The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. With limited time remaining, we are now entering the predictive portion of the draft process. 2026 NFL mock drafts should be dedicated to what we think will happen from here on out, and that is the case in my latest 2-round mock.

This exercise also included several trades throughout the first round to explore even more hypotheticals and possibilities. Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. and his draft stock are a hot topic of conversation after the info over a 2024 fatal car crash surfaced. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson’s draft destination is also an interesting conversation. Both were discussed, along with a deep run of offensive line in the top-32 selections.

Let’s have some fun.

First round of the 2026 NFL Draft

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

This has been the worst-kept secret in the draft space for months. The Raiders need a franchise quarterback, and while Mendoza isn’t flashy, his combination of size, arm talent, accuracy, and toughness is an easy sell.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

As we get closer to the draft, it feels like things are trending towards Bailey being the selection for the Jets. Bailey isn’t the bendiest athlete of all-time, but his closing speed and explosiveness are impressive.

The Arizona Cardinals trade the No. 3 selection to the Kansas City Chiefs for the No. 9, the No. 74, and a 2027 second round selection 

3. Kansas City Chiefs (via ARI): Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

With needs all over the defense, the Chiefs make the move to go get a defender who can do a little bit of everything. Thinking about all the things that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could do with a player like Reese is extremely tantalizing.

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

If Bailey and Reese are off the board, it feels likely that the team would value Love tremendously. Their offense needs more juice, and nobody has more big play potential than Love in this draft.

5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

With quarterback Jaxson Dart in place, the Giants need to do their best to surround him with talent. If Malik Nabers can get back healthy, Tate projects as a perfect outside complement to take attention off him.

6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Fano has played right tackle each of the last two seasons for Utah, but he did spend a season at left tackle as a freshman in 2023. The Browns supposedly have a high opinion of Fano, which leads me to believe that they would shift him over to the blindside once again.

7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Delane isn’t always flashy, but he is such an efficient cover man. His combination of instincts, quickness, and competitiveness allows him to combat very different styles of wide receivers.

8. New Orleans Saints: Sonny Styles Jr., LB, Ohio State

After beginning his career as a safety, Styles has become a dynamic athlete on the second level. There is nothing that he can’t do from the linebacker position. Styles has a chance to be special.

9. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami 

There is a chance that the Cardinals could have drafted Mauigoa with the No. 3 selection and not many would have batted an eye. He should start at right tackle immediately. Even if he doesn’t translate perfectly at offensive tackle, Mauigoa could potentially excel on the inside.

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

Downs is a popular name for Bengals fans for obvious reasons. While he isn’t a dynamic athlete on the back end, Downs might be the smartest player in the entire draft. Add in outstanding tackling in the open field, and you have an easy evaluation.

11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

With the injury concerns not as much of a conversation, we can get back to appreciating how talented a player that McCoy is. If you love press man cover cornerbacks with speed, then you are going to love what McCoy brings to the table.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami 

Even before the car accident incident was brought up, Bain was seemingly falling down draft boards. There is some skepticism about how Bain will translate as an outlier. Bain does, however, bring a strong floor to the table as a run defender and power rusher.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

While Lemon isn’t a flashy athlete, he is an outstanding football player. He could win after the catch, as a route runner, and is also better at the catch point than you might expect.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

There might not be a safer bet in the 2026 class than Ioane. He is a massive blocker who moved a ton better in 2025 after shedding some weight.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade the No. 15 selection to the Carolina Panthers for the No. 19 and the No. 83 selections

15. Carolina Panthers (via TB): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

If Tyson didn’t have any durability concerns, he probably would be consistently mocked inside the top-ten selections. He is an outstanding separator who would be an easy fit with Tetairoa McMillan. Bryce Young should be very happy.

16. New York Jets (via IND): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Everyone will hyperfocus on the pass-catching upside for Sadiq, but he is also an outstanding blocker in the running game. With the wide receiver run going early, the Jets opt for a more unique passing game weapon.

