Kyle Crabbs' FINAL 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Trades shake up the first round order and chaos awaits on Thursday night

Q: What are the top picks in Kyle Crabbs' 2026 NFL Mock Draft?

The top picks include Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders, Arvell Reese to the New York Jets, and Jeremiyah Love to the Arizona Cardinals.

Q: Which teams are expected to make trades during the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys are highlighted as teams likely to make significant trades to move up in the draft order.

Q: What positions are being prioritized in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Key positions being prioritized include quarterback, linebacker, and wide receiver, with teams focusing on both immediate needs and future potential.

Q: How does the unpredictability of the 2026 NFL Draft affect team strategies?

The limited number of top talents and potential trades create a chaotic environment, prompting teams to adapt their strategies based on draft developments.

Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker David Bailey (31) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The 2026 NFL Draft is upon us and it’s sure to be a wild ride. This 2026 NFL mock draft explores how trades can turn the whole weekend upside down. The 2026 NFL Draft is about as unpredictable as I can remember. There’s a limited number of “top” talents and that appears to have us ready for a chaotic, crazy weekend. It all starts on Thursday night, where the first round kicks off with the first 32 selections. How will things play out? I took my best guess. Here’s my **FINAL** 2026 NFL mock draft before this year’s even. Let’s see how things go…

Kyle Crabbs’ FINAL 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza sweeps all eight votes of NFL scouts ranking their top player at each position in the 2026 NFL Draft

Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15).Sam Navarro-Imagn Images **1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana** This one has been in Sharpie for months. Lock it in. **2. New York Jets: ** The pendulum has swing back and forth between Reese and Bailey relentlessly for weeks. I’ll lean into the player who I believe is the better fit for Aaron Glenn (and less redundant to Will McDonald). **3. : **Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame**** It sounds like this is a tug of war between ownership (Love) and management (trade down and/or offensive tackle). Ownership usually wins that battle, especially when the GM is on the hot seat. **4. : David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech** The Titans load up on the pass rush for Robert Saleh in this scenario, with RB Jeremiyah Love and LB Arvell Reese off the board. Positional value trumps all between Bailey and LB . **5. : , S, Ohio State** There’s been some quiet buzz with folks I’ve talked to about this potential fit. You’ve seen it mocked some, but I do think that Coach Harbaugh gets “his guy” in this spot amid an apparently split building debating who to pick. Dec 1, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; general manager Les Snead. Image via Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports **6. TRADE! Los Angeles Rams via : Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State** Once Jordyn Tyson, a rumored Giants target, slides past No. 5, here come the Rams. I feel like they’re a team primed for a big splash and Jordyn Tyson serves as good insurance at wide receiver for . *LAR receives: No. 6 overall CLE receives: No. 13 overall, 93 overall, 2027 2nd-round* **7. : ** What a delight this is for Dan Quinn to see a prolific prototype at linebacker fall into his lap at No. 7 overall. The front seven has gotten a major overhaul this offseason but a speedy player like this was sorely needed on the second level. **8. : Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State** The Saints, with a stout and young core on the offensive line, choose to pour into QB by getting him a big, long perimeter playmaker. **9. TRADE! via : Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU** This trade idea is a lot of fun. The Chiefs get Dallas’ two first-round picks and vice versa. Once the Saints pass on Delane, Dallas comes up to ensure they get a marquee talent in the secondary. *DAL receives: No. 9 overall, No. 29 overall KC receives: No. 12 overall, No. 20 overall* Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane (71) against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images **10. New York Giants (via CIN): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State** I have maintained since January that Olaivavega Ioane is the best offensive lineman in this year’s class. The Giants agree and lock in a powerful guard to help protect . **11. : Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, ** The Dolphins get their choice of and Spencer Fano here - a great draw of the board. And while I do think it is paramount for Miami to put pieces around QB , I think the chance to add a physical defensive end for Jeff Hafley’s defense is too good to pass up. **12. Kansas City Chiefs (via DAL): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami** The Chiefs end up trading down and still get a right tackle to help protect . What a delightful development for them in their bid to get back into contention in the AFC. **13. Cleveland Browns (via LAR through ATL): Spencer Fano, OL, Utah** The Browns move back from No. 6 in the deal with the Rams and still end up seeing Spencer Fano waiting for them, in what would be the final touch to an overhauled offensive line. **14. : Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon** isn’t getting any younger. And the departure of tight ends and are leaving this room looking a little shaky. Sadiq would be a great toy for Declan Doyle and . **15. TRADE! via : Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia** The Steelers end up jumping in front of the Lions to help ensure the woeful start to ’ NFL career doesn’t derail their season outlook. *PIT receives: No. 15 overall TB receives: No. 21 overall, 76 overall* Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon (6) warms up before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium.© Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images **16. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC** Makai Lemon’s wait carries him through the first half of the first round, until the Jets pluck him up to be their counterpunch at wide receiver to . **17. : , OT, Clemson** The Lions are planning on moving to left tackle and therefore are happy to draft a scrappy, blue collar right tackle in Blake Miller. Miller is a four-year starter who should help tighten up the protection for . **18. : , CB, San Diego State** The Vikings desperately need some long-term building blocks at cornerback. Johnson feels like a great fit for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. **19. : Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon** The Panthers have swung at safety recently but they don’t have the prolific ballhawk on the back end. Thieneman pairs with Tre’Von Moehrig to offer a great deal of run support and speed on the back end. **20. Kansas City Chiefs (via DAL through GBP): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee** The Chiefs take advantage of their earlier swap with the Cowboys to get in front of the rest of the cornerback run, adding a physical corner in Colton Hood. He’d be an awesome fit for Steve Spagnuolo. **21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via PIT): Ahkeem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami** The Bucs trade back and still get a much needed boost to their pass rush unit. Mesidor has been a popular mock fit in and I see no reason to stop now. **22. : Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF** needs to start thinking about life after . Lawrence is a prolific, explosive pass rusher who could thrive after being given a chance to learn under Mack for a year. Nov 28, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) against the Arizona Wildcats during the 99th Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images **23. : Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State** Philadelphia ends up securing their heir to with this pick - after several years of pouring into the defense it is time to start stacking back up on offense. The Eagles’ line is showing some signs of wear, too. **24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): ** The Browns get a physical pass catcher to help Todd Monken’s offense come to life. The Browns get a franchise tackle and a big-bodied pass catcher in the top-24. **25. : Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn** Keldric Faulk’s name has been hot. I can see him landing in Dallas if the Cowboys don’t make any trades. But in this scenario, Faulk comes to Chicago to join and a motivated in the pass rush unit. **26. : KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M** The Bills have messed around with this whole wide receiver situation long enough. Even after trading for , I can’t imagine the Bills can look themselves in the eye and consider themselves “done” with what the pass catchers looked like last year. **27. : Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana** ’s wide receiver room has been turned upside down in recent years. is a short-term win to add to the unit but beyond that? has struggled with durability and is a free agent. is in limbo. Cooper feels like a Shanahan-coded receiver. **28. : Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah** The Texans are a tough team to mock for. The roster is good! I’ll go ahead and send them another piece on an ever-evolving offensive line to hopefully make it \ evolving next offseason. Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.© Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images **29. Dallas Cowboys (via KC through LAR): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech** A Red Raider staying in the Lone Star State to man the MIKE linebacker spot for the Cowboys? Yes, please! Rodriguez has gotten plenty of buzz as a potential riser in o the first round. I’ll take the bait. **30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo** Miami gets a tough draw after passing on offensive line at pick No. 11 in favor of Rueben Bain. The good news is the Dolphins have needs everywhere and they gobble up a versatile, long, physical safety to add to a secondary that needs remodeling. **31. : Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama** The Patriots load up with another bully in the trenches to help them build upon last year’s growth as an offense. Between Proctor and , you better bring your hard hat against the Pats. **32. TRADE! Arizona Cardinals via : , QB, Alabama** The Cardinals “do the thing”. Go get your guy with a fifth-year option added on. *ARZ receives: No. 32 overall SEA receives: No. 34 overall, No. 143 overall* NFL Draft