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The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine places the entire draft class under one roof in Indianapolis, creating the most influential evaluation week of the offseason. More than 300 prospects will undergo medical testing, athletic drills, and team interviews at Lucas Oil Stadium, but only 32 will ultimately hear their names called in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23 in Pittsburgh. The Combine routinely reshapes the board, confirming film evaluations for some players while elevating or exposing others, making this the ideal checkpoint to project how the first round currently stacks up. The No. 1 overall pick appears locked in, with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza projected to the Las Vegas Raiders, but the rest of Round 1 remains fluid. This class features legitimate high-end talent at several positions, including premium spots. Offensive tackle is strong at the top, with Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa both carrying top-10 value, and the defensive front is a clear strength of the class, led by Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey — disruptive, game-changing EDGE prospects with top-five upside. The class also includes intriguing non-traditional premium talent, such as running back Jeremiyah Love, who could go in the top 10, linebackers Arvell Reese and his Ohio State teammate Sonny Styles, and the top-graded prospect, safety Caleb Downs. All of these non-traditional positions could be selected within the top 10 picks. With free agency approaching and no trades projected in this mock, this NFL Combine edition reflects how the 2026 first round looks right now — understanding that medicals, interviews, and verified testing in Indianapolis can quickly reshape the board. Teams will also reassess needs after March roster moves, so this is a snapshot of current team-building logic as the league enters the most influential evaluation week of the draft cycle. 2026 NFL Mock Draft by the numbers: 4 CBs, 4 edge rushers, 2 interior defensive linemen, 1 true interior offensive lineman, 3 off-ball linebackers (one could transition to edge — Reese), and 7 tackles — where this mock likely differs from most. Also: 1 QB, 1 RB, 3 safeties, and 5 WRs. 2026 NFL Mock Draft: NFL Combine Edition 1) Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Las Vegas Raiders open the Klint Kubiak era with the most polished quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza pairs elite ball placement with advanced pre- and post-snap processing, completing 72% of his passes in 2025 while leading the nation in passing touchdowns. He threw 27 red-zone touchdowns without an interception and consistently wins on third down with anticipation and timing. While not a dynamic off-script creator, Mendoza’s accuracy, decision-making, and structured command profile as a high-floor franchise starter capable of elevating the Raiders’ offensive core. 2) New York Jets Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami The Jermaine Johnson trade changes the equation. After moving Johnson to Tennessee for T’Vondre Sweat, New York signals that EDGE is firmly back on the table at No. 2 overall. While David Bailey carries top-five value, Rueben Bain Jr. fits the identity Aaron Glenn wants to build. Bain is a thick, twitchy, high-motor pass rusher who plays with relentless urgency and heavy hands. Widely viewed as the top EDGE in the 2026 class, he combines leverage, speed-to-power, and refined counters to consistently disrupt protection schemes. For a defensive-minded head coach, Bain profiles as a foundational piece — the type of tone-setting rusher who can anchor a front the way Aidan Hutchinson has in Detroit. 3) Arizona Cardinals Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Arizona pairs Paris Johnson Jr. with a true bookend right tackle in Francis Mauigoa, opting for plug-and-play power over projection. While Spencer Fano was firmly in consideration, Mauigoa’s mass, strength, and finishing temperament make him the cleaner fit opposite an athletic left tackle. The consensus All-American overwhelms defenders at the point of attack and plays to his size in both phases, functioning as a tone-setter in the run game. He did not allow a sack over the final 12 games of the 2025 season and profiles as a long-term cornerstone on the right side, with interior flexibility if ever needed. 4) Tennessee Titans Arvell “Vell” Reese, LB/EDGE, Ohio State Tennessee bets on traits and disruption with Arvell Reese, a modern hybrid defender built for multiple fronts. At 6’4”, 243 pounds, Reese posted 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2025, earning Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors while playing 51% of his snaps on the edge. His long-term projection leans toward an attacking EDGE role, where his burst, length, and power can be maximized, but his background as an inside linebacker gives him chess piece flexibility. Reese isn’t a finished product, yet his inside-out versatility and pressure upside make him a high-ceiling front-seven weapon in a scheme built on disguise and aggression. 5). New York Giants Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State They could go offensive line here, but passing on a true defensive cornerstone would be difficult. Caleb Downs is the prototype modern safety — elite football IQ, rapid processing, and rare positional versatility. He can align deep, in the slot, overhang, or in the box, allowing a defense to disguise coverage and rotate post-snap without sacrificing structure. Given John Harbaugh’s history of maximizing elite safeties like Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton, it’s easy to see the appeal of building around a multi-faceted back-end playmaker. Downs has the communication skills, range, and instincts to elevate the entire defense from Day 1 while giving New York a tone-setting identity piece on the back end. 6) Cleveland Browns Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Cleveland must rebuild in the trenches, and they do so with one of the cleanest offensive tackle prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. Spencer Fano started 36 games and allowed just four sacks in his career, including only one over the past two seasons after transitioning to right tackle. With multiple starters from last season’s offensive line potentially moving on, Fano provides immediate stability and long-term upside as a cornerstone protector. He combines run-blocking power, polished technique, and NFL-level athleticism, projecting as a Day 1 starter with the versatility to play either tackle spot or kick inside if needed. While a slightly lean frame and occasional hand-timing inconsistencies show up in pass protection, his overall consistency and developmental trajectory point to a high-floor, Pro Bowl-caliber talent. 7) Washington Commanders David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech Pressure production drives this selection. David Bailey erupted for 14.5 sacks in 2025, showcasing first-step burst, bend, and a deep pass-rush arsenal that consistently translated into disruption. At 6’3”, around 250 pounds, he wins with closing speed and violent finishes, grading among the top edge rushers in college football. If he continues to add functional strength against the run, Bailey carries immediate-impact value with legitimate top-10 upside in an aggressive front. 8) New Orleans Saints Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame New Orleans injects true explosiveness into its offense with the most dynamic running back in the class. Jeremiyah Love is a modern two-phase weapon, pairing elite acceleration and one-cut burst with natural receiving ability and open-field creativity. At 6’0”, 214 pounds, he thrives in wide-zone concepts where his vision and instant re-acceleration create chunk gains. Adding a dynamic playmaker should help Tyler Shough take a leap in Year 2, and Love could spend a season apprenticing behind Alvin Kamara or form a formidable 1-2 punch in the Saints’ backfield. His long-term RB1 upside fits the direction of a spacing-based offense. 9) Kansas City Chiefs Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Route detail and efficiency define Carnell Tate’s game. He turned 61 targets into 51 receptions for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, consistently separating with route tempo, leverage manipulation, and disciplined footwork off the line of scrimmage. While not a true vertical burner, his catch-point timing and ball tracking make him quarterback-friendly at all three levels. I think Patrick Mahomes would be happy. 10) Cincinnati Bengals Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Size, speed, and positional flexibility make Sonny Styles a modern defensive chess piece. A former safety at 6’4”, 243 pounds, he brings legitimate coverage range against tight ends and slots while maintaining downhill physicality. His hybrid profile allows him to blitz, spy, or match in space without coming off the field in sub-packages. With continued development in block deconstruction, Styles projects as an early starter with rare ceiling in a multiple-front defense. 11) Miami Dolphins Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU A true perimeter corner becomes the focal point here. Mansoor Delane, a unanimous 2025 All-American, led the SEC with in passer rating allowed when targeted in 2025. He thrives in press-man and match-quarters. Delane’s awareness and processing speed translate seamlessly to off coverage, where he closes windows with urgency and discipline. While continued refinement locating the ball downfield will elevate his ceiling, his toughness and coverage versatility project him as an immediate starter with long-term CB1 upside in Jeff Hafley’s system. 12) Dallas Cowboys Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami Pass-rush refinement and motor define this selection. Akheem Mesidor is a polished, high-energy EDGE with advanced hand usage, burst, and rush sequencing developed over six collegiate seasons. He wins with quickness outside, counters inside effectively, and projects cleanly as a multiple-front defender who can reduce inside on passing downs. In a Vic Fangio-inspired structure under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker, Mesidor’s effort and technical maturity could translate quickly, giving Dallas an immediate third-down weapon with double-digit sack upside. 13) Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons) Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee Medical evaluations will determine how high he ultimately climbs, but the tape is first-round caliber. Jermod McCoy missed 2025 after an ACL tear, yet his 2024 production — four interceptions and nine pass breakups — reflects true ballhawk traits. He combines press-man physicality with disciplined footwork and fluid hips, routinely erasing routes at the line and closing space with legitimate recovery speed. His route recognition and quarterback manipulation elevate his impact beyond sticky coverage. If fully cleared, McCoy profiles as a Day 1 CB1 with turnover-creating upside for a Rams roster built to contend now. 14) Baltimore Ravens Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane, IOL, Penn State Per usual, winning in the trenches becomes the primary focus in Baltimore. Ioane is the top-ranked interior offensive lineman in the 2026 NFL Draft and did not allow a sack over his final two collegiate seasons, spanning 27 starts and 776 pass-blocking snaps. At 6’4”, 330-plus pounds, he generates consistent displacement on double teams, anchors firmly against interior power, and plays with disciplined hand placement and leverage. Ioane projects as a Day 1 starter and long-term stabilizer in a downhill, gap-oriented offense. 15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Ball production and ascending traits drive this selection. Colton Hood was the only SEC defender in 2025 to record both a pick-six and a fumble return touchdown, while also posting four-plus tackles for loss and eight-plus passes defended. At 6’0”, 195 pounds, he blends speed, length, and competitive toughness, showing the reactive athleticism to handle perimeter duties with the short-area quickness to survive inside. Hood anticipates route breaks in both press-man and zone-match, attacks the football with confidence, and carries vertical routes without panic. With Jamel Dean potentially departing in free agency, Tampa Bay adds a 21-year-old corner with immediate starting potential and long-term CB1 upside in a multiple-coverage scheme. 16) New York Jets (via Colts) Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo After addressing the edge earlier in the round, New York turns to a glaring need on the back end. The Jets did not intercept a single pass in 2025 — a stunning statistic and a clear indicator that turnover production must improve. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a long, downhill safety who thrives near the line of scrimmage as a box defender or robber, bringing physicality and urgency against the run while also flashing playmaking instincts. With five interceptions and 12 forced fumbles over his collegiate career, he offers the type of ball disruption this defense desperately lacked. In a unit looking to re-establish toughness and generate takeaways, McNeil-Warren fills a massive need with immediate-impact potential. 17) Detroit Lions Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Kadyn Proctor is one of the most physically imposing offensive linemen in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’7”, 360 pounds, he pairs rare length and raw strength with true downhill power as a gap-scheme people mover. When square and centered, he anchors firmly against speed-to-power with heavy hands and a stout base. Lateral range and quick interior movement can challenge him in space, and pass-protection consistency remains a refinement area. If his footwork, leverage, and conditioning continue trending upward, Proctor has the long-term ceiling of a dominant right tackle capable of outperforming his draft slot. 18) Minnesota Vikings Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon With Harrison Smith entering his age-37 season and retirement a real possibility, Minnesota plans ahead on the back end. Dillon Thieneman is a savvy, instinctive, multi-alignment safety with true three-down value and high-end starter potential. He recorded six interceptions in 2023 at Purdue before transferring to Oregon and consistently impacts games from depth, the slot, or robber alignments. While not an elite short-area twitch athlete or true enforcer, his football IQ, range, and post-snap processing make him an ideal fit in a disguise-heavy, rotation-based Vikings defense. 19) Carolina Panthers Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State Carolina pairs Derrick Brown with a true interior anchor to solidify the defensive front. Kayden McDonald posted 17 run stops in 2025 and profiles as one of the premier run defenders in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’3”, 326 pounds, he wins with leverage, leg drive, and raw play strength, consistently resetting the line of scrimmage and occupying double teams. While his pass-rush polish remains a work in progress, his heavy hands and natural anchor make him a plug-and-play early-down nose with long-term value in an odd or hybrid front. 20) Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson After addressing the pass rush earlier, Dallas turns to a secondary that surrendered 46 passing plays of 25-plus yards in 2025. Avieon Terrell brings twitch, competitiveness, and proven ball production with 27 pass breakups over three seasons. He thrives in press-man and match coverage, using fluid hips and quick feet to mirror perimeter threats despite lacking elite size. An elite open-field tackler with strong run-support grades, Terrell fits cleanly in a man-heavy or zone-match scheme and projects as an immediate starter with CB1 upside. 21) Pittsburgh Steelers Makai Lemon, WR, USC We don’t yet know what Aaron Rodgers will decide, and free agency will ultimately clarify the direction at quarterback. But if Pittsburgh retains Rodgers or adds a steady veteran option, Makai Lemon fits seamlessly into a timing-based passing attack. He’s a polished, high-volume target who wins with tempo, precision, and advanced route manipulation rather than overwhelming size or vertical speed. Lemon consistently separates with sudden breaks and strong spatial awareness, tracking the ball naturally and finishing through contact. While not a true vertical burner, he projects as a plug-and-play high-end slot with Pro Bowl upside and immediate chain-moving value. 22) Los Angeles Chargers Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDonald have always valued athletic tight ends, and Kenyon Sadiq fits that mold. By adding Sadiq, the Chargers now have a positional chess piece who can line up in-line, in the slot, or detached. Sadiq has real burst up the seam and is competitive as a blocker, giving him true three-down value. If his route detail continues to develop, he has the upside to become a featured piece in this offense rather than just a complementary option. 23) Philadelphia Eagles Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Whether or not Philadelphia keeps A.J. Brown long term, the passing game needs another reliable separator for Jalen Hurts. Jordyn Tyson is one of the most polished route technicians in the class, winning with stem manipulation, sudden breaks, and sharp pacing that consistently creates windows at all three levels. He tracks the deep ball naturally and finishes through contact, giving him big-play upside despite only average long speed. Durability is the primary concern, but if medicals check out, Tyson profiles as a high-floor WR2 with legitimate WR1 upside in a timing-based offense. 