NFL Mock Draft 2026 Complete 7-round edition sends Ty Simpson to Jets Jeremiyah Love to Commander

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There's no fooling: 2026 NFL Draft month is here, and it's time to celebrate by expanding Sporting News' latest mock draft to a full seven rounds. The boards are close to being settled for all 32 teams with the pre-draft workout season in the books.Later this month, 257 names will be called in Pittsburgh. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is the lone pick locked into his spot, projected to go first overall to the . Will other quarterbacks go in the first round, or will defense dominate for most teams' hauls? Here are the latest pick projections for Sporting News, now going from No. 1 through No. 257 overall: PICKS BY ROUND: | | | | | | NFL Mock Draft 2026 Round 1 1. Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 236pounds) Mendoza's pro day back on the Bloomington campus is just a reminder he's locked into this pick as the Raiders' new promising franchise QB under Klint Kubiak. 2. New York Jets Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE,Ohio State (6-4, 241pounds) The invested plenty in defensive upgrades for Aaron Glenn in free agency, but they still should be in the market for the best player available to continue to raise potential impact. Reese can do everything to increase the playmaking quotient. 3. Arizona Cardinals Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-5, 244pounds) The also should be considering defense as they have committed to bridging at quarterback to Jacoby Bri sett for Mike LaFleur. They could also use a rangy, active playmaker to help dominate on the second level for Nick Rallis. 4. Tenne see Titans Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami D'Angelo Russell Jersey (6-2, 263pounds) The should be weighing their pa s-rush options early, as that was the void with their defensive free-agent additions for Robert Saleh. Bain, with his potential upfield disruptive dominance, remains the preferred choice. MORE: 5. New York Giants Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-0, 206 pounds) The don't have the most screaming need for a safety vs. other positions,s but they can't ignore the fact that Downs is a do-everything transcendent defender who will help on multiple levels. 6. Cleveland Browns Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (6-2, 192 pounds) The need to upgrade wide receiver for Shedeur Sanders or whoever their starting quarterback will be, so it makes sense to go to Columbus to get this top big-play option for the outside. Tate will be the latest to tap into the Buckeyes' rich pro wideout tradition. 7. Washington Commanders Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 212 pounds) The need a true workhorse power back given their constant shuffle the past few seasons. Adding only complementary receiving back Rachaad White in free agency suggests they are leaving the door wide open to draft Love to be the dynamic, explosive, and versatile lead back to better support Jayden Daniels. 8. New Orleans Saints David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-4, 251pounds) With Cameron Jordan needing to be replaced on the edge pa s rush for Brandon Staley, Bailey's devastating speed and quickne s would be a great get. 9. Kansas City Chiefs Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (6-0, 187 pounds) The can go to work reloading at corner after moving Trent McDuffie and also not bringing back Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams. Delane is the strongest cover corner in this cla s with some shutdown potential. MORE: 10. New York Giants (from Bengals Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-2, 298 pounds) The Giants need to reload their interior disruptive potential after trading star Clemson product Dexter Lawrence for this pick. Woods, back up boards through the reevaluation proce s, would be a solid replacement anchor. 11. Miami Dolphins Jermod McCoy, CB, Tenne see (6-1, 188pounds) The will be looking at Delane, too, as they try to land a top big corner who can make a lot of plays on the ball. McCoy would be their delayed replacement for Jalen ey. 12. Dallas Cowboys Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (6-3, 259 pounds) The Cowboys traded for Rashan Gary to help addre s their post-Micah Parsons edge concerns, but they need to add a bigger impact pa s rusher. Mesidor has done well to boost his stock, getting more attention right along with Bain. 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons) Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6-6, 302 pounds) The Rams are in good shape at tackle with Rob Havenstein retiring, thanks to Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon Jr. But they can consider Fano as a strong swing backup with the run-blocking pop to potentially take over at either guard. 14. Baltimore Ravens Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (6-6, 315 pounds) The Ravens need to consider further upgrading their offensive line, with Ronnie Staley showing his age at left tackle. Mauigoa should be groomed well to take over there soon to give the line more needed youthful athleticism. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (6-3, 241pounds) The Buccaneers re-signed Cade Otton but they need more field-stretching and red zone weaponry for Baker Mayfield and some 12 personnel flexibility for new coordinator Zac Robinson after losing wide receiver Mike Evans. Sadiq would be a twist in acquiring that, adding to Emeka Egbuka from last year's first round. 16. New York Jets (from Colts) Makai Lemon, WR, USC (5-11, 192 pounds) The Jets could use a quick, reliable route-running slot to pair with Garrett Wilson with Geno Smith at QB. Lemon makes sense as someone who can get open often in the middle, la la fellow former Trojan Amon-Ra St. Brown. Troy Wayrynen - Imagn Images 17. Detroit Lions Blake Miller, OT, Clemson (6-6, 315 pounds) The Lions need to rebuild their offensive line without left tackle Taylor Decker. Miller is a strong option to start and shine right away at either tackle, should the team decide to flip the athletic dominance of Penei Sewell. 18. Minnesota Vikings Dillon Thienman, S, Oregon (6-0, 201 pounds) The Vikings need to replenish safety fast, as it is a suddenly weak position without Harrison Smith and with Josh Metellus. Thienman blew up the Combine as a dynamic athlete who can give them a huge playmaking force in coverage. 19. Carolina Panthers Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (6-2, 203 pounds) The Panthers worked on their offensive line (Rasheed Walker) and defensive front seven (Jaelan Phillips, Devin Lloyd) well in free agency to the point they have some best player available flexibility early in the draft. Tyson would be a nice big target to pair opposite reigning OROY Tetairoa McMillan. 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers) Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson (5-11, 186 pounds) The Cowboys need to take care of pa s rush and secondary help early in the draft, and two first-rounders give them the power to get Mesidor and Terrell to form a big, upgraded 1-2 punch. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (6-6, 304 pounds) The Steelers will be in the market to keep improving their offensive tackle situation, and Lomu's strong, athletic frame is ideal to help them up front in the running and pa sing games. MORE: 22. Los Angeles Chargers Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-6, 276pounds) The Chargers know that Khalil Mack is coming back, but they lost Odafe Oweh in free agency. They need to boost their pa s rush opposite Mack for new defensive coordinator Chris O'Lear,y and Faulk is a solid big option for the job. 23. Philadelphia Eagles Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (6-4, 201 pounds) The Eagles will have their eye on Thienman to addre s their key defensive need in the secondary but also should love the fact of McNeil-Warren meshing well in making plays in coverage with his first-round former college teammate, Quinyon Mitchell. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars) Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (6-4, 330 pounds) The Browns have been gutted on their interior line with age, injury, and free-agency attrition hitting them all at once. Ioane is the right rock to help rebound from the heyday with Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. 25. Chicago Bears Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (6-7, 366 pounds) The Bears also will think about safety, but they also will find it difficult to ignore the size and athletic upside of Proctor to boost them overall at guard or right tackle. 26. Buffalo Bills Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-3, 253 pounds) Jarrett Culver Jersey