2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

The Wild Card Round is over. The NFL Draft order is nearly set. And the stage is being set for an exciting first round.

The NFL Draft is just a few months away, and draft declarations, the College Football Playoff, and the NFL Playoffs are heating things up. A flurry of talented players have declared for the draft, with some yet to be determined. The declaration deadline is this week, making this mock draft potentially premature. Still, with some uncertainty left, this is the last mock draft where we can all dream of an ideal world in which all the great players enter the draft.

Most mock drafts this time of year attempt to be completely correct. Instead, I’m choosing to explore some scenarios that many haven't considered in this one. Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, A.J. Brown, and others have ambiguity surrounding their futures, and the dominoes could fall in various ways when the new league year opens. Join me in this scenario-building exercise to shape one iteration of the 2026 NFL season.

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

I recently made the case that Dante Moore should be viewed as the No. 1 quarterback in this class. While I still believe that, I don’t think the NFL or the Tom Brady-led Raiders will. Mendoza has been as clutch as any player in modern College Football Playoff history. His performances in the last three games have made him a lock for this pick. If you’re interested in my full scouting report and analysis of Mendoza’s WAP:

2. New York Jets | Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

In this scenario, the Jets kick the tires on Kyler Murray. They send No. 33 and a 2027 first-round pick to acquire the former Cardinals quarterback. That leaves the door open for them to add talent at their discretion without boxing themselves into a quarterback selection. I’m lower on Reese than others; I think his projection to edge will take more time than many, and as a pure linebacker, there are some holes in his game. But the combination of size, athleticism, and potential makes him a sure-fire top-ten pick. Here, he joins an abysmal Jets defense.

3. Los Angeles Rams (via ARI) | Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Projected trade: LAR sends Nos. 13, 61, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick to ARI for Nos. 3 and 182.

While many are hoping the Rams can convince Matthew Stafford to play a few more years, it won’t be shocking if he makes a run to the Super Bowl and sails off into the sunset. Even if he doesn’t get to the Super Bowl, this could be his last year. While he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing, he’s 37 and is just playing for the love of the game. Even if he doesn’t retire, getting a quarterback like Moore, who should probably sit and learn for a brief period, is a logical step to continue the Rams’ dominance. Moore is my No. 1 quarterback in the class; he’s supremely accurate, operates an NFL-like scheme, and has very minor things to clean up in his game. My full breakdown is here:

4. Tennessee Titans | Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Titans deployed Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike regularly throughout the 2025 season. Down the stretch, the results were okay. The rookies were impressive, but they were only a band-aid on the open wound of a lack of offensive firepower. Tate moves the needle. He’s a big-bodied wideout with excellent route-running skills and one of the best contested-catch receivers in the draft. His change of direction is especially impressive for a 6’3, 190-pound wideout. Tate would give Cam Ward a go-to possession player, something the Titans desperately needed in key situations in 2025.

5. New York Giants | Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

While many have mocked a wide receiver to the Giants in the wake of Malik Nabers’ injury and their lack of big-name options, protecting Jaxson Dart should be the No. 1 priority. In this scenario, the Giants pay Wan’Dale Robinson and select Mauigoa to protect the right side. Mauigoa is one of the most improved players from my summer scouting endeavors. He increased his kick speed, improved his pass blocking, and continued to be a mauler in the run game. He still isn’t my personal OT1, but his elite athleticism may give him the highest upside in the class.

6. Cleveland Browns | Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Mel Kiper Jr. thinks a quarterback is out of the question because Shedeur Sanders did everything possible to prove he’s the guy. Mel Kiper Jr. is a lunatic for that take, and a quarterback is well within reason here. Still, the team needs to rebuild the offensive line for whoever is under center in Week 1 of 2026. Fano is an elite player. Elite enough to be my top overall prospect. His pass-block sets are outstanding (his film against Texas Tech this year was special, considering the competition, even if it’s not one of his highest-graded games). He’s another elite athlete with excellent movement skills. He’s a natural right tackle, but the Browns could move him to left and pair him with Jack Conklin, provided Conklin returns. Either way, this would exponentially increase the offense's ceiling.

7. Washington Commanders | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Commanders have a wave of needs, but their offense should be better in an addition-by-subtraction scenario with Kliff Kingsbury departing. Their defense needs help, especially in the secondary, and Downs is one of the cleanest and safest top safety prospects of the last decade. He’d immediately become a leader on the defense, with his high football IQ shining throughout all three years he was in school. He hasn’t officially declared at the time of this publication, so that could significantly alter the top of the draft. Still, he’s expected to come in and contend for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

8. Minnesota Vikings (via NO) | Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Projected trade: MIN sends Nos. 18, 162, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick to NO for No. 8.

