BYU's AJ Dybantsa declares for NBA Draft/announces he's returning for sophomore season
BYU's AJ Dybantsa declares for NBA Draft, projected No. 1 pick
The 2026 NFL Draft is underway in Pittsburgh, with multiple teams holding two first-round picks. Key storylines include a potential run on offensive tackles and a defensive-heavy draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft is here, as all 32 NFL teams have descended upon the black and yellow confines better known as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
There are a number of storylines to monitor heading into the first round, including multiple teams with two first-round picks: the New York Jets (2, 16), New York Giants (5, 10), Cleveland Browns (6, 24), Kansas City Chiefs (9, 29), Miami Dolphins (11, 30) and Dallas Cowboys (12, 20). There's been plenty of discussion about when a run on offensive tackles will take place and this being a defensive-heavy first round, which could make for some interesting moves come draft night.
With that in mind, we're unveiling our final NFL Wires mock draft of the 2026 offseason. Our editors made player selections for all 32 picks in the first round. Here are the results.
All signs point to Fernando Mendoza being the pick. GM John Spytek has said teams have called to inquire about trading up and his response suggests thereâs no chance they are trading out. Add that new QB Kirk Cousins watched tape with Mendoza on his visit and spoke of him as if itâs already a foregone conclusion they will be teammates, and what you have is pretty strong confirmation of what we have all expected since the Raiders locked up the top pick at the end of the season â that they are ready to turn in their card and make the reigning Heisman Trophy and National Champion the teamâs next franchise QB.
The teams with two first-round picks are the New York Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys.
The 2026 NFL Draft is taking place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A defensive-heavy first round could lead to strategic moves by teams focusing on bolstering their defenses, impacting the overall dynamics of the draft.
The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback from Indiana, selected by the Las Vegas Raiders.
BYU's AJ Dybantsa declares for NBA Draft, projected No. 1 pick
Cricket's return to the Olympics after 128 years advances as construction begins for the LA 2028 venue. The groundbreaking ceremony was led by ICC chairman Jay Shah, marking a historic revival for the sport.

El regreso complicado de Carvajal y su relaciĂłn con Arbeloa
Aston Villa faces Liverpool in the race for £35m midfielder Enzo Le Fée!
Manchester United held talks with Ivan Toney about a potential transfer this summer.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
The Jetsâ long awaited choice here is between Bailey and Ohio Stateâs Arvell Reese. Considered the more pro ready prospect, they go with Bailey. Pre-draft reports indicate the Jets are leaning more toward Bailey as well⊠weâre going to find out whether or not thatâs a smokescreen one way or another. If it is Bailey, his stats do all the talking. He had 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 2025. â Nick Wojton, Jets Wire
The Cardinals would really prefer to do what they did in 2023 and trade back to get a tackle. However, with no trades materializing, they get the high upside Reese. He matches the profile the Cardinals target â athletic, premium position and from a big program. He would be the third Ohio State player they have selected in the first round in four years. They have a big need off the edge, as their group of outside linebackers outside of Josh Sweat combined for 5.5 in 2025. With Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter comps, he has the potential to be a perennial All-Pro. â Jess Root, Cards Wire
The Titans could very easily opt for a defender at No. 4 overall or even trade down. But with Love still on the board and an opportunity to grab a true game-changing player, Tennessee leaps and immediately improves one of their skill positions. Not only will Love boost their backfield production, but his receiving ability will generate mismatches and provide second-year quarterback Cam Ward a security blanket underneath. â Dan Benton/Bryan Manning Titans Wire
The Giants appeared to be targeting linebacker Sonny Styles for the longest time, but cold water has been poured over that notion in recent days. A trade down is a very legitimate option, but in this mock, general manager Joe Schoen stays put and snags safety Caleb Downs, who is a near-perfect match for John Harbaughâs defense. Heâs a Day 1 starter whom Harbaugh believes has âgold jacketâ potential.
Trade terms:
Once the Giants went defense, with the player most likely to reach them, the Cowboys gamed it out that a top defender wasnât going to fall to 12, especially since they are out on Rueben Bain and possibly Jermod McCoy. If they didnât land a Day 1 starter at LB, they were likely to trade either this yearâs 3 or next yearâs for one year of Jordyn Brooks with no franchise tag option. Now they get four years, at least, of Styles â the top LB by far. Still having a second first-round pick to get their secondary addition and the Cowboys are the Nowboys. â KD Drummond, Cowboys Wire
With Sonny Styles and Jeremiyah Love off the board, GM Adam Peters listens to trade offers here, but nothing materializes. Instead, he lands the draftâs top wideout to pair with QB Jayden Daniels and WR Terry McLaurin. Tate is unfairly criticized for being Ohio Stateâs No. 2 receiver, but he became a star in his own right. He has everything NFL teams covet in a wide receiver and gives the Commanders a legit outside option opposite McLaurin. Washington is thrilled to land Tate. â Bryan Manning, Commanders Wire
Few teams have done as much work on wide receivers as the Saints, but with Tate off the board there isnât someone Iâm comfortable taking at this pick as Bain. Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) has major injury concerns and Makai Lemon (USC) isnât as well-rounded an athlete as youâd like. With so little separating those guys from second-round prospects like Chris Bell (Louisville) and Germie Bernard (Alabama), Iâm willing to wait. So our other priority is addressing the defensive line. Bain would compete with Carl Granderson to start right away, but whoever wins that battle is still getting almost 30 snaps a week in the rotation. Thatâs plenty of time to make an impact. Bain doesnât have the measurables teams look for but donât overthink it. Heâs a heavy-handed and productive pass rusher who can liven things up for Brandon Staleyâs defensive front, with or without Cameron Jordan. â John Sigler, Saints Wire
Iâm fifty-fifty on any wide receiver not named Carnell Tate with this first pick, but Tyson could certainly serve an important role for Kansas City as a rookie. Whether heâd be able to develop into a Batman capable of making Rashee Rice his Robin remains to be seen, and if the Chiefs pick him here at No. 9, thatâs exactly what theyâll need him to do. If the board falls the way it did in this scenario, I would rather Kansas City trade down in a bid to pick up additional draft capital that can help get the Chiefs dynasty back on track. â John Dillon, Chiefs Wire
Had Jordyn Tyson still been available, he would have been the pick here. However, with Tyson off the board, the Giants turn their attention to Francis Mauigoa. Although there is some concern with his back, Big Blue takes the plunge and lands a player who will shift inside to right guard â arguably the better position for him at the pro level. His size and skill will help shore up a notable weakness, while the added positional versatility provides a bonus. â Dan Benton, Giants Wire
This offseason alone, the Dolphins have lost Jack Jones, Kader Kohou, Rasul Douglas, Kendall Sheffield, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Artie Burns at cornerback. While theyâve brought in a few veterans on short-term deals to take their spots, none of them should be a teamâs top cornerback. The 22-year-old All-American could be just that after recording 27 passes defensed and eight interceptions in 44 games between Virginia Tech and LSU. â Mike Masala, Dolphins Wire
The Cleveland Browns successfully trade down here with the Dallas Cowboys and stack more assets to rebuild a young team. With this selection, 12th overall, they select Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling to complete their offensive line rebuild. Young, long, and an elite athlete, the Browns shoot for the moon on Freeling, whose best football is still ahead of him. â Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire
Sadiq is a tight end in a wide receiverâs body, which makes him a fantastic fit in Sean McVayâs offense. He would reunite with former Oregon teammate Terrance Ferguson, giving the Rams two dynamic pass-catching tight ends to pair with their receiver tandem of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. McVay would find creative ways to get Sadiq involved, whether itâs attached the formation, in the slot or split out wide. Like Ferguson, he can play just about anywhere. With how dedicated McVay is to 12 and 13 personnel, Sadiq fits that trend perfectly in Los Angeles.â Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire
Kenyon Sadiq's absence makes this a slam-dunk pick for a Ravens offense looking to add more physicality up front, while landing a player who could be a ten-year starter at offensive guard and a perennial Pro Bowler.  Even with John Simpson returning on a three-year, $30 million deal after two years spent with the Jets, upgrading the offensive guard position is imperative for a team looking to take pressure off quarterback Lamar Jackson. While Baltimore has said all the right things about Emery Jones, Ioane would be a Day 1 starter at a critical position.  Ioane plays with intense power and quickness, using 330 pounds of elite force, playing in 44 games and making 32 starts at Penn State. According to PFF, he allowed zero sacks and three pressures in 310 pass blocking snaps in 2025. â Glenn Erby, Ravens Wire
