The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is bound to be a crazy one with competing rumors and varied evaluations leading to plenty of uncertainty. My final mock draft includes somewhat heavy trade action in the top half of Round 1.
1. LV: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
I wonder if the Raiders gave any serious thought to trading the No. 1 pick (and ideally trading for Jalen Milroe), but they’ve settled on Mendoza being their hopeful franchise quarterback. The real work for Las Vegas will be on Friday and Saturday after a very limited Year 1 return from the 2025 draft class.
2. NYJ: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Most have settled on David Bailey being the selection here, but it’s all based on speculation, so I’m sticking with Reese. Trying to look at things logically (though it is the Jets we’re talking about), the team already has speed/finesse rushers in Will McDonald IV and Joseph Ossai, so Reese is a better fit as a versatile inside linebacker who can develop into a dominant edge rusher in an aggressive 3-4 front.
3. ARI: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The smoke about Love to Arizona really picked up this week, and Mike LaFluer’s expertise in the running game could be taken to another level with an elite back. Whether it’s Ty Simpson this year or a selection in 2027, the offense could be ready-made for a young quarterback to step in and have success.
4. TEN: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Tennessee—like the Cardinals before them—would probably prefer to trade down, and David Bailey still being available might make that more likely. But if they stick and pick, Styles is surely a favorite of Robert Saleh after it was revealed he loved Tremaine Edmunds coming out in 2018.
5. KC (mock trade w/ NYG): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Giants have been connected to seemingly every possible prospect throughout the draft process, but the prevailing thought—even after acquiring the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence II—is that they’d prefer adding more selections to shape the roster under John Harbaugh. In this scenario, the Chiefs move up for Bailey to provide juice on the edge and still keep their second first-round pick.
6. CLE: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Cleveland is expected to have their choice of the top wide receiver or offensive tackle if they don’t trade down, and Tate remains the favorite. That said, I also wouldn’t be surprised if they go with more of a best-player-available approach (as all teams should) and take Caleb Downs or Rueben Bain Jr.
7. LAR (mock trade w/ WAS): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Rams have been connected to wideouts throughout the offseason, and rumors about them looking into a trade up have emerged in recent days. My guess is that Tyson—after being “in” on Tetairoa McMillan last year—is their target, and Washington would gain the second-round pick they don’t currently have.
8. NO: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Saints have notoriously never drafted an LSU player in the first round (and haven’t taken many in general in their history), so could that finally end tonight? Delane is the perfect scheme fit in Brandon Staley’s defense, and New Orleans has lost Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor in back-to-back offseasons.
9. NYG (mock trade w/ KC): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The total dream scenario for the Giants might be drafting both Downs and Jeremiyah Love (who are our top two prospects), but still getting the Ohio State superstar after trading down would be excellent, too. We’ll see if such a maneuver is something general manager Joe Schoen tries pulling off.
10. NYG (via CIN): Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Ioane is less of a home-run selection in my opinion, but John Harbaugh wants a tough, physical team on both sides of the ball—so he’d be a bodyguard for Jaxson Dart and open holes for Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Perhaps another trade down to add more picks is a possibility as well.
11. MIA: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
I don’t see the Dolphins taking Rueben Bain Jr. because of their preference for length on the edge, and Francis Mauigoa’s back injury could be enough of a concern for them to pass on him. Fano is another prospect who we’re not quite as high on, but he has position versatility for a Miami offensive line that’s only settled at left tackle and center.
12. BAL (mock trade w/ DAL): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The board doesn’t seem to fall great for the Cowboys if they aren’t high on Bain because of concerns about his length, so moving back makes sense for them. From the Ravens’ perspective, adding Trey Hendrickson and Bain in the same offseason would be quite the boost for their pass rush.
13. WAS (mock trade w/ LAR via ATL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Most have connected Sonny Styles (off the board by No. 4 in this mock), Carnell Tate (also off the board), or a cornerback to the Commanders—but I think trading back and taking Lemon might be Plan A for them. Even at his size, it’s easy to imagine Lemon thriving on back-shoulder-type fades from the slot in tandem with Jayden Daniels.
14. DAL (mock trade w/ BAL): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Again, the board might not shake out very well for Dallas if they are hoping for one of Caleb Downs, Mansoor Delane, or Sonny Styles to be available for them—but we have Hood as our No. 8 overall prospect. So, the question is whether the Cowboys are high on him or not, but this would be a tremendous start in boosting the defense.
15. PHI (mock trade w/ TB): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
This isn’t a connection that has been made often with Mauigoa’s draft range thought to begin at No. 3 for most of the process, but the Eagles have draft capital to work with and could pounce on a top consensus prospect that drops. A back injury that is expected to eventually require surgery might not be a huge deal for Philadelphia with Lane Johnson back for 2026.
16. NYJ (via IND): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The current regime for the Jets is known not to leak, but there has been enough talk about Cooper to believe he might be the guy for them here. And while Denzel Boston has been another name picking up steam recently based on offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s history with bigger targets, the team is probably counting on Adonai Mitchell to step up.
17. DET: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling, Kadyn Proctor, and Keldric Faulk are the three prospects connected most to the Lions, and part of me wonders if the team talking about Penei Sewell switching to left tackle is a misdirection. If not, Freeling feels like a more natural fit at right tackle than Proctor.
18. MIN: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Other than Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, Thieneman to the Vikings might be the most common Round 1 pairing this year. If Minnesota ends up going in another direction, Peter Woods is someone to watch, and I wouldn’t completely rule out D’Angelo Ponds—who should go even higher than this.
19. CAR: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers have Ja’Tavion Sanders, Tommy Tremble, and Mitchell Evans at tight end, but Sadiq is different—giving them the clear best prospect at the position after hitting on Tetairoa McMillan at receiver last year. KC Concepcion is another option if Carolina decides to take a wideout in Round 1 for the third consecutive draft.
20. DAL (via GB): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk has one of the wider draft ranges with No. 11 to Miami perhaps being as early as he might go, and he could also fall out of the first round altogether. The Cowboys being ready to win now might lead to some viewing him as too much of a developmental option, but Faulk already defends the run at a high level.
21. PIT: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
Maybe there will be fireworks tonight for the host city with the Steelers making a move up the board, but Bisontis—our top guard in the class—would be an outstanding choice at this slot. As Aaron Rodgers mulls a return or retirement, he’d probably feel a lot better about coming back if Bisontis helps bolster the blindside and interior at left guard.
22. LAC: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The stock for Woods has sort of been all over the place after entering the 2025 college football season as a projected top 10 pick, but I think he could still find his way into Round 1. The Chargers have run stuffers in Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Jamaree Caldwell up front, so Woods fits as more of an attacking option for the interior.
23. TB (mock trade w/ PHI): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Mesidor to the Bucs has been a popular pairing, but there is a belief they can move down and still get him (though Dallas is a team to watch). The combination of effort, power, and natural skill as a rusher could outweigh concerns about age (25) and injury history.
24. CLE (via JAX): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor could come off the board a lot higher than this, and it wouldn’t be a shock if Cleveland took him at No. 6 overall. But with the concerns about playing weight and foot speed, he could also be available in this range—giving the Browns two monsters in Proctor and Dawand Jones at tackle if Tytus Howard kicks inside to right guard.
25. CHI: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The other names to watch here would be Germie Bernard and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, but Parker feels like a potential favorite of both general manager Ryan Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. It should also be noted that Chicago has two second-round picks after the DJ Moore trade.
26. BUF: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Buffalo taking Allen—our No. 11 overall prospect—would give them a new leader in the middle of their defense in a semi-transition year for the franchise. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has raved about Allen, and he is said to have had unprecedented control of defensive calls for the Bulldogs.
27. SF: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Miller played right tackle at Clemson and would probably be drafted as such from a long-term perspective—but with Colton McKivitz being a solid starter and Verderian Lowe signed as a swing tackle, the Clemson product could begin his career at left guard. On defense, keep in mind that San Francisco is switching to a 3-4 front and already traded for Osa Odighizuwa and brought back Dre Greenlaw.
28. HOU: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
Houston feels like a lock for offensive or defensive line (if they don’t trade down), and Miller has the ideal mindset for DeMeco Ryans’ defense. The dominant unit from 2025 did have some flaws versus the run, so Miller could help remedy that between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
29. KC (via LAR): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Some have brought up the Chiefs having success with Day 2/3 picks at cornerback, but Trent McDuffie was obviously taken in Round 1—and he could be replaced with the talented McCoy if he slips due to concerns about his knee. In terms of play style, McCoy can operate in man coverage at the level Kansas City wants from their cornerbacks.
30. MIA (via DEN): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Miami was extremely top heavy at wide receiver in recent years with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, so the group needs to be completely remade with both now gone under a new regime. Taking Concepcion—who we compared to Waddle—with the pick that they acquired in the blockbuster trade makes a lot of sense.
31. NE: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
I’d say this is between Iheanachor or Cashius Howell (general manager Eliot Wolf said they are missing a speed rusher), but the franchise might decide to complete the future offensive line while they have a first-round pick to use if we’re assuming they acquire A.J. Brown from the Eagles this summer. Iheanachor isn’t as raw as suggested, but he’d be in a good spot behind Morgan Moses to develop for another season.
32. ARI (mock trade w/ ARI): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson is a heavy favorite to be drafted by the Cardinals, and there would suddenly be a ton of excitement about the franchise by getting him and Jeremiyah Love in one night. I’m guessing one of the reasons that Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t end up signing with Arizona is that he knows they want Simpson—and there are similarities in terms of attacking at the intermediate level.