2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full First Round Projections

It’s time for my final 2026 NFL Mock Draft, as we’re just days away from finding out where the top prospects will start their NFL careers. In a draft class that lacks premier talent, this first round could get chaotic.

I share my latest projections for all first round picks in this NFL Mock Draft for 2026. Let’s begin with a quick summary.

Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Tennessee Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
New Orleans Saints – Reuben Bain, EDGE, Miami
Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Cincinnati Bengals – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Los Angeles Rams – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Baltimore Ravens – Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
New York Jets – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Detroit Lions – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Carolina Panthers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Dallas Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Pittsburgh Steelers – Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
Los Angeles Chargers – Kaydn McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Philadelphia Eagles – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Cleveland Browns – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Chicago Bears – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
Buffalo Bills – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
San Francisco 49ers – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Houston Texans – Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
Kansas City Chiefs – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Miami Dolphins – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Seattle Seahawks – Kadyn Proctor, IOL, Alabama

1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Mendoza landing with the Raiders has been a lock of a draft pick since before the College Football National Championship. There’s zero reason to change that now, so I won’t spend much time talking about it.

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

The Jets need an athletic boost for their defense after trading away two of their best players at the trade deadline. Reese is an explosive, rare prospect that can be creatively deployed to wreak havoc. His quickness and instincts make him a dangerous combo of fluid off-ball linebacker and deadly blitzer.

3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

If Reese is off the board, the next best route for the Cardinals to go is drafting one of the most reliable prospects in this class to bolster their offensive line. If the Cardinals choose to wait until next year to draft a quarterback, it would behoove them to strengthen their protection for a future rookie.

4. Tennessee Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Bailey’s physical profile is exactly what new head coach Robert Saleh covets in his pass rushers. Length and juice are exactly what Tennessee needs for its nonexistent pass rush.

5. New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Giants’ defense was atrocious at stopping the run last year. On top of this, their safety room was extremely underwhelming despite early-draft investment and free-agent moves to address it. Downs fixes both problems thanks to his impressive natural instincts and refined tackling ability.

6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Cleveland’s offensive line desperately needs a young prospect to take over at left tackle. Freeling may not fit the prototype of a typical top 10 tackle selection, but he has the mobility and length to boost the Browns’ underwhelming group.

7. Washington Commanders – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

If Jeremiyah Love makes it this far without anyone trading up to go get him, I cannot imagine the Commanders passing on drafting him. Adding Love next to Jayden Daniels would create the most athletic backfield in the NFL. Good luck trying to slow down two home-run threats.

8. New Orleans Saints – Reuben Bain, EDGE, Miami

While a projected slide is on the table for Bain following reports of a past reckless driving incident, I don’t foresee him completely falling out of the top 10. Bain’s power and motor will make him a high-impact run defender from the jump with the potential to become a menace for New Orleans.

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Considering Travis Kelce’s age, drafting a new weapon for Patrick Mahomes at tight end should be a priority in this draft class. Sadiq is a rare athlete for a tight end with shades of Vernon Davis. Just imagine a player of that caliber being in this Chiefs offense.

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Bengals need to do everything possible to fix their defense at every single level. Linebacker was a glaring issue last season, and Styles falling into their lap at 10 is a perfect scenario. His instincts and range will immediately improve their struggling run defense.

11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

While McCoy had injury questions coming out of the NFL Combine, his Pro Day performance calmed those concerns. Miami needs new players all over this roster, and the selection of McCoy gives them a prospect with Pro Bowl potential.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Cowboys are another team with numerous defensive holes that need to be addressed in order to fix a struggling defense. Delane is the type of high-floor player who was incredibly sticky in coverage while at LSU that they need to target.

13. Los Angeles Rams – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Los Angeles did everything possible this offseason to gear up for a legit Super Bowl run in 2026. The last remaining potential need appears to be adding one final receiver piece to make their offense comically good. Tate fits nicely as a secondary option and deep threat to complement Puka Nacua.

14. Baltimore Ravens – Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

Protecting Lamar Jackson over the next five years needs to be the top priority for the Ravens, especially now that we’re seeing him get more and more banged up recently. Ioane is one of the higher-floor players in this class who will go on to be a steady starter for seven to ten years.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

The Buccaneers’ pass rush could use an improvement after they’ve been seeking that next premier rusher for some time. Mesidor may be an older prospect, but he shows technical hand usage that could translate into early production in Tampa Bay.

