Now that the Super Bowl confetti has stopped flying, the parade is over and all head coaching vacancies have been filled, its officially NFL draft season!
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine around the corner, it’s time to take a deeper dive into the top prospect entering the 2026 NFL Draft. As we start to look at these players, big questions will arise like who will emerge as top quarterback options behind Fernando Mendoza. Which players will raise their NFL draft stock, and which players will fall in the draft due to concerns that arise over the next few weeks.
While NFL Mock Drafts are heating up with wild trades and bold predictions, there are a few NFL offseason storylines that could change the entire board. One big trade rumor to watch is Maxx Crosby. The outstanding edge rusher has been vocal about wanting to move on from the Las Vegas Raiders but has also recently refused to throw fuel on the rumors. As we know with these sort of rumblings, where there is smoke, there is fire.
New Raiders head coach Klink Kubiak would love to make the star defensive player happy, but there are some benefits in trading Crosby, which includes additional first round picks. Will Vegas entertain the idea?Â
All eyes are on the Raiders and the impact of impending decisions in this version of the 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
2026 NFL Mock Draft : Raiders shock at the top and bottom of the draft board
No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Raiders shock the top of the NFL Draft board by passing on Fernando Mendoza and instead selecting the best defensive player on the board in Arvell Reese with the No. 1 overall pick. With this move the Raiders put into question whether they believe Mendoza is a franchise quarterback. Kubiak believe in Mendoza will be more of the question.Â
With some veteran options out there and quarterbacks who were once considered top draft prospects available later in the draft, the Raiders go with a transcending type of defensive player in Reese who will serve as the cornerstone for the defense. This snub at No. 1 will be questioned if the Raiders don’t have a plan at the position. Most likely, they will have a plan which would result in passing on the best QB prospect in this year’s draft.
- Second round pick (No. 36): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
- Third round pick (No. 67): Carson Beck, QB, Miami (FL)
No. 2: New York Jets– Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Will Fernando Mendoza falling to the New York Jets change their luck at the quarterback position. In a year in which former first-round pick Sam Darnold won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, the Jets’ fortunes at the position might just change with the shocking availability of Mendoza who is coming off an outstanding season at Indiana in which he took home the Heisman Trophy and hoisted a national championship with the Hoosiers. Will this snub at No. 1 motivate Mendoza in his pro career? If the Jets put the right pieces around him, this could be another quick turnaround in the NFL.
- Second round pick (No. 33): Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
- Second round pick (No. 44): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals– Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami (FL)
New head coach Mike LaFleur will have a decision to make when it comes to quarterback Kyler Murray in the offseason. With Fernando Mendoza off the board, the Cardinals will take another route in obtaining a QB if they do move on from Murray. At No. 3, they address their biggest need with the selection of tackle Francis Mauigoa. At 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, Mauigoa is as solid as they come at the position. His power, athleticism and experience at the position will help improve a Cardinals’ offensive line that ranked 27th in pressure rate in 2025.
- Second round pick (No. 34): Gabe Jacas, ED, Illinois
- Third round pick (No. 65): Emmett Johnson
No. 4: Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr, ED, Miami
The Titans land Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite some concerns with his arm length, Bain Jr brings other intangibles to the table that makes him an elite pass rusher. Playing alongside a force like Jeffery Simmons will only help Bain Jr get better at the next level, especially with the power and speed he brings off the edge. Robert Saleh and the Titans get a foundational piece on defense with the addition of the Miami Hurricanes star.
- Second round pick (No. 35): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
- Third round pick (No. 66): D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
No. 5: New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
With Francis Mauigoa off the board, the Giants go with the best player available which is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. With both Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin struggling in 2025, the Giants add an elite safety in Downs who will help stabilize the position and add an element of impact the secondary has been missing over the last few seasons. With a stout front seven, John Harbaugh’s goal will be to complement that with a solid defensive backfield. It starts with Downs.
- Second round pick (No. 37): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
- Third round pick (No. 69): Traded to the Houston Texans