Welcome to one of the last mock drafts you’ll read of the actual 2025 season. Super Bowl 60 kicks off this weekend and, once it is over, we will all shift our focus over to the start of free agency in March. After that? It’s time to start bracing for the 2026 NFL Draft.

To mark the true end of the season, I’ve put together a 2026 NFL mock draft — with a changeup. I’ve assembled three first-round trades to help shake things up and get your creative juices flowing. All trade values were checked (and balanced) courtesy of the Rich Hill Trade Value Chart model. Enjoy!

2026 NFL Mock Draft shaken up with three first-round trades

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

I’m not sure what there is to say about any other scenario at this point. Mendoza is largely considered the lead dog in the quarterback class, and the Raiders desperately need some offensive inspiration. I would suspect that Mendoza will get on quite well with expected head coach Klint Kubiak and minority owner Tom Brady.

Sharpie.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State

The objective for the Jets right now is simple. Procure different makers for the roster. I don’t care what position they play. But I do feel like the experience Reese has off the ball with his potential as a rush player is a great fit for the Jets under Aaron Glenn, who liked to use three linebackers at once while in Detroit.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Cards are up “you know what” creek without a paddle in regards to their quarterback situation and this year’s class. It is a true “no man’s land”. So instead, the Cardinals can do something for new head coach Mike LaFleur that they did not do last offseason. Invest in some new blood for the offensive line. Fano projects well to a zone scheme with his elite athleticism and could pair well with Paris Johnson.

4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)

Robert Saleh and Rueben Bain? A match made in heaven? I think so. Whether they want to rush him off the edge or from reduced alignments, Bain has got the goods. Saleh should have little issue with getting production out of this fit, and I also quite like the edge that Bain Jr. brings to the field for a defense that needs some teeth.

5. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

The objective in New York is clear: optimize Jaxson Dart and let the chips fall where they may in that regard. I believe Mauigoa is a right tackle at the NFL level but the Giants could place him either on the edge or at the guard spot if they wanted to. All I know is Dart needs a great line to help keep him comfortable in the pocket. Let’s make it happen and welcome Malik Nabers back with open arms (and lots of deep balls).

6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The Browns are entering into a new era with head coach Todd Monken leading the charge. If this is going to work, it’s going to be because Monken collects enough pieces to bring a dual-threat offense to life. Tyson is a great start — he’s an electric do-it-all receiver who should have little issue serving as a centerpiece to the passing game alongside young TE Harold Fannin Jr.

7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Commanders’ pass rush group could best be described this past year as a “slow burn” group. How about infusing some explosiveness onto the edge? Few pass rushers offer more twitch than Bailey, who could be the speed presence Dan Quinn needs to complement the rest of his front.

8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Saints are a tough team to nail down. I would guess the enthusiasm for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough will be inspiration for this team to get rolling with more weapons. The Saints could acquire Tate as a big-bodied, vertical receiver to go with Chris Olave and keep the downfield element very much alive and well after the trade-deadline decision to move on from Rashid Shaheed.

9. (TRADE) Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

DALLAS RECEIVES: No. 9 overall
KANSAS CITY RECEIVES: No. 12 overall, No. 112 overall, 2027 4th-Round pick

Dallas did not get a great draw for pass rushers for their initial pick at No. 12 overall. But when I look at what Sonny Styles can be for the Cowboys behind their revitalized defensive interior, I can’t help but feel like this pairing is perfect. To move up three spots and close the deal comes at the expense of a pair of mid-round draft picks to Kansas City. They’ll gladly take all the picks that they can get as the team furthest in the red at the start of the offseason in regard to their cap space.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State

The process for mocking the Bengals is simple to me. “Who is the best defensive player on the board?” Write that name down. Turn in the card.

Downs being my top overall rated prospect is just icing on the cake for a team that (desperately) needs to level up the defensive depth chart.

11. (TRADE) Minnesota Vikings: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

MINNESOTA RECEIVES: No. 11 overall, No. 149 overall
MIAMI RECEIVES: No. 18 overall, No. 82 overall, No. 117 overall
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has an open mission statement: Build this team through the draft. You know what usually helps that process? More draft picks.

In this scenario, the Vikings cash in on two third-round picks by sending one of them and a Day 3 pick swap with Miami to leap out of the late teens and into the top-12. The ability to land arguably the top cornerback in the draft, especially one that plays well with eyes on the opposition, is too good to pass up for the Flores defense.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (via DAL): Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson

The Chiefs take their extra picks and, in the process, land a physically gifted defender in Woods. I think playing under Chris Jones could do wonders for Woods, as could the ability to play for Spags. Woods has surreal natural ability, although he didn’t show it to the best of his abilities this past season for the Tigers. Getting a long-term piece up front to groom after a bunch of investments on the edge is a nice step for the Chiefs.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

Cornerback was one of two Achilles heels for the Rams in 2025. McCoy being on the board at No. 13 overall is only a possibility thanks to a January 2025 knee injury — and the Rams are only around to draft him because of their 2025 trade with the Falcons. The stars align here for Los Angeles to get a true impact player.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

The Ravens are probably a safe bet to go with a pick on the edge or on the offensive line. This unit said goodbye to Odafe Oweh during the 2025 regular season and will need to bolster their defensive end room with more options who can play a similar style and role up front. Faulk can play anywhere on the front with his size and length as Jesse Minter looks to get things rolling on defense.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Maybe the Bucs bring back Cade Otton. Maybe they don’t. Either way, Sadiq would be a great fit to pair with Tampa’s preexisting talent. The Bucs were anything and everything but “healthy’ this past season. I think better injury luck on offense and skill set like Sadiq’s could be a big, big hit for QB Baker Mayfield.

16. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

We’re now in a position to have no excuses for whoever is playing quarterback for the Jets. The offensive staff got pulled up root & stem. Garrett Wilson will be healthy. The offensive line is well-stocked with high draft picks. TE Mason Taylor looked like a hit as a rookie. And now, Makai Lemon steps in opposite Wilson to offer the Jets a great 1-2 punch at wideout. This is a promising supporting cast for a young quarterback.

17. Detroit Lions: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

Was Detroit’s regression this past year a Dan Campbell/coaching staff problem? Or was it a personnel interruption problem? Why don’t we address both and hope it solves the issues? The offensive coordinator is already new. And now, after a juggled group on the interior of the line, how about a new stalwart blocker to offer effective pass protection and help create displacement in the run game?

18. Miami Dolphins (via MIN): TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson

The Dolphins slid back into the teens and picked up another top-100 pick in the process. That would give them six in this year’s NFL Draft — more than anyone else. And with the pick at No. 18, Sullivan gets a chance to live up to several Packers-isms. It’s defense early, which is not a surprise at all to anyone who has followed how the Packers have drafted before Sullivan packed up for Packers South. It’s also a trench player — Miami fans were told it ‘starts up front’ during Sullivan’s introductory interview. Parker is physical, productive, and long — he should offer a strong floor early as a three-down viable player.

19. Carolina Panthers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Howell is a unique build. He’s not especially long, which is usually a deterrent for NFL teams. But the Panthers have a unique construction of their front. They’ve got some absolute monsters up front to cover up the interior of opposing offenses. And with that kind of horsepower inside, speed guys can let their speed shine more freely and more often. Howell is a speed demon off the edge.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Dallas not only jumps up for LB Sonny Styles, they also get the top running back in the draft. Dallas made a recent early pick on a running back about a decade ago, and it worked out pretty well. Love would be an easy player to project success for while running behind a constantly stocked offensive line group in Dallas.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The new head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers knows a thing or two about working with quarterbacks. Simpson could use the infrastructure, and if Aaron Rodgers is back in the fray for 2026, it’s icing on the cake. The Steelers have to keep swinging the bat for a long-term answer — don’t let the Kenny Pickett experience deter you from trying to find a non-stop gap option.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Chargers have several young cornerbacks on the roster, but getting someone with a little more pedigree could be useful now that former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is out of the picture and across the country. The development of defensive linemen on the interior opens the door for the Chargers to secure another coverage option in a division that has Patrick Mahomes & Andy Reid, Sean Payton & Bo Nix, and now Klint Kubiak and the No. 1overall pick Fernando Mendoza.

23. (TRADE) Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State

HOUSTON RECEIVES: No. 23 overall
PHILADELPHIA RECEIVES: No. 28 overall, No. 106 overall, 2027 5th-Round pick

Houston jumps up from No. 28 overall in order to secure what could be the final Infinity Stone for DeMeco Ryans’ defense. Few defensive tackle prospects in this class (or recent classes) play the point of attack quite like McDonald, who joins a front seven that’s nightmare fuel for opposing offenses. I could see Philadelphia (Jordan Davis contract), Cleveland, or Chicago all going with a defensive tackle, and so Houston has an incentive with a few mid-round picks to make the leap.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

We mentioned how Todd Monken is looking to fire up an offensive unit that can both run and pass the football, right? How about a mountain of a man at offensive tackle to help supply for both. The Browns’ offensive line was once one of the best units in the league. Father Time has changed that — this can help.

25. Chicago Bears: Caleb Banks, IDL, Florida

The Bears wouldn’t need quite so much Caleb magic late in games if they simply led earlier in games. Banks seems like the kind of talent that could be inserted into Dennis Allen’s rotation in Chicago and provide a real spark. He’s the most physically gifted interior defender in this year’s class, for my money. I’d love him rushing in Chicago where there are already some young, developing talents up front. Grady Jarrett isn’t a long-term answer and Turner could play base end when the Bears face heavy personnel. The Bears may also opt not to pay Gervon Dexter in a contract year. Lots of moving parts here.

26. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Brandon Beane desperately wants the world to know he did his best to get a big-time wide receiver into Buffalo last season. It didn’t work out. If the Bills want speed at wide receiver, boy…do I have good news for them. Concepcion is lightning in a bottle — the perfect electric weapon to put into the mix and create an explosive environment for Josh Allen.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Brandon Aiyuk sure seems done. Jauan Jennings could be out the door in free agency as well. Ricky Pearsall can clearly play — but injuries are “a thing”, as they say. The 49ers need more reliable weaponry to help keep the offense humming, and no team has done better with the “big pass catcher” thing than the 49ers. Their run game is fueled in part by size in the skill rooms. Boston gives Kyle Shanahan a powerful build to add to the wide receiver room moving forward.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (via HOU): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Is Lane Johnson hanging them up? What about Landon Dickerson? The Eagles are already going to be welcoming new leadership in their offensive line room with the departure of coach Jeff Stoutland. The Eagles have remained competitive for as long as they have in part because they’ve been so good up front. Iheanachor could be a perfect heir for Lane Johnson at right tackle — he’s as athletically gifted as any offensive lineman in the class, and the sky is the limit after a late start to his football career.

29. Los Angeles Rams: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo

Alright. Hear me out. The Rams’ front seven is filled with absolute freaks. Verse. Fiske. Turner. They’re monsters. Why don’t we add one to the secondary and just…see what happens. The Rams in this mock already secured Jermod McCoy at cornerback. With Kam Curl set to hit free agency, he may end up being a cap casualty as Los Angeles pays to keep the young core in place. McNeil-Warren is an electric defensive weapon who, along with Quentin Lake, would give the Rams one of the more diverse secondaries in the league overnight.

30. Denver Broncos: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)

John Franklin-Myers seems to be a cap casualty. Mesidor has played heavy and worked inside, and he’s cut the weight to play on the edge. He’s got the pop, burst, and pass rush to take snaps in that now vacant role for the Broncos. It’s a perfect fit in my eyes.

31. New England Patriots: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

The pass rush unit in New England is currently anchored by the interior, thanks to Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. The Patriots could certainly use a little extra power and juice off the edge to pair with veteran Harold Landry.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Riq Woolen is a pending free agent, and Avieon Terrell is, at this point, a best player available option that makes too much sense. Seattle keeps the pond well-stocked for Mike MacDonald with this selection.