2026 NFL Draft: ESPN, Field Yates unveil new mock draft with blockbuster trade for No. 1 pick

With college football’s 2025 regular season firmly in the rearview mirror, NFL fans are already turning their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft in April. That includes ESPN draft analyst Field Yates, who unveiled his latest first-round mock draft featuring major changes from his first mock released in August.

Of course, with four more weeks remaining in the current NFL season — as well as the upcoming postseason and free agency after that — there will be plenty of changes before the 2026 NFL Draft. But in the meantime, Yates took a stab at how all 32 first-round picks could play out April 23rd.

Yates included a massive blockbuster trade between MetLife Stadium partners with the New York Jets trading both first-round picks at No. 7 and 18 and a Day 2 selection to the New York Giants for the No. 1 overall to land their preferred franchise quarterback. Check out Yates’ updated mock draft below:

1. New York Jets (via proj. trade with NYG): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

After trading up to the No. 1 overall pick, Yates has the Jets targeting Heisman Trophy finalist and betting favorite Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana. Mendoza has been electric in his first season in Bloomington, guiding his undefeated Hoosiers to a 13-0 regular season and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff after securing Indiana’s first Big Ten title since 1967.

Yates: “Mendoza has had a remarkable season at Indiana, showing off excellent accuracy and a powerful right arm to pair with much-improved pocket awareness and sack avoidance after two seasons at Cal. He leads the FBS with 33 passing touchdowns this season and just handled an extremely tough test against Ohio State.”

2. Las Vegas Raiders: Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

Rather than trading up a spot to land Mendoza, Yates has the Raiders standing pat at No. 2 and taking the second-best option in Moore, who shined in his first year as the Ducks’ starting quarterback after redshirting last year. The dynamic Moore would pair with 2025 top-pick Ashton Jeanty to give Las Vegas one of the NFL’s most talented backfields.

Yates: “While he has a slender build at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, he has shown strong functional mobility and high-level downfield accuracy (third-best completion percentage in the FBS). He has a unique ability to change his arm angles when navigating pressure, too, making him a very creative quarterback overall.”

3. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, EDGE/LB, Ohio State

After landing franchise QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick last year, the Titans nab arguably the best all-around player in this year’s draft class at No. 3 overall after the early run on QBs. Reese is rising up NFL draft boards everywhere after a breakout junior season with the Buckeyes, where he’s posted 62 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Yates: “Reese has a case to be the best overall prospect in this entire draft class. After just 0.5 sacks as mostly a linebacker last season, he posted 6.5 sacks as a primary edge rusher this year. Reese has exceptional burst and power, plus the frame to be a standout NFL edge rusher.”

4. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

While quarterback will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion in Round 1, with Mendoza and Moore already off the board, Yates projects the Browns land the next great Buckeyes wideout at No. 4. Tate is a big-play threat averaging 17.46 yards per catch this season to ranks third in the Big Ten to go along with nine touchdowns as Ohio State’s No. 2 option behind Jeremiah Smith.

Yates: “Tate is the next first-round lock from the Ohio State receiver room, and he would be awesome in the Cleveland pass game. He has very good size, runs terrific routes and can make contested catches. He would bring a vertical ability, as he averaged 17.5 yards per catch this season.”

5. New Orleans Saints: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

The Saints have plenty of holes to fill, but after dedicating a second-round pick last year on Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Yates expects New Orleans to target offensive line help. And there’s no one bigger in this year’s draft class than Mauigoa, the 6-foot-6 and 315-pound mauler from Miami. Mauigoa has allowed a pressure on just 0.5% of pressures this season, the top mark in the FBS.

Yates: “Mauigoa has been a three-year starter for Miami, playing all but 13 of his snaps at right tackle over the past three seasons. He has excellent mauling power and size at 6-6, 315 pounds, and he holds up extremely well in pass protection.”

6. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Given the elevated age of Washington’s veteran defensive front, including 36-year-old Von Miller, Yates expects the Commanders to target Bailey with their Top 5 pick. The former Cal transfer has blossumed in the Red Raiders’ defense with a Big 12-leading 13.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in his first season in Lubbock.

Yates: “There’s no better pure rusher in this class than Bailey, who had the second-most sacks (13.5) and pressures (62) in the FBS in his only season at Texas Tech. That makes for a good fit. Bailey’s first step puts offensive tackles on their heels in a hurry, and he has eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons.”

7. New York Giants (via proj. trade with NYJ): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Yates projected the Giants will trade back from the No. 1 overall pick to load up on playmakers, and that begins with Tyson, who will challenge Ohio State’s Tate to be the first WR off the board. Despite dealing with a nagging hamstring injury this season, Tyson remains a natural playmaker and still ranks second in the Big 12 averaging 79 receiving yards per game with eight touchdowns.

Yates: “After trading down from No. 1 in this mock draft, the Giants can hammer away at their needs. … Tyson brings a package of size, versatility and explosiveness that would pair great next to Malik Nabers. When the ball is in Tyson’s hands, he is tenacious and flexes excellent acceleration.”

8. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

While the Cardinals quarterback situation remains a mess, especially with 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray‘s future in doubt after going on season-ending IR with a foot injury. But while a new QB will be considered, Yates expects Arizona to first build up protection around whoever is the Cardinals QB1 next season, and that starts with the 6-foot-6, 302-pound Fano out of Utah.

Yates: “Fano has surrendered just one sack in two years at Utah. His lighter frame has made some scouts think he could thrive at guard, but Arizona could start him out at right tackle and move him inside if needed.”

9. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Super Bowl-contending Rams luck into a Top 10 pick after trading last year’s first-round pick to the Falcons and could use it to land arguably college football’s top defensive player in Downs. The Buckeyes junior is a former five-star recruit who led Alabama with 107 tackles as a true freshman in 2023 before transferring following Nick Saban‘s retirement to lead Ohio State’s top-ranked defense the past two years.

Yates: “Downs is a versatile, tone-setting defender who has the chance to be the first safety picked in the Top 10 since Jamal Adams in 2017. Downs has played in an NFL scheme … for much of his college career; he can handle coverage deep in the middle of the field and be a menacing force in the box.”

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami

The Bengals defense has been abysmal this season, allowing a NFL-worst 6.3 yards per play this season, due in large part to an inability to affect opposing QBs. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bain could be the answer to that after earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this season despite accumulating just 4.5 sacks and 37 total tackles on the year.

Yates: “While some scouts think Bain’s lack of length could make him a late first-round pick, all of them agree he’s one of the best prospects at his position. I like him in Cincinnati. His relentless, powerful and explosive traits helped him to ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this season.”

Field Yates’ updated mock of 2026 NFL Draft, pick Nos. 11-32:

11. Minnesota Vikings: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
12. Miami Dolphins: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
13. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
14. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
15. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
16. Carolina Panthers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
17. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
18. New York Giants (via proj. trade with NYJ): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
22. Houston Texans: A’Mauri Washington, DT, Oregon
23. Chicago Bears: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
24. Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
25. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
26. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
27. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
28. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Missouri
29. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
30. New England Patriots: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
31. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
32. Denver Broncos: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville