Opening Play: What’s the vibe?
Welcome to mock-draft chaos, where one week in Mobile can make a defensive tackle feel like Beyoncé. The quarterback pool this year is… let’s say shallow — but the rest of the draft class is doing its best to pick up the slack. If you like pass rush, interior nastiness and cornerbacks who can slap you into next week, you’re in luck.
Quarterbacks: The scarce species
Short version: there aren’t many QBs worth drooling over. One name looks locked into the top spot, but after that it gets murky fast. We might not even see the usual six QBs depart in Round 1 this time around — hell, we might not see six taken across the whole draft. If you’re a QB collector, prepare to hoard them like limited-edition sneakers.
Senior Bowl shook some trees
Senior Bowl week did what scouting reports sometimes can’t: turn heads. Caleb Banks and Lee Hunter looked like they upgraded their draft résumés overnight. Both played huge at the practices, flashing power, quickness and the kind of dominance that makes scouts whisper ‘‘first-round’’ into their coffee cups. If they stay healthy, expect those names to keep creeping up boards.
Defense: The tasty buffet
While people fretted last fall about defensive-line depth, that unit slowly rebuilt its street cred. Edge rushers, interior linemen and cornerbacks have been the class’s most reliable producers, and plenty of mock picks reflect that. If you’re building a pretend fantasy front seven, this class has the pieces to make you feel like a defensive coordinator with a caffeine addiction.
Offense: Ol’ line and wideouts holding their own
Not everything is doom-and-gloom on offense. Several tackles and interior linemen are sneaking into first-round conversations, and wide receivers are showing up enough to justify a handful of early selections. Coaches craving instant protection for their quarterbacks and consistent targets for their routes will find options here — some safe, some boom-or-bust, and a few who just quietly dominate.
Round 1 snapshots
Think of Round 1 as a highlight reel with dramatic music: a sure-fire No. 1 at the top, a smattering of high-upside edge and interior defenders, a handful of linemen who look like day-one starters, and a cluster of receivers to keep coordinators awake at night. Trades and team fits will reshuffle some names, but the overall trend is clear — defense wins board room arguments this year.
The bottom line (or the fumble recovery)
Weird QB class aside, the 2026 crop has enough talent to keep draft nerds entertained. Senior Bowl standouts gave the class new life, interior linemen made a case for early picks, and corners/edge guys are stealing the spotlight. Keep your mock drafts close and your snack bowl closer — things are still changing, and that’s the fun part.
Parting word
Mock drafts are part crystal ball, part barstool argument. Expect movement, surprises and a few panic trades. But also expect to refresh the board at least once an hour and pretend you’re right when a prospect you love gets drafted — because confidence is half the fun.
