My Official 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Happy NFL Draft Eve!

With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off tomorrow night, it's time for me to release my official mock draft in which I attempt to predict what each team will do in the first round. This mock will not include any trades for simplicity's sake, and I am basing my picks on what the major insiders are predicting in their mock drafts as well as what each team's beat writers are reporting.

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

The Las Vegas Raiders need a franchise quarterback after trading Geno Smith, and Fernando Mendoza is the consensus QB1 in this year's class. There's no mystery with this pick because everyone and their mother knows that Mendoza is going No. 1.

2. New York Jets - Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

The New York Jets are likely going with a pass rusher at No. 2, and all of the major insiders, like Peter Schrager and Todd McShay, are reporting that David Bailey will be the pick.

So why am I going in a different direction?

The Jets beat writers are not on the David Bailey hype train. I've had a hard time finding a reporter who's plugged into the Jets franchise who agrees the team is picking David Bailey. Connor Hughes said on Twitter that only three people in the Jets building know who the pick is, and he believes that it will be Reese.

I think this is a situation where insiders are guessing, and the Jets are playing everyone. Reese has been the betting favorite to be the No. 2 pick for a long time now, and he is the top-ranked defender on the consensus big board. I don't want to change my pick this late in the process if the information from insiders isn't reliable.

3. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

For a while, I thought the Cardinals would likely go with the top pass rusher available or an offensive tackle at No. 3. However, there has been a lot of buzz recently that the Cardinals may shock everyone and go with Jeremiyah Love at this spot.

Of course, that's assuming the team stays here and doesn't trade back. The Cardinals are the first team that could trade down, and reports indicate they prefer this option. If they do that, I assume they would be targeting an offensive tackle like Francis Mauigoa or Spencer Fano.

If they don't trade this pick, Todd McShay reports that an influential voice in the Cardinals organization is pushing for the team to draft the Notre Dame running back. I've also seen Cardinals beat writers indicate that the Cardinals are very interested in Love.

This could easily be David Bailey, but I can't find any reports that the Cardinals are interested in him. All I'm seeing is that the team will trade down or possibly draft Jeremiyah Love.

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

With Jeremiyah Love off the board and head coach Robert Saleh being a defensive-minded coach, I expect the Titans to focus on adding a top-ranked defensive player. In this situation, I think they'd choose between David Bailey and Sonny Styles.

I don't know which player the Titans prefer, since there isn't much reporting out there on who they like at this spot, but David Bailey is the No. 3 player on the consensus big board, and he would be an exciting addition to the Titans' defensive line. Saleh coached teams enjoy picking defensive linemen early (Jermaine Johnson to the Jets and Mykel Williams to the 49ers), and I think that trend continues here.

It's worth noting that there is some buzz that the Titans could take a receiver here. I doubt that, but I have seen reports that the Titans will look to take an edge rusher or receiver here.

5. New York Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The New York Giants dropped a bomb this past weekend, trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick, giving them two top-ten picks in this year's draft.

Since then, there have been a ton of players connected to the Giants, including Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson, some of the top offensive linemen, and Jeremiyah Love. The Giants reportedly love Tyson, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to use a top-five pick on him. Instead, I think they will use their first selection on Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs.

I originally had Styles slotted here, but the closer we get to the draft, the more likely it seems that the Giants will take Downs at No. 5 and target a receiver or an offensive lineman at No. 10. Eric Galko says he believes that the Giants prefer Downs to Styles, and ESPN insider Jordan Raanan predicted the Giants will take Downs here. I would feel more comfortable mocking Styles here if I could find any reporting connecting him to the Giants.

6. Cleveland Browns - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Cleveland Browns reportedly love the idea of trading down from this spot, and it's no secret that they are targeting wide receivers and offensive linemen in round one.

They are reportedly big fans of Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, but they have been connected to offensive tackle prospects so often, and it seems like that is the direction the team will go in.

I've seen reports that the Browns are big fans of Kadyn Proctor, but I would be shocked if they took him in the top ten. I think an underrated player-team pairing is Francis Mauigoa and the Browns. Mauigoa was expected to be a top-three pick early in the pre-draft process, so the Browns could get the consensus OT1 who can play tackle and guard and would improve their offensive line right away.

But I think the Browns ultimately land on Spencer Fano if they stay at No. 6.

7. Washington Commanders - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

I've seen reports that if Sonny Styles is available at No. 7, the Commanders will run the card to the podium. It makes sense with head coach Dan Quinn being a defensive-minded head coach. If Styles is as good as advertised, he could be a great captain for Washington's defense.

If Styles is off the board, I expect this pick to be Carnell Tate. This is a strong possibility, so be on the lookout for it tomorrow night.

8. New Orleans Saints - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Saints are reportedly very interested in this year's wide receiver class, and I've seen them connected to Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson, and Makai Lemon. I've also seen them connected to one of the top edge rushers in the class, Rueben Bain.

I think New Orleans ultimately decides between Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson. Matt Miller reported that this is Tate's floor and he is the consensus WR1, so I'll go with him at No. 8. With Tyler Shough playing at a high level as a rookie, it makes sense for the Saints to invest draft capital in a player who can make his life easier.

9. Kansas City Chiefs - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

It's not often the Chiefs pick this high, so they need to make the most of this selection. Based on reports, I expect this pick to be an offensive tackle or a pass rusher. The Chiefs are interested in trading up from No. 9, presumably for one of the top-ranked edge rushers, but I've also heard that Andy Reid is focused on improving the team's offensive line.

Rueben Bain makes a lot of sense here, and he could easily be the pick, but I think the Chiefs tackle the trenches and take the top offensive lineman on their board. In this spot, I think that would be Francis Mauigoa, who has a lot of fans around the league. He could play a big role in improving the Chiefs' offensive line.

10. New York Giants (via CIN) - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Once the Giants traded for this pick, reports came flooding in that they are enamored with Jordyn Tyson. Their general manager, John Schoen, went to his pro day and had dinner with him. I think the buzz is real, and it seems likely that Tyson does not get out of the top ten.

I could see the Giants taking an offensive lineman here, too, though. Olaivavega Ioane has been connected to the team, but the Jordyn Tyson buzz is significantly stronger. I also question how likely it is for a pure guard to go this high in the draft. If Downs were available here on draft night, he would be in play as well.

11. Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Dolphins have needs at WR, CB, and OT, and they have options at all these positions. I've seen a lot of mocks with Makai Lemon going to the Dolphins, but the team has a GM-HC combo that comes from the Packers, an organization that prioritizes athletic traits in round one.

I would not be shocked if the Dolphins took a toolsy tackle like Monroe Freeling or Kadyn Proctor here. However, their cornerback room needs a lot of help, and I would be surprised to see a player like Mansoor Delane fall far down the board. He's the consensus CB1, and I think he would be a great pick for the Dolphins.

12. Dallas Cowboys - Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami

Rueben Bain could go higher than this, but as we get closer to the draft, it seems more likely that he falls and could go outside the top ten.

This is due to his lack of arm length, as well as a car accident he was involved in a few years ago, in which a woman passed away. The car accident was reportedly just an accident, and teams have said publicly that they are satisfied with Bain's explanation of the event. I hate to bring this up, but it's impossible to talk about Bain without mentioning this incident.

I've seen reports that the Cowboys might be interested in Bain if he falls to No. 12, and I think he'd be the obvious choice in this situation. The Cowboys need a CB, EDGE, LB, and S, and Bain is by far the highest player on the consensus big board at these positions.

It's also worth mentioning that national insiders have reported that the Cowboys are interested in trading up. In fact, a week ago, three of the biggest insiders in the draft space (Dane Brugler, Todd McShay, and Mel Kiper) had the Cowboys trading up to No. 6 to grab Sonny Styles. Keep this in mind on draft night.

13. Los Angeles Rams - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Makai Lemon has been mocked here a lot over the last few weeks, and that could happen, but the recent buzz is that the Rams are more likely to take an offensive tackle or possibly Kenyon Sadiq here.

Here's why I went with Sadiq. The Rams are reportedly interested in trading up for Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson, and a few years ago, they tried to trade up to get Brock Bowers. I have also seen reports that there are people in the Rams building who are intrigued by the Oregon tight end.

Peter Schrager had the Rams trading back and picking Sadiq, so I think this pairing has a chance of happening on draft night.

14. Baltimore Ravens - Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

The Baltimore Ravens need a lot of help on the offensive line, and I think they will go with Olaivavega Ioane or Monroe Freeling here. If someone like Rueben Bain or Mansoor Delane fell, they could also be picked here. The Ravens may also look at Kenyon Sadiq to be the Mark Andrews replacement in the future.

