2026 Mock Draft 1.0 + Performance Review of Last Year's Mock

We're back with another NFL Mock Draft, bois. I adjusted the draft order from how it sits right now to how I think it'll work out in February, so this is also my draft order/playoff/SB predictions post.

Complete 2026 NFL mock draft, recorded via PFF Mock Draft Simulator using my current predicted draft order.

Best Fits

1. Peter Woods, CLEM DT > NO

2. Jeremiyah Love, ND HB > CHI

3. Caleb Downs, OSU S > MIN

4. Sonny Styles, OSU LB > TB

Biggest Steals

1. Gennings Dunker, IOWA OL > LAC

2. Carnell Tate, OSU WR > PIT

3. Christen Miller, UGA DL > DET

4. Kenyon Sadiq, ORE TE > NE

Biggest (non-QB) Reaches

1. Kadyn Proctor, ALA OL > NYG (over Dunker)

2. Quincy Rhodes Jr., ARK ED > SF (over Faulk)

3. Makai Lemon, USC WR > ARI (over Tate)

4. Jordyn Tyson, ASU, WR > BAL (over Tate)

Ranking the QB Picks

1. LaNorris Sellers, SCAR > LV

2. Dante Moore, ORE > CLE

3. Fernando Mendoza, IND > NYJ

4. Sam Leavitt, ASU > LAR

5. Ty Simpson, ALA > MIA

Notable Prospects Outside R1 (Biggest Misses)

1. John Mateer, OU QB

2. KC Concepcion, TAMU WR

3. AJ Harris, PSU CB

4. A'Mauri Washington, ORE DL

5. Kamari Ramsey, USC DB

6. Elijah Sarratt, IND WR

7. Romello Height, TTU ED

8. Colton Hood, TENN CB

9. R Mason Thomas, OU ED

10. Deion Burks, OU WR

How'd We Do Last Year?

Looking back at the 2025 cycle, I'm pretty shocked with how accurate my mid-season mock was. Although it didn't line up perfectly, most of the top 10 picks were incredibly close to where they ended up going. Also, 20 of the 32 players picked ended up going in the first round in May despite building the mock in November. I give myself a B+.

NFL Mock Draft 1.0.0

While watching the play-by-play of the “competitive” “chess match” between Colorado and Oklahoma State earlier this afternoon, it occurred to me that my first mock draft of the cycle hadn’t dropped yet, so here it is. In honor of the Christmas season and Matt Eberflus’ firing, I will be gifting you all with short and sweet breakdowns of each pick and why I made it.

1. NYG - QB Cam Ward, Miami

   
   

   The idea of pairing a young Jameis Winston with Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr. would be tantalizing to say the least, and Cam Ward, one of the nation’s top ball-throwers, can fill into that narrative seamlessly.

   
   

2. JAX - WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

   
   

   Arguably the best prospect in the draft regardless of position (of which he can play at least two), Travis Hunter can take over in Jacksonville as either Trevor Lawrence’s top target or Will Levis’s. Or both.

   
   

3. LV - QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

   
   

   Shedeur Sanders is a talented quarterback prospect, but I personally wouldn’t spend a top-3 pick on him unless absolutely necessary. In this case (for a handful of reasons) it is necessary, as much as I might not enjoy it.

   
   

4. NE - OL Will Campbell, Louisiana State

   
   

   I flirted heavily with the idea of Kelvin Banks Jr. here, but Will Campbell is just a better football player at this point in time.

   
   

5. CAR - CB Will Johnson, Michigan

   
   

   Jaycee Horn needs help. With star DL Derrick Brown coming back from injury and Will Johnson in the fold, he’ll have some.

   
   

6. NYJ - DL Mason Graham, Michigan

   
   

   With Texas legend Quinn Ewers (hook ‘em) likely falling into the second round due to injury and unwarranted public hate, the Jets can wait to address quarterback until later and swing big on an absolute monster on the defensive front to run alongside Quinnen Williams.

   
   

7. TEN - WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

   
   

   Will Levis is too generational of a talent to go to waste, and pairing him with a dominant ball-winner in McMillan should give Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes nightmares for years from getting run out of the stadium year after year in the playoffs.

   
   

8. CLE - OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

   
   

   One of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Kelvin Banks can step in really anywhere on the offensive line in Cleveland (especially at left tackle) and start fairly quickly.

   
   

9. CHI - EDGE/LB Abdul Carter, Penn State

   
   

   Not really much question whether Chicago should take an edge-rusher here with the state of the draft board at this point, and any of the top 4 options (all of which will be gone by 20 in this mock) would make sense to me. Carter might not be Micah Parsons, but he could be.

   
   

10. NO - EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

    
    

    I thought about Jalen Milroe here, but the Saints’ defensive front is just bad, and it has very little upside to build on. Williams might need some time to develop into a game-wrecker, but he has every trait you could ask for in an EDGE prospect.

    
    

11. CIN - DL/EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

    
    

    Long-time followers of the blog & podcast might remember my early takes on Stewart as a 5-star recruit out of high school, as he was (and still is) my all-time top-rated HS prospect. Now, almost four years later, I have him mocked in the top 11 picks and ahead of teammate Nic Scourton. He is the ultimate “My Man™️”, and I’m willing to die on this hill.

    
    

12. MIA - OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

    
    

    Tua might need to start going by Tau at this rate, honestly (real ones know). If he’s still clear to play by next season, having a new anchor on the offensive line should at least help a little.

    
    

13. IND - CB Benjamin Morrison, ND

    
    

    A dream scenario for the Colts would be landing Will Johnson, but I don’t expect him to fall outside the top 10. Morrison’s good, though, and would be CB1 in not too long.

    
    

14. DAL - RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

    
    

    The potential draft placement of Ashton Jeanty might become one of the more hotly-debated topics come April, but at the moment he’s a mid-teens guy for me. The Cowboys might pick higher, however, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they take an early swing on him.

    
    

15. TB - EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

    
    

    Man, Malaki Starks would be so fun alongside Antoine Winfield and Tykee Smith in that secondary. Still kicking myself for not making it happen, but James Pearce could have the highest ceiling of any pass-rusher in the draft, and having a potential #1 join that EDGE room could send the Bucs into Super Bowl territory.

    
    

16. LAR - QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

    
    

    Like with Shedeur, taking Milroe in the top half of round 1 is a bit rich for my liking. But if any team was to take a swing at Milroe’s electrifying athleticism and anti-naysayer mentality, I’d want it to be Sean McVay’s Rams.

    
    

17. SF - DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

    
    

    Shemar Stewart would’ve been my pick for the Niners in a heartbeat if he were still here. Kenneth Grant is a fine consolation prize, and should still be a fearsome addition to what has been a lackluster defensive front in 2024.

    
    

18. ARI - DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon

    
    

    The Cardinals have heavily out-performed their talent level defensively thanks to HC Jonathan Gannon’s genius, but adding a dominant presence up front in Harmon could elevate the entire unit significantly and prove to be the steal of the draft.

    
    

19. ATL - WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

    
    

    Stop acting like Atlanta’s ever gonna learn to do otherwise; they’ve gone so far at this point that it’s pointless to turn back now. Michael Penix will have no excuse when Kirk Cousins inevitably tears his other Achilles and is forced to retire in week 3 of next season.

    
    

20. SEA - OT Cameron Williams, Texas

    
    

    I really wanted this to be Nic Scourton, but I couldn’t justify passing on a tackle at this spot. Cam Williams should be the long-term placeholder on the right side opposite blossoming blindside blocker Charles Cross.

    
    

21. WAS - EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

    
    

    Scourton could be the next Myles Garrett, as both are powerful, 6’4”, ~280 lb. defensive ends from Texas A&M expected to go to in the first round of the NFL draft. The similarities end there almost completely, but HC Dan Quinn could help change that.

    
    

22. HOU - DB Malaki Starks, Georgia

    
    

    According to Google, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was born July 28, 1984. In this scenario, to celebrate his 41st birthday a few months early, the rest of the NFL gifts him one of the top 5 players on my overall big board (coming soon) to help fill one of the biggest weaknesses this team has faced this year.

    
    

23. DEN - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

    
    

    Pairing Bo Nix’s lightning-quick release with the top slot weapon in the class in Egbuka could lead to one of the lowest average time-to-throw marks in NFL history.

    
    

24. LAC - TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

    
    

    If Harbaugh can’t land one of his defensive guys from UM in the first round, I can almost guarantee he’ll bring in the top offensive guy from his old team in Loveland, giving QB Justin Herbert a first-round passing option that won’t play like he’s trying to prove he was overdrafted.

    
    

25. BAL - OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

    
    

    The Ravens know what they’re looking for on the offensive line: massive, powerful people-movers like Savaiinaea that can give Derrick Henry (or whoever their next lead back is) and Lamar Jackson plenty of room to do what they do best: run wild on opposing defenses.

    
    

26. PIT - DL Walter Nolen, Mississippi

    
    

    The Steelers are a more complete team than most realize, but can still very much look to add some key pieces this offseason on both sides of the ball. Walter Nolen is an incredibly talented prospect that could become one of the better interior defenders in the league over time, and should instantly add even more teeth to arguably the toughest front in the world.

    
    

27. GB - DL/EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama

    
    

    To avoid the confusion of throwing another “Walker” in the Packers’ front seven, I’m sending a versatile big-bodied defensive end that can rush effectively from almost any alignment to Green Bay, which hasn’t happened before and should be much less confusing.

    
    

28. MIN - DL Deone Walker, Kentucky

    
    

    Although they are not the same player in a handful of ways, Deone Walker reminds me a good amount of Jerry Tillery as a prospect: a tall, long interior defender with unnatural athleticism for his size that struggles with pad level and needs to learn how to use his gifts to his advantage in both phases of the game. With Tillery already in Minnesota, the similar yet complementary duo could work together to unlock some insane potential.

    
    

29. PHI - EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

    
    

    This is about as perfect of a match as possible, as the Eagles take yet another dynamic and versatile defender out of Georgia. I could definitely see the Eagles moving up to make this happen if necessary.

    
    

30. BUF - DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

    
    

    Had to get Tyleik in here somehow. Bills could use a young space-eater next to Ed Oliver, and Williams is a dawg.

    
    

31. KC - TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

    
    

    Warren’s been one of my favorite players to watch this season in college football, and pairing him with Mahomes should be a much smoother transition from the aging Travis Kelce than most would think.

    
    

32. DET - EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State

    
    

    I would absolutely consider Shavon Revel Jr. out of East Carolina if I were Campbell & Co. here, but Tuimoloau just seems like such a perfect fit for the kneecap-biting culture in Detroit and could be dominant opposite Aidan Hutchinson for years.

Iowa Football 2024 Season Preview: The Night Before

You know what time it is. With Iowa Football’s season kickoff just a few hours away, the questions around this team seem to be even more uncertain than ever. What if the offense is just as dysfunctional and impotent as last year? What if the defense can’t keep Iowa in the “driver’s seat” of most games? Is Kirk Ferentz a criminal for using unauthorized means to steal talent from the rest of college football? Is that “talent” even worth the starting snaps he has been and inevitably will be given? The questions are endless and impossible to answer with any amount of certainty. I will attempt, however, to provide an “insider’s look” at what this team could be building toward, what they hope to achieve, and what needs to happen for them to get there.

Looking at the defense first, there really isn’t too much to discuss, which leads me to my first major point: Iowa should field a top-3 defensive unit in the Big Ten without question. The other two teams that in my opinion could outperform the Hawks on this side of the ball—Ohio State and Michigan—are perennial Playoff (now Playoff first-round bye) contenders that are absolutely loaded with high-end HS recruits at each position, whereas Iowa really only has one high-profile recruit out of high school (safety Xavier Nwankpa) contributing at a significant level this season. That should not keep the Hawkeyes from squeezing the life out of opposing offenses this season, as they boast arguably the most experienced and cohesive defense in all of college football this season, returning 9 of 11 starters from last season’s top-tier unit and boasting a deep rotation of solid-to-elite contributors at each level of the defense (especially the front four). Under-the-radar names to watch? Outside of the well-known commodities, current CB2 TJ Hall has flashed brilliance in brief moments over the past two seasons, and rotational EDGE Brian Allen Jr. looks poised to have a Lukas Van Ness-like emergence as a stud pass-rusher for devilishly-handsome-and-cunning genius Phil Parker to gameplan around.

On the offensive side of things, I am a bit less certain. However, based on what I’ve heard and seen, I feel confident enough to say this: Iowa’s new offensive scheme should drive the Hawkeyes into the modern era of football in a blaze of (glory?). It all starts up front, as the controversial Iowa offensive line returns seven contributors from last season, including potential standout RT Gennings Dunker. With a pro west coast-style offense, the questions this unit has in pass protection should be (somewhat) masked, and its potential as a sneaky-good run-blocking unit should be given an opportunity to shine through.

At quarterback, the Hawks have a legit trio of potential starters that may all get their opportunity to shine at some point in the season. Watch out for redshirt freshman Marco Lainez to potentially have a Brock Purdy-esque emergence. In terms of weapons, the hidden strength of Iowa’s roster could finally shine through this season, as they boast a handful of potential difference-makers in each position group. RB1 Kamari Moulton reminds OC Tim Lester of a young Aaron Jones, and I’m inclined to agree with him, and the Hawks have no shortage of depth behind him, either. Out wide, young X-receiver Jarriett Buie emerged as one of my favorite players on the entire team this spring (along with former Hawkeye and current Texas A&M Aggie Jake Bostick, R.I.P. that potential duo I guess) and is my top pick as the potential Brandon Aiyuk to Lainez’s Purdy (also of note: WR1 Kaleb Brown should be back one day). And, as always, Iowa’s TE/FB room should be the anchor of this offense, with future top-15 selection Luke Lachey returning to dominate college football one more time.

Record prediction: 12-3, losses to Ohio State in the regular season, Ohio State in the B1G Championship and Ohio State in the CFP quarterfinals.