2026 NFL Draft: PFF shakes up mock draft after College Football Playoff Championship Game

The 2025 college football season formally came to a close following No. 1 Indiana’s 27-21 win over No. 10 Miami in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game. With that now in the rearview, all eyes turn to the NFL, and more specifically, the 2026 NFL Draft.

That includes the folks over at Pro Football Focus, which unveiled an updated mock draft reflecting last week’s big news that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, widely projected to be a Top 5 pick in April, would be returning to college for the 2026 season. That forced the QB-needy New York Jets to look elsewhere given the expectation Indiana‘s Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and newly-minted national champion QB, will go No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.

With all that in mind, check out PFF’s updated 2026 NFL Mock Draft following the 2026 College Football Playoff championship game below:

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

Raiders leadership, including minority owner Tom Brady, witnessed what was arguably Mendoza’s best performance in Monday night’s CFP national championship game. Given that experience, and the fact that there really isn’t any other prospect worthy of being the top overall pick, Las Vegas’ selection of Mendoza should already be filled out and ready to submit the second the draft begins April 23.

PFF: “The Raiders seem unlikely to go in any other direction with the No. 1 overall pick at this point. It’s hard to find a reason for them not to make Mendoza the pick when the draft officially begins in late April.”

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Given the news Moore is staying in Eugene another year, the Jets pivot to arguably the second-most impactful college football player last season in Bailey, who transferred into Lubbock and transformed the Red Raiders defense in just one season. And with two first-round picks after the in-season trade with Indianapolis, the Jets could find its quarterback further down the board.

PFF: “With Moore off the board, the most logical route would be to target one of the top defensive players in the draft. Bailey’s 81 quarterback pressures in 2025 led all FBS edge defenders, and … is more than good enough as a pass rusher to be worthy of a top-five selection.”

3. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

While this might be a bit high for a defensive back, let alone a safety, Downs is a unique prospect with plenty of upside worthy of consideration here. He has been an integral part of every defense he’s been apart of, including leading Alabama with 107 tackle as a true freshman in 2023. Since transferring to Ohio State in 2024, he’s been the heart and soul of the Buckeyes’ FBS-leading defense the past two years.

PFF: “No. 3 overall is rich for a safety, but Downs is a special athlete and the top prospect on the PFF Big Board. He finished the 2025 season with PFF run-defense and coverage grades above 80.0 and should be an impact player at the next level.”

4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (Fla.)

While the Hurricanes pass rusher might be somewhat controversial given the questions about his arm measurements, Bain’s natural talent as a pass rusher is unquestioned. The 6-foot-3 and 270-pound Bain also presents a tweener size opportunity that should allow the Titans the versatility to utilize him both at end and tackle.

PFF: “(Bain’s) 87.1 PFF run-defense grade ranked seventh among all FBS edge defenders this past season, while he placed second at the position with 80 quarterback pressures. His size should allow him to kick inside in obvious passing situations, too.”

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

After landing both its QB and RB of the future in last year’s draft in Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo, new Giants head coach John Harbaugh should focus on building around Dart, including adding another playmaker at WR to pair opposite Malik Nabers. And Tate knows how to stretch the field after ranking third in the Big Ten averaging 17.2 yards per catch in 2025.

PFF: “If New York goes the pass catcher route, then Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is the best stylistic fit, given what the Giants already have in wide receiver Malik Nabers. … Tate caught 85.7% of the contested targets he saw in 2025, didn’t drop a pass and averaged 3.03 yards per route run.”

6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Regardless of its uncertain head coaching position, Cleveland still has a lot of holes and question marks on its roster, even at QB. That said, the ability to shore up its WR corps with a player of Tyson’s skill-set could be too much to pass up at this point. And while Tyson’s injury history might raise some red flags, when he’s been on the field, he’s practically automatic.

PFF: “A top wide receiver should be No. 1 on (the Browns’) priority list, (and) Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson would make a lot of sense. He dropped just 1.6% of the catchable passes thrown his way this season and earned an 89.0 PFF receiving grade against man coverage.”

7. Washington Commanders: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

Defense should be the Commanders’ top priority after finishing 2025 ranked dead-last in total defense after allowing more than 380 yards per game this season. And with Bailey and Bain off the board, Washington should sprint to turn in a draft card with Howell’s name on it after the Aggies EDGE earned a 90.3 PFF pass-rush grade last season.

PFF: “The Commanders will dream that one of the top two edge defenders falls to them at No. 7 overall, but if not, Howell would be a solid consolation prize.”

8. New Orleans Saints: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Saints are another team with a litany of needs entering Year 2 under head coach Kellen Moore. But after securing their QB of the future in Tyler Shough in last year’s draft, New Orleans would be wise to build around him in this year’s draft, and that starts with giving him a true playmaker on the outside in Lemon.

PFF: “The USC star logged an 81.0 PFF receiving grade against man coverage, caught 66.7% of contested targets and dropped just 2.5% of the catchable targets thrown his way this season.”

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

This is another no-brainer selection, especially for a Kansas City Chiefs offense led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes entering his 10th NFL season in 2026. Love won the Doak Walker after ranking fifth nationally with 1,372 yards and 21 total touchdowns while splitting reps in Notre Dame‘s backfield.

PFF: “A dynamic running back would only lift Kansas City’s attack in 2026. Love earned elite PFF overall grades of 91.1 and 93.9 over the past two seasons, and he averaged 4.5 yards after contact in 2025.”

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

This will be a pick based on pure potential after Woods, a former five-star prospect and Top 20-overall recruit in 2023, struggled to live up to the hype during his time at Clemson. Still, the 6-foot-3 and 310-pound Woods’ talent is unmistakeable and he’s the type that could blossum in the right NFL system.

PFF: “Cincinnati would be wise to go with an impact player on the defensive interior. Woods underperformed in 2025 but earned PFF grades above 80.0 in each of the two seasons prior.”

Pro Football Focus 2026 NFL Mock Draft, pick Nos. 11-32:

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
12. Dallas Cowboys: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
13. Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
14. Baltimore Ravens: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
16. New York Jets (via IND): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
17. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
18. Minnesota Vikings: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
19. Carolina Panthers: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
20. Dallas Cowboys (via GB): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
25. Chicago Bears: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
26. Buffalo Bills: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
28. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29. Los Angels Rams: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
30. New England Patriots: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
31. Denver Broncos: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
32. Seattle Seahawks: Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona State