2026 NFL Mock Draft by ESPN

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The college football season has concluded with a historic Indiana championship, and the ripple effects are already reshaping the 2026 NFL Draft board. ESPN’s latest projection features a stunning rise at quarterback and a heavy influx of defensive difference-makers in the lottery. Here is the full first-round breakdown, counting down from 30 to the new number one overall pick.

30. Anthony Hill Jr.

Linebacker, Texas (To Denver Broncos)
Denver closes out the first round by adding the heart and soul of the Longhorns’ defense. Hill is a sideline-to-sideline missile who diagnoses plays instantly, giving the Broncos a true field general to quarterback their defense. His ability to blitz from the second level makes him a perfect fit for a modern NFL scheme.​

29. Monroe Freeling

Offensive Tackle, Georgia (To Los Angeles Rams)
After ignoring the line for years, the Rams double-dip at tackle to protect their future investment under center. Freeling is a massive, athletic tackle who refined his technique in the SEC trenches, offering the foot speed to mirror elite pass rushers. He steps in as a Day 1 starter on the right side.​

28. Blake Miller

Offensive Tackle, Clemson (To Houston Texans)
C.J. Stroud gets more protection with one of the most experienced linemen in the class. Miller started nearly every game of his career at Clemson, bringing a nasty, finishing mentality to the run game. He provides immediate stability to the Texans’ front that wants to dominate the line of scrimmage.​

27. Caleb Lomu

Offensive Tackle, Utah (To San Francisco 49ers)
The 49ers reload their offensive line with a versatile blocker who thrives in zone schemes. Lomu’s athleticism allows him to get out in space and punish defenders at the second level, making him tailor-made for Kyle Shanahan’s system. He represents the next generation of protection for San Francisco.​

26. KC Concepcion

Wide Receiver, Texas A&M (To Buffalo Bills)
Josh Allen lands a dynamic slot weapon who can turn short passes into long touchdowns. Concepcion, who finished his career in the SEC, is an electric playmaker with the ball in his hands, giving the Bills the yards-after-catch threat they’ve been missing. He adds a new layer of explosiveness to the Buffalo offense.​

25. Zion Young

Edge, Missouri (To Chicago Bears)
Chicago adds juice to its pass rush with a prospect whose best football is still ahead of him. Young is a twitchy edge defender with an explosive first step, capable of winning with speed or converting it to power. He pairs with Montez Sweat to form a terrifying duo for NFC North quarterbacks.​

24. Denzel Boston

Wide Receiver, Washington (To Cleveland Browns)
The Browns find a big-bodied target to complement their passing attack. Boston is a red-zone nightmare with a massive catch radius, consistently winning 50/50 balls against smaller corners. He gives Cleveland the possession receiver they need to move the chains on third down.​

23. Kenyon Sadiq

Tight End, Oregon (To Philadelphia Eagles)
Philadelphia adds another weapon to its arsenal with the most athletic tight end in the draft. Sadiq is a matchup problem who operates like a big receiver, too fast for linebackers and too strong for safeties. He fits perfectly into an Eagles offense that loves to create mismatches in the middle of the field.​

22. Caleb Banks

Defensive Line, Florida (To Los Angeles Chargers)
Jim Harbaugh continues to build the Chargers from the inside out. Banks is a disruptive interior force who can collapse the pocket and eat up double teams in the run game. His length and power give Los Angeles a foundational piece for their defensive front.​

21. Avieon Terrell

Cornerback, Clemson (To Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Steelers draft a corner with NFL bloodlines and a physical style that matches their defensive identity. Terrell is a sticky man-cover corner who isn’t afraid to come up and tackle in the run game. He slides in opposite Joey Porter Jr. to give Pittsburgh a lockdown duo.​

20. T.J. Parker

Edge, Clemson (To Dallas Cowboys)
Dallas uses its second first-round pick to reload its pass rush with a polished technician. Parker was a consistent disruptor at Clemson, winning with hand usage and leverage rather than just pure speed. He provides immediate depth and future starting potential for the Cowboys’ defensive line.​

19. Olaivavega Ioane

Interior OL, Penn State (To Carolina Panthers)
Carolina invests in the interior to keep Bryce Young’s pocket clean. Ioane is a powerful guard who moves people in the run game and provides a sturdy anchor against defensive tackles. He brings a physical edge to a Panthers line that needs to establish an identity.​

18. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Safety, Tulane (To Minnesota Vikings)
The Vikings grab a versatile defensive back who can play all over the secondary. McNeil-Warren is a ball hawk with the size to play in the box and the range to cover deep. Brian Flores gets a chess piece to deploy in his aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme.​

