BREAKING: Early 2026 NFL mock drafts set the tone, and the top belongs to the desert. My board has the Raiders sitting at No. 1, the Giants right behind them at No. 2, and the Browns out of reach for the top quarterbacks. The ripple is real. The race for franchise passers has started today. 🏈
The board takes shape
I have the Raiders in pole position after a rocky trajectory, with the Giants slotted next. The Browns hover nearby, but not close enough for a clean quarterback shot. It is a snapshot, not a verdict. Yet it already tells us where power and pressure will live next spring.
Two blue chip quarterbacks headline the early board. One is a smooth operator with rhythm and accuracy. The other is a big armed creator who wins outside structure. Both carry the kind of grade that forces front offices to act. If you are in range, you think quarterback first. If you are not, you make calls and weigh the future.
Raiders at No. 1, reset or reload
Las Vegas has star power on defense with Maxx Crosby. The offense has pieces, including Brock Bowers and a veteran receiver group. But the quarterback room remains unsettled. That is the truth that drives this projection.
At No. 1, the Raiders must choose between certainty and ceiling. A clean timing passer pairs nicely with Bowers on option routes. A toolsy playmaker can maximize broken plays in a division full of chaos. New leadership in the building wants identity and margin. A quarterback gives both. Passing on a passer at the top would be a massive bet. It would require a blue chip left tackle with rare traits or a generational edge to live with Crosby.
History says the first pick is a quarterback unless the prospect is rare at another position.
There is also culture to consider. The Raiders want edge, toughness, and a look that fits the shield. A confident field general who can handle pressure fits that brand. If they nail it, the franchise timeline accelerates.
Giants at No. 2, the draft’s pivot point
New York sits in the perfect pivot seat. The roster has a true No. 1 wideout. The defense can rush in waves when healthy. The offensive line still needs answers. The quarterback question lingers as well.
This slot can go a few ways:
- Take a franchise quarterback if the top choice falls
- Lock down an alpha left tackle for the next decade
- Add a speed edge who tilts protections
- Land a long, sticky corner to match up with elite NFC receivers
Brian Daboll’s scheme thrives with a quick processor at quarterback. Joe Schoen’s build leans on trench strength. That tension is the choice. If the Giants love the second quarterback, you run the card. If not, you stack the line and make life easy for your current passer. Either way, the pick sets the tone for the NFC East.
Browns on the outside looking in
Cleveland sits in a tougher spot. My early run shows them just far enough away to miss the first quarterback tier. The roster is talented. Myles Garrett anchors a nasty defense. The offense needs stability and health. The contract math at quarterback adds layers, and patience is thin.
This is where aggression pays. The Browns can ride defense, shop for a veteran, and hope a riser emerges. Or they can package future picks and go up the board. Both paths cost something. The price to move into the top three is heavy. But sitting tight could leave them fishing from the second tier, which can be a purgatory.
Veteran quarterback decisions will shake this board. One early retirement, extension, or trade can flip the top five overnight.
The Browns know this well. Timing matters. If a veteran becomes available in February, their calculus changes. If not, they must set a clear plan now and protect it through chaos.
What can change from here
This is an early look. It is built on roster arcs, contract windows, and the tape we trust today. A hot college season can vault a new quarterback into the top tier. A star tackle can put on ten clean pounds and erase doubts. A coach on the hot seat can cool the room with a December run. All of that will move boards.
The combine will measure speed. Pro days will sell comfort. Private visits will test wiring. And one medical flag can send a first rounder into Friday night. Mocks shift because teams evolve, and players do too.
The bottom line
The Raiders have the steering wheel. The Giants own the pivot. The Browns need a plan. Quarterback hunger will define the top, and it will not be gentle. Today’s snapshot gives us the map. Now the league begins the chase, and every win, loss, and whisper will redraw the lines. ⏰
