It’s formally the week of the 2026 NFL Draft! Months of scouting evaluations, testing numbers, professional days, staff visits, trades and more all come all the way down to Thursday by way of Saturday in Pittsburgh, when 257 gamers will hear their names known as as draft picks.
Here’s our last mock draft of this cycle, the ninth total and we hope essentially the most correct but. We’ll discover out quickly sufficient.
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In this mock draft, Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice makes the odd-numbered picks, and Charles McDonald makes the even.
Big Boards: Consensus Top 75 • Nate Tice • Charles McDonald | Draft guide
1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Set it and neglect it. Mendoza has reportedly already been working to acclimate himself to the Raiders’ offense, and he is a superb match with Klint Kubiak’s most well-liked assault. Mendoza’s size and mental makeup will assist him acclimate rapidly to the following stage, however the Raiders have completed a pleasant job of insulating Mendoza with a veteran middle in Tyler Linderbaum and including quarterback Kirk Cousins to carry the fort down for when Mendoza is prepared.
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2. New York Jets — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
There’s been lots of smoke not too long ago linking the Jets and Bailey, so let’s comply with swimsuit and begin the draft right here. This may be a bit wealthy for Bailey contemplating the Jets have their choose of the litter, however one factor he has over the Ohio State trio is standard positional worth serving to his trigger. Bailey’s attraction is all about his upside as a move rusher, which is sky excessive. He has the athleticism, tenacity and a rising set of strategies to make use of to be an element early in his profession. He has lots of room to develop as a run defender, however he’s proven upside there as nicely, albeit inconsistently. The addition of 365-pound nostril sort out T’Vondre Sweat makes this choose more palatable and will let Bailey be aggressive with out killing the construction of the Jets’ protection.
We’re sending the ninth and fortieth picks to Arizona for this one, and the Chiefs may want a little more to sweeten the pot for a transfer up like this. But the Cardinals (and Titans after them) really feel just like the pivot factors of this yr’s draft. The Cardinals may simply sit and take whomever they need, or transfer again some to wager they will snag their most well-liked offensive lineman, all whereas getting more to work with on Day 2, the candy spot of this yr’s draft.
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A commerce up is smart for the Chiefs as they haven’t held a top-10 choose within the draft since they moved up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. And you recognize what’s cooler than a top-10 choose? A top-three choose. I consider Reese the best non-quarterback in this year’s draft, and this means to influence the sport, each presently and what he can grow to be sooner or later, on the road of scrimmage or from off-ball spots makes him an unimaginable match for Steve Spagnuolo’s Bolo punch protection. All whereas conserving the twenty ninth choose, too.
This could be very excessive for a participant who’s projected to be an off-ball linebacker within the NFL, however Styles is a uncommon expertise. At 6-foot-5 and 244 kilos, he has elite dimension and nonetheless manages to play with constant leverage when attacking downhill. He appeared to get higher each week and has come a great distance from 2024 when he was making the transition from security to linebacker. Here, he finally ends up with Robert Saleh, who is aware of the worth of a gentle presence in the midst of the sphere. Not solely did he coach Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw on the peak of their powers, he additionally spent just a few years with C.J. Mosley with the Jets towards the tip of his profession. While off-ball linebackers usually don’t go this excessive, there could also be one thing to be mentioned about having an elite participant at that place in a league that doesn’t have many. It could be a weapon basically no different staff has proper now.
The Giants are locked and loaded with two of the highest 10 alternatives on this yr’s draft after trading star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. Now they wield 16 minutes’ value of picks Thursday night time, opening up all types of potentialities to assault their roster.
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Downs could be the very best chosen security in over a decade. His sport, a steadiness he brings each play from some a part of the middle of the protection, would assist solidify the again finish of a Giants unit that has yielded massive play after massive play over the previous few seasons.
6. Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate brings a raised stage of competence to the Browns’ extensive receiver room they sorely want. The execution on each stage of their passing sport wants main enchancment and Tate would offer a excessive ground starter to pair with tight finish Harold Fannin Jr. and working again Quinshon Judkins because the core younger offensive expertise. Tate won’t have the profile of a dominant No. 1 extensive receiver, however he can undoubtedly be a closely focused choice.
There merely aren’t many offenses that may unleash a quarterback and working again that may each run a sub-4.4 40 on each snap. I like how the Commanders addressed the running back room already this offseason, and they produce other positions and wants on their roster they may simply go after. But with so many defensive gamers going early, and the Commanders maybe feeling like they will deal with offensive wants later, they as a substitute go together with maybe the most effective ability participant on this yr’s draft class to spice up their offense with first time play-caller David Blough.
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The Saints want so as to add juice off the sting to a protection that ranked twenty second in strain fee final season. Rueben Bain Jr. comes in an NFL-ready body (brief arms and all) and has the density requirement the Saints have most well-liked out of their defensive ends. Bain and Chase Young could possibly be a pleasant duo because the Saints proceed to show the web page into the following chapter of their post-Drew Brees period.
9. Arizona Cardinals (through Kansas City Chiefs) — Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals deal with their offensive line with the primary participant in that place group off the board whereas including choose No. 40 to their quiver. I nearly went with Monroe Freeling right here, however as a substitute chosen maybe a cleaner slot in Mauigoa; a powerful and technically proficient proper sort out who may kick inside, each spots the place the Cardinals would like to have any kind of long-term resolution.
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10. New York Giants (through Cincinnati Bengals) — Keldric Faulk, DL/Edge, Auburn
Out goes Dexter Lawrence, in comes Faulk. He is a monster in opposition to the run and has a ton of upside to develop as a participant who doesn’t flip 21 till September. He’s uncooked as a move rusher, however that’s not essentially a nasty factor. His function in Auburn’s protection didn’t enable for a lot of clear move speeding reps, so he’s a little bit of a clean slate there. He’s proper on the “tweener” vary now, however his means to face robust in opposition to the run and eat double groups is uncommon for somebody along with his body. He in all probability has the most effective run defending tape within the class.
More 2026 NFL mock drafts: 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
11. Miami Dolphins — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Dolphins may go offensive line or move catcher right here (I imply have a look at who Malik Willis is throwing to proper now). Instead let’s give their new head coach the primary cornerback off the board. Delane is sensible, and has a knack for baiting quarterbacks in zone protection and making performs on the soccer. He’s an awesome match for Jeff Hafley at a place group that’s been getting by with some *waves hand* names recently.
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12. Dallas Cowboys — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Dallas must proceed to improve its protection. Here, the Cowboys take a giant hack at a doubtlessly nice cornerback in McCoy. He didn’t play final season whereas recovering from an ACL tear, however his tape reveals some high-end traits in man protection and has the size and athleticism groups emphasize on the place. It’s a threat, but that word doesn’t even compute to Jerry Jones.
At first I wished to offer the Rams a unique kind of flavor at wide receiver than what they trot out. Instead I am going with a burly move catcher with blocking chops to bridge their current and future. Boston is a easy athlete with dimension and ball abilities to combine and match with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams (who’s 34 and coming into the final yr of his contract). He is a legitimate menace engaged on the ball, and has some upside as an influence slot participant the Rams characteristic closely of their offense.
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Baltimore will get a powerful improve to its offensive line right here with the choose the franchise almost traded for Maxx Crosby. Fano can play wherever the Ravens would wish him, probably slotting in at guard on this state of affairs to assist re-stabilize the inside after dropping middle Tyler Linderbaum to a file free-agent contract. A robust floor sport is all the time going to be a part of the plan so long as Lamar Jackson is the quarterback, so getting proficient massive boys is rarely a nasty concept.
The Eagles leap up eight spots right here to get forward of the offensive line run. Freeling really came along within the second half of the 2025 season and has the scale and athleticism to hold on the left facet. His improved energy and cleaner fingers will make him a clear match on the correct facet as Lane Johnson’s inheritor obvious as nicely. The Eagles are going to attempt and bolster their offense as much as they will, particularly with how the winds of their contracts are at the moment blowing. Getting a doable high-end offensive sort out within the teenagers would go a great distance in bolstering an Eagles offense that is going through plenty of changes.
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16. New York Jets (through Indianapolis Colts) — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Jets need everything, however their protection has gotten lots of love up up to now within the offseason so here is one other proficient goal to pair with Garrett Wilson for Geno Smith’s return to New York. The long-term quarterback isn’t on the roster, however whoever that ultimately finally ends up being sooner or later will a minimum of have a pleasant little solid of expertise to play with if the Jets take Tyson right here. Stylistically, he’d be a pleasant complement to Wilson as nicely along with his dimension and means to dominate within the more bodily areas of extensive receiver play.
17. Detroit Lions — Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The Lions must be addressing the trenches on each side of the ball early on this yr’s draft. Iheanachor is a toolsy sort out who has the athleticism and upside to play at each sort out spots. Although he’s a latecomer to soccer, he has more polish than you’d anticipate taking part in the place. It doesn’t damage that he might be paired with offensive line coach Hank Fraley to assist easy out the rougher elements of his sport. The Lions need to make the energy of their staff the energy of their staff once more, and I feel Iheanachor can play early sufficient, and nicely sufficient, to assist that out.
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18. Minnesota Vikings — Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Vikings may use a big-time expertise on the inside of their defensive position, and they get that right here with McDonald. He is likely one of the underrated gems of this draft class, being a bit overshadowed by his teammates who had been (mock) drafted previous to this choose. He has lots of playmaking means for a nostril sort out prospect, notching an absurd 65 tackles (31 solo) with 9 of them going for a loss. He additionally had three sacks and two pressured fumbles. That stage of manufacturing is a little bit of an anomaly — he’d be the lively run plugger this protection quietly wants in a giant method.
19. Carolina Panthers — Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The Panthers are sort of robust to pin down! They made splashy strikes this offseason to assist out their protection, and Thieneman could be one other asset thrown to assist out that facet of the ball. Thieneman’s means to work as a top-down defender and close to the field makes him an awesome match for Ejiro Evero’s protection, which asks its safeties to shore up the motion up entrance.
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20. Dallas Cowboys (through Packers) — Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Dallas double dips on protection right here by taking the different Miami move rusher, Akheem Mesidor. He isn’t as full a participant as his teammate Rueben Bain Jr., and he’s already turned 25 after six years of faculty soccer, however fairly frankly the choices at edge rusher have thinned out rapidly right here. Dallas may nonetheless use some more move rush juice off the sting to pair with Quinnen Williams and the Cowboys snag it right here.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
I really feel like we have now mocked a large receiver at this level so many occasions for the Steelers, however guard makes simply as much sense to assist them out for the current and future as one other move catcher (one thing they will seize later). Isaac Seumalo departed in free company, leaving a void at left guard that Ioane would match neatly in. The Steelers’ offensive line already has just a few proficient gamers, and Ioane would assist flip it right into a formidable unit even with questions involving prior first-rounders at left sort out.
Los Angeles has gotten somewhat previous alongside the defensive position and can draft somebody with big-time means right here. Prior to the season, Woods was seen as a potential top-10 pick and these flashes are nonetheless there, albeit not as constantly as he hoped. Still, he clearly has a pathway towards being a long-term, high-impact starter if he can hone the traits that had individuals so enthusiastic about him coming into the 2025 season. He’s not distant from being somebody the Chargers can pair with Tuli Tuipulotu for the long run.
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23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (through Philadelphia Eagles) — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
No matter what you assume the Buccaneers’ wants are, each place is reside for basic supervisor Jason Licht to pick out. Even within the first spherical. Sadiq could be a method for the Buccaneers so as to add firepower to their move catchers and bolster the place after Tampa Bay prolonged Cade Otton this offseason. I even assume Sadiq’s blocking means on the transfer could be a very good match for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson within the run sport, too.
24. Cleveland Browns (through Jaguars) — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns get the offensive sort out they’ve been linked to with Proctor nonetheless on the board for his or her second first-round choose. Proctor has all of the expertise on the planet, however he’s on the heavier facet, weighing in on the scouting mix at 352 kilos. He needed to play his method into form final season, which began with an unpleasant efficiency in opposition to Florida State. Still, there’s so much athleticism right here packed right into a gargantuan body that it’s not arduous to see why somebody will take the chance. Proctor and present Browns sort out Dawand Jones must be the most important offensive sort out duo within the NFL by a large margin.
25. Chicago Bears — Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The backbone of the protection could possibly be checked out right here, however the Bears’ offensive line went from among the many league’s greatest to a giant query mark in a rush. Left sort out turned a place of want after Ozzy Trapilo suffered a late-season damage, and Lomu’s mild ft and simple shifting athleticism would make him an awesome slot in an offense that runs a very good heaping of zone runs and places its offensive linemen on the transfer. Lomu may find yourself the most effective left sort out on this yr’s class if he retains including energy and builds on his flashes of high-end move safety performs.
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26. Buffalo Bills — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Bills have began reshaping their protection towards the scheme that new coordinator Jim Leonhard will run, however they’re nonetheless extremely weak at linebacker. Allen isn’t the rangiest LB on the market, however he’s good and dealt with heavy duties inside Georgia’s protection straight away as a real freshman. He could be an awesome slot in Leonhard’s protection and has the physicality and smarts that play nicely in a 3-4 protection. He would doubtlessly be the stabilizing presence the Bills have been lacking since Matt Milano was on the peak of his powers.
Miller could be a steadying drive whose athleticism, intelligence, and sheer reliability as a participant could be a welcome long-term increase for the 49ers’ offensive line. The run on linemen may drive the 49ers to maneuver in a unique route, however Miller could be a very good match for Kyle Shanahan’s offense and be a keystone participant for him up entrance.
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28. Houston Texans — Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
This could also be a shock choose, however Bisontis has first-round traits for days with the room to get stronger in a body that already holds 315 kilos. He’s a easy mover at guard and seems to be to have the motion abilities to doubtlessly play proper sort out in a pinch … similar to Tytus Howard, whom the Texans traded to the Browns this offseason. He’d should combat for taking part in time with the latest additions of Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, however neither of these gamers are long-term additions. Houston nonetheless must preserve including younger constructing blocks and Bisonstis has lots of expertise.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (through Los Angeles Rams) — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Chiefs get each maybe the most effective defender on this yr’s draft and additionally a twitchy and athletic ability participant to proceed so as to add more pace to their offense. Concepcion has inside and outdoors means and can create with the ball in his fingers, together with the ball abilities and pace to stretch the sphere, too (even when his fingers will be irritating). He would open up the area and create massive performs the Chiefs have desperately wanted.
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30. Miami Dolphins (through Denver Broncos) — Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Dolphins use the choose they acquired from the Jaylen Waddle commerce to interchange Jaylen Waddle. Lemon isn’t almost as dynamic as Waddle, however he profiles as a starting-caliber slot extensive receiver. The Dolphins want to start out rebuilding their extensive receiver depth someplace, so they may as nicely begin right here and see the place the winds take them and their $179 million in lifeless cap.
The run on offensive linemen (and extensive receiver, actually), on prime of the whole A.J. Brown “thing,” has me pondering the Patriots have a look at including the heavy-handed and hardworking Parker to their protection. Parker won’t be the high-end move rusher the Patriots actually need to add, however he would assist give them a bunch of robust and highly effective defenders who can stifle run video games and push the pocket on quarterbacks. It may be too “hat on a hat,” however there actually is one thing concerning the stone-fisted Parker with the opposite group of brawny Patriots defensive linemen that I just like the more I give it some thought.
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32. Seattle Seahawks — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Seahawks shut out the ultimate mock draft of the yr by including one other robust defensive again to their protection. Tariq Woolen is off to Philadelphia and whereas they re-signed Josh Jobe to a small extension, including one other premium useful resource to that room is rarely a nasty concept. Like his brother A.J. who performs for the Falcons, Avieon isn’t essentially the most explosive athlete, however he’s bodily with clear motion abilities. He’s an awesome add for a secondary that already has somebody like Devon Witherspoon and could be a clear slot in Mike Macdonald’s protection.