Way, Way Too Early NFL Mock Draft (Part 3)
Steak breaks down picks 21-32 of the upcoming NFL draft
Steak
NBA, CBB, NFL, CFB
I know we are all sad football season is over, and while I love college basketball and March Madness as much as the next person, there’s simply nothing that beats talking football. That is why I have decided to do a way, way too early 2026 NFL Mock Draft. Let me start by saying I love the NFL Draft. I have attended every single one since 2017 in Philly and am going to the 2026 one in Pittsburgh at the end of April. So enjoy this mock from a draft lover — but NOT an expert.
21–32
21: Pittsburgh Steelers — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Listen, some people will hate this, and I honestly don’t understand how you can. He’s clearly the second-best QB in the draft, and I’d argue he has a higher ceiling than Mendoza — call me crazy. And it’s not like the Steelers have many other options at QB, unless you’re really excited to see what Will Howard has to offer.
22: Los Angeles Chargers — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Los Angeles would be taking Ioane, the guard out of Penn State, if he were available here, but I do not believe he will be. That means taking Freeling and fitting him in where you can on an offensive line that has Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt coming off injuries — and a bunch of bag boys.
23: Philadelphia Eagles — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Eagles and A.J. Brown marriage seems to be ending in divorce, and without him, the Eagles are looking at having one of the worst WR rooms in the entire league. I think they will be making additions through the draft and also signing a vet in free agency.
24: Cleveland Browns — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Browns have to address the O-line with their second first-rounder if they don’t with their first. With Freeling off the board, I think Miller is the best and safest option.
25: Chicago Bears — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Bears make Kayden the fifth Buckeye taken in the first 25 picks of this draft, and they add a dominant run-stopper to a team that was fourth-worst in the NFL against the run last season.
26: Buffalo Bills — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Bills REALLY need a WR here, but with Boston off the board to the Eagles at pick 23, there is officially no first-round talent left at the position. The Bills will address their second-most important need — linebacker — with their top two linebackers from last year set to hit free agency.
27: San Francisco 49ers — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Trent Williams rumors are swirling, and regardless of whether or not he returns, he’ll be 38 by the time this season starts. The 49ers should be addressing the O-line regardless. I think Lomu will be the second offensive lineman from Utah taken in the first round of this draft.
28: Houston Texans — Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Houston will want to address the O-line here, but with Freeling, Lomu, and Miller going before them, they will settle on adding a running back with superstar potential to one of the flattest and most washed-up RB rooms in the entire league. Jadarian Price and Love will become the first RBs from the same school drafted in the first round since Felix Jones and Darren McFadden.
29: Los Angeles Rams — Emmanuel Pregnon, OT, Oregon
Havenstein retired, and the Rams would still need O-line help even if he didn’t. Freeling would’ve been the first choice here, but Pregnon is a just-fine consolation.
30: Denver Broncos — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
I’m not gonna lie — if this ends up happening, it could be my favorite pick in the entire draft. While I think there’s a possibility he goes earlier to Philadelphia, I think this is a HOME RUN at pick 30 for a Denver team that is pretty stacked but really needs dynamic pass-catchers.
31: New England Patriots — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
We still don’t know if Will Campbell will be moved inside, but even if he doesn’t, Drake Maye needs protection — and he needs it immediately. Iheanachor is skyrocketing up draft charts, and the Patriots address a massive need at the end of the first round.
32: Seattle Seahawks — TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Seattle, the defending champs, are another team like Denver that’s so stacked it’s hard to tell where they go with this pick. I could ultimately see them trading out, but if they don’t, I think they’ll be happy picking up TJ Parker — a stud with a superstar ceiling.
