Way-too-early NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts the entire first round

Story by

Story by
Way-too-early NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts the entire first round

Nick Brinkerhoff, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, May 1, 2025 ·

12 min read

About Our Ads

Speed of light. Speed of technological advancement. Speed of time when you're having fun. Speed of mock drafts .

There aren't many more things in life faster than that, but the NFL draft waits for no one.

The 2025 NFL Draft hasn't even been able to collect dust and we're already onto 2026. Prank call week is still in full swing, yet here we are putting our sights on next April.

While everyone has a take on what promises to be a better quarterback class , the robots are also looming with some thoughts of their own.

Will Arch Manning declare? Will LaNorris Sellers , Drew Allar and Garrett Nussmeier live up to the hype? Which players will rise that we aren't talking about and which will fall short?

So many questions, such few answers.

The wild world of artificial intelligence (AI) looks to bridge that gap. Who knows, maybe one of them will be helping teams make picks in the near future. After all, it already sets our calendars, controls our televisions, runs customer support and so much more.

That's why we set out to predict the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the help of Microsoft's Copilot using the Super Bowl odds as a guide to build our order .

We hope you enjoyed the summer, the regular season, the holidays, the playoffs, the Super Bowl and just about every other event we skipped over in the process. Without further ado, the New York Giants are now on the clock.

2026 NFL DRAFT QBs: Arch Manning, Drew Allar top names for next year's class

2026 NFL mock draft: First-round AI picks

1. New York Giants : Arch Manning , QB, Texas

The Giants waste no time kicking Jaxson Dart to the curb. Instead, they channel their inner child, focusing on the new shiny object. "Big Blue" continues the Manning legacy, selecting Arch, Eli's nephew, with the first pick. While Giants fans will celebrate with this pick, it's important to remember that many believe the Texas prospect will return to school. Those plans could be quickly thrown away if his uncle's team comes calling though.

2. Cleveland Browns : LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina

The Browns have been adding quarterbacks like they're going out of style this offseason, but clearly that strategy didn't work. Conventional wisdom would suggest that at least one of the five quarterbacks would work out. That wasn't the case and now they have the chance to secure a quarterback with a high pick. The dual-threat Sellers will look to take another step forward this season with the Gamecocks but is clearly on the NFL radar going forward. He lands in Cleveland in this scenario.

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

After rebuilding their offense this offseason, it looks like the Titans will eye some defense next year. They won't be happy with the top-three pick, but this is a roster that's still under major construction. From Death Valley to the Music City, Parker should resurrect the pass rush and give Tennessee someone capable of getting after the quarterback.

4. New Orleans Saints : Drew Allar , QB, Penn State

After a one-year hiatus, the quarterbacks have returned in the 2026 draft. New Orleans misses out on the Louisiana native Manning in this exercise but still finds their quarterback of the future in Allar. It comes at the expense of Tyler Shough , but the Saints can't pass an opportunity to dive into this class with a pick this high. He has all the tools to make Saints fans giddy – strong arm, prototypical quarterback size and more. Accuracy is a concern, but it's hard to not get excited about this prospect.

5. Carolina Panthers : Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Bryce Young lives to fight another day in Carolina, seemingly securing the quarterback job following his third season. Carolina instead continues to invest in keeping the former Alabama star upright, which they do by taking Mauigoa out of Miami.

6. New York Jets : Garrett Nussmeier , QB, LSU

The Justin Fields experiment didn't last long in the Meadowlands. Instead, the Jets secure their quarterback of the future in the 2026 draft. They opt to select the latest and greatest offering of LSU quarterbacks in the hopes that Nussmeier delivers the goods like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels .

2026 NFL draft QBs: Arch Manning, Drew Allar top names for next year's class

7. Las Vegas Raiders : Caleb Downs , S, Ohio State

Vegas went all-in on speeding up their rebuild, but now project for a top-10 pick in 2026. They won't be complaining after securing Downs' services though. The Ohio State safety is arguably the top defensive player on the board heading into next season and they get him at No. 7. Pete Carroll's team might want to invest in a quarterback at some point given Geno Smith's age, but it's hard to argue with their decision here.

