MIAMI, April 22 (UPI) — Quarterback Fernando Mendoza sits atop UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler’s final first-round 2026 NFL mock draft, which features five trades.
Unlike my two previous mock drafts, when Arvell Reese went No. 2 overall, I project David Bailey to land there with the New York Jets. Reese is my projected pick at No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles round out the Top 5 picks of my final mock draft.
My projected first round has seven offensive linemen, seven edge rushers, six wide receivers, three cornerbacks, three safeties, two quarterbacks, two linebackers, a running back and a tight end.
The Jets, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys own two picks apiece in the first round. The Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons do not have first-round selections.
My projections are based on combine and pro day performances, free agency movement and trades and injuries and off-the-field concerns.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held from Thursday through Saturday in Pittsburgh. First-round coverage will air at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday on ESPN, NFL Network, NFL+, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
Second- and third-round coverage will air at 7 p.m. Friday on those same networks. The final four rounds will air at noon Saturday.
NFL Mock Draft
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
3. Arizona Cardinals
Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State
4. Tennessee Titans
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5. New York Giants
Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6. Cleveland Browns
Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
7. Washington Commanders
Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
8. Dallas Cowboys (traded from New Orleans Saints)
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
10. Los Angeles Rams (traded from New York Giants)
Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
11. Miami Dolphins
Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
12. New Orleans Saints (traded from Dallas Cowboys)
Makai Lemon, WR, USC
13. New York Giants (traded from Los Angeles Rams)
Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
14. Baltimore Ravens
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami
16. New York Jets
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
17. Detroit Lions
Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18. Minnesota Vikings
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19. Carolina Panthers
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20. Dallas Cowboys
Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
22. Los Angeles Chargers
T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
23. Buffalo Bills (traded from Philadelphia Eagles)
C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
24. Cleveland Browns
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
25. Houston Texans (traded from Chicago Bears)
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
26. Philadelphia Eagles (traded from Buffalo Bills)
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
27. San Francisco 49ers
Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
28. Chicago Bears (traded from Houston Texans)
Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
29. Kansas City Chiefs
K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
30. Arizona Cardinals (traded from Miami Dolphins)
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
31. New England Patriots
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
32. Seattle Seahawks
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo