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2026 NFL MOCK DRAFT

Apr 23
11 min read

The NFL Draft is here! The best part of this 3 day spectacle is not only the event itself but the lead up and the speculation is just as fun. There will be rumors flying leading up to the start of the draft and we could see trades as early as the #3 overall pick with the Arizona Cardinals but that's what makes this event so much fun- anything can happen. As we inch closer to the announcement of the first pick, here is my mock draft of how I think the first round could shake out:



  1. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- FERNANDO MENDOZA QUARTERBACK | INDIANA

Since the Raiders secured the #1 overall pick it was pretty much written in stone that the selection would be Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner led the Hoosiers to a historic season with his accurate passing, calm demeanor and winning mentality that should hopefully help turn around the Raiders culture and bring winning back to Vegas.

The Jets are retooling their defense and are looking for a difference maker on multiple levels like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. The athletic LB was a swiss-army knife type defense for the Buckeyes last season showcasing this ability to play all over the field including rushing off the edge with the thought he could eventually convert to a full-time pass rusher like Micah Parsons career path from Penn State. While Reese may not be the most polished prospect, he has tremendous upside and could be the type of player the Jets need as their defensive centerpiece. 

Arizona has been the talk of the draft as a potential trade out option, but if they stay with their pick, they could use a true pass rusher opposite Josh Sweat in Texas Tech’s David Bailey. Bailey was one of the top sack artists this past season and has arguably the quickest first step of any edge defender prospect in the class. The Cardinals are looking towards the future and no better way to start now than by building a high-power pass rush led by Bailey. 

The Titans had a strong free agency rebuilding their defense with new Head Coach, Robert Saleh, and with the #4 overall pick get a multi-tool weapon on offense with RB Jeremiyah Love. The Notre Dame prospect would not only give the Titans a long term 3-down RB but is a highly effective receiving threat which would be a great asset for second year QB, Cam Ward. 

The Giants need a difference maker in their LB room and get one of the freakiest defenders in the entire class in Ohio State’s Sonny Styles. The Buckeye LB had a great 2025 season, but his biggest performance was at this year’s combine where he showcased his ‘built in a lab’ stature and finished with one of the best performances in recent combine history. If the Giants want to grab a future leader of the defense, Styles may just be that prospect.  

Cleveland is looking for a difference maker at WR and go with the big body target and another Ohio State prospect in Carnell Tate. Tate has been one of the more consistent WRs in college and would give the Browns both a deep threat option as well as an experienced prospect who could step in 1 and contribute as the team’s top threat from the start. 

The Commanders and Head Coach Dan Quinn follow the Browns model of securing a Buckeye of their own but on the defensive side with S Caleb Downs. Downs has been the leader of the Ohio State secondary for the last couple season’s and one of college football’s most complete defensive stars. Its not often that we see a S go in the top 10, but Downs is one of those few that are deserving of this pick for the Commanders. 

The Saints have had one of the best defensive linemen this decade with Cam Jordan and look to get his replacement with Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. The Hurricane pass rusher has been the talk of the off-season for several reasons including his lack of arm length, but he is one of the strongest defenders in the class and could play multiple positions for the Saints defense and likely be one of their best linemen as a rookie.  

This offseason the Chiefs most multiple players in their secondary, including trading away star CB Trent McDuffie, which makes it an easy pick with LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Delane has really made a big leap this past season and has turned into a potential lockdown coverage CB which is something the Chiefs could desperately use as they look to rebound from a disappointing season headlined by the injury of QB Patrick Mahomes. While there are rumors the Chiefs could look to trade into the top 5, if they stick with their pick, Delane would be a smart selection. 

New York made waves before the draft by trading away former Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the #10 overall pick and address offense with the pick in Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. Tyson is one of the more polarizing prospects of the class as he’s maybe the most complete WR in the group, playing both outside and in the slot, but has battled several injuries during his college career and has his draft stock all over the place these last few months. With Tyson hopefully getting healthier, the Giants could use a true playmaker opposite Malik Nabers and if he’s to go week 1, they might have a great WR duo for second year QB Jaxson Dart. 

The Dolphins spent this offseason tearing down their current structure and have rebuilt it at many key spots including QB with Malik Willis and no better way to help the QB than by getting him more protection with Utah OL Spencer Fano. Fano is an experienced lineman with versatility to play both outside at tackle or kick inside to guard depending on the team’s scheme. The Dolphins currently have an intriguing player at LT with Patrick Paul so why not get a bookend at RT with Fano who would give the Dolphins stability on their OL for the foreseeable future. 

The Dallas Cowboys have two picks in the first round and address their secondary early with Oregon S Dillon Thieneman. The standout defender has been one of the draft’s biggest risers and is a scheme versatile chess piece that can play the nickel spot for the Cowboys defense if needed and give them much needed help in the secondary.  

Former All-Pro WR Davante Adams isnt going to be able to play forever for the Rams so they find his replacement with Makai Lemon. The USC athlete is a monster in the slot and has excellent agility and playmaking skills after the catch which could be a great asset to pair alongside Puka Nacua for 2026 & beyond. 

The Ravens are one of the best running teams in the NFL and continue to bolster their OL with a mauler in Francis Mauigoa. The powerful lineman has been a stable force for Miami during his college career including their playoff run this past season, giving them a stalwart on the right side of their OL. Mauigoa would give them the option to play him all along the OL and give the Ravens an opportunity to form an even stronger line and potentially an eventual replacement for longtime starter Ronnie Stanley if they think he can flip to the left side down the road. 

Tampa Bay is lacking a true pass rusher who can consistently get after the QB which makes it an easy fit for Akheem Mesidor. The Miami defender wouldn't have to go far for his new team and would give the Buccaneers an experienced prospect who could play starting reps as a rookie, especially being one of the draft’s older prospects (25 years old). The Bucs are looking to rebound and get back into the playoffs and adding a pass rusher specialist like Mesidor would certainly help them get closer to that goal. 

The Jets addressed their defense with their first pick with Arvell Reese and flip to their offense with this pick and add another WR with Omar Cooper Jr. The Indiana WR had a great season during their championship winning season and provided QB Fernando Mendoza a to-go target especially as a touchdown monster finishing with 13 on the season. The Jets already have their elite target with Garrett Wilson but adding a prospect like Cooper Jr. will only give them another target for Geno Smith this season and their future QB down the road. 

There is talk of the Detroit Lions shifting their All-Pro OL Penei Sewell to the left side, but regardless of that decision, they need more OL help and go with a massive prospect in Monroe Freeling. Freeling has been a quick riser this offseason from Georgia and has the frame that many NFL head coaches want in a starting tackle and while he needs development, landing in Detroit would provide him the opportunity to learn from one of the league’s best OL and give the Lions a great tackle duo for the future. 

The Vikings parted ways with the leader of their defense, Harrison Smith, after many years of excellent play and land his potential replacement with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The Toledo prospect has risen draft boards due to his big frame (6-3, 200 lbs.) and ability to play all over the defense which we saw this past season in Seattle with another big S in Nick Emmanwori. Certainly, the situations are not the same, but if the Vikings want to add a dynamic playmaker to their secondary, McNeil-Warren may be a great fit. 

Last year the Panthers landed their to-go WR in the draft with Tet McMillan and this year get another big body target but at TE with Keyon Sadiq. Sadiq isn't the biggest TE but his an athletic pass catcher who can play in different roles for the Panthers and give QB Bryce Young another weapon as they continue to build off a strong 2025 season. 

Dallas upgraded their secondary with their first pick and continue to add more firepower to their defense with Georgia LB CJ Allen. Allen was the leader of the Bulldog defense and is a tough tackler who not only can bring consistency to the Cowboys LB room but also calls plays for their defense as a rookie and eventually be a team captain down the road. 

The Steelers need more stability and power on the interior of their OL and land the top interior lineman with Olaivavega Ioane. The Penn State lineman is a physical blocker who may lack some athleticism but has shown to be the prototypical size for his position and has the experience and skills that the Steelers might covet to help build a top-notch interior OL for the next decade. 

Los Angeles is lacking depth on their DL and go for upside with Clemson prospect Peter Woods, who was once viewed as a potential top 5 pick. The athletic defender has as much upside as any DL in the draft and has an NFL ready frame but hasn't put enough on tape for teams to fall in love with his potential ceiling. If the Chargers get the most out of the Woods, this could be a steal of the draft.  

For the last decade the Eagles had one of the best OL in the league with Lane Johnson but he’s nearing the end of his career which gives them the opportunity to bring in a replacement with Max Iheanachor. The Arizona State lineman has only played football for a few years but even being inexperienced, he’s flashed a ton of potential as a mean blocker highlighted by his Senior Bowl performance. There may be no better spot for a young, developing lineman than with the Eagles to learn from a potential Hall of Fame talent like Johnson and step into the starting role in 2027. 

The Browns got their top WR with Carnell Tate in the top 10 and have a chance to bolster their OL with this pick in Kadyn Proctor. The mammoth lineman has an incredible frame (6-7, 350 lbs.) that many OL coaches would dream of coaching and while he’s had an up and down college career at Alabama, Proctor is a rare prospect that if the Browns develop properly could be a long-term starter at LT and hopefully bring stability to the Browns OL. 

The Chicago Bears were on a Cinderella story type ride last post-season but one of the things holding them back was a consistent pass rush which they hope to improve with a high upside pick in Keldric Faulk. The Auburn prospect is a long-limbed defender who can play both outside as an edge rusher or kick inside when needed and has all the physical traits teams look for a young, developmental prospect. Not only is Faulk a ball of clay ready to be molded by the right coach but is only 21 years old and has a chance to break out as a starter in the right spot like here with the Bears.

The Bills need help stopping the run and the best way to do that is bring in a monster on the interior like Kayden McDonald. The Ohio State defender is a brick wall at his position and would be a huge asset on early downs against the run and would also have a chance to collapse the pocket a time or two when given the opportunity in that cold, New York air.  

San Francisco made a huge splash by luring away future Hall of Fame WR Mike Evans from Tampa Bay but could use more help on offense and might go with an option like KC Concepcion. The Texas A&M WR is a quick separator who would be a fun piece in Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and with the future of Brandon Aiyuk likely over with the 49ers, this makes the selection of Concepcion even easier for their long-term plans.

The Texans have one of the league’s top defenses and only get better by adding more strength of the interior of their DL with Georgia’s Christen Miller. The stout defender has an NFL ready frame and good power who is only 21 years old and has plenty of room for development and if he lands in Houston would have a golden opportunity to learn on arguably the best DL in the league. 

The Chiefs got their future lockdown CB with their first pick in Mansoor Delane and with this pick get more help with their DL in Zion Young. Young is a rugged defender with a big frame that a coach like Steve Spagnuolo will like and even though Young wasn't a pure pass rusher at Missouri, he’s a tough run defender who should be able to provide much needed help on their defense.

Miami got help on their OL with their first pick and with the departures of both WRs Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins get some help with Washington’s Denzel Boston. Boston is a big target who plays with toughness and has the downfield ability that could aid their new QB Malik Willis as they look to reshape their offense for the future.  

New England has a good interior DL but lacks depth in the pass rush department and land a productive defender in Gabe Jacas. The Illinois standout amassed almost 30 sacks during his college career and flashed down at the Senior Bowl as a powerful pass rusher. The Patriots are in ‘win-now’ mode, so this would be a move to help them continue to build a better defense as they push for another playoff run. 

Rounding out the first round are the Superbowl Champion Seahawks who will look to add in their secondary after losing both Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant in free agency and do so with Colton Hood. The Tennessee CB is a well-rounded defender who can help in both pass & run defense and plays with a physical mentality that Head Coach Mike Macdonald will like on his defense as they look to repeat in 2026. 


 
 
 

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