With Week 17 of the NFL season underway, the battle for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft will feature the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants for what we will call the Tankathon Bowl. Which team could end up in position to control the draft board?
When it comes to the projected top picks in the draft, this could come down to which team controls 2026 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders need a franchise-caliber QB while the Giants do have Jaxson Dart but will be faced with a decision on whether they believe he’s the future if they land the top spot in the draft.
If the Giants believe in Dart, the top pick could be monumental in their rebuild as they could score more draft capital from a team willing to move up in the draft. That’s where this draft gets interesting because there will be veteran quarterbacks, including a former MVP in Lamar Jackson, potentially on the trade block.
Could a team like the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets or another QB hungry wager the future to land a top 5 NFL quarterback?
As with almost every recent draft, the quarterbacks will be the story.
2026 NFL Mock Draft Top 5: Giants add another generational defender; big trade lands new QB in Baltimore
In a draft order determined by current record, the Giants start it off with the No. 1 overall pick.
No. 1: New York Giants – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
If the New York Giants hold onto the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their top option is Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. With this pick, the Giants could set their defense for years to come with two cornerstone linebackers who can get after the quarterback. In 2025 they took Penn State’s Abdul Carter and adding Reese in this draft gives the Giants two generational talents who can impact the game in multiple ways defensively.
No. 2: Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
There are no sure bets in this draft, but the closest to franchise QB status right away is Fernando Mendoza. The 2026 Heisman trophy winner has captured the college football world by leading Indiana to the No. 1 seed in the college football playoffs. If his poise in the pocket, accuracy and leadership leads them to a national championship, teams clamoring for a QB in the draft will be doing everything they can to move up to select him. The Raiders just need to stay where they are at No. 2 to get the guy in this draft.
No. 3: Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Ohio State’s Carnell Tate isn’t noted as the top wide receiver in the draft, but his size, route running and speed fits what the Cleveland Browns are looking for on the outside and down the field. If it is Shedeur Sanders behind center in 2026, Tate is a target who can help him grow as a QB due to his ability to get open down the field and make electrifying catches. Given the talent the Browns have accumulated in the 2025 NFL Draft, adding Tate and their second first-rounder will help build a young core in Cleveland.
Projected trade: Ravens trade Lamar Jackson to the Jets for a draft haul featuring 2026 No. 4 overall, 2026 second and 2027 first
No. 4: Baltimore Ravens– Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Baltimore Ravens get a haul from the New York Jets centered around landing Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to replace LaMar Jackson. Of course, this trade only makes sense if Moore declares for the draft. If he does, he gives the Ravens a mobile quarterback with top-notch arm talent. The one knock on Moore may be that he needs more time to develop, but given his talent and pocket poise, a team like the Ravens will take a shot at the 6-foot-3, 206 pound-signal caller.
No. 5: Tennessee Titans – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Titans go defense with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Although edge rusher is a top need, the opportunity to draft an impact defender like Caleb Downs will be too hard to pass up. Ranked as the top safety in the draft, Downs is a versatile defender who can play in the slot or come down in the box and help contain the run. While his over aggressiveness is his weakness, his high-IQ and coverage skills makes him the type of dynamic player who can be a game changer.