It’s mock draft time! Week 4 of the college football season got underway last night and with that, it’s time for a check-in on this draft class. Some players are living up to their summer hype, while others still have more to prove. And there are all sorts of new names to keep an eye on, guys who are fast risers or maybe were off the draft radar entirely coming into the year who deserve some love as potential first-round guys.

With this mock draft, we’re answering the question: what if the draft order was set today? For this exercise, we’re using Tankathon’s draft order projection through Week 2 of the NFL season. It leads to a wildly fun and wholly inaccurate draft picture, but that’s half the joy of doing mock drafts this time of year!

As always, mock drafts this far out are more about discussing prospects than crafting specific team fits, but I did spend some time trying to find good landing spots for the guys I wanted to get in the first round.

Let’s dive right in (draft order set prior to Thursday Night Football):

1 — Houston Texans: Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith isn’t human. As if his freshman and sophomore seasons weren’t enough, Smith has ascended to another level in 2026. He has 400 yards on just 21 receptions, averaging 19 yards per catch despite not seeing a lot of second-half action this season. Smith is averaging 5.0 yards per route run, just video game numbers. He’ll be the first non-quarterback taken in this draft, no doubt about it, and he’ll have massive expectations as a rookie.

2 — New York Jets (via IND): Miami QB Darian Mensah

Over the summer, I had Mensah as my No. 1 quarterback in the class, and nothing so far this season is shaking my belief in him. The numbers are just ludicrous: a 6.2-percent big-time throw rate, zero turnover-worthy plays, a staggering 92.2 adjusted completion percentage and an average time to throw of just 2.45 seconds while still averaging an 8.4-yard depth of target. Oh yeah, and he has more touchdowns (11) than incompletions (8). Those are Heisman Trophy-worthy, No. 1 overall pick type of numbers, and the tape backs it up. Mensah looks so smooth and poised on every snap, and he’s reading the field and processing the game the way an NFL quarterback should.

3 — Tennessee Titans: Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore

Receivers and quarterbacks like Smith and Mensah have gotten all the early-season headlines, but Moore is making a strong claim to the No. 1 overall pick himself. On the season, he has as many forced incompletions as receptions allowed and through three games, opposing teams have gained a total of 16 yards against him in coverage. About a third of his coverage snaps have come in press and he’s locking down whoever lines up across from him.

4 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: South Carolina ED Dylan Stewart

After missing the first two games of the season, Stewart played just 14 snaps in Week 3 as he ramps up in his return from injury. But he was unstoppable in those 14 snaps, creating immediate pressure on the quarterback and making his presence felt against the run. His combination of size and athleticism makes him an alluring prospect, and if the rest of his season looks anything like his brief debut, he’ll be a lock for the top five.

5 — Atlanta Falcons: Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker

Mestemaker’s rise is something out of a movie. Just two years ago, he took a redshirt year at North Texas after not starting a game at quarterback in high school. After a rough Big 12 debut against Tulsa, Mestemaker made a splash in an upset win against Oregon and looked dominant once again in Week 3. It’s not that he’s been perfect — his accuracy comes and goes and he can be a bit too aggressive, creating turnover problems. But he makes throws few others can and is growing up before our eyes. Given his youth, NFL coaches will be salivating at the chance to turn him into something special.

6 — Washington Commanders: Florida RB Jadan Baugh

Baugh is putting together the kind of campaign that gets a running back drafted in the top 10. In just three games, he has almost 500 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging an otherworldly 0.51 missed tackles forced per attempt. He averages over five yards after contact and has 11 explosive rushes already. At 6-1, 225 pounds, Baugh is nearly impossible to bring down, and he outruns safeties and cornerbacks down the sideline. There really isn’t anything he can’t do.

