The 2026 NFL Draft is upon us! All eyes are on Pittsburgh as the host city for the annual selection extravaganza. We've already done our final big board, comphrehensive positional breakdowns for quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive tackles. That means it’s time for the final mock draft projection. 

I went through the first three rounds, which constitute the top 100 picks. No trades in the mock, though they will certainly happen. This is a projection of what I think may happen, not necessarily what I would do. After about the first 30 or so picks, the focus turns more to marrying player and draft slot than team and player, though those two hands often come together. 

Without further ado, the final mock draft for the 2026 NFL Draft!

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana. The only real drama here is, what jersey number will Mendoza choose as a Raider? 
   
   
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech. This pick sure feels like either Bailey or Arvell Reese. Bailey offers more proven, immediate pass-rush punch. 
   
   
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami. The Cardinals have any number of options here. In this scenario, they go with a high-floor lineman in Mauigoa who could start at either RT or guard. Trading back and landing Mauigoa and another Day 2 pick would be a better, and perfectly plausible, outcome. 
   
   
4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State. The idea of Jeremiyah Love is intriguing, but the potential to land a superstar defender with the ability to impact the game from multiple spots is too tempting for a Titans defense that needs catalysts. 
   
   
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State. An athletic freak of a field general to build a defense around, Styles to the Giants and John Harbaugh is something we heard a lot of during the Combine, and I’m not going to stray from it--especially now that the Giants have another top 10 pick. 
   
   
6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia. It might not be Cleveland making this pick at 6, but the Freeling-to-Cleveland feeling has some real legs. I don’t buy the WR talk, certainly not at 6. Major trade back candidate.
   
   
7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. Too many trustworthy people have been saying for too long that Love’s floor is Washington to ignore. 
   
   
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State. Tate makes a ton of sense to help boost Tyler Shough, as does Jordyn Tyson. Mansoor Delane can’t be ruled out. 
   
   
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn. The Chiefs have a bunch of options to sate some roster thirsts here. Could be a CB like Mansoor Delane, could be Jordyn Tyson, could even be Kenyon Sadiq. Faulk certainly makes sense with his upside, age and ability to play all over the line. 
   
   
10. New York Giants (from CIN): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State. The bounty from the Dexter Lawrence trade. The Giants have shown considerable recent interest in the dynamic but oft-injured Tyson, who would pair with Malik Nabers as an imposing 1-2 punch in New York’s receiving corps. 
    
    
11. Miami Dolphins: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami. The Dolphins stay local with the powerful Bain, opting for his pass rush prowess over top CB Mansoor Delane and S Caleb Downs, who is the big faller thus far in this mock. 
    
    
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU. Delane is the draft’s top cover man, and his polished all-around game is a big answer for one of the Cowboys’ biggest ongoing questions. 
    
    
13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State. Top safeties have a habit of falling much further than expected (Kyle Hamilton, Brian Branch, Malachi Starks). The Rams pounce on Downs here, if they haven’t already traded up. 
    
    
14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah. I had Vega Ioane here but switched to the more positionally versatile Fano, who is a higher-end athlete. Either one makes a lot of sense in helping Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense.  
    
    
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon. Another pairing that dates back to Indy and the Combine. It made a lot of sense, and now, especially with the (perceived) top pass rushers all gone. Mesidor and Ioane should be considered here too. 
    
    
16. New York Jets (from IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC. A tough wizard with the ball in his hands, Lemon adds a much-needed playmaker to the Jets anemic passing offense. 
    
    
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson. Miller is an optimal Grit Fit for Dan Campbell’s Lions, and he’s the most starting-ready talent at the position of Detroit’s biggest long-term need. If Freeling were on the board, I’d change the prediction to him. 
    
    
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon. A longtime pairing in the making, Thieneman to the Vikings has been making the rounds for months. If he’s gone. 
    
    
19. Carolina Panthers: Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, S, Toledo. I view the Panthers as the absolute floor for Thieneman, and with him gone, Carolina pivots to a rawer safety with high-end upside and proven takeaway creation skills in McNeill-Warren. 
    
    
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia. Dallas uses its second first-rounder on a rangy field general for the middle of the defense. A pass rusher here (Faulk if he’s on the board, Mesidor) wouldn’t be surprising at all either. 
    
    
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana. The Steelers can use Cooper’s reliable game-breaking skills, and there are connections between the Pittsburgh staff and Indiana that are hard to overlook. 
    
    
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State. The Chargers restore some brute force to the offensive interior with Ioane. Might be low for the mauler from Penn State, but I don’t think the NFL views him quite as highly as fans do. 
    