There is a lot of talk about Jermod McCoy being out of the first round talk given the lingering issues from his torn ACL. Jason Licht can play the long game due to his seat being cold as ice, while also having a track record that shows he is not afraid to draft players who have an injury history. Mix all that with the team's need at the position, and McCoy may be their guy. â Andrew Harbaugh, Bucs Wire
A wide receiver seems pretty locked in here for the Jets. Their defense needs a lot of fine tuning, but this pick position is the perfect area to find a running mate for No. 1 wideout Garrett Wilson while also getting another potential top WR that can get his feet wet in the NFL in 2026 before the Jets potentially land a franchise QB in next yearâs draft. A 5-foot-11 playmaker, Lemon had 79 catches, 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games played in 2025. â Nick Wojton, Jets Wire
With both Francis Mauigoa and Monroe Freeling off the board, the Detroit Lions select a player that itâs been tied to a lot throughout the NFL draft process. The Lions and Brad Holmes donât overthink it, finding their Taylor Decker replacement in Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. At 6-foot-7, 352 pounds with a 33 3/8-inch arm length, Proctor is a mass of humanity. Detroit addresses its bread and butter right out of the chute. â Josh Helmer, Lions Wire
This is a mock draft pick that has been slotted in here for weeks now, and I see no sense in changing it anytime soon. Thieneman fits a need, is an athletic player the team covets, and his versatility is something that Brian Flores will covet. â Andrew Harbaugh, Vikings Wire
Given the uncertainty at both tackle positions in 2027, Utahâs Spencer Fano was heavily considered here. But the Panthers need to find out in 2026 if quarterback Bryce Young is worth moving forward with, so weâll take a more immediate contributor in Concepcion. The explosive Charlotte, N.C. native may be the best route runner and separator in this class, and can provide a much-needed spark to an offense that averaged the sixth-fewest yards and points per game in 2025. â Anthony Rizzuti, Panthers Wire
Coming back on the clock, the Browns finally address the wide receiver room. Outside of signing special teamer Tylan Wallace, one of the leagueâs worst wide receiver rooms has remained as such. Now injecting a first rounder into the room, the Browns look to start the overhaul. That part starts with the elusive and explosive Omar Cooper Jr. Predominantly a slot at the college level, Cooper has the skillset and play-strength to play outside. He instantly becomes the best receiver in the room. â Cory Kinnan, Browns Wire
There is absolutely no reason that Utahâs Spencer Fano is still on the board at No. 21 but if this is how things work out, the Steelers should run to the podium with that card. Pittsburgh currently needs a starting left guard and if starting left tackle Broderick Jones canât go at the start of the year, they could need a starting left tackle. Fano can play either spot at a high level and honestly could start at all five spots on the offensive line. His combination of technique and agility is rare for the position and while he might not be the strongest offensive lineman in this draft, he more than makes up for it with everything else in his game. â Curt Popejoy, Steelers Wire
Lawrence has been one of the biggest risers, going from a Day 3 pick to a player who could crash the first round, thanks to a productive pre-draft circuit. He is a twitchy, high-energy edge rusher who wins with an explosive first step. His ability to bend the corner and disrupt the pocket is undeniable, as evidenced by a success win rate over 20% the past two seasons. As Khalil Mack reaches the twilight of his career, Lawrence could be the guy to opposite Tuli Tuipulotu for the long haul. â Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire
Philadelphia is moving towards a zone run blocking scheme, and will likely emphasize more athletic offensive tackles, paving the way for Miller to be the handpicked successor to an All-Pro right tackle.  The Lane Johnson era has to end at some point, and Miller is the type of prospect who'll keep the dominance at a key position elevated for years to come. The 6-foot-6, 315-pounder was a four-year starter at Clemson, and followed a Freshman All-American season with three straight All-ACC selections. Miller set the Clemson records for career offensive snaps (3,778) and consecutive starts by a non-specialist (54). while starting every game of his collegiate career from 2022-25. Miller finished his career as one of only two Clemson offensive tackles since 1986 to have multiple seasons of 950+ snaps. â Glenn Erby, Eagles Wire
Weâre doing what we think the Cowboys are going to do, not what weâd like to do.Faulk is a young player, just 20 years old at the time of the draft, and heâd be a perfect fit for the 4i position. Faulk has a high ceiling, and though there are other players who could have a larger immediate impact, this feels like the way the Cowboys are heading, so weâll acknowledge that.
Faulk isn't a sexy pick, but he walks into the building as a Day 1 starter, which in a weak draft isn't anything to sneeze at. â KD Drummond, Cowboys Wire
The Bears could go several directions with this pick, which is why Iâve had a different selection with each of these mock drafts. This time, Iâm targeting a massive position of need at safety with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Chicago lost three safeties this offseason, including both starters All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. While the Bears did lock down Coby Bryant to occupy Byardâs vacancy, they still need to fill Briskerâs spot, and itâs going to happen in the NFL draft. McNeil-Warren is a physical defender who would fill that void left by Brisker, and heâs known for his ballhawking prowess having nine career forced fumbles utilizing the Peanut Punch. It just makes too much sense for him to land in Chicago. â Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire
With the change to a 3-4 base defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, Allen makes a ton of sense for the Bills. Allen can fly around the field, and yes the Bills could use a nose tackle for this next season, but Allen could help shore up a weak run defense in recent years. Allen likely signals he will replace Matt Milano in the lineup as well. â Nick Wojton, Bills Wire
I donât think itâs an offensive tackle, especially now that the Trent Williams contract is sorted out. If the 49ers are truly committed to âbest player availableâ at this spot, thereâs a strong chance Mesidor is sitting atop their board. His age (25 years old) and lengthy injury history are the reason his stock pushed him down this far in this yearâs draft. If he was a couple years younger he may be a top-15 pick. Thatâs not bad value for a 49ers team that needs an edge rusher who can get to the quarterback off the edge. Mesidor has some versatility to kick inside, but he also has the tools to be a three-down player outside. Another name to watch here is Missouri edge rusher Zion Young. â Kyle Madson, Niners Wire
Houston is known for trading back and given the Cardinals' potential need to target Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, thatâs very much in play. However, if there's one player who might stand pat, it's McDonald. The Buckeyes star is coming off one of the best seasons for a defensive tackle, racking up 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Two of his best games were against Texas and Miami, arguably two teams loaded with future NFL talent. Add in that he's only 21 and still growing, Houston could be getting a prospect who's yet to reach even his floor that already has Day 1 production that teams covet for their defensive lines. The Texans would probably love to land McDonald on Day 2, but if they feel like he's going to be out of the running to fall into Friday's second round, Nick Caserio might just pull the trigger and call it a day. â Cole Thompson, Texans Wire
The second Utah lineman to come off the board in Round 1, Lomu represents a doubling down on Brett Veachâs commitment to keep Patrick Mahomes healthy through his 30s. This pick would be eerily similar to Kansas Cityâs selection of Josh Simmons in 2025, and may pay greater dividends in Year 1 if Lomu can stay healthy and available through his rookie season. â John Dillon, Chiefs Wire
The All-Big Ten wideout caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns this past season, using his 6-foot-4 frame to become his quarterbackâs favorite target. With pre-draft comparisons to Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Miami could completely change the outlook for their offense by putting Boston above Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert in the wide receiver room that Malik Willis will be throwing to in 2026. â Mike Masala, Dolphins Wire
The mere mention of the Patriots drafting another offensive tackle in the first round for a second straight year will likely elicit plenty of eye rolls. I am sure that Patriots quarterback Drake Maye would disagree after getting smacked around by elite defenses throughout the team's Cinderella playoff run.
Patriots right tackle Morgan Moses is 35 years old, and Arizona State's Max Iheanachor would be the perfect prospect to sit behind him as a student and an emergency replacement. Iheanachor is a very green prospect considering he only started playing football five years ago, but the physical potential is off the charts for the 6-foot-6 and 321-pound offensive lineman. â Jordy McElroy, Patriots Wire
Assuming the Seahawks donât trade out of pick No. 32 (which they most assuredly will, given they only have four picks in the draft) Iâd love to see them to reinforce the defensive line. Yes, I know they have more pressing needs at running back and even cornerback. But as we saw in the Super Bowl, defensive lines that relentlessly harass quarterbacks win championships. Seattleâs defensive line is unquestionably elite, but Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence arenât getting any younger. The Seahawks should beef up their defensive line to keep it elite and fresh with young talent. Youngâs draft profile has him as a round 1-2 pick, which is perfect for where the Seahawks are picking. â Kole Musgrove, Seahawks Wire
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Final NFL mock draft ahead of Thursday's first round in Pittsburgh