After months of NFL Mock Drafts and hours upon hours of scouting, rumors and debate, the final countdown towards the 2026 NFL Draft is here. What will happen once the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock when the stage begins to shine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
What we do know is the Raiders are taking Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in the draft. What we don’t know is what chaos will ensue once the New York Jets are on the clock at No. 2 overall. Whether that selection is Arvell Reese or David Bailey, the true intrigue will surface once that pick is made. Will there be a trade or trades ready to explode that will flip the entire NFL Draft order?
If there are teams looking to move up, both the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 and the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 might be willing to move back. As ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes in his final pre-draft intel, the Cardinals could be the likely team to trade down for more draft capital, if the price is right of course.
Per Graziano:
“Once the Jets make their pick -- be it Reese or Bailey -- the Cardinals hope to have options at No. 3. It's widely known around the league that the Cardinals would prefer to trade down from that spot. If the Jets take Reese and there's a team out there such as, say, the Chiefs at No. 9 that wants to make a big move up for Bailey, a deal could come together that could net Arizona extra picks.”
The draft domino effect that could stun the NFL tonight
In previous mock drafts, including our latest and final full first-round mock predictions, the NFL Mocks crew has explored the idea of either or both the Cardinals and/or the Titans trading back. There was a scenario where the Chiefs traded up with the Giants at No. 5 to select Carnell Tate, but the idea of Kansas City trading up for David Bailey is more intriguing and would be the move to turn the NFL Draft upside down.
With rumblings of the Dallas Cowboys being the team to move up for either Reese or Bailey, the Chiefs being that team would be the curveball. As one of the blue-chip prospects in this draft, Bailey would instantly solve the Chiefs’ edge rush needs and gives them a player on the defensive side of the ball who has the talent and ability to be a game wrecker instantly.
With an additional first round pick acquired in the deal for Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs can be both aggressive and flexible in this draft. That could mean a willingness to trade No. 9 and No. 40 and perhaps a later round pick to move up to No. 3.
The Cardinals do that trade as they can take care of their main positions of need which is offensive tackle – perhaps Francis Mauigoa -- and then have two picks in the second round (both in the top 40 picks) to take care of other needs which could include selecting Jeremiah Love’s teammate Jadarian Price if running back is one of their needs.
The other shocking option Kansas City could consider
Speaking of Love, where the biggest flip and shock could occur is if the Chiefs aren’t moving up for Bailey, but instead take the running back who has been classified as the best player in the draft. If that is the play, suddenly all eyes are on Tennessee at No. 4 with Bailey (if the Jets take Reese) is still on the board. In that scenario do the Cowboys make a play at No. 4 to take Bailey? Would the Commanders be a team willing to move up a few spots to draft their potential edge rusher of the future?
If the Chiefs are the team to trade into the top 3, there will be draft board ramifications if they select Bailey or Love, which either player could help shift the power of the AFC back in the favor of the Chiefs beyond the 2026 NFL season. It’s a move that could start an avalanche of moves and shift where top prospects like Rueben Bain Jr., Sonny Styles, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs and Makai Lemon land in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Time to open the war rooms, it all begins tonight!
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