With less than two weeks left until the 2026 NFL Draft, we’ve run another Mock Draft through our very own Draft Simulator. Here are some of the biggest takeaways.
April Mock Draft, Fantasy Football Spin
The New York Jets Trade To Get another Top-3 Pick
The Jets hold the second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which they’ve used to strengthen their defense with the addition of David Bailey, the best defensive player in the draft, from Texas Tech. However, in this MDS simulation, New York also traded their second first-round pick, the 16th overall selection, as well as their second-round picks at 34th and 44th, to add an elite receiver in Carnell Tate.
The Ohio State prospect is not only seen as a Year 1 starter at the next level, but he’s widely considered one of the most impactful wideouts in this class. Tate was a First-team All-Big Ten Conference in 2025 and started in 11 games for the Buckeyes, making 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 17.2 yards per grab. While the Jets could consider other options here, Tate fits perfectly as a No. 1 outside threat who can contribute from Week 1 of the regular season.
Jeremiyah Love Falls Outside Of The Top 10
Love is considered one of the top RB prospects in the 2026 class, but in this simulation, he was overlooked by several franchises until he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 15th overall pick. That’s probably the most surprising aspect of this simulation, as Love is often considered a Top-5 to Top-10 pick in most mock drafts while constantly being linked with teams like the Tennessee Titans and the New Orleans Saints.
However, in this case, the Titans went with EDGE Arvell Reese, while the Saints went with USC wideout Makai Lemon — both of whom are outstanding prospects in their own right. Despite falling to the 15th selection, Love was still the top RB taken, which reflects a tendency not to draft RBs in the Top 10. Love has the numbers to produce at the NFL level, however, as he’s racked up 2,497 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Makai Lemon Joining New Orleans
Even though the Saints have been heavily linked with Love, in this simulation, they’ve gone ahead and selected Lemon with the eighth overall pick. Lemon was the second WR taken in this simulation behind Carnell Tate, but like his Ohio State counterpart, Lemon is an excellent wideout who’s ready to contribute from Day 1 of the 2026 regular season. He is a high-skill, high-volume receiver who should need some time to develop, and while he could start right away, he might need a full season under his belt to start showing his potential.
Lemon has the accolades to back up his status as a top prospect, though. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wideout and ranked eighth in FBS with 1,156 receiving yards on 79 catches, while also ranking tied for ninth with 11 receiving TDs. He would certainly become a reliable weapon on offense for the Saints.
