1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana

This is perhaps the most solidified move any team has made or could make this entire offseason. The writing has been on the wall for Mendoza and the Raiders for months now. The black and gold will have their first go-around with a potential franchise QB since Derek Carr. The signing of veteran Kirk Cousins is only going to help Mendoza’s development into a true leader both in the locker room and on the field.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese EDGE Ohio State

This slot could go one of two ways: Reese or Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey. The upside of Reese paired with the fact the Jets have time to build their defense over the next few years makes us confident they go with the Buckeye here.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa OT Miami

Mauigoa is a pretty sure-thing in terms of being a Week 1 NFL starter. He has all the measurements, intangibles, and positive game film needed to be the third overall pick in 2026. The Cardinals will pair him with Paris Johnson Jr to lock down both tackle spots for the next bunch of years.

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame

Love is by FAR the best back in this class, as he does pretty much everything exceptionally well. Cam Ward is the future in Tennessee, and with that comes a need for a supporting cast to help him flourish. A dynamic weapon like Love will expedite his rise to stardom.

5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles LB Ohio State

The Giants have done a lot to build their roster from close to nothing in the last two years, but the release of longtime sideline-to-sideline backer Bobby Okereke leaves a huge hole at linebacker. Enter Sonny Styles, who’s athleticism and IQ make him an attractive long-term solution, and gives new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson a shiny new weapon to play with.

6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate WR Ohio State

Outside of Amari Cooper, the Browns have lacked a true WR1 since Josh Gordon (we consider Jarvis Landry more of a fringe guy when he was in Cleveland). Tate is probably the most NFL-ready out of this year’s receiver class, and will immediately step in and head this WR corps to help Sheduer Sanders’s development during his sophomore campaign.

7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech

The Commanders were probably a Jayden Daniels early-season injury away from going back to the playoffs in 2026, so although they are picking 7th, this roster is way more solid than the teams picking around them. With that being said, they don’t have much in terms of long-term upside at pass rusher, and Bailey is the most pro-ready edge in this class. He racked up 14.5 sacks at Texas Tech in 2025, and has double-digit potential in his rookie season in 2026 in the nation’s capital.

8. New Orleans Saints: Caleb Downs S Ohio State

At one point, Downs was the number one player on our big board this year. He has all the makings to be Kyle Hamilton 2.0: he can chase down runners, play the ball in the air, and read an offense better than maybe anyone else in this class. The Saints offense came alive at the end of last year under Tyler Shough, giving them hope on that side of the ball and the ability to focus more on defense with this pick.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr EDGE Miami

Perhaps the team going into 2026 with the most question marks, Kansas City finds themselves in unusual territory having multiple glaring holes on offense AND defense. They tied for the 7th fewest sacks in football in 2025 with 35, and Bain brings over 20.5 career sacks in three seasons with the Hurricanes.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane CB LSU

The Bengals tied for the third most passing touchdowns allowed last season with 35, and don’t enter 2026 with much secondary depth. There’s a pretty strong bet their offense bounces back with a healthy Joe Burrow and keeps them in more games this coming year, and Delane will help alleviate a lot of defensive issues on the other side of the ball. He has the best instincts of any cornerback in this class, and has immense upside as a shutdown corner starting in Week 1.

11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon WR USC

There were a lot of reports circulating that Lemon tanked his draft stock with his poor interviews, but his talent is genuinely too great to ignore past this range of the draft. He’s a sound route runner who has a knack for finding the ball no matter where it is and who’s around him. Miami may be the worst on-paper roster in football, but this gives them new quarterback Malik Willis a WR1 to replace Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill’s departures in the first year of what may be a lengthy rebuild.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy CB Tennessee

It seemed any QB who matched up against the Dallas secondary in 2025 had the best game of their life, and they didn’t do enough during the offseason to help stop the bleeding that is poised to carry over into 2026. Cobie Durant will be a difference maker, but pairing McCoy opposite him will do wonders for a team that is already above-average offensively.

13. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson QB Alabama

The Rams don’t need much, but reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is entering his age-38 season as a signal caller who may only have a couple years left in the tank before he decides to hang up his cleats. Ty Simpson has an absolute cannon, and while he has plenty of room to grow, this is probably the best landing spot for the Alabama product to learn the ropes of being an NFL QB. This pick could pay dividends for Sean McVay and the Rams once Stafford decides to ride off into the sunset, setting them up for a smooth transition from the jump at the most important position in football.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano OT Utah

The Ravens lost a lot this offseason, and enter 2026 with a lot of question marks on the offensive line. Spencer Fano has immense talent, and while he may have less-than-ideal arm length for an NFL tackle, he has fantastic blocking abilities at every level and will be an above-average guard if moved their.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor EDGE Miami

Tampa Bay ranked in the bottom 10 in pressure rate and QB hurries in 2025, and while the offense left a lot on the table, most of that can be attributes to injuries to Baker Mayfield and pretty much the entire wide receiver room. Mesidor was a bit overshadowed by Rueben Bain at Miami, but is a mature and talanted defender in his own right, He will slot in as a day-one starter for the Bucs in 2026.

16. New York Jets: Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State

The Jets WR room is basically star playmaker Garrett Wilson and hit-or-miss speedster Adonai Mitchell with a bunch of dart throws behind them. Tyson has WR1 written all over him, but a nagging hamstring injury sunk his draft stock that at one point had him mocked in the top five on some sites. If he can put this issue behind him before the season starts, he may end up being the steal of the round from a value perspective. Geno Smith is obviously a bridge QB for a potential top pick in 2027 at QB, and Tyson paired with Wilson makes a formidable duo that a rookie can only dream of throwing to when entering the league.

17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling OT Georgia

With only 18 starts at the college level for the Bulldogs, Freeling is one of the more inexperienced top prospects at his position. With that being said, he possesses ideal size and phenomenal raw ability, and can play on either side of the line depending on of Detroit decides to shift Penei Sewell to left tackle in 2026.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman S Oregon

Longtime secondary anchor Harrison Smith was released this offseason, leaving a massive hole at safety in Brian Flores’s defense. Thieneman is super physical and a gifted ballhawk, which fits the mold for what Minnesota usually looks for at the safety position. Even if Smith returns to the Vikings post-draft, that would only provide a hall of fame mentor for the young Oregon product.

19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq TE Oregon

From a pure value standpoint alone, this would be an absolute slam dunk for Dan Morgan and Dave Canales. Tetairoa McMillan was productive as a rookie wideout in 2025, but Bryce Young needs more legitimate weapons if he’s going to continue to improve and make the Panthers a perennial playoff threat. Sadiq has off-the-chart talent as a receiver and route runner, and would walk into training camp as the number two option in the Carolina offense.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk EDGE Auburn

Faulk is only 20 years old, and has the makings of a project that could pay ridiculous dividends in the right landing spot. He has absurd strength and prototypical size, and Dallas has a knack for turning water into wine at the edge rusher position. With all the tools in place already, Faulk may be the next in a long line of Pro Bowl Cowboys that terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Olaivavega Ioane OG Penn State

Pittsburgh has went with an offensive lineman in the first round in two of the past three years, and that trend should continue in 2026. Isaac Seumalo departed in free agency, leaving a guard spot open for the taking. Enter Ioane, who is an explosive body and can help anchor the interior of the Steelers’ line for years to come.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods DT Clemson

Woods projects as a plus run stuffer who has the potential to add a solid pass rush to his arsenal. Defensive tackle isn’t necessarily the most glaring need for LA, but Woods is great value and has the ability to be a standout lineman as soon as he steps foot on the field in 2026.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kayden Proctor OT Alabama

Philadelphia has two great tackles in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, but with the former entering his age-35 season and suffering from durability issues in recent years, an investment in a tackle with a high ceiling would be a smart play for this front office. Proctor is around 360 pounds with the ceiling of a top-10 selection, and Howie Roseman has a tendency to steal stars from other teams in this area of the draft.

24. Cleveland Browns: Blake Miller OT Clemson

An experienced tackle with a patient approach to pummeling his opposing rushers, Miller would fill perhaps their biggest need at tackle with their later first round pick. The Browns had become accustomed to a top tier offensive line for a handful of years, and can start building it back to that level with this selection.

25. Chicago Bears: Cashius Howell EDGE Texas A&M

Howell temporarily slipped down some boards after his arm measurements, but more than made up for it with a spectacular combine performance. While reach is important as a pass rusher, Howell’s actual production speaks for itself with 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2025, and makes for a fine pick by a bears team that only managed 35 sacks this past season.

26. Buffalo Bills: Omar Cooper Jr WR Indiana

While the acquisition of DJ Moore projects to do wonders for Josh Allen and the Bills offense, the rest of the WR room still leaves much to be desired. Khalil Shakir is more of a slot/WR3, and Keon Coleman might not even be on the roster by the time we reach the preseason. Cooper caught 13 touchdowns from Fernando Mendoza during Indiana’s 2025 title-winning season, and would immediately be the top red zone threat for Buffalo.

27. San Francisco 49ers: KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M

San Francisco loves wideouts that can do damage with the ball in their hands, and Concepcion may be the best in this class at that. He had an impressive 15.1 yards per catch in 2025, and would provide a certain boost to an unsettling wide receiver room led by veteran Jauan Jennings and oft-injured Ricky Pearsall. He eventually may run the slot in that offense, but in the meantime can line up anywhere and run any route needed.

28. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu OT Utah

Houston needs to help CJ Stroud stay upright if they are going to continue to make a push towards being a Super Bowl contender, and Lomu would be a massive help. He is a fundamentally sound blocker who wouldn’t need to be this line’s savior on day one, so time will be on his side. He has immense upside if he can get stronger, and Houston would be the place to do that.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Avieon Terrell CB Clemson

The surprising trade that sent superstar corner Trent McDuffie to the Rams gives the Chiefs a chance to rebuild their secondary with this pick. Terrell is phenomenal value, as he’s a nagging hamstring injury away from being taken about ten picks earlier. He is gritty and has superb instincts, and would be an absolute gem in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

30. Miami Dolphins: CJ Allen LB Georgia

The Dolphins don’t have a lot of options at linebacker outside of Jordyn Brooks, and could use a player who is a combination of skill and leadership to rebuild their defense. Allen is all that and more, as he does everything pretty well and is a great voice of a defensive unit. He pairs well with Brooks and gives Miami something potentially pretty special at linebacker in 2026.

31. New England Patriots: Denzel Boston WR Washington

After releasing Stefon Diggs, the Patriots have a glaring need at wide receiver that they need to address sooner rather than later. Boston is a dynamic wideout with home run potential every time the ball is thrown his way. Drake Maye is solidified as the face of the franchise at QB, but he could use more legit weapons to look to come playoff time. This is a perfect landing spot for Boston in Boston.

32. Seattle Seahawks: D’Angelo Ponds CB Indiana

In our opinion, Ponds is the most undervalued player in this class. He was the leader of a championship team in Indiana, and has blazing speed and legit next-level athleticism. He can return kicks and punts, run sideline to sideline with the best receivers in college, and play the ball in the air. Tariq Woolen’s departure leaves a hole at cornerback opposite Devon Witherspoon, and Ponds would fill that void nicely.