The 2026 NFL Draft is going to be a very interesting to follow, as the quarterback class is a lot smaller than expected, so teams could be more aggressive than ever in trying to land one of the top projected prospects in the class.
Now that the college football season is slowly ending, all eyes will then turn to the NFL Scouting Combine to get another close look at the 2026 prospects. There are also other teams picking high that may not need to entertain taking a QB, so that has to be kept in mind as well.
Our updated mock draft predictions contains some major trades that throw a wrench into Round 1.
NFL Draft order taken before Saturday's Week 16 action
Multiple first-round picks traded in updated 2026 NFL Mock Draft predictions
1. Miami Dolphins (via NYG) - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Miami Dolphins make what could be a franchise-altering move by trading up 10 slots and sliding into that first overall pick, which the New York Giants currently own. I do believe the Giants would entertain offers to move down to try and build around Jaxson Dart. The Dolphins finally take the QB position seriously, trade a haul of picks, and move up to take Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. This is a great move for both teams.
2. Las Vegas Raiders - Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
The Las Vegas Raiders aren't able to get Mendoza, but they do 'settle' for Dante Moore, a first-round QB prospect from Oregon. If this scenario would happen, the AFC West would oddly have three quarterbacks who played their college football for the Ducks with Moore, Bo Nix, and Justin Herbert. Until the Raiders take the QB position seriously, they will continue to circle the drain in the division. Geno Smith has not worked out at all this year, and that is putting it lightly.
3. Tennessee Titans - Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Tennessee Titans have the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft as of now and are absolutely not going to be targeting a quarterback. Cam Ward was the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and while the Titans have had a forgettable season, which included firing Brian Callahan, they also have seen Ward make a considerable amount of big-boy throws.
Ward also was thrown into a horrific situation, so GM Mike Borgonzi has to ensure he builds this roster up aggressively in the next couple of offseasons, but the Titans also have to hit on the future head coach, which is no easy task.
Arvell Reese could be an EDGE player player at the NFL level and would be a logical 'best player available' selection for Tennessee, who is last in the AFC South and are at huge risk of falling further behind.
4. New Orleans Saints (via CLE) - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The New Orleans Saints make a massive trade to move up a few slots. They take Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame and continue to build up what could emerge as a young, encouraging offense. Rookie QB Tyler Shough has played quite well this year. The wide receiver room needs a bit of work, but the offensive line has some young players.
The running back room needs a bit of work as well, and there is no better RB prospect than Jeremiyah Love. It might seem a bit bold to take a running back this high, but the Saints might have something with Shough, and one the best friends of a quarterback is a strong running game, so this pick does actually make a bit of sense.
With the Browns not having a clear QB to take, they field offers to move down and do so here.
5. New York Jets - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The New York Jets are a total mess, but you have to at least hand it to GM Darren Mougey for taking a clear path forward with the franchise. The Jets were about as active as any team can get at the NFL trade deadline, acquiring multiple first-round picks by trading CB Sauce Gardner and DT Quinnen Williams to the Colts and Cowboys.
All of a sudden, the Jets have a ton of NFL Draft capital in the 2026 and 2027 drafts and could reshape the franchise for years to come if Mougey hits on these picks. The one position that has evaded them for years is obviously the QB spot, and I could see a scenario where the Jets push their chips into 2027 to target a QB and continue to build up the roster this offseason.
Their defensive line needs some help, and Peter Woods from Clemson would be a good fit. The Jets' front office is capable of adding noticeable talent this offseason to then make a huge push for a QB in the 2027 NFL Draft.
6. Arizona Cardinals - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Arizona Cardinals need more juice on the offensive side of the ball, but they also may need a new quarterback as well, as the team appears poised to trade or perhaps even cut Kyler Murray this coming offseason.
The Cardinals won four games in 2023 and eight in 2024, so they were on the right track, but the wheels have totally fallen off this year, and there is no guarantee that Jonathan Gannon and his staff will return.
Arizona probably needs some help at running back, too, but with Jeremiyah Love off the board in our latest predictions, the Cardinals take Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State and really add a ton of talent to the WR room that already has Marvin Harrison Jr.
7. Cleveland Browns (via NOR) - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Cleveland Browns accepted an offer from the New Orleans Saints to move down three spots in the first round of our latest predictions. The Browns now have the seventh overall selection and also own the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round pick as well.
