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2026 NFL mock draft: Fernando Mendoza atop latest first-round projection
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- 2026 NFL mock draft: Fernando Mendoza atop latest first-round projection
In the coming months, the stars of the College Football Playoff national championship game – namely Fernando Mendoza , Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa – are bound to become fixtures of 2026 NFL mock drafts.
There will be plenty of future pros on the field when the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes meet Monday at Hard Rock Stadium . For now, the focus will be on capping their scintillating seasons with a title. But another goal will emerge shortly after as the players involved begin to chase their dreams at the next level.
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With that in mind, here is our latest 2026 NFL mock draft first-round projection after the divisional round of the playoffs :
2026 NFL mock draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
A few weeks ago, he seemed to be the clear-cut front-runner to be the No. 1 pick. At this point, it seems safe to say the rest of the race can be called off. Three months out from the first round kicking off, Mendoza is basically without competition for the top spot. The Raiders might not tip their hand and could even consider any exploratory talks other teams might have about obtaining the selection. But it seems unfathomable that Tom Brady and the rest of the Silver and Black brass would bypass such a sound signal-caller who checks off almost every box when it comes to operating within structure.
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2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
Dante Moore's decision to return to school might be seen by some as a major blow to Gang Green, which now has vanishingly few options behind center other than taking the bridge route yet again. Yet the Jets now might be even better positioned to continue the slow and steady build they seemed to embrace at midseason. Reese is one of this class' few true difference-makers, as he projects to be a massively disruptive edge rusher if he can continue to grow the stunning skill set he displayed as a linebacker.
3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech
With no coaching staff in place and Kyler Murray 's future in the desert uncertain, Arizona sizes up as perhaps the biggest wild card in the top 10. Though the talent after the first two picks is a bit of a jumble, Bailey might be the best young cornerstone for the team after its plan to microwave a playoff contender with free-agent additions went sideways. Together with Josh Sweat , he'd give the defense a fearsome tandem off the edge for the foreseeable future.
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4. Tennessee Titans – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
In a class short on top-tier prospects, the most straightforward mission for Tennessee might simply be to emerge with multiple prospects who can make life drastically easier for Cam Ward in Year 2 . Tate certainly qualifies as someone who can do just that, as his penchant for high-pointing passes and creating separation would keep the quarterback from reverting to hero mode as frequently as he did as a rookie.
5. New York Giants – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
John Harbaugh's arrival marks a significant win for a franchise that has long struggled to build itself up in a proper manner. Addressing the offensive line, particularly if right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor finds a more robust payday elsewhere in free agency, would show that the Giants remain on the right track. Paired with left tackle Andrew Thomas , the fleet-footed Fano would give Big Blue perhaps its strongest outlook up front in years.
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6. Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)
Cleveland managed to compile one of the season's more impressive rookie classes by tabling some questions about positional value and upside to simply bring aboard proven high performers. The Browns could continue that effort with Mauigoa, who could be central to the effort to repair a dilapidated offensive line, whether as a guard or right tackle.
7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)
After wrecking college football throughout the season, Bain presents a fascinating dilemma to teams on how closely they want to cling to prototypes. Listed at 6-3 and 275 pounds, he's almost sure to fall short of the arm-length measurements that some organizations demand of their edge rushers. But in marrying overwhelming power with an unrelenting approach, he's carved a place for himself as an extremely vexing matchup. Washington might be more inclined than most to look past any perceived imperfections, as the Commanders' defensive line is short on true disruptors.
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8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Raiders' debacle in integrating Ashton Jeanty into the team's offense should serve as a reminder that any team taking a running back in the top 10 needs to have plenty of supporting pieces in place to make the investment work. With a promising offensive line and quarterback on the upswing in Tyler Shough , New Orleans is better positioned than many other teams to fully take advantage of Love's explosive capabilities.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
Bailey and Bain are far more prolific pass rushers than Faulk, though neither one quite fits the bill of a Steve Spagnuolo edge rusher. In this scenario, however, Kansas City uses its rare early pick on a defensive end who more closely fits its longstanding mold. Faulk likely won't ramp up the pressure production right off the bat as he continues to find his way, but the imposing 20-year-old would help the franchise that stands at a crossroads chart a new course.
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10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs , S, Ohio State
The Bengals might be seeking a new day after falling short of the postseason yet again, but it's largely been status quo for an organization with an established habit of eschewing change. If things are to truly get better for a defense that showed some promise, the unit might need to bring on a transformative figure like Downs, who can be an eraser near the line of scrimmage and provide the leadership Zac Taylor openly pleaded for last season.
11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Miami is clearly hoping that new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan can take a Green Bay Packers approach toward infusing a roster in transition with a good deal of home-grown talent. Given how much the Packers emphasized early cornerback picks and the Dolphins' glaring hole at the position, McCoy would be a sensible starting point, even though he missed all of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
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12. Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles , LB, Ohio State
Jerry Jones invited quite a bit of scrutiny regarding positional value last year when he selected offensive guard Tyler Booker in this slot. Here's to betting that choosing Styles wouldn't be met with the same level of derision. A remarkably clean tackler who can close in an instant on ball carriers, the hyperathletic and versatile defender would help shore up arguably the biggest weakness of a Dallas defense with a laundry list of deficiencies.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons ) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
While the Rams have proven flexible on plenty of fronts on the field, their approach to building their roster has remained somewhat rigid at a few positions. A lack of substantial investment at cornerback has been a major impediment for a group that otherwise has a strong claim as the NFL's best collection of talent. At first blush, Delane doesn't seem like the kind of cover man who would convince a front office to change its ways, but his lockdown tendencies could plug a hole for a back end that has sprung several leaks down the stretch.
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14. Baltimore Ravens – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The coaching staff isn't the only thing in Baltimore that needs to be reimagined, as a pass rush that disappeared in long stretches also looks due to be reshaped. With the top edge rushers accounted for, Woods offers up the best chance to create some disruption, even if he still has a ways to go before making good on his considerable potential.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M
Jason Licht struck it big in the first round last year by taking Emeka Egubka, whose advanced feel for his position helped mask some supposed athletic limitations. Maybe a similar setup will serve him well on the other side of the ball with Howell, the Bowling Green transfer who wrecked the Southeastern Conference even though he lacks the optimal frame for an edge rusher.
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16. Jets (from Indianapolis Colts ) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Maybe this seems late for a player who, when healthy, seemed to bolster his preseason standing as the front-runner to be the first receiver taken. But Tyson has a fairly extensive injury history, which could leave some teams uneasy about using a premium pick on him. Gang Green, however, might relish the opportunity to place him alongside Garrett Wilson after the team didn't have one player crack 400 receiving yards last season. Together, the two could set the team up nicely to make a splashy quarterback pick in 2027.
17. Detroit Lions – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
An unstable offensive front could be on even shakier ground if left tackle Taylor Decker retires, a path the 10-year veteran acknowledged earlier this month that he would consider in the offseason. Though Lomu might not be fully prepared for the physicality of NFC North battles, he'd give Dan Campbell a potential upper-echelon pass protector with room to grow as he sharpens his game.
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18. Minnesota Vikings – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Affording the secondary with a higher degree of flexibility might not seem like a pressing problem in Minnesota, but figuring out the right configuration is an important step to ensure the unit can operate in top form. Cisse's outstanding athleticism and quick-fire ability to close in on the ball would be put to immediate use by Brian Flores – so long as the defensive coordinator doesn't land a top job elsewhere.
19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
With a ruptured patella tendon suffered in the wild-card loss threatening Ikem Ekwonu 's 2026 season and potentially torpedoing any extension talks, Carolina must seriously examine its left tackle options if it hopes to unlock more opportunities for Bryce Young in the downfield passing game. Proctor figures to be one of this year's more polarizing prospects given the wild swings in his play, but he might find a home doling out punishment for the Panthers' ground game while polishing his pass protection.
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20. Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
A good chunk of Dallas' defensive coordinator candidates have a background rooted in the secondary. That's a good indication of what Jerry Jones and Brian Schottenheimer see as the primary source of the decrepit defense's problems. Terrell equips the back end with a savvy and smooth coverage presence who can fit in a variety of different schemes.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Steelers president Art Rooney II has dismissed the idea of embracing a rebuild in the aftermath of Mike Tomlin's resignation , making it all the more unreasonable to force a quarterback pick here. Lemon would resolve one of the more pressing issues in both the short and long term by providing a second legitimate threat at wideout. The Biletnikoff Award winner figures to continue doing yeoman's work in the short-to-intermediate area while DK Metcalf does the bulk of his damage as a vertical threat.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
On both sides of the ball, Jim Harbaugh's crew simply can't afford to keep getting pushed around the way it was in 2025. Adding McDonald would mark a massive step toward better commanding the line of scrimmage, as defenses have to spend considerable attention and resources to ensure he doesn't bully his way into the backfield.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
Howie Roseman no doubt would love to find a successor to Lane Johnson at right tackle, regardless of how much time the six-time Pro Bowler has left. With the way the board falls, however, the better solution up front might be Ioane, who could add a much-needed dose of stability to a group of interior blockers that failed to meet the line's previous lofty standards.
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24. Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars ) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Paul Hornung winner for college football's most versatile player, Concepcion can do a little bit of everything for whichever pro offense he joins. That has to sound appealing to Cleveland, which couldn't count on much of anything from a sorely underwhelming receiving corps.
25. Chicago Bears – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Bears can't let a likely regression to the mean on the takeaway front threaten the defense's well-being. Able to detonate both pass and run plays from the interior, Banks generates a more tenable brand of splash plays, which Chicago surely would love to incorporate.
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26. Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The composition of the Bills' receiving corps went from an apparent shortcoming to a late-season laughingstock, with late November addition Brandin Cooks being called on to play a vital role in the team's ill-fated playoff run. Boston's knack for hauling in contested catches and beating man coverage would draw a sharp contrast with the rest of Buffalo's options at wideout.
27. San Francisco 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The notion of replacing George Kittle is foolhardy, as the five-time Pro Bowler surely isn't finished after tearing his Achilles and won't ever be replicated by one player. Still, if he lasts this long, Sadiq would be a tantalizing option for Kyle Shanahan as a mismatch nightmare in the passing game and burgeoning force as a run blocker.
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28. Houston Texans – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
So much for the supposed progress up front. Between a completely ineffective run game and C.J. Stroud 's divisional-round meltdown in the face of pressure, Houston still has more work to do along its line after last offseason's overhaul. Pregnon's forcefulness could help put the interior in a better place and allow the unit to establish better balance.
29. Rams – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Many assumed last year that the Rams would use at least one of their two 2026 first-rounders to secure Matthew Stafford 's eventual successor behind center. But with the 37-year-old enjoying an All-Pro season and few viable options in a thin class of passers, Los Angeles shouldn't force the issue. Instead, it can bolster its outlook at tackle with Freeling, a stout presence who could rise throughout the pre-draft process.
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30. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE, Missouri
The Patriots have had to find several workarounds this season for their inability to generate pressure organically. Young might not register as many quick wins as others in this class, but he could endear himself to Mike Vrabel with his physicality and persistence as a pass rusher.
31. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
With Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad both on the wrong side of 30 and ticketed for free agency, the second level of the Broncos defense might be headed for a refresh. Allen's calling card has primarily been in his downhill work, but the 6-1, 235-pounder might eventually make his biggest mark at the next level with his ability to match up with tight ends and running backs in coverage.
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32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The idea of adding more weapons to Mike Macdonald's swarming defense might seem like overkill. But Seattle's secondary could be facing a reshuffling as several players hit free agency, and Hood would combine with Devon Witherspoon to ensure the Seahawks remain as imposing as ever on he perimeter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL mock draft: Fernando Mendoza atop first-round projection
