Based on what I am hearing from my sources, here is a mock of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders finally get their franchise quarterback. This draft is very thin on franchise pocket passers, but Mendoza offers size, accuracy, arm strength, experience, leadership, production, and enough athleticism for Vegas fans to get excited.
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Jets are in need of many positions, but the EDGE position offers them the best value with this pick. Bailey gives them an explosive pass rusher and elite run defender at defensive end for years to pair with young phenom Will McDonald IV.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
This draft has some elite EDGE talent at the top of the draft, so it makes sense to take advantage of it. The Cardinals take arguably the most talented EDGE rusher, although also the most scrutinized because of his short arms, in the draft. Bain Jr. and Sweat gives Arizona a very talented duo on the ends.
4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Tennessee lands the top RB in the draft to give promising second-year franchise QB Cam Ward some more help on offense. Love is an electric runner who is also outstanding at catching the ball and can pass block well. He will make life for Ward easier.
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The G-men draft the top WR in the draft out of THE Ohio State University to give young franchise QB Jaxson Dart another weapon. Tate is a smooth route runner capable of making any catch at any level of the field. Him and Nabers catching the ball will have Dart in paradise on game days.
6. Cleveland Browns – Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
Back to back Ohio State players getting selected with the Browns drafting EDGE rusher Arvell Reese. There is a drop off in talent at the position, so Cleveland grabs the last remaining elite rusher to start opposite the best EDGE in the league, Myles Garrett. Reese is a lightning quick and twitchy rusher, with elite bend to get to the QB.
7. Washington Commanders – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Washington goes with the 2nd best WR in the draft to give talented QB Jayden Daniels another much needed weapon. Tyson is a big bodied receiver who will make the jump ball and tough acrobatic catches, while Scary Terry (Terry McLaurin) works the field underneath.
8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
There has been a bit of a run at receivers going off the board. The Saints have a need at WR and the value is there as Lemon is a savvy route who knows how to get open. The Saints are lacking weapons on offense and promising second-year QB Tyler Shough can use all of the help he can get, so this makes a ton of sense. Olave and Lemon will feast on opposing defenses.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The first offensive lineman comes off the board and it is the brick wall OT Mauigoa to the Chiefs. Franchise QB Pat Mahomes has been sacked a whopping 70 times the past 2 years!! He also tore his ACL on a sack last year, so protecting your most valuable asset needs to be the play here. Mauigoa plugs in at RT and gives Mahomes sturdy protection up front.
10. New York Giants (via Cincinnati) – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Another mini-run here, but this time at the OT position. The Giants with their second 1st round pick get QB Jaxson Dart some protection. Fano an athletic behemoth at OT will slide in at RT and fortify the line for Dart, who was sacked a whopping 35 times last season.
11. Miami Dolphins – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Miami is arguably the least talented team on the league, so they could use elite talent at every level. I have them taking the top LB and next best defensive weapon out of Ohio State. Styles is a do-it-all MLB or WLB, all while being an athletic specimen. He can run, tackle, get to the RB, get to the QB, and cover tight ends. He will also be a captain early on and a leader on defense. Miami desperately needs that.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Dallas can also use talent at a lot of positions, so I have them selecting the BPA in Caleb Downs, again out of Ohio State. He can be a box safety and help with the run defense/rushing the QB close to the line of scrimmage or he can roam the field and act as a centre fielder picking off passes. He is a blue-chip talent and will improve the Cowboys’ secondary. He is also a great teammate and has tremendous character.
13. Los Angeles Rams – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Rams have been missing a talent at the TE position for a while now. While serviceable, Colby Parkinson doesn’t elevate the offense to another level like Sadiq would. He is the best tight end in the draft and his extreme athletcism, coupled with his impressive route running, catching, and blocking skills will make QB Matt Stafford happy as he looks to get another ring in his waning years.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Ravens desperately need WR help for QB Lamar Jackson. Outside of Zay Flowers, there is not much there. In comes the best WR on the national championship winning team, the Indiana Hoosiers. Cooper Jr. is an extremely good route runner capable of getting open at ease throughout all levels of the field. He also has the athleticism to make the tough acrobatic jump ball catches. Not to mention, he is a menace with the ball in his hands leading to plenty of YAC (yards after the catch).
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The first CB goes off the board and it’s Delane out of LSU. A productive ballhawk in college, Delane instantly becomes the Bucs’ CB1 and makes the team harder to throw against. He can play man-coverage or zone-coverage and mix it up when it comes to defending the run.
16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
A bit of a mini run here the CB position as the Jets draft McCoy out of Tennessee. The Jets have a hole at CB1 after trading Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts last year. McCoy can step into that role as a sticky CB who excels in man coverage.
17. Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Lions need to replace LT Taylor Decker and here is a perfect opportunity. Freeling is arguably the best and most natural LT in the draft, which is music to QB Jared Goff’s ears after getting sacked a career-high 38 times. Freeling steps right into Goff’s blind spot to help protect the franchise QB.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Vikings play in an odd-man front (3-4 defense) and have absolutely no talent at the end positions. Woods, the draft’s highest rated defensive tackle, can step in and play the defensive end position in Minnesota’s odd-man front. He is a large, powerful and explosive athlete who can generate pressures, and rack up TFLs (tackles for a loss) and sacks.
19. Carolina Panthers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
QB Bryce Young finally emerged as a franchise QB in his 3rd year, posting career numbers. To keep his development going, the Panthers select a twitchy and YAC monster WR to pair with WR1 Tetairoa McMillan. They compliment each other as McMillan is a big-bodied power forward type WR and Concepcion is smaller and twitchier.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay) – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Cowboys have a pressing need at EDGE rusher after trading away Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers a couple of seasons ago. Mesidor will slide right in and start. He is a pass-rushing menace with plenty of production and experience, as he is coming in as a 25-year old rookie.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The first OG comes flying off the board and the Steelers get a steal here at a position of need. Ioane is a true plug-and-play starter with perennial Pro Bowl potential at the LG position. He will come in on day 1 and start at LG for many years, which will only make QB Aaron Rodgers smile and make it easier to decide to return and keep playing for the Steelers.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Another Ohio State player off of the board. The Chargers select McDonald to start at defensive end opposite of Justin Iboigbe in a an odd-man front. McDonald is a hog molly, who excels at stuffing the run with his big body, and providing pass rush.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The second safety comes off the board with the Philadelphia Eagles selecting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren out of Toledo. The Eagles have a glaring need at the SS position and this is also a best-value pick for a position of need. McNeil-Warren will come in on day 1 and start as a big-bodied down-hill thumper at safety and play in the box near the line of scrimmage providing run support and patrolling underneath in the middle.
24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
With their second pick of the 1st round, the Browns select WR Denzel Boston out of Washington. The Browns are killing this draft, as they grab a premium player at a position of need. Boston will come in right away and start opposite of Jerry Jeudy, providing whichever QB a big body to throw to. He will catch passes down the field and is hard to guard as a power forward receiver, while Jeudy works underneath.
25. Chicago Bears – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Bears grab much needed EDGE help in Parker out of Clemson. Free agent pickup Dayo Odeyingbo has been a disappointment, and Austin Booker projects as a rotational EDGE3 rusher. Parker comes in and starts at defensive end opposite Montez Sweat, as he brings pass-rushing production and run-stuffing skill.
26. Buffalo Bills – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Bills select DT Caleb Banks out of Florida to start for them at defensive end in their odd-man front. This is match made in heaven as the Bills desperately need help at defensive end and Banks is a productive monster of a human, who will help clog up the run and get after the passer. He will make life miserable for opposing o-lines.
27. San Francisco 49ers – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
BPA (best player available) meets position of need. Miller enters day 1 as a starter at defensive end for the 49ers odd-man front. He can start opposite Osi Odhigizuwa and clog up running lanes with his big body.
28. Houston Texans – Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
The Texans had arguably the worst o-line last year, finishing nearly last in both pass protection and run blocking. They have revamped the line in the off-season acquiring RG Wyatt Teller in a trade and signing RT Braden Smith in free agency. Their weakest link is LG and that is where Bisontis could step into day 1 and provide elite play.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Los Angeles Rams) – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Chiefs have George Karlaftis at EDGE and nobody else worth mentioning. Howell is a cheetah off the EDGE and specializes in rushing the passer, something the Chiefs could use. Howell starts opposite Karlaftis day 1.
30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins have one of the worst rosters in recent memory. Any position could use an upgrade, so they once again go BPA, and select CB Colton Hood out of Tennessee. Hood steps in right away as their CB1, bringing ball-hawking skills, and physicality in run support.
31. New England Patriots – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Patriots don’t have many holes on their team, especially on defense, but if there is one position they could upgrade it is at SS and Thieneman is the BPA and can fill that position. He is a superb athlete who is versatile to play close to the line of scrimmage and bring run support, or to cover tight ends in man coverage, or even to roam the field and play as a free safety when required. He comes in right away and starts opposite oustanding FS Kevin Byard, giving the Pats arguably one of the best secondaries in the league. He also is a great teammate and leader.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Seattle has very few needs, but EDGE looks like it might be one, with 33-year old DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu as their current starters and not much behind them. Young, who is a well-balanced EDGE rusher, could come in and compete for a starting position, or start off as a rotational EDGE rusher.
