NFL Mock Draft 2026 - Yahoo Sports

RD1, PK1 Round 1, Pick 1

Fernando Mendoza

QB
Indiana

6' 5"

Height

225

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

22

Age

Why him?

Set it and forget it. Mendoza has reportedly already been working to acclimate himself to the Raiders’ offense, and he is a great fit with Klint Kubiak’s preferred attack. Mendoza’s size and mental makeup will help him acclimate quickly to the next level, but the Raiders have done a nice job of insulating Mendoza with a veteran center in Tyler Linderbaum and adding quarterback Kirk Cousins to hold the fort down for when Mendoza is ready.

6' 5"

Height

225

Weight

R-Jr.

Class

22

Age

Why him?

Set it and forget it. Mendoza has reportedly already been working to acclimate himself to the Raiders’ offense, and he is a great fit with Klint Kubiak’s preferred attack. Mendoza’s size and mental makeup will help him acclimate quickly to the next level, but the Raiders have done a nice job of insulating Mendoza with a veteran center in Tyler Linderbaum and adding quarterback Kirk Cousins to hold the fort down for when Mendoza is ready.

Attributes

Dart Thrower

Howitzer

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK2 Round 1, Pick 2

David Bailey

EDGE
Texas Tech

6' 3"

Height

250

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Why him?

There’s been a lot of smoke recently linking the Jets and Bailey, so let’s follow suit and start the draft here. This might be a bit rich for Bailey considering the Jets have their pick of the litter, but one thing he has over the Ohio State trio is conventional positional value helping his cause. Bailey’s appeal is all about his upside as a pass rusher, which is sky high. He has the athleticism, tenacity and a growing set of techniques to use to be a factor early in his career. He has a lot of room to grow as a run defender, but he’s shown upside there as well, albeit inconsistently. The addition of 365-pound nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat makes this pick more palatable and will let Bailey be aggressive without killing the structure of the Jets’ defense.

6' 3"

Height

250

Weight

Sr.

Class

22

Age

Why him?

There’s been a lot of smoke recently linking the Jets and Bailey, so let’s follow suit and start the draft here. This might be a bit rich for Bailey considering the Jets have their pick of the litter, but one thing he has over the Ohio State trio is conventional positional value helping his cause. Bailey’s appeal is all about his upside as a pass rusher, which is sky high. He has the athleticism, tenacity and a growing set of techniques to use to be a factor early in his career. He has a lot of room to grow as a run defender, but he’s shown upside there as well, albeit inconsistently. The addition of 365-pound nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat makes this pick more palatable and will let Bailey be aggressive without killing the structure of the Jets’ defense.

Attributes

Rocket

Gumby

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK3 Round 1, Pick 3 (from Cardinals)

Arvell Reese

EDGE
Ohio State

6' 4"

Height

243

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

A trade up makes sense for the Chiefs as they haven’t held a top-10 pick in the draft since they moved up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. And you know what’s cooler than a top-10 pick? A top-three pick. I consider Reese the best non-quarterback in this year’s draft, and this ability to impact the game, both presently and what he can become in the future, on the line of scrimmage or from off-ball spots makes him an incredible fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s Bolo punch defense. All while keeping the 29th pick, too.

6' 4"

Height

243

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

A trade up makes sense for the Chiefs as they haven’t held a top-10 pick in the draft since they moved up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. And you know what’s cooler than a top-10 pick? A top-three pick. I consider Reese the best non-quarterback in this year’s draft, and this ability to impact the game, both presently and what he can become in the future, on the line of scrimmage or from off-ball spots makes him an incredible fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s Bolo punch defense. All while keeping the 29th pick, too.

Attributes

Brick House

Gumby

Rocket

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK4 Round 1, Pick 4

Sonny Styles

LB
Ohio State

6' 5"

Height

243

Weight

Sr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

The Titans really need to keep adding to their offensive skill players and continue to add speed around Cam Ward. And I’m sure new head coach Robert Saleh would love to keep adding to the defensive line after a flurry of moves this offseason, just like the defenses he’s helmed in the past have had. What those 49ers defenses also had that allowed Saleh to live in zone coverages was the game’s premier linebacker in Fred Warner. (His Jets defenses also had a strong duo in C,J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, too). Styles has the talent, smarts, and skills to be that man in the middle to solidify the whole unit. Ward still needs help, but the thought of Styles flying around behind Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers has me giddy.

6' 5"

Height

243

Weight

Sr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

The Titans really need to keep adding to their offensive skill players and continue to add speed around Cam Ward. And I’m sure new head coach Robert Saleh would love to keep adding to the defensive line after a flurry of moves this offseason, just like the defenses he’s helmed in the past have had. What those 49ers defenses also had that allowed Saleh to live in zone coverages was the game’s premier linebacker in Fred Warner. (His Jets defenses also had a strong duo in C,J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, too). Styles has the talent, smarts, and skills to be that man in the middle to solidify the whole unit. Ward still needs help, but the thought of Styles flying around behind Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers has me giddy.

Attributes

Professor X

Rocket

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK5 Round 1, Pick 5

Caleb Downs

S
Ohio State

6' 0"

Height

205

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

Downs would be the highest selected safety in over a decade. His game, a steadiness he brings every play from some part of the center of the defense, would help solidify the back end of a Giants unit that has yielded big play after big play over the past few seasons.

