2026 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock– Cody Zeeb

Draft week is upon us! All the offseason speculation, all the mock drafts, all the bets we’ve gotten in. It’s time to see it play out on the stage. This is it, my final Mock Draft for the 2026 NFL Draft. We’ll go two rounds, looking at each pick and why the team made that selection. Let’s get into it!

Just as I finished uploading my First-Round picks, the New York Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals and acquired the #10 overall pick. That leaves six teams without a First-Round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jaguars, Falcons, Colts, Packers, and Broncos are now joined by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams traded away their pick, but they still hold the Falcons first round pick from a trade during the 2025 Draft. This mock draft does not include any projected trades; I only use real trades that have already taken place. When I mock, I make the picks as I go down the board, being conscious not to “save” someone for a specific team.

First-Round 

#		Team	Pick	Pos	College
1	Raiders	Raiders	Fernando Mendoza	QB	Indiana
			It’s set in stone, the Raiders turned this card in months ago. The Heisman-winning National Champion gets to work for the greatest quarterback in the history of the game and be the great hope for Las Vegas.
2	Jets	Jets	Arvell Reese	LB	Ohio State
			Reese has been the guy projected here for a while, and that isn’t changing now. Reese has exceptional speed, size, and versatility. This Jets team has a lot of needs, and he’ll have an immediate impact on improving this depleted defense.
3	Cardinals	Cardinals	Francis Mauigoa	OT	Miami
			The Cardinals seemingly struck gold with Paris Johnson Jr to anchor the left side of the offensive line. Now, they’ve got the opportunity to fortify that line for years to come by drafting the 6’5” 329-pounder. That will be huge when they select the quarterback of the future in the 2027 NFL Draft.
4	Titans	Titans	Daivd Bailey	ED	Texas Tech
			Robert Saleh would love to see a player of Bailey’s caliber on the board for him at pick number 4. Bailey has size, length, and quickness. He is extremely athletic and would anchor this Titans defense for years to come.
5	Giants	Giants	Sonny Styles	LB	Ohio State
			Styles has slowly climbed his way up the boards throughout the process here. He is the perfect fit for the John Harbaugh-led New York Giants. Styles started at safety and moved up to linebacker after two years at Ohio State. He’s got the versatility to cover, the sideline-to-sideline ability to be a linebacker, and he can pass rush. Great fit in New York.
6	Browns	Browns	Monroe Freeling	OT	Georgia
			The Browns need to build for the future. Getting Freeling here to protect whoever is under center this year, and whoever might be the future of the franchise, is a big move. Freeling might just be the best pass blocker in the draft. He’s an upgrade to the Browns' offensive line.
7	Commanders	Commanders	Jeremiyah Love	RB	Notre Dame
			The Commanders did a great job of addressing the offensive line and edge rushing positions in free agency. Now they can turn their attention elsewhere. The closer we get to the draft, the more this move makes sense for the team that was in the NFC Championship game just two seasons ago. Get the best back in the class and shore up that offensive backfield.
8	Saints	Saints	Carnell Tate	WR	Ohio State
			The Saints lucked into Tate sliding to them here at pick 8. Tate could go to any of the third through seventh picks in this draft. If he’s still here, it’s an easy pick for the Saints. Pairing Tate with Chris Olave to help their young quarterback out and make this offense more explosive would be huge.
9	Chiefs	Chiefs	Jermod McCoy	CB	Tennessee
			Previously, I had tight end Kenyon Sadiq going to Kansas City here. Don't be shocked if that happens. I'll pivot and go defensive back, their biggest position of need. Steve Spagnulo is a great molder of defensive backs, and McCoy would find instant success in KC.
10	Giants	Giants	Jordyn Tyson	WR	Arizona State
	Via CIN		The Giants considered Carnell Tate at pick five, but they stuck with Styles and get their wide receiver here. Pairing Tyson with Malik Nabers and Jaxson Dart will push John Harbaugh's offense to the next level.
