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2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Rams take QB to learn from Matthew Stafford
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- 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Rams take QB to learn from Matthew Stafford
The first wave of free agency is in the books. With teams across the NFL spending an incredible amount of money to fill needs, everyone is starting to turn their attention to the draft.
Here is a look at our first mock draft, following the opening week of free agency:
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is expected to be the first player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. AP
1. Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB
Everything the Raiders have done thus far this offseason points to them drafting Mendoza, whom they envision as their long-awaited franchise quarterback, and making sure the infrastructure around him is supportive enough to help him reach his ceiling. He is the perfect quarterback for what the Raiders and Tom Brady want that position to be.
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2. Jets
Arvell Reese, Ohio State LB
Conventional wisdom says you don't draft an off-ball linebacker this high in the draft, but this is not a conventional draft with a number of the top players playing non-premium positions. It's on the Jets to figure out how best to utilize this dynamic playmaker.
3. Cardinals
David Bailey, Texas Tech edge
They desperately need a tackle, but there aren't any good enough at this point in the draft. They need their long-range quarterback, but Ty Simpson would be a massive reach — although a trade down to grab Simpson later in the first round could be a possibility. Bailey is the best pure pass rusher in the draft.
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4. Titans
Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB
Tennessee has needs all over the roster, but the Titans did a decent job in free agency to address the defense, so this figures to be an offensive player to give young quarterback Cam Ward a weapon to play alongside. Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate is a possibility, but Love is arguably the best player in the draft and a certified playmaker.
5. Giants
Sonny Styles
, Ohio State LB
The pick comes down to a trio of Ohio State stars: Styles, safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate. All three have unicorn tendencies, but with Styles, the tape doesn't lie and the athletic ability is freakish. He gives new Giants coach John Harbaugh a multifaceted defensive weapon to unleash.
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6. Browns
Monroe Freeling, Georgia OT
The Browns still have a million questions at quarterback but will have to wait until the much stronger 2027 draft to try to land their long-term guy. That future quarterback will need a wide receiver, which is why Ohio State's Tate is a possibility. But eventually they have to fix their offensive line. Freeling is the best pure left tackle in the draft, but he doesn't have a ton of games under his belt. That's fine for the rebuilding Browns, who can use his rookie season to throw him into the fire to expedite his development. In time, he has a chance to be an anchor for the next decade.
7. Commanders
Carnell Tate, Ohio State WR
The Commanders have to give young quarterback Jayden Daniels help. Deebo Samuel was a nice try, but it's just not working out. Love could be an option if he's still on the board, but that is unlikely given how Love backed up his tape with a freak show at the combine. Tate immediately pairs up with Daniels, allowing the two playmakers to grow together.
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8. Saints
Makai Lemon, USC WR
An edge rusher is a big need, which is why Miami 's Rueben Bain Jr. can't be ruled out. But his less-than-ideal measurables in terms of his 30 ⅞-inch arms make him a bit of a risk at this point. The Saints would have loved for Tate to still be here, needing to pair a wide receiver up with young quarterback Tyler Shough . In keeping with the weapon theme, the Saints add Lemon, who will fit perfectly in Kellen Moore's scheme.
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9. Chiefs
Francis Mauigoa, Miami OT
Adding Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker was a clear sign the Chiefs want to be more balanced in how they support Patrick Mahomes . While Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq would be an ideal long-term replacement for Travis Kelce , the Chiefs just have too much of a need for a mauler at tackle to protect Mahomes and blow open holes for Walker.
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10. Bengals
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami edge
With Trey Hendrickson leaving in free agency, the Bengals need to beef up their pass rush. We mentioned Bain's arm length, which clearly isn't ideal at his position. But when you watch the tape, he's a certified DAWG who can make up for any physical deficiencies with a nonstop motor and an uncanny pass-rush skill.
11. Dolphins
Caleb Downs, Ohio State S
The Dolphins are just a bad roster all the way around, so this is rock-bottom time in Miami. They need help everywhere. But that's OK, it has to start somewhere. Downs gets aced out earlier in the draft because some teams just had other needs, but based on pure talent he's a top-five player in the draft. The Dolphins thank their good fortune and run the card in to Roger Goodell.
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12. Cowboys
Mansoor Delane, LSU CB
One way or another, the Cowboys are going defense after being an utter embarrassment on that side of the ball last season. And they get lucky here, with the best cornerback in the draft falling to them to fill a massive need.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land with the Rams. AP
13. Rams
Ty Simpson, Alabama QB
The Rams used a first-round pick to fill their biggest roster need by trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie . Then they bolstered that need even more by adding his teammate, Jaylen Watson , in free agency. The roster is set, allowing them to think bigger picture here by adding Simpson, the second-best quarterback in the draft, and someone they can put in Sean McVay's lab the next year or so to potentially develop a seamless handoff from Matthew Stafford to Simpson, his successor.
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14. Ravens
Spencer Fano, Utah OL
Fano played tackle at Utah, but his shorter arms could mean a move inside. And some people in the NFL believe he projects as a future Pro Bowler at center, where his intelligence, athletic ability and power really fit. Did we mention that the Ravens just lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency?
