The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner. With the NFL Scouting Combine underway, teams are preparing for top-30 visits and private workouts, which also help shed light on many free agents.
This makes it a perfect moment for an updated mock draft.
Before diving into the picks and overall thoughts, a quick note on methodology. This mock draft reflects what I believe will happen, informed by current trends among teams and players, along with recent conversations I’ve had. It’s worth mentioning, though, that we’re in the “season of lies”—a time when everything you hear often has hidden motives.
Still, given the current landscape, this is one potential scenario for how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could unfold.
| pick | team | player | position | school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana |
| 2 | New York Jets | Abel Reese | LB | Ohio |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | Jeremiah Love | RB | Notre Dame |
| 5 | New York Giants | Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | Kaydin Proctor | OT | Alabama |
| 7 | Washington Commanders | Ruben Bain Jr. | CB | Miami |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | David Bailey | CB | Texas Tech |
| 9 | Kansas City Chiefs | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | Mansour Deran | CB | LSU |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | Keldric Folk | CB | Auburn |
| 13 | Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) | Colonel Tate | WR | Ohio |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Akheem Messidor | CB | Miami |
| 16 | New York Jets (via IND) | Makai Lemon | WR | USC |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | Monroe Freeling | OT | Georgia |
| 18 | Minnesota Vikings | Dillon Thieneman | S | Oregon |
| 19 | Carolina Panthers | Kenyon Sadik | TE | Oregon |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys (via GB) | Avion Terrell | CB | Clemson |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama |
| 22 | Los Angeles Chargers | Olaiba Vega Ioane | IOL | Penn State |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | Caleb Lom | OT | Utah |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns (via JAX) | KC Concepcion | WR | Texas A&M |
| 25 | Chicago Bears | Kayden McDonald | DT | Ohio |
| 26 | Buffalo Bills | TJ Parker | CB | Clemson |
| 27 | San Francisco 49ers | Peter Woods | DT | Clemson |
| 28 | Houston Texans | Emmanuel Pregnon | IOL | Oregon |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR) | Colton Hood | CB | Tennessee |
| 30 | Miami Dolphins (via DEN) | Cassius Howell | CB | Texas A&M |
| 31 | New England Patriots | Omar Cooper Jr. | WR | Indiana |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | Jadarian Price | RB | Notre Dame |
Jeremiah Love completes the top five picks.
There are two reasons why Jeremiah Love appears at No. 4 in this mock draft for the Tennessee Titans.
Firstly, over the last four months, Love has made a remarkable ascent in mock drafts, moving into the top 10, particularly around the holiday season, and later reaching No. 9 with the Kansas City Chiefs as a frequent landing spot in earlier drafts.
The second factor is the Titans’ activity during free agency. Previously, it seemed they might select a pass rusher, with Reuben Bain Jr. often mentioned. However, the Titans have strengthened their defense by signing several players, including Jermaine Johnson II and John Franklin Myers.
Could they still opt for a pass rusher like Bain? Maybe, but given their recent additions, it seems like they might want to focus elsewhere.
Also, I have this feeling that Brian Daboll would appreciate having a player like Love on his roster.
Kaydin Proctor has now moved up to the 6th spot.
I’ve noticed some analysts are quite passionate about their takes, which includes my friend Jeff Risdon.
That’s why I paid attention when he discussed Alabama’s Kadin Proctor.
He noted:
In discussions about various offensive tackle classes, it was clear how highly valued Proctor is by several teams.
I’m not the biggest fan of Proctor, as I ranked him 71st overall. He has notable balance issues and a tendency to overextend, which I believe are significant concerns. Still, I always anticipated he would be a likely first-round pick due to his size and performance at Alabama. However, I didn’t expect him to be a strong contender for the first offensive lineman off the board.
But I might need to adjust my view. Teams have high expectations for him to be selected within the top 15 picks, with some scouts believing he could even go in the top 10. After I expressed surprise, he reminded me that size is a key factor for NFL coaches.
Looking at the Browns, I would prioritize adding an offensive lineman at No. 6 and possibly a wide receiver later. As Daniel Jeremiah pointed out, the Browns really need to address both positions in the first round of the draft.
It makes sense, especially given Risdon’s close ties to the Browns.
Ty Simpson has been in the spotlight lately, helped by ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
Previously, I had the Rams selecting Simpson with one of their first-round picks to plan for Matthew Stafford’s eventual replacement. But due to a trade with the Chiefs, the Rams now seem to be more focused on immediate success regarding their top-15 picks.
This doesn’t rule out the Rams taking a quarterback later on (likely LSU’s Garrett Nussmeyer), but a pairing with Simpson now seems unlikely.
Whether Simpson will get picked in the first round is still up in the air. Some ESPN analysts recently provided varying probabilities on his chances of being drafted. One analyst had him at 90%, another at 75%, and one at just 25%.
Pittsburgh might be the most probable team to select him without needing to trade.
They wait in anticipation for Aaron Rodgers.
The Rams could benefit from surprising fallers.
The outlook for Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate has shifted recently.
A player who was among the top picks a few months ago is now sitting just outside the top 10. However, if the Browns decide to prioritize a wide receiver over an offensive tackle, Tate could certainly be an option at No. 6. But if that’s not the case, the Rams have positioned themselves well for Tate at No. 13.
Given the Rams’ interest in AJ Brown, it seems likely that Tate is now on their radar as well.
