The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching. With that in mind, we’ve run another mock draft using PFSN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator. Here are the three hottest takeaways from the sim.
Defensive Players Dominate the Top 10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
Unsurprisingly, Fernando Mendoza went first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in our latest edition of the mock draft. However, defensive players took center stage the rest of the way, as six of the subsequent nine picks were on the defensive side of the ball. The only trade involved the Detroit Lions moving up to select offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa from Miami (Fla.) with the ninth pick.
What’s more surprising is that right after Mendoza went to the Raiders, the next three picks were all edge rushers: David Bailey (Texas Tech) to the New York Jets, Arvell Reese (Ohio State) to the Arizona Cardinals, and Ruben Bain Jr. (Miami, Fla.) to the Tennessee Titans.
The other defensive players selected in the top 10 were linebacker Sonny Styles, who went to the Washington Commanders, cornerback Mansoor Delane, who joined the New Orleans Saints, and safety Caleb Downs, who went 10th overall to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Five Wide Receivers Selected in the First 20 Picks
Even though several defensive players went off the board early and often, the fact that five receivers were selected in the first 20 overall picks speaks volumes about the potential in this upcoming class of wideouts. Just one went in the top 10, however, as Carnell Tate landed with the New York Giants, giving the team a nice young offensive core alongside quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo.
Makai Lemon went 11th overall to the Miami Dolphins, and Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr. was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 14th overall pick. Jordyn Tyson (16th overall, New York Jets) and KC Concepcion (19th overall, Carolina Panthers) rounded out the five wide receivers taken in the first round.
As a comparison, there was just one quarterback (Fernando Mendoza), one running back (Jeremiyah Love), and no tight ends selected in the first round.
Is Jeremiyah Love to the Dallas Cowboys a Match Made in Heaven?
We have seen what happens when elite running back prospects fall into dream scenarios, such as Ashton Jeanty with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where expectations were sky-high and the results were disappointing. However, Love would be a great addition to the Cowboys’ offense.
Dallas finished the 2025 NFL season as the ninth-best rushing offense in the league with an average of 125.6 yards per game, but Love’s explosiveness could give the Cowboys another dimension on the ground. The possibilities are endless.
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The Cowboys could pair Love with Javonte Williams to form a two-headed monster out of the backfield, or they could trade Williams to bolster other areas of the roster while handing Love the RB1 role right away.
A trade for Williams could command a strong haul, as he finished the 2025 season with 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns, ranking in the top 10 in each of the three categories.
Love, who had 1,372 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns on 199 carries in the 2025 season, would certainly ignite Dallas’ backfield.
