I’m down to the point where I see one 1st round-graded quarterback, and knowing that (on average) we see 6-10 senior bowl prospects make it into the first round most years, this mock will most certainly look different next time I drop one. That being said, there are zero trades, and I’m using our friends over at NFLMockDraftDatabase.com for this awesome mock!
NOTES: I’ve built this mock based on my opinion of the team’s needs as it stands today. I could see plenty of trading happening, especially with multiple teams having more than one first-round pick, so if someone has a player they really want, there’s certainly room to move around the draft board. For you Cleveland Browns fans, I’m going under the thinking that they either trade up with their multiple picks for a top 1/2 QB OR stick with Shedeur one more year, and if they’re tanking, look to get a QB in next year’s class (which could be very nice…).
2026 NFL Mock Draft – Version 4 – Post Senior & Shrine Bowl Edition
- 1. Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- 2. Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
- 3. Cardinals – Fancis Mauigoa, OT, Miami-FL
- 4. Titans – Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami-FL
- 5. Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
- 6. Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
- 7. Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
- 8. Saints – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
- 9. Chiefs – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- 10. Bengals – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
- 11. Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
- 12. Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
- 13. Rams – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
- 14. Ravens – Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
- 15. Bucs – Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
- 16. Jets – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
- 17. Lions – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
- 18. Vikings – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
- 19. Panthers – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
- 20. Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
- 21. Steelers – Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal
- 22. Chargers – C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
- 23. Eagles – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
- 24. Browns – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
- 25. Bears – Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
- 26. Bills – Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
- 27. 49ers – Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
- 28. Texans – Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
- 29. Rams – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
- 30. Broncos – Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas
- 31. Patriots – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
- 32. Seahawks – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
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I have five wideouts that I see as first-round players. Expect Caleb Banks, Zion Young, and Gennings Dunker to push up into the 1st round, not only based on their recent all-star performances, but when you step back and look at their college careers, though there may have been some ups and downs, the talent and potential are there. When I build my mock drafts, I take into account the roster as it stands, without free agency, and also look at finding my favorite players that also could potentially fit a need or perceived need. For instance, with the Chiefs, they have solid RBs, but do they have an elite one? Love is a step above what they have. Could I see them target a defensive lineman? Yes. I could see them target an offensive lineman as well, but Love would be my highest graded player.
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On the quarterback front, I could see 2-5 go on day two of the NFL Draft, but outside Mendoza, it’s just hard to imagine anyone trading up into the back of round one (picks 25-32) to target Ty Simpson, Nussmeier, or Carson Beck. If I’m a team looking to target one, I’d look for the cheaper route and try to trade for one of the first picks in round two. I could see 4-6 offensive linemen go in round one, I have five in this mock, and then I could see upwards of 8-10 defensive linemen go early. I really like this draft class if you’re a team in need of some defensive line reinforcements!
Below is a list of data I’ve put together, more for your info and a good overview of what this draft could look like based on averages of what’s happened in the last almost twenty years of NFL Drafts.
NFL Draft Breakdown (2006-2025)
On average, over the 7 rounds of the NFL Draft, we see the following numbers of players taken at each position:
| Position | Average Number Drafted Annually |
| Quarterback | 12.8 |
| Running Back | 22.5 |
| Wide Receiver | 33.1 |
| Tight End | 15.4 |
| Offensive Tackle | 21.3 |
| Interior OL (Guard/Center) | 24.7 |
| Defensive End | 23.9 |
| Defensive Tackle | 19.6 |
| Linebacker | 31.8 |
| Cornerback | 30.5 |
| Safety | 21.1 |
| Kicker | 2.1 |
| Punter | 2.3 |
| Long Snapper | 0.8 |
And here’s a breakdown by round:
| Position | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
| Quarterback | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Running Back | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.1 |
| Wide Receiver | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| Tight End | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3 | 2.4 |
| Offensive Tackle | 4.1 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 2.7 |
| Interior OL | 2.2 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 4 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.6 |
| Defensive End | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| Defensive Tackle | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Linebacker | 3.4 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.5 | 5 |
| Cornerback | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 5.4 |
| Safety | 1.5 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Kicker | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.35 |
| Punter | 0 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.45 |
| Long Snapper | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.05 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.25 |
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