2026 CSR Mock Draft 1.0

Jan 31, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; American running back Kaelon Black (26) of Indiana runs the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl at University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The 2026 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama has come to a close, with some players seeing a rise to their draft stocks after getting a chance to impress NFL coaches and scouts in person throughout the week. With those performances fresh in our minds, let's take a guess at what round one will look like in April's NFL Draft. For the sake of this particular mock draft, we will not be using trades. The selections here are what I think teams will do, which will undoubtedly be wrong, so feel free to mock the mock in the comment section!

Pick 1, Las Vegas Raiders - Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

This will be the first pick. Copy and paste for every mock draft hereon out. Tom Brady is with the ownership group, and I'm sure he'll fall in love with a fellow Big 10 quarterback. Mendoza will step into a decent situation: current Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is set to become the head coach, Ashton Jeanty will be in the backfield, and Brock Bowers is an elite pass catching option.

Pick 2, New York Jets - Reuben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami (FL)

The Jets also have the 16th pick if they want a first round quarterback, so they'll likely use this pick to improve their defense. Aaron Glenn is a defensive guy, and the Jets defense recorded zero interceptions all season. A good pass rush can help with forcing turnovers, and Bain has been a consistently dominant presence for a few seasons now.

Pick 3, Arizona Cardinals - Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Cardinals are another team that likely need a quarterback this offseason, but third overall is a little too high a price given the other talents available. They also desperately need offensive line help, and Fano is one of the top tackles in the draft. Mike Lafleur will likely want to protect whoever ends up quarterbacking the team, and Fano is a good choice to help do that.

Pick 4, Tennessee Titans - David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

The Titans also have a new head coach in Robert Saleh and will also likely look to bolster that coach's side of the football. Saleh's defense relies on pass rushers who can win one-on-one, and Bailey showed throughout the year that he can get after the passer when it counts.

Pick 5, New York Giants - Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

Yet another pick in the top five with a new (to the team) head coach. John Harbaugh was a special teams coordinator before becoming a head coach, but his teams have always seemed to have dynamic playmakers on defense, especially at the linebacker position. Reese could be the next name on that list for Harbaugh.

Pick 6, Cleveland Browns - Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

The Browns also have a new coach, Todd Monken, and are in need of a quarterback like many other teams picking this high in the draft. None of this draft's remaining quarterbacks are worth a top six pick, so the Browns will likely decide to bolster a weak offensive line. Mauigoa is the type of lineman who instantly changes the vibe of the whole unit.

Pick 7, Washington Commanders - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Commanders defense combined with injury issues for Jayden Daniels to create a very disappointing season in Washington. Dan Quinn will likely want to add some young targets for Daniels, but this feels a little expensive for the players available, especially considering just how good Downs is. It's a premium price for a safety, but Downs will be worth it.

Pick 8, New Orleans Saints - Makai Lemon, WR, USC

The Saints may have found their quarterback of the future, so they will likely try to surround him with as many weapons as possible. With Chris Olave being a high performer on the outside, a player like Lemon who can dominate from the slot would provide a lethal 1-2 punch.

Pick 9, Kansas City Chiefs - Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

A down year for the Chiefs led to their first top ten pick in a long time. While they have plenty of question marks, the one area they have not been able to completely nail down is a dominant running game. Love would provide Mahomes and company the ability to slow the game down when necessary. Also, with Mahomes returning from a serious knee injury, the Chiefs may be playing a backup quarterback the first several weeks of the season. A good running game will help mitigate that.

Pick 10, Cincinnati Bengals - Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Last year, the Bengals took a risk on a low-production, high-physicals player in Shemar Stewart. This year, they could look to do the same at defensive tackle. Woods was disappointing this past season but was dominant the two years before that. If he can get back to that game breaking level, the Bengals defense would be much improved.

Pick 11, Miami Dolphins - Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Dolphins hired Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to be their next head coach, and Hafley will probably want to bolster the Dolphins secondary. Delane has been a consistently elite coverage corner with consistent positive grades against the run as well, perfect for a team trying to remake their defensive identity.

Pick 12, Dallas Cowboys - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

No one ever knows what Jerry Jones will do with the Cowboys. Everyone knows they need defensive help (as usual), but Jones does tend to zig when expected to zag. The Cowboys might not be willing to pony up the money needed to keep George Pickens in town, especially considering the headaches he brings with him. Tate can fit right into that prototypical X-receiver position and form a good combination with Ceedee Lamb, just like Pickens did last season.

Pick 13, Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) - Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Rams need help at the cornerback position, relying on young players and journeymen. Terrell would provide the unit with a potential true number one corner for the first time in a while. His versatility will allow the rest of the defense to move players around to put them in the best positions to succeed as well. I also personally love the irony of using the Falcons' first round pick to take AJ Terrell's little brother.

Pick 14, Baltimore Ravens - Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Faulk definitely feels like a Ravens pick. Despite a new head coach, the Ravens still have the same front office in place. Faulk is still a work in progress in terms of pass rushing technique, but he is an absolute physical specimen who dominates against the run. This is a pick in the mold of Mykel Williams last season, and the Ravens are the type of organization to get the most out of that type of player.

Pick 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

The Bucs need help with their pass rush, but the top pass rushers are long gone in this scenario. They need help on the second level of the defense as well, and Styles is the type of player who could be elite off the ball. Todd Bowles is on a very short leash, so he'll definitely be pounding the table for an immediate impact player like Styles.

Pick 16, New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) - Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Aaron Glenn might be a lame duck head coach, so the front office might be wary about spending a top pick on a quarterback. Instead, a smart front office (I know, I know) would try to make the situation as tenable as possible for the eventual rookie QB. Adding Tyson will provide another element to the Jets anemic offense. Having Tyson, AD Mitchell, and Garrett Wilson would be quite the corps for a young signal caller to throw to.

Pick 17, Detroit Lions - Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

It takes a lot for a player to miss an entire season and still be a potential first round pick. That's how good McCoy was in 2024 before tearing his ACL. He is a dynamic player with scheme versatility, athleticism, and ball skills similar to a Darius Slay. If he can get the stamp of approval from the medical staff, he could be a steal this late in the first round.

Pick 18, Minnesota Vikings - Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

The Vikings are paying Brian Flores a lot of money to run a very good defense, and McNeil-Warren could be the next player to really thrive under Flores. He has a ton of size and athleticism and is a monster against the run. McNeil-Warren also showed some solid zone coverage ability, especially in short and medium zones.

Pick 19, Carolina Panthers - Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

The Panthers have a good history of taking first round tackles out of Utah, and Caleb Lomu is one of the better pass blockers in the class. With Icky Ekwonu suffering a knee injury at the end of the season and Taylor Moton being old and expensive, the Panthers might look to add another young tackle to the group. When Ekwonu is healthy, he could kick over to RT or even slide in at one of the guard spots if needed.

Pick 20, Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) - CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

If the Cowboys use their first first-rounder on offense, they'll almost have to use the second on defense. Allen is not the best coverage linebacker in the class, but he is an elite run defender. The Cowboys need pass rush, but Allen could be a defensive leader for a long time.

Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers - Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

The Mike McCarthy age begins in Pittsburgh, and whether or not Aaron Rogers is part of this new age is still yet to be determined. Regardless, Rogers won't be playing for too much longer. Simpson started off the season white hot but struggled down the stretch. Doing the Packers method of letting him sit behind the aging former star could lead help him adjust to the NFL game.

Pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers - Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Another year, another offensive line need for the Chargers. Mike McDaniel is the offensive coordinator in LA now, and a strong offensive line is important for his run schemes. Keeping Justin Herbert is always of paramount concern for the Chargers as well, so investing more in the offensive line seems like a smart move.

Pick 23, Philadelphia Eagles - Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

The Eagles might not have AJ Brown back next season, and the offense has to be more consistent. Sadiq is excellent in the intermediate route game and has the athleticism to dominate in the RAC department as well. Though the Eagles do still have Dallas Goedert, he's on the wrong side of 30. Also, Sadiq is versatile enough to line up anywhere despite being listed as a tight end.

Pick 24, Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) - KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Browns already took a tackle in the top five, so they would probably want to give their young quarterback (either Shadeur Sanders or a draft pick in 2026 or 2027) a weapon to grow with. Concepcion is a nightmare to cover in tight spaces and dynamite with the ball in his hands. He also has experience running the football on sweeps and end arounds.

Pick 25, Chicago Bears - Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

The Bears shocked a lot of folks this past season, and they could be a staple near the top of the NFC North with an improved defense. McDonald is the prototypical nose tackle who eats double teams and still manages to reset the line of scrimmage. While he won't rush the passer with great effectiveness, his ability against the run and strength to occasionally collapse the pocket make him worth a first round pick.

Pick 26, Buffalo Bills - Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Bills are in a state of flux at the moment, and Joe Brady is the new head coach. The Bills struggled to get after the passer last season, and Howell has shown the ability to fill up the stat sheet. Howell's impressive array of pass rush moves helped him amass 11.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, and six pass breakups last season. That type of production would definitely help the Bills in the playoffs next year.

Pick 27, San Francisco 49ers - Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Kyle Shannahan likes to build his offense from the trenches out. If Trent Williams retires, Proctor could try his hand at LT. Otherwise, Proctor could line up at RT or even guard. He does struggle with weight at times, but learning under Williams (if he returns) would do wonders for Proctor's future.

Pick 28, Houston Texans - Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The Texans defense is already one of the best in the league, so they can afford to take a chance on a player like Banks. Banks has truly elite physical tools but has been unable to stay healthy on a consistent basis. At 6'6'', 325 pounds, with arms over 35'', he has the ability to truly take over games on defense when healthy.

Pick 29, Los Angeles Rams - Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

If the Rams take a corner earlier in the round, it would make sense for them to take a receiver later in the first. Puka Nakua and Davante Adams make for an elite pair, but Adams won't be playing for too much longer. Boston has a high-upside X-receiver type of makeup, which will allow Nakua to continue being moved around the formation.

Pick 30, Denver Broncos - Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

The Broncos were able to ride their defense to the AFC Championship game, but it was their offense that ultimately let them down (granted that was without their starting QB and in the snow). Bo Nix, when he returns from injury, will need more options to throw to. Bell is a dynamic receiver who would go much higher had he not suffered a torn ACL late in the year. Because their defense is so good, the Broncos could afford to be patient with a player like Bell and let him come back at his own pace.

Pick 31, New England Patriots - Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Texas

The Patriots already have a stout defense led by a great defensive head coach. That said, their off-ball linebackers are nothing to write home about, which I'm sure doesn't sit well with former linebacker Mike Vrabel. Hill isn't quite a three down linebacker at this stage in his career, but his athletic profile and production at Texas make him hard to pass up.

Pick 32, Seattle Seahawks - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Seahawks are in the Super Bowl largely because of their defense. Unfortunately for them, both Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe are set to become unrestricted free agents. If one or both decide to move on, the Hawks could be in a pinch. Hood has thrived throughout his collegiate career at being the CB2 behind the likes of Travis Hunter and Jermod McCoy. After McCoy's injury this year, he showed the ability to step into the spotlight when needed.