16. New York Jets – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

After taking the best player available, the Jets have a chance to find another weapon for their offense. Lemon’s impact in the slot will work well alongside Garrett Wilson. Additionally, if the intention is to draft a quarterback in 2027, taking Lemon would further bolster their offensive foundation.

17. Detroit Lions – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

Detroit has seemingly avoided drafting a complementary rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson for some time. Taking Young accomplishes that, as he can provide an early impact against the run.

18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

This has become the most cliché first-round pick possible, but I’m going to continue to project it. Minnesota is looking for a replacement for Harrison Smith, and Thieneman’s instincts and speed make him the right candidate to pick up where he left off.

19. Carolina Panthers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Carolina has a shockingly well-balanced roster, making projecting a first-round pick difficult. McNeil-Warren’s profile fits the Panthers’ goals of becoming a contending team, as he has a rare combination of size and explosiveness.

20. Dallas Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Faulk’s production in his final year at Auburn was underwhelming, but his tools are still undeniable. His length and power will enable him to be an overpowering run defender while he learns to become a productive pass rusher.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana

It feels as though Pittsburgh intends to go all in on a Super Bowl run over the next few years, despite its aging roster. The best way to get closer to that goal is by adding a shifty and versatile receiver like Omar Cooper Jr.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kaydn McDonald, DT, Ohio State

Jim Harbaugh has always been a coach who has emphasized winning through the trenches, on both sides of the ball. Knowing that, it makes plenty of sense for them to target a mauling nose tackle to eat up space with McDonald.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

This would be a steep fall for Tyson, and of course, the Eagles are the beneficiaries of it. Assuming AJ Brown is moved after the draft, they’ll be looking for a new target early this year. Tyson’s upside is tremendous if he can stay healthy, making him a huge steal at this spot.

24. Cleveland Browns – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

I find it too hard to believe that Simpson would have declared, given all his feedback from the NFL, and then fall out of the first round. The Browns need a reset at quarterback for the millionth time. Simpson has the accuracy and decisiveness to eventually become the steadying force in this offense.

25. Chicago Bears – Christen Miller, DT, Georgia

The Bears’ defensive line needs to improve during this draft, and the best candidate on the board to help with that goal is Miller. His mobility and burst present a high ceiling for becoming a disruptive force in the interior.

26. Buffalo Bills – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

If the Bills don’t draft a receiver in the first round, it would be a hilarious mistake after their recent offensive woes. Concepcion is a very different receiver than the struggling Keon Coleman. His juice makes him not only an explosive deep threat but also a weapon as a punt returner.

27. San Francisco 49ers – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Getting younger along the offensive line should be a goal in this year’s draft for the 49ers. Fano can play multiple positions for San Francisco thanks to his light feet and easy movement skills.

28. Houston Texans – Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M

After watching CJ Stroud get mauled again in the playoffs, it couldn’t be more obvious that the Texans need to add more offensive line pieces. They were aggressive in free agency, but a prospect of Bisontis’s caliber should be in the mix early. His mauling presence is exactly what they need.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

After trading away Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs need to look for a new starting cornerback in this class. Hood excelled at every step of the pre-draft process and has the film to back him as a plus starting outside cornerback in the NFL.

30. Miami Dolphins – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Dolphins’ offseason yard sale showed that Miami is looking to rebuild gradually. One of the best approaches they can take with this pick is to select the highest-upside tackle to bring along slowly. Iheanachor moves very fluidly and has the potential to blossom into a top ten right tackle once this team is ready to compete again.

31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Patriots’ pass rush was underwhelming at times last year, and they were depleted at EDGE this offseason. Howell may lack prototypical EDGE length, but his quickness and nuanced hand usage are what they need right now.

32. Seattle Seahawks – Kadyn Proctor, IOL, Alabama

Seattle’s roster is one of the best in the NFL, but it could use a new starting guard to take over for Anthony Bradford. Proctor projects best moving inside, becoming a people-mover thanks to his enormous build.

NFL Mock Draft 2026: Mendoza the Clear Top Pick