We’ve made it.
The 2026 NFL draft is finally upon us, and night one figures to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. Without a top quarterback class and few transcendent stars, many teams are expected to move around quite a bit tonight.
That being said, it’s time for one final mock draft — only this one features the height of aggression from a New York Jets perspective.
Round 1
1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB, Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
The dream has been dead for a while, but it ends early with the first pick. The Raiders get their franchise quarterback, and the Jets have to punt that conversation to next year.
2. New York Jets – EDGE, Arvell Reese – Ohio State
Arvell Reese or David Bailey? Bailey or Reese? Is anybody else sick of this debate? Anyway, the Jets chose the high upside player in Reese because, of course, they do.
3. Dallas Cowboys (Trade Arizona) – EDGE, David Bailey – Texas Tech
With Reese selected at No. 2, the Dallas Cowboys get aggressive and get the edge rusher they have coveted for months. By giving up their two first-round picks this year and another first-rounder next year, Dallas goes “all-in” for a Super Bowl.
4. Tennessee Titans – LB, Sonny Styles – Ohio State
Contemplated going running back, but then remembered that Robert Saleh is the coach of the Titans and brought back all his former Jets players with him. I would be shocked if he focused on the offense here.
5. New York Giants – RB, Jeremyiah Love – Notre Dame
The Giants do not learn from their mistakes from 2018 and take a running back, even though their offensive line remains a need. Looking forward to watching Love signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2031.
6. Cleveland Browns – OL, Francis Mauigoa – Miami
The Browns could go receiver here, but their offensive line was a mess. They end up getting the best offensive line prospect in the draft with Mauigoa to protect Shedeur Sanders.
7. New York Jets (Trade Washington) – WR, Carnell Tate – Ohio State
Another trade into the top 10. For this one, the Jets give up picks 16 and 33 to grab the top receiver of the draft class. The fact that Garrett Wilson gave Tate a vote of confidence matters too.
8. New Orleans Saints – WR, Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State
New Orleans needs help at receiver for its offense. Tyson, being the second-best receiver here, gives the Saints a big body receiver to put up plenty of points with Tyler Shough leading the way.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – OL, Olaivavega Ioane – Penn State
If Kansas City were smart, it would have done more to protect Patrick Mahomes before his torn ACL, but now it is even more necessary in 2026 and beyond. They target Ioane, who is the best interior blocker in the draft.
10. New York Giants (from Bengals) – S, Caleb Downs – Ohio State
On paper, a Love-Downs draft for the Giants is quite stellar. Downs is arguably the best athlete in the draft, but he doesn’t play a position that is valued in NFL circles. Remember that John Harbaugh happily took Kyle Hamilton just a few years ago in Baltimore.
11. Miami Dolphins – EDGE, Rueben Bain Jr. – Miami
Bain falling outside the top 10 has always felt like the obvious prediction this year, given his measurables. Great player, but those short arms will scare teams. It doesn’t scare Miami, though.
12. Arizona Cardinals (Trade Dallas) – OL, Spencer Fano – Utah
Arizona needs offensive line help, and with a bevy of draft picks, kicks the run of tackles with Fano out of Utah. Any of the top guys can be selected here, quite frankly, though.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons) – OL, Blake Miller – Clemson
Really wanted to take a receiver here, but the Rams know they need to protect their quarterback if they want to run it back to another Super Bowl. Miller’s a solid prospect who may be focused on the right side but is still coveted.
14. Baltimore Ravens – OL, Monroe Freeling – Georgia
Baltimore needs to revamp their offensive line. With Ione gone, the team focuses its efforts on Georgia and the raw prospect that is Freeling.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB, Mansoor Delane – LSU
Tampa Bay needs to fix its defense, and it does so with the best cornerback of the class. Delane can compete with the top receivers in the NFC South and keep the Buccaneers defense afloat in 2026.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (Trade Washington) – WR, Makai Lemon – USC
There will be plenty of trades for wide receivers this year. The Chargers desperately need a No. 1 target, and Lemon is that kind of player. An offense with Justin Herbert throwing to Makai Lemon should be a sight to behold.
17. Detroit Lions – CB, Colton Hood – Tennessee
Wanted to go offensive line here, but the run on tackles has to end at some point. Detroit’s defense is still quite bad, but it gets a boost with a top cornerback in Hood on the board.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (Trade Vikings) – WR, Denzel Boston, Washington
The Eagles are trading A.J. Brown this offseason. Why not get a big body receiver in his place? Boston’s physicality and hands make him an intriguing prospect in Philly’s new-look offense.
19. Carolina Panthers – TE, Kenyon Sadiq – Oregon
Sadiq is a quality pass catcher and provides Carolina with another receiver for Bryce Young to finally enjoy a breakout year with. This feels like a natural fall for a tight end like the Oregon prospect.
20. Arizona Cardinals (Trade Dallas) – QB, Ty Simpson – Alabama
Arizona will take Ty Simpson. It just feels like that’s in the cards this year. Simpson is a first-round prospect in this draft, and the Cardinals have their future franchise quarterback.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR, KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
Felt like Pittsburgh could draft a quarterback, but boosting their receiver room with a playmaker like Concepcion seems like a move the Steelers need to make with Aaron Rodgers expected (?) to come back.
22. Washington Commanders (Trade LAC) – WR, Omar Cooper Jr. – Indiana
Washington walked into the draft with six picks this year. After two trade-downs with the Jets and Chargers, they still land with the receiver they always wanted. Cooper’s versatility should fit nicely with Terry McLaurin.
23. Minnesota Vikings (Trade Philadelphia) – DT, Peter Woods, Clemson
Minnesota needs interior defensive line help, and jumped at the chance to draft Woods out of Clemson.
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars) – S, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren – Toledo
Cleveland misses out on the run of receivers but lands a quality safety with their new-look defensive alignment. McNeil-Warren’s breakout during the pre-draft process has me feeling he’ll go in Round 1.
25. Chicago Bears – EDGE, T.J. Parker – Clemson
Chicago’s defense was a mess last year, so they focused on the edge with Parker. Could go Faulk here, but I think Chicago likes Parker’s measurables a bit more.
26. Buffalo Bills – NT, Caleb Banks – Florida
Buffalo could go a number of different spots but with Banks expected to be healthy soon, the team tabs him with the 26th pick in the draft to bolster their run defense.
27. San Francisco 49ers – S, Dillon Thieneman – Oregon
Talanoa Hufunga isn’t walking through the door anymore, so the 49ers go with another athletic freak in Thieneman. San Fran needs healthy bodies as well to bolster their defense under a new play-caller.
28. Houston Texans – OL, Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Can’t see another receiver taken in the first round, and Houston really needs to fix their offensive line. Proctor will probably move inside to guard.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – NT, Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
It’s a meat-and-potatoes draft for Andy Reid. McDonald should be able to help anchor the defensive line and take some pressure off an aging Chris Jones.
30. Miami Dolphins (from Broncos) – CB, Avieon Terrell – Clemson
Terrell falls to 30, where Miami knows it needs to fix its defensive back room, which was putrid in 2025.
31. New England Patriots – EDGE, Keldric Faulk – Auburn
No need to draft a receiver with A.J. Brown on his way here in June. Faulk bolsters a pass rush that struggled at times to consistently get to the passer.
32. Seattle Seahawks – LB, CJ Allen – Georgia
With Simpson gone, it’s hard to see anyone trading up with Seattle, even though the defending champs will really want to move down. Allen is the kind of off-ball linebacker that will make the best defense in football even better.