24) Cleveland Browns Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah After securing Spencer Fano earlier in Round 1, Cleveland doubles down on rebuilding the offensive front by pairing him with his Utah teammate. With the potential to replace nearly every starting lineman from last season and long-term questions across the unit, investing heavily in protection makes sense. Caleb Lomu is a technically advanced, smooth-moving tackle with the balance, length, and hand strength to project as a long-term blindside option. While Fano carries the higher overall ceiling, Lomu’s pass-protection polish and steady footwork give the Browns another plug-and-play presence as they construct a new-look offensive line from the ground up. 25) Chicago Bears Peter Woods, DT, Clemson Chicago’s biggest offseason priority may be fixing the interior defensive line after struggling against the run and generating little inside pressure in 2025. Peter Woods gives them a disruptive 3-technique with explosive first-step quickness and natural leverage, allowing him to penetrate gaps before blocks develop. He posted 30 tackles and two sacks last season, but his earlier tape shows true disruptive talent. At 6’3”, 310-plus pounds with twitch and lateral agility, Woods fits best in an attacking, one-gap system — an ideal addition to a front that needs interior playmaking. 26) Buffalo Bills Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana This might be viewed as aggressive given other roster needs, but pairing Josh Allen with a true playmaker becomes the priority. Omar Cooper Jr. is a compact, explosive receiver who threatens defenses both vertically and after the catch. His acceleration shows up immediately off the line, and his contact balance allows him to turn routine touches into chunk gains. Cooper can stress coverage horizontally on quick-hitters or win down the field with speed, giving Buffalo the dynamic element its passing game has lacked. 27) San Francisco 49ers Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia With Trent Williams entering his age-38 season and the final year of his contract, succession planning becomes real. Monroe Freeling has only 18 starts, but his pass-protection traits are easy to project. He’s a prototype left tackle with length, agility, and the foot quickness to mirror speed rushers and protect depth in his sets. While his leverage and run-game consistency remain developmental areas. 28) Houston Texans Blake Miller, OT, Clemson Houston opts for experience and stability along the right side. Blake Miller brings 50-plus career starts at Clemson and allowed just two sacks and two blown run blocks last season, offering proven reliability in a class light on true first-round grades. At 6’6”, 315 pounds, he has the length, hand strength, and functional agility to redirect speed rushers while anchoring against power. With Trent Brown hitting free agency and the Texans finishing near the bottom of the league in pass block win rate, Miller projects as an immediate starter opposite Aireontae Ersery to help solidify protection for C.J. Stroud. 29) Los Angeles Rams Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State With Rob Havenstein retiring and Warren McClendon Jr. entering the final year of his contract, the right tackle position becomes a priority. Max Iheanachor is a traits-heavy, ascending prospect with rare movement skills for a 6’5”, 325-pound frame. He carries excellent lean mass, lateral quickness, and fluid body control that project cleanly into outside-zone concepts. While still refining hand timing and overall consistency, his athletic ceiling makes him an ideal developmental starter with long-term upside in Sean McVay’s system. 30) Denver Broncos C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia Linebacker depth becomes a priority with Alex Singleton approaching free agency. C.J. Allen is an instinctive, high-IQ off-ball defender whose game is built on processing speed and tackling efficiency. A multi-year starter at Georgia, he consistently sorts through traffic, maintains leverage, and finishes at a high rate. At 6’1”, 235 pounds, Allen fits the modern three-down mold while still bringing old-school physicality downhill — a clean schematic fit in Vance Joseph’s aggressive, pressure-oriented defense. 31) New England Patriots Denzel Boston, WR, Washington This could be viewed as strong value late in Round 1 for a team that needs a true boundary presence for Drake Maye. Denzel Boston is a physically imposing outside receiver who wins with body positioning, catch strength, and competitive toughness rather than pure speed. He consistently shields defenders at the catch point and thrives in red-zone and high-leverage situations. While he lacks a true vertical second gear and must refine his release against press coverage, Boston’s reliability and size profile him as a high-floor perimeter starter with immediate impact potential. 32) Seattle Seahawks Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan Cornerback may be the popular projection, but Mike Macdonald’s defensive philosophy consistently prioritizes versatile pass rushers who can generate pressure with four and defend the run from lighter boxes. With Boye Mafe entering free agency, adding depth and power off the edge becomes logical. Derrick Moore is a leverage-driven, power-based rusher at 6’3”, 254 pounds who wins with leg drive and a well-timed bull rush. His speed-to-power conversion and long-arm variation allow him to compress the pocket consistently, projecting as a tone-setting EDGE with early-down strength and developmental third-down upside.