2 Round Mock NFL Draft: Why the 2026 Quarterback Panic is Real

The NFL draft landscape just got weird. Really weird. It’s January 2026, and if you’re a fan of a team like the New York Jets or the Cleveland Browns, you’re probably staring at the screen in a cold sweat. Why? Because the "sure thing" quarterback class we were promised is currently evaporating faster than a snowball in Las Vegas.

Between Dante Moore Jr. deciding to stay at Oregon for another year and Arch Manning already confirming he’s sticking with the Texas Longhorns, the 2026 talent pool has a massive, gaping hole at the most important position in sports.

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If you aren't picking first, you aren't getting Fernando Mendoza. That’s the reality. The Indiana superstar basically owns the 2026 NFL draft conversation after leading the Hoosiers to a literal 15-0 season and a National Championship berth. He’s the undisputed king of this mock. But after him? It’s a total free-for-all. Teams are going to have to get creative, reach for "traits" guys, or—god forbid—actually fix their offensive lines first.

Round 1: Mendoza to Vegas and the Defensive Dominance

The Las Vegas Raiders are currently sitting on the golden ticket. With the No. 1 overall pick locked in, there is zero drama here. You take Fernando Mendoza. Period.

Honestly, he’s like a version of Jared Goff who actually likes to run. He’s got the Heisman, he’s got the 87:31 career touchdown-to-interception ratio, and he’s shown he can win in the snow at Penn State and the heat of the CFP. The Raiders finally get their post-Carr savior.

But check out what happens right after him. The New York Jets are at No. 2, and this is where the panic starts. With Moore and Manning out of the picture, do they reach for a guy like Ty Simpson or Carson Beck?

Probably not. Instead, they’ll likely do the smart, boring thing: draft a cornerstone defender. Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami is a freak. He’s a 280-pound battering ram who basically lived in the backfield this year. If you're the Jets, you pair him with Quinnen Williams and just decide that if you can't score points, neither can the other guy.

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The Top 10 Projection

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (The best cover corner we've seen in years.)
4. Tennessee Titans: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
6. Cleveland Browns: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (A massive projection, but the Browns are desperate.)
7. Washington Commanders: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
8. New Orleans Saints: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
9. Kansas City Chiefs: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

The Saints picking Peter Woods at No. 8 is a steal. Woods is a 300-pounder who moves like a linebacker. After New Orleans hit on Kelvin Banks Jr. last year, their trench play is starting to look elite again. Meanwhile, the Chiefs taking David Bailey at No. 9 is going to annoy everyone. Bailey is "tiny" for a Steve Spagnuolo defensive end, but his bend is insane. He’s the kind of pass rusher who makes Patrick Mahomes’ life easier by just getting off the field fast.

Round 2: Reaching for Potential

This is where the 2 round mock nfl draft gets truly chaotic. When the first round is light on QBs, the second round becomes a graveyard of "hope."

We’re looking at teams like the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers hunting for value. The Rams are in a weird spot. Matthew Stafford isn't getting younger, and while they’ve been linked to John Mateer out of Oklahoma, he’s the definition of boom-or-bust. He accounted for 44 touchdowns in 2024 but fell off a cliff this past year. Is he the next superstar or a career backup?

Then you have the wide receivers. This class is deep. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and Carnell Tate (Ohio State) are likely going to slide into the early second round because teams are so obsessed with finding tackles and edge rushers. If the Dallas Cowboys can snag Jordyn Tyson at the top of Round 2, they should sprint the card to the podium. Tyson is a vertical nightmare who would feast opposite CeeDee Lamb.

Key Second Round Targets

• Detroit Lions: Graham Glasgow struggled at center this year, so don't be surprised if they look at someone like Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State. He’s a mountain of a man who clears paths like a snowplow.
• Green Bay Packers: They need secondary help badly. If a guy like Mansoor Delane (LSU) is there, he’s a Day 1 starter.
• Pittsburgh Steelers: Expect them to look at the defensive line or a project QB. If Carson Beck (Miami) falls here, he’s the ultimate "fix-it" project for Mike Tomlin. Beck has the arm, but his decision-making in the Fiesta Bowl was... let's just say "adventurous."

Why the "Tank for Arch" Narrative is Winning

You're going to hear this a lot: "Don't draft a QB in 2026."

Danny Kanell and other analysts are already beating the drum for the New York Jets to essentially punt on this season. The logic is simple. Arch Manning and Dante Moore Jr. are the "true" Tier 1 prospects. By staying in school, they’ve effectively turned the 2027 draft into the greatest quarterback class since 2004.

The Jets have three first-round picks in 2027. If they pass on a QB now and just build the roster—stacking guys like Will Johnson or Rueben Bain—they can trade up for Manning next year and walk into a Super Bowl window with a loaded roster. It’s a risky move. Fans hate losing. But drafting Ty Simpson at No. 6 just because you feel like you have to might be a disaster that sets the franchise back five years.

The Sleeper: Jeremiyah Love

Keep an eye on Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. Running backs don't go high anymore, but Love is different. He’s basically a wide receiver who happens to line up in the backfield. In a draft where the elite passing talent is thin, a "safety valve" player like Love becomes ten times more valuable.

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I could see a team like the Philadelphia Eagles or the Buffalo Bills moving up into the late first or early second to grab him. He’s the kind of player who changes your third-down conversion rate immediately.

Moving Forward: What to Watch

The scouting combine in February is going to be massive for this specific 2 round mock nfl draft. Since so many of these players are "projection" guys—athletes with high ceilings but inconsistent tape—the raw numbers will matter more than usual.

If you’re tracking your team’s needs, focus on the trenches. This is a "Big Man" draft. The value at Offensive Tackle (Mauigoa, Ersery, Banks) and Interior Defensive Line (Woods, Graham) is significantly higher than the skill positions.

Actionable Insights for Draft Season:

• Check the Underclassmen: Monitor the remaining declaration deadlines. If one more top QB stays in school, the trade value of the No. 1 pick (Mendoza) will double.
• Watch the Senior Bowl: This is where guys like Akheem Mesidor can prove they aren't "too old" to be first-rounders. Scouts are worried about his age, but a dominant week in Mobile changes that narrative.
• Ignore the Mock Draft Symmetry: Most mocks will try to give every team what they need. Real drafts don't work that way. Expect a run on one position (likely EDGE) that leaves half the league reaching for players they don't actually like.

The road to Pittsburgh is going to be long and full of smokescreens. Stay skeptical of the "QB2" hype until someone actually proves they can process an NFL defense.