NFL Mock Draft 2026: It’s Officially The Offseason

The 2026 NFL Draft process is officially in full swing. This year’s Panini Senior Bowl is in our rearview mirror, and the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine looms large on the calendar. Every event adds more nuance and context to the conversation.

We’ve conducted our latest first-round NFL mock draft. Enjoy it before the NFL Scouting Combine confirms, or changes, everything we know about the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to draft Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall. They hired offensive guru Klint Kubiak to be their head coach. They also appointed Mike McCoy, who worked with last year’s top selection, Cam Ward, as their assistant head coach.

Rueben Bain Jr. was dominant throughout the College Football Playoff. Arm length questions be damned, Bain is an excellent football player with a relentless motor. The New York Jets need those types on defense.

The Arizona Cardinals select the best overall player in the draft, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The 2026 campaign could be Budda Baker’s final one in Arizona, considering he’ll be over 30 in 2027 with zero guaranteed salary and a cap charge over $20 million. Downs is a complete prospect with game-changing potential.

New Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh is the linebacker whisperer. Arvell Reese could play an off-ball role, or he can transition into more of a pass rusher. Reese is an electric talent who could help transform Saleh’s defense in Tennessee.

The New York Giants are building around Jaxson Dart. With right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor slated for free agency, the right tackle position could require some turnover. Francis Mauigoa is the best overall lineman in the class. Mauigoa could also play guard if Eluemunor is re-signed.

If Jordyn Tyson can clear pre-draft medical checks, he’ll be the first wide receiver drafted. Tyson has a checkered injury history, but he’s also dominant on tape with WR1 potential. The Cleveland Browns have a massive need at receiver as they continue investing in Shedeur Sanders.

Dan Quinn has a new defensive coordinator in Daronte Jones. They both need a stud pass rusher to maximize the potential of the new scheme. David Bailey is an athletic EDGE who essentially won every matchup he saw this year.

Tyler Shough established himself as a franchise quarterback for the New Orleans Saints in 2025. Head coach Kellen Moore will want to keep investing in his offense. With Alvin Kamara on his last legs, Jeremiyah Love would seamlessly step into a similar three-down role. Love is arguably a top-two overall prospect, so the Saints take advantage of the positional value slide here.

The Kansas City Chiefs lack playmakers at wide receiver. Makai Lemon is the best separator in the draft, giving off Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Amon-Ra St. Brown vibes. Patrick Mahomes would appreciate Lemon’s short-area quickness.

The Cincinnati Bengals must continue investing in their lackluster defense. They had a front-row seat to Sonny Styles’ dominance this year. A defensive lineman is a popular mock pick for the Bengals, but Styles is a better overall prospect than anyone else on the board here.

It’s difficult to predict the Miami Dolphins’ offseason approach until we know more about their quarterback plans. Wide receiver will be among their needs as they prepare for a messy breakup with Tyreek Hill. Carnell Tate would develop into an excellent complement to Jaylen Waddle.

The Dallas Cowboys were historically bad on defense. At No. 12, they take advantage of an opportunity to hand-pick their favorite cornerback in the draft. That should be Mansoor Delane, the athletic LSU cornerback who thrives in press-man coverage.

Matthew Stafford is returning at quarterback. The Los Angeles Rams must remain in win-now mode. Following Rob Havenstein’s retirement, right tackle is an obvious offseason need. Spencer Fano is plug-and-play. Protecting Stafford ensures the Super Bowl window stays open another year.

Isaiah Likely is a pending free agent and Kenyon Sadiq is arguably a top-10 prospect in the class. Sadiq has a three-down skill set as a blocker and route runner. The Baltimore Ravens go younger and cheaper at tight end.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not rush the passer effectively throughout 2025. They’re also preparing for some departures across the defensive line. Todd Bowles will appreciate Keldric Faulk for his athleticism and inside-outside versatility as a rusher.

The Jets would be thrilled if Peter Woods remained on the board at 16th overall. Woods would be the ideal Quinnen Williams replacement. The Clemson standout has dominant 3-tech potential as an interior pass rusher.

The 33-year-old Taylor Decker is mulling retirement while battling a painful shoulder injury. The Detroit Lions must be prepared to replace him, as dominant offensive line play is part of Dan Campbell’s identity. Caleb Lomu is a natural left tackle, making him an easy replacement for Decker, while allowing Penei Sewell to stay at right tackle.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Jermod McCoy would be a top-10 pick had he not missed the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL suffered in January. Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings would be happy to take advantage. McCoy is a dynamic and athletic corner with a press-man alpha mindset.

The Carolina Panthers should continue investing in their pass rush despite using mid-round picks there last year. T.J. Parker is a powerful EDGE with a pro-ready frame. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who got head-coaching interest this offseason, would appreciate his prowess.

The Cowboys missed on Sonny Styles earlier, so they respond by taking the second-best linebacker at No. 20 overall. Georgia’s CJ Allen is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker with terrific range. Allen would be an instant starter.

Zachariah Branch is drawing comparisons to Zay Flowers for some NFL scouts. He’s not widely considered a first-round pick right now, but a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month could change that. The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need a complement for D.K. Metcalf, and Branch does damage as a run-after-catch threat in the short and intermediate areas.

The Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive line committed treason this past season. Improving the interior before Justin Herbert gets seriously hurt is a must. Vega Ioane is the best guard in the class. Ioane is a people mover in the trenches.

The Philadelphia Eagles recorded 42 sacks this past season and there’s room for improvement. A ton of their EDGE rushers are slated for free agency, including midseason acquisition Jaelan Phillips. The cupboard needs restocking. Enter Cashius Howell, an athletic pass rusher, who, despite some size deficiencies, registered 11.5 sacks in the SEC in 2025.

Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

After drafting Jordyn Tyson earlier, the Cleveland Browns shift attention to their other massive need on offense. Monroe Freeling is an inexperienced offensive tackle prospect with a high performance ceiling. Freeling could be a long-term solution for the Browns, who need starters at both left and right tackle.

The Chicago Bears would benefit from better pass-rushing depth. Michigan’s Derrick Moore was a routine standout at the Panini Senior Bowl. Moore broke out with 10.0 sacks this past year, elevating his name into the first-round conversation.

Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

The Buffalo Bills are in desperate need of upgraded linebacker play. Sonny Styles and CJ Allen are already off the board, but Jake Golday deserves some first-round love, too. Golday was a tackling machine for the Bearcats throughout 2025, notching 104 takedowns.

The San Francisco 49ers are undergoing a very public and messy breakup with Brandon Aiyuk. Elsewhere at wide receiver, Jauan Jennings is a pending free agent and could command roughly $20 million annually. Brock Purdy would enjoy KC Concepcion’s ability to turn short gains into explosive plays.

DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans love versatile defensive linemen. Akheem Mesidor can play EDGE on early downs and reduce inside in obvious passing situations. Mesidor is long, strong, and athletic.

Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Rams hired former Tennessee Volunteers assistant Michael Hunter as their new defensive backs coach. Entering this draft with a need at cornerback, that feels notable. Colton Hood is a scrappy and competitive corner who established himself as a potential first-round pick with a good showing at the Senior Bowl.

The Denver Broncos don’t have many immediate needs, but franchise left tackle Garett Bolles is likely entering his final season, according to the way his contract is structured. Kadyn Proctor is a mammoth blocker who could spend 2026 being groomed as Bolles’ replacement. Proctor would benefit from a year of behind-the-scenes development.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo

The New England Patriots have one multi-year answer at safety in Craig Woodson. Drafting Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would give them a long-term pairing in the defensive backfield. Mike Vrabel doesn’t care where you come from. The small-school safety can flat-out play.

Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

The Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks have multiple pending free agents at cornerback. It was especially a weird season for Riq Woolen, who may be playing elsewhere in 2026. Brandon Cisse is a physical corner who would hit the ground running in Mike Macdonald’s defense.

What did you think of the latest version of Justin Melo’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft? Let us know what you think on Twitter and Instagram. Stay tuned next week for the next edition of TDN’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft series.