2026 NFL Mock Draft: Way Too Early Look At Arch Manning's Landing Spot And More

The 2025 NFL draft resides blissfully in the past, and most teams have their rookie minicamps this weekend, so now feels like a good time to submit my first (and definitely way too early) mock draft for 2026.

For all our upcoming 2026 NFL draft coverage, be sure to monitor our Fantasy Life NFL Draft Hub as well as the Saturday edition of the Fantasy Life newsletter.

For the 2025 draft, I was No. 1 in big board accuracy in the Huddle Report contest and No. 3 in mock accuracy in the NFL Mock Draft Database and FantasyPros contests. Since 2020, I'm the No. 1 mocker at FantasyPros, and I'm No .6 in both mock and big board accuracy at Huddle Report over the past five years.

2026 Mock Draft Methodology

I've determined draft order by consulting the betting market — specifically team odds to win the Super Bowl and team win totals.

With this mock, I wish to accomplish a few tasks.

1. Set up my spreadsheets and models for the 2026 draft. Done-(ish).
2. Generate early thoughts on potential team needs.
3. Start to establish hierarchies within position groups.
4. Begin to identify players with a chance of going in Round 1.

At this early stage, so much is unknown and tentative in mocks. Even so, I believe a way-too-early version is an invaluable exercise, because it demands that I maintain (and maybe even build) my mock muscles in the offseason. 

2026 Mock Draft

Here's my way-too-early mock.

Must-Include Round 1 Prospects

Here are the 14 players I (right now) feel most confident about going in Round 1. These are the guys I simply had to include.

• QB: Arch Manning (Texas), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Drew Allar (Penn State), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
• OT: Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah)
• EDGE: T.J. Parker (Clemson), Peter Woods (Clemson), Keldric Faulk (Auburn), Rueben Bain (Miami)
• LB: Anthony Hill (Texas)
• CB: Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)
• S: Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

Borderline Round 1 Prospects

These are the players not included in the mock but whom I believe to be on the Round 1 borderline. With a strong 2025 college campaign, any of these prospects could catapult themselves into the top 32.

• RB: Nick Singleton (Penn State)
• WR: Antonio Williams (Clemson), Nyck Harbor (South Carolina), Evan Stewart (Oregon)
• TE: Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)
• OT: Elijah Pritchett (Alabama), Isaiah World (Oregon)
• EDGE: David Bailey (Texas Tech)
• LB: CJ Allen (Georgia)
• CB: Domani Jackson (Alabama), Mansoor Delane (LSU)

NFL Mock Draft Analysis

Because of the highly speculative nature of a year-in-advance mock, I provide only cursory notes. Anything more than that feels extraneous.

• SEC: Just a couple weeks ago, the SEC hit a couple NFL records with 15 players selected in Round 1 and 79 taken in the draft. In this mock, literally half the prospects are from the SEC. Even in the NIL era, it's still loaded with NFL talent.
• Arch Manning: I have him projected to be the No. 1 pick, but there's also a real chance he'll opt to return to college. We'll see.
• QBs: Right now, I have five QBs slotted for Round 1. It looks like a better-than-average class at the position, and I expect a handful of NFL teams to have notable QB needs next spring.
• Fantasy Football: I have just one RB and three WRs (and no TEs) projected for Round 1. It might be a good year for QBs, but it could be a modest one for the other fantasy-relevant skill positions.
• Defensive Front Seven: In the mock, I have 13 players from the defensive front seven (EDGE, DT, LB). It seems like an especially good year for high-end offball backers.