6' 0"

Height

205

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

Downs would be the highest selected safety in over a decade. His game, a steadiness he brings every play from some part of the center of the defense, would help solidify the back end of a Giants unit that has yielded big play after big play over the past few seasons.

Attributes

Professor X

Rocket

Chameleon

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK6 Round 1, Pick 6

Carnell Tate

WR
Ohio State

6' 3"

Height

195

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

Tate brings a raised level of competence to the Browns’ wide receiver room they sorely need. The execution on every level of their passing game needs major improvement and Tate would provide a high floor starter to pair with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Quinshon Judkins as the core young offensive talent. Tate might not have the profile of a dominant No. 1 wide receiver, but he can undoubtedly be a heavily targeted option.

6' 3"

Height

195

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

Tate brings a raised level of competence to the Browns’ wide receiver room they sorely need. The execution on every level of their passing game needs major improvement and Tate would provide a high floor starter to pair with tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Quinshon Judkins as the core young offensive talent. Tate might not have the profile of a dominant No. 1 wide receiver, but he can undoubtedly be a heavily targeted option.

Attributes

Chameleon

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK7 Round 1, Pick 7

Jeremiyah Love

RB
Notre Dame

6' 0"

Height

214

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

There simply aren’t many offenses that can unleash a quarterback and running back that can both run a sub-4.4 40 on every snap. I like how the Commanders addressed the running back room already this offseason, and they have other positions and needs on their roster they could easily go after. But with so many defensive players going early, and the Commanders perhaps feeling like they can address offensive needs later, they instead go with perhaps the best skill player in this year’s draft class to boost their offense with first time play-caller David Blough.

6' 0"

Height

214

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

There simply aren’t many offenses that can unleash a quarterback and running back that can both run a sub-4.4 40 on every snap. I like how the Commanders addressed the running back room already this offseason, and they have other positions and needs on their roster they could easily go after. But with so many defensive players going early, and the Commanders perhaps feeling like they can address offensive needs later, they instead go with perhaps the best skill player in this year’s draft class to boost their offense with first time play-caller David Blough.

Attributes

Phonebooth

Rocket

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK8 Round 1, Pick 8

Rueben Bain

EDGE
Miami (FL)

6' 3"

Height

270

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

The Saints need to add juice off the edge to a defense that ranked 22nd in pressure rate last season. Rueben Bain Jr. comes in an NFL-ready body (short arms and all) and has the density requirement the Saints have preferred out of their defensive ends. Bain and Chase Young could be a nice duo as the Saints continue to turn the page into the next chapter of their post-Drew Brees era.

6' 3"

Height

270

Weight

Jr.

Class

21

Age

Why him?

The Saints need to add juice off the edge to a defense that ranked 22nd in pressure rate last season. Rueben Bain Jr. comes in an NFL-ready body (short arms and all) and has the density requirement the Saints have preferred out of their defensive ends. Bain and Chase Young could be a nice duo as the Saints continue to turn the page into the next chapter of their post-Drew Brees era.

Attributes

Brick House

Gumby

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK9 Round 1, Pick 9 (from Chiefs)

Francis Mauigoa

OL
Miami (FL)

6' 6"

Height

315

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

The Cardinals address their offensive line with the first player in that position group off the board while adding pick No. 40 to their quiver. I almost went with Monroe Freeling here, but instead selected perhaps a cleaner fit in Mauigoa; a strong and technically proficient right tackle who could kick inside, both spots where the Cardinals would love to have any type of long-term solution.

6' 6"

Height

315

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

The Cardinals address their offensive line with the first player in that position group off the board while adding pick No. 40 to their quiver. I almost went with Monroe Freeling here, but instead selected perhaps a cleaner fit in Mauigoa; a strong and technically proficient right tackle who could kick inside, both spots where the Cardinals would love to have any type of long-term solution.

Attributes

Brick House

Player Comparisons

RD1, PK10 Round 1, Pick 10 (from Bengals)

Keldric Faulk

DL
Auburn

6' 6"

Height

285

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

Out goes Dexter Lawrence, in comes Faulk. He is a monster against the run and has a ton of upside to grow as a player who doesn’t turn 21 until September. He’s raw as a pass rusher, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. His role in Auburn’s defense didn’t allow for many clean pass rushing reps, so he’s a bit of a blank slate there. He’s right at the “tweener” range now, but his ability to stand strong against the run and eat double teams is rare for someone with his frame. He probably has the best run defending tape in the class.

6' 6"

Height

285

Weight

Jr.

Class

20

Age

Why him?

Out goes Dexter Lawrence, in comes Faulk. He is a monster against the run and has a ton of upside to grow as a player who doesn’t turn 21 until September. He’s raw as a pass rusher, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. His role in Auburn’s defense didn’t allow for many clean pass rushing reps, so he’s a bit of a blank slate there. He’s right at the “tweener” range now, but his ability to stand strong against the run and eat double teams is rare for someone with his frame. He probably has the best run defending tape in the class.

Attributes

Brick House

Dancing Bear

Player Comparisons