9 Bold Predictions for 2026 NFL Draft: Jets Stun Everyone, Chiefs Pull Off Another Major Trade, More

There has been so much talk about what the New York Jets are going to do at No. 2. Many reporters and insiders around the NFL believe that the pick will be Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey, but more local reporters think it’s going to be Ohio State OLB Arvell Reese. What if it’s neither? The Jets may be running the ultimate smokescreen, which would lead them to select a third option.

Tennessee will select Sonny Styles over Jeremiyah Love at No. 4. Love has been commonly mocked to the Titans, but it's hard to imagine Robert Saleh, who enjoyed the early years of Fred Warner's career, would pass on a near-generational LB prospect like Sonny Styles. Styles gives the Tennessee Titans size, speed, versatility, and intelligence.

Also, I predict that the Chiefs will get aggressive and trade up to draft Carnell Tate. In my final seven-round mock draft, I had Kansas City trading No. 9 and No. 40 to the New York Giants for No. 5 and No. 145. The Chiefs hosted Tate on a visit, and they could easily make an aggressive move up if they fell in love with the WR. Tate has the length, elite separation ability, and elite catch-point prowess to earn Andy Reid's allure.

The Chiefs trade up for either David Bailey or Arvell Reese. Whichever player doesn't get picked by the Jets at No. 2, I anticipate will end up in Kansas City. They're armed with two first-round picks after their Trent McDuffie trade, and they have a glaring need off the edge for more pass-rushing help alongside George Karlaftis. They're unlikely to get many chances at a blue-chip prospect in the draft as long as they have Patrick Mahomes; this will be their best bet to add one.

We will see three safeties land in the first round. Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman are seemingly Day-1 locks, but I would not be shocked to see Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren land in the back end of the first round as well. A team like New England at No. 31 could certainly be in the mix.

I think Peter Woods is a top-20 pick. Woods suffered from poor production in a down year for Clemson and also probably got hit with “prospect fatigue” from the media. I think NFL teams will value his unusual movement skills as a 3-technique in a weak draft for the position. The Giants, Ravens, Jets, Vikings, Panthers, and Browns could all be candidates to take a defensive tackle.

I have two bold predictions. 1) Jermod McCoy isn't taken in the first round. Undeniably talented player, but the injury history spooks some teams into a Will Johnson-esque scenario.
2) Max Iheanachor goes top-15 in a first round that could produce nine OL selections.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will trade back. Teams will want to jump ahead of the Detroit Lions to grab one of the tackles on the board, and Tampa Bay desperately wants an EDGE (like Akheem Mesidor or Keldric Faulk) or LB (like CJ Allen or Jacob Rodriguez). Rather than reaching for one of these players, Jason Licht moves back, picks up an additional pick, and then lands his guy later.