Our New 2026 Mock Draft Just Dropped — You’re Gonna Want to See This

It’s officially mock draft season — and we just dropped our most detailed breakdown yet of the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Our latest First-Round Mock Draft goes beyond the buzz:

• Who’s climbing after a breakout summer?

• Which team is really in on Arch Manning?

• One surprise name in the top 10 — and it’s not who you think.

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Draft season is where legacies are built — don’t go into it blind.

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(You’ll thank yourself in April.)

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1. New Orleans Saints — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

The Saints’ quarterback situation in 2025 is a gumbo of disappointment, with no flavor and all the mess. Derek Carr, bless his heart, has been a $150 million stopgap who’s more game manager than game-changer. In 2024, he threw for 3,446 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 picks, with a QBR of 74.1 (22nd in the NFL). His 61.2% completion rate and 6.9 yards per attempt scream “meh” louder than a hungover tourist on Canal Street. Backup Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-rounder, hasn’t shown starter potential, and rookie Spencer Rattler’s 2024 cameo (1 TD, 3 INTs in spot duty) didn’t exactly spark hope. The Saints’ offense limped to 20.3 points per game (24th in the league), and their passing attack ranked 19th in EPA per dropback (-0.03). With Carr’s suddenly retiring and the team turning to either Rattler or second-rounder Tyler Shough, if they earn the No. 1 overall pick a quarterback will be considered to save this sinking ship.

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU’s gunslinging maestro who’s got the arm talent to make Saints fans forget the Drew Brees era ever ended. This 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt junior torched SEC defenses in 2024, throwing for 4,109 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions on a 64.7% completion rate. His 9.1 yards per attempt and 139.2 passer rating ranked top-10 nationally, and he added 3 rushing TDs for good measure. Nussmeier’s signature game? A 405-yard, 4-TD masterclass against Alabama, carving up a top-5 defense like it was a po’boy. He’s not just a stat-sheet stuffer—he’s a Baton Rouge-bred baller with the swagger to own the Big Easy.

The Saints’ offense, under new HC Kellen Moore, leans on timing-based passing, play-action (27% of dropbacks in 2024), and deep shots to stretch defenses. Nussmeier’s elite arm strength—think Brees with a bigger cannon—lets him zip throws into tight windows, with a 47.1% completion rate on 20+ yard passes (12 TDs, per PFF). His quick release (2.6 seconds average time to throw) and pocket presence (68.4% completion under pressure) make him a perfect match for Kubiak’s West Coast-inspired scheme, which thrives on rhythm and precision. Pair him with Chris Olave and a healthy Rashid Shaheed, and you’ve got a passing attack that’ll keep defensive coordinators up at night.

Scouts are buzzing about Nussmeier’s intangibles. ESPN’s Mel Kiper calls him “a surgeon with a rocket arm,” praising his ability to layer throws and read defenses pre-snap. His 2024 film shows a knack for manipulating safeties with his eyes, a must for an NFL starter. Compared to Jared Goff for his pocket command and arm talent, Nussmeier’s also got that Louisiana grit—born in Lake Charles, schooled at LSU—that’ll endear him to Saints fans faster than a second-line parade. Weaknesses? He can get greedy with hero balls, forcing throws into double coverage (six of his eight INTs came in tight windows). He’s also not a dual-threat (only 189 rushing yards in 2024), but the Saints don’t need a runner—they need a passer who can sling it.

With Nussmeier projected as a top-3 pick in 2026, he’s the kind of homegrown star the Saints can build around. His arm talent, poise, and local roots make him a no-brainer for a franchise desperate to move on from the Carr era. At No. 1 overall, Nussmeier could step in day one, elevate an offense with weapons like Olave and Alvin Kamara, and bring the Superdome back to life. He’s not just a quarterback—he’s a Louisiana legend in the making, ready to lead the Saints back to the promised land. Who dat? Nussmeier, that’s who!

2. Cleveland Browns — Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson

The Browns’ quarterback room in 2025 is like a reality show with too many contestants and no clear winner. Deshaun Watson, still recovering from a second Achilles tear, has been a $230 million bust, with only 19 touchdowns in 19 games since his trade to Cleveland. His off-field issues and inconsistent play have left the franchise in QB purgatory. Then you’ve got Joe Flacco (41 years old in 2026), Kenny Pickett (a first-round flameout from Pittsburgh), and rookies Dillon Gabriel (third-round pick) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth-round steal). None scream “franchise savior.” The Browns’ 2024 season was a disaster at 3-14, with their QBs combining for a league-worst 22 touchdowns against 19 interceptions and a QBR of 68.2 (28th in the NFL). PFF’s team passing grade? A brutal 62.3. Cleveland’s offense averaged just 17.4 points per game (30th), and their inability to stretch the field left defenses stacking the box against Nick Chubb. With a projected No. 1 pick in 2026, the Browns are desperate for a long-term answer under center.

