Making a 2026 NFL mock draft, or any year's mock draft for that matter, is a puzzle where you get different pieces at different times. The prospects haven't played any real football in months, but teams are already telling us what they think of them. Free-agent spending can be an indicator of how teams feel about different positions (teams spent more on running backs as a percentage of the cap than in years past). With most key puzzle pieces in play, here's a stab at predicting the 2026 NFL draft.
Pick No. 1 – Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB (Indiana)
The team signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million deal! Well, really, they signed him to a one-year deal, so they don't have to rush Mendoza into playing. Tom Brady has been relatively vocal about the need for quarterbacks to sit and develop for a little bit, and that's exactly the plan for Mendoza. This isn't the 2025 Las Vegas Raiders, and they seem to be committed to a long-term plan to get back to competing in one of the toughest divisions in football.
Pick No. 2 - New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE/ILB (Ohio State)
Reese only rushed the passer 100 times in 2025, but the tools are there. The Micah Parsons comparisons are probably unfair to Reese, who will need to be a dominant edge rusher to justify going this high. He's twitched up, explosive, and doesn't have the same glaring physical limitations that other edge prospects in this class have. Reese is the betting favorite to go number two overall, and he's a rare high-floor/high-ceiling combination with his sure tackling and physical traits.
Pick No. 3 - Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE (Texas Tech)
There aren't any trades in this mock draft, but the Cardinals are a prime candidate to move back. Their team needs to look more like a CVS receipt than a professional football team, and they're not one David Bailey away from competing in a division with three teams with eyes on a deep playoff run. Whether they go edge or offensive line in this spot, there's not a bad choice this early.
Pick No. 4 - Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR (Ohio State)
This year is all about Cam Ward. From signing Wan'Dale Robinson to adding depth along their offensive line, they want to build something to ensure that Ward is the guy for years to come. Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Calvin Ridley can't be the only answers for the rest of the wide receiver room, and adding a real threat to round out the group would elevate Tennessee's passing game immediately.
Pick No. 5 - New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT (Miami)
Protect Jaxson Dart. Run the heck out of the ball. Repeat. Jermaine Eluemunor is a fine depth tackle who can fill in when injuries pop up, but using him as a long-term solution is not a realistic answer. The biggest knock on Mauigoa is his affinity for the right side of the line, but with Andrew Thomas at left tackle, the Giants should feel comfortable for years to come.
Pick No. 6 - Cleveland Browns: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE (Miami)
Hurricanes in back-to-back picks, the Browns already have a fearsome pass rush with Myles Garrett alone. But he needs a partner in crime, and the other players at premium positions are projects. Bain's arm-length discussion has reached every corner of the earth by now, but he's a good football player. The Browns are looking for their post-Kevin Stefanski identity, and Todd Monken will likely influence the rest of the draft to be offense-focused.
Despite strong sentiment from Browns fans, I could not find a new owner in this 2026 NFL mock draft. Sorry Matt.
Pick No. 7 - Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB (Notre Dame)
At first glance, the Commanders told us they weren't going running back here. But Rachaad White and Jerome Ford are a combined three million dollars, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt was the 245th pick last year. Adding an explosive back to this offense can take some pressure off of Jayden Daniels while he resets following the injury last year.
Pick No. 8 - New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB (LSU)
The Saints' secondary needs some help at corner, and Jermod McCoy and Mansoor Delane are neck and neck for CB1 of the class. Even though McCoy ran at his pro day and looks to be recovered from his injury, the Saints can't pass up the corner from right up the road.
Pick No. 9 - Kansas City Chiefs: Monroe Freeling, OT (Georgia)
When was the last time the Chiefs had a chance to pick a premium position in the top ten? It's only happened twice in the past 15 years, and they'll add a prospect with the frame and athleticism that has coaches jumping out of their chairs. Esa Pole was a UDFA who was forced into starting time last year, and if they feel good about him they could look towards a WR or defense here. Freeling might take some time to develop, but if he hits, this is what franchise left tackles look like.
Pick No. 10 - Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)
The Bengals need help on defense. They add arguably the best safety in the draft, plus Mike Brown is always looking for ways to save money. Low moving costs! Downs can transform the way a defense moves with his flexibility, from playing center field all the way up to nickel or in the box for run defense. He was the leader of two different dominant college defenses and is just what the doctor ordered to help the Bengals get the ball back to Burrow more often.
Pick No. 11 - Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, WR (USC)
This upgrades the receiver room in Miami from an F to a D, but we have to start somewhere. After signing Malik Willis, the Dolphins had a fire sale. Now that they're building the team back up from square one, adding Lemon can address at least one of the 49 holes on the 53-man roster.
Pick No. 12 - Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB (Ohio State)
The Cowboys' offense hasn't been a problem. When Dak Prescott is healthy, they can put up points with the best of them. But they need a reliable defender, and Styles is as reliable an off-ball linebacker as they come. They would sprint to the podium with Styles still on the board, who missed only two tackles in all of 2025.
Pick No. 13 - Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB (Tennessee)
The Rams are playing with free money here. Why not add an athletic freak who, at his best, can shut down any receiver in football? McCoy is a blue-chip prospect with the possibility of being a top-five corner in the league, and the Rams can pounce on the value with their extra pick due to injury concerns.
Pick No. 14 - Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ione, OG (Penn State)
The Ravens lost one of the best centers in the game and have been starting a day-three tackle at guard before he left for the Giants. This team is looking for some help on the inside, and Ione is a nasty, nasty guard. Positional value has tilted in favor of a guard over the past couple of offseasons, so getting Ione here is a steal for the Ravens.
Pick No. 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE (Miami)
The Buccaneers are looking for win-now pieces like a dynasty team still starting Derrick Henry in their RB1 slot. Mesidor might not have the same ceiling as other pass rushers in this class, but he's a fundamentally solid plug-and-play option off the edge.
