2026 Mock Draft Thread

[manxman2601]

So if that mock came to pass:

QB: Maye
RB: Henderson
WR: Bell, Williams, Diggs
TE: Henry
OL: Campbell, Wilson, Bradbury, Ioane, Fanu

DL: Williams, Barmore
EDGE: Landry, Rhodes
LB: Spillane, Gibbons
S: Woodson, Faulcy
CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Jones

1. That's an OL I'd be very happy with. With Logan Jones, a super athletic center being Bradbury's long-term replacement.

2. Don't discount Rodriguez at linebacker. Highest graded linebacker in CFB this year and 2nd best coverage grade. Not an athlete but super smart.

3. Rhodes is all about upside. Only 20 with excellent size and athleticism. A pass rushing Keldric Faulk but better equipped for the edge in a 4-3. A developmental prospect for sure but similar to the drafting of Jared Wilson.

 

[mayoclinic]

I was.just listing likely starters. The picks from 154 on are outstanding developmental / depth prospects.

Rhodes is my alternative to Keldric Faulk. Very intriguing guy. He's in the EDGE 3 possibilities.

 

[manxman2601]

I was.just listing likely starters. The picks from 154 on are outstanding developmental / depth prospects.

Rhodes is my alternative to Keldric Faulk. Very intriguing guy. He's in the EDGE 3 possibilities.

Faulk is a very good prospect but I do have concerns about how he fits our roster. If we didn't have Williams and Barmore, he'd be ideal for going inside on passing downs but you don't want those guys coming off the field and Faulk is not really a 4-3 passing down EDGE.

 

[manxman2601]

So if that mock came to pass:

QB: Maye
RB: Henderson
WR: Bell, Williams, Diggs
TE: Henry
OL: Campbell, Wilson, Bradbury, Ioane, Fanu

DL: Williams, Barmore
EDGE: Landry, Rhodes
LB: Spillane, Gibbons
S: Woodson, Faulcy
CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Jones

I was saddened not to pick Reese but I don't think you turn your back on Fano if he's available. To lock up both OT spots in only the second year of a rebuild is a great way to start.

I think Fano is my no 3 now behind Bain and Downs in tier one, Reese is becoming my no 4 in his own tier with Tyson, Lemon, Sadiq, Faulk, Woods and Delane in tier 3.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would still pick Reese. BPA over need, plus I think he'd have the most impact on the defense.

I understand the desire to lock down both tackle positions, though. But I think that can probably be accomplished day 2.

 

[manxman2601]

If I had to guess right now who Vrabel picks in the first round next year I think he goes defense and I would guess:

1. Caleb Downs - It just feels like a Vrabel pick. Obvious Ohio State connection, very smart.

2. TJ Parker - High floor with upside. Yes he's been under productive this year, but he's still performing at a high level in run defense and only Mikail Kamara and Eric O'Neill got more pressures last year, neither of whom are reasonably expected to go in the first. And only O'Neill beat Parker for sacks so it's not as though he's incapable as a pass rusher. 12 sacks and over 50 pressures. I wonder if it's schematic this year and Parker is being expected to hold the edge more often?

3. Arvell Reese - I have to include him. High floor, high upside and Ohio State, but I think at a position which is less needy.

4. Keldric Faulk/ OL- perhaps following the reported interest in Mikael Williams or continue to build through the trenches.

The obvious caveats apply. Just my guess.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Pats were reportedly VERY high on Jalon Walker last year, and might well have taken them at #4 if LT had not been such a need. Reese has even more upside. His ability to track and shed, rush, spy and mirror give him so much value.

I can see former Buckeye and Ohio St. DC salivating over Downs and Reese. With can be used in so many different ways.

I would think he might consider Rhodes before Parker, both after Faulk. Again, bigger EDGE, a bit in the Mykel Williams mold.

Just my guess, no better than anyone else's.

 

[manxman2601]

The Pats were reportedly VERY high on Jalon Walker last year, and might well have taken them at #4 if LT had not been such a need. Reese has even more upside. His ability to track and shed, rush, spy and mirror give him so much value.

I can see form Buckeye and Ohio St. DC salivating over Downs and Reese. With can be used in so many different ways.

I would think ge might consider Rhodes before Parker, both after Faulk. Again, bigger EDGE, a bit in the Mykel Williams mold.

Just my guess, no better than anyone else's.

Rhodes is certainly a possibility but I need to see more evidence he's a genuine first round prospect before adding him to the list.

You might be right about the Walker link but I went with the more obvious needs. That doesn't mean I'm right though.

As for Downs v Reese, it could probably come down to a conversation with Matt Patricia and who he recommends.

 

[mayoclinic]

I can live with that.

 

[mayoclinic]

Right now I have Rhodes/Parker/Uiagalelei in my 2nd tier of EDGEs behind Bain and Faulk, all as 1st/2nd guys for now. Lots could change.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

What is more interesting, he has about 10 guys who aren't in the usual 1st round suspects:

Just a reminder: around the combine, you can look at a mock roughly this way:

1-10: Almost all these players will be in the top 10, in some order
11-20: Almost all these players will go in the first round, though not necessarily top 20
21-32: About half of these players will not be first rounders

 

[manxman2601]

The PFF college guys, Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, did their first mock draft of the season.

TLDR: Of our general favourites, Arvell Resse, Mansoor Delane and Kenyon Sadiq were still avaialble. All the usual suspects plus Maiogoa, Tyson and Lemon had gone. They picked Delane for us.

I'd be happy with that although I'd have picked Reese and maybe Sadiq ahead of him. However, the PFF guys aren't too high on Reese yet which explains why they didn't pick him. Still, Delane and Gonzo as the future is damn good.

 

[mayoclinic]

I am emphatically NOT a PFF fan. Their ratings and board don't make any sense to me.

Very happy if some teams make those picks.

Delane good, but no way I take him over Arvell Reese at @12.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Some food for thought. . . . Here's the draft history for the Titans, where Vrabel was head coach from 2018 to 2023.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/draft.htm

 

[mayoclinic]

I will be fine if we get Jeffrey Simmons, Peter Skoronski, and AJ Brown in the 2026 draft.

 

[BobDigital]

My Current Mock

1st rd - Denzel Boston - WR/Lemon - WR/Tyson - WR - I just think we need a #1 weapon. No more trying to find guys in rounds 2-4. Pick a guy high who has top end talent. Diggs isn't a long term option and Henry/Hooper aren't getting younger. I had Tyson as a 2nd rounder before the year started with potential upside. And he has certainly take that next step. But Boston has been my guy all along. Lemon is someone i am warming up on too.

2nd rd - Sabb - S - They certainly could use some help on D. And while DL is the flashy choice. The lack of decent safety play, particularly when the CBs have issues is glaring. Sabb if he is there could be great value. This is a safety heavy class i think and someone may fall 15 more picks than they should. If so we should scoop them up. Kilgrove could be the guy to fall though, and i'd be fine picking him. After ignoring defense last year we need to address it in the first 2 rounds a least a little.

3rd Greg Crippen - C - I caught 1 particularly good game from him, and it kind of sold me. i love how fast he moves, how heads up and aware he is, and how physical he can be if called upon (though i think he is more of a technique guy than power). I think he climbs up boards enough to make this pick make sense in the 3rd, and he replaces Onwenu or Bradbury.

4th - Eli Rairdon - TE - Just look at him. I mean really look. His stats weren't great last year. But look at his feet. His fluidity. He isn't so quick or so fast... but kind of quick and kind of fast. But at 6'7 with a huge wing span he doesn't need to be. But he just looks so comfortable and coordinated at his size. This guy i think will be a riser and is only starting to get the hang of how to use his ability. Late bloomer type. If he doesn't rise up boards too much i'd jump on him here. I think he is going to be something in the NFL. Has a few bad habits in his route running and after the catch, but reps and coaching will help with that.

 

[mayoclinic]

Great to have some fresh eyes, BobDigital!

Need to look at Sabb, Tripped, and Rairdon.

 

[manxman2601]

My Current Mock

1st rd - Denzel Boston - WR/Lemon - WR/Tyson - WR - I just think we need a #1 weapon. No more trying to find guys in rounds 2-4. Pick a guy high who has top end talent. Diggs isn't a long term option and Henry/Hooper aren't getting younger. I had Tyson as a 2nd rounder before the year started with potential upside. And he has certainly take that next step. But Boston has been my guy all along. Lemon is someone i am warming up on too.

2nd rd - Sabb - S - They certainly could use some help on D. And while DL is the flashy choice. The lack of decent safety play, particularly when the CBs have issues is glaring. Sabb if he is there could be great value. This is a safety heavy class i think and someone may fall 15 more picks than they should. If so we should scoop them up. Kilgrove could be the guy to fall though, and i'd be fine picking him. After ignoring defense last year we need to address it in the first 2 rounds a least a little.

3rd Greg Crippen - C - I caught 1 particularly good game from him, and it kind of solid me. i love how fast he moves, how heads up and aware he is, and how physical he can be if called upon. I think he climbs up boards enough to make this pick make sense, and he replaces Onwenu or Bradbury.

4th - Eli Rairdon - TE - Just look at him. I mean really look. His stats weren't great last year. But look at his feet. His fluidity. He isn't so quick or so fast... but kind of quick and kind of fast. But at 6'7 with a huge wing span he doesn't need to be. But he just looks so comfortable and coordinated at his size. This guy i think will be a riser and is only starting to get the hang of how to use his ability. Late bloomer type. If he doesn't rise up boards too much i'd jump on him here. I think he is going to be something in the NFL. Has a few bad habits in his route running and after the catch, but reps and coaching will help with that.

It’s funny you should mention Raridon because I’ve just started watching games from this year that I missed and I started with ND v TAMU and Raridon has really stood out. I need to see more.

 

[mayoclinic]

My early thoughts on a likely top 20:

QB 3-5: Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore are locks if they come out. Mateer likely if he recovers from thumb injury. Sellers not NFL ready, but has traits, and teams are QB desperate. Allar doesn't look like a 1st rounder, Manning not ready, Klubnik not a 1st rounder. Carson Beck or Ty Simpson could move up.

RB 1: Jeremiyah Love will be a top 20 pick.

WR 2-4: Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon are locks. Carnell Tate could be a lock with another performance like ge had vs. Minnesota.

TE 1: Kenyon Sadiq looks the part.

OL 2-5: Spencer Fanu and Francis Mauigoa are locks. The rest unclear, but OL are prized. 5 went top-20 in 2025.

DT 1-3: Peter Woods a lock, likely top 10. No one else a lock, but DTs are highly prized, and several could emerge.

EDGE 2-4: Rueben Bain and Keldric Faulk are locks, likely top 10 picks. No one else a lock, but EDGE rushers are prized.

LB 1-2: Arvell Reese will be a top 20 pick. CJ Allen, Sonny Style or Anthony Hill could sneak in.

S 1: Caleb Downs a lock, possible top 10.

CB 2-3: Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy (if healthy) likely locks.

I currently have 8 locks on offense and 7 locks on defense, with the remaining 5 undecided.

 

[manxman2601]

My early thoughts on a likely top 20:

QB 3-5: Fernandi Mendoza and Dantr Moore are locks if they come out. Mateer likely if he recovers from thumb injury. Sellers not NFL ready, but has traits, and teams are QB desperate. Allar doesn't look like a 1st rounder, Manning not ready, Klubnik not a 1st rounder.

RB 1: Jeremiyah Love will be a top 20 pick.

WR 2-4: Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon are locks. Carnell Tate could be a lock with another performance like ge had vs. Minnesota.

TE 1: Kenyon Sadiq looks the part.

OL 2-5: Spencer Fanu and Francis Mauigoa are locks. The rest unclear, but OL are prized. 5 went top-20 in 2025.

DT 1-3: Peter Woods a lock, likely top 10. No one else a lock, but DTs are highly prized, and several could emerge.

EDGE 2-4: Rueben Bain and Keldric Faulk are locks, likely top 10 picks. No one else a lock, but EDGE rushers are prized.

LB 1-2: Arvell Reese will be a top 20 pick. CJ Allen, Sonny Style or Anthony Hill could sneak in.

S 1: Caleb Downs a lock, possible top 10.

CB 2-3: Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy (if healthy) likely locks.

I currently have 8 locks on offense and 7 locks on defense, with the remaining 5 undecided.

I went back and looked at Jordan Reid's mock last October and a third of his top 20 in that mock ended up falling outside the first round. On the face of it, I agree with your list, but there will be injuries, people not declaring, reports of character issues and leaks about how the NFL values different prospects that will change the dynamic.

Players that ended up being taken in the top 20 that weren't in Reid's first round:

Armand Membou
Tyler Booker
Jahdae Barron
Kenneth Grant
Grey Zabel