NFL 2026 MOCK DRAFT 1.0

We’ve had an interesting week or so in NFL Draft-related activity. Normally, when the free agent signing period opens up, it pushes the draft to the back burner. Not this time, as multiple teams made draft pick trades and one team, the Baltimore Ravens, decided they made a big oopsie with their trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby and backed out like your littler brother exchanging Pokemon cards. 

Which would have messed up my whole mock draft a week ago. Now, I feel somewhat stable in setting the stage for my first foray into 2026 mock drafting. 

First off, here’s the rules I always use. I do not “mock” trades. As I am sitting at my desk in Eastern Tennessee on an overcast day in mid-March, I can tell you that I know absolutely nothing of the goings on in general managers’ offices and, you know what? No one else does either. That’s why mocking trades makes no sense to me. Especially at this stage and, maybe not at all considering this current draft order. Certainly, nothing that will change the earliest picks. 

I will also not be making the “best possible pick” for the team but really selecting the guy I think they’ll take. 

2026 NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND

1. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Odds to be No. 1 overall: None

As done deals go, this is as good as you’ll get. It’s so in the bag that there are no odds on it. There’s no point in putting them out. The Raiders traded their starting quarterback, Geno Smith, to the New York Jets, the team that originally drafted him, last week (because time is a flat circle). They’re not trading this selection. They’re turning in Mendoza. And this is absolutely what they should do. I regularly say that “no one knows anything about quarterbacks. I was the lone media guy that thought Dak Prescott was the best quarterback coming out in 2016, better than Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, and was proven right. Two years later, I was convinced Josh Allen was going to be a bust. So I’m just as good, or as bad, as every other guy. I will say this about Mendoza, he’s easily the best QB I’ve seen come out since Trevor Lawrence. Anyone saying otherwise is just trying out outsmart their own eyes. Which happens with QBs and the NFL Draft. 

2. NEW YORK JETS – Reuben Bain, Jr., Edge, Miami

Odds to be No. 2 overall: +1000

Only three teams were worse at getting to the QB in 2025 than the abysmal Jets. Sure, there might be “more talented” players than RBJ, but that’s the card they’re turning in. 

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS – Arvelle Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

Odds to be No. 3 overall: +400

The Cardinals have a new coaching regime led by former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, brother of current Green Bay Packers head coach and former Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. They need a real QB, but that’s not going to be solved here. Arizona plays in the best division in football against three elite offenses. It’s time to build the defense.

4. TENNESSEE TITANS – Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State

Odds to be No. 4 overall: +2200

A lot of mocks have the Titans going offense here, but I think their recent free agent signings tell me that they’re leaning into defense with Robert Saleh as the head coach and Downs might be the best player in this entire draft. 

5. NEW YORK GIANTS – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Odds to be No. 5 overall: +850

I’ve seen some skill positions headed here in other drafts. John Harbaugh is going to build up this offensive line and keep Jaxson Dart out of the medical tent.

6. CLEVELAND BROWNS – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

It’s a run on tackles, and Proctor gets the nod as the next guy up. Cleveland probably needs a QB, but they’ve got decent skill guys. If Shedeur Sanders deserves a shot, he need a line to protect him. 

7. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

A true playmaking tight end is a big hole in the Commanders’ offense. Dan Quinn has done plenty of patchwork on the defense in free agency. It’s time to find a safety valve for Jayden Daniels.

8. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

I would take Carnell Tate here if I was the Saints, but, again, this is what I think they’ll do. Pairing up Tyson with a legit first-round receiver will give Tyler Shough his best shot at actually locking down this job.

9. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

A week ago I would have put Jaremiyah Love here and not thought a thing about it. Then KC signed Kenneth Walker III away from the Seahawks. The Rams have both their corners now. So they need to take one. Terrell and Jermod McCoy are the two highest-ranked guys, but Terrell isn’t coming off missing an entire season due to injury. The Chiefs need a guy who can play today.

10. CINCINNATI BENGALS – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Bengals keep outsmarting themselves in the draft and continue to see Joe Burrow in street clothes. Turn in the tackle card and get this offensive line fixed. 

11. MIAMI DOLPHINS – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

McCoy is skipped over again due to his injury history. The Dolphins have a defensive head coach and picking a receiver here when they just signed a dump-off QB makes no sense. Their current corners are a couple of Subway Sandwich Artists.

12. DALLAS COWBOYS – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

At last, McCoy’s drop stops at Dallas, a team that historically does pretty well with defenders from Tennessee. 

13. LOS ANGELES RAMS (from Atlanta Falcons ) – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

I feel confident the Rams are taking a receiver here to pair long-term with Puka Nacua after Davonte Adams hangs it up. Tate would fit perfectly in their system and his 4.5 speed would be no issue. If he’s gone, they’d happily turn in Tyson’s card or Makai Lemon from USC. It’ll be one of the three unless they’re all gone.

14. BALTIMORE RAVENS – Caleb Lamu, OT, Utah

Hey! The Ravens got their pick back through nefarious means and used it to try to make up for the offensive linemen they’ve lost in free agency. 

15. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

After beefing up their interior line in free agency, the Bucs need a better outside pass rush, so Bailey’s the pick here.

16. NEW YORK JETS (from the Indianapolis Colts) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Do I think it’s the right pick? No. I don’t see Simpson as a first-round talent. I do think the Jets are desperate to find something at that position and no one in the coaching staff or front office will be back in 2027 if they play offense as badly as they did in 2026. This will be the “JJ McCarthy pick” of this draft. 

17. DETROIT LIONS – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Lions upgrade their defense with the best pure linebacker in the draft.

18. MINNESOTA VIKINGS – Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

You’re going to see a lot of desperation picks here at safety in mocks because they tossed Harrison Smith. I think they’ll create a more formidable defensive front instead.

19. CAROLINA PANTHERS – Olaivavega, Ioane, OL, Penn State

The Panthers aren’t used to picking this late in the first so they need to make the most of it. If Bryce Young is the guy, then they need to keep him upright and continue running the ball. So OL it is.

20. DALLAS COWBOYS (from Green Bay Packers) – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

There is no universe where Jerry Jones lets Love slip past him this late. NONE.

21. PITTSBURGH STEELERS – Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech

Mike McCarthy might be the head coach, but the Steelers are still the Steelers. They’re taking Cam Heyward’s replacement here. 

22. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

There’s no universe where the Chargers don’t take O-line after what happened last season. 

23. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

While I didn’t factor in trades in the selection numbers, I’m factoring it in here with the Eagles, who I think are about to ship AJ Brown out of town. In that case, they need a similar guy to replace him and Boston fits the mold. 

24. CLEVELAND BROWNS (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Omar Cooper, Jr., WR, Indiana

Sorry, Omar. I hate to do it to any of you, but this is where you fit here in this mock draft. For your sake, I hope I’m wrong.

25. CHICAGO BEARS – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Safety, Toledo

The Bears secondary took a hit in free agency. Time to build it back up.

26. BUFFALO BILLS – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

If the Bills don’t grab Lemon here, Brandon Beane should be fired immediately. Frankly, it’s ridiculous he still has a job. 

27. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

With Trent Williams likely wrapping up his career, the 49ers can’t mess around finding his replacement. 

28. HOUSTON TEXANS – Maz Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Texans’ defense is set. They have good skill guys. If CJ Stroud hasn’t imploded, the least they can do is add some help protecting him. 

29. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (from Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Two CBs in the same draft? Why not. They lost two this offseason. 

30. DENVER BRONCOS – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

For a team in salary cap hell the last few years, the Broncos don’t have a lot of holes. One of them is the interior defensive line and this selection helps.

31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

There’s a great chance the Pats won’t pick here, sliding this selection over to Philly for AJ Brown. But I’m playing by my own rules here and giving Drake Maye an actual NFL-caliber receiver. 

32. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas

Am I cheating here? Kind of. I don’t think Seattle makes this pick here. I think they trade down, BUT, I do think Washington is the guy they’ll target when they finally make their pick in the early second round. Probably with a team looking to draft a guy like Cashius Howell out of Texas A&M. So my slippery work here is that Washington will be the Seahawks’ first pick in the draft, just not in the first round.

Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan