The Masters is in full swing, however the consideration of the sports activities world can also be turning towards the 2026 NFL Draft. Five groups have a number of first-round picks, however within the eighth version of Nate Tice and Charles McDonald’s mock, it’s a staff that trades again into the late first spherical that makes probably the most noise.
In this mock draft, Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald makes the odd-numbered picks, and Nate Tice makes the even.
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More 2026 NFL mock drafts: 7.0 | (*5*) | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
NFL’s latest buddy cop movie, “Kirk & Fernando,” will start filming at the tip of the month when the Raiders take Mendoza to be their new franchise quarterback. If Kirk Cousins is willing to play mentor role as soon as the season will get going, that is a good setup for Mendoza. Given his age, Cousins was tremendous final 12 months for the Falcons and may’t declare that he didn’t know the staff he signed with wasn’t going to choose a QB this time.
2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State
After a midseason fireplace sale, the Jets desperately want needle movers on protection. Reese aligned across the entrance seven for Ohio State and was requested to affect the sport in a number of completely different roles. And boy did he. Reese can play off the ball or on the sting, and his move rush capacity is simply getting tapped into. Defenses, and the roles they ask gamers to fill, have turn into extra various in at present’s NFL. Reese is a modern-day weapon that each defensive play caller would like to get their fingers on.
3. Arizona Cardinals — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Surprise? There’s going to be a couple sudden picks this month, so let’s take a stab at one right here. The Cardinals have launched a rebuild within the roughest, hardest division round. If new head coach Mike LaFleur goes to have a likelihood to see this reset by way of, Arizona must get as secure as doable as quick as it may. In a 12 months like this one, drafting an offensive lineman is perhaps the transfer. There isn’t a participant with extra upside this 12 months at the place than Freeling, who may simply land as a long-term proper sort out throughout from Paris Johnson Jr. because the Cardinals determine what’s subsequent.
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4. Tennessee Titans — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Titans actually need to maintain including to their offensive talent gamers and proceed so as to add velocity round Cam Ward. And I’m certain new head coach Robert Saleh would like to hold including to the line of defense after a flurry of strikes this offseason, similar to the defenses he’s helmed previously have had. What these 49ers defenses additionally had that allowed Saleh to reside in zone coverages was the sport’s premier linebacker in Fred Warner. (His Jets defenses additionally had a robust duo in C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, too). Styles has the expertise, smarts, and expertise to be that man within the center to solidify the entire unit. Ward nonetheless wants assist, however the considered Styles flying round behind Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers has me giddy.
5. New York Giants — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
John Harbaugh likes to have a staff that may run the ball and with the ability to pair Love within the backfield with Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart would accomplish that. Skattebo is coming off a main damage to his leg from final season, giving the Giants a affordable alternative so as to add Love to the roster with out overloading at the place. If Malik Nabers can decide up the place he left off and get again to his rookie-level manufacturing, the Giants would have a proficient group of younger playmakers to try to be aggressive with.
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6. Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Offensive sort out and extensive receiver. I believe the Browns’ paths for their two first-round picks is fairly simple to handle two of their largest roster wants (outdoors of gestures normally course of the quarterback room assembled in Cleveland). We’ve gone offensive sort out previously in these mocks, however with Freeling swooped up, the opposite potential candidates don’t match so cleanly within the Browns’ reworked offensive line room. This is perhaps a little wealthy for Tate, however he’s as dependable as they arrive at the extensive receiver place. He might be a successful participant in a number of roles. So irrespective of how else the Browns proceed to fill out their pass-catching room and offense normally, Tate and Harold Fannin Jr. are a younger combo that can give whoever goes to be throwing passes sound environment to construct alongside.
7. Washington Commanders — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
There won’t be a extra Dan Quinn-coded move rusher on this class than Bailey, who thrives with his velocity to hawk down quarterbacks off the sting in a approach that ought to translate cleanly to the NFL. However, there’s loads of room for him to enhance as a run defender and to get stronger in these areas, which can be a legal responsibility early in his professional profession. Still, Bailey isn’t utterly hopeless in that space and must be a excessive affect participant who racks up pressures and sacks.
