Dec. 6, 2025, 6:01 a.m. ET
With Thanksgiving in the rear-view, we’re down to the final stretch of the NFL season. Week 14 is up next and more teams will be eliminated from playoff contention with those results.
That means more fanbases and teams are looking ahead to the offseason, including the NFL Draft. That’s the best way to build a consistent contender and look no further than some top rookies in 2025. Emeka Egbuka and Tyler Warren have greatly helped the passing game in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis, respectively. Rookie running backs in both conferences have shined as the season has worn on, such as Cleveland’s Quinshon Judkins and Chicago’s Kyle Monangai.
This next draft class will look slightly different than the 2025 crop of players. The 2026 NFL Draft class will be defined by top defensive players once again, thanks to a duo of stars from Ohio State. Prospects at edge and defensive tackle could be building blocks for the future. This may be the best linebacker class in years for a league desperate for improved play from the position.
And, as always, there are quarterbacks. Tennessee currently holds the top pick once again but already has its quarterback of the future in Cam Ward. So what should they do – and where do the top passers end up? Here’s our latest first-round prediction for the 2026 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL mock draft
1. Tennessee Titans: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Reese is in the conversation for best player in the draft, regardless of position. The Titans need more talent as they usher in a new coaching staff. Reese is one of the best linebacker prospects in modern history with the frame (6-foot-4, 243 pounds), speed and football IQ to handle myriad responsibilities.
2. New York Giants: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
The Giants have an embarrassment of riches at edge rusher, so they opt for a running mate for 2024 top pick Malik Nabers. Tyson’s not a burner but separates at will with ideal body control at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He’s a touchdown machine with 19 scores in his last 21 games.
3. New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
New Orleans sees all of the top quarterback options fall to them at No. 3 and pounce on the safest pick with Mendoza. The Heisman contender offers a high floor with his processing, quick release, accuracy, timing and football IQ. At this point, Tyler Shough hasn’t done enough to keep the Saints from taking the chance.
4. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Las Vegas’ offensive woes could be attributed to Chip Kelly but they’ll need to have a plan in place for the quarterback of the future. Simpson would be in contention for the top quarterback off the board if not for his lack of experience. The Raiders could sit him behind Geno Smith to start the 2026 season and bring him in if a change is needed.
5. Cleveland Browns: QB Dante Moore, Oregon
Cleveland cleans up the trio of top quarterbacks with Moore. The Oregon product may return to Eugene to further hone his skills, but if not, the Browns could jump at the opportunity for a fresh start at quarterback. Moore’s deep ball and mobility are strong suits, but he needs some improvement for his pre- and post-snap reads.
6. Washington Commanders: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Washington faces Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott twice a year and New York has one of the top left tackles in the league in Andrew Thomas. They have to improve their pass rush. Bain’s power and production should be a welcome addition to the Commanders’ defense line.
7. New York Jets: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
New York missed out on the top quarterbacks so they opt for by far the best player on the board and perhaps the best player in the class. Downs is the ideal modern safety, whose ceiling at the NFL level is limited only by his future defensive coordinator.
8. Arizona Cardinals: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Love is the ideal modern running back and would be a seamless transition away from James Conner if the team wants to move on. Arizona went all-out on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft and would swing the other way with the home-run hitter and receiving threat Love.
9. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Rams‘ quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing like an MVP-caliber quarterback in 2025. To get a similar level of production from him in 2026, Los Angeles needs to ensure he’s protected as much as possible. Fano is the top tackle in the class with solid size, athleticism, body control and bend.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Cincinnati has plenty of needs on its roster but protecting quarterback Joe Burrow has to be a priority. Mauigoa’s power in a 6-foot-6, 325-pound frame could make him a good fit at either guard or tackle. He’s spent most of his career in Coral Gables at right tackle but could kick inside to start his career.
11. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jermod McCoy, LSU
Minnesota needs an infusion of young talent on the back end of its defense. McCoy is the top cornerback in the class despite missing the 2025 season with an injury. His mix of size, athleticism, ball production and play recognition means he could fit in either man or zone schemes
12. Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Miami’s spent on the defensive front in recent drafts, so they choose to handle the back end to complement that investment. Delane won’t test as well as others at the combine but his production against SEC competition is hard to ignore. Quarterbacks have only targeted him 35 times in 11 games. The result’s been 13 catches for 147 yards and zero touchdowns.
13. Kansas City Chiefs: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
Kansas City signed George Karlaftis long-term this past offseason, but he’s not a No. 1 pass rusher. Faulk is young but has the tools to potentially be that at the NFL level. His size (6-foot-6, 275 pounds) and power provide a foundation worth developing.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Pittsburgh rarely uses its first-round pick on wide receivers, but it needs more talent outside. Tate’s taken a step in 2025 with Emeka Egbuka out at Columbus and is a big play waiting to happen thanks to his height and dominance at the catch point.
15. Carolina Panthers: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Tetairoa McMillan has shined for the Panthers at wide receiver and Carolina takes another weapon to round out the group here. Lemon is one of the safest picks at the position this season and has shades of Egbuka’s game as a reliable slot weapon who almost always gets extra yardage.
16. Dallas Cowboys: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Dallas’ defense took a step with the addition of Quinnen Williams in the middle of the defensive front. The pass rush off the edge gets a boost in Bailey, one of college football’s most productive edge rushers this season.
17. Detroit Lions: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Detroit’s offensive line isn’t imposing its will as it has in years past under Dan Campbell. Ioane is a pick to get back to that place. The Nittany Lions‘ offensive lineman is powerful at 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds with the athleticism to hang in pass protection and run over defenders in the run game.
18. Houston Texans: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
The Texans‘ offensive line is starting to turn things around after being one of the worst units in the league for much of the season. They still need reinforcements, though, and Proctor is an outlier at 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds. He struggles with consistency but could become a long-term starter either at tackle or guard.
19. Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
Baltimore’s defense lost Nnamdi Madubuike earlier in the season and could use more depth behind him. Woods had high hopes entering 2025 but underperformed, much like the rest of the Clemson defense. He has the tools to be a Pro Bowler in the middle and needs to improve his consistency to reach his potential.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
Woods’ teammate Parker goes a pick later to the Buccaneers who could use more help off the edge. At 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, Parker moves well with a powerful bull rush. His length with that power would make him a building block for Todd Bowles’ defense.
21. Buffalo Bills: LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Buffalo’s defense played well against Pittsburgh but was on pace prior to that game to finish as the worst unit by points allowed under Sean McDermott since 2018. They need more investment on that side of the ball, and they didn’t add much in the front or secondary in 2025. Allen is firmly the LB2 in a very good class and should improve the run defense as a whole with his vision and sure tackling.
22. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
Jaire Alexander did not work out as the Eagles’ No. 2 cornerback and that’s been a weakness on that side of the ball. Terrell is slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds but competes incredibly hard in coverage and in run defense. With Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the building, he wouldn’t need to lock down the opponent’s top receivers.
23. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
New York opted for the top prospect on the board earlier in the round. Here, they use one of their extra picks on a potential quarterback of the future. Sellers has incredible tools at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds but needs time to develop as a passer. He may return to school in 2026 or declare for the draft. In the latter scenario, a team would likely be willing to take a chance on his high ceiling.
24. San Francisco 49ers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
San Francisco opts to take the top pass-catcher on the board near the end of the first round with Sadiq. The Oregon tight end is by far the top prospect at the position in the draft with the speed to be a vertical threat but the frame to take on blocking assignments.
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Odafe Oweh’s been a great addition off the edge for the Chargers from the trade deadline, but the team could use more investment up front. Howell is slightly undersized at 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds with short arms but his burst and bend make him a player worth developing. A creative defensive playcaller like Jesse Minter could come up with myriad ways to deploy him.
26. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Cleveland’s offensive line is aging, with looming free-agent questions. After taking a quarterback of the future earlier in the first round, they get a very good pass-protecting tackle at the back end. Tiernan is massive at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds with the arm length to keep pass rushers at bay.
27. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Dallas addressed edge earlier in the round and opt to shore up the middle of the defense with another Buckeye linebacker. Styles was originally considered the better linebacker entering the season before Reese’s ascension. He offers similar size (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) with elite athleticism, good reaction and solid tackling.
28. Seattle Seahawks: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become one of the top wide receivers in the league in 2025, thanks to an incredible campaign. With the top offensive linemen off the board, Seattle opts to find him a running mate for the future. Boston’s size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and contested catch ability make him a solid No. 2 option to complement Smith-Njigba.
29. Los Angeles Rams: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Los Angeles’ defense has been one of the best in the league in 2025 but could use more home-grown talent at cornerback to develop. Cisse is one of the fastest cornerbacks in the class at 6-foot and 190 pounds. He has the coverage skills to leverage his athleticism and stick with wide receivers throughout their routes.
30. Denver Broncos: Edge LT Overton, Alabama
Denver’s defense is one of the best in the league and they choose once again to spend a first-round pick on that side of the ball in 2026. Overton doesn’t have a ton of pass rush production but has the size (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) and bend the Broncos like at the position. He wouldn’t need to be the team’s top threat off the edge immediately and could work up to a bigger role with time.
31. Chicago Bears: DT Christen Miller, Georgia
Chicago’s run defense could use a boost and Miller offers an ideal anchor and play strength in the middle at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds. In a division with the likes of Detroit and Green Bay, that’d come in handy in the future. He has the tools to be a contributor as a pass rusher but hasn’t been asked to do so much in Georgia.
32. New England Patriots: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
New England could go a lot of ways with this pick but opt to give Drake Maye another weapon in the passing game. His size (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) pairs well with good burst off the line to give the Patriots a vertical threat. Despite his long levers, he’s shown a solid ability to operate underneath as well.
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