2026 NFL Mock Draft V5 (FINAL)

Draft week is here, so welcome to my final mock draft! My goal for this draft is to get 8 picks correct. My drafts track record 2023 - 2025 are as follows (player to team in Round 1):

2025 - 10 (12 if you include Cardinals taking Will Johnson in Round 2 at Pick 46, and the Ravens taking Mike Green in Round 2 at Pick 59)
2024 - 5
2023 - 8 (9 if you include Steelers taking Joey Porter Jr in Round 2 at Pick 33)

This pick has remained unchanged throughout the entire pre-draft process, and it stays locked in for the final mock. After years of quarterback purgatory, the Raiders are finally positioned to secure a franchise passer for the next decade. Mendoza has drawn frequent comparisons to Joe Burrow thanks to his elite accuracy, pocket poise, and exceptional intermediate passing ability. He brings the calm command and precision this offense has been missing.

This pick has defaulted to Arvell Reese for most of the pre-draft cycle. However, over the past week, every major insider — including Charlie Campbell — has pointed to David Bailey as the favorite at No. 2. The reasoning is consistent: Bailey offers a more pro-ready skill set and a clearly defined positional profile, whereas Reese’s long-term role is viewed as more fluid. After transferring from Stanford to Texas Tech, Bailey led the nation in pressures (81), sacks (14.5), pass-rush grade (93.9), and overall PFF grade (93.1). Those numbers reinforce the belief that he may be the safer, more polished option for a team drafting near the top of the board.

Throughout this draft cycle, I’ve been unwavering in my belief that Jeremiyah Love is this draft’s most premium player and a top-five lock. I haven’t mocked him lower than No. 4 at any point - twice I’ve sent him here, to Arizona, at No. 3, and twice to Tennessee at No. 4. If the Jets select Arvell Reese, I do think Monti Ossenfort — who has consistently prioritised premium positions — would pivot to David Bailey by default. However, my instinct says that if the Cardinals are choosing between Jeremiyah Love and Arvell Reese (a hybrid defender, a profile Arizona has struggled to develop), they would take Love. Their failure to produce even a 400-yard rusher in 2026 only reinforces that need. From this writer’s perspective, Jeremiyah Love is the clear top prospect in the class. He’s an elite runner, a powerful blocker, a high-end receiving threat, and an explosive three-down starter — a true blue-chip talent and arguably the most complete running back prospect since Saquon Barkley.

Tennessee still has needs across the roster, but after an aggressive free-agency stretch, the Titans are finally in a position to take the best player available to support hopeful franchise quarterback Cam Ward. I think they’d be satisfied with any of David Bailey, Jeremiyah Love, or Arvell Reese — and in this final mock draft, it’s Reese who lands in Nashville. Robert Saleh gravitates toward physical, moldable defenders, and Reese is precisely that. Reese offers elite athleticism, range, and striking power, with the versatility to align anywhere along the front. His pass-rush plan still needs refinement, but he projects cleanly as an edge who can also drop into coverage, similar to Abdul Carter. A dark-horse option here is his teammate Sonny Styles, who could develop into a Fred Warner–type ceiling, but Reese’s upside as a pass rusher — combined with his ability to function as a legitimate inside linebacker — gives him the higher long-term payoff.

The Giants now hold two top-10 picks, and while recent buzz points to Jordyn Tyson being the pick at No. 5, I still think they could go pure BPA there and circle back to offense at No. 10. There’s roughly a 50/50 chance that either Tyson or Carnell Tate is still on the board at 10. If not, they still have a huge need on their offensive line with prospects like Francis Mauigoa or Vega Ioane. Meanwhile, John Harbaugh has a long history of valuing elite safety play dating back to his Baltimore years, and I think he’ll struggle to 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 any prospect in the class, and he profiles as the best safety prospect since Eric Berry nearly two decades ago. Although he has a different profile to Kyle Hamilton, he also offers similar versatility to slide into the slot when needed. He looks every bit like a perennial All-Pro and a decade-long defensive leader.

The Browns enter this draft needing both a left tackle and a true WR1. There’s a reasonable argument for taking Carnell Tate here and targeting Monroe Freeling or Caleb Lomu at No. 24, but the receiver depth in this class is exceptional. Given recent reporting and Cleveland’s aggressive investment along the offensive line, I lean toward securing an offensive tackle at No. 6 and circling back for a wideout later in Round 1. Spencer Fano may ultimately fit best inside, but his rare athletic profile gives him a real chance to stick at tackle. Fano’s upside is enormous, and Tony Pauline has even linked the Browns as one of the teams that believe he can play left tackle thanks to his exceptional movement skills.

Washington’s aggressive free-agency spree at every major weakness gives them the freedom to simply take the best player available. In a perfect scenario, Jeremiyah Love slips past New York, and Carnell Tate receives real consideration here. But among all the top-ten fits, Sonny Styles to Washington may be the cleanest match. Styles is the best pure linebacker prospect in years, offering elite range, instincts, and command of the defense. His safety background gives him rare zone-coverage ability for the position, while his physicality fills a void this unit has lacked. He’d be an immediate tone-setter and a strong complement to Leo Chenal’s blitzing presence.

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 recurring concussion issues, wide receiver becomes a clear priority. The Saints reportedly like Jordyn Tyson if Carnell Tate is off the board, but in this scenario they’re fortunate Tate falls to them. Carnell Tate flashed true X-receiver traits and explosive playmaking in 2025 that translate cleanly to the NFL. He has strong size, crisp route running, and excels in contested-catch situations. While some hesitate to take a college WR2 in the top ten, that label stems more from Jeremiah Smith’s generational profile as a future top-five pick than any limitation in Tate’s game.

