2026 NFL Mock Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory, with a strong mix of quarterbacks, elite defensive talent, and explosive playmakers across the board. Teams are looking to solidify their futures, and several franchises in the top 10 are expected to make franchise-altering decisions. With rising stars on both sides of the ball, this class offers plenty of intrigue.

Here’s a quick breakdown of our projected first-round picks, with brief explanations for each selection.

Now let’s get to it!

UPDATED 3/21/26!

Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders finally pull the trigger on a franchise passer with the size and arm talent to stabilize the post-Geno era.
New York Jets – Arvell Reese, DE, Ohio State
New York adds a high-motor edge rusher with elite length to keep their defensive front among the league’s most feared.
Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
Arizona needs a young pass rusher, and Bailey brings the explosive burst required to collapse pockets in the NFC West.
Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans return to a dominant run game with an explosive, versatile back who can carry the load on all three downs.
New York Giants – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
With the offensive line still a work in progress, Mauigoa offers plug-and-play reliability as a foundational bookend.
Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Cleveland needs an elite separator, and Tate’s elite hands make him a safe, high-volume target for the offense.
Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL)
Bain is a relentless, heavy-handed rusher who fits the aggressive defensive identity Washington is trying to rebuild.
New Orleans Saints – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
A versatile chess piece who can cover and blitz, Styles provides the sideline-to-sideline range the Saints’ defense lacks.
Kansas City Chiefs – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
With an eye on the future at tight end, KC grabs a freakish athlete who can create mismatches all over the field.
Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is a tone-setting safety with elite instincts, instantly anchoring a secondary that has been prone to big plays.
Miami Dolphins – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
With multiple corners hitting the market, Delane provides the sticky man-coverage skills needed to survive in the AFC East.
Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Dallas prioritizes ball skills and speed, adding an SEC-tested corner who can thrive in high-pressure situations.
Los Angeles Rams – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Fano brings the versatility and technical polish to stabilize the Rams’ front for years to come.
Baltimore Ravens – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson gives Baltimore a vertical threat with the size to stretch defenses and win contested catches.
Tampa Bay – Akeem Mesidor, DE, Miami (FL)
The Bucs reload their pass rush with a disruptive interior/exterior hybrid who plays with a relentless motor.
New York Jets – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
After addressing the defense, the Jets give their offense some much-needed juice with a crisp route runner who creates good separation.
Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Detroit loves physical, tough-minded blockers, and Freeling fits the “kneecap-biting” mold perfectly.
Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Purdue
A high-IQ safety with elite range, Thieneman provides the back-end stability Minnesota needs as they transition their secondary.
Carolina Panthers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Woods gives Carolina disruptive interior juice and a long-term building block for a defense in desperate need of power.
Dallas Cowboys – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
A modern linebacker with elite speed, Allen gives the Cowboys a playmaker who can roam downhill and cover tight ends.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Pittsburgh continues to prioritize trench dominance, adding a powerful, wide-bodied guard to anchor their run game.
Los Angeles Chargers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Protecting the quarterback is the top priority, and Proctor is a massive, nasty blocker built for Jim Harbaugh’s system.
Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
With an aging line, the Eagles secure a reliable tackle with the technical floor to start early if needed.
Cleveland Browns – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Browns take a swing on Simpson’s mobility and pedigree, looking for a potential succession plan under center.
Chicago Bears – Kevin Conception, WR, Texas A&M
Chicago adds a dynamic, versatile weapon who can win in the slot and provide a safety valve for Caleb Williams.
Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
Howell brings elite speed off the edge, giving Buffalo the specialized pass-rush juice they’ve lacked in the postseason.
San Francisco 49ers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
A ball-hawking safety with great instincts, he fits the 49ers’ scheme perfectly as a reliable deep-field defender.
Houston Texans – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Houston continues to build through the trenches, adding a powerful rusher with the length to collapse pockets.
Kansas City Chiefs – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The Chiefs double down on protection, securing a high-ceiling tackle to keep Patrick Mahomes clean.
Miami Dolphins – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
A massive target with a huge catch radius, Boston adds a different dimension to Miami’s track-team receiving corps.
New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE, Missouri
Young is a relentless defender who brings the discipline and motor that the Patriots’ front seven demands.
Seattle Seahawks – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Seattle caps the round with a high-upside edge rusher who fits their developmental mold for defensive disruptors.