Way Too Early 2026 Mock, Version 2.0
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Way Too Early 2026 Mock
(Jan 22, 2026)
The Super Bowl is over and before you know it, the combine will be underway. I am already making some changes to my first mock, with my pick changes noted. In fact, I'm going to keep making changes to my changes, ha, so check back for updates. I'll have a Version 3.0 after the Combine is over.
Round 1
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32
This may have gone unnoticed by too many, but the Detroit OL was not close to the level it had been in the previous couple of years. LT Taylor Decker is aging, C Frank Ragnow retired, and G Kevin Zeitler departed in free agency. Perhaps Lomu can be a guard initially and then maybe he can form a bookend with Penei Sewell in time. Note that I'm dropping Proctor even below Lomu here.
***Pick Change from Brandon Cisse***
Cisse is a man coverage CB, and with as often as Brian Flores blitzes, his corners are often asked to play 1-on-1 outside; I could see this as a fit for the Vikings. However, with Harrison Smith's retirement, there's a huge void at safety, and Daniel Jeremiah has McNeil-Warren going 13th to the Rams in his updated mock. Welcome to Round 1, Emmanuel!
Cisse is a man coverage CB, and with as often as Brian Flores blitzes, his corners are often asked to play 1-on-1 outside; I could see this as a fit for the Vikings. However, with Harrison Smith's retirement, there's a huge void at safety, and Daniel Jeremiah has McNeil-Warren going 13th to the Rams in his updated mock. Welcome to Round 1, Emmanuel!
***Pick Change from Sonny Styles***
Styles is gone in this update, and if the team wanted to go defense, I could see Cisse or Terrell in play here to help the CB corps.
Styles is gone in this update, and if the team wanted to go defense, I could see Cisse or Terrell in play here to help the CB corps.
Yes, more defensive help for Dallas with its second pick of the 1st Round. They sorely, sorely need it.
I'm not sold on Simpson, not by a long shot, but the Steelers need to take a swing at the position yet again. Yes, the last time they did that, Kenny Pickett did not work out. And yes, I'm aware that the team hired retread Mike McCarthy as head coach and that Aaron Rodgers very well may return for another season. Still, the team needs a potential future answer, and 2025 draftee Will Howard projects as a career backup, at best. We'll see if we get some tea leaves regarding Simpson during the Combine; it's worth noting that Jeremiah left Simpson out of his 1st Round in his latest mock.
Zion Johnson hits free agency after his 5th-year option was declined, and the former 1st Round pick produced 4 middling seasons in LA. We know that Harbaugh wants to build through the trenches, and after the injuries a season ago to both tackles, Ioane would be a welcomed presence at this juncture as the likely #1 pure guard in the class.
***Pick Change from Carnell Tate***
This is my biggest change from my first mock a couple of weeks ago, as Tate is all the way up as WR1 now at #6 overall. I had previously believed that AJ Brown was a lock to get traded, but without a contract restructure, he would leave behind over a $70MM dead cap hit even if traded, so that's a complete no-go for Philly. I now expect him to stay put for another year. And while I could obviously see Philly in play for a WR depending on how the board falls, I recall that there was a ton of trade chatter involving Dallas Goedert at last year's draft. Maybe this is the year the team moves on, and if that's the plan, Sadiq being available could compel the team to go in that direction with this pick.
This is my biggest change from my first mock a couple of weeks ago, as Tate is all the way up as WR1 now at #6 overall. I had previously believed that AJ Brown was a lock to get traded, but without a contract restructure, he would leave behind over a $70MM dead cap hit even if traded, so that's a complete no-go for Philly. I now expect him to stay put for another year. And while I could obviously see Philly in play for a WR depending on how the board falls, I recall that there was a ton of trade chatter involving Dallas Goedert at last year's draft. Maybe this is the year the team moves on, and if that's the plan, Sadiq being available could compel the team to go in that direction with this pick.
***Pick Change from Isaiah World***
The entire OL is up for free agency and while 1 or 2 of them may be back, it's a great bet that at least one of the 2 picks in this round will be spent at this position. World will not be in the 1st Round now after it was revealed that he suffered a torn ACL during the CFP loss to Indiana. And upon further consideration, I am going to drop Proctor even behind Freeling in the OT pecking order. Freeling's upside and traits are likely to see him as a riser.
The entire OL is up for free agency and while 1 or 2 of them may be back, it's a great bet that at least one of the 2 picks in this round will be spent at this position. World will not be in the 1st Round now after it was revealed that he suffered a torn ACL during the CFP loss to Indiana. And upon further consideration, I am going to drop Proctor even behind Freeling in the OT pecking order. Freeling's upside and traits are likely to see him as a riser.
I'm going to go back to Parker here, my original pick before I moved some things around.
Brandon Beane, you somehow scapegoated Sean McDermott to your owner, even though it was your roster management that led to the horrific WR corps that you gave Josh Allen this season. The Bills need a playmaking receiver, and for Allen's sake, hopefully Boston fits the bill on the outside.
***Pick Change from Colton Hood***
The 49ers are recovering from a cavalcade of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including to Nick Bosa. Perhaps a pass rushing addition at this spot will be on the table.
The 49ers are recovering from a cavalcade of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including to Nick Bosa. Perhaps a pass rushing addition at this spot will be on the table.
***Pick Change from Gennings Dunker***
It may not matter if CJ Stroud torpedoes Houston's season again next year in the playoffs, but one thing the club needs to improve is its OL. I had Dunker here before, but with Proctor available, and with coach DeMeco Ryans an Alabama alum, this would make sense.
It may not matter if CJ Stroud torpedoes Houston's season again next year in the playoffs, but one thing the club needs to improve is its OL. I had Dunker here before, but with Proctor available, and with coach DeMeco Ryans an Alabama alum, this would make sense.
***Pick Change from Anthony Hill Jr.***
The Rams have not typically targeted linebackers early in drafts, so I will go away from Hill Jr. here. Instead, given the obvious need at CB, let's take a shot with Hood here with the team's second pick of the round. Note that there's been a lot of speculation about the Rams dealing this pick for someone like Trent McDuffie of the Chiefs, who is up for a contract extension.
The Rams have not typically targeted linebackers early in drafts, so I will go away from Hill Jr. here. Instead, given the obvious need at CB, let's take a shot with Hood here with the team's second pick of the round. Note that there's been a lot of speculation about the Rams dealing this pick for someone like Trent McDuffie of the Chiefs, who is up for a contract extension.
More high-end talent to add to the DL that led the NFL in sacks in 2025. Banks' tape was worse in 2025 than it was in 2024, but it appears that coaches liked what they saw in Senior Bowl week, and he has rare size and first-step quickness.
***Pick Change from Cashius Howell***
Jeremiah had Thieneman going at #18 to Minnesota in his updated mock, and while I think 3 safeties in the top 18 is a bit too rich, perhaps the Oregon man will appeal to a Patriots defense that has one of its starting safeties (Jaylinn Hawkins) hitting free agency.
Jeremiah had Thieneman going at #18 to Minnesota in his updated mock, and while I think 3 safeties in the top 18 is a bit too rich, perhaps the Oregon man will appeal to a Patriots defense that has one of its starting safeties (Jaylinn Hawkins) hitting free agency.
The Super Bowl champs nab a McDonald for coach Macdonald's already-strong DT crew! In all seriousness, this would absolutely make sense because all 3 of Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, and DeMarcus Lawrence are entering walk years in 2026.
Picks 1-16
Picks 17-32