2026 NFL mock draft: 3 QBs in top 4, but who goes where?

The 2025 college football campaign is about halfway through its regular season. That means its time to start looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft.

What looked to be a quarterback heavy draft has seen a major shakeup at the top. Prospects like Drew Allar, Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik have been unable to impress in underwhelming campaigns. That led the way for an unlikely star to rise to the first overall pick. Fernando Mendoza went from potential Ivy League star to late Pac-12 offer to a place driving what could be the greatest Indiana Hoosiers team of all time. Now he gets to try and turn around the winless New York Jets in this current scenario.

Two quarterbacks follow Mendoza in the first four picks, but after that it's slim pickings for quarterback help. So who makes up this way-too-early first round mock?

Draft order is the reverse of our most recent power rankings... which also came out before the Buffalo Bills' 10-point loss at Atlanta. That's fine, we've still got 12 weeks of games just to determine the first 18 picks next spring. Let's get on with the draft.

1. New York Jets: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Needs: QB, WR, IOL, S, LB

Mendoza's meteoric rise carries through to the spring of 2026 as the former Yale commit and Cal star (neeeerrrrrdddd) has helped unlock a new level of Hoosier success. The 6-foot-5 pocket passer looks the part of an NFL quarterback, processing reads efficiently to deliver balls to open wideouts accurately and on time. His sack rate is a concern for a Jets team that ended up with negative net passing yards thanks to Justin Fields' inability to avoid blitzers, but he should be an immediate boost to an impotent aerial attack.

2. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami

Needs: EDGE, WR, CB, LB, IOL

The reasonable move for an awful Titans team would be to trade back here and amass the assets that can retool an overmatched roster. But Bain makes sense as well as a running mate for Jeffery Simmons up front. The 275-pound end is an asset against both the pass and the run, using a Chop Robinson-style first step but pairing that quickness with the power to win inside and turn running lanes into mush. He and Simmons would give Tennessee two players worth double-teaming on the line, relieving the pressure on an overtaxed secondary and providing a badly needed rising tide in Nashville.

3. Cleveland Browns: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Needs: QB, IOL, WR, CB, S

A 240 pound quarterback with a cannon arm and explosive running chops? Sure, a Josh Allen comparison feels lazy here but there's certainly pieces of it in Sellers' game. The South Carolina star can flip a ball 50-plus yards on the run like it's nothing, and while that's also the kind of trait that talked the Colts into Anthony Richardson (hmmmm), it's the kind of trait that can't be taught but can be harnessed. He's going to need coaching to progress through routes and stick with plays as they develop at the next level. Kevin Stefanski has the chops to get him there -- assuming he sticks around after another lost season.

4. Miami Dolphins: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

Needs: CB, S, WR, TE... QB?

Moore would have been perfect for a prime Tyreek Hill thanks to his gorgeous touch downfield. He can rifle big throws through tight windows and stand in the pocket to deliver accurate strikes through contact. While his mobility is lacking and his big performance in an overtime win at Penn State looks much less impressive now (especially after throwing a pair of interceptions in a home loss to Indiana), his arm talent could make him the centerpiece of a Miami rebuild.

5. New Orleans Saints: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

Needs: QB, CB, IOL, EDGE, LB

Do the Saints talk themselves into the draft's fourth quarterback here? Or do they roll with Spencer Rattler and hope his better-than-expected start to 2025 is a floor, not a ceiling? If it’s the latter, Woods could pair with Bryan Bresee to give New Orleans an all-Clemson BEEF front. The dense-bodied interior lineman isn’t just tough to move; he’s explosive off the snap and able to slice through gaps to generate negative plays on a regular basis (8.5 tackles for loss in 2024).

6. Arizona Cardinals: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Needs: OT, WR, LB, RB

The draft board sorted out for Arizona to replace Jonah Williams with 2026's first offensive lineman. Miami's Francis Mauigoa could get a long look here, but Proctor's athleticism and versatility – Kalen DeBoer keeps inserting him as a receiver and runner for a reason -- suggest his stock will soar in the pre-draft process. Even if it stays where it is, a 6-foot-7, 366-pound monster with long arms and explosive athleticism would be a boon. Now he pairs with Paris Johnson as the Cardinals' foundational tackle combo.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson

Needs: EDGE, CB, S, OL

Cincinnati gets its Trey Hendrickson replacement in a pick that comes down to Parker and Auburn's Keldric Faulk. Like Hendrickson, Parker is a 265-pound goblin who can knock blockers off balance with a violent punch and then picks his route to the quarterback from there. He's more fast than twitchy off the line, but his arsenal of pass-rushing attacks makes up for that and creates havoc on passing downs. He's also athletic and big enough to work as an end or outside linebacker. If a frustrated Bengals opt to switch up their base defense, Parker can work with whatever they throw at him.

8. Las Vegas Raiders: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Needs: WR, OL, LB, CB, EDGE

Geno Smith's decline has been surprising, but can also be traced at least partially to a lack of receiving help. Tyson would pair with Brock Bowers to give Smith (or whomever is throwing passes in Las Vegas) a pair of big, rangy targets with excellent run-after-catch ability. Tyson's athleticism and shiftiness creates the kind of separation that could make secondaries pay for doubling Bowers on third down. That's exactly what Pete Carroll needs.

9. Baltimore Ravens: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Needs: IOL, DL, WR, CB

Is safety a top need for the Ravens? Nope! Do they manage to pick up a transformative talent who could be 2026's top overall prospect anyway? Yep! This gives Baltimore the room to slide Downs or Malaki Starks into the slot and insulate for a Marlon Humphreys decline while boosting general manager Eric DeCosta's philosophy of finding the best player and best cultural fit for his roster regardless of position.

10. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Needs: EDGE, LB, S, CB, RB

With two first round picks to play with, Dallas could orchestrate a trade up and skip the line when it comes to pass rushing help. Landing Faulk, however, would be no consolation prize.

The Auburn star has a massive frame (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) and his ability to be a hand-down run stopper or bullying pocket collapser solves two major problems for the Micah Parsons-less Cowboys. While he's not twitchy enough to win consistently with his first step, he's endless on the field and the kind of player who can win with a bunch of different moves -- especially in the fourth quarter against exhausted linemen.

11. New York Giants: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

Needs: DT, LB, OT, IOL

Mauigoa and Andrew Thomas? That's a potentially world class pair of bookends to keep Jaxson Dart upright and linebackers away from Cam Skattebo (don't worry, he'll run face-first into them anyway for a first down). This 6-foot-6, 315-pound pile of muscle is a mauler with his hands extended who can mirror speed rushes on the edge or blast defenders backward when they cut inside.

12. Carolina Panthers: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, S, IOL

Would the Panthers opt for Terrell's superior quickness or the more reliable size of Tennessee's Jermod McCoy? Either way, it's clear Carolina needs an upgrade at corner after watching Mike Jackson get roasted by George Pickens throughout Week 6. Terrell's elite speed and ball skills -- 22 passes defensed in 33 college games so far -- give him the edge and allow him to stay in the Carolinas a bit longer.

13. Houston Texans: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

Needs: OL, DT, RB, TE

Well, this is fortunate. Houston didn't get a top-10 pick but still ends up with a blocker some scouts think could be 2026's best offensive lineman. Fano would get an immediate shot to make an impact along the Texans' disheveled offensive line. He's a fluid mover who's been starting at left tackle in Salt Lake City since he was a true freshman. He's a destroyer class battleship in the run game and his high level athleticism makes him a mirror against edge rushers on passing downs.

14. Chicago Bears: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Needs: RB, S, EDGE, OT, CB

Ben Johnson's offense was supercharged by a rookie running back taken in the teens while he was offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions. Now he gets the chance to strike gold again with Love, who'd be an immediate upgrade over D'Andre Swift. The Notre Dame star has scored 30 touchdowns in his last 22 games and is an asset in both the run and pass games. Johnson's playbook would only get bigger with Love in tow, and that's a frightening thing for NFC North defenses.

15. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

Needs: CB, LB, DT, OT, WR... QB?

The Rams have created enough pressure to minimize the lift a beleaguered secondary has to do. Bringing McCoy into the fold would help even when opposing quarterbacks have a clean pocket. The Tennessee product can be trusted on an island along the sideline and has the explosion to make up ground in a hurry and erase plays. He has six interceptions and 16 passes defensed in his first 25 college games so far. 

