2026 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys, Chiefs make major trades in final predictions

Well, we've made it. The 2026 NFL Draft is finally here, and after months of speculation, we'll all see where teams plan on using their picks on this year. For Round 1, there are a slew of teams set to have two first-round picks, but there isn't enough blue-chip talent to go around.

This could force teams to want to trade down from their top spots in order to recoup more capital later on, but it could also force teams to want to trade up to try and land some of the few prospects that feel like slam-dunks.

For the final time in the 2026 draft cycle, let's get into a first round mock draft featuring notable trades all over the place.

Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft with a ton of chaotic action near the top

1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The interesting thing here is that Fernando Mendoza may not start immediately, as the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins in free agency. Las Vegas might be playing the long game here with Mendoza, and it could pay off. There isn't one 'right' way to develop a quarterback in the NFL, as some have done quite well for themselves sitting for a year and playing immediately.

Vegas probably values Mendoza 'sitting and learning' from the veteran Cousins for some period of time.

2. New York Jets - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

It's gone back and forth between David Bailey and Arvell Reese, but where Bailey has an advantage is that his position is 100 percent locked in for the NFL. It's not a guarantee if Reese will be a true EDGE or an off-ball linebacker. He profiles nicely as both, but the Jets opt to take Bailey and his flat-out insane pass-rushing upside.

These first two picks come at no surprise.

3. Arizona Cardinals - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Will the Cardinals stick with the third overall pick? It seems like two things are true here, as Adam Schefter notes:

-The Cardinals will entertain offers to trade down if the price is right

but

-The Cardinals may also just stick at the third pick and take Jeremiyah Love, an offensive weapon from Notre Dame.

This franchise desperately needs some direction, and while Love is a great player and stellar prospect, this might not be the right way to go, but it feels like that's where things are headed. There simply might not be enough interest from other teams to move up to that third spot.

If that is the case, the Cardinals may take Love, and that's what we have happening in our final mock draft. An explosive player who offers both rushing and receiving upside, Love would immediately become the top option in the backfield. Arizona signed Tyler Allgeier this offseason, so they'd have a one-two punch that not many teams would boast.

And if nothing else, this pick could make a potential rookie quarterback in 2027 step into an ideal situation.

4. Tennessee Titans - Arvell Reese, EDGE/ILB, Ohio State

With the first three picks going the way they have in this mock draft, the Titans take Arvell Reese and add another new face to the defensive line. Having signed John Franklin-Myers this offseason and trading for Jermaine Johnson, the Titans are clearly giving new head coach Robert Saleh some familiar faces.

The Titans add Reese to the mix and get someone who could develop at either the EDGE or inside linebacker position. His home in the NFL isn't obvious at the moment, but he will have to stick at a spot.

Reese is going to be a success pro at either position, so it could just be up to team preference.

5. New York Giants - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Giants stick with the fifth overall pick here and take Sonny Styles, a fun linebacker prospect from Ohio State and the second OSU defender to go in the top-5 picks in our latest mock draft. New York has made a series of changes this offseason.

The biggest one was bringing on John Harbaugh as the new head coach. After a very successful tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh is starting fresh with a team that does have more talent than you think.

The Giants have been relatively active in free agency and probably want to embrace an old-school mindset. New York figures to make a move at running back, and if Love falls to pick five, that could be an option, but getting more stout one the defensive side of the ball is a wise move.

This would only help out the offense, as the defense, in theory, would be able to get opposing offenses off the field sooner. Plus, with Dexter Lawrence gone, the defense does need a boost.

6. Dallas Cowboys (via CLE) - Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

Trade! The Cowboys trade up six spots with the Cleveland Browns and take Rueben Bain Jr. Bain's size has obviously been the main talking point here, as his insanely short arms have made people wonder if he can survive off the EDGE in the NFL.

But, simply put, Bain gets to the quarterback, and he does it frequently. Able to win with insane power and bend, Bain is going to be a mismatch for most tackles, and especially tackles who are taller for the position.

He's a day one starter and gives the Cowboys defense a much-needed boost along the defensive line, as Micah Parsons is on the Green Bay Packers. With another first-round pick coming, the Cowboys have a chance to really remake this defense for the better.

Bain is a very start for this front office.

7. Washington Commanders - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Commanders would surely value someone like Caleb Downs on their defense. Downs is listed as a safety, which could turn some people off from his going this high, but Downs is a defensive back.

He can do it all on the backend of the defense, and while he might not be someone who comes in and makes a ton of splash plays, he can have a lot on his plate and he'll do it well. What we saw in 2025 from the Commanders was a total 180 from their breakout season back in 2024.

Going from 12-5 to 5-12 is a massive regression, and to give the front office credit, they did go out in the offseason and spend a ton of money to shore up key positions. The defense suddenly looks a lot different, for example.

Much of the reason for the regression in 2025 was due to piling injuries, so it's reasonable to think that the team staying just a bit healthier will result in a winning record. But the defense is missing another impact addition on the backend, and they get that in Downs.

8. New Orleans Saints - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Saints are an underrated team that went out and had a solid free agency, adding Travis Etienne in the backfield and David Edwards at guard. These two moves shore up key positions and allow the Saints to come into the NFL Draft with a wide open range of options.

The secondary could use a boost, and Mansoor Delane would be a perfect fit. Delane can start right away and is the most polished cornerback prospect in the class. He's, frankly, one of the cleanest players in this year's class when you lump together all of the key factors.

This underrated defense gets a bit better with Delane at pick eight.

9. Kansas City Chiefs - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Chiefs would be making a very bold selection here, but Jordyn Tyson might have the highest upside of any wide receiver in this year's class. With Tyson, the main thing is obviously the injury concern, but there is a lot to love with him as a prospect.

And unsurprisingly, Tyson is seen going a lot lower in other mock drafts, but the Chiefs take a shot and snag him just inside the top-10 in our final mock. In 2025, we saw the wheels fall off the organization, as the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era.

One obvious shortcoming of this team was the lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. Not only was the run game bottom-tier, but the pass-catchers just were not good enough.

With the Chiefs not having a running back prospect to target here at pick nine, they instead look to the wide receiver room, adding Tyson. Suddenly, the Chiefs could have something special brewing here if Tyson can stay healthy and if Rashee Rice can stay on the field and produce.

10. New York Giants - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Giants could feel a bit shocked if Carnell Tate falls to them at pick 10, but here we are. New York takes Tate and infuses this offense with another high-end weapon. The team has Malik Nabers in the room as well, as he's working his way back from a season-ending knee injury back in 2025.

New York also signed Isaiah Likely and could still be in a position to make a running back move at some point later on in the draft. This team is building in the right direction and surrounding Jaxson Dart with a ton of talent.

11. Miami Dolphins - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

The Dolphins see Francis Mauigoa fall right into their laps with the 11th pick in this mock draft. Miami is one of many teams with two first-round picks this year, as they had traded Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.

In total, Miami has seven picks in the first 100 selections, which feels unfair, almost. New General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, in his first year on the job, may already be in the most important year of his tenure.

Mauigoa is a slam-dunk offensive line prospect, but whether that's at guard or right tackle remains to be seen. He's got the size to be a tackle, but he's not the most nimble on his feet, which could push him inside to guard as more of a road-grader type.

Either way, the Dolphins need to get more stout along the offensive line, and it's really more of a need than targeting a tackle or guard specifically.

12. Cleveland Browns (via DAL) - Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Browns need another wide receiver desperately. The Jerry Jeudy experiment just is not working, and with Todd Monken as the head coach, Cleveland is bound to use one of their two first-round picks on a receiver.

Makai Lemon is an elite slot receiver prospect who does all the dirty work well and is sure-handed. No matter who is back there playing quarterback, this unit needs another pass-catcher. Last year, GM Andrew Berry had himself quite the rookie draft class, featuring Quinshon Judkins, Carson Schwesinger, and Harold Fannin Jr. That's one heck of a class, so there has to be some optimism that he could do something similar this year.

Cleveland also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick and already has a playoff-caliber defense. This team might truly be a quarterback away, which sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Could the Browns emerge as a frisky, breakout team in 2026?

13. Los Angeles Rams - Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

The Rams have a wide receiver need, all of a sudden. Puka Nacua is clearly dealing with some off-field issues, and Davante Adams is old and is in the final year of his contract. It's not a stretch at all to think that Los Angeles uses pick 13 on a receiver.

They own the Atlanta Falcons first-round pick and traded their own first-rounder earlier this offseason to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie. Not only did they do that, but they signed another Chiefs cornerback, bringing in Jaylen Watson.

Filling a desperate need like that has allowed the Rams to approach the draft with a much more targeted, needs-based approach, and given howe well this team threw the ball in 2025, it'd be a shock if they didn't try and do that just as well for 2026.

Enter Omar Cooper Jr. Perhaps a bit overdrafted here, Cooper can play in the slot and on the outside. He's also a very tough player and kind of has a linebacker mentality at the position. While far from a perfect prospect, there are Round 1-caliber qualities here that the Rams would enjoy.

14. Baltimore Ravens - Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State

This is an ideal fit for both player and team. Vega Ioane is a blue-chip prospect and is going to be a very good guard for a long time in this league. Baltimore had bad guard play in 2025 an also lost center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency to the Raiders.

Ioane fits a major need and is going to feast as a run blocker. Given how 2025 went for the Ravens, much of their success will simply hinge on being able to stay healthier. Sometimes, that's all it comes down do, as the team struggled to stay healthy and did not have enough time to make up for the slow start.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Buccaneers are one of the more interesting teams in the league. After years of being atop the NFC South, dating back to the Tom Brady days, the Bucs crashed and burned near the end of the 2025 season and totally missed the playoffs, as the Carolina Panthers emerged as the division winner.

The offense took a major step back, so the Buccaneers again had to make a change on that side of the ball one year after losing Liam Coen to the Jaguars head coaching job. It's clear that the offense is where this team succeeds, but that unit no longer has Mike Evans.

There will be a transition on this side of the ball. On paper, though, the offensive line is solid, the running backs are good, and Baker Mayfield has been a prolific passer. Adding Kenyon Sadiq to the mix really brings an explosive element at a key position.

Sadiq is the best tight end in a very deep class, bringing immediate two-phase ability as a blocker and a receiver. Sure, the Bucs re-signed Cade Otton, who is also a two-phase player, but Sadiq's explosiveness and upside would make him an immediate weapon for Mayfield and the offense.

16. Kansas City Chiefs (via NYJ) - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Trade! The Chiefs trade up from pick 29, previously owned by the Rams, up to pick 16, sending the Jets down near the bottom of Round 1. The Chiefs take a gamble and snag Keldric Faulk, who is more of a size/traits player than anything.

But if Faulk can hit his ceiling, the Chiefs could end up with a high-end defensive lineman for the next decade, and given how limp this unit was in 2025, you can absolutely expect a major addition here. This is a bold move by GM Brett Veach, but one that could pay off in the long run.

17. Detroit Lions - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Lions seem to have a ton of interest in Kadyn Proctor, and sometimes, that interest is 100 percent real and isn't a smokescreen at all. Earlier this offseason, long-time Lions left tackle Taylor Decker parted ways with the team, so at one of the tackle spots, a vacancy remains.

The ideal scenario, in my view, would be to bump Penei Sewell over to the left side and let him be an All-Pro over there, and then taking a pure right tackle here in Round 1, like Blake Miller from Clemson. However, Detroit might simply like Proctor and want him on their team.

The main issue with him has nothing to do with his talent, but it's really going to be about keeping his weight in check. If he can do that, he'll survive as a tackle.

If not, he'll have a future in this league at a guard spot. This would be a risky pick, but the upside at tackle is obvious.

18. Minnesota Vikings - Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)

With the future of Jonathan Greenard up in the air, the Vikings could essentially guarantee his departure via trade by taking Akheem Mesidor at pick 18. Minnesota underwent a bit of a defensive change over the offseason, as they worked through some salary cap issues.

And given that the offense feels relatively set with Kyler Murray coming aboard as the likely QB1, the defense could be where Minnesota invests their Round 1 selection. Joining Bain, Mesidor would be the second pass-rusher from Miami to go in the first round.

The 25-year-old, funnily enough, is compared to Greenard in Lance Zierlein's NFL.com draft profile. The shoe seems to fit, so why not make this move? The age is a concern, as you'd want him to be an impact player immediately, but that is also very possible.

19. Carolina Panthers - Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

With right tackle Taylor Moton entering the final years of his contract with the Panthers, and Ikem Ekwonu having suffered a major patellar tendon injury earlier this year, both tackle spots could be a major need for the Panthers in the coming year or so.

Monroe Freeling is one of the more solid tackle prospects in this year’s class. He’s got the size, length, and ability to settle in at both tackle spots. Obviously, wherever he spends his time will depend on which team picks him.

With the top tight end in Sadiq off the board, the Panthers go forward with more offensive line help, and this unit was already quite solid in 2025.

We did see some growth this past season from Carolina - despite finishing with a losing record, both sides of the ball progressed, and this team won the division and did give the Rams some fits in the Wild Card Round.

However, at the end of the day, the Panthers success will again hinge on Bryce Young and if he can take another step forward after a rather average, but still improved, 2025 season.

20. Dallas Cowboys - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

CJ Allen would be a great pick for the Cowboys at slot 20. He’s not going to bring the insanely high upside with his raw playmaking, but his intelligence and steady presence are something that every NFL defense would covet. Dallas does double-dip on defense in this mock draft and has shored up some key positions.

In this specific mock, the Cowboys would be in a position to address their secondary later on, but adding Bain and Allen to the mix gives the team two day one starters and potential impact players. As long as this defense is average in 2026, Dallas should be in a position to win double-digit games and return to the playoffs.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Pittsburgh Steelers may already know what Aaron Rodgers plans on doing - it just might not be public yet. Rodgers probably gives the Steelers their best shot at success in 2026, which isn’t ideal, but it’s the hole that this franchise dug.

Pittsburgh has botched the quarterback position for years now, and until the front office takes it seriously, they’ll continue to max-out at nine or 10 wins and a first-round playoff exit. With no viable quarterback prospect in sight, the Steelers stand pat at pick 21 and take Spencer Fano, a tackle from Utah.

The interesting thing with Fano is that he may truly have the ability to play tackle, guard, or center. Given he’s a first-round prospect, the Steelers would want to settle him into one spot and have him become a mainstay there, but there could be a world where Fano slides into a guard spot and can kick outside and play tackle when needed.

Mike Onwenu of the New England Patriots is this type of player - he’s a very good guard and solid tackle when the situation arises.

Fano at 21 for Pittsburgh.

22. Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Two Utah tackles in a row? Two Utah tackles in a row! Caleb Lomu is the second Utah lineman off the board and also may have a future on the inside, but the Chargers could have other plans here. With Rashawn Slater working his way back from another major injury, a patellar tendon one, I am not so sure he’s 100 percent locked into a tackle spot.

Not only that, I’d be shocked if Slater returned to the left side - that feels like Joe Alt’s position now. Bringing in Lomu could give the Chargers a future guard if they decide he has a home there, or potentially a future right tackle.

A world where Slater kicks inside to guard and Lomu tackles up the right tackle spot feels realistic. If that does happen, two positions would be filled with one NFL Draft selection.

23. Philadelphia Eagles - Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

The Philadelphia Eagles have been through the wringer this offseason, and the most dramatic thing that could happen likely won’t happen until June. Obviously, an AJ Brown trade is something that feels like it's only a matter of time.

The financial implications of a Brown trade would be much more doable for Philly after the June 1st deadline passes, and based on the team bringing in multiple new wide receivers this offseason, it feels rather obvious that a trade will happen, and it’s likely going to be to the Patriots.

The Eagles could simply take a wide receiver right here to try and ‘replace’ Brown, if the trade indeed does happen in the future, but losing Reed Blankenship in free agency was a notable loss. Furthermore, Dillon Thieneman feels like a Vic Fangio defensive back. He’s pretty versatile and should not only be able to hold up on the backend as more of a roamer, but he has the ability to play close to the line of scrimmage as well in more of a physical role.

24. Cleveland Browns - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

After trading down earlier this round and landing Lemon from USC, the Browns now take to the other side of the ball and snag Kayden McDonald from Ohio State, getting even better along the defensive line.

We did see Myles Garrett break the single-season sack record last year, and as noted previously, the Browns’ rookie class last year was stellar. With Mason Graham already along the defensive line, why not continue to stack this unit?

McDonald should be stellar against the run and recently only turned 21 years old. The Browns don’t really have a clear quarterback to take with this pick, so bolstering the trenches should be viewed as the next best thing.

25. Chicago Bears - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Speaking of defensive tackles, the Bears still need to get more stout along the defensive line. In an offseason where the defense did see some notable change, more is needed for this team to take the next step.

What we saw in 2025 was an awesome step forward, but the defense wasn’t that great at getting to the passer and was relatively inconsistent on a down-to-down basis. Sure, they created a ton of takeaways, but we already saw why that wasn’t viewed as good enough.

Much of the secondary looks different, the team signed Devin Bush, and in this mock draft, the Bears take Peter Woods. What sticks out with Woods is his ability to play all over the defensive line.

He doesn’t necessarily fit into a certain position on the front, which could be to the defense’s benefit. If the defense plays a bit better, and we see quarterback Caleb Williams button up that completion percentage, this team could truly be special in 2026 and perhaps beyond.

26. Buffalo Bills - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Another team that has already made some notable defensive changes is the Buffalo Bills. Sean McDermott is no longer the head coach, either. With Joe Brady at the helm and Jim Leonhard as the defensive coordinator, it’s a new day for the Bills.

Defensively, Buffalo struggled to stop the run big-time last year, and the defense did get flat-out embarrassed by Bo Nix in the AFC Divisional Round as well. Leonhard, a former Broncos assistant, could bang the table for an impact player in the secondary.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would be a great pick. He’s going to be a plus run defender and does bring an element of physicality to the secondary that has been missing. For years, it felt like Buffalo cycled through some of the same players on the backend of the defense. That should stop now and in the future.

