2026 NFL mock draft: Broad-open QB race creates chaos, Giants take high 5 defender

An explosive, high-motor LB with a flexible ability set that features elite closing pace vs. each the run and the cross. He’s a terror coming downhill, showcasing his power and athleticism to shoot gaps, shed blocks, and collapse the pocket. Reese is a wrap-up tackling machine who persistently performs with an aggressive edge and the flexibility to line up throughout the entrance seven. One of many largest risers over the primary month of the school season.

Downs may very well be a Troy Polamalu-level expertise within the NFL. He is solely 5-foot-11, and he could not find yourself operating a 4.35-second 40-yard sprint, however I do not care. Not even somewhat bit. Each Kyle Hamilton and Brian Department slipped on draft day due to mediocre 40 occasions. They’re two of the most effective younger defensive backs in soccer. Downs is a run-game enforcer and has the sideline-to-sideline juice, coupled with the short-area burst, to excel in cross protection.

Mendoza is a poised, correct passer who has plus arm expertise, persistently delivering catchable balls on time and in rhythm and excelling on layered second-level routes. He reveals NFL-level subject imaginative and prescient and protection recognition, persistently ripping throws with anticipation. Whereas not a real creator, Mendoza navigates collapsing pockets successfully and may make correct off-platform throws, displaying a peaceful, environment friendly type paying homage to Jared Goff.

Woods is a strong, explosive inside defensive lineman who persistently wins on the level of assault with violent arms, low pad stage, and distinctive power. He is immovable towards the run — stacking, shedding, and disrupting performs within the backfield whereas sustaining hole integrity — and may overwhelm inside blockers. Although not reliant on a deep transfer set, Woods’ athleticism, effort, and persistence permit him to break down pockets and create chaos from a number of alignments.

Moore is a composed, assured pocket passer who thrives beneath stress, persistently working by means of progressions and delivering correct, tight-window throws with anticipation. He is extremely efficient when shifting the launch level, displaying the arm power and contact to assault each stage of the sphere — typically off-platform. Whereas not a real dual-threat, Moore’s poise, imaginative and prescient, and athleticism permit him to increase performs and create when safety breaks down, and he repeatedly reveals up in huge moments.

First, Faulk simply turned 20 in September. Second, he is unofficially 6-foot-6 and 288 kilos, and he’s already near-elite as a run defender. The ability and athleticism with which he performs makes it a straightforward projection to see him as a dominant cross rusher down the street. Perhaps it does not occur this season, and perhaps it does not occur till, say, 12 months 2 within the league, however when all of it comes collectively, it should be scary.

Simpson is a big-armed pocket passer who performs with composure and excellent psychological processing each earlier than and after the snap. He performs with an aggressive confidence and excels at navigating muddy pockets, throwing precisely on brief and intermediate routes, and ripping tight-window throws with anticipation — although he has been traditionally inconsistent on deep balls. Simpson is athletic sufficient to purchase time along with his legs to increase performs and transfer the sticks.

Fano is an athletic, technically sound correct sort out who performs with a powerful base, fast ft, and glorious stability in cross safety, persistently mirroring pace rushers and dealing with stunts with persistence and management. He redirects nicely towards flexible edge rushers and anchors successfully regardless of not being an overwhelming mauler. Within the run sport, Fano excels in wide-zone schemes, utilizing his mobility to succeed in the second stage and end blocks.

Highway grader/earth-mover within the run sport with monumental measurement and insane athleticism for that measurement. He performs with an edge and is healthier vs. the run than in cross safety proper now however nicely above common in each departments. He might play proper sort out or kick inside to protect.

Bain Jr. is an explosive, violent edge rusher with uncommon energy and bend, able to turning the nook from extensive alignments and overwhelming tackles with speed-to-power. He wins with a deep arsenal of pass-rush strikes — from bull rushes to inside counters — and performs with distinctive contact stability and hand utilization to shed blocks each as a rusher and run defender. Relentlessly disruptive and extremely explosive off the snap, Bain persistently collapses pockets, units a agency edge, and makes influence performs from whistle to whistle.

Love has legit observe pace and high-end acceleration. He can cease on a dime and redirect with uncommon change of course, whereas taking part in with good contact stability and the footwork to jump-cut to keep away from defenders earlier than hitting the crease.

Tate is a protracted strider with an enormous catch radius and dependable arms who makes contested catches downfield look straightforward. He flashes quickness and short-area agility to create separation on the high of his route and has the flexibility to make defenders miss after the catch. His ball-tracking, route-running, and talent to function in house make him a Day 1 influence participant on the subsequent stage.

Cisse is a flexible nook who can persistently lock down receivers in press man protection and showcases elite athleticism, with explosive downhill pace and next-level change-of-direction means. Whether or not he is driving on fast routes from off protection or taking part in in press, he is persistently in place for pass-breakup alternatives. He is additionally top-of-the-line run-defending CBs on this whole class.

Proctor is a large, athletic LT with spectacular stability and the flexibility to maneuver successfully in house, making him a first-round expertise in each cross safety and perimeter run schemes. When locked in, he can dominate defensive linemen within the run sport and neutralize elite edge rushers cross safety. Whereas his weight, footwork and consistency could be a problem at occasions, his measurement, athleticism, and upside make him a possible top-tier sort out when absolutely centered.

McCoy is a bodily nook who can play man on an island and can be comfy in zone seems. He is in section on vertical routes, and in run assist he comes downhill seeking to thump somebody. He is coming off a January ACL harm and whereas he is but to get again on the sphere, he might find yourself being the most effective CB on this class.