The Chiefs are a true wildcard this high, with needs at corner, right tackle, edge, and receiver. Brett Veach has noted the steep drop-off at offensive tackle after Round 1, making Spencer Fano or rising prospect Kadyn Proctor logical options if available. Still, Rueben Bain feels like an ideal schematic fit. He’s a candidate to slide due to physical limitations — especially his unusually short arms — and his production at Miami was more inconsistent than expected for a top prospect. Even so, in a weaker class, Bain offers a high floor as a sturdy complementary base end who can kick inside and attack the B-gap. He fits Steve Spagnuolo’s defense extremely well in nearly every trait except arm length.

The Bengals sent this pick to New York for Dexter Lawrence, so the Giants are on the clock. If this is a Harbaugh-influenced selection, don’t be surprised if they target Francis Mauigoa (as a guard) or even Vega Ioane - positional value be damned - given how poor their interior offensive line has been. Still, it’s hard to overlook Jordyn Tyson here. His durability concerns are well-known, but when healthy he’s arguably the most complete receiver in the class — a refined route runner who separates with ease, wins through contact, and consistently tilts the field on the perimeter. My sense is that Tyson hasn’t fallen nearly as far as the media suggests; he’s more likely to land somewhere in the 8–14 range. Pairing Malik Nabers with Jordyn Tyson would give Jaxson Dart an elite receiving duo heading into Year 2.

The Dolphins lack long-term stability across the roster and desperately need help at virtually every position. However, Charlie reported, the Dolphins have a “preference” for trenches with this pick, and with their pick of the offensive linemen, the Dolphins take a high-floor potential blocker who played at the same stadium in college. In an underwhelming offensive line class, Mauigoa offers as much NFL readiness as any prospect, bringing strong pass protection and run-blocking traits. He may never be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he projects as a powerful, tone-setting right tackle with the upside to anchor a line for the next decade who could “fail inside” as a guard if push comes to shove. Something to note is Kadyn Proctor’s late rise. Mauigoa will probably still go before him due to his high floor, but Proctor is viewed as the highest ceiling tackle in this class.

There’s been plenty of buzz about the Cowboys trading up for Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles, but one remains skeptical of this actually coming to fruition. Both are excellent prospects, yet giving up future first-round capital for two of the league’s lowest-valued positions would be unprecedented. Mansoor Delane would be a more than adequate “fallback” option, insofar that he could go as early as 7th overall to the Washington Commanders. Delane entered last season as a projected top-50 pick, but his transfer to LSU elevated his game dramatically. He posted a 90.7 PFF grade and consistently showed the instincts, fluidity, and discipline of a future CB1. Quarterbacks managed a miserable 26.7 passer rating when targeting him, underscoring just how dominant he was in coverage.

The Rams have few pressing needs, so using this rare high first-round pick on the best player available makes sense. With Davante Adams in the final year of his deal and battling injuries in 2025 — and with uninspiring slot options behind him — receiver becomes a logical target. While reports of poor interviews may cause a slide, Lemon remains one of my favourite on-tape players in the class, and Jordyn Tyson’s injury history could push Lemon into this range. His slot-only projection may cause a minor dip, but the Rams likely want to get Puka Nacua more boundary reps and could use a dominant interior separator. Lemon is sure-handed, explosive, and the cleanest pure receiver on 2025 tape — a season that earned him the Biletnikoff Award.

Vega Ioane feels like the one safest prospect in the entire class who could improve one of the league’s worst interior offensive lines. There’s no guarantee the next tier of guards lasts until pick 14, while quality X-receivers should still be available on Day 2. Ioane brings toughness, competitiveness, and a rugged playing style paired with technically sound pass protection. Some evaluators even view him as the best offensive lineman in the draft, 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 is a strong landing spot for Georgia linebacker CJ Allen, but with his recent meniscus surgery and the depth of the Day 2 linebacker class, the Buccaneers may prioritise fixing their weak pass rush in Round 1. Akheem Mesidor feels a bit early here — more of a late-first/early-second-round type — yet Tampa Bay might be his best schematic fit. His tape is arguably stronger than Rueben Bain Jr.’s, showcasing one of the class’s most disruptive interior-edge hybrids with explosive get-off, natural leverage, and polished technique. His versatility to play outside on early downs and slide inside as a penetrating 3-tech on passing downs only boosts his value. Mesidor’s range is tricky: the film says top-20, but age, injuries, and tweener size could push him into the mid-to-late second. Even so, his skill set aligns almost perfectly with Tampa Bay’s front, making him a defensible — and potentially high-value — swing here. A trade-down could help the Bucs maximise value.

The Jets are in an ideal spot here, almost guaranteed access to a sliding blue-chip talent at a premium position — which, for them, is essentially everything outside of running back and offensive tackle. In a perfect world, they’d land one of the top three receivers, but at this stage the next tier (Boston, Concepcion, Cooper) feels a bit rich. They are, however, heavily connected to Omar Cooper Jr., and while No. 16 is a touch early for him on pure grade, he’s too clean of a fit to ignore at this juncture. The Jets could also explore a small trade-down in real time to recoup value and still land him. Cooper has surged up boards since Indiana’s national championship run. He enters the 2026 class as one of the most polished receivers available, coming off a season with 69 catches, 937 yards, and 13 touchdowns. His game blends toughness, versatility, and late-down reliability, giving him the profile of a pro-ready contributor. His yards-after-catch ability, blocking commitment, and low drop rate round out a skill set that should translate seamlessly to the NFL.