With the NFL Scouting Combine set to kick off on Feb 26 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, teams, scouts and draft analysts will get an upfront look at some of the talent entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
The event that features highly anticipated events like the 40-yard Dash and passing drills will not only give observers a glimpse of today’s top prospects at every position, but a preview of tomorrow’s future NFL stars.
In linking team needs with top talent over the past few months, NFL Mock drafts have been predicting the top players off the board as well as intriguing scenarios in which players rise or fall. One player who won’t fall is quarterback Fernando Mendoza who is slotted as the top quarterback off the board at No. 1.
Although the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion has solidified himself as the top QB in the NFL Draft class, even he must have a strong combine to shed any doubts about his star potential at the NFL level.
Beyond Mendoza, the big questions that may start to be answered at the NFL Combine is who will be the top players off the board and where will a quarterback like Ty Simpson land in the draft? Could he be the second QB taken in the first round? All that and more in this Pre-NFL Combine edition of the 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Edge rushers and wide receivers dominate top 10
No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
High football IQ, accuracy, pocket awareness and a fearlessness in big moments is what makes Fernando Mendoza the top quarterback and No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak will get to work with Mendoza in a head coach/QB pairing with high hopes of leading the franchise into the future.
Current Pro Comparison: Jared Goff
No. 2: New York Jets– Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The Jets have their pick of talent with the No. 2 overall pick. To fulfill their need for an impact edge rusher, they select Ohio State’s Arvell Reese who has the size, talent, speed and athleticism to impact the defensive side of the ball in various ways. As a team looking to install game changers on both sides of the ball, taking Reese with their first of four picks in the first two rounds will set the tone of the draft.
Current Pro Comparison: Micah Parsons
No. 3: Arizona Cardinals– Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
New head coach Mike LaFleur will be faced with the task of stabilizing the offense in 2026. That starts with the quarterback decision surrounding Kyler Murray and upgrading the offensive line and running back positions. At No. 3, they add a franchise-caliber running back in Jeremiyah Love who is not only the top running back, but considered one of the top positional players in the draft.
Current Pro Comparison: Christian McCaffrey
No. 4: Tennessee Titans – Rueben Bain Jr, ED, Miami
The task of new Titans head coach Robert Saleh will be instilling an identity on the defensive side of the ball. That starts with the selection of Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick. The Miami Hurricanes prodct not only adds a consistent pass rush off the edge but also brings more attitude to the Titans’ defense. Watch out AFC South.
Current Pro Comparison: Brandon Graham
No. 5: New York Giants – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Giants can go in a few directions with this pick. Safety Caleb Downs is still on the board, but John Harbaugh and company go the shutdown corner route with Mansoor Delane. Ideal size at the position, NFL-ready and a player who is able to diagnose routes while adding downhill run support, Delane instantly upgrades the Giants’ secondary.
Current Pro Comparison: Quinyon Mitchell
No. 6: Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Another Ohio State prospect goes off the board at No. 6. The Browns make Carnell Tate the first wide receiver off the board. Could Tate solve the Browns need for a true No. 1 receiver? Whoever is under center for the Browns will quickly find out, he has the skills and playmaking ability to be just that.
Current Pro Comparison: Tee Higgins
No. 7: Washington Commanders – David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech
The Commanders get their edge rusher with the selection of David Bailey with the No. 7 overall pick. Explosive off the snap, Bailey is a defensive playmaker who will make an impact Day 1 in the NFL. With his diverse arsenal of pass rush moves, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey will have quarterbacks in the NFC East looking over their shoulders for years to come.
Current Pro Comparison: Nik Bonitto
No. 8: New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Tyler Shough gets a new weapon in Makai Lemon who becomes the second wide receiver off the board. In complimenting Chris Olave as the Saints WR2, Lemon gives the offense a slot receiver with elite route running who should help make the Saints’ offense more dynamic and prolific in 2026.
