{"id":172310,"date":"2025-07-01T06:41:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/172310\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T06:41:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T06:41:15","slug":"2026-nfl-mock-draft-espn-reveals-way-too-early-first-round-projections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/172310\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Mock Draft: ESPN reveals way-too-early first round projections"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s mock draft season once again as ESPN\u2019s Matt Miller released his early<\/a> 2026 NFL Mock Draft. It\u2019s the summer time, so fans want to gear up for the actual season, but it\u2019s never too early to take a peak into next spring.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll start with some quarterback takes at the top of the draft. That\u2019s always fun isn\u2019t it? And it\u2019ll be a familiar team!<\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s dive into Miller\u2019s latest 2026 NFL Mock draft. We head to Ohio first.<\/p>\n

The Browns go with a quarterback, again, and this time they\u2019re sticking to it! Despite drafting Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in 2025, the mock draft projections have them landing a franchise QB.<\/p>\n

Klubnik had the best season of his career in 2024 and is slated for another great campaign this fall. At his progression rate, Klubnik might be the best signal caller in the class next spring.<\/p>\n

\"MiamiMiami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Mauigoa didn\u2019t allow a sack last season and is quickly rising up mock drafts as one of the best offensive linemen. The Giants drafted a potential franchise QB in Jaxson Dart this year and they\u2019ll need a franchise tackle in 2026.<\/p>\n

Mauigoa is at his best as a run blocker but his pass protection is quickly becoming a solid trait, judging by his performance last year. He\u2019d be hard to pass up.<\/p>\n

Parker is the premier edge rusher of the class and the Titans land him in this mock draft. He had 11 sacks last season and could be even better in 2025.<\/p>\n

If Tennessee is in this position, it\u2019s hard to say no to Parker if he\u2019s on the board. Yes, offensive needs might be greater, but Parker looks like a can\u2019t-miss prospect.<\/p>\n

Head coach Aaron Glenn is likely to go defense with a pick this high next season. Miller\u2019s mock draft has the Jets getting an elite linebacker next spring.<\/p>\n

Hill had 113 tackles last season to go along with eight sacks. Miller pointed out Hill could get the Micah Parsons treatment, as in, he\u2019ll go from a three-down linebacker to more of an edge rusher role.<\/p>\n

\"CalebOhio State safety Caleb Downs (\u00a9 Adam Cairns\/Columbus Dispatch \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Downs was so darn good during his freshman year at Alabama. He got even better last year at Ohio State after his transfer, helping the Buckeyes win the national title.<\/p>\n

Miller actually has Downs as his No. 1 overall player in his mock draft, but he\u2019ll go in the top five. He can pretty much play any role you want in the secondary at the next level.<\/p>\n

Woods is the second Clemson defensive lineman to go in the top 10 in this mock draft. Parker is the pass rusher but Woods will certainly plug it up in the middle and be a force.<\/p>\n

Carolina added defensive help in this past draft, but if they can get Woods to pair alongside Derrick Brown, look out! He had three sacks and 17 pressures in 2024.<\/p>\n

The Raiders went heavy on offense in 2025 with seven of 11 picks for that side of the ball. Now, Pete Carroll will have to revamp that defense for next year and Bain will help the pass rushing capabilities.<\/p>\n

Maxx Crosby can\u2019t do it by himself after all! Bain has 11 sacks over the last two years and has the size and tools to make an instant impact.<\/p>\n

\"Jordyn\u00a9 Scott Sewell-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Weapons, weapons and more weapons. Tyson looks like the top wide receiver in next year\u2019s class so he goes top 10 in this mock draft.<\/p>\n

Drake Maye could use a guy like Tyson this year, but he\u2019ll have to wait another season before getting a player of his caliber coming out of college. This seems like an easy pick.<\/p>\n

Proctor has been one of the better offensive linemen in college football and the Rams should lock down a franchise blind side protector. He likely won\u2019t get out of the top 10 in most mock drafts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This is one of two first round picks for LA in 2026 and with Proctor\u2019s size at 6-foot-7 and 370 pounds and physicality, he\u2019s a can\u2019t-miss lineman. As long as he\u2019s consistent, he\u2019ll be one of the better overall players, per Miller.<\/p>\n

Another offensive lineman in the top 10 and the Seahawks could use some bolstering up front. Miller\u2019s mock draft has Fano as the next man up.<\/p>\n

Compared to 2025, Seattle will go early with a tackle per Miller. Fano played both right and left tackle and has tremendous ability to move. He\u2019ll give the Seahawks versatility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026 NFL Mock Draft from ESPN\u2019s Matt Miller<\/p>\n

11. Indianapolis Colts: Garrett Nussmeier<\/a>, QB \u2013 LSU<\/a>
12. Cleveland Browns: Caleb Lomu<\/a>, OT \u2013 Utah<\/a>
13. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Auburn<\/a>
14. Arizona Cardinals: Antonio Williams<\/a>, WR \u2013 Clemson<\/a>
15. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy<\/a>, CB \u2013 Tennessee<\/a>
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: LaNorris Sellers<\/a>, QB \u2013 South Carolina<\/a>
17. Chicago Bears: Jeremiyah Love<\/a>, RB \u2013 Notre Dame<\/a>
18. Minnesota Vikings: Tim Keenen III<\/a>, DT \u2013 Alabama<\/a>
19. Green Bay Packers: LT Overton<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Alabama<\/a>
20. Denver Broncos: Eli Stowers<\/a>, TE \u2013 Vanderbilt<\/a>
21. Houston Texans: Austin Barber<\/a>, OT \u2013 Florida<\/a>
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Patrick Payton<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 LSU<\/a>
23. San Francisco 49ers: Isaiah World<\/a>, OT \u2013 Oregon<\/a>
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Avieon Terrell<\/a>, CB \u2013 Clemson<\/a>
25. Washington Commanders: AJ Harris<\/a>, CB \u2013 Penn State<\/a>
26. Los Angeles Chargers: CJ Allen<\/a>, LB \u2013 Georgia<\/a>
27. Los Angeles Rams: Drew Allar<\/a>, QB \u2013 Penn State<\/a>
28. Baltimore Ravens: D\u2019Angelo Ponds<\/a>, CB \u2013 Indiana<\/a>
29. Detroit Lions: Tyreak Sapp<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Florida<\/a>
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Dillon Thieneman<\/a>, S \u2013 Oregon<\/a>
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Boston<\/a>, WR \u2013 Washington<\/a>
32. Buffalo Bills: Jake Slaughter<\/a>, C \u2013 Florida<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s mock draft season once again as ESPN\u2019s Matt Miller released his early 2026 NFL Mock Draft. It\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172311,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9382,5780,11867,18114,9383,5978,5782,5783,9385,30725,20644,5791,5792,9388,7,5795,5796,9389,18116,9391,5798,20645,5799,5800,5801,5802,6,38103,5806,5808,5809,5810,38104,18117],"class_list":{"0":"post-172310","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl","8":"tag-a-j-harris-23-central","9":"tag-anthony-hill-23-ryan","10":"tag-antonio-williams-22-dutch-fork","11":"tag-austin-barber-21-trinity-christian-academy","12":"tag-avieon-terrell-23-westlake","13":"tag-cade-klubnik-22-westlake","14":"tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","15":"tag-caleb-lomu-23-highland","16":"tag-cj-allen-23-lamar-county-comprehensive","17":"tag-dangelo-ponds-23-chaminade-madonna-prep","18":"tag-denzel-boston-22-emerald-ridge","19":"tag-dillon-thieneman-23-westfield","20":"tag-drew-allar-22-medina","21":"tag-eli-stowers-21-guyer","22":"tag-football","23":"tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","24":"tag-garrett-nussmeier-21-marcus","25":"tag-isaiah-world-21-lincoln","26":"tag-jake-slaughter-21-trinity-catholic","27":"tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","28":"tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","29":"tag-jordyn-tyson-22-independence","30":"tag-kadyn-proctor-23-southeast-polk","31":"tag-keldric-faulk-23-highland-home","32":"tag-lanorris-sellers-23-south-florence","33":"tag-lt-overton-22-milton","34":"tag-nfl","35":"tag-patrick-payton-21-northwestern","36":"tag-peter-woods-23-thompson","37":"tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","38":"tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","39":"tag-t-j-parker-23-central","40":"tag-tim-keenan-21-ramsay","41":"tag-tyreak-sapp-21-st-thomas-aquinas"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172310"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172310\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}