2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
First look at the 2026 NFL Draft
1 - Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
This pick has been more or less set since the season ended.
2 - Jets - Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
The experts have this as a three-way race between Reese, Sonny Styles, and David Bailey, but the overarching drumbeat has been Reese. This would be a pick that fits with GM Darren Mougey’s history. He was the assistant GM in Denver when the Broncos drafted Nik Bonitto — who just so happens to be the second-most athletically comparable player to Reese according to Mockdraftable.
The Jets are a base 3-4 defense similar to the defenses deployed during Mougey’s time with the Broncos.
3 - Cardinals - Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
There are two things GM Monti Ossenfort has shown with his four first-round picks with the Cardinals:
He loves shopping at major schools (2 OSU, 1 Ole Miss, 1 Missouri)
He does not a care a lick about athleticism.
Ossenfort is a true “just draft good football players” GM, which fits Mauigoa to a T.
I also found it interesting that the other OL1 candidate — Spencer Fano — compares strongly athletically to Dillon Radunz and Jaelyln Duncan, who both busted during Ossenfort’s time in Tennessee.
I gave some consideration to Sonny Styles here. He is yet another Ohio State player to add to Ossenfort’s resume, and would be a fantastic movable chess piece for DC Nick Rallis versatile scheme. But I found Daniel Jeremiah’s case for Mauigoa compelling in the latest 40’s and Free Agents:
I look at also with them two things. Number One, the quarterback need is desperate. Okay, there's nobody that they can take that position with that pick in my opinion, But if you're in lieu of taking the quarterback, you'd like to be able to sell the ownership that while we might not be getting a quarterback, we are building the foundation to be able to support that quarterback when he comes, whether that's you know, most likely next year, in next year's draft. … But what I am going to do is I'm going to I'm going to create this cocoon so that when we do get the quarterback next year, he's going to be able to hit the ground running and off we go. It has to be connected to the quarterback. That's the hope of your franchise.
4 - Titans - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
This is the chalk selection right now, but for good reason. The Titans have made three major defensive signings, but have done little to support second-year QB Cam Ward other than add Wan’dale Robinson. Love is the best playmaker in this draft, and Tony Pollard is eminently cuttable (Love would fill his salary slot almost dollar for dollar for 2026).
It is also notable that Tennessee has made a lot of moves based on their coaching personnel. Offensively, Robinson, Daniel Bellinger, and Austin Schlottman played for Brian Daboll with the Giants. Daboll’s best seasons in New York came with Saquon Barkley on the field, a player he was clearly disappointed was not re-signed by the franchise. He gets a second crack at it here with Love.
5 - Giants - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Giants have done a lot this offseason to bring in Jon Harbaugh’s guys as the franchise looks to reset and find competence. This pick will almost certainly be someone who can represent the new regime. Styles is a super-charged version of guys like Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith, and would give new DC Dennard Wilson a cornerstone piece to work with.
Of course, the Ravens have frequently been a team to trade back and scoop up value over the years. If that were to transpire, I would assume the primary target is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
6 - Browns - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Jeremiah said it is “not a secret” that Cleveland is targeting a LT and a WR with their two first-round picks.
Tate is widely considered the best WR in this draft, and is a local product who would be an easy sell to the fanbase. The Browns need to be sure to evaluate their current QB options ahead of the highly acclaimed 2027 draft.
7 - Commanders - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The average RAS score of Adam Peters’ 14 selections as Washington’s GM is 9.28, so it seems that they target high-level athletes on draft day. Tyson has not tested due to injury, but is widely considered to be a great athlete. The Commanders have a massive need at receiver, and absolutely need to give Jayden Daniels some more help.
Washington only has two picks in the first four rounds, making this a pretty obvious trade-down spot.
8 - Saints - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Mickey Loomis has gone trenches with 10 of his 15 first-round picks as Saints GM, but once you think you may have the QB, it is important to improve the infrastructure for his success. New Orleans has no legitimate WR options after Chris Olave.
9 - Chiefs - David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Kansas City has two first-round picks to work with this year as they look to add some cost-controlled options to their championship window. If they aren’t landing a receiver, this pick will almost certainly be on the defensive side of the ball, where a lot of talent was lost this offseason. Bailey would be a home-run.
10 - Bengals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Because of how they have chosen to spend their money, Cincy is a great offense but has one of the worst defenses in the league. To make matters worse, they lose Trey Hendrickson this offseason. The Bengals won’t be able to fix the defense with one selection, but Downs is a culture-setter and leader who can get them started on the right path.
11 - Dolphins - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The default pick here for Miami will be WR after letting Tyreek Hill walk and trading away Jaylen Waddle, but new Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan comes from a Packers organization that rarely went WR on Day 1.
Instead, Green Bay favored athleticism (9.28 R1 RAS since 2018), youth (average age 22.0), and defense (7/10 first-rounders). Thieneman boasts the versatility and IQ of Xavier McKinney, who was a two-time All-Pro under Jeff Hafley in Green Bay, while also being a 97th percentile athlete. Thieneman doesn’t turn 22 until August.
12 - Cowboys - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Dallas is in a similar position as Cincy, and is likely to go defense with their two first-round picks. The team has already had Delane in for a visit, which has historically been a pre-requisite for Cowboy draft picks.
13 - Rams - Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
After beefing up their secondary this offseason, the Rams have very few holes. There is some risk up front if Warren McClendon is unable to maintain his solid play in 10 starts last year. Even if McClendon pans out, Fano offers five-position flexibility up front, and could be the true sixth lineman in LA. The Rams can’t take any chances with an aging Matthew Stafford under center.
14 - Ravens - Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami
Baltimore somehow always ends up with value in the draft, taking good football players who the league passes on due to either positional value or physical shortcomings. Bain slides in this mock due to his arm length and lack of measured speed, but he is a certified football player. He would pair nicely with Trey Hendrickson.
15 - Bucs - Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
Jason Licht is another GM who typically favors athleticism. Since 2016, his first-round picks have averaged a 9.58 RAS. Tampa has a big need at pass-rusher, and the popular pick has been Miami’s Akheem Mesidor. I just don’t think the athletic profile is good enough. Instead, they go with Lawrence, who should continue to rise throughout this process. He had 20 sacks and 28 tackles for loss the last three seasons at UCF, then tested as a 99th percentile athlete at the Combine.
16 - Jets - Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
I can only imagine that Geno Smith has a PTSD episode every time he sees Dylan Parham as the starting LG on the depth chart, but there should be plenty of guard options for the Jets with their two second-round picks. Instead, they try to add to the passing game weapons that are mostly questionable outside of Garrett Wilson.
Cooper played mostly in the slot last season for the Hoosiers, but was primarily an outside receiver prior to that. He offers nice flexibility to pair with Wilson, especially if AD Mitchell can lock down the starting job at X.
17 - Lions - Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
With the release of Taylor Decker, Detroit is left with a gaping hole at LT. Freeling is a high-upside prospect with elite athleticism. He would bookend nicely with Penei Sewell.
18 - Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
We are a little in the dark here as Minnesota fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the conclusion of the season. Rob Brzezinski is the interim GM, and has been the executive VP of football operations since 2014.
This could mean nothing, but half of the Vikings’ first-rounders in that time have been WRs or DBs. With the expected retirement of Harrison Smith, safety becomes a huge need.
19 - Panthers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
This is a massive evaluation year for Bryce Young, and the Panthers will need some more weapons if they want to properly grade his development. Xavier Legette is looking like a bust, but Carolina has had nothing going at TE despite deploying two or more of them on nearly a third of their 2025 snaps. Sadiq is a rare athlete for this position, and can function as their slot WR.
20 - Cowboys - Akeem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
After playing six seasons of college football, Mesidor will be 25 by the time the draft rolls around. He won’t be for everybody, but Dallas is in a clear win-now window, and needs to just get edge production onto the roster.
21 - Steelers - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
When it comes to Steeler draft plans, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac is a go-to source. He has been mentioning WR a good bit as an option on Day 1, and specifically said he does not think they would take a guard. The Michael Pittman trade should not keep the Steelers from adding to the position. He is entering his age 29 season, as is DK Metcalf. The Pittman deal was also very cheap, and his extension still has an out next year from a cap standpoint.
Concepcion would provide some much-needed juice to this WR group, and can play multiple positions.
22 - Chargers - Ola Ioane, OL, Penn State
If they can stay healthy, the Chargers may have the best tackle combo in the NFL this season. They are, however, much weaker at guard. Jim Harbaugh has been all about physicality as a head coach, and another first-round offensive lineman would only strengthen that ethos.
23 - Eagles - Blake Miller, OL, Clemson
Philly plans ahead for the eventual departure of Lane Johnson with this elite athlete.
24 - Browns - Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah
Cleveland gets their LT without having to overdraft Freeling. Lomu is an excellent athlete in his own right.
He also forced Fano to move over to the right side during their time at Utah. He seems like an underrated prospect by media consensus.
25 - Bears - TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson
If we look at the pass-rushers Dennis Allen drafted in his time with the Saints, they most closely resemble Parker, who tested as a 93rd percentile athlete at the Combine. Chicago needs to try and find an impact pass-rusher in this draft.
26 - Bills - Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
Buffalo doesn’t pick again until Round 3, so they need to make this selection count. The interior of the offensive line took a major hit when David Edwards left in free agency. Joe Brady is going to want to continue to run the ball effectively in his first year as head coach. Bisontis tested to a 9.85 RAS score.
27 - 49ers - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Probably have him falling too far in this mock, but expecting a run on corners to close the first day.
28 - Texans - Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Houston is still shuffling around the offensive line, and would probably like to add someone with the upside of Proctor with this pick. He has a shot to be a long-term option at tackle, but likely slots in as a Day 1 starter at guard.
29 - Chiefs - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Chiefs trade away Trent McDuffie, then use the first round pick they acquired in the deal to draft his replacement.
30 - Dolphins - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Perhaps a slight reach, but another high RAS defender as Miami immediately resets their defensive backfield.
31 - Patriots - Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
You can bet that Mike Vrabel is going to get the goods on McDonald from Ryan Day.
32 - Seahawks - Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
The Super Bowl champs re-stock at pass-rusher after losing Boye Mafe in free agency.