John's Final 2026 Mock Extravaganza
My 2026 Final Mock Extravaganza is based on all the research, Vegas betting odds, and gut feelings I have for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft is on my birthday this year and I want nothing more than to listen to Mel Kiper scream about god knows what on national television. In the past, I tended to get caught up mocking what I think teams should do so this year I will do my best to mock what I think they will do regardless of who I would draft if I were in their position. I am not a GM, but I like to think I would have done a better job for the Jets at least. Maybe I should find another hobby, but I won't.
Some are saying this draft isn't as good as past drafts, but they say that every year. "They" said 2021 was an incredible draft for Quarterbacks, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance are barely in the league anymore. Just like every draft, some will succeed, some will not. There will definitely be a handful of guys going way earlier or later than consensus.
The NFL Draft is on my birthday this year and I want nothing more than to listen to Mel Kiper scream about god knows what on national television. In the past, I tended to get caught up mocking what I think teams should do so this year I will do my best to mock what I think they will do regardless of who I would draft if I were in their position. I am not a GM, but I like to think I would have done a better job for the Jets at least. Maybe I should find another hobby, but I won't.
Some are saying this draft isn't as good as past drafts, but they say that every year. "They" said 2021 was an incredible draft for Quarterbacks, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance are barely in the league anymore. Just like every draft, some will succeed, some will not. There will definitely be a handful of guys going way earlier or later than consensus.
Round 1
Only lock of the draft. Mendoza had an incredible season and solidified his spot as the number one pick in the draft.
John's Team Needs:
QB, WR, DL/EDGE
John's Team Needs:
QB, WR, DL/EDGE
Somehow still a Jets fan so this is my annual complaint about drafting Zach Wilson to replace Sam Darnold. Actually, I will save it. But Zach Wilson will be playing in the CFL soon. I am going back to my original thought where Bailey is probably the cleanest edge prospect. Reese fits the 3-4 OLB bill but he may require a bit of development and he is one of those tweener prospects. The betting markets have reacted to the NFL Insiders saying they think Bailey will be the pick as well. For what it's worth, I would take Bailey here too. Reminds me of Will Anderson in a way, not on that level of course...yet. I get the feeling Darren Mougey values production.
John's Team Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, CB, LB
John's Team Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, CB, LB
TRADE
I think the Cowboys are coming up to get him and the Cardinals are desperate to trade down. They are in a "win now" mode and I am sure Jerry Jones thinks they can actually win for some reason. I would imagine they do everything in their power to move up for him so I would be more suprised if it doesn't happen. I am going to keep Reese here with the knowledge it could be Arizona going best player available or someone coming up, like Dallas, to grab him. Trades in the top five are way easier said than done but with all the buzz around teams looking to move down and Dallas wanting to move up, I think it happens. Here is my first trade predicted and one I feel can actually happen. It is tradition for me at this point. Maybe this year I will be right.
John's Team Needs: EDGE, CB, S
I think the Cowboys are coming up to get him and the Cardinals are desperate to trade down. They are in a "win now" mode and I am sure Jerry Jones thinks they can actually win for some reason. I would imagine they do everything in their power to move up for him so I would be more suprised if it doesn't happen. I am going to keep Reese here with the knowledge it could be Arizona going best player available or someone coming up, like Dallas, to grab him. Trades in the top five are way easier said than done but with all the buzz around teams looking to move down and Dallas wanting to move up, I think it happens. Here is my first trade predicted and one I feel can actually happen. It is tradition for me at this point. Maybe this year I will be right.
John's Team Needs: EDGE, CB, S
Mike Borgzoni says they will take the best player available regardless of premium position and they are not concerned with Bain's arm length. That could mean anything, I don't know I just know they aren't writing Bain off. Like I said in the intro, sometimes I feel like I should find another hobby, but I won't. Depends who they think the best player is I guess. I am torn on Love vs. Bain here. I do really have a weird feeling they may be taking Rueben Bain, but everything I have seen has said otherwise. With that being said, I cannot see them passing on the best offensive player in the draft. He will give Cam Ward an instant boost in the run game and the pass game.
John's Team Needs: WR, EDGE, RB
John's Team Needs: WR, EDGE, RB
I have had Caleb Downs here over Sonny Styles here for a while. I am absolutely torn. I believe Caleb Downs is the best player in the draft and I think it fits the Harbaugh way more than Styles does. Harbaugh advocated for Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore and look what happened. Positional value is out the window this year. You know what you are getting with Downs. I would be shocked, I will say it again, shocked if he makes it past New Orleans at eight. There is also no way the whole Giants staff went to that Ohio State pro day and came away feeling like they did not have good options here. They could also move down, but again, easier said than done. Vegas seems to have this pick between Styles and Downs. I still would not be shocked if they took Styles here.
John's Team Needs: IOL, WR, DB, LB
John's Team Needs: IOL, WR, DB, LB
Is the Monroe Freeling hype at 6 overall real? I feel like there is a slight chance they can get him at 24. I have them moving up to 18 from 24 to grab Freeling. Carnell Tate is the chalk pick here and I am going to stick with it. I think taking Freeling here may be a bit too rich. It is all about the value here and Carnell Tate is the best receiver in the draft. A lot of buzz with them trading down, but if they move out of the top 10, they may miss out on drafting the best receiver. He is one smooth route runner and would be a great fit if they are going to give Shedeur Sanders a real chance.
John's Team Needs: WR, OL, QB
John's Team Needs: WR, OL, QB
7.
Washington desperately needs help on defense and Sonny Styles would more than help them. He is a freak athlete and there is not a doubt in my mind that Adam Peters would sprint to the podium to get this pick in.
John's Team Needs: CB, S, WR, RB, DL
John's Team Needs: CB, S, WR, RB, DL
8.
TRADE
Sort of going nuts with the trading this year but it is a bit of a weird draft year. It's no secret the Cardinals have been high on Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano and they HAVE to come out of this draft with a tackle. This would mimic what they did in 2023 when they moved to 12 and came back up for Paris Johnson. Fano fits the scheme more than Mauigoa but I just cannot see them passing on Mauigoa. As for the Saints, I believe they want to add more picks in the top 75 to address their needs in the secondary and at wide receiver.
John's Team Needs: OT, QB, DL
Sort of going nuts with the trading this year but it is a bit of a weird draft year. It's no secret the Cardinals have been high on Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano and they HAVE to come out of this draft with a tackle. This would mimic what they did in 2023 when they moved to 12 and came back up for Paris Johnson. Fano fits the scheme more than Mauigoa but I just cannot see them passing on Mauigoa. As for the Saints, I believe they want to add more picks in the top 75 to address their needs in the secondary and at wide receiver.
John's Team Needs: OT, QB, DL
Protecting Mahomes should be priority number one here, so if Fano make its here I see him being the pick. First the Super Bowl and now Mahomes tore his ACL. There has been a big connection between Fano and Mauigoa to the Chiefs and it seems that Fano fits the zone blocking scheme for the Chiefs
John's Team Needs: OL, CB, WR, EDGE
John's Team Needs: OL, CB, WR, EDGE
Best player available and it comes at a position of huge need. Joe Burrow nearly won MVP two years ago and they missed the playoffs because their defense allowed 100 points a game. Delane was exceptional in his college career and has no questions around him which I think gives him the edge over McCoy who had some questions around his medicals since he tore his ACL in January, but he cleared those up at his pro day. I think Delane is the better fit since there is no medical history. Especially since their has been some buzz they are looking to add to their secondary. I would think the Bengals have learned not to draft based the RAS score nonsense based on their last two first round picks.
John's Team Needs: DL, CB, LB, OL, TE
John's Team Needs: DL, CB, LB, OL, TE
Oh well, here comes the rebuild. To me, this pick comes down to the top offensive lineman or the top edge rusher available. Just depends who is available. I would bet they are starting this rebuild in the trenches I don't think they take a receiver just yet as they have glaring needs on the offensive line and defensive line. If Bain or Mauigoa fall here they will be the pick. There has been some recent buzz around Rueben Bain that is causing his stock to fall but I would think teams have known about this since it happened and have vetted since then. The draft process typically leaves no stones unturned, unless it was Laremy Tunsil. Not sure what Malik Willis got himself into here. Godspeed.
John's Team Needs: OL, DL, WR, CB, S
John's Team Needs: OL, DL, WR, CB, S
TRADE
The Saints have needs on the edge, at corner, and mostly at receiver. If Carnell Tate goes at six then they may feel like the value is not there. McCoy is not far off from Delane. The medicals may be concerning given he did not play in 2025 but his 2024 season and an excellent pro day which cleared those questions up and keeps him in the mix for a top 15 pick. They could also like Tyson or Lemon here as well.
John's Team Needs: CB, EDGE, WR
The Saints have needs on the edge, at corner, and mostly at receiver. If Carnell Tate goes at six then they may feel like the value is not there. McCoy is not far off from Delane. The medicals may be concerning given he did not play in 2025 but his 2024 season and an excellent pro day which cleared those questions up and keeps him in the mix for a top 15 pick. They could also like Tyson or Lemon here as well.
John's Team Needs: CB, EDGE, WR
Makai Lemon fits the Rams perfectly. A lot of comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Tough slot receiver. They are a bit of a wild card here as this is Atlanta's pick so this is a bonus for them. Davante Adams is probably only going to play another two years at the most and Puka Nacua is a loose cannon. This could be the first spot for Ty Simpson as well with Matt Stafford probably only playing one or two more years. It would be the perfect situation for Simpson and they need to develop someone behind him, hence my below team need at QB but I think they can look to do that in free agency.
John's Team Needs: OL, WR,
John's Team Needs: OL, WR,
Was originally leaning edge here but after the Maxx Crosby trade that wasn't and then the Trey Hendrickson signing, it opens up the door to help out the offense. They just lost Likely in free agency to the Giants so a replacement here makes sense but they also need a guard and lost Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders. I am going to stick with them addressing the interior offensive line. The interior offensive line is the biggest need here so they may feel they need to address that more than adding another tight end.
John's Team Needs: IOL, WR, TE, EDGE
John's Team Needs: IOL, WR, TE, EDGE
15.
A decent amount of mocks have them going defense but they did take Egbuka out of shallow left field last year, if you will. Just in the sense that no one thought they would go receiver. So they could take someone no one is expecting. After losing Mike Evans they are missing that red zone threat though. Sadiq feels like a sneaky good fit here but they do need a speed rusher. I think they go best player available here.
John's Team Needs: EDGE, LB, WR
John's Team Needs: EDGE, LB, WR
TRADE
It is no secret the Browns love Kayden Proctor and they will have to jump the Lions to grab him. I think this trade makes the most sense. I see them taking Carnell Tate at six and them moving up from the 20s to grab Proctor. I think the Jets love Omar Cooper but pick 16 may be a bit too rich. The Jets need to keep grabbing ammo for next year. So this makes sense.
John's Team Needs: OT, WR, QB
It is no secret the Browns love Kayden Proctor and they will have to jump the Lions to grab him. I think this trade makes the most sense. I see them taking Carnell Tate at six and them moving up from the 20s to grab Proctor. I think the Jets love Omar Cooper but pick 16 may be a bit too rich. The Jets need to keep grabbing ammo for next year. So this makes sense.
John's Team Needs: OT, WR, QB