1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
He wasn’t there. But hey, the draft continued without him. As long as he shows up in Vegas!
Grade: B

2. New York Jets – David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
Whether it was Arvell Reese or David Bailey, the Jets picked production.
Grade: A

3. Arizona Cardinals – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Who is playing quarterback again? Regardless, Love has the potential to be the next Jahmyr Gibbs.
Grade: B+

4. Tennessee Titans – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Can he be a true number-one receiver? It looks like they are low-key sabotaging Cam Ward.
Grade: C-

5. New York Giants – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Giants add a hard-hitting presence to the second level of the defense.
Grade: B

6. Kansas City Chiefs (from Cleveland) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Chiefs aren’t paying any corners. He will be traded four years from now.
Grade: B-

7. Washington Commanders – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Washington secures a versatile, modern defensive piece.
Grade: B

8. New Orleans Saints – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
He cried when he was selected. I love the passion.
Grade: A

9. Cleveland Browns (from Kansas City) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Cleveland reinforces the offensive trenches. Who’s playing QB here again?
Grade: B

10. New York Giants (from Cincinnati) – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Uce said he’d die about this pick. I love this draft class.
Grade: A+

11. Dallas Cowboys (from Miami) – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Jerry Jones sneaks in and takes the best value as usual. It still won’t win them a title, though.
Grade: A-

12. Miami Dolphins (from Dallas) – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
He was my number-one prospect if he could have kept his head on straight. I am not sure if Miami is the right city for him.
Grade: C+

13. Los Angeles Rams – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Matthew Stafford will play one or two more years. I called for them to draft Shedeur Sanders, so I am not surprised by the move for a quarterback.
Grade: B

14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Baltimore adds wide-bodied power to the interior line.
Grade: B

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
Here is another player who is about his business. I love this class, and he gets to stay in Florida.
Grade: A

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis) – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Why did they need this player again? He is a good player, but Geno Smith is your quarterback.
Grade: C-

17. Detroit Lions – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Detroit adds a tough, physical blocker to the perimeter.
Grade: B

18. Minnesota Vikings – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Minnesota beefs up the interior defensive line.
Grade: B

19. Carolina Panthers – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Carolina invests in offensive tackle depth. Panthers fans are not feeling this selection but it may grade out as the right move.
Grade: B

20. Philadelphia Eagles (from Green Bay via Dallas) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
So A.J. Brown is gone gone?
Grade: B+

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Pittsburgh continues to prioritize offensive line stability.  Who’s playing QB here?! And why is that a question that keeps occurring?
Grade: B

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
The Chargers add disruptive edge-rushing depth.
Grade: B

23. Dallas Cowboys (from Philadelphia) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
Dallas doubles down on the defensive front.
Grade: B

24. Cleveland Browns – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
He is my favorite player in the class and reminds me of Deebo Samuel. It is too bad his quarterback will be Shedeur Sanders, and his cult-like fanbase will sabotage KC.
Grade: A for talent, C for fit

25. Chicago Bears – Dillon Theineman, S, Oregon
Chicago adds range and intelligence to the secondary.
Grade: B

26. Houston Texans (via Buffalo) – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
Houston reinforces the interior offensive line.
Grade: B

27. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Miami adds secondary depth for the AFC East.
Grade: B

28. New England Patriots (from Houston via Buffalo) – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
New England secures reliable pass protection.
Grade: B

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Kansas City adds raw power to the defensive interior.
Grade: B

30. New York Jets (from Denver, via Miami and San Francisco) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
I am still not understanding what the Jets are doing. Your quarterback of the future is Geno Smith, and he is 35 years old.
Grade: D

31. Tennessee Titans (from New England via Buffalo) – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
I once had him number one overall, but the production never came. Again, what are they doing to Cam Ward?
Grade: C

32. Seattle Seahawks – Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
I predicted this for the second round, but they probably figured they should lock him in and get him now.
Grade: B+

The Las Vegas Raiders secure the top overall spot by selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to stabilize their offense. Later in the round, the Cleveland Browns secure a potential succession plan by taking Alabama’s Ty Simpson at pick 24.

Defensive and offensive linemen dominate the top of the board. The New York Jets add elite length with Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese at pick two. The Arizona Cardinals immediately follow with Texas Tech’s explosive David Bailey at pick three. The New York Giants lock in a foundational bookend by taking Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at pick five.

Explosive playmakers fill the remaining gaps to round out the offensive side of the ball. The Tennessee Titans return to a dominant run game with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Teams like the Cleveland Browns (Carnell Tate) and Baltimore Ravens (Jordyn Tyson) secure elite receiving targets with the speed and size to stretch the field.

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The analysis is complete. The board is set. The clock starts at 8 PM.

In our latest two-round projection, we witnessed a massive shakeup that saw Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama) and Kevin Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M) skyrocket into the first-round conversation!

With the “Blue Chip” talent pool shifting, the New York Jets kicked off the second round by snagging Avieon Terrell. In a division defined by elite quarterback play, finding a corner with Terrell’s Clemson-bred instincts at pick 33 is the definition of value.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans proved that the best way to win the draft is to let the board come to you. By waiting until the second round to grab Anthony Hill Jr. and D’Angelo Ponds, both teams secured Day 1 starters without the “top-10” price tag. Ponds, in particular, represents a massive win for a Titans secondary looking to reset the culture in the AFC South.

Perhaps the most polarizing move of the mock was Ty Simpson’s ascent into the first round. By moving the Alabama signal-caller into the top 32, the Cleveland Browns are forced to pivot. While the Browns opted for technical security with center Connor Lew, the Steelers also stayed aggressive under center, landing Garrett Nussmeier at 76 to compete in a wide-open QB room.

If you’re looking for the pick that will be graded an “A+” three years from now, look no further than Zachariah Branch to the Atlanta Falcons at 48. In an era where “high-end” playmakers are the ultimate currency, getting a home-run threat like Branch outside the top 40 is highway robbery.

Other notable Round 2 values include Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt) to Miami, a mismatch nightmare for a Dolphins offense that thrives on speed. Malachi Fields (WR, Notre Dame) to Tampa Bay, the “Pro’s Pro” who provides immediate reliability for the Bucs’ passing game. And Gabe Jacas (DE, Illinois) to Detroit, a high-motor edge rusher who fits Dan Campbell’s “kneecap-biting” philosophy like a glove.

The 2026 NFL Draft class is proving that there is no consensus. Teams aren’t just drafting for talent; they are drafting for identity. From the Jets’ defensive doubling-down to the Texans’ trench-warfare approach, the battle for AFC supremacy is being fought in the mid-rounds.

Check out the full Round 2 breakdown below to see if your team found their next superstar!

At the top of SI’s player rankings sits edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), a disruptive force off the edge who has drawn comparisons to high-impact pass rushers because of his length and power. His presence atop the board underscores how elite edge defenders remain premium commodities.

Joining Bain among the premier prospects are elite secondary and offensive talent. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) is widely regarded as one of the most complete wideouts in the class, combining size, route precision, and contested-catch ability. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) stands out as a true playmaker in the defensive backfield with range, instincts, and versatility that could elevate a team’s secondary early in his career.

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (Miami) is another top name, offering elite size and athleticism on the line that could make him one of the first blockers off the board. Mauigoa’s combination of power and mobility projects well in both pass protection and run schemes.

Beyond those core names, Flick’s board includes other high-end prospects likely to hear their names early. Dynamic edge rusher T.J. Parker (Clemson) and fellow pass-rush threat Keldric Faulk (Auburn) both bring disruptive potential that NFL defenses crave. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) remains a notable quarterback prospect with pro-style accuracy and experience against strong competition. Ashton Stamps (LSU) is among the top cover corners in college football, while Peter Woods (Clemson) anchors the interior defensive line with power and run-stopping ability. Nick Singleton (Penn State) rounds out the early look as one of the best running backs in the class, blending power and explosiveness.

SI’s 2026 mock emphasizes how deep and varied this draft class could be, with talent across key positions and multiple prospects capable of becoming foundational pieces for rebuilding NFL franchises.