Team needs have shifted in free agency, so how will top prospects come off the board in Round 1? Mel Kiper Jr. projects the NFL draft's first 32 picks.
for big money with new teams and alter roster needs around the league. And finally, we had a change in the Day 1So with all that in mind, I'm rolling out an updated mock draft, predicting landing spots for 32 top prospects in Round 1.
Things aren't final here -- pro days, interviews and more offseason moves will still shake upa bit -- but we're getting a much clearer picture of the early picks as we near the Raiders' first selection on April 23. Here's my thinking on how Round 1 could look based on current team needs and what I'm hearing from sources in the league. And for more, check out "NFL Draft Daily" at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 all week long. Including the No. 1 selection in mock drafts is just a formality at this point. It's going to be Mendoza, and the Raiders have spent the past two weeks trying to clean up the surroundings for his arrival. The team's biggest signing was center; he will help Mendoza with setting protections and improve the interior blocking. The Raiders also moved on from their previous starting QB by. Now, it's Bailey. These are all good options for a defense that could use a lot of help, but the Jets, further thinning out the unit. They have to find foundational players off the edge. And Bailey is explosive and productive, posting 14.5 sacks , 71 pressures and a 20.2% pressure rate last season.needs a running mate, and Reese has the instincts and burst to get home on the QB. Of course, Reese also played off-ball linebacker at Ohio State, and though he saidthat he would be an NFL edge rusher, that sort of versatility is a big plus. He had 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss last season., and the Titans certainly have a long list of issues -- even after aggressively spending in free agency last week. But Tennessee is committed to boosting the offense around second-year quarterback, and Love would take the run game to another level while also serving as a dynamic pass catcher. His game features 4.36 speed, excellent vision, run-you-over power and soft hands.-- but Downs is on another level. He's a complete football player, and New York should have no hesitation in taking him here . Putting him alongsideon the back end would help not only in creating turnovers but also shoring up a very bad run defense., and this is a completely different unit from what we saw late in 2025. Freeling could be the final piece of the puzzle. His decision to declare for this class was a little bit of a surprise, considering he had 18 college starts. But I see franchise left tackle traits; he's quick and alert in pass pro, using his long 34-inch arms to his advantage.appears to be headed elsewhere as a free agent. Bringing in Styles -- my No. 6 prospect regardless of position -- to team up withmakes some sense. After a 77-tackle season, Styles posted an incredible 43-inch vertical jump at the combine, a glimpse into his explosion. Washington needs good ball players, and Styles is just that.. -- and that's also where I'd expect them to look during the draft. They need to surround second-year quarterback. Tate brings a well-rounded scouting report, with solid route running and the ability to come down with tough catches thanks to his hands and body control. He'd be great oppositehave to be considerations here. But remember, the Chiefs now have two first-round picks. And Bain would be very tough to pass up at this spot. Despite 30-inch arms thatat the combine, Bain is dominant off the edge. He simply finds ways to get to the QB, whether it's with his speed, power or savviness. He had 71 pressures last season en route to 9.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss., the edge rush leaves a lot to be desired. But with Bain off the board, there isn't a pass rusher whose value fits here. The Bengals would have to reach for Missouri's, and it's just too early for any of those guys. But Cincinnati was also one of four teams to give up more than 7 yards per opponent dropback, and it would love to have a true No. 1 corner. Delane can make plays on the ball in either man or zone coverage.is off to Detroit. That's why the Dolphins should take a long look at Mauigoa. He started 42 games in college, over which time he put together some really good tape. Mauigoa uses his strength to dominate pass rushers, and he can clear out running lanes. Dallas gave up a league-worst 7.3 yards per dropback last season, and the secondary was gashed for a league-high 46 passing plays of 25 or more yards. I liked thein January 2025, sat out the season and then didn't work out at the combine. But he can flat out play football when he's on the field. McCoy had four interceptions in 2024. If Dallas likes what it sees at his March 31 pro day, this could be a smart pick.running routes, but the No. 3 receiver role is wide open. Getting Tyson into the mix in their all-in year could be huge for quarterback. Tyson is almost always available to the football, making tough plays in tight coverage. He plays the game a lot like Adams, and if not for some durability concerns, Tyson would probably be the top receiver in the class.could fit -- but he might end up inside at guard, where there isn't as much of a need in Los Angeles. Maybe Alabama'sat No. 14. Fano is steady as a pass protector, with double-digit starts at each tackle spot. But with 32-inch arms, he might actually slide inside at the next level. Teams worked out Fano at center during the combine, so he could absolutely handle that role as a replacement forat tackle. 