Quincy Rhodes Jr. is a uncommon size-speed athlete who overwhelms tackles with energy and size whereas flashing superior pass-rush strikes for his age. His long-arm bull rush and explosive inside spin persistently collapse the pocket, and his stability and quickness permit him to chase down cell quarterbacks. Nonetheless simply 20 years previous, his finest soccer is forward of him.

Ioane is without doubt one of the cleanest prospects on this class, excelling as an earth-mover within the run sport, and the athleticism to be efficient in each hole and zone schemes. In cross safety, he performs with a powerful base, utilizing a well-timed, highly effective punch to neutralize the bull rush.

Pregnon is an absolute mauler within the run sport, possessing the power to maneuver defensive linemen on the level of assault and the athleticism to simply get to and deal with second-level defenders — he anchors in addition to any inside offensive lineman within the class. In cross safety, a balanced base, sturdy arms, and clean footwork permit him to reflect and redirect rushers and he makes it look straightforward.

Washington is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who can collapse the pocket or blow up a run play when he fires off low and performs with leverage. He is at his finest attacking gaps, the place his burst, power, and motor let him disrupt performs earlier than they develop. When he is locked in, he seems like a real difference-maker who can overwhelm blockers with each quickness and energy.

Allen is a constant downside for offensive linemen attempting to dam him due to his mixture of pace, quickness and energy. He has a nostril for the ball, not often takes false steps, and is a dependable, bodily tackler who limits yards after contact all around the subject. He can greater than maintain his personal in protection vs. TEs and slot receivers, and he brings juice as a blitzer too.

Tyson is an explosive receiver with the dimensions, pace, and catch radius to win in any respect three ranges. A clean hands-catcher, he persistently makes contested and high-point grabs look easy whereas creating stunning separation on the high of his routes for his measurement. Tyson can hit high finish in only a few steps and reveals the kind of short-area quickness reserved for smaller, shiftier WRs. He is additionally an asset within the display sport, making him a dynamic menace each exterior and from the slot.

Parker is an explosive, high-motor edge rusher with the juice to each collapse pockets with a bull rush and the bend to win across the nook. He is stout and disciplined towards the run, from setting the sting, to blowing up performs within the backfield along with his quickness. He reveals stunning versatility, with the athleticism to drop into protection from extensive alignments and disrupt passing lanes.

Concepcion is a flexible WR who makes use of his quickness and burst to persistently get open towards man protection, proving himself a deep menace with the pace to stack defenders. He’s a pure arms catcher who runs exact routes to all three ranges and provides vital worth as a dynamic punt returner with spectacular YAC means.

An enormous, bodily WR with a large catch radius, contested-catch means, and the pace to separate rapidly and hit top-end velocity in 2–3 steps. Boston is an efficient route runner in any respect three ranges, will run by means of arm tackles in house, and may outmuscle defenders within the purple zone. Whereas primarily an outdoor menace, his measurement, power, and arms make him a possible matchup downside within the slot too. Added bonus: he is a legit menace as a punt returner.

Terrell has NFL bloodlines — his brother is former first-round choose AJ Terrell. Avieon performs greater than his listed measurement (see his matchup in 2024 towards former Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor). He can keep in section on vertical routes and has good ball expertise and he’ll attempt to bait QBs into making throws. In run assist, he performs exterior CB like he is a powerful security.

Smith is a clean and athletic cross protector who hasn’t allowed a sack this season, he excels at mirroring pace rushers and seamlessly handles stunting defensive linemen. He performs with a powerful anchor and heavy arms, flashes lateral quickness and alter of course that permits him to get to the second stage or blowing up defenders within the display sport.

Hood, who continues to be 20 years previous, is a bodily, aggressive CB with glorious man and zone protection expertise, persistently in section and creating alternatives for PBUs and interceptions. He reveals elite change-of-direction means in house, drives on fast routes and screens, and is a dependable wrap-up tackler who can restrict YAC towards shifty ball carriers.

Neal is a long-striding, bodily nook who excels in vertical protection, utilizing his top and make-up pace to persistently keep in section and be in place for pass-breakup alternatives downfield. He is comfy in each man and zone schemes, is a purple zone asset as a consequence of his measurement and physicality, and his willingness to come back downhill and sort out like a security makes him a dependable run defender.

McNeil-Warren is a sideline-to-sideline missile who’s an explosive thumper coming downhill. He affords versatility and vary on the again finish, utilizing his closing pace and ball expertise to make in any respect three ranges of the protection.

Kinds is a quick, bodily linebacker who flies downhill and makes performs all around the subject. He is robust sufficient to tackle offensive linemen within the field, athletic sufficient to cowl floor in house, and good sufficient to deal with a number of roles throughout a protection. Whether or not he is blitzing, filling a niche, or dropping into protection, he performs with urgency, confidence, and the sort of versatility coaches love.

There was a purpose the Utes felt comfy sufficient shifting Spencer Fano to the correct facet and giving the LT job to Lomu. He has a protracted body and performs with surprisingly good footwork, and whereas he had his struggles vs. Texas Tech … so did each different offensive line that needed to see Romello Top and David Bailey. Lomu’s a high-upside, athletic offensive lineman.

Bailey brings a mixture of energy and athleticism off the sting, pairing a powerful long-arm transfer and a nasty bull rush with the burst to win across the nook. At 247 kilos, he is lighter than some, however his power, motor, and number of pass-rush strikes make him a relentless downside for tackles who do not anchor nicely.