Even as the 2026 NFL Draft draws closer, any sense of certainty remains elusive.
With less than two weeks left until the start of the first round in Pittsburgh, the buzz is growing around various possibilities for teams’ potential paths. But late insights don’t always have the signal-to-noise ratio, leaving a distinct shapelessness to an inherently fluid event. And with so many moving pieces, a true structure for the first round and beyond might not emerge until the first few names are called out on draft night.
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Here’s our latest 2026 NFL mock draft and projection for the full first round:
2026 NFL mock draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The draft discussion around Mendoza has already shifted to how the Raiders can best set up the quarterback for long-term success. With Kirk Cousins coming aboard, Las Vegas might opt for a more patient approach than NFL teams typically exhibit with No. 1 picks behind center. But Mendoza has given every reason for the Silver and Black to believe he’ll be a quick study in Klint Kubiak’s scheme. Still, a satisfactory class depends on more than his mere arrival, as there’s significant work to be done in the receiving corps and throughout a defense that looks liable to yield shootouts.
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2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
From January through March, the consensus opinion had Arvell Reese was pegged for the spot. Now, Bailey is the hot name linked to Gang Green. While Reese’s body type and forcefulness against the run might make him a more natural running mate for wiry edge rusher Will McDonald IV, there’s not a ton of projection required when it comes to Bailey’s ability to pester quarterbacks. For a regime that has to balance long-term growth with showing some proof of concept in Year 2 of the build, the savvy Stanford transfer could be just the kind of cornerstone required for the reconfigured front seven.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
This setup presents an interesting predicament for Arizona. While Reese’s talent and capacity for growth can’t be questioned, might the Cardinals be scared off by another hybrid defender given their spotty record of finding a home for such players? Unlocking the full extent of Reese’s abilities necessitates some creativity, but Arizona shouldn’t be scared off by past missteps, be they in evaluation or development. The more problematic move would be forcing a pick along the offensive line when the proper value isn’t there.
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4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
When coach Robert Saleh and general manager Mike Borgonzi spoke at the combine about how highly they valued arm length at all levels of their defense, many attempted to parse their comments to figure out how they might view this class’ top edge rushers. While Bailey or Reese slipping to this spot might simplify Tennessee’s process, that same mindset could point the team’s decision-makers to Styles. The 6-5, 244-pounder can get wherever he needs to be in order to snuff out a play, and having a heady and hyperathletic figure in the middle could help bind together a rapidly reimagined defense.
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Somewhere between picks No. 4-7 seems like the sweet spot for Love, who has reignited questions of when it’s appropriate for a team with wider offensive shortcomings to select a running back early in the draft. Landing with the Giants would spark a special level of consternation given the franchise’s handling of Saquon Barkley, but John Harbaugh seems unlikely to be weighed down by the organization’s past. Love would provide Jaxson Dart with a true game-breaker capable of easing the lift for the rest of the Giants’ offense.
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6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
If Cleveland forgoes a left tackle here, it risks all the capable potential starters being scooped up by the time it selects next at No. 24. Nevertheless, a team with as many holes as the Browns can’t afford to turn down the best available talent at another area of need. Tate could give the 2026 edition of Cleveland’s offense the chance to at least keep drives rolling and eventually serve as a go-to target when the team picks a direction for a long-term answer at quarterback.
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
After spending big to overhaul its pass rush, Washington still looks due for an additional difference-maker on its defense. While cornerback Mansoor Delane deserves to be squarely in the conversation here, Downs can handle almost any assignment thrown at him and be a force multiplier for a unit that’s still not on solid ground.
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8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
New Orleans isn’t boxed into taking a receiver early, but it certainly would make sense to boost Tyler Shough’s supporting cast entering Year 2 for the quarterback. With his mastery of working the underneath and intermediate areas, Lemon would pair well with deep threat Chris Olave and open up Kellen Moore’s aerial attack.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Edge rusher remains the most pressing area of concern for Kansas City’s defense, but a team that seldom finds itself drafting this high seems unlikely to compromise on value given the various avenues available. Delane could become the new staple for a Chiefs secondary that has repeatedly managed to pivot after parting with top talent.
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10. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Duke Tobin hasn’t been shy about declaring his affinity for elite size and athletic traits. While his preferences have given a distinct shape to the Bengals’ offensive and defensive fronts, they could also heavily inform the composition of the secondary. McCoy looks and plays the part of a top cover man, making him a prime target for a defense still looking to forge an identity.
11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)
A calculated, deliberate approach to building back up appears to be the preferred method for new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who has stripped his roster of some top talent in pursuit of financial flexibility and a youth movement. Starting that effort along the lines would be a reasonable course of action, and Mauigoa would be a sturdy addition capable of dictating terms up front.
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12. Dallas Cowboys – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
Should a top-tier defensive prospect slide out of the top 10, the Cowboys will be poised to pounce. Bain would be enticing for Dallas in a trade-up scenario, but here they land the punishing pass rusher without coughing up any additional draft capital. Stylistic concerns should be immaterial to a defense in need of a dynamic figure capable of providing a jolt off the edge.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
A one-year starter who’s probably still a bit of a project, Freeling might not necessarily make sense for a Rams team looking to cash in its chips for another title push with Matthew Stafford at the helm. Yet with both of the top receivers off the board, Los Angeles might have to make the best of things. Freeling could take over at some point for right tackle Warren McClendon Jr., who is entering the final year of his deal.
