NFL mock draft 1.0

The 2026 NFL Combine has come and gone, and mock draft season is in full swing. The draft order has long been set, and now everyone is predicting how the first 32 will unfold. This is CommRadio’s first mock draft of 2026.

No. 1 (Las Vegas Raiders): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The obvious No. 1 pick and the consensus top quarterback in the draft. The Raiders need a new signal caller after Geno Smith’s disastrous season and no long-term answer at the most important position in sports. Now the Raiders have to make sure they can give Mendoza a proper supporting cast.

No. 2 (New York Jets): David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech

Bailey has been rumored to go to the Jets before the combine, and his performance only solidified it. There are questions about where he can help on run defense with his 33-inch arms, but his explosiveness off the snap should allow him to be a successful NFL pass rusher.

No. 3 (Arizona Cardinals): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

The Cardinals get another bookend tackle to pair with Paris Johnson Jr. There are no quarterbacks worth taking this high, and a running back can be found down the board. Mauigoa could also play right guard if his 33-inch arms can’t hold up at right tackle.

No. 4 (Tennessee Titans): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love cemented his status as a likely top-10 pick with an incredible combine performance. Neither Tony Pollard nor Tyjae Spears is good enough to stop the Titans from taking a top-three prospect in the class.

No. 5 (New York Giants): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Giants just released Bobby Okereke yesterday, and Styles has been rising up draft boards for months. He had phenomenal tape at Ohio State and displayed his athleticism with a legendary combine performance.

No. 6 (Cleveland Browns): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

The Browns need to fix their offensive line, so they add the 6-foot 7-inch, 315-pound tackle from Georgia. Freeling has emerged as a first-round prospect given his aforementioned size and otherworldly athleticism.

No. 7 (Washington Commanders): Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Reese could go anywhere between No. 2 overall and No. 10 overall. He trailed off at the end of the season and is a tweener at linebacker/pass rusher, but his raw traits will keep him in the top 10.

No. 8 (New Orleans Saints): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Saints steal Tate from the Chiefs, who would’ve taken him in a heartbeat. The former Buckeye is the consensus top receiver in the class thanks to his size, route tree and steady production.

No. 9 (Kansas City Chiefs): Rueben Bain, DE, Miami (FL)

Kansas City has a need on the defensive line, so it adds Bain who could also be a three-technique on the interior. His arms are 30-inches which could force him to move inside, but he could still generate some pressure from that interior spot.

No. 10 (Cincinnati Bengals): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs is tough to project because the NFL doesn’t value safeties highly and while he is a fantastic prospect, he doesn’t have can’t miss athleticism to justify going higher. His ceiling starts at No. 5 with the Giants and likely ends at No. 12 with Dallas.

No. 11 (Miami Dolphins): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Delane is CB1 in this class thanks to a great season at LSU and Jermod McCoy missing the season with an ACL injury that prevented him from working out at the combine. The Dolphins need a corner desperately so they add the best one in the draft.

No. 12 (Dallas Cowboys): Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

Faulk is a little over hated in the draft cycle due to a lack of production at Auburn. Remember that production in college doesn’t always equate to the NFL, and Faulk has the size to be a solid run defender and will only be 20-years-old when he’s drafted.

No. 13 (Los Angeles Rams): Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Yes, the Rams have Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but both will be free agents after next year and Adams will be 34-years-old. Lemon is slightly undersized at 5-foot 11-inches, but he’s a fantastic route runner and plays bigger than his size.

No. 14 (Baltimore Ravens): Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

Ioane is the best guard in the class and the Ravens have needs along the offensive line. If Baltimore fails to re-sign Tyler Linderbaum, Utah’s Spencer Fano could be in play.

No. 15 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): TJ Parker, DE, Clemson

Parker has the size and athleticism to be an effective NFL edge. His tape from the first two years at Clemson have him in the first round discussion.

No. 16 (New York Jets): Jermod McCoy CB, Tennessee

McCoy missed all of 2025 with a torn ACL and didn’t work out at the combine, which could cause him to fall in the draft. His 2024 tape was CB1 caliber and the Jets have so many first round picks the next few years that they can afford to roll the dice on McCoy.

No. 17 (Detroit Lions): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Fano isn’t being drafted by the Lions to play offensive tackle. He took reps at center at the combine which would make him a great fit in Detroit. There likely won’t be another center taken until the third round.

No. 18 (Minnesota Vikings): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman put together a strong season at Oregon and his combine performance vaulted him into round one conversations. The Vikings have a need at safety with Harrison Smith considering retirement.

No. 19 (Carolina Panthers): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Allen profiles as a MIKE linebacker and is the latest in a long line of Bulldog defenders drafted in the first round. He should be a solid starter for the next decade/

No. 20 (Dallas Cowboys): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

McNeil-Warren rounds out the three first-round caliber safeties. He may not have the athleticism you want, but he can play the overhang spot and be a force in the box as long as he can wrap up on tackles.

No. 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Injuries are the only reason Tyson falls this far. The Steelers need a wide receiver to complement DK Metcalf, and Tyson is excellent value down the board.

No. 22 (Los Angeles Chargers): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

Banks missed most of the season with injuries, but was incredibly effective when healthy. The Chargers need help on the interior, so they add someone who can stop the run and has pass-rush juice.

No. 23 (Philadelphia Eagles): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

With Dallas Goedert heading for free agency, the Eagles need a new tight end. Sadiq is an elite receiver, but he will need to improve his blocking.

No. 24 (Cleveland Browns): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Boston is a jump-ball wide receiver who can be the top option for whoever the Browns quarterback is next season.

No. 25 (Chicago Bears): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald is a run-stuffing defensive tackle who can fix a leaky run defense. His size and strength will help him turn into a solid nose tackle.

No. 26 (Buffalo Bills): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Bills need a receiver, and Concepcion is the best one on the board. He has some drop issues, but his shiftiness and speed make him a home-run threat every play.

No. 27 (San Francisco 49ers): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Proctor can be a potential franchise left tackle, especially with Trent Williams nearing retirement. He has the size and athleticism to be a blindside blocker, but needs to refine a few aspects of his game.

No. 28 (Houston Texans): Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Woods had an up-and-down season but the tape from his first two seasons will keep him in the first round. The Texans add to an already elite unit.

No. 29 (Kansas City Chiefs): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Chiefs just acquired this pick for Trent McDuffie, so they find his replacement in another slightly undersized corner who can play the boundary.

No. 30 (Denver Broncos): Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati

Golday is an athletic linebacker with good instincts who can sneak into the back end of round one. He is the Alex Singleton replacement on the defense.

No. 31 (New England Patriots): Zion Young, DE, Missouri

Young had a great week at the Senior Bowl and at the combine. He has the size to be a three-down player for a New England team that struggled to create pressure from the edge.

No. 32 (Seattle Seahawks): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Cisse is a lot like Nick Emmanwori, a South Carolina defensive back with insane athleticism.The Seahawks are likely moving on from Riq Woolen this offseason, so they need a replacement on the boundary.

Nate Johns is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jzn5275@psu.edu.