11	Dolphins	Dolphins	Ruben Bain	ED	Miami
			Bain slides a bit after the recent news that became public, but Miami will snag him at 11. It gives them arguably the best edge rusher in the Draft and an anchor end to build their defensive line around. Bain is the real deal on the field.
12	Cowboys	Cowboys	Mansoor Delane	CB	LSU
			The Cowboys will be very happy to see Delane on the board at 12 if he’s still around. The speedy corner didn’t commit a single penalty in 2025 at LSU, and he didn’t allow a single touchdown. He’s disciplined, skilled, and brings the junkyard dog mentality. Massive upgrade to the Cowboys’ defensive secondary here.
13	Rams	Rams	Makai Lemon	WR	USC
	Via ATL		The Rams traded away the 29th pick, but still have #13 via the Atlanta Falcons. They were hot and heavy chasing AJ Brown and clearly have a window to win a ring here. They grab Lemon here who is a refind route runner with excellent hands and a great ability to make plays after the catch.
14	Ravens	Ravens	Olaivavega Ioane	OG	Penn State
			After the departure of Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens have a big need in the interior offensive line. With a star like Derrick Henry at running back and Lamar Jackson at quarterback, getting someone who can start right away and make a major impact is a must for the Ravens. Olaivavega fits that bill.
15	Bucs	Buccaneers	Akheem Messidor	ED	Miami
			Pass rusher is the biggest need for the Buccaneers and deserves to be addressed with their first pick. With Messidor, they get a quick, athletic pass rusher who is great with his handwork.
16	Jets	Jets	Caleb Downs	S	Ohio State
	Via IND		The Jets should just be drafted best player available more than anything. Downs initially went to Cincinatti, but wit them trading away the pick he slips to pick 16 here. If Downs slides this far, it's a must pick for the Jets.
17	Lions	Lions	Spencer Fano	OT	Utah
			The Lions need help at offensive tackle, and Dan Campbell can’t pass up on a Fano here. Fano is versatile and will fit in wherever the Lions need his help.
18	Vikings	Vikings	Dillon Thieneman	S	Oregon
			Theineman has been quietly rising up the board. He has the NFL size, speed, and versatility. His coachability and ability to call and direct the defense set him apart. He is a massive upgrade for the Vikings' defensive backfield.
19	Panthers	Panthers	Kenyon Sadiq	TE	Oregon
			With this talented tight end falling down to 19, why not add him to Bryce Young’s weapons? This offense is on the up as Young has found his place. Last year, they added rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan. Now you bring in the top rookie tight end and keep that upward trajectory moving.
20	Cowboys	Cowboys	TJ Parker	ED	Clemson
	Via GB		Dallas is looking to replace Micah Parsons with this pick they acquired from the Green Bay Packers. Parker is an edge with elite handwork, an uncanny ability to strip the ball, and reads the rushers extremely well. He’ll immediately improve the Cowboys’ pass rush and edge of their defense.
21	Steelers	Steelers	Kaydn Proctor	OT	Alabama
			Aaron Rodgers? A rookie? Will Howard? Any way you slice it, the Steelers need someone to anchor this offensive line both this season and for the future. Proctor can set the edge and do just that.
22	Chargers	Chargers	Emmanuel Pregnon	OG	Oregon
			Jim Harbaugh loves to run the ball. That'll be easier with Pregnon clearing the way for Omarion Hampton, and helping to protect Justin Herbert.
23	Eagles	Eagles	Max Iheanachor	OT	Arizona State
			Max Iheanachor is extremely talented but still raw. He’d be the perfect fit for Philadelphia to learn from Lane Johnson and be the long-term replacement. The talent is there; they just need to get it out of him.
24	Browns	Browns	Omar Cooper Jr	WR	Indiana
	Via Jags		The Browns went offensive line with their first pick. They seem very interested in wide receiver and they need the help. Cooper is a smaller version of Debo Samuel and will be a great weapon for the quarterbcak they take next year.
25	Bears	Bears	Peter Woods	DT	Clemson
			Ben Johnson has this offense in the perfect spot. The Bears need to turn their attention to defense in this NFL Draft. One of their biggest needs is someone to plug up the middle. Woods has gone in the top 10 in previous mocks, but he’s seemingly sliding the closer we get to the Draft. The Bears would be overjoyed to see him still on the board at 25.
26	Bills	Bills	Kevin Concepcion	WR	Texas A&M
			If Concepcion is still on the board, how do the Bills not take him? They have got to get Josh Allen more playmakers. DJ Moore was a solid addition, but this receiver room could use more. Concepcion could be that guy. He's a dynamic player whose speed gives him the ability to separate on the outside. It’s a great fit at 26.
27	49ers	49ers	Caleb Lomu	OT	Utah
			Lomu was good in the Big 12, but his potenial is even greater. Putting him with a strong coaching staff and experienced offensive limenan will help him as he fiulls out and grows into a stud left tackle.
28	Texans	Texans	Chase Bisontis	OG	Texas A&M
			The Texans' defense is elite, and they are pretty set at playmakers. This is a great opportunity for them to upgrade their offensive line and offer CJ Stroud some much-needed protection. Bisontis can run block, pass block, has the length and hand teqnique needed. He's been quickly rising up my board and finds himself in the first round here.
29	Chiefs	Chiefs	Eli Stowers	TE	Vanderbuilt
	Via LAR		I'm sticking to the Chiefs taking a tight end early as an heir apparent to Travis Kelce. Here they get Stowers, who has elite athletisicsm and as a former quarterback, understands the game well. He'd be an immediate weapon in this offense.
30	Dolphins	Dolphins	Denzel Boston	WR	Washington
	VIA DEN		The Dolphins acquired this pick in the Jaylen Waddle trade and they’ll get his replacement here. At 6’4”, 210 pounds, Boston is a “big X” receiver for Miami to build around for years going forward.
31	Patriots	Patriots	Keldric Faulk	ED	Auburn
			I'd like to see the Patriots go offensive line here, but they need pass rushing help just as much if not more. faulk is versatile, has a high motor and is also an elite run stopper.
32	Seahawks	Seahawks	Jadarian Price	RB	Notre Dame
			Red alert! A second running back sneaks into the first round, and hes Jeremiyah Love's teammate at that. Price is a great option to replace the Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, and with Zach Charbonnet coming off injury, this actually makes a lot of sense for the Super Bowl Champions.

Second-Round 

#		Team	Pick	Pos	College
33	Jets	Jets	Cashius Howell	ED	Texas A&M
			Howell is a productive, high-motor defensive end. The New York Jets need to stock up on all the talent they can get, and Howell would immediately step up their pass-rushing game in a division with Josh Allen and Drake Maye.
34	Cardinals	Cardinals	R Mason Thomas	ED	Oklahmoma
			Many have the Cardinals going edge in the First Round, but here they addressed the offensive line. Now it’s time to find their pass rusher in Thomas. Thomas has an explosive first step, and the Cardinals hope a chip on his shoulder after being labeled as “too small” by some.
35	Titans	Titans	Chris Brazzell	WR	Tennessee
			The Titans addressed edge in round one; now they turn their attention to the offensive side of the ball. They’ll choose to keep the big play threat in the state where he played his college ball. Lining Brazzell up opposite Calvin Ridley should be a nice fit for Cam Ward.
36	Raiders	Raiders	Caleb Banks	DT	Florida
			The Raiders address their two biggest needs in the first 36 picks. Banks is a high-risk, high-reward player, but this is Las Vegas after all. His foot injury has dropped the once-projected First-Rounder down a notch, but he’s worth the gamble at 36.
37	Giants	Giants	Kayden McDonald	DT	Ohio State
			The Giants waste no time selecting their Dexter Lawrence replacement here at pick 37. McDonald is a 6’2”, 326lb run-stuffing machine. He’ll slot in well to fill the hole left by Lawrence.
38	Texans	Texans	Christen Miller	DT	Georgia
	via WAS		Outside of guard, which they addressed in the First-Round, defensive tackle is a big need for the Texans. They get their guy here, an experienced SEC defender with explosive movement and solid positional length.
39	Browns	Browns	Zion Young	ED	Missouri
			The Browns have Myles Garrett, but need someone to pair up with him. After addressing offensive tackle and wide receiver, I’m not ready for them to enter the quarterback sweepstakes. Young is great in the run game and has solid pass-rushing ability.
40	Chiefs	Chiefs	Lee Hunter	DT	Texas Tech
			The Chiefs could also use help up the middle as we have a flurry of defensive tackles going off the board. Hunter is an elite run stuffer whose strength is at the point of attack. He’s also sneaky good in the pass rush department, and coming to a team with all the tools like Kansas City has, there is massive upside for a player like Hunter.
41	Bengals	Bengals	CJ Allen	LB	Georgia
			After trading for Dexter Lawrence from the Giants, this becomes Cincinnati’s first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They need to continue to focus on building this defense. Allen has elite instincts and may go much sooner than pick 41 here. If he’s still on the board, the former Bulldog would be a great fit on this Bengals defense that continues to build forward.
42	Saints	Saints	Avieon Terrell	DB	Clemson
			Terrell had a great teacher in his brother, a 2020 First-Round pick by the Atlanta Falcons. Now, he hopes to replicate AJ’s success in the same division. The Saints lost Alonte Taylor in free agency and are looking for a replacement. Terrell has great ball tracking skills, and is a nasty competitor.
43	Dolphins	Dolphins	Keylan Rutledge	OG	Georgia Tech
			Rutledge is a big, strong, and exceptionally tough guard. He is an exceptional run blocker and has the potential to get there in the pass blocking game. The Dolphins need to load up on positions of need, and guard is one of them.
44	Jets	Jets	Chris Bell	WR	Louisville
	Via DAL		The Jets could use some help at wide receiver to take the pressure off of star Garrett Wilson. Enter Chris Bell. The Louisville wide receiver with 4.4 speed uses his big frame to make contested catches and is fearless over the middle. He’s coming off an ACL tear, but there’s no need to rush him. This Jets rebuild isn’t a quick turnaround.
45	Ravens	Ravens	Germie Bernard	WR	Alabama
			After getting more protection for Lamar and company in the First-Round, let’s get Lamar a new toy in the second round. The Ravens need help in their wide receiver room, and Bernard would be a huge help. Bernard has high ceiling potential. He’s a do-it-all type player who is extremely reliable. He only had four drops on 232 targets in college.
46	Bucs	Buccaneers	Anthony Hill Jr	LB	Texas
			With future Hall of Famer Lavonte David hanging up his cleats, the Buccaneers have big shoes to fill. They’ll attempt to do that here with the Texas Longhorn. He’s rough around the edges, but Hill has the versatile skill set needed to be a success at the position.
47	Colts	Colts	Jacob Rodriguez	LB	Texas
			Jacob Rodriguez is a high-character player with exceptional football IQ. As a former quarterback, the Texas Tech linebacker has a different vantage point on the game. He forced 13 fumbles in school and is known for his ball-hawking skills.
48	Falcons	Falcons	Colton Hood	CB	Tennessee
			The SEC star is the perfect complement to AJ Terrell in Atlanta at defensive back. The “press-man bully” as hood has been described, fits well, offering man-zone versatility. Hood, a Georgia native, returns home with this pick.
49	Vikings	Vikings	Conner Lew	OG	Auburn
			The Vikings need help on the interior of their offensive line, and Lew is the guy for the job. He’s recovering from a torn ACL, but has an elite skill set. He is a run game superstar and has strong pass protection skills.
50	Lions	Lions	Emmanuel McNeil-Warren	S	Toledo
			The Lions will be licking their chops if McNeil-Warren falls this far. The safety from Toledo who has the size and ability to play safety or step down in the box into a hybrid linebacker role. Emmanuel has closing speed, size, toughness, and range to be an effective box safety.
51	Panthers	Panthers	AJ Haulcy	S	LSU
			Safety is arguably the biggest need for the Panthers in this Draft. They couldn’t pass up on tight end when Kenyon Sadiq fell to them at 16, so they’ll address the safety position here. Haulcy loves to lay the hit stick to rushers and has great ball skills.
52	Packers	Packers	Brandon Cisse	CB	South Carolina
			The Packers desperately need defensive back help. Cisse is talented, quick, and speedy. His specialty is press-man cover. He has good size and strength and could immediately help bolster this defensive backfield.
53	Steelers	Steelers	Garrett Nussmeier	QB	LSU
			Nussmeier has been my guy here, and I’m going to stick with it. The experienced SEC quarterback would be a great fit for this franchise and could stand to learn a few things under one more season of Aaron Rodgers.
54	Eagles	Eagles	Malachi Lawrence	ED	UCF
			Lawrence should catch the eye of Howie Roseman. Lawrence has a massive frame, long arms, and is an elite, explosive athlete. He’d be another great weapon on one of the top Super Bowl-contending teams.
55	Chargers	Chargers	Gabe Jacas	ED	Illinois
			This is a guy Jim Harbaugh will absolutely love. He’s hard-working and extremely physical. He’ll fit in on this blue-collar Chargers defense, strengthening their pass rush, and long-term could be the Khalil Mack replacement.
56	Jaguars	Jaguars	Dominique Orange	DT	Iowa State
			It’s a long wait for the Jaguars to get to their first selection down here at pick 56. They’ll go with “Big Citrus” for the first selection. He’ll improve the interior of this defensive line and continue to help their already solid run-stopping game.
57	Bears	Bears	Derrick Moore	ED	Michigan
			The Bears continue to build their defensive line with this Michigan pass rusher. Moore brings a big ability to rush the passer, something the Bears are in desperate need of.
58	49ers	49ers	Ted Hurst	WR	Georgia State
			The 49ers need help in the wide receiver room. Mike Evans is a great short-term addition, but Brandon Aiyuk seems unlikely to play for the team, and it’s just question marks outside of that. Let a big X receiver like Hurst learn how to play the position from Mike Evans? That could pay big dividends for the 49ers.
59	Texans	Texans	Emmet Johnson	RB	Nebraska/b>
			I’ve been calling my shot for my guy here, and I’m going to stick to it. The Texans signed David Montgomery, and I know they still have Woody Marks. But the explosive, elusive back from Nebraska would be a great addition to run alongside Montgomery and be another weapon for what should be a dangerous offense.
60	Bears	Bears	Kamari Ramsey	S	USC
	Via BUF		The Bears keep their focus on the defensive side of the ball, making it three for three. This time, they move to the defensive backfield with a high-IQ, versatile safety.
61	Rams	Rams	Logan Jones	OG	Iowa
			The Rams need help on the interior of their offensive line. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz sure knows how to produce solid offensive linemen. Logan Jones is the next in that long line. He’s athletic, quick, and experienced in zone blocking.
62	Broncos	Broncos	Max Klare	TE	Ohio State
			After using their First-Round pick to trade for Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos are finally on the clock. They’ll get yet another weapon for Bo Nix and company with the tight end selection here. Klare is a versatile pass catcher and also a great blocker.
63	Patriots	Patriots	Blake Miller	OT	Clemson
			Miller slips a little farther in this mock than he may in the real Draft. If he’s still on the board, he’s a great addition for the Patriots, who need a lot of offensive line help. He can shore up the right side of the line long term.
64	Seahawks	Seahawks	Dani Dennis-Sutton	ED	Penn State
			Seattle picks up an elite high upside athlete with excellent run-defense skills in this Nittany Lion selection. Dennis-Sutton is a smart player who will fit well with “The Dark Side” defense.