2026 NFL mock draft: WRs fly off the board in first spherical getting into mix week

The Raiders are on the clock and need assistance throughout the board, however quarterback is the primary order of enterprise. Fernando Mendoza capped a formidable season with a nationwide championship in Indiana’s RPO-based offense and a robust postseason run that showcased his consistency and clutch throws in gotta-have-it moments. Mendoza makes good choices, throws with accuracy and contact, and creates and extends performs exterior the pocket and underneath duress. He is a high-level processor who reads defenses shortly and anticipates home windows to ship benefit throws that transfer the chains.

Ohio State’s Reese is a pleasant piece for a franchise with loads of holes to fill, providing the flexibility to play within the field in addition to rush off the sting. He brings elite twitch and instincts, together with the scale and size to carry up in a number of spots throughout the protection. Reese is extraordinarily athletic as a part-time rusher and may convert velocity to energy whereas utilizing a robust lengthy arm. The Jets want go rushers, and Reese offers them a bookend reverse Will McDonald IV. If he goes this excessive, his long-term projection is probably going on the sting. His pass-rushing capabilities carry a excessive ceiling with extra reps and time on process.

The Cardinals might improve at proper deal with, and Mauigoa excelled through the Hurricanes’ playoff run whereas serving as a mannequin of consistency over the previous two seasons. He is thickly constructed with wonderful energy and strikes defenders at will within the run sport. Mauigoa is above common in go safety, displaying good approach and the ft to get to his spot and play in house. He provides some positional versatility and may kick inside if wanted, however he’ll little question get first crack at proper deal with to begin. He additionally brings sturdy management and intensive expertise as a three-year starter at Miami.

Bain was as dominant a defensive lineman as we have seen since Will Anderson Jr. at Alabama. He brings elite energy in each phases and wins as a superb technician together with his arms, beating opponents with physicality or finesse. Bain has a excessive motor, performs the sport the correct manner and exhibits sturdy consideration to element. His measurements may not wow everybody, however his movie is elite, and he provides versatility to kick inside in pass-rushing conditions if wanted. New Titans coach Robert Saleh must be licking his chops.

Fano performs with good approach, has wonderful ft and exhibits the power to play each deal with spots. He did not permit a sack this season and surrendered solely six hurries. His finest days are nonetheless forward, however he brings energy on the level of assault, the power to maneuver defenders within the run sport and the athleticism to tug and filter defenders on the second stage. Fano would step in at proper deal with, giving the Giants one other piece to guard Jaxson Dart.

You need to imagine the Browns will use free company and a number of picks to improve an getting old offensive line. Tate brings intensive expertise and the power to win wherever on the sector. He is a refined route runner who tracks and high-points the ball in contested-catch conditions. Tate is a reliable, reliable receiver with sturdy arms who strikes the chains and offers Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders a weapon to assist jumpstart the offense.

Bailey is a pure go rusher who wins with velocity off the sting and exhibits distinctive quickness in condensed areas. He is a dynamic participant who can wreck a sport and has barely improved his run protection this season. His highest upside comes as a pure go rusher, because of his explosive get-off and twitch off the sting. The Commanders’ go rush final season was one of many worst within the league.

Tyson tracks the ball exceptionally nicely within the air and exhibits nice contact stability after the catch to maximise YAC. He has the lengthy velocity to beat press protection and the power to thrive in the course of the sector and within the pink zone. Tyson battled a hamstring damage, and groups will examine his medicals carefully.

Faulk has very best dimension and size, together with the power to hurry from wherever alongside the defensive entrance. His stats do not inform the complete story given the eye he drew, however he nonetheless completed with 30 hurries. A slippery rusher with a very good get-off and wonderful arms, he is additionally strong towards the run, displaying the power to set the sting and knock again offensive tackles.

The Bengals protection — particularly the again finish — had a tough season, however assistance is on the way in which. A high-IQ chief and alpha presence, he excels in each phases. He can erase tight ends, holds up as a run defender within the field and tackles nicely in house.

Jeff Hafley seemingly targets a nook right here, and Delane was arguably the nation’s finest on the place, and one of many prime defensive gamers within the nation, this season. He is been an eraser in protection because of his suddenness and alter of route, has good velocity and the power to battle for the ball, and is a aggressive participant who ought to transition nicely to the following stage regardless of missing very best measurables.

Love is my favourite to win Offensive Rookie of the 12 months and one of the best total participant within the draft. He exhibits distinctive imaginative and prescient and endurance, is a weapon as a receiver and brings home-run skill each time he touches the ball. Love has excellent lateral quickness and explosiveness and offers me Bijan Robinson vibes each time I watch him. Future celebrity.

As nice as Matthew Stafford is enjoying, you must begin fascinated with a alternative, and Simpson is a no brainer QB2 who might have groups just like the Jets contemplating a commerce as much as snatch him. He stands to profit from a weak quarterback class and brings promising traits. Simpson arguably has probably the most upside within the class regardless of struggling within the second half of the season at Alabama with out a lot of a operating sport or constant safety. He has a robust arm, can assault all areas of the sector with velocity and contact, processes shortly, anticipates nicely and layers throws to each stage. His lack of expertise will likely be his greatest hurdle to beat.

The Ravens want a complementary receiver to pair with Zay Flowers, and Lemon has the traits to finally turn out to be a No. 1 choice down the street. He is an explosive playmaker who can stretch the sector not solely as a receiver but in addition as a kick returner. A dynamic participant with a defensive mentality, he was USC’s go-to choice in must-have moments. Lemon brings top-end velocity, physicality and powerful arms with spectacular vary.