27. San Francisco 49ers - Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Someone who I view as a sure-thing pro, Blake Miller, comes off the board at pick 27 and is going to start a ton of games in the NFL. Suiting up for over 50 games in college, Miller is a pure right tackle prospect and really checks all of the boxes.

There isn’t much he can’t do and could end up being a day one starter. The 49ers have fielded fine offensive lines over the years, but it’s never felt like that unit has stuck out as being truly great, which is a problem.

Games in the NFL are won in the trenches, and with the 49ers sporting a solid quarterback in Brock Purdy and adding some offensive weapons this offseason, boosting the offensive line makes all the sense in the world. San Francisco did recently extend Colton McKivitz, but Miller should be able to find a home somewhere along the offensive line, but McKivitiz’ contract is something the team could get out of quite easily next offseason.

28. Houston Texans - Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Another tackle off the board here, as the Texans snag Max Iheanachor from Arizona State at pick 28 in our final mock draft. The thing with Iheanachor has been his relative newness to the sport, while having a ton of potential and insane traits.

This could be a perfect pick for the Texans. The team signed Braden Smith this offseason on a two-year deal, but that obviously isn’t for anything long-term, so the Texans could, in theory, try and develop Iheanachor while Smith is holding down the right side of the offensive line.

And eventually, a tackle duo of Aireontae Ersery and Iheanachor could emerge. You have to give a ton of credit to GM Nick Caserio, as he went out this offseason and spent the necessary cap dollars to fix the offensive line, and added running back David Montgomery via trade.

29. New York Jets (via KC) - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

With the Chiefs having traded up, the Jets are now slated to pick 29th in our mock draft, and here they take Jermod McCoy, stopping the slide from going into the second round. McCoy has a pretty notable injury history already and might require another surgery that would be unrelated to the recent ACL tear.

However, McCoy’s tape is pretty phenomenal, so the Jets could bank on his health, as he does profile as a starting-caliber, potentially high-end cornerback. He’s an incredibly fluid athlete and very instinctive, and those are two things that immediately translate into the NFL.

With the Jets having traded Sauce Gardner, there is a clear vacancy in the secondary. At best, McCoy could come in and help fill that void as a long-term CB1 option.

30. Miami Dolphins - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Dolphins use a pick they acquired from the Broncos to select a different kind of wide receiver, taking the big-bodied Denzel Boston from Washington here at pick 30. Landing Mauigoa with their own first-round pick, the Dolphins continue to stack talent on offense.

This is also a wise idea, as in today’s NFL, it’s never been more important to be able to draft and develop on this side of the ball. Teams can go out and ‘buy’ talent on defense nowadays. Adding Boston gives the Dolphins a legitimate “X” threat and someone who could be a true no. 1 wide receiver for Malik Willis.

Miami also has a ton of other picks inside the top-100, so the front office does have plenty of resources to continue to address both sides of the ball. With some major wide receiver help needed, taking Boston here isn’t a surprise for this team. The secondary could be an area they address here if not wide receiver.

31. New England Patriots - Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

There isn’t a lot to love with the Patriots defensive group. It was a solid unit in 2025, but a lot of the players are simply good and nothing else. However, there isn’t a clear weakness on this side of the ball, and with additions in Dre’Mont Jones and Kevin Byard coming this offseason, the unit could remain steady.

Getting some young talent in the building along the defensive line would be a solid idea. K’Lavon Chaisson departed in free agency this offseason to the Commanders, and when you think about the Patriots old-school nature, addressing the trenches feels like a guarantee in some capacity.

For more of a long-term pick, the Pats take Zion Young from Missouri at pick 31. Young is a developmental player and surely would not have to play immediately for New England. He could share the room with Jones and Harold Landry, two quality veterans, and he might be able to sneak in some third and long pass-rush snaps if nothing else.

32. Seattle Seahawks - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Seattle Seahawks could very well trade out of this pick, but if there isn’t a strong enough offer, they should stay put. Here, the Seahawks do stay put and take Colton Hood, the other cornerback from Tennessee. Seattle saw Riq Woolen leave in free agency for the Eagles, so there is a need at cornerback.

And with how strong this roster is, the front office has afforded itself the ability to draft for need, rather than zeroing in on the best player available. Hood just turned 21 years old and is a physical player who also shows flashes in run support.

Not even 6 feet or 200 pounds, Hood’s play style is bigger than that, so he should fit right in with a Mike Macdonald defense.