With the NFL season kicking off and college football in full swing, it’s time for an updated mock draft! As always, this far out, mock drafts focus less on specific prospect-to-team fits, though I did try and consider that somewhat.

In this exercise, I did not select Texas QB Arch Manning. His family continues to insist he won’t declare for the 2026 NFL draft. While it’s important to do our due diligence — and he will continue to be ranked on my big boards until he officially withdraws — it’s easier to project Manning declaring anyway when he was supposed to have an elite season. He had a rough Week 1, and while it was just one game, for today I wanted to explore a draft scenario where he returns to college.

For a more in-depth look at all of these players, check out my updated top 50 2026 Big Board that dropped on Tuesday, as I have a mini scouting report and statistical breakdown for each player who appears in this mock draft (plus 18 more!)

Draft order is per Tankathon’s projections prior to Week 1 of the NFL season.

1 — New Orleans Saints: Miami ED Rueben Bain Jr.

Talk about making a statement. Bain was a wrecking ball against Notre Dame — no matter where he lined up, he was unblockable. He took over in the fourth quarter and looked every bit like a top-flight NFL pass rusher. The No. 1 player on my big board, Bain may be working his way there on the consensus board sooner rather than later.

2 — Cleveland Browns: Penn State QB Drew Allar

In the absence of Manning, I think Allar is the clear top quarterback in this class. He played a clean game in Week 1 against a terribly outmatched Nevada team, so we won’t get to see how he’s improved since last year just yet.

3 — New York Jets: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

I’m a little lower on Nussmeier than this, but I think the NFL is going to love him. He had an absurd 2.09-second time to throw in the game against Clemson on Saturday. Teams will love his ability to make quick, accurate reads and get the ball out on schedule. In many ways, he’s built to attack the current NFL trend of two-high defensive looks.

4 — Tennessee Titans: Clemson DT Peter Woods

Why not pair DT Jeffery Simmons with another interior force in Woods? The Clemson defensive stalwart can hold his own against double teams in the run game and absolutely pummel individual blockers one-on-one. He had some great pass rushing reps on display against LSU.

5 — New York Giants: Utah OT Spencer Fano

The Giants have been searching for a right tackle to pair with Andrew Thomas on the left side for years. Fano is easily the top tackle in this class, and he already plays on the right side for the Utes. He has freakish agility in his pass sets and the open field, and he’s a mauler when he gets his hands on somebody.

6 — Indianapolis Colts: South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers

It’s a little bit of deja vu for the Colts, but if they’re picking this high, they’ll need to take a swing on another quarterback. Sellers is undoubtedly the best one left, and while he needs to stop holding onto the ball so long, he makes plays no one else can.

7 — Carolina Panthers: Clemson ED T.J. Parker

The Panthers desperately need an infusion of talent on defense, and Parker is the best pass rusher after Bain in this class. He’s technically refined and savvy beyond his years, winning consistently through a blend of strength, finesse and a deep bag of pass rush moves.

8 — Las Vegas Raiders: Texas CB Malik Muhammad

Muhammad held up pretty well against Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith last Saturday, and he’ll have plenty more chances to prove he’s a lockdown guy. His range and short-area movement skills give him an incredibly high ceiling.

9 — Miami Dolphins: Ohio State S Caleb Downs

Downs is going to go somewhere in this range and give his team a perennial All-Pro at incredible value. It’s a slam-dunk, no-brainer pick for whoever selects him, and the Dolphins need help in their secondary badly. He’d make for a great pairing with recently-acquired S Minkah Fitzpatrick.

10 — Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson

Now that the Browns have their quarterback, let’s get them a true No. 1 receiver. Tyson had a great game in Arizona State’s opener, looking fully recovered from the collarbone injury that ended his 2024 campaign prematurely. He can win on the outside and over the middle, creating separation at all levels of the field.

11 — New England Patriots: Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

The Patriots still need a right tackle and Mauigoa is sitting right here. He’s a force in the run game, generating explosive power off the line of scrimmage to move people. I like the way he moves his feet in pass protection, and he’d pair excellently with New England LT Will Campbell.

12 — Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Oklahoma QB John Mateer

Yes, it came against FCS competition, but Mateer passed his first test with the Sooners with flying colors. He has a cannon for an arm and no fear when throwing, but pairs this gunslinger mentality with precision accuracy. A big game awaits him on Saturday against Michigan, with a chance to stamp his name as a true top-10 level player in this class.

13 — Dallas Cowboys: Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love

Another year, another running back in the first round for the Cowboys. Love is a dynamic weapon out of the backfield — he can change the game in an instant when he gets into space, can create tough yards between the tackles, and even split out wide to run routes against defensive backs.

14 — Seattle Seahawks: Tennessee ED Joshua Josephs

A whirling dervish off the edge, Josephs is an incredibly speedy, bendy pass rusher. But he’s also a stout run defender, something a little unusual for this profile. He’d provide some juice and youth off the edge Seattle is currently lacking.

15 — Arizona Cardinals: Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

Tennessee is expecting McCoy back at some point later this month, which would be huge news. Not just for the team, but for his draft stock as well. McCoy’s tape last season was that of a top-10 player, but the uncertainty surrounding the timeline of his return from a January torn ACL cast some doubt on that. If he can get back up to speed by the end of the season, it’d be big.

16 — Pittsburgh Steelers: Duke QB Darian Mensah

Mensah is “my guy” in this quarterback class. He might’ve had the best Week 1 of any draft-eligible quarterback, though it did come against FCS competition. His ability to stand tall in the pocket and pick apart defenses is eye-catching, and he’s one of the best out-of-structure playmakers in this class.

17 — Chicago Bears: Utah OT Caleb Lomu

The Bears need a left tackle, as they clearly aren’t happy with their current situation. Lomu plays opposite Fano and is more of a pure pass protector. He’s still working on his technique in run blocking, but as a pass protector, he’s so smooth.

18 — Minnesota Vikings: Penn State CB A.J. Harris

If you want a guy to play press-man coverage all game and lock up his guy, Harris is your pick. He’d be a great fit in Minnesota DC Brian Flores’ defense, and they need some help in the secondary.

19 — Houston Texans: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

While he struggled against Florida State in Week 1, Proctor’s ceiling is very high. Few human beings are as big and mobile as he is. There’s some chatter that he’d be a better fit at guard, but either way, Houston can use him.

20 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Auburn ED Keldric Faulk

Faulk showcased his stout run defense in Week 1, flashing his upside as a pass rusher late. He can line up at multiple positions along the line and make plays from all of them, using his length to control the line of scrimmage.

21 — Los Angeles Chargers: Texas Tech ED David Bailey

Bailey was one of my favorite summer watches, and he showed out in his first game with the Red Raiders. His first step around the edge is absolutely elite. He’s put on some muscle which makes him that much more dangerous.

22 — Denver Broncos: USC WR Makai Lemon

The Broncos could use a receiver like Lemon, who had a nice season debut last Saturday. He’s shifty in his routes and great with the ball in his hands, plus he plays with great strength and focus at the catch point.

23 — Los Angeles Rams: Clemson CB Avieon Terrell

We saw Terrell’s strengths and weaknesses on full display against LSU. He got boxed out at the catch point on a touchdown grab, but otherwise he was flying all over the field making plays. Sticky in coverage and with a nose for the football in run support, he’s a playmaker on the back end.

24 — Washington Commanders: LSU CB Mansoor Delane

There might not be a single player whose stock rose more over the weekend than Delane. He was sensational against Clemson, almost single-handedly shutting down their passing attack in the second half. His range and fluidity in coverage is beautiful to watch, and he plays with great awareness in zone drops.

25 — Cincinnati Bengals: Iowa State DT Domonique Orange

The Bengals need some beef on the interior of their offensive line, and Orange brings it in spades. “Big Citrus” is an elite run-stuffer with an underrated ability to knife into the backfield in his pass rushing snaps.

26 — Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): Florida DT Caleb Banks

A pass rushing specialist at the 3-tech, Banks could take a jump up boards with a big year. He continues to impress in flashes, but needs to be more consistently disruptive to be a first round pick.

27 — San Francisco 49ers: Oregon S Dillon Thieneman

Thieneman is the kind of playmaking safety the 49ers love. He’s got the best range in the class and can shut off both sidelines from a single-high alignment. His ball production is good, too.

28 — Kansas City Chiefs: Ohio State TE Max Klare

How much longer will Travis Kelce play? At some point, the Chiefs will need to replace him, and Klare replicates his skillset the closest in this class. He’s a great route runner with soft hands and a willingness to mix it up in the run game.

29 — Detroit Lions: Auburn C Connor Lew

With the offseason retirement of Frank Ragnow, the Lions need a long-term replacement at center. Enter Lew, an incredibly athletic center with refined pass protection skills. In the run game, he moves people, and he’s as polished a prospect as you’ll find.

30 — Buffalo Bills: Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Hill thrives in run support, flying around the field and laying the boom on any poor ball-carriers in his way. Coverage is more a work in progress, but I liked what I saw from him against Ohio State in that regard. He has a chance to solidify himself as the top linebacker in this class.

31 — Baltimore Ravens: Clemson WR Antonio Williams

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see much of Williams against LSU, as he left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. But I loved Williams’ tape last season. He plays with great hands and accelerates quickly after the catch, maximizing his production on every touch.

32 — Philadelphia Eagles: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq

The Eagles contemplated moving on from Dallas Goedert this offseason, so let’s give them his heir apparent. Sadiq only had one catch in Oregon’s opener, but it was a freakishly athletic play where he caught a short out route, broke a tackle, and outran the defense down the sideline for a touchdown. Plus, he showed improved technique as a blocker.