2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: First selections

Washington must address a defense that was last in the league in total defense (384.3 ypg) and middle of the road in sacks (42).

Pick: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech. Bailey has a great get-off and production to match after recording 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss for the Red Raiders this past season.

The Saints need help along their defensive front and secondary and could use help at receiver too, but this is a good spot at No. 8 for best player available.

Pick: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame. Giving a young quarterback like Tyler Shough arguably the best playmaker in the draft seems like a perfect pairing for the Saints.

A rare chance for the Chiefs picking in the top 10 to get a young playmaker on either side of the ball.

Pick: DL Rueben Bain Jr., Miami. Bain would add a much-needed disruptor up front in Kansas City as the Chiefs recorded just 35 sacks in 2025. Bain had 9.5 sacks and a whopping 71 pressures last season for the Hurricanes.

The Bengals must start finding some young, foundational players on defense.

Pick: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State. Downs has a terrific football IQ and great instincts and can be a versatile player in the back end of the Bengals’ defense. Cincinnati hasn’t ranked higher than 25th in total defense the last three seasons since All-Pro safety Jessie Bates Jr. left.

New head coach Jeff Hafley knows fixing a Dolphins’ defense that finished last in opponent completion percentage (72.0) and 30th in passes defended (53) is a priority.

Pick: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee. McCoy sat out the 2025 season with a torn ACL but that happened last January so he should be ready to go this spring. His 2024 tape was elite and he seems like a perfect fit in Hafley’s new defense in Miami.