Almost there, friends. Depending on when you’re reading this, the 2026 NFL Draft is just a little over 24 hours away. We already know who the Las Vegas Raiders will choose first. They’re set to select quarterback Fernando Mendoza. For more about his journey from a two-star recruit to the top pick, check out SB Nation’s exclusive interview with him.
Now, let’s recap the latest rumblings about what might happen in the draft.
Could an offensive tackle make it into the first 15 picks? That’s what ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler suggested on social media. He’s not alone in thinking this could be a big topic on Thursday night. Another ESPN analyst, Dan Graziano, predicted that anywhere from seven to ten offensive linemen would be drafted in the first round. Teams like the Lions, Panthers, Steelers, Chargers, Eagles, Browns, Bears, 49ers, Chiefs, and Patriots are all looking to snag a new offensive lineman. Graziano even pointed out that the Kansas City Chiefs might use the ninth pick on an offensive tackle, a move that wouldn’t surprise anyone. If Ioane is available, he could be picked by Baltimore at number 14.
In our most recent mock draft, we saw seven offensive linemen selected, which aligns neatly with Graziano’s forecasts. Though the actual run on offensive tackles didn’t happen until later, with the Eagles choosing Blake Miller at 23 and the Browns taking Max Iheanakor at 24. Still, it looks like that trend could shift sooner than expected.
Now, what’s on the mind of the New York Giants? Since they made a huge trade for Dexter Lawrence, there’s been a lot of speculation about their plans for the fifth and tenth picks. On Monday, reports identified Sonny Styles, Jeremiah Love, and Caleb Downs as possible options for the fifth pick. Notably, a trade could be in play if David Bailey is available. For the tenth pick, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson seems like a candidate, but Graziano believes it’s likely they’ll opt for an offensive lineman instead, potentially Penn State’s Olaiba Vega Ioane.
As for Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, his injury status is still a hot topic leading up to the draft. Some teams see his knee injury, resulting from recent ACL surgery, as a “degenerative” issue. Reports also suggest he might need further surgery to address other complications in his knee, unrelated to the ACL repair. It’s reminiscent of last year, when cornerback Will Johnson, initially expected to be a top ten pick, fell to the second round because of his own injury concerns.
Is Ty Simpson still in the conversation for the Rams? At the start of mock draft season, he was a popular speculative pick for Los Angeles at the end of the first round. However, after they traded that pick for cornerback Trent McDuffie, it seemed like his chance to learn from Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay was slipping away. The Rams currently hold only one pick in their first 60 selections—No. 13 from Atlanta. With Stafford recently signing a new contract, there’s pressure for the Rams to secure someone who can contribute quickly.
Graziano doesn’t seem convinced, though. He mentioned that Simpson could still be in play if they trade down or even at No. 13. Yet, it’s unclear if the Rams truly need immediate help at that pick to boost their Super Bowl chances. If they take Simpson early, they may face backlash for not addressing more pressing needs with their aging quarterback. However, if they see him as Stafford’s potential successor, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to grab him.
In the midst of all this, if the Rams were to pick Simpson, they would need to be wary of their division rivals, the Arizona Cardinals, who could be eyeing him as well.
Let’s turn to the Chicago Bears. Leading up to the 2026 draft, they haven’t received much attention, but that might be changing. Initially, pass rushers were a hot choice in mock drafts, targeting players like Zion Young and TJ Parker. More recently, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren has caught traction as a popular pick, but there’s word that the Bears are favoring Keldrick Faulk from Auburn due to his rapport with their defensive coordinator.
Next up, there’s been growing chatter about the Dallas Cowboys potentially trading within the first round to grab one of their preferred defensive prospects. Some even speculate they might trade all the way up to third to select Arbel Reese. But Graziano thinks it’s more plausible they’ll consider trading down from No. 20 instead.
The Cowboys have pressing defensive needs and would be thrilled if they could land either Styles or Downs at No. 12. Without a second-round pick due to previous trades, there’s some urgency for them to recover some value on Day 2.
Lastly, can the Jaguars move up in the draft? They won’t be picking this Thursday due to last year’s acquisition of Travis Hunter Jr. But reports suggest moving up might not be out of the question. They have a total of 11 picks this year, and with plans projected for ten more in 2027, they’ve got the firepower to make a move. It’s tough to determine if they’ll actually follow through, but it’s a possibility that’s being taken seriously.
If they do target a player in the first round, it could be Oregon State tight end Kenyon Sadik, as noted by a local writer.
