The 2025 season has come to an end with the conclusion of Super Bowl LX, and the offseason officially begins with a look ahead to how teams can begin on their new path. With eight new head coaches taking over in the 2026 season, there will certainly be new faces on those teams as franchises look to the 2026 NFL Draft to build their new journey.
The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock and it is widely believed that they will select Heisman trophy winner and national champion quarterback Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, signaling a new start at the most important position. But how will the rest of the field shake out?
Here’s our latest mock draft — the first of the 2026 offseason — with all of the teams now set in the draft order.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Las Vegas begins their new era with a player that doesn’t have a fitting Vegas personality, but Fernando Mendoza has what they need to get them new life at the quarterback position. The Geno Smith experiment did not work out one bit and the relationship with Smith and head coach Pete Carroll lasted just one season in Las Vegas. The Raiders get a guy who has known all about winning in the last two seasons and can help change the culture.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
Head coach Aaron Glenn has an opportunity to put his fingerprints all over the organization with the No. 2 overall selection and if the quarterback class better, it’d be a no-brainer selection. The good news for Glenn is that Arvell Reese, standout pass rusher from Ohio State, is also a no-brainer pick at this spot and very well could be the next superstar pass rusher to enter the league.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Arizona Cardinals are similar to the Jets in a sense that they should be looking at quarterback here, but there are much better options elsewhere. Arizona has to improve their offensive line after allowing 59 sacks this past season, no matter who the quarterback is.
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Tennessee’s top priority has to be surrounding quarterback Cam Ward with weapons and overall talent around him, but with Robert Saleh coming in as head coach, they shouldn’t pass up on the chance to add Bailey. David Bailey was tied for the nation’s lead in sacks this past season, picking up 14.5 for the Red Raiders defense that he put on his back throughout the season.
5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The Giants have several areas they can address with this pick, including offensive line and cornerback, but why not add the best pure wide receiver in the draft? Ohio State wide receivers have had quite the track record in the league recently and pairing Carnell Tate with Malik Nabers in the wide receiver room would give Jaxson Dart very elite pass catching threats.
6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
No matter who the Browns start at quarterback next year, their biggest need has to be in pass protection and keeping said quarterback upright. Francis Mauigoa was an anchor for the Hurricanes in their run to the National Championship and should hear his name called very early on draft night.
7. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami (FL)
One pick after his teammate, Rueben Bain falls to the Commanders and what a selection it would be for head coach Dan Quinn. Washington’s defense needs some youth on their defense, a unit that finished middle of the pack for sacks this past year. Bain has a knack for pressuring the quarterback and would be a perfect fit in Quinn’s defense.
8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
New Orleans needs help everywhere, but they may have their quarterback of the future in last year’s second-round pick Tyler Shough. They won’t have to go far to look to upgrade their secondary with one of the best cornerbacks in this year’s class in Mansoor Delane.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The rich would get considerably richer if the Chiefs end up shooting high on an offensive playmaker. Eric Bieniemy is back in Kansas City and the new offensive coordinator, and he’s highly respected for what he can do in the running game. The return of Patrick Mahomes is unknown as he recovers from a torn ACL, as well as Travis Kelce who is considering retirement, so the Chiefs should bring in a bell cow at running back with Jeremiyah Love.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
As long as Joe Burrow is the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, the offense will be just fine, and the defense has to get upgraded at every level. The Bengals should not waste any time in bringing in one of the most talented players in this year’s draft as Caleb Downs would be a huge addition to a very weak defense.
11. Miami Dolphins: Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
This may be a reach, but Miami needs help all over the field, and if the earlier picks in this mock prove anything, it’s that if there’s no quarterback to take, address the offensive line. Kadyn Proctor could be the left tackle of the future in Miami and is quite the massive specimen, his play got significantly better in the back half of this past season.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
After trading away Micah Parsons before the 2025 season, the Dallas Cowboys have to rebuild their defense with more playmakers, insert Styles. One of the pure best linebackers in this class, Sonny Styles can make plays all over the field and will be a great fit with his size and speed on the Dallas defense.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Rams have several veterans up for free agency this offseason and their secondary needs the most attention. Avieon Terrell is the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, and could be an impactful starter on Day 1. He’s got great athleticism which will be needed in the NFC West division where the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will look to repeat in 2026.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona St.
This may finally be the year in which Lamar Jackson gets the big threat playmaking wide receiver that many have called for in Baltimore. The 6-foot-3 Jordyn Tyson is an absolute playmaker on the outside and is the big body that Jackson has been missing at the wide receiver position for several seasons. Zay Flowers is a very good option at the top of the depth chart, but Baltimore lacks offensive playmakers around him, Tyson would fix that.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need help all over their defense and would not shock anyone if they went with defensive picks early and often in the draft. Keldric Faulk may not have the sack accolades to justify his high selection but he has been praised for his versatility as a defensive lineman, and Todd Bowles could do wonders with him, finding the best way to maximize his potential.
16. New York Jets (via IND): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson ended the 2025 season as the team’s leading receiver, he also suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10 of the season. That all adds up to very bad play at the quarterback position, and no form of production at wide receiver or tight end. Makai Lemon has great hands and would serve as a very nice compliment behind Wilson, helping whoever the Jets bring in at quarterback to improve the offense.
17. Detroit Lions: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Detroit needs to bring in more pass rushing bodies to take pressure off of Aidan Hutchinson, and Cashius Howell can get after the quarterback.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
If it wasn’t for a torn ACL that kept him out all of the 2025 season, Jermod McCoy could’ve seen himself as the top corner taken off the board and possibly a Top 10 pick. Minnesota needs to improve their secondary and McCoy is a ball-hawking playmaker.
19. Carolina Panthers: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
Carolina’s found their weapons on offense, they have their quarterback in Bryce Young, and now they must do better in protecting him. Olaivavega Ioane is the best interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft and also excels in run blocking.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
If the Cowboys do indeed shop veteran wide receiver George Pickens, they should waste no time in drafting his replacement in Denzel Boston. A big-body at 6-foot-4, Boston has the “go up and get it” pass-catching style that would serve well for quarterback Dak Prescott.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The quarterback class is very thin, the Steelers could very well go in many other directions with this selection, but there will be a team that takes a chance at a quarterback, Pittsburgh is that team. Ty Simpson seems like the ideal pick and fit for new head coach Mike McCarthy, even if Aaron Rodgers does return for one final season in 2026.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
This pick could focus on the offensive line, but the Chargers need to address the trenches on both sides of the ball. Peter Woods is a very good defensive tackle who can play multiple techniques, and create openings for his teammates on the outside.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
There’s no telling what the Eagles will do with superstar wide receiver AJ Brown, but Dallas Goedert is getting older and Kenyon Sadiq is one fun playmaking tight end. He would create quite the mismatch in the red zone for a team that does plenty of dominant work in goal-to-go situations, and he brings youth and skill to the tight end room.
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Cleveland can bring an identity to their defense behind Myles Garrett with the selection of Colton Hood, a strong, physical, and aggressive player at the cornerback position. Putting Hood on the opposite side of Denzel Ward would create a fun 1-2 combo in the secondary for the Browns defense.
25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
A player who could continue to see his draft stock rise once the NFL Combine comes around, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren would be a gift to Chicago at this spot. They’ll likely have a need at safety depending on what they decide to do with Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, but if either of them go, McNeil-Warren is immediately a starter. He’s a big-time playmaker at the safety position, something that worked well for Chicago’s defense this past year.
26. Buffalo Bills: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
New head coach Joe Brady said he was standing on the table for wide receiver Keon Coleman, who was unjustly dragged into Buffalo’s offseason drama. Even if Brady believes in Coleman, they have to bring in more weapons for Josh Allen behind Coleman and Khalil Shakir at the wide receiver position. KC Concepcion is very crafty and runs great routes, all that is really needed when you have the former MVP throwing you the football.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
The 49ers ranked last in sacks on defense this past season, Zion Young should be an immediate help in that department. He plays with an angry and aggressive style, but will have to take some time to develop as a pure pass rushing threat immediately off the ball.
28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. would love the arrival of Kayden McDonald on Houston’s defensive line, as the big defensive tackle would certainly create even more opportunities for one of the NFL’s best pass rushing duos. McDonald would take up plenty of rushing lanes for Houston’s run defense as well.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
It’d be interesting to see where Lomu played on the Rams offensive line, having played the last two seasons at left tackle at Utah. Caleb Lomu has not given up a sack since the 2024 season, and if he were to be brought in, it could mean some shuffling on the line for the 2025 MVP, Matthew Stafford.
30. Denver Broncos: CJ Allen, LB, Texas
One of the NFL’s fiercest defenses gets even more talented with the arrival of CJ Allen with this pick. A linebacker who could certainly bring some pass rushing skill to the table, Allen’s a bonafide playmaker and good tackler at his position, something the Broncos definitely need going into next year.
31. New England Patriots, Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
It’s easy to have recency bias and say that the Patriots need to upgrade their offensive line after the miserable performance in Super Bowl LX, but the defensive line needs help as well. Caleb Banks’ bull-rushing play style would definitely help stuff up run lanes that were also a major problem in their loss to the Seattle Seahawks and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
Cooper Kupp played well in his first season with the Seahawks, but he’s not getting any younger. Adding the 6-foot-4 Fields to Seattle’s offense could open it up even more for quarterback Sam Darnold and Offensive Player of the Year, Jaxson Smith-Njigba. The selection of Malachi Fields here comes more as a luxury pick here for Seattle, who can take their passing offense to another level with his presence.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: First-round projections after Super Bowl
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
