Sportsnaut
The first month of the 2025 NFL season is in the books and we’re now entering Week 6 of the college football season. It’s more than enough time for there to be rising and falling 2026 NFL draft prospects and that creates an opportunity for an early mock draft.
Ahead of the October portion of the NFL schedule, let’s dive into our first 2026 NFL mock draft of the season.
The most popular pick for the New Orleans Saints in the 2026 NFL Draft would be a quarterback. However, Garrett Nussmeier is having an up-and-down season and LaNorris Sellers still seems a bit too raw to gamble the first overall pick on. So, New Orleans takes the best player in the class. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. has been dominant this season, generating 19 pressures with 15 run stops (PFF). For a Saints defense that entered September ranked 31st in ESPN pass-rush win rate (22 percent) and 23rd in run-stop win rate, this could be an All-Pro addition for the defensive front.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025
The New York Jets need hope and a face of the franchise. While the rushing attack has been very productive with dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields, the consistency of this passing game isn’t enough. What Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand has shown this season, though, is the ability to tailor his play-calling to the quarterback’s strengths. LaNorris Sellers is a project for a coaching staff to take on, but his physical tools at 6-foot-3 are unmatcheed. He would step into an offense that already has Garrett Wilson, Braelon Hall and a young offensive line with a bright future. This is exactly the situation you’d want Sellers to walk into.
Related: Heisman Trophy Power Rankings Entering October
In an ideal world, the Tennessee Titans would find a game-changer on offense to help out Cam Ward. The best path in the 2026 NFL Draft, however, will be to take the best player available. That’s Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. A first-team All-SEC freshman selection in 2023, the Tigers’ 6-foot-5 pass rusher could thrive in Tennessee. It would be a bit of a similar situation to Abdul Carter with the New York Giants, with Faulk freed up for one-on-one matchups on the edge because Tennessee has Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat on the interior. It would transform the Titans’ pass rush, and an improved defense means better field position for Cam Ward’s offense.
Related: Tennessee Titans Coaching Candidates to Replace Brian Callahan
The Cleveland Browns front office certainly knows already that neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders will become a franchise-caliber starting quarterback. So, general manager Andrew Berry uses the first of the team’s first-round picks on a quarterback who will fit perfectly in Kevin Stefanski’s system. Between his arm...
