Richard Janvrin | Thu, Apr 23rd 2026, 7:51am EDT

2026 NFL Mock Draft With Trades: Round 1 Predictions

We’re finally here: It’s time for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Below is my final mock draft ahead of the 257-pick extravaganza.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Picks & Predictions

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

Consider this done.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey (EDGE – Texas Tech)

Aaron Glenn would love Arvell Reese‘s versatility, but this team needs some talent that can produce and help keep the head coach employed.

TRADE: 3. Kansas City Chiefs: Arvell Reese (EDGE – Ohio State)

The Chiefs strike a trade to move up with the Cardinals, who want to move down. Based on the Chiefs’ draft capital, they can find a way to avoid giving up No. 29 and still get here, even if that means 2027 capital.

Now, Steve Spagnuolo has a new toy to play with in various roles.

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love (RB – Notre Dame)

The Titans need help for Cam Ward, and they do so with one of the most dynamic running backs in recent memory.

5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs (S – Ohio State)

John Harbaugh has drafted Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks. He knows how important it is to have a reliable player on the back-end, and Downs is arguably the best overall player in the draft.

6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate (WR – Ohio State)

The Browns may want to trade down, but with Tate here, they get a perfect player to complement Jerry Jeudy and provide another option for whoever is playing quarterback this season.

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB – Ohio State)

Dan Quinn would love to have a player like Styles to quarterback his defense over the long haul. There aren’t many better athletes than him.

8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon (WR – USC)

I know he’s been falling down others’ boards, but I just can’t help but think of how perfect he and Chris Olave would be on the field together. Lemon will be a yards after the catch monster.

TRADE: 9. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa (OT – Miami)

And this is why the Cardinals traded down. They still get their plug-and-play right tackle in Mauigoa after moving down six spots.

10. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson (WR – Arizona State)

The medical concerns me, but the Giants’ interest in Tyson appears very real. He’ll come in and help a receiving corps that’s in desperate need of more talent.

TRADE: 11. Philadelphia Eagles: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE – Miami)

The Eagles move up from No. 23 to ensure they get arguably the best pass rusher in the draft. Bain Jr. has short arms, but is powerful and will fit the Eagles perfectly.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane (CB – LSU)

Somehow, someway, Delane fell to No. 12, and the Cowboys run the pick in. Delane will immediately be a difference maker in their secondary.

13. Los Angeles Rams: Spencer Fano (OL – Utah)

The Rams lost Rob Havenstein to retirement and Steve Avila and Alaric Jackson‘s contracts will both be up over the next two seasons. Fano is versatile and will fill in wherever needed.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kadyn Proctor (OT – Alabama)

The Ravens opt to go with the hulking tackle out of Alabama. Some argue he may be a guard, but either way, you don’t find many players like Proctor.

TRADE: 17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling (OT – Georgia)

After a couple of tackles go off the board, the Lions get a bit antsy and trade up a couple of spots to ensure they can get their guy in Freeling. He could play left guard for Christian Mahogany or step in for Larry Borom at left tackle.

16. New York Jets: Denzel Boston (WR – Washington)

The Jets could use a big-bodied, contested-catch receiver like Boston to complement Garrett Wilson.

TRADE: 17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Olaivavega Ioane (OG – Penn State)

The Buccaneers probably would’ve taken Ioane at No. 15, but they get a bit of capital and take him here. They need to protect Baker Mayfield, and Ioane will be a plug-and-play guard.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman (S – Oregon)

Everyone is slotting Thieneman to the Vikings, which makes me nervous about predicting him there. I also think they consider Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, but Thieneman’s versatility will thrive with Brian Flores’ defense.

19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq (TE – Oregon)

The Panthers have numerous big receivers now, with Sadiq joining a group of Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker. Sadiq will immediately step in and start.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Lawrence (EDGE – UCF)

A late riser in this draft process, Lawrence has excellent measureables and is explosive. The Cowboys address defense with both of their picks.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Blake Miller (OT – Clemson)

Miller is more of a right tackle, but Troy Fautanu has experience from his college days at left tackle. Broderick Jones hasn’t panned out, and he’s now hurt. Miller will step in right away.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon (OG – Oregon)

A bit of a surprise pick here, but the Chargers need a left guard, and Pregnon fits perfectly. They have Trevor Penning on a one-year deal, but he’s another player who has not panned out in the NFL.

TRADE: 23. Miami Dolphins: K.C. Concepcion (WR – Texas A&M)

The Dolphins need some juice in their passing game, and Concepcion, who separates better than anyone in the class, does just that.

24. Cleveland Browns: Caleb Lomu (OT – Utah)

Lomu played left tackle in college, and right now, left tackle is the Browns’ weakest position along the offensive line, with Dawand Jones‘ health up and down. Lomu still needs some time, but he can spend this season playing in other positions before taking over full-time left tackle duties.

25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk (EDGE – Auburn)

One of the younger prospects, Faulk, can line up along the defensive line and will be coached by one of the best, Dennis Allen.

26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald (DT – Ohio State)

McDonald doesn’t do much as a pass rusher right now, but he’s excellent against the run. The Bills were one of the worst run defenses last season, and this helps right that ship.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Max Iheanachor (OT – Arizona State)

There aren’t many tackles with Iheanchor’s athleticism, and under Kyle Shanahan and offensive line coach Chris Foerster, he’ll help turn him into a book-end tackle for this team for years to come.

TRADE: 28. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson (QB – Alabama)

The Cardinals move up a few spots to secure the fifth-year option and their (hopeful) quarterback of the future.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Omar Cooper Jr. (WR – Indiana)

The Chiefs leave the first round with a Micah Parsons-like defender and a quality receiver that’ll be excellent after the catch to give Patrick Mahomes another weapon in Cooper Jr.

30. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy (CB – Tennessee)

The fall ends here. The Dolphins need talent, and while there are medical concerns with McCoy, even if the Dolphins didn’t expect much in 2026, he’ll still be there for 2027. His sophomore tape was unbelievable. Let’s just hope he can stay healthy.

31. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE – Miami)

The Patriots need some help off the edge, and while he’s 25, Mesidor will come in and contribute for the defending AFC champs.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Chris Johnson (CB – San Diego State)

Johnson is so versatile that Mike Macdonald will find all kinds of ways to deploy him. Colton Hood makes sense here, too, but I’m a massive fan of Johnson.

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