Zak Drapeau's 2026 NFL Way Too Early Mock Draft

Zak Drapeau
Jul 29
10 min read

by Zak Drapeau 7/29/2025 FansOnlySportz

Draft order based on Reverse Super Bowl Odds by ESPN as of 7/28/2025

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1. Arch Manning Saints

QB Texas

No matter how much hype you've heard around Arch Manning he is not a slam dunk #1 pick yet. That being said his Junior season at Texas could very well align him with other generational prospects like Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence and Andrew Luck. Add that to the legacy factor of the Saints being the team his uncle Quarterbacked for 12 seasons and this pick does seem like destiny.

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2. T.J. Parker Titans

OLB Clemson

Another competitive positional race will go down between the edge rushers but I'm confident T.J. Parker will come out on top. A violent outside linebacker with great size, Parker would fit into Tennessee's 3-4 defense and immediately fill the void Harold Landry left this offseason but with an even higher upside.

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3. LaNorris Sellers Browns

QB S. Carolina

The Top-3 Quarterbacks of the class are Arch Manning, Drew Allar and La Norris Sellers and Sellers has by far the most potential as a dual threat of the group. Close to the mold of Anthony Richardson three years ago. Sellers has NFL size and the big arm scouts drool over so this season he will just need to stay healthy and limit his turnovers and a Top-3 pick will be in his future.

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4. Kadyn Proctor Giants

OT Alabama

Currently on my 2026 Big Board Kadyn Proctor is my #1 ranked prospect. Previously on Bruce Feldman's Freak List, Proctor stands 6'7" and 369 pounds and has the athleticism of a man half his size. Legitimately having the power and drive to play RT in the NFL today, Proctor will need to prove he can keep up with pass blocking as Bama's LT this season and when he does so will be a can't miss prospect.

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5. Reuben Bain Jr. Jets

DE Miami

At 6'3" and 275 pounds Bain doesn't have a set position in the NFL but what he does have is a freak combination of speed and power. Able to rush the passer from the 1,3 and 5 techs, Bain's ceiling may be a bit lower due to his height and length but he is as good of a pass rusher in this class and could play himself into an either higher pick come April.

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6. Drew Allar Panthers

QB Penn St.

Allar's potential as an NFL dual threat flashed last season when he almost brought his Nittany Lions to the Natty. Putting it all together, Allar was able to complete almost 67% of his throws while averaging deeper passes as well. Allar is a 6'5" game manager with mobility and experience against top competition. A Senior season improvement will only see his stock grow.

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7. Cade Klubnik Colts

QB Clemson

Klubnik is the 4th QB on my board but another of this group that could push for the #1 pick. Klubnik needs to improve his accuracy and that he can compete against better competition but what he's already done is prove he's a pure dual threat with a lot of upside. If the Colts are picking all the way at the 7th pick that means the Richardson experiment didn't work and it's time to move on.

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8. Caleb Downs Raiders

S Ohio St.

Another top prospect who's only fell this far due to positional values, Caleb Downs may be the best Safety prospect we've ever seen. Legitimately better than the likes of Kyle Hamilton, Jamal Adams and Eric Berry, Downs could be a Top-5 pick but if he falls to the Raiders and becomes the next great DB in Pete Carroll's system, he could become an All-Timer in Vegas.

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9. Jeremiyah Love Browns (via Jax)

RB Notre Dame

The best skill positional player in this draft, Jeremiyah Love would have been the second best RB in the 2025 class had he been eligible. Love's true calling card is his agility and elusiveness. At 6' and 212 pounds, Love was hurdling people left and right last season or blowing by them at a recorded 23 mph. Injury concerns are his only knock and a healthy 2025 will define his Top-10 status.

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10. Jyaire Hill Dolphins

CB Michigan

The Cornerback class of 2026 is one of the most unpredictable of the group and includes several players that could be the Top-CB and be drafted anywhere from 8-20. Jyaire Hill is my pick for the top spot just above Tennessee's McCoy. Hill's size, speed and tutelage make him the best candidate for the position and if the last two years at Michigan has shown anything, it;s that he gets better every year.

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11. Keldric Faulk Patriots

DE Auburn

A steal at the #11 selection, Keldric Faulk is a prototypical NFL 5 tech with power and elite busts of speed. With 9 sacks in his true sophomore season, Faulk's athleticism has gotten him this far and there's no telling what his potential will look like after another year at Auburn.

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12. Garrett Nussmeier Rams (via Atl)

QB LSU

Earning this pick from the James Pearce Jr trade, the Rams have a rare chance to take a high-profile QB while still having Matt Stafford for another season. Nussmeier was a great pocket passer last year for LSU but he will need a second year starting to prove his ability. If he can not only remain consistent but clean up some turnovers he'll be right on track for a Top-15 pick.

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13. Jordyn Tyson Seahawks

WR Arizona St.

A breakout in the second half of last season, Tyson and his QB Sam Leavitt are one of the best duos in college football and will look to really separate themselves in 2025. At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Tyson has some of the best separation in the draft and has great ball tracking skills as well. The Seahawks could really use a guy like Tyson after D.K. Metcalf's exit and especially if Cooper Kupp doesn't pan out.

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14. Peter Woods Cowboys

DT Clemson

Another steal, Peter Woods is the best run stuffer in the draft. After 2025's stacked DT class, Woods is far and away the best pure DT in this class and has the ability to play 1 or 3 tech and even the 5 in a pinch. On a Cowboys D-line that only has Micah Parsons to look forward to, (and maybe not for much longer) Woods would not only fit in the 4-3 well but would be built around for years to come.

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15. Francis Mauigoa Cardinals

OT Miami

Probably the best pass-blocking Tackle in the class, Mauigoa will take over at RT for Jonah Williams and give the Cardinals another young monster for their offense. Not a complete prospect yet, Mauigoa will need refinement for zone blocking in particular but progress in that could easily see him become a Top-10 talent if he's not already.

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16. Nico Iamaleava Steelers

QB UCLA

If there's any team and Head Coach I trust to take on Nico Iamaleava and make him NFL ready it's the Steelers and Mike Tomlin. A player with a ton of potential in the mold of Daniel Jones, Iamaleava's exit from Tennessee has caused a concern over his maturity but his ability as a dual threat game manager with great size and accuracy is elite and if he can show it again at UCLA, he will be yet another QB in the run for the top pick.

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17. Justice Haynes Bears

RB Alabama

The Running Back Class is much better this year than last and thus could produce up to 4-First Round Picks. Justice Haynes is my pick for the #2 of his class right above Toledo's Makhi Hughes and Jonah Coleman. Haynes comes from the long and storied line of Alabama RBs and is a shiftier version of Najee Harris from 5 years ago.

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18. Jermod McCoy Buccaneers

CB Tennessee

If Jermod McCoy can improve his man coverage skills he will be an elite prospect in this class and could go a lot higher than this. As it stands right now, McCoy may be the best of his class in terms of ball skills with 6 interceptions and 16 pass deflections in his 2 years at Tennessee. Along with a natural zone cover skill set, McCoy would be a perfect fit in Tampa Bay.

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19. Zachariah Branch Broncos

WR Georgia

The Broncos just extended Courtland Sutton but don't have many more receiving threats for their young QB. Branch has a very similar skill set and size as Devonta Smith and with his transfer to Georgia this year could get the targets to firmly become one of the best prospects of this class.

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20. Avieon Terrell Vikings

CB Clemson

Brother of Falcons' CB A.J. Terrell, Avieon may become more of a Nickelback than his brother. Even with a 5'11" and 180 pound frame, Terrell's aggression and lack of hesitation to lay the boom on crossing receivers is pro ready. His hip fluidity and man coverage close to the line are very good but he will need to refine some techniques especially down the field.

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21. Spencer Fano Texans

OT Utah

Every class has one "Maybe OT, Probably OG" and Fano is this year's. At 6'5" and 304 pounds, Fano's arm length will be his biggest problem because on the field he's already very refined. Even though he's not the biggest man of his position his agility is oddly good for his size. Fano will need to prove he can set an edge in pass blocking to earn this draft pick but should be abel to do so in his final year at Utah.

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22. Nyck Harbor Chargers

WR S. Carolina

If you haven't heard about Nyckolas Harbor from South Carolina, you need to do some research because he may be the most interesting prospect we've seen in years. Not refined as a Receiver yet, Harbor is an accomplished long-sprinter and track star in high school and college but also stands 6'5" and 240 pounds. The only man to hold Bruce Feldman's #1 Freak ranking two years in a row, if Harbor continues to improve his abilities as a pure receiver, we could see him go A LOT higher than this.

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23. Malik Muhammad Packers

CB Texas

A bit of a reach in this pick, Muhmamad is a good prospect but goes here because of Green Bay's huge need in their secondary. A less-than version of Jahdae Barron, Texas' next swiss-army knife is extremely versatile in position or in defense against the pass or run. Muhammad may be more of a Nickel in the pros until he proves he can handle receivers who go over the top but could easily add that to his repertoire.

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24. Anthony Hill Jr. Rams

LB Texas

Another Texas defender, Hill Jr. may be the best of his school this year but falls due to his position. Fast, strong and instinctive, Hill is the complete package at his position and could easily warrant a higher draft pick if he test well come the Combine next year.

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25. Carnell Tate Commanders

WR Ohio St.

The next Ohio State receiver, Tate has elite size and length for his position and has shown tremendous route running that make him an extreme version of his teammate Emeka Egbuka from last year. Tate may be outshined by the sophomore phenom Jeremiah Smith but will produce enough as WR2 this year to cement a First Round pick.

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26. J. Mathews Jr. Bengals

CB Ohio St.

A personal pick for one of the risers of the year, Jermaine Mathews is warranting any First Round talks right now but I'll call my shot. A bit undersized, Mathews has the speed, recovery and ball skills to be a complete man-corner in the NFL. He'll have to answer a lot of questions of his consistency for a full-year's work and some concerns in tackling because of his size but I believe he'll answer all of those and more this season.

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27. Roderick Keanrey 49ers

OG Florida

This class's IOL1 spot is wide open but Roderick Kearney would have to be my pick at this point in time. A refined, pass-blocking Guard from a young age, Kearney has the highest floor of his position but maybe a lower floor. Without top-end strength, Kearney may never be a savage, run blocker you'd want to see from a First-rounder but he should carve a nice career for himself anyways.

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28. Makai Lemon Lions

WR USC

A speed-demon and crafty route runner, Makai Lemon will have ample opportunity to prove his skill now that Zachariah Branch has left USC. Someone who plays bigger than his size, Lemon's ball skills in the air are very good even though he may translate better to a slot option in the NFL.

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29. Dylan Thieneman Chiefs

S Oregon

A huge get for the Chiefs, Thieneman is a top-end Safety who falls all the way to 29 because of this class's talent from 10-30. A legit Top-15 pick, Thieneman transferred to Oregon for this season and right next to Caleb Downs should be the best run-stuffing Safety of his class. A tape junkie, Thieneman has all the traits to be a Pro Bowl Safety but will have to refine some traits and prove he's not over-reliant on his physical gifts.

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30. A. Reed-Adams Ravens

OG Texas A&M

The opposite of Kearney, Reed-Adams is a fierce and mauling run blocker. Needing to disprove inconsistency issues he's shown with footwork and playing through the whistle, ARA could be another OG who gets drafted late to a Super Bowl-ready team and gets the coaching he needs to become elite right out of the gate.

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31. L.T. Overton Bills

OLB Alabama

The last two picks are EDGE prospects that I can't decide between but have fits better suited for each team. L.T. Overton almost came out last year where he would have been a top-2nd round pick but instead stayed an extra year to try to see his name Day 1. Overton's size of 6'5" and 280 pounds at OLB would be perfect in Buffalo.

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32. D. Dennis-Sutton Eagles

OLB Penn St.

With the final pick, the Eagles select Dani Dennis-Sutton who plays a lot quicker than his 6'5", 270 pound frame would suggest. DDS paired with Abdul Carter last season for a frightening pass rush duo but now he will be the lone rush threat at Penn State and will make his own destiny. If he gets better, he'll easily make the First Round if not, he'll drop to Day 2.

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