2026 NFL Mock Draft

1/9/2026

First Round

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

The Raiders are in the driver seat and they will almost certainly be taking a quarterback with the first overall selection. If Dante Moore declares, he can absolutely be the first overall selection but Mendoza may fit with what the Raiders are looking for in a quarterback. Mendoza has great size, poise, toughness and character and checks all of the boxes. He is set up to be a very good quarterback in the league for a long time but his ceiling might not be as high as Moore. But there is a lot more risk with Moore as he isn’t the biggest quarterback and would ideally need to sit for at least the beginning of the season. 

  1. New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

If Dante Moore doesn’t declare the Jets should do whatever they can do move down and acquire more picks in the 2027 draft. If Moore does declare they will be left with a very good quarterback option, whether its Moore or Mendoza. The Jets desperately need a signal caller who they can build around but they may need to be patient with both while they rebuild both sides of the ball. 

  1. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio St.

Arvell Reese had a monster season and was all over the field for the Buckeyes in 2025. He proved to be a true difference maker on the defensive side of the ball and the only question that remains is what position does he actually play. There was a similar question surrounding Micah Parsons in the 2021 draft and that turned out pretty well. Reese can be that level of difference maker and the Cardinals, who have a lot of holes, need to find more impact players. 

  1. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

The Titans are going to hope Reese falls into their lap but in this mock he isn’t available. While the Titans need to give Cam Ward some weapons on offense, they need to upgrade their defense. David Bailey had a monster year with 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss where he was 1st and 2nd respectively across the FCS. He was very good at Stanford but took a big step forward with the Red Raiders this year.

  1. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)

The Giants could go a variety of directions with their first overall selection. They need to find another wide receiver to pair with Malik Nabers and their run defense was the worst in the NFL so they will need to upgrade their front seven. But Jaxson Dart has dealt with too many concussions in his rookie season and they need to do their best to protect him. Mauigoa can play tackle or guard and will be an immediate start along their offensive line. 

  1. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Browns in 2026 they need to find someone who can be a reliable target at wide receiver but even more than that essentially the entire offensive line will be new in 2026. Between voided and expiring contracts the Browns will need a total rebuild of that unit. Spencer Fano is another guy who can play either tackle or guard in the NFL and the Browns can address the wide receiver position later in round 1 or early round 2.

  1. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain, Edge, Miami (FL)

Reuben Bain is a game wrecker and the knock against him at the moment is that he doesn’t have the long arms that teams generally covet from an edge rusher. We will see at the combine what his arm length truly is but he is a difference maker and does change the outcome of games. He has been a key catalyst for the Hurricanes playoff run and is always around the ball. 

  1. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio St.

The Saints are committing to Tyler Shough for the immediate future so they will need to truly support his growth by giving him some playmakers. Chris Olavd to sit out the last week due to a blood clot issue. Either way the Saints need another receiver but also need to ensure they do have someone capable of carrying the load.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

The Chiefs clearly need to revamp both sides of the ball. As Patrick Mahomes gets older, they need to do a better job improving their run game. Love is a dynamic player who gives the Chiefs not only a weapon between the tackles but a running back who can create in space and catch the ball. This will give their offense a new look that it desperately needs. 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio St.

The Bengals need to find help all across their defense and they need to upgrade their defensive line but with Caleb Downs on the board he’s too good to pass up. Downs could go as high as 3rd overall in this draft. He has an incredibly high IQ and is an exceptional athlete who can make plays sideline to sideline or in the box. 

  1. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona St.

There will be some obvious changes with the Dolphins after the firing of Mike McDaniel and a new GM coming in but there is a high probability that TyreekHill won’t be back in 2026. Tyson has taken another step forward and improved his hands and he is an incredibly explosive receiver. However, he has battled a lot of injuries and that is going to push him down some teams draft boards. 

  1. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio St.

You never know what the Cowboys will do but I do think that if Jeremiyah Love falls to them he would be an easy selection. But the Cowboys defense was horrible in 2025 and they need to find difference makers. Styles is a complete linebacker in that he is good against the run and can drop in coverage. He can have the same impact that Browns rookie Carson Schwesinger had in 2025.

  1. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Rams are in a great spot with being a Super Bowl caliber team and holding the 13th overall pick (thanks to the Falcons) and can get an impact player early in the draft. McCoy tore his ACL last January and missed the entire 2025 season but should be ready to go. If he is able to work out and be a 100% healthy he can secure his spot in the first half of the first round but if not he could slide. McCoy, if healthy, is the top corner in the draft. 

  1. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

The Ravens defense was hurt a lot by injuries throughout the year and there will be some changes now that John Harbaugh is gone. But securing their front seven will be a priority this offseason. Peter Woods did not have as big of a year in 2025 as he did in 2024 but he is a very good interior defender who will probably not evolve into a double digit sack player but be good against the run and solid pass rusher. 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, Edge/DL, Auburn

Faulk may have one of the higher upsides of any player in the draft and is pretty much the definition of boom or bust. Faulk is a large, athletic edge rusher but may be best at playing a five technique (or even three) in the NFL and be an interior pass rusher. Many have compared him to Calais Campbell which would be an incredible NFL career. 

