2026 NFL Mock Draft V4

This pick hasn’t changed throughout the pre draft process, and it won’t be changing in this (or in the final) mock draft.

After years of quarterback mediocrity the Raiders are set to select their franchise quarterback of the next decade.

Another pick which hasn’t changed. David Bailey — the best pure pass rusher in this class — is a legitimate option here, too.

Reese is a brilliant prospect in his own right who brings elite athletic upside and genuine versatility. He’s a prototype modern defender: explosive, rangy, violent, and able to affect the game from multiple alignments. Expect him to transition into a 3–4 edge role with the versatility to drop into coverage, much like Abdul Carter.

One has held the view throughout this cycle that taking a right tackle at No. 3 is a reach, with Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa projecting better as interior linemen. If Arizona wants either and is comfortable letting them “fail inside,” the smarter play is trading down for a team eager to move up for David Bailey. In a no‑trade scenario, Bailey for themselves becomes the pick given their own limited pass‑rush outside Josh Sweat.

After transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech, Bailey emerged as one of college football’s most dominant defenders, leading the FBS in pressures (81), sacks (14.5), pass‑rush grade (93.9), and overall PFF grade (93.1).

I have never placed Love lower than fourth overall (3-3-4), and that won’t change in this mock. Tennessee still has needs across the roster, but after an aggressive and productive free‑agency period, the Titans can afford to take the best player available to support hopeful franchise quarterback Cam Ward.

In this writer’s view, Jeremiyah Love is the clear top prospect in the class. He’s an elite runner, excellent blocker, stellar receiver and an explosive 3-down starter. A true blue‑chip running back, and arguably the most complete running back prospect since Saquon Barkley, Titans-Love feels close to a lock.

New York has multiple viable paths here, but given John Harbaugh’s long‑standing affinity for elite safeties dating back to his Baltimore tenure, this writer will stick to the prediction that the Giants won’t pass on a generational talent like Caleb Downs.

Downs brings exceptional field vision, instincts, ball skills, and tracking ability. His tape is as clean as you’ll find from a defensive back, and he profiles as the best safety prospect since Eric Berry nearly two decades ago. He also offers the versatility to slide into the slot when needed.

The Browns need both an offensive tackle and a wide receiver, as evidenced by their parade of top‑50 WR visits. Still, the sense here is that they’ll continue reinforcing the offensive line with their first pick, then circle back for a receiver at No. 24 or early in Round 2 in what is a deep class. Even if this is a slight reach, the same can be said for the top receivers (Tate, Lemon, Tyson), and it aligns with Cleveland’s offseason approach after overhauling their offensive line in free agency.

Spencer Fano may ultimately project best on the interior, but his elite athleticism gives him a legitimate chance to thrive at right tackle—especially in a zone‑heavy scheme. His pro‑day testing only strengthened his case, and Tytus Howard’s versatility provides Cleveland valuable flexibility. Fano’s upside is enormous, and Tony Pauline has even linked the Browns as one of the teams that believe he could play left tackle thanks to his rare athletic profile.

Washington’s free‑agency splurge at every position of perceived need gives them the flexibility to simply take the best player available. In a perfect world, Jeremiyah Love slips past New York, but that feels increasingly unlikely. Among all player‑to‑team fits in the top ten, Sonny Styles to Washington might be the cleanest match.

Styles is the best pure linebacker prospect in several years, offering elite range, instincts, and command of the defense. His background at safety gives him rare zone‑coverage ability for the position, and he brings the physicality and presence this unit has lacked. He’d be an immediate tone‑setter and a strong complement to Leo Chenal.

Tyler Shough has shown enough promise to enter next season as the unquestioned starter, but for him to succeed, Kellen Moore must upgrade the Saints’ offensive weaponry. With Rashid Shaheed traded and Chris Olave dealing with multiple concussion issues, wide receiver becomes a clear priority.

Carnell Tate opened the year as a fringe first‑rounder, but his breakout at Ohio State showcased true X‑receiver traits, week‑to‑week reliability, and explosive playmaking that translates cleanly to the NFL. While there’s some hesitation about taking a potential long‑term WR2 in the top ten, much of that perception stems from Jeremiah Smith’s generational talent rather than any limitation in Tate’s game. Tate would form a dynamic 1A/1B pairing with Olave.

With three top-40 picks, the Chiefs are uniquely positioned to bounce back in 2026 after crashing and burning last season. Whilst many take Reuben Bain Jr. here (as have I in two of my three mocks to date), I am significantly lower on him than consensus. Meanwhile, Jaylon Moore is not an ideal RT starter long-term. The Chiefs have No. 29 and No. 40 to address their pass rush/secondary in deep classes.

Francis Mauigoa offers as much NFL readiness as any prospect. He bringing strong pass‑protection and run‑blocking traits, and he’s openly expressed a willingness to kick inside — a move that in this writer’s opinion may ultimately maximize his impact at the next level. In this scenario, Mauigoa starts at Right Tackle and is allowed to “fail inside”.

The Bengals need reinforcements at every level of their defense, but there is more value in corner with the prospects remaining on the defensive line. Here is an immediate starter opposite DJ Turner.

Delane entered last season as a projected top‑50 pick, but his transfer to LSU took his game to another level. He delivered a 90.7 PFF grade for the Tigers and consistently displayed the instincts, fluidity, and discipline of a future CB1. Quarterbacks posted a miserable 26.7 passer rating when targeting him this year, underscoring just how dominant he was in coverage.

The Dolphins appear set to draft BPA, but according to Charlie Campbell’s reporting, the Dolphins have a “preference” to draft OL/DL early. With another pick at No. 30, the Dolphins are taking a falling defensive end who is a stellar 4-3 base end fit to ignite their transition to a base even-man front.

There's a reason this writer is more cautious on Bain than the consensus. His physical limitations — especially his unusually short arms — raise legitimate questions about whether he can hold up as a full‑time edge defender, and his production at Miami fluctuated more than you’d expect from a supposed top‑tier prospect. He’s a strong candidate to slide in the 2026 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, in a weaker class, Bain profiles as a high‑floor player who should carve out a solid NFL career as a strong complementary base end with the versatility to kick inside and attack the B‑gap when needed.

The Cowboys will pray Sonny Styles gets to them at 12, and I don’t think it’s out of the question they take a moderate reach on CJ Allen at No. 12 to ensure they get him with the depth at cornerback (of note: despite two first round picks, they don’t have a 3rd rounder and have the worst linebacking corps in the NFL). However, Jermod McCoy is both BPA at this juncture and an immediate fit at boundary corner.

While Mansoor Delane is an excellent prospect (9th on my big board), this writer actually has Jermod McCoy a spot higher. McCoy’s 2024 tape stands out as one of the most impressive cornerback seasons since Sauce Gardner entered the league in 2022. He’s disruptive, productive, and instinctive, finishing his last healthy season with four interceptions and consistent shutdown play. Though he missed all of 2024 due to injury, he also now appears healthy after his superb Pro Day.

Another pick which likely won’t change during the run-in to the draft. The Rams have few real needs, so using this rare high first‑round pick on the best player available could make the most sense. Davante Adams is in the final year of his deal and battled injuries in 2025, and their remaining slot options are uninspiring.

Although his utterly strange combination of demeanour and reports of poor interviews may cause a slide, Lemon is amongst my favourite on-tape players in this class, and Jordyn Tyson’s injury history may benefit Lemon in going in this range. His slot-only projection at the next level may cause a minor slide, but the Rams are likely eager to get Pucau work more on the boundary, and could do with a really dominant slot. He’s sure-handed, explosive, and the cleanest pure receiver on tape in 2025 — a season that earned him the Biletnikoff Award.

The Ravens desperately need help on the edge and along their odd‑front defensive line, and Kenyon Sadiq would have been an incredibly tempting addition. But their interior offensive line is nothing short of a liability, and adding John Simpson — a perfectly serviceable but ultimately average starter — doesn’t come close to solving that problem. Vega Ioane offers a far more meaningful upgrade.

Vega Ioane brings toughness, competitiveness, and a rugged playing style paired with technically sound pass protection. He’s arguably the safest prospect in the entire draft, and some evaluators even view him as the best offensive lineman available regardless of position. He continues to ascend as a run blocker, and his blend of strength, balance, and awareness gives him true plug‑and‑play potential at left guard.

This spot is often CJ Allen in previous mocks, but his meniscus surgery and positional value could cause a slight slide. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s pass rush — outside of YaYa Diaby — is dreadful, and while some project Akheem Mesidor here, his age and injury history make a top‑20 selection feel optimistic.

Keldric Faulk offers a more compelling profile: young, raw, but immensely talented, with the versatility to play base end or stand up in a 3‑4. Like Mykel Williams, he brings a high floor as a strong, technically sound run defender with the frame to contribute immediately. His outstanding physical traits and power translate cleanly to the NFL. Faulk is one of the draft’s true wild cards — talented enough to go in the top 10, inconsistent enough to fall into the late first or early second.

The Jets are in an excellent spot here, likely positioned to grab a sliding talent at virtually any position of need — which, for them, is almost everywhere outside of running back and offensive tackle. In this scenario, they halt Jordyn Tyson’s fall.

Tyson’s durability concerns are well‑documented, but with a clean bill of health he’s arguably the top receiver in the class: a refined route runner who separates, wins through contact, and creates consistent perimeter mismatches. With four top‑50 picks, New York can afford to take this swing. If Tyson stays healthy, they’re landing a top‑10 talent at a discount.