2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft For All 32 Picks: 9.0 (With Blockbuster Trades Post Free Agency)
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Now that most of the top free agents and offseason trade candidates have found new homes, it’s the perfect time to reveal a fresh, updated NFL mock draft.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our ninth edition of the 2026 NFL First-round mock draft — including numerous blockbuster trades!
Who are the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft?
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza
Unless the Raiders get a godfather-like trade offer for the top pick, they have the easy call here to take Mendoza.
He’s far and away the best quarterback in this class. And the Raiders oughta pounce on the opportunity. There’s a lot to like about an offensive nucleus of Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Tyler Linderbaum.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese
The Jets signed Joseph Ossai and Demario Davis in free agency to bolster their front seven. It’s a decent start, but they can put the icing on the cake by taking the do-it-all linebacker out of Ohio State.
With Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams long gone, the defensive makeover begins with selecting this future All-Pro star.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Rueben Bain Jr.
The Cardinals have a nice foundation brewing on defense, led by Josh Sweat, Walter Nolen, Budda Bakker, and Will Johnson. Adding one more explosive pass rusher like Rueben Bain Jr. could be the final piece needed to complete the rebuild on D.
Not to mention that you need guys like Bain Jr. to combat against Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, and Sam Darnold in your division.
4. Tennessee Titans: Caleb Downs
We suppose the signing of Wan’Dale Robinson will take Tennessee out of the running for a receiver here. And that’s fine, because new head coach Robert Saleh will be thrilled to have a Swiss Army Knife at safety who’s drawing comparisons to Kyle Hamilton.
The Titans already have a stout front seven and signed Alontae Taylor and Cordale Flott to bolster their secondary. The finishing touch is adding one of the best safety prospects in a generation.
5. New York Giants: Spencer Fano
The Giants already have one of the league’s premier blindside tackles in Andrew Thomas. Now, they can solidify the other side of the offensive line by taking this NFL-ready tackle out of Utah.
Jaxson Dart took way too many hits as a rookie. That won’t be a concern anymore if the Giants can pair Thomas with Fano.
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate
It remains to be seen what Cleveland will do at quarterback, but regardless of who starts under center, more help at wide receiver is needed.
Jerry Jeudy is better suited as a No. 2, so adding the big-bodied Ohio State via the NFL Draft would set Cleveland up nicely at the position for years to come. An offensive nucleus of Tate, Jeudy, Quinshon Judkins, and Harold Fannin Jr?
That’s something Browns fans can get behind.
7. Kansas City Chiefs (From Washington Commanders): Jordyn Tyson
Projected trade alert! The Kansas City Chiefs acquire the No. 7 pick from the Washington Commanders in exchange for the No. 9 and No. 109 picks.
With the selection, the Chiefs get the best remaining wideout on the board in Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, not wanting to risk him going to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8.
Just like that, Kansas City has a new No. 1 receiver to round out a revamped offense that added Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.
8. New Orleans Saints: David Bailey
There’s your successor to Cameron Jordan, Saints fans.
With the Chiefs jumping ahead to take Tyson, the Saints no longer have to worry about that temptation. They can stay focused on rebuilding their front seven and take the Texas Tech standout who racked up 14.5 sacks last season.
9. Washington Commanders (From Kansas City Chiefs): Francis Mauigoa
The Commanders snag an extra round four pick to move down two spots in the 2026 NFL Draft. The risk pays off because the man they need is already at No. 9.
Jayden Daniels’s sophomore season was derailed by numerous injuries. The Commanders can learn from their mistakes of failing to protect Robert Griffin III and address the o-line early here. Mauigoa is a plug-and-play guy who would form a scary-good bookend tandem with veteran Laremy Tunsil.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Sonny Styles
The Bengals have already added three veteran stalwarts to beef up their defense in safety Bryan Cook, edge rusher Boye Mafe, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. Hey, it’s a start after losing Trey Hendrickson to Baltimore.
Cincinnati can complete the defensive makeover by adding the menacing linebacker from Ohio State. The 6-foot-4, 243-pound Styles would shore up the run defense and provide better coverage in the middle of the field.
Styles is the type of player who can single-handedly change the dynamic of a defense. Joe Burrow will be a very happy man.
