The 2026 NFL Draft: Two Years Out, Already a Mess

It’s May. The 2024 NFL Draft just wrapped. Most GMs are still trying to figure out how their rookies fit. But already, the draft industrial complex is churning out 2026 mock drafts. ESPN dropped their first look at the class, and honestly, it’s a lot of projection based on very little actual college football.

Let's be real, a lot can change. Remember Spencer Rattler? He was once a lock for the first overall pick. Now he’s a fifth-round NFL selection with the Saints. College careers are fluid. Still, looking at these early mocks does give us a glimpse of who the scouts are *currently* high on.

ESPN’s current consensus top quarterback for 2026 is Quinn Ewers from Texas. He threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, leading the Longhorns to a Big 12 title. They have him going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, which, given Carolina’s recent track record, feels like a safe bet they’ll be picking high again. But Ewers has to show he can stay healthy for a full season. He missed time in 2022 with a shoulder injury and again in 2023. Can’t be a top pick if you’re always on the sideline.

Then there’s Carson Beck out of Georgia. He put up 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first full year as a starter. ESPN’s draft analysts have him landing with the Denver Broncos at No. 5. Sean Payton needs a quarterback, and if Bo Nix doesn't pan out after being the 12th pick in 2024, Beck could be the guy. The Bulldogs have a history of producing NFL-ready talent, but Beck will need to show more consistent deep-ball accuracy in 2024.

My hot take? Neither Ewers nor Beck will be the first quarterback off the board in 2026. The real gem of this class, the guy who will skyrocket up boards by next April, is Shedeur Sanders. Yes, Deion’s son. He’s got the arm talent, the pocket presence, and the moxie. He completed over 69% of his passes for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2023, despite playing behind an offensive line that was, to put it mildly, a sieve. If Colorado can protect him even a little bit in 2024, his numbers will explode. He’s got the "it" factor that scouts drool over.

Beyond the quarterbacks, ESPN's early mocks are big on defensive talent. Marvin Harrison Jr. was the only non-QB to go top-5 in 2024. But 2026 could see more defenders high up. Take Mykel Williams, the defensive end from Georgia. He had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in 2023. They've got him going to the New York Giants at No. 3. The Giants desperately need pass rush. And James Pearce Jr., the EDGE rusher from Tennessee, is also getting love, projected to the Washington Commanders at No. 7. Pearce logged 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season, which are elite numbers.

It's a lot of fun to look at these early projections. But remember, this is all based on what happened last fall. College football rosters will shift, players will improve, some will regress, and injuries will happen. We're still 20 months away from Roger Goodell stepping up to the podium.

Bold prediction: By the time we hit the 2025 college football season, a player currently not even on these early mock draft boards will emerge as a legitimate top-10 prospect.