Any given Sunday in the NFL can see teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills suffer upsets. In those upsets, past first round talent like Drake Maye and Jaxson Dart has shown just why finding the right talent in the draft can jumpstart a team’s rebuild or roster reset.
In a week that also saw top draft pics from the 2025 NFL Draft like Cam Ward and Travis Hunter make impact plays to help their team’s win, the attention starts to really shift to the 2026 NFL Draft and forecasting which prospects are the top players to watch the rest of the season and which NFL teams are the perfect fit.
The beauty of NFL Mock Drafts is those fits can change week to week. Any given Sunday can find a team like the Baltimore Ravens near the top in draft positioning and a team like the Indianapolis Colts shocking the NFL as one of the best teams.
2026 NFL Draft: Fernando Mendoza vs Dante Moore
In what was labeled the next great draft class when it comes to quarterbacks, the 2025 college football season hasn’t played out that way. Top prospects going into the season like Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier and Drew Allar haven’t staked their claim as the top prospect in the draft. Instead, quarterbacks like Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore are separating themselves from the pack.
In a Week 7 match between the 5-0 Ducks and 5-0 Hoosiers, both Mendoza and Moore will get to showcase their talent to NFL scouts. The winner of this matchup will be in position to be the top QB off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL Mock Draft Top 5: Only two QBs land in the top 5
In a draft order determined by current record, the New York Jets start it off with the No. 1 overall pick.
No. 1: New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana
An 0-5 start not only has the Jets in position to land the top spot overall, but there could be another change at head coach coming. Is this the right spot for the hottest quarterback prospect in the nation? Fernando Mendoza is big arm quarterback with athleticism and if there is any QB worth resetting an NFL franchise with, it is the Indiana star who has surged up the NFL Draft big board due to his accuracy as a passer and ability to get outside the pocket and create positive plays with his legs. Will the Jets get it right this time? Mendoza looks the role…at least through Week 6 of the college football season.
No. 2: Cleveland Browns – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Browns will have the luxury of passing on a QB with the No. 2 overall pick. They could also trade down to a team like the Saints or Raiders and gain even more trade capital to get a player like Jordyn Tyson. The best wide receiver prospect entering the 2026 NFL Draft, the Browns add another element to their offense that will make them a tough offense to stop if they have a quarterback at the position. Between Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and maybe even Deshaun Watson, the Browns will have another QB battle over the summer. A player like Tyson will help elevate whoever is under center for the Browns in 2026.
No. 3: Baltimore Ravens– Rueben Bain Jr., ED, Miami (FL)
This could be a toss away season for the Ravens given the injury to Lamar Jackson. In landing a top 3 pick, Baltimore will get an opportunity to find a new defensive star. That star is Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. It may seem unfair given the Ravens roster, but the defense needs a major upgrade, and it will start up front with a player in Bain who can disrupt the backfield off the edge. A great player to help the Ravens reclaim their AFC North throne in 2026.
No. 4: Miami Dolphins – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Dolphins will take the best player on the board in Caleb Downs. The top needs here are at wide receiver and cornerback, but with Tyson off the board, Miami won’t pass up a chance to bring the top safety talent in the draft to South Beach. In Downs they get an athletic playmaker who can be a leader in the defensive backfield playing alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. Look for the Dolphins to double dip at cornerback on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 5: New Orleans Saints – Dante Moore, QB Oregon
The second hottest quarterback in college football goes to the New Orleans Saints at No. 5. In selecting Dante Moore, the Saints add a quarterback with a quick release and a competitive fire as a competitor. He will challenge and ultimately win the starting role from Spencer Rattler and could end up as the top quarterback in the draft when all is said and done. Moore and the 5-0 Oregon Ducks have a big matchup against Mendoza and the 5-0 Indiana Hoosiers in Week 7. This could determine which of these two hot quarterbacks are the top QB prospect in the nature. The Saints will be watching.