Ioane makes sense here because they are known for drafting talented players in round one that draft Twitter loves, even if the player doesn't play a premium position. If they want an athletic tackle, they may go with Freeling or even Kadyn Proctor.

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

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are likely going to pick two positions here: tight end or edge rusher. They need a defensive lineman so bad, and this is a spot where we could see Akheem Mesidor or Keldrick Faulk go off the board early. Kenyon Sadiq would be in play as well if he's not off the board.

I've seen multiple insider mock drafts with Mesidor going to the Buccaneers at No. 15, so I think this is a legitimate possibility. The experienced edge rusher would give the Bucs some needed juice as a pass rusher.

16. New York Jets - Makai Lemon, WR, USC

There have been a plethora of reports that the Jets are interested in drafting a receiver with the No. 16 pick, and few players have been connected to the Jets more often than Omar Cooper Jr.

But what happens if Makai Lemon is still available? At that point, I think the Jets have to make a difficult decision between Lemon and Cooper. Lemon is a top 15 player on the consensus big board, and Peter Schrager and Lance Zeirlein have the Jets taking him in their mocks.

I think this pairing makes a lot of sense, and I am intrigued by an offense led by Geno Smith, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, and Makai Lemon. If the Jets don't take a receiver, we could see them pick an edge rusher or cornerback here, but I'd honestly be surprised if they don't draft a wide receiver at No. 16.

17. Detroit Lions - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

In the same way that the Jets are widely expected to take a WR at No. 16, the Lions are widely expected to take an offensive lineman at No. 17. If the Lions go this route, it seems likely that they would take either Kadyn Proctor or Monroe Freeling. Maybe even Blake Miller goes off the board here.

Kadyn Proctor has gotten a lot of hype during the pre-draft process, and I have seen some people say teams may prefer Proctor's experience over Monroe Freeling. This pick could go either way, but I think Proctor doesn't fall much further than this tomorrow night.

If the Lions don't take an offensive lineman, they could target an edge rusher or interior defensive lineman to sure up their defensive line.

18. Minnesota Vikings - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

There have been many reports that the Vikings could be interested in taking a safety with the No. 18 pick, and most insider mock drafts have the Vikings going in this direction. If the team takes a safety, I think they would go with Dillon Thieneman, arguably the most athletic player of the top-ranked safeties in this year's class.

There's a chance that the Vikings could also take Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, though I have seen reports that he may fall out of the first round. Other players to look for here include Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, and Keldric Faulk.

19. Carolina Panthers - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

The Carolina Panthers will likely target a wide receiver or an offensive tackle at No. 19, and I've seen insiders connect the team to both positions. Peter Schrager and Lance Zierlein had the Panthers taking KC Concepcion, but I've seen more buzz that the Panthers will be in the tackle market, so I'll go that route.

In this situation, I think the Panthers would choose between Monroe Freeling and Blake Miller. Other options could be in play, but these guys seem like the most likely pick. Monroe Freeling has had a huge pre-draft process, and his physical tools are insane. I think he has the physical profile of a top-20 pick, so we'll go with him here.

20. Dallas Cowboys - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

With the Cowboys getting Rueben Bain at No. 12 in this mock, I think they would use the No. 20 pick to improve their secondary. In this spot, they could take a number of different prospects, including Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, Chris Johnson, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, and Dillon Thieneman.

I could also see the Cowboys taking an edge rusher here, like Keldric Faulk or Akheem Mesidor, if they don't take an edge rusher with their first pick.

With Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, they're getting a very talented safety who can step in as a starter right away alongside Malik Hooker.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that has been connected to a lot of tackles and receivers here and there are still some good options available at both positions. We could see the Steelers target a number of different players with the No. 21 pick, including Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling, Blake Miller, Caleb Lamu, Olaivavega Ioane, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston.

In this situation, I think Blake Miller makes a lot of sense for the Steelers. He's probably the best tackle available in this mock.

22. Los Angeles Chargers - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

It'll be interesting to see if the Chargers take an edge rusher, interior defensive lineman, or interior offensive lineman, because I think these are the most likely positions they will target at pick No. 22.

I think the Chargers could be a Peter Woods team, but his stock is quite low right now, and Keldric Faulk has a lot of fans in the draft community. I'm at a point where I almost expect Faulk to be a top 20 pick, so this could be decent value for the Chargers. Faulk may not be a good pass rusher, but he is a heck of a run defender.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Eagles love to use first-round picks on the trenches, but they will also have a big need at wide receiver soon, considering they are on track to trade A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots later this offseason.

I don't think the Eagles would take a receiver in this spot unless someone like Omar Cooper Jr. fell. In this situation, I think they would take the best tackle on their board, and that very well may be Max Iheanachor or even Caleb Lamu.

24. Cleveland Browns - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

The Browns are reportedly very interested in getting a wide receiver with their second pick, and they are reportedly interested in Omar Cooper Jr. I think this pick would be either him or KC Concepcion. Cooper could go off the board before this, and with the reported interest from Cleveland, I feel most comfortable mocking the team to take him.

25. Chicago Bears - T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

This is a hard pick to mock because the Bears have a few big needs and plenty of players available to fill them.

If the Bears decide to get an edge rusher, they could go with T.J. Parker, Akheem Mesidor, Malachi Lawrence, or Zion Young. If they go with a defensive back, they could take Jermod McCoy, Chris Johnson, or Colton Hood. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has been connected to the Bears a lot, and he'd be a great selection.

In this situation, I could see them targeting an athletic edge rusher like T.J. Parker. A sleeper pick could be Caleb Lomu, who could fill a tackle spot for the Bears.

26. Buffalo Bills - Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson

Peter Woods has had a bumpy road to get to this point, but he has flashed serious talent at times, and I don't think he makes it out of the first round. In this spot, the Bills could also look at drafting a receiver like KC Concepcion or Denzel Boston. I think they might try to strengthen their defensive line instead.

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

It has been widely reported that the 49ers will take Caleb Lomu at No. 27 if he's available, and he is in my mock draft. If Lomu isn't available, we could see the 49ers target an edge rusher like Malachi Lawrence or Zion Young. They could even take a wide receiver like Denzel Boston. Regardless, I like following popular player-team pairings late in the first round, where getting picks right is so difficult.

28. Houston Texans - Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State

The Texans need offensive linemen so bad, but there are none available who make sense this early unless they want to reach for Chase Bisontis. Instead, I think the Texans will focus on acquiring an interior defensive lineman or a cornerback. Peter Woods could be in play here, and I wouldn't be shocked to see the Texans pick Colton Hood or Chris Johnson.

I like Kayden McDonald here because some people love his tape, and he seems like a solid bet to go at the end of the first round.

29. Kansas City Chiefs - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

After taking an offensive lineman at No. 9 in my mock draft, I think the Chiefs would target a cornerback or edge rusher at No. 29. I like the idea of them taking a cornerback like Colton Hood or Chris Johnson to replace Trent McDuffie.

With Jermod McCoy having serious injury questions, there are reports that Colton Hood could be the first Tennessee cornerback off the board. Colton Hood seems more likely to be picked first among all the cornerbacks available, and he's the top-ranked cornerback on the consensus big board this deep into the first round.

30. Miami Dolphins - Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

After taking a cornerback at No. 11 in my mock draft, I think the Dolphins could use their second first-round pick to grab an edge rusher. Ideally, they could get an offensive lineman here, but I don't think that's realistic.

Malachi Lawrence is an athletic edge rusher who gained a lot of fans in the draft community this season. I've seen him as high as EDGE1 on certain EDGE rankings. If Caleb Lomu were still available, I'd bet he'd be the pick here. I could also see the Dolphins double-dipping at cornerback and taking Colton Hood or Chris Johnson if they're available.

31. New England Patriots - Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

The reigning Super Bowl champions need an edge rusher, and I think that's what they would target in this situation. In real life, they'd pray that Max Iheanachor, Caleb Lomu, or Kayden McDonald falls to them, but that didn't happen here.

With the board falling this way, I could see the Patriots grabbing Zion Young, a guy who's risen a lot during the pre-draft process and has gotten some buzz as a potential late first-round pick.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

I've heard rumblings that the Seahawks could take a running back to cap off the first round, but I'm not buying it. They have other needs that would be smarter to fill before drafting another running back.

Instead, I think they would target a cornerback or an edge rusher. Jermod McCoy, Chris Johnson. And Colton Hood could be available at this pick. I also wouldn't be shocked if the Seahawks made a surprise selection and drafted Cashius Howell.

I've heard reports that Chris Johnson will go in the first round, and I think this pick makes sense. Johnson is a talented corner with solid size to go with his skill set.