With the regular season officially in the books, our 2026 NFL Mock Draft picture is coming into focus. The order of selections 1-18 is now locked in, giving teams clarity at the top of the board. Meanwhile, Wild Card Weekend games will further define the back half of Round 1. As the league shifts into postseason mode, front offices are already balancing immediate playoff goals with long-term roster planning. In other words, this the point in the cycle where draft needs, scheme fits, and organizational timelines begin to crystallize.
Here’s how this week’s mock draft shakes out:
2026 NFL Mock Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
A calm, rhythmic distributor with excellent touch and timing. Mendoza fits a Raiders offense looking for efficiency, poise, and command rather than chaos under center.
2. New York Jets: QB Dante Moore – Oregon
A high-upside passer with quick processing and natural arm talent. Moore gives the Jets a long-term answer with real playmaking potential.
3. Arizona Cardinals: T Spencer Fano – Utah
A tough, technically refined tackle with a strong anchor. Fano fits Arizona’s desire to build physicality up front around its franchise quarterback.
4. Tennessee Titans: LB Arvell Reese – Ohio State
Explosive, physical, and assignment-sound. Reese brings speed and edge to a Titans defense that values violent downhill linebackers.
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch5. New York Giants: WR Carnell Tate – Ohio State
A smooth, reliable separator with strong hands and route discipline. Tate gives the Giants a technician who can win on schedule and move the chains.
6. Cleveland Browns: WR Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State
A dynamic run-after-catch weapon with vertical juice. Tyson adds speed and improvisational ability to Cleveland’s receiver room.
7. Washington Commanders: ED Rueben Bain Jr. – Miami
A powerful, disruptive edge with inside-out versatility. Bain gives Washington a tone-setter who wins with strength and relentless effort.
8. New Orleans Saints: S Caleb Downs – Ohio State
An elite football mind with range, instincts, and leadership. Downs becomes the Saints’ defensive centerpiece on the back end.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jeremiyah Love – USC
A slashing, explosive runner with receiving upside. Love gives Kansas City another space weapon who stresses defenses horizontally and vertically.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images10. Cincinnati Bengals: DI Peter Woods – Clemson
A rare blend of size, power, and burst. Woods upgrades Cincinnati’s interior with a true disruptor who can collapse pockets.
11. Miami Dolphins: WR Makai Lemon – USC
A sudden, explosive slot weapon tailor-made for speed-based offenses. Lemon fits Miami’s identity as a yards-after-catch accelerator.
12. Dallas Cowboys: ED David Bailey – Texas Tech
A twitchy, explosive edge with real juice off the snap. Bailey gives Dallas another pressure generator who can win with speed and finish.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): CB Mansoor Delane – LSU
Long, physical, and competitive at the catch point. Delane fits the Rams’ preference for press-capable corners who don’t shy away from contact.
14. Baltimore Ravens: CB Jermod McCoy – Tennessee
A confident man-coverage defender with ball skills. McCoy matches Baltimore’s aggressive coverage philosophy on the perimeter.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: ED Keldrick Faulk – Auburn
A high-ceiling power rusher with length and burst. Faulk gives Tampa Bay a developmental edge with three-down upside.
16. New York Jets (via IND): LB Sonny Styles – Ohio State
A modern linebacker with size, range, and coverage versatility. Styles adds flexibility to a Jets defense built on matchup answers.
17. Detroit Lions: T Francis Mauigoa – Miami
Big, powerful, and still ascending. Mauigoa fits Detroit’s identity up front and strengthens a line built to control games.
18. Minnesota Vikings: CB Avieon Terrell – Clemson
Smooth-footed with strong instincts. Terrell brings dependable man-coverage ability to a Vikings secondary that values versatility.
19. Carolina Panthers: DI Caleb Banks – Florida
An athletic interior defender with pass-rush upside. Banks gives Carolina a foundational piece in the middle of the defensive line.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): LB CJ Allen – Georgia
Fast, physical, and assignment-clean. Allen fits Dallas’ desire for speed and range at the second level.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston – Washington
Long, smooth, and reliable. Boston gives Pittsburgh a clean compliment on the outside, who can win in rhythm.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: DI Kayden McDonald – Ohio State
A stout interior presence with disruptive potential. McDonald adds depth and power to the Chargers’ defensive front.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: G Olaivavega Ioane – Penn State
Powerful, physical, and technically sound. Ioane fits seamlessly into Philadelphia’s trench-first approach.
24. Buffalo Bills: ED Cashius Howell – Texas A&M
A versatile rusher who can win inside or out. Howell gives Buffalo another rotational pass-rush weapon with upside.
25. Chicago Bears: Romello Height – Texas Tech
Explosive off the edge with closing burst. Height adds speed and pressure ability to a Bears defense looking for more juice.
Syndication: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal26. San Francisco 49ers: T Caleb Lomu – Utah
Tough, disciplined, and technically sound. Lomu fits San Francisco’s physical, detail-oriented offensive line culture.
27. Houston Texans: T Kadyn Proctor – Alabama
Massive with high-end tools. Proctor gives Houston a long-term answer at tackle as they continue to build around their quarterback.
28. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): ED T.J. Parker – Clemson
Twitchy and disruptive with real finishing ability. Parker adds another speed element to Cleveland’s pass rush.
29. Los Angeles Rams: WR KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
Explosive with the ball in his hands. Concepcion gives the Rams a dynamic playmaker who stresses coverage.
30. New England Patriots: ED R Mason Thomas – Oklahoma
A high-motor edge with developing pass-rush polish. Thomas fits New England’s emphasis on effort and versatility.
31. Denver Broncos: TE Kenyon Sadiq – Oregon
A move tight end with speed and mismatch potential. Sadiq adds flexibility to Denver’s passing game.
32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Colton Hood – Tennessee
Competitive with strong zone instincts. Hood gives Seattle a moldable defensive back with upside in the secondary.
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