The 2026 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. As we have said for months now, this class just does not have the desired top-end talent that other classes have had, as there doesn't seem to be many slam-dunk first-round picks, especially at the QB position.
It's not an ideal reality for some of these teams that simply need more talented players. We could see a more aggressive free agency period because of this, and that could make for an exciting month of March, when free agency officially begins.
Let's get into an updated first-round mock draft that has a quarterback shock near the top.
Updated first-round mock draft predictions for the 2026 NFL Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is the only logical choice here for the Las Vegas Raiders. Moving on.
2. New York Jets - Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Arvell Reese should be the pick. He has some of the highest upside of any player in the NFL Draft class.
3. Arizona Cardinals - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Caleb Downs might be the best non-quarterback prospect in the class. Yes, he plays safety, but that just goes to show you how good of a prospect he truly is.
4. Tennessee Titans - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Giving Cam Ward a potentially elite rushing attack, now with Brian Daboll as the offensive coordinator, is going to to wonders for his development.
5. New York Giants - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Jordyn Tyson can eventually pair up with Malik Nabers to form one of the best WR duos in the NFL.
6. Cleveland Browns - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Cleveland Browns snatch an Ohio State wide receiver at pick six to restock the offensive side of the ball.
7. Washington Commanders - Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Rueben Bain Jr is a bit undersized, but he's a good player and can get into the backfield.
8. New Orleans Saints - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
David Bailey is an insanely productive collegiate player, so that could absolutely translate into the NFL.
9. Kansas City Chiefs - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Kansas City Chiefs have to get more explosive along the defensive line. While a weapon on offense might be the popular choice among Chiefs fans, adding to the defensive line is way more important right now.
10. Cincinnati Bengals - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Cincinnati Bengals follow suit and take Peter Woods from Clemson, fortifying a massive weakness, and it's been a weak spot for years now.
11. Miami Dolphins - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Ty Simpson could be a fun pick for the Miami Dolphins, as the new regime is set, and it's hard to imagine that Tua Tagovailoa survives this offseason on the team. The Dolphins could opt to rip the Band-Aid off and snag a developmental prospect in Simpson. Miami makes a majorly bold move here.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Sonny Styles is a day one starter at linebacker, one of the main weak spots of the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. This is a home run of a selection.
13. Los Angeles Rams - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
There are two Utah tackles who could go in Round 1. Spencer Fano heads to Los Angeles as a future long-term staple. The Rams lost in the NFC title game but do have the Atlanta Falcons first-round pick.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Makai Lemon could finally be a legitimate no. 1 target for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, a team that had a number of issues in 2025.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald is a first-round caliber defensive tackle and heads to Tampa to bolster a weak unit.
16. New York Jets - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
New York uses its second first-round pick and takes Jermod McCoy. With Sauce Gardner gone, the Jets have to improve at CB.
17. Detroit Lions - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Detroit Lions have had a banged up secondary for multiple years now, so GM Brad Holmes simply needs to keep plugging away at adding players until they find a foundational long-term future.
18. Minnesota Vikings - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Kenyon Sadiq is the best tight end prospect in the class and could be yet another elite weapon for JJ McCarthy, or whoever else is throwing the ball for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026.
19. Carolina Panthers - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
Francis Mauigoa is the selection for the Panthers. I do believe they could be a landing spot for Ty Simpson if he'd make it that far, but the Miami Dolphins grabbed him in our latest mock draft.
20. Dallas Cowboys - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Cowboys use both of its first-round picks on the defensive side of the ball, now focusing on the secondary in Avieon Terrell.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State
Vega Ioane is a day one starter along the interior. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, now in the Mike McCarthy era, there could be an offensive-focus brought forth this offseason.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor could be tried at tackle, but he could also kick inside to guard if tackle doesn't work out. It'll be interesting to see the OL configuration when Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater are back from their respective injuries.
23. Philadelphia Eagles - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The Eagles do some homework for the future and take Caleb Lomu, the other Utah tackle surely going in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
24. Cleveland Browns - Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Browns build on a strength and add to the defensive side of the ball at pick 24, their second first-rounder. This pick belonged to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
25. Chicago Bears - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Chicago Bears are surely going to make some major changes along the defensive front this offseason. CJ Allen could be a nice piece in the middle of their defense to top it all off.
26. Buffalo Bills - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Buffalo Bills hired Joe Brady to be the team's next head coach. Getting another weapon in the building is now a bigger priority than ever.
27. San Francisco 49ers - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The San Francisco 49ers again battled through a ton of injuries this year. Adding more young talent in the trenches is how the Niners can restock this roster to sustain even more success for the long-term. Caleb Banks doesn't rack up the numbers, but he's a high upside type of player.
28. Houston Texans - Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
It feels like the Houston Texans could use another starter along the offensive line. They nab Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon at pick 28.
29. Los Angeles Rams - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The LA Rams add even more talent to the WR room and take KC Concepcion at pick 29, their own first-round pick. Concepcion is elite with the ball in his hands.
30. Denver Broncos - Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas
The Denver Broncos need to get some youth in the LB room. Dre Greenlaw and Alex Singleton were the primary starters in 2025, but it wasn't good enough overall. Anthony Hill Jr is a logical pick for Denver here.
31. New England Patriots - TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Patriots have to get more explosive off the edge going foward. They take TJ Parker from Clemson at pick 31.
32. Seattle Seahawks - Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Seattle also dips into the pass-rusher class here in this mock draft, selecting Cashius Howell from Texas A&M.