Predicting the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft

Q: Who are the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft first round?

The top picks include Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza for the Raiders, Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey for the Jets, and Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese for the Saints.

Q: What trades occurred during the 2026 NFL Draft first round?

The New Orleans Saints traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to secure the third overall pick for Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese.

Q: Which team has the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Las Vegas Raiders have the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Q: What positions are being targeted by teams in the 2026 NFL Draft first round?

Teams are targeting key positions such as quarterback, edge rusher, and offensive tackle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a second quarter touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images We have finally made it to the first round of the 2026 **NFL Draft**. Weeks of speculation are now over, and teams will make selections that could change the future of their franchise for better or for worse. The Denver Broncos currently do not own a first-round selection due to the blockbuster Jaylen Waddle trade, and are scheduled to make their first selection in the second round on Friday. Despite that, the first round is expected to be an eventful one. There are a lot of unknowns, and we could see plenty of trades and surprise picks throughout the night. Hey Raiders, you’re on the clock! **1. Las Vegas Raiders: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza** This pick has been known since the Raiders clinched the top pick in the draft, and now the Raiders officially land their hopeful franchise quarterback. **2. New York Jets: Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey** Arvell Reese or David Bailey? There is smoke for both edge rushers, but at the end of the day, I think they’ll land with David Bailey to improve their pass rush. ***TRADE ALERT – New Orleans Saints trade up with the Arizona Cardinals*** **3. ** **via **: **Ohio State LB/EDGE Arvell Reese** **TRADE!** With Reese not going 2nd overall, the Saints jump up to the 3rd overall pick to land the explosive edge rusher. It’s a big trade for a Saints team looking to make a leap this upcoming season. **4. : Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love** The Titans could go here, but I think they’ll give an explosive backfield weapon in Jeremiyah Love. **5. : Ohio State S ** Caleb Downs is arguably one of the top players in this entire draft, and John Harbaugh lands his with the Giants. **6. : Utah OT Spencer Fano** The Browns’ offensive line is in flux, and they add their hopeful long-term left tackle here in Utah’s Spencer Fano. **7. : Ohio State WR Carnell Tate** The Commanders need some wide receiver help, and they land the WR1 in Ohio State’s Carnell Tate **8. Arizona Cardinals via New Orleans Saints: OT Francis Mauigoa** The Cardinals trade down and still land one of the top offensive tackles in this draft, and hopefully, their long-term left tackle moving forward. **9. : Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson** The Chiefs are a trade-up candidate, but in this mock, I have them sticking at 9 and landing Jordyn Tyson. He is a talented wide receiver, but has some injury concerns, and has the potential to be a dynamic weapon for QB . **10. New York Giants via : Ohio State LB Sonny Styles** Styles slipped farther than I anticipated, and if he were available here, I believe the Giants would turn this pick in quickly. Landing both Downs and Styles would be quite the haul for the Giants. **11. :** **Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.** The Dolphins need a lot of help. After losing , I have them landing edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who will stay in Miami and play for the Dolphins. **12. : LSU CB Mansoor Delane** The Cowboys need a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball, but with this pick, they land the top cornerback in the draft in Mansoor Delane. **13. : Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq** Do they need a tight end? No, but Sadiq is a rare talent, and Sean McVay, who loves to use multiple tight end sets, will have a hard time passing on Sadiq here. **14. : Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane** I know the Ravens have had some changes this offseason, but Olaivavega Ioane feels like a Baltimore Ravens-type player, and I really like the fit here. **15. : Miami EDGE ** The Bucs pass rush needs some help, and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor will bring some juice off the edge for them. **16. New York Jets: USC WR Makai Lemon** The Jets need plenty of help on the offensive side of the ball, and with this pick, they land Makai Lemon here to pair with to be QB ’s top weapons on offense. **17. : Alabama OT Kaydn Proctor** The Lions have been connected to OT help all offseason and land the massive Kaydn Proctor here to be their left or right tackle of the future. **18: : Oregon S Dillon Thieneman** With ’s future in doubt, the Vikings land his potential replacement here in Dillon Thieneman, who can step right in and start on day one. ***TRADE ALERT – Houston Texans trade up with the Carolina Panthers*** **19. via : Clemson OT Blake Miller** The Texans need offensive line help and move up to land Clemson right tackle Blake Miller. Their pass blocking improved last season, but Miller should help keep clean moving forward. **20. Dallas Cowboys: UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence** I gave the the top cornerback in the draft earlier, and now I have them selecting a fast-rising pass rusher to help their defense even more. **21. : Georgia OT Monroe Freeling** The Steelers look set to re-sign 42-year-old QB and will need to improve their offensive line if they want to keep him healthy. Freeling is a 6-7 athletic freak who can step in on day 1 and be the Steelers starting left tackle. **22. : Texas A&M G Chase Bisontis** If this pick isn’t offensive line, should throw a fit. The Chargers offensive line struggled badly last season and Chase Bisontis is a plug-and-play guard who should be an instant upgrade for them. **23. : Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor** Right tackle isn’t getting any younger, and Iheanachor can come in as depth early on, develop for a season, and eventually take over for the veteran down the road. **24. Cleveland Browns: Washington WR Denzel Boston** The Browns could use some help at wide receiver, and Denzel Boston will give them a big weapon on the outside who can win jump balls and be a weapon in the red zone. **25.** **: Auburn EDGE Keldrick Faulk** Faulk will give the Bears a big edge rusher who can instantly improve their run defense and someone who should improve as a pass rusher from inside and outside moving forward. **26. : Ohio State NT Kayden McDonald** The Bills’ run defense was awful last season, so I have them adding run-stopping specialist Kayden McDonald with their first-round pick. **27. : Utah OT Caleb Lomu** is not getting any younger so I have the 49ers adding a potential replacement down the road here in Utah’s Caleb Lomu. **28. Carolina Panthers via. Houston Texans: Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion** The Panthers added Tet McMillian last season and now give speedster KC Concepcion to pair with him in the passing game. **29. Kansas City Chiefs: Tennessee CB Jerod McCoy** The Chiefs traded away earlier this offseason and now will replace him with Jerod McCoy, who slipped a little bit farther than expected in this mock. **30. Miami Dolphins via Denver Broncos: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.** The Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle to the for this pick, so I have them replacing him with Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. with this pick. **31. : Clemson EDGE TJ Parker** The Patriots could use some pass-rush help here and have a few options available to them, but in the end, I have them selecting Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker with this pick. **TRADE ALERT: The Arizona Cardinals trade up with the ** **32. Arizona Cardinals via Seattle Seahawks: Alabama QB ** The Cardinals have been connected to Ty Simpson throughout this draft process, and I have them trading back into the first round to land their hopeful quarterback of the future.