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.
2026 NFL Mock Draft 6-10: Top edge falls to Commanders; Dolphins replace one Alabama QB with another
No. 6: Arizona Cardinals– Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Cardinals will contemplate taking a QB here, but a decision to stick with Kyler Murray leads the team to select another weapon in the offense. With the No. 6 overall pick, they select Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson who is ranked as the top wide receiver in the draft if he can stay on the field. The idea here is building a top wide receiver duo by pairing Tyson with Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Cardinals’ offense.
No. 7: Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr, ED, Miami (FL)
Rueben Bain Jr. falling to the Washington Commanders is a great match for both sides. The Commanders get that young, edge rusher they are looking for and for Bain, he lands in a situation where he can make an impact immediately on a team that should be knocking on the door for the playoffs in 2026 behind a healthy Jayden Daniels and a revamped defense with Bain as a force off the edge.
No. 8: New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
With Tyler Shough looking like the man in New Orleans, the Saints select another offensive weapon in Makai Lemon for the young quarterback. The 2026 Biletnikoff Award winner is coming off an outstanding season with USC with 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. His crafty route running and natural hands makes him a great option alongside Chris Olave, if the Saints can lock him up long-term.
No. 9: Cincinnati Bengals– David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech
The Bengals have a few things to fix in the offseason. One of the top goals is rebuilding their pass rush. They do that with the selection of Texas Tech star David Bailey who has been one of the top QB sackers in college football. This should signal the end of the relationship between the Bengals and veteran edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
No. 10: Miami Dolphins – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Ty Simpson’s draft stock is rising again and if he declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, should be a first-round pick. Will he go as high as No. 10? The Dolphins moving on from Tua Tagovailoa will put them in position as a landing spot for other veteran QBs around the league. The best option for Mike McDaniel will be Simpson who operates at the type of speed at the QB position that makes McDaniel’s offense work. He also has a level of accuracy, poise and mobility that seems to have lapsed from Tua under center. The selection of Simpson lands him in a division of QBs that feature Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Drake Maye following the blockbuster between the Ravens and Jets.
2026 NFL Mock Draft 11-15: Chiefs land a top playmaker; Cowboys, Ravens land defensive studs
The highlight in this 11-15 range is Jeremiyah Love to the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 12 overall pick. As the top running back in the nation, Love brings that lead back stability as well as a playmaking aura to a Chiefs team in need of rejuvenation offensively, especially if Travis Kelce retires and Patrick Mahomes is not ready to go by the start of the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 11: Los Angeles Rams – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No. 12: Kansas City Chiefs– Jeremiyah Love, HB, Notre Dame
No. 13: Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
No. 14: Baltimore Ravens– Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
No. 15: Minnesota Vikings– Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
2026 NFL Mock Draft 16-20: Buccaneers nab top tight end; Jets add big receiver target
If the Buccaneers fail to make the playoffs, much emphasis will be on the defensive side of the ball. However, if a tight end target like Kenyon Sadiq is there for the taking, the Buccaneers could put together an offense that will be hard to stop. Speaking of big targets, the Jets, who traded their top pick for Lamar Jackson, gives him another big weapon in Denzel Boston. Watch out NFC South and AFC East!
No. 16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No. 17: Detroit Lions – Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn
No. 18: New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
No. 19: Carolina Panthers– Cashius Howell, ED, Texas A&M
No. 20: Pittsburgh Steelers – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
2026 NFL Mock Draft 21-25: Eagles land rising CB; Bills find their next great LB
The Philadelphia Eagles could go in a few directions, but they at a No. 2 corner with the selection of Tennessee’s Colton Hood. This addition allows them to keep Cooper DeJean in the slot. The Bills add another Allen to the mix in Georgia LB CJ Allen who could eventually take over for Matt Milano.
No. 21: Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
No. 22: Philadelphia Eagles – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
No. 23: Houston Texans – Spencer Fano, T, Utah
No. 24: Buffalo Bills – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
No. 25: Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
2026 NFL Mock Draft 26-32: 49ers land a touchdown maker; Broncos secure their tight end
The 49ers get Brock Purdy another offensive weapon in KC Concepcion who can score from all over the field. With Kenyon Sadiq off the board, the Denver Broncos reach a bit for Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers who took home the 2025 John Mackey Award as the nation’s most outstanding tight end. Will he be a perfect fit for Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense?