ESPN revealed its first round 2026 NFL Mock Draft ahead of Week Zero of the 2025 college football season and there are some eye opening picks! How about four quarterbacks in the top 10?
Don’t worry, there’s more than that in the first 32 picks overall. Most of these players are expected to declare for next year, but there’s one in particular where there are still question marks.
Without further ado, let’s dive into ESPN’s mock draft for the 2026 edition. We start with the No. 1 overall pick and a familiar face.
The Browns get a quarterback, again, in next year’s draft. Manning is the guy based on ESPN’s projections.
If Manning is as good as the hype, it’ll be hard for the youngest Manning QB to stay at Texas one more year when the No. 1 pick is a possibility. Can he be the franchise savior in Cleveland?
Another quarterback in the draft! The Jets trade up with their stadium mates in this mock trade to get their quarterback.
Nothing against Justin Fields, but the Jets will go with Sellers, who is an enticing dual threat QB. His value might be high so a trade up might be necessary in reality.
3. New Orleans Saints (trade via Titans): Cade Klubnik, QB – Clemson
Three quarterbacks in a row in the draft! The Saints don’t find the answer with Tyler Shough, bottom out and trade up for Klubnik in this scenario.
When it’s all said and done, Klubnik could be the top pick next year, coming off a career year in 2024. He would do wonders in Kellen Moore’s offense.
4. New York Giants (trade via Jets): Peter Woods, DT – Clemson
Woods is the first non-quarterback to go in this mock draft. He’s widely projected to be a first round pick even before the season starts this Fall.
Pairing Woods with Abdul Carter would be a scary sight in 2026. The trade is a mock one as the Giants traded back with the Jets and still grab a stud in the top five.
5. Tennessee Titans (trade via Saints): Caleb Downs, DB – Ohio State
The Titans also traded back in this mock draft and grab one of the best overall players in college football. Downs was a star at Alabama as a freshman and became, arguably, better in Ohio State in just a year.
They’ll add to the secondary and Downs could start right away. It’s hard to envision Downs actually making it out of the top five next spring.
The Panthers getting to this position in the draft means the season didn’t quite pan out. If that’s the case, they might need to go QB here right?
ESPN doesn’t think so as they grab Faulk from Auburn. He’s a very disruptive pass rusher and could add to a young and emerging defense.
The Raiders need protection up front and the 2026 NFL Draft is the place to find it! Fano is regarded as the top tackle in the class.
Fano’s length and footwork are NFL-ready too! It’s not just finesse, per ESPN. He can really run down opposing defensive linemen.
Parker is the latest Clemson player to come off the board in this mock draft. The third in fact! The Patriots will get quite the pass rusher too.
Parker had 11 sacks last year and forced a school-record six fumbles in 2024. He also had 12.5 tackles for loss as a freshman two years ago.
The fourth quarterback in the first round in this mock draft, in the top 10 no less! The Rams get their QB of the future in Leavitt, who stars at Arizona State.
Matthew Stafford might be on the tail end at this point and his last season could be this year, next or the year after. Either way, the Rams have to be ready.
Hill fits the mold of the Seahawks defense and that “Legion of Boom” mentality from over a decade ago. The Texas linebacker probably won’t last out of the top 10 in next year’s draft.
Hill has 13 sacks through two seasons and he could hit double digits just this season! He has tremendous sideline to sideline range as well.
ESPN reveals 2026 NFL Mock Draft
11. Indianapolis Colts: Drew Allar, QB – Penn State
12. Cleveland Browns: Austin Barber, OT – Florida
13. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Banks, DT – Florida
14. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT – Miami
15. Miami Dolphins: Avieon Terrell, CB – Clemson
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: Garrett Nussmeier, QB – LSU
17. Chicago Bears: Jermod McCoy, CB – Tennessee
18. Minnesota Vikings: Anto Saka, EDGE – Northwestern
19. Green Bay Packers: Matayo Uiagelelei, EDGE – Oregon
20. Denver Broncos: Jordyn Tyson, WR – Arizona State
21. Houston Texans: Jeremiyah Love, RB – Notre Dame
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE – Penn State
23. San Francisco 49ers: Jude Bowry, OT – Boston College
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Kadyn Proctor, OT – Alabama
25. Washington Commanders: Germie Bernard, WR – Alabama
26. Los Angeles Chargers: Chandler Rivers, CB – Duke
27. Los Angeles Rams: Daylen Everette, CB – Georgia
28. Baltimore Ravens: AJ Harris, CB – Penn State
29. Detroit Lions: Sonny Styles, LB – Ohio State
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Isaiah World, OT – Oregon
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, OT – Clemson
32. Buffalo Bills: Ja’Kobi Lanae, WR – USC
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