2026 NFL Mock Draft: Expert Picks & Predictions

FantasyPros kicked off mock draft season with a one-round 2026 exercise that felt more like a roster-building meeting than a hot-take show. The recurring theme was simple: this class is lighter at quarterback, so teams leaned on trench play, defensive pressure, and a few “special” skill guys that were worth breaking positional-value rules for. Here is a look at an early 2026 NFL Mock Draft!

2026 NFL Mock Draft

From College Football to the NFL! Join Joe Pisapia, Pat Fitzmaurice, Scott Bogman, and guest Steve Muench of ESPN as they make their first-round picks and predictions for every team in their maiden 2026 NFL mock draft.

Fernando Mendoza (QB – Raiders)

College: Indiana
This was treated as the only logical starting point. They framed Mendoza as the lone true QB worth building around in this class, and the Raiders as the team most desperate for stability and culture change. The discussion leaned heavily on his clutch resume, toughness, and “wins in big moments” profile, with comps ranging from Jared Goff to Kirk Cousins. Not a traits superhero, but accurate, competitive, and built to steer an offense if the line gets fixed.

Arvell Reese (LB – Jets)

College: Ohio State
Steve Muench called Reese the best player in the draft, even acknowledging how scary it is to take an off-ball linebacker at No. 2. The selling point was versatility. Reese can rush, play on the edge in packages, and gives the Jets a defensive identity anchor for the Aaron Glenn era. The Micah Parsons conversation came up, not as a direct comp, but as a reminder that some “linebackers” become premium pass rushers if used correctly.

Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE – Cardinals)

College: Miami
Fitzy justified passing on tackle because Arizona’s pass rush was so bad (bottom-tier sacks and pressures). Bain was labeled “special,” the type of rare disruptor you take even if the roster has other needs. They brushed off arm-length chatter with a “don’t care, he wrecks people” vibe and highlighted motor, explosiveness, and strength as the traits that travel.

David Bailey (EDGE – Titans)

College: Texas Tech
Bogman’s pitch was basically: build a nightmare front and let it fix everything else. Tennessee already has Jeffrey Simmons and Devondre Sweat inside, so Bailey becomes the finishing piece who forces bad throws and shortens games. They leaned on Bailey’s production (hits, sacks) and even cited his PFF profile as elite. It was also a “trade down makes sense, but if you stay here, take the hammer” kind of selection.

Spencer Fano (OT – Giants)

College: Utah
Muench went trench-first for a Harbaugh-led Giants reboot, projecting Fano as plug-and-play at right tackle. The angle was practical: if Jermaine Eluemunor walks in free agency, the Giants need a long-term answer. Also, they emphasized protecting Jackson Dart because he’s the type to get himself hit even when the protection holds up.

Francis Mauigoa (OT – Browns)

College: Miami
Fitzy treated Cleveland’s first-round plan as OL + WR in some order. He chose line first because the Browns’ front is headed for a rebuild (multiple interior guys hitting free agency, plus tackle issues). Mauigoa was framed as a freak athlete with quickness and explosive power, and the “even if he kicks inside, that’s fine” point mattered because Cleveland needs help everywhere up front.

Sonny Styles (LB – Commanders)

College: Ohio State
Bogman went straight at Washington’s missed tackle problem and connected Styles to a potential Bobby Wagner succession plan. The transcript leaned hard on tackle efficiency, missed tackle rate, and coverage competence, painting Styles as a tone-setter who cleans up messes. This was less “flash” and more “adult in the middle of the defense.”

Jordyn Tyson (WR – Saints)

College: Arizona State
Muench surprised the room by taking Tyson over Carnell Tate, and the explanation was about separation and route running, plus improved drop rate. The Saints angle centered on surrounding Tyler Shough with playmakers, especially with Rashid Shaheed traded and Chris Olave dealing with major health concerns. Tyson fit the “get open now” receiver archetype they kept praising throughout the show.

Jeremiyah Love (RB – Chiefs)

College: Notre Dame
This was the “break the rule because the fit is perfect” pick. Fitzy called Love one of the few truly special players in the draft and framed it as Kansas City correcting the old Clyde Edwards-Helaire miss. They tied it to Mahomes rehabbing a major knee injury and the long-running patchwork RB room. Love got the full fantasy stamp: burst, acceleration, contact balance, open-field “joystick,” and real receiving chops.

Caleb Downs (S – Bengals)

College: Ohio State
Bogman acknowledged safety is not a premium position, then ignored it because Cincinnati’s defense was that desperate. Downs was treated as a movable chess piece: box, slot, deep, blitzer. The Bates replacement point came up too, and they framed this as “stack best player available on defense for years” because a quick one-year fix is unrealistic with the Bengals’ personnel.

Jermod McCoy (CB – Dolphins)

College: Tennessee
Muench admitted some hesitation because McCoy missed 2025 with an ACL and the evaluation leans on 2024 tape. Still, he called McCoy the best corner in the class if healthy and flagged Miami’s need at the position. This was a classic bet-on-talent pick, with the show comparing it to situations where teams draft the player they think exists, not the player they saw most recently.

Mansoor Delane (CB – Cowboys)

College: LSU
Fitzy went corner because Dallas has injuries and roster turnover in the secondary (Diggs gone, Bland foot surgery). He described Delane as the best healthy cover option and suggested Dallas could chase edge later with their extra first-rounder. It was basically “get stability at CB now, then hunt pass rush at 20.”

Carnell Tate (WR – Rams)

College: Ohio State
Bogman framed this as a future-proofing pick. Davante Adams could retire, Puka Nacua has an injury history, and a young QB is likely coming soon. Tate’s pitch was clean: elite hands grades, zero drops, contested-catch dominance, high floor, polished route work. They also talked about Ohio State receiver fatigue, but insisted Tate would be one of the best in this class anywhere he lands.

Keldric Faulk (EDGE – Ravens)

College: Auburn
Muench called it a very “Ravens” pick: big, athletic, versatile, and maybe not fully reflected in the stat sheet. The transcript leaned into traits and upside, with the idea that Baltimore bets on tools and coaches the production into existence. Faulk was presented as a guy who moves differently for his size and can help against both run and pass.

Cashius Howell (EDGE – Buccaneers)

College: Texas A&M
Fitzy said Tampa simply did not get enough edge production. Howell’s appeal was speed and quickness, even if he’s undersized and more of a situational rusher early. This one read like “we have a role and we need a guy who can win it right away on passing downs.”

Denzel Boston (WR – Jets)

College: Washington
Bogman emphasized how dire the Jets’ WR situation was behind Garrett Wilson, even joking that Wilson disappeared from the stat sheet after Week 6. Boston got big praise from Muench as an underrated, highly talented frame-and-hands receiver with steady production and reliability. This was framed as a potential home run value in the mid-first.

Caleb Lomu (OT – Lions)

College: Utah
Muench pointed to Taylor Decker‘s age and possible retirement, calling this a needed upgrade and long-term pivot. Lomu’s scouting summary was upside, movement skills for size, and a path to immediate starting at left tackle if Detroit wants it.

Avieon Terrell (CB – Vikings)

College: Clemson
Fitzy’s logic was more about roster math than vibes. With Jeff Okudah nearing free agency and Byron Murphy better suited inside, Minnesota needs a sticky outside coverman. Terrell was pitched as fast, physical, and competent in run support, a good fit for a Flores defense that asks corners to be aggressive.

Kayden McDonald (IDL – Panthers)

College: Ohio State
Bogman took the division lens: you’re going to be dealing with Bijan Robinson and Bucky Irving, so stop the run. McDonald was framed as the best pure run-stopper in the draft, with “negative plays for the offense” production and a straightforward role as an interior anchor.

Akheem Mesidor (EDGE – Cowboys)

College: Miami
Muench called Mesidor a violent-hands power rusher and suggested he might not even last this long. The key detail was inside-out versatility. They loved that he can kick inside and terrorize guards, which matters because NFL pass rushers have to win with power and hands, not just speed.

Makai Lemon (WR – Steelers)

College: USC
Fitzy went skill position because Pittsburgh was desperate for playmaking beyond DK Metcalf. Lemon was described as a slot weapon with advanced route running, body control, and serious yards-after-catch juice. Bogman loved it too, calling him “grease lightning” and noting return ability as a bonus.

Olaivavega Ioane (IOL – Chargers)

College: Penn State
This was the most “no debate” pick on the board. Bogman laid out brutal interior line grades and connected the need directly to Herbert not having time to function. Ioane’s appeal was efficiency: minimal pressures, clean snap-to-snap pass protection, plus enough run-blocking to fit what could become a Harbaugh + Arthur Smith run-heavy identity.

