{"id":745099,"date":"2026-02-11T16:06:23","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:06:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/745099\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T16:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T16:06:23","slug":"2026-nfl-draft-field-yates-releases-new-mock-draft-updated-espn-prediction-for-every-first-round-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/745099\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NFL Draft: Field Yates releases new mock draft, updated ESPN prediction for every first round pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the 2026 NFL Draft a couple of months away,<\/a> ESPN\u2019s Field Yates released his updated mock draft for the entire first round. Strap in for 32 picks!<\/p>\n

The first pick in this mock draft is pretty obvious, Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana QB won the Heisman and it\u2019d be stunning if he wasn\u2019t heading to Vegas.<\/p>\n

So without further ado, let\u2019s dive into the latest mock draft from ESPN. We\u2019ll go through the entire first round.<\/p>\n

The Raiders start anew with the Heisman Trophy winner in this mock draft. It\u2019s hard to believe that Vegas would pick anyone but Mendoza here.<\/p>\n

New head coach Klint Kubiak is ready to hit the reset button on this franchise with a guy who could be a star. Mendoza, fresh off a national title, is the only pick.<\/p>\n

\"ArvellArvell Reese (Birm\/Lettermen Row)<\/p>\n

The Jets go with arguably the best defender available with few QB options this year. This mock\u00a0 draft has Reese going to the Meadowlands to be coached up by Aaron Glenn.<\/p>\n

Reese\u2019s pass rushing abilities are needed in New York. Pairing him with Will McDonald IV sounds like a good idea!<\/p>\n

No matter who the quarterback is, Mauigoa is the pick here in this mock draft. The Cardinals need to protect the signal caller and sure up the offensive line.<\/p>\n

New head coach Mike LaFleur wants to implement his Rams\u2019 concepts in Arizona, so they need good protection up front. If you get Mauigoa, you have a good tackle combo with Paris Johnson Jr.<\/p>\n

Robert Saleh, as the new head coach, might go defense right away and that\u2019s what this mock draft predicts. ESPN has Bailey, from Texas Tech, gives Saleh an instant impact player.<\/p>\n

He led the FBS in sacks last year with 14.5 after transferring in from Stanford. He\u2019ll be plugged in right away.<\/p>\n

\"CalebCaleb Downs (Mick Walker\/Lettermen Row)<\/p>\n

Downs could be the first defender off the board, or perhaps rated the highest in this mock draft. It just depends on what you value. The Giants will go with Downs here per ESPN.<\/p>\n

John Harbaugh needs another young leader. Downs brings that in addition to elite coverage and tackling skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Browns, like the Cardinals, need to get a tackle. So, Fano goes to Cleveland in this mock draft to protect, maybe, Shedeur Sanders.<\/p>\n

Fano started the last two seasons at right tackle for the Utes. He allowed zero sacks in 2025 and just one in 2024.<\/p>\n

The Commanders need another weapon for Jayden Daniels. Tate fits the mold alongside fellow Ohio State alum Terry McLaurin.<\/p>\n

Tate is pro ready, so he makes sense in the top 10 of this mock draft. As long as everyone\u2019s healthy, the Washington offense should get a boost in 2026.<\/p>\n

\"Arizona(Arianna Grainey | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Speaking of NFL-ready WRs, Tyson fits that mold as well. The former Arizona State star pairs well in New Orleans with Tyler Shough.<\/p>\n

Now that the Saints will go into a new year without Rashid Shaheed, since he was winning a Super Bowl with Saettle, Tyson can be a game changer. This mock draft selection makes a lot of sense.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs need a boost on offense, hard to believe right? This mock draft gives them a boost behind Patrick Mahomes with Love.<\/p>\n

Love was a star at Notre Dame and the best running back in college football. If Isiah Pacheco is healthy, this could be a lethal duo.<\/p>\n

The Bengals need just about everything on defense, so you can\u2019t go wrong in this mock draft. Bain is an elite pass rusher and defender, so he makes sense!<\/p>\n

Bain has a strength that can\u2019t be taught and very quick hands. He won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award this past season.<\/p>\n

