The 2026 NFL offseason is already flying by, and we haven't even reached Super Bowl LX yet. The head coaching carousel was absolutely wild with almost one-third of the teams in the league looking for new leadership, on top of dozens of coordinator changes and a handful of general manager shakeups as well.
With all of the coaching movement so far this offseason, we can now start to connect some dots about what direction teams might go in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now that all of the coaching vacancies have been filled (on paper, at least) around the league, we're going to take an abbreviated look with a brand-new 2026 NFL mock draft for the first two rounds.
2026 NFL mock draft: Rueben Bain rising quickly in the top 10 picks overall
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on hiring Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, but they can't make that move official until after Super Bowl LX, obviously. Kubiak's arrival should be good news for the offensive weapons in Las Vegas, but part of the reason Kubiak is willing to accept this job is the fact that he knows he's going to be getting Fernando Mendoza with the top pick.
Mendoza won the Heisman, won a National title, and brought the Indiana Hoosiers program to a place nobody is used to seeing them. This is the type of player Kubiak is going to want leading his team on the field.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
If you're the New York Jets, this scenario has to be a little sickening. You have to make the most of it, and Arvell Reese is exactly how they do that.
Reese can get after the quarterback, but he's not exactly a full-time edge rusher that you would typically see in this high of a pick slot. To put it very blunt, you just don't love using this high of a draft selection on an off-ball linebacker. Even if Reese reaches his ceiling, this type of NFL Draft real estate is best spent on premium positions. But the projection here will be based on the team drafting him and what their vision is for him. Aaron Glenn will have a good plan.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Arizona Cardinals have finally, mercifully hired a new head coach. Mike LaFleur has agreed to leave the shadow of Sean McVay and take the job in Arizona, and what happens from this point forward will be absolutely fascinating. The Cardinals don't exactly have their foundation solidified on either side of the ball, and there's no quarterback getting the type of buzz to be picked here.
It feels like the most likely outcome for the Cardinals right now is to go after one of the Miami prospects that typically falls in this slot: Rueben Bain or Francis Mauigoa. Upgrade in the trenches on either side of the ball, and keep trudging forward.
4. Tennessee. Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
This is easily the highest we've had Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey going in one of our 2026 NFL mock draft scenarios, but it feels more and more justified the more you watch him play. And as a matter of fact, Bailey just debuted as the 4th-ranked overall player on Daniel Jeremiah's big board at NFL.com.
The Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach for the 2026 season, and Saleh isn't going to settle for status quo off the edge. Not after his 49ers were dead last in the league in sacks last year. You need a presence off the edge, and Bailey provides that.
5. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
It's going to be fascinating to see how NFL teams rank the offensive linemen from this year's class. For the better part of the last year, Miami's Francis Mauigoa has been rumored to be one of the most coveted prospects in the class, but it's also fair to say that his stock has cooled off considerably as the season has gone along.
The Giants have two pending free agents who were previously starters on the right side of the offensive line in Greg Van Roten (RG) and Jermaine Eluemunor (RT), so getting a replacement here as they build the culture new head coach John Harbaugh wants makes sense.
6. Cleveland Browns: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
There have been a number of Browns fans who have really disliked this mock draft pick in the past, but the buzz for Makai Lemon possibly becoming the WR1 from this draft class is getting louder and louder. In fact, Daniel Jeremiah has him as the 7th-best player in the class and the #1 receiver on his board, saying he compares favorably to Amon-Ra St. Brown as a prospect.
Lemon's playmaking ability is exactly what the Browns need for their offense. He's a sure-handed target who plays with a level of physicality at the position that they need, and a "my ball" mentality required to be a true WR1 in today's game.
7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The closer we get to the NFL Draft, the more everyone's going to be hearing about the lack of "blue chip" prospects in this class. And that is going to shove a number of players up the board for teams, including running back Jeremiyah Love. The Commanders have more desperate needs elsewhere on the roster, but if Love turns out to be as good as people think he can be, this might be the best pick they could possibly make.
This is a team that was in the NFC Championship Game just two seasons ago. They had extremely bad luck with injuries this past season, and if they're going to bounce back, they need more offense creators. Commanders GM Adam Peters should have a great idea of the type of impact a player like Love can make since he was with the 49ers when they traded for Christian McCaffrey.
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
There are a lot of directions the New Orleans Saints can go here, but thankfully, they are no longer in the "desperate for a quarterback" mode. Tyler Shough made sure of that down the stretch this season with a fantastic rookie year, providing hope for the franchise moving forward. And we've already seen that Chris Olave looks like a second contract player with this team, while Juwan Johnson continues to evolve for the Saints as a go-to threat at tight end.
Still, wide receiver is a problem area for the team. Even after trading for former second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk and big slot De'Vaughn Vele last year, the Saints need more. Carnell Tate is the perfect fit here, stylistically complementary to Olave and another sure-handed receiver who can make Tyler Shough's life easier.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Kansas City Chiefs have a ton of notable free agents entering the 2026 offseason, namely tight end Travis Kelce. So I can see this selection going a handful of directions. The Chiefs could look at Kenyon Sadiq as the heir apparent to Kelce at the tight end position, or they could look to the secondary where they have four free agents at cornerback (Jaylen Watson, Nazeeh Johnson, Joshua Williams, Eric Scott Jr.).
Along with the fact that Bryan Cook and Mike Edwards are also free agents, we're talking about a potential complete overhaul of most of the players who ate up snaps in Steve Spagnuolo's defense this past season. Getting the top cornerback on their board would be a wise choice.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Once again, the lack of truly elite, blue-chip talent at the premium positions in this draft class is one of the most notable things to keep in mind going into the draft itself. We could see historical trends bucked in the top 10-15 overall picks with a number of positions we don't often see, such as linebacker, safety, and tight end.
With that in mind, the Cincinnati Bengals are a perfect potential landing spot for someone like Caleb Downs, who played a versatile role in the defensive backfield at Ohio State. He looks poised to be one of the most impactful defenders from this class, and few teams need impact on that side of the ball more than the Bengals.
11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
If you're the Miami Dolphins, you've got to be ready to rip this thing down to the studs in the 2026 offseason. The Dolphins hired a new GM (Jon-Eric Sullivan) and head coach (Jeff Hafley) who are both coming over from the Green Bay Packers.
Hafley's defense is going to be the reason this team's floor is raised, along with their running game offensively, because we're likely looking at a significant transition at the quarterback position. If they can bring in a veteran stabilizer at QB, getting help at corner is essential. Even with Jermod McCoy missing this past season due to an ACL injury, he's considered one of the best press-man corners in the draft. Hafley's defense is at its best when he can play aggressive in coverage, so this is a hand-in-glove fit.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The best player on the board in this situation is Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. If you can't get Arvell Reese, then Sonny Styles is a pretty darn good consolation prize. Styles is ranked 5th overall on Daniel Jeremiah's initial big board, and I'll continue referencing that because Jeremiah's rankings are not only based on his own film analysis, but what NFL teams are saying about these guys.
Styles has long been a coveted prospect because he's a ridiculous height-weight-speed marvel at the linebacker position who is a converted safety. The Cowboys have needs at all three levels of defense, and Styles has the type of playmaking ability to give them a substantial boost as a rookie.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
This is just a gut feeling sort of mock draft pick, but I can see the Los Angeles Rams really falling in love with Kadyn Proctor in the pre-draft process. The Rams have two first-round picks, and they'll be able to address their top needs with the way this class is set up, but the offensive line is always a premium position and they can't sit around and wait until the 30th pick to get someone.
Rob Havenstein is a pending free agent in 2026, and while there are legitimate concerns about Kadyn Proctor keeping his weight down as a pro, his overall combination of size and athletic traits might make Sean McVay feel like he's back in Washington, getting a young version of Trent Williams. Who knows if things will work out the same, but the upside is there.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Baltimore Ravens hired Jesse Minter as their new head coach to replace John Harbaugh, who had been in that seat since the 2008 season. The typical thinking here is that they're going to draft a defensive player to complement the hiring of Minter, but Minter is coming from a situation with the Los Angeles Chargers where he saw the value of high-quality offensive line play.
Justin Herbert ended last season completely beaten up, and Minter is going to want to avoid that issue at all costs with Lamar Jackson in need of a bounce-back year. Right guard Daniel Faalele is a pending free agent, and the Ravens have every incentive to go after arguably the best player on the board here in Penn State guard Vega Ioane. Upgrade the trenches, raise the floor of your team.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Buccaneers are running it back for at least one more season with head coach Todd Bowles, and his defense needs a boost in the pass rush department. Badly. The Buccaneers tried to recapture the magic with veteran Haason Reddick, who was wildly productive for a time with the Philadelphia Eagles, but that didn't work.
YaYa Diaby has been the team's most productive edge rusher, racking up 19 QB hits and 7 sacks last season to lead the team in both categories. Getting another productive presence off the edge would be massive, and Cashius Howell is the best on the board in this pick slot.
16. New York Jets (from Colts): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
There has been such an emphasis placed on Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy over the last calendar year that many folks missed how good of a season Colton Hood had as the Vols' number one option at the cornerback position this entire season. He was dominant at times, showing off an outstanding combination of technique and consistency.
The New York Jets have been considered a very obvious landing spot for top cornerback prospects in this class, and especially with this selection, because of their in-season decision to trade away former All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts. The Jets need help at the outside cornerback position, and this pick would give them two significant building blocks for Aaron Glenn in Arvell Reese and Colton Hood.
17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Most of the buzz for Miami pass rusher Akheem Mesidor has been of the second-round variety lately. But when you really dig into the season he just had for the Hurricanes, it's impossible to ignore the impact Meisdor was making every single week.
He finished this past season with 63 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, and an eye-opening four forced fumbles. The production is there, the motor runs hot, and those are the types of prospects Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes love. Getting an edge player to complement Aidan Hutchinson is mission critical this offseason.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
This is easily the furthest down the board we've had Jordyn Tyson falling in a 2026 NFL mock draft scenario for quite some time. These things happen every year in the NFL Draft, though, so nothing would be a shocker. Especially in a class like this, where the nature of the class is going to make the unpredictable the expectation.
At any rate, Jordyn Tyson would be a very nice pickup for the Vikings, because they are looking at an offseason where they might lose Jalen Nailor to free agency, and the team could move on from Jordan Addison. Addison has been a problem off the field, and entering his contract year, the Vikings might just decide to start fresh. And nobody would blame them.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
This will be an interesting offseason for the Carolina Panthers, who made the playoffs this year as the NFC South champions, gave the Rams a run for their money, but still have a ton of major question marks on both sides of the ball.
Over the last two seasons, we've seen a huge uptick in the overall player development for this team, and the cupboard obviously isn't bare. This was a team that really looked like it could be on the rise throughout the course of the 2025 season. And as I've said before, we could see some non-premium positions emphasized earlier than normal in this draft because of the prospects that play those positions, and Kenyon Sadiq is a special talent to add to Dave Canales's offense with versatiliity to move all over the formation.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
Dallas Cowboys fans are going to want one of their first-round picks to be a pass rusher, but you have to play the board as it falls. There might not be a top-tier EDGE prospect that just falls into their laps, so they have to be ready for a lot of different possibilities. One of them is revamping the safety position, where Donovan Wilson is a pending free agent and the team's leader in snaps played last season.
The Cowboys didn't hire a new head coach in 2026, but they did bring in a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker, who is set to inherit one of the most "under the microscope" jobs in the NFL. With a clear need to reset at multiple positions defensively, the Cowboys get the top safety on their board and just keep loading up on the most talent they can get for that side of the ball.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
If the Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to get Spencer Fano this late in the 1st round, they've got to take it. We'll see what happens this offseason with veteran guard Isaac Seumalo, but the Steelers could take Fano here and just figure out the combination of the best five players up front. Fano has played both left tackle and right tackle, and is the best player on the board.
If Aaron Rodgers returns for 2026, which honestly feels like it's going to happen at this point, then the Steelers can upgrade the offensive line or their receiver position here. The ideal pick might be Vega Ioane out of Penn State to just slot into his natural left guard position, but getting Fano wouldn't be anything to scoff at.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Making his debut in the first round of a 2026 NFL mock draft is Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller, another prospect who really stands to benefit from the lack of top-end talent in this class. And he -- along with a number of other prospects -- could stand to benefit from the situation the Chargers are facing this offseason along the offensive line.
The assumption is that the team is going to get back a healthy Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt next season, but the nature of Slater's injury (Patellar tendon) is a little more complicated than it seems. There is a possibility Joe Alt will have to permanently make his home at right tackle and a new right tackle would be needed. If both of those guys are back and at full strength, Miller could kick inside to right guard and play next to Alt.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
This is going to be another fascinating offseason for the Philadelphia Eagles, although when does Howie Roseman ever go cheap on the fireworks budget? That simply isn't going to happen. The Eagles are set up for making some significant changes to their offensive personnel, namely moving on from veteran wide receiver AJ Brown. That's probably the best course of action at this point for both parties.
If that ends up being the case, then the wide receiver position is going to get shoved up the priority list here in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft. And getting a big-bodied receiver like Denzel Boston here to complement DeVonta Smith would be ideal.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Cleveland Browns have needs everywhere on the offensive side of the ball. Of course, the team did have two quarterbacks this past season who are representing at the Pro Bowl games, so surely they will be able to build around one of those guys.
All kidding aside, the quarterback position is an obvious area of concern for new head coach Todd Monken, but that isn't likely going to get fixed with this pick. Unelss Monken and the Browns fall in love with Ty Simpson, this pick needs to be spent on the offensive line. The Browns might need four or five new starters on the line this season, and Monken goes back to his Georgia roots for a new left tackle in the fast-rising Monroe Freeling.
25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn
Keldric Faulk is another prospect right now whose stock and status are sort if in a state of flux. For the majority of the past year, Faulk has been projected as a likely top-10 pick. And while NFL teams value versatility, it's possible that his "tweener" status could drop him down the board a bit. And I don't think the Chicago Bears would be complaining about that.
The Bears have every reason to attack the defensive line early and often this offseason, similar to the way they attacked the offensive line last year. If you can raise the level of talent in the trenches on either side of the ball, you raise the floor of your entire team. Getting a versatile player like Faulk would be addressing a top need and getting good value in the process.
26. Buffalo Bills: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon
Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is officially back in our first-round mock draft projections, and it just feels right. Thieneman was a tarnsfer to Oregon this past year who was expected to establish himself as a top-32 overall pick, and it's fair to say he did his part on the field to make that happen.
What we see so much of in today's NFL is a desire for defensive coordinators to have players on the back end who can be trusted with a wide variety of responsibilities. Thieneman will likely be someone that new Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard loves for his ability to play all over the formation with a great combination of range and instincts.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The San Francisco 49ers went so heavy on the defensive side of the ball in the 2025 NFL Draft that the only reasonable expectation this offseason is for a bit of a course correct to the offensive side of the ball. Although you want instant impact out of your top draft picks, the 49ers might be doing a little forward thinking with this selection here as Trent Williams (potentially) is in the final stages of his NFL career.
Even though Williams is still playing at an elite level, the 49ers have to be ready for whenever he does decide to hang up the cleats, and getting a player like Caleb Lomu here would make a lot of sense. He's more on the developmental side than his teammate Spencer Fano, but he can be a starter at left tackle in the NFL.
28. Houston Texans: Lee Hunter, DL, Texas Tech
We've been saying for nearly a year now that the Houston Texans have two obvious directions early in the 2026 NFL Draft: The offensive line or the defensive line.
The Texans began a complete overhaul of their offensive line during the 2025 offseason, which was a bit of a surprise considering how often CJ Stroud had been getting hit even with some of the good players they had previously. And while that renovation project remains a work in progress, the defensive line is going to need attention in the near future. They've got seven players from last year's team that are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents, including the unit's leader in snaps played (Sheldon Rankins).
In total, the Texans have four unrestricted free agents on the defensive front who played at least 200 snaps last season. Lee Hunter can step in immediately and be a help against the run while giving that unit size and depth.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
We said it earlier, but the Los Angeles Rams will have multiple opportunities to potentially address their biggest needs overall in this year's NFL Draft. The offensive line and cornerback positions are two of the stronger position groups at the top end of this class, even if there are a lack of blue-chip talents at either spot.
The Rams have made a lot of moves over the last year to try and take some calculated risks at this position, including trading for guys like Emmanuel Forbes and Roger McCreary. They need to solidify this position group in the NFL Draft, and Brandon Cisse is a nice value here late in the 1st round. He can play outside, and he's got the type of speed teams covet at this position to close on the football.
30. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Denver Broncos always stick to taking the best player on their board under general manager George Paton, and that was proven last year when they took cornerback Jahdae Barron in the 1st round despite having no semblance of a need for the cornerback position. Luckily for Paton and the Broncos, this best player available situation also lines up with one of the most significant needs on the roster.
The Broncos have two pending free agents at linebacker in Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, who played the lion's share of snaps this season at linebacker. Free agent pickup Dre Greenlaw is under contract, but a question mark due to his consistent issues staying on the field. Former third-round pick Drew Sanders also missed the entire 2025 season due to an injury he suffered in training camp.
Resetting at linebacker and getting a player like CJ Allen, who should be an instant starter in the NFL, would be a great pickup.
31. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
At some point, someone in this year's draft is going to take a shot on Clemson pass rusher TJ Parker, whose stock has completely fallen off of a cliff due to a down year at Clemson in 2025. But during the 2024 season, he was generating future top-5 pick hype with 11 sacks and the versatility to play off the edge or slide to the inside on passing downs.
The Patriots have every reason to take a shot on his upside here. They had the worst sack differential (sacks allowed as an offense vs. sacks as a defense) in the entire NFL this past season, so they need help off the edge. They also can afford the risk since they're clearly ahead of schedule on the rebuilding/reloading situation.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The NFC champion Seattle Seahawks have done such a great job under general manager John Schneider of reloading multiple times to keep this team in title contention. Of course, Schneider has moved on from the Russell Wilson era, as difficult as that may have been. He's moved on from the Legion of Boom. He's moved on from Pete Carroll. He's moved on from Geno Smith and DK Metcalf.
He's not afraid to make the unpopular decision if he feels it's the right move, and bringing in Mike Macdonald when he did was clearly a good call. And getting Macdonald more playmakers for his secondary will be crucial this offseason with a number of key players coming up on free agency (Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, Coby Bryant).
Avieon Terrell can play in the slot or on the outside and give that physical Seahawks defense another perfect culture fit.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Full 2nd-round mock draft predictions
33. New York Jets: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
34. Arizona Cardinals: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
35. Tennessee Titans: Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Emmanuel Pregnon, OL, Oregon
37. New York Giants: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
38. Houston Texans: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
39. Cleveland Browns: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
40. Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
42. New Orleans Saints: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
43. Miami Dolphins: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
44. New York Jets: Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
45. Baltimore Ravens: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
47. Indianapolis Colts: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
48. Atlanta Falcons: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
49. Minnesota Vikings: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
50. Detroit Lions: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
51. Carolina Panthers: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
52. Green Bay Packers: D’angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
57. Chicago Bears: AJ Haulcy, SAF, LSU
58. San Francisco 49ers: Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
59. Houston Texans: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon
60. Buffalo Bills: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
61. Los Angeles Rams: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
62. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
63. New England Patriots: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
64. Seattle Seahawks: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee
We kick off our second-round reaction with the teams who didn't have a selection in the first round, starting with the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts could potentially be losing Alec Pierce in free agency, and they already decided to trade AD Mitchell to the New York Jets in the Sauce Gardner deal. Getting another long-striding downfield threat would be a good idea with their top pick.
The Falcons make it back-to-back teams with debut picks in this mock draft, and back-to-back receiver selections. Stylistically, Chris Bell is much less of a field stretcher and much more of a playmaker in space with the ball in his hands. We'll see what Kevin Stefanski prioritizes, but that receiver room needs some depth upgrades.
The Packers are almost backed into a corner of taking a cornerback with their top pick, and with Jonathan Gannon being a defensive backs guy, he's not going to complain about getting some new players to work with in the secondary.
The Jacksonville Jaguars obviously have a lot of areas to look at on both sides of the ball with some extremely notable free agents, but if Devin Lloyd has truly priced himself out of their range, then an off-ball linebacker could make a ton of sense.