2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: 3 QBs go in top 4, while Cowboys go defense twice and Chiefs select Travis Kelce's successor

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2026-nfl-mock-draft-20-3-qbs-go-in-top-4-while-cowboys-go-defense-twice-and-chiefs-select-travis-kelces-successor-000827741.html

The NFL is about to reach its midway point, and while parity is ruling at large, some teams and fans are already eyeing how they can improve at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh next spring.

We’re here to help you out!

In this mock draft, Charles McDonald makes the odd-numbered picks, and Nate Tice makes the even. Draft order via Tankathon.

1. New Orleans Saints — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This one writes itself. The Saints just benched Spencer Rattler in favor of second-round rookie Tyler Shough for the remainder of the season. Rattler was playing well enough, but wasn’t showing the level of improvement the Saints apparently want to see, putting them back in the quarterback market. Considering Shough wasn’t good enough to immediately beat out Rattler, the team is likely going to be looking for a starting QB here with the first pick.

Mendoza from Indiana has established him as the top quarterback so far with a fantastic blend of arm strength, accuracy and ability to operate an offense at a high level. — Charles McDonald

2. New York Jets — LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

Sellers has top-of-the-chart traits, is a master of improvisation, and is the only thing that consistently works in South Carolina’s offense. His decision-making and consistency from the pocket has improved this season, even if the results haven’t all been there. Sellers is young (still just 20) and might go back to school, but his upside is tantalizing and he has a higher floor right now than I think he gets credit for. He’d be the next beacon of light for a Jets franchise that is always looking for their next great hope at QB. — Nate Tice

3. Tennessee Titans — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Tennessee takes another dip into the Miami well with the selection of Bain here. He is a high-floor, high-upside prospect that comes NFL-ready to be a hammer against the run with real skills and juice as a pass rusher. At times this season, he has completely taken over games for Miami and projects to be a Day 1 starter. He very well might be the best overall player in the class.

4. Cleveland Browns — Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

The Browns go to Eugene in back-to-back years to take a QB. Moore has been a steady operator for Oregon’s offense in his first year starting. He has solid size (listed at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds), is a good athlete and has a good arm. He makes a lot of good decisions, but still needs to learn to get comfortable pushing the ball into tighter windows. He’s had some real good stretches over the first half of the season, and would be an improvement over who else the Browns currently have in their QB room.

5. Miami Dolphins — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Financially, there’s a chance Tua Tagovailoa remains the Dolphins’ starter for another season. If he is — or even if he’s not! — the Dolphins desperately need to use valuable assets to improve their offensive line, which they do here with the selection of Fano. He has been incredible this season and profiles as a long-term starter.

6. New York Giants — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Giants could look to help their defense here, and Caleb Downs is a possibility. Instead they continue to add playmakers to their offense, and pairing the explosive Tyson with Malik Nabers (whenever he comes back from injury) would further bolster an exciting young group of offensive skill players (Cam Skattebo, Theo Johnson) with the Giants to surround Jaxson Dart.

7. Baltimore Ravens — Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Woods hasn’t played up to his massive potential this year, but he’s too talented to slip too far in the draft. This would be a match made in heaven if the Ravens stay in the top 10, giving them a blue-chip front seven player they desperately need right now.

8. Las Vegas Raiders — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

I’m a big fan of Lomu, and still think he has a chance to battle his teammate Spencer Fano as the first tackle off the board in the spring. Lomu still needs to get stronger, but he is an easy mover with developing technique and has some real flashes in pass protection. The Raiders desperately need an injection of offensive line talent, and Lomu can be a gem with some polish.

