It’s been a crazy week in the NFL. The league year flipped to 2026, opening up free agency and trades. All the recent player movement makes it an excellent time to update the 2026 NFL Draft projections. 

These are projections of what the teams might do in the given situation. It does not necessarily reflect the choices I would make in the given situation or reflect the big board rankings. This one carries a theme: the offensive line, specifically the OTs in the class, come off the board later than typically projected.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana. No change foreseen; Mendoza is the man for the Raiders. 

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State. Trading away Jermaine Johnson creates a big hole for the Jets pass rush, and Reese has the athletic upside and savvy to fill it. 

3. Arizona Cardinals: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami FL. Where Bain comes off the board is a fascinating watch. Great football player, unspectacular and short-armed athlete. In this scenario, the Cardinals bank on the former outweighing the latter.

4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech. Who will the first player to hold up the redesigned Titans jersey at the draft? Here, it’s the dynamic Bailey to bolster a pass rush that remains a work in (very real forward) progress. 

5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State. This is a John Harbaugh pick for a John Harbaugh type of player, a whipsmart, impactful field general in the middle of the defense. 

6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia. Freeling needs some seasoning, but he’s got high-end potential as a bookend building block for the all-new Browns offensive line in 2026 and beyond. 

7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State. After spending big money to revamp the defense, Washington turns here to Tate to help perk up a receiving corps that currently consists of an aging Terry McLaurin and a lot of question marks. 

8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC. His clunky pro day display notwithstanding, Lemon’s physical style and ability to dominate the middle of the field make him a nice concept to pair with Chris Olave, who just might be the only current Saints WR you’ve ever heard of. 

10. Kansas City Chiefs: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn. Faulk’s youthful promise and powerful athleticism haven’t generated a lot of production yet. The Chiefs roll the dice on a player who could quickly overtake Chris Jones as their preeminent pass rush threat. 

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State. The only issue with the Bengals taking the multi-talented Downs is that there’s only one of him. Cincinnati desperately needs a defensive player with both a high floor and a high ceiling. That’s Downs. 

11. Miami Dolphins: Gerald McNeill-Warren, S, Toledo. We have our first big surprise with McNeill-Warren, an impact defender with great size who was always around the ball in college. He fits the playmaking safety/heavy nickel role for new head coach Jeff Hafley. 

12/ Dallas Cowboys: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. The Cowboys pounce on the electrifying potential of Love, who could very well be long gone by the time this pick rolls around. Love is the kind of player who will make teams ignore perceived positional value. 

13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami FL. The Rams went years without a first-round pick, and they had two until they traded their own to the Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie. This pick goes toward a long-term building block for the OL in Maugioa, who might not have the length to stay at tackle but also projects as a strong guard prospect.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State. The pick that Raiders fans will forever look at as deleted from their cache by the failed Maxx Crosby trade turns into Ioane, a snowplow of a run blocker who helps keep the Baltimore offense humming with new head coach Jesse Minter. 

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU. The Bucs fill the hole at outside CB with the steady, high-floor Delane, who has proven he can handle all types of receivers capably. 

16. New York Jets (from IND): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee. He missed 2025 with a knee injury, but the McCoy in ‘24 was a ready-made NFL starter. He would help a Jets CB room that didn’t pick off a pass or challenge receivers nearly well enough last year. 

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson. The Lions replace longtime left tackle Taylor Decker by adding Miller, Clemson’s longtime right tackle. Miller’s length and run blocking fit well with Detroit, even if it means pushing All-Pro Penei Sewell from RT to LT. 

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon. Injecting an outstanding athlete with impact in both the run and pass game to the Minnesota defense is a nice concept. Thieneman’s outstanding Combine appears to have cemented him in the top 25. 

19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Saddiq, TE, Oregon. It’s a popular projection for the Panthers, and for good reason. Saddiq’s strong receiving skills would be a strong pairing to help boost QB Bryce Young. 

20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee. Hood helps revitalize a Cowboys secondary that struggled to stop anyone from scoring. Hood brings size, strength and attitude at outside corner. 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson. Woods fits the Steelers profile of an athletic big man and elite run defender with some (as yet unproven) pass-rush upside to bolster a defensive front that can use some youthful energy. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah. Fano might not be an NFL tackle due to his short arms, but he’s got high-end potential if he kicks inside to guard or center. The Chargers’ OL is an exercise in injury-related ambiguity, so adding versatility like Fano offers makes sense. 

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah. The second Utah OT in as many picks, Lomu is a little more developmental than Fano, though he also offers a higher ceiling. The Eagles can do what they do--draft for future need from a position of strength. 

24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana. A playmaking wideout with a winning pedigree, Cooper’s ability to win at the second and third levels of the defense expands the Browns offense under new head coach Todd Monken. 

25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State. The Bears need to get tougher up the middle, and that’s what McDonald serves up. He isn’t a refined pass rusher yet, but he doesn’t get moved backward and has nice athletic upside. 

26. Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson. Parker wins with a barrage of power pass rush moves, and he’s ready to roll right away. That’s important for a Bills team looking to keep a championship window open. 

27. San Francisco 49ers: K.C. Concepción, WR, Texas A&M. One of the biggest winners of the college season and draft cycle, Concepción would greatly expand the 49ers passing offense with his speed and elusiveness after the catch. 

28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State. It’s cliché to always project offensive linemen to Houston, but it’s so common because it’s still an issue for the Texans. Iheanachor offers great athletic potential with a very high ceiling but is still learning the nuances of football. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State. Tyson would be long gone if he had a clean bill of health. The Chiefs roll the dice that the most compelling wideout prospect in the draft can get--and stay--healthy. 

30. Miami Dolphins: (from DEN): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami. Mesidor’s age could restrict him to interest only from teams ready to win right now. That may not be Miami, but they can find good use for his polished pass rush and intensity off the edge. 

31. New England Patriots: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee. A long and speedy outside threat, Brazzell isn’t the typical “Tennessee” wideout. He’s got the ability to elevate Drake Maye and the Pats passing offense. 

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame. Sure, it’s convenient to replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker with a player like Price whose profile is similar. That doesn’t make it a bad idea, even if it’s probably higher than Price is generally projected. 

Teams without a first-round pick:

Indianapolis Colts, No. 47: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Atlanta Falcons, No. 48: Keionte Scott, CB, Miami 

Green Bay Packers, No. 52: Brian Parker, OL, Duke

Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 56: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri