Jan. 19, 2026, 7:21 a.m. ET
With the second round of the playoffs in the books and the huge news that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is returning to school, it’s time to update our one-round mock draft. The 2026 NFL draft promises to be filled with drama due to so many teams with big draft needs and a limited number of top options.
1 – Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
Mendoza is the top quarterback in the draft with no competition, so whether it’s the Raiders or another team who trades up, Mendoza is the top pick.
2 – New York Jets – S Caleb Downs – Ohio State
Without a quarterback option here the Jets get a guy to add splash plays in a secondary that was miserable last season.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.3 – Arizona Cardinals – LB Arvell Reese – Ohio State
Reese is a do-it-all linebacker who can dominate on the inside or line up and rush the passer.
4 – Tennessee Titans – EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. – Miami
It came down to an additional wide receiver for Cam Ward here or the top pass rusher and we opted for defense this time around.
5 – New York Giants – WR Carnell Tate – Ohio State
With new head coach John Harbaugh in place, we considered Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love but settled on Tate to give Jaxson Dart another weapon.
6 – Cleveland Browns – WR Jordyn Tyson – Arizona State
All bets are off as to who is playing quarterback for Cleveland next year so we go for an elite target in Tyson for whoever it is.
7 – Washington Commanders – EDGE David Bailey – Texas Tech
The Comanders have holes on both sides of the football so we go with the highest-rated play on our board in Bailey, who can control a game as a pass rusher.
Many pundits don’t have Woods this high but we expect him to really climb in the offseason workouts.
9 – Kansas City Chiefs – OT Spencer Fano – Utah
The Chiefs missed the playoffs but the consolation prize is landing a franchise offensive tackle in the first round.
10 – Cincinnati Bengals – RB Jeremiyah Love – Notre Dame
This could easily be an offensive linemen but Love is a generational talent on par with Bijan Robinson and the final piece of the puzzle for the Bengals skill players.
11 – Miami Dolphins – CB Jerod McCoy – Tennessee
Miami saw improvement on the offensive line down the stretch and could find players in free agency so we go with McCoy who is a lockdown cover cornerback.
12 – Dallas Cowboys – LB Sonny Styles – Ohio State
Reese gets all the headlines as a Buckeye linebacker but Styles is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker as well.
Los Angeles has an excellent roster so this pick was about value and Delane has the potential to be a turnover machine in the NFL.
14 – Baltimore Ravens – DT Kayden McDonald – Ohio State
The Ravens are another team with a new head coach coming in and so instead of addressing a specific need, we look to the defense and get McDonald, who fits what Baltimore likes to do on defense.
The Bucs defense can never have enough pass rushers and Faulk is a disruptor off the edge.
16 – New York Jets – WR Makai Lemon – USC
The Jets go out of the first round without a quarterback but do land a receiver to pair up with Garrett Wilson for whoever is throwing them the football.
17 – Detroit Lions – OT Francis Mauigoa – Miami
The Lions love physical player and Mauigoa is a mauler at left tackle.
18 – Minnesota Vikings – CB Avieon Terrell – Clemson
The Vikings can use help at cornerback depth and Terrell is an experienced coverage player who isn’t shy about defending the run.
Banks’ NFL potential is much greater than his play in 2025 and the Panthers need another big presence in the middle of their defense.
20 – Dallas Cowboys – EDGE Cashius Howell – Texas A&M
The Cowboys land Howell here to fill the void from trading away Micah Parsons last season.
21 – Pittsburgh Steelers – QB Ty Simpson – Alabama
We don’t know who the next head coach of the Steelers is yet, but we can bet he won’t stick with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard at quarterback.
22 – Los Angeles Chargers – G Vega Ioane – Penn State
The Chargers’ offensive line was inconsistent this season, and Ioane is an anchor in the middle.
The Eagles always seem to need more help on offense to take heat off the run game and Sadiq is far and away the best tight end in the draft.
24 – Cleveland Browns – OT Caleb Lomu – Utah
After getting a starting wide receiver with their first pick in the round, the Browns come back with a starting offensive tackle in Lomu.
25 – Chicago Bears – LB CJ Allen – Georgia
The Bears have an incredibly active and physical defense and Allen fits right in with that mindset.
26 – Buffalo Bills WR Denzel Burke – Washington
The Bills always seem to be shorthanded on offense regardless of who is there so we went with a wide out here to continue to build around Josh Allen.
27 – San Francisco 49ers – EDGE T.J. Parker – Clemson
The Niners need to add pass rushers and Parker is a great tweener guy who is big enough to hold up as a defensive end but can stand up and get after the passer.
28 – Houston Texans – DT Christian Miller – Georgia
The Texans’ strength gets even stronger with the addition of Miller to an already elite defensive line.
29 – Los Angeles Rams – OT Kadyn Proctor – Alabama
The Rams finish up the first round with massive offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor who should compete for either tackle spot.
30 – New England Patriots – G Emmanuel Pregnon – Oregon
The Patriots don’t have many holes on their team but could upgrade at wide receiver or guard and Pregnon fits that physical style Mike Vrabel likes.
31 – Denver Broncos – RB Jonah Coleman – Washington
Coleman sneaks into the end of the first round after a strong offseason and adds some serious punch to the Broncos run game.32 – Seattle Seahawks – CB Colton Hood – Tennessee
32 – Seattle Seahawks – CB Colton Hood – Tennessee
The Seahawks have a great roster but can always depth in the secondary and Hood is a guy opposing offenses don’t challenge often.