It’s also the beginning of a year-long chance for players to build their résumé ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Of note, Texas redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning is not included due to a lack of sample size and the belief that he’ll return to school for the 2026 season.

ESPN's Field Yates has released his 2026 Early NFL Mock Draft, and the Texas quarterback is in the prime spot.

The Bucs are coming off an NFL Draft where they were seemingly able to land several playmakers on both sides of the ball. Jason Licht had the offense built to withstand almost anything, and now the secondary has some extra pieces in Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. Yet, there are still some holes that the team needs to address.

ESPN had Cincinnati drafting 24th overall based on preseason ESPN Football Power Index simulations. He slotted the Bengals with Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at that spot.

The Vikings are coming off a draft with limited picks, but they're now heading into 2026 reloaded. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has shown he can build a roster through free agency, but the draft remains a work in progress. He has improved significantly since his first class in 2022, but 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year.