The 2026 NFL Draft begins this coming Thursday in Pittsburgh. Here is how I see the first round unfolding, barring any last-minute trades:
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1. Las Vegas Raiders–QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JUNE 10: A team logo is shown above the entrance at the 336,000-square-foot Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center under construction on June 10, 2020 in Henderson, Nevada. The site will serve as the team’s practice facility and will include three outdoor football fields, a 150,000-square-foot field house with one-and-a-half indoor football fields, a three-story office area, and a 50,000-square-foot performance center. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
A no-brainer selection by a team that needs to start from the ground up with their QB of the future.
2. New York Jets–Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Jets fans want freakish athlete Arvell Reese, but it seems like Aaron Glenn is sold on Bailey, who is the most pro-ready pass rusher in the draft.
3. Arizona Cardinals–LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Arizona needs all the impact players it can find on defense, and Reese is someone who has future Pro Bowler written all over him. There are rumors swirling about Kansas City wanting this pick, so expect it to be heavily in play.
4. Tennessee Titans–RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Don’t be surprised if Tennessee moves down (or even out of the first round and tries to get picks in 2027 and beyond). Teams like Washington and New York both covet Love, so a deal might be had. If Tennessee stays at four, Love and Ward give the Titans two cornerstone talents on offense.
5. New York Giants–S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Downs is an impact talent, and the Giants need a game-changer in their secondary.
6. Cleveland Browns–OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 8: A detailed view of a Cleveland Browns logo against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game on December 8, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 14-3. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Cleveland desperately wants to trade down, but if they stay, Mauigoa is the perfect anchor for the Browns struggling OL, and Todd Monken knows he needs to give Shadeur Sanders as much time as possible to throw.
7. Washington Commanders–LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
If Washington chooses not to trade down, they can stay at 7 and likely have their choice of Styles or Rueben Bain, Jr. Styles is a freakish athlete who turned heads at the combine and could be a perfect fit to replace Bobby Wagner.
8. New Orleans Saints–EDGE, Rueben Bain, Jr, Miami
New Orleans improved its offense last year and added Travis Etienne as a free agent this offseason. Now, Kellen Moore knows he needs to address the defense, and Bain should be able to revive the Saints’ pass rush.
9. Kansas City Chiefs–WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Carnell Tate would also be a good option, but when healthy, Tyson is the premier receiver in this year’s class.
10. New York Giants (traded from Cincinnati)–OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Giants fans will likely be screaming for the team to take Ohio State star WR Carnell Tate, but OT is a need, and Fano is a solid pick.
11. Miami Dolphins–WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 15: A general view of the Miami Dolphins throwback logo midfield prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
With Jaylen Waddle now in Denver and Tyreek Hill likely not playing in 2026, Miami needs to find its WR1. One of Tate or Tyson should be available.
12. Dallas Cowboys–CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
If Dallas wants to be aggressive, Jerry Jones has the firepower to move way up in the draft. If he decides to stay, he will hope that Bain or Styles is still on the board. If they are both gone, Delane provides Dallas with a shutdown CB who can play Week 1.
13. Los Angeles Rams–WR Makai Lemon, USC
When there is smoke, there is fire, and right now the smoke signals out of Los Angeles have the Rams taking the outstanding receiver from USC. Lemon can play immediately in the slot and will also provide depth if Puka Nacua and/or Davante Adams get injured.
14. Baltimore Ravens–G Vega Ioane, Penn State
Baltimore is going to lean on its running game, and Ioane is the top Guard in the draft.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers–CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
McCoy missed 2025 with an injury but was thought of as one of the top cover CBs in college football in 2024. Tampa needs a shutdown CB to go up against Tetairoa McMillan and Drake London, so McCoy makes a lot of sense.
16. New York Jets–WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Originally, experts had Omar Cooper Jr. pegged for the Jets, but recently, Boston’s name is gaining steam. He’s a huge target and should be someone New York can use in red zone packages.
17. Detroit Lions–OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 19: The Detroit Lions logo is pictured during the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field on August 19, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Freeling is the ideal fit for Detroit as they are searching for a Left Tackle to replace Taylor Decker. He’s big, strong, and nasty–all traits that Dan Campbell loves.
18. Minnesota Vikings–S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Harrison Smith’s career is coming to an end, and Thieneman would be an excellent choice to replace him.
19. Carolina Panthers–TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Draft experts will likely be shouting for Carolina to take Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo, but Saddiq is a matchup nightmare and gives Bryce Young another top target on offense.
20. Dallas Cowboys–EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
He’s 25 years old, but Dallas needs impact players who can play now on defense, and Mesidor knows how to get to the QB (12.5 sacks last year).
21. Pittsburgh Steelers–WR Omar Cooper, Jr., Indiana
Cooper and Pittman will help upgrade a Steelers offense that struggled to move the ball in 2025.
22. Los Angeles Chargers–OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; The Los Angeles Chargers bolt logo at midfield before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jim Harbaugh knows better than anyone that you can’t have enough talent on the OL.
23. Philadelphia Eagles–WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
Concepcion sent a letter to all the teams telling them that he was ready to play and win in the NFL. Drafting Concepcion allows Philadelphia to move on from A.J. Brown with little regret.
24. Cleveland Browns–EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
Cleveland wants to trade out of this spot, but if they remain, Parker would be a nice addition to an already staunch defense.
25. Chicago Bears–S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
He’s got all the intangibles to be a top player in the NFC for years to come, and the Bears need a safety badly.
26. Buffalo Bills–Edge Malachi Lawrence, UCF
Buffalo needs to continue to improve its pass rush if they want to reach the Super Bowl.
27. San Francisco 49ers–OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 17: A detail view of a San Francisco 49ers logo is seen on a helmet in action during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Lomu did not allow a sack in 2025 and should excel in Kyle Shanahan’s zone-rushing offense.
28. Houston Texans–DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
After signing Will Anderson to a huge deal, Houston adds McDonald, who is arguably the best run stopper in the draft.
29. Kansas City Chiefs–CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Hood would clearly be a need pick for Kansas City, which lost both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the offseason.
30. Miami Dolphins–OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Miami is likely two to three years from competing, and by that time, Iheanachor will be ready to be the team’s starting LT.
31. New England Patriots–LB, C.J. Allen, Georgia
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 08: A detail of the New England Patriots logo on the field during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Allen has the skills to be a tackling machine in the middle of Vrabel’s defense.
32. Seattle Seahawks–RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Seattle wants to trade this pick, but if they keep it, Price fills a need as a replacement for Kenneth Walker. Had Price played anywhere else in college (except for behind Jeremiah Love), he would have had a dominant career.
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