Projecting the 2026 NFL draft, one year out: Miller's early predictions for every Round 1 pick

We're a agelong mode from the 2026 NFL draft -- the 2025 assemblage shot season is astir 2 months away, aft each -- but it's ne'er excessively aboriginal to commencement breaking down movie of the apical prospects successful the upcoming class. Based disconnected that movie and conversations I've had with scouts and endowment evaluators passim the league, I'm doing an aboriginal projection of each 32 picks successful adjacent year's draft.

The 1-32 bid for this mock draught comes from ESPN's Football Power Index, which uses thousands of simulations to foretell the 2025 NFL season. FPI close present has the Cleveland Browns successful the No. 1 spot, 1 of their 2 first-round picks. The Browns aren't unsocial successful having aggregate Round 1 picks, arsenic the Los Angeles Rams volition besides person 2 selections. Of course, a batch volition alteration betwixt present and erstwhile the 2026 draught starts adjacent April successful Pittsburgh. Prospects volition determination astir draught boards, and immoderate of these players volition yet instrumentality to schoolhouse for different year. One subordinate you volition not spot successful this mock draught is Texas backmost Arch Manning; I inactive deliberation helium volition enactment successful assemblage for the 2026 season.

We person an full play of crippled portion up of america -- and I admittedly haven't watched a ton connected everyone conscionable yet. So this is an aboriginal look meant to place however things basal close now. Let's dive successful with Cleveland. (Note: Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.)

1. Cleveland Browns

Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

Spending 2 picks connected quarterbacks successful 2025 -- Dillon Gabriel (third round) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth round) -- shouldn't forestall the Browns from looking for a semipermanent passer here. Klubnik enters the play arsenic my No. 1 QB. In 2024, helium threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, highlighted by a gutsy show against Texas successful the College Football Playoff (336 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT). Klubnik reminds maine of Baker Mayfield -- whom Cleveland selected with the No. 1 prime successful 2018 -- successful presumption of limb strength, mobility and playmaking awareness.

2. New York Giants

Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami*

Mauigoa enters his 3rd assemblage play arsenic a subordinate connected the rise. After allowing 5 sacks during his existent freshman play successful 2023, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound close tackle didn't let a sack past play and drew lone 3 penalties. Mauigoa is champion arsenic a tally blocker successful a portion scheme, with speedy feet and the agility to get to the 2nd level. He'd service arsenic a replacement for disappointing 2022 first-rounder Evan Neal and articulation a youthful discourtesy which besides features 2025 first-round backmost Jaxson Dart, prima second-year receiver Malik Nabers and emerging moving backmost Tyrone Tracy Jr.

3. Tennessee Titans

T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson*

Tennessee has agelong needed a premier borderline rusher, and Parker is decidedly that. Not lone did the 6-foot-3, 265-pound inferior person 11 sacks past season, but helium besides forced six fumbles. He would beryllium an perfect acceptable successful the Titans' 3-4 basal defence acknowledgment to his quality to play successful abstraction and unreserved from aggregate alignments. His quickness disconnected the country is the champion successful the people erstwhile watching past season's tape. While the Titans could usage violative help, Parker is the antiaircraft menace they desire.

4. New York Jets

Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas*

The Jets could look for a receiver to assistance Garrett Wilson, but there's not 1 who's apt to beryllium picked this precocious close now. Instead, defensive-minded caput manager Aaron Glenn would get a true, three-down difference-maker. Hill was a stat-sheet filler successful 2024, posting 113 tackles, 8 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and a 32-yard pick-six. His scope successful sum and blitzing quality reminds of Fred Warner, but astatine 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Hill could get the Micah Parsons attraction and determination to an borderline rusher role. That makes him the uncommon linebacker worthy of a top-five pick.

5. New Orleans Saints

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State*

Safeties usually get pushed down the board, but Downs is different. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is my No. 1 wide subordinate due to the fact that of his range, versatility and proven playmaker DNA. Downs has 4 interceptions successful his 2 assemblage seasons portion showing the skills to play successful the container oregon antheral halfway tract arsenic a heavy safety. He's routinely utilized arsenic an eraser against immoderate offenses bash best. The Saints request bully shot players passim their roster, and there's nary amended 1 successful this people than Downs.

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How Caleb Downs developed his shot IQ astatine a young age

Ohio State information Caleb Downs discusses however helium took his crippled to the adjacent level by honing his shot IQ successful some accepted and unconventional means.

6. Carolina Panthers

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson*

The Panthers bucked accepted contented with their 2025 first-rounder, eschewing a defence that finished past successful EPA for wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 pick. They did adhd borderline rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen connected Day 2, truthful present it's clip for them to get antiaircraft tackle Derrick Brown immoderate help. That's wherever the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Woods comes in. He posted 3 sacks and 17 pressures successful 11 games this season, and his quickness and leverage would beryllium a invited acceptable successful Carolina's revamped defense.

7. Las Vegas Raiders

Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami*

Seven of the Raiders' 11 picks successful 2025 came connected offense, including 5 of the archetypal six. So it's clip to prime up a defence that has to look Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix doubly per season. Las Vegas needs to find Maxx Crosby assistance connected the edge, and Bain's speed-to-power quality could springiness it that Crosby complement. Bain has 11 sacks successful his 2 assemblage seasons, utilizing his magnitude to make abstraction helium tin clang done with his trademark power. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain has the physique and tools to marque an contiguous interaction from the near edge.

8. New England Patriots

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State*

Upside is intriguing erstwhile devising summertime mock drafts, and Tyson has the imaginable to emergence into the apical 10. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, helium reminds maine of Jaxon Smith-Njigba with his route-running quality and poise successful abstraction portion effortlessly moving done a way tree. Tyson broke retired successful 2024, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. But drops are a problem, with 8 coming connected 114 targets. If helium cleans that up, Tyson has the velocity and way method to beryllium a top-10 prime and a premier people for young Patriots QB Drake Maye, who has shown franchise potential.

9. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL)

Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama*

With 2 first-rounders successful the 2026 draft, the Rams person plentifulness of flexibility. Proctor would already beryllium 1 of the NFL's strongest players upon entering the league, arsenic the 6-foot-7, 370-pounder plays with physicality and a mean streak that is intolerable for defenders to grip erstwhile he's locked in. But Proctor isn't ever connected his A crippled and tin tally hot-and-cold. The Rams are looking for an heir evident for Rob Havenstein astatine close tackle and Proctor has much imaginable than immoderate lineman successful this people ... if helium tin amended his consistency.

10. Seattle Seahawks

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah*

It was astonishing that the Seahawks waited until Round 7 to draught a tackle successful 2025, considering that Abraham Lucas' injuries person created instability astatine close tackle. If that continues, Seattle could spell with a tackle precise aboriginal successful 2026. Fano has played some near and close tackle astatine Utah, but his size (6-foot-5, 304 pounds) has immoderate scouts projecting him arsenic an NFL guard. Fano enters 2025 arsenic 1 of the nation's champion linemen aft allowing 1 sack successful 2024, and his question quality and knowing of angles and leverage marque him an perfect NFL close tackle.

11. Indianapolis Colts

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Anthony Richardson's injuries and lack of development led to the Colts signing Daniel Jones this offseason. Barring large betterment from Richardson (or a breakthrough by Jones), Indianapolis volition beryllium successful hunt of a quarterback. Nussmeier showed flashes successful his archetypal play arsenic a starter, throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The lad of Saints violative coordinator Doug Nussmeier, Garrett plays with occurrence and vigor and isn't acrophobic to instrumentality chances. If helium cuts down his interceptions, Nussmeier has the velocity, accuracy and playmaking quality to determination up draught boards.