Clemson’s dual-threat dynamo Klubnik has got the arm, legs, and moxie to make Browns fans forget the last decade of QB misery. In 2024, Klubnik lit up the ACC, throwing for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions (63.4% completion) while adding 463 rushing yards and 7 scores. His 4,102 total offensive yards ranked fourth nationally, and his 36 passing TDs tied for second in Clemson history. He capped it with a gutsy 336-yard, 3-TD performance against Texas’ top-ranked pass defense in the College Football Playoff. This ain’t just stat-padding—Klubnik’s a two-time ACC Championship Game MVP who’s shown he can take over games, like his 50-yard game-winning TD scamper against Pitt with 1:23 left. Klubnik’s fit in Cleveland is cleaner than a Kevin Stefanski play-action call. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he’s got the size and athleticism to thrive in the Browns’ spread-heavy, RPO-laden offense. His quick release and pocket poise (68.7% completion under pressure, per PFF) make him a plug-and-play fit for Stefanski’s scheme, which loves to lean on play-action (Cleveland used it on 29% of dropbacks in 2024). Klubnik’s mobility—think Baker Mayfield with better mechanics—adds a dimension the Browns lack, as he can escape collapsing pockets (a must with Cleveland’s O-line allowing a 9.2% sack rate) and create off-script. His deep-ball accuracy (44.9% completion on 20+ yard throws, 16 TDs) would open up the field for Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy, forcing defenses to respect the vertical game. Scouts love his growth arc. After a rocky 2023 (2,844 yards, 19 TDs, 9 INTs), Klubnik slashed turnovers and boosted his TD count by 17 in 2024, showing he’s coachable and clutch.

With Klubnik projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick by multiple scouts, he’s the kind of high-floor, high-ceiling prospect Cleveland can’t pass up. The Browns’ mid-round gambles on Gabriel and Sanders don’t carry the draft capital to block a swing at a true franchise QB. If Klubnik builds on his 2024 breakout and leads Clemson deep into the 2025 CFP, he could be the guy to finally stabilize Cleveland’s QB room and make Browns fans believe in something other than draft picks. Think of him as the lovechild of Mayfield’s swagger and Nix’s polish—ready to turn Cleveland’s frown upside down

3. Tennessee Titans — T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

The Titans’ defense in 2024 was like a barbecue without the sauce—decent but missing that kick. They racked up a measly 27 sacks, the third-fewest in the NFL, leaving quarterbacks with more time to throw than a TikTok influencer filming a dance video. Harold Landry III led the team with a respectable but not game-changing 7.5 sacks, and after him, the drop-off was steeper than a Smoky Mountain cliff. Arden Key? 4.5 sacks. The rest? Scraps. Their pass-rush win rate was a pedestrian 8.9% (per PFF), well below the league’s elite defenses. With Landry and Key on expiring contracts and no young stud waiting in the wings, the Titans’ edge group is screaming for a savior.

Enter the human equivalent of a heat-seeking missile. This 6-foot-3, 265-pound junior is a wrecking ball who’d fit Tennessee’s 3-4 scheme like a glove. In 2024, Parker terrorized ACC offenses with 11 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and a school-record six forced fumbles—numbers that pop like a highlight reel on repeat. His pass-rush bag is deeper than a Southern drawl, blending a vicious bull rush with a repertoire of moves that leave tackles grasping at air.

Why’s he perfect for the Titans? First, his versatility. Parker can rush from multiple alignments, ideal for Dennard Wilson’s aggressive 3-4 fronts. His quickness off the corner pairs with power to collapse pockets, addressing Tennessee’s dire need for a QB hunter. Second, his run defense is stout; he locks out blockers with long arms and sets the edge like a brick wall, which is critical for a Titans team that faced 1,892 rushing yards last season (10th-worst). Sure, his motor can flicker, but those are coachable flaws for a 21-year-old with his upside.

Projected as a top-5 pick in 2026, Parker’s the kind of “defensive menace” who could transform the Titans’ front into a nightmare for offenses. Pair him with a healthy Jeffery Simmons, and you’ve got a duo that’ll make quarterbacks sweat like they’re stuck in a Nashville summer. The Titans need a long-term edge solution, and Parker’s the guy to bring the heat.