Draft season doesn't wait for the Super Bowl anymore. Honestly, the second the regular season wrapped up and the Las Vegas Raiders officially secured that No. 1 overall pick, the collective focus of the league shifted to Pittsburgh. That’s where the 2026 NFL Draft will go down this April, and the buzz is already different this year.
We’re seeing a massive shift in how teams are viewing the board. You’ve probably noticed the headlines: Dante Moore, the Oregon star who many pegged as a top-three lock, threw a wrench in everything by deciding to head back to school. That single move turned this nfl mock 2 rounds exercise into a total scramble for teams needing a savior under center.
If you aren't paying attention to the second round, you're missing half the story. The depth in the 2026 class isn't at quarterback—it's in the trenches and on the boundary.
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The Top 10 Shuffle: Raiders, Jets, and the Quarterback Panic
The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock. It feels like they’ve been searching for "the guy" since the George Blanda era, and 2025 was a rough ride that landed them right at the top. With a 3-14 record and the easiest strength of schedule among the bottom-feeders, they have their pick of the litter.
Most experts, including Mel Kiper, have shifted Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to the top of the board. He basically became a folk hero this year. Leading the Hoosiers to a national championship appearance while winning the Heisman? That’s the stuff of video games. He’s 6'5", 225 pounds, and plays with the kind of "alpha" energy that Antonio Pierce probably dreams about.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
- New York Jets: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
- Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
- Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
- New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Jets are in a weird spot at No. 2. They were clearly eyeing Moore. Now that he’s staying in Eugene, do they reach for Alabama’s Ty Simpson? Or do they take a blue-chip talent like Carnell Tate? Tate is that "clean" prospect—pro-ready routes, elite hands, and he’d give whoever is playing QB in New York a massive safety blanket alongside Garrett Wilson.
Arizona at No. 3 is the pivot point. Kyler Murray’s future is murky, but passing on a cornerstone tackle like Francis Mauigoa is hard to do when your offensive line looks like a revolving door. Mauigoa is a mountain of a man who anchored a resurgent Miami front. He’s the kind of "boring" pick that wins divisions.
Why This NFL Mock 2 Rounds Class is Defensive Heavy
You’re going to hear the phrase "defensive-heavy" a lot this spring. Aside from Mendoza and maybe Ty Simpson, the first round is dominated by guys who want to hit people.
Take Caleb Downs at Ohio State. He’s a safety, which usually doesn't go top five, but he’s basically a coach on the field. The Giants need a culture setter, and Downs is exactly that. Then you have Keldric Faulk out of Auburn. The Titans need a pass rush that doesn't rely solely on blitzing, and Faulk has that rare mix of power and a speed-to-power transition that makes NFL scouts drool.
The Rise of the Wide Receivers
If you aren't taking a pass rusher, you're probably looking for someone to catch the ball. The mid-first and early-second rounds are packed with pass-catching talent.
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State): A vertical threat who recovered from a nasty knee injury to become a nightmare for DBs.
- Zachariah Branch (Georgia): Imagine a human joystick. That’s Branch.
- Carnell Tate (Ohio State): The next in the long line of Buckeye superstars.
The Cleveland Browns, picking at No. 6, have a desperate need to get younger at receiver. Taking Tyson there might feel like a reach to some, but in a draft where the QB options are thinning out, teams are going to prioritize "force multipliers" on the outside.
Navigating the Second Round Minefield
This is where things get interesting. The New York Jets actually hold a lot of cards here. They have the first pick of the second round (No. 33) and an extra pick from the Cowboys (No. 44). If they skip a QB in the first, keep an eye on them potentially packaging these to move back into the late first for someone like Ty Simpson if he slides.
The Atlanta Falcons don't even have a first-round pick—they traded it to the Rams to get James Pearce Jr. last year. That means their draft starts at No. 48. They’ll likely be looking at someone like Zachariah Branch. He’s local, he’s explosive, and he fills a massive void for a team that saw Drake London struggle with double teams all year.
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The Sleepers You Need to Know
In the second round, you’re looking for traits. Max Iheanachor, the tackle from Arizona State, is a name that Ryan Wilson and other analysts are starting to highlight. He’s raw, but the physical profile is undeniable.
Then there’s Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame. Running backs are a polarizing topic in the first round, but by the middle of the second, Love is a steal. He’s 212 pounds of pure north-south aggression. The Cardinals or even the Chiefs (picking late in the second) would be smart to snag him to take the pressure off their aging backfields.
Realistic Expectations for Your Team
It's sort of easy to get swept up in the mock draft hype, but remember that the "needs" list is still fluid. Free agency hasn't happened yet.
The Cowboys are currently projected at No. 12. They have a massive decision to make with George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. If they can’t keep Pickens, that No. 12 pick almost certainly becomes a receiver. If they do keep him, look for them to bolster the defense. They also have an extra first-round pick from the Packers, which gives them a huge advantage in a draft where talent drops off significantly after the top 40.
The Baltimore Ravens are another team to watch. Their pass rush was… let’s just say "statistically challenged" this past season. Keldric Faulk likely won't be there for them at No. 14, but if someone like T.J. Parker from Clemson is available, they won't hesitate. Parker has that prototypical 6'3", 265-pound frame that fits the Ravens' "bully ball" defensive identity.
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Actionable Steps for Draft Fans
Don't just look at the names; look at the fit. If you want to stay ahead of the curve as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, focus on these three things.
First, watch the Senior Bowl and the Combine. Since this is a defensive-heavy class, the "tussle in the trenches" during those practices will determine who jumps into the top ten. Second, track the compensatory picks. We’ll get the final list in March, and that could add several high-value selections to teams like the 49ers or Eagles who lost big free agents.
Finally, keep an eye on the "underclassmen deadline" on January 23. While Dante Moore is staying, other surprises could still happen. If a couple more top-tier QBs decide to wait for 2027, the value of those mid-first-round picks is going to skyrocket for teams looking to trade down.
The 2026 cycle is going to be a defensive coordinator's dream, but for the GMs needing a franchise quarterback, it’s shaping up to be a very long weekend in Pittsburgh.