The last time that we did a mock draft, we were only four days removed from Super Bowl LX. Now that we are in March, the NFL Scouting Combine is over, and we have a better idea of how the board might shake out at the 2026 NFL Draft. Plus, the Chiefs and the Raiders picked up extra first-round picks after completing blockbuster trades. Taking all these factors into consideration, let's reassess the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and see who will be going where.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB, Fernando Mendoza. Indiana.

This is one of the few picks that remains unchanged. The Raiders desperately need a quarterback after finishing the regular season ranked 28th in team passer rating (81.1) and passing yards per game (167.7). Mendoza is a natural leader and has clearly shown he can be the face of a winning organization after leading Indiana to a championship.

2. New York Jets: LB/EDGE, Arvell Reese. Ohio State.

The Jets will be going with a pass rusher at this spot. The question is: will it be Arvell Reese or David Bailey? I picked Reese because he seems to have more upside. He is an insanely athletic pass rusher and is only 20 years old. Bailey is a safer choice, but when you have the number-two overall pick, you don't go for safety; you draft based on potential. If Reese lives up to the hype, he will become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

3. Arizona Cardinals: OT, Spencer Fano. Utah

This is another pick that did not change from our previous mock draft. Fano tested incredibly well at the combine and has the tape necessary to warrant being the third overall pick in this draft. With their starting right tackle likely moving on in free agency, Fano is not only a natural replacement but an improvement along the offensive line.

4. Tennessee Titans: EDGE, David Bailey. Texas Tech.

They need to do a better job of protecting Cam Ward, but when a prospect like David Bailey falls into your lap, you have to pull the trigger. He can step in and immediately be a difference-making pass rusher, which is important for a team that has three of its starting front-seven players set to become free agents. New head coach Robert Saleh will love Bailey's traits and be too tempted by his potential to pass him up.

5. New York Giants: LB, Sonny Styles. Ohio State.

The Giants have a bunch of holes on the defensive side of the ball, but the linebacker position seems to be their most pressing need. Following the release of starting linebacker and captain Bobby Okereke, along with the expected losses of Micah McFadden and Neville Hewett, Big Blue needs to spend this off-season rebuilding its linebacking corps. Styles will fit in perfectly on this defense.

6. Cleveland Browns: OT, Francis Mauigoa. Miami.

There is a non-zero percent chance that the Browns could lose all five of their starting linemen from last season. Wyatt Teller has already said he won't be returning to Cleveland. Also, they've released one offensive tackle, while two other starters are expected to test out free agency. The Browns can draft Mauigoa and immediately fill their need for a starting right tackle.

7. Washington Commanders: EDGE, Reuben Bain Jr. Miami.

Some people will be turned off by his short arms, but Bain was a relentless pass rusher in college. He even managed to elevate his play at the biggest moments in the College Football Playoffs. Even if he underperforms his first season and records only five sacks, that would still make him a top-five pass rusher in Washington. If Bain can live up to his potential, then he will give the Commanders an elite edge defender for years to come.

8. New Orleans Saints: RB, Jeremiyah Love. Notre Dame.

Assuming they bring back Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor, the Saints can use this pick to address the offensive side of the ball, especially with the three best pass rushers off the board. Alvin Kamara could be a cut candidate, considering he'll soon be 31 years old and carries an $18 million cap hit into next season. Adding Love will give the Saints a reliable running back who can take some pressure off of Tyler Shough as he heads into his second year as a pro.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: TE, Kenyon Sadiq. Oregon.

Sadiq tested off the charts and even set records at the NFL Scouting Combine. At the same time, Travis Kelce is bound to retire soon. If he doesn't retire next off-season, then it'll almost certainly be the season after that. Sadiq can not only be Kelce's successor, but a huge difference-maker on the offense. He has elite pass-catching traits and is also a good run blocker. We've seen how much Patrick Mahomes values tight ends. Sadiq could be the next Travis Kelce.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: S, Caleb Downs. Ohio State.

As badly as they need a pass rusher, they have a lot of problems on the defensive side of the ball, so drafting a guy like Downs is a no-brainer. He's a good tackler who has success against the run and in pass coverage. Downs can make his presence felt in any number of ways. On a defense that allowed 28.9 points per game last season and the fourth-most passing yards per attempt, Caleb Downs can step in and make the Bengals better right away.

11. Miami Dolphins: CB, Mansoor Delane. LSU.

Five of the 11 cornerbacks who were on the roster last season are no longer under contract with the 'Phins, so they need to add some bodies in the secondary. Delane was one of the most productive corners in the country last year and shows a lot of maturity. He could be Miami's Week One starter and be a shutdown corner for new coach Jeff Hafley. Delane can help improve the Dolphins' pass defense, which ranked 29th in passer rating allowed last season.

12. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE, Keldric Faulk. Auburn.

We knew that the loss of a pass-rusher like Micah Parsons would hurt Dallas' defense, but we didn't expect them to be historically bad on that side of the ball. The 2025 Cowboys allowed the sixth-most points ever in a single season (511). Faulk has a great build and can be effective in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense. He can become a good pass-rushing threat if the Cowboys end up nailing this pick.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): WR, Makai Lemon. USC.

The Rams will likely address the retirement of Rob Havenstein in free agency since they have $15 million in effective cap space as of this writing. Therefore, they can use this pick on a luxury position that will make them better in the short-term as well as the long-term. With Tutu Atwell probably leaving in free agency and 33-year-old Davante Adams only under contract for one more year, Lemon can be the number-three receiver in LA next season before eventually becoming the WR2.

14. Las Vegas Raiders (via BAL): IOL, Olaivavega Ioane. Penn State.

With the release of Alex Cappa, the Raiders will probably be looking for another interior offensive lineman. Considering starter Dylan Parham will be a free agent, Ioane is an obvious choice at this spot. He can be a Day One starter on either side of the offensive line. He has all the traits necessary to become a good starting lineman at the pro level.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE, Akheem Mesidor. Miami.

Their pass rush was not that great, and they probably won't want to pay Haason Redick another $14 million to only record 2.5 sacks. They need to add more pass rushers, with six of the guys in their front seven expected to test out free agency. Mesidor is a polished pass rusher who could impact Tampa's defense and make his presence felt right away. He also has the perfect build as a 3-4 edge (6'3", 259 lbs.).

16. New York Jets (via IND): WR, Carnell Tate. Ohio State.

He didn't have the best combine performance since he recorded a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, but he is still one of the best wideouts in this draft class. The Jets have been looking for another wide receiver to take attention away from Garrett Wilson, and Tate can definitely be that guy. With Wilson and Tate on the field at the same time, it'll be like Gang Green has two WR1s.

17. Detroit Lions: OT, Monroe Freeling. Georgia.

Not only is Freeling the best pure left tackle in this draft class, but he also tested very well at the NFL Scouting Combine. Now that starter Taylor Decker has requested his release from the team, the Lions need a new starting left tackle. Considering the high price tag for free agent offensive linemen, Monroe Freeling can be an effective starter in Detroit who doesn't break the bank.

18. Minnesota Vikings: DT, Caleb Banks. Florida.

They need to make improvements to the secondary, but the Vikes have a dire need at the nose tackle spot. Minnesota is expected to part ways with its top two interior defenders from last season (Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave). It also sounds like the Vikings are fielding trade offers for pass rusher Jonathan Greenard. They need more bodies along the defensive line, and Banks is a massive, run-stuffing body (6'6", 327 lbs.) who tested extremely well at the combine.

19. Carolina Panthers: OL, Kadyn Proctor. Alabama.

They'll likely address their pass-rushing needs in free agency, so they need to use their first-round draft pick to bolster the offensive line. Carolina has five O-linemen no longer under contract, and starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu could miss some time next year as he recovers from a ruptured patellar tendon. Proctor can be a starter at guard or tackle, so he'll fill a short-term and long-term need for the Panthers.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): S, Dillon Thieneman. Oregon.

After addressing their pass-rushing needs earlier, they find a plug-and-play safety in Thieneman, who had an absolutely stellar combine, where he did wonders for his draft stock. He had great production in college and even better athleticism, which means he can line up at multiple spots in the secondary. Thieneman's speed will help Dallas create more turnovers after they finished the regular season with the third-fewest takeaways in the NFL (12).

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR, Jordyn Tyson. Arizona State.

With Jonnu Smith no longer on the team, and Pittsburgh's second- and third-best pass catchers being a running back and a tight end, it's clear that the Steelers need more wideouts to take attention away from DK Metcalf. Enter Tyson, who actually worked with former Pittsburgh great Hines Ward. Metcalf can be the burner, and Jordyn Tyson can be the team's reliable short- and intermediate-yardage target.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: DT, Lee Hunter. Texas Tech.