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14. Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Much of the talk surrounding new coach Jesse Minter’s arrival has centered on what changes might be in store for the defense. But the schematic shift from Todd Monken to Declan Doyle on offense might not be the smoothest. Sadiq could help create mismatches while allowing the attack to continue living out of two-tight-end sets.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
Some franchises have a type. The Buccaneers gravitate toward sharp leaders who can acclimate to the pro game quickly. Faulk qualifies as that, though his early impact might be limited to stuffing the run as he assembles an actual pass rush plan out of his athletic tools and moves.
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16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
A passing attack counting on a Geno Smith revival seems destined for plenty of situations where it needs someone other than Garrett Wilson to step up and deliver a big play. Those gotta-have-it scenarios are where the slippery Cooper thrives, and there might be a significant appeal for Gang Green to bring aboard someone who can create for himself after the catch rather than a figure whose contributions depend almost entirely on the flow of the offense.
17. Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
With Dan Campbell swinging open the door to Penei Sewell moving to left tackle, the Lions have ample flexibility to patch their hole at offensive tackle. By adding Proctor, however, Detroit could keep Sewell at the spot at which he’s become an All-Pro performer. The 6-7, 352-pound blocker’s penchant for displacing people in the run game should endear him to Campbell right away.
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18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Since his star turn at the combine, Thieneman has been linked heavily to a Minnesota team that could be headed for a changing of the guard at safety. If he’s available here, it’s difficult to envision the Vikings passing on a versatile asset in coverage, given all the different looks he could facilitate for Brian Flores.
19. Carolina Panthers – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
With Rasheed Walker signed to a one-year deal on the cheap, Carolina has enough of a contingency plan at left tackle should Ikem Ekwonu need a good bit of time to make his way back from a torn patellar tendon. Fano, however, could further bolster Bryce Young’s protection, either with a move to center or as an eventual replacement for right tackle Taylor Moton, who will turn 32 this summer and count $28.4 million against the cap in 2027.
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20. Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Never mind the numbers coming out of Terrell’s pro day, during which he aggravated his hamstring injury. While Terrell might lack elite physical traits, he can capture the interest of the Cowboys with an extensive track record of shrewd playmaking in various phases.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Here’s to betting that this selection, if it materializes, would be met with instant approval from the Pittsburgh locals on the scene for the draft. Need isn’t much of a factor for the Steelers, but Ioane would cover for one of the few notable short-term voids as a true enforcer on the interior.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)
Beyond identifying a potential successor for 35-year-old Khalil Mack, the Chargers demonstrated last year that their defense works best when they have a formidable third edge rusher in their rotation. With Odafe Oweh off to Washington, Mesidor can step in to keep Mack fresh with his pro-ready approach to pass-rushing.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Now equipped with something of an insurance policy at receiver thanks to the Dontayvion Wicks trade, Philadelphia can continue staving off the A.J. Brown trade drama until the early summer, when a deal becomes more palatable. Lane Johnson would make a fine mentor to Iheanachor, a former basketball standout who could become an outright force up front if he continues along his impressive growth trajectory.
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24. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
When it comes to evaluating offensive tackles, general manager Andrew Berry has an avowed openness regarding players’ experience on the left or right side. If he doesn’t address his line with his first pick at No. 6, he might need to get creative to fill the last remaining hole along his front. Beyond some spot work as a blindside protector, Miller spent the overwhelming majority of his four years as a starter at right tackle. Still, the Strongsville, Ohio, native has the frame and athleticism to be a fixture of whatever front he joins.
25. Chicago Bears – T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
As someone who consistently looks to walk back whoever stands in front of him, Parker seems like he was built to brawl in the NFC North. The Bears’ pass rush has some promise but can’t afford to pin its hopes on Dayo Odeyingbo’s resurgence after a torn Achilles or a breakout from Austin Booker.
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26. Buffalo Bills – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Taking another receiver after the DJ Moore trade would certainly constitute quite the mea culpa for Brandon Beane, who not long ago vigorously defended what was a clearly flawed plan for building out Josh Allen’s receiving corps. But even though he could be a divisive figure who tumbles on draft day due to injury concerns, Tyson still could give the Bills something they’ve long lacked: a weapon capable of creating consistent separation on the outside.
27. San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Adept at breaking free of coverage and making things happen with the ball in his hands, Concepcion is the kind of target whose skill set could be maximized in Kyle Shanahan’s system. The ultra-versatile slot dynamo could feast as a major run-after-catch threat who capitalizes on the attention that defenses place on Ricky Pearsall, Mike Evans and George Kittle, as well as Christian McCaffrey.
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28. Houston Texans – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
Even after a concerted effort in free agency to fortify their offensive line, the Texans’ work doesn’t quite feel finished. Rutledge’s unrelenting demeanor as a blocker could help Houston do a better job of setting the tone in the run game for new lead back David Montgomery.
29. Chiefs (from Rams) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
Once considered somewhat of a sleeper, Lawrence might be set to take on a more prominent role in the draft than many initially expected. Long and explosive, he fits the bill of a Steve Spagnuolo pass rusher and could allow Kansas City’s front to become less reliant on Chris Jones and George Karlaftis.
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30. Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Determined and polished, Johnson might currently be somewhat overlooked in the first-round conversation. His trustworthiness could catch the eye of the Dolphins’ new regime, which will have to stabilize the secondary if first-year coach Jeff Hafley’s defense is to coalesce at any point in the early going.
31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE, Missouri
The link between Young and the Patriots extends beyond positional preferences or even a skill set. The 6-6, 262-pounder seems to embody the persistence and physicality New England is on the hunt for on the edge.
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32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
This still feels like a spot ripe for a trade down for a team with just four draft picks. While the defending champs settled an uncertain outlook in the secondary by bringing back Josh Jobe, Hood could add more depth and keep Seattle flexible on the back end of its defense.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL mock draft: Big name slides out of top 10 picks
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