What happens when you hand five newsroom minds the keys to an NFL franchise?

You get bold moves. You get trades. And you get a whole lot of conviction.

Our 2026 NFL First Round Mock Draft was built by:

• Zac Hiser, Head of News Product
• Adam “Doc” Fox, Marketing Director
• Hayden Gray, Ashland Source Reporter
• Jack Slemenda, Delaware Source Reporter
• Larry Phillips, Managing Editor

We rotated picks and made our best moves as if we were the team’s General Manager.

The actual 2026 NFL Draft will take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Note: We completed the draft before the Dexter Lawrence trade on Saturday. The New York Giants received the Cincinnati Bengals 10th overall pick in exchange for Lawrence.

Scroll to the bottom for Doc Fox’s “NFL Big Board” where he ranked players based on their performance in big games.

2026 NFL Mock Draft — Round 1

1. Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Mendoza is the consensus #1 pick and I agree. He’s got the size, skills, just came off a national championship run and perhaps most importantly, he’s a football savant who has the mental processing speed that is crucial for the most important position in sports. (Hiser)

2. New York Jets — Arvell Reese, Edge, THE Ohio State University

Jets are a mess and could pretty much take any player and any position to improve their roster. OSU had an elite defense last year, anchored by Reese. This pick checks off one of the four elite positions needed (QB, WR, CB and edge). (Fox)

3. Dallas Cowboys (trade picks with Arizona Cardinals) — Jeremiyah Love, Running Back, Notre Dame

The Cardinals — now moved on from former starting QB Kyler Murray — are set to enter the 2026 season with 33-year-old Jacoby Brissett at the helm of the offense. Gardner Minshew was also signed in the offseason, providing more veteran QB depth. But the Cardinals have been rumored to be interested in Alabama QB Ty Simpson — a projected mid-to-late 1st round pick. With Dallas, who strongly wants to land the draft’s undisputed RB 1 in Jeremiyah Love, not on the board until pick 12, expect Jerry Jones to make an early splash trade with Arizona. (Gray)

4. Tennessee Titans — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

This falls into the best player available category. Styles had an epic combine performance, and he also had a strong season at Ohio State. Playing at an elite level in Matt Patricia’s scheme should give him the background to become an immediate and dependable starter for the Titans, who really need help everywhere. As an added bonus, Styles is just 21 years old, as he left high school early to enter Ohio State. His best football is ahead of him. He could be the best overall talent in the draft. (Phillips)

5. New York Giants — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

This is not a glamorous pick, but a necessary one. Jaxson Dart and his headbutting buddy Cam Skattebo are the future of the Giants. Both are going to need added protection if they want to flourish in the NFL, considering both went down with injury throughout the 2025 season. Mauigoa is the strongest OL in the draft in both run and pass blocking, with the talent to start as a rookie. (Slemenda)

6. Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

With EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. still on the board here, it’s tempting to take him and build a super D-Line for the Browns (or even, gulp, trade Myles Garrett). But, I’m going with the top WR prospect in the draft, the people’s choice, Carnell Tate. The Browns desperately need guys to throw to and GM Andrew Berry has struggled at drafting elite talent at skill positions. This could change that trend for Berry and the Browns. (Hiser)

7. Washington Commanders — Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Commanders get the second best WR in the draft. My sources said they looked really hard at RT Blake Miller, but believe the later rounds have more depth on the o-line than WR. (Fox)

8. New Orleans Saints — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Like most teams, the Saints capitalize on Cleveland’s passing of Bain Jr. and add an elite edge to pair opposite of former Buckeye Chase Young. Thanks, Cleveland. (Gray)

9. Kansas City Chiefs — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

When you already have Patrick Mahomes, 2 first-round picks in this year’s draft, and the NFL ordering its officiating crew to make sure you win every close game to get your team to the Super Bowl, you really don’t have a helluva lot of needs. Still, Bailey’s lone season at Texas Tech, after transferring from Stanford was fruitful, as he led the nation with 14.5 sacks in 2025. He also had 10 forced fumbles in his college career. Everyone can use an Edge, not just the edge the league already gives the Chiefs. (Phillips)

