2026 Nfl Mock Draft First Round Picks Projections

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 28, 2026, 8:47 AM

2026 nfl mock draft first round picks projections

Only two teams are playing in Super Bowl 60, which means the NFL's other 30 teams (and their fanbases) can turn their attention to the 2026 season. That means shifting focus to the offseason's marquee event: the NFL draft. There are just under three months until the 2026 NFL Draft gets started in Pittsburgh, but everything leading up to it is pretty much set. The NFL draft order's first 30 picks are locked in, with only the order of the last two picks to be determined, and the NFL world seems to be in agreement about what the... 1 overall pick. There even seems to be a bit of a consensus about the New York Jets' choice at No.

2. Behind that, though, things become much more uncertain. Here's how NFL draft experts Ayrton Ostly of USA TODAY Sports, Mel Kiper of ESPN and NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah laid out their most recent mock drafts: Latest order via Tankathon.com. Picks No. 31 and 32 will be finalized after the Super Bowl.

The thing about the NFL Playoffs and the offseason, specifically with the 2026 NFL Draft not coming until April, is that things can change rapidly. We have the first 28 picks in the draft set for conference championship weekend, guys like Mike McCarthy and John Harbaugh have found new homes with the Steelers and Giants, respectively, and we have... There's a lot of information on the table, but with free agency and the NFL Combine still to come, things are still sure to change more in every NFL Mock Draft for 2026, and... As things currently stand, though, we have to simply go based on the information available, what our eyes have told us about draft prospects and team needs, and make our projections from there. There will be a trade in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, but only one for now, though it does involve a quarterback. From there, it's all about projecting the smartest fits between caliber of prospect and what teams need.

Not that it wasn't already solidified, but Fernando Mendoza's gutsy performance in the CFP National Championship Game to complete a perfect season for Indiana locked him into the No. 1 pick for the Raiders. Mendoza's IQ for the position is evident, and he has the innate ability to combine the smart play on a given down with also being able to fit the ball into windows, and use... More than all that, it's abundantly evident that he's a top-tier leader who can help usher in a new era for Vegas. Yes, the Jets need a quarterback. No, there's not a real chance, as of right now, that they take one with the second overall pick.

But one of the things I can't escape right now is Aaron Glenn's hot seat. I think that factors in quite heavily to their 2026 draft plans, which is why someone like Arvell Reese is well in play for New York with this pick. While he could be a stand-up linebacker or an edge rusher (or a hybrid player) at the next level, he has the tools as a defensive chess piece to be a difference-maker wherever he... It's good to see that some people are shifting more to my side of the coin with having Francis Maugioa slightly ahead of Spencer Fano in terms of offensive tackle rankings. The Miami product just has the blend of physical tools and size that are hard to come by — but he's also proven he knows how to put those traits to good use. The Cardinals have a ton of work to do in order to build a new roster infrastructure, but having Mauigoa and Paris Johnson Jr.

together is a good start. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"> </span> The NFL Divisional Round has concluded, and with just three games left in the NFL season, it’s time for my first 2026 NFL mock draft of the year. Let’s go. The Raiders are picking No. 1 for a reason, and the clear-cut QB1 in this class is Fernando Mendoza.

He doesn’t have elite tools such as a massive arm or eye-popping speed, but he’ll win above the shoulders. It’ll be intriguing to see who his head coach will be in Las Vegas. Without Dante Moore, the quarterback-needy Jets opt for perhaps the best defensive player in the draft in the versatile Arvell Reese. In college, he came off the edge and played off-ball, and the Jets have needs in both areas. The Aaron Glenn-led football Jets were last in the NFL in pressures with 164. The Jets used their first-round pick last year on an offensive lineman.

Glenn gets a defensive player to work with this year. As we move toward the 2026 NFL Draft with early entries now officially declared, we can begin to make more serious projections, with only the final two teams still left to be determined in... Overall, this might not be the most impressive crop of first-rounders, as the quarterback, running back, cornerback and offensive line groups lack the elite talent of recent seasons. That said, the defensive line -- and especially the edge class -- might be one of the best I've seen in years, so expect a long, deep run on those players. The wide receiver group also looks very solid, as it has in recent drafts, even without a no-brainer consensus No. 1 guy.

Jeremiyah Love, Caleb Downs, Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey, Makai Lemon and Kenyon Sadiq are a few of my favorite prospects regardless of position. I also wouldn't be surprised if more teams look to trade out of the first round this year and stockpile picks for 2027, because that class is shaping up to be loaded with elite... While the 2026 NFL Draft process is just beginning to kick into high gear -- with college all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and individual pro days still ahead -- here are my projections... Now that the final deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft has passed, it's officially Mock Draft Season! After getting a chance to dig into the game tape, there are some highly enticing prospects at the top of the draft. The group might not have quite as many blue-chip prospects as some other recent classes, but there's great depth at edge rusher and a talented collection of receivers.

Also, there is an overwhelming need for offensive linemen around the league, which could push some blockers up the board a bit. We are very early in the process, though. With more tape study, all-star games, the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency still to come, a lot will change between now and the draft. I tend to base my mock drafts on what I'm hearing around the league, whereas my Top 50 prospect rankings reflect what I'm seeing during my own evaluations. Keep an eye out for those rankings on Tuesday, but for now, here is my first look at how the top 32 selections could play out when the draft gets underway on April 23... Mendoza clearly distanced himself from the rest of the field at quarterback this past season, culminating in Indiana’s first ever national title.

With 39 touchdowns and no interceptions in the red zone since 2024, the Raiders can’t pass up that rare production. Fernando Mendoza is now the clear-cut favorite to go first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, as Dante Moore has announced his return to Oregon. While the upcoming NFL Draft is still months away, FOX Sports Research put together a mock for the first round. The order has been officially set for the first 24 picks, while the last eight picks were set based on projections for the remaining playoff teams' finish. Note: Several players expected to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft have not because of their participation in the CFP national championship; below is a projection of players who are expected to declare at... This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.

If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Geno Smith is 35 years old and coming off a season in which he threw 17 interceptions to just 19 touchdowns. Mendoza has exhibited all the tools you want to see in a top QB prospect: elite arm strength, the ability to throw into tight windows, and sneaky mobility for a 6-foot-5 signal caller. The Heisman winner leads all of FBS with 41 passing touchdowns this season, which is also the Indiana single-season record. He'll take on the Hurricanes in the national championship game on Monday.

It's sad to think that the 2025 NFL season is nearing its end, but for many fan bases around the league, the end of this season will mark the beginning of renewed hope. For more than half the league, this season didn't go the way everyone expected. Or maybe in the case of some teams, it went exactly as expected, and that's part of the problem. Thankfully, there's a new batch of prospects coming up to the league, but at the most premium positions (QB, OT, CB, WR, EDGE), beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. With big names like Arch Manning returning to school for another season, who is going 1st overall? Will quarterback-needy teams be able to bank on this year's draft class?

We're making picks for the entire first round in this all-new 2026 NFL mock draft. The Raiders play against the New York Giants in what could end up being a battle for the #1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And right now, the Raiders need it more. They even put Brock Bowers on IR to give themselves a better chance. Okay, we can’t say that as fact, that’s more tongue in cheek, but if the boot fits… The Raiders need a QB to build around, and Fernando Mendoza looks like he’s got what it takes to come run the point effectively.

2026 Nfl Mock Draft First Round Picks Projections

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