Updated 3/4/26

This mock draft factors in predictions from my list of top-30 unrestricted free agents.

1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

It seems likely that the intrigue in this draft won’t start until the second pick, as the Raiders need a quarterback and Fernando Mendoza is by far the best quarterback available. 

2. New York Jets – DE Arvell Reese (Ohio State)

The Jets might have hinted at their intentions with this pick by trading Jermaine Johnson instead of extending him ahead of the final year of his contract, freeing up a spot for a premium edge rusher. The Jets have several good options here, but Arvell Reese has the highest upside of their options.

3. Arizona Cardinals – S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)

Jalen Thompson and Budda Baker have been a solid starting safety duo for years, but Thompson is a free agent this off-season and Baker is a free agent next off-season, so the Cardinals could be looking towards the future at the position. If Thompson isn’t re-signed and another comparable safety isn’t signed to replace him, Downs would make a lot of sense for them. This is early for a safety, but this is an underwhelming draft at the top and Downs is one of the best safety prospects in recent memory, so he could be viewed as the best available player. 

4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)

There are a lot of rumors that the Titans are interested in Jeremiyah Love at 4. Drafting him would probably require the Titans addressing needs at edge defender and wide receiver in free agency, but they have the cap space to make big additions at both positions. Love would be a significant upgrade over Tony Pollard, whose release would save them 7.25 million ahead of the final year of his contract in 2026.

5. New York Giants – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State)

Wan’Dale Robinson sounds unlikely to return to the Giants, which would leave the Giants very thin at wide receiver behind Malik Nabers, who is coming off of a major knee injury that has him questionable for the start of the 2026 season. With other needs in free agency and wide receiver salaries increasing at a high rate, the Giants could focus their cap space on cheaper positions in free agency and target the draft’s top wide receiver Carnell Tate at 5. 

6. Cleveland Browns – OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)

The Browns had arguably the worst offensive tackle room in the league last season. They traded for Tytus Howard, presumably to start at right tackle, and Mauigoa can start opposite him at left tackle.

7. Washington Commanders – DE David Bailey (Texas Tech)

Von Miller led the Commanders in sacks last season and he is a situational pass rusher at this stage of his career and, ahead of his age 37 season in 2026, he is a free agent and a candidate to retire. The Commanders need to find a young replacement and will likely have at least one of the top-3 edge rushers in this draft available to them at 7.

8. New Orleans Saints – WR Makai Lemon (USC)

The Saints were left pretty thin at wide receiver this season after trading Rashid Shaheed. They need to find a long-term 2nd option opposite the injury prone Chris Olave.

9. Kansas City Chiefs – DE Rueben Bain (Miami)

The Chiefs need an upgrade at edge defender opposite George Karlaftis. They can take advantage of a rare high draft pick to add a blue chip edge defender prospect.

10. Cincinnati Bengals – LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State)

The Bengals had arguably the worst linebacker room in the league last season. Styles is a rare off ball linebacker prospect who could go in the top-10. He could play every down at a Pro Bowl level as a rookie and would be a huge upgrade immediately.

11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano (Utah)

With Tyreek Hill being released, the Dolphins have nothing at wide receiver behind Jaylen Waddle and, with a tough cap situation, they are unlikely to be able to add a useful wide receiver in free agency. If Makai Lemon is still available to them at 11, he would make a lot of sense for the Dolphins.

12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)

The Cowboys have numerous pressing needs on defense and, if they don’t add a premium cornerback in free agency, the Cowboys could address the position early in the draft if the right player is available. Delane would make sense at 12 if he is still available.

13. Los Angeles Rams – QB Ty Simpson (Alabama)

When the Rams traded their first round pick last season to get the Falcons’ first round pick this year, it was probably because they wanted to get a pick high enough to draft a quarterback of the future without having to have a bad season. This year’s quarterback class didn’t end up being as good as expected, but rumors are that the Rams like Ty Simpson, so they could take him here to secure a long-term option at the quarterback position.