Current Pro Comparison: Amon-Ra St. Brown
No. 9: Kansas City Chiefs– Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The third wide receiver off the board lands in an ideal situation. With the No. 9 overall pick, the Chiefs get Patrick Mahomes a young, talented receiver in Jordyn Tyson who will have the opportunity to flourish in Kansas City, especially if Tyreek Hill makes his way back to the Chiefs.
Current Pro Comparison: Chris Olave
No. 10: Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Bengals address their secondary needs by selecting Caleb Downs with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft. With safety Geno Stone pending free agency, the Bengals could have an even bigger need come draft time. The playmaking ability and overall talent of Downs will address that need.
Current Pro Comparison: Budda Baker
No. 11: Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Dolphins go cornerback to begin their Jeff Hafley era. Despite missing the 2025 college football season recovering from an ACL tear, Jermod McCoy is as good as they come when healthy. An elite corner who is a turnover machine, the selection of McCoy at No. 11 will prove to be a no-brainer type move for Hafley and the Dolphins.
Current Pro Comparison: Joe Haden
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Another Ohio State prospect goes off the board at No. 12. Safety turned linebacker, Sonny Styles has been a popular choice for a Dallas Cowboys team looking to rejuvenate the defensive side of the ball. With the first of two first round picks, they get a good one in Styles who is a high-level playmaker who can make an impact as a downhill linebacker or side-to-side linebacker who can make plays in coverage.
Current Pro Comparison: Devin Lloyd
No. 13: Los Angeles Rams– Francis Mauigoa, T, Miami (FL)
The Rams find their future star at tackle with the selection of Francis Mauigoa who falls a bit to them at No. 13. Great in pass protection, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle is the ideal replacement for retired right tackle Rob Havenstein.
Current Pro Comparison: Penei Sewell
No. 14: Baltimore Ravens – Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The upside of Peter Woods makes him too good to resist for the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 14 overall pick. Edge rusher is a huge need, but Woods is a versatile force along the defensive line who can get pressure on the quarterback wherever he lines up.
Current Pro Comparison: Jeffrey Simmons
No. 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn
The Buccaneers take care of their need for an edge rusher and edge setter with the selection of Auburn’s Keldric Faulk. With his prototypical size at the position along with his excellence in defending the run, Faulk is a three-down defender with the tenacity to be Tampa’s next defensive star.
Current Pro Comparison: Rashan Gary
No. 16: New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
With four picks in the first two rounds, the Jets can afford to take a gamble at quarterback. What else do they have to lose? Though Ty Simpson needs time to develop, his skillset, toughness and arm talent, along with his mobility will draw intrigue from multiple NFL teams. The Jets don’t let him get past them at No. 16.
Current Pro Comparison: Daniel Jones
No. 17: Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, T, Utah
The Detroit Lions jump at the opportunity to select Spencer Fano with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the retirement of Dan Skipper and uncertainly surrounding Taylor Decker, the Lions add an athletic tackle to the mix who is elite in the run game, but also adds pass protection for Jared Goff.
Current Pro Comparison: Bernhard Raimann
No. 18: Minnesota Vikings– Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Vikings select Avieon Terrell with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. A versatile corner with a knack of forcing turnovers, Terrell gives the Vikings’ secondary the depth and playmaking ability they are looking for.
Current Pro Comparison: Nate Wiggins
No. 19: Carolina Panthers– Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Panthers select Kayden McDonald with the No. 19 overall pick. In a move that adds an interior lineman to compliment Derrick Brown, the Panthers get an interior force who is stellar against the run and adds some pass rush up the middle.
Current Pro Comparison: Kenny Clark
No. 20: Dallas Cowboys via Green Bay – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Cowboys add leadership and versatility at the safety position with the selection of Dillon Thieneman out of the University of Oregon. Although forecasted as more of a Day 2 pick, Thieneman will increase his draft value leading up to the draft given his ability to be more of a swiss-army knife defensively.
Current Pro Comparison: Harrison Smith
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers – Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
The Steelers add youth to the defensive line with the selection of Lee Hunter out of Texas Tech. An absolute force against the run and in the middle of the line, the addition of Hunter to the defensive line will set the Steelers up for stability at the position into the future.