9. Arizona Cardinals — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Safety might not be the biggest need in the world for the Cardinals, but this is just too good of a player to pass up at this point. Caleb Downs has been the best safety in the country since he was a true freshman at Alabama and has only gotten better since then. There is no such thing as a “bust proof” prospect, but Downs feels about as close as it gets. Positional value is the only thing that would keep him out of the top three.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

The Bengals getting Faulk here would be outstanding for Cincinnati. Faulk is built like an ideal 4-3 defensive end, but can fit in a variety of defensive schemes. Auburn moves him across the defensive line, including inside as a pass rusher and as a two-gapping defensive end. He’s long, explosive and has really improved his hand usage this year. While Faulk has more to tap into, he’s already an effective player against both the run and pass, and he plays hard when taking on blockers.

11. Washington Commanders — Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Reese has been one of the stars of the college football season and has a chance to go much higher than this when it’s all said and done. Reese does a lot of things well, but his ability to be an aggressive player downhill and cause headaches for the offense will be incredibly attractive to a coach like Dan Quinn.

12. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Rams take their quarterback of the future. Simpson has just an average build, but still has a strong arm with a quick release. Simpson is aggressive, willing to push the ball, and gives his teammates chances to make plays. His downfield-attacking mentality and willingness to stand in the pocket will match nicely with what Sean McVay’s offense has become. The little bit of creativity and ability to create is a nice bonus.

13. Minnesota Vikings — T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

The Vikings once again have a solid defense, but they could still use a bit more talent that’s capable of winning one-on-one matchups. Here, they take another first-round stab at an edge rusher with T.J. Parker from Clemson, who might be able to give Brian Flores the ace pass rusher he desperately needs to make this defense a more sustainable unit in the playoffs.

14. Houston Texans — Francis Mauigoa, G, Miami

Mauigoa is a tackle for the Hurricanes, but I see his best spot ending up at guard in the NFL. Regardless, he would give the constantly reworking Texans offensive line an instant starter on the inside, with a chance to hang at right tackle (or at least give the Texans some nice bonus depth).

15. Dallas Cowboys — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Pick a defender! Any defender! The Cowboys need them all, but here they go with Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of the Falcons’ A.J. Terrell. The Cowboys need a blue-chipper at cornerback considering the play they’ve gotten from that unit this year. Terrell is a smooth corner who plays the ball and would be a good start to the multiyear rebuild the defense faces.

16. Carolina Panthers — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey is a pass-rushing demon that has been a true game wrecker as a pass rusher in Lubbock. He has explosive athleticism and excellent balance that lets him keep moving forward, even against chip help and double-teams. He would give the Panthers a different type of weapon in their front seven to get after quarterbacks.

17. Chicago Bears — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Chicago needs a real deal running back. Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame is a real deal running back. That seems pretty clear cut! The Bears’ offense is starting to find its groove in year one under Ben Johnson, but they’re not able to take advantage of the potential of the running game due to poor running back play. Love would fix that in a hurry.

18. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Proctor has been inconsistent this season, but his rare size and flashes of dominance will be hard for OL-needy teams to pass up. The Browns could use offensive help at a few spots, and there are some excellent wide receivers still available here, but Proctor would provide a building block for an offensive line that’s about to need them.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jayden Maiava, QB, USC

NFL fans might not be familiar with Jayden Maiava yet, but he has a chance to rise up the boards this season. The former UNLV transfer is a big, athletic quarterback with serious running skills and a live arm to go with it. He’s still raw and figuring things out, but if Aaron Rodgers comes back for another season in 2026, Maiava might be solid long-term plan at quarterback for Pittsburgh.

20. San Francisco 49ers — A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

Washington has been one of this draft class’ biggest risers. He can take over games with his strength and powerful hands and can consistently collapse pockets with his bullrush. Not having Fred Warner and Nick Bosa has definitely hurt the 49ers, but they’re still trying to find ways to slow down opposing run games. Washington would synergize nicely with what the 49ers currently have and give them another excellent young piece to join 2025 first rounder Mykel Williams to quickly turn a weakness into a strength.

21. Los Angeles Chargers — Matayo Uiagalelei, DL/Edge, Oregon

Just like last year, the Chargers’ defense needs an infusion of young talent. Jesse Minter is a great defensive coordinator, but the pieces just aren’t there yet in terms of being able to build a sustainably good defense capable of supporting a playoff run. Matayo Uiagalelei from Oregon is a high-upside, versatile defensive lineman that would fit right in with the rest of their defense and while filling a need.

22. Kansas City Chiefs — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq has the talent to go much, much higher. Viewing him purely as a pass catcher, Sadiq is explosive enough to be a mismatch in the slot and has enough blocking chops to be asked to do some of the dirty work inside the box. The Chiefs could go in a few directions at this spot, but getting a real successor for Travis Kelce who just continues to add more speed to this once again dangerous Kansas City Chiefs offense would be a terrifying thought.

Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq could be the successor to Travis Kelce at tight end in Kansas City.

(Isaiah Vazquez via Getty Images)

23. Los Angeles Rams — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Rams have had a strong year on defense, putting together a unit full of young players and getting them to play cohesive football, but they could still use an upgrade in the middle of their defense. CJ Allen has been incredible for Georgia (maybe the only good defender so far) and has helped a poor defense get out of jams routinely this season. This might be the last piece they need to complete what is one of the best young, defensive cores of the season.

24. Detroit Lions — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Lions have a deep roster and they can use that to just continue to throw bodies at certain position groups. They’ve drafted and signed cornerbacks aplenty, but they just seem to be as likely to end up in the training room as playing on Ford Field. Delane would give them another high football IQ player in their defensive backfield.

25. Buffalo Bills — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Steal. Carnell Tate might be the No. 2 wide receiver to Jeremiah Smith at Ohio State but he has No. 1 wide receiver skills, and his ability to make big plays down the field would obviously pair well with Josh Allen — and make life a little easier for Khalil Shakir.

26. Seattle Seahawks — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Seahawks will look at offensive line here, but instead further bolster their already top-end defensive unit. Styles is another speedy, playmaking Buckeye linebacker that would inject even more talent and athleticism into this defense. Putting him alongside Ernest Jones IV behind that tenacious Seahawks defensive line with Mike Macdonald pulling the strings is a team-player pairing that has me excited.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Just going to put a linebacker here every year until it happens. It’s time. Retire the No. 54 of Lavonte David and turn the page.

28. Denver Broncos — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

I know, no wide receiver. Maybe it was the recent play of Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant (alongside the contract extension of Courtland Sutton), but I think the Broncos instead address other spots in the first round. They’re loaded on defense, but with Banks they bridge the gap between the now and near-future as they try to reload the position. Sean Payton sure will love Denzel Boston this draft cycle, though.

29. New England Patriots — Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn

The floor for the Patriots’ offense is incredibly high as long as Drake Maye is going to play at this level, but they have got to get more out of the running game to take the next step as an offense. Their offensive line still needs a few upgrades and they get a strong one here.

30. Philadelphia Eagles — Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Eagles may have just traded for cornerback Michael Carter II, but getting a long-term answer opposite of Quinyon Mitchell while keeping Cooper Dejean in the slot is paramount for this offseason. McCoy might very well be CB1 and could still go higher despite still recovering from an ACL injury. But he would give the Eagles a truly upper echelon cornerback trio to have for years to come.

31. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) — Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

Kayden McDonald can help accomplish what Jerry Jones wanted to accomplish with the acquisition of Kenny Clark this summer. McDonald is a force in the interior and has some decent pass rush traits for a 330-pound defensive tackle. He has stretches where he feels absolutely unblockable and should generate some first-round buzz.

32. Indianapolis Colts — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

This might not make total sense for where the Colts are at, and cornerback is definitely in play here, but this is assuming the Colts let Alec Pierce go and don’t totally love the development of AD Mitchell so far. Boston is a true blue X wide receiver and the supreme ball-winner of this draft class. He would give the Colts — yes, picking 32 here — a true potential No. 1 receiver as they enter this new era.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/2026-nfl-mock-draft-20-3-qbs-go-in-top-4-while-cowboys-go-defense-twice-and-chiefs-select-travis-kelces-successor-000827741.html