16. Minnesota Vikings: LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

Needs: LB, S, DE, RB

A linebacker who feasts as a blitzer? In Brian Flores' defense? Hooooo buddy. Hill had eight sacks in 2024 and an SEC-high 16.5 tackles for loss. While he hasn't been able to keep that pace in 2025 for a frustrating Longhorns team, his ability to be a devastating tackler and disruptive sideline-to-sideline pass deterrent could make him the next general in Flores' goblin army.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Gennings Dunker, Iowa

Needs: OL, LB, DL, EDGE, CB

Let's plan for the worst. A torn patellar tendon could be a career-changer for Rashawn Slater. Fortunately, the 2026 NFL Draft is dense with blocking talent. Players like Caleb Lomu or Isaiah World could be fits here, but Dunker feels like a true Jim Harbaugh guy. He's a Big Ten standout who plays strong as hell and has the chops to be a Pro Bowl tackle or kick inside and be a road-paving guard. He blocks mean and would be an asset on the inside or outside of a Harbaugh run-heavy offense.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Needs: QB, WR, CB, S, IOL

The 2026 quarterback free agent market is uninspiring unless the Steelers want to reunite with a former washout -- Russell Wilson, Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky will all be available. Would that be enough to roll the dice on the sinking stock of a Garrett Nussmeier, John Mateer or Drew Allar? Would they move for a wideout to pair with DK Metcalf and make life easier for whomever is slinging passes? Or would they stay the Steeler course and make a sensible meat and potatoes pick to replenish the defense or offensive line? 

I think we all know the answer, right?

19. New England Patriots: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Needs: OT, S, LB, EDGE, WR

Lomu is a bit of a project, but even in his unfinished state would likely be an upgrade over free agent bust Morgan Moses. Drake Maye has been pressured on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks despite his breakthrough 2025. Lomu could be the franchise right tackle across from Will Campbell or a player talented enough to take over the blindside and let Campbell move inside if needed. He's improved significantly over his time at Utah. While he's still more potential than production he has the frame and athleticism to be one of 2026's best blockers.

20. San Francisco 49ers: OT Trevor Goosby, Texas

Needs: OL, EDGE, S, RB

Goosby isn't perfect, but a run on linemen leaves the Niners to pick between him and Oregon sun-eclipser Isaiah World. The Niners' win-now makeup makes the more pro-ready Goosby the potential successor to Trent Williams and a possible 2026 upgrade over Colton McKivitz. He's agile and explosive at 6-foot-7 and 310-ish pounds, moving well laterally on passing downs and blasting out to create lanes in the run game. 

21. Washington Commanders: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Needs: WR, LB, TE, IOL, EDGE

Is Lemon too similar to Terry McLaurin as a shifty wideout with good-not-great size and good-not-great speed? Who cares, he rules. The Big Ten's leading wideout has 44 catches and 682 yards in just six games. McLaurin could show him how to thrive despite lacking ideal physical traits and help Jayden Daniels return to his All-Pro trajectory.

22. Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon

Needs: CB, EDGE, DT, RB, S

If the Chiefs think Kenyon Sadiq has the field-stretching chops to give 2026 a first round tight end he could wind up as Travis Kelce's replacement here. Instead, Kansas City replenishes its pass rush with a beefy defensive end with 14.5 sacks in his last 20 games at Oregon. Uiagalelei gets off the line quickly and shines when moving laterally, using quick hips and leverage to flip blockers and chase down runners.

23. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): IOL Connor Lew, Auburn

Needs: QB, IOL, WR, CB, S

With an exciting quarterback pick out of the way, the Browns make a meat-and-potatoes call to keep him upright. Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic and Wyatt Teller are all pending free agents, leaving a massive need for blockers up front. Lew may be the best pure interior lineman in the draft. The former freshman All-American is a stout presence up front with the base to repel pass rushers and the athleticism to clear space 10 yards downfield for his tailbacks.

24. Seattle Seahawks: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

Needs: CB, EDGE, WR, OL

Bailey returns to the West Coast after beginning his career at Stanford and leaving for the generous paydays that have propelled Texas Tech into the top 10. He's been worth every penny thanks to an FBS-leading 8.5 sacks through six games. While a 6-foot-3, 250 pound frame likely limits him to primary outside linebacker duties on Sundays that's just about perfect for Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. He gets a potential replacement for a 33-year-old Demarcus Lawrence and a potential upgrade over a struggling Boye Mafe (two QB hits in six games despite a solid pressure rate).

25. Denver Broncos: WR Chris Brazzell, Tennessee

Needs: WR, TE, LB, EDGE

Brazzell has seized the potential that made him a priority transfer portal addition from Tulane in 2024. The 6-foot-5 wideout leads the SEC in touchdown catches (seven) while averaging five receptions and nearly 90 receiving yards per game. He's got solid straight-line speed and a little Courtland Sutton in his game, creating space and high-pointing balls to frustrate cornerbacks and generate big gains.

26. Los Angeles Rams: OT Isaiah World, Oregon

Needs: CB, LB, DT, OT, WR... QB?

With the secondary boosted, Los Angeles takes a bit of a risk with its second first-round pick. World has the potential to be an absolute headache for NFC West edge rushers. He's massive (6-foot-8, 320 pounds) and a gifted pass protector thanks to a long-armed punch and excellent use of leverage. But he's also prone to lapses and 2025 marks his first (and only) season of Power 4 football after transferring from Nevada. The former three-star recruit has some boom/bust to his game, but with two Day 1 selections general manager Les Snead can absorb a little risk.

27. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

Needs: CB, S, OT, TE, EDGE

Philadelphia needs to punch up its pass rush. Howell leads the SEC in sacks. So, pretty great fit aside from concerns about whether Howell's speed rush and power will hold up in the NFL. At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds he's undersized for the position. But that didn't stop him from shining at Bowling Green, then breaking out at A&M.

28. Indianapolis Colts: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State  

Needs: OT, EDGE, LB, DT... QB?

Germaine Pratt will be a free agent next spring and Zaire Franklin is about to turn 30. The Colts need an infusion of young talent at linebacker. Styles, who had 100 tackles, six sacks and five passes defensed in Ohio State's title-winning 2024, is just the man to do it. He's got 4.4-second 40 speed to run with tight ends or slot receivers and a 6-foot-4, hole-filling frame to snuff out runs. He can do just about everything well, and though that could mean he doesn't excel in any one thing as a pro he'd still be a rising tide in the middle of the defense.

29. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Needs: EDGE, LB, S, CB, RB

Styles is off the board, but the Cowboys still have multiple options to upgrade their linebacker corps. This pick came down to Reese and Georgia's C.J. Allen, and since Reese has played like a house on fire lately, he gets the call. His utility as a blitzer for a Dallas team in need of someone who can attack the quarterback from multiple angles gives him the edge -- he's got 4.5 sacks in six games, including 2.5 in the last two weeks against Big Ten foes Minnesota and Illinois. At 6-foot-4 he's a matchup eraser against tight ends, though he has to clean up some lapses in coverage to realize his Pro Bowl potential.

30. Detroit Lions: EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama

Needs: EDGE, IOL, CB, LB, DT

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard can move the 280-pound Overton across his line to baffle offensive linemen who already have to deal with Aidan Hutchinson along the edge. The former five-star recruit can anchor down in run lanes or shed blockers with power or cuts inside to create havoc in the pocket. While that hasn't led to big counting stats in the SEC -- only six career sacks -- he has an explosive blend of talent and size that should make him an asset at the next level. 

31. Buffalo Bills: WR Denzel Boston, Washington   

Needs: WR, EDGE, IOL, CB, LB

Josh Allen gets his big sideline wideout in Boston, a 6-foot-4 threat with solid straight line speed to catch big throws downfield. The Washington native is a menace on 50/50 balls, providing a Rome Odunze-style boost when it comes to boxing out defenders and hauling in the ball through contact. He creates separation despite less-than-elite quickness and is a gritty downfield blocker who brings value on all three downs. 

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State

Needs: EDGE, LB, TE, CB

Logan Hall and Greg Gaines each only have six quarterback pressures in six games this season and are both pending free agents. Tampa needs to generate more chaos up front around Vita Vea. The 6-foot-5, 265 pound Dennis-Sutton could be exactly what they need. He had 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2024 before backsliding in what's become a lost year in Happy Valley. With a big frame and the strength to hold his position on run plays or bully blockers backward against the pass, he'd be a much-needed reload for a team set to lose a handful of front seven starters next spring.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2026 NFL mock draft with 3 QBs in top 4 picks