As the NFL playoff race approaches, the only thing that the 18 teams who missed the postseason have to look forward to is. Luckily for them, we’ve got you covered with our latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
Using the draft order based on the final regular season standings and projected selections for playoff teams, here are our picks for all 32 selections in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
1) Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
With the Las Vegas Raiders picking No. 1 in the 2026 NFL Draft, the assumption is that they’ll select a quarterback to replace Geno Smith. Considering he led the NFL in interceptions and finished No. 34 in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric, he fell well short of expectations in 2025.
Fernando Mendoza is a well-built, poised, and intelligent quarterback who sees the field well and has a natural sense of timing behind his throws. The Heisman Trophy winner has great pocket presence and a strong arm that can hit targets in stride from all levels of the field. He’s a polished quarterback with a high floor, and he has more than enough arm talent to make big plays in the NFL.
2) New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Justin Fields figures to be released this offseason, and the New York Jets don’t currently have a long-term answer at quarterback. It’s probably for the best they lost five games in a row to end 2025, as it ensured they could get a high-level quarterback prospect without having to trade up.
There’s no guarantee that Dante Moore declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, but if he does, he’ll compete for the first quarterback to come off the board. He’s a gifted thrower with a loose arm that generates good velocity and can deliver accurate strikes from different angles and platforms. His creativity shines when he has to extend the play out of the pocket, and he’s shown flashes of full-field progressions over the course of the year.
3) Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Arizona Cardinals finished 2025 with a bottom-five defense by PFSN’s NFL Defense Impact Metric (DEFi). Their pass rush was one-dimensional outside of Josh Sweat and a band-aid solution in Calais Campbell, and they had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. It would make sense for them to use their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on that side of the ball.
It’s not very often you see an off-ball linebacker selected with a top-five pick in the NFL Draft. However, Arvell Reese is worth an exception. The 6’4″, 243-pounder is a physical specimen with elite size and length for an off-ball defender, which he pairs with impressive speed and ideal physicality. His play strength, long arms, and craftiness as a blitzing defender even have some projecting him as an edge rusher in the NFL.
4) Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
The Tennessee Titans found encouraging flashes out of No. 1 pick Cam Ward in 2025, but their roster is far too flawed to get the most out of their young quarterback. Their offense is a big work in progress, but they could also stand to improve their pass rush so their defense can release some pressure off Ward and Co.’s shoulders. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they do exactly that.
Rueben Bain Jr. is a powerful edge rusher who accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage. He maintains a low center of gravity at the point of attack, he converts speed to power well, and he has a deep arsenal of moves he can string together to shed blocks. He’s arguably been the best pure edge rusher in college football this year and is easily one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
5) New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Their record didn’t exactly show it, but the New York Giants played tough against many talented teams in 2025. They got encouraging early returns from Jaxson Dart, and if they want to take their offense to the next level, it will be critical to get him more protection up front.
Though Francis Mauigoa won’t wow you with his arm length measurements, his tape will undoubtedly make up for it. He lands his jabs with accurate placement and expert timing, and his grip strength allows him to lock out edge rushers from the inside of his frame. He redirects pretty well and rarely overshoots his pass sets in pass protection, and he showcases good spatial awareness against exotic rush looks.
6) Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
There’s a chance the Cleveland Browns consider a quarterback early, but in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they look to give Shedeur Sanders a fair chance to be the guy. They have two first-round picks in this year’s draft, and it wouldn’t be surprising if both of those picks were used towards bolstering the offense.
Carnell Tate can go under the radar sometimes at Ohio State with all the talent they’ve had there, but a good argument can be made that he’s the top wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. He brings an enticing combination of raw size and high speed that makes him a valuable vertical threat, and his body control attacking the ball in the air is tremendous.
7) Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Let’s face it: 2025 was a disaster of a season for the Washington Commanders. Injuries flooded their roster, but they also exposed their lack of developing young talent outside of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels. They have a serious chance in the 2026 NFL Draft to give their roster a much-needed youth infusion, especially in the trenches.
David Bailey is pass-rushing lightning in a bottle, and he deserves to be selected early in Round 1 in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft. He’s a little undersized but brings impressive first-step acceleration, flexibility turning the corner, and an advanced understanding of how to use his hands to exploit the weaknesses of whichever offensive tackle he’s going up against.
8) New Orleans Saints: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Winning four of their last five games may have hurt their draft positioning, but that’s a trade-off the New Orleans Saints will take, considering the growth that Tyler Shough displayed. Now sitting with the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’re no longer in need of a quarterback early, which really opens up more options for them in Round 1.
Keldric Faulk is a physical anomaly at 6’6″ and 288 pounds with long arms and a frame that carries his weight very well. His size and length help him set the edge in run support, and his anchor is strong enough to stand his ground and plug up gaps up the middle. His pass-rushing production dropped in 2025, but he still brings a high motor and impressive size-adjusted quickness to the table.
9) Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Kansas City Chiefs were simply unable to get the job done in the clutch in 2025. They went 1-9 in one-score games this season and 0-8 against playoff teams. They have a few glaring needs to address this offseason, but their lackluster run game played a major role in their middling offense this year.
Excluding positional value, I’d argue Jeremiyah Love is at least a top-five player in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, he’s an explosive runner who combines sound decision-making between the tackles with elite speed, quick feet, and the ability to change direction, along with toughness that shows up both in the run game and as a receiver after the catch.
10) Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
When Joe Burrow returned to the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting lineup for the final few games of the year, it showed what this team can be when their franchise QB is healthy. That said, they still have a defense that ranked No. 31 in the NFL in DEFi. Improving that unit should be their top priority this offseason.
As of this writing, Caleb Downs is my top overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. The fact that he plays safety makes estimating a draft slot for him in a mock draft difficult, but there’s no denying the tools he brings to the table. He’s a large, physical, athletic, intelligent safety with good ball skills in coverage and the fluidity to cover a lot of ground as a two-high or single-high safety. He’s the real deal.
11) Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Going into this offseason, there’s a lot up in the air surrounding the Miami Dolphins. They’ll likely be moving on from Tua Tagovailoa, and they still have some glaring needs on both sides of the ball. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they stray away from the quarterback route and address their porous secondary.
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With an allowed passer rating of just 26.7 in 2025, Mansoor Delane was a shutdown cornerback for LSU all year. He’s my top corner in the 2026 NFL Draft because of his instincts in coverage, impressive fluidity in space, competitiveness at the catch point, and his physicality as a tackler.
12) Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The bad news for the Dallas Cowboys is that they had the worst defense by DEFi in the entire NFL last year. The good news, though, is that they have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving them the chance to double down on that weak unit.
Jermod McCoy didn’t play a down in 2025 due to injury, so the fact that he’s selected this high in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft speaks to how well he performed in 2024. He’s an athletic defensive back with excellent ball-tracking skills who mirrors movements well in coverage and plays with a scrappy mentality in press coverage; there’s a lot to like in his tape.
13) Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Heading into the 2026 NFL playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams have one of the more complete rosters in the league. They could use an impact offensive tackle to protect Matthew Stafford in the last few years of his career, though. In our latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they do just that.
Depending on what you look for in an offensive tackle, Spencer Fano might not be your top choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is to me, though, and a lot of that comes down to how polished he is. He’s not the biggest or strongest tackle out there, but he moves incredibly well with great footwork in pass protection and very nice lateral quickness. He lands his strikes accurately and does a good job of winning with proper pad leverage consistently.
14) Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
After coming just one field goal short of making the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens chose to hit the reset button and fire head coach John Harbaugh after 18 years with the team. Having Lamar Jackson healthy would help them get back to form in 2026, but they also have a defensive line that needs enhancements via early-round picks in this year’s NFL Draft.
Peter Woods is an explosive defensive tackle with refined hands, a high motor, excellent agility for his position, and a high football IQ. He’s an effective two-gapping defensive tackle against the run, and he also brings plenty of value on passing downs. That combination alone should have him in high demand.
15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Cade Otton is an impending free agent, and given the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ passing struggles this year, they might not find it worth it to pay him big money for average results. Instead, they could use the 2026 NFL Draft to add a much-needed explosive element to an offense that regressed this season.
Kenyon Sadiq is an elite athlete who can separate from man coverage, has reliable hands as a pass catcher, and battles hard as a run blocker for a smaller tight end. He caught 8 touchdown passes in the 2025 regular season, taking advantage of his first opportunity at cracking the starting lineup. His upside as a receiver is through the roof, making him worthy of a first-round selection in our 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
16) New York Jets (via Colts): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
It could make sense for the Jets to use the second of their two first-round picks on defense, seeing as though they traded both Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline. Their offense, however, is severely lacking in passing-game weapons. In our latest NFL Mock Draft, they find a talented receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson.
Jordyn Tyson is a threat with his agility, sinking his hips sharply into his breaks and consistently creating separation underneath. He adjusts his approach through his stems depending on the coverage he sees, showcasing good footwork and strong defensive pattern recognition as a route runner. He’s also an effective YAC receiver with good ball-carrier vision.
17) Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Veteran left tackle Taylor Decker mentioned he’ll consider retirement this offseason, which would bring an end to his ten-year run with the Detroit Lions. If he ends up retiring, they’ll be in desperate need of his replacement to boost an offensive line that regressed in 2025.
Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
18) Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
All things considered, it’s a minor miracle the Minnesota Vikings went 9-8, given the instability they faced at quarterback this year. It’s far too early to give up on J.J. McCarthy, but their roster could benefit if they invest in their shaky secondary early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Avieon Terrell is a sharp cover man with excellent speed and short-area burst, as well as good route-recognition capabilities. In 2024, he notched 2 interceptions and 12 pass breakups for Clemson, and he’s combined 21 pass deflections over the course of his last two seasons. This year, he improved as a tackler, dropping his missed tackle percentage down to 10.4% from 4.1% the year before.
19) Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, the Cowboys added a talented Trevon Diggs replacement to their secondary in Jermod McCoy. They’d be smart to take another defender with the pick they got from the Green Bay Packers, especially considering some of the defensive value still on the board in this hypothetical.
Arvell Reese gets a lot of the 2026 NFL Draft hype in that Ohio State linebacker room, but Sonny Styles is a freak of nature in his own right. His instincts have shown plenty of improvement over time, and he’s an explosive, well-built athlete with a large tackling radius and the ability to make plays in coverage.
20) Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Injuries to Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater this season revealed just how much of a problem the Los Angeles Chargers’ interior offensive line is when they don’t have two Pro Bowl tackles to mask their mistakes. Our latest NFL Mock Draft has them adding arguably the top guard in the class to help protect Justin Herbert.
I had Olaivavega Ioane as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft this summer, but he’s separated from the pack with his play this year. He is a sturdy guard prospect who knows how to use his hands and pad level to obtain leverage. His anchor strength gives him a higher floor than most at his position.
21) Buffalo Bills: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
As one might expect, given that they’ve made the playoffs every year since 2019, the Buffalo Bills consistently have one of the best rosters in the NFL. One thing they’ve lacked in recent seasons, however, is a true WR1: they haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since they traded Stefon Diggs.
Makai Lemon has been the most productive wide receiver in the Big Ten in 2025, which says a lot when you consider how much talent resides in the conference. He holds the triple crown, leading with 79 catches, 1,156 yards, and 11 touchdowns. He is a sure-handed slot receiver who’s quick after the catch and consistently gets open against both man and zone coverage with sharp breaks and good leverage work through his stems.
22) San Francisco 49ers: Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
Even with all their injuries this season, the San Francisco 49ers are one of the more well-oiled machines in the NFL. I trust that their defensive line will bounce back when Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams return from injury, so this 2026 NFL Mock Draft has them focusing on the trenches on the other side of the ball.
Gennings Dunker is a three-year starter at Iowa, having played right tackle and both guard positions in college. I project him best as a guard in the NFL due to a lack of length, but I also think his ability to drive defenders off the ball as a down blocker would be better suited along the interior. He packs a nice punch at the point of attack and can clear defenders off the ball in the run game.
23) Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Houston Texans have arguably the best edge-rushing duo in the NFL in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. As good as their defense has been this season, their interior defensive line is arguably the unit’s biggest weakness. They could use a massive space-eater to complement their stars rushing off the edge.
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Kayden McDonald is a thickly built defender with a 1-technique’s body but the pass-rushing chops of a 3-technique. He’s a powerful interior defender who can two-gap well with a sturdy anchor and good spatial awareness against the run, but he also has some juice coming off the line of scrimmage for such a big man.
24) Los Angeles Rams: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
After addressing the offensive line with their first Round 1 selection of this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, the Rams have a variety of different avenues they could pursue with their own pick. They could pursue a quarterback to develop under Stafford, but they might wait to aim higher with their succession choice than what’s available in this class. Adding to their secondary seems like a smart choice, though.
There was plenty to like in Brandon Cisse’s tape at NC State, but his transfer to South Carolina in 2025 saw him unlock his full potential. He’s a freak athlete with good coverage instincts, allowing him to explode out of his breaks and act on his reads with more efficiency than most cornerbacks. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make his way into the first round as he does in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
25) Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Would it be bold for the Carolina Panthers to use their last three first-round picks in the NFL Draft on wide receivers? Maybe, but Xavier Legette hasn’t panned out as hoped, and they need another weapon to give Bryce Young a fair chance to prove he’s their franchise quarterback.
KC Concepcion is a dynamic receiver with tremendous YAC ability and impressive quickness, shooting out of his breaks as a route runner. Throughout his stints at Texas A&M and NC State, he’s been a reliable underneath weapon with inside-outside versatility. His twitchiness underneath and speed-oriented game would pair well with Tetairoa McMillan’s ability to win above the rim and in tight windows.
26) Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Will Aaron Rodgers retire this offseason? That’s a question the NFL has seemingly been asking for the last four or five years. I’ll believe it when I see it, but even if he returns in 2026 for his 22nd year in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers will eventually need to look for his successor in the NFL Draft.
Ty Simpson is only a one-year starter in college, but he’s pretty advanced given his limited playing time. A backup to Jalen Milroe last year, Simpson isn’t quite as athletic or has as strong an arm as his predecessor, but he’s a much more polished passer. He identifies soft spots in zone coverage well and exploits them accordingly. He does a good job of finding the open man, and he’s an accurate thrower of the football.
27) Philadelphia Eagles: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Philadelphia Eagles really had to get creative to generate pressure off the edge this year, and it didn’t always work. Za’Darius Smith retired in the middle of the season, and they had to lure Brandon Graham out of retirement and trade for Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline. Those players aren’t locked down for 2026, so they’ll need a more sustainable, long-term option to pair with rising star Jalyx Hunt.
With a starting opportunity now in his reach at Texas A&M, Cashius Howell has lived up to the hype in 2025. He finished the regular season with an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks, and he’s displayed tremendous acceleration and flexibility off the edge. His arms aren’t incredibly long, but there’s a lot there to be excited about with him on tape.
28) Cleveland Browns: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns dealt with plenty of injuries at tackle this season, and both of their starting guards are over 30 years old. With their second pick in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, it could make sense to look for an offensive lineman with the ability to project either outside or along the interior in the NFL.
Though Kadyn Proctor is arguably the most inconsistent of the top offensive linemen in the 2026 draft, he might have the highest ceiling of the bunch. He’s a massive presence with long arms and powerful hands, helping him dominate physically at the point of attack. He’s not just big; he’s coordinated and is able to handle power and maintain an anchor in pass protection.
29) Chicago Bears: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Ben Johnson led the Chicago Bears to a playoff appearance and an NFC North crown, solidifying them as one of the biggest turnarounds in the NFL this year. A lot of that was because of their offense, though. Defensively, they’ve consistently struggled to get home with a four-man rush, and free agent additions Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett didn’t live up to the hype in 2025.
Clemson as a whole didn’t live up to expectations this year, but T.J. Parker showed up as a tremendous player with a high ceiling in the NFL. He demonstrates impressive lower-body strength, a relentless motor, and refined hands on tape. Over his three seasons at the collegiate level, he tallied 128 quarterback pressures, 21.5 sacks, and 41.5 tackles for a loss.
30) New England Patriots: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
Speaking of massive turnarounds, the New England Patriots going from 4-13 in 2024 to 14-3 in 2025 is nothing short of incredible. Their offense is in much better shape with Drake Maye at the helm. With K’Lavon Chaisson slated to hit free agency, they could look for a replacement to pair along the defensive line with Harold Landry III, Milton Williams, and Christian Barmore.
R Mason Thomas has two seasons of strong SEC tape, having tallied 16.0 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss in that span. Though he’s on the smaller side for an edge rusher, it’s his explosiveness, flexibility, and deep arsenal as a pass rusher that should have him in high demand when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around.
31) Denver Broncos: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Denver Broncos had the second-best defense by DEFi grading in the 2025-26 NFL regular season. Their defensive line is already very talented with the likes of Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, and Jonathon Cooper rushing the passer. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, they take a top defensive tackle to pair with Allen along the interior and make that unit even more unblockable.
Though Caleb Banks played in just three games in 2025 due to injury, he’s shown enough on tape during his time at Florida to warrant an early-round selection. He’s a 6’6″, 325-pound interior lineman with more pass-rush juice than expected for a player his size, giving him a very high ceiling at the NFL level. He’s powerful and disruptive with the passing-down value to entice scouts.
32) Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Considering they’re the No. 1 seed in the NFC and that Mike Macdonald is one of the top defensive minds in the NFL, it’s no surprise the Seattle Seahawks have had one of the best defenses in the league this season. That said, Riq Woolen is slated to hit free agency this year, and instead of paying him big money, it could be smarter to save that cap space and select a cornerback early in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With an allowed passer rating of just 16.1 this season, Chris Johnson is my top Group of 5 prospect in this draft and catapulted himself into first-round pick conversation with a stellar 2025. He’s a smooth, intelligent cornerback who reads route concepts well and also plays with a scrappy demeanor in run support.