14. Baltimore Ravens – G Vega Ioane (Penn State)

Daniel Faalele was underwhelming at right guard last season and is unlikely to be brought back as a free agent this off-season. If the Ravens don’t add an upgrade in free agency, they could target the draft’s best guard prospect at 14. Ioane would make a big impact on the Ravens’ run-heavy offense right away.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

The Buccaneers have a deep wide receiver room when healthy, but could use an upgrade at tight end, where Cade Otton had just a 59/572/1 slash line in 2025, despite all of the Buccaneers wide receiver injuries. With Otton set to hit free agency this off-season, the Buccaneers could use this opportunity to upgrade. Sadiq looks like the undisputed top tight end prospect in this draft and could be a top-15 pick.

16. New York Jets – CB Aveion Terrell (Clemson)

The Jets got this pick from the Colts for Sauce Gardner and trading Gardner put them in a tough situation at cornerback, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them use this pick on a replacement at cornerback. 

17. Detroit Lions – DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)

Al-Quadin Muhammad had 11 sacks this season out of nowhere, after totaling just 10 sacks in his previous 4 seasons combined, but he is not a guarantee to do that again and he’s also a free agent going into his age 31 season, so the Lions have a need at the edge defender position.

18. Minnesota Vikings – DT Peter Woods (Clemson)

The Vikings are expected to release Javon Hargrave if they can’t trade him, which would leave them with a need at the defensive tackle position. Woods would fill that need if still available at 18.

19. Carolina Panthers – S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)

Tre’von Moehrig was a great free agent addition last off-season, but Nick Scott was underwhelming as the starting safety opposite him and they could look for a higher upside replacement in the draft, with Scott set to hit free agency this off-season.

20. Dallas Cowboys – DE Keldric Faulk (Auburn)

The Cowboys got surprisingly decent edge defender play this season after trading Micah Parsons, but four of their top-5 edge defenders this season are set to hit free agency. They should take this opportunity to find a better long-term solution opposite promising rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)

Five of the Steelers’ top-7 in receiving yards last season were either running backs or tight ends. With a new offensive coaching staff coming in, the Steelers will likely put more of an emphasis on the wide receiver position and they need an infusion of talent at the position to do that. Concepcion could instantly be the #2 wide receiver opposite DK Metcalf.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)

It will be interesting to see where Jermod McCoy gets drafted because he has top-10 talent, but is coming off of a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2025 season. The Chargers could take him at 22 because he has a higher upside than any cornerback on their roster.

23. Philadelphia Eagles – OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)

Lane Johnson is going into his age 36 season and this could be his final season. The Eagles could look to the draft for his long-term replacement.

24. Cleveland Browns – WR KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)

The Browns addressed their dire need at left tackle with their early first round pick, but they have an equally big need at wide receiver. They should address this position with their late first round pick if they are unable to take one with their early first round pick.

25. Chicago Bears – DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)

The Bears edge rusher room is pretty thin after Montez Sweat. No one else had more than 4.5 sacks in 2025. They need to add more edge rush help.

26. Buffalo Bills – WR Denzel Boston (Washington)

The Bills were using the washed up Brandin Cooks as their second receiver in the playoffs and that is a big part of the reason why they were unable to advance past the second round. The Bills will likely look to find an upgrade this off-season.

27. San Francisco 49ers – OT Caleb Lomu (Utah)

There is talk that the 49ers could move on from Trent Williams for salary reasons and, even if they don’t, they have to be thinking about the future of the left tackle position, with Williams going into his age 38 season. Lomu could be their long-term left tackle of the future and, if Williams returns, he could also fill a hole at guard for the time being.

28. Houston Texans – DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)

Sheldon Rankins and Tim Settle proved to be a solid interior defender duo last season, but both are free agents this off-season, so the Texans will likely need to find help early in the draft.

29. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Brandon Cisse (South Carolina)

The Chiefs received this pick by trading Trent McDuffie, rather than extending him ahead of the final year of his rookie deal. That move leaves them thin at cornerback, so they could be thinking of McDuffie’s replacement with the pick.

30. Denver Broncos – DT Caleb Banks (Florida)

The Broncos seem unlikely to re-sign John Franklin-Myers in free agency, which would be a big loss for their defense and leave them in need of another defensive tackle. This could be a position they target early in the draft.