Kenyon Sadiq (TE – Eagles)

College: Oregon
Muench looked ahead at Dallas Goedert‘s contract situation and roster timeline. Sadiq was called the most talented tight end in the class, with movement skills that stand out, plus competitive blocking that fits the Eagles. Drops were mentioned as a minor concern, but the overall bet was that his athletic profile makes him a first-round type.

K.C. Concepcion (WR – Browns)

College: Texas A&M
Fitzy framed it as a screaming need: Cleveland has to add a receiver, and Concepcion brings juice in the slot. Both Fitzy and Muench were excited about his ability to separate quickly, win off the line, and create after the catch. They also predicted he’s going to torch people at the Senior Bowl, which matters for draft momentum.

Peter Woods (IDL – Bears)

College: Clemson
Bogman passed on the “sexy edge” because the value didn’t match the board. The argument was that Chicago’s run defense was still a mess and Woods can collapse the interior, clog lanes, and let edge additions (including potential trades) play faster. They called him a bit of a project, but with heavy hands and real disruption traits.

Caleb Banks (IDL – Bills)

College: Florida
Muench pushed back against the “Bills must draft a receiver” drumbeat, arguing Josh Allen also needs defensive help so he doesn’t have to score 35 every week. Banks was framed as a talent who would go earlier if he had played more in 2025, with size and alignment versatility that immediately improves run defense.

Kadyn Proctor (OT – 49ers)

College: Alabama
Fitzy called it a must because Trent Williams is 37 and Kyle Shanahan’s offense needs functional line play. Proctor was described as an absolute mountain with surprising athletic traits (even a notable vertical for his size). They acknowledged inconsistency and a rough early game that hurt stock, but felt the long-term value was too obvious for San Francisco.

Emmanuel Pregnon (IOL – Texans)

College: Oregon
Bogman treated this as automatic. Houston’s line play, run efficiency, and general protection issues demanded help, and Pregnon fit as a steady road-grader with strong grades, low penalty counts, and very little pressure allowed across major snap volume.

Ty Simpson (QB – Rams)

College: Alabama
Muench framed it as the perfect developmental setup because the Rams have an extra first-rounder and a high-end offensive environment. They acknowledged Simpson fell off late, but offered context (line issues, run game problems) and leaned into the “if McVay develops him, we might all look wrong” idea. With Stafford potentially returning, this becomes a patient, upside swing.

T.J. Parker (EDGE – Patriots)

College: Clemson
Fitzy gave New England a high-floor edge who can defend the run and still provide sack and turnover upside. Parker’s stock slid with Clemson’s disappointing year, but they noted he was once viewed as a top-10 type and could rebound during the pre-draft process. Muench added that he wins with power, which is the kind of trait that tends to translate.

Romello Height (EDGE – Broncos)

College: Texas Tech
Bogman treated Denver as a “good roster, add a specialist” team. Height was framed as a third-down weapon with strong pass-rush grading, plus unusual coverage ability for an edge, giving him a role right away while he adds weight. It was a clean fit for a team that doesn’t have many glaring holes.

Chris Johnson (CB – Seahawks)

College: San Diego State
Muench’s closing pick was one of his favorites in the class. The pitch was instincts, ball skills, and comfort turning and locating the ball with his back to the QB (a trait he complained a lot of college corners lack). He highlighted scheme versatility, press ability, and Senior Bowl attendance as a coming-out opportunity, then made the strongest statement possible: fringe first to many, but a first-round lock in his eyes.

Fantasy Takeaways

Fernando Mendoza is the clear centerpiece of this class in superflex formats because the show treats him as the only true first-round QB.
Jeremiyah Love to Kansas City is the fantasy swing that could reshape rookie drafts if anything like this happens in real life.
The WR tier the show kept circling starts with Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, Denzel Boston, Makai Lemon, and K.C. Concepcion, with landing spot doing a lot of the ranking work.
Several “value” skill players here are tied directly to organizational context (Lemon to PIT, Concepcion to CLE, Boston to NYJ), which is exactly what dynasty managers should be tracking this early.
If Ty Simpson lands with a QB-friendly staff like the Rams in reality, he becomes a classic late first rookie pick stash, even if he is volatile.