10. Cincinnati Bengals — Caleb Downs, S, OSU

Editor’s Note: (This pick was made before the Bengals traded the selection to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence) Central Ohio, let’s be real. The Bengals need a lot. But their secondary really needs a lot. The shootout games from last season can’t produce forever. How do you stop opposing teams’ shootout, gunslinging ability? A strong secondary. Caleb Downs is that strong secondary, or at least a step towards a strong secondary. Easy hypothetical choice here. (Slemenda)

11. Miami Dolphins — Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Dolphins are rebuilding and should be doing that from the inside out. The 2025 Outland Trophy winner, Spencer Fano, is known for his athleticism, quick feet and competitiveness. He projects to be an impact player right away and could be a staple on the Miami o-line for years to come. (Hiser)

12. Arizona Cardinals (trade with Dallas Cowboys) — Carson Beck, QB, Miami

The second QB comes off the board and due largely to performance in high volume situations. Those that doubt Beck need to watch the Fiesta Bowl again. (Fox)

13. Los Angeles Rams — Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

The Rams, with local favorite Makai Lemon already off the board, take the third receiver of the first round in Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana. With uncertainty surrounding Rams star WR Puka Nacua ahead of the upcoming season, LA needed to give 38-year-old Matthew Stafford a fresh target to get the ball out to, alongside Davante Adams. (Gray)

14. Baltimore Ravens — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

This is a good value pick when we don’t know what the hell we’re talking about — akin to someone pushing the eye test when absolutely no argument supports theirs. Marlon Humphrey’s future is in the past, and the Ravens have to deal with Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins twice every season. Delane will help them defend that. If you can stop the Bengals just once a game, you can beat them, because God knows they’ll never stop you. (Phillips)

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (trade with Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

In truly shocking fashion, the has-been standout SEC quarterback, Carson Beck, is off the board. Because of this truly peculiar play, the Steelers have traded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 15th overall pick. Taking Simpson allows the team hosting the draft (that I’m attending) to get its heir to the Roethlisberger-Rodgers era. The wait for the Steelers’ next future hall of fame QB is over. The Steelers’ little brothers in the AFC North will soon bend the knee. (Slemenda)

16. New York Jets — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets still need their future QB but they aren’t finding it here. So let’s add a playmaker and sure-hands superstar Jordyn Tyson. Younger brother of Cavs forward Jaylon Tyson. If it weren’t for the injury history, Tyson is easily a top 5-10 talent. He will be nice on the other side of Garrett Wilson for the Jets. (Hiser)

17. Detroit Lions — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

He might just be the best tackle in the draft and the Lions get some help in the trenches. The city should also consider throwing a lot of their houses into a trench or into the Detroit river. (Fox)

18. Minnesota Vikings — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Vikings are in need of a shutdown corner. Hood is a do-it-all guy, more than capable of filling that need. A 4.4 40, he recorded 50 tackles in 2025 and only gave up receptions to WRs on about 54% of targets. (Gray)

19. Carolina Panthers — Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

It was hard not to be impressed after watching the Hurricanes’ defensive line destroy Ohio State in the college football playoffs. Bain gets more attention, but Mesidor is a first-round talent, too, and he comes without the baggage. As general manager Dan Morgan has said repeatedly, you can’t have too many pass rushers. (Phillips)

20. Dallas Cowboys — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

When I watched The Gambler and his Cowboys last season, something constantly came to mind. Cheese, and not just because Parsons became a cheesehead. Swiss cheese specifically. The secondary sucked! They let up 251.5 passing yards per game last season and 35 passing touchdowns. Yikes. Jerry gets McCoy here, which is a steal considering McCoy is arguably the best corner in the class next to Delane. (Slemenda)

21. Tampa Bat Buccaneers (trade with Pittsburgh Steelers) — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Tampa needs to invest on the defensive side of the ball and Keldric Faulk is another stud in a strong Edge/DE class. At only 20 years old, Faulk has huge upside. He could stay another year at Auburn and be a top 10 pick in 2027, so there’s value in snagging him now. The dude reportedly [insert link] can bench 415 and squat 700 lbs. (Hiser)