31. New England Patriots – DE TJ Parker (Clemson)

The Patriots made the Super Bowl, but they had a below average 35 sacks this season, despite playing with a lot of leads and facing a weak schedule of opposing offenses. They figure to look for edge rush help early in the draft.

32. Seattle Seahawks – CB Colton Hood (Tennessee)

The Seahawks don’t have a lot of needs, but Tariq Woolen is a free agent this off-season and has never been a good fit for Mike Macdonald’s scheme, so they could let him walk and replace him through the draft.

33. New York Jets – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)

Caleb Downs will be in consideration for the Jets at #2 overall and, if the Jets don’t take him, they will likely try to add a starting caliber safety with one of their two second round picks.

34. Arizona Cardinals – OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama)

Right tackle is the Cardinals’ biggest need, but the third overall pick is a little high to select a right tackle. Instead, they can target one in the second round.

35. Tennessee Titans – G Emmanuel Pregnon (Oregon)

Kevin Zeitler played well at right guard last season, but he’s a free agent who is going into his age 36, so the Titans need a long-term starter at the position.

36. Las Vegas Raiders – WR Omar Cooper (Indiana)

The Raiders need to add wide receiver help for their new quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Omar Cooper is arguably the best available wide receiver at this point in the draft and he happens to be Mendoza’s top target from Indiana.

37. New York Giants – DT Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)

Defensive tackle is the Giants’ biggest need, but there isn’t one worth taking at 5. Instead, they can target defensive tackle help in the second round.

38. Houston Texans – OT Blake Miller (Clemson)

The Texans traded away Tytus Howard in a cost savings move, but now they need a new right tackle. They could address this need in the second round.

39. Cleveland Browns – LB Anthony Hill (Texas)

The Browns probably won’t retain free agent linebacker Devin Bush in free agency because they don’t have a lot of cap space and have other more pressing needs. They could target his replacement in the second round of the draft.

40. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)

The Chiefs released Jawaan Taylor, who was a massive disappointment. Jaylon Moore is currently penciled in as the starting right tackle and he wouldn’t be a bad option, but he’s also a career reserve with 18 starts in five seasons in the league and he is in the final year of his contract, so he is probably not the long-term solution.

41. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Zion Young (Missouri)

The Bengals basically need help at every defensive position. The Bengals used their first round pick on Shemar Stewart last year, but he was a disaster as a rookie. Even if he is better going forward, the Bengals will be thin at the position, with their two best edge defenders, Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai, set to hit free agency this off-season.

42. New Orleans Saints – DE R Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)

It’s possible Cameron Jordan’s long tenure with the Saints is over, as he is a free agent heading into his age 37 season this off-season. Even if he is brought back, he is not a long-term solution, so the Saints will need another rotational edge defender either way.

43. Miami Dolphins – WR Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)

The release of Tyreek Hill left the Dolphins with next to nothing at the wide receiver position other than Jaylen Waddle. Even as a rookie, Brazzell could be the Dolphins’ #2 wide receiver.

44. New York Jets – LB CJ Allen (Georgia)

Quincy Williams is a free agent and he is going into his age 30 season and coming off of a bad season in 2025. The Jets could look to replace him and upgrade on him early in the draft.

45. Baltimore Ravens – DE Derrick Moore (Michigan)

The Ravens had the third fewest sacks in the league last season with 30 and no one had more than 5 sacks. The Ravens should look for upgrades on the edge in free agency and the draft.

46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Jake Golday (Cincinnati)

Lavonte David is a free agent and, without him, the Buccaneers have one of the worst linebacker rooms in the league. Even if he is brought back, he is going into his age 36 season, so the Buccaneers need to find a long-term replacement.

47. Indianapolis Colts – DT Christen Miller (Georgia)

DeForest Bucker and Grover Stewart are going into their age 32 and age 33 seasons respectively and the only other defensive tackle currently under contract for 2026 is Adetomiwa Adebawore, who is an underwhelming option who is going into a contract year, so the Colts need to add a young defensive tackle at some point.

48. Atlanta Falcons – WR Chris Bell (Louisville)

The Falcons lack of wide receiver depth behind Drake London was a problem last season. Darnell Mooney has some bounce back potential, but, even if he does bounce back, he’s going into a contract year and the Falcons would still need a better third receiver behind London and Mooney.

