We are approaching the one-month mark from the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, and it feels like this year’s edition will have more parity in the first round than any we’ve seen in at least the last decade.
With not many clear-cut first-round talents paired with multiple teams taking multiple first-round picks (including Dallas), the Thursday night of the draft could get weird.
With NFL free agency almost two weeks in and team needs heading into April coming clearer into focus, it’s time for the first Star-Telegram mock draft of the year. For this first exercise, we didn’t implement any trades.
No. 1 – QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) – Las Vegas Raiders
This feels like maybe the only pick in the first round that’s a given. Las Vegas has desperately been looking for its long-term signal-caller, and Mendoza provides the consistency and professionalism that the Raiders have craved for decades at the position.
No. 2 – OLB Arvell Reese (Ohio State) – New York Jets
The Jets need immediate pass rush help, and Reese gives them versatility from his off-ball experience paired with his pass-rush ability at Ohio State.
No. 3 – DE David Bailey (Texas Tech) – Arizona Cardinals
The FBS leader in sacks from 2025 won’t be on the board long, and if the Jets don’t decide to take Bailey, the Cardinals should happily run his card in to jolt life back into their pass rush.
No. 4 – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) – Tennessee Titans
The top offensive player not named Fernando Mendoza is not expected to make it out of the top 10. After rehauling the defense in free agency under new head coach Robert Saleh, the Titans throw juice back in at the running back position for the first time since letting Derrick Henry walk.
No. 5 – LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State) – New York Giants
The first real pen throw of the draft for the Cowboys could happen if they see their division rivals take Styles off the board. After cutting Bobby Okereke, the Giants are hunting down a premier off-ball linebacker, and no prospect has offered as much intrigue at the position since Devin White in 2019.
No. 6 – OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami) – Cleveland Browns
Like a lot of years, the Browns can go a lot of ways with their first-round pick, but it’s clear the offensive line needs some reliable, young help. Mauigoa is a day-one starter at right tackle and will give them longevity at the position.
No. 7 – DE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) – Washington Commanders
With multiple premier defenders still on the board, it will be like picking which Thanksgiving side to put on your plate first for coach Dan Quinn. And despite arm length concerns for how his game could translate to the next level, Bain’s pass rush tool kit is so deep, it wouldn’t matter if his hands were attached to his shoulders instead.
No. 8 – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State) – New Orleans Saints
The Saints may have found the quarterback of their future in Tyler Shough. But considering he is already 26 and only has three seasons left on his rookie contract, getting him offensive weapons sooner rather than later would be wise. Tate would provide the young gunslinger with a true outside threat to pair with Chris Olave.
No. 9 – OT Spencer Fano (Utah) – Kansas City Chiefs
After a mobility injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, protecting the face of the franchise has to be the biggest priority for the Chiefs. Grabbing a protector like Fano would go a long way.
No. 10 – S Caleb Downs (Ohio State) – Cincinnati Bengals
Even though safeties rarely go in the top 10, this would actually be a slide if Downs ended up at the No. 10 spot for the Bengals. Much like the Cowboys, Cincinnati will be pleading for the best defender on the board. Downs might just be the best defender in the whole draft.
No. 11 – WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) – Miami Dolphins
After trading away Jaylen Waddle and cutting Tyreek Hill in the offseason, adding a receiver for new quarterback Malik Willis feels like the given for Miami with this pick. Tyson has the speed and size to become the next weapon for the Dolphins.
No. 12 – CB Mansoor Delane (LSU) – Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys will be hunting down defensive talent with both first-round selections, and Delane gives them a day-one starter at cornerback who would push Shavon Revel Jr. or Cobie Durant to a rotational role. The scheme versatility and the lockdown film from 2025 would give Dallas much-needed reliability on the outside.
No. 13 – OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia) – Los Angeles Rams
Now, a receiver could make sense here for the Rams. But if Tate and Tyson are off the board, finding a tackle who can give longevity to either side of Matthew Stafford’s offensive line will be critical. Freeling’s freakish combine puts him firmly in the mix to be a top-15 pick.
No. 14 – G Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) – Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have a lot of holes on both sides of the ball, but fortifying their offensive line looks like a hole that wasn’t filled in free agency. Grabbing the draft’s best interior lineman in Ioane makes sense for the long term.
No. 15 – TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was very clear how different the Buccaneers’ offense was when they thought Cade Otton was the answer at tight end. It turned out he wasn’t. Now with wide receiver Mike Evans gone and a playmaker needed, adding Sadiq gives that explosion factor back to quarterback Baker Mayfield.
No. 16 – WR Makai Lemon (USC) – New York Jets
With the second of their two first-round picks, the Jets add an explosive route-running technician at receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson.
No. 17 – OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) – Detroit Lions
The offensive line for Detroit would get a versatile jolt by adding Proctor, as he has tackle/guard versatility at the next level.
No. 18 – S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) – Minnesota Vikings
Some things just make sense in life, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting a rangy safety with three-level impact is one of those things. Thieneman slides into the spot that Harrison Smith held down for over a decade.
No. 19 – DT Peter Woods (Clemson) – Carolina Panthers
After letting Fort Worth native A’Shawn Robinson out the door, the Panthers need some help in the defensive interior. Keeping Woods in the Carolinas would offer them a long-term commodity who can make a big impact at multiple spots up front.
No. 20 – DE T.J. Parker (Clemson) – Dallas Cowboys
Now, I know what you’re thinking. What about linebacker? I think that gets addressed in the trade market. That would leave the Cowboys hunting down a physical edge who can rush the passer and get after the backfield in the run game. Parker’s 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame would allow for that physical element defensive end Christian Parker desires off the edge.
No. 21 – QB Ty Simpson (Alabama) – Pittsburgh Steelers
Whether Aaron Rodgers returns for Mike McCarthy or not, getting a young quarterback to offer some clarity for the future would be wise in the first year of a head coaching tenure. As it turns out, Simpson might also need a year or two to marinate. Consider this a perfect marriage.
No. 22 – DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers need help in the defensive interior. And while Florida’s Caleb Banks is still on the board, his foot injuries offer more concern than the reliability McDonald can provide.
No. 23 – OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) – Philadelphia Eagles
As Father Time starts to catch up to Lane Johnson at right tackle for the Eagles, drafted Iheanachor would give Philadelphia short-term depth and long-term reliability at a position that could get dicey quick if Johnson misses more time in 2026.
No. 24 – WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) – Cleveland Browns
If the Browns don’t take a swing on a receiver at No. 6, go ahead and Sharpie it in for pick No. 24. Adding an athletic outside presence like Cooper would help whatever quarterback starts Week 1 for the Browns this year.
No. 25 – DT Caleb Banks (Florida) – Chicago Bears
Getting beefier in the defensive interior is a need for Chicago, and it doesn’t get much beefier than Banks at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds. The foot injuries are a concern, but without them, he is a reliable pick in the first round.
No. 26 – LB CJ Allen (Georgia) – Buffalo Bills
The Bills are going through a defensive scheme change that is very similar to what the Cowboys are experiencing this offseason. And much like the Cowboys, Allen makes a lot of sense to be the lead communicator for Buffalo’s new 3-4 system.
No. 27 – OT Blake Miller (Clemson) – San Francisco 49ers
Whether it’s planning for the future without Trent Williams or simply placing him at right tackle on day one, Miller can give San Francisco some needed reliability in protecting quarterback Brock Purdy.
No. 28 – G Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon) – Houston Texans
It’s been a revolving door on the offensive line in C.J. Stroud’s tenure at quarterback so far in Houston. Adding Pregnon should solidify at least one of those spots for the future.
No. 29 – DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn) – Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs need defensive help. And while the lack of pass rush production in college should rightfully scare teams away from Faulk, his size and run-game ability provide a stable floor to work with early in his career. Does Kansas City have enough time to wait on the development, though?
No. 30 – CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee) – Miami Dolphins
Grabbing one of the best cornerbacks in the draft is a no-brainer. But when considering McCoy is coming off a torn ACL suffered in January 2025, any team drafting him in the first round has to be willing to be patient in year one. What better team than one already throwing over half of its salary cap into dead money for 2026?
No. 31 – DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami) – New England Patriots
While he is already 25 years old, Mesidor does have a deep pass-rush repertoire that would give New England immediate impact play off the edge as the Patriots try to make the Drake Maye era a consistent playoff presence and not a one-year fluke.
No. 32 – CB Colton Hood (Tennessee) – Seattle Seahawks
After letting Fort Worth native Riq Woolen go in free agency, adding another outside cornerback will be necessary for the Seahawks. The reliability of Hood will give Seattle a healthy floor to work with at the position in 2026.
This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 8:58 AM.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nick Harris is the Dallas Cowboys beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has experience working on the beat for DallasCowboys.com and previous work experience at Yahoo Sports/Rivals and 247Sports.