12. Cleveland Browns (from JAX)

Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah*

With close tackle Jack Conklin slowing down and unproven Dawand Jones acceptable to commencement astatine near tackle, it was a spot astonishing that the Browns punted connected the presumption successful the 2025 draft. But 2026 looks deeper successful existent near tackle prospects, and Lomu is simply a subordinate with sizeable maturation potential. He performed good arsenic a redshirt freshman, allowing 3 sacks and committing 1 penalty. Lomu should interruption retired further successful 2025, with his casual question quality successful the tally crippled and speedy absorption clip successful walk protection. While Lomu isn't presently OT1, helium has top-five imaginable if helium expands connected what helium showed past season.

13. Dallas Cowboys

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn*

The Cowboys participate the play inactive needing to motion Micah Parsons to a semipermanent extension. While they signed Dante Fowler Jr. this offseason, Dallas needs much connected the borderline aft passing connected the presumption successful the 2025 draft. At 6-foot-6, 288 pounds, Faulk is simply a versatile subordinate who tin play on the antiaircraft line, from 3-technique to a existent extracurricular edge. He tin make unit from wrong and out, arsenic evidenced by his 24 borderline pressures and 5 interior pressures past season. Faulk's size and spot would beryllium amusive to brace with Parsons' speed.

14. Arizona Cardinals

Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson*

The Cardinals got fantabulous worth aboriginal successful the 2025 draft, getting antiaircraft tackle Walter Nolen III and cornerback Will Johnson aboriginal than each subordinate was expected to go. But receiver is inactive an country of interest other 2024 first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. Williams is my existent WR1 aft a 75-catch, 11-touchdown play arsenic a sophomore successful 2024. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Williams is simply a speedy shifty wideout who has the quality to play extracurricular and successful the slot. That would marque him an perfect complement to the bigger Harrison.

15. Miami Dolphins

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee*

There are immoderate questions astir McCoy's presumption to commencement the play aft helium tore an ACL successful January during offseason training, but there's nary question astir his tape. The 6-foot, 193-pound country has six vocation interceptions and emerged arsenic a existent No. 1 CB past season. He has the length, tallness and velocity to tally with NFL-caliber wideouts and the shot skills to flip the field. He's my CB1 arsenic agelong arsenic helium recovers and stays healthy. The Dolphins request a susceptible extracurricular cornerback, particularly with Jalen Ramsey expected to beryllium traded oregon released successful the adjacent future.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina*

Aaron Rodgers yet signed with the Steelers, but each signs bespeak it's a one-year arrangement, which makes backmost Pittsburgh's offseason absorption again successful 2026. Sellers is 1 of the nation's astir breathtaking prospects, arsenic helium threw for 18 touchdowns to 7 interceptions past play portion rushing for 674 yards and 7 scores. The 6-foot-3, 242-pounder is big, beardown and mobile and could beryllium picked mode earlier this if helium cleans up immoderate decision-making mistakes. With 2 years of eligibility pursuing adjacent season, Sellers is nary fastener to beryllium successful the draft, but his imaginable excites evaluators.

17. Chicago Bears

Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame*

The Bears were rumored to beryllium funny successful Ashton Jeanty had helium fallen to them successful the 2025 draft, truthful possibly 2026 is erstwhile they'll get a moving back. Love was 1 of the champion moving backs successful the state past play arsenic a sophomore, rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is simply a bruising runner astatine 6-foot and 206 pounds but tin besides interruption disconnected large plays -- spot his 98-yard TD against Indiana successful the archetypal circular of the playoffs -- and shingle tacklers successful space. That, positive his receiving skills, makes him the cleanable diagnostic backmost for new coach Ben Johnson's offense.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Tim Keenan III, DT, Alabama

While the Vikings bolstered their violative trenches successful Round 1 successful 2025 with defender Donovan Jackson, they were linked to galore interior defenders during the predraft process and made a tally astatine Milton Williams successful escaped agency. So antiaircraft tackle is simply a need, and the 6-foot-2, 326-pound Keenan is simply a physical, tough-nosed anchor with the prototypical chemoreceptor tackle build. He has immoderate pass-rush quality (2.5 sacks past season), but Keenan's spot against the tally and on-field enactment person scouts discussing him arsenic a imaginable first-rounder.

19. Green Bay Packers

LT Overton, Edge, Alabama

When the Packers broke their 20-plus-year first-round receiver drought by selecting Matthew Golden successful 2025, they bypassed a request connected the edge. So borderline unreserved assistance should beryllium a precedence for Green Bay successful 2026, and Overton fits what Packers GM Brian Gutekunst likes astatine the position. The 6-foot-5, 283-pounder is big, agelong and versatile and apt would person been a top-50 prime had helium entered the 2025 draft. But helium returned to Bama to make his game, refine his pass-rush moves to amended lucifer his speed-to-power flashes and amended connected the 2 sacks helium had successful 2024.

20. Denver Broncos

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Sean Payton has been vocal astir wanting to diversify the Broncos' passing game, astir notably adding hybrid players helium calls "jokers." He signed one successful seasoned choky extremity Evan Engram and drafted another successful moving backmost RJ Harvey but is looking for more. Stowers is my existent TE1 and is expected to interruption retired adjacent much aft catching 49 passes for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns past season. He's much of a slot choky extremity astatine 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, resembling Engram. Stowers would service arsenic a younger mentation of Engram with greater upside, though.

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Diego Pavia finds Eli Stowers for Vanderbilt TD

Diego Pavia throws a bully walk to Eli Stowers to widen Vanderbilt's pb vs. Georgia Tech.

21. Houston Texans

Austin Barber, OT, Florida

The Texans went done a monolithic violative enactment overhaul aft surrendering 52 sacks successful 2024, trading near tackle Laremy Tunsil, signing respective free agents and selecting tackle Aireontae Ersery successful Round 2 of the past draft. But the enactment successful uncovering amended extortion for C.J. Stroud is acold from over. The 6-foot-6, 314-pound Barber started 12 games astatine near tackle past season, showing pro-level starting upside acknowledgment to businesslike manus placement successful walk extortion and perfect quickness for portion moving schemes.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Patrick Payton, Edge, LSU

Payton has been connected scouts' radar since 2022, flashing arsenic a freshman astatine Florida State earlier compiling 7 sacks and 14.5 tackles for nonaccomplishment arsenic a sophomore successful 2023. He struggled on with the remainder of the Seminoles successful 2024, with his sack full falling to four. He'll look to regain his first-round presumption at LSU successful 2025. If helium does, Payton would beryllium an intriguing acceptable for the Buccaneers, arsenic his quickness and velocity disconnected the borderline would beryllium an perfect lucifer to the powerfulness that antiaircraft tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey possess.

23. San Francisco 49ers

Isaiah World, OT, Oregon

Many thought the 49ers would draught the eventual successor to All-Pro near tackle Trent Williams, who turns 37 successful July. But San Francisco passed connected tackles successful the 2025 draft, truthful that request inactive exists. World transferred to Oregon aft dominating astatine Nevada, and the 6-foot-8, 310-pounder has all-world imaginable with his elite reach, elite agility and experience. The 49ers request to get younger astatine halfway positions, and near tackle should beryllium atop their privation list.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson*

Defensive enactment could go the No. 1 request if the Bengals can't resolve the Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart declaration situations. But assuming cooler heads prevail, Cincinnati should ore connected its secondary. The Bengals person respective young cornerbacks successful Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner II and Dax Hill, but they've been held backmost by injuries and inconsistency. Terrell, the younger member of Falcons standout A.J. Terrell, had 2 interceptions and broke up 13 passes past season. His versatility, velocity and accumulation constituent to him being a worth adhd precocious successful Round 1.

25. Washington Commanders

A.J. Harris, CB, Penn State*

The Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore past play and picked Trey Amos successful Round 2 of the 2025 draught but inactive person a request astatine corner, particularly erstwhile considering Lattimore's property and injury history. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Harris has the magnitude Dan Quinn loves successful his corners. Harris has shown ball-hawking skills and loves to property and jam receivers. He's inactive a spot green, having started lone 1 season, but past season's portion -- on with Penn State's way grounds successful processing defenders -- makes Harris 1 of the astir promising corners successful the country.

26. Los Angeles Chargers

CJ Allen, LB, Georgia*

Sometimes erstwhile you're watching film, a subordinate jumps retired arsenic a cleanable acceptable for an NFL strategy oregon coach. That's what Allen is with Jim Harbaugh, arsenic the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder fits the mold of linebackers that Harbaugh had with the 49ers and what helium recruited astatine Michigan. Allen crashes rushing lanes with powerfulness portion showing the agility to excel successful walk coverage. He's protected by Georgia's top-tier antiaircraft line, but Allen's read-and-react quality makes him a bully stake to beryllium an contiguous NFL starter.

27. Los Angeles Rams

Drew Allar, QB, Penn State

With Matthew Stafford entering his age-37 season, this would beryllium a bully spot for the Rams to prime his eventual successor. Allar is simply a big-armed backmost with bully mobility for his size (6-foot-5, 238 pounds), but helium hasn't rather enactment it each together. He has the limb to marque immoderate propulsion and tin flight crowded pockets but goes done acold stretches wherever his decision-making and accuracy driblet off. His improvement successful 2024, successful which helium accrued his completion percent from 59.9% to 66.5%, is encouraging and suggests that much betterment is connected the way.

28. Baltimore Ravens

D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana*

The Ravens added 2 short-term cornerback options successful veterans Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, but they request a semipermanent solution. Ponds projects arsenic a slot country due to the fact that of his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame, but he's a feisty screen antheral with shot skills (five vocation interceptions) and the quickness to lucifer up with wrong receivers. Having him articulation a brace of young safeties successful 24-year-old All-Pro Kyle Hamilton and 2025 first-rounder Malaki Starks would springiness Baltimore a fierce radical of youthful playmakers.

29. Detroit Lions

Tyreak Sapp, Edge, Florida

Surprisingly, the Lions chose not to draught an borderline rusher to assistance Aidan Hutchinson -- particularly considering the prima walk rusher is returning from a season-ending limb injury. Sapp is coming disconnected a career-best 7 sacks past play and has the perfect spot astatine 6-foot-3, 272 pounds to stack up against the tally portion besides showing the quickness to triumph with his archetypal step. Adding Sapp to Hutchinson, antiaircraft tackle Alim McNeill and 2025 first-round antiaircraft tackle Tyleik Williams would springiness Detroit 1 heck of a antiaircraft front.

30. Kansas City Chiefs

Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon*

The upcoming play volition beryllium cardinal for young Chiefs safeties Jaden Hicks and Chamarri Conner, who person each shown committedness but haven't emerged arsenic accordant starters. That could unfastened the doorway for Kansas City to prime Thieneman, who intercepted six passes astatine Purdue successful 2023 and racked up 104 tackles past season. He transferred to Oregon, wherever he'll beryllium capable to play some heavy and container information successful Dan Lanning's pro-style defense. His size (6-foot, 207 pounds) and playmaking instincts should let him to thrive with the Ducks.

31. Philadelphia Eagles

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington*

The Eagles person thrived connected uncovering top-20 players who gaffe done the cracks. Boston could acceptable that mold, arsenic the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder had 63 catches, 834 yards and 9 touchdowns past season. His physical, above-the-rim benignant is simply a batch similar Tetairoa McMillan's style. Philadelphia has 2 bona fide prima receivers successful A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but determination isn't overmuch down them. With Brown entering his age-28 season, it's worthy taking a young receiver similar Boston for three-wide sets present and to yet regenerate Brown later.

32. Buffalo Bills

Jake Slaughter, C, Florida

Buffalo has had coagulated interior enactment play successful Josh Allen's tenure arsenic a starting quarterback, but this would beryllium a bully spot for the Bills to replenish with a starting-caliber player. Slaughter didn't let a sack past play and was penalized lone twice. He's already pro-sized astatine 6-foot-5, 308 pounds and is simply a cleanable walk protector with strength, quickness and large awareness. Slaughter has the diversion illustration to play defender oregon halfway successful the NFL astatine a precocious level.