49. Minnesota Vikings – RB Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)

The Vikings are releasing the aging Aaron Jones in a cost saving move, but they will need to find another running back to pair with Jordan Mason.

50. Detroit Lions – CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State)

DJ Reed, who the Lions signed to a big deal in free agency last off-season, is locked in as one of the Lions’ starting cornerbacks, but 2024 1st round pick Terrion Arnold has been injury prone and underwhelming thus far in his career, while Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin are underwhelming options who are free agents this off-season. The Lions could add another cornerback through the draft.

51. Carolina Panthers – TE Max Klare (Ohio State)

The Panthers somehow haven’t had a tight end with over 400 receiving yards since Greg Olsen in 2016. They could look for one early in the draft to give Bryce Young a much needed weapon over the middle.

52. Green Bay Packers – LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)

The Packers have several key free agents and because of the Micah Parsons trade, they don’t have a lot of cap space to retain them all or a first round pick to use on a replacement. Linebacker Quay Walker has been up and down in his career and the Packers could let him walk in favor of more important free agents and find his replacement in the second round of the draft.

53. Pittsburgh Steelers – G Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M)

If the Steelers don’t retain Isaac Seumalo as a free agent, they could look to replace him in the draft.

54. Philadelphia Eagles – CB Keith Abney (Arizona State)

Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are arguably the best cornerback duo in the league, but the Eagles need an upgrade at the third cornerback spot and could address the position early in the draft.

55. Los Angeles Chargers – G Connor Lew (Auburn)

The Chargers’ offensive line will be better next season when Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater return from injury, but they still have a massive need at guard that they could address early in the draft.

56. Jacksonville Jaguars – DE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)

The Jaguars really lack depth on the edge behind Josh Allen and Travon Walker, the latter of whom is going into a contract year. They could address this need early in the draft.

57. Chicago Bears – S AJ Haulcy (LSU)

Both of the Bears’ starting safeties are free agents this off-season, so it is likely the Bears will need to look to the draft for at least one new starting safety.

58. San Francisco 49ers – WR Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)

Brandon Aiyuk seems like he is done in San Francisco. Ricky Pearsall was a first round pick two years ago, but he has not panned out thus far. Jauan Jennings was their best wide receiver last season, but he is a free agent this off-season. Even if he returns, the 49ers will need help at the position, especially given that they will likely feature wide receivers more in their offense next season, with tight end George Kittle coming off of a torn achilles.

59. Houston Texans – LB Josiah Trotter (Missouri)

The Texans have a pair of reserve linebackers set to hit free agency this off-season and need someone to compete with Henry To’oTo’o, who is an underwhelming starting option.

60. Buffalo Bills – DE LT Overton (Alabama)

Joey Bosa was a good 1-year signing last off-season, but he is a free agent this off-season and might not return to Buffalo. Even if he does, he is going into his age 31 season with an extensive injury history.

61. Los Angeles Rams – WR Zachariah Branch (Georgia)

Davante Adams had a great season in 2025, but he’s going into his age 34 season and a contract year in 2026.

62. Denver Broncos – TE Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

The Broncos made a big financial investment in Evan Engram last off-season to try to improve their tight end room, but he showed his age, finishing with just a 50/461/1 slash line and, now going into his age 32 season, he’s unlikely to return to his prime form. The Broncos could look to the draft for a younger option.

63. New England Patriots – OT Gennings Dunker (Iowa)

The Patriots’ Super Bowl performance made it obvious they still need to build their offensive line. Right tackle Morgan Moses is going into his age 35 season and left guard Jared Wilson would probably be better at center long-term. Dunker is probably a right tackle at the next level, but he could also move to guard.

64. Seattle Seahawks – WR Elijah Surratt (Indiana)

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is obviously one of the best wide receivers in the league, but Cooper Kupp is going into his age 33 season, Rashid Shaheed is a free agent, and 2025 5th round pick Tory Horton is injury prone and not guaranteed to develop into a starting caliber receiver. The Seahawks could add another young receiver to the mix in the draft.