2026 NFL Mock Draft -What Will Happen
These are the selections I would make if I were in charge of each team. The parenthesis next to the player's name is where they rank on my big board.
1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana (11)
Although Mendoza is the 11th ranked player on my big board, he is too talented for the Raiders to pass up here. He has the size, arm talent, and IQ you want in a franchise quarterback.
2. New York Jets - Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE Miami (3)
Bain is my top ranked edge rusher in this class, and he is exactly what the New York Jets need on defense. He plays with a relentless motor, and he can be a dominant playmaker regardless of his arm length.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Arvell Reese OLB Ohio State (5)
The Cardinals need a blue-chip player on defense and Reese has the talent to be an elite player immediately at the next level. He can make plays when playing off the ball or on the edge and his versatility is unmatched in this class.
4. Tennessee Titans - Sonny Styles LB Ohio State (6)
New Titans head coach Robert Saleh has a lot of work to do to turn this defense around. Adding Styles at linebacker will allow them to have an identity on defense and be able to build around the elite athlete.
5. New York Giants - Caleb Downs SAF Ohio State (1)
Caleb Downs is my number 1 ranked player in this class, and he will be a perfect addition to the Giants secondary. He consistently makes plays all over the field and he can be an immediate leader on the defense.
6. Cleveland Browns - Carnell Tate WR Ohio State (7)
The Browns need a number 1 outside receiver and Carnell Tate is the best receiver in this year’s draft. He consistently creates separation with his acceleration and crisp route running and he has the hands to make difficult catches down the field.
7. Washington Commanders - Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame (2)
Selecting a running back this early in the draft may be seen as a lack of value, but Love is a rare talent who can come in and help rejuvenate this team back to the offensive success they had in 2024. Pairing Jeremiyah Love with quarterback Jayden Daniels will give defenses headaches for years to come.
8. New Orleans Saints - Mansoor Delane CB LSU (4)
The Saints fill a need on defense with someone who just finished playing his college career right down the street from them. Delane is the best corner in this draft and is exactly what they need on the outside in their secondary.
9. Kansas City Chiefs - David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech (8)
Bailey will likely go much earlier than this selection in the actual draft but with the way the board fell, the Chiefs luck out and get one of the highest ceiling players in this class. Bailey has an elite blend on length, speed, and get off to consistently get to the quarterback.
10. New York Giants - Spencer Fano OT Utah (10)
I was tempted to go wide receiver here but with Tate off the board the Giants could benefit from continuing to bolster the offensive line. Fano is my highest ranked tackle who dominates in the run game and is athletic enough to excel in pass protection.
The Dolphins have a lot of holes on their roster, but wide receiver may be the biggest. Tyson gives them a true number 1 receiver and will give new quarterback Malik Willis a fighting chance at having success early in his tenure with Miami.
11. Miami Dolphins - Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State (13)
This may seem like a huge reach, but as you can see Colton Hood is the 12th ranked player on my big board, and the 2nd ranked corner in this class. He plays with excellent patience and technique and would be a huge asset to this Cowboys defense.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Colton Hood CB Tennessee (12)
The Rams are gearing up for another deep playoff run and Lemon is an explosive playmaker in the slot who can add another wrinkle to this already dominant McVay offense.
13. Los Angeles Rams - Makai Lemon WR USC (14)
Ioane is my highest rated offensive lineman in the draft, and he fills a need for the Ravens. He is an elite pass blocker and plays with phenomenal physicality.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Olaivavega Ioane OG Penn State (9)
There are higher rated players left on the board but the Buccaneers need to add a productive edge rusher to their defense. Akheem Mesidor is an explosive player who constantly gets to the quarterback on film using his power and technique.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Akheem Mesidor EDGE Miami (18)
This pick may also seem like a reach but after adding Bain to the defense the Jets can reach to add another weapon to their offense. Cooper is a reliable playmaker and pairing him with Garrett Wilson will cause a lot of problems for opposing defenses.
16. New York Jets - Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana (25)
Although I have Fano and Ioane ranked higher, I still believe Mauigoa will be a franchise tackle in the NFL. Pairing him with Penei Sewell will give the Lions one of if not the best offensive tackle tandem in the league.
17. Detroit Lions - Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (17)
18. Minnesota Vikings - Kayden McDonald DT Ohio State (15)
I was between McDonald and Thieneman with this pick and both would be great selections, but the Vikings need to improve the interior of their defensive line and McDonald is the best defensive tackle in this class.
19. Carolina Panthers - Dillon Thieneman SAF Oregon (16)
The Panthers have a young, exciting defense and Thieneman will be a perfect addition on the back end. He makes plays all over the field and can be a key asset both in run support in over the top in the pass game.
After adding Colton Hood with the 12th overall pick the Cowboys can continue to upgrade the defense with C.J. Allen. Allen is a smart, instinctual player who is physical in the run game and will be a day one starter in Dallas.
20. Dallas Cowboys - C.J. Allen LB Georgia (22)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Monroe Freeling OT Georgia (21)
The Steelers have injury concerns on their offensive line, and they need to improve before they can make a playoff run. Freeling is an excellent athlete at the position and with further development and growth he can be a high-quality starter.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Emmanuel Pregnon OG Oregon (24)
Emmanuel Pregnon will likely not be picked until day 2 of the actual draft, but I believe he has the traits to be a dominant guard in the NFL. He has an excellent pass protector and protecting Justin Herbert needs to be the Chargers number 1 priority going into this next season.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Cashius Howell EDGE Texas A&M (19)
The Eagles already have a talented defense but adding Howell will give them another explosive weapon in getting to the quarterback. He is an elite pass rusher and is a perfect fit in the Eagles disruptive defensive line.
After adding Carnell Tate, the Browns can add to the trenches with the highest rated offensive tackle still on the board. Blake Miller is reliable tackle who can come in and start day 1.
24. Cleveland Browns - Blake Miller OT Clemson (29)
This may also seem like a reach with Hunter likely going on day 2 of the draft but the Bears have a need at defensive tackle. Lee Hunter was disruptive both in the run game and as a pass rusher on film this past season at Texas Tech.
25. Chicago Bears - Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech (20)
Even with addition of DJ Moore the Bills need more firepower if they are going to make another deep playoff run. Concepcion is an explosive receiver who shows elite acceleration after the catch.
26. Buffalo Bills - KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M (27)
27. San Francisco 49ers - Denzel Boston WR Washington (28)
After signing Mike Evans in free agency, the 49ers have the opportunity to add another big-bodied wideout to their receiving core. Denzel Boston is a reliable receiver who is physical at the catch point, and he can be consistent chain mover in the NFL.
The Texans have a fairly complete roster so they can afford to take a best player available approach here in the 1st round. Selecting Sadiq and pairing him with Dalton Schultz would allow the Texans to run more complex 12 personnel plays as well as use Sadiq solely as a slot receiver to keep the defense on their toes.
28. Houston Texans - Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon (30)
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Jermod McCoy CB Tennessee (23)
After selecting David Bailey with the 9th overall pick the Chiefs can continue to add to their defense with Jermod McCoy. When healthy, McCoy is an elite athlete on the outside and he has the size and technique to matchup with bigger X receivers.
30. Miami Dolphins - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren SAF Toledo (26)
Although safety is not the biggest need for the Dolphins they need to add immediate impact players in this draft. They now have their number 1 receiver in Jordyn Tyson and now they can add an athletic playmaker on the backend of their defense. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren flies around the field and he excels at creating turnovers in the run game.
31. New England Patriots - Jake Golday LB Cincinnati (31)
Golday is projected to go in round 3 of this year’s draft but I believe he can be a phenomenal playmaker in the NFL. He has an elite blend of size, speed, and physicality and he made plays all over the field on film. He has experience lining up in the slot in zone coverage, in the box to defend the run, and even on the edge as a pass rusher and he had success at all positions.
With Boye Mafe leaving in free agency the Seahawks have a need at edge rusher. T.J. Parker plays his best against the run on early downs, and he has the skillset to develop as a pass rusher.
32. Seattle Seahawks- T.J. Parker EDGE Clemson (32)