  1. New York Jets (from IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Even if the Jets keep Garrett Wilson they will need to find another weapon for what they hope is a good, young rookie quarterback. Lemon has played both outside and in the slot but is probably best served to play in the slot in the NFL. He is a tough receiver who knows how to get open and has good hands. He would be a safe, reliable target for a young quarterback. 

  1. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama

The Lions are a talented team but they have some minor holes to fill. Taylor Decker is still a solid left tackle but they may look to move on within a year or so and they need to improve their interior offensive line. Proctor plays left tackle for the Crimson Tide but I think his future may be inside at guard. His athletic testing will be important for his draft stock.

  1. Minnesota Vikings: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU 

Delane may have one of the highest IQ of any defensive back in the draft. He understands how to play the position and has the versatility to play different roles in the secondary. He does need to have a good workout to secure his position in the first round but his instincts will get him drafted high alone.

  1. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq is a more complete tight end than he probably gets credit for. He has the athletic ability to separate from linebackers and safeties and make plays in the passing game. He has solid hands and is an improving blocker. He doesn’t have great size which is going to be a challenge in the NFL but he is capable of growing as a blocker. 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Howell had a very productive year at Texas A&M with 14 tackles for a loss and 11.5 sacks. Howell will need to go to the right situation as he isn’t the longest edge rusher and his measurements will be key to where he ends up in the draft but the talent is there. A big decision will be how the Cowboys defense will look in 2026 as Howell is not a traditional defensive end in a 4-3 base defense. 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Steelers have made it apparent that they want to find a quarterback of the future but there isn’t one here that’s worthy of the selection. Outside of DK Metcalf the Steelers receiving room doesn’t have a ton of talent. Roman Wilson has been a disappointment and not worked out yet so finding a player to compliment Metcalf will be important. Boston possesses a lot of the same traits as Metcalf and is very good at contested catches. He is not nearly the athlete that Metcalf is but is a very reliable target on third downs. 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio St.

Kayden McDonald is a guy to watch during this process. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his draft stock continue to improve over the next couple of months. He finished the season with 65 tackles and 9 tackles for a loss. He’s a good athlete who is also a high character guy that teams are going to fall in love with throughout the process. 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Caleb Lomu is another very high upside player that falls into the perfect spot. Lomu does need to get stronger but he is still a young, raw player who can find himself learning behind an elite offensive line and coaching staff. Lane Johnson may not have a lot of time left and Lomu can be groomed to be his eventual replacement. 

  1. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Bills desperately need help at wide receiver and need to make sure they hit on one soon in the draft (or via free agency). Concepcion is a very fast and quick receiver who can help in the short, intermediate and deep passing game. He can be used in a variety of ways and the Bills will need to get him the ball in space as well. 

  1. Chicago Bears: Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon

The Bears can do a few different directions with their pick but adding a pass rusher is never a bad option. Uiagalelei is a big, strong edge rusher with good instincts and powerful pass rush moves. He didn’t match his sack total from 2024 (10.5 sacks down to 6) but his presence was still consistently felt. He can slide inside if needed but he is a great fit for the Bears defense. 

  1. San Francisco 49ers: Olaivavega Ioane, iOL, Penn St.

We often see interior linemen climb in the draft process and this year we may see it even more due to the weak nature of this draft. Last year we saw a guard go 12th, 18th and 24th overall. Ioane is a massive, mauling guard who has good athletic ability. He is an aggressive guard who rarely makes mistakes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes much higher as he will be an instant starter. 

  1. Houston Texans: A’Mauri Washington, DL, Oregon

The Texans should use this pick on a linemen on either side of the ball. Washington is an incredible athlete who took huge strides in 2025 to be both productive and disruptive. He has a quickness off the line that creates havoc and has a very high ceiling. 

  1. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Avion Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Browns could take a wide receiver here if there is one they like or an additional offensive linemen but with the 39th overall pick they certainly don’t have to reach for someone. They may be forced to move on from Denzel Ward for cap purposes but even if they don’t they could use another defensive back and Terrell is a good player at this part of the draft. He is a sticky nickel corner who forced 5 fumbles this season. 

  1. Los Angeles Rams: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa

This is a spot that the Rams could take a quarterback of the future if they feel like someone can develop but they also could take an immediate impact player. Gennings Dunker isn’t high on a lot of peoples radar but he is a tough, mauling right tackle who I think can stick but many believe will need to move inside. Either way he is a powerful blocker who fits the Rams.

  1. New England Patriots: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

The Patriots are in a good spot, with a good roster and a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal, so they can take some chances. Banks is a very athletic, twitchy interior defensive linemen who missed most of 2025 due to a foot injury. He was very good in 2024. He may not go this early due to the missed year but he is an incredibly talented player that has the ceiling of Chris Jones. If he does not check out well medically or not perform well at the Combine he could see a significant fall in the draft. 

  1. Denver Broncos: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

Allen is one of the younger players in the draft as he will only turn 21 in March. He has exceptional coverage skills and moves more like a safety than a linebacker. While he is not a thumper in the run game, he is very efficient navigating blockers and getting to the ball carrier when needed. 

  1. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

While Cisse doesn’t have a ton of experience he makes up for it in pure athletic ability. He is a little bit raw and need to refine his technique which could see him fall to day 2 but in this draft in particular teams will be looking closer at high upside players early in the draft. Cisse has good length and athletic ability but may only be a special teams and subpackage contributor in year 1.