NFL Draft Predictions for Top Dynasty Rookies (2026)

Let’s dive into our predictions for potential landing spots for the top dynasty rookies of the 2026 NFL Draft class from our recent 2026 NFL Mock Draft.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Picks & Predictions

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza (QB – Indiana)

In a move that shocks absolutely no one, the Las Vegas Raiders select Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound nerd who loves ball.

The pocket presence is precise, and the accuracy is borderline elite. Mendoza completed 68.5% of his passes across his two seasons at Cal and one at Indiana, the 15th-highest mark all-time in college football history. While he’s not outstanding with his legs, he was mobile enough to score seven rushing touchdowns this past season, including a game-clinching score in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship.

Mendoza seemed to work effortlessly under hard-nose coach Curt Cignetti, helping wideouts Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr. and Charlie Becker reach their ceilings. Therefore, he should fit in nicely with new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.

If the team can acquire some young receivers on Day 2 and Day 3 that can grow with Mendoza, potentially even some of his former teammates, the 22-year-old could have a long runway of success at the next level.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Fernando Mendoza

7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love (RB – Notre Dame)

The Washington Commanders cutting ties with Kliff Kingsbury, a year removed from an NFC Championship birth, to promote David Blough to offensive coordinator is telling. This should mean more under center, play-action and read options for quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The best way to do that is by having a legitimate threat in the backfield. With Jacory Croskey-Merritt the only running back currently under contract, they opt to add Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love.

At 6-foot, 214 pounds and coming off a 1,100-yard rushing season with 19 total touchdowns, Love was most analysts’ and scouts’ RB1 coming into 2025. I bought in, riding an 80-1 Heisman Trophy ticket all the way to New York. He went on to increase his output by another 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns, staying healthy all season on his way to winning the Doak Walker Award.

Love will immediately bring home-run hitting ability to the nation’s capital with his combination of blazing speed and exceptional contact balance. If he can bulk up some to improve his pass protection while further developing his route tree, he could be one of the league’s top running backs in a few years.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jeremiyah Love

8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate (WR – Ohio State)

Head coach Kellen Moore’s offenses have both birthed wide receiver careers (i.e., CeeDee Lamb) and resurrected them (see Chris Olave and Keenan Allen). With the New Orleans Saints’ line currently stable and quarterback Tyler Shough likely getting another shot under center, that’s where they go here.

It may seem like a luxury pick for a team in cap hell and void of defensive difference-makers, but Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate is just too special a player for them to go in any other direction. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, the Chicago Native brings an element of verticality that this team lost when trading Rashid Shaheed. He’s a deep-ball and red-zone threat who thrives in traffic and contested-catch situations.

Like Ohio State wide receivers who have come before him, he was never the top pass-catcher on his team, but is a former five-star recruit who totaled 100+ receptions, 1,600+ receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over his past two seasons.

The All-Big Ten receiver would give Shough the chance to reach his full potential in year No. 2 before a loaded 2027 quarterback class enters the fold.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Carnell Tate

10. New York Jets (via Cincinnati): Jordyn Tyson (WR – Arizona State)

After trading back from the second-overall pick, the Jets have successfully acquired two second-round picks and the bridge of all bridge quarterbacks in Joe Flacco. They’re stockpiling assets so that when they find their franchise signal-caller, it won’t be a repeat of what went wrong with Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson.

Selecting Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to pair with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell would give them one of the more dangerous receiving corps across the league. Tyson is a true alpha, standing at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He excels in creating separation and coming down with the rock in contested situations. Think George Pickens‘ catch radius met with Jordan Addison‘s elusiveness and route running.

Tyson went for over 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury, his second year-shortening injury after he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL in 2022. Despite injuries to quarterback Sam Leavitt this past season, Tyson was on pace for a career-high in receptions and touchdowns with the potential to cross 1,000 receiving yards. However, the Texas native was eventually shut down with a lingering hamstring injury.

Those injuries are what keep him behind Carnell Tate in this mock draft, but not outside of the top 10 picks.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jordyn Tyson

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers (TE – Vanderbilt)

The only tight end the Philadelphia Eagles currently have under contract is 2025 undrafted free agent Cameron Latu. However, they’re not in the worst cap space situation for a team just one year removed from winning a Super Bowl. They could bring in a blocking-first big man like Mo Alie-Cox or Adam Trautman to help in the run game.

This would allow them to select the tight end with the highest upside in this class, Eli Stowers. There are undoubtedly concerns that the 22-year-old is a bit of a tweener at 6-foot-4, 235 pounds and that he won’t play every down to begin his career. Still, that doesn’t mean he can’t put on some mass once in an NFL facility and grow into a better blocker.

The receiving upside is just too high and exactly what the Eagles could need if they ship A.J. Brown off. The 2025 John Mackey Award winner finished sixth in the SEC in receptions with 62, resulting in 769 yards and four touchdowns. These looks came when lined up out wide, in line and even in the backfield.

Like Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren, Stowers is a former quarterback with an incredibly high football IQ. However, unlike Warren, this 2025 Consensus All-American has multiple years of production across programs and was the consensus TE1 of this class coming into 2025. While others made their case, I don’t think they did quite enough to take Stowers out of position to be the first tight end off the board.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Eli Stowers

24. Cleveland Browns: Makai Lemon (WR – USC)

The Cleveland Browns are one injury to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. away from having essentially zero receiving threats. Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson under center, they need more weapons to work with.

Therefore, they use the extra capital they acquired last April when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up for Travis Hunter to select USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon. At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Lemon is more of a new-school receiver who relies on being a technical receiver rather than an overly physical one.

The 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner posted over 1,150 yards (leading the Big Ten) and 11 touchdowns on 79 receptions this past season. The biggest deterrent keeping him outside of the top 20 is his size and lack of top-end speed, which could make it difficult for him to get off press coverage at the next level.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Makai Lemon

25. Denver Broncos (via Chicago): Kenyon Sadiq (TE – Oregon)

Despite playing 16 games, tight end Evan Engram was rather disappointing in his first season as a Denver Bronco, hauling in 50 out of 76 targets for 461 yards and just one touchdown. Broncos general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton get an immediate upgrade by sacrificing a fourth-round pick to trade up with the Chicago Bears and turning in the card for Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

Without Terrance Ferguson, Sadiq finally stepped out of his shadow and had a breakout 2025 season, reeling in 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. This helped guide Dan Lanning’s team to a deep College Football Playoff run, eventually losing to Indiana in the Peach Bowl.

What may scare off some teams is the lack of proven production outside of this past year. Still, Sadiq makes up for it in athleticism, coming from his track and basketball background. Like Eli Stowers, he’s a bit undersized and could be more of a project than realized due to his sometimes sloppy route running.

I get Eric Ebron vibes from Sadiq and think he’s more likely to be a top-half starter in the league rather than a top-five player at the position. If he does reach that cieling it’ll likely come after the catch.

Trade Details:

Bears Receive:
- 2026 Pick 1.30
- 2026 Pick 4.08
Broncos Receive:
- 2026 Pick 1.25

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Kenyon Sadiq

26. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion (WR – Texas A&M)

The Buffalo Bills’ backs are against the wall when it comes to their pass-catchers on the outside. If the season started today, wideouts Keon Coleman and Joshua Palmer would be manning the X and Y positions, respectively. As seen in the playoffs, that isn’t good enough to win a Super Bowl, even with quarterback Josh Allen under center and recently promoted head coach Joe Brady now running the show.

That’s where Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion comes in. The former three-star prospect was named the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year after putting up 71 receptions for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 at North Carolina State.

After a down 2024 season, the Charlotte native took his talents to College Station, where he and quarterback Marcel Reed would link up for 61 receptions, 919 yards and nine touchdowns (most in the SEC). That, along with the most punt return touchdowns (two) in the conference, earned Concepcion All-America honors.

The artist formerly known as “Kevin” is just 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, which puts him in the bottom third of the size percentile. Yet, he’s flashed the ability to play both outside and in the slot, giving Brady a versatile weapon for the cost of a late first-round pick.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for KC Concepcion

27. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Boston (WR – Washington)

In just over a year, the San Francisco 49ers went from having an embaresmment or riches at pass-catcher to scraping the bottom of the barrel. Tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in the playoffs. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk appears to have played his final game for the organization and Jauan Jennings is an undrafted free agent. Plus, 2024 first-round wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has played just 20 games across two seasons.

General manager John Lynch restocks head coach Kyle Shanahan’s pantry with Washington Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston. At 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, the former three-star recruit has the potential to develop into a true outside X receiver at the next level. He’s posted back-to-back seasons of 800+ receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, catching passes from overrated quarterback Will Rogers and a work-in-progress quarterback in Demond Williams Jr.

The 22-year-old Boston thrives in consted sitautions. Stylistically, he reminds me of wide receiver Chris Chambers stuck in Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor‘s body, making up for a slower initial step with soft hands and lethal after-the-catch ability. He’s the perfect fit to eventually be quarterback Brock Purdy‘s No. 1 option.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Denzel Boston

29. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson (QB – Alabama)

Matthew Stafford might be coming off an NFL MVP-winning season, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s 38 years old. With the threat that he could hang it up at any moment, and the team already addressing their biggest need at tackle earlier in the draft, Sean McVay adds his future franchise signal-caller in Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson.

It was a roller coaster 2025 season for the first-time starter in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system. Still, there’s no denying that Simpson carried Alabama’s offense that had one of the worst rushing games in the country. He led the SEC in both pass attempts (473) and completions (305), throwing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The arm strength isn’t elite, and there are questions about why the Tennessee native couldn’t beat out now-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe for the starting nod a year ago. However, Simpson is the type of field general who has excelled in McVay’s offense. What’s between the helmet keeps Simpson from sliding out of the first round.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Ty Simpson

31. New England Patriots: Antonio Williams (WR – Clemson)

The New England Patriots were outmatched in the Super Bowl both in the trenches and out wide. With the 9th-most cap space in the league at over $40 million, they should also choose to address the offensive line in free agency. This leaves them to add the best slot man they’ve had in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense since wide receiver Jakobi Meyers: Clemson Tigers wide receiver Antonio Williams.

At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, the South Carolina native will play inside on 3-WR sets and man the flanker in 2-WR sets. Outside of Jordyn Tyson, Williams could be the best true technician in this class. The 21-year-old is awesome at navigating traffic over the middle and has enough speed to break away in the short area and deep down the field.

Williams was a true-freshman breakout, totaling 56 receptions for 604 yards and four touchdowns, earning him Freshman All-America honors. As a junior, he led the ACC in receiving touchdowns (110) while finishing third in receptions (75). He missed time at the beginning of this past season, and Clemson’s offense immediately suffered because of it. His return was immediately felt, and good things happened when quarterback Cade Klubnik targeted him, posting a 125.4 quarterback rating when doing so.

Not only is quarterback Drake Maye getting a reliable weapon, but Williams is a Swiss-Army Knife that can be used on the ground and in the return game.

Check out the full 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Antonio Williams

More 2026 NFL Mock Draft Picks

Here are more 2026 NFL Mock Drafts.

Seth Woolcock is a FantasyPros on-air host and producer. For more fantasy sports and sports betting analysis from Seth, follow him on X/Twitter @Between_SethFF.

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