The Vikings overachieved to an extreme level this year, pushing them out of range for a dynamic playmaker to ease J.J. McCarthy’s responsibility. But their nine wins show that they’re still in position to compete for NFC North titles and playoff berths, and adding a workhorse, offense-altering running back like Jeremiyah Love could be the thing that keeps them in phase with the Bears, Packers, and Lions. We gushed over Love’s skill set here:

9. Kansas City Chiefs | Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

I’m on an island, but I think the two top corner prospects in this class are pretty comfortably top-ten talents. McCoy lost the 2025 season due to the injury he suffered at the end of last season, but the film from 2024 was as good as any cornerback prospects over the last few years. He’s physical, instinctual, scheme-versatile, and could have a Sauce Gardner-like rookie-year impact on a defense. The Chiefs still have Trent McDuffie, but there’s a ton of uncertainty past that. Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson are both set to hit free agency, and the latter will likely get a decent deal that out-prices the Chiefs. Nohl Williams was an exciting pick last year, and he played well. Still, he shouldn’t prevent the team from selecting a blue-chip talent.

10. Cincinnati Bengals | A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon

Washington will be the biggest “riser” over the next few weeks if he officially declares. He’s an elite athlete with bulldozer hands that can knock back even the strongest offensive linemen. He two-gaps incredibly well, with unreal strength that allows him to hold his ground. Washington is as sure a run defender as they come. His pass rush production hasn’t come to fruition the way everyone hoped, but the signs of pocket-collapsing talent are all over the film. He’s going to be a freak at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he’s still just scratching the surface of his full potential. The Bengals need to drastically improve their defense.

11. Miami Dolphins | Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

While this is a common spot for a quarterback, considering Tua Tagovailoa’s uncertain future, the defense is devoid of talent. Delane had an outstanding year, showcasing an impressive blend of elite athleticism, early play recognition, and fluid hips that made him one of the best lockdown corners in college football. The Dolphins haven’t built the team properly over the last few years, and a new regime should focus on getting talent in the door over overdrafting for need. This is the Malik Willis landing spot, in this scenario.

12. Detroit Lions (via DAL) | Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

Projected trade: DET sends No. 17, No. 118, and a 2027 third-round pick to DAL for Nos. 12 and 221.

The Lions have a slew of needs, but putting a talented edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson should be among their most pressing needs. With Bain “falling” in this scenario (teams are quite concerned about his size, despite the elite film and production), the Lions take advantage. Bain would slot in opposite Hutchinson to provide one of the most creative, dynamic pass-rushing duos in the NFL immediately. Length and size concerns are there, but Bain’s good enough that I’m willing to bet on him being an outlier.

13. Arizona Cardinals | Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

After trading Kyler Murray, only to trade out of the Dante Moore selection, fans of the team would probably freak out for the hour between these picks. Still, the Cardinals take a shot on Simpson, a talented, albeit inexperienced quarterback with excellent processing skills, and who should be a better pro than college quarterback. Simpson was consistently the best quarterback in the nation for the first half of the year; his post-snap adjustments and processing ability were out of this world. He hit a rough stretch in the middle of the year, but he rebounded nicely down the stretch. Simpson won’t wow anyone with tools, but he’s a smart player with a ton of potential. Ideally, the team would bring in a veteran and sit Simpson for as long as possible.

14. Baltimore Ravens | David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Ravens simply didn’t get enough out of their pass rushers this year. Day two pick Mike Green flashed a ton of promise, but the days of Kyle Van Noy anchoring a pass rush are long gone. They also traded arguably their best one in Odafe Oweh. Insert David Bailey, exactly the type of edge rusher the Ravens typically covet. He’s a bendy, absurdly skilled athlete who consistently gets to the quarterback. The Ravens certainly need to improve some areas of their offense, including getting another playmaker at the wide receiver position, but I’m exploring a world where they kick the can on wideout.

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15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles and Downs are two of the top ten players in this draft, but positional value pushes them down the boards. Styles was the best pure linebacker on his team, though he doesn’t offer anything close to Reese in a pass-rushing capacity. Still, Styles is the perfect modern-day linebacker with excellent football IQ, elite range and athleticism, and some of the surest tackling in the last few linebacker classes. The Bucs need to find Lavonte David’s replacement. While linebacker traditionally isn’t a position to covet early in the draft, Styles is the exception to that rule.