17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama 

While Proctor is heavily debated in the media space, he firmly falls into the bucket of players that the NFL is higher on. Proctor is a massive offensive tackle at 6-7 and 358 pounds, with intriguing explosiveness. He should play right tackle early with Penei Sewell shifting over to the blindside.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

If Thieneman is on the board, I would find it hard to believe that the Vikings will pass on him. With Harrison Smith potentially retiring, Minnesota needs an impact safety on the back end. Thieneman can wear a lot of hats for an already talented defense.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via CAR): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

While a lot of the media and general public are lower on Faulk, the NFL isn’t. At 6-6 and 276 pounds, Faulk is still an extremely impressive athlete with tons of room to grow. There is a lot to like about the talented defensive end, and plenty of upside to bet on.

20. Dallas Cowboys (via GBP): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Johnson is a technically refined cover man with smooth overall athleticism. He is also one of the smartest defensive backs in the entire 2026 class, bringing an impressive floor to the table.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

With Freeling possessing outstanding length and overall athleticism, there is some incredible upside as a left tackle on the next level. The Steelers may need to invest in the blindside in case Broderick Jones falters again.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

The Chargers need to find a difference maker on the interior of their defense. Woods is a wildcard player, but there is no question that he has great upside as a penetration-style player.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The AJ Brown situation feels like it is only a matter of time until he lands elsewhere. While Concepcion is not similar to Brown physically, his impact in space does accomplish a lot of the same things after the catch.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama 

Yes, Cleveland Browns fans, I get it. Whether we want to admit it or not, Simpson has a good chance to go inside the first round. I wouldn’t personally do it, but I do believe it could very well happen with his intriguing arm talent and upside.

The Chicago Bears trade the No. 25 selection to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 27 and the No. 127 selections 

25. San Francisco 49ers (via CHI): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana 

The 49ers move up to take Cooper, a wide receiver who fits their offense perfectly. His YAC talents should work wonders in the Kyle Shanahan offense, particularly running out of the slot.

26. Buffalo Bills: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

A bigger safety at 6-3 and 210 pounds, McNeil-Warren would add a physical presence to the Bills’ defense that desperately needs it. He also has a lot better range on the back end than most people realize.

27. Chicago Bears (via SF): Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona 

While this might seem like a shock to some, Stukes has been steadily climbing up boards recently. Having played both nickel and safety with the Arizona Wildcats, Stukes is an impressive cover man who also has no issues throwing his weight around.

28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

At 6-3 and 327 pounds, McDonald is an immovable object in the middle of a defense. The Texans could use an upgrade on the interior, with McDonald presenting such a high floor as a run defender.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Chiefs desperately need to rebuild their cornerback room. Hood is a physical cover man who doubles as a really nice open field tackler, which should present some upside to work on the outside and in the slot at times.

30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

With so many needs on both sides of the football, the Dolphins opt for a pro-ready pass rusher. Mesidor is a nuanced pass rusher who has his flaws (age, lack of power), but should help a depleted defensive line immediately.

31. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

With Will Campbell’s struggles down the stretch of the 2026 season and Morgan Moses nearing the end of his NFL career, investing in the offensive tackle position could be wise for the Patriots. Lomu still needs more physical development, but he is a smooth athlete with a ton of upside.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M

The Seahawks still have a massive hole at the right guard position. Bisontis is an outstanding pass blocker who has the tools to get better in the run game with more experience.

Second round of the 2026 NFL Draft

33. New York Jets: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville 
34. Arizona Cardinals: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma 
35. Tennessee Titans: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington 
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
37. New York Giants: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
38. Houston Texans (via WAS): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
39. Cleveland Browns: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri 
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida 
41. Cincinnati Bengals: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
42. New Orleans Saints: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
43. Miami Dolphins: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon 
44. New York Jets (via DAL): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
45. Baltimore Ravens: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia 
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
47. Indianapolis Colts: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
48. Atlanta Falcons” D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana 
49. Minnesota Vikings: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
50. Detroit Lions: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
51. Carolina Panthers: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas 
52. Green Bay Packers: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee 
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois 
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Connor Lew, OC, Auburn
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma
57. Chicago Bears: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
58. San Francisco 49ers: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
59. Houston Texans: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt 
60. Chicago Bears (via BUF): Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State
61. Los Angeles Rams: Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
62. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
63. New England Patriots: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati 
64. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame