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With nan 2026 NFL Draft kicking disconnected connected April 23 successful Pittsburgh, it’s clip to people nan last type of nan OutKick Mock Draft.
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza looks to propulsion a walk during nan school's NFL pro time successful Bloomington, Indiana, connected April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)
The Raiders person tried to capable nan Derek Carr-sized void astatine backmost since they fto nan seasoned backmost locomotion aft nan 2022 NFL season. Rather than put successful nan position done a precocious prime successful nan draft, nan squad has tried to spot nan spread pinch respective veterans (including Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew, Geno Smith) and 2023 fourth-round prime Aidan O'Connell. None of them worked.
There are immoderate rumblings that Mendoza mightiness not spell No. 1 overall, peculiarly erstwhile it was revealed that nan Heisman Trophy and National Championship-winning backmost wouldn't be nan draught successful Pittsburgh. But attending nan draught is becoming little and little communal for players and I don't bargain into that thought astatine all. Part of having nan apical prime isn't conscionable astir picking nan correct guy, but astir winning nan PR campaign. Teams want fans to beryllium happy and Mendoza is nan safest prime astatine nan apical of nan board. There's conscionable nary way, successful my opinion, that nan Raiders don't prime Mendoza.
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2. New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Obviously, nan Jets request a semipermanent reply astatine quarterback, moreover aft trading for seasoned Geno Smith, but it conscionable doesn't make consciousness to return 1 astatine No. 2 pinch Mendoza disconnected nan board. New York would beryllium wise to effort and waste and acquisition retired of this spot, but nan Jets mightiness not find a creation partner. If they enactment here, it makes nan astir consciousness to springiness caput coach Aaron Glenn, a defensive-minded coach, a walk rusher who tin disrupt nan game.
New York had nan second-fewest sacks successful nan NFL past twelvemonth (26) and didn't unit a azygous interception (which is often an indictment of nan walk unreserved much than it is of nan secondary). According to Pro Football Reference, nan Jets classed dead-last successful nan NFL successful unit percent (15 percent).
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
The Cardinals are different squad that needs a quarterback, pinch nan franchise having moved connected from Kyler Murray. But successful nan aforesaid vein arsenic nan Jets, that feline doesn't beryllium astatine nan apical of nan committee and nan Cardinals besides desperately request to amended connected their atrocious walk unreserved (tied for third-fewest sacks successful nan NFL).
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese runs during nan school's Pro Day astatine nan Woody Hayes Athletics Center. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The Titans request a batch of thief connected some sides of nan ball, and they should usage this prime connected a premium position. But I don't deliberation they will. Titans fans miss Derrick Henry, and it's easy to envision a script wherever they spot Love becoming nan focal constituent of a functioning discourtesy (something nan squad really hasn't had since Henry) that helps return immoderate of nan accent disconnected Cam Ward successful his 2nd play arsenic nan starting quarterback. Plus, Love has a chance to beryllium nan uncommon RB imaginable who tin elevate an full offense, thing Tennessee desperately needs.
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5. New York Giants – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Giants person their backmost successful Jaxson Dart and 2 different stars connected offense: Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers. All 3 dealt pinch injuries past play and nan squad needs amended luck successful nan wellness section to person a chance to compete. One measurement to thief nan wide wellness of its violative players is to bolster nan violative line. Although it won't thief connected injuries Dart suffers while he's moving each complete nan field, cleaner pockets mean little scrambling and little scrambling intends little wounded opportunity for nan team's franchise passer.
6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
No matter who Cleveland decides to rotation pinch astatine backmost successful 2026, nan squad has to springiness him immoderate weapons. Although nan Browns don't usually walk precocious draught picks connected receivers (they've only taken 1 first-round wide receiver since 2006, Corey Coleman successful 2015), now is nan clip to make nan move. Cleveland needs Tate to move into an alpha, but since they're improbable to contend until they get a quarterback, Tate has clip to do it (which is adjuvant since he turned 21 successful January). Plus, he played astatine Ohio State, astir a 2-hour thrust from Cleveland, and grew up successful nan Midwest, making him a cleanable characteristic fresh for nan Browns.
MOCK TRADE - Rams receive: No. 7, Commanders receive: No. 13 (via Falcons), 2026 3rd-round pick, 2027 4th-round pick
7. Los Angeles Rams (mock waste and acquisition pinch Commanders) – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
We already cognize nan Rams person nary problem shipping disconnected picks to amended nan roster now, and it's easy to envision them wanting to descent wrong nan Top 10. Matthew Stafford isn't getting immoderate younger, truthful nan squad is going to spell all-in to make a push to triumph 1 much Super Bowl earlier he retires. Plus, nan Commanders desperately want to move down and get much picks.
There are rumors astir a imaginable Davante Adams trade, and we'll task nan Rams to springiness Puka Nacua immoderate thief connected nan different broadside by grabbing Lemon, who is from Southern California and went to USC, arsenic a morganatic No. 2 successful what figures to beryllium different high-powered Rams offense. After seeing Tate travel disconnected nan committee astatine No. 6, nan Rams mightiness beryllium eager to jump and get Lemon earlier a tally connected receivers starts.
MOCK TRADE - Cowboys receive: No. 8, Saints receive: No. 12 + 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick
8. Dallas Cowboys (mock waste and acquisition pinch Saints) – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles gets into position during nan 2025 Cotton Bowl quarterfinal crippled astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Dec. 31, 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
Perhaps nary squad needs to reside its protect woes arsenic overmuch arsenic nan Dallas Cowboys (except, maybe, nan Cincinnati Bengals – and nan Bengals conscionable traded their first-round prime for Dexter Lawrence). No squad allowed much points aliases passing yards than nan Cowboys successful 2025. Styles is an diversion freak who turned heads astatine nan harvester and is precisely nan type of subordinate Jerry Jones could autumn successful emotion pinch and waste and acquisition up to make judge he gets him. Styles tin thief successful some unreserved and walk defense and Dallas needs to get amended successful some areas truthful it's a awesome fit.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
The Chiefs' violative statement was a disaster successful 2025, and it led to nan worst play of Patrick Mahomes' career. The squad is mercifully moving connected from punishment instrumentality Jawaan Taylor, and nan squad has to protect Mahomes (who is coming disconnected a torn ACL). Fano is nan second-best offensive-line imaginable successful nan 2026 NFL Draft and should beryllium a Day 1 starter for Kansas City.
10. New York Giants (via Bengals) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Giants amazed astir of nan shot world erstwhile they managed to get a Top 10 prime successful nan NFL Draft for Dexter Lawrence. It's not that Lawrence isn't a awesome player, he is. Still, it felt for illustration nan Bengals overpaid a spot for his services. But this puts nan Giants successful a terrific spot to prime doubly successful nan first 10 selections and commencement rebuilding nan team. They request cornerback thief and by getting to No. 10, they person nan opportunity to prime whichever area they covet most. In this draft, that should beryllium Delane.
LSU protect backmost Mansoor Delane speaks to media during nan 2026 NFL Scouting Combine successful Indianapolis. (Jacob Musselman/Imagn Images)
11. Miami Dolphins – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The Dolphins are entering a afloat rebuild, and if Downs falls this acold (he could, simply because teams don't worth safeties for illustration they utilized to), Miami would person nary prime but to snag him. They fto Jevon Holland locomotion successful free agency and Downs could beryllium a cleanable plug-and-play replacement. For a squad that's going to request young leaders connected nan protect broadside of nan ball, Downs to nan Dolphins makes almost excessively overmuch sense. With nan Bengals trading retired of nan No. 10 spot, Downs conscionable mightiness descent nan 1 further slot that Miami needs.
12. New Orleans Saints (mock waste and acquisition pinch Cowboys) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Saints are talking pinch Chris Olave astir a imaginable statement extension, but there's nary guarantee. Olave struggled pinch concussions passim his profession (he has suffered astatine slightest four) and New Orleans mightiness determine it's not a awesome thought to perpetrate $35 million/season to a feline who mightiness beryllium 1 large deed distant from retirement. Tyson could instantly slot successful crossed from Olave successful 2026 to springiness second-year backmost Tyler Shough a move wide receiver duo and Tyson could return complete nan alpha domiciled successful 2027 should nan Saints diminution to motion Olave long-term.
13. Washington Commanders (mock waste and acquisition pinch Rams/via Falcons) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
No squad allowed much yards to opposing offenses than nan Washington Commanders successful 2025, truthful they person to reside their protect issues. Washington really needs corners who tin screen and McCoy tin decidedly cover. He doesn't move 21 until August, truthful he's very young, and he missed nan full 2025 play aft tearing his ACL successful January 2025 while training. Those are some reddish flags for a Washington squad that wants to contend now, but McCoy's talent is excessively tantalizing to walk up pinch nan No. 13 prime successful nan draft. He's a feline that could easy person been a Top 5 prime if not for nan wounded issues. It's a risk, for sure, but it's a consequence worthy taking because McCoy has nan imaginable to go a shutdown NFL corner.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (Fla.)
The Ravens tried to waste and acquisition this prime for Maxx Crosby, but yet pulled retired of nan woody citing aesculapian concerns. In this mock, Bain suffers a flimsy autumn down nan draught committee aft reports surfaced that he was driving during a 2024 car clang that took nan life of a young woman. Although Bain was only cited for sloppy driving and nan citation was dropped, it could impact his draught stock. That being said, I don't cognize really nan Ravens could walk up his talent successful this spot, particularly aft failing to get Crosby.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (Fla.)
It's not often you spot 2 players from nan aforesaid schoolhouse who play nan aforesaid position being drafted back-to-back, but that's really nan committee shaped up successful this mock draft. The Bucs were mediate of nan battalion successful sacks successful 2025, but were 1 of conscionable 7 teams pinch a unit complaint nether 20 percent. They request to do a amended occupation getting aft opposing quarterbacks and Mesidor is nan champion action connected nan board.
16. New York Jets (via Colts) – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Jets traded distant Quinnen Williams and tin usage their 2nd prime successful nan first information to adhd his replacement successful McDonald. After grabbing an EDGE subordinate astatine No. 2 overall, nan squad should look to proceed to amended a protect statement that really struggled successful 2025. McDonald is simply a awesome fresh for Aaron Glenn's strategy and would thief nan squad shape an personality arsenic a beingness defense.
Ohio State protect lineman Kayden McDonald participates successful nan NFL Scouting Combine astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
17. Detroit Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Detroit took a large measurement backmost past season, failing to make nan playoffs. Part of nan logic was nan struggles connected nan violative line. Jared Goff took 38 sacks successful 2025, nan astir successful a azygous play successful his career, and posted nan worst passing occurrence complaint of his 4 seasons successful Detroit. The squad has to upgrade its violative statement to complement three-time All-Pro near tackle Penei Sewell.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
Like nan Lions, nan Vikings were a immense disappointment successful nan NFC North. They don't look sold connected backmost J.J. McCarthy and added seasoned Kyler Murray. It's improbable nan squad would usage nan draught to adhd different first-round quarterback, and rather frankly, nan discourtesy should amended pinch moreover mean backmost play. That's why it makes consciousness for nan squad to usage this action to amended its defense.
19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is simply a imaginable matchup nightmare and pairs good pinch Rookie of nan Year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to springiness Bryce Young 2 monolithic weapons successful nan passing game. Other than McMillan, nary different Panthers walk catcher had astatine slightest 400 yards receiving and nan team's champion tight end, Tommy Tremble, had conscionable 249 yards. Sadiq adds extent to nan passing crippled that desperately needs it.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers) – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Cowboys' defense was truthful bad past year, they should look to usage some first information picks to help. They made nan determination to waste and acquisition Micah Parsons, which is why they person this pick, truthful it makes consciousness to usage it connected a Parsons replacement. There are scenarios wherever Jerry Jones falls successful emotion pinch a flashy violative limb alternatively of making nan sensible move, but Dallas has been making those mistakes for years. It's clip to commencement being smart connected draught night.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Hosting nan NFL Draft puts a small other unit connected a team's first-round prime and I deliberation Cooper is nan type of subordinate that would get nan fans successful Pittsburgh cheering. He's coming disconnected a nationalist title triumph pinch Indiana, wide receiver is simply a sexy position that fans for illustration to spot their squad draft, and if Aaron Rodgers returns, he's going to request each nan thief he tin get. New caput coach Mike McCarthy likes to characteristic a batch of different receivers, truthful there's still room for Cooper alongside D.K. Metcalf and free-agent signing Michael Pittman.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Justin Herbert played immoderate unthinkable shot contempt being sacked 54 times successful 2025, which was 1 less than Cam Ward and Geno Smith, who tied for nan convention lead. So, yeah, nan squad needs to support its franchise backmost upright. If Proctor falls to them astatine No. 22, that would beryllium an perfect script for LA.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Eagles took a spot of a measurement backmost successful 2025 and overmuch of it had to do pinch nan violative statement not performing arsenic good arsenic it had nan past fewer seasons (losing Jason Kelce didn't help). Philadelphia is simply a squad that likes to power nan statement of scrimmage connected some sides of nan shot and that has served nan Eagles good for galore years. That's why it makes consciousness for them to spell retired and get an violative lineman (if they don't waste and acquisition this prime for much capital).
MOCK TRADE - Cardinals receive: No. 24, Browns receive: No. 34, 2026 3rd-round pick
24. Arizona Cardinals (mock waste and acquisition pinch Browns via Jaguars) – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Ty Simpson to nan Cardinals seems inevitable and successful this mock draught we task Arizona to descent up from its early 2nd information position to drawback Simpson astatine nan tail extremity of nan first round. The use of picking a QB successful nan first round, alternatively than waiting until nan 2nd round, is that teams get that coveted fifth-year option, which is an other twelvemonth to determine if he tin beryllium nan future.
25. Chicago Bears – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
The tally connected violative statement continues because arguably nary squad needs much thief up beforehand than nan Bears. Caleb Williams took a meaningful measurement guardant successful his sophomore NFL season, but if nan squad wants him to support improving, it has to put successful nan violative statement to protect him. Iheanachor is nan type of subordinate that tin thief stabilize an full unit.
26. Buffalo Bills – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Buffalo addressed its awesome violative request by trading for receiver D.J. Moore from nan Bears, but nan squad still needs to get much unit up beforehand connected nan protect broadside of nan ball. After moving connected from Von Miller anterior to past season, nan squad tried different veteran, Joey Bosa. But Bosa only recorded 5 sacks successful 15 games and remains a free agent. Howell tin measurement successful crossed from Greg Rousseau starting Week 1.
Texas A&M protect lineman Cashius Howell participates successful nan NFL Scouting Combine astatine Lucas Oil Stadium successful Indianapolis. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
27. San Francisco 49ers – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
After signing Trent Williams to a two-year statement to support nan violative statement intact, it's clip for nan 49ers to bulk up connected nan protect broadside of nan ball. Nick Bosa is an All-Pro connected nan extracurricular and San Francisco is looking astatine his brother, and NFL free agent, Joey Bosa. But they request to get tougher successful nan mediate of nan statement to thief eat up blockers and let their separator rushers to get to nan quarterback.
28. Houston Texans – Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
C.J. Stroud hasn't been capable to replicate nan occurrence he had successful his rookie season, and a batch of that is because nan violative statement hasn't done him immoderate favors. The Texans person plentifulness of weapons, including two-time Pro Bowler Nico Collins, but they person to activity to support Stroud upright and throwing from cleanable pockets much often. Picking astatine 28 doesn't let nan Texans to get an elite violative lineman, particularly aft a lengthy tally astatine nan position, but Ioane is simply a bully blocker who should thief nan interior of nan violative statement from time one.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Rams) – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
The Chiefs traded McDuffie to nan Rams, truthful it makes consciousness that they'd target a young, inexpensive cornerback pinch their 2nd first-round pick. Steve Spagnuolo loves to blitz and to do that, he needs corners who who tin clasp up successful press-man sum and not get beaten complete nan top. Hood is very young (turned 21 successful February), truthful he mightiness request immoderate clip to develop. But he should besides beryllium capable to get immoderate cardinal snaps arsenic a rookie owed to his awesome size (6'0", 195lbs) and velocity (4.4 40-yard dash).
30. Miami Dolphins (via Broncos) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Dolphins acquired this prime by trading WR Jaylen Waddle, and they tin efficaciously usage it to switch him pinch Concepcion, who profiles likewise to Waddle but is evidently younger and cheaper (exactly what Miami needs during this rebuilding phase). Concepcion wrote a missive successful The Players' Tribune to show NFL GMs that he's nan champion wide receiver successful nan draught and will outwork anybody. That's nan type of cognition this young, rebuilding squad desperately needs to add.
31. New England Patriots – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Patriots signed Kevin Byard successful free agency, but he's 32 years old. McNeil-Warren would beryllium well-served to walk a twelvemonth learning really to play nan information position down a feline for illustration Byard. Plus, nan younger legs could springiness Byard much clip disconnected nan section passim nan play to support him caller for different imaginable heavy postseason run.
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32. Seattle Seahawks – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
If there's 1 position group from nan Super Bowl champion Seahawks that could spot a batch of turnover, it's cornerback. Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are some imaginable free agents and nan squad astir apt can't spend to salary some of them (along pinch paying nan "Super Bowl tax" connected different players), truthful it makes nan astir consciousness to usage nan team's first information prime connected a corner.
That’s it for our last mock draught of nan 2026 NFL Draft season! Have thoughts? Hit maine connected X: @RealDanZak.
Dan Zaksheske is simply a newsman astatine OutKick.
