The 2026 NFL Draft is about as unpredictable as I can remember. There’s a limited number of “top” talents and that appears to have us ready for a chaotic, crazy weekend. It all starts on Thursday night, where the first round kicks off with the first 32 selections.
How will things play out? I took my best guess. Here’s my FINAL 2026 NFL mock draft before this year’s even.

Let’s see how things go…

Kyle Crabbs’ FINAL 2026 NFL Mock Draft

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

This one has been in Sharpie for months. Lock it in.

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

The pendulum has swing back and forth between Reese and Bailey relentlessly for weeks. I’ll lean into the player who I believe is the better fit for Aaron Glenn (and less redundant to Will McDonald).

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

It sounds like this is a tug of war between ownership (Love) and management (trade down and/or offensive tackle). Ownership usually wins that battle, especially when the GM is on the hot seat.

4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Titans load up on the pass rush for Robert Saleh in this scenario, with RB Jeremiyah Love and LB Arvell Reese off the board. Positional value trumps all between Bailey and LB Sonny Styles.

5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

There’s been some quiet buzz with folks I’ve talked to about this potential fit. You’ve seen it mocked some, but I do think that Coach Harbaugh gets “his guy” in this spot amid an apparently split building debating who to pick.

6. TRADE! Los Angeles Rams via Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Once Jordyn Tyson, a rumored Giants target, slides past No. 5, here come the Rams. I feel like they’re a team primed for a big splash and Jordyn Tyson serves as good insurance at wide receiver for Matthew Stafford.

LAR receives: No. 6 overall
CLE receives: No. 13 overall, 93 overall, 2027 2nd-round

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles Jr., LB, Ohio State

What a delight this is for Dan Quinn to see a prolific prototype at linebacker fall into his lap at No. 7 overall. The front seven has gotten a major overhaul this offseason but a speedy player like this was sorely needed on the second level.

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

The Saints, with a stout and young core on the offensive line, choose to pour into QB Tyler Shough by getting him a big, long perimeter playmaker.

9. TRADE! Dallas Cowboys via Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

This trade idea is a lot of fun. The Chiefs get Dallas’ two first-round picks and vice versa. Once the Saints pass on Delane, Dallas comes up to ensure they get a marquee talent in the secondary.

DAL receives: No. 9 overall, No. 29 overall
KC receives: No. 12 overall, No. 20 overall

10. New York Giants (via CIN): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

I have maintained since January that Olaivavega Ioane is the best offensive lineman in this year’s class. The Giants agree and lock in a powerful guard to help protect Jaxson Dart.

11. Miami Dolphins: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

The Dolphins get their choice of Miami Hurricanes and Spencer Fano here — a great draw of the board. And while I do think it is paramount for Miami to put pieces around QB Malik Willis, I think the chance to add a physical defensive end for Jeff Hafley’s defense is too good to pass up.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (via DAL): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

The Chiefs end up trading down and still get a right tackle to help protect Patrick Mahomes. What a delightful development for them in their bid to get back into contention in the AFC.

13. Cleveland Browns (via LAR through ATL): Spencer Fano, OL, Utah

The Browns move back from No. 6 in the deal with the Rams and still end up seeing Spencer Fano waiting for them, in what would be the final touch to an overhauled offensive line.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Mark Andrews isn’t getting any younger. And the departure of tight ends Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely are leaving this room looking a little shaky. Sadiq would be a great toy for Declan Doyle and Lamar Jackson.

15. TRADE! Pittsburgh Steelers via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

The Steelers end up jumping in front of the Lions to help ensure the woeful start to Broderick Jones’ NFL career doesn’t derail their season outlook.

PIT receives: No. 15 overall
TB receives: No. 21 overall, 76 overall

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

Makai Lemon’s wait carries him through the first half of the first round, until the Jets pluck him up to be their counterpunch at wide receiver to Garrett Wilson.

17. Detroit Lions: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The Lions are planning on moving Penei Sewell to left tackle and therefore are happy to draft a scrappy, blue collar right tackle in Blake Miller. Miller is a four-year starter who should help tighten up the protection for Jared Goff.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

The Vikings desperately need some long-term building blocks at cornerback. Johnson feels like a great fit for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

19. Carolina Panthers: Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon

The Panthers have swung at safety recently but they don’t have the prolific ballhawk on the back end. Thieneman pairs with Tre’Von Moehrig to offer a great deal of run support and speed on the back end.

20. Kansas City Chiefs (via DAL through GBP): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Chiefs take advantage of their earlier swap with the Cowboys to get in front of the rest of the cornerback run, adding a physical corner in Colton Hood. He’d be an awesome fit for Steve Spagnuolo.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via PIT): Ahkeem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

The Bucs trade back and still get a much needed boost to their pass rush unit. Mesidor has been a popular mock fit in Tampa and I see no reason to stop now.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Los Angeles needs to start thinking about life after Khalil Mack. Lawrence is a prolific, explosive pass rusher who could thrive after being given a chance to learn under Mack for a year.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Philadelphia ends up securing their heir to Lane Johnson with this pick — after several years of pouring into the defense it is time to start stacking back up on offense. The Eagles’ line is showing some signs of wear, too.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Browns get a physical pass catcher to help Todd Monken’s offense come to life. The Browns get a franchise tackle and a big-bodied pass catcher in the top-24.

25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Keldric Faulk’s name has been hot. I can see him landing in Dallas if the Cowboys don’t make any trades. But in this scenario, Faulk comes to Chicago to join Montez Sweat and a motivated Dayo Odeyingbo in the pass rush unit.

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

The Bills have messed around with this whole wide receiver situation long enough. Even after trading for DJ Moore, I can’t imagine the Bills can look themselves in the eye and consider themselves “done” with what the pass catchers looked like last year.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

San Francisco’s wide receiver room has been turned upside down in recent years. Mike Evans is a short-term win to add to the unit but beyond that? Ricky Pearsall has struggled with durability and Jauan Jennings is a free agent. Brandon Aiyuk is in limbo. Cooper feels like a Shanahan-coded receiver.

28. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

The Texans are a tough team to mock for. The roster is good! I’ll go ahead and send them another piece on an ever-evolving offensive line to hopefully make it *less* evolving next offseason.

29. Dallas Cowboys (via KC through LAR): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

A Red Raider staying in the Lone Star State to man the MIKE linebacker spot for the Cowboys? Yes, please! Rodriguez has gotten plenty of buzz as a potential riser in o the first round. I’ll take the bait.

30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo

Miami gets a tough draw after passing on offensive line at pick No. 11 in favor of Rueben Bain. The good news is the Dolphins have needs everywhere and they gobble up a versatile, long, physical safety to add to a secondary that needs remodeling.

31. New England Patriots: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Patriots load up with another bully in the trenches to help them build upon last year’s growth as an offense. Between Proctor and Michael Onwenu, you better bring your hard hat against the Pats.

32. TRADE! Arizona Cardinals via Seattle Seahawks: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Cardinals “do the thing”. Go get your guy with a fifth-year option added on.

ARZ receives: No. 32 overall
SEA receives: No. 34 overall, No. 143 overall

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