15. Buccaneers
Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State WR
Mike Evans bounced to San Francisco , where he fills a big need for the 49ers. His departure creates a huge hole for the Buccaneers, and while it's impossible to fill Evans' shoes, Tyson is an intriguing playmaker who has star potential.
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16. Jets
Vega Ioane, Penn State OG
The Jets get lucky here as the draft's best interior offensive lineman falls right into their lap. With so many picks on hand between this year and next, going best player available is the way to go here. Ioane will set a tone along the offensive line for years to come.
17. Lions
Keldric Faulk, Auburn edge
The Lions have been searching for a complement to Aidan Hutchinson for a few years now, and they may have found that missing piece in Faulk, a raw prospect with an elite skill set. Hutchinson can take Faulk under his wingNand help expedite his development and potentially give Detroit a powerful pass-rush tandem.
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18. Vikings
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon S
At the risk of saying the Vikings find their next Harrison Smith , but on so many levels that is exactly what Thieneman projects to be. An athletic freak who backed it all up with high-level production, he will fit right in the multileveled defense under Brian Flores.
19. Panthers
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon TE
The Panthers could go offensive or defensive tackle here, and both would make sense. But Sadiq would add another dynamic weapon for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young . With Sadiq playing alongside young wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan , the Panthers have a chance to be a handful on offense.
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20. Cowboys
Akheem Mesidor
, Miami edge
It's a banner first round for the Cowboys, who add a dynamic cornerback with their first pick and back it up with Mesidor, who will provide pass rush up front. The Cowboys defense needs a lot of help, but they are off to a great start on the first day of the draft.
21. Steelers
T.J. Parker, Clemson edge
Parker's 2025 season didn't measure up to his 2024 campaign, which is why he takes a fall on draft night. But the 2025 tape wasn't nearly as bad as some might suggest. The Steelers are the beneficiaries by landing a top-10 talent at this point in the draft.
Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston might be picked by the Chargers in the first round. Getty Images
22. Chargers
Denzel Boston, Washington
WR
The Chargers would have loved for Ioane to fall to them here, but that doesn't happen. They need to add toughness and size to their wide receiver room, and the gritty Boston adds just that to give Justin Herbert a big, physical, reliable receiving threat.
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23. Eagles
Caleb Banks, Florida DT
The Eagles have sent signals that Jalen Carter could be available, a hint that they might not be keen on extending the relationship. If that is the case, Banks would be an ideal pick here to either be the long-term replacement for Carter or someone who can immediately step in should Carter get moved.
24. Browns
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana WR
After landing their left tackle earlier in the first round, the Browns add to their offense with the addition of Cooper, one of the more fascinating players in the draft. It's all about building for the future in Cleveland , and whether it's Shedeur Sanders or one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 draft, whoever the long-term quarterback is, building an offensive support system is the whole plan.
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25. Bears
Zion Young, Missouri edge
After missing out on the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes — which landed him right back in Las Vegas — the Bears hit big with Young, who slips down after teams fall asleep on him. He is a Day 1 starter with an elite pass-rush skill.
26. Bills
KC Concepcion, Texas A&M WR
The Bills need playmakers, and after some of the other top receivers get scooped up earlier in the draft, they still get their guy in Concepcion, a mutifaceted weapon who can hurt defenses in a number of ways.
27. 49ers
Max Iheanachor, Arizona State OT
It's no secret the 49ers need offensive line help, whether they come to terms with veteran tackle Trent Williams . In the short term, Iheanachor can play right tackle with the plan for him to eventually replace Williams on the other side.
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28. Texans
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama OT
The Texans can go a number of different directions here, with almost all of them flowing through the offensive line, which was downright bad last year and part of the reason C.J. Stroud struggled down the stretch. Proctor needs some work, but he's a big-time brawler who can set a tone upfront.
29. Chiefs
Avieon Terrell, Clemson CB
Kansas City lost both of its starting cornerbacks by trading McDuffie to the Rams and losing Watson to LA in free agency. They've done a great job over the years coming up with cornerbacks late in the first round and throughout the draft, and Terrell is the latest successful pick at that position.
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30. Broncos
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame RB
The Broncos get a little edgy here, but people will soon realize how good Price really is. At Notre Dame, he was the sidekick to Love. In Denver , he'll be the lead back and an explosive playmaker.
31. Patriots
Blake Miller
, Clemson OT
New England has to make life easier for young quarterback Drake Maye , and it all starts upfront. As we saw in the Super Bowl, the Patriots have to protect him better. At this point in the draft, and with the tackles coming off the board, they pounce on the next-best prospect.
32. Seahawks
Jermod McCoy, Tennessee CB
There's a chance McCoy goes much higher in the draft, but he missed all of 2025 so there are likely to be concerns by teams picking earlier in the first round. That would be completely fine with the Seahawks. They need to replace Riq Woolen , who left in free agency, and in McCoy they find tremendous value at this stage of the draft.