16. New York Jets | KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Jets were able to snag Kyler Murray while keeping both of their first-round picks in this draft, and with this selection, they take someone to help him out. Garrett Wilson is the only talented player in the receiver room, and we know Murray excels with speed wideouts (see: his desire to acquire Hollywood Brown). Concepcion isn’t who you normally see off the board as the No. 2 wide receiver, but his mixture of speed, route-running nuance, and after-the-catch ability gives him a massive ceiling that I think teams will love.

17. Dallas Cowboys | Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Cowboys don’t need a wide receiver… until CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens go down with injury, and then it’s rough. The Cowboys are at their best when they have a slew of stars at their skill positions, and they have the flexibility to add to the group because they’ve been eating their vegetables in the draft for the last half-decade. Lemon is being underrated by many in the media, as he plays much bigger than his 5’11, 190-pound profile suggests. He’s an excellent route-runner who consistently wins against man coverage, and he is arguably the best contested-catch wideout in the class (yes, even including Tate). The Cowboys would have three elite options at wideout, something that could elevate their offense in a major way in 2026.

18. New Orleans Saints | Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

This is a bit of a slide for Faulk, who is banking on his Mykel Williams-esque profile pushing him higher than the film may suggest. The Saints reinvigorated Chase Young this season, and his 12 sacks led the team. Still, it feels impossible to retain him, as their salary cap sits at -$19.5M as we head into the new league year. Cameron Jordan will likely hang it up soon, and while Carl Granderson was good, the team doesn’t have enough pass rush if Young and Jordan depart. The team needs some offensive firepower, too, but they decide to tackle the trench with their first pick.

19. Carolina Panthers | Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Peter Woods is my DT1 (though, I think Faulk is more of a 3T than a 5T, so you’ll see him pop up in my interior defensive line rankings as the No. 1 player), and the Panthers could use another player to line up next to Derrick Brown. Woods is an excellent athlete with powerful hands and strength that stacks up against anyone in the class. He had a down year compared to his first two, but he still has a skill set that translates to NFL success. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker have minimized the need for a wide receiver, and JaTavion Sanders was good when healthy. The Panthers’ defense was impressive in 2025, and they lean into that with this pick.

20. Dallas Cowboys | Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State

Most don’t think the Cowboys need a cornerback, but it was an abysmal year for the group this year. DaRon Bland regressed and was genuinely terrible when he was healthy, Trevon Diggs was released at the end of the year, and Kaiir Elam was Kaiir Elam. Rookie Shavon Revel Jr. never got his feet under him, and the team desperately needs better play out of the group. Abney is one of the most underrated players in the class. He’s currently inside my top 10, as he displays every skill necessary to become a high-level CB1 in the Trent McDuffie mold. He has excellent movement skills, can cover any size of wideout, and was a terror to opposing quarterbacks in 2025.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers | Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

With the three quarterbacks gone, the Steelers bring back Aaron Rodgers for a year and acquire Tua Tagovailoa as his backup. The team simply can’t keep trotting Broderick Jones out as the starting left tackle. They botched his development for his first two seasons, and it showed up in a major way this year. Insert another long, athletic tackle juiced with potential and flaws. Proctor is a 6'7, 369-pound monster with elite arm length and excellent movement skills. Some believe he’s a guard, but I think he sticks at tackle as his feet get a little quicker.

22. Los Angeles Chargers | Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

The Chargers have a few needs, but nothing is more pressing than their interior offensive line. Mekhi Becton didn’t work out after coming over from Philadelphia, Bradley Bozeman has been atrocious, and Zion Johnson has never found consistency. Another first-round guard seems unfathomable, but Vega Ioane is worth it. He’s an elite athlete with an outstanding anchor, footwork, and movement skills as a run blocker. He’s exactly the type of guard the Chargers need, and he’s a top-ten talent in the class.

23. Philadelphia Eagles | Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Eagles and Howie Roseman have an interesting draft history, but this year feels different. The offense became stagnant at times this year, largely due to poor offensive game planning. Still, Dallas Goedert is 31 years old, Grant Calcaterra doesn’t move the needle, and the Eagles need an effective tight end to operate the way Nick Sirianni wants to. Sadiq offers a unique skill set. He’s a willing, albeit inconsistent blocker. He’s physical, but runs routes with creativity and nuance. He has excellent hands, though he did struggle more in this area in 2025. Sadiq would usher in a new era of tight end play in Philadelphia.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (via BUF) | Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Projected trade: BUF sends Nos. 24, 88, and a 2027 first-round pick to PHI for A.J. Brown and No. 202.

Surprise: I think A.J. Brown and the Eagles choose to go their separate ways this offseason. Brown had multiple run-ins with the media, his teammates, and his coaches for his attitude in 2025, and his year was incredibly disappointing relative to expectations. Things got better down the stretch, but are the relationships repaired? I’m not certain, so the Eagles send him to the AFC and snag Jordyn Tyson, an insanely talented player who doesn’t always stay engaged with his non-catch responsibilities (blocking, selling his routes when he’s on the weak side, etc.), causing him to drop to the 20s. Tyson can struggle to get off press coverage, but he’s an elite route runner with a massive catch radius. He’d slot in as the WR2 behind DeVonta Smith.

From the Bills perspective, they’d have to get incredibly creative from a cap perspective to make this work, but they do have a few players who should be cut to save some cap, and a Josh Allen restructure can open enough to add Brown. They need a WR1 in Buffalo desperately. They get one here.

25. Chicago Bears | Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The Bears’ defense has taken “bend, don’t break” to an extreme level this year, and an unsustainable turnover margin made the defense look significantly better than it is. Inside, Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter have been fine, but the Bears have struggled to stop the run. Insert McDonald, an excellent run stuffer with the tools to impact pockets as a three-down defensive tackle. McDonald doesn’t fit the mold of a Ryan Poles pick exactly, but Ben Johnson’s sway could push him to select the talented Ohio State defensive tackle.

26. San Francisco 49ers | Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Trent Williams is 1,000 years old in football years. While he’s still elite and at the top of his game, and Colton McKivitz came into his own in 2025, the team shouldn’t pass an opportunity to get a high-ceiling dart throw on a tackle with a ton to work with. He isn’t similar to Williams. He’s a good pass blocker with inconsistent play as a run blocker. Still, learning from one of the greatest to ever do it for a year could do wonders for his development.

27. Houston Texans | Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

Miller doesn’t do any one thing at an elite level, but he’s above average in every area that teams desire from their starting defensive tackles. He pushes the pocket well, with excellent hand usage and a pass-rush plan. He’s strong and holds linemen in place when he’s trying to close gaps. He accelerates well when he’s in the open field, though his get-off isn’t the most impressive thing you’ll see in this defensive tackle class. Still, his versatility should push him up boards, and the Texans need to keep adding to their defense if they want to continue competing for AFC South titles.

28. Tennessee Titans (via CLE) | Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Projected trade: TEN sends Nos. 35 and 101 to CLE for No. 28.

The Titans haven’t an abysmal secondary to pair with their underwhelming offense, and there should be a small run at the end of the first on a few of the secondary prospects. They move up to select one of the better ones here. Cisse is an excellent athlete with noteworthy burst and click-and-close ability.

29. Los Angeles Rams | Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

The Rams have found a ton of success with long cornerbacks who play with physicality in the past, and they return to the well here. Unlike most of the corners that went ahead of him, Johnson doesn’t rely only on athleticism to win. He understands leverage, uses his hands well, and can stick in both man and zone coverage. Production-wise, he may be the best corner in the class. The Rams take a swing after snagging their future franchise QB.

30. New England Patriots | Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech

Romello Height is an older prospect, but there were times in 2025 when he performed better than his teammate selected 16 picks before him. He’s bendy, is a strong finisher, and has a nice selection of pass rush moves that he always strings together with a strong plan. He has long arms and plays with tenacity. If he were a few years younger, he’d be a sure-fire top-16 pick. The Patriots snag him here at the end of the first round.

31. Denver Broncos | Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Broncos don’t have a meaningful need. I think that’s important context to this pick. They could certainly use a tight end or invest in a franchise running back, but they’re out of range for that. They settle for an elite coverage safety who continuously improved throughout his first year at Oregon. Sliding Thieneman opposite Talanoa Hufanga would give them the duo they need to completely lock down the secondary.

32. Las Vegas Raiders (via SEA) | Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa

Projected trade: LV sends Nos. 36 and 117 to SEA for No. 32.

The Raiders need to protect Mendoza, and they need to drastically improve their run game to aid that effort. I’m not sold on Dunker as a tackle — he has some of the worst balance in the class in pass protection, and his anchor leaves a lot to be desired — but he could be an above-average guard in the NFL. While the Raiders should consider adding another weapon, the line is more important.

What do you think? How did your team do? Let us know in the comments!