The 2026 NFL Draft is deep into smokescreen season, but this full three-round mock cuts through the noise with 100 projected picks, a Jets quarterback twist and a top-5 surprise.
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane goes through workouts with LSU offensive lineman Josh Thompson during their NFL football pro day, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. Just over three weeks from draft night, we’ve entered into the most chaotic and entertaining stage of the 2026 NFL Draft season.
It’s the point where every rumor sounds plausible, every pro day becomes a referendum and every front office suddenly starts talking like it invented misdirection. This is the season of smoke screens, strategic leaks and quarterback debates inflated to cable-news proportions. Updating my 2026 NFL Mock Draft is no longer a clean exercise in team needs and prospect grades. It’s more about cutting through the noise. Fernando Mendoza still stands as the clear-cut top quarterback in this class — the most accomplished, the most battle-tested and, frankly, the least complicated evaluation among the top passers. But Ty Simpson has become the draft industrial complex’s favorite argument after The reality is if a team like the Jets, Cardinals or even the Browns, decide to invest in Simpson, it will likely be in the bottom half of the first round. Meanwhile, Rueben Bain Jr. remains one of the class’s most fascinating stress tests for evaluators. He’s a violent, top-tier talent whose arm length has become a draft-season group chat obsession. What Bain lacks in wingspan, he more than makes up for in brutality, and sheer force.Cleveland selects an edge rusher at No. 6This is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season’s draft class, and which teams they’d match up well with considering the current draft order courtesy of NFL.com. The closer we get to draft day, the more I’ll attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do. According to The Huddle Report, I was the second-most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print last season. I tied for first overall covering a five-year period between 2019 and 2023. Considering the NFL doesn’t have an offseason, the draft has become the Super Bowl of the league’s second season, and a mock version of said draft is meant to educate, perhaps even entertain. At very least, it helps you pass the time.The Raiders still need wideout help and more muscle inside on the defensive line, but none of that matters if the quarterback spot remains a black hole. Mendoza wins with command, accuracy, red-zone efficiency and grown-man composure. Plus, the Heisman-winner is reportedlyThe Jets still have glaring needs at QB, corner and receiver, so this probably won’t satisfy everyone, but the uber-athletic Reese looks like he was built in a lab to play defense in today’s NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 243-pounds, he’s long, explosive, versatile, and productive enough to justify the hype.If the Cardinals pass on Ty Simpson here, adding Bailey makes plenty of sense. This defense needs more juice, more pressure and more players that offenses actually have to account for.Styles walked into the combine and basically turned it into a superhero origin story. At 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds, he ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash with a 1.56 split, then posted a 43½-inch vertical and an 11-foot-2 broad jump. He gives the Titans a true defensive chess piece, someone who can affect the run game, cover ground in space and create matchup problems in sub-packages. Someone similar to what Robert Saleh had in San Francisco with Fred Warner.The Giants still need receiver help, interior defensive line reinforcements and offensive line upgrades, but Delane gives them a needed secondary piece with real flexibility. The more I watch him, the more he reminds me of Seahawks’ All-Pro corner Devon Witherspoon. Both share a similar size profile. Both ran in the 4.38-4.42 range at their pro days. Most importantly, both are sticky in coverage, see routes development quickly and can survive in multiple alignments.I know Browns GM Andrew Berry is trying to shut down Myles Garrett trade speculation after it was revealed a recent contract adjustment actually made it easier to deal the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Regardless, if a team makes a “Godfather” offer then Garrett will be traded. Otherwise, Berry could pair the superstar with Bain to create one of the more formidable pass-rushing duos in the league. His lack of ideal length is real, and it will scare off some teams. But the résumé, disruption, and polish are also real.The Commanders need more explosive, dependable offense, and Love gives them exactly that. Free agent additions Rachaad White and Jerome Ford have proven capable in this league, but they’re not Love. The Heisman finalist is built for volume and versatility with three-down traits .The Saints badly need receiving help, along with defensive line and cornerback upgrades, and Tate fills one of those holes with a polished, quarterback-friendly skill set. He gets open in ways that translate, and that matters a lot more than winning the Underwear Olympics by a tenth of a second. Tate’s tape says he is fast enough. He should pair nicely with another former Buckeye, Chris Olave, and could become a high-volume NFL target in time.Protecting the quarterback remains the highest priority with the Chiefs. Mauigoa gives them a young blocker they can plug into the long-term plan. Speed and counter rushers will test his feet and timing, but the baseline traits scream future Pro Bowler, whether he stays at tackle or eventually slides inside.If the Bengals want to be more balanced and less dependent on magic tricks from Joe Burrow, this would help. Ioane’s the kind of interior presence that changes your run game personality, while featuring impressive movement skills for a man his size .After the Dolphins hit Ctrl+Z on their roster, they need help all over the place. Downs plays like he’s on the headset with the coordinator. The phrase “glue guy” can undersell star talent, but in this case it means something valuable: he makes everything around him cleaner.The Cowboys need edge depth, linebacker help and a nickel defender, and Parker checks one of those boxes with upside to become much more. Parker’s power jumps off the tape. His bull rush is violent, he already holds up well against the run and he plays with the kind of functional strength that translates quickly. Some may find this too early, but if the decision was based solely on his sophomore season, he’d be selected in the top 10.Lemon would slide beautifully into a system that values timing, spacing and smart route detail. The Rams are hyper-focused on winning a championship next season. Lemon already wins like a pro. He’d help Matthew Stafford right away rather than requiring a long developmental runway.The Ravens have long been one of the better organizations at maximizing tough, technically sound linemen. Fano’s ceiling debate comes down to length/anchor vs. NFL power, but his floor is high because the pass-pro foundation is real.Faulk flashes high-end tools, and his draft slot will hinge on whether he shows a repeatable rush plan and scouts believe he can consistently finish. The Bucs trust their coaching to turn flashes into production.Taking Reese earlier and Simpson here would give New York both a defensive building block and a developmental quarterback with starting traits. Simpson fits because he doesn’t need to be the superhero version of the position to help stabilize it. For the Jets, that might actually be the healthiest possible outcome. Simpson only has 15 collegiate starts to go off of, but the small sample size shows he is a poised, accurate, mechanically clean QB who wins with processing, rhythm and pocket control more than raw star-power traits.Freeling would give the Lions a premium athlete to develop in a system that already values physicality and trench depth. Detroit has shown a willingness under its current regime to invest heavily in foundational positions. He needs polish, but Freeling is a classic traits-plus-SEC-production tackle prospect: long, explosive, and athletic enough to make coaches believe they can unlock something big.Thieneman is a do-it-all safety with verified NFL athleticism, real ball production, and enough versatility to be a coordinator’s favorite toy. The Vikings need more playmakers and more structural answers on defense, and he checks both boxes.The Panthers need more cover talent, plain and simple. If the medicals check out and the movement looks right at his pro day , McCoy’s the type of talent who usually goes in the top half of the first round.The Cowboys value corners who can survive on an island and still bring something in the run game. Terrell is a much better run defender than his brother A.J. — former first-round pick of the Falcons — despite being a bit undersized .He had the same injury pop up at the NFL Combine. It remains to be seen what this lingering ailment will do to Terrell’s draft stock.Rodriguez is productive, physical and wired the way the Steelers prefer their defenders wired. He will be a 24-year-old rookie, but he’s a turnover-hunting, highly instinctive enforcer with elite 2025 PFF grades, and he answered all big athletic questions at the combine.The Chargers need edge help, linebacker depth and a free safety. Mesidor would immediately strengthen their pass-rush rotation with a player who can contribute without needing a two-year incubation period . He’s a productive, polished, hard-nosed edge rusher whose tape is built on actual pass-rush craft instead of empty athletic fantasy.The Eagles have long prioritized line play and developmental continuity in the trenches. GM Howie Roseman doesn’t generally wait until there is a crisis to invest in offensive linemen. Miller is the rare four-year ironman tackle prospect who checks the NFL’s favorite boxes in permanent marker: size, length, anchor, awareness, durability.Tyson didn’t test at the combine, the injury history is already part of the report and teams are going to weigh risk carefully. But the talent is obvious enough to keep him in this range. When healthy, he looks like a difference-maker and the Browns still need a bunch of those.25. Chicago — Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio St., Jr. The Bears need more front-line reliability against the run and more structural toughness inside. McDonald is a stout run defender who can hold the point and keep your linebackers clean. Sometimes the smartest pick is the one that makes everybody else’s job easier.The Bills need to set Josh Allen up for success better than they have in recent years. Trading for DJ Moore helps, but there’s more work to do. Boston is a big-bodied, strong-handed, red-zone-friendly outside receiver with real production and better route nuance than a lot of receivers built like him — *cough* Keon Coleman *cough*.For a team that still wants to compete at a high level annually, protecting the offensive architecture matters, especially with future Hall of Famer Trent Williams approaching 40. Lomu is still young, but the traits and pass-protection foundation make him easy to buy into.The Texans can afford to think about Wood’s long-term upside over his immediate role. He needs a more diversified pass-rush plan to unlock his full potential, but he already possesses a premium combination of strength and athleticism for his size — he was No. 5 on Bruce Feldman’s 2025 “Freaks List.” Consistency snap-to-snap is the key, but the traits say he can be a pocket-collapsing presence in an NFL rotation, and a scary addition to an already dominant defense.GM Brett Veach already addressed tackle earlier in the round. Here he circles back to one of the Chiefs’ other major needs with a player who fits defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s personality. Hood is a fiery, aggressive press corner who features the size , speed and physicality to make plays in a man-heavy scheme.Concepcion gives the Dolphins a quick-hitting creator they can manufacture touches for after dealing Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos. He’ll need help versus physical press, but as a slot weapon/return threat he brings immediate value.The Patriots need players who can create matchup problems. Sadiq is a legitimate field-stretcher who can line up attached, in the slot, split out wide, or in the backfield, which gives play-callers real flexibility.If the Seahawks want another boundary defender offenses have to work around, this would be a strong way to close Round 1. Johnson is a smooth, instinctive outside corner who pairs sticky coverage with real ball production. He wins with patience, press ability, and enough athletic juice to erase mistakes.35. Tennessee — Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona St., Sr.37. N.Y. Giants — Christen Miller, DL, Georgia, Jr.39. Cleveland — D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana, Jr.41. Cincinnati — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina, Jr.44. N.Y. Jets from Dallas — Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona St., Jr.47. Indianapolis — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas, Jr. The Colts need more speed, more second-level disruption and more answers against the kind of spread-out offensive football that dominates today’s game. Hill is a rare athlete at linebacker with true range and matchup value. He can be a modern defensive weapon.Brazzell gives the offense another high-upside perimeter threat to develop. The Falcons need more explosiveness on the outside. If the releases and the full-route polish catch up to the size/speed combo, watch out.51. Carolina — Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama, Sr.The Packers need players who can hold up physically while still giving them something as rushers, and Jacas brings both. He has a masters in leverage. He’s ruggedly strong and wins with effort and brute physicality.54. Philadelphia — R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma, Sr.The Chargers could use a more physical presence on the back end. McNeil-Warren is an explosive, rangy defender with sound tackling technique, and a violent finisher. He features exceptional length and size for the safety position, and has an undeniable nose for the football.The Jaguars need more sturdiness and attitude up front. Bisontis played tackle and guard in college, but his short arms and temperament means he’ll find a home in the pros on the interior. He likes contact, he likes finishing, and he rarely looks panicked when defenders start running games up front.58. San Francisco — Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn St., Sr.60. Chicago from Buffalo — Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia, Jr.The Rams could use more edge and more long-term certainty up front. Dunker is a powerful, nasty, Iowa-forged O-lineman who wins with brute force and leverage.Stowers would expand the Broncos’ personnel flexibility, give Bo Nix a friend over the middle and create matchup stress without needing a dozen designed touches a game. His performance at the combine likely added helium to his draft stock — a 4.51 40 paired with a tight end vertical jump record .65. Arizona — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU, Sr.68. Philadelphia from N.Y. Jets — Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina, Jr.70. Cleveland — Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech, Sr.72. Cincinnati — Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa St., Sr.74. Kansas City — Romello Height, Edge, Texas Tech, Sr.76. Pittsburgh from Dallas — Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson, Jr.79. Atlanta — Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri, So.81. Jacksonville from Detroit — Genesis Smith, S, Arizona, Jr.83. Carolina — Zane Durant, DT, Penn St., Sr.85. Pittsburgh — Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn, Sr.The Bolts need more range and more second-level activity, particularly against spread looks and backs leaking into space. Louis brings the athletic profile teams want at linebacker. He’s a space eraser who plays fast, closes faster and has enough blitz juice to show up on third down.88. Jacksonville — Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee, Sr.91. Buffalo — Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan, Sr.93. L.A. Rams — Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss, Sr. L.A. could use more size and power inside, especially if it believes its coaching staff can iron out the leverage issues and maximize the tools. Harris is a rare-sized , productive interior defender with real upside, but his draft value will be shaped by three conversations: leverage consistency, medical clarity and character vetting.95. New England — Kamari Ramsey, S, USC, Jr.97. Minnesota — Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio St., Sr.99. Pittsburgh — Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati, Sr. ‘Character of our community is diminished’: Borrego Springs group asks for short-term rental regulationsSan Diego loses population as immigration nosedives. What are the consequences?San Diego TSA workers start receiving pay. Will security lines at the airport improve?Its schools are falling apart, and voters won’t pass a bond. Could a little-used tactic help this district?His ADU mega-projects prompted a city crackdown. Now he’s being sued by investors and lenders.
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