The rookies of the 2026 NFL Draft have yet to hit the field in their professional careers. There’s reason to be excited in all of the top-10 selections in this year’s class.
That said, there’s nothing more fun than the “what if” scenario at this stage in the NFL offseason. With this class in particular, I don’t see any picks in the top 10 that seems egregious a month removed from the draft, but there are a few I would’ve done differently if I were in the shoes of these teams.
Obviously, I’m not in the shoes of these teams. That said, between my own film evaluations and the level of advanced analytics now available to the general public, I feel comfortable in having informed opinions on each selection. If I were in charge of each team that picked in the 2026 NFL Draft’s top 10, these are the selections I would’ve made.
1) Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Original Pick: Fernando Mendoza
There’s no need to change the No. 1 overall selection. Fernando Mendoza was the best quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he’s an ideal systematic fit with what new head coach Klint Kubiak wants to execute with the Las Vegas Raiders.
2) New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Original Pick: David Bailey
I actually had Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. as my top-graded edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft, but given the off-field concerns that developed with him late in the pre-draft process, he was never going to be selected this highly. The big debate for the New York Jets was whether they would take David Bailey or Arvell Reese with the No. 2 overall pick.
In the end, I think the Jets made the right choice. Bailey led all FBS edge rushers with a 92.9 PFSN EDGE Impact Score in 2025, and he was a consistent force in opposing backfields across the Big 12 last year. Reese is a talented player in his own right, but Bailey has a much larger sample size as a full-time edge rusher with a deeper arsenal of moves to shed blocks and win at the point of attack. He was the safer pick for a New York team that desperately needed an immediate contributor.
3) Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Original Pick: Jeremiyah Love
The Arizona Cardinals perhaps surprised fans with their selection of Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Though nobody doubted that Love is a great football player, some were confused by the selection of a running back this early.
I’m admittedly one of those skeptics, especially after seeing Ashton Jeanty struggle with the Raiders behind their poor offensive line in his rookie year. The Cardinals needed an upgrade at right tackle, and I’m not sure they found one this offseason. Though I think Love develops into a quality running back, Fano would’ve been a natural fit alongside Paris Johnson Jr. and arguably would’ve been a more practical pick.
4) Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Original Pick: Carnell Tate
The logic behind the Tennessee Titans drafting Carnell Tate makes sense. Cam Ward struggled as a rookie, and bringing in Tate to pair with Wan’Dale Robinson gives their young quarterback a solid wide receiver tandem to work with. The philosophical fit is there, but I think Tate was a slight reach at No. 4 in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Instead, I would’ve gone with the best player available over fitting a specific need, especially with how far away the Titans seem to be from competing. Reese is a freak athlete who would start right away at linebacker with the ability to rush off the edge. I’m confident the Titans could’ve gotten a quality wide receiver with one of the picks that ended up becoming Keldric Faulk or Anthony Hill Jr., as well.
5) New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Original Pick: Arvell Reese
With Arvell Reese no longer an option for the New York Giants in this hypothetical, I see them pivoting to the best pure football player on the board. They have a solid running back tandem in Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., but neither of them are on the level as Love.
Love is a true three-down back with the athleticism, vision, toughness, and pass-catching ability to contribute to an NFL offense in a variety of ways. I’d feel more comfortable in him excelling behind that Giants offensive line than with what the Cardinals currently have.
6) Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Original Pick: Mansoor Delane
If the Kansas City Chiefs stayed put at No. 9, my top choice for them was Mansoor Delane, especially after they lost the likes of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, and Joshua Williams this offseason. Once they traded up a few spots to No. 6, it was clear that Delane was the choice.
Delane is an intelligent, fluid, scrappy cover cornerback who shut down the best that the SEC had to offer on a weekly basis. The Chiefs had another first-round pick to work with, but the cornerback value was never going to be great near the end of Round 1. Moving up for Delane ensured they got an immediate starter with CB1 potential.
7) Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Original Pick: Sonny Styles
With Frankie Luvu on the roster and Leo Chenal having been brought in as a free agent, I didn’t expect the Washington Commanders to take an off-ball linebacker with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That said, I also wasn’t sure if Sonny Styles would be available for them. Knowing what I know now, I’d make this pick over in this instance.
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Styles has the perfect blend of size, length, speed, fluidity, and instincts to be a big-time performer at linebacker. His experience at safety shows in his coverage comfortability, and he’s grown quite a lot as a blitzing defender over time. The Commanders will be able to run so many unique defensive looks with Styles on their roster.
8) New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Original Pick: Jordyn Tyson
Carnell Tate is still on the board in this scenario, and he was the first wide receiver off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. It could make sense to have him be the picks for the New Orleans Saints here, but if I’m staying true to my board, I’m taking my WR1 in Jordyn Tyson.
To me, Tyson is the most well-rounded wide receiver to come out of the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s a bigger and more physical weapon than Makai Lemon, and he’s a twitchier route runner than Carnell Tate. The medicals obviously came out well enough for the Saints to use a top-10 pick on him, so I trust their evaluation in that regard to complement my tape evaluation on Tyson.
9) Cleveland Browns: Francis Maiugoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Original Pick: Spencer Fano
The Cleveland Browns don’t have the chance to take Spencer Fano again in this hypothetical first round, but there’s still plenty of impressive value at offensive tackle in this instance to make up for it. In particular, Francis Mauigoa could enter a similar situation with the Browns that he has with the Giants.
Mauigoa will start as a guard in New York, with the potential to kick back to right tackle if Jermaine Eluemenor doesn’t hold up in the long term. I’d anticipate Mauigoa would do the same with the Browns, starting as their right guard with the potential to eventually replace Tytus Howard at right tackle. Either way, you’re still getting a strong, technically-sound offensive lineman.
10) New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Original Pick: Francis Mauigoa
The Giants would undoubtedly be disappointed if Mauigoa wasn’t available with the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That said, considering Malik Nabers’ injury concerns and the lack of a reliable weapon alongside him, they’d likely be content with Tate as a consolation prize.
Tate would’ve been a great complementary piece to Nabers, with the former’s size and physicality above the rim working well with the latter’s speed- and finesse-forward game. Jaxson Dart surely wouldn’t complain about having a reliable ‘X’ receiver to throw to in Year 2.
