We are officially halfway through the 2025 NFL season. There are plenty of teams still in the playoff hunt, but for about a third of the league, their season is basically already over. There are seven teams with two or fewer wins through nine weeks, so it’s basically a seven-way battle for the first overall pick.

This article is for the people who are fans of those one or two-win teams (like myself). Just like last week, I’m going to predict the top 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and I even threw a big trade in there to make things a bit more interesting.

Draft order via Tankathon.

1. TRADE: Miami Dolphins (2-7) via New Orleans

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Starting things off, I have the Miami Dolphins making a big move to trade up for the first overall pick. The New Orleans Saints drop three spots to No. 4, and the Dolphins get their quarterback of the future in Fernando Mendoza from Indiana. He has been arguably the best quarterback in the country this year, and he’s leading arguably the best team in the country. Pretty safe and easy pick for Miami, who should look to move off of Tua Tagovailoa this offseason.

Stats: 72.3 completion percentage, 2,344 total yards, 29 total TDs, 4 INTs

2. Tennessee Titans (1-8)

Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami

Rueben Bain Jr. is arguably the best overall talent in the draft. He may only have two sacks on the year, but he has 44 pressures in eight games, and he’s doing that while being double-teamed on almost every single snap. He’s someone who can single-handedly wreck a game, and the Tennessee Titans really need help off the edge. This is a perfect fit for both sides.

Stats: 44 pressures, 37 hurries, 2 sacks

3. New York Jets (1-7)

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Dante Moore has been the clear QB2 this year. He didn’t play a whole lot in his first two seasons, but he took over as Oregon’s starter this year and has been playing incredibly. He got hurt in his last game, but Oregon had a bye this past weekend, and he should be back on the field this Saturday.

The New York Jets obviously need help at the quarterback position, and after the Dolphins leapfrogged them for Mendoza, they settled for Moore at No. 3.

Stats: 71.4 completion percentage, 1,903 total yards, 19 total TDs, 4 INT

4. New Orleans Saints (1-8) via Miami

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Saints had Fernando Mendoza sitting on the board, but decided to trade back and collect future assets. This is based on one game, but Tyler Shough looks like he has all the physical tools to be at least an average NFL quarterback, so I believe they’ll give him another year and try to put a better team around him in 2026 to see what he can do.

Not only do the Saints get future assets, but they also get Caleb Downs, who I believe is the best player in the draft. I know safety isn’t a premium position, but pairing Downs and Jonas Sanker will give them an elite safety duo for years to come.

Stats: 39 tackles, 25 solo, 2 INT, 97 yards allowed, 0 TDs allowed

5. New York Giants (2-7)

Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The New York Giants have the luxury of having their franchise quarterback in place already, so now they get to build around him. In this mock draft, they snag the best offensive tackle in the draft in Spencer Fano. Fano has been an absolute beast this year, allowing just five pressures and zero sacks while also boasting an 82.7 run blocking grade. He’s easily the best offensive lineman available, and he fills a big need for New York.

Stats: 301 pass blocking snaps, 5 pressures allowed, 0 sacks allowed

6. Cleveland Browns (2-6)

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Outside of Tennessee, I don’t think there’s a team out there that needs a receiver more than the Cleveland Browns. Luckily for them, the best one in the draft falls right into their laps at No. 6. If they truly want to see what they have in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, they need to give them some weapons. Adding someone like Jordyn Tyson would help their two young quarterbacks reach their true potential, and only then will they figure out if they need to move on.

Stats: 57 receptions, 628 yards, 8 TDs

7. Las Vegas Raiders (2-6)

Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Las Vegas Raiders really need help in the secondary, so I have them taking the clear-cut No. 1 cornerback available, Mansoor Delane. LSU’s CB1 has been one of the lone bright spots on the team this year. He’s allowing less than a third of targets to be caught and has given up just 100 yards this season. He’s a true lockdown corner, and he’s exactly what Vegas needs right now.

Stats: 32 completion percentage allowed, 100 yards allowed, 7 PBUs, INT, 0 TDs allowed

8. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

The Cincinnati Bengals need help all over their defense, so I have them going with the best defensive player still available in Peter Woods. The Clemson standout isn’t having his best season, but he’s still been very good and has kept himself in top-10 conversations. If I were Cincy, I’d either go with Woods or his teammate (who we’ll speak about soon) at No. 8.

Stats: 11 pressures, 7 hurries, 2 sacks, 17 run stops

9. Washington Commanders (3-6)

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Carnell Tate has cemented himself as the WR2 in this draft. While the Washington Commanders have a lot of holes, I think they’d greatly benefit from adding another receiver to work alongside (or even replace) Terry McLaurin. I know Jayden Daniels has been in and out of the lineup, but the Commanders’ offense has lacked the pop it had last year. Adding a deep threat like Tate would make this offense much more explosive and could mask some of their deficiencies elsewhere.

Stats: 39 receptions, 711 yards, 18.2 YPC, 7 TDs

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson

I don’t foresee the Baltimore Ravens staying in the top 10 much longer, but for now, they own the No. 10 pick in the draft. They have a lot of needs on defense, and edge rusher is certainly one of them. T.J. Parker is clearly the best defensive end still available at this point, so this pick feels like a no-brainer for Baltimore.

Stats: 21 pressures, 12 hurries, 2 sacks, 17 run stops

Full NFL Draft Order

11. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons)

12. Arizona Cardinals

13. Houston Texans

14. Dallas Cowboys

15. Minnesota Vikings

16. Carolina Panthers

17. Kansas City Chiefs

18. Chicago Bears

19. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars)

20. Pittsburgh Steelers

21. Detroit Lions

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. San Francisco 49ers

24. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers)

25. Buffalo Bills

26. Seattle Seahawks

27. Los Angeles Rams

28. Denver Broncos

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30. New England Patriots

31. Philadelphia Eagles

32. Indianapolis Colts