This is my first mock draft for the 2026 NFL draft. (Raiders) 1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Raiders definitely need a QB after trading for Geno Smith which did not work out, and Mendoza is the best guy in the draft. He was the Heisman Trophy winner and National Championship winner with Indiana. (Jets) 2. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State The Jets need a QB too but there will be no good QB’s to pick that early because Mendoza will be gone. The Jets were ranked 31st in sacks with only 26. And Reese can take on the role of Edge Rusher if they need him to play there. Aaron Glenn will need a leader on defense and Reese can be that guy. (Cardinals) 3. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Since Kelvin Beachum is a free agent, Mauigoa could slide in at right tackle to fill the spot. They could address the QB issue by getting a QB later in the draft or signing a veteran QB in free agency. (Titans) 4. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The Titans will either go Carnell Tate or David Bailey here but I think they will go Carnell Tate because they need to help Cam Ward with the best WR in the draft class. (Giants) 5. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State The Giants would have picked Carnell Tate but I have him going to the Titans so they have to pick Jordyn Tyson, the second best WR in the draft class. With Wan’Dale Robinson entering free agency Jaxon Dart needs another target than just Malik Nabers, so Tyson will offer a good target for Dart to throw to. (Browns) 6. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Since Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin are both free agents and Spencer Fano could play at any OT spot. He can also give Sheduer Sanders some much needed protection on the outside. (Commanders) 7. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech Washington’s defense allowed 6.0 yards per play, tied for third worst in the league. Von Miller led the team with nine sacks this season, but he will turn 37 in March and isn't under contract for 2026. So Bailey would be much needed for a defense that needs to be better if they want to win. (Saints) 8. Ruben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami This guy is just too good to pass up. The Saints can handle their WR problems later in the draft or in free agency. And with Demario Douglas set to enter free agency this could bulk up there rush defense and pass rush. (Chiefs) 9. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Norte Dame The Chiefs hadn’t had a top 10 pick since they drafted Patrick Mahomes. They need an explosive player here because they ranked in the lower half of the league in 10-plus yards (44) and league in yards per carry (4.2). With Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt set to be free agents they need to move on and get someone to help Mahomes. (Bengals) 10. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Cincinnati allowed the NFL's most yards per play with 6.2 yards. They also need to upgrade there secondary which has been bad for a while. (Dolphins) 11. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee Jeff Hafley is their new coach and he is defense minded. They need a good CB 1 after trading Jalen Ramsey. McCoy is in my opinion the best CB in the draft class even though he didn’t play a game last year. It will be interesting to see how he does in the combine after being out all year with a torn ACL. (Cowboys) 12. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State The Cowboys defense allowed 30.1 points per game, the most in the league. He also played Safety and they could move him to the secondary to help. They need a player who can make tackles and see the field. (Rams) 13. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU They would have picked Jermod McCoy but Mansoor Delane can be a good CB 1 for the Rams. The Rams gave up 7.6 yards per pass attempt this season, tied for fifth highest. And since Kamren Curl and Cobie Durant are set to be free agents, they need secondary. (Ravens) 14. Makai Lemon, WR, USC Lamar Jackson needs more receiving help, Lemon would be a good WR 2 behind Zay Flowers. This would give Jackson another target, the Ravens would hope that this will help him get back to his MVP status. (Buccaneers) 15. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon He is the best TE in the draft class and Cade Otton is set to be a free agent so they would need a TE. Mike Evans is also set to be a free agent and Sadiq would provide a much needed target for Baker Mayfield. (Jets) 16. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama The Jets need a new QB after Justin Fields didn’t play how they wanted him to. Simpson is the second best QB in the draft class and 16 is around right where he should be drafted. And it would help there QB problem but they might need to sign a veteran QB in free agency and have Simpson learn from him. (Lions) 17. Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State The Lions were 31st in pass block win rate at 55.5%. It would also help Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery because Ioane is great at getting to the second level and run blocking. (Vikings) 18. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Minnesota managed just eight interceptions this season (tied for sixth fewest). And they have depth chart problems behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. (Panthers) 19. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia Christian Rozeboom is set to be a free agent, and there is just something missing in the middle of their defense. Alllen would provide much needed tackling for the Panthers. (Cowboys) 20. Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn This guy is a steal this late in the draft, but I don’t see him going anywhere else. This would help the Cowboys pass rush after trading Micah Parsons. They can address the secondary later in the draft or in free agency. (Steelers) 21. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington I think they will stay with Rodgers and draft a WR 2 to help DK Metcalf. This would give Rodgers a great route runner and a solid target for him. (Chargers) 22. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson He looked like a top 10 pick at the start of the season but he had some decline. The Chargers won’t complain, they can upgrade there run defense and pass rush with Woods. (Eagles) 23. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo The need to upgrade their secondary by getting a safety. McNeil-Warren would offer them to let go of Sydney Brown for cap and keep Reed Blankenship. (Browns) 24. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia No team saw less production from its wide receiver group in 2025 than the Browns. Their WR room totaled just 1,467 receiving yards, the lowest in the league and more than 100 yards shy of the next worst (the Jets). They need to help Sanders even more with an electric target in Branch. (Bears) 25. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami They desperately need a EDGE rusher and they get that with Mesidor. They need to resign some of their free agents and with this pick they wouldn’t have to worry about resigning their DE’s and focus on resigning Kevin Byard and other players. (Bills) 26. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M The Bills need a WR bad, and I don’t know if this will fill the void there but it is worth a shot to give Josh Allen a true WR 1. Joe Brady will need to develop him a lot if he wants Josh Allen to be a MVP again. (49ers) 27. Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama Proctor can potentially be the replacement for Trent Williams, who is a 38 year old and has one year left on his contract. They also need to run block for Christian McCaffery and protect Brock Purdy. There is also no real 1st round WR left so they will settle with Proctor. (Texans) 28. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah The unit was 30th in pass block win rate at 55.5%. CJ Stroud needs more time in the pocket to be good and Lomu could offer some protection. (Rams) 29. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson The Rams don’t have really any problems but they could use some OL depth. Matthew Stafford could use some protection to stay on top of the league. (Broncos) 30. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State The defense pretty much carried the Broncos. The pass rush was insane and they had the most sacks in the league with 68, breaking the franchise record which was 63 sacks. They also had the bets sack percentage at 10.38%. So why not make it better and draft a DT. He is just to good to pass up this late. (Patriots) 31. Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M The Patriots' 35 sacks were tied for 22nd in the league. Their 31.1% pressure rate was 21st. K’Lavon Chaisson is set to be a free agent and they need a rusher off of the end. (Seahawks) 32. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina The Seahawks after the Super Bowl win have really only one need and that is the CB room. Josh Jobe could be gone to free agency and Devon Witherspoon is in trade talks. So Cisse could be a great CB 2 and fits great with Mike Macdonald.