Welcome to Matty Kiwoom’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft 3.0, a fresh spin on how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could shake out based on the current NFL standings. There are going to be zero trades in this article, just the order as it sits today.
Also, Dante Moore is in this draft class … for now. I did include the signal caller even though it feels like he might stick around college another year. The season will play out, and inevitably, everything here will be thrown in the trash, but it’s never too early to start trying to predict the future and what players hear their name called on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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2026 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
1. Tennessee Titans — Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State
Grabbing Arvell Reese at No. 1 gives the Titans a tone-setting defensive anchor with all the traits that the NFL looks for in a first overall selection. His range and versatility fit perfectly in a defense looking for a true centerpiece to build around.
2. New York Giants — Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
New York could look wideout here, but they decide to follow the Patriots blueprint: O-line no matter what. Even though I see a world where Kadyn Proctor gets enough helium to be the first linemen off the board, Spencer Fano is currently a better prospect and the pick for the Giants.
3. Cleveland Browns — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
To make this pick, you have to answer one question. “Is Kevin Stefanski the Browns’ head coach in 2026?” My answer is yes, and he isn’t taking a QB in the top three; the Browns go BPA and make Caleb Downs the highest-drafted safety of all time. It’s well deserved, as he’s probably the best football player in college.
4. New Orleans Saints — Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
Tyler Shough has a few more weeks to prove that he’s the Saints’ QB1 heading into next year. If he does, then the Saints are sprinting to the board to pick Rueben Bain Jr. — aka a younger Cameron Jordan — to replace Cameron Jordan when he walks away from football.
5. New York Jets — Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
If I were the Jets’ team builder, I wouldn’t take a QB with a roster this bad. But I am not their team builder, and with two first-round picks, it will be tough for New York to pass on Fernando Mendoza, who is having a fantastic year at Indiana.
6. Las Vegas Raiders — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Geno Smith is not the answer, and it’s time for the Raiders to take their next quarterback. Ty Simpson is not a complete prospect, but he’s worth a first-round pick and a really strong fit in Vegas alongside Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
7. Washington Commanders — Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Washington isn’t rebuilding, so a top ten pick is a bit of a luxury for a team looking to bounce back right away. Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel aren’t getting younger, and Jordyn Tyson would be a great player to link to Jayden Daniels for the foreseeable future.
8. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL) — David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
David Bailey isn’t built like the typical edge rushers that go in the top ten, but he is a menace. The Rams adding him to their already dangerous defense is a match made in heaven … or a nightmare, if you’re an opposing quarterback.
9. Cincinnati Bengals — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Obviously, the offensive line is on the table here, but Cincy’s defense is terrible and is going to lose Trey Hendrickson. Keldric Faulk is a big-bodied edge attacker who will start to right the ship for the Bengals’ defensive unit.
10. Arizona Cardinals — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
Kadyn Proctor is a massive, athletic offensive lineman who has top ten written all over his profile. Whether it’s Kyler Murray or someone else under center for the Cardinals, Proctor is brought in to help keep them upright.
11. Miami Dolphins — Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Tyreek Hill out, Makai Lemon in. The tea leaves are reading that the Dolphins won’t move on from Tua Tagovailoa due to money and Mike McDaniel due to some potential late-season wins. Sometimes a fit between a player and team makes so much sense.
12. Dallas Cowboys — Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
NO, I am not doing the running back to the Cowboys thing again. Building a defense that attacks up front and stops run is priority number one for Dallas, and Peter Woods would be a value at 12.
13. Minnesota Vikings — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Mansoor Delane has been one of the biggest risers this season and could end up CB1 if we don’t get to see much of Jermod McCoy. The Vikes need more playmakers in the secondary, and Delane is a great find in the middle of Round 1.
14. Baltimore Ravens — Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami
Man, this is such a Ravens pick. You’re getting a massive, nasty, tone-setting lineman who just wants to move dudes off the line of scrimmage. He fits their identity perfectly and could be their blindside protector for the next decade.
15. Kansas City Chiefs — Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
After pick 10 or so, Love will be the BPA on every team’s board. This one is scary for the rest of the league. A back with legit juice, great hands, and real three-down ability in Andy Reid’s offense … yeah, that’s a problem. He just adds another wrinkle defenses have to worry about.
