2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
It seems as though everyone is posting mock drafts this week, so I figured that I should follow suit. These are just fun exercises at this point because we know nothing about trades or how teams feel about individual prospects. We’re merely giving our best current guesses based on team needs and perceived fit. Last year’s first mock draft wasn’t very accurate, and this one won’t be either as we’re simply too far from the main event. As with most other mock drafts, trades are not included here, but I might mention that option if I think it’s warranted. Welcome to version 1.0 of my 2026 NFL mock draft!
1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
For the first time in a couple of years, the top pick seems pretty clear. Las Vegas tanked for this right, and it was all about finding a QB to build around. Following the 2025 college season, it’s clear that man will be Mendoza. A true pocket passer with better-than-you-think mobility, Mendoza is a grinder who will leave no stone unturned in his quest to improve. He learned well from IU coach Curt Cignetti, and that mentality will make him a good pro. Mendoza has the requisite arm strength and excellent touch on his passes. The Raiders will need to massively improve the offensive line for him, but he’s a day-1 starting QB.
2. New York Jets – LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
As with the Raiders, the Jets need a QB in the worst way. They started UDFA rookie Brady Cook for several games this past season because they didn’t want Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor to see another snap. The problem is that teams don’t seem to view Ty Simpson of Alabama as a top-5 pick. That could obviously change, and if a team offers a haul to come up and get him, the Jets should trade the pick. With trades illegal based on my rules, the top defensive prospect ends up in NY. Reese can do some of everything: run defense, pass rushing, coverage, you name it. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential.
3. Arizona Cardinals – EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
Needs abound for the woebegone Cardinals, but the QB they’re looking for isn’t a fit with this pick. Defensively, Arizona is terrible, and signing Josh Sweat in free agency last year didn’t fix their edge rush. The top edge rusher is widely up for debate. I personally think it’s Texas Tech’s David Bailey, but the winds are shifting toward Bain following Miami’s CFP run. On film, it’s easy to see what scouts like. Bain is an explosive player who has a relentless motor. He’s better in run support than you might expect for his size, and he commands a ton of attention when he rushes off the edge. Arizona needs about 5 players of this type.
4. Tennessee Titans – OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Many mock drafts give Tennessee an edge rusher, and that makes plenty of sense. However, the top priority needs to be keeping last year’s #1 pick, QB Cam Ward, upright. Two tackles are considered the best of this crop (you’ll see the other momentarily), and Mauigoa’s CFP run has boosted his stock. Against the top teams in the country, he stood his ground like a boulder and didn’t let anyone get to QB Carson Beck. Exclusively a right tackle at Miami, he may or may not stay there at the next level. His size projects well at RT, but his movement is impressive enough that the Titans could give him a look on the blind side if they draft him.
5. New York Giants – OT Spencer Fano, Utah
League sources consider Fano a top-2 tackle in this class, but they aren’t sure whether he can be a franchise LT. With the Giants, that would be fine, as their need is RT. Andrew Thomas (when healthy) is a great blindside protector, but the Evan Neal experiment was a disaster, so a new bookend is required for 2nd-year QB Jaxson Dart. Fano is a very powerful blocker who could be even better with improved technique. He’s already a plus run blocker with experience on both sides of the line. It’s time for the Giants to fill that RT-sized hole on their depth chart, and Fano could be the giant (pun intended) man to do it.
6. Cleveland Browns – QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
I just said that Simpson isn’t viewed as a top-5 pick. At the 6th pick, that problem is solved! I’m kidding, but there could be truth to this. Unless Cleveland decides to kick their QB issues down the road for a better 2027 draft, they have to take a swing on one early in this class. The Browns reaching on a player others don’t value as highly is definitely in their profile. Simpson is the best pure thrower in the draft, but his late-season swoon has to be considered. Is he merely a game manager or a high-upside guy? This would not be good value for the draft slot, but QB picks never actually align with where they SHOULD go.
7. Washington Commanders – DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
Bailey falling to Washington would be a dream for them. The FBS sack leader transferred to TTU after 3 years at Stanford and broke out. Keying one of the best defenses in the nation, Bailey applied tons of pressure on the QB, played good run defense, and even batted some passes (several just in the team’s lone CFP game). He’s one of my top-shelf players in this class because he comes with both upside and production. Nobody in the SEC had more than his 19.5 TFLs, and no one in the FBS topped his 14.5 sacks. Bailey has improved each year to get to this point, and I think he could be even better with pro coaching.
8. New Orleans Saints – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
An offensive player needs to go here to help Tyler Shough, and it’s a skill position guy because the Saints have drafted first-round tackles in back-to-back years. I’ll give them this year’s top wideout. Injury issues stifled his development slightly, but he was really good when he did play. In the past two years, he earned over 1800 yards and 18 TDs. A big-bodied wideout at 6’2″, Tyson does well in contested catch situations and down the field. He’d complement Chris Olave well, and HC Kellen Moore will like how he blocks in the run game. It’s too early to think about a successor for RB Alvin Kamara, so Tyson is the play here.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Kansas City has more needs than usual coming off a disappointing season. Right tackle, edge rusher, and another weapon are all considerations. The thing they haven’t possessed for years is an explosive rushing attack. Here we have the rare case of a team picking in the top 10 that CAN select an RB without wasting his prime years. Kansas City could be back to contending soon if Patrick Mahomes’ ACL heals well, and Love would give someone else for defenses to fear. He’s a threat to break a huge gain on any snap, but he also grinds for the tough yards. Andy Reid hasn’t possessed someone like him since LeSean McCoy.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
If positional value weren’t a thing, I could make a case for Downs being the best overall player in the 2026 draft class. The fact that he’s a safety is the only thing that drops him to #10. First at Alabama and then at Ohio State, Downs was an elite player in all facets. Cincinnati could take literally any defender here and plug him in as an upgrade, but Downs is particularly excellent. He’d be a stabilizing force like Jessie Bates once was before he left for Atlanta. When someone performs at this high a level at two of the most storied programs in the country, it’s hard to find a safer selection. Downs is just a stellar football player.
11. Miami Dolphins – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Right tackle is a pressing issue for the Dolphins, but they can handle that a bit later. In a CB class without a ton of stars, the secondary is the priority. I tend to love LSU defensive backs because of how well they’ve translated to the NFL over the years. That seems to be the case regardless of who the coaching staff is. One reason for that is their tendency to have great instincts and ball skills. Delane fits that description well, with 6 INTs and 18 PBUs over his past two seasons. He’s a very fluid mover in space who can play in both man and zone. Miami needs anyone who can cover, and Delane is such a prospect.
12. Dallas Cowboys – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Quinnen Williams was a fantastic midseason pickup, but he doesn’t replace the edge rushing production vacated by Micah Parsons. Now’s their chance to fill the void. If you judged a player just based on his frame and skill set, Faulk would go in the top 5. At 6’6″ and 270 lbs with both speed and strength, he’s a physical specimen. In 2024, his production (7 sacks and 11 TFLs) matched that. However, he earned just 2 sacks in 2025. The problem was likely a scheme mismatch that minimized his rushing opportunities, but teams may still have questions. If he can continue on his prior trajectory, he could be a steal.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons) – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Putting special teams woes aside, LA’s biggest weakness in 2025 was their CB play. If you tell me that McCoy is the best CB in this class, I won’t outright argue with you. He’d likely go higher if not for a torn ACL that made him miss the entire 2025 season. His 2024 showing might have been too fantastic to ignore though. McCoy has good size, ball skills, coverage ability, and speed. The entire package is there, and while I might want to see more tape, the Combine should be our chance to see him in fresh action. You can’t always get a top-shelf CB outside the top 10, but McCoy’s injury could provide that opportunity.
14. Baltimore Ravens – DE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Baltimore had almost no pass rush BEFORE trading Odafe Oweh away. Without him, their edges are looking sorry. Howell put himself on the map with an insane 3-play stretch where he earned a sack on 3 consecutive snaps. Often that is just a flash in the pan, but Howell backed it up with a great season, earning career-highs with 11.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. He didn’t have the best debut in 2024 after coming over from Bowling Green, but he figured things out in 2025 for sure. One slight knock is Howell’s size (6’2″, 248 lbs), which might hurt him a bit in run support. His QB hunting ability is just too good to ignore though.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
I’ll admit that I put Styles here in part because he reminds me so much of Lavonte David. As with his teammate Caleb Downs, Styles is hurt by his position as an off-ball linebacker. Otherwise he too would be a top-10 overall player. A former strong safety, Styles moved down into the box in 2024 and enjoyed great success, earning 100 tackles and 6 sacks. His numbers weren’t as astronomical this year, but he improved in coverage, evolving into a true sideline-to-sideline LB. To start his career, Styles can line up alongside David to create a fearsome tandem. In time, he’ll take over for the Bucs legend whenever he retires.
16. New York Jets (from Colts) – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
This pick came in the Sauce Gardner trade. When Garrett Wilson (another OSU receiver) got hurt last year, it laid bare how poor the Jets’ pass catchers are. If they’re going to develop a rookie QB (or even if they bring in a veteran), he’ll need viable targets. Tate slips here because of a lack of WR need in the top 15, not because of his play. He’s a typical 1st-round OSU receiver with smooth route-running and good hands. How he’ll do as a #1 option is his only question mark, but we know for sure he can play great as the second WR with another Buckeye! I like building the infrastructure before inserting a QB, and Tate would help.
17. Detroit Lions – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Pick 17 is a bit high to select a non-generational guard. However, Dallas took one at 12 just last year, and the free agent market for the position has exploded. Plus, the Lions have shown us that they’ll reach for a player if they think he fills an acute need. After being such a strength for several years, Detroit’s offensive line fell apart in 2025. The departures of Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow on the interior were largely to blame. They can replace one of those players with Ioane, a stout run-blocking guard who also pass protects well. Opening more consistent gains for RB Jahmyr Gibbs is key, and Ioane can do that with aplomb.
18. Minnesota Vikings – CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Surprise! I’m mocking a corner to the Vikings in the first round. Every year they need one, and every year they pass. Maybe I shouldn’t expect a change this year, but the hole is still there, and that’s the strongest position on the board right now. Or perhaps I should because they finally fired their GM. Terrell comes with good bloodlines as the brother of Atlanta’s AJ Terrell. His size (5’11”) isn’t ideal, but his coverage is very sticky. Like other Clemson players, Terrell had his best season in 2024, but he added a CB blitz element to his game this year (3 sacks). That alone would makeshim very appealing to DC Brian Flores.
19. Carolina Panthers – DE Zion Young, Missouri
While surprisingly stout at DT, Carolina has next to nothing at edge rusher. Second-year player Nic Scourton is starting to find his way, but he doesn’t have the same upside that Young possesses. Young has been a riser throughout the year, and based on what I saw during Senior Bowl week, that hype train isn’t slowing down. He flashed more than any other player I watched during the practices and appears to be on the verge of a breakout. Young’s 2025 production (6.5 sacks, 16.5 TFLs) blew away his prior seasons, so the hope is that he figured something out rather than this being a one-year-wonder type of situation.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers) – CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
This is the first pick Dallas received for Micah Parsons, but we already took a swing at replacing him 8 picks earlier. Now it’s time to address the Cowboys’ sieve of a secondary. For someone with consistent first-round grades, Cisse doesn’t get a lot of chatter. He’s a tall (6’0″) man corner with excellent coverage but limited ball production. In that sense, he reminds me of Sauce Gardner, who became a great pro corner. I think he’ll be even better once he learns to read offenses better, but even now, he’s a starting-caliber player. A starting tandem of Cisse and DaRon Bland already sounds better than what Dallas trotted out last year.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Makai Lemon, USC
Whether or not Aaron Rodgers returns, a QB of the future is needed in Pittsburgh. However, they can’t grab one here. Instead, a weapon for their starting quarterback is an excellent idea at this juncture. The #2 receiver on the board can mesh well with their personnel. While DK Metcalf is a big downfield threat, Lemon (5’11”) is more of an underneath weapon who creates separation off the ball. His 2025 production (79 catches, 1156 yards, 11 TDs) was superb, and he’d be extra effective going against teams’ second CBs. Lemon would go a long way to handling all the complaints about a lack of targets in the Steel City.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Jim Harbaugh will probably end up taking a tackle here or something, but ignore the team’s protection woes this past year. If Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt return healthy, that weakness will become a premier strength. Oronde Gadsden II was a nice 5th-round find last year, but Sadiq is a much bigger option in the passing game. While he’s not my TE1, his large frame could make Harbaugh drool. He has room to improve as a blocker, but as of now he’s more of an oversized WR. That said, he does that job well. Should the Chargers be souring on WR Quentin Johnston, Sadiq could be the size mismatch the Bolts have craved.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Among Philly’s offensive issues last year, the chief concern was their run blocking. RB Saquon Barkley never had a chance to get going. As great as RT Lane Johnson is, he’s becoming increasingly injury-prone and is nearing retirement. A successor who could fill in if he misses time would be a massive pick. Speaking of massive, the 360-lb Proctor fits the bill. I debated putting Caleb Lomu here, but we’ve seen with Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen that the Eagles love their Bama linemen. Proctor was a bit inconsistent this year, but his talent is undeniable. Let great OL coach Jeff Stoutland do his magic and see what happens.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars) – OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
Browns fans would be ecstatic if the board fell this way. Lomu is a legitimate LT prospect and may even have more upside than teammate Spencer Fano. His athleticism isn’t quite a match, but a starting left tackle is a highly coveted commodity. Cleveland’s offensive line has gotten old and injured quickly. The 2023 playoff team’s version devolved nearly overnight. Just watch how Joe Flacco played then and in 2025, and take a look at the difference. Whatever young QB the Browns decide to roll with full-time, he’ll need to be protected. At this point in the draft, Lomu is the only true LT left on the board. They’d run his draft card in ASAP.
25. Chicago Bears – DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
It’s time for the Bears to finally address that pass rush. While the defense played admirably at times and the offense was rightly the focus of 2025, a lack of QB pressure arguably doomed Chicago. No edge players match up with the value of this slot, but an interior rusher is just as good. A riser throughout the 2025 season, McDonald has put himself in consideration to be the first DT taken. It was a one-year flash for sure, but the athleticism is real. He produces in both the run game (65 tackles, 9 TFLs) and in the pass rush (3 sacks), which is what Chicago craves. In a light DT class, the best could go off the board early.
26. Buffalo Bills – WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Buffalo’s lack of a #1 receiver didn’t kill the offense as badly as we all expected, but it clearly hampered them in the postseason. You can only get so far throwing underneath routes and relying exclusively on TEs for big plays. Boston, at 6’4″ with good speed, possesses WR1 traits and could be a mismatch both outside and in the slot. Most corners can’t win a jump-ball against him, and the few defenders with enough size can’t run with him. Boston had over 800 yards each of the past 2 seasons and 20 TDs over that span, so he’s productive. I’d also argue that he’s pretty raw, meaning he will likely be a better pro than college player.
27. San Francisco 49ers – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
You could say that the Niners are adding an entire draft class just in their players returning from IR, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Even though they just took a first-round WR in 2024, that player (Ricky Pearsall) is constantly injured. Jauan Jennings could leave in free agency, Brandon Aiyuk is gone for sure, and TE George Kittle will miss part of the year with a torn ACL. Concepcion isn’t a fit for every team because of his height (5’11”). However, he’s an explosive play waiting to happen, and SF needs those BADLY. They had to work for every yard last year, and Concepcion could open things up. Kyle Shanahan would have fun with this kid.
28. Houston Texans – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No matter what, the Texans have to come away with a tackle here. I don’t care if all the first-round prospects are off the board. Teams take players with 2nd-round grades at the end of round 1 all the time. That describes Freeling, who only had one year as the starting LT for Georgia. When you perform well for the SEC’s best though, you get noticed. Freeling, like the bulk of his team, leveled up as the season went along. More games as a top-notch protector would’ve boosted Freeling’s stock, but even as is, he’s likely to end up in round 1. I’m projecting him as more of an RT in the pros, but Houston doesn’t care. They need everything.
29. Los Angeles Rams – LB CJ Allen, Georgia
Giving a second CB in a row to the Rams wouldn’t be the worst idea. Instead, I’m targeting the second level of the defense and giving Nate Landman a running mate. The two teams below the Rams would fit Allen really well, so LA has to take him here if they want him. I can see why they would: the better the front seven is, the less strain they can put on their weaker (and rookie-filled if my #13 pick for them is correct) secondary. Allen is a do-it-all LB who both tackles well and applies pressure. His coverage is a work in progress, but he seems capable of adding that to his repertoire. Another chess piece for Chris Shula.
30. Denver Broncos – DT Peter Woods, Clemson
In this mock draft, the board doesn’t line up with Denver’s needs at all. Such cases call for a best-player-available approach, which is what I have them doing here. Going into the season, Woods was a projected top-10 pick. He earned 8.5 TFLs and 3 sacks in 2024, looking like a rare DT who could both obliterate the run game and push the pocket. However, 2025 wasn’t nearly as productive a year for him. The athletic talent is immense, but he slips in this mock draft because teams have to reconcile his last season with his ceiling. DC Vance Joseph seems like someone who could get the absolute best out of Woods.
31. New England Patriots – DE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Normally, I’d rank the last two teams based on their records. New England technically has one more win because they didn’t have a first-round bye, but they’re so likely to lose the Super Bowl that I’m putting them 31st. One problem they’ll display in the big game is a weak edge rush. Mesidor had the advantage of going against whoever wasn’t matched up with Rueben Bain, but he actually outproduced Bain this season with 17.5 TFLs and an ACC-leading 12.5 sacks. He’s a high-effort player who fits Mike Vrabel’s culture perfectly. Pairing him with the Pats’ great DT combo would make for a more formidable defense.
32. Seattle Seahawks – CB Will Lee III, Texas A&M
Seattle has a very stacked roster, so they could easily make a luxury pick if they wanted to. I think they’ve had enough of CB Riq Woolen though, and the impending free agent will need to be replaced. Lee is a bit of an under-the-radar name who’s making waves in the scouting community. Coaches (particularly the Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald) love DBs who tackle, and that’s a strength for Lee. On top of that, he has good ball production with 18 PBUs over the past two seasons. The more you watch him, the bigger his role in TAMU’s defensive success seems to be.