11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon
The Dolphins’ drastic overhaul on offense began with the releases of Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. They picked up Malik Willis as their new QB1 in free agency.
Jaylen Waddle can’t carry the passing game on his own. Here’s his new running mate in Makai Lemon to replace Hill, giving Miami a potential top-five receiving tandem. And suddenly, an offense with Willis, Waddle, Lemon, and De’Von Achane looks downright dangerous.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk
We’re loving Jerry Jones’ early moves to rebuild the defense. He traded for Rashan Gary and signed ex-Cardinals safety Jalen Thompson. Adding one more big-time edge rusher would be the cherry on top.
At this part of the draft, Keldrick Faulk is the best pass-rusher remaining. Now, the post-Micah Parsons defense has a pass rush featuring Faulk, Gary, and Quinnen Williams. Sign us up.
13. Minnesota Vikings (From Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons): Jeremiyah Love
Projected trade alert! And it’s a mega blockbuster!
The Minnesota Vikings acquire the No. 13 pick from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for picks No. 18, 82, and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
With that pick, the Vikings select arguably the top prospect of this class in Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Because, why shouldn’t Minnesota add this generational RB prospect to an offense already featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and TJ Hockenson?
If JJ McCarthy isn’t the answer, there’s no way Kyler Murray could flop in an offense with this many stars. We think?
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jermod McCoy
The Ravens addressed their need for a pass rusher by landing the top free agent prize in Trey Hendrickson. Now, they can focus on rebuilding the cornerback room via the NFL Draft.
Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is another NFL-ready corner who had seven pass breakups and four picks last season. McCoy and Kyle Hamilton would give new head coach Jesse Minter two five-star playmakers to build the secondary around, to say nothing of Nate Wiggins if he can shrug off a disastrous sophomore year.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mansoor Delane
The Buccaneers’ biggest weakness last season was at cornerback. It’s a greater need now after they lost veteran stalwart Jamel Dean to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
It’d be a surprise if the Bucs didn’t dip into the deep class of cornerbacks in round one here. With McCoy off the board, taking Delane would be an easy decision here for GM Jason Licht.
16. New York Jets (From Indianapolis Colts): Peter Woods
Alabama QB Ty Simpson is a potential option here. But the Jets will find it hard to pass on Woods, who would make this front seven that much scarier with the aforementioned Arvell Reese.
New York is set up to tank for a QB in 2027 with Geno Smith and Justin Fields, anyway. So they can focus on rebuilding the defense here, taking Woods to replace Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling
The Lions’ stunning decision to release veteran Taylor Decker opens up another hole on the o-line that sorely missed the retired Frank Ragnow last year.
Releasing Decker was a head-scratcher at first. But if they can bring in another nasty blocker in the 2026 NFL Draft like Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, it will be a total stroke of genius on Brad Holmes’ end. Freeling is more than ready to step in and form a dream pairing with Penei Sewell.
18. Los Angeles Rams (From Minnesota Vikings): Ty Simpson
The Rams’ biggest need coming into the draft was cornerback. They traded for Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson. So, having zero pressing weaknesses means they’re happy to trade down with Minny.
With no gaping holes, this feels like the right time for the Rams to find Matthew Stafford’s successor. He’s taking it year to year now, and there’s no harm in letting Simpson sit for a while before taking over as Sean McVay’s future QB1.
19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq
We thought Carolina would definitely go with an edge rusher or offensive lineman here, but plans may have changed after some productive activity in free agency.
The Panthers won the NFC South with the dynamic tandem of Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan. Still, we’d like Carolina to bring in more playmakers to maximize Young’s potential.
Let’s add a second potent pass catcher in the Oregon tight end to complete the offense.
20. Dallas Cowboys (From Green Bay Packers): Avieon Terrell
The Cowboys had the league’s worst defense in 2025, and not much will change if they can’t fix up the secondary. With their second day-one pick, Jerry Jones addresses his last main weakness by selecting his next potential shutdown corner out of Clemson.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston
We know the Steelers filled their No. 2 receiver void by acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts. But why stop there?
