5 Early Bold Predictions for the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft

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5 Early Bold Predictions for the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Mon, Mar 16, 2026 ·

4 min read

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The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine has been in the rearview mirror for several weeks, and the countdown until Roger Goodell takes the stage to a chorus of boos is officially on. While there are still a few weeks left for prospects to raise or lower their stock during the pre-draft process, we are taking our first stab at what could happen on draft night in April.

Let's dive into a few bold predictions just over a month out from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Fernando Mendoza is Only QB Taken in Round 1

Everyone knows that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick. The true uncertainty is where the consensus second-best quarterback prospect, Ty Simpson , lands in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers (21st overall) seemed like a potential landing spot, but reports have since made it pretty clear that will not happen. Maybe a team like the Arizona Cardinals or New York Jets moves up into the end of the first round to land the Alabama signal-caller, but both teams seem to be positioning themselves more for a top passer in the 2027 class. Ultimately, we believe that another quarterback's name will not be called after Mendoza walks off the stage until Day 2.

Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Kansas City Chiefs Trade into the Top 5

We are predicting that Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach will get aggressive on draft night. After dealing Trent McDuffie , Kansas City has two first-round picks and four selections in the top 75. That gives the franchise the ammunition to move up from No. 9, especially if a team like the Tennessee Titans (fourth overall) or Cleveland Browns (sixth overall) sees themselves as perfectly positioned to move down and still land their target. The Chiefs would be wise to jump ahead of teams like the Washington Commanders (seventh overall) and the New Orleans Saints (eighth overall) to land their choice at edge rusher. Standing pat risks Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr. all being off the board. Given how dire of a need this is, we do not see Veach being patient.

A.J. Brown Traded on Draft Night

The Dallas Goedert contract resolution buys the Philadelphia Eagles more time to determine what they want to do with wide receiver A.J. Brown. Keeping him seems to be the option right now, but the persistence of the NFL trade rumors suggests a deal may eventually happen. The All-Pro wide receiver has already been traded once during his NFL career on draft night and we think that may happen again. With the Los Angeles Rams being unwilling to move the 13th overall pick, for good reason, we think the New England Patriots could come out of the night with a new No. 1 receiver in a deal centered around the 31st overall pick.

New York Jets Trade Up At End of Round 1

The New York Jets are already sitting in a great spot ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft with a pair of top-20 picks and four selections in the top 45. Given all of the draft capital amassed, New York could tap into that at the end of Round 1 to move up and snag another one of their guys before the night draws to a close. If the Jets were to take Arvell Reese with the second overall pick and then grab wide receiver Makai Lemon at 16th overall, moving into that 28–32 range could land them a first-round talent at cornerback like Colton Hood, or they could even gamble on defensive tackle Caleb Banks if he slides following his foot injury at the NFL Combine.

Jeremiyah Love Falls Outside Top 10

Jeremiyah Love is a top-three prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft; we don'tt question that. There has also seemed to be plenty of widespread belief that he won't make it out of the top 10. However, the Chiefs ( Kenneth Walker III ) and New Orleans Saints ( Travis Etienne ) just spent big money on the running back position. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans have far too many needs on both sides of the ball, and they are early enough in a rebuild where spending the fourth overall pick on a running back feels like a reach. Likewise, the New York Giants (linebacker and wide receiver) and Washington Commanders (edge rusher) have bigger holes at far more important positions where the contract value of a top-10 pick is far better than a running back. Ultimately, we think Love slips out of the top 10 and then a team like the Minnesota Vikings moves up for him.

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