Field Yates releases new ESPN Mock Draft for 2026<\/p>\n

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane<\/a>, CB \u2013 LSU<\/a>
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles<\/a>, LB \u2013 Ohio State<\/a>
13. Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy<\/a>, CB \u2013 Tennessee<\/a>
14. Baltimore Ravens: Makai Lemon<\/a>, WR \u2013 USC<\/a>
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Texas A&M<\/a>
16. New York Jets: Caleb Banks<\/a>, DT \u2013 Florida<\/a>
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling<\/a>, OT \u2013 Georgia<\/a>
18. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Cisse<\/a>, CB \u2013 South Carolina<\/a>
19. Carolina Panthers: Akheem Mesidor<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Miami<\/a>
20. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Auburn<\/a>
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson<\/a>, QB \u2013 Alabama<\/a>
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Vega Ioane<\/a>, G \u2013 Penn State<\/a>
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor<\/a>, OT \u2013 Arizona State<\/a>
24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston<\/a>, WR \u2013 Washington<\/a>
25. Chicago Bears: Zion Young<\/a>, EDGE \u2013 Missouri<\/a>
26. Buffalo Bills: Peter Woods<\/a>, DT \u2013 Clemson<\/a>
27. San Francisco 49ers: KC Concepcion<\/a>, WR \u2013 Texas A&M<\/a>
28. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor<\/a>, OT \u2013 Alabama<\/a>
29. Los Angeles Rams: Colton Hood<\/a>, CB \u2013 Tennessee<\/a>
30. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq<\/a>, TE \u2013 Oregon<\/a>
31. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu<\/a>, OT\/G \u2013 Utah<\/a>
32. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Bisontis<\/a>, G \u2013 Texas A&M<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the 2026 NFL Draft a couple of months away, ESPN\u2019s Field Yates released his updated mock draft…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":745100,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[40550,40956,48175,5781,5782,5783,5784,9384,40456,51594,9387,20644,26735,7,5795,9391,5798,20645,5799,5800,26737,25581,11876,32679,94095,99465,6,15,5806,5808,34445,5809,15529,34447,105269],"class_list":{"0":"post-745099","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nfl-draft","8":"tag-akheem-mesidor-20-clearwater-academy-international","9":"tag-arvell-reese-23-glenville","10":"tag-brandon-cisse-23-lakewood","11":"tag-caleb-banks-21-southfield","12":"tag-caleb-downs-23-mill-creek","13":"tag-caleb-lomu-23-highland","14":"tag-carnell-tate-23-img-academy","15":"tag-cashius-howell-21-rockhurst","16":"tag-chase-bisontis-23-don-bosco-prep","17":"tag-colton-hood-23-eagles-landing-christian-academy","18":"tag-david-bailey-22-mater-dei","19":"tag-denzel-boston-22-emerald-ridge","20":"tag-fernando-mendoza-22-columbus","21":"tag-football","22":"tag-francis-mauigoa-23-img-academy","23":"tag-jeremiyah-love-23-christian-brothers-college","24":"tag-jermod-mccoy-23-whitehouse","25":"tag-jordyn-tyson-22-independence","26":"tag-kadyn-proctor-23-southeast-polk","27":"tag-keldric-faulk-23-highland-home","28":"tag-kenyon-sadiq-23-skyline-senior","29":"tag-kevin-concepcion-23-chambers","30":"tag-makai-lemon-23-los-alamitos","31":"tag-mansoor-delane-22-archbishop-spalding","32":"tag-mark-iheanachor-25-narbonne","33":"tag-monroe-freeling-23-oceanside-collegiate-academy","34":"tag-nfl","35":"tag-nfl-draft","36":"tag-peter-woods-23-thompson","37":"tag-rueben-bain-23-miami-central","38":"tag-sonny-styles-22-pickerington-central","39":"tag-spencer-fano-23-timpview","40":"tag-ty-simpson-22-westview","41":"tag-vega-ioane-22-graham-kapowsin","42":"tag-zion-young-22-westlake"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=745099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/745099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/745100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=745099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=745099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=745099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}