DK Metcalf appears to be past his prime anyway, so this is a good opportunity for Pittsburgh to look into the NFL draft and develop its next superstar. A trio of Pittman, Metcalf, and Boston would be nightmare fuel for the rest of the NFL, no matter who’s behind center for Pittsburgh in 2026.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane
The Chargers’ offensive line will get two key reinforcements when Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater return from season-ending injuries. Still, the middle of the o-line needs upgrades.
If Ioane is available when it’s their time to pick, the Chargers shouldn’t hesitate for a second to turn in the draft card. Adding him to the group could give Jim Harbaugh’s squad the league’s best offensive line, should Slater and Alt stay healthy.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: K.C. Concepcion
The Eagles can trust the wiz that is Howie Roseman to find AJ Brown’s replacement here. There are still a handful of stud receivers on the board, but the Texas A&M product’s ability to stretch the field and work the sidelines makes him the ideal fit for Nick Sirianni’s offense.
24. Cleveland Browns (From Jacksonville Jaguars): Caleb Lomu
The Browns already addressed wide receiver with their initial pick, so they can stay pretty and wait for the best remaining offensive tackle to fall into their laps.
In this exercise, it’s Utah’s Caleb Lomu. The Browns are rebuilding their o-line from scratch, and Lomu has the tools to be Cleveland’s next All-Pro blindside protector.
25. Chicago Bears: Cashius Howell
Bears fans needn’t be reminded about how terrible their pass-rush was outside of Montez Sweat last year. Their relatively quiet activity in free agency suggests GM Ryan Poles will wait until the draft to beef up his pass rush.
Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell is a safe pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had 11.5 sacks in his final college season and would be the perfect complementary piece to Sweat.
26. Buffalo Bills: Zion Young
The Bills were able to bring in one big-name pass-rusher via free agency in Bradley Chubb. But trust us, there isn’t anything else on that Buffalo defensive line that’s keeping opposing QBs up at night.
Similar to Bengals’ 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, Young’s stat lines don’t exactly stand out. But his elite physical traits are worth banking on if you’re the Bills.
27. New England Patriots (From San Francisco 49ers): Omar Cooper Jr.
Another projected trade! The Patriots acquire the No. 27 pick from the 49ers in exchange for the No. 31 and 95 selections.
With the No. 27 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots take Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. We know they paid Romeo Doubs the big bucks in free agency, but he’s more of a No. 2 receiver. Cooper can step in immediately as Drake Maye’s new favorite target with Stefon Diggs gone.
28. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor
The Texans’ offensive line was disastrous and painfully difficult to watch in 2025. Signing ex-Colts standout Braden Smith in free agency was a nice start, but another starting bookend is also needed.
The Texans can turn to Alabama stalwart and 2025 SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient Kadyn Proctor to fill the other void. Now CJ Stroud can feel a little safer behind center…
29. Kansas City Chiefs (From Los Angeles Rams): Colton Hood
Help is desperately needed at cornerback after the Chiefs parted ways with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who both joined the Rams.
Steve Spagnuolo loves aggressive corners with a nose for the football. A guy with 14 pass breakups and three picks over his final two years in college will do nicely.
30. Denver Broncos: Germie Bernard
After staying quiet in free agency, we sure as heck hope the Broncos are planning to address the receiver position in the NFL Draft. Otherwise, who knows what the plan is?
Courtland Sutton is barely a No. 1 receiver anymore, and Troy Franlin is more of a No. 3 option. The Broncos need to find a potential WR1 in the draft, and the Alabama kid has the tools to be a difference-maker in Sean Payton’s offense.
31. San Francisco 49ers (From New England Patriots): C.J. Allen
We know the 49ers brought back old friend Dre Greenlaw in free agency, but you can never have too many linebackers. This would be more of a luxury pick for the 49ers, albeit a safe one given the injury histories of Greenlaw and Fred Warner.
Allen might not be a day-one starter, but he’s got plenty of long-term upside. The 49ers can be patient with his development.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Dillon Thieneman
The Super Bowl 60 champions lost two key parts of their secondary, Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant, in free agency. But there’s no need to panic here, because John Schneider knows he’ll have his fair share of defensive backs to choose from when it’s time to pick.
He won’t have to look too far to get it. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman has immense upside and would actually be an upgrade over Bryant. That’s right. Seattle’s defense would somehow get even scarier.
