2026 NFL Mock Draft, No. 11-15: Chiefs, Vikings, Cowboys receive their Christmas wish
11. New York Giants (via Atlanta Falcons, through Los Angeles Rams)- Makai Lemon, WR, USC
With no clear top talent in the class, the New York Giants decided to make the move down for the ransom offered by the Rams, allowing them to fill multiple holes on the roster to help set up Jasxon Dart for success. After Malik Nabers went down with an injury, the lack of wide receiver depth became very apparent. Wan'Dale Robinson has stepped up and played well in Nabers' absence, but is set to become a free agent at season's end. Biletnikoff Award winner Makai Lemon had an outstanding season for USC and has the shifty, athletic skillset that the Giants seem to value at the position.
Watching college football’s best wide receiver ball out on NFL prime time is going to hit so hard 😮💨
— Trojan Football ✌️ ᶠᵃⁿ (@TrojanFBx) December 23, 2025
Makai Lemon 🍋 pic.twitter.com/bTm6JIbWGS
12. Kansas City Chiefs - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL, but the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances were doomed long before the injury occurred after a disappointing season for the perennial AFC Champions. The roster actually does need some work across the board, but the lack of an effective running game really prevented the Chiefs' offense to reach their full potential and lofty expectations that everyone has for the Mahomes-led bunch. Jeremiyah Love is the best running back in the nation and will give Andy Reid and the Chiefs a true bell cow back to rely on while Mahomes works his way back from injury.
13. Dallas Cowboys - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
There's no way to sugarcoat just how bad the Dallas Cowboys defense has been this season. Dallas has acquired some very impressive interior defensive linemen with Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa, but the just of the defensive roster will likely need to be overhauled. Donavan Ezeiruaku has impressed as a rookie, but with Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, and Payton Turner set to become free agents, they make go back to the draft to find a complementary edge rusher.
David Bailey has been outstanding for Texas Tech this season, racking up 13.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. Bailey would be in instant starter and provide an immediate impact for a defense desperate for talent and production.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Overall, it has been a very disappointing season for the Baltimore Ravens. Coming into the season, the team had Super Bowl aspirations. Now, it appears they will be missing the playoffs. Lamar Jackson has missed time here and there for Baltimore, so I am sure the front office still believes that they have a roster talented enough to be a contender. With the future of All-Pro defensive lineman in question, adding a talent like Peter Woods to the defense could keep Baltimore competitive on defense and in the thick of things once again in 2026.
15. Minnesota Vikings - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Minnesota Vikings are another former playoff team that had high hopes for 2025, albeit with a functionally rookie quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. Like Jackson, McCarthy has been oft-injured this season, but has not looked great when on the field. The Vikings may look for a veteran quarterback option in 2026 to try to quickly get back to being a contender as well. Minnesota is another potential landing spot for Jeremiyah Love, if he were to be available, as the running game could use a workhorse back. In this 2026 NFL Mock Draft they go on the defensive side of the ball with a shutdown corner in Tennessee's Jermod McCoy to pair with Byron Murphy Jr. in the secondary.