NFL Free Agency has slowed down substantially as the offseason has progressed, and all eyes turn to the 2026 NFL Draft. There's always a level of mystique and chaos during the first round, and this draft shouldn't be any different. Tons of players could rise further than expected, or even fall out of the first round entirely.
As it stands, here's my latest NFL mock draft with some surprise moves and bold predictions!
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Eye-popping selections, major risers, and big-time splash moves
No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders is as much of a "lock" as draft picks come, and it has been since they locked up the No. 1 overall selection. The Heisman winner will be tasked with commanding the Las Vegas offense and will take the reins of a new-look roster as they begin their rebuild back toward contention.
No. 2: New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
New York will likely be taking their pick of Ohio State defenders when they're on the clock at pick No. 2, and Arvell Reese fits much of what they're looking to add. Both EDGE and LB are areas they have addressed in free agency, and they might be swayed toward him because of his versatility and ability to be a game-changer wherever he lines up.
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
If Sonny Styles doesn't hear his name called by the Jets, he could wind up off the board as early as the following pick. Arizona has a decent amount of linebackers on the roster, but none come even remotely close to the caliber of player that Ohio State's defensive captain is and can become. He's a bona fide future star and would give them a stalwart in the middle of their defense for years.
No. 4: Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The best running back in college football has consistently been a popular name at No. 4, and it continues to make more sense as time passes. Tennessee, for good reason, has invested heavily in building a much-improved supporting cast for Cam Ward. Jeremiyah Love is an unbelievable RB prospect, and would inject a level of life into the Titans' offense that very few players are capable of.
No. 5: New York Giants – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
A third Buckeye defender in the first 5 picks? At this point, it shouldn't be considered an impossibility. Caleb Downs has remained one of the premier prospects in the class since his phenomenal entrance to college football with Alabama, and is such a technically sound football player. Some might view this as a reach, but New York could look to bring on a definitive floor-raiser into the back end of their defensive alignment in Downs.
No. 6: Cleveland Browns – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Now this is where things get controversial. Jordyn Tyson has been a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process, with his evaluation only getting more complex with recent, somewhat concerning injury news about his lengthy hamstring recovery process. However, the talent is real, and Cleveland needs it. With their pick of the litter of wide receiver prospects, they could seek out a pure dominator on the outside to fuel their offensive makeover.
No. 7: Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Another pick that has steadily gained traction in recent weeks and months, Washington taking the best pass rusher available is a good bet. Signing Odafe Oweh in free agency was a massive decision, both financially and roster-wise, allowing Ruen Bain Jr., if he ends up being the pick at No.7, to come in and see favorable blocking assignments. The arm length concerns shouldn't be blown out of proportion, and this would be a winning selection for the Commanders.
No. 8: New Orleans Saints – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
"The best in the boot stay in the boot" has been a rallying cry for LSU recruiting, but why not keep it going at the NFL level? Mansoor Delane might be the top cornerback prospect in the class, and he's surely one of the steadiest. New Orleans has a gap in their secondary with the departure of Alontae Taylor, who signed with Tennessee as a free agent. They could attempt to fill that gap and solidify an effective cornerback duo by pairing the former Louisiana star with Kool-Aid McKinstry on the boundary.
No. 9: Kansas City Chiefs – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Another pick that would be a substantial surprise, Avieon Terrell is viewed by many as in that second tier of cornerbacks behind Delane and Jermod McCoy, but he's a player who has been mocked to Kansas City at No. 29 a considerable amount. They might wind up loving the player enough to draft him earlier than consensus, and the brother of Falcons' AJ Terrell could be tasked with being the successor to Trent McDuffie.
No. 10: Cincinnati Bengals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Francis Mauigoa falling to 10 would be a huge win for Cincinnati, and would have the chance to be a "sprint the draft card to the podium" type of selection. The Miami tackle has maintained a Top-10 draft stock, with experts predicting him landing as high as No. 3 with Arizona. This gives the Bengals a franchise OT and a player they can build around on the offensive line.
No. 11: Miami Dolphins – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Dolphins gave Malik Willis an expensive contract earlier this month, and their current wide receiver room is firmly among the worst in the NFL on paper. Their release of Tyreek Hill and trade of Jaylen Waddle has left them with a severe lack of weapons, so it makes all the sense in the world to target one with their top pick. With Tyson gone, Makai Lemon could be seen as the next best option, and a wideout for Willis to gain chemistry with from Day 1 of the offseason program.
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
This would be a dream scenario for Dallas and would be the finishing touch on a potentially lethal defensive line. Inserting David Bailey into a group including Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, and Rashan Gary creates a downright terrifying collection of pass rushers. The Cowboys' defense was their main issue across a 2025 season that fell far short of expectations, and this move would do wonders toward improving the unit as a whole.
No. 13: Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) – Spencer Fano, C, Utah
NFL Draft media is still trying to figure out how to grade the Utah tackle, with conflicting reports about his arm length and inconsistent aspects of his tape making it difficult. One thing is for sure, however, is that Spencer Fano is an excellent offensive lineman, wherever he ends up playing. Los Angeles could use a boost to their interior offensive line, and he would have the opportunity to start immediately, with a realistic future of developing into an effective tackle down the road.
No. 14: Baltimore Ravens – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Some other areas could take priority come draft night, but Baltimore has yet to fully provide Lamar Jackson with a consistent playmaker at the WR1 position. Carnell Tate is a certified weapon at the wide receiver position and could be that long-awaited answer. If he's available at 14, which remains a reasonable possibility, they could see it as an opportunity to take the next in line of the ever-reliable Ohio State WR prototype.
No. 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Tampa Bay
This would be a fun one, as Kenyon Sadiq has been labeled the best receiving tight end prospect and a tempting player for any team looking for offensive upgrades. The Buccaneers brought back Cade Otton, but the Oregon product has the chance to be much more than just a normal tight end. He's a matchup nightmare for any defensive scheme and would be an electrifying presence on the Tampa Bay passing game.
No. 16: New York Jets (via IND) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
An absolute steal on paper for the Jets, it's hard to argue against Jermod McCoy as being anything other than one of the highest upside players in the class, period. Going from Sauce Gardner to McCoy would allow for a much easier defensive transition than most teams could ever hope for, and their lack of turnover production could also see an essential increase.
No. 17: Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Speaking of upside, Monroe Freeling's ceiling is downright scary to think about, especially if he was placed as the complementary piece to All-Pro Penei Sewell. Putting together a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score, he's an outstanding athlete with room to grow into a mauler at the tackle position. Detroit needs offensive line help, and he might end up as the best tackle prospect in the class when it's all said and done.
No. 18: Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Minnesota is facing a position that they haven't had to deal with in over a decade: navigating the building of a secondary without Harrison Smith. Dillon Thieneman plays with movement skills that "Harry the Hitman" could only dream of, and he's up there with Caleb Downs in the upper echelon of safety prospects in this year's draft cycle. He would enter as a true centerfielder and give Brian Flores' defense a skilled defender on the back end.
No. 19: Carolina Panthers – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan proved to be a worthy selection, but Carolina could still use more firepower to take their passing attack up a notch. The top target on the National Champions' offense might be just that. Omar Cooper Jr is a receiver who can flesh out the Panthers' offense, and hopefully give Bryce Young the tools to elevate his development at a time when both him and the team need it.
No. 20: Dallas Cowboys (via GB) – Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Back at it with a pick that might scratch some heads, Jacob Rodriguez has been projected mainly as a second round pick, with some slating him as late as a third rounder. This would healthily surpass those expectations, but it's not without reason. Dallas could use a legitimate defensive captain and force over the middle, and the Red Raiders' captain is a player who simply knows the game and can see the field at a level that makes him a valuable commodity.
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Outside of the Ravens at 14, this has become an exceedingly popular spot in mock drafts for Olaivavega Ioane to land. Ioane is a surefire starting interior lineman and someone who should anchor the Pittsburgh line for a considerable amount of time. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him outperform his draft position, and this pairing could be an appealing match.
