RADIO
With the Senior Bowl over, Chris gives you projections for every first round pick in the NFL Draft. See which bowl participants may have pushed their way into the first round with quality performances.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions (Post Senior Bowl)
With the Senior Bowl over, Chris gives you projections for every first round pick in the NFL Draft. See which bowl participants may have pushed their way into the first round with quality performances.
1. Las Vegas Raiders- Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Something earth shattering will have to happen for the Raiders to pass on the opportunity to draft Mendoza. One would assume the prospect of adding him is what made Klint Kubiak choose Las Vegas over Arizona.
2. New York Jets- Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The people saying Reese is a “pure interior linebacker with some pass rush utility” are the same people who didn’t like Jalon Walker or Micah Parsons as primary edge rushers out of college. The Jets have to take the best player available with this pick, and that is shaping up to be Reese.
3. Arizona Cardinals- David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Cardinals could definitely go right tackle with this pick, given that is a key need. However, Bailey is arguably the best player available and should remind new Head Coach Mike LaFleur of an edge he had in Los Angeles (Byron Young).
4. Tennessee Titans- Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Robert Saleh could push for Rueben Bain Jr. here, but the Titans must do everything they can to support Cam Ward and free agency is deeper at edge than it is receiver this offseason. So, Tate is the pick and gives Ward a big play threat and a red zone winner.
5. New York Giants- Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
With Carnell Tate off the board, the Giants focus on keeping Jaxson Dart healthy. Both starters on the right side of their offensive line are aging and free agents, so Mauigoa would step in and offer an immediate injection of youth and talent at a potential area of need.
6. Cleveland Browns- Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Browns have to start building out a younger, healthier, and better offensive line to protect whichever quarterback of the future they draft in 2027… or Shedeur Sanders. Fano allowed zero sacks and just five quarterback pressures last year, 12th best amongst all blockers.
7. Washington Commanders- Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
We are sticking with Love here, since the best prospect in the class can help Jayden Daniels stay healthy and ascend. Remember, Commanders GM Adam Peters was part of the 49ers front office that traded for Christian McCaffrey.
8. New Orleans Saints- Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Saints could look at Rueben Bain Jr. with this pick, but they also need to get Tyler Shough a second weapon other than the oft-injured Chris Olave. Tyson has the size and YAC skills to give the Saints a dynamic and dangerous compliment to their lead receiver.
9. Kansas City Chiefs- Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State
This is a luxury pick that Kansas City can afford to use on one of the best players in this class, especially if they sign a Travis Kelce heir in free agency. Downs is a top-five talent who only falls due to his positional value, but his versatility would give the Chiefs plenty of options.
10. Cincinnati Bengals- Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (FL)
Bain is arguably the best case scenario for a Bengals team in desperate need of pass rush production and youth. His short arms do cause some concern about his ceiling as a pass rusher, but his relentless motor and strong run support make him a safe pick with upside.
11. Miami Dolphins- Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Miami just hired a defensive minded head coach, largely because their defense rated fifth-worst in run stopping efficiency and tenth worst in coverage grade. McCoy is the most talented cover corner in this class, despite an injury that kept him out of the 2025 season.
12. Dallas Cowboys- Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Cowboys desperately need an edge rusher, but there is none available who is worthy of this pick. That leads to Styles, an interior linebacker capable of rushing the passer. He would fill a need that the Cowboys unsuccessfully tried to fill with mid-season acquisitions.
13. Los Angeles Rams- Makai Lemon, WR, USC
While Los Angeles’ secondary was exposed against Seattle and could use improvement, this pick is a luxury and it is hard to pass on a talent like Lemon who can start in the slot before replacing Davante Adams.
14. Baltimore Ravens- Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
The Ravens have a long history of building through the trenches and their hiring of a defensive minded head coach does little to change that. Ioane is a bit of a reach here, but he fits Baltimore’s need and personality on their offensive line as a mauling run grader.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
The Buccaneers’ two greatest needs are at edge rusher and interior linebacker, but Sonny Styles is off the board and no speed rushers available are worth this pick. Thus they pivot, drafting the instinctive and experienced Delane as the best player available.
16. New York Jets- Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
The Jets have a need for a difference making interior defender after trading Quinnen Williams, and Banks has that kind of potential. After his showing at the Senior Bowl, some team will overdraft Banks because of his nose tackle frame with defensive end movement skills.
17. Detroit Lions- Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Proctor is not a top 20 talent, but the Lions desperately need help on their interior offensive line and could need help at tackle if Taylor Decker retires. Proctor projects best as a mauling guard that Dan Campbell would love, but can kick outside if necessary.
18. Minnesota Vikings- Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
With no offensive players available who fit their current needs, the Vikings focus on their biggest defensive weakness. Hood had some off moments at the Senior Bowl, but he’s a feisty corner who shows tenacity and an ability to correct his mistakes and learn from them.
19. Carolina Panthers- Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers have Ja’Tavian Sanders, but the former Longhorn has failed to seize a starting job or make an impact as a receiver. Sadiq is a far better athlete and blocker than Sanders, giving Bryce Young another potential difference maker to throw to.
20. Dallas Cowboys- T.J. Parker, DE, Clemson
The Cowboys need more edge rush help and Parker would fit with his superior length and athleticism. The popular pick for Dallas may be Keldric Faulk, but Parker’s stock is on the rise after the Senior Bowl and he is a better fit for what the Cowboys like at edge.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers- Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
The Steelers elect not to reach for Ty Simpson here and instead focus on adding a big receiver who can block. D.K. Metcalf’s average depth of target was a career low last year and the addition of Boston would allow Pittsburgh to use Metcalf more as a field stretcher in 2026.
22. Los Angeles Chargers- Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon
Pregnon continues to make sense for a Jim Harbaugh offense. Injuries were not the only problem for the Chargers’ offensive line last year, as Mekhi Becton took a major step back and could be a cap casualty. Pregnon would offer an immediate upgrade, especially as a run blocker.
23. Philadelphia Eagles- Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
If there is one thing you can count on with Howie Roseman, it is that he will catch talented but falling defensive stars. Woods is the type of versatile and athletic defender that Roseman loves to cultivate when the rest of the league has soured on him.
24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville)- KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Browns continue to build this roster for an undesignated young quarterback. Concepcion would offer Cleveland an explosive skillset at wide receiver that they do not currently have on their roster.
25. Chicago Bears- Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
The Bears would love to add a big and powerful edge who is strong against the run but also has the toolset to register eight sacks per year. Faulk could go much higher than this, but the Bears feel like his floor since he would fill multiple needs for them in one pick.
26. (TRADE) Jacksonville Jaguars-Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Jaguars trade from a position of depth (receiver) to improve their weak defensive tackle group. No Jaguars interior defender had a positive pass rush or run defense grade last year, but McDonald led all NCAA defensive tackles in run defense grade and run stuffs last year.
Trade Compensation:
Buffalo Receives: Brian Thomas Jr.
Jacksonville Receives: Pick #26
27. San Francisco 49ers- Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami (FL)
The 49ers should draft an offensive tackle who can eventually replace the aging Trent Williams. What they will do, most likely, is draft another defensive lineman. Mesidor is older but incredibly polished. He would make an immediate impact in San Fran’s depleted rotation.
28. Houston Texans- Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Given how desperately Houston needs an offensive tackle to protect C.J. Stroud, they should strongly consider moving up for Lomu on draft day. They will be incredibly fortunate if his polish (zero sacks allowed in 2025) and projectable frame fall to the needy Texans.
29. Los Angeles Rams- Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Rams’ secondary was exposed in the NFC Championship, so they would be wise to address it early… even if that is not their typical approach to the position. Cisse has solid length, is a strong run defender, and should test very well at the Combine.
30. Denver Broncos- CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
The Broncos could be looking for two new starters on the interior of their linebacker corps this year. Allen has plenty of youth, size, and he is an explosive downhill defender who would improve the athleticism of that position group immediately.
31. New England Patriots- Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Patriots could use more help on offense, specifically a young right tackle and lead receiver. However, the value available with this pick is on defense. Howell’s undersized slashing style shows shades of current Patriots pass rusher Harold Landry III when he came out of Boston College.
32. Seattle Seahawks- Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Seattle will likely be looking to replace two of their starting wide receivers next year. While the return of Tory Horton will help, a talent like Bell could enamor this team if his medicals look good. Bell has the size, hands, and fearlessness to be a big slot or a boundary weapon.
