Monday, April 20, 2026

2026 NFL mock draft

by special guest Andrew

Round 1

  1. New York Jets (from LV): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
    New York secures their guy to reset the franchise. They have extra first rounders in 2026/27 to spend, so why not spend ‘em if you got ‘em.
  2. Las Vegas Raiders (from NYJ): Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State                          Maxx gone? Either way, Reese’s hybrid rush backer profile fits an instant playmaker need.
  3. Los Angeles Rams (from ARI): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
    Rams take a shot and jump up for a franchise tackle to both protect the present and prepare for the post Stafford era.
  4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
    Titans’ WR need is glaring, Tate is best WR in class.
  5. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
    Dart is a walking concussion and if they want him to stay in pocket, he needs to be protected.
  6. Cleveland Browns: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
    A menace in the middle. Short arms or not, guy wrecks offensive lines.
  7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
    Cannot rely on Mikey Sainristill making plays because he rarely does.
  8. Dallas Cowboys (from NO): Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
    Dallas jumps up to get in on the OL run to lands a road grader.
  9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
    Passing game will not be good till PM15 comes back, so need a bell cow to shoulder the load.
  10. Buffalo Bills (from CIN): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
    Top Bills need is WR. Couldn’t get up to get Tate, but Tyson is a nice consolation prize. Tyson fits better than Lemon.
  11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
    They need a lot of help so could go anywhere really. Depending on Tua situation, might be a spot for Simpson.
  12. New Orleans Saints (from DAL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
    Need to replace Shaheed, Lemon and Olave are nice toys for Slough to grow with
  13. Arizona Cardinals (from LAR via ATL): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
    Stack picks and still get a day 1 starter on a really bad O Line.
  14. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
    Pass rush was weak last year, Bailey will help elevate that closer to the kind of pass rush we expect out of a Raven’s D.
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
    Back side of D is a hole and aging quickly, Terrell is silky and has quick hips that will do well in the Tampa heat.
  16. New York Jets (via IND): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
    Why not give Mendoza two elite WRs on the outside to play with?
  17. Detroit Lions: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
    Cisse’s length and quick closing skills will pair nicely against the WRs of the NFC North
  18. Minnesota Vikings: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
    DB is a top Vikings need; Hood’s fluidity and ball skills mesh with Flores’ pressure looks.
  19. Carolina Panthers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
    Carolina needs to be able to pressure QB’s and hold teams to 10 points a game in order to repeat as NFC South winners.
  20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
    Styles slides a bit, but Jerra cannot pass him up.
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
    What’s A-Aron doing? No one knows, but even if he comes back, he is basically petrified wood, so Simpson makes sense.
  22. Cleveland Browns (from LAC): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
    Browns jump the line for a stout run defender to fix interior line leakage.
  23. Philadelphia Eagles: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
    Parker adds needed juice to the rush to complement their young DBs.
  24. Los Angeles Chargers (from CLE via JAX): Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
    Interior OL was a headline need; Pregnon’s size/movement stabilizes the middle.
  25. Chicago Bears: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
    Bears’ DL/run defense issues make an ascending traits DT and a logical pick.
  26. Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF): Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
    After sliding, Cincy still gets a top interior penetrator to boost third down rush.
  27. San Francisco 49ers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE/DL, Miami (FL)
    Is Bosa ever healthy? Is anyone ever healthy on the 9ers? Need to move away from that power station ASAP.
  28. Houston Texans: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
    Sadiq is carved out of marble but does not have stone hands. Will be a nice release point for Stroud.
  29. Los Angeles Rams: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
    CB is on the Rams’ shortlist; Johnson’s length/speed help in a deep WR division.
  30. Denver Broncos: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
    Allen’s instincts and range will add another layer of complexity that Vance can use.
  31. New England Patriots: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
    Will they move Will Campbell to Guard? Right Tackle?
  32. Seattle Seahawks: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
    I just like AH Jr., and his skills and talent will pair well with Seahawks fly around style defense.