It’s time for my one, only and final 2026 NFL Mock Draft! Doing Mock Draft. Mock Drafts remind me a lot of my academic career where I’m waiting until the deadline to jam everything in together at the last second. If we’re being honest any mock draft is a bit of a crap shoot, fortunately I love shooting craps.
This mock draft is ultimately I lean into the Huddle Report scoring system which values getting the right pick to the right team. I didn’t do any trades in my mock draft as I feel like that taints the process.
Some of my favorite NFL Draft Bets for 2026, some align with the mock draft some don’t.
CHIEFS FIRST PICK OL +250
You have your franchise QB Patrick Mahomes coming off an ACL tear. Protecting him should be their primary concern and Andy Reid loves OL.
BRONCOS FIRST PICK RB +750
Broncos don’t pick until 62, there is a real chance you could get the second or third RB in the draft at that spot. Sean Payton is a guy who values the RB and spent a ton of draft capital on players like Reggie Bush and Mark Ingram.
LEE HUNTER FIRST ROUND +1700
I think there’s a real chance he goes to the Bills at 26. The Bills are switching to a 3-4 and could use a NT, Lee Hunter is a beast from Texas Tech and a fun long shot.
COLTS FIRST PICK QB +2500
The contract the Colts gave Daniel Jones shows they don’t love the guy and who can blame them. Getting a QB for the future in the late second round isn’t a crazy idea and a great long shot.
EAGLES FIRST PICK WR +300
Howie Roseman and the Eagles value the WR position and have spent a ton over the year drafting them in the first round. Additionally Howie may even trade up to get his guy as he loves trades.
Former 2023 Huddle Report Mock Draft Champion
It’s banner raising season 🏆
2023 Mock Draft Champion @seantgreen pic.twitter.com/FahTzRf1R7
— Sports Gambling Podcast ™ (@GamblingPodcast) July 21, 2023
Round One 2026 NFL Mock Draft
| # | Team | Pick | Pos | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raiders |  Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana |
| I'm skeptical on Mendoza but he's clearly the best QB in the class and the Raiders desperately need a QB. I don't care what Kramer says the Raiders are going Mendoza. |
|||||
| 2 | Jets |  Jets | Arvell Reese | LB | Ohio State |
| If the Jets wanted Rueben Bain why'd they cancel his top 30 visit? I know the National guys love Bain here but I'm going Reese. | |||||
| 3 | Cardinals |  Cardinals | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami |
| The Cardinals need a RT and he fits the bill perfectly. I think they'll get him with some sort of trade back, but if forced to stick and pick they'll take their guy. | |||||
| 4 | Titans |  Titans | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame |
| The Titans have a ton of needs, including the need to sell the fanbase to come to games. Drafting a flashy RB solves that problem. | |||||
| 5 | Giants |  Giants | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State |
| The Giants have so many needs they can't go wrong, so drafting a stud like Caleb Downs will certainly help their terrible franchise. | |||||
| 6 | Browns |  Browns Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State |
|
| The Browns could go OL here, but I think they'll be too tempted to take the #1 WR in the draft. | |||||
| 7 | Commanders |  Commanders | Sonny Styles | LB | Ohio State |
| Owner Josh Harris is too busy keeping his name out of the Epstein files to care abou the draft. He'll let Dan Quinn make the pick and a guy like Styles is right up Quinn's alley. | |||||
| 8 | Saints |  Saints | David Bailey | ED | Texas Tech |
| This will probably involve a trade with Arizona, but Kellen Moore knows you need a good pass rush to build the franchise the right way. | |||||
| 9 | Chiefs |  Chiefs | Spencer Fano | OL | Utah |