22. LA Chargers — Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

It’s crazy, but the Big Ten is actually the best conference in football. And do you know who led that league in rushing? Chargers going with a one-two punch of Vidal and Johnson and could be the top rushing team next year. (Fox)

23. Philadelphia Eagles — Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The Eagles invest in the future of their O-line in the first round by taking the best tackle available on the board. With the line’s left side veteran combo of Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson on the fringe of retirement, Philadelphia had to begin planning for the future. A pick that should also please arguably the league’s best back in Saquon Barkley. (Gray)

24. Cleveland Browns — Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

With its second pick in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns are trading the pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 7th rounder next year. No, just kidding, not that the Browns wouldn’t do that, but the Bengals would be too stupid to accept that trade. So, the Browns will take Monroe Freeling, an incredibly overrated tackle from Georgia. As a Bengals’ fan, my hope for Freeling is that his career follow the path of Joe Thomas, a Hall of Famer who never won a postseason game. (Phillips)

25. Chicago Bears — Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

Daaaaa beaaaaarssss, had a horrible run defense in 2025. Folks may see a trend here with my picks. I love seeing teams stuff the run game. Nothing beats smash-mouth football. So the Bears take a strong defensive lineman here to maybe not have the seventh worst run defense this season. But like the Browns, this is the Bears…misery is always around the corner. (Slemenda)

26. Buffalo Bills — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

While the Bills have Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox already thriving in their heavy-tight end strategy, they can’t pass Kenyon Sadiq here. Projected to be a top 15-20 pick, Sadiq is an athletic freak and the best TE in this draft. Runs a 4.39 40 yard dash and is 99th percentile in vertical jump. The Bills and Josh Allen will find ways to utilize him all over the offense and he’ll be an additional elite vertical threat for Allen. (Hiser)

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27. 49ers — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Texas A&M was undefeated for most of the year from massive plays from Concepcion. Save this post— he will be rookie of the year. (Fox)

28. Houston Texans — Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

After making Will Anderson Jr. the highest paid non-QB in the NFL last week, Houston opts to add more defensive talent through the draft, at a much lower cost. Clemson’s Peter Woods started 12 games in 2025, with 30 tackles and two sacks. At the 2026 NFL combine, Woods described himself as a “game disruptor,” a welcome analysis for any NFL team looking to make noise on defense. (Gray)

29. Kansas City Chiefs — Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Kansas City got its pass rusher with its first pick. Here the Chiefs address their secondary. The offense should get them back to the postseason. An upgrade defensively could get them back to the Super Bowl. (Phillips)

30. Miami Dolphins — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Jayden Waddle is gone. Tyreek Hill is gone. The Fins don’t have any notable receivers other than maybe Malik Washington. Malik Willis will need a go-to guy in his first season in Miami if he wants to shine. Willis, you’re welcome. Maybe this Miami experiment won’t fail thanks to this pick. (Slemenda)

31. New England Patriots — Vega Ioane, G, Penn State

Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane falling to the Patriots at 31 is a major best player available opportunity. Ioane is a projected top 15-20 talent and one of the best o-linemen in this draft class. Pats take him here to provide long-term protection for Drake Maye. (Hiser)

32. Seattle Seahawks — Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Not sure how this team even has fans with the volcanoes, mountains and national parks just outside the city — who cares about sports? Oh and the ocean.
Either way they get the best TE in the draft at 32. Seahawks were looking at RB Krytron Allen (Penn St), edge Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) and Avieon Terrell (Clemson), but they simply could not pass up this elite player. (Fox)

Not selecting – Green Bay Packers (via Carl Hunnell)

Green Bay will NOT be on the clock in the first-round for the first time since 2017. But Packer fans are OK with that. Green Bay traded its first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to acquire All-World edge rusher Micah Parsons from the Cowboys. He was having another All-Pro season (12.5 sacks in 14 games) for the Packers until he tore his ACL in Week 15. He is expected back early in the 2026 season.

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