2026 NFL Top-15 Mock Draft

1. Las Vegas Raiders Needs: QB, OG, WR, DT, DE, FS, LB

Pick: QB Fernando Mendoza / Indiana / 6’5’’ / 236lbs / R-Junior /

• The Raiders get their future franchise QB. I don’t think that anyone in the NFL Draft community should even be predicting that Mendoza has any chance to fall past the Raiders. Spytek and Kubiak shouldn’t overthink it and go with the consensus pick. Mendoza will likely not start in week 1, and I anticipate he will sit for at least 8 weeks, or the entire first season, to develop. Kirk Cousins will likely have the reins and QB for the 2026 season in Las Vegas. Mendoza will need better jump-ball receivers, either in the draft or through trade. Unless Dante Thornton Jr, Jack Bech, or Jalen Nailor can prove to be WR1 material.

2. New York Jets Needs: WR, DE, QB, LB, OG

Pick: LB/DE Arvell Reese / Ohio St / 6’4’’ / 241lbs / Junior /

• The Jets desperately need help on defense, but they would probably get a franchise QB. Ty Simpson and Taylen Green are far too early to pick in this spot. Might as well bolster up the defensive line or the linebacker position. I will be interested to see what position they mold Reese to play, but I think he fits best as an MLB, with the added plus of being able to blitz effectively. Reese will greatly need to improve his pass coverage skills.

3. Arizona Cardinals Needs: OT, QB, DE, OG, RB

Pick: DE Rueben Bain Jr. / Miami FL / 6’2’’ / 263lbs / Junior /

• While I think David Bailey is the more likely option, the few games I have watched him play in haven’t made him as impressive as Bain Jr., in my opinion. The Cardinals would like to have a QB option here or a perennial OT talent. I think Fano or Mauigoa are too early to pick here. Bain Jr. has all the talent in the world to be a top DE in the league. His measurables are a concern for sure, but I think overall, Bain Jr. is the better prospect on tape than Bailey, and believe me, I spent a lot of hours on him. I will say whoever doesn’t get picked in the top 3 will most likely fall to 9th or 7th.

4. Tennessee Titans Needs: DE, LB, WR, OG, RB

Pick: LB Sonny Styles / Ohio St / 6’5’’ / 244lbs / Senior /

• This is a tough pick because I could see the Titans swooping in and drafting DE Bailey, LB Sonny Styles, or WR Carnell Tate. They aim to improve their MLB position. Cody Barton is a good LB, but Styles, I think, is simply better. Styles is one of the most athletic LBs ever, smart, and good in pass coverage. Styles will greatly improve this team's defense. I actually don’t think the Titans need that much help at DE, which is why I didn’t select David Bailey.

5. New York Giants Needs: WR, LB, OG, S, DT

Pick: OG/OT Francis Mauigoa / Miami FL / 6’5’’ / 329lbs / Junior /

• I could easily see the Giants taking S Caleb Downs, WR Carnell Tate, or Makai Lemon. However, I think Dart needs more protection, and Skattebo needs more clean running lanes. Their WR depth got deeper with the signing of Mooney, and hopefully Malik Nabers can return to his pre-injury form. Mauigoa profiles as an OT in college who should likely switch to OG. This is a little high to be taking a guard, but I think it will greatly benefit John Harbaugh’s team, which has always had great offensive lines in Baltimore.

6. Cleveland Browns Needs: OT, WR, QB, OC, OG

Pick: WR Carnell Tate / Ohio St / 6’2’’ / 192lbs / Junior /

• Carnell Tate falls directly in the lap of the Cleveland Browns. Monken and whichever QB starts week 1 will get a true WR1 or a high-end WR2. The Jerry Jeudy experiment should be over, and I don’t think that Bond could be a true WR1. Tate has good hands and route running, which is exactly what Sanders could use.

7. Washington Commanders Needs: WR, OC, S, RB, DE

Pick: RB Jeremiyah Love / Notre Dame / 6’0’’ / 214lbs / Junior /

• Jayden Daniels needs a running game so the passing game can work off of it. Bill at RB was a bit of a disappointment last season, and the Commanders' offense with Love in the backfield will see new heights. The Commanders do desperately need another receiver option, but RB fills a bigger need for them and makes their offense more dynamic

8. New Orleans Saints Needs: DE, WR, CB, OG, TE

Pick: WR Jordan Tyson / Arizona St / 6’2’’ / 203lbs / R-Junior /

• Tyson profiles as a true WR1 that the Saints, Kellen Moore, and Tyler Shough desperately need. Chris Olave is injured far too much and fits better in the slot. The Saints need a true outside receiver. This may be ambitious, but NFL executives have been very high on Tyson recently. The Saints get their true WR1 and can focus on their defense in the later rounds.

9. Kansas City Chiefs Needs: DE, CB, OT, TE, WR

Pick: DE David Bailey / Texas Tech / 6’3’’ / 251lbs / Senior /

• Bailey's fall finally comes to an end, and the Chiefs get a potential steal. The Chiefs need another pass rusher to work with Chris Jones and Karlaftis. Bailey, with his long arms, will pair well with Steve Spagnuolo.

10. New York Giants Needs: WR, LB, S, DT

Pick: S Caleb Downs / Ohio St / 5’11’’ / 206lbs / Junior /

• Jevon Holland at FS will work very well with the true box safety, Caleb Downs. Downs is a versatile safety who can play linebacker, 2-high, and is excellent in cover one, playing the robber role. The Giants have a smart, solid tackler to help that side of the ball.

11. Miami Dolphins Needs: WR, CB, OG, OT, DE

Pick: WR Makai Lemon / USC / 5’11’’ / 192lbs / Junior /

• The Dolphins' receiver room is looking really rough without Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. What used to be a sured up position year in and year out is looking unplayable. While I don’t think adding a smaller-framed receiver like Lemon is ideal. The Dolphins need help at receiver so badly that I don’t think it matters. Lemon will be a great option for Malik Willis, who we will see if he can be a true franchise QB or just a bridge guy, but you will never be able to fully tell if he doesn’t have anyone to throw to. Lemon will help you know what you truly got.

12. Dallas Cowboys Needs: CB, LB, S, OT

Pick: CB Mansoor Delane / LSU / 5’11’’ / 187lbs / Senior /

• Mansoor Delane is an extremely slept on talent in this class, and I think in other season you could have seen him flying up into the top 7. The Cowboys make an excellent pick and get a true coverage talent. There truly aren’t any major faults in Delane’s game is frame is a concern, but if he doesn’t work out playing outside CB you can move him into the slot where he will still be a great CB.

13. Los Angeles Rams Needs: WR, LB, OT, QB, OC

Pick: OT Spencer Frano / Utah / 6’5’’ / 311lbs / Junior /

• Fano, although undersized, is possibly one of the greatest OT athletes we have ever seen. You can’t knock that talent and pass up on him. MVP Matt Stafford could really use another receiver, but there aren’t any worth taking this early at 13. The correct pick is to bolster the OL and pick Fano. They keep him at tackle because it is a void that must be filled.

14. Baltimore Ravens Needs: DT, OG, OC, WR, CB

Pick: OG Olaivavega Ioane / Penn St / 6’4’’ / 320lbs / R-Junior /

• The Ravens desperately need help on the interior after losing Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. Ioane would be a much-needed help to this team and Lamar Jackson, who still needs protection despite his athleticism. He has tremendous physicality, grip, and awareness. This will be a very underrated pick come December.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Needs: DE, LB, DT, CB, TE

Pick: DE Akheem Mesidor / Miami FL / 6’3’’ / 259lbs / Senior /

• The Bucs could go a lot of different ways here. They could opt for TE Kenyon Sadiq or maybe reach a DT. Some will consider this a reach; however, I truly do like Mesidor’s game. I don’t think that Elijah Roberts and A’Shawn Robinson are the guys to get it done with Vita Vea in Tampa. Mesidor has all the talent and size in the world to be a top 10 DE in the league. The question will become whether he can stay healthy and not let his age catch up to him too early.