GeorgiaDome 2026 Mock Draft

Mendoza is going #1. The Raiders made their offseason about adding tools for Mendoza's arrival including Kirk Cousins to ease the transition.

The reigning Heisman and National Champion QB projects as a solid NFL starter and is the only deserving QB to go in Round 1.

The Jets need the best player available at 2. It seems this pick is down to Arvell Reese or David Bailey with Bailey still holding the edge.

Bailey is the prototypical 4-3 DE with a motor to get to the QB. If the Jets want to have even 1 INT this year, it starts with the pass rush and Bailey has proven that more than the other EDGE guys in this draft. Combining him with McDonald and Ossai makes sense for a team building the defense this offseason and the offense in 27' with a new QB.

The Cardinals, similar to the Jets, are in a rebuild. Love is tempting but the signing of Tyler Allgeier and James Connor/Trey Benson still on the roster makes this more of luxury than a need. The Cardinals could go RT with Mauigoa or Fano, whom they both like, but at #3 it would be a reach.

Instead the Cardinals take the best player available and that could be Arvell Reese. Josh Sweat was a priority pick up last year but needs a running mate as Zaven Collins has been average and might move around inside more, especially on 3rd down. Either way, Arizona would solidify their pash rush and look to acquire a tackle at #34, where there will be some decent prospects like Max Iheanachor or Gennings Dunker.

If the Cardinals do move down from #3, as the rumors suggest, then Fano would be their primary target with Mauigoa a close second. Dallas is reported having talked with the Cardinals for an EDGE player.

What is Cam Ward? The Titans are on a mission to find out as evident in their Free Agency acquisitions. The best way to find out is to give him a chance in the run game and Love is truly a unicorn prospect with game changing effect. Love and Pollard would give the Titans a good look at Ward running a complete offense.

Taking an RB inside the Top 5 is typically taboo in today's NFL. Only 4 have been drafted since 2010 and two were deemed "busts".

2012: Trent Richardson (No. 3, Cleveland Browns)
2016: Ezekiel Elliott (No. 4, Dallas Cowboys)
2017: Leonard Fournette (No. 4, Jacksonville Jaguars)
2018: Saquon Barkley (No. 2, New York Giants)

The other two lived up to their draft status. Love's game could have a Derrick Henry/Bijan Robinson type of effect and that is too tempting for teams to pass up especially a HC on his 2nd opportunity.

The Giants do not have the need for the 3 top EDGE rushers and that plays to their advantage in this mock. Reaching at #5 doesn't make a ton of sense for Fano or Mauigoa. While solid players, tackles that go top 5 are typically franchise left tackles, not right tackles or right guards, which are the Giants needs.

Thus, this pick comes down to wide receiver, linebacker, or safety. Downs and Styles are much better prospects than the WRs in this draft and the Giants seem set to go with Nabers, Mooney, and Slaton. While Downs is ranked higher on my board, Safeties don't typically go top 5 and his "degenerative knee" could be an issue for a team looking to make that move in the Top 5.

The Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds but need another LB. Styles has make up to be a defensive chess piece. The former safety could still be used as a "Kyle Hamilton" type piece familiar to what Harbaugh used in Baltimore but is also capable of playing traditional Mike LB or edge in a 3rd down rush package. That level of versatility will appeal to the Giants as they start to rebuild their team in the Harbaugh image.

The Browns seem like they have to go OT and WR with their two 1st round picks. The question is in what order? There is a projected run of late 1/early 2nd round prospects at tackle that should be available at 24, so instead they look to support whoever they trot out under center in 26' with an effective weapon out wide with Carnell Tate.

Tate has seemingly always been the "other" Ohio St. WR behind Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Marvin Harrison Jr. but is a solid route runner and reliable WR. Ironically, he is my WR2 this year. While he isn't the game breaking prospect we typically see in the Top 10, he projects as a WR that could last for 10-12 years with solid production. That would be a massive upgrade for the Browns.

If the Browns move this pick and trade down, it won't be to take Tate later, It would be for OT Kayden Proctor. The Browns reportedly love Proctor but are shy to take him at #6.

The Commanders would love if Love was here at 7. However, those chances are pretty low. EDGE was a priority but the Commanders signed 3 guys in Free Agency and Bain hasn't been connected to Washington at this time. If Love or Bailey/Reese are available, I expect Washington to be their floor. However, there is a good shot they are gone at this point. Instead the Commanders have been looking at CB prospects and Caleb Downs.

Washington needs an upgrade in their secondary but their interest in the top CBs most likely is in case they trade down. However, Washington could land a top 5 prospect at #7 but just staying put and taking Caleb Downs. Downs would immediately start and become an impact player in Washington. Washington has to defend Hurts, Prescott, and Dart 6 times this year and need someone to control their backend. The knee wouldn't scare Washington as they would have decent depth with Cross and Harris, should anything go wrong. There is a reason he is a Top 5 prospect on everyone's big board.

The Saints decided to build around 2nd round QB Tyler Shough and must give him the weapons to have success under Kellen Moore. They accomplished this with RB Travis Etienne but WR is a huge need opposite Chris Olave. The problem is Carnell Tate is off the board and Lemon/Tyson have risks at #8; Lemon is a slot and more shifty than fast and Tyson is falling due to injury history. While I believe Tyson is the more attractive option, the Saints may decide to wait until #42 to address WR since their vacancy is a WR2 position. Instead the Saints look to boost their pass rush rotation with Rueben Bain.

The Saints currently have Chase Young and Carl Granderson but have little depth outside that. Bain immediately adds depth and can be moved around to increase his impact on the game to find solid match-ups. His short arms are a concern but that can be game planned. He has a relentless motor/production that is appealing to many teams despite his "physical limitations".

The Chiefs could go WR, CB, EDGE, or OL at #9. Protection for Patrick Mahomes, who is coming off a torn ACL and might not start the season, is crucial for the Chiefs to have any shot at the postseason this year.

Fano started this process as a Top 10 pick, dropped lower, and now could go as high as #3 or #5, which still is too rich for me. Fano is being downgraded for having shorter arms than Will Campbell, who had a solid season for New England but struggled in the postseason. However, from #9 to #15, he would be an excellent pick-up and could be a solid RT or an elite guard. Fano immediately slides into an open spot at RT for Kansas City. Remember, Andy Reid and Kyle Whittingham (his college coach) were teammates at BYU.

*Bengals Fan Alert*

I want Downs. I'm selfish and bias but I really struggle to see Washington passing on Downs at #7 if the board shakes out this way unless the Bengals wake up and move to #7 for him (looking at you Duke Tobin). The Bryan Cook signing solves 1/2 the problem in the backend and drafting Downs completes it. Jordan Battle and Geno Stone were huge liabilities for Cincy last year and one of the reasons the team fell out of the playoff push with a historically bad defense. Stone is now in Buffalo and Battle shouldn't be depended on in 2026. He did a better job of obtaining turnovers but still makes way too many mistakes.

Downs and Cook allow Cincinnati to have a much better pass defense in 2026 alongside DJ Turner and Dax Hill. Downs is a Top 3 prospect in this draft and the "degenerative knee" flagged at the combine shouldn't scare Cincinnati from taking a very high level safety prospect. If the unit could just be average, Cincinnati could be an 10-13 win team.

However, Downs is gone and Cincy has to pivot. They have been connected to Reuben Bain (bad fit and gone in this mock) and Mansoor Delane. Make no mistake, Delane is not a consolation prize. He is the top ranked CB on my board and is projected to be a solid NFL starter. He would be the only one I would approve of for the Bengals first round this year other than Downs. This would allow Dax Hill to move to the nickel spot, leaving safety as the only need in the back end (praying for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in round 2 or Zakee Wheatley in round 3).

There is still the issue at LB but that can be addressed in Round 2-3 (crossing fingers for Jacob Rodriguez).

Rebuild Mode. Miami only has 3 players from their 2023 roster. That is insane considering that was only 2 seasons ago. The Dolphins truly are rebuilding from the ground up and have needs at every position. Should a Top 10 target fall, Miami should look a just acquiring the BPA and that happened here with Francis Mauigoa, who won't have to travel far.

It can be argued that outside RB and EDGE, Miami could use an upgrade at any position. The franchise cornerstones for all teams are QB, EDGE, and OT. Miami paid QB Malik Willis, is decent at EDGE/depth, but has two incredibly average players at OT in Paul & Jackson, who has durability concerns. Mauigoa is a prototypical RT that solidifies a position for a decade. His impact is a major reason Miami went to the title game this past year. Mauigoa allows new HC Jeff Hafley to have a solid building block as Miami looks at a multi-year rebuild, which has been echoed from leadership down.

Dallas, much like Cincinnati, are rebuilding their entire defense but are doing it at a faster speed. McCoy is a true question mark of a prospect. His film from 2024 was solid and worthy of a 1st round pick, which leads to a projection of having the skills to be successful in the NFL. The problem is he tore his ACL in Jan of 2025 and missed the entire season. He has missed 1.5 years of competitive football, which in a position of constant movement against elite athletes is concerning. He also has been flagged by teams for a "degenerative knee" post surgery. However, he is worth the risk for Dallas, as he won't be there at #20 and having a true talent opposite DaRon Bland is needed over Durant or Revel.

Dallas is rumored to be moving up to #3 for Bailey, Reese, or Styles. It's not out of the question but take it with a grain of salt because Jerry Jones just wants people talking about the Cowboys and he will do anything to keep them relevant.

The Rams have been exploring WR targets around the league. Adams is another year older and, as exciting as McVay has been with his 13P package, another WR is needed to balance out the offense, especially if Adams or Nacua ever goes down.

Lemon is currently ranked as my WR #3 (behind Tyson and Tate). In my opinion, the drop off from the Top 3 to the next tier (Cooper, Boston, Conception, Lane, Fields, Branch, Bell) is pretty significant. The Rams will see Puka qualities in Lemon, who does not have to move far from his college home. Lemon will be asked to be a piece and not the savior which will alleviate the pressure as he adjusts to the league and media interviews.

The Ravens chose the player over the coach this offseason and nothing has been done to support the player. Instead the Ravens let guys walk out the door and seem like a team doing a soft rebuild rather than chasing Super Bowls.

Flowers needs a running mate, as Bateman has been inconsistent and new staff has no ties to him. Tyson (My WR1) is still on the board but his injury history is significant and teams are legitimately expressing concern. The Ravens lost Isaiah Likely to the Giants this offseason and 31 year old Mark Andrews is showing his age.

Sadiq is a flex TE that rounds out the Ravens offense and gives them a true secondary threat opposite Flowers. He is an average blocker but can create mismatches for teams in 12P sets. At 6'3'' 241 lbs. and 4.3 speed, Sadiq can be a match-up problem for teams already having to account for Lamar, Henry, and Flowers.

The Bucs always seem to have an athletic, productive, and smart Mike LB. Derrick Brooks, Lavonte David, and Devin White are just a few over the past 20 years. The Bucs signed Alex Anzalone but he still needs a running mate.

CJ Allen ran Georgia's defensive unit the past two seasons and started as a freshman under Kirby Smart. He has production to back it up and just screams Buccaneers LB. While his range is mid to late 1st round, the Bucs and Todd Bowles know they have to secure a target like this as it has been ingrained in their DNA.

The advantage of having 2 first round picks is teams can use the second for a need rather than best player available. We most often see this with QB's at the end of round one with round two grades but the same principal applies. The Jets shock most media pundits and mock drafters by taking Omar Cooper Jr. at 16.

Despite being my WR4 and graded as a 2nd round prospect, Omar Cooper goes before my WR1 because the Jets love him and Tyson has injury concerns. Cooper is a solid WR2 to compliment Garrett Wilson. He has the ability to pick up yards after the catch and has experience from the slot and outside.

Despite running 4.42, he doesn't run routes like a player with that speed and is a liability as a run blocker. 23 of his 69 catches were on screens and 86% of his routes were screens, hitches, or outs. He is an unknown route runner because he wasn't asked to do it a ton at Indiana and may require some time to adjust. He also struggled locating the ball on misthrows, especially those underthrown. These questions are why he is often graded as a second round WR. However, the Jets appear to covet Cooper and planned on taking him at #33, however, there is now a good shot he doesn't make it there and if the Jets like him, they most likely will have to take him at #16.