We can now begin creating mock drafts with the order of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft set in stone. Since this is our first NFL Draft preview of the season, we're not going to suggest any potential trades that might happen, meaning the order of the first round will be the same as it was after Super Bowl LX ended. With that in mind, let's predict how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft might shake out.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB, Fernando Mendoza. Indiana.
There's no question that this will be the pick. Mendoza is a Heisman Trophy-winner and a National Champion. He has the build and demeanor you want from a franchise quarterback. Also, Klint Kubiak will be able to mold this kid into a good player. After spending the last four seasons looking for a long-term answer at quarterback, the Raiders will finally get their guy.
2. New York Jets: LB, Arvell Reese. Ohio State.
The Jets could go with David Bailey or Rueben Bain Jr. here, but Reese winds up being the selection because of his versatility. He can rush the passer and be an effective off-ball linebacker, which fills two glaring needs on Gang Green's defense. Regardless, they are going to use this spot to pick up a pass-rusher after recording the second-fewest sacks in the NFL (26).
3. Arizona Cardinals: OT, Spencer Fano. Utah.
A pass rusher could be the right call here, but this is a deep draft class at that position. Meanwhile, there is a premium on offensive linemen within the 2026 draft class. Two of the Cards’ starting tackles are expected to test out free agency, so Arizona takes Fano to shore up an offensive line that allowed the fifth-most sacks last season (59).
4. Tennessee Titans: OT, Francis Mauigoa. Miami.
People are going to want the Titans to give their young quarterback a surefire offensive weapon, but it's more important to keep the former number-one overall pick upright. After all, he was sacked 55 times last year, which was tied for the most in the NFL with the Raiders' Geno Smith. If Ward doesn't have to run for his life every play, he'll actually be able to show us what he’s capable of.
5. New York Giants: CB, Mansoor Delane. LSU.
The secondary needs to see improvement after they finished the regular season with just nine interceptions, tied with the Dolphins for the fifth-fewest in the NFL. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, the Giants have allowed the fifth-highest passer rating to opponents (98.5). Delane can fix that problem.
6. Cleveland Browns: WR, Carnell Tate. Ohio State.
Regardless of who the starting quarterback is, this team needs a bona fide number-one receiver. They averaged the second-fewest receiving yards per game in the league last season (185.4), and Jerry Jeudy looked like more of a distraction last year than a contributor. Tate can come in and overtake Jeudy as Cleveland's best receiver.
7. Washington Commanders: EDGE, Rueben Bain Jr. Miami.
They have so many needs on the defensive side of the ball that a guy like Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles could be great here. But edge rushers are the heart and soul of defense, so they go with Bain, who might be the best pure pass rusher in this draft. He had a fantastic run in the College Football Playoffs, including two sacks in three games. He'll make up for the expected departures of Von Miller, Preston Smith, and Deatrich Wise.
8. New Orleans Saints: EDGE, David Bailey. Texas Tech.
Bailey was the best player on a Texas Tech defense that was tied for sixth in the nation in sacks (41) and ranked third in points allowed per game (11.8). He has a good 6'3", 250 lb frame that will work well in a 3-4 defensive scheme. If New Orleans decides to move on from edge rusher Carl Granderson this off-season, Bailey would be an obvious replacement who will save them millions of dollars over the next couple of years.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: RB, Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame.
Over the last two seasons, the Chiefs have only accumulated 3,602 rushing yards, the sixth-fewest during that stretch. Adding a clear-cut number-one running back will solve an issue that has been plaguing KC for a while. Plus, Love will take some pressure off of Patrick Mahomes as he works his way back from a torn ACL. With leading rusher Kareem Hunt expected to hit free agency, this is an easy decision for the Chiefs.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: S, Caleb Downs. Ohio State.
There is no shortage of issues with the Bengals' defense, so they take the best defender available, who also happens to be one of the most talented players in the 2026 NFL Draft. He can play every position in the secondary, which will be helpful for a unit that was 26th in passer rating allowed last season (99.4). A pass rusher could be the move here, but Downs’ potential to become one of the league’s top defensive players in just a few years will be too good to pass up.
