The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, we're well into Week 11 at this point, and the college football season is already approaching the playoffs. Where has this season gone? It's been flying by, which means we're really starting to close in on 2026 NFL Draft preparation for a lot of teams that might already be out of the playoff mix.
The latest 2026 NFL mock draft will take a look at the entire first round and how things stand after the first 10 weeks of the NFL season. We've got a brand-new #1 overall pick in this mock draft as well as some intriguing changes in the pecking order at quarterback.
How will the drama unfold in the Spring? It's impossible to know right now, but we're going to take another stab at predicting the 1st round with teams' current needs and the stock of prospects around the country.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Arvell Reese skyrockets to #1 overall pick; Ty Simpson QB1
1. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
It might feel like a stretch at this point to say that a linebacker could go 1st overall in the draft, but Arvell Reese is not any run-of-the-mill linebacker. He's a weapon for the defense on all three downs, he can get after the quarterback, and he's exactly what a team like the Titans needs right now.
Well, the Titans have a lot of needs, but Reese could go a long way to upgrading their talent defensively.
2. New Orleans Saints: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The way NFL teams perceive this year's quarterback class will be fascinating to watch. There were a lot of players you could have penciled into this slot earlier in the season, but it feels like the quarterbacks possibly coming out this year won't be ranked based on any consensus, but on a team-by-team basis.
Ty Simpson doesn't have a huge body of work, by any stretch, but he might be playing the position at the highest level of anyone in college football this year right alongside Fernando Mendoza.
3. New York Jets: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Nobody needs a quarterback right now more than the New York Jets. Justin Fields has been an abject disaster for that team, and they have no passing game to really speak of at this point. Fernando Mendoza might be able to come in right now, get a quick download of the offense, and provide an upgrade if he played this weekend.
The Jets have a lot of high picks over the next couple of years, but none of it will matter if they don't get this position right. It's going to be a huge offseason upcoming for GM Darren Mougey.
4. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
We're really on the struggle bus when we've got a linebacker and a safety going in the top four picks overall, but the lack of offensive tackles, corners, and receivers in this upcoming class among the consensus top-5 overall is pretty rare. The New York Giants have a lot of those pieces in place already, anyway, so they might be able to afford something like this.
Caleb Downs has been consistently projected as a top-5 overall player in this class, regardless of positional value. He would be a huge upgrade to the Giants defense.
5. Cleveland Browns: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The rumor right now is that Dante Moore is likely to return to school for another year in 2026. If he has a chance to go in the top five overall picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, that will present him with a unique and difficult decision.
The option of moving on to the NFL is no longer as appealing to college players because they are getting paid rather exorbitant amounts as college programs can financially compete with the NFL at this point. But Moore's stock has been steadily on the rise, and if he's perceived as a top-5 player, he could go to the next level. But landing with the Browns could be a "be careful what you wish for" type of situation for him as well.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
We've had Rueben Bain as high as the #1 overall pick in these 2026 NFL mock draft exercises, so it's not impossible to think that this could end up being the biggest steal of the draft if the Raiders get him here. He's shown off his playmaking ability as a pass rusher this year and improvement from last season, but does he have the physical traits to be a top-5 or top-7 pick?
There are always going to be question marks with prospects, but the idea of pairing up Bain with Maxx Crosby could help take the Raiders' pass rush to new heights.
7. Miami Dolphins: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Miami Dolphins were fielding trade offers for Jaylen Waddle at the deadline this year, and even though the price was too high to move off of him, I wonder if they'll look into the idea again this offseason. You'll have a new general manager coming in, and with Tyreek Hill's future in question after his gruesome injury, the receiver position is a need for this team.
Jordyn Tyson has the type of big-play ability this Dolphins offense desperately needs, especially if they move on from one (or both) of Hill and Waddle.
8. Washington Commanders: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
This season has been a disaster for the Washington Commanders. They've played a lot of the year without Jayden Daniels, their roster is old, and they need the offseason to get here quickly to recapture the excitement of last season. This is a team that reached the NFC Championship game last season. Even if they were a year ahead of schedule, they shouldn't be as far off as they are right now.
Getting help off the edge from someone like Keldric Faulk, a young player with tremendous upside, would be huge for Dan Quinn and the Commanders.
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Cincinnati Bengals have more needs than anyone in that organization would probably care to admit with all of the money they have spent the past couple of years. The situation the Bengals are currently in is embarrassing, but you can only do so much when your franchise QB is injured.
With that said, the defense couldn't keep up in a shootout with the Bears that involved nearly 90 total points scored. The Bengals need guys who can rush, cover, tackle -- all of it. Jermod McCoy might be the best cornerback in the class.
10. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Rams would be in a really interesting position right here. Once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to QBs in this class. They could take a shot on LaNorris Sellers here and do their own version of Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love like the Packers did. Or, they could simply take a shot on a player at a premium position like Carnell Tate at receiver.
Davante Adams was always a short-term investment, and Puka Nacua has dealt with a lot of injuries. Get an Ohio State receiver in the building and let him shine.
11. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of roster needs right now, but having a top-tier offensive line and running game needs to be a priority for this offense. Jonah Williams is set to hit free agency in the 2026 offseason and Spencer Fano is somoene this scouting department should be very familiar with, considering he doesn't play that far away. Just a quick little flight up north.
The physicality and athletic traits of a player like Fano could allow him to step right into a starting role at the next level and give the Cardinals a chance to dominate on the ground when James Conner and Trey Benson return to full strength.
12. Dallas Cowboys: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
After the Micah Parsons trade, the Dallas Cowboys have an obvious need for help off the edge. They have two first-round picks to play with this year after giving up one of their two top picks in 2027 for Quinnen Williams, so the renovations on the defensive front have already begun.
The addition of a player like David Bailey would be huge for the Cowboys. He's been the FBS leader in quarterback pressures this season and has really taken advantage of transferring this offseason. His value has skyrocketed.
13. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The Baltimore Ravens have now won back-to-back games since the return of Lamar Jackson to the lineup, so they're obviously going to keep on dropping down these 2026 NFL mock drafts. With that being said, general manager Eric DeCosta is always good for a steal during the NFL Draft, pretty much in every single round.
If the Ravens were able to get Peter Woods, it would be so typical of how they operate. He was considered possibly the top overall player in this class before the year started, but his stock has fallen a bit. This would be a great landing spot for him.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love isn't having quite the same caliber of season this year that we saw from Ashton Jeanty last year, but regardless, he could end up going in a similar range as Jeanty did last year. The Vikings would probably be sprinting to the podium with his name on a card if he was available at their pick.
The Vikings have an aging Aaron Jones and they took a shot on Jordan Mason, but the running game needs the type of jolt a player like Love could provide.
15. Houston Texans: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
The concern level surrounding quarterback CJ Stroud has to be at an all-time high if you're the Houston Texans. The Texans have climbed their way back into the AFC Wild Card mix, but at this point, the health of CJ Stroud is something the entire organization is going to be monitoring very closely.
After going down with a concussion against the Denver Broncos in Week 9, we haven't seen Stroud on the field at all. Getting help for the offensive line is part of the equation. The renovation project that started in 2025 continues in 2026.
16. Carolina Panthers: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
At this stage of the first round, the Carolina Panthers would just be looking for the best possible value, and Mansoor Delane can provide that. He is neck and neck this season with Jermod McCoy as the potential CB1 of the class, and has been dominant at LSU after transferring over from Virginia Tech.
The Panthers' defense has improved considerably this season compared to last year, which was a low bar to clear, but they could still get better at all three levels. I don't hate the Panthers as an option to go after a linebacker here, but the value of Delane is too good to pass up.
17. Kansas City Chiefs: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
If at first you don't succeed...
The Kansas City Chiefs have not been able to find a solution at the left tackle position, and it's getting odd. Josh Simmons, the team's first-round pick in 2025, has just returned after an odd and mysterious four-week absence. Even with Simmons returning, the jury is out on the future of Jawaan Taylor on the other side of the line. The team can get out of his contract (and more than $27M cap hit next year) after this season.
Kadyn Proctor is also probably just too talented to pass on here. The Chiefs need to figure out their "best five" up front and he can be part of the solution.
18. San Francisco 49ers: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The San Francisco 49ers have a below average pass defense this year -- at best -- and just one interception on the season. They need some playmakers and ballhawks in the secondary, and at this stage of the 2026 NFL Draft, there wouldn't be much better of a value than Avieon Terrell.
Although he's a smaller corner than ideal for a 1st-round investment, he plays with intensity and toughness that will endear him to a coach like Robert Saleh.
19. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
When I look at Makai Lemon, in terms of the playmaking ability and concerns about size/speed/length, all I see is another Jaxon Smith-Njigba situation. The Cleveland Browns have needs all over the roster, but when you invest in a quarterback, you've got to make his life easier in every possible way.
Luckily, the Browns have multiple first-rounders next year thanks to the Travis Hunter trade last offseason, and they can continue to replenish the roster as they see fit. Without any premier offensive line prospects left on the board, going after a playmaker at receiver to go with Dante Moore makes the most sense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The more pressing question for the Steelers next year is going to be what they do at the quarterback position. But picking this low in the first round, you almost just expect another quick fix, whatever that looks like. Maybe the Steelers will be a Mac Jones destination after the work we have seen him do this year in San Francisco.
But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. The Steelers have also sniffed around just about every possible receiver acquisition this year and even if Denzel Boston is a little redundant with DK Metcalf in the building, the point is that they need receiver help. Badly.
21. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Dallas Cowboys need help at every level of the defense. Luckily for them, they're getting reinforcements already in the form of Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams. While Williams figures to be a longer-term fixture on the defensive front, Wilson is more likely a short-term bandage. The linebacker position next to DeMarvion Overshown needs some more attention.
CJ Allen is a playmaker who has reminded some folks of former Georgia superstar Roquan Smith, but he might not be quite on that same level as a prospect. He'd still be a huge pickup for the Dallas defense, which has been arguably the worst in the NFL this season.
