NFL mock draft 2026: ChatGPT AI gives the worst predictions you'll ever see

"ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info."

It's the message plastered at the bottom of the chatbot's page, informing users that the word of artificial intelligence (AI) shouldn't be taken as gospel. Yet many people do, making AI a key component of everyday life.

From recipes to movie recommendations, making a medical diagnosis or even just crafting an image, countless users don't ask the most important question - what if ChatGPT got it wrong? Unlike how it's portrayed in the movies, AI is still in its infancy and cannot replace everything, at least not yet.

Look no further than NFL mock drafts.

There are just 32 picks in the first round, but countless players who are eligible to be selected. In theory, there are endless possibilities and permutations that make the prediction-based exercise a fun-yet-impossible task. Then we have ChatGPT, which somehow leveled up the competition.

X's chatbot, Grok, proposed introducing part-time players in the draft. ChatGPT decided to make it a free-for-all that eventually developed into something resembling an expansion draft.

Jeremiyah Love? Didn't make the cut. Arvell Reese and David Bailey? Sorry, not this time.

Feel free to play along at home or on the go. We asked the chatbot to "Predict who the [TEAM] will take with the [NUMBER] pick in the 2026 NFL Draft," and found some shocking results. Here's a look at what might just be the worst 2026 NFL mock draft that you'll ever see.

2026 NFL mock draft: First-round AI picks1.Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

No surprises here. Mendoza is considered to be a "lock" for the No. 1 pick and ChatGPT is off to a good start by not trying to reinvent the wheel.

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2.New York Jets: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

And just like that, we have gone off the rails. This would've been a solid pick if we asked ChatGPT months ago, but Moore already announced he is returning to Oregon for another season with the Ducks. So unless the Jets create a time machine to pry him out of school, this one isn't happening.

Maybe next year.

3.Arizona Cardinals: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

Arizona is just trying to acquire talent at this point and Downs is arguably the best player in the draft. Considering they already employ Budda Baker, this one is rather surprising when Reese and Bailey were on the board.

4.Tennessee Titans: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Protect Cam Ward? Protect Cam Ward. Instead of getting a playmaker for their second-year quarterback, the Titans continue to invest a ton in the offensive line. Perhaps Brian Daboll saw Proctor's catch-and-run against Georgia in the fall. If that's the case, Tennessee can start a trend.

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

Back to your regularly scheduled programming. There is plenty of debate surrounding this pick and whether the Giants opt for defense, but the idea of pairing Tate with Malik Nabers is too good to pass up.

6.Cleveland Browns: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods was once considered a top player in this class. His stock has fallen over the past year, but the Browns are willing to bet on the upside. A strong defensive front gets stronger, even if this is a reach.

7.Washington Commanders: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)

ChatGPT considers Bain a cornerstone and said Washington is getting some premium positional value with this pick. It's hard to argue with that, even if Reese and Bailey would've been better picks at this point.

8.New Orleans Saints: WR Evan Stewart, Oregon

Just like Moore, Stewart is heading back to Oregon. The chatbot didn't get the memo. Better luck next time.

9.Kansas City Chiefs: OT Will Campbell, LSU (currently: New England Patriots)

Now here's a new strategy. The Chiefs get some help on the offensive line and weaken a top AFC opponent by stealing Campbell from the Patriots. It would've made sense to draft some defensive reinforcements or get a playmaker, but the chatbot wasn't interested in logic.

10.Cincinnati Bengals: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (currently: New Orleans Saints)

The NFL is a copycat league and the Bengals wasted no time stealing a page out of the Chiefs' book.

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11.Miami Dolphins: CB Will Johnson, Michigan (currently: Arizona Cardinals)

Forget tearing the roster down to the studs. Miami has torn down its roster to the point that it even needs a new foundation. The Dolphins need major help on offense so they instead opt for a cornerback they could've drafted last year. Makes sense.

12.Dallas Cowboys: Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee (currently: Atlanta Falcons)

The Cowboys continue to search for ways to replace Micah Parsons. This time, they followed the trend of stealing a player from another team. Right idea, but bad execution.

13.Los Angeles Rams(viaAtlanta): Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia (currently: San Francisco 49ers)

Sean McVay's team is already loaded on both sides of the ball so they will instead pluck a player from a division rival's roster.

14.Baltimore Ravens: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado (currently: Jacksonville Jaguars)

The board is "likely already thinning out on blue-chip EDGE, OT, WR, and top CBs," according to ChatGPT. With that in mind, the chatbot has the Ravens settle on the "best player available" and take a chance on the two-way player. There's only one problem with that - Hunter still plays for the Jaguars.

15.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (currently: Carolina Panthers)

Out with Mike Evans. In with Tet McMillan.

It's a solid strategy if the Panthers are willing to part with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

16. New York Jets (viaIndianapolis): Edge LT Overton, Alabama

At long last, the chatbot decided to include a 2026 draft prospect for the first time since the No. 7 selection. Value-wise, it's a curious decision to include Overton here - who is ranked No. 83 overall on USA TODAY Sports' Ayrton Ostly's big board. Then again, nothing about this mock makes sense, so why start now?

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17.Detroit Lions: DT Mason Graham, Michigan (currently: Cleveland Browns)

Fixing the offensive line figures to be a priority in the Motor City, but they couldn't possibly pass on one of their own with this pick.

18.Minnesota Vikings: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota (currently: Houston Texans)

The Vikings pass on defense and find another tackle to block for Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy. Sure, whatever works.

19.Carolina Panthers: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan (currently: Chicago Bears)

The Panthers already lost McMillan earlier in the draft so they instead take a playmaker from the Bears to fill that pass-catching role after the rookie starred in Chicago last season.

20. Dallas Cowboys (viaGreen Bay): DT Deone Walker, Kentucky (currently: Buffalo Bills)

Walker was a fourth-round pick by the Bills a year ago. Now he catapults into the first round to join a defensive line that also includes Quinnen Williams. What's not to like?

21.Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (currently: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Life after Mike Tomlin begins with the Steelers investing in a cornerback, according to the chatbot. ChatGPT gets bonus points for making the pick yet another player who already plays in the league.

22.Los Angeles Chargers: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon (currently: Washington Commanders)

Justin Herbert was practically being held together with duct tape at the end of the 2025 season. The chatbot has the Chargers taking Conerly from the Commanders in hopes of avoiding a repeat.

23.Philadelphia Eagles: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri (currently: Chicago Bears)

A.J. Brown's future in Philadelphia continues to be in question, so why not draft the standout rookie from the Bears that shined in his first season? Consider the Eagles as a team in the market for receiver and/or offensive line help in the actual draft.

24.Cleveland Browns(viaJacksonville): Edge Laiatu Latu, UCLA (currently: Indianapolis Colts)

ChatGPT has given up on the Browns' offense. Instead, Cleveland will try to hold opponents to zero points every week.

25.Chicago Bears: OT Olu Fashanu, Penn State (currently: New York Jets)

Protection for Caleb Williams arrives in the form of Fashanu. At this point, the only surprising thing is that the chatbot picked a Jets player for this exercise. Expect Chicago to prioritize defense in the real draft.

26.Buffalo Bills: S Malaki Starks, Georgia (currently: Baltimore Ravens)

The Bills could use some help on both sides of the ball, primarily at linebacker, receiver or edge. Naturally, the chatbot had them settle for a safety that isn't draft eligible.

27.San Francisco 49ers: DT Brandon Dorlus, Oregon (currently: Atlanta Falcons)

Dorlus was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and has played in just 17 games in two seasons. He did post 8.5 sacks in 2025, but this is one of the more out-of-the-box picks that ChatGPT has come up with.

28.Houston Texans: TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas (currently: Carolina Panthers)

The Panthers lose another one. Sanders departs Carolina and heads back to Texas to join the Texans. Sorry, Dalton Schultz.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (viaRams): CB Kalen King, Penn State (currently: Arizona Cardinals)

Cornerback is a need for the Chiefs, so we'll consider this a win at this point. King was a seventh-round pick in 2024 and has just one game of NFL experience.

30. Miami Dolphins (viaDenver): OT Amarius Mims, Georgia (currently: Cincinnati Bengals)

Offensive line makes perfect sense for a team undergoing a complete rebuild. Drafting a lineman that is already in the league, however, makes no sense at all.

31.New England Patriots: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama (currently: New Orleans Saints)

ChatGPT really drank the Kool-Aid before putting this mock together and now McKinstry makes a cameo appearance in the first round. Once again, the chatbot picked a position that fit the team's need. If only it had picked a player who was eligible for the pick.

32.Seattle Seahawks: Edge Chop Robinson, Penn State (currently: Miami Dolphins)

The Seahawks finish out the first round with the 23rd player to be picked from another team. The chatbot won't be winning any mock draft awards anytime soon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mock draft 2026: ChatGPT AI predicts all 32 first-round picks