2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Post-Free Agency Edition)

Our first Mock Draft of 2026 comes with just under a month until the real thing on April 23rd. With the bulk of Free Agency moves finalized, there's a much better outlook on where teams are looking to add in the draft. We ran with a similar style to last year's mocks, with Vince and Ryan alternating pick by pick. 

Pick #1 - Las Vegas Raiders - QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana 

The Raiders need a new Franchise caliber quarterback and Fernando Mendoza is clearly the best available. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion comes into Vegas with the expectation to bring the Silver and Black back to playoff contention. Mendoza seems to have the mental makeup to be able to handle the pressure in a place like Las Vegas, we’ll need to see if his skill set can translate to the NFL level. 

Pick #2 - New York Jets - LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State 

The Jets defensive overhaul this offseason continues. Consensus so far is Reese has the highest ceiling of the pass rushers in the class, showcasing a lightning quick first step with the ability to beat offensive lineman with both speed and long arm/power. That being said, this will be a raw prospect if teams want to use him as just a pass rusher. Expect the Jets to line him up all over the field early on just as Matt Patricia did at Ohio State. 

Pick #3 - Arizona Cardinals - EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech 

The Cardinals find themselves with yet another top pick and with glaring needs across the entire roster. Without a QB worth a top pick they can go with the best player available with EDGE David Bailey. GM Monti Ossenfort loves to go with the athletic freak type of players and Bailey fits that bill. His speed and explosiveness is as close to elite as you can find from a prospect and getting pressure on the QB in the loaded NFC West has to be a point of emphasis early on for Arizona 

Pick #4 - Tennessee Titans - LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Styles had top 10 hype going into combine week, he then proceeded to put up one of the best NFL combine performances we've ever seen. 100th percentile in both leaping drills and a 97th percentile 40 yard dash. Robert Saleh gets a physically imposing field general that can meet you in the backfield, line up in big nickel, and everything in between. 

Pick #5 - New York Giants - SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State 

Caleb Downs is an interesting prospect, if you throw out the positional value he’s easily a top 3 player in this draft. Harbaugh has always had stellar safety play and Downs can do a lot of what Kyle Hamilton does in Baltimore. The NFC East is a tough division and having a player as versatile and dependable as Downs in the backend would help tremendously. 

Pick #6 - Cleveland Browns - OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

The Browns were busy filling holes in their offensive line during free agency, yet they still have a large question mark at Left Tackle. Monroe Freeling is 6’7 with an incredible athletic profile and seemed to get better each week last year at Georgia. This is another bet on the upside type of pick as he’ll need to add to his frame and refine his technique, but the Browns are in no shape to “take the safe pick”. 

Pick #7 - Washington Commanders - RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame 

The Commanders run game was decent last year but they were led by 2025 7th round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt and lost Chris Rodriquez in free agency. The team signed both Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to one year deals for less than $4 million combined so Love is clearly still in play as the long term answer alongside Daniels. Love is as elusive and twitchy as any back we’ve seen as of late. Adding him to a young offense can potentially give them a spark that they desperately needed last season. 

Pick #8 - New Orleans Saints - WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

The Saints have a couple of big needs heading into this year's draft, none bigger than weapons for ascending QB Tyler Shough. This year's top WR is completely up in the air. Full transparency here, Tate isn’t our top wideout on the board. Regardless, he excels as a downfield threat with a deep route tree and the ability to manipulate coverage with his cuts and balance. All those traits create a perfect blend for what the Saints need outside. 

Pick #9 - Kansas City Chiefs - EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami 

The Chiefs have the luxury of being able to virtually go best player available with a solid roster that is poised to make a return to the playoffs once Mahomes is healthy. Bain seems like a good fit here as they really need to find a pass rush partner for George Karlaftis. Bain’s arm testing wasn’t technically up to par with NFL standards but it’s hard to look away from what he was able to do while at Miami where he showed the ability to win with speed and sound technique. 

Pick #10 - Cincinnati Bengals - CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

Mansoor Delane heads into the draft as the clear CB1 in this year's class. Sub 4.4 speed, elite college production as a consensus All-American in 2025, and some of the best instincts in the class. He’ll be productive in man or zone from the jump and if he puts on some NFL muscle, can really excel in press coverage at the next level. 

Pick #11 - Miami Dolphins- WR Makai Lemon, USC 

The new regime in Miami didn’t waste any time turning the roster upside down and embracing a full rebuild. After cutting Tyreek Hill and trading away Jaylen Waddle there’s a massive need for a versatile option in the passing game and Makai Lemon would fill that on Day 1. The Dolphins, like most teams in the top half of the draft, should be focusing on grabbing the best player left and there’s a strong case for Lemon to be the best wide receiver in this class. 

Pick #12 - Dallas Cowboys- EDGE, Keldric Faulk, Auburn

Keldric Faulk is a big body in the trenches, coming in at 6 '6 / 276 with a 40 time in the low 4.7’s. This screams versatility on the defensive line, with the ability to rush from the inside and overpower offensive lineman. The Cowboys made some abrupt changes to their defensive line in the last calendar year, Faulk can instantly impact the run game and give them a massive frame to mold. 

Pick #13 - Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) - OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami 

The Rams lost Right Tackle Rob Havenstein to retirement and could easily move up for any of the top OL in this draft. Mauigoa is a real people mover in the run game and sets a good anchor versus the bull rush. He’d give Sean McVay and Co. a real answer on that OL for the next decade plus. 

Pick #14 - Baltimore Ravens- TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon 

The Ravens could use the help on their interior offensive line, but Kenyon Sadiq is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses and we all know how much Lamar likes to target his tight ends. New Ravens OC Declan Doyle comes from Chicago who just spent premiere draft capital on a tight end, his new squad does the same here with Kenyon Sadiq. 

Pick #15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers- OG Vega Ioane, Penn St.

Vega Ioane plays like he hates whoever is lined up in front of him. The Bucs had some issues on their OL and solidifying that would go a long way into making sure Mayfield, Egbuka and Irving can succeed. The NFC South is quietly becoming competent and if the Bucs want to continue their recent success they have to keep Baker upright and healthy. 

Pick #16 New York Jets (via Colts)- WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State 

The next couple of weeks will be very telling for Jordan Tyson, who has been dealing with a lingering hamstring injury that's kept him out of offseason showcases . When on the field, Tyson separates from defenders with ease. His route running is in my opinion the best in the class, pairing that with the ability to run block, Tyson is the real deal and just needs to stay on the field. 

Pick #17 - Detroit Lions - OT Spencer Fano, Utah 

The Lions are in the same boat as the Buccaneers where they had to reconfigure the OL after free agency and retirements left some holes. Fano is a little lighter than a normal tackle but he can move in the run and screen game which would complement Gibbs and St. Brown nicely. Positional flexibility and an intense play style makes him a perfect fit in Detroit. 

Pick #18 - Minnesota Vikings - CB Jermod McCoy, TENN

It was hard to pass up on interior defensive line help here for Minnesota, but with McCoy slipping down the board it was hard not to pair him with Brian Flores. McCoy missed all 2025 with an ACL injury, prior to that injury he was considered a consensus top corner in this year's class. Much like Jordan Tyson, the next couple weeks will be crucial for McCoy’s draft stock as he’s set to participate at Tennessee's pro day on the 31st.   

Pick #19 - Carolina Panthers -  WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

This pick could easily be a defensive player like Allen, Parker or Woods but Dan Morgan seems like he really wants to get that offense younger and more explosive. Concepcion has the ability to take anything to the house and separates at a high level. McMillan and Concepcion would open up a lot of possibilities for Bryce Young and a hungry Carolina offense. 

Pick #20 - Dallas Cowboys (via Packers) - LB CJ Allen, Georgia

The Cowboys tried to shore up their woeful defense by making a couple of trades during the deadline, one being Linebacker Logan Wilson from Cincinnati for a 7th round pick. Wilson has since retired and the Cowboys are still in search of productive Linebacker play. It’s rare to see CJ Allen miss a tackle, posing as a big threat in the run game. Allen was a leader on Georgia’s stout defense last season; “Instinct & intellegent” are on just about every scouting report you’ll find.  

Pick #21 - Pittsburgh Steelers - CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson 

Pittsburgh has to figure out the back end of the defense and while Joey Porter Jr. is a nice story he’s not a reliable corner. Terrell has experience playing in zone and man predominant schemes while also bouncing inside and outside. I believe Terrell is better as a slot corner, a position at this getting more and more important every season. 

Pick #22 - Los Angeles Chargers - EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

The College Football Playoff was very friendly to Miami draft prospects, but no Hurricane saw a bigger boost than EDGE rusher Ahkeem Mesidor. One of the more polished prospects at this position group, his main knock is his age as he’ll be 25 entering this NFL Season. Mesidor’s pass rush repertoire is deep, sequencing different moves to keep opposing lineman off balance. The Chargers get an NFL ready defensive weapon.  

Pick #23 - Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson 

TJ Parker came into the 2025 CFB season as a clear top 10 prospect but with his slight struggles in the new defensive system drops him down. Parker can win with speed and sound pass rushing technique, flashing a high motor that helps in the run game as he can sift through traffic and hunt down backs. While there’s some inconsistencies to his game the traits are clearly there. 

Pick #24 - Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars) - WR Omar Cooper Jr, Indiana

We gave Cleveland the last piece to their new look offensive line at pick #6, next up is a weapon who can win on all three levels of the field. Omar Cooper Jr. had a hell of a junior year at Indiana, finishing with 14 total TD’s, over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, and a solid 71 yard performance in the National Title game. His ability to produce after the catch will get him on the field early for Todd Monken.  

Pick #25 - Chicago Bears - SAF Dillon Thieneman, Oregon 

Chicago lost Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in free agency, presenting a need to bring in a big playmaker in the back end. Thieneman is just that, his athletic testing was off the charts and has experience at both safety spots as well as nickel corner. A true chess piece that can create turnovers and give the ball back to Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson makes too much sense here. 

Pick #26 - Buffalo Bills - IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

Back to back Ducks! The Bills could use some pop on the inside of their line after losing David Edwards this offseason. Pregnon is a pass pro specialist that just had an amazing combine. He features massive 11’ hands that can latch on and a powerful frame to anchor down. It will take some time for him to find his groove in the run game but you’re getting a day 1 starter here in the 1st. 

Pick #27 - San Francisco 49ers - OT Caleb Lomu, Utah 

The 49ers offensive line was a real dark spot last year and it seemed like it got covered up nationally due to the team's historically bad injury bug. With no real star outside of 38 year old Trent Williams it's time to invest in the future and Caleb Lomb fits their run scheme perfectly. While Lomu isn’t nearly a finished product his traits and testing show a player who can step in right away and give you a solid option right off the bat while learning from future Hall of Famer Trent Williams. The 49ers can only go as far as their OL will take them, hopefully this is the year that John Lynch realizes that. 

Pick #28 - Houston Texans - IDL Peter Woods, Clemson

Houston used their first three picks last year to shore up immediate needs on offense, this year they’re adding some juice to their defensive interior with Peter Woods. Woods had a disappointing 2025 season, seeing dips in almost every benchmark stat for his position. Still, the athletic profile and ability to create pressure through the middle gives DeMeco Ryans a moldable piece to unleash in his already formidable defense. 

Pick #29 - Kansas City Chiefs (via Rams) - CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina 

The Chiefs have seen great success drafting corners in the past 4 years, and after losing both starters to the Rams this offseason, the need still remains. Brandon Cisse is a long rangy corner who plays best in man coverage and has the ability to come up and defend the run at a high level. 

Pick #30 - Miami Dolphins (via Broncos) - SAF Emmanuel McNiel-Warren, Toledo

It feels like this pick needs to be the best player available for the Dolphins. For us that is the 2nd team All-American out of Toledo, who can not only step into recently traded Minkah Fitzpatrick’s role, but become a player who lines up all over the secondary. McNiel-Warren has the length and size that scouts salivate over, and his college production hints at him being a player who will be around the ball early and often. 

Pick #31 - New England Patriots - OT Blake Miller, Clemson 

Despite the deep postseason run the Patriots offensive line was subpar last year. 2025 first round pick Will Campbell was seemingly exposed in the playoffs after coming back from injury. The Patriots need to spend some more capital to keep Drake Maye upright. Miller could start week 1 at Right Tackle and could eventually kick over to Left Tackle if Will Campbell continues to struggle there. Miller is still a raw prospect but shows up well in both facets of the game. A 54 game starter at Clemson he has the experience needed to make a quick adjustment to the league. 

Pick #32 - Seattle Seahawks - EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

The defending champs go with a speed rusher to help offset the loss of Boye Mafe. John Sneider has aced his last 5 1st round picks, so much success that he’s having to decide which star players he’ll be able to financially retain long term. Cashius Howell gives them a pass rush specialist with elite speed and bend off the edge, something that plays immediately on 3rd and long. 

Written By: Vincenzo Sciacqua & Ryan Mobley // Upside Play