ClutchPoints
The 2025 regular season is over, so that means it’s time for the first ClutchPoints 2026 NFL mock draft. With more than half the teams now done with football for a year, organizations and fans alike turn their attention to the league’s annual selection meeting in April. So, here is an early look at how this coming draft could shape up.
This year isn’t a particularly strong draft, especially at the quarterback position, which will disappoint several teams. However, there are two intriguing QB prospects at the top, and there are good players throughout the first round, some of whom will undoubtedly develop into stars for their teams.
Note: Picks 1-18 are now set in stone, with 19-32 to be decided in the order teams exit the postseason.
Just because this isn’t a good quarterback class overall doesn’t mean a QB from the 2026 NFL Draft won’t become a star. Fernando Mendoza may have a unique personality, but he is a football freak with unmatched preparation, and that—along with his high-end skillset—will give him a fighting shot at becoming a franchise signal-caller for the Raiders, who earned the top pick.
Dante Moore doesn’t have the polish or the intangibles that Mendoza has, but when you haven’t had a franchise quarterback since the early 2010s (or the mid-70s?), you have to take a chance when you are positioned to. And Moore does have the physical traits to succeed down the line, if the Jets don’t ruin him first.
There is a good chance that Kyler Murray is not back in 2026, but with no other worthy signal-callers on the board, the Cardinals will address their second-biggest offensive concern, which is the offensive line. With Jonah Williams and Kelvin Beachum likely gone, the Cards can take Utah tackle Spencer Fano. The former Ute can play left or right tackle and should be a solid to excellent starter from Week 1 next season.
Can Ward showed flashes of ability this season, so the next step is to get him more weapons on offense. Rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor are an intriguing base for what could quickly become a top wide receiver corps. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson has WR1 written all over him, and combined with these two second-year wideouts, could give Ward an incredible pass-catching group in 2026.
Adding a partner for a returning Malik Nabers will help Jaxson Dart develop in Year 2, and Carnell Tate could be that guy. At 6-foot-3, Tate looks the part and could be the next in the line of Ohio State receivers to make a big splash in the NFL. Plus, he is a good blocker, which will help Dart and Cam Skattebo when they...
