The NFL is marching on to the Championship Round, and the Indiana Hoosiers are the undefeated National Champions of the 2025-26 college football season. At least one of those things is normal.
It's been such a crazy year for football both at the professional and college levels, and the offseason has already started to follow suit. The Giants made the biggest splash hire already, bringing in John Harbaugh. But teams with long-tenured head coaches previously like the Steelers and Bills are looking for new leadership.
The 2026 NFL Draft was really thrown for a loop when Dante Moore decided to go back to school for another year. This is not a strong class of quarterbacks, nor does this crop of prospects seem to have an overload of blue-chip talent. How will teams attack their needs in this draft? We're making our newest 1st-round NFL Mock Draft predictions with the obvious on top.
NFL Draft 2026: Fernando Mendoza on top of newest 1st-round NFL Mock Draft predictions
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza
Watching Mendoza during this year's run with Indiana confirmed he's the #1 pick of this year's crop. And the Raiders have some nice pieces to surround him right away. But who will be coaching him up?
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Jets have multiple 1st-round darts to throw this year and next, but this is not the greatest year to have the 2nd overall pick. Arvell Reese will be a difference-maker, but will he be worthy of this draft status?
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals are another team in a really rough position. Francis Mauigoa is a solid player, but is he worth the 3rd overall pick? Is this a reach for need?
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Titans have hired Robert Saleh as their next head coach, and I would expect this pick to go to the defense to help support Cam Ward in that way. The Titans just need to keep adding building blocks.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
John Harbaugh is the new head coach of the Giants, and he's inheriting a really solid roster overall. Injuries this past year derailed their overall progress, especially at receiver. They need another legit weapon to pair with Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson.
6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Browns don't have a long-term solution at QB or on the offensive line. They could take a tackle here, but it would be a reach compared to Jordyn Tyson. And receiver is another of this team's many big needs.
7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Commanders need to take the best pass rusher available with this selection. Getting consistent pressure off the edge could vault this team back into the postseason.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The discovery of Tyler Shough as the team's potential franchise QB in the 2025 season was the most important thing that could have happened to this team. The Saints now need to find ways to add more talent around him.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Chiefs have needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The pass protection and pass rush have been huge issues, and Keldric Faulk can at least give them some juice on the defensive front at multiple positions.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
The Bengals simply take the best defensive player on the board here, but they could also go with an offensive lineman. Caleb Downs might be one of the best players in the class overall.
11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Dolphins are blowing it up and starting from scratch. Jeff Hafley is going to want to upgrade in the secondary as well, but the Dolphins have a clear identity as a run-first team. Spencer Fano helps fortify that.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Anybody to help the defense will do for the Cowboys here. The trade of Micah Parsons and decision to release Trevon Diggs have taken two formerly huge pieces off the board, and it's time to reset.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Rams sent a 1st-round pick to the Falcons last year for this selection, and if it ends up being Jermod McCoy, it will be a Tennessee swap. The Falcons took Vols pass rusher James Pearce Jr. in the deal with the Rams.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The Ravens will have a new head coach for the first time since 2008, and they need to get tougher and more physical on the defensive front. Peter Woods would be an instant upgrade.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Buccaneers might not be in a position to take a luxury position in the 1st round like tight end, but Kenyon Sadiq won't be viewed as "just another tight end". He's a game-changer.
16. New York Jets (from Colts): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Jets traded Sauce Gardner to the Colts to get this pick, so naturally, you would have to look at his potential replacement. Getting a top cornerback prospect here would be fitting.
17. Detroit Lions: Vega Ioane, OL, Penn State
The Lions need to figure out what they're going to do at the center position going forward. Tate Ratledge was phenomenal this year at guard, but would they do some shuffling if they could get the best guard prospect in the class?
18. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The one area of the Minnesota Vikings' roster that really lacked in the talent department heading into this season was cornerback. They need playmakers to build around.
19. Carolina Panthers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Panthers dipped into the Texas A&M talent pool to snag promising rookie Nic Scourton this past year, and they go right back to the well by taking Cashius Howell in 2026.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Cowboys' decision to trade Micah Parsons created a massive void off the edge. It's going to take a village to truly replace him going forward.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Steelers taking Ty Simpson is going to be a popular mock draft pick for the next handful of months. There are so many split opinions about Simpson but he has the physical traits to be an NFL starter.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
The Chargers saw Justin Herbert get beaten and battered this past season despite multiple first-round investments in the offensive line. They need insurance, and Kadyn Proctor might be able to slide inside to guard to replace failed free agent signing Mekhi Becton.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Eagles will almost undoubtedly be moving on from AJ Brown this offseason, so another big-bodied threat at the receiver position will be needed. We'll see who the team hires as an offensive coordinator to help right the ship as well.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Caleb Lomu, OL, Utah
We said it earlier, but the Browns need help revamping their offensive line. Caleb Lomu could start for them right away in his rookie season. Even without a QB in the first round, this team needs to focus on cornerstone position groups.
25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Raising the floor on the offensive line was crucial for the Bears in 2025, and the same could be said of the defensive line in 2026. They need to continue adding players there so they can keep bringing waves.
26. Buffalo Bills: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
It feels like Keon Coleman's time in Buffalo is done. The Josh Palmer signing was a failure. The Bills need to reset the WR position and Makai Lemon would be an absolutely perfect fit here.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Brandon Cisse, DB, South Carolina
The 49ers need a lot of different pieces, but it's hard to pass on top-tier talent at the cornerback position this late in the first round. I think they'll go with a DB or offensive lineman.
28. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Texans need to focus on the offensive and defensive line prospects early in this year's class, and they have a lot of veteran players coming up on expiring deals on the defensive front.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
There might not be a more hand-in-glove fit for the Sean McVay offense than Gennings Dunker in the 1st round if the Rams want an offensive tackle. He can play multiple positions and start wherever they want him right away.
30. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
The Patriots are another team that needs help on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They had the worst sack differential of any team in the league, so a pass rusher or pass protector makes sense for them.
31. Denver Broncos: Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
The Broncos have not taken an offensive tackle in any round of the NFL Draft since they drafted Garett Bolles in the 1st round back in 2017. It's time for them to bring another big man in for Zach Strief to mold.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Seahawks have a number of key players in the defensive backfield coming up on expiring contracts, so they'll look to reset some contract clocks and Colton Hood is a phenomenal talent.