Happy college and NFL football season everyone! Yes, football is FINALLY back; on both Saturdays and Sundays now. This year’s edition of The Sports Bank NFL mock draft has a new feature. Sports Bank Founder Paul M. Banks is a Contributor to Draft Wire, USA Today’s Draft site. So in every update we include snippets from Banks’ articles in the player descriptions of our 2026 NFL mock draft.
And as far as we know, The Sports Bank is the only independently-owned, mom and pop shop website to publish a mock draft in all four of the major North American sports.
Here’s the link to our final 2025 NHL mock draft. For the final 2025 NBA mock draft, go here. And our last MLB mock draft can be found at this link.
Past NFL Mock Drafts, final editions: 2024 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2010 2009
As always, enjoy our 50 worst NFL Draft buzz phrases, cliches and other assorted word salad. Our 2026 NFL mock draft order (projected) is based on current Super Bowl odds. In cases where the odds were tied, we broke the ties via alphabetical order.
Team needs were often, but not always taken into account for this 2026 NFL mock draft.
1. New Orleans Saints, Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
Klubnik is considered by many to be the top QB prospect in this class.
2. New York Giants, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Quoting our Draft Wire article:
“The 20-year-old Hoschton, GA native transferred in from Alabama last offseason, and his run stopping capabilities are top-notch. A true “run stuffer,” he can fill gaps to shut down rush lanes effectively.
3. Cleveland Browns, Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Quoting our Draft Wire Arch Manning article:
“Given that his uncles are Eli Manning and Peyton Manning, with his grandfather being Archie Manning, it is not hyperbole to say that he was the most hyped up freshman quarterback in history. Now the hype has already started on his NFL career, despite the fact that Manning has yet to even throw a 100 passes in college.
“There is so much publicity for him that even a given 2026 NFL mock draft that doesn’t have him going first overall, they might still mention him in the headline.”
For The Sports Bank profile of Arch Manning go here
4. Tennessee Titans, Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans got their franchise QB in this past draft, so perhaps in 2026 they’ll get their franchise feature back.
Will they give much Love to Jeremiyah, as potentially becoming their next Derrick Henry level bell-cow?
There is a big drop off in RB prospects after this guy, so “After the Love has Gone…cc Earth Wind & Fire/Philip Bailey, the quality of draft stock diminishes among tailback prospects in this class.
Quoting our Draft Wire piece on Love:
“Agility is another strong suit of the St. Louis native, and that is conveyed every time he makes a cut in the open field. Very few defenders are “too fast for love” (with apologies to Motley Crue), as the focal point of the Fighting Irish offense consistently conveyed an ability to set the edge.
“And despite all opposing defenses keying in on him, during the Irish’s national runner-up season, he still averaged an eye-popping 6.9 yards per rush. That includes a long of 98 yards.”
5. Carolina Panthers, Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Quoting our Draft Wire piece on Proctor:
It is very likely that a quarterback will go first overall in the next NFL Draft, as that’s exactly how it has gone in seven of the past eight years and 10 of the last 12. But if it’s not a QB, then it could be a defensive end or offensive tackle. And as both the book and the movie “The Blind Side” told us, the NFL pays big money to offensive tackles, specifically left tackles.
Thus LTs, like edge rushers, are a premium position, come draft night, every year. And Proctor is the top prospect of them all.
“I haven’t really looked into it too much,” Proctor said, when asked about NFL mock draft projections at SEC Media Days. “Because I feel like I haven’t proven myself to be in at that level yet. Like I still have another season.”
6. New York Jets, Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Quoting our Draft Wire article:
“Nussmeier has something the other names on that list do not- NFL bloodlines. His father, Doug Nussmeier, played a couple seasons in the league, and he’s currently the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator.
7. Las Vegas Raiders, LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
It’s a Sellers market! Quoting our Draft Wire article:
“Sellers is an electric, dual threat quarterback who will be a sophomore this upcoming season. As a freshman, the Florence, SC native threw for 2,534 yards on 65% completion, 18 touchdowns, to go against just seven interceptions. He also run for 674 yards on a 4.1 yards per carry average.”
8. Indianapolis Colts, Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
9. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons, T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
10. Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville Jaguars, Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11. New England Patriots, Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
12. Seattle Seahawks, Keldrick Faulk, Edge, Auburn
13. Miami Dolphins, Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
14. Dallas Cowboys, Jermond McCoy, CB, Tennessee
15. Arizona Cardinals, Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
16. Pittsburgh Steelers, Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Quoting our Draft Wire article:
“He might be the signal caller who’s the hardest to accurately project right now…Why such a wide variance on Allar? There is certainly no doubting Allar’s ability and talent. His size (6-5, 236) and arm strength are ideal for the league.
17. Denver Broncos, Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
18. Chicago Bears, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State
Eliminated in Wild Card Round
19. Houston Texans, Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
20. Minnesota Vikings, Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon
22. Los Angeles Chargers, Ruben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
23. Green Bay Packers, Suntarine Perkins, OLB/DE, Ole Miss
24. Cincinnati Bengals, CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Divisional Round Exit Teams
25. Los Angeles Rams, Denzel Boston, WR, Washginton
26. San Francisco 49ers, Jalen Kilgore, S, South Carolina
27. Washington Commanders, Nicolas Singleton, RB, Penn State
28. Kansas City Chiefs, Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Conference Runners-Up
29. Buffalo Bills, Anto Saka, Edge, Northwestern
Quoting our Draft Wire article:
“After getting shut out of the past two NFL Drafts, Northwestern will have a strong presence again in 2026. Yes, it is early days, but NU edge rusher Anto Saka is showing up in the first round of mock drafts and ranking in the top 30 on prospect lists.
Quoting our Sports Bank piece on Anto Saka:
“Tim McGarigle, the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator, has a great centerpiece to build around in Saka, who will likely take on the same leadership role that linebacker Xander Mueller had the past couple seasons.”
30. Detroit Lions, LT Overton, Edge, Alabama
Super Bowl Teams
31. Baltimore Ravens, Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
32. Philadelphia Eagles, Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
Jacas projects as a second-rounder, but whatever. Accuse us of Illini bias, so be it.
Anyway, the Port St. Lucie, FL native was named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, which is composed of the top 42 defensive players in college football He started all 13 games last year, totaling 74 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
The senior Edge/DE/OLB had his best game of his career in the Citrus Bowl, with a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and eight tackles in the win over #14 South Carolina.
Quoting our Draft Wire piece on him: “Jacas is a disruptive edge rusher, with a penchant for getting into opposing backfields, early and often. With these services in high demand, his future looks bright.”
For our Sports Bank piece on Jacas, go here.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter