The College Football Playoffs are in the books, and the Indiana Hoosiers are your National Champion. Unsurprisingly Fernando Mendoza is expected to go No. 1 overall after his legendary TD run to win Indiana the national title game, and this draft is also littered with Miami talent as well. Some shifts have happened in the defensive rankings, as well as new NFL coach hirings tipping the hand a little at where these teams could go with their picks.
Here’s a look at our latest mock draft, with some thoughts on the hypothetical top ten as well as other picks we loved during the process. Regarding the methodology, Mark Schofield made the first 16 picks, with James Dator making the second group of 16 selections.
Pick |
Team |
Player |
Position |
School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana |
| 2 | New York Jets | Arvell Reese | LB | Ohio State |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | Rueben Bain Jr. | EDGE | Miami |
| 5 | New York Giants | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah |
| 7 | Washington Commanders | David Bailey | EDGE | Texas Tech |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State |
| 9 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU |
| 12 | Dallas Cowboys | Keldric Faulk | EDGE | Auburn |
| 13 | Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) | Jermod McCoy | CB | Tennessee |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Peter Woods | DL | Clemson |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon |
| 16 | New York Jets (via IND) | Avieon Terrell | CB | Clemson |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | Kadyn Proctor | OT | Alabama |
| 18 | Minnesota Vikings | Olaivavega Ioane | IOL | Penn State |
| 19 | Carolina Panthers | Cashius Howell | EDGE | Texas A&M |
| 20 | Dallas Cowboys (via GB) | Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio State |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama |
| 22 | Los Angeles Chargers | Kayden McDonald | DT | Ohio State |
| 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | T.J. Parker | EDGE | Clemson |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns (via JAX) | Makai Lemon | WR | USC |
| 25 | Chicago Bears | Caleb Banks | DT | Florida |
| 26 | Buffalo Bills | Denzel Boston | WR | Washington |
| 27 | San Francisco 49ers | Romello Height | EDGE | Texas Tech |
| 28 | Houston Texans | Emmanuel Pregnon | IOL | Oregon |
| 29 | Los Angeles Rams | Brandon Cisse | CB | South Carolina |
| 30 | New England Patriots | Kevin Conception | WR | Texas A&M |
| 31 | Denver Broncos | Kaleb Lomu | OT | Utah |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | Colton Hood | CB | Texas |
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
With the Raiders now unofficially on the clock, expect the connections to Fernando Mendoza to kick into overdrive. Mendoza led Indiana to an unbeaten season, picked up a Heisman Trophy along the way, and there is a lot to love about his game.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Dante Moore deciding to go back to school for another year at Oregon certainly complicates things for the New York Jets. Aaron Glenn needed an option at QB heading into second season, and with Mendoza coming off the board ahead of the Jets, New York will have to shift their focus.
There is merit in improving the defensive side of the ball, as well as the rest of the roster, to soften the landing spot for a QB during the next cycle. Arvell Reese will certainly help a defense that failed to generate a single interception last season. Between what he can do in coverage, to what he can do as a blitzer, and even the promise he shows when used as an EDGE, he’ll inject some much-needed talent into that side of the football.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
There is every indication that the Arizona Cardinals are going to reset their quarterback clock this season, and bring the Kyler Murray Era to an end.
Similar to the Jets, however, the options might not be there at No. 3. So instead, Arizona builds around the QB position and adds a physical mauler in Francis Mauigoa, who at just 20 years old could be exactly what the Cardinals need for 2026 … and beyond.
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
The Tennessee Titans need help along the defensive front, and Rueben Bain Jr. just completed an incredible run for Miami in the College Football Playoff. Pair him with Jeffery Simmons and thrive.
For a good look at what he brings to the table, this thread of clips from his game against Ohio State is a good place to start:
5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Just a few short weeks ago it looked like the New York Giants would be at the top of the draft and hold an auction for the first-overall selection, and the rights to QB1. But with wins in their final two games the Giants slide back to No. 5, and instead add some help for Jaxson Dart with this pick.
