2026 NFL Draft: Dane Brugler releases Way Too Early Mock Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books. And amid all the drama, surprise trades, unexpected slides and, yes, even prank calls, it’s clear the only certainty with regard to the NFL Draft is its unpredictability.

Now, as NFL teams turn their attention to rookie minicamps and the upcoming OTAs, fans and media members alike already have their focus on what top college football prospects could be available atop the 2026 NFL Draft. And The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler doesn’t disappoint with his Way Too Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft projection released Monday.

After the 2025 draft featured plenty of questions about the quarterback position, Brugler believes the 2026 QB class will be loaded with first-round talents, with Texas redshirt sophomore — and NFL legacy — Arch Manning leading the way among five projected first-round quarterbacks. Brugler also determined his projected draft order by flipping the current betting odds to win Super Bowl LX.

Check out Dane Brugler’s Way Too Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft here:

1. New Orleans Saints: Arch Manning, QB, Texas

While it’s hardly a foregone conclusion that Manning will even make himself available for the 2026 NFL Draft, this potential marriage is too good to pass up. And if New Orleans actually has the No. 1 overall pick next year as this mock suggests, it’d be kismet if the Saints landed the grandson of the last quarterback they selected in the first round: Archie Manning in 1971.

Of course, Arch Manning hasn’t officially been named the Longhorns’ QB1 yet, but it’s clear that’s where things are headed after the former 2023 Five-Star Plus+ recruit tallied 1,046 total yards and 13 touchdowns as Quinn Ewers‘ backup last season.

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

A year after the Jets locked up 26-year-old Justin Fields in free agency, Brugler expects them will once again be in the market for a young QB and will target the Gamecocks’ talented dual-threat Sellers, a player Brugler described as “one of the most entertaining college quarterbacks” last season.

While he’s already a finished product, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Sellers certainly has superior skills after combining for 2,929 yards of total offense and 24 touchdowns in 2024, including 2,274 passing yards and 17 scores through the air.

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

The Giants secured their QB of the future by trading back into the bottom of Round 1 of the 2025 draft to select Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss. Now Brugler has them landing him some much-needed protection up front in Fano.

The 6-foot-6, 302-pound Fano has started in 24 of his 25 career games over the first two years at Utah, playing at both left and right tackle, to give him some well-valued versatility that could make him the first offensive lineman off the board in 2026.

4. Tennessee Titans: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Brugler described Parker as “one of those players you can’t help but notice” on film, and believes a third season at Clemson could skyrocket him up draft boards all across the NFL. And after landing QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025, the Titans shore up the other side of the ball with Parker.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Parker could be the 2026 version of Abdul Carter, especially after racking up 11 sacks, six forced fumbles and an impressive 19.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2024.

5. Cleveland Browns: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

Despite the Browns famously adding two talented QBs in the 2025 draft — Dillon Gabriel in Round and Shedeur Sanders in Round 5 — Brugler believes Cleveland will still be on the market for a quarterback in 2026, and could land the talented hometown product from Penn State.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar, who opted to return to the Nittany Lions after flirting with the 2025 draft, is the Big Ten’s most experienced starter after throwing for 3,327 yards on 66.5-percent passing and 24 touchdowns in 2024.

6. Carolina Panthers: Keldric Faulk, DT, Auburn

Much like Parker, Brugler said Faulk’s pass rushing ability was “impossible to ignore” when he studied the Auburn-Cal tape from 2024, which could have the 6-foot-6 270-pound Tigers defender in the running to be the first defensive player off the board in 2026.

Faulk enters the 2025 season as a two-year starting defensive end that ranked second on Auburn’s roster with seven sacks, along with 45 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 2024.

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

Brugler pointed out the last Top 10 safety selection was Jamal Adams in 2017, and if anyone has the talent to break that streak, it’s Downs — the former Alabama signee who transferred to Ohio State and quickly established himself as college football’s top safety as a sophomore.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Downs ranked third on the Buckeyes’ 2025 National Champion squad with 82 tackles and eight pass deflected — with two interceptions — while also flashing on punt return in 2024.

8. Indianapolis Colts: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

At 6-foot-7 and 360-pounds, Proctor is a behemoth and will undoubtedly be vying to be the first offensive lineman off the board next year with another productive season in Tuscaloosa.

Brugler described Proctor’s early season play in 2024 as “dominant” before taking a step back as the season progressed. Still, Proctor is a preseason All-American candidate in 2025 and could provide needed protection for whoever wins the Colts’ QB1 battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.

9. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Austin Barber, OT, Florida

The Browns received this pick for trading the 2025 No. 2 overall pick to Jacksonville for two-way superstar Travis Hunter, a decision that upset many Browns fans. While a second Top 10 pick isn’t guaranteed, and dependent on where the Jaguars finish in 2025, the ability to add elite OL protection is always welcomed.

And the 6-foot-6, 322-pound Barber certainly qualifies as elite after flashing an ability “to torque defenders off balance once he latches,” according to Brugler, during his five years in Gainesville.

10. New England Patriots: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon

After focusing on the offensive trenches with OL Will Campbell at No. 4 overall in 2025, the Patriots look to the other side of the ball next year and land the younger Uiagalelei out of Oregon to round out Brugler’s Top 10.

Brugler described the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Uiagalelei as “a joy to watch” in 2024, when he led the Ducks with 10.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss alongside 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon.

Dane Brugler’s Way Too Early 2026 NFL Mock Draft, pick Nos. 11-32:

11. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
12. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
13. Miami Dolphins: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
14. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
15. Arizona Cardinals: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
16. Pittsburgh Steelers: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
17. Chicago Bears: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
18. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LT Overton, DT, Alabama
20. Houston Texans: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
21. Minnesota Vikings: Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Tyreak Sapp, EDGE, Florida
23. San Francisco 49ers: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State
24. Green Bay Packers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
25. Washington Commanders: Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
26. Cincinnati Bengals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
27. Los Angeles Rams: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
28. Detroit Lions: Anto Saka, EDGE, Northwestern
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Keanu Tanuvasa, DT, BYU
30. Buffalo Bills: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
31. Baltimore Ravens: Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College