8. New Orleans Saints — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Saints may go in a few completely different instructions and it could make sense. Wide receiver to present Chris Olave that desperately wanted working accomplice was tempting right here. But as an alternative, the Saints go with Delane to not solely shore up a evident gap in Brandon Staley’s sneaky good protection from final 12 months (eleventh in FTN’s weighted defensive DVOA metric), however flip a below-average spot into an outright good one with Delane, whose intelligence, ball expertise and twitch would flourish in a zone-heavy protection that likes to combine it up.
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9. Kansas City Chiefs — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is arguably the most effective participant on this 12 months’s draft class, so getting him with the ninth decide to bolster a secondary that misplaced some expertise can be a sensible play. He’s the precise form of expertise that may thrive in Steve Spagnuolo’s protection as playmaker wherever he’s requested to play. He can immediately be among the best safeties within the league, a vital weapon for a weaker Chiefs secondary to have as they retool.
10. Cincinnati Bengals — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
The Bengals go with the antithesis of their first-round choice from a 12 months in the past, buying and selling the high-end instruments and low-end manufacturing of Shemar Stewart with the top-end manufacturing and energy however lack of excellent size of Bain. Jermod McCoy is one other participant I considered right here to assist add a playmaker onto a protection that basically wants it. But the Bengals as an alternative look at Bain to be a tone-setter on their protection for the long run. If Stewart faucets into even a small portion of his expertise and with Boye Mafe becoming a member of in free company, the Bengals’ edge spots could possibly be extra impactful in a hurry and really feel a lot completely different quickly.
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11. Miami Dolphins — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Well, Miami is fielding a staff this coming season as a result of it has to, however the Dolphins have clearly punted on 2026 because of the huge chunk of useless cap sitting on their books. As at all times, grabbing trench expertise is a good solution to arrange for future success. Here the Dolphins can keep native and seize the proficient Mauigoa, who may play long-term at guard or sort out. If they’re going to carry De’Von Achane hostage, at least give him a bodyguard.
12. Dallas Cowboys — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Faulk’s draft place varies wildly from evaluator to evaluator. I’m personally a fan who’s prepared to guess on his youth (doesn’t flip 21 till September), S-tier run stopping capacity, and pocket-pushing upside, however I perceive if his lack of move rush manufacturing and refinement may have you ever taking a extra glass half-empty outlook. The Cowboys have to hold bolstering their protection to match their doubtlessly high-octane offense, and nabbing Faulk would add much more stoutness to the reworked entrance, with the added bonus of getting expertise taking part in from the within as properly.
13. Los Angeles Rams (through Falcons) — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
This is a clear match for each events concerned. Longtime proper sort out Rob Havenstein retired this offseason, opening the door for the Rams to seize a proficient proper sort out prospect in Lomu. He can be a good slot in Sean McVay’s working sport, routinely exhibiting off excellent energy and athleticism that prototypical sort out prospects possess within the NFL.
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14. Baltimore Ravens — Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
Whether Fano can dangle at sort out doesn’t actually matter for the Ravens, who can be more than pleased so as to add his athleticism, versatility, and motion capacity as they appear to transform their inside. Fano may even be a potential Tyler Linderbaum substitute at middle. Either approach, his run blocking shall be highlighted, and if the Ravens look to turn into extra of a zone-heavy staff once more beneath new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, then Fano’s mild ft and run blocking chops shall be a good match reverse of John Simpson.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
McCoy is perhaps one of the vital proficient gamers within the draft class, however he didn’t play final season while recovering from a torn ACL. At solely 20 years previous, he’s one of many youthful gamers within the draft. His movie from 2024 confirmed a participant who might be a top-flight NFL cornerback with gobs of potential as a press-man nook.
16. New York Jets (through Colts) — Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
After dropping John Simpson and former first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker in free company, the Jets look to bolster their offensive line with one other first-round choice. Ioane has good dimension and is comfy in house. He confirmed off improved consciousness this previous season, which is encouraging for him to hit the sector early within the professionals. The Jets may go in a few instructions with this decide, however I believe they defer to the trenches (once more) right here to bolster the environment of whoever their quarterback of the long run is down the highway.
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17. Detroit Lions — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
There’s a lot of strikes the Lions could make right here, however one gap they’ll patch up in a hurry is determining who’s going to play sort out throughout from All-Pro expertise Penei Sewell. Iheanachor started his soccer profession in JUCO a few years in the past, however he has legit first-round traits and tape, which is a powerful quantity of enchancment in a quick time. He may assist reset Detroit’s offensive line because the Lions shut the door on the previous faces that made up one of many elite offensive line items within the league.
18. Minnesota Vikings — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Vikings have a few flavors of prospects they might go after with their first-round decide. There are a couple of fascinating security choices: They may look to search out the T.J. Hockenson substitute in Kenyon Sadiq, or they might add some tangible beef to their line of defense. Brian Flores goes to scheme pressures and massive performs for his protection, however the Vikings may use somebody to eat up blocks to let teammates fly to the soccer. McDonald isn’t the sexiest prospect, however his capacity to carry up in opposition to the run is his calling card, while additionally having mild sufficient ft for use on the twists and stunts that Flores loves a lot. McDonald is mainly the defensive model of the road of considering that led to the Donovan Jackson choice final 12 months at offensive guard: a tangible trench expertise who can let the artistic coaches be artistic.
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19. Carolina Panthers — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Carolina spent a lot of cash on protection the previous two offseasons, so right here it may take one other first-round offensive playmaker. Sadiq is an explosive weapon within the passing sport who offers simply sufficient as a blocker to indicate promise as a high-impact, each down tight finish. Sadiq and Tetairoa McMillan would give defenses a lot of complications with their dimension and athleticism as move catchers.
20. Dallas Cowboys (through Packers) — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Cowboys look to take the most effective participant at the cornerback place who can dangle on the surface, and on this train that finally ends up being the proficient Hood. The different Tennessee nook close to the highest of this draft class is a dynamic participant in his personal proper, and he would give the Cowboys one other physique to throw at a place that has Shavon Revel (who has dimension and expertise, however was recovering from a school damage) and the lately signed Cobie Durant (a stopgap possibility for Dallas who I truly appreciated as a middle-class add). Cornerbacks might be regarded at like pitchers in baseball: You can’t have sufficient of them.
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21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
This may wind up being one of many steals of the draft. Tyson has immense expertise and would seemingly discover himself going a whole lot larger than this if it weren’t for a slew of accidents that plagued his school profession. Tyson and DK Metcalf can be a robust, bodily duo for … whoever finally ends up being the quarterback of this staff for the long run.
22. Los Angeles Chargers — TJ Parker, Edge, Clemson
Do the Chargers attain for the subsequent greatest guard possibility right here? To me, that may be Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon. Instead, they proceed to bolster their run protection with Parker, a rugged participant who won’t have excessive sack producing upside however is a robust run defender who will assist set the sting within the run sport and provides the Chargers one other participant with that talent set that’s not Khalil Mack. Parker’s exhausting working model will give him followers, and the very fact he may also kick inside on move rush downs to open up artistic defensive packages is a bonus.
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23. Philadelphia Eagles — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Lane Johnson gained’t be taking part in perpetually on the appropriate aspect of Philadelphia’s offensive line and it’d make sense to try to stash his substitute for a season or two just like the Eagles did with Cam Jurgens at middle when Jason Kelce was transitioning out of soccer. Like nearly each offensive sort out who may go within the first spherical of this draft, Miller has prototypical dimension and athleticism with loads of room to develop as a participant for the long run.
24. Cleveland Browns (through Jaguars) — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns went extensive receiver with their first decide, and it really works out for them with Proctor nonetheless accessible to finish the offensive lineman run that appears like would possibly occur within the teenagers and early 20s. Proctor has huge dimension, very like present Browns sort out Dawand Jones, however flashes far more explosiveness as a run blocker and when getting out of his stance than Jones. The Browns signed a lot of linemen with inside versatility, so Proctor will assist stability out the talent units in that reworked room.
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25. Chicago Bears — Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Chicago may use an affect security on its protection because it tries to even out a number of the issues that plagued the unit final season. The Bears made a lot of splash performs, however down-to-down consistency escaped them all through the season. Chicago has some good items within the secondary and plugging in Thieneman could possibly be the final piece it wants in that space earlier than attacking the line of defense.
26. Buffalo Bills — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Linebacker was tempting right here with Anthony Hill Jr. and CJ Allen nonetheless accessible. Instead, the Bills bolster their backbone at the security spot. Even after signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone, I believe the Bills may use one other centrally situated long-term possibility that new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard may weaponize (I image Gardner-Johnson getting used extra within the slot). McNeil-Warren is such a enjoyable participant. He is a fast diagnoser and loves to suit the run, and has expertise working within the field or because the deep security in single-high schemes. That expertise that makes him a clear slot in a Leonhard protection that asks a lot out of its safeties.
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27. San Francisco 49ers — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The 49ers added some expertise to their line of defense once they traded for Osa Odighizuwa from the Cowboys, however they might use one other younger physique alongside the road to pair with Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins, whom they drafted early final 12 months. Coming into the season, Woods was projected to be one of many first gamers drafted, however a quiet 2025 marketing campaign may have him falling to the underside of the primary spherical — the place he can play on a proficient line of defense immediately.
28. Houston Texans — Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
Trust me, I needed to search out an offensive lineman that made sense right here. Perhaps Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon? Instead, the Texans add much more venom to their harmful protection. But it truly makes timeline sense as you marinate on this choice: Both of the Texans’ present beginning linebackers shall be free brokers after this season, and as proficient and violent because the Texans’ protection has been the final couple of seasons, it has ebbed and flowed with whether or not Azeez Al-Shaair was on the sector or not. Hill would insulate the Texans from any accidents that would hinder their protection and championship aspirations for this season, while additionally giving DeMeco Ryans that keystone participant for the long run whose athleticism, vary, and intelligence make him a nice match for the always-attacking Houston protection.
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29. Kansas City Chiefs (through Rams) — Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
If their first decide was a certain guess, the Chiefs’ second choice is a cube roll. Banks has all of the expertise on the planet to be elite within the NFL, however accidents and an incapacity to complete performs have knocked him right down to the underside of the primary spherical. Still, the thought of what he might be if he improves his tackling capacity must be sufficient to get him into the primary spherical, particularly if he can decide up ideas from Chris Jones, who can be taking part in subsequent to him on this state of affairs.
30. Miami Dolphins (through Broncos) — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Dolphins may handle nearly any place right here and it could make sense. But the run on linemen leaves Boston accessible for the Dolphins to swoop up at 30. Boston has the scale and talent set to be a true X extensive receiver; a participant who can line up on the ball and on the surface and win on a vertical route tree. I’m certain new head coach Jeff Hafley want to add to the protection within the first spherical, however Malik Willis wants any individual to throw to after the Jaylen Waddle commerce. And Boston is a approach higher prospect than simply “somebody.”
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31. Arizona Cardinals (through Patriots) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Arizona will get a quarterback to try to see if it may rapidly get again into rivalry for the division with out staying within the gutter too lengthy. Simpson has precipitated a ton of debate over the previous few weeks, however he has a likelihood to be a viable starter, which might be sufficient for a staff to leap up and snag fifth-year possibility management of his rookie contract, just like the Cardinals do right here. Simpson suffered an damage that plagued him for the again half of his closing season with the Crimson Tide, so perhaps there’s room for him to stabilize his play again to pre-injury ranges and be a succesful starter for Arizona. At worst, he could possibly be playable sufficient to permit the remainder of the offense to be competently evaluated.
32. Seattle Seahawks — Zion Young, Edge, Missouri
Right guard could possibly be regarded at right here (for my third Emmanuel Pregnon point out) or cornerback as properly to assist bolster some current departures at the place (San Diego State’s Chris Johnson could possibly be a good match). Mike Macdonald loves his rugged edges and he likes to have a great deal of them to throw at offenses. Hello, Zion Young, whose heavy fingers and pocket pushing methods make him a clear match with the Seahawks, a figurative time period right here as a result of Young likes to soiled it up.