| Showtime Mahomes is too important not to protect. Andy Reid and Kyle Whittingham are former teammates and good buddies so this pick makes too much sense. | |||||
| 10 | Giants | Giants | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State |
| The Giants putting together an injury prone super team on offense is too funny not to select. | |||||
| 11 | Dolphins |  Dolphins | Rueben Bain | DL | Miami |
| Local product staying home to help the Dolphins pass rush. | |||||
| 12 | Cowboys |  Cowboys | Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU |
| Dallas Sucks and will still continue to suck, but this pick makes sense to help their defense. | |||||
| 13 | Rams |  Rams Makai Lemon | WR | USC |
|
| Via ATL | Rams GM Les Snead has two kids who go to USC so he's very familiar with Lemon and they want more pass catchers. | ||||
| 14 | Ravens |  Ravens | Olaivavega Ioane | G | PSU |
| Protect Lamar at all costs and Ravens might get the best OL in the draft here. | |||||
| 15 | Bucs |  Buccaneers | Akheem Mesidor | DL | Miami |
| Todd Bowles is nearing the end of his run and needs more pass rush help. | |||||
| 16 | Jets | Jets | Omar Cooper | WR | Indiana |
| Via IND | Jets need playmakers of all sorts, Cooper is a reliable pass catcher. | ||||
| 17 | Lions |  Lions | Monroe Freeling | OL | Georgia |
| Lions have made no secret they love Freeling and may even trade up to get him. | |||||
| 18 | Vikings |  Vikings | Dillon Thieneman | S | Oregon |
| Remember when the Vikings drafted Nine? Anyway they go safety here. | |||||
| 19 | Panthers |  Panthers Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon |
|
| My dream of a Panthers TE getting into the end zone finally comes true. | |||||
| 20 | Cowboys | Cowboys | Malachi Lawrence | DL | UCF |
| Via GB | Thankfully the Cowboys got rid of that Micah Parson so they could get a guy not as good. This is why Dallas sucks. | ||||
| 21 | Steelers |  Steelers | Blake Miller | OT | Clemson |
| Aaron Rodgers wife is one of the missing UFO scientists. He'll be distracted with that looming and need more protection up front. | |||||
| 22 | Chargers |  Chargers | Keldric Faulk | DL | Auburn |
| I asked ChatGPT if Faulk was a football guy and it said fuck yes. Classic Harbaugh pick. | |||||
| 23 | Eagles |  Eagles Denzel Boston | WR | Washington |
|
| The big takeway from 'Inner Excellence' is moving on from dead weight. Welcome | |||||
| 24 | Browns | Browns Kadyn Proctor | OL | Alabama |
|
| Via Jags | Someone needs to keep that watch clean for Shedeur Sanders. Time for some OL help. | ||||
| 25 | Bears |  Bears TJ Parker | DL | Clemson |
|
| The Bears went all in on offense last year and go heavy defense to start here. | |||||
| 26 | Bills |  Bills | CJ Allen | LB | Georgia |
| Bills switching to a 3-4 will need LB help. Darkhorse is Lee Hunter but I'll take the chalkier play here. | |||||
| 27 | 49ers |  49ers Caleb Lomu | OL | Utah |
|
| Don't rule out WR, but if they go OL this is their guy. | |||||
| 28 | Texans |  Texans | Kayden McDonald | DL | Ohio State |
| Texans are a real wildcard in this draft, but DL is one of their needs. | |||||
| 29 | Chiefs | Chiefs | Colton Hood | CB | Tennessee |
| Via LAR | I forget what mock draft I copied this from but it made sense at the time. | ||||
| 30 | Dolphins | Dolphins | Jermod McCoy | CB | Tennessee |
| VIA DEN | Falls because of injury concerns but could be a real steal. | ||||
| 31 | Patriots |  Patriots | Max Iheanachor | OL | Arizona State |
| Crazy everyone thought Vrabel was out in Arizona just to jump Diana Russini's bones. In fact he was scouting this stud OT. | |||||
| 32 | Seahawks |  Seahawks | Chris Johnson | CB | SDSU |
| Seattle lost Riq Woolen and Chris Johnson could be a plug and play replacement. | |||||
