Doug Orth's first 2026 NFL Mock Draft predicts the Las Vegas Raiders will select quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana with the first overall pick. The draft is set to take place on April 23, 2026.
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Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) with running back Roman Hemby (1) against the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There is no reason to avoid the free square here. Everything from the hiring of Klint Kubiak to the signings of C Tyler Linderbaum and QB Kirk Cousins has been made with an eye on making Mendoza's transition to the NFL as smooth as possible.
There are three reasons why Reese will likely be the pick here over Texas Tech's David Bailey: 1) the Jets' new 3-4 base will emphasize versatility (and Reece has proven he has more of it than Bailey), 2) Reese is two years younger and 3) Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is a former NFL play-caller who relies heavily on multiple fronts and versatile defenders, which will be a priority in New York this season.
The Cardinals could use help just about everywhere, outside of receiver and tight end. They spent most of their unspectacular offseason addressing the offense, so expect the best defensive player on the board to be the pick here. Bailey could very well be the best pass-rusher available in this draft, which is a huge need for a team that managed only 30 sacks last season.
This feels like a prime trade-down spot since the best remaining prospects do not line up well with Tennessee's biggest needs. With that said, the Titans would be doing themselves a disservice by not making Cam Ward's job as easy as possible if they stay put. Love is arguably the best player in the draft, while Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are both entering the final year of their contracts and probably will not return in 2027.
The decision here is likely to come down to which former Buckeyes back-seven defender appeals the most to new head coach John Harbaugh. There is no question that Sonny Styles is an athletic freak who proved everything he needed to prove in college. However, this draft class offers more quality depth at linebacker than safety and Downs has a decent chance to become the chess piece Kyle Hamilton became during Harbaugh's final years in Baltimore.
The Browns will make this pick based at least in part on what they expect to be available at Nos. 24 and 39. While this draft is relatively deep at offensive tackle, it is somewhat limited in terms of how many Week 1 left tackles are available. It seems pretty clear based on their work in free agency (LG Zion Johnson, C Elgton Jenkins and RT Tytus Howard) that Cleveland is prioritizing solid line play under new head coach Todd Monken.
The absence of a second-round pick (traded to Houston) almost guarantees this selection will be need-based. While Jeremiyah Love would be the dream pick here (and it will most likely be if he falls this far), the Commanders would be foolish to let the freakish Styles slip past them as they prepare for life with Bobby Wagner. It might not be the best move for 2026 because of the logjam it would create with Frankie Luvu and Leo Chanel, but Washington's future would be set on the second level of the defense for the next few years with Styles and Chenal.
Franchise icon Cameron Jordan remained unsigned and would not have much of a future left in New Orleans anyway, as he is set to turn 37 in mid-July. Carl Granderson has been an underrated player for some time, but he makes more sense as a complementary rusher. Bryan Bresee has yet to break through - something that may not happen after three middling years in the league. Enter Bain, who doesn't meet the prototype in terms of arm length for a defensive end but checks about every other box.
This is likely the floor for Caleb Downs if he lasts this long. Barring that, Kansas City lost its top two cornerbacks in the offseason to the Rams (Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson), leaving Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton as the Week 1 projected starters. While cornerback is a position that the team could address at pick No. 29, it is unlikely he will be anywhere near as impactful as Delane could be.
The Bengals took some positive steps with the additions of Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger in free agency. It may not be enough to completely fix the defense, but it will probably be enough to convince Cincinnati's brain trust not to use a first-round pick to further improve it. Another massive problem area is the interior offensive line. Mauigoa wins out here over Penn State's Olaivagvega Ioane because of the guard-tackle versatility he offers.
Jaylen Waddle was traded to Denver recently, leaving Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert as the top three receivers entering offseason workouts. Wide receiver is a position that Miami probably needs to address if it believes Malik Willis is the long-term answer at quarterback. Tate may not have been a No. 1 receiver in college, but he is the younger receiver prospect in the draft, capable of winning at all three levels and comes to the league after three years of working with "wide receiver coach of the stars" Brian Hartline.
Excluding the Micah Parsons trade, the Cowboys have done yeoman's work to fix their defense recently. More work needs to be done as Shavon Revel Jr. (limited experience) and Cobie Durant (a free agent who the Rams allowed to leave) are the team's projected starting perimeter cornerbacks in 2026 under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. McCoy missed all of 2025 with a torn ACL, but he will be 1 1/2 years removed from the injury at the start of the season. He would likely have been a top 10 pick in this draft - based on his 2024 tape - if the injury never happened.
After addressing the cornerback position (Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson) earlier this offseason, the Rams are in prime position to select a player that helps them win another Super Bowl before Matthew Stafford calls it a career. A secondary consideration would be to find Davante Adams' eventual replacement. While the latter is far from a sure thing (can Lemon thrive on the outside in the NFL?), there is little doubt that he is a sizable upgrade as the team's No. 3 receiver in 2026.
The Ravens fell off at multiple positions in 2025, although there is reason to believe the arrival of new head coach Jesse Minter will resolve many of the defensive issues. Perhaps the biggest concern in Baltimore now (following the addition of Trey Hendrickson in free agency) is the left side of the offensive line with Ronnie Stanley entering Year 11 and Andrew Vorhees' career having yet to take off after two seasons. It makes sense that Baltimore would appreciate someone like Fano, who could be a very good tackle or great guard.
The Buccaneers blitzed at the fourth-highest rate last season, yet managed to finish 18th in sacks (37) and 25th in pressure rate (19.8%). The need to address the pass rush is real. Unfortunately, there isn't much in the way of great front-seven fits for Tampa Bay that make sense here. Another screaming need for the Buccaneers is fixing the one weak link on the offensive line: left guard Ben Bredeson. Tampa Bay could rectify that by picking up the best true guard prospect in the draft in Ioane.
After addressing the pass rush earlier with Arvell Reese, the Jets could go any number of ways - including quarterback, receiver or cornerback. The quarterback position lacks a prospect worthy of going this high, while multiple receivers capable of complementing Garrett Wilson should be available at No. 33. That leaves cornerback, which is near and dear to head coach Aaron Glenn's heart and needs help with Nahshon Wright and Brandon Stephens slated to start. More than anything, the Jets need someone who can make plays on the ball (two return touchdowns on four interceptions last season) after failing to intercept a pass all season.
Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) catches a short pass and runs the ball during the game with Eastern Illinois at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
The Lions have a few notable needs, but the offensive line that was once the envy of the league has only Penei Sewell left (and he will likely move from right to left tackle). Tate Ratledge held his own at right guard as a rookie, but upgrades could be used just about everywhere else. Proctor is a projection as an NFL left tackle at 350-plus pounds, but that is the benefit of having Sewell around. If Proctor can't handle the left side, Sewell can. If Proctor is up to the task, then Detroit will have a pair of bookend tackles capable of blocking out the sun.
Harrison Smith is a free agent after patrolling the Minnesota secondary for almost 1 1/2 decades. While Thieneman cannot be expected to replace him as a rookie (or maybe ever), he is a great athlete who is about as smart and versatile as young safeties come. He is a player who should prove invaluable for a defensive coordinator who asks as much from his players as Brian Flores.
The Panthers shored up their defense in a big way with the additions of Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips, likely leaving the offense as the area it addresses first in the draft. While a receiver to push (or replace) Xavier Legette might seem the most logical thing for the team to do, it seems unlikely Carolina would spend a first-round pick on the position in three straight years. The other major problem area has been the inability to consistently get something from the tight end position. Not only will Sadiq's blocking be welcome in an offense that loves to run the ball, but his ability to create mismatches in the passing game (and free up Tetairoa McMillan) will be as well.
The addition of Jermod McCoy at No. 12 will almost certainly shift the team's focus to the pass rush or right tackle, where Terence Steele has failed to play up to the level that netted him a huge extension at the end of the 2022 season. Considering the team will not pick again until No. 92, the priority almost has to shift to the next-best pass rusher. Faulk's stats will not jump off the page, but he is a young prospect (won't turn 22 until early September) who is a near-perfect size (6-foot-5, 275 pounds) to play multiple positions along the line and in three- or four-man fronts.
Pittsburgh could shop for someone who could conceivably replace the soon-to-be 37-year-old Cameron Heyward, but the much bigger need is to find someone who can push (or replace) left tackle Broderick Jones. For whatever reason, the 2023 first-round pick has yet to make his mark in the league. There is some question about Lomu's ability to play the left side in the NFL, but he is a 21-year-old who did not give up a sack in 2025 and did enough to convince the Utah coaching staff that it could trust him and move Spencer Fano to the right side two years ago.
The one thing that likely bothered head coach Jim Harbaugh the most last season was that the same offensive line that he invested so much in was the one area that let the team down (mostly due to a rash of injuries). The running game will continue to be a priority for as long as he is around, and it seems unlikely that the Chargers will be satisfied going into training camp with Trevor Penning and Cole Strange as their top two options at guard. Bisontis is about as strong as they come, which makes him a great fit for a coach who wants to play bully-ball.
The Eagles love adding to the line on both sides of the ball, and it makes sense they would do so again in a draft that is deep in both areas. Jordan Mailata should have at least a few good years left on the left side of the line, but Lane Johnson's Hall of Fame career will almost certainly be coming to an end in the next year or two. General manager Howie Roseman is as good as there is in the NFL at addressing potential needs before they become desperate needs. Drafting Iheanachor, who likely needs a year of seasoning before taking over as a starter, and allowing him to watch Johnson for a year could be just what he needs to fulfill his massive potential.
Following the addition of Freeling at No. 6, the Browns could consider Ty Simpson (unlikely) or address their need for a potential No. 1 receiver. Jerry Jeudy is more than capable of being a very good complementary wideout, but it gets dicey after that since Cedric Tillman has struggled to stay healthy. The latter fact makes Tyson a questionable pick for Cleveland, but it is one that could pay off big. While Tyson's injury history is concerning, he would arguably be the top receiver prospect in this draft if he had enjoyed better injury luck in college.
The Bears are almost certain to go defensive line or secondary with this selection after losing four of the former and five of the latter in free agency. Coby Bryant is locked into one safety spot after coming over from the Seahawks, but the other projected starter right now is Cam Lewis (14 starts over six years with the Bills). If there were a clear upgrade for Dayo Odeyingbo or Austin Booker available, that would probably be the selection for Chicago. Instead, McNeil-Warren might give the team more of what it saw in flashes from C. J. Gardner-Johnson.
The Joey Bosa experiment did not work as hoped, so the search for another pass-rusher continues. Age (just turned 25 earlier in April) and injury concerns figure to push Mesidor about 10 or more spots down from where he should go, but at least the age issue would seem to be less of a problem for a win-now team like Buffalo. Clemson's T.J. Parker should also be a consideration here as well.
While adding talent to the offensive line has to be a priority for the 49ers, Bryce Huff announced his retirement. Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams are both coming off ACL tears. That makes defensive end a position that San Francisco has to address at least once (and probably twice) during the draft. Parker may need a little more time in the lab, but his long-arm rush and motor are two parts of his game that are already pro-ready.
The Texans are in remarkably good shape in many areas, including just about every starting spot on defense and depth at receiver. Tight end is not exactly a weakness with Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover on the roster, but Stowers is not just another tight end. He is a mismatch weapon, which would be an intriguing addition for a team that already boasts two big-bodied receivers in Nico Collins and Jayden Higgins. Drafting Stowers would not only make Houston almost impossible to defend in the red zone, but it would also lessen how much the team needs to rely on Tank Dell when he is fully healthy.
The Chiefs added a corner (Mansoor Delane) earlier in this mock, which should shift the focus of this back to the defensive line or a perimeter receiver. Ashton Gillotte is the team's latest attempt to find a pass rusher opposite George Karlaftis, who is coming off a disappointing year. Unfortunately, there are no must-have defensive ends left on the board, which means the Chiefs should select a receiver unlike one they have already - a true X who can stretch the field and win with physicality.
Miami selected Carnell Tate at 11 and could conceivably double-dip at the position considering how little talent it has at the position. A better use of resources for a rebuilding team would be to find a cornerback more capable of defending No. 1 receivers than Storm Duck or Darrell Baker. Hood may never be an elite cornerback in the league, but he has the goods to be a long-term starter in the league.
The addition of Romeo Doubs addressed a big need for the Patriots, but the team would be doing Drake Maye a disservice if all it did was only add Doubs after subtracting Stefon Diggs. Kayshon Boutte is an underrated deep threat and Mack Hollins is underrated in general, but both players should be one peg lower than they are on the team's target priority pole. Cooper could easily be drafted 10 or 15 spots higher than this pick, but he is the kind of versatile run-after-catch threat that could make this offense even harder to defend than it was a year ago.
The Super Bowl champions have a screaming need at running back with Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City and Zach Charbonnet (ACL) unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. However, this is not the draft that teams want to push running backs up the board. There should be a running back available at the end of the second round that is about the same as they would draft here. Therefore, the Seahawks could easily decide to look for the future and add a pass rusher to a depth chart that currently has a pair of 30-year-olds starting (Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence).
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: The Huddle's 2026 NFL Mock Draft - Version 1.0
The first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is predicted to be quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana.
The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Fernando Mendoza plays as a quarterback.
The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick.
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