With less than a week until the 2026 NFL Draft, this is my final mock draft based on what I think will actually happen, not what I would do if I were the GM of all 32 teams.
My mock drafts go 3-for-3 with this pick. Mendoza has NFL size with a great arm and will fit well in Klint Kubiak’s offense.
I’m holding firm with Reese at No. 2. There was a brief moment when betting marks made Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey the favorite. The Jets have since canceled their top-30 visit with him, seemingly indicating that they are going in Reese’s direction.
Bailey won’t have to wait long to hear his name called. The Cardinals could also go offensive line here, but Bailey is a blue chip EDGE and Arizona needs more firepower on defense.
Love doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Titans in my opinion, but that’s not the point of this mock draft. There has been smoke around this pairing dating all the way back to the NFL Combine, and the betting markets are also penciling it in. Cam Ward would get an electric back to help redirect the attention of defenses, and Love is considered arguably the best player in the class, if ignoring positional value.
With two top-10 picks, the Giants could go in several directions here. There’s been some buzz that they could be in the mix for a skill position player, but John Harbaugh’s No. 1 job is to protect Jaxson Dart. He does so in this mock with the best offensive lineman in the class.
The Cowboys are one of the few teams, along with the Chiefs, seemingly interested in moving up in what is considered a weak draft class. With an extra first-rounder to play with, they can afford to do so. Styles is a do-it-all defender who will immediately get the Cowboys' disoriented defense headed in the right direction.
The Commanders will be happy to see a top-tier skill position player here, regardless of where they line up on the field. Tate profiles as a big-play WR2 early in his career. As a Commander, he would have a clear runway to succeed Terry McLaurin as his team’s WR1 in a few years.
Even after a breakout season, Chris Olave alone isn’t enough to carry an entire skill positions corps. Tyson’s stock was on the rise before his private workout, which didn’t put a lid on the hype in any capacity. He’s now set up to be a top-10 pick, potentially to a receiver-needy squad like the Saints.
I think Kansas City is taking a high-value position with this pick, no matter what. It just so happens that the CB1 of the class is still on the board, and the Chiefs just traded their top corner to the Rams a few months ago. Beyond that, they let Jaylen Watson, their No. 2 corner, walk in free agency, also to the Rams. Delane is a shutdown No. 1 corner who will give the Chiefs their best shot at backfilling Trent McDuffie’s role.
The Giants acquired this pick over the weekend by trading DT Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals. Now, John Harbaugh gets a chance at finding his new Kyle Hamilton in Ohio State’s Downs.
Miami just needs someone to soak up targets, and no player is better suited for that role than Lemon. He should earn loads of short and intermediate looks out of the gate, making Malik Willis’ job much easier as he adjusts to life in South Beach.
The Browns would very much prefer there to be a franchise left tackle here, but beggars can’t be choosers. Fano is an elite right tackle prospect who profiles as a long-term starter, even if this pick still leaves Cleveland with an outstanding question mark on the other side of the line.
The Rams are one of the true wildcards in the top half of the draft. They are in play for any skill position player who makes it here, but in this mock draft, all three of the tier-one wideouts were gone. Instead, the pivot is to the best developmental tackle in the class.
I ultimately think Bain goes earlier than pick No. 14, but some players have to fall in every draft. If Bain does make it this far, he won’t last any longer. There are concerns about his size and arm length, but those are more than outweighed at this spot in the draft by both his production (20.5 sacks in three years) and his film (It’s good).
The Bucs have both tackle spots accounted for as of right now, but the interior is a work in progress. Even with right guard and center likely spoken for, GM Jason Licht needs to continue setting up Baker Mayfield for a rebound. Given what’s available, one of the highest-floor offensive linemen in the class is a great way to accomplish that.
Cooper is a YAC monster whose skill set would complement Garrett Wilson’s well. Even if the Jets don’t fix their quarterback woes in this class, they will need to set up their guy in the 2027 draft for success.
After releasing Taylor Decker, offensive line is an easy choice for the Lions. The only question is how do they address it? With a behemoth left tackle who moves well for his size on the board, that’s an easy question to answer.
This connection has been made on repeat since the NFL Combine, only because it’s extremely easy to see. Thieneman is a Swiss Army Knife safety who would make an immediate impact in Brian Flores’ scheme.
This is the make-or-break year for Bryce Young. If he doesn’t look like a true franchise passer in 2026, the Panthers could be headed back to the quarterback well in the 2027 class. With that in mind, GM Dan Morgan should be giving his quarterback every chance to succeed. That includes adding an athletic phenom at tight end with this pick.