Final 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft Dominated by Trades
Six trades rock the first round as we dig into my final mock draft of the 2026 cycle.
The 2026 NFL Draft is a nightmare. I always feel like I have a clue about how the top half of the first round will play out. Not this year. I just saw multiple of the usual top scorers project a trade up for New Orleans with Arizona to take Arvell Reese at third overall. Are they all copying Daniel Jeremiah, or does someone actually know something?
This will be my final mock draft for the 2026 cycle. I thought about making it three rounds, but I spent close to six hours overthinking and running through a pair of first round mocks today, so that ended up being completely out of the picture. However, I included projected second round picks for teams that don’t have their first round selections. At least this way, every team is involved.
This is a predictive mock draft that I will submit for scoring. Say a prayer for me because I think I’ll need it this time around.
Below each team is a little row labeled “considered.” I list every prospect or action I considered for the team in that row. If you hate the player I picked for your team, chances are there’s one you like more down below.
I included available and already selected players in the “considered” category. This was part of a pre-mock brainstorming exercise where I listed out candidates for each team to narrow down the number of choices I needed to make once I started selecting players. So you’re seeing my thought process from beginning to end.
Final Big Board Rankings l Media Members Pick Favorite Day 2 & 3 Prospects
Thank you all for following along this year. I still have a “my guys” team scheduled to drop sometime tomorrow, along with Senior Bowl prospect interviews and maybe a few team-specific seven-round mock drafts. Check back later for all the new stuff.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana
Considered: Fernando Mendoza
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge Ohio State
Considered: David Bailey, Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson, Arvell Reese
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame
Considered: Trade down for Francis Mauigoa, Jeremiyah Love, Ty Simpson, David Bailey
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge Texas Tech
Considered: Sonny Styles, David Bailey, Caleb Downs, Jordyn Tyson
5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR Arizona State
Considered: Francis Mauigoa, Sonny Styles, Jordyn Tyson, Caleb Downs, either top 2 edge if they fall
TRADE: Browns send No. 6 to Giants for No. 10, No. 145, and a 2027 Second Rounder
6. New York Giants (*Via Browns): Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami
Also Considered: Stick and pick, Francis Mauigoa, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Kadyn Proctor
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB Ohio State
Considered: Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, Carnell Tate, Mansoor Delane
8. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge Miami
Considered: Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane, Carnell Tate
TRADE: Chiefs send No. 9 to Dolphins for No. 11 and No. 94
9. Miami Dolphins (*Via Chiefs): Spencer Fano, OL Utah
Considered: Stick and pick Mansoor Delane, Francis Mauigoa, Olaivavega Ioane, Spencer Fano, Rueben Bain Jr.
TRADE: Browns send No. 6 to Giants for No. 10, No. 145, and a 2027 Second Rounder
10. Cleveland Browns (*Via Giants): Kadyn Proctor, OL Alabama
Considered: Trade back into the teens, Jordyn Tyson, Monroe Freeling, Kadyn Proctor
TRADE: Chiefs send No. 9 to Dolphins for No. 11 and No. 94
11. Kansas City Chiefs (*Via Dolphins): Mansoor Delane, CB LSU
Considered: Stick and pick Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr., Mansoor Delane, Carnell Tate, Kadyn Proctor
12. Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Downs, S Ohio State
Considered: Trade up, Rueben Bain Jr., Sonny Styles, Mansoor Delane, Caleb Downs
TRADE: Rams send No. 13 to Lions for No. 17, No. 128, and a 2027 Second Rounder
13. Detroit Lions (*Via Rams): Monroe Freeling, OT Georgia
Considered: Monroe Freeling, Olaivavega Ioane, Kadyn Proctor, Jacob Rodriguez, Francis Mauigoa
TRADE: Ravens send No. 14 to Jets for No. 16 and No. 103
14. New York Jets (*Via Ravens): Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State
Considered: Trade up for Carnell Tate, Dillon Thieneman, Kenyon Sadiq, Makai Lemon
TRADE: Buccaneers send No. 15 to Chargers for No. 22, No. 86, and a 2027 Second Rounder
15. Los Angeles Chargers (*Via Buccaneers): Olaivavega Ioane, G Penn State
Considered: T. J. Parker, Keldric Faulk, Keylan Rutledge, Olaivavega Ioane
TRADE: Ravens send No. 14 to Jets for No. 16 and No. 103
16. Baltimore Ravens (*Via Jets): Kenyon Sadiq, TE Oregon
Considered: Stick and pick Carnell Tate, Olaivavega Ioane, Kenyon Sadiq, trade back for Peter Woods or Emmanuel Pregnon
TRADE: Rams send No. 13 to Lions for No. 17, No. 128, and a 2027 Second Rounder
17. Los Angeles Rams (*Via Lions): Makai Lemon, WR USC
Considered: Stick and pick Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, Keldric Faulk
18. Minnesota Vikings: Peter Woods, IDL Clemson
Considered: KC Concepcion, Peter Woods, Kenyon Sadiq, Dillon Thieneman
19. Carolina Panthers: Dillon Thieneman, S Oregon
Considered: KC Concepcion, Kenyon Sadiq, Peter Woods, Monroe Freeling
20. Dallas Cowboys (Via Packers): T.J. Parker, Edge Clemson
Considered: Kenyon Sadiq, Chris Johnson, Akheem Mesidor, KC Concepcion, T.J. Parker
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: KC Concepcion, WR Texas A&M
Considered: Olaivavega Ioane, Caleb Lomu, Monroe Freeling, Max Iheanachor, Makai Lemon, KC Concepcion
TRADE: Buccaneers send No. 15 to Chargers for No. 22, No. 86, and a 2027 Second Rounder
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*Via Chargers): Akheem Mesidor, Edge Miami
Considered: Trade down anywhere if possible, Olaivavega Ioane, Jacob Rodriguez, Malachi Lawrence, Akheem Mesidor, Keyon Sadiq
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Blake Miller, OT Clemson
Considered: Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, R Mason Thomas, Caleb Lomu, Denzel Boston, Blake Miller
24. Cleveland Browns (Via Jaguars): Omar Cooper Jr., WR Indiana
Considered: Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Lomu, Avieon Terrell, Omar Cooper Jr.
25. Chicago Bears: Keldric Faulk, Edge Auburn
Considered: T.J. Parker, Keldric Faulk, Omar Cooper Jr., Jacob Rodriguez, Kayden McDonald
TRADE: Bills send No. 26 to Cardinals for No. 34 and No. 104
26. Arizona Cardinals (*Via Bills): Ty Simpson, QB Alabama
Considered: Trade up for Ty Simpson, Jermod McCoy, Max Iheanachor, Blake Miller,
27. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Boston, WR Washington
Considered: Trade back, Keylan Rutledge, Malachi Lawrence, Max Iheanachor, Caleb Lomu, Chris Johnson
28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, IDL Ohio State
Considered: Max Iheanachor, Blake Miller, Jermod McCoy, Peter Woods, Kayden Proctor, Kenyon Sadiq, Kayden McDonald
29. Kansas City Chiefs (Via Rams): Chris Johnson, CB San Diego State
Considered: Chris Johnson, Colton Hood, Treydan Stukes, Jermod McCoy, Peter Woods, Max Iheanachor, BPA at edge
30. Miami Dolphins (Via Broncos): Colton Hood, CB Tennessee
Considered: Chris Johnson, Denzel Boston, Emmanuel Pregnon, Chase Bisontis, Colton Hood
31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor, OT Arizona State
Considered: Kayden McDonald, Malachi Lawrence, Denzel Boston, Zion Young, Blake Miller
32. Seattle Seahawks: Cashius Howell, Edge Texas A&M
Also Considered: Trade out, Cashius Howell, Peter Woods, Jermod McCoy, Chris Johnson, Emmanuel Pregnon, Malachi Lawrence
Best Players Available: Offense
Caleb Lomu, OT Utah
Chase Bisontis, G/C Texas A&M
Emmanuel Pregnon, G Oregon
Chris Bell, WR Louisville
Chris Brazzell II, WR Tennessee
Best Players Available: Defense
Caleb Banks, IDL Florida
Lee Hunter, IDL Texas Tech
Christen Miller, IDL Georgia
Malachi Lawrence, Edge UCF
Jacob Rodriguez, LB Texas Tech
Jermod McCoy, CB Tennessee
Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina
D'Angelo Ponds, CB Indiana
Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson
Treydan Stukes, DB Arizona
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S Toledo
Second Round - Remaining Teams
TRADE: Bills send No. 26 to Cardinals for No. 34 and No. 104
34. Buffalo Bills (*Via Cardinals): Malachi Lawrence, Edge UCF
Considered: Trade back, Denzel Boston, Malachi Lawrence, T.J. Parker, Keylan Rutledge, Jacob Rodriguez, KC Concepcion
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Eli Stowers, TE Vanderbilt
Considered: Jacob Rodriguez, Malachi Lawrence, Treydan Stukes, Eli Stowers
47. Indianapolis Colts: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S Toledo
Considered: Caleb Lomu, Chris Bell, Caleb Banks, CJ Allen, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
48. Atlanta Falcons: R Mason Thomas, Edge Oklahoma
Considered: Caleb Tiernan, Chris Bell, R Mason Thomas, Germie Bernard, Cashius Howell
52. Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse, CB South Carolina
Considered: Christen Miller, Chase Bisontis, Malachi Lawrence, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Brandon Cisse
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: CJ Allen, LB Georgia
Considered: Caleb Banks, Lee Hunter, Gabe Jacas, Jake Golday, CJ Allen
62. Denver Broncos: Derrick Moore, Edge Michigan
Considered: Eli Stowers, Oscar Delp. Anthony Hill Jr., Jake Golday, Derrick Moore
A lot of work. Well done.