2026 NFL mock draft: Ryan Fowler’s predictions for Round 1

It's been a long, winding road, but we're almost there. The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow night, and we've got another mock draft with a different pick for the Washington Commanders at No. 7 overall. Adam Peters adds one of the top offensive players after using free agency to rebuild the defense.

1. Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

A pick known for months is now set in stone. Fresh off an FBS-high 41 touchdowns and a national title, Mendoza has the accuracy, decision-making, and toughness to be a Day 1 starter in the desert. It's going to take a little while for Vegas to get back to relevancy in the AFC West, but a core of Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers on offense isn't a bad start.

2. New York JetsArvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State

The Jets pass on more polished edge rushers for Reese's sky-high athletic ceiling. He's an interchangeable defender with explosive power who can thrive as a cornerstone for New York's ongoing rebuild.

3. Arizona CardinalsFrancis SiSi' Mauigoa, OT, Miami

After allowing 59 sacks last season, the Cardinals have no choice but to fortify the trenches. Mauigoa is a plug-and-play starter at right tackle who provides an immediate boost to their league-worst run-block win rate. Keep an eye on a trade back here.

4. Tennessee TitansJeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Tennessee decides to give second-year QB Cam Ward an electric weapon rather than addressing the defense. Love is an explosive threat who averaged one 40-plus yard run for every 21 handoffs last season, making him the most dangerous playmaker in the class.

5. New York GiantsSonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

John Harbaugh finds his Ray Lewis centerpiece for the Giants' defense. Styles' combination of size, range, and instincts makes him a rare linebacker prospect worthy of a top-five selection in a Harbaugh-led system.

6. Cleveland BrownsRueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bain is a rugged, heavy-handed playmaker who checks every box for the Browns He's as powerful a prospect to enter the NFL in some time at 265+ pounds and a player that showed up in every big time moment for the Hurricanes over the years. He's a future DPOY candidate and the pairing here with Myles Garrett could be flat out unfair to counter.

7. Washington CommandersCarnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Washington lands the premier route-runner in the draft, and a heck of a complement to Terry McLaurin. Washington has tried in years past to add talent alongside McLaurin in the form of Curtis Samuel, Jahan Dotson, or even the likes of Kelvin Harmon and Antonio Gandy-Golden. Tate finally solves the problem. He isn't a true burner over the top, but his body control, hands, and nuance in the intermediate areas of the offense will allow Washington to expand what they do through the air.

8. New Orleans SaintsMansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Saints keep the top corner in the class in Louisiana. Delane is a polished technician who excels in press-man coverage, providing the Saints with a shutdown option to anchor their secondary.

9. Kansas City ChiefsDavid Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey's lethal first step led to 14.5 sacks last year, giving Steve Spagnuolo a unique body type to play opposite of George Karlaftis. Continuing to work on his hand counters and upright play style on early downs will allow Bailey to evolve into a high level defender in short time.

10. New York Giants (from CIN)Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Giants double down on Buckeyes to fix their secondary. Downs is one of the smartest players I've ever have the chance to evaluate, possessing the range and sure-tackling ability to thrive in a John Harbaugh-led defense.

11. Miami DolphinsSpencer Fano, OT, Utah

The Dolphins prioritize the trenches with their first pick, snagging one of the most versatile lineman in the class. Fano can play any spot up front, giving Miami a long-term solution for an offensive line plagued by durability issues.

12. Dallas CowboysDillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Dallas allowed a league-high in points and big plays last season, making Thieneman a mechanical necessity. He is an elite eraser on the backend who can play the roof of the defense or slide down into run support.

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Sean McVay finds a YAC specialist to complement Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Lemon forced 21 missed tackles last season, making him the perfect threat to exploit space in the Rams' offensive system at all three levels.

14. Baltimore RavensOlaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

Protecting Lamar Jackson is priority number one, and Ioane is the definition of a tone-setter. He didn't allow a single sack over the past two seasons and will provide a physical presence on the Ravens' interior. If there's one player in this class that could be an All-Pro after his rookie season - something that hasn't happened since Micah Parsons in 2021 - it's Ioane for me. Heck of a ballplayer.

15. Tampa Bay BuccaneersJordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

The league is all over the place on Tyson as it stands. Could he go higher? Absolutely. Are the injury concerns a major talking point for teams? You bet. Does he have potential All-Pro talent? Oh yeah. It'll be interesting to see where he lands Thursday night.

16. New York Jets (via IND)Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

After adding Reese at No. 2, GM Darren Mougey adds one of the premier weapons in the class in Sadiq. At 245 pounds, the top speed (mph) Sadiq reached in his 4.39 40 at the combine was the same as Lions' RB Jahmyr Gibbs when he ran 4.36 years ago. The context? Sadiq is 45 pounds heavier. He's an athletic marvel who will expand the Jets' offense the moment he steps into the facility.

17. Detroit LionsMonroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Taylor Decker is gone and more pop is needed up front for Detroit. While Penei Sewell could make the switch to LT, Freeling has the versatility and athletic profile to play either spot right away. Freeling, an 18-game starter for Georgia, has as good an athletic profile in the class at the position.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (via Trade with MIN)Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama

The Eagles trade No. 23 and a 2027 4th-round pick to Minnesota for No. 18.

Howie Roseman moves up five spots to secure an immediate starter at right guard, and the heir apparent to Lane Johnson. At 6-foot-7 and 352 pounds, Proctor has unlimited potential and will benefit from a year of development alongside the Eagles' veterans.

19. Carolina PanthersOmar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

There are bigger, faster, and stronger WRs in the class, but there aren't many that do as much well than Cooper does. A former vertical threat (2024) turned dynamic slot weapon (2025), Cooper is a smooth route-runner with outstanding hands and body control who doesn't let defenders alter his tempo, making him the perfect target for Bryce Young.

20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB)Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

The Cowboys continue to address a secondary that allowed 35 touchdowns through the air last fall. Johnson is an ascending prospect with outstanding man coverage ability who has shot up draft boards during the predraft process.

21. Pittsburgh SteelersKC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

The Steelers get one more weapon for whomever starts under center in 2026. Concepcion is a big play waiting to happen in the short-to-intermediate areas who is as good after the catch as anyone in the class.

22. Los Angeles ChargersAkheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

With Khalil Mack entering his age-35 season, the Chargers need a high-motor rusher to add to the rotation. Mesidor is a relentless player with 12.5 sacks in '25 that also has the strength to set a firm edge against the run.

23. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with PHI)Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Vikings stop the slide for McCoy, who has true shutdown potential despite a past ACL injury. McCoy provides a much-needed injection of talent into a Vikings corners room full of question marks.

24. Cleveland Browns (via JAX)Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

The Browns finish their Round 1 haul by addressing their front five. Miller is a rock-solid veteran with 54 career starts who can step in immediately to help lower Cleveland's NFL-worst pressure rate. There's tackles with a higher ceiling in this class, but Miller projects as a rock solid contributor for a long, long time.

25. Chicago BearsT.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

The Bears find a power-rushing bookend to pair with Montez Sweat. Parker revived his stock with a strong predraft process, proving he has the brute strength and mature pass rush repertoire to threaten NFL-level offensive tackles.

26. Buffalo BillsKayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

McDonald is the dirty work" specialist required for Jim Leonhard's 3-4 scheme. He led all FBS defensive linemen in run-stop rate last year and will be the anchor that allows Buffalo's linebackers to fly to the football.

27. San Francisco 49ersMalachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF

The 49ers gamble on pure speed off the edge to fix their pass-rush woes. Lawrence is a bendy rusher with elite closing speed who can help take the pressure off Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams.

28. Houston TexansMax Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

The Texans add a massive, athletic tackle to help fix a unit that finished 30th in pass-block win rate. Iheanachor is raw, but his frame and elite footwork suggest he can develop into a high-end blindside protector.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The Chiefs replenish their secondary after losing several key starters to free agency. Hood is a polished technician whose zone discipline and sticky man coverage traits makes him a Day 1 fit for Steve Spagnuolo's defensive architecture.

30. Miami Dolphins (via DEN)Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Miami doubles down on the trenches, snagging a 6-foot-6, 276-pound specimen who is still just 20 years old. Faulk has a long way to go as a pass-rusher, but he's already a plus run defender who gives the Dolphins a high-upside project to develop into a three-down force. There's teams out there that believe the proverbial lightbulb won't ever click for Faulk to realize his true potential, but if it does, he could be the steal of the class here late on night one.

31. New England PatriotsCashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

The Patriots add one of the most explosive pass rushers in the class to a unit that generated only 35 sacks last year. Howell fits the New England scheme perfectly as a situational rusher who can win with speed right away.

32. Seattle SeahawksJadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

For the first time since 2005 (Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams - Auburn), we could see two RBs from the same school come off the board 1-2 at their respective position group. With Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City, Seattle could use a change-of-pace talent to compliment Zach Charbonnet. Price could also provide some juice on special teams (three return TDs averaging 36.1 yds per return). Keep an eye on guards Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M) and Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech) here, as well.