University of Kwazulu-Natal

Nfl Mock Draft Multiple Trades 4 Qbs Picked In Embrace The Chaos Round

Bonisiwe Shabane
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nfl mock draft multiple trades 4 qbs picked in embrace the chaos round

Draft day never goes how we think it will. I can't imagine anyone has ever gotten a 32-pick mock draft perfectly correct. And with that in mind, let's try to buck some of the trends emerging in Mock Draft World. It's no fun to see every mock draft looking the same. I want to introduce some new ideas, new prospects you might not have heard of, and a few unorthodox big board ideas. It's not a great draft for quarterbacks, which is why — in this mock — we'll see a shocking number go in Round 1.

It's an incredible draft for running backs, which is why we'll see an astonishingly sparse number go in Round 1. No one wants to trade up to fourth overall, supposedly. Well, what if someone did? That's the idea. Let's reverse what we think we know about what's going to happen on Thursday, because the typical simulations rarely prove predictive. There's no doubt Ward is going first overall.

But what if he didn't go to the Titans? What if the Giants put next year's first-rounder on the table along with a package of picks from this year's class? The Titans just might bite. New York did deep due diligence on this quarterback class, perhaps because the team isn't happy with the options beyond Ward. With his physical tools, Ward offers potential that others do not. And it's not like the Russell Wilson contract will stand in the way.

His guaranteed money is comparable to a high-end backup. Even his bonus money is team-friendly. The rising importance of the 2026 NFL Draft for several teams came into focus after last week's trade deadline. With the New York Jets having dealt cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, there are now four NFL teams that have multiple first-round picks in April. And with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants having already fired their head coaches, several fan bases are probably ready to close the book on this season and enter offseason mode. But with the first-round order still shifting significantly week to week, there's still ample time for team's draft fortunes to rise or fall.

With that said, here's USA TODAY Sports' latest first-round projection and 2026 NFL mock draft: There's a strong possibility for Tennessee to possess the No. 1 pick in consecutive years after the Saints' and Browns' victories left the Titans as the only one-win team remaining. And that creates a bit of a mystery atop the order. An organization that's yet again rebooting would clearly stand to benefit from trading back and stockpiling more early selections to support Cam Ward. Yet this quarterback class doesn't seem particularly conducive to drumming up a bidding war for this choice.

If Tennessee does end up in the slot and stands pat, it could supercharge its defense with Reese. Though he operates as a linebacker for the Buckeyes, the 6-foot-4, 243-pounder has Micah Parsons-like movement abilities that could be best put to use in a full-time edge rushing role. The Titans could pair him with Jeffery Simmons to create one of the league's most formidable inside-outside tandems and then use the rest of the draft – and free agency – to focus on... A franchise with a decades-long habit of being trigger-shy when it comes to selecting quarterbacks might be hard-pressed to go this route, especially if Tyler Shough continues to exhibit the promise he displayed in... But unless the second-round rookie firmly establishes himself as New Orleans' answer at the position in the back half of the season, Mendoza might be massively alluring. The Heisman Trophy front-runner now also figures to be the favorite to be the first quarterback taken, with his game-winning drive against Penn State highlighting resiliency and a knack for operating out of structure...

The 6-5, 225-pounder is the kind of precise thrower who could allow Kellen Moore to launch a new era for the organization in earnest. Technically, rookie Tyler Shough is the Saints' starter for the rest of the season. When New Orleans goes on the clock in the 2026 NFL Draft, Shough will almost certainly become the latest high-round pick whose team uses an even higher-round pick 12 months later in the hopes... The Panthers did it in 2011 when they took Cam Newton No. 1 overall, and the Cardinals did it eight years later when they selected Kyler Murray with the top pick. And as we sit here, nine weeks into the 2026 season, the Saints are staring that first-overall selection in the face.

There will no doubt be discussions in the building about trading down and what such a draft haul might do to reset this roster, but if the organization feels that Fernando Mendoza or Ty... Former Titans GM Ran Carthon and I talked about this last week on "With the First Pick," our NFL Draft podcast: In my Mock Draft 2.0, I have just three QBs going in the first round -- and one via trade; after trading down from No. 2 to No. 5 last April, the Browns move up from No. 6 to No.

2 in this excerise for a quarterback. And much like the conversation surrounding Shough, it's fair to assume that neither Dylan Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders (or any other QB currently on Cleveland's roster) will be penciled in as the 2026 starter... The NFL season is past its halfway point, as the NFL trade deadline has passed for the 2025 season. The college football season is nearing the playoffs, while the NFL playoff picture is also coming into focus. Which means, it's starting to become clear which teams need to think about what they want to do in the 2026 draft. With a remixed order and the top prospects in flux, here's Sporting News' third set of first-round projections for what will go down next April 23 in Pittsburgh:

MORE: Where Fernando Mendoza, other QBs rank in 2026 NFL Draft reset (No. 1-18 order courtesy of Tankathon; No. 19-32 from Week 9 playoff picture) NFL Draft picks are going to get moved at the trade deadline every single year. However, it's not every year that we see multiple first-round picks get traded like we did before Tuesday's NFL Trade Deadline.

Not only did the New York Jets get two first-round picks from the Indianapolis Colts for Sauce Gardner, but they got another from the Dallas Cowboys for 2027 while shipping out Quinnen Williams. That obviously gives the Jets more ammo for the draft, but it changes things for the Cowboys when it comes to their draft plans. So, naturally, it's time for another 2026 NFL Mock Draft. The Colts' 2026 first-round pick was the only one to move, but the trades made before Tuesday's deadline did offer quite a bit of insight into how teams could be operating when April's draft... Dallas is included in that, New York probably is too, and even the teams that didn't make meaningful moves are also part of the equation. Let's try to unpack a bit of that now, with a full first-round NFL mock draft projection for the 2026 draft.

The Jets don't have the No. 1 pick, at least not yet, but after their trade deadline, that could surely be coming soon enough. No change for the Saints here. Tyler Shough's debut certainly didn't move me (or hopefully anyone) and it feels near inevitable that New Orleans will turn the page again at quarterback. Fernando Mendoza remains my surest bet at the position with the blend of arm strength, accuracy, mobility and experience. There's more work to do for the Saints, but he gives them a legit cornerstone.

Anyone ready to make a full assessment of Cam Ward right now isn't looking at the Titans roster. This roster is awful, and taking the best prospect in the draft, Rueben Bain Jr., makes the most sense just to start closing the talent gap. Bain is a force off the edge who looks capable of immediately entering the NFL and being a pass-rushing force, which Tennessee simply doesn't have at the moment. This year’s trade deadline brought plenty of fireworks. More than usual, actually, and plenty of teams got in on the action. The headliner, of course, was the Jets sending two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner to the Colts for a pair of first-round picks and WR Adonai Mitchell.

The Jets now join the Rams, Browns and Cowboys as teams with two first-round picks in next year’s draft. With the immediate ripple effect this has on the draft, now is the perfect time for an updated mock. It’s been over a month since my last mock, and as the college football season rolls on, there is plenty to update. As always, this far out, specific prospect-to-team fits are a little tricky to work out. But given the topic is the trade deadline, I worked to match team needs more than I normally would at this point in the season. The undisputed top player in the class in my eyes, the Titans get a defensive cornerstone to pair with their planned quarterback of the future in last year’s No.

1 pick, Cam Ward. Bain shuts down his side of the line in run defense, but his pass-rushing skills are what set him apart. With an elite bag of pass rush moves and freaky burst off the line of scrimmage, Bain has the makings of a true difference-making NFL edge rusher. Second-round QB Tyler Shough will have the rest of this season to audition for the Saints’ starting spot in 2026. For now, let’s get them another receiver to pair with WR Chris Olave after New Orleans traded away WR Rashid Shaheed at the deadline. Tyson is a true No.

1 receiver in the NFL, with a prototypical frame and fantastic ball skills. His ability to get separation at all three levels of the field is unmatched, and he wins at the catch point with strong hands. The 2025 NFL Draft is finally here, and chaos is fully expected. With rumors swirling, smokescreens rising, and front offices scrambling to finalize their boards, the stage is set for a first round packed with twists, turns, and, if our mock is any indication, plenty of... This is our first and only full 32-team first-round mock draft of the year, and it comes loaded with surprises. From unexpected trades to shocking selections, no team is safe from the shake-up.

That includes the New York Jets, who remain one of the biggest wild cards in the entire draft. Let’s dive in. You can write this one in pen. Cam Ward is the crown jewel of a weak quarterback class, but his upside is high enough to warrant the No. 1 overall selection in this year's draft. Ward should be viewed as a likely Week 1 starter for Tennessee, as Will Levis becomes a potential trade candidate.

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