2026 Mock Draft Thread

[manxman2601]

I know. But OT is an even more pressing need IMO.

Sorry, I misread your reply. I see it now.

 

[mayoclinic]

New Year's 2 round mock from Sam Teets:

2026 NFL Draft January two-round mock: Trades shake Round 1 for Browns, Jets and Rams

Several trades in my latest mock for the 2026 NFL Draft help the Jets, Browns, Rams, and more reload for the future

sportstalk.substack.com

He has the Pats taking some DT named Lee Hunter at 30, and WR Omar Cooper at 62.

Dillon Thieneman goes 29, Caleb Banks 31, Chris Bell 32, Yhonzae Pierre 36, Max Iheanachor 37, Jamari Johnson 40, TJ Parker 41, Emmanuel Pregnon 42, Jake Golday 50, Akheem Mesidor 51, Keionte Scott 52, Monroe Freeling 55 and Devin Moore 60.

Also Josiah Trotter, 39, CJ Allen 46, Ahmad Moten 47, and Chase Bisontis 54.

Dang. He compressed my almost my entire draft list into 32 picks. Bell, Pierre, Golday, Scott and Freeling are on my binky list. Johnson will be if he declares. Hunter, Pregnon and Mesidor Manx's binkies. Thienemam, Banks, Iheanachor, Parker and Moore all close.

Brutal.

 

[Clonamery]

New Year's 2 round mock from Sam Teets:

2026 NFL Draft January two-round mock: Trades shake Round 1 for Browns, Jets and Rams

Several trades in my latest mock for the 2026 NFL Draft help the Jets, Browns, Rams, and more reload for the future

sportstalk.substack.com

He has the Pats taking some DT named Lee Hunter at 30, and WR Omar Cooper at 62.

Dillon Thieneman goes 29, Caleb Banks 31, Chris Bell 32, Yhonzae Pierre 36, Max Iheanachor 37, Jamari Johnson 40, TJ Parker 41, Emmanuel Pregnon 42, Jake Golday 50, Akheem Mesidor 51, Keionte Scott 52, Monroe Freeling 55 and Devin Moore 60.

Also Josiah Trotter, 39, CJ Allen 46, Ahmad Moten 47, and Chase Bisontis 54.

Dang. He compressed my almost my entire draft list into 32 picks. Bell, Pierre, Golday, Scott and Freeling are on my binky list. Johnson will be if he declares. Hunter, Pregnon and Mesidor Manx's binkies. Thienemam, Banks, Iheanachor, Parker and Moore all close.

Brutal.

I'm sweating. The 50's!

 

[manxman2601]

New Year's 2 round mock from Sam Teets:

2026 NFL Draft January two-round mock: Trades shake Round 1 for Browns, Jets and Rams

Several trades in my latest mock for the 2026 NFL Draft help the Jets, Browns, Rams, and more reload for the future

sportstalk.substack.com

He has the Pats taking some DT named Lee Hunter at 30, and WR Omar Cooper at 62.

Dillon Thieneman goes 29, Caleb Banks 31, Chris Bell 32, Yhonzae Pierre 36, Max Iheanachor 37, Jamari Johnson 40, TJ Parker 41, Emmanuel Pregnon 42, Jake Golday 50, Akheem Mesidor 51, Keionte Scott 52, Monroe Freeling 55 and Devin Moore 60.

Also Josiah Trotter, 39, CJ Allen 46, Ahmad Moten 47, and Chase Bisontis 54.

Dang. He compressed my almost my entire draft list into 32 picks. Bell, Pierre, Golday, Scott and Freeling are on my binky list. Johnson will be if he declares. Hunter, Pregnon and Mesidor Manx's binkies. Thienemam, Banks, Iheanachor, Parker and Moore all close.

Brutal.

I was going to ask this today. A) How would we feel if Lee Hunter was our first round pick? B) How would we feel about it if we had re-signed Tonga?

