The 2026 NFL Draft is officially less than one month away, which means we're officially entering the time of year where you should believe nothing; believe everything.
The rumor mill is going to be a typhoon in the coming weeks, so fans everywhere need to brace themselves accordingly. Although the 2026 NFL Draft doesn't have nearly as much fanfare as some other classes because of the lack of premier prospects at the top, this has the potential to be a foundational class for a lot of teams.
This 2026 NFL mock draft scenario is going to take a look at some new team and prospect fits for the entire 1st round, including a skyrocketing Ty Simpson landing in the 1st round on one of the most QB-needy teams in the NFL.
2026 NFL mock draft: Ty Simpson skyrocketing up the board in new predictions
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza with the #1 overall pick feels like it's going to be the most anticlimactic #1 overall pick in NFL Draft history. It will be more interesting to find out if they try to get back into the 1st round to build around him.
2. New York Jets: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Jets have been projected to take Arvell Reese in about 95 percent of mock drafts (that stat is made up, but you get the idea) since the start of the offseason. But what if we've been overthinking it? Rueben Bain has fortified his position as the best true EDGE player in this class.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals are in one of the toughest positions of any team in this class. They could absolutely go after another pass rusher here, but their need at the right tackle position is undeniable. And with other teams needing tackles behind them, I'm not sure they can risk a trade back scenario, unless it's just one spot.
4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The Titans would have to be dancing around their draft war room if this scenario falls into their laps. Not in their wildest dreams would they have anticipated Arvell Reese falling here, but you'll take these types of unexpected victories when it comes to the NFL Draft. Robert Saleh will maximize his talent, regardless of the question marks about where he will wind up playing full-time.
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The New York Giants have one of the best defensive lines in the entire NFL, and getting an athlete like Sonny Styles to play behind them is a cheat code. The Giants already brought in Tremaine Edmunds to upgrade the position this offseason, and Styles would give them another unicorm type of athlete to plug and play.
6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
In a draft class that is lacking true blue-chip talent, you might have to draft for need and get the highest-graded player on your board where you're also filling holes. The Cleveland Browns appear poised to punt the QB situation to next offseason, so filling out the rest of their renovated offensive line makes a lot of sense. Monroe Freeling might be the best true left tackle prospect in this class.
7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Washington Commanders desperately need help for Terry McLaurin at the wide receiver position. That position group was a major problem area for this team last year, and they're not going to risk having the same type of struggles in back-to-back seasons. Jayden Daniels needs weapons. As tempting as Jeremiyah Love might be in this pick slot, the Commanders go with a pass-catcher.
8. New Orleans Saints: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The New Orleans Saints have one of the top sleeper rosters in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. If Tyler Shough can continue to take steps forward as a player, this team could genuinely be dangerous in the NFC South. And they'd be even more dangerous with a pass rusher like David Bailey bringing the heat off the edge.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Kansas City Chiefs have pretty significant needs all over their roster right now. You could legitimately make a case here that the biggest need is right tackle, safety, cornerback, or edge rushers. Because they have to start somewhere, they get one of the highest-graded players on the board for a unit that has been extremely problematic. Nobody is buying the idea that Jaylon Moore is just going to start at that RT spot without contest.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
One pick leads to another, and all of a sudden the Cincinnati Bengals are the team ending up with Jeremiyah Love in the 2026 NFL Draft. For months, we've been basically putting an artificial floor to where he could get drafted, but weird situations happen like this all the time in the draft. And the Bengals' offense gets even more ridiculous...
11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Dolphins obviously have to find a way to replace Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, and the free agents they've brought in aren't exactly going to do it. Because they're simultaneously in a massive rebuilding project but also trying to give Malik Willis the best chance to succeed, a playmaker like Makai Lemon this early makes a ton of sense.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Cowboys probably don't expect this scenario, but they get the CB1 of the NFL Draft here with the 12th overall pick because of an early run on offensive linemen, and they won't be complaining. I think the Cowboys could be trade-down candidates to get back into the 2nd round, and this would be the spot to do that. But if they stay put, revamping that defensive backfield for Christian Parker is a smart move.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Another guy who is maybe getting the "overthinking it" treatment right now is Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson. Tyson was once considered a lock for the top 10 picks, but that kind of talk has really cooled off as of late. The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly sniffing around an AJ Brown trade earlier this offseason, and with their current setup at receiver, this would almost feel like some providence.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OL, Penn State
When you get a great combination of filling a need as well as hitting on some value, you have the makings of the ideal Baltimore Ravens mock draft pick. Vega Ioane probably won't sell a lot of jerseys, but he's going to help the Ravens keep their running game the identity of the offense. And the run on offensive linemen in the top half of the first round continues.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
This is probably on the extremely high end for Malachi Lawrence, but the Bucs obviously have a need off the edge, and Lawrence is right in their "backyard". As an explosive edge player with long arms, traits, and consistent production, he looks like a player who's getting underrated by the media masses, but he won't be by NFL teams.
16. New York Jets (from Colts): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The New York Jets got a dynamic pass rusher with their top pick in this mock draft (Rueben Bain), and here at pick 16 overall, they replace Sauce Gardner with arguably the best cornerback prospect in the class. Jermod McCoy has been spending the last 14 or so months working back from a knee injury, but he'll be ready to go for this season and the ceiling is high.
17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
With Penei Sewell making the switch from the right tackle position over to left tackle, the Lions will need a new starting right tackle. And Blake Miller is one of the best in this class. Miller has been outstanding at Clemson and opened a lot of eyes with his athletic traits in the pre-draft process. The Lions' brain trust will love the fact that he started 54 games at the college level.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
One thing you almost always see in the NFL Draft is the safety position getting devalued. Teams in this mock draft have prioritized the more coveted and premium position groups instead of going after more luxury 1st-round positions, which could lead a team like the Vikings right into arguably the biggest steal of the night. Caleb Downs is going to be a stud.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Although he's not on the same level as prospects like Brock Bowers coming out of Georgia, Kenyon Sadiq has a chance to be a tremendous weapon in the passing game at the next level. His athletic traits are off the charts, and the Panthers were one of a number of teams to not have a single player at the tight end position rank within the top 32 of tight ends last year in receiving yards.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
As the Cowboys continue to look at rebuilding and revamping their secondary, they have to act quickly at the safety position because Caleb Downs just came off the board. If Dallas passes on safeties with the 12th overall pick, that position should be on a short list here at 20 overall along with linebacker and edge rusher. Pairing up Thieneman with Mansoor Delane in the 1st round would be a ridiculous haul.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be operating under the assumption that Aaron Rodgers will be back this coming season, but even if he does come back for one more year, they need future clarity at the position. This is a great landing spot for Ty Simpson to come in and learn from Rodgers and be Mike McCarthy's QB of the future.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel to come run their offense this offseason, so they need to let him cook. McDaniel is going to reshape the running game just like he has every other spot he's been, but one of the keys to that running game is the player he's going to have constantly running in motion at receiver. KC Concepcion is a hand-in-glove fit for McDaniel's offense and would give Justin Herbert another weapon that knows how to get open quickly.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The run on offensive linemen in this mock draft has been more like a marathon. Kadyn Proctor is one of the most physically and athletically gifted players in this draft class, and he'd be stepping into a great situation with the Eagles. He could play guard right away for Philly, and be the eventual successor to Lane Johnson at right tackle. This is one of my favorite prospect-team fits in the 1st round.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
The Browns continued their offensive line rebuild with the Monroe Freeling pick earlier in this mock draft scenario, and here they get a much-needed upgrade to the wide receiver position. Jerry Jeudy took a massive step back last season, but paired with Omar Cooper Jr. and breakout tight end Harold Fannin Jr.? The Browns might be cooking with a little something offensively.
25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
There was an unfortunate mass exodus on the defensive side of the ball for the Chicago Bears this offseason, and they lost some serious talent at the safety position. Even after bringing in guys like Coby Bryant and Cam Lewis, the Bears need an upgrade at safety and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is the third out of three true stud prospects in this round. He's big, athletic, physical, and can help keep the turnover party going for Chicago in 2026.
26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
After the DJ Moore trade, the Buffalo Bills are one of the tougher teams to project in the first round. They've got a pretty strong roster overall, and even though they've lost/traded some players this offseason, they've replenished at plenty of key spots already. The loss of Matt Milano is a notable one, and even if the Bills believe Dorian Williams can start on a full-time basis, CJ Allen might be too good of a value to pass on here.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The theme of this mock draft has obviously been offensive line, so the 49ers aren't going to be left out. There are both short and long-term questions right now about Trent Williams, one of the best to ever do it. But it feels like the proverbial sand timer is running low, so the 49ers really need to get to work in finding his replacement.
28. Houston Texans: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
Going into the 2025 season, Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods was almost unanimously thought to be a top-5 lock for the 2026 NFL Draft. His stock has plummeted, which could work in the favor of a team like the Houston Texans. The Texans need the help on the interior defensive line, and Woods could bounce back to the form he showed in 2024 when he gets to the pros.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
We've got back-to-back Clemson Tigers coming off the board here and back to back Clemson defenders as well. Avieon Terrell recently aggravated a hamstring injury at his pro day workout, so there's some question about how teams will view him coming in. But if he was a top-20 lock before, the Chiefs might be able to cash in on his fall here. They need almost a completely new secondary after all the departures this offseason.
30. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
With the top pick acquired from the Broncos in the Jaylen Waddle blockbuster, the Dolphins take a high-motor edge rusher prospect that will appeal to a lot of fans of the team. Many Dolphins fans have already probably spent considerable time rooting for Akheem Mesidor. Even though he'll be an older rookie, he can upgrade that Dolphins' pass rush significantly.
31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
We all saw Mike Vrabel getting hands-on at Max Iheanachor's pro day at Arizona State. Sometimes you just can't hide your love for a prospect. If this pick ends up happening, that video clip will go down in history. The Patriots need to upgrade their offensive line, and that was obvious during their playoff run. Iheanachor is raw, but extremely talented.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks have quite a few needs to address after the initial stages of NFL Free Agency. Of course, they have to replace Riq Woolen at the cornerback position after he bolted for the Eagles, and Chris Johnson could be one of the top candidates to do exactly that. He has all of the traits you look for in a starting outside corner with physicality, instincts, and ball skills.