22. Chicago Bears: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
At this stage of the first round, you can take some more calculated risks on talent and a player like TJ Parker could be a bargain. The Clemson star pass rusher has seen his stock decline along with his production this year, but sometimes guys just have down years. NFL teams will undoubtedly still look at the first couple of years he put on tape with the Tigers and believe they can get that player at the next level, and then some.
The Bears need help off the edge and they need someone who could develop into a consistent, every-down pass rush threat. Parker has the size to hold up immediately at the NFL and be a force for Chicago.
23. Buffalo Bills: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes have a handful of absolutely freaky athletes every single year, but the duo of Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles might take the cake as the most "unicorn-y" we've seen. Reese obviously went off the board first in this scenario, but Styles would not be a bad consolation prize for a team like the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo needs to address the linebacker position in 2026, and while it's not exactly en vogue to do that in the 1st round of the draft, 6-foot-4 linebackers with coverage and movement skills of Sonny Styles don't just pop up every year.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely stole Emeka Egbuka. Even though the receiver position wasn't perceived as the biggest need for them, how thankful are they now to have selected him 19th overall? The tight end position could be a similar one next offseason, though with Cade Otton set to hit free agency, it might be an even more pressing need.
The tight end position is another one that isn't really a great first-round investment positionally, but Sadiq has a chance to be a major game-changer for any offense he joins.
25. Detroit Lions: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
There are a few teams around the NFL that just have an obvious "identity" connection when it comes to players in the NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions are a team that you look for the most physical, tough prospects and you can bet they are going to be high on their draft board.
Olaivavega Ioane has been fantastic for Penn State this season and might have emerged as the top overall interior offensive lineman in the class. He's a road grader in the running game and would fit right in with this Detroit offensive line.
26. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Every single year, there are players in college football who seemingly come out of nowhere to emerge as 1st-round targets. One of those guys this year is Missouri captain and defensive end Zion Young. Young has absolutely exploded onto the scene this season after a couple of years of solid production, racking up 11.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles.
The Los Angeles Chargers said goodbye to Joey Bosa this past offseason, and their top EDGE guys right now might be a little too old to continue building around for the future. Reinforcements are needed.
27. Los Angeles Rams: LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
We mentioned the possibility before, but the idea of the Rams going with an Aaron Rodgers-Jordan Love type of scenario in this draft seems at least somewhat likely. There's no guarantee of anything, as the Rams have been rumored to be in the market for quarterbacks before, but if Sellers is in this draft class and is still sitting out there at this point, he makes a lot of sense for the Rams.
This is a team that doesn't have a ton of roster holes. They don't have many pressing needs. They can be aggressive via trades or free agency. Getting a young QB in the building to develop makes a lot of sense.
28. Denver Broncos: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
The Denver Broncos are a difficult team to project for the 2026 NFL Draft. They could address future needs like they did with Jahdae Barron in the 1st round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but I would be watching this team to use their first-round pick on a possible veteran to upgrade the roster. A blockbuster trade could be in order for the Broncos.
Here, they could look at the best player on the board at wide receiver, linebacker, defensive line, or interior offensive line. The receiver position on this team has let the team down way too much the past two seasons, so getting a playmaker like Germie Bernard would make sense.
29. Seattle Seahawks: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
When you're playing as well as the Seattle Seahawks have this season, the future is all about dominating in the trenches. The Seahawks have things clicking in all phases of the game right now, so the last thing this team needs is to have a talent gap on the offensive or defensive line.
Getting a breakthrough player like Ohio State's Kayden McDonald would make some sense for Seattle because he can come in and immediately be an asset against the run.
30. New York Jets (from Colts): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
There might not be a top-end talent at the cornerback position in this draft the caliber of a Sauce Gardner, but there does appear to be plenty of depth for the New York Jets to comfortably reset this offseason. One of the players who would make a lot of sense with the pick they got from the Colts is South Carolina's Brandon Cisse.
Cisse has been a breakthrough player for the Gamecocks this season after transferring over from NC State, showing off his speed and athleticism along with his playmaking ability on the back end.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
At some point, the Philadelphia Eagles are going to decide that enough is enough with AJ Brown and all of his comments about not getting the ball enough. The Eagles have gotten plenty out of the Brown investment, and it's probably time for both sides to part ways.
They should be able to still get something pretty nice for Brown, but they'd need to find his replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft. In terms of size and after-the-catch potential, Chris Bell has some similar qualities to Brown as a prospect and could be a worthwhile shot here in the late 1st.
32. New England Patriots: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
If you look at the New England Patriots right now, you see a roster that is both overachieving and developing very nicely. The emergence of Drake Maye this season should give the team plenty of confidence to invest high capital in offensive weapons going forward, and that's exactly what I think they're going to do in 2026.
It doesn't have to be KC Concepcion, although the former NC State transfer has been a dynamic weapon for the Aggies this season. Averaging almost 16 yards per catch this year, Concepcion has proven his 1st-round ability and would be a fun pick for the Patriots here.