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Toledo put themselves on the map as a defensive back producer with Quinyon Mitchell's success through his first two seasons in the NFL, and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is their next big name draft pick. The Rockets' defender can make plays anywhere on the field with physicality and change of direction skills to be a three-level disruptor. Los Angeles would greatly benefit from his addition, and he's a top-end defensive back prospect.
No. 23: Philadelphia Eagles – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Eagles and taking an Alabama offensive lineman early, a trend that has continued to emerge in the 2020s. Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen have had their moments, and with All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson's NFL career coming to a close in the near future, Philadelphia could dip back into the Crimson Tide lineman pool and take his future successor, Kadyn Proctor.
No. 24: Cleveland Browns (via JAX) – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
I have Cleveland taking a big swing at Jordyn Tyson with their first pick of the draft, and now a more conservative selection with Blake Miller. He has experience, production, and the size to be a plug-and-play starter, whose floor should be reasonably high. With the Browns seemingly waiting until 2027 to add a long-term QB through the draft, they continue to fill out the most important positions on their roster.
No. 25: Chicago Bears – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
The Bears have added to their defensive line, and it's not exactly their biggest weakness, but they are still without that top interior defensive lineman who can control the line of scrimmage. Enter Kayden McDonald. He would be a monster against the run from the jump, and he has the tools to develop into a productive pass rusher, giving Chicago a potential dual-threat defender just as their contending window begins to open.
No. 26: Buffalo Bills: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
A sturdy, powerful run stopper and blitz threat, Matt Milano's position would be in good hands with Anthony Hill Jr. He's young, could contribute quite early, and tinkering with his coverage skills and instincts might yield a downright star if everything goes well. He doesn't miss tackles, is brutally violent at the contact point, and has forced enough turnovers to give Buffalo faith in their future at linebacker.
No. 27: San Francisco 49ers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
San Francisco added Osa Odighizuwa through a trade with the Cowboys to improve their interior defensive line, but work still needs to be done on the edge. Akheem Mesidor, a heavily experienced defender, should have a fairly smooth transition to the NFL. He could slot in as a starting edge rusher as a rookie, giving the 49ers some extra pass rush help.
No. 28: Houston Texans – Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Texans' defense was a vaunted unit in 2025, and giving them another piece might be tagged as a luxury pick, but there is a genuine need for pass rush production on the interior. Caleb Banks might be the best pass-rushing defensive lineman in the class, making offensive linemen's lives extremely difficult when faced with trying to guard their stockpile of defensive talent.
No. 29: Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR) – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Pass rush is a clear area of need for Kansas City, and while Keldric Faulk might not address that immediately, he fits the mold of a player NFL teams have taken on Day 1 time and time again. He's an elite run-defending edge rusher and still possesses the traits to be a dangerous pass rusher down the line. Developing him under Steve Spagnuolo might be the best outlook for him, and the Chiefs could be repaid heavily for their investment.
No. 30: Miami Dolphins (via DEN) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Malik Willis likely won't be around for the long haul, and Miami jumps the gun here and takes a chance on a developmental project at quarterback. Ty Simpson has his issues, but it'd be foolish to say that he has no chance of becoming a franchise signal caller. A second 1st rounder gives the Dolphins flexibility to make this move, taking a chance on the Alabama captain.
No. 31: New England Patriots – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Anyone who watched the Super Bowl should be aware of the issues facing New England along the offensive line. They should have their interior linemen locked up after the signing of Alijah Vera-Tucker, but the uncertain future of Will Campbell at left tackle and the elder statesman Morgan Moses at right tackle don't solidify a stable plan for the long term. Caleb Lomu is the best tackle available at this spot, and can work in as a swing tackle with the expectation of moving into a tackle position when one opens up.
No. 32: Seattle Seahawks – Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
The Seahawks haven't done much to refuel their rushing attack after losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker Jr. to free agency, and they're in a position where taking a running back this early is reasonable. Jadarian Price has the tools needed to be an effective and efficient back in the Seattle backfield, filling one of their most important current gaps.