Doug Farrar’s Second-Round Mock Draft: The boards reset after first-round anarchy
1 month ago
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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 31: Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier #13 of LSU from the American Team runs in for a touchdown on the opening drive during the first half of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 31, 2026 in Mobile, Alabama. The American Team defeated the National Team 17 to 9. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the first round of a draft is complete, people in NFL facilities are getting right back to work. It’s time to review and re-set your draft boards, based not only on who’s left once the first 32 picks are made, but also what that might do to elevate or reduce your favorite players and positions.
This particular second-round mock, following the anarchic first-round projection that saw the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Cleveland Browns radically redefine their draft capital, is pretty much the same thing. Now that all that insanity is a done deal, one has to deal with what remains. This works especially well for the Browns, who grabbed several extra selections in the trade that brought Ty Simpson to the Big Apple, and begin the second round with the guy they hope will be their franchise quarterback.
With all that out of the way, here’s how the second round could go. There are tape examples for every prospect here; if you’d like to know more about the player-scheme fits I saw (or, if you’d just like to inform me that I’m completely nuts), we’ll have a Reader Q&A very soon!
33. Cleveland Browns (from New York Jets): Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
You can see the effects of Garrett Nussmeier's ab/oblique/torso injury on 2025 when you watch his 2024 season. In 2024, he was a chaos/big-play generator at an absolutely stupid level. 2025 saw him working around it — reducing his motion and big play ability.
Asked Clemson's Avieon Terrell for his favorite plays in the 2025 season. This is where you can pass by the zero picks, and focus on his five forced fumbles. pic.twitter.com/Gj7q8pcBTF
Louisville WR Chris Bell has a first-round grade from me for one specific reason: You can't consistently press him and expect to win. He has all the answers. pic.twitter.com/DcCUXrroA6
Clemson RT Blake Miller has some work to do when it comes to staying engaged in pass pro… but I like any OL who seeks to announce his presence with authority — and PANCAKES. I wonder if he listens to Pantera like Abe Lucas does. pic.twitter.com/WIdikeHQG0
Any team that wants its passing game to funnel to the middle of the field should love Alabama's Germie Bernard. Dude was a dig route safecracker in 2025. pic.twitter.com/sMYWS5OIRa
With Texas A&M LG Chase Bisontis, there's the gap you're in, and the gap he wants you to travel to. More often than not, you're going where he wants you to go. pic.twitter.com/PrEsbaVOuE
Cashius Howell's ripping combination of Gumby-like bend around the arc, and speed into his inside counters, makes him absolute hell for tackles to deal with. I would expect similar results in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/3dFjHHgxA9
40. Kansas City Chiefs: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
T.J. Parker is a big EDGE with bad intentions. Leaving a running back in to block him is particularly cute. Might as well get the guy out quickly. pic.twitter.com/brtF7QIeXA
Florida's Caleb Banks playing wide-nine at 6-foot-5 and 325 pounds seemed to have Jaxson Dart a bit rattled. Banks was a menace everywhere else on the defensive line, as well.
They also had him playing 45% nose last season, as opposed to 31% over the tackles in 2024. That’ll put a shiv in your disruptive abilities unless you’re Dexter Lawrence. https://t.co/ZphOgdqwNB
For a guy in the 6-foot-4, 330-pound range, Texas Tech's Lee Hunter moves abnormally quickly. He can also take his two hands and move your blockers several steps in directions they did not anticipate pre-snap. pic.twitter.com/lACbU0Xejd
44. Cleveland Browns (from New York Jets): Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
Bryce Lance, brother of Trey, is one big play after another just waiting to happen. The NFL should take more notice after the combine. pic.twitter.com/mt12S3lUvU
Georgia's Christen Miller is an interesting IDL in that most of his quarterback disruptions came from the nose gaps, but his TFLs came from everywhere. I like him as an ascending player in any stunt-heavy scheme where he's upsetting protections. pic.twitter.com/s19de5KeBF
When LSU safety A.J Haulcy is in phase, he is an absolute terror of an enforcer who can set the tone for an entire defense.
Problem is… he's the proverbial box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Tackling, and tracking top end of routes, are pretty WTF. pic.twitter.com/TjuZhW9iKh
It isn't Jadarian Price's fault that he isn't Jeremiyah Love — he still has RB1 potential in the right NFL offense. Great vision and cutback ability. 11TD, 32 forced missed tackles, and 11 runs of 15+ yards on just 113 carries last season. pic.twitter.com/iYVym8uSVG
51. Carolina Panthers: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers didn't get a ton of opportunities to show his vertical speed last season, but when he did, all the combine numbers showed up. His NFL team could get a lot more out of him, especially as a motion weapon. pic.twitter.com/6BgNQyZoPm
52. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
When a guy has two interceptions in 589 career coverage snaps, you want to know why. With Brandon Cisse, I wonder if the last-second charge to the ball is sometimes a step late, and coaching will erase the gap. When he's on, he's a wonderful press/match eraser. pic.twitter.com/KEyOF57hXX
Spencer Fano is the Utah OT you take if you want certainty. Caleb Lomu is the Utah OT if you're willing to bet on serious athletic potential when there's already a lot of fundamentals to like. pic.twitter.com/DYRHfcZY0Q
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Domonique Orange, DI, Iowa State
Production (or the lack thereof) with draft prospects requires context. If you look at Domonique "Big Citrus" Orange's metrics, you would assume there's no pass-rush juice. Then, you see him disrupt as a nose or edge in all those three-man fronts, and it's a different story. pic.twitter.com/i2y3zUyS0G
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
San Diego State CB Chris Johnson is a gonzo enveloper with match feet and change of direction to all areas of the field. If you can catch the ball against him, he's likely to suplex your ass on the way down. pic.twitter.com/l82aI7PKsk
UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence's 10-40 times show up when he's chasing down quarterbacks to accentuate his pass-rush moves, Escaping Lawrence in the pocket is only a temporary safety point. pic.twitter.com/ILrALWgvxh
58. San Francisco 49ers: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
Wherever Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas lines up, chaos tends to ensue. No. 17 has some serious juice on either side of the tackles. 28 sacks and 142 pressures over four seasons. pic.twitter.com/D5U53Of714
I've been watching D'Angelo Ponds play outside for a while now, and I've yet to see a trend of bigger receivers boxing him out. When you're 5' 8⅝" and 182 pounds, you'd better have a hell of a vertical (43½"; 98th percentile), and play like a damn dawg. Ponds qualifies. pic.twitter.com/4693uKxiEO
60. Chicago Bears (from Buffalo Bills): Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
With so much quick game in today's NFL, your cornerbacks had better be able to adjust and converge on quick-drop throws to negate those 0-3 step concepts.
Cincinnati LB Jake Golday has equal acumen as an off-ball defender and as a pass-rusher. I asked him to detail a favorite play in each role. He focused on the Nebraska game. pic.twitter.com/9Q5se9PT1K
If you have a need for speed in your interior defensive line, here's Oklahoma's Gracen Halton. Undersized guy who can get it done everywhere from nose to the tackles based on assignment. Relentless, athletic, and brings some pop to work through blocks. pic.twitter.com/t4Ccs07Ujy
63. New England Patriots: Connor Lew, Center, Auburn
At his best, Auburn center Connor Lew just creates gaps post-snap. Athletic mover who needs some work maintaining pass pro side-to-side, but can stone dudes bigger than him with leverage. pic.twitter.com/hpaqhQTOgt
64. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
Does Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr.'s combine speed show up on tape? Why yes, it does — and at 6-foot-1 and 223 pounds, he's perfectly happy to turn any run into a mosh pit. pic.twitter.com/DksHHUck5J
1 month ago
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MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 31: Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier #13 of LSU from the American Team runs in for a touchdown on the opening drive during the first half of the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 31, 2026 in Mobile, Alabama. The American Team defeated the National Team 17 to 9. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images 