7 — Los Angeles Chargers: Clemson CB Ashton Hampton

A big, physical outside cornerback, Hampton went from a borderline first-round talent to a guy I have in my top 10 currently in just the last three weeks. Just look at how dominant he’s been: Hampton has a whopping 20 percent forced incompletion rate, two coverage stops and is allowing just 0.67 yards per coverage snap. The tape backs up the numbers, too. Hampton’s length and power are a problem for receivers at the catch point, and he moves so smoothly for an athlete his size.

8 — Miami Dolphins: Texas QB Arch Manning

So far, Manning’s played six halves of football in the 2026 season. Three of them were excellent; three of them left a lot to be desired. Against Texas State and in the second half against Ohio State, you saw Manning at his best: aggressive attacking tight windows, layering passes between defenders, and using his athleticism to create out of structure. Early against Ohio State and against UTSA, however, Manning’s flaws were magnified. He still struggles with bouts of inaccuracy and poor decision-making, but he’s shown enough so far to still be selected in the top 10 if he decides to declare.

9 — Baltimore Ravens: Texas ED Colin Simmons

Simmons is off to a bit of a slow start by his standards, but don’t let that fool you. He remains one of college football’s most dominant pass-rushing forces. It’s crazy to describe a 17-percent pass rush win rate as a “quiet” start, but that’s the kind of prospect Simmons is. His get-off is lightning quick and I’ve noticed how dynamically he marries his hands and feet when he rushes the passer, getting into a flow that makes him that much harder to stop.

10 — Cleveland Browns: Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss

It’s early, but Chambliss might be the Heisman frontrunner if the vote was held today. He’s been sensational, winning the grudge match with LSU HC Lane Kiffin on Saturday and making insane plays in crunch time seemingly every week. There isn’t a more clutch passer in the country — despite his shorter stature, Chambliss is playing his way into first-round consideration. He’s making big plays without putting the ball in harm’s way and adds value as a scrambler, too. Simply put: Chambliss is a baller.

11 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Notre Dame QB CJ Carr

This is shaping up to be a really good year to take a mid-first-round quarterback, something the Steelers have been hesitant to try again after the failed Kenny Pickett pick. But given how Pittsburgh has looked on offense through two games, they might not have a choice. Carr is putting on a show for the Fighting Irish right now, with a 7.7 big-time throw percentage and no turnover-worthy plays, pushing the ball downfield at a high clip while maintaining his efficiency. Though he’s a true pocket passer, Carr is proving to be a willing playmaker who can elevate an offense.

12 — New York Jets (via DAL): Indiana WR Charlie Becker

Becker just missed my summer top 50, but he’s risen all the way up to my WR2 since and is a real threat to go in the top 10. Becker has caught all 12 of his catchable targets this season — including all three contested opportunities — for 272 yards and six touchdowns. His size/speed combination is legitimately terrifying and he adds soft hands and good route-running chops.

13 — Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): Texas OT Trevor Goosby

Goosby continues his ascent as a wall on one side of the offensive line. His pass blocking efficiency this season is off the charts, as he’s let up just three total pressures on 119 pass blocking snaps. His length and core strength were always pluses, but he added some fluidity to his movements this offseason that make him a little smoother in his pass set. Given his lack of leverage as a taller tackle at 6-7, he’s more an average run blocker than a great one, but he can still pave lanes behind him when he gets his hands on someone.

14 — New Orleans Saints: Missouri OT Cayden Green

After flashing a lot last year in his first season at tackle after transitioning from guard just two weeks before kickoff, Green looks even more polished this year. A stalwart at left tackle, he’s allowed one pressure in two games, both against FBS competition, and his strength in the run game hasn’t gone anywhere. I’m comfortable projecting him in the top 15 at either tackle or guard, and since the Saints are set at tackle, he’d be playing guard in New Orleans.

15 — New York Giants: Ole Miss DT Will Echoles

To say that Echoles has taken a step this year would be an understatement. He is a force, maintaining his dominance against the run with five run stops and a ridiculous 25-percent positively-graded play clip. But the improvements he’s shown as a pass rusher are what make him a rising prospect. Echoles had seven pressures and a 20-percent pass rush win rate against LSU last weekend, showcasing quicker hands and a more coordinated attack plan.

16 — Chicago Bears: Louisville ED Clev Lubin

As an older prospect, Lubin is more physically developed than some of his competition, but he’s dominating in the way you want to see and showcasing a lot of projectable skills. With a 19.4 percent pass rush win rate and three run stops, Lubin makes his presence felt in both phases of the defense. His first step makes him look like he was shot out of a cannon, but it’s his power, especially in his lower half, that sets him apart. He can just drive through people to make plays.

17 — Denver Broncos: LSU TE Trey’Dez Green

So far this season, Green is a supercharged version of what he was a year ago. He hasn’t improved much as a blocker despite his willingness to stick his nose in there (a trait coaches will love), but his production as a receiving threat is insane. Green measures 6-7, 242 pounds, but he isn’t stiff or slow in his movements — in just three games, he’s forced eight missed tackles and averages 8.9 yards after the catch. If he keeps this level of production up, there’s a good chance he goes significantly higher than this.

18 — Arizona Cardinals: Oregon QB Dante Moore

Oregon’s been one of the bigger disappointments of the early college football season, but Moore isn’t the primary culprit in that. He had a bad first half against Oklahoma State, but other than that, he’s maintained his biggest selling points as a prospect — he’s accurate, takes care of the football and has a strong enough arm to attack downfield at a reasonable level. While I continue to question Moore’s ceiling as a prospect, his floor is undeniable, and he’s a safe first-round pick who can lead an NFL offense.

19 — Jacksonville Jaguars: Texas WR Cam Coleman

I don’t quite know what to do with Coleman. On the one hand, the things that made scouts fall in love with him over the summer are still visible on his Texas tape. He moves differently at his size, with true vertical speed at 6-3, 201 pounds. But the production just doesn’t match the tools, even in a better offense, and that has me a little worried. Still, with his gifts, even a B+ season gets him drafted at least this high.

20 — Detroit Lions: Georgia CB Ellis Robinson IV

Robinson isn’t compiling flashy stats to open the year, but he hasn’t lost any ground in this cornerback class. I still love his fluidity in space and ability to play sticky man coverage, a skill that will make him a coveted asset in the NFL. He already has two forced incompletions and two coverage stops on the season, and he can play press-man coverage or sit back in a softer zone and attack downhill.

21 — Carolina Panthers: Michigan ED Dom Nichols

Nichols isn’t a name I knew coming into the season, but it’s impossible to watch Michigan play this year and not notice him. A true junior, he measures 6-5, 245 pounds, and uses that long, lean frame to bend the edge in a flash. Through three games, Nichols has a 19.6-percent pass rush win rate, with 13 pressures and six sacks. He’s a quality run defender, too, with six run stops and three tackles for a loss.

22 — New York Jets: Miami DT Justin Scott

Scott is a young player still figuring things out week to week. He’s a bully against the run, with a 15-percent positively-graded play rate, and his pass rush potential is enticing. At times, he can get hung up on blocks, but as he continues to develop his counter set he’ll get even better.

23 — New England Patriots: Georgia S KJ Bolden

Safeties rarely get drafted as highly as they deserve, which is a shame. Because Bolden is one of the best prospects in the class regardless of position. He lines up as a true free safety, a slot corner, and down in the box with equal frequency, using his speed to make game-changing defensive plays week after week. Bolden has yet to allow a first down in coverage and also has three run stops on the season.

24 — Cleveland Browns (via LAR): Oregon TE Jamari Johnson

Johnson played in Oregon’s opener, a game in which he had four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, before missing the last two with an undisclosed injury. Still, he looked good in that one game, and he profiles as a guy who can play a true in-line blocker role while being a weapon in the passing game. Johnson forced a missed tackle in the opener and can create after the catch, as well. The Browns like Harold Fannin Jr., but Johnson would give them a more traditional in-line option at the position, and they should complement each other well.

25 — Cincinnati Bengals: LSU OT Jordan Seaton

Pass protectors as polished as Seaton don’t last past the first round. He’s certainly a project and isn’t a positive contributor in the run game yet, but you can’t teach guys to move the way Seaton does. From a size and length standpoint, he’s built like a prototypical NFL tackle, and he’s let up just three pressures through three games. Seaton has work to do, but teams will want to get him in the building because his upside is tremendous. For the Bengals, they could essentially “redshirt” Seaton behind Orlando Brown Jr. in 2027, as it makes a lot of sense for them to move off of Brown’s contract in 2028.

26 — Philadelphia Eagles: Iowa OT Trevor Lauck

Lauck is built more like a guard, but he had an excellent year at tackle in 2025 and at least so far, he’s doing it again in 2026. Through three games, he’s allowed just a single pressure, and the tape backs up what the stats say. Lauck’s power profile is impressive and he’s quick enough on the edge to potentially stay at tackle. Either way, the Eagles need to start thinking about succession plans at multiple positions on their offensive line, and Lauck fits their mold.

27 — Las Vegas Raiders: Rutgers WR KJ Duff

A massive 6-6, 225-pound receiver, Duff fits a draft archetype I don’t love. He isn’t particularly fast and he doesn’t create much separation, instead winning at the catch point through size and physicality. But his production this season is impossible to ignore. Duff already has 24 receptions for 619 yards and six touchdowns, catching seven of 14 contested targets and averaging over 15 yards per target. He’s efficient, too, with 3.49 yards per route run and a 35 percent threat rate.

28 — San Francisco 49ers: Miami DT Ahmad Moten Sr.

It’s been an up-and-down start to the season for Moten, as he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury that’s hampered his play somewhat. But at his best, he’s a powerful interior pass rusher. I’d like to see him make more of an impact against the run, but his ability to get off the ball in a flash and apply pressure to the pocket makes him an invaluable weapon.

29 — Minnesota Vikings: USC QB Jayden Maiava

Still one of my favorite prospects in this quarterback class, Maiava has real NFL size and is a maestro from the pocket. He throws with touch and anticipation, efficient and accurate without sacrificing his downfield playmaking ability. There are one or two throws every game that leave you scratching your head, and his turnover-worthy play rate is a bit high. But if you can look past that, Maiava has the makings of a first-round quarterback.

30 — Buffalo Bills: Oregon DT Bear Alexander

A’Mauri Washington got all the offseason hype, but it’s his teammate, Alexander, who’s standing out so far in 2026. A run-stuffing nose tackle, Alexander has six run stops and a positive grade on a whopping 30.5 percent of his run defense snaps. But he also adds upside as a pass rusher, with a 12.5-percent pass rush win rate through three games and seven total pressures. A former top recruit and draft darling, Alexander is working his way back into first-round consideration.

31 — Kansas City Chiefs: Virginia Tech TE Luke Reynolds

Don’t look now, but there’s a rising star in Blacksburg. Reynolds is putting together the kind of season that just can’t be ignored, and he has the perfect skill set for the modern NFL tight end. A true in-line weapon with the versatility to line up in the slot or out wide, Reynolds is an above-average blocker while having the best hands in this tight end class. He’s caught 75 percent of his contested targets, averages over five yards after the catch, and has a bonkers 35.1-percent threat rate. Right now, Reynolds is second in the ACC in receiving yards and is on pace for well over 1,000 on the season, a rare feat for a college tight end.

32 — Seattle Seahawks: Iowa G Kade Pieper

Over the summer, it was reported that Pieper was moving to center. However, at least so far, he’s remained at guard. And the Hawkeyes are benefiting big time. Pieper is a mauler and a people-mover in the run game, but it’s his polish as a pass protector that’s catching my eye. Like Lauck, he’s allowed just a single pressure on the season, and his quick hands help him win against the monsters he faces in the middle.