They desperately need to beef up their interior offensive line, but with Olaivavega Ioane off the board, it would be a reach to take another guard with the 22nd pick. If the Chargers don't trade back to acquire more picks, then they'll stay put and add a nose tackle. Hunter's immense size (6'3.5", 318 lbs.) will allow him to be an effective interior defensive lineman in multiple schemes. LA can take Hunter and then move on from DT Teair Tart before his $12 million cap hit in 2028.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: TE, Eli Stowers. Vanderbilt.

Should Philly choose to let tight end Dallas Goedert go in free agency, Stowers can actually be an improvement at that spot. He had one of the best combines we have seen in years from a tight end. In fact, we could make the case that he was even better at the combine than Kenyon Sadiq. He needs to improve his run blocking abilities, but he's everything teams look for in a pass catcher.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): WR, Denzel Boston. Washington.

Boston might have the highest upside of any wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, considering he has been compared to the Rams' Puka Nacua. He has excellent size and pass-catching skills. In the unlikely event that Cleveland moves on from wideout Jerry Jeudy - who looked like more of a distraction than a useful offensive weapon at times - Boston could eventually become the number-one wide receiver in the Browns' offense.

25. Chicago Bears: S, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Toldeo.

There's a chance that they lose both of their starting safeties to free agency. Even if Chicago can bring back Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III, Byard is on the tail end of his career and could retire any day. Either McNeil-Warren will be the Bears' starting safety, or he'll be the succession plan for when Byard retires. Regardless, Chicago adds another body to a secondary that will be ravaged by free agency.

26. Buffalo Bills: LB, CJ Allen. Georgia

After trading for D.J. Moore, the Bills no longer need to use their first-round draft pick on a wideout. Now, they can focus on beefing up their linebacking corps since Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson are both scheduled to become free agents. Allen is a compact defender who has been compared to the Ravens' Roquan Smith. He can be effective in a variety of defensive fronts and has the leadership to eventually become the guy relaying plays to other members of the defense.

27. San Francisco 49ers: OT, Caleb Lomu. Utah.

Considering the possibility that Trent Williams might be moving on from San Fran, the Niners will need to address their left tackle spot. Even if they bring Williams back, it will only be for a year or two since he's 37 years old. Lomu would benefit greatly from sitting behind Williams and learning from him for that period of time. That would eventually allow him to step in and become the 49ers' franchise left tackle.

28. Houston Texans: OT, Max Iheanachor. Arizona State.

The Texans need to continue retooling their offensive line. Iheanachor had an outstanding performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and will be moving up teams' boards as franchises put more emphasis on pass protection. Though they re-signed Trent Brown, that was only to a one-year deal, which means they'll be looking for a new right tackle next off-season. With Iheanachor on the roster, they won't have to worry about filling that spot if Brown leaves in free agency next year.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): CB, Jermod McCoy. Tennessee.

Even after tearing his ACL and missing the entirety of the 2025-26 season, McCoy is still looked at as one of the top cornerback prospects in this draft, which speaks to his on-field production and intangibles. The Chiefs need to replace Trent McDuffie, and McCoy could be that guy. This is a boom or bust pick. If it fails, then KC will look foolish, but if McCoy works out, he could be a Pro Bowler.

30. Denver Broncos: DT, Peter Woods. Clemson.

Three of their defensive linemen are scheduled to test out free agency, including starter John Franklin-Myers. Woods could be a defensive tackle or a defensive end in a 3-4 front, which is what the Broncos run. Though this isn't a glaring need, the Broncos pick Woods because he is the highest-rated player left on our draft board. There's a chance that he flounders in the NFL, but if this pick works out, Woods will become an effective starter and disruptive pass rusher for Denver's explosive defensive front.

31. New England Patriots: EDGE, Cashius Howell. Texas A&M.

With the expected release of Stefon Diggs, the Pats will be in the market for a new number-one wide receiver during free agency. Once they get that spot squared away, they can address their pass-rushing needs with their first-round pick. K’Lavon Chaisson will probably get a big contract elsewhere, so they will take Howell to replace him. Even after a poor combine, he still projects to be a first-round pick and shows the skills needed to be a pass-rushing specialist at the next level.

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB, Avieon Terrell. Clemson.

It's too early to take a running back, and the Seahawks have two starting cornerbacks likely testing free agency, so they take Terrell to make up for that lost production. Terrell is a little undersized, but has shown an ability to play outside or in the slot. If Seattle wants, they can make Nick Emmanwori their CB2 and have Terrell be their nickelback. I also think Terrell's ability to play the run makes him an ideal prospect for Mike Macdonald's defense.