The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is complete, and the NFL Draft is less than two months away. With the first round beginning to take shape, it’s the perfect time to fire up mock draft simulators.
It’s time to throw positional value out the window. Off-ball linebacker, safeties and running backs will be the positions talked about most in the first round, led by Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese – with all three potentially going in the top-5. Oregon safety Dillon Theienemen put himself in top-15 consideration with his smooth workout. Oh, and ya, the best offensive lineman this year is an offensive guard: Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane.
With a unique draft year and tougher decisions for NFL front offices, here’s my post-combine mock draft for April 23rd.
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders take a shot at finding their next franchise quarterback with Mendoza. He has a sturdy NFL frame at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, and with it, he showcased a strong arm and elite toughness at Indiana this past season. He’ll fit right into new head coach Klint Kubiak’s scheme.
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The draft starts at No. 2 overall with the Jets, and there is a legitimate conversation about whether this pick should be Bailey, Reese or Styles. Head coach Aaron Glenn leans in on the more productive prospect in Bailey, who had 14.5 sacks and a pass rush win rate of 21.6 percent this season.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love remains an intriguing option, yet the Cardinals prioritize the offensive line by selecting Mauigoa to protect their quarterback. Improving protection is the Cardinals’ principal need, and Mauigoa provides a crucial first step.
4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Head coach Robert Saleh knows what a good linebacker looks like. He’s had the privilege of coaching 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, and with No. 4 overall, he takes a stab at finding the next Warner in Styles. Styles lit up the combine on its first night, showcasing the type of athletic freak he is. He’s not going early in this draft solely off athletic traits. Styles has a real feel for the game and plays with elite instincts and power.
5. New York Giants – Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Positional value doesn’t seem to matter with head coach John Harbaugh, and it shouldn’t with a prospect like Downs. New York gets some major help in the secondary with a versatile and reliable safety in Downs, who’s been showcasing his talents since he was a freshman.
6. Cleveland Browns – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
With right tackle Jack Conklin heading to free agency, the Browns need to find a replacement and fast. Fano started the past two seasons at right tackle for Utah and flashes smooth footwork and athleticism on his tape.
7. Miami Dolphins (via trade from Washington Commanders) – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
With limited picks in this draft, the Dolphins’ roster is in need of talent. While it would be hard for Washington to pass on Reese if he falls to seven, they do so here. Reese offers the ability to rush the passer or play off-ball linebacker, with heavy hands that translate speed into power and the ability to set the edge in run defense.
8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiah Love, RB,
Quarterback Tyler Shough looked the part last season, and the first priority should be bolstering the offense around him. The offensive line is in good shape, and while wide receiver is tempting here, the Saints opt for a top-three player in this class with Love.
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
While Bain’s arm length will be a topic of discussion, his ability to get results is clear. Kansas City’s defense underperformed last season, and Bain will address that need. As a powerful edge rusher, he sets the edge well and offers inside flexibility if required by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
10. Cincinnati Bengals – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Delane is my ninth-rated prospect in this class and the No. 1 cornerback. He’s fluid, smart and can make an immediate impact for any defense. It’s no surprise the Bengals need help on the defensive end, and Delane will deliver on that mark.
11. Washington Commanders (via trade from Miami Dolphins) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Commanders lose out on some top talent in this draft by trading down, but secure a No. 1 cornerback in McCoy. He tore his ACL before the 2025 season, but his 2024 season showcased his ability to play man coverage and read a quarterback’s eyes efficiently in zone coverage.
He didn’t test at the combine due to the ACL injury, but all indications point to him being healthy and ready to showcase what he’s capable of at his pro day.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (via trade from Dallas Cowboys) – Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Cowboys don’t have a pick until 112th overall after pick 20. Here, they gain some capital to move back some spots in this draft. Los Angeles has a need in the interior of its offensive line. With new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel at the helm, the Chargers will likely lean on the run more than they did in 2025. Ioane can help with that.
At 6-foot-4, 320 pounds, Ioane is a mauler on the inside. Very strong pass set mixed with good athleticism to run the zone scheme, McDaniel will likely run.
13. Los Angeles Rams – Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon (via Atlanta Falcons)
Sean McVay and co. just watched a division rival in Seattle win the Super Bowl, being led by an elite defense. One of those players making that possible was Nick Emmanwori, and with that in mind, the Rams take a stab at drafting a versatile safety of their own.
Thieneman showed off at the combine, showcasing his athleticism by running a 4.35 40-yard dash and posting a 41-inch vertical. He can play as a single-high safety in cover 1 or drop down into the box and cover the slot.
14. Baltimore Ravens – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Every draft, one talented prospect seems to fall, and here it’s Tate. Came in at 6-foot-2 with over 10-inch hands at the combine, and you can feel that hand size on his tape. Tate doesn’t drop anything and can push the field vertically well. Quarterback Lamar Jackson gets a serious intermediate-to-deep target for 2026.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Howell can win with speed and finesse around the edge, which led him to getting 12 sacks last season as an Aggie. His 30-inch arms can be alarming, but in Tampa Bay, he’d likely play that outside linebacker role in a 3-4 defense. A perfect fit for a team desperately needing pass rush juice.
16. New York Jets – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Lemon is one of the more electrifying players in this draft. While he has a slot receiver type build, he can play anywhere on the field. Has elite hands and the ability to attack a defense over the middle of the field. Gives a ton of effort in pass blocking as well. He and Garrett Wilson will make the life of whoever is playing quarterback for the Jets next season significantly easier.
17. Detroit Lions – Akeem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Anyone watching the college football playoffs knows who Mesidor is. An elite pass rusher who can give Detroit another guy opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. He is 25, but the Lions are trying to win now, looking for immediate impact. This is one of those situations in the NFL where the older player will help the Lions rather than take a younger, more raw prospect.
18. Minnesota Vikings – Emanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
Three safeties in the first round sounds crazy, but when you turn on the tape for all of them, you’ll understand. Warren is a rangy 6-foot-3 safety who can do it all, from covering in the backend and filling the run. With longtime safety Harrison Smith likely retiring, Warren is the perfect replacement to run the versatile and confusing Brian Flores defense.
19. Carolina Panthers – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
I just keep thinking back to the Panthers’ playoff game against the Rams, and it was clear they needed help at linebacker. Allen fills that need by being a smart and calculated leader in the middle. He ran the Georgia defense last season, showcasing his leadership at just 21.
20. Dallas Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (via Packers)
In their first pick since the Micah Parsons trade, the Cowboys try to fill the void he left. Faulk is a young, raw prospect, but he showcases strong hands on tape. Didn’t have much pass rush success in his final season at Auburn, but the upside is there at just 20 years old.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
The Steelers need a succession plan for Aaron Rodgers, but one isn’t worth taking here at pick 21. Tyson is a vertical receiver who can play inside-out and has a certain juice when you watch him run routes. His balance is incredible, and every game you watch, he’s making a highlight play. The Steelers get some much-needed help on the outside with this selection.
22. Dallas Cowboys (via trade from Los Angeles Chargers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Cowboys slide back in the draft after missing out on some of the top corner prospects in McCoy and Delane. They still grab a more than capable corner in Terrell, who had a down year in 2025, but still flashed his fluid movement on tape. A little bit shorter, being 5-foot-10, 186, but has some good arm length with 31-inch arms.
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
With Dallas Goedert seemingly on the way out, Philadelphia needs some help at the tight end position. Why not a tight end who is 6-foot-3, 241 pounds and runs a 4.39 40? Sadiq doesn’t have much production in 2025 as you’d hope, but he flashes when he gets the ball. A true redzone weapon who can also get dirty in the run game.
24. Cleveland Browns – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (via Jaguars)
Originally thought the Browns could double up at offensive tackle here, and very well could. But with having such a glaring need at receiver, Cleveland opted to take Concepcion, who showed out at the combine. Such a fluid route runner, he showed off his strong hands in the gauntlet drill. Concepcion can play on the inside or outside with his elite speed as well.
25. Chicago Bears – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Bears need pass-rushing juice, so they decide to get some from the interior with Woods. He didn’t have the 2025 many were expecting, which is why he’s being taken at 25 overall, but he still flashed those lightning-fast hands in his tape. Needs to work on adding more to his pass rush game to be a dominant presence in the NFL, but Woods has the upside to be a game wrecker in a couple of years.
26. Buffalo Bills – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Josh Allen needs some help. The Bills can’t go into 2026 without a new receiver on the outside for Allen. Cooper gives them that with his 6-foot frame and 4.42 speed. Can win on the outside in a plethora of ways and has the speed mixed with contact balance to make guys miss out in space. Head coach Joe Brady can use him however he wants; that’s how versatile Cooper is.
27. San Francisco 49ers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Would imagine Proctor would move inside to guard here for the 49ers, but regardless, he gives the 49ers the offensive line help they need. Came in at a great weight of 352 pounds at the combine, and he’d be a bigger guard being 6-foot-6, but man, does he move well for his size. Has quick feet and can mesh well into the zone scheme the 49ers run if he were to move inside.
28. Houston Texans – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
Houston taking a defensive player won’t be on many people’s bingo cards heading into the draft. Tackle is a likely option here, but if Banks is on the board, it’s hard to imagine them passing on him. Missed a majority of the 2025 season due to injury, but showed out at the Senior Bowl and combine. Massive human at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds and 35-inch arms – can move people at the line of scrimmage. Just needs to work on a more consistent pad level.
29. Los Angeles Rams – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling is one of the biggest risers coming out of the combine. While getting some serious top-10 talk, he slides here, and the Rams get an athletic tackle to fill a need. He definitely has some bad tape in 2025, but when you look at the positives like working to the second level and the ability to mirror defenders well in his pass set, Freeling becomes an intriguing prospect. With proper development and training, he could be the steal of the draft.
30. Denver Broncos – Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
One of the best defensive lines in the NFL gets even better. You can never have enough bodies along the defensive line. With the potential of losing John Franklin-Myers in free agency, adding Hunter will give them a run-stuffing defensive tackle with lightning-fast hands, giving him upside as a pass rusher.
31. New England Patriots – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
Parker, like everyone at Clemson, didn’t have a good 2025. He still has long arms that can jam into tackles, chest, and collapse the pocket. He did exactly that, driving Maryland offensive tackle Alan Herron into the ground at the Senior Bowl. New England needs some pass rush juice even if they’re able to retain K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
With corners Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen hitting free agency, Seattle has a potential need on their hands. Cisse has upside with his athletic traits and isn’t scared to come in to make tackles, something head coach Mike Macdonald will love. Needs some work technically, but the Seahawks can easily help with that.