With the NFL Combine fast approaching, front offices are preparing for one of the most important evaluation stretches of the draft cycle. Using PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator, this projection examines how all 32 teams could approach Round 1 based on roster needs, positional value, and current prospect rankings. Fernando Mendoza headlines the class at No. 1, while several teams look to add foundational pieces on both sides of the ball.
1) Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana | QB
Don’t expect any fluctuation with this pick in the 2026 Draft cycle. Fernando Mendoza will surely be selected first overall by the Klint Kubiak-led Las Vegas Raiders as they look to turn things around yet again.
Mendoza is the only bona fide quarterback prospect in the 2026 class, and he’s no stranger to turning around a downtrodden organization.
While the quarterback class as a whole may be underwhelming, this is no reach. The Heisman Trophy winner is absolutely worthy of the No. 1 overall selection.
He’s a quick processor and completely commands the offense. He is meticulous in his preparation, mechanically sound, a smooth thrower of the football, sharp and accurate, and circumstance-proof. He doesn’t flinch.
Mendoza is a dynamic leader and a program elevator. His persistent positivity and relentless pursuit of perfection will be refreshing for a Raiders organization that looks to make the silver and black revered again.
2) New York Jets
Arvell Reese, Ohio State | LB
The New York Jets have needs all over their roster. Arvell Reese may only have one year of real production, but his traits are off the charts, and his technique is nearly flawless.
Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis raved about Reese’s technique, motor, and ability to dominate within the scheme. Reese is a freak athlete who meticulously does the little things right.
The Jets may be awful, but adding a premier impact defender with the versatility to rush the edge or control the middle of the field at linebacker could be the inflection point that uplifts the organization. The Jets need as many good players as they can get, and Reese might be great.
3) Arizona Cardinals
Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL) | OT
Kyler Murray’s time in Arizona is surely done, but there is no quarterback help worthy of the third overall selection, so Monti Ossenfort and the Cardinals elect to fortify their front by selecting Mauigoa, who can immediately step in at right tackle. He has played nearly exclusively at right tackle in his three seasons with the Hurricanes, making him a natural plug-and-play option.
In a class lacking blue-chip talent, Francis Mauigoa is a prospect who can start and succeed as a tackle, maybe even pro-bowl caliber, but also has the long-term potential to bump inside and become an all-pro-caliber guard, which Spencer Fano from Utah might not be able to.
Selecting a prospect with extensive experience and a high floor can only help whoever is playing quarterback for the Cardinals in 2026. That way, whenever the Arizona Cardinals do land their next franchise quarterback, they’ll be better positioned to keep him upright.
4) Tennessee Titans
Carnell Tate, Ohio State | WR
The only team that finished worse than the Tennessee Titans in total offense in 2025 was the Raiders, who had horrendous quarterback play and are picking first overall.
General manager Mike Borgonzi believes that 2025 first overall pick Cam Ward can be the future at quarterback; the priority is now building a worthy supporting cast around him.
Tennessee addressed receiver depth last year, selecting both Chimere Dike out of Florida and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford in the fourth round. Both have solid career outlooks, though neither surpassed 600 receiving yards a year ago.
Carnell Tate would immediately step in as the Titans’ top target. He’s a premier deep threat, sharp route runner, and elite separator who brings needed balance to the receiving corps while easing the playmaking burden on Ward.
5) New York Giants
Caleb Downs, Ohio State | S
John Harbaugh had Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, and now he gets his new defensive anchor in Caleb Downs. Downs is the ultimate defensive chess piece for the New York Giants, a complete eraser, and one of the few true blue-chip prospects in this class.
He’s detail-oriented, processes information rapidly, and can line up anywhere on the field. His character is impeccable, and he’s an elite playmaker. The New York lifestyle will be a non-factor.
6) Cleveland Browns
Spencer Fano, Utah | OT
The Cleveland Browns arguably had the best draft class in 2025 and can build on that momentum by further fortifying their offensive line. If they’re going to give second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders any chance to succeed, they simply can’t afford to surrender 51 sacks again.
7) Washington Commanders
David Bailey, Texas Tech | EDGE
In a strange paradox, the Washington Commanders’ organizational reset in 2024 led to a conference championship appearance, while their win-now push in 2025 earned them the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Entering 2025, Washington had the oldest roster in football; now, they simply need as many quality young players as possible. Bailey is an ideal prospect at a premium position, one where the Commanders clearly need significant upgrades.
David Bailey graduated from Stanford and again after transferring to Texas Tech. He plays hungry, eats space quickly, and combines power with bend, consistently finding ways to win. Selecting him with the seventh overall pick would be great value.
8) New Orleans Saints
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State | WR
The New Orleans Saints may have struck gold by selecting Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick in 2025. However, the group of receivers he worked with was piecemeal at best.
New Orleans has already invested time and draft capital into fortifying the offensive line and can now afford to give Shough a formidable set of weapons. Jordyn Tyson, alongside Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson, and Alvin Kamara, forms a group that’s easy to get excited about.
9) Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame | RB
Let’s not pretend it’s merely bad luck that the Kansas City Chiefs are picking in the top ten. Patrick Mahomes covered a lot of holes on the roster over the past few years, but it was simply an unsustainable model.
Their roster, particularly on offense, is in desperate need of a reboot. GM Brett Veach and his staff may have lost their fastball temporarily, but finally holding premium draft capital gives them a real opportunity to quickly revitalize an ailing unit.
Jeremiyah Love can be a bruising runner between the tackles. He runs with power, patience, and finesse, and has the unique ability to make any defender miss in a phone booth or kill defenses with speed off the edge. He’s a true home-run threat every time he touches the ball.
10) Cincinnati Bengals
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL) | EDGE
The Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive woes are well-documented at this point. Their historically bad defense got worse in 2025, giving up nearly 400 yards per game, recording only 35 sacks, and generating pressure on just 6.22% of plays. The Bengals need help, and the best thing they can do is select a bona fide pass rusher with proven production.
Rueben Bain Jr. has recorded 19.5 career sacks (8.5 in 2025). Until they prove they can better develop talent, they need someone with a history of getting the job done.
11) Miami Dolphins
Mansoor Delane, LSU | CB
When Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst was hired in 2018, he elevated now-Miami Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan to Co-Director of Player Personnel, and they selected future All-Pro CB Jaire Alexander 18th overall.
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Delane has premier lockdown corner written all over him. He’s the kind of prospect that absolutely pops on tape… You can feel him. He’s got elite instincts, quick feet and hips, is explosive and twitchy, plays through the football, and has the confidence and ability to play on an island.
12) Dallas Cowboys
Sonny Styles, Ohio State | LB
The Micah Parsons trade was a net positive for the Dallas Cowboys. While they parted ways with one of the league’s premier players, they used some of that capital to acquire Quinnen Williams from the Jets, boosting their defense across the board.
Now they can replace the All-Pro with a player of a similar skill set. Styles is a freak athlete who offers positional flexibility. He’s a former slot cornerback turned linebacker.
Styles is highly instinctive, technically sound, he’s a great block destroyer, has excellent ball skills, and consistently rallies to the football. He’s a versatile chess piece, similar to former Cardinals first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, now with the Carolina Panthers.
13) Los Angeles Rams
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee | CB
Both Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary are expected to be free agents following this magnificent playoff run. It’s reasonable to believe that one or both of them have new homes in 2026, especially given that corners are getting paid a premium by the Los Angeles Rams.
McCoy is a sticky and physical corner with great instincts and reaction speed. He plays with a confident moxy that could certainly complement fellow teammate Emmanuel Forbes.
14) Baltimore Ravens
Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State | OG
The Baltimore Ravens have a knack for simply selecting solid football players; they don’t overthink it. That makes Ioane the perfect fit.
Ioane is an elite interior prospect and is ideal for a Lamar Jackson-led offense. He’s powerful, a violent puller, and possesses excellent lateral mobility, with the ability to reach the second level with control and power in the run game. He might not be the flashiest pick, but he’s a day-one starter on a line that desperately needs a youthful spark.
15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon | TE
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ passing game is led by last year’s first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and aging veteran Chris Godwin. With Mike Evans hitting free agency, they could use another young spark: this time at tight end.
Sadiq is a genuine receiving threat who can command the middle of the field. He has a huge catch radius, strong hands, and true run-after-the-catch ability. He’s an instant-impact player at a position of need, and one of the best players available at this point in the draft.
16) New York Jets
Makai Lemon, USC | WR
Even though the Jets have a desperate need at quarterback, there is no quarterback worthy of being selected with the sixteenth pick. So they pivot to the best player available.
Makai Lemon is one of the most electric receivers in this class. He demonstrates incredible play strength, an elite motor, and simply finds a way to win every play. He’s an absolute workhorse. If Puka Nacua and Troy Polamalu were merged into a single player, Lemon would be the result.
The Jets might be able to overcompensate for their quarterback woes with a blue-collar player like Lemon.