11. Miami Dolphins: CB, Jermod McCoy. Tennessee.
New head coach Jeff Hafley saw how important it is to have a reliable number-one cornerback firsthand because he never had one while coaching the Green Bay Packers. This pick also makes a ton of sense for Miami, considering the defense allowed the highest completion percentage to opponents in the NFL last season (72%). McCoy will be the Dolphins' starting cornerback when Week One rolls around.
12. Dallas Cowboys: LB, Sonny Styles. Ohio State.
Wth so many holes on the defensive side of the ball, a guy like Sonny Styles is an excellent pick at the 12 spot. He's arguably the best pure inside linebacker in this draft. He's also a clearly well-versed player in pass coverage since he started his college career as a safety. With starting inside linebacker Kenneth Murray no longer under contract, Styles would be a fantastic replacement.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): CB, Colton Hood. Tennessee.
As much as I wanted them to go with an offensive tackle following the retirement announcement by Rob Havenstein, it feels like too much of a reach to go after one of the premier right tackles in this draft class. They need to add a cornerback because the Seahawks' passing attack shredded the Rams for 616 yards and five touchdowns in their two head-to-head losses this season.
14. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE, Cashius Howell. Texas A&M.
The Ravens were tied for the third-fewest sacks in the NFL last season (30), so they clearly need to add some pass-rushing help. Factor in two of their best edge rushers no longer being under contract, and Baltimore's need for new pass rushers becomes glaringly obvious. Howell can line up on the opposite side of Mike Green and be a difference-maker while being significantly less expensive than Kyle Van Noy and Dre'Mont Jones.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE, Akheem Mesidor. Miami.
They weren't terrible at getting after opposing quarterbacks, but they need to find a pass rusher to replace Haason Reddick. It doesn't make sense to bring him back and pay him $14 million a year when he only had 2.5 sacks. Mesidor can be a more effective and cheaper replacement.
16. New York Jets (via IND): WR, Makai Lemon. USC.
The Jets were the worst pass-catching team in the NFL, averaging a measly 163.8 yards per game. With Garrett Wilson returning, they get back their number-one receiver. Lemon can step in and be an immediate improvement at the slot receiver spot. Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, and Makai Lemon would be a solid group of wideouts for whoever the starting QB ends up being.
17. Detroit Lions: OT, Kadyn Proctor. Alabama.
Though the Lions need to find a new pass rusher to make up for the expected losses of Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport, fixing the offensive line is more important to this team's identity. If Taylor Decker retires, Proctor can be his successor. But if Decker decides to stick around for another year, Proctor can move inside and be a guard. They need to get back to having a dominant O-line like in 2024.
18. Minnesota Vikings: S, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Toldeo.
It looked like Harrison Smith might have played his last game as a member of the Vikings, leaving a major hole in the secondary. Even if Smith returns, he won't be around for long, and Minnesota needs to start planning for life after he retires. McNeil-Warren is already a polished run defender. If he can improve in pass coverage, he'll be an elite NFL safety.
19. Carolina Panthers: EDGE, Keldric Faulk. Auburn.
Even though they used two of their first three picks last year on edge rushers, Carolina was still tied for 30th in sacks last season (30). Getting a big player like Faulk (6'6", 285 lbs.) is important because you can line him up as an outside linebacker or along the defensive line. He can also aid in the progression of second-year pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): EDGE, T.J. Parker. Clemson.
The Cowboys clearly missed Micah Parsons' presence along the defensive line. They need to bolster their 26th-ranked pass rush, which only had 35 sacks last season. Add in the fact that Dante Fowler Jr. and Jadeveon Clowney are set to test free agency, and this pick looks like a no-brainer. If he can play how he did in 2024, this will end up being a steal.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR, Jordyn Tyson. Arizona State.
This guy is a warrior who looked like the top receiver in the draft at one point during the 2025-26 college football season. His ability to play on the outside and in the slot makes him a valuable player who can line up next to DK Metcalf and provide the Steelers' offense with a new set of skills. Metcalf and Tyson playing in the same offense can also open up the rushing attack, which barely averaged 100 yards per game.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OL, Olaivavega Ioane. Penn State.
After the disastrous injuries that plagued LA's offensive line, they need to make sure they add some bodies in the trenches, which will be an obvious area of importance since Zion Johnson and Trevor Penning are both expected to test free agency. Plus, the Chargers could cut ties with Mekhi Becton this off-season if they want to save $12 million. Ioane would be an immediate starter for almost any team in the NFL. This would be a dream selection for the Chargers at 22.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: WR, Denzel Boston. Washington.
With so much drama between A.J. Brown and the Eagles during the regular season, I believe they will want to move on from him during the off-season. Should that happen, they'll need a big-bodied receiver to make up for his lost production. At 6'4", Denzel Boston could become the next A.J. Brown in Philadelphia without all the unwanted outside attention.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): OT, Caleb Lomu. Utah.
With three starters from the offensive line no longer under contract, the Browns have some tough decisions to make. Bringing back Cam Robinson for $12 million doesn't make sense when he underperformed last season. Lomu is a cheaper option who will almost certainly play better than Robinson did. He's also a better pass blocker than he is a run blocker, which is what you want to see out of your franchise left tackle.
25. Chicago Bears: S, Dillon Thieneman. Oregon.
They need pass rush help, but they're also expected to lose some of their most important contributors in the secondary. Since they'll be unable to keep Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard III, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Thieneman makes a lot of sense here. He can play various positions in the secondary and has the size to be an effective outside cornerback or safety. He'll make up for some of the losses they're expected to suffer in the back-end of their defense.
26. Buffalo Bills: WR, KC Concepcion. Texas A&M.
The Bills need to stop dicking around with the wide receiver position. After the insults that were hurled at former second-round pick Keon Coleman and Brandin Cooks set to become a free agent, Buffalo should be looking to overhaul its wideout room. Concepcion has a good frame that can make him an effective receiver on the outside or in the slot.
27. San Francisco 49ers: TE, Kenyon Sadiq. Oregon.
George Kittle isn't a spring chicken. He's a 32-year-old tight end who just tore his Achilles tendon a few weeks ago. There's a good chance that he won't be available for the entirety of the 2026-27 season. Even if he does manage to play in every game, San Fran should still start planning for life after Kittle, considering he will have an average annual cap hit of $24.2 million from 2027 to 2029. Sadiq is a skilled pass catcher who already knows how to run block. He would be an instrumental part of the Niners' offense.
28. Houston Texans: OT, Blake Miller. Clemson.
There's a chance that they can lose both their starting right guard and their starting right tackle, so they need to add bodies to that side of the O-line. Blake Miller could be a plug-and-play starter for the Texans. He's a right tackle by trade who never misses any game time. He actually set a school record with 3,778 offensive snaps in 54 career starts. After seeing Houston's offensive line struggle mightily at certain points last season, Miller would be a great pick.
29. Los Angeles Rams: OT, Monroe Freeling. Georgia.
The Rams can make improvements to the secondary while still finding a replacement for Rob Havenstein. Freeling was Georgia's starting left tackle last season, but he has also spent some time at right tackle. He has a massive 6'7", 315 lbs. frame, which will make him a strong run blocker. Working with LA's offensive masterminds and strength coaches will help him develop into a good pass blocker, too.
30. Denver Broncos: DL, Lee Hunter. Texas Tech.
With very few needs, this becomes a pick where the Broncos select the best player available. Based on how things are shaking out, that would be defensive lineman Lee Hunter. He’s a natural nose tackle, but his 6'3", 320 lbs. frame allows him to effectively line up at multiple spots in a 3-4 defensive front. He'll probably need to play some defensive end with John Franklin-Myers expected to hit free agency.
31. New England Patriots: EDGE, R Mason Thomas. Oklahoma.
K'Lavon Chaisson and Jack Gibbens are both set to become free agents. After the impressive season Chaisson had (10.5 sacks, including three in the playoffs), he'll probably leave New England for a big payday. The Pats will need a new edge rusher to replace that level of production, and Thomas can be that guy. He's a polished pass rusher whose size will make him a problem for larger tackles, kind of like a young Kyle Van Noy.
32. Seattle Seahawks: CB, Brandon Cisse. South Carolina.
They don’t have any glaring holes on their roster, so the Seahawks go after the best available player with the last pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This is a project pick that could pay off tremendously if it works out. Cisse already has excellent athleticism; he just needs somebody to teach him the nuances of playing cornerback at the NFL level. Devon Witherspoon and Mike Macdonald will be able to do just that. He may not be an immediate impact player, but the potential to become one is clearly there.
