Renner’s 2026 NFL mock draft: Ty Simpson declares, lands late in Round 1

The Heisman winner and leader of the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers keeps passing every test thrown his way. Fernando Mendoza carved up Alabama Crimson Tide’s defense in his first playoff game. We can debate his ceiling all we want, but his floor is unusually high for an incoming quarterback prospect. That’s the separating factor between Mendoza and Dante Moore in any debate between the two. The Raiders are simply looking for baseline competency at quarterback. Given Mendoza’s performances under pressure at both Cal and Indiana, there’s little reason to doubt he can hold up behind the Raiders’ offensive line.

Dante Moore has some of the most effortless arm talent you’ll see, with a throwing motion straight out of a textbook. For the Jets, he profiles as an ideal developmental option amid a long-term rebuild. Moore doesn’t project as a high-end immediate starter, given his limited experience — just 675 career college dropbacks — and some of the cracks he has shown under pressure this season. Still, what he could become in years 3 and 4 is special. If Moore doesn’t declare, the Jets appear poised to pursue a veteran quarterback, as there isn’t another passer in this class worth reaching for in the top five — or even the top 20.

The Cardinals would obviously like a franchise quarterback to replace Kyler Murray, but beggars can’t be choosers here. This isn’t a draft class with a slam-dunk No. 3 overall pick the way Marvin Harrison Jr. was a few years ago, so Arizona may opt for a safer player at a premium position like David Bailey. Bailey is the most explosive edge rusher in the class and can make an immediate impact based on athleticism alone. He saved his best for last with an elite all-around performance against Oregon’s vaunted offensive line in the playoff. A year ago, Bailey couldn’t even crack the starting lineup at Stanford because of his timidness against the run. Now, he was single-handedly shutting down Oregon’s rushing attack, recording four run stops in the loss. Bailey has skyrocketed up draft boards this season.

The Titans have plenty of needs, with wide receiver and edge rusher chief among them. I lean edge here, given how consistently teams can find receiving talent later in the draft, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Carnell Tate were the pick instead. Arvell Reese, though, is more of a wildcard — a traits-based projection with high-end upside as a pass rusher. He’s a modern hybrid linebacker who would add pass-rushing juice from anywhere on the Titans’ front seven.

If you watched the Giants’ worst-ranked run defense this past fall, you know physicality up front is a major need. Keldric Faulk may be listed as a defensive end, but his body type fits more like a defensive tackle in most NFL schemes today. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Faulk is a Calais Campbell-esque tweener who is already a handful in the run game. Slot him next to Dexter Lawrence, and the Giants’ front four would be a terrifying group to block.

Jordyn Tyson has an injury history that has cost him time in three straight seasons, but when healthy, he has proven to be the best pure separator in the draft class. For the Browns, that’s really all that matters. They desperately need someone they can rely on to get open on money downs.

With both Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel getting up there in age, the Commanders have to think about someone to pair with Jayden Daniels long term. Carnell Tate is the exact kind of rangy vertical threat that would pair perfectly with Daniels’ feathery deep balls.

Kellen Moore loves himself a running game but could never quite find one in his first year in New Orleans while cycling through numerous backs. That cycle would end with Jeremiyah Love, as he’s the kind of home run threat who can be the focal point of an offense.

If Rueben Bain Jr. falls because of his arm length, the Chiefs aren’t likely to hesitate to add him to Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. He’s the exact type of power defensive end that Spagnuolo has loved dating back to his days as the Giants’ defensive coordinator.

Caleb Downs is the reliable secondary player the Bengals desperately need. He’s not only assignment-sure in coverage but also rarely misses tackles.

Kenyon Sadiq was born to play tight end for Mike McDaniel for two reasons. The first is that he’s electric after the catch. With a squattier frame than most running backs, he resembles a jumbo running back with the ball in his hands. The other is that Sadiq is a ferocious blocker in space. That’s a far more common assignment for a Dolphins tight end than inline blocking a defensive end.

Sonny Styles feels like exactly what the Cowboys need in their front seven: someone with elite range who also is assignment-sure. The former safety turned linebacker is easily the best tackler at the position in the draft class.

The Rams’ cornerback position has been their biggest point of contention this season. One of the main issues is their size — or lack thereof — outside of Ahkello Witherspoon, who is on the wrong side of 30. McCoy not only has the size, but he also has the man-coverage skills to expand the playbook for defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The ACL tear from last January that kept him out all fall complicates his evaluation, but he has blue-chip potential in a class short on it.

Francis Mauigoa would likely start at guard early in his career, with the option to kick out to tackle when Ronnie Stanley retires. The Ravens simply have to get better at guard, and Mauigoa is exactly the kind of butt-kicker who could make the switch.

The Buccaneers could look to bolster their guard position, which was an issue for much of 2025. Spencer Fano was a tackle at Utah but looks best suited for the interior in the NFL.

Makai Lemon is the missing link in the slot on what’s been an overhauled receiving corps. Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Mason Taylor and Makai Lemon would be a formidable front four for years to come.

Mansoor Delane was the best man corner in college football this fall, and the Lions are one of the man-heaviest teams in the NFL. While the Lions have options in the pipeline, like Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, they’ve yet to prove anything meaningful two years in.

Avieon Terrell is the kind of versatile coverage weapon Brian Flores loves. He can play in the slot, outside, zone or man — you name it. He’s a great tackler and exceptional at filling in the run game. He’s also recorded a ridiculous eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons. That’s a weapon that could take the Vikings’ defense to an elite level.

The Panthers have a lot of money committed to their defensive tackle position, but they need impact wherever they can get it on the defensive side of the ball. Peter Woods was a projected top-five pick based on his sophomore film before a lackluster junior campaign. That talent didn’t disappear, though, and would look great next to Derrick Brown on early downs.

T.J. Parker is, at minimum, an upgrade for the Cowboys in the run game. He’s a powerful defensive end who’s been productive ever since his freshman year at Clemson. It would bolster their by-committee approach in the wake of the Micah Parsons trade.

It seems like it’s time to admit Broderick Jones can’t be Plan A at left tackle for the future. Caleb Lomu is a much more refined pass blocker coming out than Jones ever was and could allow Jones to kick inside.

Caleb Banks might be the biggest wild card in the draft class. He’s a fifth-year defensive tackle who’s averaged fewer than 200 snaps per season for his career and played only 96 this fall with a foot injury. The high-end reps he has for a 6-foot-6, 330-pounder, though, are jaw-dropping.

This only makes sense if the Eagles and A.J. Brown finalize the divorce that looks inevitable this offseason. Denzel Boston is the kind of big-bodied vertical threat on the outside who could replace much of Brown’s role in the offense.

KC Concepcion is a pure separator, the likes of which the Bills have not had since Stefon Diggs was in his prime. That’s the biggest missing piece hampering the Bills’ offense this season.

With how well Ben Johnson has protected his tackles in the passing game, Chicago is one of the few schemes in which Kadyn Proctor could stick at tackle. His ability to move the line of scrimmage would be put to good use in the offense.

Spencer Burford has been a pain point in pass protection at left guard ever since he entered the starting lineup in 2022. With the emergence of the Rams’ and Seahawks’ defensive interiors, that’s a big problem going forward. Olaivavega Ioane would be a massive upgrade in that regard.

A’Mauri Washington is the kind of explosive one-gap defensive tackle who could take the Texans’ defense into the all-time category. He’s not close to a finished product, but he doesn’t need much polish to be disruptive with his physical tools.

Could the Browns nab a franchise left tackle and right tackle in one round? Max Iheanachor is one of the draft’s most intriguing prospects, as he never played football before he got to college. He has all the traits to be an NFL tackle but is obviously raw.

Ty Simpson may not have finished his 2025 season on a high note after getting trounced by Indiana’s vaunted defense, but his body of work is still very intriguing for a first-year starter. His 28-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio is indicative of how he kept the ball out of harm’s way, even when things went south at times. He’s an intriguing developmental option worth a flier for a team whose quarterback need is still a few years away.

The Patriots would prefer edge help here but would settle for a playmaking nose tackle like Lee Hunter. Hunter is the rare 330-plus-pounder who can consistently get into opponents’ backfields.

CJ Allen would add even more oomph to the Broncos’ blitz packages, and that’s a scary thought. He’s a downhill thumper who sends offensive linemen backward.

This feels unfair. The Seahawks adding the draft’s best run-defending nose tackle to the league’s best run defense in six years would send a resounding message to the rest of the league: You aren’t running on Seattle.