17) Detroit Lions
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama | OT
The Detroit Lions must improve Jared Goff’s protection heading into 2026. Adding another anchor to the offensive line, especially on the interior, is a must if the Lions have any chance to reclaim their spot among the NFC’s elite.
Proctor is a 6’7”, 366-pound mauler. He played tackle for the Crimson Tide and could very well play tackle in the NFL, but there is a belief that he could start his career on the interior of the line playing guard.
He is a physical, punishing run blocker who has no issue pulling or working up to the second level, and he’s big and strong enough that he rarely gets walked back. He’s an elite athlete with immense upside, an immediate plug-and-play prospect.
A fun note: with their gimmick threat, Dan Skipper retiring, Proctor brings a pass-catching history of his own, a little wrinkle that surely hasn’t gone unnoticed.
18) Minnesota Vikings
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo | S
The Minnesota Vikings had one of the league’s best defensive units in 2025, but they likely lost a franchise legend in Harrison Smith, who anchored the backend of their secondary for 14 years.
Former Toledo Rocket Quinyon Mitchell was selected 22nd overall by the Eagles in 2024 and named a 2025 first-team all-pro, proving that a first-round pick on a defender from the MAC isn’t as outlandish as it sounds.
McNeil-Warren is an explosive, twitchy athlete with long-range speed, strong instincts, and a physical style of play. He’s a strong tackler, has the ability to powerfully set the edge as a rusher, runs and rallies to the football, and is an absolute ball hawk.
One of my favorite prospects in this entire draft class, McNeil-Warren will put on a show at the combine, so expect his stock to rise quickly.
19) Carolina Panthers
Peter Woods, Clemson | DL
Peter Woods is an incredibly unique prospect. He’s an All-American defensive tackle and doubled as a short-yardage power back for the Tigers in 2025. He’s a smooth and natural athlete, has elite quickness, and can be a pure disruptor on the interior.
He’d be a significant change of pace for the Carolina Panthers’ three-man front, but he offers an interior pass rush skill set that has become increasingly valuable.
20) Dallas Cowboys
Keldric Faulk, Auburn | EDGE
There is still work to be done on the defense for Dallas, and their deadline deal with the Packers allotted them this selection, allowing them to replace Parsons with the 6’6” edge rusher, Keldric Faulk.
He’s got great speed and can bend, allowing him to quickly disrupt and get after the quarterback. His size, length, and speed, combined with the power and interior disruption provided by Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark, could be the lethal combo Jerry Jones envisioned all along.
Production has eluded Faulk, who recorded just 2 sacks in 2025, but the traits may speak for themselves, making this a worthy landing spot.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M | WR
Assuming Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh for yet another “last dance,” the Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need to inject some explosiveness into their passing game to help him out.
Concepcion is a dynamic playmaker. He’s a high-motor athlete with quick burst, excellent play strength, and strong ball skills. He can win downfield, dominate the screen game, and even contribute as a returner. He immediately elevates the offense and would be a perfect complement to DK Metcalf.
22) Los Angeles Chargers
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon | OG
The Los Angeles Chargers’ interior offensive line play may have been among the most inept the NFL has seen, allowing 66 total sacks.
Their uninspiring postseason showing against the Patriots ultimately cost offensive coordinator Greg Roman and offensive line coach Mike Devlin their jobs, while Justin Herbert spent much of the season fighting just to keep the offense afloat. Their ineptitude even earned Justin Herbert an MVP vote.
It’s important to note that former All-Pro Rashawn Slater missed the entire 2025 season after suffering an injury in training camp, while Joe Alt also missed over half the year. As a result, the offensive line is likely to improve significantly in 2026, especially with the addition of a key interior piece like Pregnon.
23) Philadelphia Eagles
Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL) | EDGE
The Philadelphia Eagles’ Howie Roseman has a knack for landing players who somehow fall down the draft board. If Mesidor were only 21, he’d be a lock for the top ten. Instead, he’ll be 25 on draft day. As demonstrated in previous years, Roseman doesn’t care. He values skill sets and production.
Mesidor is a violent pass rusher coming off a 12.5-sack season on a team that reached the National Championship, offering incredible value for the back half of the first round.
24) Cleveland Browns
Denzel Boston, Washington | WR
The Cleveland Browns desperately need to bolster their offensive line and add a playmaker or two to give Shedeur Sanders, or whoever is under center next year, a fighting chance. In this mock, they snagged Spencer Fano with the sixth overall pick and found their playmaker here.
