The Athletic's new 2026 NFL mock has Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. going No. 1 overall, and the dominant EDGE is building up a lot of steam regarding his pro career. Bain was a highly touted prospect coming out high school and after his freshman season — ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 with 12.5 TFL and 7.5 sacks as a true freshman — scouts have kept a close eye on him. The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner was responsible for the mock draft and he's not alone in his prediction.
It's never too early for a fresh 2026 mock draft 👀
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After a sophomore season derailed by an injury in the opening game, Bain struggled to return to form. He still put up respectable numbers with 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks in nine games, but he clearly wasn't the same. In the spring he dropped some weight and built the foundation for the dominance he has presented on the field so far this season. In Miami's 5-0 start, Bain has put up 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT and 1 FF. Now, many draft experts including Baumgardner, project the Miami product to reunite with former QB Cam Ward in the NFL while also following in his No. 1 overall pick footsteps.
Other 2026 Mock Draft Notes
Francis Mauigoa sits at No. 11 in the mock draft with a G/T designation. He's started since day one at right tackle, and is listed at 6-foot-6-inches and 335 pounds. He's the plug-and-play prototype teams drafting in the early teens covet when they want a day-one starter who can settle at guard or tackle based on need. He was Freshman All-America in 2023 and earned 2nd-Team All-ACC recognition in 2024. He has been mocked as high as the top-5 and it really just depends on need at this point for where he ends up. But, make no mistake about it, he is a first-rounder.
Baumgardner is quick to adjust the QB's in his first round. He pushes Indiana's Fernando Mendoza all the way to No. 2 overall, reflecting the early-season surge that has Mendoza completing 73% with a 16-to-1 TD/INT ratio. LaNorris Sellers is at No. 6 despite a rough start to South Carolina's season, while Dante Moore and Garrett Nussmeier land at No. 19 and No. 20, respectively. Arch Manning drops to No. 28 after being an early No. 1 favorite. Carson Beck still doesn't make it into the first round, but if the Miami offense can sustain their current play, he almost certainly could be drafted in the opening round come April.
It's also a cornerback-rich round with five corners inside the top 32. There is a heavy offensive line run — Spencer Fano (4), Kadyn Proctor (8), Isaiah World (10), Mauigoa (11), Xavier Chaplin (23), Caleb Lomu (29) and center Connor Lew (30). The edge depth behind Bain is also something to notice with Keldric Faulk (9), T.J. Parker (14), Matayo Uiagalelei (17), David Bailey (18) and LT Overton (24) all going in round one.