38.2% of the time in Atlanta last season, second most in the NFL.as a bridge option and have three first-round picks in 2027, when the QB class should be a lot better. But this is a good range for Simpson, who has only 15 career starts but throws with accuracy, processes quickly and moves well in the pocket. He threw 28 touchdown passes in 2025 and is a first-round QB in my book. Simply put, New York has to take some swings to figure out the long-term solution under center. I could see the Jets drafting Simpson and letting him learn and develop a little behind Smith before he moves into the starter role., but they shouldn't stop there. Proctor's play was a little uneven last season, but I think he can stick at left tackle in the NFL and could help keepupright as Detroit tries to get back to the playoffs. Proctor has 40 starts worth of experience, knows how to take away opponent pass-rush moves and moves very well for a 6-foot-7, 352-pound blocker.and Jared Goff, this has to be a priority at the draft regardless of whether Smith is back for Year 15.. He reminds me a lot of Smith in the way he reads the QB and reacts in a flash. I could see defensive coordinator Brian Flores getting creative withThieneman, lining him up all over the formation and letting him use his great ball skills to pile up takeaways. Three safeties in the top 20! McNeil-Warren deserves to be here; he has the speed and instincts to make plays, accumulating 10 forced fumbles and five interceptions over his four seasons at Toledo. Carolina focused on defense this month,, but McNeil-Warren could make a big impact in the secondary and give the team some options. The Panthers allowed 6.5 yards per dropback last season . It'd be wise for the Cowboys to double-dip on defense . They gave up 6.1 yards per play in 2025, 31st in the NFL and third worst for any team in any of the past five seasons. Allen can play all three downs, as he can drop in coverage, run down ball carriers and even blitz. He had 97 tackles last season for the Bulldogs, showcasing tremendousread-and-react skills.? Or will Pittsburgh target a signal-caller in the draft? No matter what the Steelers plan to do, the top two quarterbacks are off the board here, and there isn't a third one worthy of a Day 1 selection.with the Cardinals. Ioane is the top pure guard in the class, with the power to physically move pass rushers out of the way and the light feet to erase second-level defenders. He didn't give up any sacks last season. After the Chargers attacked their interior offensive line problem before free agency even opened, they can turn their attention to the defensive line and a high-upside player such as Woods in the first round. Some teams will be worried about his lack of production last season , but his potential is robust as an NFL 3-technique. He could add some punch to the Chargers' defensive front as a penetrating interior havoc-wreaker. Iheanachor had 31 starts at Arizona State, but he didn't play much football before that, picking up the sport late. He'll need time to reach his potential in the NFL. But what better way to develop than learning behind an elite right tackle in? Iheanachor plays with quick feet -- he ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds -- and great length. He could provide swing tackle depth in Year 1 before eventually taking over for Johnson on the right side. I'm a huge fan of Lemon, and he could go earlier than 24th. The board just sort of fell this way in this mock draft. Cleveland wouldn't be complaining, though. It currently hasatop its depth chart -- meaning no real changes to a wide receivers room that had a league-low 1,467 yards last season. Lemon nearly met that himself with 1,156 receiving yards over 12 games at USC. He has a slot receiver's build at 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, but he plays as if he's much bigger, with a fierce approach to the game. Coupled with Monroe Freeling at No. 6, this would be a good first round for the Browns.was signed last offseason to be the second guy off the edge, but he managed one sack over eight games before anended his season. Despite struggling to find consistent quarterback pressure for a few years now, Chicago hasn't used a top-50 pick on an edge rusher since Let's change that. Young had6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season, playing with power and a full-go motor. He'd bring some intensity to the Bears' front.in place, but the depth is shallow. Terrell is great in man coverage, showing the ability to stick on receivers. He didn't come away with any interceptions last season, but he broke up nine passes.heir apparent." But Miller actually played 97% of his college snaps on the right side. Perhaps he'd transition to left tackle if the Niners can't figure out Williams'on the right side regardless of what happens there. The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Miller would bring consistency and reliability to this O-line. . Twenty picks after Jermod McCoy came off the board, another Tennessee corner closes out Round 1 of this mock draft. Hood fits perfectly with the Mike Macdonald defense as a cornerback with length and decent speed, and while he had only one interception in 2025, he broke up 10 passes. The defending Super Bowl champions
Cincinnati-Bengals New-Orleans-Saints Houston-Texans Baltimore-Ravens Nfl-Draft Philadelphia-Eagles Las-Vegas-Raiders Clemson-Tigers Tennessee-Titans Texas-Tech-Red-Raiders New-York-Jets Draft Seattle-Seahawks Miami-Hurricanes Dallas-Cowboys Los-Angeles-Chargers Detroit-Lions Los-Angeles-Rams Buffalo-Bills Nfl Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers Daily Denver-Broncos Kansas-City-Chiefs Cleveland-Browns Mendoza-Fernando 2026-Nfl-Draft Oregon-Ducks First-Round Carolina-Panthers Chicago-Bears New-England-Patriots Mock-Draft Mel-Kiper-Jr Arizona-Cardinals Minnesota-Vikings Indiana-Hoosiers Ohio-State-Buckeyes College-Football Georgia-Bulldogs Washington-Commanders Notre-Dame-Fighting-Irish Predictions San-Francisco-49Ers Miami-Dolphins Lsu-Tigers Alabama-Crimson-Tide Tennessee-Volunteers Arizona-State-Sun-Devils New-York-Giants Pittsburgh-Steelers 18724112
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Seven-round Cowboys mock draft: Dallas trades back in Round 1?With many needs on one side of the ball, could the Cowboys draft an entirely defensive 2026 class?
Read more »
Full 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft Sees Bears Trade Out of First RoundWith several roster needs remaining after free agency, the Bears may need to consider increasing their draft pick stockpile.
Read more »
Colts 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: March EditionExpert 2026 NFL Draft coverage — mock drafts, scouting reports, TDN100 player rankings, prospect interviews, and the 1 Mock Draft Simulator.
Read more »
Titans 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: March EditionExpert 2026 NFL Draft coverage — mock drafts, scouting reports, TDN100 player rankings, prospect interviews, and the 1 Mock Draft Simulator.
Read more »
NFL Draft Late Round Value Picks: QuarterbackThe 2026 NFL Draft does not feature a deep class of quarterback prospects, but we've identified which ones may develop into late-round steals.
Read more »
NFL Draft Late Round Value Picks: QuarterbackThe 2026 NFL Draft does not feature a deep class of quarterback prospects, but we've identified which ones may develop into late-round steals.
Read more »