The NFL is about to reach its midway point, and while parity is ruling at large, some teams and fans are already eyeing how they can improve at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh next spring.
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In this mock draft, Charles McDonald makes the odd-numbered picks, and Nate Tice makes the even. Draft order via Tankathon.
1. New Orleans Saints — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
This one writes itself. The Saints just benched Spencer Rattler in favor of second-round rookie Tyler Shough for the remainder of the season. Rattler was playing well enough, but wasn’t showing the level of improvement the Saints apparently want to see, putting them back in the quarterback market. Considering Shough wasn’t good enough to immediately beat out Rattler, the team is likely going to be looking for a starting QB here with the first pick.
Mendoza from Indiana has established him as the top quarterback so far with a fantastic blend of arm strength, accuracy and ability to operate an offense at a high level. — Charles McDonald
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2. New York Jets — LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
Sellers has top-of-the-chart traits, is a master of improvisation, and is the only thing that consistently works in South Carolina’s offense. His decision-making and consistency from the pocket has improved this season, even if the results haven’t all been there. Sellers is young (still just 20) and might go back to school, but his upside is tantalizing and he has a higher floor right now than I think he gets credit for. He’d be the next beacon of light for a Jets franchise that is always looking for their next great hope at QB. — Nate Tice
3. Tennessee Titans — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Tennessee takes another dip into the Miami well with the selection of Bain here. He is a high-floor, high-upside prospect that comes NFL-ready to be a hammer against the run with real skills and juice as a pass rusher. At times this season, he has completely taken over games for Miami and projects to be a Day 1 starter. He very well might be the best overall player in the class.
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4. Cleveland Browns — Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Browns go to Eugene in back-to-back years to take a QB. Moore has been a steady operator for Oregon’s offense in his first year starting. He has solid size (listed at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds), is a good athlete and has a good arm. He makes a lot of good decisions, but still needs to learn to get comfortable pushing the ball into tighter windows. He’s had some real good stretches over the first half of the season, and would be an improvement over who else the Browns currently have in their QB room.
5. Miami Dolphins — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Financially, there’s a chance Tua Tagovailoa remains the Dolphins’ starter for another season. If he is — or even if he’s not! — the Dolphins desperately need to use valuable assets to improve their offensive line, which they do here with the selection of Fano. He has been incredible this season and profiles as a long-term starter.
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6. New York Giants — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Giants could look to help their defense here, and Caleb Downs is a possibility. Instead they continue to add playmakers to their offense, and pairing the explosive Tyson with Malik Nabers (whenever he comes back from injury) would further bolster an exciting young group of offensive skill players (Cam Skattebo, Theo Johnson) with the Giants to surround Jaxson Dart.
7. Baltimore Ravens — Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Woods hasn’t played up to his massive potential this year, but he’s too talented to slip too far in the draft. This would be a match made in heaven if the Ravens stay in the top 10, giving them a blue-chip front seven player they desperately need right now.
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8. Las Vegas Raiders — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
I’m a big fan of Lomu, and still think he has a chance to battle his teammate Spencer Fano as the first tackle off the board in the spring. Lomu still needs to get stronger, but he is an easy mover with developing technique and has some real flashes in pass protection. The Raiders desperately need an injection of offensive line talent, and Lomu can be a gem with some polish.
9. Arizona Cardinals — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Safety might not be the biggest need in the world for the Cardinals, but this is too good of a player to pass up at this point. Downs has been the best safety in the country since he was a true freshman at Alabama and has gotten only better since. There is no such thing as a “bust proof” prospect, but Downs feels about as close as it gets. Positional value is the only thing that would keep him out of the top three.
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10. Cincinnati Bengals — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
The Bengals getting Faulk here would be outstanding. Faulk is built like an ideal 4-3 defensive end, but can fit in a variety of schemes. Auburn moves him across the line, including inside as a pass rusher and as a two-gapping defensive end. He’s long, explosive and has really improved his hand usage this year. While Faulk has more to tap into, he’s already an effective player against both the run and pass, and he plays hard when taking on blockers.
11. Washington Commanders — Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Reese has been one of the stars of the college football season and has a chance to go much higher than this when it’s all said and done. Reese does a lot of things well, but his ability to be an aggressive player downhill and cause headaches for the offense will be incredibly attractive to a coach like Dan Quinn.
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12. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Rams take their quarterback of the future. Simpson has just an average build, but has a strong arm with a quick release. Simpson is aggressive, willing to push the ball, and gives his teammates chances to make plays. His downfield-attacking mentality and willingness to stand in the pocket will match nicely with what Sean McVay’s offense has become. The little bit of creativity and ability to create is a nice bonus.
13. Minnesota Vikings — T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
The Vikings once again have a solid defense, but they could still use more talent capable of winning one-on-one matchups. Here, they take another first-round stab at an edge rusher with Parker, who might give coordinator Brian Flores the ace pass rusher he desperately needs to make this defense a more sustainable unit in the playoffs.
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14. Houston Texans — Francis Mauigoa, G, Miami
Mauigoa is a tackle for the Hurricanes, but I see his best spot ending up at guard in the NFL. Regardless, he would give the constantly reworking Texans offensive line an instant starter on the inside, with a chance to hang at right tackle (or at least give the Texans some nice bonus depth).
15. Dallas Cowboys — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Pick a defender! Any defender! The Cowboys need them all, but here they go with Terrell, the younger brother of the Falcons’ A.J. Terrell. The Cowboys need a blue-chipper at cornerback considering the play they’ve gotten from that unit this year. Terrell is a smooth corner who plays the ball and would be a good start to the multiyear rebuild the defense faces.
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16. Carolina Panthers — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Bailey is a pass-rushing demon who has been a true game wrecker as a pass rusher in Lubbock. He has explosive athleticism and excellent balance that lets him keep moving forward, even against chip help and double-teams. He would give the Panthers a different type of weapon in their front seven to get after quarterbacks.
17. Chicago Bears — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Chicago needs a real deal running back. Love is a real deal running back. That seems pretty clear cut! The Bears’ offense is starting to find its groove in Year 1 under head coach Ben Johnson, but they’re not able to take advantage of the potential of the running game due to poor running back play. Love would fix that in a hurry.
18. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor has been inconsistent this season, but his rare size and flashes of dominance will be hard for OL-needy teams to pass up. The Browns could use offensive help at a few spots, and there are some excellent wide receivers still available here, but Proctor would provide a building block for an offensive line that’s about to need them.
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19. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
NFL fans might not be familiar with Maiava yet, but he has a chance to rise up the boards this season. The former UNLV transfer is a big, athletic quarterback with serious running skills and a live arm to go with it. He’s still raw and figuring things out, but if Aaron Rodgers comes back for another season in 2026, Maiava might be a solid long-term plan at quarterback for Pittsburgh.
20. San Francisco 49ers — A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
Washington has been one of this draft class’ biggest risers. He can take over games with his strength and powerful hands and can consistently collapse pockets with his bullrush. Not having Fred Warner and Nick Bosa has definitely hurt the 49ers, but they’re still trying to find ways to slow down run games. Washington would synergize nicely with what the 49ers currently have and give them another excellent young piece to join 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams to quickly turn a weakness into a strength.
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21. Los Angeles Chargers — Matayo Uiagalelei, DL/Edge, Oregon
Just like last year, the Chargers’ defense needs an infusion of young talent. Jesse Minter is a great defensive coordinator, but the pieces just aren’t there yet in terms of being able to build a sustainably good defense capable of supporting a playoff run. Uiagalelei is a high-upside, versatile defensive lineman who would fit right in with the rest of L.A.’s defense while filling a need.
22. Kansas City Chiefs — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq has the talent to go much, much higher. Viewing him purely as a pass catcher, Sadiq is explosive enough to be a mismatch in the slot and has enough blocking chops to be asked to do some of the dirty work inside the box. The Chiefs could go in a few directions at this spot, but getting a real successor for Travis Kelce who continues to add more speed to this once again dangerous Kansas City Chiefs offense would be a terrifying thought.
Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq could be the successor to Travis Kelce at tight end in Kansas City.
(Isaiah Vazquez via Getty Images)
23. Los Angeles Rams — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Rams have had a strong year on defense, putting together a unit full of young players and getting them to play cohesive football, but they could still use an upgrade in the middle of their defense. Allen has been incredible for Georgia (maybe the only good defender so far) and has helped a poor defense get out of jams routinely this season. This might be the last piece they need to complete one of the best young, defensive cores of the season.
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24. Detroit Lions — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Lions have a deep roster and they can use that to continue throwing bodies at certain position groups. They’ve drafted and signed cornerbacks aplenty, but they just seem to be as likely to end up in the training room as playing at Ford Field. Delane would give them another high football IQ player in their defensive backfield.
25. Buffalo Bills — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Steal. Tate might be the No. 2 wide receiver to Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State but he has No. 1 skills, and his ability to make big plays downfield would pair well with Josh Allen — and make life a little easier for Khalil Shakir.
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26. Seattle Seahawks — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Seahawks will look at offensive line here, but instead further bolster their already top-end defensive unit. Styles is another speedy, playmaking Buckeye linebacker who would inject even more talent and athleticism into this defense. Putting him alongside Ernest Jones IV behind that tenacious defensive line with head coach Mike Macdonald pulling the strings is a team-player pairing that has me excited.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Just going to put a linebacker here every year until it happens. It’s time. Retire the No. 54 of Lavonte David and turn the page.
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28. Denver Broncos — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
I know, no wide receiver. Maybe it was the recent play of Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant (alongside the contract extension of Courtland Sutton), but I think the Broncos instead address other spots in the first round. They’re loaded on defense, but with Banks they bridge the gap between the now and near-future as they try to reload the position. Sean Payton sure will love Denzel Boston this draft cycle, though.
29. New England Patriots — Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn
The floor for the Patriots’ offense is incredibly high as long as Drake Maye is going to play at this level, but New England has got to get more out of its running game to take the next step as an offense. The Patriots’ offensive line still needs a few upgrades and this group gets a strong one here.
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30. Philadelphia Eagles — Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Eagles may have just traded for cornerback Michael Carter II, but getting a long-term answer opposite of Quinyon Mitchell while keeping Cooper Dejean in the slot is paramount for this offseason. McCoy might very well be CB1 and could still go higher despite still recovering from an ACL injury. But he would give the Eagles a truly upper echelon cornerback trio to have for years to come.
31. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) — Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
McDonald can help accomplish what Jerry Jones wanted with the acquisition of Kenny Clark this summer. McDonald is a force in the interior and has some decent pass rush traits for a 330-pound defensive tackle. He has stretches where he feels absolutely unblockable and should generate some first-round buzz.
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32. Indianapolis Colts — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
This might not make total sense for where the Colts are at, and cornerback is definitely in play here, but this is assuming the Colts let Alec Pierce go and don’t totally love the development of AD Mitchell so far. Boston is a true blue X wide receiver and the supreme ball-winner of this draft class. He would give the Colts — yes, picking 32 here — a true potential No. 1 receiver as they enter this new era.
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