immediate-impact player for the Titans.

2. New York Giants

For the New York Giants, this offseason should be all about surrounding Jaxson Dart with the support he needs to mature properly as a quarterback in the NFL. We know that Malik Nabers is an All-Pro-caliber receiver when healthy, but I don’t believe the Giants can bank on him being fully healthy next year. So the smart thing to do in this spot is draft another receiver, and when Nabers is completely healthy, Dart now has two explosive, dynamic, versatile weapons to throw the football to.

3. Cleveland Browns

The old saying is that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. Well, the Cleveland Browns had five on their roster at one point, which made for a very complicated situation. As of now, Dillon Gabriel is the starter and Shedeur Sanders is waiting in the wings to get an opportunity to start. It’s clear the Browns don’t have 100 percent faith in either quarterback, and if that’s the case, they should draft a quarterback they feel can be the franchise guy. With this pick, the Browns draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza should come in right away as the new face of the franchise and be the signal of a new, intentional direction in Cleveland.

4. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints front office, picking in the top five, will be enticed to select a quarterback in this spot. But with them having spent a second-round pick on Tyler Shough, it appears they don’t have enough data points yet to know if he’s the guy or not. So instead of quarterback, they choose to address the edge rusher position—a position that has haunted them in the draft, as they’ve selected players there but missed time and time again. Rueben Bain Jr. appears to be the type of player who can step in and give the Saints what they’ve been wanting: a young, talented edge rusher to fill the role of future Hall of Famer Cam Jordan.

5. New York Jets

The New York Jets were sellers at the trade deadline, which shows that they are on the brink of dismantling the entire structure—from the front office to the coaches to the quarterback position—and starting in a brand-new direction. And when most franchises are starting over, they begin with the most important position on the field, which is the quarterback. Here, the Jets select Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson. The last time the New York Jets won a Super Bowl, they had an Alabama quarterback playing for them.

6. Las Vegas Raiders

The reunion of Geno Smith and Pete Carroll has not been good, and a large part of that has been Smith’s turnovers. The Raiders have to draft a young quarterback heading into next season so they can have an opportunity to properly pass the torch if Smith has a repeat of last season.

7. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have been one of the most disappointing teams this season, and this season has highlighted the holes in their roster. One of those holes is the receiver position. If the Commanders want to maximize Jayden Daniels and give themselves the best chance to actually win championships, they need to invest. So with this pick, the Commanders turn to Ohio State—a familiar school for the team since they drafted Terry McLaurin from there—and take Carnell Tate. This should be the start of surrounding Daniels with a formidable set of weapons.

8. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)

The Los Angeles Rams have hit on their draft picks, especially in the trenches, with players like Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Jared Verse. But as the old saying goes, don’t let good be the enemy of great. That means the Rams should swing for the fences and add yet another talented edge rusher to this group who has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL. Cashius Howell is a physically dominant player with the potential to be a double-digit sack player year in and year out.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason goals should be to protect Joe Burrow at all costs. That starts with the draft and selecting an OT in the first round. Spencer Fano is a plug-and-play starter and should help boost this Bengals offensive line.

10. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals appear to be on the brink of moving on from Kyler Murray. And while their replacement isn’t clear yet, it is evident that they need to improve this offensive line. Francis Mauigoa is a versatile offensive lineman who can play both OT and OG, allowing the Cardinals to reshuffle their OL.

11. Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins moved on from GM Chris Grier, and it appears that this roster is headed in a different direction. One thing this roster has consistently needed over the past few years is a complete overhaul of the trenches on both offense and defense. To begin that process, the Dolphins draft IDL Peter Woods and pair him with Kenneth Grant. This combination of Woods and Grant should solidify the Dolphins in the trenches moving forward.

12. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have one of the better offenses in the NFL, and Javonte Williams has been very effective. But the Cowboys need to find a back who they believe will ultimately take over their backfield long-term. Jeremiyah Love has proven during his time at Notre Dame that he is capable of doing that and can be an electric playmaker from the running back position.

13. Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings’ defense has been one of the better units under Brian Flores’ watch. But they need to improve the individual talent on this defense so Flores can continue to lean into his exotic defensive looks and pressures. Enter Caleb Downs, a versatile three-level safety who fits perfectly into what Flores wants.

14. Baltimore Ravens

Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

This Baltimore Ravens defense, for the second year in a row, has struggled. Part of the issue is that they need to add more overall talent to the defense, and Sonny Styles could be a very useful piece. Styles is a former safety who converted to the LB position at Ohio State and has upside as a pass rusher. He’s a true three-level defender who could be a key chess piece for this Baltimore defense.

15. Kansas City Chiefs

If Kenyon Sadiq falls this far in the draft, I think the Kansas City Chiefs make this selection without hesitation. Travis Kelce appears to be at the very end of his career, and Patrick Mahomes needs another tight end he can rely on to work the middle of the field and make big plays when needed. Sadiq has the athletic profile and talent to do just that, giving the Chiefs a top-tier tight end for the next decade.

16. Houston Texans

The Houston Texans may have been the most disappointing team in the AFC. Their defense ranks atop the NFL in many categories, but their offense has struggled, making this the second year in a row that C.J. Stroud has looked like a shell of himself compared to his promising rookie season. Part of the issue has been the offensive line play. In this spot, the Texans attempt to turn this unit around by drafting Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor.

17. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have spent resources on their offense over the past few drafts to improve their receiver corps and those investments appear to be paying off, as Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense have looked the best since they drafted him. So in this draft, they turn their attention to the defensive side of the football and select LSU CB Mansoor Delane.

18. San Francisco 49ers

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The San Francisco 49ers have been decimated by injuries, but their culture has shown through with the next-man-up mentality offensively. Defensively, they’ve played well, but there are still spots on this roster that need upgrades, and one of those spots is the corner position. Avieon Terrell is a versatile defensive back who can play on the outside and in the nickel at a high level, and he should be a welcome addition to the 49ers.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just gave up more than 40 points to the Bills on Sunday. Part of that was due to the play of Josh Allen, and part of it is due to the Buccaneers needing to improve their defense. The Buccaneers are getting older at certain positions, such as linebacker, and need to inject youth into these groups. CJ Allen is a fast and physical linebacker who should learn a lot from Pro Bowler Lavonte David and give the Buccaneers a highly talented linebacker for the next decade.

20. Cleveland Browns (via JAX)

With their first pick in the first round, they drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza to lead their franchise forward at the quarterback position. And with this pick, the Browns decide to draft some protection for Fernando Mendoza in OT Caleb Lomu. Lomu has plug-and-play ability and should help an offensive unit that needs to protect its young quarterback.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

Because the Pittsburgh Steelers signed up for the one-year agreement with Aaron Rodgers, they will enter the offseason with a vacancy at the quarterback position. This puts them in a position to have to draft a quarterback. In this spot, the Steelers decide to draft Duke signal-caller Darian Mensah, a highly skilled thrower of the football who could be the future for Pittsburgh at the position.

22. Los Angeles Chargers

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off an upset blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where the defense showed some of the holes they have. With this pick, they opt to address some of those weaknesses and draft CB Jermod McCoy, a versatile defensive back with good overall ball skills to help make plays on the back end of this defense.

23. Dallas Cowboys (via GB)

With their first pick in the first round, the Cowboys drafted running back Jeremiyah Love. With this pick, the Cowboys double down on offensive help and select Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields. Fields is a big-bodied receiver with a great catch radius. This gives the Cowboys the flexibility to move on from George Pickens and replace him with a younger, less expensive option.

24. Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions attempted to improve their defense by drafting defensive backs a few years ago, and the return on that investment is still unknown. But the Lions’ success defensively still appears to be dependent on Aidan Hutchinson’s ability to impact the game. At some point, the Lions have to give Aidan help at the edge rusher position, and in this mock draft, they do exactly that. Matayo Uiagalelei could be a great complementary piece to Hutchinson and give the Lions a strong one-two punch.

25. Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears appear to be ahead of schedule and sit at the top of the NFC North. This offense is rounding out well, and the pieces are starting to find their roles. The defense is what needs some help. So in this spot, they decide to boost the trenches and draft hybrid edge rusher LT Overton. Overton can also move inside and win by beating interior offensive linemen to get to the quarterback.

26. Buffalo Bills

Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

The Buffalo Bills had an offensive explosion on Sunday, as Josh Allen showed why he may be the best quarterback in the NFL. He did all of this without Keon Coleman in the game. Allen and Coleman, for whatever reason, have not found a consistent rhythm yet in their careers, and it may be time to add another young piece to this receiver room. With this pick, the Bills select Louisville receiver Chris Bell.

27. Seattle Seahawks

Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

The Seattle Seahawks appear to have a good foundation offensively, but there are minor tweaks that could help. One of those tweaks is continuing to add talent to this offensive line unit. Drafting an OL here allows them to reshuffle the deck and put their best starting five out there next season.

28. New York Jets (via IND)

Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

The New York Jets offloaded Pro Bowl IDL Quinnen Williams right before the trade deadline, which leaves a hole upfront in the trenches. Zion Young is primarily an edge rusher, but he can also kick inside and rush the passer from the interior. Young should be a welcome addition, giving the Jets some youth and talent along the trenches as they begin to reset their roster and chart a new direction.

29. Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

If the Philadelphia Eagles are taking a WR in the first round, it means that they have, or are planning to, offload AJ Brown in the offseason. In my opinion, that’s something that needs to happen. With this pick, the Eagles draft the big-bodied speedster from Tennessee, Chris Brazzell II. Brazzell is a big play waiting to happen and will give the Eagles the ability to take calculated shots with a high chance of completing the pass.

30. New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have probably been the biggest surprise of the NFL season and sit atop the AFC. This offense appears to be headed in the right direction under Drake Maye. So with that being the case, Mike Vrabel opts to draft edge rusher Keldric Faulk to add more firepower in the defensive trenches, giving the team a way to maintain leads by applying pressure to the quarterback.

31. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are a good football team and have a chance to win the Super Bowl this year because of Matthew Stafford and the offensive weapons they have. The area of this offense that has needed improvement for a few years is the offensive line. Oregon OT Isaiah World could be immediately inserted into the lineup and make an impact in the trenches for the Rams.

32. Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos’ offense has sputtered this season and lacked consistency in Bo Nix’s second year, which is a reflection of the need to add more talent to the receiver room. So with this pick, I believe the Broncos draft USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane. Lane is a big-bodied receiver who thrives in contested catch situations and gives Nix another reliable target to throw the football to.

What did you think of the latest version of Keith Sanchez’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft? Let us know what you think on Twitter and Instagram. Stay tuned next week for the next edition of TDN’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft series.