The 2026 NFL draft will start on April 23, 2026. This is how I think each first-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft will play out.
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
This is the most obvious pick in the entire draft. After going 2-14 in 2025, the Raiders are looking for a new franchise quarterback who will lead them to greatness. Mendoza will have the chance to learn behind Kirk Cousins, or he just might be thrown into the starting role immediately. Either way, the Raiders need a Quarterback and Mendoza is the most talented by far.
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Jets are in full-on tank mode heading into this draft, and the former faces of the franchise, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, are long gone. The Jets need serious defensive help. Reese reminds me a lot of Travon Walker in the way that his measurables are insane, but he will need some time to develop. Reece is six feet four and is 243 pounds of muscle. If the Jets let him develop, they will have a key building block for the defense for t
he next decade.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Cardinals could really do anything here, and it would be a decent pick. They are entering a new era with Kyler Murray gone and new coaches across the board. They will not be good next year, no matter who they take, so the Cardinals should start building the offensive line for the future. Mauigoa is the best offensive lineman in the draft out of Miami and will hopefully turn around one of the worst offensive lines in football.
4. Tennessee Titans – Jermiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
This feels early, but the Titans need to help Cam Ward as much as they possibly can, and getting an amazing running back prospect in Love will boost the offense significantly. This draft has a really weak running back class, except for Love, and Tennessee could use an offensive superstar. Tony Pollard is okay at best and will not help Cam Ward like Love would.
5. New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Giants have a lot of options here, but after the historical combine performance of the Ohio state line backer Styles should put them on notice. With the offense healthy next season, it will be important to start building a defense that helps the team rather than hurting it. Styles is very versatile, and they can move him anywhere that is needed, and he will succeed.
6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Jerry Juedy sucks, and Browns fans need to face that sooner rather than later. The Browns acquired several offensive linemen in free agency and now need a top wide receiver in the draft. If the Browns choose to roll with Shedeur Sanders as the starter, they will need to give the young quarterback help in the receiving game. Tate is as good as it gets, and he is another Ohio State receiver in a long line of elite talents.
7. Washington Commanders – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Washington is coming off an injury-riddled season in which the team’s sack leader was a 37-year-old Von Miller, who is leaving in free agency. If Washington wants to get back into competing for a championship, they have to have an elite-level pass rusher, and Bailey meets that standard. Bailey had 14.5 sacks for the Red Raiders in 2025 and would immediately get the starting job as a Commander.
8. New Orleans Saints – Reuben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami
Cameron Jordan is getting up there in age, and Chase Young is seeing a career revival as a Saint. Adding another Edge rusher, especially an athlete like Bain, would bolster this Saints team as they attempt to get younger. Bain was the leader of a championship contender Miami team, and would add a lot to a growing Saints defense.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, DB, Louisiana State
The former dynasty had a wake-up call in 2025 with many injuries and a defensive meltdown. This offseason saw Chiefs star corner Trent McDuffie get traded to the Rams for picks. Delane has been a shutdown corner every year of his college career at Virginia Tech and LSU, and the Chiefs need to find quick replacements for a quickly depleting defense.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State
The Bengals have been the same story every year since 2021. Burrow and the offense do everything, and the defense is a liability. The Bengals have been hurting at safety ever since Jesse Bates III left, and they need his replacement. A defense would go a long way in getting this team back to a Super Bowl.
11. Miami Dolphins – Makai Lemon, WR, University of Southern California
Miami needs everything. However, their wide receivers are especially awful. Jaylen Waddle got traded to the Denver Broncos, and Tyreek Hill is a free agent. Newly signed quarterback Malik Willis is gonna need all the help he can get, and Lemon is a good start. Lemon might not be the fastest receiver, but he is one of the best pass-catchers in the draft, and Miami needs someone on the offense they can rely on.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Jermod McCoy DB, Tennessee
Jerry Jones wants a championship contender team, and the defense needs everyone they can get. A corner like McCoy will add a lot to a team that is trying to squeeze what it can out of its aging roster.
13. Los Angeles Rams – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The Rams acquired this pick in a trade with the Falcons last year and will need to fill some holes on their championship-contending roster. Freeling is an incredible athlete who has great speed for his size. Matthew Stafford will be 38, and he needs all the protection he can get. Freeling can play on either side of the offensive line and would be an improvement regardless of where he plays.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
The Ravens need to get back to competing, and the loss of Tyler Linderbaum and Daniel Faalele in free agency does not help. They need a new Guard that can slot in and start immediately. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense need more talent if they want to get back to the playoffs.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Tampa Bay is starting to see the 2020 defense that they built fall apart slowly. YaYa Diaby and David Walker are not going to be the major difference makers on this defense. This pick may be a reach, but it fills a significant need on the Tampa defense.
16. New York Jets – Jordan Tyson – WR, Arizona State
The second of the Jets’ two first-round picks is going to go to a wide receiver to help Garrett Wilson and the offense. The offense in New York is going to build around Wilson in hopes that they can hit on a quarterback in one of the next couple of drafts. If they do this, they will already have a team around a future quarterback. Tyson is a great Wide receiver, and Wilson and Tyson could be a tandem in New York for a decade.
17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano – OT, Utah
With Taylor Decker gone, the Lions have a decision to make at tackle. I believe they will move Penei Sewell to left tackle and draft Fano to start at right tackle. This will make the offensive line better, as Sewell will be a good blindside blocker and has already proven he can. This will also allow Fano to develop in a position he is familiar with.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman – DB, Oregon
With Harrison Smith gone, the Vikings will need another safety who can replace him. Thieneman is a fast, hard-hitting safety. He ran a 4.35 second 40 yard dash while notching 95 tackles during his final season at Oregon. Thieneman is the perfect blend of athleticism and production and will slot right into the Minnesota defense.
19. Chicago Bears (trade with the Panthers) – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, DB, Toledo
I see Chicago as a likely trade-up candidate, and Carolina will be willing to take a trade down for a couple of late-round picks due to the players I see both teams going after. The Bears have a solid offensive core, and a couple of defensive superstars would go a long way in making a Super Bowl-contending roster.
20. Dallas Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Cowboys still need more depth in the defensive core, and another edge rusher would go a long way. Faulk is a risky pick, but he is crazy athletic. At six feet six inches and 285 pounds, he can play anywhere on the defensive line. He runs a 4.67 40-yard dash and has the speed to play linebacker while the strength to play defensive tackle. If he stays healthy, he could be a dominant force.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana
Whoever the Steelers quarterback is next season will need another wide receiver. The Steelers’ defense is good; they just need a couple of superstars on offense to propel the team to the next level. Cooper Jr. has the ability to do that, as seen in the 2025 Indiana National Championship victory.
22. Los Angeles Rams- Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
The Rams are in win-now mode and need to build on their strengths with the extra picks they have acquired. Woods is another great Clemson defensive lineman and would slot into the Rams’ defense, giving them another run-stopper who can also step up and get a sack. Depth is what separates championship winners from championship contenders, and this would give the Rams depth.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Dallas Goedert signed a one-year contract to return to the Eagles for the 2026 season, but he is getting up there in age. The Eagles really need more offensive help, and Sadiq will do that a
nd some. Sadiq is an athletic freak for a tight end, setting records in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts in an offense with Sadiq would be scary for other NFL teams.
24. Cleveland Browns – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Browns’ offensive line was awful last year, and something needs to be done. The signings they made in free agency were not enough, and they need a true starter at tackle. Proctor has great size and was a starting left tackle at an elite SEC school for several years. He will be ready to start at tackle or even guard if Cleveland needs him to.
25. Carolina Panthers (trade Chicago Bears) – K.C. Conception, WR, Texas A&M
Carolina really does not have a true wide receiver one. Xavier Leggette has not panned out, and the Panthers need to give Bryce Young a good receiver if they want to compete. Conception is that player; he played really well for Texas A&M, and his explosive speed should translate to the NFL level.
26. Buffalo Bills – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Joey Bosa is not getting any younger, and the Bills’ defense needs an elite edge rusher. Parker has struggled with injuries in the past, but if he can put those behind him, he will be a top NFL edge rusher with his athleticism and production. A defense that can get to the quarterback is exactly what the Bills need, and Parker is a good start.
27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
This is a good pick for the future of the 49ers. Trent Williams is still elite, but he is 37, and there is no way of telling how long he can keep up this level of play. Lomu started 24 games at left tackle for Utah and played really well. Sitting behind one of the greatest left tackles ever could do a lot for his development and turn him into a true replacement for Williams.
28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Trent brown is getting older, and the Texans could benefit from giving C.J. Stroud the help he deserves on the offensive line. Miller is a solid athlete who has the size to be an elite NFL tackle. The Texans’ offensive line was the worst in the league last year, so Miller will be an improvement.
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Kansas City has not had a true wide receiver one since Tyreek Hill left in 2023. A receiver like Boston could add a lot to a team trying to get back into championship contention. If the Chiefs hit on both of their first-round picks, they can chalk up last year to a fluke bad year and get back to winning.
30. Miami Dolphins – Avieon Terrell, DB, Clemson
I see the Dolphins just taking the best player available with this pick. Terrell was great at Clemson and could slot in as the number one corner on Miami’s defense immediately. If Terrell is anything like his older brother, A.J. Terrell, the cornerback one for the Atlanta Falcons, he will make a difference on Miami’s defense.
31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Young might not be the most athletic edge rusher, but he was productive at Missouri with 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Young is needed to replace K’Lavon Chaisson in New England. If he is anything like Chaisson, the Patriots will have a good shot at another Super Bowl appearance.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, DB, Tennessee
Hood is a hard-hitting corner who is versatile enough to play safety at the next level. NFL.com rates Hood as the third most athletic corner in the draft. Seattle lost a lot of its secondary to free agency, and Hood could help the team get back to winning another Super Bowl.
