2026 NFL Mock Draft Picks 17 through 32 + Predicting NFL Draft Trades

The GM Shuffle dives deep into the 2026 NFL Mock Draft, completing picks 17 through 32 with veteran NFL executive Marty Ernie and host Jeff Schwartz. The episode reveals a strategic shift toward defensive talent, particularly at cornerback and edge rusher, as teams prioritize immediate impact players. A standout moment comes when the Panthers select Jordan Tyson at 19, despite a tight end need, highlighting the 'best player available' philosophy even when it defies positional need. The discussion also unpacks the complex trade dynamics of draft night—how teams like the Jets, Cowboys, and Steelers are positioned to move up, and how scouts spend weeks preparing for real-time negotiations. With 13 Big Ten players drafted in the first round in this mock, the episode underscores a historic concentration of talent from that conference. The final picks reveal a deep pool of defensive backs, with Brandon Cissé of South Carolina emerging as the highest-graded corner left on the board. The episode’s most compelling insight? That the NFL draft is less about rigid need-based picks and more about a fluid, high-stakes negotiation game where timing, relationships, and player evaluation converge. Teams don’t just draft—they trade, bluff, and pivot in real time. The mock draft ends with a surprising quarterback ripple: Ty Simpson, though not selected in the first round, is poised to be the first quarterback drafted in the second round, with the Cardinals and Jets as likely suitors.