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The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching, with Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza projected as the No. 1 pick to the Raiders. The draft order remains uncertain, especially for teams like the Jets, Cardinals, Titans, and Giants.
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The 2026 NFL Draft is now less than a week away, which means it's time for my one and only mock draft of the cycle.
Some things about this draft are well known. At the very top, we know that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. We don't yet know whether he'll start right away or sit behind Kirk Cousins to begin his career, but there's no real mystery about where he'll be playing his professional football.
After that, though, it seems like just about everything is up in the air. The Jets could go a number of different directions at No. 2, as could the Cardinals, Titans and Giants at Nos. 3, 4 and 5, while everyone in and around the league suspects that the Browns would love to trade down from the No. 6 pick, which could throw the entire board into chaos if they're able to find a partner.
There are also several teams with multiple first-round picks, allowing those squads to change the shape of the draft if they so choose. With a class that teams feel is light on star power at the top but strong through the second and third rounds, we could be in for some significant surprises.
With all that in mind, here's how we see things playing out.
The 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. You can find more draft coverage at CBSSports.com, including weekly mock drafts andregular evaluations of the top prospects.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is projected to be the No. 1 pick, going to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Jets, Cardinals, Titans, and Giants are all expected to explore various options with their picks.
If the Browns trade down from the No. 6 pick, it could create significant chaos in the draft order, affecting multiple teams' strategies.
It is uncertain whether Fernando Mendoza will start right away or sit behind Kirk Cousins at the Raiders.

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| Round 1 - Pick 1 team logo team logo player headshot Fernando Mendoza QB Indiana • Jr • 6'5" / 236 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 2 team logo team logo player headshot David Bailey EDGE Texas Tech • Sr • 6'4" / 250 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 3 team logo team logo player headshot Francis Mauigoa OT Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'6" / 329 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 4 team logo team logo player headshot Arvell Reese EDGE Ohio State • Jr • 6'4" / 243 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 5 team logo team logo player headshot Sonny Styles LB Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 243 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Mock Trade from Cleveland Browns Round 1 - Pick 6 team logo team logo player headshot Caleb Downs S Ohio State • Jr • 6'0" / 205 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 7 team logo team logo player headshot Jeremiyah Love RB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 214 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 8 team logo team logo player headshot Carnell Tate WR Ohio State • Jr • 6'2" / 192 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 9 team logo team logo player headshot Rueben Bain Jr. EDGE Miami (Fla.) • Jr • 6'2" / 263 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 10 team logo team logo player headshot Mansoor Delane CB LSU • Sr • 6'0" / 187 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 11 team logo team logo player headshot Jermod McCoy CB Tennessee • Jr • 6'1" / 188 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Mock Trade from Dallas Cowboys Round 1 - Pick 12 team logo team logo player headshot Spencer Fano OT Utah • Jr • 6'6" / 311 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Atlanta Falcons Round 1 - Pick 13 team logo team logo player headshot Makai Lemon WR USC • Jr • 5'11" / 192 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 14 team logo team logo player headshot Olaivavega Ioane IOL Penn State • Jr • 6'4" / 323 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 15 team logo team logo player headshot Akheem Mesidor EDGE Miami (Fla.) • Sr • 6'3" / 259 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Indianapolis Colts Round 1 - Pick 16 team logo team logo player headshot Omar Cooper Jr. WR Indiana • Jr • 6'0" / 199 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 17 team logo team logo player headshot Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama • Jr • 6'7" / 352 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 18 team logo team logo player headshot Dillon Thieneman S Oregon • Soph • 6'0" / 201 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 19 team logo team logo player headshot Jordyn Tyson WR Arizona State • Jr • 6'2" / 203 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Mock Trade from Dallas Cowboys Round 1 - Pick 20 team logo team logo player headshot KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M • Jr • 6'0" / 196 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 21 team logo team logo player headshot Blake Miller OT Clemson • Sr • 6'7" / 317 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 22 team logo team logo player headshot Keldric Faulk EDGE Auburn • Jr • 6'6" / 276 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 23 team logo team logo player headshot Max Iheanachor OT Arizona State • Sr • 6'6" / 321 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Jacksonville Jaguars Round 1 - Pick 24 team logo team logo player headshot Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo • Sr • 6'4" / 202 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 25 team logo team logo player headshot T.J. Parker EDGE Clemson • Jr • 6'4" / 263 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 26 team logo team logo player headshot Malachi Lawrence LB UCF • Sr • 6'4" / 253 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 27 team logo team logo player headshot Caleb Lomu OT Utah • Soph • 6'6" / 308 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 28 team logo team logo player headshot Kayden McDonald DL Ohio State • Jr • 6'2" / 326 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Los Angeles Rams Round 1 - Pick 29 team logo team logo player headshot Chris Johnson CB San Diego State • Sr • 6'0" / 195 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| From Denver Broncos Round 1 - Pick 30 team logo team logo player headshot Denzel Boston WR Washington • Jr • 6'4" / 210 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Round 1 - Pick 31 team logo team logo player headshot Monroe Freeling OT Georgia • Jr • 6'7" / 315 lbs | --- | --- | --- | ||||
| Mock Trade from Seattle Seahawks Round 1 - Pick 32 team logo team logo player headshot Ty Simpson QB Alabama • Jr • 6'1" / 211 lbs | --- | --- | --- |