The 2025 NFL regular season has come to a close, which means that executives on the 18 teams who did not make the playoffs are already looking at NFL Mock Drafts and trying to figure out which players will eventually turn into stars with a bit of development.
Even if the quarterback class is generally regarded as subpar, the collection of defensive line, wide receiver, and linebacker talent makes this a solid draft for those who want to add supplemental pieces to a would-be contender.
With the NFL Draft order from No. 1 to No. 18 finalized, it's time to take stock of what the first round it going to look like. Will the 2026 NFL Draft follow this mock?
2026 NFL Mock Draft
Note: Tankathon's NFL Draft order was used.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Even though the Raiders' roster is a mess, it makes too much sense to go with Mendoza here. With the rich pieces around him, the strong-armed and cerebral pocket passer could be a franchise cornerstone who erases the Raiders' recent history of quarterback futility.
2. New York Jets: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Aaron Glenn will get a chance to pick his quarterback high in the order after a 3-14 season. Moore is inexperienced, but he has a whip of an arm and has shown the accuracy needed to be a productive player in the NFL.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State
Reese has emerged as the best non-quarterback prospect in this class, as his hybrid style of play has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons. Reese could compete for Pro Bowls right away in Arizona.
4. Tennessee Titans: Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain's short arms are a question mark, but he is as productive an edge rusher as there is and has a very high floor. Tennessee's defense needs its version of Cam Ward to be anything close to respectable, which could lead to them drafting the best player available.
5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Pairing Tyson's extremely impressive separation ability with Malik Nabers' deep speed should be more than enough for Jaxson Dart and whoever ends up coaching the Giants to get this offense headed in the right direction.
6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Browns may have had the worst offensive tackle pairing in the NFL last season, and new blood is sorely needed. Fano is emerging as the clear No. 1 offensive lineman in this class, which could
7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is an elite safety prospect, and he should work his way into an immediate starting role with many of the best teams in the league. Washington's deplorable defense would welcome the instant injection of talent.
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Saints can land Tyler Shough a No. 1 receiver here, as Tate can pair with fellow Buckeye Chris Olave and make magic for a Kellen Moore team that showed a ton of fight late in the 2025 season.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Love is the best running back in this class by a country mile. Even as the Chiefs try to find the successor to Travis Kelce, Love can give the Chiefs the best running game they have had in the Patrick Mahomes era.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Cincinnati's defense was so bad that they needed to take the best player available on that side of the ball. Woods has been the wire-to-wire top DT prospect, and his run-stuffing talent is so immense that No. 10 might be too low for him.
11. Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Be it Tua Tagovailoa or someone else under center, Miami needs to do something about its pitiful offensive line. A local product, Mauigoa is a great right tackle who could succeed Austin Jackson or kick inside to guard.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
This cornerback class is weak, but Delane is the best of the bunch at the position. After suffering through some of the worst secondary play in recent memory under Matt Ebeflus, Delane would bring Pro Bowl potential to the Cowboys.
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Rams need to feel confident about McCoy's medical history. However, if they get a clean bill of health, a contender in Sean McVay's Los Angeles unit could steal a Top 10 talent.
14. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Bailey is a sack master who got better as the year went on and continued to dominate professional prospects despite his slight frame. Baltimore's lack of juice on the outside is one of many reasons they missed the playoffs.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Lavonte David is at the end of his rope, and the non-David linebackers have been getting victimized in coverage. Styles would fix both problems, all while playing a part in fixing Tampa Bay's outdated defense.
16. New York Jets: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
Faulk won't be the biggest sack artist, but he is extremely versatile, has some nice get-off for a 285-pound edge rusher, and fits in nicely on a Jets team that is clearly valuing bigger edge-setting pass rushers.
17. Detroit Lions: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell's feisty nature in man coverage will fit in nicely with Dan Campbell, especially after Terrion Arnold and injury-riddled Ennis Rakestraw Jr. have not developed the way the DB-needy Lions would have hoped for.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Very smart and very versatile, Cisse has been shooting up NFL Draft boards lately. The Vikings' secondary is starting to fall apart, and Cisse would be someone who can instantly come in and make an immediate impact.
19. Carolina Panthers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Carolina being able to sneak into the playoff picture with this level of linebacker play is surprising. Allen would be an instant starter who could complete Carolina's transition to a high-end defense.
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Howell is much like Donovan Ezeiruaku in that he isn't going to defend the run, but his speed on the edge could be more than enough to help the Cowboys duct-tape together a viable Micah Parsons replacement.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
With or without Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh needs wide receiver help. Lemon is an electric talent who can take a slant 70 yards for a touchdown, and that speed is what is missing from the Steelers wide receiver room.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
McDonald can plug up holes in the running game, and that is all the Chargers will need him to do. McDonald has risen to become the consensus DT2 in this class, and he could help fix one of this team's biggest issues.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is a Top 15 talent who could immediately be one of the Eagles' top pass-catchers. Dallas Goedert may not be an Eagle beyond this season, and Sadiq would give them a dynamite replacement.
24. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Keon Coleman struggling as much as he has this year is alarming, and the Bills are likely not going to wait around very long to replace him. Boston's size could help him be the dominant X receiver Coleman isn't.
25. Chicago Bears: Matayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, Oregon
Uiagelelei's motor, run defense, and toolbox of advanced pass rush moves should all get the Bears intereseted in his services, especially on a defensive line that is currently just Montez Sweat doing it on his own.
26. San Francisco 49ers: Vega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
San Francisco's offensive line is one injury away from becoming a major problem area, which could help lead them to one of the safest players in the draft and an easy 10-year starter in Ioane.
27. Houston Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Houston is likely going to take the best offensive lineman available to make sure CJ Stroud stays upright, and Lomu fits the bill. He and Aireontae Ersery could be Houston's bookend tackles.
28. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson's stock has fallen lately, as his size is a big concern, but the arm talent and accuracy are there. Cleveland will likely snag Simpson if he is here, as he has a higher ceiling than Shedeur Sanders.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor needs to go to the right coach to get the most out of him, but McVay and the Rams would be ideal for a 364-pound tackle who needs some technical refinement alongside a veteran group.
30. New England Patriots: TJ Parker, EDGE, Clemson
The Patriots need pass rushers, and they will be taking a gamble that Parker will be the guy who was once thought of as a possible No. 1 pick instead of the disappointing player fans saw in 2025.
31. Denver Broncos: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Bo Nix's wide receiver room cam be described as lacking in many key areas, and Concepcion's lightning-like playmaking ability with the ball in his hands can overcome Sean Payton's preference for bigger wideouts.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Gennings Dunker, IOL/OT, Iowa
Be him a right tackle who stars next to Charles Cross or a right guard who serves as the counterpart next to Grey Zabel, Dunker would ensure that Sam Darnold's pocket presence remains intact.