Boston is a big-bodied, physical receiver. He plays with strong, reliable hands, has a good feel for space, and brings the kind of grit that can thrive in cold-weather cities.
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25) Chicago Bears
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State | DT
The Chicago Bears can build on a phenomenal 2025 season by fortifying their defensive front. McDonald brings a powerful interior presence with an extremely high motor. He’s a true gap eater with impressive lateral movement, an elite run stuffer who has the power and leg drive to consistently collapse the pocket.
26) Buffalo Bills
Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Somehow, general manager Brandon Beane earned a promotion while Sean McDermott became the sacrificial lamb in the Buffalo Bills. Must be nice.
Ironically, as we progress further into the offseason, it becomes more and more obvious that maybe just maybe Sean McDermott actually did a remarkable job with an underwhelming defensive roster. Interesting…
Beane has repeatedly tried to develop a dynamic pass rush but hasn’t hit the mark with AJ Epenesa, Ed Oliver, or even veterans like Von Miller and Joey Bosa, who have underperformed. Here, he swings the bat again with another pass rusher in Cashius Howell.
Howell is a quick processor with a nasty up-and-under move, excellent bend when running the hump, and the ability to establish a low pad level to control blockers. He’s an experienced rusher who has produced at multiple schools during his collegiate career. That experience enhances his chances of translating that success to the NFL.
27) San Francisco 49ers
Chris Bell, Louisville | WR
The San Francisco 49ers add a big-time playmaker to their receiving corps. Bell is cool and confident at all times. He’s a natural catcher with strong hands and outstanding ball skills, consistently coming down with everything thrown his way. He offers a versatile skill set, capable of playing both outside and in the slot, and has the potential to fill the role Deebo Samuel once played in this offense, providing a major lift to Brock Purdy.
28) Houston Texans
Caleb Banks, Florida | DT
The Houston Texans had arguably the league’s best defensive unit in 2025, and adding Banks, a true disruptor, only makes them better. At 6’6”, 330 pounds, he’s powerful, quick, and absolutely eats up the interior of the defensive line. He’s a true gap plugger, has great get-off speed, lightning-quick hands, and can collapse the pocket with his bull rush.
If Banks can learn to consistently play low, consistently play with elite effort, and get healthy, the return on investment could be abundant, but that’s a big if.
29) Los Angeles Rams
Caleb Lomu, Utah | OT
The Los Angeles Rams have been in the market for a young tackle, and finally got their guy in Lomu. His 6’6”, 308-pound frame allows him to anchor and slow down any bull rush. He’s a solid pass protector, has great power, really good bend, and a strong punch. He adds legitimate depth to the Rams’ offensive line, which looks to protect their 38-year-old MVP quarterback.
30) Denver Broncos
C.J. Allen, Georgia | LB
One of the league’s premier defensive units gets even stronger with this pick. C.J. Allen possesses an elite play temperament, a distinctive and effective pass-rushing skill set, excellent play speed, strong instincts, and physicality with the football. He projects as a great fit in Vance Joseph’s Denver Broncos defense and is ready to contribute as a day-one starter.
31) New England Patriots
Gennings Dunker, Iowa | OT
Both Mike Vrabel and legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia have been adamant that rookie Will Campbell, the 2025 fourth overall pick, will return as the left tackle in 2026. But we all saw what happened throughout the postseason, especially on the biggest stage. It simply wasn’t good enough for the New England Patriots.
Even if Campbell does return at left tackle next season, Morgan Moses will be entering his 12th NFL season, adding urgency to the need at the position. The best time to address a position like tackle is when you still have one, so you’re not left without a suitable replacement whenever Moses eventually moves on.
Dunker is a Mike Vrabel-type player. He plays with violence, maintains a low pad level, uses his hands and feet effectively, and finishes strong. While the team may not be ready to shake up the offensive line just yet, Dunker is a perfect culture fit and a high-floor insurance policy, especially at his draft value. They won’t find a player of his caliber the next time they’re on the clock.
32) Seattle Seahawks
Chris Johnson, San Diego State | CB
The Seattle Seahawks are set to lose Tariq Woolen to free agency, and with the price for corners at a premium, expect John Schneider to address this need with one of the top corners in the 2026 draft.
Johnson is one of my favorite players in this class. He has a long, prototypical frame, is technically sound, has great start-and-stop ability, fluid mobility, elite eye discipline, and is an absolute ball hawk. Johnson absolutely pops on tape, and I’d expect him to rise rapidly following an outstanding combine.
