2026 NFL mock draft: Our experts’ predictions for Rounds 1-2

5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The spine of New York’s defense became weak after the Dexter Lawrence trade. Styles could shore up the middle and become one of the league’s best linebackers. - Steele

*Trade: Browns trade No. 6 overall to Cowboys for No. 12 and a 2027 2nd rounder.*

6. Dallas Cowboys (via Browns): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State: Jerry Jones makes a splashy move to land a blue-chip talent for new defensive coordinator (and former Eagles defensive backs coach) Christian Parker. Downs is worth this level of investment. — McGonigal

Penn State vs Ohio State, Nov. 1, 2025

7. Arizona Cardinals (via Commanders): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Arizona improves the right side of its offensive line with this selection. Fano moves well and plays with great technique. - Steele

8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU: Oddly enough, the Saints have never selected an LSU player in the first round. That changes as New Orleans addresses a major need in its secondary. — McGonigal

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami FL

Bain could supercharge Kansas City’s defensive line. He’s violent, powerful and explosive at the point of attack. — Steele

10. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State: Is it a surprise to have Tate available here? Yes. But the Giants, after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals for this pick, come away with two Ohio State stars in the top 10 picks. — McGonigal

11. Miami Dolphins: Vega Ioane, OG, Penn State

The Dolphins need to surround new starting quarterback Malik Willis with better protection. Ioane could be his bodyguard. — Steele

12. Cleveland Browns (via Cowboys): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami: Mauigoa could go as high as No. 3 overall. For the Browns to trade back and still get him is a win. — McGonigal

13 Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Lemon could be the missing piece that helps Los Angeles return to the Super Bowl next season. — Steele

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon: Sure, they still have Mark Andrews. But he’s getting up in age, and the Ravens could use a do-it-all threat like Sadiq. — McGonigal

15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami FL

Tampa Bay lands a pro-ready pass rusher to give them more juice upfront. — Steele

16. New York Jets: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State: This fell nicely for the Jets. Tyson’s separation on the outside allows Garrett Wilson to work more out of the slot. — McGonigal

No. 6 Oregon Ducks vs. Wisconsin Badgers

17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Freeling is a unique athlete with great size. He should replace Taylor Decker as Detroit’s starting left tackle. — Steele

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon: The Vikings had a 14-year playmaker at safety in Harrison Smith. Thieneman has a similar future ahead of him. — McGonigal

19. Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Concepcion is an explosive route runner who generates consistent separation. He would make Carolina’s offense more dangerous. — Steele

20. Dallas Cowboys: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia: The Cowboys missed out on Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in free agency. They bring in a different Georgia standout. — McGonigal

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Cooper would complement DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman as Pittsburgh’s new slot wideout. He’s so good at creating extra yards after the catch. — Steele

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn: There’s a world in which the toosly Faulk goes in the top 15. In this world, Jim Harbaugh is a happy man. — McGonigal

*Trade: Chiefs swap second-round picks (send No. 40 for No. 54), send a fourth-rounder and pick No. 29 overall to the Eagles for No. 23

23. Kansas City Chiefs (via Eagles): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

McCoy is a top-10 talent, but concerns about his knee cause him to drop in this scenario. Kansas takes advantage and moves up for a potential Pro Bowler. — Steele

24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington: The Browns would have loved Cooper or Concepcion. But Boston still provides a WR upgrade. — McGonigal

25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

McNeil-Warren is a physical box safety who comes downhill with no hesitation. He could form a solid safety duo with Coby Bryant. — Steele

26. Buffalo Bills: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: The Bills need interior defensive line help, and Woods, a preseason projected top-10 pick, can provide it. — McGonigal

27. San Francisco 49ers: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Lawrence is an explosive, long-armed pass rusher. He could improve San Francisco’s rotation as a rookie. — Steele

28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State: Like the Bills, Houston could use some help at defensive tackle. McDonald is a primetime run-stuffer. — McGonigal

29. Philadelphia Eagles (via Chiefs): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Eagles find their right tackle of the future. Iheanachor has light feet and does a great job of mirroring pass rushers. — Steele

30. Miami Dolphins: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee: The Dolphins have a lot of needs on the defensive side of the ball. They’ll gladly take Hood, who could go much higher. — McGonigal

31. New England Patriots: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Proctor demolishes defensive linemen in the run game. New England could use his physicality at guard or tackle — Steele

32: Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame: It’s a reach. But after winning the Super Bowl, Seattle doesn’t care. It has a Kenneth Walker replacement. — McGonigal

CFP Rose Bowl Alabama Football

SECOND ROUND

33 New York Jets: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

New York’s secondary needs to rebuild after trading Sauce Gardner last season. Johnson could develop into a reliable starter for many years. — Steele

34. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama: Simpson’s lack of college experience is a concern. But Arizona is good with Simpson sitting, learning and starting in 2027. — McGonigal

35 Tennessee Titans: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M

The Titans must protect second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Improving their interior OL with Bisontis is a step in the right direction. — Steele

36. Las Vegas Raiders: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson: The Raiders spent big in free agency but could still use support in the secondary. Terrell provides that. — McGonigal

37. New York Giants: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Giants gamble on Banks, who has concerning foot problems, to replace some of the production left behind by Lawrence. — Steele

38. Houston Texans: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri: I wouldn’t be surprised if Young goes in the first round. But if he falls here, Houston will be thrilled. — McGonigal

39. Cleveland Browns: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Cleveland stops Howell’s side. He has historically short arms for an edge rusher, doesn’t defend the run well and is undersized. But he’s too good of a rusher to pass up on Day 2. — Steele

40. Philadelphia Eagles (via Chiefs): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson: The Eagles moving back in the first round means they’re higher up in the second to nab a top-30 prospect that fell. Parker’s production dipped in 2025. But his 2024 tape is worth getting excited about. The Eagles need edge rusher help, and Parker is a Roseman type of talent. — McGonigal

T.J. Parker

41. Cincinnati Bengals: Treydan Stukes, CB/S, Arizona

Stukes is a versatile defensive back. He could start at safety for Cincinnati’s defense and also play some nickel — Steele

42. New Orleans Saints: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech: Rodriguez was on my Heisman ballot last season. That’s how impactful he was for the Red Raiders, recording 126 tackles, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions. New Orleans will take that. — McGonigal

43. Miami Dolphins: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

Bell has great size, speed, straight-line burst and strength. He needs to improve his route running to maximize his physical skill set. — Steele

44. New York Jets: R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma: With Bailey, Tyson and now Thomas, the Jets could not have had a more ideal first three picks. — McGonigal

45. Baltimore Ravens: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

Pregnon is a strong, physical mauler in the run game and keeps the pocket clean in pass pro. — Steele

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt: The Bucs would have considered Sadiq if he made it to them at No. 15. Instead, they land the dynamic Stowers. — McGonigal

47. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois

Jacas is a powerful tone-setter on the edge. He can create pressure with a bull rush and does a good job of getting off blocks with crafty and powerful hand usage.

48. Atlanta Falcons: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia: The Falcons keep another Bulldog in-state with their first pick of the draft. — McGonigal

49. Minnesota Vikings: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

Stribling is an intriguing height-weight-speed prospect. He could crack’s Minnesota starting lineup with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. — Steele

50. Detroit Lions: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech: Hunter, a powerful, bull-rushing nose tackle, is such a Lions pick. — McGonigal

51. Carolina Panthers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Carolina could sit Lomu for a few years until he’s ready to start. He needs to get stronger. — Steele

52. Green Bay Packers: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee: The Packers lost Romeo Doubs in free agency, traded Dontavyion Wicks and might lose Christian Watson and Jayden Reed to free agency next offseason. They take a shot on the boom-or-bust Brazzell. — McGonigal

53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Miller has long arms and good movement skills, which gives him an advantage against most pass rushers. He could become Pittsburgh’s long-term right tackle. — Steele

54. Kansas City Chiefs (via Eagles): Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama: Bernard is as reliable as they come. Patrick Mahomes could use that dependability. — McGonigal

55. Los Angeles Chargers: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech

Rutledge’s play personality will be a good fit for the Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers. He is physical, mean, relentless and powerful. He’s also a good athlete on the move. — Steele

56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa: Dunker might be a better guard than tackle at the next level. Either way, that hair will fit in Jacksonville. — McGonigal

Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) defends during an NCAA football game against Rutgers on Friday, Sept.19, 2025, in Piscataway, N.J.

57. Chicago Bears: Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia

Chicago adds a weapon to replace D.J. Moore. Branch was underutilized in Georgia’s offense and wasn’t able to show off his entire skill set. He is a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands. — Steele

58. San Francisco 49ers: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State: Would the 49ers do this after his brother, Trey, was such a first-round QB bust? Probably not. But the younger Lance would actually be a great fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. — McGonigal

59. Houston Texans: Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh

Louis is not a traditional linebacker - he’s built more like a safety. Under a creative defensive mind like DeMeco Ryans, he could become a weapon. — Steele

60. Chicago Bears: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan: The Bears need edge rusher help. Moore, a breakout star for the Wolverines in 2025, stays in the midwest. — McGonigal

61. Los Angeles Rams: Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan

Barham is an explosive athlete who transitioned from linebacker to edge this past season. He destroys blockers to get into backfield on run plays. He’s still learning how to rush the passer. — Steele

62. Denver Broncos: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State: Klare screams Broncos. Bo Nix could use an all-around tight end to complement Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. — McGonigal

63. New England Patriots: Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn

Crawford is an undersized pass rusher who has an explosive first step and bends well. He could develop into a good rotational rusher for New England’s defense.

64. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina: How did Cisse last this long? Not sure. But the Seahawks would gladly take it to close out the second round. — McGonigal

Eagles News

• Eagles ‘plotting’ to make major NFL draft trade. And no, it doesn’t involve A.J. Brown Apr. 20, 2026, 9:48a.m.
• A.J. Brown isn’t going anywhere this week. But his days as an Eagle are numbered Apr. 20, 2026, 9:31a.m.
• Eagles 3-round mock draft: Philly reloads offense with physical enforcer and dynamic playmakers Apr. 20, 2026, 6:00a.m.
• Ranking the Eagles’ most pressing 2026 NFL draft needs Apr. 20, 2026, 6:00a.m.

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