3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Wide receivers dominate early, Steelers take a QB, Chiefs get much-needed support
The Browns and Chiefs retool their offense, but defense dominates latest 2026 3-round NFL mock draft.
Super Bowl LX is just around the corner, marking the end of the 2025-26 NFL season. With that, the offseason can officially kick off, with 31 other teams aiming to knock off the defending Super Bowl champions with their moves in the offseason. The rest of the league has already fired up every mock draft simulator out there to try and fix their favorite franchises.
Who are the most talented prospects in the country that could save your favorite franchise and find themselves selected inside the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft?
Editors note: Tyler Forness took the even picks, while AJ Schulte took the odd selections.
2026 NFL 3-round Mock Draft
Round One
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
There’s no need to overthink this one. I won’t entertain any thought pieces about them trading this pick or passing on a quarterback, because, quite frankly, that’s nonsense. Every great rebuild starts with taking the right quarterback, and Fernando Mendoza is far and away the right quarterback for any franchise.
Send the pick in and run. Don’t even hesitate.
2. New York Jets: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Jets get the short end of the stick here with only one quarterback worthy of a top pick in Mendoza. The direction for the Jets at second overall is one that can take many forms, but they need to prioritize talent. Lemon is my WR1 and they need to have someone opposite of Garrett Wilson to take the pressure off of him. He can do that in multiple facets with route running and attacking the football at the catch point.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The Cardinals are clearing house on the coaching staff, and for good reason. I do think that Arizona has good pieces on both sides of the ball, but they could use an upgrade in their front seven. Whether he’s a hybrid EDGE rusher or a true linebacker, Reese would help increase their disruption up front in a division where they desperately need it.
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
It feels set in stone that the Titans are going to take an edge rusher at fourth overall. New head coach Robert Saleh does not like to blitz often, rather leaning on a four-man pass rush. He also loves to have faster rushers on the outside, which is where Bailey comes into play. He’s an explosive rusher on the edge, and was a first-team All-American with a hyper productive final collegiate season.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
I debated about what to do here, as the Giants could opt to go in pretty much any direction here at the top of the draft. However, I think adding a bonafide playmaker in Carnell Tate next to Malik Nabers (and as WR1 until he’s 100 percent) would be a wise addition to their retooling offense.
6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
This one is simple. The Browns have all five offensive line starters set to hit free agency, and their tackle spots were a major issue this year. Mauigoa was dominant at right tackle this season for the Hurricanes, and getting him would be a huge addition for the Browns. Plus, if he fails at tackle, Mauigoa does project well to guard.
7. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami
The Commanders’ pass rush has to be better than it was in 2025, there’s no other way to put it. With them holding such a premium pick, they are in prime position to land one of the most disruptive defenders in college football this season in Rueben Bain.
8. New Orleans Saints: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
This may feel high for Banks, who only played in three games this past season. However, Banks showed he’s fully healthy during Senior Bowl practices, flashing his dominant play with quickness and 35″ arms. He’s a player with rare size and quickness combination, and the Saints are a great fit for him.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The more I go over the Chiefs’ offensive problems, the more I begin to point at the tight end room more than any other single group on the offense. If Travis Kelce does return, he needs to take a backstep for a younger, more athletic option. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is a do-it-all playmaker that fits seamlessly into the Chiefs’ offense
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Alabama
Simply put, Downs is arguably the best player in this draft regardless of position. With the Bengals investing so much money in Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow, and Ja’Marr Chase, they need inexpensive playmakers on defense, and Downs will give them just that.
11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
With the hire of Jeff Hafley as head coach, the Dolphins are set to reset on the defensive side of the ball. Hafley is going to want a shutdown man coverage cornerback to build the rest of the secondary around, and Jermod McCoy fits that billing to a T.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles is the best linebacker in the draft, especially if you consider Reese an edge rusher. A former safety, Styles has the range to attack ball carriers on any level of the field.
13. Los Angeles Rams: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Rams haven’t drafted a cornerback high since whiffing on the David Long pick back in 2019(!), and that has been evident with their secondary play over the last four seasons (yes, it goes back that far).
Delane is a smart, instinctive corner who is fresh off of a remarkably dominant season this year in the SEC.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Going into the season, Woods was often mocked in the top five due to his explosiveness as a pass rusher. He didn’t have the season many thought he would, but Woods still has that explosiveness on the interior and will be an impact player for the Ravens.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both coming off of troubled, injury-riddled seasons. Mike Evans is a pending free agent, and Godwin’s guaranteed salary runs out after the 2026 season. When even one of those two was hurt this season, the Buccaneers’ passing game dropped off significantly.
In a must-win season for both Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield, they’d be wise to invest in an outside wide receiver to allow Emeka Egbuka to roam in the slot instead of having to move over to X like he had to this season.
16. New York Jets (via IND): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Jets are in full rebuild mode, and adding talent to a poor defense is necessary. When head coach Aaron Glenn was with the Detroit Lions, they didn’t shy away from linebacker and they shouldn’t here either. Allen is a well rounded linebacker who can call the defense as a rookie if needed.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
As we get closer to the draft, I suspect that Monroe Freeling will become the favorite to be the first offensive lineman drafted. Taylor Decker has been rumored to be approaching the end of his career, and Detroit has an easy off-ramp with his contract in the offseason.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah out of office, the draft trends we had been tracking are relatively moot. Terrell is the best cornerback in this class, and he can do exactly what Brian Flores will ask: play inside and out.
19. Carolina Panthers: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Panthers aren’t moving off of Bryce Young after this season (even if it does feel inevitably down the line). To support him, they’ve built their identity on running the ball behind one of the most underrated lines in the NFL.
If they want to keep maximizing this offense, adding an elite playmaker like Jeremiyah Love to replace Rico Dowdle would evolve their run game.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn
The Cowboys finally addressed their linebacker issues in the first round, and double down in the front seven with Faulk. He’s been glossed over in this class, and is a much more productive pass rusher than people realize.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
We’ll see what happens with Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers here in Pittsburgh, but regardless of whether he returns for 2026 or not, Rodgers isn’t a long-term answer under center.
Simpson’s injury history is going to have to check out, but he is a quick processor with good accuracy and pocket management and fits right into Mike McCarthy’s offense.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
The Chargers are desperate to get a dominant force on the interior. Ioane can step in from day one and help provide much-needed stability in front of Justin Herbert.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Lane Johnson is one of the greatest Eagles players of all time, and his presence is the key to the entire Eagles’ offense. However, even he can’t hold off Father Time forever, and he battled a serious Lisfranc injury in Week 11 that knocked him out for the remainder of the season. That Lisfranc injury came on the heels of an ankle injury earlier in the year that forced him to miss time. At his age, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be the same player again.
Thus, Howie Roseman should go back to his old ways of rebuilding the offensive line and investing into it early and often.
24. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
After getting Mauigoa, taking another right tackle might not seem ideal, but the Browns potentially need five new starters on the offensive line. Fano is the better of the two Utah tackles and can be a starter from day one.
25. Chicago Bears: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Bears need to continue building their pass rush, as it simply disappeared far too often in critical moments throughout the season. Howell is undersized, but he’s a tremendously quick pass rusher who dominated the SEC all season long.
26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Bills are almost certainly going to move on from Keon Coleman, and if even if stays on the team, he won’t be a focus. Boston is an X-receiver who can separate on both breaking routes and vertically.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
Trent Williams hasn’t played a full season since 2013(!), and Colton McKivitz has been frustratingly inconsistent. The 49ers need to actually invest at offensive tackle at the top of the draft, and Blake Miller has the athletic tools to fit seamlessly into Kyle Shanahan’s outside zone offense and would be a ready-made pass protector who could play both tackle spots.
28. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
The Texans spent a bunch of resources on the offensive line last season, and it wasn’t enough. Proctor at his best would be a good left tackle, but is more likely going to need to kick inside due to his movement skills. Even so, when Proctor latches on, it’s over, and the interior may help mitigate those.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
I don’t believe the Rams will use both first-round picks in this year’s draft, but they probably should, given that they don’t have any consistent starters in the room.
The Rams don’t have an answer at cornerback anywhere, as none of their starters this season have consistently proven that they should be starters. Colton Hood brings the size, length, and physicality the Rams’ secondary desperately needs, and he’s a strong mover in and out of his breaks.
30. Denver Broncos: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State
When you look at the Broncos’ roster, they don’t exactly have a lot of needs. When that happens, fortify a premium position. Abney can play inside and outside, providing really nice depth behind Pat Surtain II.
31. New England Patriots: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
The Patriots have had tremendous play from Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, but they are missing that extra juice in their pass rush rotation to turn that room from merely good to dangerous. As a draft community, I think we’re overlooking R Mason Thomas, whose bend, burst, technique, and effort made him one of the best Oklahoma defenders of the 2000s, in my opinion. He’ll fit right in with Mike Vrabel’s defense.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
The Seahawks could lose both Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe to free agency. Johnson is a talented and experienced player at the cornerback position, and the ability to do multiple different things will help elevate Mike Macdonald’s defense.
Round Two
33. New York Jets: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas A&M
34. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
35. Tennessee Titans: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
37. New York Giants: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
38. Houston Texans (via WAS): Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
39. Cleveland Browns: Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona
40. Kansas City Chiefs: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
41. Cincinnati Bengals: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
42. New Orleans Saints: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
43. Miami Dolphins: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
44. New York Jets (via DAL): D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
45. Baltimore Ravens: Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
47. Indianapolis Colts: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
48. Atlanta Falcons: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
49. Minnesota Vikings: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
50. Detroit Lions: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
51. Carolina Panthers: Genesis Smith, S, Arizona
52. Green Bay Packers: Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Moore, CB, Florida
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Connor Lew, C, Auburn
57. Chicago Bears: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
58. San Francisco 49ers: Will Lee III, CB, Texas A&M
59. Houston Texans: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
60. Buffalo Bills: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
61. Los Angeles Rams: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
62. Denver Broncos: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
63. New England Patriots: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern
64. Seattle Seahawks: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
Round Three
65. Arizona Cardinals: Dalton Johnson, S, Arizona
66. Tennessee Titans: Ahmari Harvey, CB, Georgia Tech
67. Las Vegas Raiders: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
68. Philadelphia Eagles (via NYJ): Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
69. Houston Texans (via NYG): Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
70. Cleveland Browns: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
71. Washington Commanders: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
72. Cincinnati Bengals: AJ Haulcy, S, LSU
73. New Orleans Saints: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
74. Kansas City Chiefs: Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
75. Miami Dolphins: Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M
76. Pittsburgh Steelers (via DAL): Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
77. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
78. Indianapolis Colts: Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
79. Atlanta Falcons: Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
80. Baltimore Ravens: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
81. Jacksonville Jaguars (via DET): Drew Shelton, OT, Penn State
82. Minnesota Vikings: Bud Clark, S, TCU
83. Carolina Panthers: Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
84. Green Bay Packers: Brian Parker II, OL, Duke
85. Pittsburgh Steelers: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
86. Los Angeles Chargers: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
87. Miami Dolphins (via PHI): Justin Joly, TE, NC State
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State
89. Chicago Bears: Markel Bell, OT, Miami
90. Miami Dolphins (via HOU): Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
91. Buffalo Bills: Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
92. San Francisco 49ers: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
93. Los Angeles Rams: Jude Bowry, OT, Boston College
94. Denver Broncos: Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
95. New England Patriots: Antonio Williams, WR, Texas
96. Seattle Seahawks: Logan Taylor, OL, Boston College