16. Houston Texans — Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa
If you’re C.J. Stroud, you’re smiling at this pick. Dunker is big, powerful, mean in the run game, and built to anchor in pass pro. Houston just keeps stacking protection around their franchise guy.
17. Carolina Panthers — T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson
This is exactly what the Panthers have been missing. Parker is explosive off the edge, plays angry, and gets after the quarterback in a hurry. He feels like a guy who immediately becomes the heart of that defense.
18. Detroit Lions — Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
I love this fit. Tate is smooth and reliable, has great body control, and is just a perfect complement to what they already have. He feels like a guy Jared Goff is going to trust right away. Carnell Tate is a Dan Campbell guy for sure.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
This is a Todd Bowles kind of defender all the way. Physical, confident, loves to press and compete at the line. It is easy to picture the Bucs’ brass sprinting to the podium to get a D-back with McCoy’s upside.
20. Cleveland Browns (via JAX) — Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Terrell is super sticky in coverage and doesn’t back down from anyone. Cleveland gets even tougher on the outside, and that secondary is starting to look real scary, especially after they selected Caleb Downs earlier in this draft.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Honestly, this just feels right for Pittsburgh. Hill is fast, violent, and instinctive, basically everything you expect from a Steelers linebacker. Plug him in and let him hunt.
22. Los Angeles Chargers — Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon
Matayo Uiagalelei looks like he was built in a lab: long, powerful, and still athletic enough to bend the edge. The Chargers finally get that presence up front they’ve been missing.
23. San Francisco 49ers — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
The Niners need some beef, they get some beef up front. The perfect Niners pick, Caleb Banks is another problem in the trenches. Strong, quick off the snap, and hard to move. Add him to that rotation, and it just gets unfair.
24. Dallas Cowboys (via GB) — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
Dallas will continue to find players to replace Micah Parsons‘ production, and Howell is pure chaos off the edge. He has an explosive first step, plays with bad intentions, and just feels like a Dallas pass rusher. The crowd at AT&T is going to love this guy.
25. Chicago Bears — Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
Joshua Josephs is super high-energy, physical, and relentless. He’s the kind of defender who changes the attitude of a front seven. Chicago needed that identity, and this helps big time.
26. Buffalo Bills — Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
You can see it already: Josh Allen just chucking it up and letting Denzel Boston go and get it. He has a big frame and strong hands, wins in traffic, and makes their red-zone offense way scarier.
27. Seattle Seahawks — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Very few players have had the rise that Brandon Cisse has. He is long, smooth, and exactly what you think of when you picture a Seahawks corner. He just fits that defensive vibe they’ve always had on the outside.
28. New York Jets (via IND) — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A & M
The Jets grabbed Ty Simpson at the top of the draft, and here they grab another weapon. KC Concepcion is straight-up electric with the ball. Get it in his hands and let him go to work. He gives the Jets another playmaker who can flip a game in one touch.
29. Los Angeles Rams — Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
This one is just a fun situation to see playing out. Moore is super talented, with a big arm and tons of upside, and he gets to sit and learn in a great system if needed. This feels like a classic Rams move for the future. But for the record, I do NOT see Moore declaring after this college season
30. New England Patriots — Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Mike Vrabel has set a tone and a culture in New England, and Elijah Sarratt is the kind of dawg that fits the new Patriots locker room. He is a gamer, dependable, and the kind of prospect who helps out wherever he is asked to.
31. Philadelphia Eagles — Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Dallas Goedert may end up leaving in free agency, and Kenyon Sadiq is a prospect with the skills that can provide mismatches. He’s too big for DBs, too fast for linebackers. Philly adding another weapon like this just isn’t fair.
32. Denver Broncos — Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The linebacking core is getting a bit older for the Broncos, and Sonny Styles being available is exactly what Denver wants to see late in Round 1. His athleticism and versatility make him a chess piece for that defense.
Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft Thoughts
My NFL Mock Draft 3.0 offers a glimpse into the potential future of the league. The Jets, Raiders, and Rams find their signal-callers of the future, and good offenses like the Chiefs, Eagles, and Patriots add weapons to their arsenals.
The 2026 class might not end up having the same kind of hype that some recent drafts have had, but there will be difference makers, playmakers, and game changers picked on both sides of the ball. Draft season will be here before we know it, and you can find some of the best NFL Draft coverage here at PlayerProfiler.
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