8. Indianapolis Colts : Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Colts have decided to protect their quarterback by taking Proctor out of Alabama. Of course, that is under the assumption they have a quarterback. Indianapolis has plenty of questions they'll have to answer, but it seems that Copilot is fine with Anthony Richardson's production for now.

9. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars ): Evan Stewart , WR, Oregon

The Browns get their second top-10 pick courtesy of the Jaguars and the Travis Hunter trade. Cleveland secures Sellers a receiving option in Stewart. The Oregon wideout has blazing speed and that is always enough to fly up the draft boards. Cleveland's offense will enjoy this makeover in the first nine picks.

10. New England Patriots : Deion Burks , WR, Oklahoma

Drake Maye gets a new receiver in the first round as New England takes the plunge on Burks to round out the top 10. He is on the smaller side, but Burks' speed will make up for that as Copilot acknowledges the Patriots' need for an explosive weapon in the passing attack.

11. Arizona Cardinals : Nicholas Singleton , RB, Penn State

The first running back of the draft comes off the board at No. 11 and it's the Nittany Lion, Singleton. He doesn't come with the same heavy workload that is common of top running backs in the draft given Penn State's committee approach, so Arizona should be pleased to land a playmaker without a lot of miles on the tires.

12. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons ): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Rams elected to trade their first-round pick in 2025 and now have the luxury of owning the Falcons' pick. "Collect them picks," as they now say in L.A. They use this pick to upgrade the secondary, taking a flier on McCoy – a player that Copilot believes can be a lockdown presence for Los Angeles .

NFL Rookie of the Year rankings: Which players have best shot at top awards?

13. Dallas Cowboys : Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Dallas worked to improve the trenches in the 2025 draft and now can live a life of luxury in 2026. They splurge for the second running back of the first round, opting for Love out of Notre Dame. The chatbot is a fan of Love's dynamic playmaking ability thanks to his blend of speed, power and versatility.

14. Seattle Seahawks : Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Construction continues in the Emerald City as Seattle opts for Woods to bolster the defensive line. With plenty of size and strength, Woods fits Mike Macdonald's defense nicely, solidifying the front.

15. Miami Dolphins : Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Miami appeared to forget that defense was a need for most of the offseason, possessing a roster with just four defensive lineman up until the draft. While still a year away, Faulk would continue to address that need. The chatbot is a fan of Faulk's physical tools who also has great technique and explosiveness.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers : Cade Klubnik , QB, Clemson

We can only hope that Aaron Rodgers makes his decision by this time next year, but Klubnik becomes the Steelers' quarterback of the future. He made strides last season at Clemson, something that fans will hope continues this year. The Steelers get a dual-threat signal caller who can potentially add some stability to Pittsburgh's room.

17. Denver Broncos : C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

We're onto the back half of the first round and Allen is the first Georgia defender off the board. It took a while for that to happen, but Copilot made sure to make this draft as official as possible. The chatbot likes Allen as a versatile defender with great instincts, speed, and tackling ability.

18. Chicago Bears : Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Ben Johnson might be collecting receivers if this happens because this room is getting crowded in Chicago. Perhaps this means DJ Moore is on thin ice, but the chatbot liked the fit of adding an explosive playmaker like Tate in the Windy City.

NFL DRAFT GRADES: Recap all NFL Draft picks, grades and analysis for all 32 teams.

19. Houston Texans : Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

New year, same problem. The offensive line remains a priority for Houston and they take care of that by taking the tackle Fano out of Utah. Like that family vacation you booked way-too-early to save on hotels and flights, C.J. Stroud can't wait and will probably spend all season saying, "Are we there yet?"

20. Minnesota Vikings : Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas

The Vikings are looking to address their secondary and make the decision to select the Longhorns' cornerback, Muhammad. Copilot likes him as a physical, instinctive defender with great coverage skills and ball-hawking ability.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

Perkins saw his 2024 season end early with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which essentially ended his quest for being a first-round pick in the 2025 draft. The linebacker returned to school and now will look to rebuild his draft stock. He will do enough to make that a reality in Copilot's imaginary eyes, landing in Tampa Bay on a team that could use linebackers.

