The annual NFL free agency frenzy is just about ready to commence, with the legal tampering period set to open at noon EST on Monday, March 9. Pre-free agency moves have already made the draft even more interesting, with the blockbuster Maxx Crosby trade to Baltimore on Friday night giving a major shakeup at the top of the draft, as well as the Los Angeles Rams trading their 1st round selection to Kansas City for CB Trent McDuffie.
Before the major free agent dominoes begin to fall, let's take a look at how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could play out as it stands!
Without further ado, let's get right into it!
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Big swings define NFC East selections
No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza to Las Vegas is about as signed, sealed, and delivered as a draft pick can be, and it would be needless to project any other pick at the #1 spot. The Indiana product will have the weight of the Raiders' franchise placed directly on his shoulders, and he showed that he's more than capable of the responsibility. He will be one of the most interesting stories to watch in the near future as he looks to bring the silver and black back to the playoffs.
No. 2: New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Arvell Reese is the type of defensive player who can flip games on their head in an instant, and the Jets could certainly use what he can bring to a team. The Buckeye has the production, athletic profile, and upside to warrant a premier selection, and can impact the game all around the defense. This pick makes even more sense following the trade of EDGE Jermaine Johnson II, and can give a New York defense that desperately lacks star power a dominating presence they can rally around.
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
After releasing longtime QB Kyler Murray, the Cardinals are seemingly fully committing to the rebuild. With a few impressive pieces scattered around their roster, taking a tackle at No. 3 overall might not be the flashiest move, but it could be one with substantial long-term benefits. Mauigoa is viewed by most as the top tackle available, and he can anchor the exterior of the Arizona offensive line alongside 2023 #6 overall pick Paris Johnson Jr. As they look to flesh out their roster with ceiling-raising players, this would be a move that fits that description.
No. 4: Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love and the Titans have been a constant connection in recent weeks, and forming a backfield with him and 2025 No. 1 overall pick, QB Cam Ward, would make for an electrifying duo. The Tennessee offense was stagnant for much of the 2025 season, and adding college football's top rusher would address that need in a big way. The Fighting Irish RB is potentially on a collision course with the upper echelon of NFL backs, and infusing a talent like that into a young roster like the Titans' could have widespread effects on their team-wide development.
No. 5: New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Giants released team captain linebacker Bobby Okereke on Wednesday, and now are faced with a sizable gap in the middle of their defense. Sonny Styles is far and away the best LB in the 2026 draft class and is a player who can elevate an entire defensive unit with his skillset. With him, New York would be acquiring a three-level star, someone who can make plays virtually anywhere. He would anchor their defense for the next several years and could become an important piece in their rebuild.
No. 6: Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The offensive line has been a big sticking point for Cleveland, and they could address that need early in the draft. Monroe Freeling's stock has flown through the roof recently, and seeing him land at 6, which was once unfathomable, now seems like a realistic landing spot. He could join the Browns and start at left tackle from Day 1, a position they have yet to find an adequate starter for. The tools are incredibly desirable when it comes to what Freeling can be, and he's a guy that the Cleveland front office could see as a full-time starter for 5-plus years.
No. 7: Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
There are verifiable concerns with the Miami pass rusher's frame, but it would be unwise to look over all the good he can bring to an NFL defense. The Commanders need to improve their stable of pass rushers quickly, and Rueben Bain Jr. might be the cream of the crop when it comes to pass rush specialists in this class. He tore up college defenses week in and week out, and if he can translate his skills to the next level, Washington would have a franchise edge rusher on their hands.
No. 8: New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
An Ohio State wide receiver duo in New Orleans would be fun, wouldn't it? Carnell Tate has had some questions arise about his profile after his 4.52-second 40-yard dash, but seeing him go in the Top 10 shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. He was one of the most consistent wideouts in college football and possesses a skillset that should allow him to smoothly translate that production to the NFL level. The Saints could snag him at No. 8 to give Tyler Shough another reliable target on offense, and he could be what their offense needs to get to a contending level again.
No. 9: Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
This pick may be heavily influenced by the aforementioned McDuffie deal, but it still makes sense as a way for Kansas City to solidify their secondary in his absence. Mansoor Delane is just an all-around technician on the outside and would be able to immediately slot in and become their top corner. With this pick, the Chiefs could continue to revamp their cornerback room after McDuffie's departure and Jaylen Watson's impending free agency in a big way.
No. 10: Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Caleb Downs to Cincinnati has to be one of the most mocked picks at this point in the pre-draft cycle. It just makes too much sense, adding the best safety in the draft to a secondary that has experienced considerable inconsistency in recent years. The Ohio State defensive back profiles as one of the safest picks in the draft, albeit the recent injury rumors about his knee may affect that a bit, and he could possibly finally be a step in the right direction toward building a Bengals defense that's anywhere close to respectable.
No. 11: Miami Dolphins – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Dolphins' pass rush has been absolutely decimated in the past few months with the trade of Jaelan Phillips and the release of Bradley Chubb, and they find themselves in desperate need of an effective EDGE. With that being the case, why not go add the guy who had 14.5 sacks for Texas Tech in 2025? David Bailey is one of the draft's best pass rushers and can get after the quarterback as well as anyone, making this a seamless potential fit for the former Red Raider.
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Dillon Thieneman is as athletic as they come, and he absolutely lit up the combine with his testing metrics. Dallas posted an abhorrent defense throughout the entirety of last season, and they need to get some playmakers into the building. The Oregon safety would be just that and more, with tons of range at the safety position and the ability to be a reliable coverage defender on the back end. The Cowboys have been plagued with tackling and discipline issues on defense, both of which would be much improved with Thieneman's profile.
No. 13: Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) – Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
After trading their second 1st round pick to Kansas City, the Rams will likely be extra analytical with how they approach their selection at No.13. Spencer Fano checks a lot of the boxes they're looking for along the offensive line, and could be a long-time starter as either a tackle or somewhere on the interior. He could fill in wherever Los Angeles sees fit early in his career and work into a role as he develops as a player.
No. 14: Las Vegas Raiders (via Baltimore) – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The biggest news of the past few days, the Raiders parted with superstar edge rusher Maxx Crosby in a mega trade to Baltimore, acquiring pick No.14 as a part of the deal. With an extra first-rounder to play with, there's certainly merit to immediately investing in protection for your newly-drafted quarterback. Olaivavega Ioane is a rock-solid interior lineman and could give Las Vegas some extra blocking consistency on their quest back to the playoffs under Mendoza.
No. 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Buccaneers need a succession plan for franchise legend Lavonte David, and CJ Allen puts a lot on tape that can lead scouts to believe he's the solution to that problem. His coverage skills can be put into question, but his football IQ and ability to command a defense are skills that no reasonable person will doubt. He can come in and be a defensive leader straight away, helping to lay the foundation for the new-look Tampa Bay defense as they search for an identity.
No. 16: New York Jets (via IND) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
This mock has the Jets adding some high-end talent on the defensive side of the ball with their first pick of the draft, and it makes sense for them to balance out their first-round investments. Makai Lemon is such an easily-projectable receiver who would create a formidable WR duo alongside Garrett Wilson. New York is likely to kick the can down the road on the QB position, unless they target a Kyler Murray-type player through free agency or the trade market, and the former Trojans' wideout would make their supporting cast a much better situation for a QB to walk into.
No. 17: Detroit Lions – Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
A big need for offensive tackle suddenly opened up after it was announced on Friday morning that starting left tackle Taylor Decker would be released. Kadyn Proctor has been criticized by many on draft media, but the fact remains that he's still a top OL prospect available with a bright future ahead of him. This seems like a favorable spot for him to land, especially given Detroit's track record in recent years with offensive line development.
No. 18: Minnesota Vikings – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The uncertainty surrounding Harrison Smith's future makes the safety position a prime area for the Vikings' front office to analyze, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could become part of their plans. Simply put, he brings a heck of a lot of impressive traits to the table, and can start immediately for Minnesota. Many have predicted the Vikings to be active in the safety market during free agency, but they could turn to the draft and bring on the Toledo Rocket to usher in a new era.
No. 19: Carolina Panthers – Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
Carolina is another team that could benefit from added pass rush help, and Caleb Banks is one player who could wreak havoc up the middle. Star defensive tackle Derrick Brown is known to draw heavy double-team rates, and adding the Florida defender could create some very favorable matchups for their defensive front. His stamina issues against the run could be hidden by the Panthers' tendency to heavily rotate their defensive linemen, and there's a clear path toward Banks becoming a valuable defensive piece if he lands in Carolina.
No. 20: Dallas Cowboys (via GB) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Double-dipping at secondary in the first round may be rare, but taking one look at how the Dallas defense performed in 2025 should more than justify the decision. Taking Thieneman with the first pick took care of their lack of a true centerfielder, and now adding Jermod McCoy could make their outside cornerback situation much more reasonable. The Tennessee DB is easily a first-round talent, despite not playing in over a year, and he could swiftly rise up the ranks to become one of the leaders of the Cowboys' secondary.
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Taking a quarterback in the 20s didn't necessarily work out well for Pittsburgh the last time (paging Kenny Pickett), but who says second chances never work? Ty Simpson has all the tools; he just needs to put it all together. The Steelers, under new management for the first time in what feels like forever, are bringing in a whole new coaching staff and philosophy this offseason. They could choose to continue that trend of change by taking a chance on the Alabama signal caller, who could be developed into a legitimate NFL starter.
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
The defensive line is a position expected to see little turnover from 2025, and Kayden McDonald could be part of the new wave that comes in. Defenses need to constantly account for him as a potential game wrecker once he claws his way into the backfield, and Los Angeles' interior DL would much appreciate his contributions. He's an all-around defensive lineman with the ability to both rush the passer and stuff the run, making him a prime candidate for the Chargers to select with their first-round pick.
No. 23: Philadelphia Eagles – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Not many people truly understand just how important Dallas Goedert was to the Eagles' passing attack in 2025, and how big a deal his potential departure would be. Kenyon Sadiq is a fantasy football manager's dream, as well as being a pretty dang good offensive weapon. Adding a receiving threat at the tight end position could help ease new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion into Philadelphia and give their offense yet another dangerous weapon at their disposal.
No. 24: Cleveland Browns (via JAX) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The opposite of the Cowboys, I have the Browns going all-in on offensive additions in the first round of this year's draft. Their outside receivers were far from a strength in 2025, especially with Jerry Jeudy failing to replicate his 2024 production. Jordyn Tyson is a matchup nightmare as a true X receiver, with the chance to come in and promptly become a top target for whoever ends up as Cleveland's starting quarterback going into 2026.
No. 25: Chicago Bears – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
After missing out on Crosby, edge rusher remains an immediate need for the Bears. Other teams may not be as attracted to Akheem Mesidor as a prospect given his age, but with Chicago's window opening up, he could fit their timeline perfectly. The Hurricane pass rusher is a high-floor defender who could make his mark right away, and, at least on paper, Chicago is set up to be an ideal match for his services come April.
No. 26: Buffalo Bills – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Keldric Faulk is such an interesting prospect considering high near-elite effectiveness against the run, but extremely marginal success as a pass rusher. The Bills have had an extremely rough go of it with their run defense, and he may be exactly what they need at the back end of the first round. He projects as an in-line defensive end for Buffalo, should he find himself there, and he could be a game-changing addition if his skills translate smoothly.
No. 27: San Francisco 49ers – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Brandon Aiyuk saga ended about as messy as it could've been for the 49ers, and in the blink of an eye, they find themselves without him and Deebo Samuel in the passing attack. Yards after catch has always been a staple of the Shanahan offensive scheme, and there might not be a player in the class with more YAC skills than KC Concepcion. He's straight dynamite with the ball in his hands and would give Brock Purdy a reliable target to work with moving forward.
No. 28: Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
With Trent Brown getting up there in age, and just a continuous revolving door of offensive linemen coming in and out of Houston, it might be wise for them to lock down another young offensive tackle in the near future. Blake Miller's biggest red flag is his inconsistency as a blocker, but he can be thrown in at a moment's notice and survive on the outside. He brings experience and some high-end run blocking skills, and can move around the line well enough to be trusted as a plug-and-play starter.
No. 29: Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR) – Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
Patrick Mahomes II has always found his biggest success when he has a serious deep-threat burner to work with, and, despite his availability for 2026 in question, Chris Brazzell II could give him that again. The Chiefs haven't had the biggest surplus of talent at the wide receiver position since trading Tyreek Hill, and it might be time for them to take another big swing at a wideout. The former Volunteer can take the top off a defense with some real upside as an overall wideout, and Kansas City could find a dynamic offensive weapon with their second pick of the first round.
No. 30: Denver Broncos – Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
This seems like a luxury pick for the Broncos on the surface, but Jadarian Price is the type of talent who's worthy of being taken at the tail end of the first round. The Denver ground game wasn't the best in 2025, and he could give a real spark to their backfield action. It would be a surprise to hear his name called at this spot, but as creativity in the draft only increases, it's fun to throw out some intriguing predictions such as this.
No. 31: New England Patriots – TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Super Bowl LX was a game won in the trenches, and it was clear that New England didn't have the talent to match up with Seattle. K'Lavon Chaisson could only do so much off the edge, and after the run on offensive linemen earlier in this mock, I have the Patriots taking a high-upside pick with T.J. Parker. The athletic Clemson Tigers' prospect would give them an upgrade to their run defense, as well as having a foundation as a pass rusher that could, with the right development, turn him into a real difference maker on the defensive line.
No. 32: Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
With Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant probably on their way out, the Seahawks will have a few starting roles to replace in their secondary. Avieon Terrell would allow them to get flexible on the back half of their defense, as well as being a starting-caliber defensive back in his own right. There's a lot to like with the Clemson cornerback, and he could play a big part in keeping Seattle's defense elite.