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NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts lowly Jets landing QB Ty Simpson
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- NFL mock draft 2026: AI predicts lowly Jets landing QB Ty Simpson
Artificial intelligence has come a long way in the last few years. But the "intelligence" in question can occasionally have its limits.
USA TODAY Sports put Alphabet Inc.'s AI product – Google Gemini – to the test by having the language-learning model put together its own mock draft .
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In its mock, Google Gemini made some no-brainer moves near the top of the board. Near the bottom, the LLM went for a couple of reaches on lower-rated prospects.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza , as almost every expert predicts, went to the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick. Ohio State LB/edge rusher Arvell Reese went to the New York Jets with the No. 2 overall pick, once again in line with most expert predictions.
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Further down in the draft order, Google's LLM continued to make rational draft picks that aligned with teams' needs.
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Outside of needing a slight course correction – Gemini at first did not account for the Rams ' and Broncos ' trades of first-round picks for Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Waddle , respectively – the biggest shocks were the aforementioned reaches for prospects. A few players outside of the top 32 players on USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly's big board snuck into the back end of the first round in the Google AI mock draft.
Here's a complete look at the AI's picks in a 2026 NFL mock draft, paired with a USA TODAY Sports writer's thoughts on each selection:
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2026 NFL mock draft: First-round AI picks
1. Las Vegas Raiders : QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
An easy, no-brainer pick here from Gemini. Mendoza is widely considered the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 class and a lock for the Raiders at No. 1.
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2. New York Jets : Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Once again, a non-controversial pick by the Google-sponsored LLM. Reese is the No. 1 player on USA TODAY Sports' 2026 big board , and the Jets could use the help on the edge after trading away Jermaine Johnson II .
3. Arizona Cardinals : Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
The Cardinals are a team in need of help in the trenches on both sides of the ball. As a result, many experts have either gone with the top edge rusher or top offensive tackle available at No. 3 overall in mock drafts. Gemini opted for the top edge rusher left on the board after Reese went to the Jets at No. 2, which is hard to argue with. Bailey had 81 pressures, 15 sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2025.
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4. Tennessee Titans : RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Since the NFL combine, Love to the Titans has been a common pairing. The Notre Dame product ran a 4.36-second 40 in Indianapolis with excellent work in field drills to match the strong résumé he put on tape during his collegiate career. USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz deviated slightly in his latest mock draft , having Tennessee opt for the other NFL combine standout in linebacker Sonny Styles (more on him later). Gemini, an artificial intelligence machine that gathers its intelligence from the takes put forth by humans, stuck with the status quo, pairing Love with second-year quarterback Cam Ward in the backfield in Nashville.
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5. New York Giants : LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Much like Love, Styles rocketed up draft boards after a stellar performance at the combine. His measurements, testing numbers and on-field drill work established that Styles is something of a freak athlete. It firmly placed him in the top-five conversation in the 2026 draft class despite playing a position not considered to be "premium" in the modern NFL. Gemini once again went with the status quo, following dozens of mock drafts since the combine that have sent Styles to New York at No. 5.
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More: Best landing spots for Ohio State LB Sonny Styles
6. Cleveland Browns : OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
The Browns need help on the offensive line. Cleveland has emerged as a popular landing spot for OT1 – whoever draft experts feel that is – in mock drafts, presuming Arizona goes Bailey/best edge rusher available at No. 3. Google's LLM sent Miami's right tackle to Cleveland. Perhaps that was in order to give second-year lefty quarterback Dillon Gabriel a blind-side blocker or perhaps because the Browns need all the help they can get, wherever they can get it on the O-line.
7. Washington Commanders : WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Gemini has WR1 come off the board at No. 7. The Commanders have been a popular landing spot for the draft's top wide receiver for many draft experts, as well as for Tate's teammate, safety Caleb Downs . According to Google's artificial intelligence, Washington should opt to enhance its receiving corps with Deebo Samuel hitting free agency and Terry McLaurin hampered by injuries last year.
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8. New Orleans Saints : CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
And now CB1 is off the board. Delane is the top-rated cornerback on Ostly's big board for his excellent play in pass coverage during his collegiate career. After Kool-Aid McKinstry 's 2025 breakout, the Saints let Alontae Taylor walk in free agency this offseason. Gemini strayed from the more common choice for New Orleans to draft a wide receiver at No. 9 to replace Taylor with another starting cornerback.
9. Kansas City Chiefs : S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
With the No. 9 overall pick, Google Gemini had the Chiefs select one of the best athletes in the class. Downs is not expected to be a top-five pick because of the position he plays, but the No. 7-10 range has been a common landing spot. With Downs, the Chiefs would get their replacement for Bryan Cook and bolster a secondary that also lost cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson .
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10. Cincinnati Bengals : Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
Arm length be damned. Despite the concerns about how Bain's shorter-than-average arms could influence his play at the pro level, the physicality and power he brings to his position have kept him in the top-10 range of most mock drafts. Here, Gemini gets the Bengals their replacement for edge rusher Trey Hendrickson , who left for the Ravens on a multi-year deal in free agency.
11. Miami Dolphins : WR Makai Lemon, Southern California
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has stripped down the entire roster, including cutting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill , before trading away wideout Jaylen Waddle . Now, Sullivan has to rebuild the roster. The AI's first step in simulating that rebuild is drafting a consistent wide receiver that new quarterback Malik Willis should be able to trust – Lemon had just two drops on 108 targets in 2025.
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12. Dallas Cowboys : CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Dallas' defense was clearly the weak link in 2025. While the Cowboys have already signed Cobie Durant and Corey Ballentine in free agency, cornerback remains a position of need. Gemini agreed with that sentiment in its mock draft selection, sending a tremendous athlete to Dallas at No. 12. Did Google's AI consider the injury concerns with McCoy, who did not play in 2025 with an ACL tear? Unlikely, given its propensity for copying the work of other draft experts as an LLM, but it's still something worth noting.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta ): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Los Angeles proved how close it is to Super Bowl contention with its playoff run to the NFC championship game last year. As a result – and after filling their biggest need by trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie – the Rams can focus on filling in depth at key positions to plan for the future. In this case, Gemini's Tyson selection gives the NFC runners-up an excellent third wide receiver that can eventually replace veteran Davante Adams – and more immediately give the Rams the league's best one-two-three punch at wideout.
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14. Baltimore Ravens : OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No more Tyler Linderbaum in the interior of the Ravens' offensive line. He signed with the Raiders in free agency. Google Gemini gave Baltimore a reinforcement in Linderbaum's absence with the top guard in the draft class.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers : Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Tampa Bay ranked 11th in pass-rush win rate, per ESPN, but its defense finished in the bottom half of the league in sacks. Gemini's pick of Faulk at No. 15 is higher than the consensus of other mock draft experts, but it does fill a position of need for the Buccaneers and gives them more size in the defensive front seven.
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16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis ): QB Ty Simpson , Alabama
Draft experts have started to say that there is more of an indication that Simpson could hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft. Gemini had the Jets improve their defense at a premium position with the No. 2 overall pick, and now the AI has Gang Green fill its most important offensive position with the Alabama quarterback. It's unclear what the AI tool's plans are for Simpson – whether he'll start immediately or take over from veteran Geno Smith , whom the Jets just re-acquired in a trade.
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17. Detroit Lions : OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
As the first round reaches its second half, Gemini continues to hit on picks that fill positions of need. The Lions need major help on the O-line with Taylor Decker 's release, and Proctor can fill in immediately as a big-bodied lineman whom Detroit could choose to slide into a guard spot as well.
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18. Minnesota Vikings : S Dillon Thieneman, Purdue
No risks for Google Gemini at pick No. 18. Minnesota has been a very popular landing spot for Thieneman after the Vikings let veteran safety Harrison Smith hit free agency at age 37.
19. Carolina Panthers : TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
The Panthers filled several positions of need with excellent players in free agency: offensive tackle Rasheed Walker , edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and linebacker Devin Lloyd . So Google Gemini must have figured, "Let's get quarterback Bryce Young another excellent pass-catcher, one who can also be a willing blocker in the run game and easily the top tight end in the class." Hard to argue with that logic.
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20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay ): Edge Akheem Mesidor , Miami (Fla.)
Dallas drafts to double down on defense. Besides being a tongue twister, it's a sound strategy for Gemini to follow for the Cowboys. Like McCoy, Gemini's earlier pick for the Cowboys, there are concerns with Mesidor. Namely, his age – he'll be a 25-year-old rookie – and history of foot injuries. Looking past that, Dallas could benefit from adding a productive pass-rusher in the wake of last year's Micah Parsons trade.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers : WR Denzel Boston, Washington
A bit of a head-scratcher here from Gemini, but still a pick that could have sound logic. Offensive line feels like it should be a bigger priority for the Steelers in this draft. Keeping whoever starts at quarterback (Aaron Rodgers?) upright is key, and Pittsburgh could use a replacement for Pro Bowl guard Isaac Seumalo , who departed in free agency. The Steelers addressed their wide receiver need by trading for and extending Michael Pittman Jr. , but Boston brings some younger depth to the Steelers' receiving room.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers : OT Spencer Fano, Utah
This is not the best pick for the Chargers. Starting tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater will be back from their injuries in 2026, and Los Angeles has some pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball, namely at edge rusher. But Fano gives the Bolts valuable depth as a potential swing tackle, or maybe Gemini envisioned Fano starting on the interior. We concede it makes sense for the Chargers to add offensive line help after last year's disaster. If Fano falls this far, Los Angeles should probably pounce after so many edge rushers came off the board early in this mock.
23. Philadelphia Eagles : S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Would have thought edge rusher would be a higher priority for the Eagles after their shortcomings rushing the passer in 2025. But like the Chargers before them, perhaps Gemini sees Philadelphia as pressured into seeking help elsewhere on the roster after several top edge rushers came off the board early. McNeil-Warren gives the Eagles a secondary defender to replace Reed Blankenship after his free agency departure.
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24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville ): WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
This is arguably the most shocking pick by Gemini in its mock draft. Brazzell ranks 49th on Ayrton Ostly's 2026 big board and sits behind three other wide receiver prospects still on the board at this point in the mock draft. Even after his 4.37-second 40 at the NFL combine, Brazzell has largely been left out of other experts' first-round mock drafts. While Cleveland does need help at wide receiver, it's unclear why Gemini pulled up Brazzell into the first round. It's a reach, given that Texas A&M's KC Concepcion and Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. are still available.
25. Chicago Bears : DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Chicago could really use more help in the secondary – where it let five players walk in free agency – or on the edge after ranking 31st in pass-rush win rate, per ESPN. McDonald could develop more pass-rush skills in the future, but he helps the Bears' need for a run stopper more immediately. With edge rushers T.J. Parker (Clemson) and Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) still available, it would have been nice to see Gemini opt for one of them here instead.
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26. Buffalo Bills : Edge R Mason Thomas , Oklahoma
On one hand, it's important the Bills keep reinforcing their pass-rush attack – even after signing Bradley Chubb – after struggling last year. On the other hand, Thomas is still not the best edge rusher available at this point in the draft. His smaller frame might mean he projects better as a rotational, depth piece and pass-rush specialist rather than a bona fide, three-down contributor and first-round pick.
27. San Francisco 49ers : OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
One of the better picks of the back half of this mock draft so far. Lomu is a prospect still in need of further development, which makes him a perfect match for a 49ers team with a talented, aging veteran in Trent Williams that Lomu could learn from and replace one day.
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28. Houston Texans : CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Secondary is the No. 1 area of strength for the Texans, so this pick does not make much sense. Houston strengthened its defensive backs situation already by signing safety Reed Blankenship, and its cornerbacks room is already loaded. Terrell is a very good player, but he does not fit here.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Rams ): Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
It would be a bold strategy for the Chiefs to draft a player who is already in the NFL. The Panthers drafted Scourton in the second round last year, so this selection is letting some of the cracks show in the AI's logic.
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30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver ): CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
Not a perfect second selection for the Dolphins, a team that could really use some help on the edge after releasing Bradley Chubb. But even though Miami signed four cornerbacks in free agency, all of them are on one-year deals. Hood would bring a blend of strong pass coverage and willing run tackling to the Dolphins' secondary, elevating the position group as a whole.
31. New England Patriots : DT Peter Woods, Clemson
Gemini flagged this selection as the steal of the draft if things pan out this way, and it's understandable. Woods ranks as the 17th overall prospect on Ayrton Ostly's big board for his athleticism and abilities as a pass-rusher on the interior. Pairing a player like that with Milton Williams on the Patriots' defensive line would be a scary sight for opposing offensive linemen.
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32. Seattle Seahawks : WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
This would have been a good spot for another running back to replace Kenneth Walker in the backfield or a cornerback to replace Riq Woolen in the secondary. Concepcion's abilities as a dynamic receiver and returner would be valuable for a lot of teams, but they seem to clash with Seattle incumbent Rashid Shaheed , whom the Seahawks just re-signed.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mock draft 2026: Google Gemini predicts entire first round