The Buccaneers want to interchange an getting old Lavonte David, and Types could be a perfect match if he is nonetheless accessible right here, given his distinctive athletic traits. He is an every-down backer with very best dimension and size within the field who excels in all phases. Fluid in protection, he understands leverage and matches up with backs and tight ends. He additionally exhibits nice vary towards the run, sifts by way of site visitors to succeed in the ball provider and finishes as a positive tackler.

If the Jets cannot land a quarterback, they will look to improve their defensive entrance, and Hunter would match nicely as a 2i of their scheme. He was an enormous improve up entrance for the Pink Raiders, taking up doubles and letting their linebackers roam and make performs. He exhibits good lateral motion and quickness on stunts and video games, together with the power to crush the pocket as a rusher. Hunter is an efficient go rusher who completed with a pair sacks and 19 hurries.

The Lions want so as to add just a few offensive linemen with retirements and damage considerations surrounding Taylor Decker. Freeling is an extended, athletic left deal with and one of many few true pure left tackles on this yr’s draft. He exhibits good ft and the flexibility to play both deal with spot. A strong run blocker with a giant body and good hand utilization, Freeling strikes nicely in house and on the second stage and provides a pleasant ceiling.

I am not a giant fan of projecting a first-round participant who did not take a snap in 2025, however it is a weak yr for corners and the Vikings need assistance on the island. McCoy confirmed good size and the power to play man protection and will likely be absolutely wholesome in 2026. He additionally displayed a clean backpedal, breaks shortly on routes and has wonderful arms.

A large, disruptive run stuffer who has been a power for the stingy Buckeye protection, McDonald is a strong participant with good lateral quickness on stunts and distinctive power on the level of assault. He can crush the pocket however must proceed creating as a go rusher. He’d be a pleasant pairing with Derrick Brown.

The Cowboys want an improve at linebacker, and Allen brings veteran management and manufacturing as a power within the field stuffing the run. He provides versatility and profiles as a Day 1 starter for a again finish that wants an improve.

Proctor is an XXL human who settled in final yr and had his finest season for the Tide. I would kick Proctor inside to protect, the place I believe he can excel based mostly on his talent set. He mauls defenders within the run sport, has proven improved consistency in safety and may profit from stronger teaching and a spotlight to element together with his approach on the subsequent stage.

The Chargers worth dimension, and Loane is my favourite inside prospect. He is a mauler within the run sport who elevated his play in safety in 2025, permitting simply three pressures all season. He is a bodily participant who seems to interrupt an opponent’s will and performs by way of the whistle. Loane is a greater athlete in house than he will get credit score for and is a strong puller who can erase defenders.

It seems like A.J. Brown could possibly be on the transfer, and Department can substitute a few of that manufacturing as a No. 2 receiver. He had his most efficient season but, catching 73 passes for almost 750 yards with 17 explosive performs. Department is elusive in house and may begin and cease on a dime to make defenders miss. He additionally returns punts and kickoffs and is at all times a menace to take it the gap every time he touches the ball.

Myles Garrett and the Browns’ protection would turn out to be much more dominant in the event that they pair him with one other expert go rusher. Howell wins with velocity and a robust lengthy arm, and he counters inside when tackles overset. He performs with an awesome motor and exhibits pure pass-rush instincts. Howell additionally has the twitch and get-off to create issues.

The Bears love dimension and size on the line of defense, and no one units the sting like Younger, a disruptive presence with very best size and pop. He provides a robust pass-rush profile as a strong-side edge, mixing velocity and energy with an efficient lengthy arm.

The Payments might use extra weaponry on offense, and Concepcion could be an explosive addition for Josh Allen. He is harmful on screens and slants, with the power to interrupt tackles, maximize features and stretch the protection vertically. Concepcion exhibits good acceleration to separate after the catch and assaults the ball within the air. He is additionally a weapon as a returner, with the menace to attain any time he touches it.

San Francisco would instantly enhance up entrance with Woods, particularly with a lot of the entrance sidelined for a lot of the 2025 season. Woods seems the half and has spectacular traits, however he did not ship a standout season regardless of the hype. He exhibits good energy and leverage on the level of assault to deal with double groups, together with strong lateral quickness on stunts and video games to get dwelling.

Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a giant broad receiver, with the pure skill to catch the ball away from his physique and get north. He will get open, finds delicate spots in protection and is a reliable goal you’ll be able to depend on to make performs. Sadiq provides big-play potential after the catch and can be a really strong blocker.

The Rams are seemingly out there for an offensive lineman, and Lomu provides good worth right here together with positional versatility. He is an skilled left deal with who brings the blindside expertise groups search for. Lomu has good ft and performs with sturdy approach on the sting. He is a strong run blocker with good lateral motion and knee bend, permitting him to maximise his lower-body explosion.

An enormous-bodied receiver who profiles extra as a possession goal able to bodying up defenders than a real deep menace. He has very reliable arms and is a contested-catch, red-zone nightmare for defenders. Boston works the center of the sector and the sidelines nicely and completed the season with only one drop.

Mesidor exhibits wonderful bend and motor and performs with polished approach as a go rusher. He makes use of his arms and hips to complete, has an excellent first step off the ball and has been probably the most disruptive gamers within the nation. He lacks very best measurables on the sting, however the movie would not lie — an absolute sport wrecker and probably the most NFL-ready go rusher within the class from a technical standpoint.

Brazell offers the Seahawks a pleasant complementary receiver to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He can beat press protection, stretch the sector and supply a giant goal who turns into a red-zone and contested-catch nightmare. Brazell additionally delivered a robust rebound season at Tennessee after a productive profession at Tulane.