22. Green Bay Packers : Antonio Kite, CB, Ole Miss

Kite began his college career at Alabama, transferred to Auburn and is now on the road to Ole Miss. His tour around the SEC has hit a snag, however, with Kite's transfer not being completed yet. Copilot doesn't have a problem drafting the prospect for the Packers though, with the hopes that he can soar to new heights in the NFL.

23. Los Angeles Chargers : David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Jim Harbaugh took a year off from adding to his defense in the first round, but that won't be the case in 2026. He strikes by adding the edge rusher Bailey, with Copilot saying he can be a long-term replacement for Khalil Mack as a disruptive pass-rusher.

24. Los Angeles Rams : Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

After passing on a quarterback earlier, the Rams opted to add to their defense. This time around, they'll prioritize the trenches. The Rams add to the group up front to protect their quarterback. The question is, will that be Matthew Stafford ?

25. Cincinnati Bengals : C.J. Baxter, RB, Texas

Cincinnati doesn't really have a need at running back to warrant using a first-round pick on one, but they opt for Baxter anyway at 25. Baxter missed the 2024 season with a knee injury he suffered in practice, paving the way for Jaydon Blue to be featured. Blue is now out of the picture and Baxter has the chance to rebuild his draft stock in 2025. The chatbot likes what he can add to the Cincinnati offense.

26. San Francisco 49ers : Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa

The 49ers will have to start planning for life after Trent Williams at some point and there's no better time than the present in Copilot's estimation. San Francisco opts for Dunker out of Iowa, who comes with the perfect name for moving bodies out of the way. He has plenty of college experience after opting to play a fifth season in Iowa City and doesn't carry much risk. The 49ers find a potential plug-and-play starter.

27. Washington Commanders : LT Overton , EDGE, Alabama

Overton elected to return to Alabama for his senior season, but that didn't hurt his draft stock as he still lands in the first round. Dan Quinn lands a key piece for his defense in Overton, who could be a problem for opposing offenses to deal with in the future.

28. Detroit Lions : Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon

Uiagalelei, unlike his brother D.J., is about getting after the quarterback. He did so in a big way last season, posting 10.5 sacks in his second season in Eugene. That also came with a step up in competition after Oregon joined the Big Ten. The Lions would love to add his explosiveness off the edge opposite Aidan Hutchinson . Opponents would probably enjoy something else.

29. Kansas City Chiefs : Xavier Nwankpa , S, Iowa

Nwankpa is back for his senior year, hoping to rebuild his draft stock with a big season. That will come to fruition if you ask Copilot, as the safety sneaks into the final picks of Round 1. Kansas City, and specifically Steve Spagnuolo, will enjoy Nwankpa's versatility.

30. Buffalo Bills : Jaren Kanak, TE/LB, Oklahoma

Move over Travis Hunter , there's a new two-way star in town? Kanak played linebacker for three seasons at Oklahoma but is making the switch to tight end for the 2025 season. He played on the offensive side of the ball in high school before switching with the Sooners. Now he'll be switching back and apparently thriving in the process. Perhaps Hunter's potential success as a rookie starts a trend and the Bills take advantage of a two-for-one special.

31. Baltimore Ravens : Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

There's no doubt the rich get richer in the NFL. Look no further than the Ravens, who see Bain fall into their laps at 31. Projected to be a top-10 pick at this stage of the year, Baltimore enjoys the benefit of Copilot's creation and adds to their defense in a big way. At this rate, not even Batman will be able to save NFL offenses from this terrifying defense.

32. Philadelphia Eagles : Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

It's not Alabama or Georgia, but it's still the SEC and an apparent steal for Howie Roseman. Hill, one of the top linebackers in the class, nearly fell out of the first round, but the Eagles enjoy taking whatever talent falls to them every year. This time, it's the Longhorn that gets that honor.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts all 32 first-round picks

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: