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The 2026 NFL Draft is now less than a week away, which means it’s time for my one and only mock draft of the cycle.

Some things about this draft are well known. At the very top, we know that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. We don’t yet know whether he’ll start right away or sit behind Kirk Cousins to begin his career, but there’s no real mystery about where he’ll be playing his professional football.

After that, though, it seems like just about everything is up in the air. The Jets could go a number of different directions at No. 2, as could the Cardinals, Titans and Giants at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, while everyone in and around the league suspects that the Browns would love to trade down from the No. 6 pick, which could throw the entire board into chaos if they’re able to find a partner.

There are also several teams with multiple first-round picks, allowing those squads to change the shape of the draft if they so choose. With a class that teams feel is light on star power at the top but strong through the second and third rounds, we could be in for some significant surprises.

With all that in mind, here’s how we see things playing out. 

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts and regular evaluations of the top prospects.

NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 – Pick 1

Fernando Mendoza


QB

Indiana

• Jr

• 6’5″

/ 236 lbs

Projected Team

Las Vegas

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PAYDS

3535

RUYDS

276

INTS

6

TDS

48

We all know this one is happening.

Round 1 – Pick 2

David Bailey


EDGE

Texas Tech

• Sr

• 6’4″

/ 250 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

20th

POSITION RNK

3rd

It seems like the Jets will be deciding between Bailey and Arvell Reese, and here we’re leaning toward the more known commodity in the pass-rush department. Bailey can anchor New York on the edges for the next several years.

Round 1 – Pick 3

Francis Mauigoa


OT

Miami (Fla.)

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 329 lbs

Projected Team

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

4th

Locking down the right side of the offensive line across from Paris Johnson Jr. allows the Cardinals to set the foundation for whenever they decide to land their quarterback of the future.

Round 1 – Pick 4

Arvell Reese


EDGE

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 243 lbs

Projected Team

Tennessee

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

2nd

The Titans desperately need to find help for their quarterback, Cam Ward, but with Reese still on the board here they decide to throw Robert Saleh another bone and stack up offensive picks for the rest of the draft.

Round 1 – Pick 5

Sonny Styles


LB

Ohio State

• Sr

• 6’5″

/ 243 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Giants

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

1st

John Harbaugh has seen what an elite middle linebacker can do for a defense and elects to nab the electric athlete who can patrol the entire field.

  Mock Trade from

Cleveland Browns

Round 1 – Pick 6

Caleb Downs


S

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’0″

/ 205 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

1st

Dallas sends Nos. 12 and 20, along with a Day 3 pick, to Cleveland for Nos. 6 and 39, then snags Downs before any of the teams ahead of the Cowboys can snatch him up. He’d be perfect for new defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s defense.

Round 1 – Pick 7

Jeremiyah Love


RB

Notre Dame

• Jr

• 6’0″

/ 214 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

1st

RUYDS

1372

YDS/ATT

6.9

REYDS

280

TDS

21

The idea of taking a running back this high in the draft makes *me* queasy, but it seemingly doesn’t do the same for NFL general managers and the idea of pairing Love with Jayden Daniels in the backfield might be too enticing for Washington to pass up.

Round 1 – Pick 8

Carnell Tate


WR

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 192 lbs

Projected Team

New Orleans

PROSPECT RNK

18th

POSITION RNK

3rd

REC

51

REYDS

875

YDS/REC

17.2

TDS

9

The Saints let the board come to them and pair this Ohio State receiver with another in Chris Olave to give Tyler Shough a pair of reliable weapons for the foreseeable future.

Round 1 – Pick 9

Rueben Bain Jr.


EDGE

Miami (Fla.)

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 263 lbs

Projected Team

Kansas City

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

The Chiefs stop Bain’s slide and slot him in across from George Karlaftis, giving them two powerful rushers off the edges for Steve Spagnuolo to work with.

Round 1 – Pick 10

Mansoor Delane


CB

LSU

• Sr

• 6’0″

/ 187 lbs

Projected Team

Cincinnati

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

3rd

The Bengals have needs all over the defense and here elect to take the top cornerback in the draft to help solidify things on the back end.

Round 1 – Pick 11

Jermod McCoy


CB

Tennessee

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 188 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

1st

Miami feels like a prime trade-down candidate, but in this spot I couldn’t find anyone to come up the board. If McCoy’s knee checks out, he could have just as high a ceiling as Delane, who came off the board one pick earlier.

  Mock Trade from

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1 – Pick 12

Spencer Fano


OT

Utah

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 311 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

The Browns use the first of their now three first-round picks on a desperately needed tackle who also has the versatility to play elsewhere on the line if things don’t work out on the perimeter.

  From

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1 – Pick 13

Makai Lemon


WR

USC

• Jr

• 5’11”

/ 192 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Rams

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

2nd

REC

79

REYDS

1156

YDS/REC

14.6

TDS

13

This feels like a match made in heaven, one that would supercharge the Rams’ offense in one of Matthew Stafford’s final seasons and allow the Rams to replace Davante Adams once he exits the stage as well.

Round 1 – Pick 14

Olaivavega Ioane


IOL

Penn State

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 323 lbs

Projected Team

Baltimore

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

1st

The Ravens need to remake the interior of their offensive line after several offseason departures and here land the consensus best interior lineman in the draft.

Round 1 – Pick 15

Akheem Mesidor


EDGE

Miami (Fla.)

• Sr

• 6’3″

/ 259 lbs

Projected Team

Tampa Bay

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

1st

The Bucs badly need help in the pass-rush department and that’s exactly what Mesidor brings, with the versatility to do it from the edge or aligned on the inside.

  From

Indianapolis Colts

Round 1 – Pick 16

Omar Cooper Jr.


WR

Indiana

• Jr

• 6’0″

/ 199 lbs

Projected Team

N.Y. Jets

PROSPECT RNK

21st

POSITION RNK

4th

REC

69

REYDS

937

YDS/REC

13.6

TDS

14

Pairing Cooper with Garrett Wilson will give Geno Smith two shifty passing-game options this year, and allow the Jets to let whomever their next quarterback is for 2027 and beyond to hit the ground running with a strong corps of weapons.

Round 1 – Pick 17

Kadyn Proctor


OT

Alabama

• Jr

• 6’7″

/ 352 lbs

Projected Team

Detroit

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

1st

With Penei Sewell likely moving to the left side of the offensive line, the Lions could slide the massive Proctor to the right and continue mauling defenders up front.

Round 1 – Pick 18

Dillon Thieneman


S

Oregon

• Soph

• 6’0″

/ 201 lbs

Projected Team

Minnesota

PROSPECT RNK

38th

POSITION RNK

3rd

It seems like everyone is pairing the Vikings with a safety, and Thieneman is one who makes perfect sense for a Brian Flores-led defense that prioritizes positional flexibility.

Round 1 – Pick 19

Jordyn Tyson


WR

Arizona State

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 203 lbs

Projected Team

Carolina

PROSPECT RNK

23rd

POSITION RNK

5th

REC

61

REYDS

711

YDS/REC

11.7

TDS

9

The Panthers have used multiple first-round picks on wide receivers recently, but with Tyson falling this deep into the first round the value of pairing him with Tetairoa McMillan is too good to pass up.

  Mock Trade from

Dallas Cowboys

Round 1 – Pick 20

KC Concepcion


WR

Texas A&M

• Jr

• 6’0″

/ 196 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

1st

REC

61

REYDS

919

YDS/REC

15.1

TDS

12

The Browns need explosive playmakers and Concepcion might be the most explosive receiver in the draft. Along with Harold Fannin Jr., he’d provide a nice baseline of weaponry for the eventual quarterback of the future.

Round 1 – Pick 21

Blake Miller


OT

Clemson

• Sr

• 6’7″

/ 317 lbs

Projected Team

Pittsburgh

PROSPECT RNK

29th

POSITION RNK

6th

The Steelers could opt to be the team that snaps up Ty Simpson before someone else trades up, but we have them solidifying the offensive line instead and again pushing the quarterback of the future issue another year down the road.

Round 1 – Pick 22

Keldric Faulk


EDGE

Auburn

• Jr

• 6’6″

/ 276 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Chargers

PROSPECT RNK

34th

POSITION RNK

6th

The Chargers are going to build their trenches on physicality and although Faulk didn’t have a ton of production at Auburn, he has prototypical size and traits and could develop into a strong option on the edge in time.

Round 1 – Pick 23

Max Iheanachor


OT

Arizona State

• Sr

• 6’6″

/ 321 lbs

Projected Team

Philadelphia

PROSPECT RNK

31st

POSITION RNK

7th

The Eagles love to get out ahead of their needs and here they can take Iheanachor and allow him to develop behind Lane Johnson before eventually taking over at right tackle.

  From

Jacksonville Jaguars

Round 1 – Pick 24

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren


S

Toledo

• Sr

• 6’4″

/ 202 lbs

Projected Team

Cleveland

PROSPECT RNK

22nd

POSITION RNK

2nd

Cleveland uses the third of its first-round picks on a safety with tremendous physicality and playmaking skills.

Round 1 – Pick 25

T.J. Parker


EDGE

Clemson

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 263 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

50th

POSITION RNK

7th

The Bears still need help on the edge and although Parker didn’t have his best season (like most of his Clemson teammates), his tape in prior years shows that he has really high upside.

Round 1 – Pick 26

Malachi Lawrence


LB

UCF

• Sr

• 6’4″

/ 253 lbs

Projected Team

Buffalo

PROSPECT RNK

58th

POSITION RNK

7th

The Bills, once again, are looking for help in the pass-rush department and get it in the form of Lawrence, who is of a different mold of player than the Bills have typically favored on the edge but could therefore be a strong option to change things up.

Round 1 – Pick 27

Caleb Lomu


OT

Utah

• Soph

• 6’6″

/ 308 lbs

Projected Team

San Francisco

PROSPECT RNK

13th

POSITION RNK

3rd

Like the Eagles, the 49ers get out ahead of a need here by taking Lomu to be the eventual successor to Trent Williams on the left side of the offensive line.

Round 1 – Pick 28

Kayden McDonald


DL

Ohio State

• Jr

• 6’2″

/ 326 lbs

Projected Team

Houston

PROSPECT RNK

32nd

POSITION RNK

3rd

The Texans already have a dominant pass rush, and dropping McDonald into the middle of the defensive line would dramatically upgrade their run defense, making it even tougher to move the ball against them.

  From

Los Angeles Rams

Round 1 – Pick 29

Chris Johnson


CB

San Diego State

• Sr

• 6’0″

/ 195 lbs

Projected Team

Kansas City

PROSPECT RNK

27th

POSITION RNK

5th

The Chiefs landed their pass rusher earlier and here give Spagnuolo another defensive back to replace the departed Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

  From

Denver Broncos

Round 1 – Pick 30

Denzel Boston


WR

Washington

• Jr

• 6’4″

/ 210 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

37th

POSITION RNK

6th

REC

62

REYDS

881

YDS/REC

14.2

TDS

12

Miami has a desperate need for playmakers on the outside and gets a big, physical X receiver for Malik Willis right here.

Round 1 – Pick 31

Monroe Freeling


OT

Georgia

• Jr

• 6’7″

/ 315 lbs

Projected Team

New England

PROSPECT RNK

25th

POSITION RNK

5th

New England could also go with a pass rusher here but instead elects to continue solidifying the offensive line in front of Drake Maye.

  Mock Trade from

Seattle Seahawks

Round 1 – Pick 32

Ty Simpson


QB

Alabama

• Jr

• 6’1″

/ 211 lbs

Projected Team

Arizona

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PAYDS

3567

RUYDS

93

INTS

5

TDS

30

Arizona moves up two spots and lands on Simpson while the Seahawks pick up additional capital after entering the draft with only four picks.