2026 NFL Draft: CBS Sports shakes up mock draft with 4 QBs taken, none of which are Arch Manning

With preseason camps more than a month away, the NFL is officially in the thick of its summer offseason. Which makes it the perfect time for fans to look ahead a little, and not just at the upcoming 2025 season.

CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson took it a step further this week with the release of his way-too-early 2026 NFL Mock Draft after taking more than a month to evaluate which current college football stars could be in contention to be selected in the first round next April. One player Wilson doesn’t expect to make himself available to be drafted is Texas QB Arch Manning, who Wilson admitted would be his top-ranked QB in any draft class once he opted to enter the NFL.

Except, there is a prevailing opinion that the Manning scion won’t be in any rush to leave college after next season — his first as the Longhorns’ starting QB — and instead will opt to return to Austin to play the 2026 season. Wilson built his way-too-early mock around this expectation, omitting Manning from among the four QBs he expects to be selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the last of which involves an interesting trade.

So, without further ado, check out CBS Sports’ latest way-too-early 2026 NFL Mock Draft without Arch Manning:

1. New Orleans Saints: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

While the Saints would undoubtedly prefer to be selecting the grandson of Archie Manning — the organization’s last and only first-round QB way back in 1971 — they instead opt for Nussmeier. He is a player Wilson believes could be the second coming of Joe Burrow.

Nussmeier enters his second season as the Tigers’ QB1 and is among the early betting favorites to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy (if it doesn’t go to Manning, of course). Still, his SEC-leading 12 interceptions last season remain a bit of a concern. If Nussmeier can cut back on the mistakes and still produce more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, he’ll be a shoo-in as the No. 1 overall pick next April.

2. Cleveland Browns: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

While the Browns currently still have major questions at quarterback after selecting both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 draft, Wilson believes the opportunity to shore up their offensive line exists here. That’s with a massive road grader like the 360-pound Proctor being too good to pass up at No. 2 overall.

Wilson gushed about Proctor’s “enormous frame and wingspan” as well as his natural athleticism, all of which would make him a leading favorite to become the first offensive lineman off the board next year. And if the Browns manage to resolve their decades-long issue at QB this season, Proctor would be an ideal option to provide them with protection for years to come.

3. New York Jets: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

The Jets could also be in the mix for a quarterback with this pick, but after signing former Bears first-round pick Justin Fields to a multi-year deal this offseason, Wilson expects the Jets to look to the other side of the ball. He has them taking the draft’s top-ranked pass rusher in Parker.

Given his long frame and off-the-charts athleticism, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Parker could be the 2026 version of Abdul Carter, who was the No. 3 overall pick of the cross-city Giants in April. Parker led Clemson with 11 sacks last season and is primed to build upon that on what would be an elite Tigers defense under new DC Tom Allen, who coached Carter last year at Penn State.

4. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

As mentioned above, after selecting Carter and future franchise QB Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 draft, Wilson expects the Giants to focus on providing Dart the needed protection. That comes in the form of the 6-foot-6, 302-pound Fano from Utah.

Wilson described Fano as a “technician in both pass protection and against the run” and believes he’d be a perfect fit in a zone-blocking scheme that is prevalent throughout the NFL. Fano also provides valuable versatility, having started more than 10 games at both left and right tackle over his last two seasons in Salt Lake City.

5. Tennessee Titans: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

After landing its quarterback of the future in Cam Ward at No. 1 overall in 2025, the Titans would be wise to focus on the other side of the ball in 2026. That could mean a second Clemson defensive lineman coming off the board in the Top 5 with the physically imposing Woods.

At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Woods has all the makings of a future All-Pro. He would be a nice complement to another former first-round pick in Jeffery Simmons, who is entering the second season of his four-year, $94 million deal he signed before last season.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Raiders landed their RB of the future in 2024 Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty in April and could be looking to fill some massive holes on the defensive side of the ball in the 2026 draft. That would make Downs, Ohio State’s versatile superstar, an ideal option in Las Vegas.

Downs is widely considered the best defensive player in college football, and there’s a legit case he’s been the best defender on the field the past two seasons at Ohio State and Alabama. Wilson is particularly high on Downs’ potential and has him graded higher than 2025 first-round safety Malaki Starks out of Georgia.

7. Carolina Panthers: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

With former No. 1 pick Bryce Young emerging as a true franchise QB after an encouraging sophomore campaign in 2024, the Panthers would be wise to continue to build around him and provide him much-needed protection in 2026. And with two OTs already off the board, Mauigoa would be a logical option here.

Wilson describes the massive 6-foot-6, 315-pound Mauigoa as a “road grader/earth mover in the run game” with “insane athleticism.” He would provide Young and the Panthers a reliable blocker off the edge for years to come.

8. Indianapolis Colts: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

After all the talk about QBs, Wilson finally gifts us with his second quarterback coming off the board to the Colts. Indianapolis enters 2025 with an open QB1 competition between a pair of former first-round picks in Anthony Richardson and free agent signing Daniel Jones.

The 6-foot-5, 236-pound Allar turned down interest to enter the 2025 draft to run it back with Penn State following an inconsistent 2024. Despite those issues, Allar remains a favorite to be among the first QBs off the board in 2026 and would be a welcome addition in Indianapolis after accounting for more than 3,600 total yards and 30 TDs last season.

9. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

With Allar — a Cleveland-area native — off the board, Wilson has the Browns turning away from QB and instead flipping the first-round pick it received from Jacksonville in the Travis Hunter trade for a defender. One that he described as “Ed Oliver meets Jared Verse.”

That’s obviously some lofty praise for the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain Jr., who is “one of the best edge rushers when it comes to inside counters,” according to Wilson. Given his positional versatility to play anywhere along the line in the NFL, Bain would fit nicely working opposite Myles Garrett for years to come.

10. Miami Dolphins: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson

Depending on how things fare in 2025, the Dolphins could very well be facing a major restructuring should ownership opt to move on from head coach Mike McDaniel. But if he’s still there, Miami will likely be in the mix to find a replacement for aging star Tyreek Hill, who turns 32 before next year’s draft.

While not the biggest option, Wilson sees a lot to like in the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Williams after he broke out as Clemson’s top receiving option with 904 yards and 12 TDs in 2024. Williams also provides return experience that could make him the first WR off the board in 2026.

CBS Sports’ latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, pick Nos. 11-32:

11. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
12. New England Patriots: Xavier Chaplin, OT, Auburn
13. Seattle Seahawks: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
15. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
16. Arizona Cardinals: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
17. Chicago Bears: Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
18. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
19. Houston Texans: Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina
20. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
22. San Francisco 49ers: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
23. Los Angeles Chargers: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
24. Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
25. Green Bay Packers: A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State
26. Washington Commanders: Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU
27. Los Angeles Rams: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
28. Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss
30. Buffalo Bills: Eric Singleton Jr., WR, Auburn
31. Baltimore Ravens: Nic Anderson, WR, LSU
32. New York Jets (mock trade w/ PHI): LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
37. Philadelphia Eagles (mock trade w/ NYJ): Christen Miller, DL, Georgia