The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft could have more surprises than usual.
Here's how I see it going down Thursday night:
1. Las Vegas Raiders
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
This is a slam dunk. New Head Coach Klint Kubiak gets his quarterback to build around.
2. New York Jets
EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
The draft starts here. Nobody knows which pass rusher the pressure-hungry Jets will go with, but Bailey is the most "sure thing" with a defined position and 14.5 sacks last season.
3. Arizona Cardinals
EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
The rebuilding Cardinals can add a versatile defensive building block that helps them in multiple ways. Reese may be the best prospect in this year's draft.
4. Tennessee Titans
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The Titans have their quarterback in Cam Ward, last year's No. 1-overall pick. They can take some pressure off his shoulders with a big-time playmaker in Love.
5. New York Giants
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
John Harbaugh's teams have almost always been led by a strong inside linebacker (Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosley, Roquan Smith). Harbaugh gets a super athletic player and culture setter in Styles to build his defense around.
6. Cleveland Browns
OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
The Browns could trade back here if one of the top linebackers falls, but they don't in this scenario, and Cleveland sticks to pick the top offensive tackle to plug in on the right side.
7. Washington Commanders
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
The Commanders take another polished Ohio State receiver to pair with Terry McLaurin and give Jayden Daniels another weapon.
8. New Orleans Saints
S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The Saints are a trade-down candidate, but if no suitable offer comes, they opt for a leader on the back end of their defense.
9. TRADE: Dallas Cowboys (from Kansas City Chiefs)
CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
The Chiefs can go in several different directions, but with Tate off the board, they make a small move back and the Cowboys get the talented cornerback they need.
10. New York Giants
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Tyson has been getting a lot of buzz lately and the Giants get a premier weapon to put opposite Malik Nabers.
11. Miami Dolphins
OT Spencer Fano, Utah
The Dolphins get a versatile offensive lineman outside the top 10 and move Austin Jackson inside.
12. Kansas City Chiefs
EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
The Chiefs love physical EDGE rushers and Bain would be a strong complement to George Karlaftis.
13. Los Angeles Rams
WR Makai Lemon, USC
The Rams give Matthew Stafford a fully-loaded arsenal of weapons with another tough wide receiver who can work the slot with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams outside.
14. Baltimore Ravens
OG Vega Ioane, Penn State
The Ravens address their need to upgrade the interior of their offensive line with a mauling blocker.
15. TRADE: Philadelphia Eagles (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
The Eagles trade up to get an athletic people-mover that could be an heir apparent to Lane Johnson.
16. New York Jets
WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
The wide receivers continue to come off the board as the Jets grab a partner for Garrett Wilson.
17. Detroit Lions
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
The Lions are heavily linked to offensive tackles and they wait to get their massive blocker opposite Penei Sewell.
18. Minnesota Vikings
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Brian Flores gets a weapon on the back end of his defense.
19. Carolina Panthers
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Sadiq would be the best tight end the Panthers have had since Greg Olsen, and he gives Bryce Young a versatile pass catcher.
20. Dallas Cowboys
EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
The Cowboys need pass rush help and Lawrence was productive in college with 20 career sacks.
Here are some names to keep an eye on during the 2026 NFL Draft.
QB: Taylen Green, Arkansas
Drafting a developmental quarterback is low on the Ravens' priority list, but Green's potential may be too tantalizing to pass up if he's available early on Day 3. The 6-foot-6, 227-pound Green spent three years at Boise State before playing for the Razorbacks the last two seasons. A dual-threat weapon, Green compiled nearly 10,000 passing yards and over 2,400 rushing yards over his five-year career, but had 20 interceptions in the last two seasons. He ran a blazing 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds.
RB: Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
The Ravens have no immediate need for a starting running back, but Derrick Henry is entering his age-32 season and Justice Hill is entering the final year of his deal. The 5-foot-9, 188-pound Claiborne is a speedy tailback who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. After losing Keaton Mitchell in free agency, Claiborne would give Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle a change-of-pace option in the backfield who complements Henry and Hill.
WR: Chris Bell, Louisville
Regarded as a first-round talent, Bell will likely have to wait until Day 2 to hear his name called due to a late-season ACL tear in 2025. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, Bell has been compared to A.J. Brown and had 72 receptions for 917 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games last season. Could the Ravens form a Louisville connection between Bell and Lamar Jackson?
TE: Justin Joly, NC State
If the Ravens don't opt to select Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq in the first round, Joly would be a possible target in the middle rounds. A former wide receiver in high school, Joly had 166 career receptions and nearly 2,000 career receiving yards at NC State. He would help fill out the tight end room with Mark Andrews and blocking specialist Durham Smythe.
OT: Drew Shelton, Penn State
In his four years as a Nittany Lion, Shelton notched 34 starts at left tackle. An athletic blocker with a 6-foot-5 and 313-pound frame, Shelton is projected to be a Day 3 pick with potential to develop into a swing tackle and possibly a starter.
G: Vega Ioane, Penn State
By far the most popular mock draft pick for the Ravens, Ioane is a mauler who would be a plug-and-play starter. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Washington native allowed zero sacks and had zero holding penalties over the last two seasons. Ioane had 32 career starts at left guard and would help bolster an offensive line that was too inconsistent last season.
C: Logan Jones, Iowa
The Ravens have dipped their toes in the Iowa offensive line pipeline in the past, and Jones is another Hawkeye who could become a Raven. Although he's undersized, Jones is one of the top centers in this year's class with 51 starts under his belt. Tyler Linderbaum's replacement in college, Jones could be a Day 1 starter and replace Linderbaum yet again after the Pro Bowl center departed Baltimore for Las Vegas in free agency.
EDGE: Derrick Moore, Michigan
Moore has more than one tie to the Ravens. A Baltimore native, Moore played high school football at St. Frances and was groomed by Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter for two seasons when Minter was Michigan's defensive coordinator. Moore had 10 sacks last season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
DT: Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
In what is widely considered a thin defensive tackle class, Halton could be a target for the Ravens on Day 2 or Day 3. With Nnamdi Madubuike's status for 2026 still uncertain, Halton would give Baltimore much-needed depth along the interior. A part-time starter at Oklahoma, Halton had the second-most pressures (30) in 2025 and 8.5 sacks over his final two seasons.
LB: Jack Kelly, BYU
Between his two seasons at BYU and three seasons at Weber State, Kelly finished his collegiate career with 47 starts. A former three-star recruit, Kelly has the requisite athleticism to be an immediate special teams contributor and provide depth behind Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, and Trenton Simpson.
CB: Tacario Davis, Washington
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds, Davis' measurables are off the charts. He had the largest wingspan among all defensive backs at the Combine and tied for the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash time in 4.41 seconds. A two-year starter at Arizona before he transferred to Washington for his final season, Davis is a playmaker who had 28 career passes defensed, including 16 in one season.
S: Jalen Huskey, Maryland
With Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Keondre Jackson in the fold, there is no need to spend any premium draft capital on a safety. A Frederick native, Huskey is a local product who started his college career as a cornerback at Bowling Green. He played wing on punt coverages last season, compiling four tackles, and could carve out a role on special teams.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
The Steelers have been short-handed at wide receiver. They change that and try to lure Aaron Rodgers back with a speedy receiver – their first wide receiver pick in the first round since 2006 (Santonio Holmes).
22. Los Angeles Chargers
CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
The Chargers and GM Joe Hortiz take a chance on a highly talented ball hawk who is coming off a knee injury.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
The Bucs trade back and still get the productive pass rusher they sought.
24. Cleveland Browns
WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The Browns get a big-bodied target to plug into Todd Monken's offense.
25. Chicago Bears
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
McNeil-Warren is a bit of a sleeper but has all the athletic tools to be a standout player, and he's a playmaker. The Bears are hunting for a safety.
26. Buffalo Bills
DT Peter Woods, Clemson
The Bills are looking to upgrade in the trenches and Woods gives them a talented force who can get into the backfield.
27. San Francisco 49ers
OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
The 49ers kept Trent Williams, but they get a high-upside blocker to start molding.
28. Houston Texans
OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
The offensive tackles continue to come off the board as Houston continues to work on its protection for C.J. Stroud.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
After trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams, the Chiefs rebound with another versatile defensive back.
30. Miami Dolphins
EDGE Keldrick Faulk, Auburn
The Dolphins get a big-bodied run defender with upside to develop as a pass rusher.
31. New England Patriots
CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
There's chatter that Hood is just as good as his Volunteers teammate, McCoy.
32. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals (from Seattle Seahawks)
QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
The Cardinals are looking for their next quarterback and they move up a few spots to get him, plus the fifth-year option. Simpson is a sound decision-maker and the second quarterback off the board.
