2026 NFL Second-Round Mock Draft: 49ers Open Friday With High-Upside Defender
📖 Full Retelling
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, but there are plenty of noteworthy names remaining. Five of the last six first-round picks were traded, which means a lot of teams moved back into the second round. In fact, two of the first three teams set to pick on Friday night (as of midnight ET) made the playoffs last season. I have those teams set to take potential impact defenders. How will the second round, which begins Friday night, shake out? Here’s my second-round mock draft, starting with the 49ers getting a new potential starting safety. The Niners could use an upgrade at safety. Here, they get that in McNeil-Warren, who was a third-team AP All-American this past season after posting two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. With Jalen Thompson departing in free agency and Budda Baker being 30 years old, the Cardinals must think about their future at safety. Stukes picked off four passes last season en route to third-team AP All-American honors. The Bills signed Bradley Chubb in free agency, but they still need young talent at edge rusher. Young, who was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025, recorded 6.5 sacks and 42 tackles for Missouri last season. After taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, the Raiders should shift to defense. They need a long-term starter at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald recorded 65 tackles (nine tackles for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles en route to first-team AP All-American honors in 2025. After ranking second worst in run defense last season, the Giants will fortify their interior defensive line with Miller, who had 23 tackles (four for loss) and 1.5 sacks for Georgia in 2025. The Texans are loaded on defense but would benefit from more depth at cornerback. McCoy didn’t play in 2025 because of a torn ACL, but he was a second-team AP All-American the year prior after picking off four passes and adding nine pass breakups. The Browns didn’t have a 700-yard w
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The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, but there are plenty of noteworthy names remaining. Five of the last six first-round picks were traded, which means a lot of teams moved back into the second round. In fact, two of the first three teams set to pick on Friday night (as of midnight ET) made the playoffs last season. I have those teams set to take potential impact defenders. How will the second round, which begins Friday night, shake out? Here’s my second-round mock draft, starting with the 49ers getting a new potential starting safety. The Niners could use an upgrade at safety. Here, they get that in McNeil-Warren, who was a third-team AP All-American this past season after posting two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. With Jalen Thompson departing in free agency and Budda Baker being 30 years old, the Cardinals must think about their future at safety. Stukes picked off four passes last season en route to third-team AP All-American honors. The Bills signed Bradley Chubb in free agency, but they still need young talent at edge rusher. Young, who was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025, recorded 6.5 sacks and 42 tackles for Missouri last season. After taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, the Raiders should shift to defense. They need a long-term starter at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald recorded 65 tackles (nine tackles for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles en route to first-team AP All-American honors in 2025. After ranking second worst in run defense last season, the Giants will fortify their interior defensive line with Miller, who had 23 tackles (four for loss) and 1.5 sacks for Georgia in 2025. The Texans are loaded on defense but would benefit from more depth at cornerback. McCoy didn’t play in 2025 because of a torn ACL, but he was a second-team AP All-American the year prior after picking off four passes and adding nine pass breakups. The Browns didn’t have a 700-yard w
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