2026 NFL Draft: PFF shakes up first round in latest mock draft

The 2025-26 NFL and college football seasons are nearing their ends. Only next Monday’s national championship game between Indiana and Miami remains for college football, while the NFL postseason moves on to the Divisional Round.

With more than half of the first round draft order set for April’s 2026 NFL Draft, Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus took the opportunity to update his projection for how Round 1 could play out. He’s released his latest mock draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders are making the first selection. Chadwick is making his picks without any projected trades beyond what’s already been finalized. Check out his full mock draft here.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Mendoza is the reigning 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, led the FBS with 41 passing touchdowns on 73-percent passing to rank third nationally, and has the Hoosiers on the verge of winning the program’s first-ever national championship. The Raiders can’t wait to turn this pick in.

Chadwick: “The Pete Carroll-Geno Smith partnership lasted just one disastrous season in Las Vegas. The Raiders are currently looking for Carroll’s replacement and will likely use this top selection to find Smith’s. Mendoza could fit the billing.”

2. New York Jets: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore has arguably the highest ceiling of any draft-eligible quarterbacks after throwing for 3,565 yards on 71.8-percent passing and 30 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in his first full season as the Ducks starter. Given that potential, the Jets should be overjoyed if he fell to them at No. 2.

Chadwick: “As long as Moore enters the draft, the Jets will likely select whichever quarterback the Raiders don’t take. Moore’s 90.3 PFF passing grade is fifth among all quarterbacks in the nation this year, while his 30 big-time throws are tied for the most.”

3. Arizona Cardinals: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

This is a situation where a team with multiple needs simply takes the best available, and Reese certainly qualifies as that after ranking second on the Buckeyes with 69 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his second season as Ohio State’s starting middle ‘backer. Reese would be an immediate plug-and-play talent in the heart of the Cardinals defense.

Chadwick: “The Cardinals also need a quarterback, but there isn’t one worth taking here with the third overall pick. Instead, Arizona selects one of the top defenders available in Reese. He’s an impressive downhill defender, as his eight sacks this year are tied for fourth among all linebackers in America.”

4. Tennessee Titans: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

Considered one of the premier pass rusher in this year’s draft class, Bain Jr.’s rep has taken a bit of hit with questions about his less-than-ideal arm length. Of course, Bain could answer all those questions next month at the Combine. But in the meantime, Bain makes too much sense for a Titans team in need of a little influx of youth, especially on defense.

Chadwick: “While the Titans need to surround quarterback Cam Ward with more talent, they also didn’t have a single edge defender higher than 70th in PFF grade this year. Enter Bain, whose 93.1 PFF grade is second among all defenders in college football. … Arm length be damned, he’s one of the best football players in this draft.”

5. New York Giants: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

Coming from WRU, the 6-foot-1 Tate is a natural playmaker down the field after leading the Buckeyes averaging 17.16 yards per reception this past season while playing second-fiddle beside star sophomore Jeremiah Smith. Tate, who hauled in nine touchdowns in 2025, would help elevate a Giants WR room that features Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton.

Chadwick: “While the Titans refused to surround Ward with more talent with their top pick, the Giants refuse to do the same with Jaxson Dart and give him Tate here. … Tate would give New York a true X-receiver that’d pair very nicely with Malik Nabers once he recovers from his torn ACL.”

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Despite another season limited by injuries, the 6-foot-1 Tyson is a bonafide playmaker at the receiver position and finished his collegiate career with 2,106 yards and 20 touchdowns on 146 receptions in three seasons at Arizona State. Tyson immediately gives whoever the Browns trot out at QB an electric 1-2 punch at receiver alongside Jerry Jeudy.

Chadwick: “The Browns have the second-worst team receiving grade in the NFL this season and didn’t have a single wide receiver place higher than 100th in PFF grade. Tyson would immediately become the top weapon for whoever’s playing quarterback for Cleveland and has an 89.5 PFF receiving grade over the last two seasons.”

7. Washington Commanders: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Commanders defense has a lot of needs, but one of the glaring ones is in the secondary. Downs, widely considered one of the top defensive players in the sport since he landed at Alabama in 2023, would be an instant star in the backend of the Washington defense.

Chadwick: “The Commanders simply need difference makers on defense and can procure one of the very best players in the draft in Downs here. He has been an elite player ever since he arrived in college football as a five-star recruit in 2023, producing an elite 93.6 career PFF grade. Downs is one of the best safety prospects in recent memory and would transform Washington’s defense.”

8. New Orleans Saints: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

A former five-star recruit, Woods arrived at Clemson as one of the most highly touted defensive line prospects in the 2023 recruiting cycle. On the field, Woods delivered consistent production across three seasons in Death Valley. He appeared in 35 games for the Tigers, recording 84 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while also adding a pass breakup and two forced fumbles.

Chadwick: “Bryan Bresee hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing through three seasons so far, so the Saints look to replace him with another Clemson defensive tackle here in Woods. He has an impressive 87.1 career PFF grade with prodigious power and quickness at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds.”

9. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Love has been one of college football’s most explosive running backs for the past several seasons, capping his Notre Dame career as the 2025 Doak Walker Award winner after finishing the regular season with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. This is a no-brainer for a Chiefs offense looking to bounce back in 2026.

Chadwick: “Both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are unrestricted free agents this offseason, and it seems likely that the Chiefs will part ways with one or both of them. Kansas City instead finds its future at running back with Love here.”

10. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

The Bengals lock up arguably the draft’s best pass rusher in the 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Bailey, who led the FBS with 14.5 sacks in his lone season in Lubbock. Bailey also ranked second nationally with 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 QB hurries in 2025.

Chadwick: “The Bengals selected one of the best run-defending edge rushers in the first round of last year’s draft in Shemar Stewart and selected the best pass-rusher in this year’s class with Bailey here. He leads all FBS defenders in PFF grade (93.1), pass-rush grade (93.9), pressures (81) and sacks (15).”

11. Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
12. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL): OL Spencer Fano, Utah
14. Baltimore Ravens: WR Makai Lemon, USC
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
16. New York Jets (via IND): CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
17. Detroit Lions: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
18. Minnesota Vikings: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
19. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): LB CJ Allen, Georgia
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
23. Philadelphia Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
25. Chicago Bears: DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
26. Buffalo Bills: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
27. San Francisco 49ers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
28. Houston Texans: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
29. Los Angeles Rams: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
30. New England Patriots: EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson
31. Denver Broncos: LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

— On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.