Jordyn Tyson has endured some injuries, but can stretch defenses vertically and poses problems at all levels of the field. Pairing him with a healthy Malik Nabers is an instant upgrade for John Harbaugh and the Giants offense.
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
A theme with many mock drafts this cycle has been this: Lots of teams need quarterbacks, but there are few answers to be found in the first round of hte 2026 NFL Draft.
Cleveland is another such team.
But with Mendoza off the board, and No. 6 looking pretty early for Ty Simpson or Trinidad Chambliss (should he enter the draft), the Browns follow the path set by the Jets and the Cardinals and build around the QB spot, adding Spencer Fano from Utah. Fano has seen time at both LT and RT while in college, and gives Cleveland’s next head coach a means of getting their best five options in front of Shedeur Sanders next year.
7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Washington Commanders need some help along the defensive front.
Bailey helped turn the Red Raiders into one of college football’s best defenses this past season, and was one of the players mentioned on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks” list heading into last year. He might need to round out his toolkit as a pass rusher, but his athleticism and burst is a great starting point.
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
With the emergence of Tyler Shough as an option for the New Orleans Saints at quarterback, the team can look at other positions with this pick at No. 8.
Adding the next talented Ohio State WR prospect is just the kind of help Shough and the Saints need.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Yes, we will keep mocking this pick until told otherwise.
But giving the Kansas City Chiefs’ run game a boost seems like a wise move for Brent Veach this offseason. Patrick Mahomes might not be ready for Week 1 — as much as he wants to be — and even when he comes back this offense needs some help around him.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Cincinnati Bengals need help almost everywhere on defense.
Why not add a defender who can play almost anywhere?
Put positional value aside, Caleb Downs might be one of the best players in this entire class. The discussion around him will mirror the discussion around Kyle Hamilton a few years ago, but teams that passed on Hamilton might want to revisit that discussion right now.
Thoughts outside the Top 10 …
The Vikings are in draft hell again
This “competitive rebuild” concept Minnesota is operating under is neither allowing them to compete, or rebuild. Their late season win streak sank their draft position to the point where they’re picking just one spot above the Panthers, who won the NFC South.
The core issue with this draft purgatory when it comes to 2026 is that it pushed the Vikings out of a position to get a difference making defensive back. This is a team who really could have used someone like Caleb Downs or any of the number of good corners, but instead they’ll need to settle for interior offensive line if they want to work as best player available.
Can Ty Simpson be the future in Pittsburgh?
Sure, Simpson was put in a blender in the loss to Indiana — but I think teams will be able to see the potential here. At No. 21 the value is too good, and the Steelers are in a position where they need to start swinging at the QB position over, and over, and over again until they find one.
A lot of this will depend on the incoming head coach, but ultimately Simpson is a guy who will do really well on interviews, because nobody has ever doubted his football IQ. Play wise he has a much better arm than someone like Mac Jones, and that could be enough to make the Steelers bite.
The Eagles just keep doing it
Once again we have Philadelphia getting a defensive steal in this draft. Theres little doubt that T.J. Parker had a down season based on expectations, but he shouldn’t be going this late in the draft. There’s a solid chance someone like Carolina could take him a few picks earlier, but ultimately this feels like another occasion where the Eagles are striking gold at a position of need, and getting a player they have no business in landing.
Parker has the ability to line up in multiple fronts, has astounding athleticism — and the only real knock is that he isn’t great at finishing tackles. With a little tutelage he could easily become an elite defensive end in the NFL.
Denzel Boston is EXACTLY what the Bills need
This is a turning point for the Buffalo Bills. In the wake of firing Sean McDermott the front office, more specifically Brandon Beane has run out of people to blame. This team needs to win right now, and that means getting a receiver who can truly help Josh Allen in the passing game, because thus far Keon Coleman hasn’t panned out.
Denzel Boston out of Washington has serious deep threat shades to his game like Rome Odunze or Tetairoa McMillan, both of whom have flourished since entering the league. With an ability to make big plays and contested catches he could be the missing piece to get the Bills’ passing offense ticking again.