I'm still not quite there with a first round grade on him yet but I'd be fine with it as a representative of team BPA. Tonga complicates things a bit but Hunter probably projects as the better player in the medium term with his quickness. We could always move Tonga to FB

 

[Clonamery]

I was going to ask this today. A) How would we feel if Lee Hunter was our first round pick? B) How would we feel about it if we had re-signed Tonga?

I'm still not quite there with a first round grade on him yet but I'd be fine with it as a representative of team BPA. Tonga complicates things a bit but Hunter probably projects as the better player in the medium term with his quickness. We could always move Tonga to FB

I'm still 50/50 on trading back if we are 28-32. I wouldn't be disappointed with a DT (Hunter or McDonald, etc.) at 30. Right now, I would be more disappointed with a WR at 62. That could change by April Fool's Day though.

 

[mayoclinic]

Long answer:

1. Ok with Hunter in general. Would not be upset with the pick.

2. Thay said, in Teet's mock, I'm not sure I would even take Hunter over Caleb Banks at DT.

3. I would would probably take EDGE (36 Pierre, 41 Parker, 51 Mesidor) or OL (37 Iheanachor, 42 Pregnon, 55 Freeling) over DL.

If Teets is correct in his general valuation, then there is a logjam between 29 and 60 at several positions groups:

- OL: 37 Iheanachor, 42 Pregnon, 49 Proctor, 54 Bisontis, 55 Freeling, 57 Bowry
- WR: 32 Bell, 33 Boston, 43 Brazzell, 44 Hurst, 59 Bernard, 62 Cooper
- TE: 40 Johnson, 63 Raridon
- DL: 30 Hunter, 31 Banks, 35 Washington, 38 Miller, 47 Moten, 53 Orange
- EDGE: 36 Pierre, 41 Parker, 51 Mesidor, 56 Howell, 58 Uiagalelei
- LB: 39 Trotter, 46 Allen, 50 Golday
- DB: 29 Thieneman, 36 Johnson, 45 McNeil-Warren, 48 Ramsey, 52 Scott, , 60 Moore, 61 Haulcy, 64 Ponds

Given this kind of congestion, my ideal would be to trade back to around 40-48, pick up an extra 3rd or early 4th, move up from 62 to around 55 and then get:

- One of Pierre, Parker or Mesidor at EDGE
- One of Iheanachor, Freeling, Pregnon, or Austin Siereveld at OL

DT, LB, WR/TE and DB would be backup options. But with 2 3rds and 2 4ths we could address those needs later.

 

[manxman2601]

Long answer:

1. Ok with Hunter in general. Would not be upset with the pick.

2. Thay said, in Teet's mock, I'm not sure I would even take Hunter over Caleb Banks at DT.

3. I would would probably take EDGE (36 Pierre, 41 Parker, 51 Mesidor) or OL (37 Iheanachor, 42 Pregnon, 55 Freeling) over DL.

If Teets is correct in his general valuation, then there is a logjam between 29 and 60 at several positions groups:

- OL: 37 Iheanachor, 42 Pregnon, 49 Proctor, 54 Bisontis, 55 Freeling, 57 Bowry
- WR: 32 Bell, 33 Boston, 43 Brazzell, 44 Hurst, 59 Bernard, 62 Cooper
- TE: 40 Johnson, 63 Raridon
- DL: 30 Hunter, 31 Banks, 35 Washington, 38 Miller, 47 Moten, 53 Orange
- EDGE: 36 Pierre, 41 Parker, 51 Mesidor, 56 Howell, 58 Uiagalelei
- LB: 39 Trotter, 46 Allen, 50 Golday
- DB: 29 Thieneman, 36 Johnson, 45 McNeil-Warren, 48 Ramsey, 52 Scott, , 60 Moore, 61 Haulcy, 64 Ponds

Given this kind of congestion, my ideal would be to trade back to around 40-48, pick up an extra 3rd or early 4th, move up from 62 to around 55 and then get:

- One of Pierre, Parker or Mesidor at EDGE
- One of Iheanachor, Freeling, Pregnon, or Austin Siereveld at OL

DT, LB, WR/TE and DB would be backup options. But with 2 3rds and 2 4ths we could address those needs later.