    
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama. It could very well take a trade up for GM Howie Roseman to land Proctor, an agile behemoth with uneven tape. I do buy into the late smoke connecting the player and team. If he’s out of reach, Lawrence or Lomu make sense. 
    
    
24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington. Tough call for Cleveland after landing OL with their first pick. Presuming this isn’t traded, this is the range that a big, promising target like Boston belongs--and the Browns need multiple WRs in this draft. 
    
    
25. Chicago Bears: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson. The Bears bank on the Parker from 2024, the one who was atop many a preseason mock draft, returning to form after an underwhelming 2025. Hard to ignore Iheanachor or Lomu as potential Bears here. 
    
    
26. Buffalo Bills: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF. This is a prime trade-back position, but Lawrence is a nice boost to the Bills' defensive front with his attacking style. 
    
    
27. San Francisco 49ers: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State. A pairing that was pitched during the Combine, I really do like the concept of Trent Williams helping to groom his eventual successor at left tackle in the promising but still green Iheanachor. 
    
    
28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State. Tempting to look at WR or OL here, but McDonald stands out as someone who can immediately make an impact on an already-awesome defense with his run-stuffing and block-soaking abilities. 
    
    
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State. Provided the Chiefs didn’t land CB (or S) earlier, this helps restock the roster in the secondary. Could very well be a pick/pairing made in the 30s, too. 
    
    
30. Miami Dolphins (from DEN): K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M. With perhaps the least imposing WR corps from top to bottom, the Dolphins can sorely use a playmaker like Concepcion. If they didn’t take a pass rusher with their earlier pick, Mesidor or Zion Young could be a play here. 
    
    
31. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami. He falls due to age and athleticism concerns, but Mesidor is a heck of a football player and pass rusher--exactly what Mike Vrabel might want to bolster the defense. 
    
    
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee. Two weeks ago, the debate was if McCoy would be a top-10 pick or not. The scary news about his knee makes him incredibly difficult to slot. He would certainly fit the Seahawks if they trust their doctors, and this pairing could very well come after a trade back, too. 
    

Second Round

33. Jets: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
    
    
34. Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama. Could very well happen in the first after a trade up, but we’re picking player/team here. 
    
    
35. Titans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
36. Raiders: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma. 
37. Giants: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
38. Texans: Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M
39. Browns: Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
40. Chiefs: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
41. Bengals: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech. After trading for Dexter Lawrence, the Bengals tab a tackling machine to play behind him and help wrest control of the middle of the field on defense. 
42. Saints: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
43. Dolphins: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona State
44. Jets: D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
45. Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
46. Buccaneers: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
    
    
47. Colts: Anthony Hil, LB, Texas. With their 1st pick, the Colts go after the rangiest LB on the board in Hill. 
    
    
48. Falcons: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida. Atlanta goes big with Banks, who has flashed first-round worthiness but has injury concerns. 
    
    
49. Vikings: Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson
50. Lions: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
51. Panthers: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
    
    
52. Packers: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan. Green Bay’s first selection tabs Moore, a crafty pass rusher and all-around good football player. Dennis-Sutton and Jacas figure to be higher in their pecking order, but they’re off the board here. 
    
    
53. Steelers: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
54. Eagles: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
55. Chargers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
    
    
56. Jaguars: Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn. The Jaguars roll with the high-upside Crawford, who is adept at both rushing the passer and dropping in short coverage. 
    
    
57. Bears: Jalon Kilgore, DB, South Carolina
58. 49ers: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
59. Texans: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
60. Bears: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
61. Rams: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
62. Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
63. Patriots: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
64. Seahawks: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Third Round

65. Cardinals: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
66. Titans: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss
67. Raiders: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
68. Eagles: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
69. Texans: Keionte Scott, DB, Miami
70. Browns: A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
71. Commanders: Jaishawn Barham, LB, Michigan
72. Bengals: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
73. Saints: Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State
74. Chiefs: Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
75. Dolphins: Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern
76. Steelers: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, Texas A&M
77. Buccaneers: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh
78. Colts: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
79. Falcons: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
80. Ravens: Davison Igbniosun, CB, Ohio State
81. Jaguars: Bud Clark, S, TCU
82. Vikings: Logan Jones, C, Iowa
83. Panthers: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
84. Packers: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
85. Steelers: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
86. Chargers: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
87. Dolphins: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
88. Jaguars: Connor Lew, C, Auburn
89. Bears: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
90. Dolphins: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
91. Bills: Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington
92. Cowboys: Keith Abney, CB, Arizona State
93. Rams: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State
94. Dolphins: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
95. Patriots: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
96. Seahawks: Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas
97. Vikings: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford
98. Eagles: Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State
99. Steelers: Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri
100. Jaguars: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia