2026 NFL mock draft, picks 1-18: How will non-playoff teams approach Round 1?
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Nick Baumgardner
Do the Browns trust Shedeur Sanders as their long-term QB or would they consider trading up to get their guy?
The race for the NFL’s worst record has a firm leader heading into the final lap.
At 2-14 with one game left (versus the Chiefs), the Raiders are the current favorites to land the No. 1 pick for the 2026 NFL Draft. Four three-win teams remain right behind Las Vegas: the Giants (versus Dallas in Week 18), Jets (at Buffalo), Titans (at Jacksonville) and Cardinals (at Rams).
While we wait for the final non-playoff teams to settle into place, here’s a look at how the first 18 picks of this year’s draft — everything up until the postseason cutline — could look.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Once again, the Raiders need an awful lot, but they’ve kicked the QB can down the road long enough.
We’re still not totally sure if Moore will declare for the draft or take another year at Oregon. The longer he plays well for the Ducks in the College Football Playoff, though, the higher his stock will climb. Moore reminds me of a younger Jayden Daniels in so many areas, his poise chief among them.
2. Cleveland Browns (via projected trade with Giants): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Giants could be in a great spot if they finish the year with the No. 2 pick. They don’t need a quarterback and, despite their record, have enough maturing young talent on the roster to potentially make a jump next year. Trading back for more assets could be a big part of that process.
Meanwhile, the Browns are in almost the same spot as the Raiders, depending on how much Shedeur Sanders changes the math. It’s time to make a choice about the next long-term QB.
3. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, edge/LB, Ohio State
The draft capital champions of 2026 (hooray!), the Jets will have more flexibility this spring — and probably next — than any other team in the league. That’s a good thing, as New York basically has to start over from scratch. You could make a need-based argument for nearly every position on the field.
Here, the Jets take the best player available and keep it moving.
4. Tennessee Titans: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
The Titans also could really benefit from a trade down, as they need to reestablish themselves along both lines of scrimmage and likely will need more assets to pull that off before the end of Cam Ward’s rookie deal.
The only front-seven defender more versatile than Faulk this year is Reese, who just came off the board. Faulk can play anywhere along the front, from zero- to nine-tech, and is one of the youngest players in the class.
5. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Cardinals could be in the quarterback derby this spring, as well, depending on what happens with Kyler Murray. We also need to know which schematic direction the Cardinals will take heading into 2026, as Jonathan Gannon’s current 15-35 record through three seasons .
6. New York Giants (via projected trade with Browns): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The 2027 wide receiver class (which should include freaky dudes such as Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, Alabama’s Ryan Williams and more) will be one to remember. But don’t sleep on the 2026 group. Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon are potential No. 1 WRs in the NFL.
Physically, Tate could be outstanding opposite Malik Nabers.
7. Washington Commanders: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
When healthy, Tyson is the most complete receiver in this class. The only holes in his game are on his career injury report. He blocks, adjusts to poor throws, runs crisp routes and wins in the air. He’s everything Jayden Daniels needs to take the next step in his development.
8. New Orleans Saints: Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State
I feel dirty for dropping Downs this far down, but reality is reality. Though he’s arguably the best football player in this class, odds are someone in the bottom of the top 10 (or even in the early teens) is going to get an absolute star because of positional value. Downs is not as big as Kyle Hamilton, but his impact could be similar.
9, Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Another positional value discussion, and Patrick Mahomes benefits here.
Like Downs, Love is a top-five (maybe even top-three) prospect in this class, no matter how you slice it. He’s in the Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs tier ahead of the draft and could be an instant star in an offense such as this one.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
The Bengals had many problems this year, and one of the biggest was a near-complete inability to stop the run.
Woods’ junior year at Clemson was hardly his best, but his athleticism combined with the power he’s able to generate off the snap gives off Mason Graham-level flashes. He could be elite if he finds consistency.
11. Miami Dolphins: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Miami also should be in the market for a new quarterback. I’d like to see Mike McDaniel get a chance to rebuild his offense around that player, the way he did with Tua Tagovailoa. I have no idea if that’ll happen, though, so we’ll go with a playmaker who’d fit in perfectly right now.
12. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Los Angeles Rams, ladies and gentlemen. They traded every pick in sight for Matthew Stafford and rebuilt a Super Bowl contender via elite Day 3 scouting and savvy maneuvering. Now, they’re in a position to do anything they want with a high Round 1 pick (thanks to the James Pearce Jr. trade last spring), despite being a title contender again.
Don’t rule out QB here. Stafford is playing like a potential MVP, but he’ll turn 38 in February.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami
Bain is a polarizing prospect, as plenty of NFL scouts and decision-makers have concerns about his lack of length as an edge prospect. Some even believe he might be better off as a three-tech DT in the NFL. But if he’s on his game and playing with the type of energy we saw against Texas A&M in the Playoff, it might not matter. He’s an impact athlete, no question.
14. Dallas Cowboys: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
One of my favorite pass rushers in the 2025 class was Boston College edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (Dallas’ second-rounder), who had the group’s deepest set of pass-rush moves. Bailey is this year’s version of Ezeiruaku, only he’s a much better athlete with a higher ceiling in terms of production. Micah who?
15. Detroit Lions: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
This could be a dream come true for the Lions, who suddenly have major needs along the offensive line — possibly including at left tackle, depending on what Taylor Decker decides about his future. Mauigoa would fit in with Detroit’s culture. He could play OT opposite Penei Sewell immediately or even guard for a year or two if need be.
If the Lions get their O-line repaired this offseason, they’ll be an easy pick as a bounce-back candidate in 2026.
16. Baltimore Ravens: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Baltimore is another team with some important offseason decisions to make. It has to find more help up front defensively, though, no matter where things move. The Ravens always take the best player available and often find ways to make sure it’s at an area of need.
The longer Ohio State survives in the Playoff, the higher McDonald’s stock will go.
17. Minnesota Vikings: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Minnesota has some retooling to do on the back end defensively, whether or not coordinator Brian Flores gets a head coaching gig elsewhere.
Delane might have been the most competitive corner in the country last season and has been a tenacious on-ball defender throughout his college career, which began at Virginia Tech.
18. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
We’ve talked so much about the Jets’ flexibility draft-wise, specifically their ability to punt on a quarterback decision until 2027 if they feel the need. We’re also still not sure what the actual prospect board will look like at the QB position in 2026.
However, if Simpson declares, he’d become a very intriguing option for the Jets (and others) this spring.