I think I'm team 'Carter Smith or bust' at 64. Or at least 'Team Smith or bust...unless Mesidor is still on the board'.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't care that PFF hate it. It works for me.

 

[mayoclinic]

Not realistic, but very good.

 

[mayoclinic]

Another mock with Lee Hunter to the Pats, this one from Mike Renner:

Renner's 2026 NFL mock draft: First-round projections with top-18 picks set

The Raiders hold the No. 1 pick and a clear QB choice, but the rest of the first round feels far less settled

www.cbssports.com

He has Cleveland doubling up on OT with Trevor Goosby at 6 and Max Iheanachor at 28. Goosby isn't coming out, but 6 to Cleveland would have been a logical spot for him. Hard to turn down being a likely high 1st round pick.

 

[mayoclinic]

B/R Mock:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25346393-br-nfl-scouting-depts-post-regular-season-2026-nfl-mock-draft

Caleb Lomu wpuld be a good pick at 30.

 

[manxman2601]

B/R Mock:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25346393-br-nfl-scouting-depts-post-regular-season-2026-nfl-mock-draft

Caleb Lomu wpuld be a good pick at 30.

I'm not convinced. A, possibly, sub 300lb OT who's not very good as a run blocker and has no experience on the right side. I'm not saying he's awful but there are other prospects I'd prefer there.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm not convinced. A, possibly, sub 300lb OT who's not very good as a run blocker and has no experience on the right side. I'm not saying he's awful but there are other prospects I'd prefer there.

If he weighs in at sub-300# that would be a bit of a concern, and I agree he needs to get stronger. But you can't teach his footwork, or length, and he should provide dual side capability..

He's not my preferred pick, but I think he would be a good one. Foster has him at 15 on his big board.

 

[mayoclinic]

Nick Baumgardner mock from The Athletic:

2026 NFL mock draft: Dante Moore to Raiders, Fernando Mendoza to Cardinals

Will the Jets, who hold the second pick in this year's draft, take a QB or trade down? They'll play a big role in how Round 1 unfolds.

www.nytimes.com

Monroe Freeling goes 27, Carter Smith 29.

I like Zion Young, but not in the 1st. Beyter players and values available: Emmanuel Pregnon, Max Iheanachor, Lee Hunter, Caleb Banks.

 

[mayoclinic]

Trevor Sikkema mock:

Post-Week 18 Mock Draft: Raiders take Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, Commanders select Caleb Downs at No. 7

With the regular season in the books, draft season can officially begin. Using the finalized draft order, here’s an updated first-round 2026 NFL mock that focuses on team needs, scheme fits and where the top prospects could realistically land.

www.pff.com

He has the Pats taking Keldric Faulk at 30. I would love that, though I'm still getting over Keion White trauma. Kenyon Sadiq goes 31.

I don't really see either slipping that far, personally. Sikkema also has Gennings Dunker at 32, which I feel is 2-3 rounds too early.

 

[stelfans]

Im getting more inclined to trade the pick for Crosby. With all the late picks they have they can move around in the middle rounds to still get a nice haul.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yet another mock with Lee Hunter to the Pats at #30.

2026 NFL mock draft 4.0: With regular season over, Raiders, Jets take QBs and 3 Ohio State players go in top 8

Over half the NFL is now turning its attention toward the offseason and the draft. Nate Tice and Charles McDonald provide some answers to their needs.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't care that PFF hate it. It works for me.

Sorry De'Zhaun Stribling 3rd Round Fourth the latest after the Combine: he's moving up.

 

[patsfaninpa]

ESPN has us taking Matayo Uiagalelei. Lord, I hope not. I’ll never be able to spell his f’n name

 

[mayoclinic]

You just did.