The Browns add some much-needed talent to their WR room and take Carnell Tate from Ohio State. Tate is a first-round prospect and comes from the best WR development school in the country, so his odds for success in the NFL are probably very high.
And I would be shocked if the Browns continued this Jerry Jeudy experiment. I get the sense that Cleveland wanted Jeudy to be their WR1 when they swung the trade after 2023 and extended him, but Jeudy has been atrocious this year after having his first career 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024.
The Browns could build up this offseason and perhaps delay adding the QB until it's a more realistic time to do so.
8. Washington Commanders - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Washington Commanders have regressed big-time this year and have to add a ton of talent on both sides of the ball. GM Adam Peters hit on Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft, but outside of that, much of what he has done has been forgettable if you ask me.
Washington could benefit from bolstering the trenches, as it's never a bad idea to do that, so they take Keldric Faulk from Auburn with the eighth selection in this mock draft. The Commanders shut Jayden Daniels down for these final few weeks and have wasted his second season, to be blunt.
Peters and the rest of the Commanders' front office is approaching a massive 2026 offseason as they look to get this team closer to their 2024 selves.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
It's been yet another year to forget for the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy will now miss the playoffs for the third year in a row and have not been to the postseason since the 2022 campaign. The Bengals' franchise is wasting the Joe Burrow era, but the veteran QB has struggled to stay healthy this year.
If you ask me what I believe the Bengals should do, I would argue that they need to bring in a defensive-minded head coach, as the offense is relatively ready-made with Burrow being healthy. A defensive head coach might be able to focus more on that side of the ball, which has been atrocious this year. It would also shock me if a defensive player was not Cincy's first-round pick.
Caleb Downs is the best defensive back in the country and could be a perfect fit for the backend of the Bengals' defense. There is also an argument to be made that the Bengals have to 'get with the times' with the way they run things in the front office, but that doesn't seem to be something that is easily fixable.
10. Los Angeles Rams - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Los Angeles Rams own the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and may also win the Super Bowl this year. The Rams could add some talent to the offensive line in a forward-thinking move and grab Spencer Fano form Utah.
The Rams did just lose to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16, but they are still among the best teams in the NFL and do have the MVP of the league with Matthew Stafford. At some point, though, the Rams will have to eventually find a replacement for the great Stafford, as he's not going to play forever.
11. New York Giants (via MIA) - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The New York Giants made a major trade in these mock draft predictions and moved down 10 spots with the Miami Dolphins. As we saw earlier, the Dolphins grabbed Fernando Mendoza from Indiana and may have just changed the course of their franchise for the next decade.
The Giants could use some defensive back help, as their defensive line is very good, and the offense could be in a great spot with a healthy Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, and Cam Skattebo. The Giants could use some CB help and take Jermod McCoy from Tennessee.
I am not sure if GM Joe Schoen is on the job in 2026, as Brian Daboll is long gone, and Schoen has done a bad job, frankly. They may have hit on Dart, and that could be what saves Schoen's job for 2026, at least. He has to be aggressive this offseason in fixing these roster holes, and the cornerback room is one of them. McCoy from Tennessee is the pick.
12. Kansas City Chiefs - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Kansas City Chiefs have to get more juice along the defensive line this offseason. People seemed to overrate this roster, as years of missing on draft picks and having subpar free agency hauls caught up to them. The Chiefs need to bolster the trenches on the defensive side of the ball, but they genuinely have needs everywhere else besides quarterback.
With Patrick Mahomes' recovery timeline not super clear, the Chiefs need to focus on improving the roster for when he is able to return. Kansas City adds David Bailey from Texas Tech in this mock draft, and with them not likely having a pick this high for years to come, they have to hit on the prospect...
13. Minnesota Vikings - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
It's been an 'every other season' for the Minnesota Vikings in the Kevin O'Connell era, and their down years are unsurprisingly due to poor QB play. The Vikings drafted JJ McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury. Sam Darnold stepped in, played the best football of his career, and signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Vikings weren't wrong to let Darnold go, as they invested a top pick in McCarthy, but it's largely been a poor start to his young NFL career, as he has missed more games than he's played, and he's only just now starting to put things together.
The bright side is that McCarthy is only 22 years old, so he's still very young and is just now hitting the normal 'rookie' age in the NFL. If the Vikings can have a strong offseason and fill their remaining roster holes, there is reason to believe in this team. Minnesota bolsters a hurting CB room and takes Mansoor Delane from LSU at pick 13.
14. Dallas Cowboys - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Dallas Cowboys are absolutely going to target a top defensive player in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they grab linebacker Sonny Styles in our updated mock draft predictions. We know how good the offense can and will continue to be, as that unit is not one of the 50 issues with the Cowboys this year.
Heck, Dallas may only be an average defense away from being a contender in 2026. Not only are they likely making a change at defensive coordinator, but I could see the front office being hyper-aggressive in the offseason in fixing the defense. Adding a legitimate linebacker to the middle of that unit is the right move.
15. Baltimore Ravens - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
The Baltimore Ravens were 1-5 and could still win the AFC North this year, but they have to get some young talent on this roster and could target a top OL prospect with their first-round pick. When healthy, the Ravens are consistently one of the best and most talented teams in the league, so I really do not believe they have deep roster issues.
The EDGE room could use a boost, but the trenches on the offensive side of the ball are also quite important. Baltimore takes Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa in the first round of this mock draft and give Lamar Jackson some key protection as he already approaches 30 years old here in the near future.
On a side note, Jackson also hasn't played super well this year and just isn't a huge threat with his legs right now.
16. Carolina Panthers - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
My bold take is that Bryce Young is far from a franchise quarterback and is probably holding the Carolina Panthers back. He's playing the best football of his career here in year three, and he's been average at best. The Panthers are also 7-7 and have alternated wins and losses for most of the season.
The regime that drafted Young back in 2023 is not there, so I do not get the sense that GM Dan Morgan feels super committed to Young. The Panthers will have a decision to make on his fifth-year option, and that is going to be a huge tell, as there is no way he's getting an extension after the season.
Carolina tries to improve at the QB position and takes Ty Simpson from Alabama. It might not be a sexy pick in the eyes of Panthers' fans, but Bryce Young is really just a guy, and that is simply something a team cannot have at the QB position.
17. Detroit Lions - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
For multiple years now, the Detroit Lions have added a ton of talent into the secondary, but it's just not ever come together. The unit has battled injuries for multiple years now, so GM Brad Holmes might simply have to keep plugging away and adding talent to the unit.
Detroit takes Avieon Terrell from Clemson at pick 16 in this mock draft, and when you look at how talented the rest of the roster is, the secondary figures to be a focal point this offseason. Holmes does have a strong record in the NFL Draft and has hit on a plethora of draft picks, so there's reason to believe he could hit on another first-rounder.
Sitting at 8-6 entering Week 16, Detroit has the best scoring offense in the league but a bottom-10 scoring defense, so it's clear what the front office's to-do list is going to look like this coming offseason.
18. New York Jets - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
After grabbing Peter Woods earlier in the first round, the New York Jets now look to the offensive side of the ball and take Makai Lemon from USC. In 2025 for the Trojans, Lemon had 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games, which were career-high figures for the receiver.
With the quarterback class here in 2026 being quite thin, I could see the Jets building up the roster a much as possible before making a massive splash for a passer in the 2027 NFL Draft. It seems like there is a lot to like with their young offensive line, and with Garrett Wilson already present in the WR room, Lemon makes it even better.
As for the QB position, the Jets could swing a more modest trade for someone like Kyler Murray for a couple of seasons.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
With Cade Otton set to hit the free agency market this offseason and likely not being the player that Kenyon Sadiq could be in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers use another first-round pick on an offensive weapon.
It's largely been a year to forget for the Bucs, as the team has regressed a bit on both sides of the ball, and I am not sure Todd Bowles is a good enough head coach to continue leading this franchise. Tampa is still likely winning the NFC South this year, but after a strong start, the Bucs are now 7-7 and have to fend off the Carolina Panthers.
The defense has not been good this year, but in today's NFL, it is a lot easier (and very doable) to build a defense through free agency. On the offensive side of the ball is where teams want to more frequently go the 'draft and develop' route. Sadiq is a rare tight end prospect who is not only a good receiver, but also a good blocker. He is a day one starter at a very tough position for young players to slide into as rookies.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for wide receiver upgrades for years now. They essentially swapped George Pickens for DK Metcalf, but another receiver is needed. No matter who the QB is in the 2026 season, GM Omar Khan is absolutely going to make another notable move at the position.
While I think Pittsburgh could benefit more from adding a top defensive prospect, Khan gets another wide receiver for the room and adds Denzel Boston from Washington at pick 20. We could again see notable change on the offensive side of the ball for Pittsburgh this coming offseason.
21. Philadelphia Eagles - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
If nothing else, Philadelphia Eagles' GM Howie Roseman knows where his team needs improved. The Eagles have taken a step back on the offensive side of the ball this year and aren't quite as good along the defensive front. We've seen the trench play on both sides of the ball regress, and Jalen Hurts' weaknesses as a passer aren't being covered up well by Kevin Patullo.
While Philly is likely winning 10 or more games this year, the team simply does not have the bite that they had in 2024 when they won the Super Bowl, and I just do not see a path for this team to win it all this year. In the offseason, you can expect some notable changes, as Roseman is typically a very aggressive GM in adding talent or at least attempting to fix things.
With both Milton Williams and Josh Sweat departing in free agency last year, I could see Philly adding a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. They take Caleb Banks from Florida to try and keep that unit in a good spot.
22. Houston Texans - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
I am not sure if Kadyn Proctor is playing tackle or guard at the NFL level, but I do believe the Houston Texans have to improve the OL this coming offseason. It and the offense have taken some steps forward in recent weeks, but the OL is still missing more talent overall.
With the defense arguably being the best in the NFL, GM Nick Caserio could focus most of his efforts on getting some long-term stability on offense, and it all starts on the offensive line. Alabama OL don't typically have great NFL careers, but that was the same argument that went against CJ Stroud being a QB from Ohio State.
23. Dallas Cowboys - TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Taking a linebacker earlier in the first round of our latest mock draft, the Dallas Cowboys grab EDGE TJ Parker from Clemson at pick 23, bolstering their defense in a huge way. Parker, in 39 games for Clemson, has 41.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks, so this is someone who gets into the backfield consistently.
The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers but did also add defensive tackles Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams, so it's clear that their goal with the Parsons move may have been to get more stout against the run and create some early financial savings as well.
Parker could be another missing piece for the defense in Dallas, and with the additions of Parker, Sonny Styles, and a likely new defensive coordinator, the Cowboys may have truly fixed their defense for the foreseeable future.
There is absolutely a path forward for Dallas to win double-digit games this year, but it's really all about how much the defense improves.
24. Buffalo Bills - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Buffalo Bills have defensive needs and could use another wide receiver. They take Colton Hood from Tennessee at pick 24 in this mock draft. One thing I have noticed with Buffalo this year is that they have really had to rely on Josh Allen a bit too much, and I am worried that it could come back to bite them in the playoffs.
The defense has taken a step back, and the offense just isn't quite as efficient as it was in 2024. Frankly, GM Brandon Beane has done a below-average job in recent years, and you'd think that another early playoff exit could prompt the Bills to make some major changes...
Buffalo is hanging by a thread in the AFC East, and it's largely due to not consistently hitting in players in the NFL Draft.
25. Chicago Bears - Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
The Chicago Bears have been a great team this year and could very well win the NFC North. Ben Johnson has led this team to a total 180 from last year, and we are seeing Caleb Williams play a more efficient brand of football. The completion percentage is actually down and definitely not in a good spot, but he’s taking fewer sacks, so that’s a start.
There’s also something to be said about the Bears being where they are in general - this doesn’t happen without a good QB, and Williams is only in his second year in the league. Heading into the 2026 NFL Offseason, Chicago will need to focus a lot of their attention on the defensive side of the ball.
Getting another pass rusher could help, and adding another starter in the secondary would be a wise idea. The Bears grab Matayo Uiagalelei at pick 25 in this mock draft to try and bring a boost to the front. The defensive front has gotten soft at times, so this could be a logical selection.
26. Los Angeles Chargers - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Los Angeles Chargers have to fix the offensive line once and for all, as Justin Herbert keeps taking a ton of hits, and LA will never make any progress in the postseason until the offensive line is fixed.
The Bolts lost both Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt to injuries this year, and I do think there is a legitimate chance that Slater heads to the interior when he is healthy. Caleb Lomu is a left tackle but could make a living on the right side of the offensive line.
And when Slater is back in the lineup, he could occupy one of the interior spots. All of a sudden, the Chargers could be cooking with grease. Overall, though, this roster is not great, so I could see a number of positions getting taken here by GM Joe Hortiz.
27. Cleveland Browns - Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Cleveland Browns use their second first-round pick in this mock draft to take Vega Ioane, a guard from Penn State. The Browns could see both Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller depart in free agency this coming offseason, so the guard spot could have a massive vacancy.
There is also nothing wrong with the Browns bolstering the trenches, as they did that last year with Mason Graham, and it’s allowed Myles Garrett to feast and likely break the single-season sack record.
Cleveland has bits and pieces of being a great team. They added Carnell Tate earlier in this mock draft and now add another foundational piece to the offense.
This could all shape up to be a great thing for the Browns if they are able to get some clarity at the QB position at some point, which is unfortunately proving to be very hard for them. However, GM Andrew Berry has a very rookie class in 2025, so things could be looking up.
28. San Francisco 49ers - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The San Francisco 49ers have been winning a ton of games this year, but the roster is nothing special if you ask me. San Fran has to continue building up the trenches, so they go with Kayden McDonald from Ohio State here in this mock draft.
The Niners are 10-4 approaching Week 16 and have lost guys like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for the rest of the season. If this team is winning this many games without some key contributors, things are pointing up if they can bring in some more talent.
They’ve also been horribly injured for years now, so that’s something worth mentioning as well. San Fran isn’t going to make a Super Bowl run or anything, but bringing in a new era of young players could yield some great results down the line.
29. Los Angeles Rams - Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
The Los Angeles Rams have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They took a tackle early on and are now going to double-down on offense and take Germie Bernard from Alabama. It would be wise for the Rams to continue building on a strength, and with Puka Nacua likely signing a mega-extension this offseason, the Rams will need to get some cheap talent in the room.
The defense is pretty much set, and while they could use another cornerback, that could be a target for GM Les Snead in free agency. LA has done such a stellar job at building this roster that it’s hard to imagine they make the wrong selections here.
And their having two first-round picks honestly feels a bit unfair, but here we are. The 11-4 Rams are a Super Bowl contender this year and could further extend that window in the 2026 NFL Draft if they bring in the right players. Germie Bernard is their selection at pick 29.
30. New England Patriots - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The New England Patriots have had a season to remember - this team was among the worst in the NFL last year and are now among the best. Mike Vrabel just might be the coach of the year, and we’ve seen much of their added talent fill in nicely.
To a degree, though, the Patriots are still playing with house money and really don’t have a great roster overall, but they’re still in the beginning stages of a rebuild, so that is expected. One area where this team is surely going to add this offseason is at wide receiver.
Stefon Diggs has had a great season, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and is not a long-term option for them. KC Concepcion could be a realistic target. He’s a great route-runner and excellent after the catch. With Drake Maye being able to throw the ball down the field at a high level, Concepcion might be a cheat code in this offense.
The Patriots blew a 21-point lead to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, but that doesn’t take away from the big picture of this season being excellent up to this point.
31. Seattle Seahawks - Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
The Seattle Seahawks add WR Ja'Kobi Lane from USC in this mock draft. Lane is 6'4" and someone who could be a mismatch for every defensive back he'd go up against. With the Seahawks likely making Jaxon Smith-Njigba one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league here this offseason, they could benefit from adding some good, cheap talent at the position to further bolster the room.
Seattle also excels at throwing the ball, so it's never a bad thing for teams to build on a strength. If the Seahawks didn't go with a WR in the first round, I could them targeting an interior offensive line prospect.
32. Miami Dolphins (via DEN, projected trade for WR Jaylen Waddle) - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Miami Dolphins could grab another first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if they trade Jaylen Waddle this coming offseason. The Denver Broncos make the move, sending the no. 32 pick to Miami for the speedy receiver. Denver seemed to have interest in Waddle at the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline, but they didn't seem willing to pay the price.
With the offseason being a different story and Denver clearly needing a game-changing wide receiver, Waddle could be on the move. The Broncos don't have a legit no. 1 WR, and Waddle is someone who could pair perfectly with Courtland Sutton.
Denver also has younger, encouraging players at the position in Pat Bryant and Troy Franklin who could be top-tier depth options. Miami now looks to the defensive side of the ball and takes CJ Allen, a linebacker from Georgia. With Denver being in a position to be even more aggressive this offseason, I could see a scenario where the front office trades their first-round pick for an established player.