Current Pro Comparison: Travis Jones
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The addition of Caleb Banks gives the Chargers a disruptor in the middle of the defensive line who could potentially replace pending free agents Otito Ogbonnia and Da’Shawn Hand. Hampered by a foot injury much of the 2025 college football season, Banks is a versatile defender who excels against the run when healthy.
Current Pro Comparison: Jordan Davis
No. 23: Philadelphia Eagles – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The ongoing A.J. Brown trade rumors will either settle down or heat up by draft time. Either way the Eagles prepare for the future with the selection of Denzel Boston, a big, physical receiver who dominates as a boundary receiver and a red zone target.
Current Pro Comparison: Michael Pittman Jr.
No. 24: Cleveland Browns via Jacksonville – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
The Browns begin revamping the offensive line with the selectin of Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane with the No. 24 overall pick in the draft. In Ioane, they get a powerful inside force who is a great pass protector and elite run blocker who will at least replace veteran Wyatt Teller, who will be the one pending free agent along the entire line who made it clear he is not returning to the Browns.
Current Pro Comparison: Steve Avila
No. 25: Chicago Bears – Cashius Howell, ED, Texas A&M
The Bears add athleticism and production off the edge with the selection of Cashius Howell with the No. 25 overall pick in the draft. While the Bears need help along the interior of the line in stopping the run, Howell addresses their need with help off the edge. The Bears can address the interior of the line on Day 2.
Current Pro Comparison: Harold Landy III
No. 26: Buffalo Bills – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
New head coach Joe Brady will be focused on adding more weapons to Josh Allen’s arsenal. Texas A&M touchdown maker KC Concepcion adds speed and a play-after-the catch dynamic that will make the Bills’ offense multidimensional in their attack.
Current Pro Comparison: Jayden Reed
No. 27: San Francisco 49ers– T.J. Parker, ED, Clemson
The 49ers add more depth at edge rusher with the selection of T.J. Parker who has created buzz at the Senior Bowl. That buzz could take him off the board sooner, but if he’s on the board, the 49ers add a player who was considered a top 10 prospect prior to the 2025 college football season.
Current Pro Comparison: Bradley Chubb
No. 28: Houston Texans – Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama
Big, powerful and elite in run blocking, Kadyn Proctor adds both athleticism and strength to the Houston Texans offensive line with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Proctor will need to improve his pass protection consistency, but given his size and overall skillset, should be a win for the Texans O-line.
Current Pro Comparison: JC Latham
No. 29: Los Angeles Rams – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
With their second first round pick, the Los Angeles Rams select South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse. Great in man coverage, the 6-foot-0, 190-pound defensive back has both the size and skillset to satisfy the Rams need for a boundary corner.
Current Pro Comparison: Darius Slay
No. 30: Denver Broncos – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Broncos land the top tight end in the draft in Kenyon Sadiq. An athletic playmaker with extreme after the catch ability, the Oregon connection between Bo Nix and Sadiq has the potential of wreaking havoc against opposing defenses in the AFC West for years to come.
Current Pro Comparison: Trey McBride
No. 31: New England Patriots – Caleb Lomu, T, Utah
The Patriots have made it clear they aren’t moving Will Campbell inside. But they still need a young tackle on the right side of the line to possibly replace veteran Morgan Moses. The selection of Utah’s Caleb Lomu fulfills that need while also giving the Patriots a starting left tackle option if they have no other choice but to make Campbell a guard. Whatever means necessary to protect Drake Maye.
Current Pro Comparison: Tyler Guyton
No. 32: Seattle Seahawks – Akheem Mesidor, ED, Miami (FL)
Let’s say the Super Bowl champions can retain most of their cornerbacks pending free agency. The next area they will look to add depth in the draft is at edge rusher. With the selection of Akheem Mesidor, “The Dark Side” defense adds more speed and force off the edge and has the versatility to bring that same heat from the interior of the defensive line.
Current Pro Comparison: Bryce Huff