When it comes to the 2026 NFL Draft class, this is not looking like the year of the quarterback.
Consider the three-round mock draft I assembled below, which includes five QBs -- but just two first-rounders, and none in Round 2. By contrast, seven offensive linemen and six wideouts are snagged in Round 1 by teams hoping to push their offenses to the next level. All told, edge rushers, offensive linemen and wide receivers dominate early, comprising nearly half of the 100 selections.
I also project four draft-day trades in the first round and four compensatory picks at the end of the third round. The first three are projected to go to the Vikings, Eagles and Steelers for losing free agents, per Over the Cap. The fourth goes to the Lions because their defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, was hired as a minority head coach by the Jets last year -- that pick was traded to the Jaguars last April.
PROGRAMMING NOTE:
- NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 26.
Mendoza would be the third quarterback (following Cam Newton and Joe Burrow) to win the Heisman Trophy and college football national championship and then hear his name called as the NFL draft's No. 1 overall pick within a 12-month span. I give Mendoza above-average grades on his physical attributes, but his intelligence and mental toughness are what make him the top prospect at his position.
Given a chance to start in his junior year, Reese exploded on the scene, becoming a disruptive force with his length and closing speed, racking up 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Should veteran Quincy Williams head elsewhere in for free agency, Reese can step in.
Mauigoa joins Paris Johnson Jr. to give the Cardinals two tackles who were drafted within the first six overall picks. Having a strong pair of outside blockers increases the likelihood that whoever is quarterbacking this team -- whether it's Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett or someone else -- will have success.
The Titans could overhaul their edge-rusher group, if free agents Arden Key and Jihad Ward follow Dre'Mont Jones (who was traded to Baltimore) out the door. Bailey would immediately bolster their pass rush with his excellent combination of strength, speed and bend.
New head coach John Harbaugh played defensive back at Miami of Ohio and coached the position for one season with the Eagles -- and the Ravens selected DBs Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks and Nate Wiggins in the first round during his time with the team. Safety Caleb Downs, who functions like a quarterback in the secondary, is surely tempting, but in this scenario, Harbaugh chooses Delane, an elite coverage corner.
With his toughness and versatility as a pass-catcher, Lemon reminds me of Malik Nabers coming out of LSU -- and Nabers went sixth overall to the Giants in 2024. For any of the QBs on Cleveland's roster (Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Deshaun Watson) to make progress in 2026, Cleveland's receiver corps requires a boost after just one wideout topped 338 receiving yards (Jerry Jeudy had 602 on 50 catches in 2025).
The Commanders take the best player on the board to be a long-term pillar of their defense. Downs can lead the squad from the back end and insert himself into plays around the box, thanks to his elite instincts.
Alvin Kamara will turn 31 this summer, and former third-round pick Kendre Miller has struggled to stay on the field (21 games in three seasons). Love is a true dual threat (2,497 rushing yards, 55 catches and 40 total TDs over the past two seasons) out of the backfield; Saints fans will, yes, love seeing the Golden Domer in black and gold.
Proctor is a younger, more nimble version of former Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown, who helped the team win Super Bowl LVII. If the 6-foot-7, 366-pounder shows excellent athleticism for his size at the NFL Scouting Combine -- and Kansas City moves on from penalty-prone veteran Jawaan Taylor -- this pick makes a ton of sense.
McCoy missed all of last season with an ACL tear. If his medical exams are clean, he would meet the Bengals' need for a physical outside corner.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH MIAMI DOLPHINS
GM Dan Morgan has said he plans to add "one or two" more pass rushers this offseason to upgrade the Panthers' pressure unit. So even though Carolina invested second- and third-round picks in edge defenders last April, Morgan sends a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 second-rounder to the Fins to move up eight spots for a fellow Miami product. Bain's average length could push him out of the top 10, but he'll be a special player who can get after quarterbacks and hold up against the run.
Picking at the same slot where they drafted Micah Parsons five years ago, the Cowboys fill the void left by Parsons' trade to Green Bay with Styles. Like Parsons when he was coming out of Penn State, Styles profiles as a very good second-level defender who is quite capable of chasing quarterbacks when given the chance.
With starting right tackle Rob Havenstein coming off a second consecutive injury-plagued season and due to hit free agency in March, the Rams bring in Fano to compete with Warren McClendon (who will be entering a contract year) for the starting right tackle job.
It seems like Baltimore always finds value in the middle or later parts of Round 1. In this case, the Ravens scoop up Tate, whose profile is appealing enough that he could go in the top 10; with his strong hands and crisp route-running, he seriously boosts the potency of Lamar Jackson's arsenal.
Adding Hunter and his massive frame (6-3, 320 pounds) to the mix with Vita Vea gives the Bucs a powerful front. Plus, Hunter could become a long-term replacement for Vea, who is 31 years old and has one more season (2026) remaining on his contract.
Like the Giants when they took Abdul Carter (third overall) and Jaxson Dart (25th) last year, the Jets follow their early selection of an impact defender (Arvell Reese) with a potential starting quarterback later in Round 1. Simpson might not be a top-10 pick, but the son of a longtime college head coach clearly knows the game and possesses the arm strength, pocket poise and mobility to excel.
Though 2025 second-rounder Tate Ratledge stepped up in the absences of veterans Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler, the Lions could still stand to add to the line. Ioane's power should keep Jared Goff happy and open holes for the Lions' ground game.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS
After a brief pause in 2024, Howie Roseman got back to trading first-round picks last year. He sticks to that habit by sending a late third- and fourth-round pick to the Vikings so he can snag another big-play machine for an Eagles offense that disappointed in 2025. Tyson dealt with multiple injuries at the college level but could prove to be a steal here, thanks to his ability to win downfield.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH CAROLINA PANTHERS
Miami's offense looked considerably more efficient when veteran tight end Darren Waller was healthy early in the year. Sadiq does not possess great size (6-3, 245) but is ultra-athletic and has the potential to be a difference-maker -- which should only help the potential Tua Tagovailoa replacement I have the Dolphins taking later on.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS (VIA PACKERS)
With former receiver Stefon Diggs being the last Bills player top 1,000 receiving yards in a season (2023), they are still searching for a No. 1 option for Josh Allen. So they trade their third- and fourth-round selections to Dallas in exchange for this pick and a sixth-rounder in order to draft the talented Boston, who has great size (6-4, 210 pounds) and sticky hands.
Pittsburgh typically waits until Day 2 to find receivers, but Concepcion's playmaking ability after the catch is quite tempting. If Aaron Rodgers returns to reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy, the veteran QB will likely want a reliable companion receiver to DK Metcalf.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Texans send two fourth-round picks to the Chargers, who currently have just two Day 3 selections, in order to solidify their right tackle spot. Miller's steadiness on the edge makes him the best senior tackle in this draft class.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Terrell (5-11, 180 pounds) is not the largest cornerback, but his aggressive nature and ball skills might remind Vikings fans of former undersized defensive back Antoine Winfield.
Injuries have hampered Cleveland's offensive line the past few seasons, and free agent Jack Conklin might have played his last snap for the Browns. In this scenario, Lomu steps into the left tackle spot as a rookie, with the Browns hoping veteran Dawand Jones, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in September and has yet to play more than 11 games in any given year, can man the right side.
The Bears are looking for a defensive tackle to control the line of scrimmage, so they are thrilled to see McDonald available here.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH BUFFALO BILLS
The Cowboys do not currently own a Day 2 selection because of trades for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and receiver George Pickens, so they move the first-rounder they landed from Green Bay in exchange for Parsons (along with a sixth-round choice) to get a third- and fourth-rounder from Buffalo, coming down to this spot in the process. After coaching Toledo product Quinyon Mitchell while in Philadelphia, new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker should welcome the chance to work with this excellent Rockets safety.
After taking Mykel Williams last April, the 49ers go with a Round 1 edge rusher for a second straight year -- because Faulk's value is too strong to ignore. His length and size on the outside will come in handy, especially with depth pieces like Clelin Ferrell and Yetur Gross-Matos headed for free agency while Williams and Nick Bosa will be coming back from torn ACLs.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH HOUSTON TEXANS
After the Bolts’ season was sunk in part by injuries on the offensive line, Jim Harbaugh should be plenty interested in adding a tough-minded offensive lineman like Bisontis, especially if free agents Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer are not retained.
Cornerback was a trouble spot for the Rams for much of the season, so Hood's availability late in the first round is a welcome sight for GM Les Snead.
Bernard's consistency and ability to make plays at all levels of the field make him a great fit for the Broncos. He has experience in the slot and outside, giving him the versatility to fill in where Denver needs him most.
Miller adds much-needed depth to a defensive line that was steamrolled by Kenneth Walker III in Super Bowl LX -- and he could earn himself a starting role in 2027.
Josephs' length and tenacity on the edge should allow him to be a factor as a rookie, especially if either Boye Mafe (headed for free agency) or Uchenna Nwosu (currently set to count for $20 million against the cap in 2026) end up elsewhere this offseason.