17. Keldric Faulk

Edge, Auburn (To Detroit Lions)
Detroit adds another blue-chip talent to aid Aidan Hutchinson. Faulk is a long, powerful rusher who fits the Lions’ culture of biting kneecaps and playing physical football. His ability to set the edge makes him a complete defender from Day 1.​

16. Makai Lemon

Wide Receiver, USC (To New York Jets)
After bolstering the defense early, the Jets use their second pick to add speed to the offense. Lemon is a smooth route runner with deceptive deep speed, giving New York a vertical threat to stretch defenses. He reunites with Lincoln Riley-style concepts to spark the Jets’ passing game.​

15. Brandon Cisse

Cornerback, South Carolina (To Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Tampa Bay addresses a critical need by adding one of the SEC’s rising stars. Cisse is a fluid athlete with excellent recovery speed, capable of shadowing the league’s quicker receivers. He steps into a secondary that needs an infusion of youth and playmaking ability.​

14. Jordyn Tyson

Wide Receiver, Arizona State (To Baltimore Ravens)
Lamar Jackson gets a true deep threat who can take the top off a defense. Tyson was a highlight reel waiting to happen in the Big 12, using his elite speed to win vertically. He opens up the field for the Ravens’ run game by forcing safeties to stay deep.​

13. Colton Hood

Cornerback, Tennessee (To Los Angeles Rams)
The Rams start their first-round haul by securing a lockdown corner. Hood is a physical press-man defender who thrived in the SEC, showing the confidence to thrive on an island. He gives Los Angeles a true CB1 to anchor their defensive backfield.​

12. Sonny Styles

Linebacker/Safety, Ohio State (To Dallas Cowboys)
Dallas drafts a defensive unicorn who defies traditional positional labels. Styles is a massive safety-linebacker hybrid who can cover tight ends, blitz the quarterback, or play deep half. Micah Parsons gets a running mate who is just as versatile and disruptive.​

11. Jermod McCoy

Cornerback, Tennessee (To Miami Dolphins)
Miami adds speed and length to its secondary with another Volunteer standout. McCoy is a ball magnet who plays the ball in the air like a wide receiver, generating turnovers at a high clip. He fits perfectly into a Dolphins defense that relies on creating big plays.​

10. Mansoor Delane

Cornerback, Virginia Tech (To Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals stop the slide of a top-tier cover man to round out the top ten. Delane is a technician with exceptional footwork, rarely getting out of position against elite route runners. He gives Cincinnati a reliable starter to combat the AFC North’s passing attacks.​

9. David Bailey

Edge, Texas Tech (To Kansas City Chiefs)
The rich get richer as the Chiefs add the nation’s sack leader to their championship defense. Bailey is a pure speed rusher with elite bend, capable of turning the corner before tackles can react. Putting him on the same line as Chris Jones is a nightmare scenario for the rest of the league.​

8. Jeremiyah Love

Running Back, Notre Dame (To New Orleans Saints)
The Saints find the perfect heir to Alvin Kamara in this electric dual-threat back. Love is a home-run hitter who can score from anywhere on the field, whether taking a handoff or catching a pass in the slot. He revitalizes the New Orleans offense with his explosive versatility.​

7. Caleb Downs

Safety, Ohio State (To Washington Commanders)
Washington secures the smartest defensive player in the draft to quarterback their secondary. Downs is an instinctive playmaker who processes the game faster than anyone else, consistently arriving at the ball before the offense expects him. He is a foundational culture-setter for the Commanders.​

6. Spencer Fano

Offensive Tackle, Utah (To Cleveland Browns)
Cleveland reinforces the trenches with a nasty, technically sound protector. Fano plays with a mean streak that fits the AFC North perfectly, finishing blocks and burying defenders in the run game. He ensures the Browns’ offensive line remains one of the league’s best units.​

5. Carnell Tate

Wide Receiver, Ohio State (To New York Giants)
The Giants finally land a true alpha receiver to command their passing attack. Tate is a polished route runner with strong hands and elite body control, offering a reliable target on every down. He gives New York the WR1 they have desperately needed since the Odell Beckham Jr. era.​

4. Rueben Bain Jr.

Edge, Miami (To Tennessee Titans)
Nashville gets tougher with the addition of a relentless pass-rushing force. Bain is a disruptor who wins with power, leverage, and a motor that never stops running. He immediately upgrades the Titans’ ability to pressure the quarterback and set the edge against the run.​

3. Francis Mauigoa

Offensive Tackle, Miami (To Arizona Cardinals)
Arizona makes a massive investment in Kyler Murray’s safety with this franchise left tackle. Mauigoa combines rare size with nimble feet, erasing elite speed rushers and moving bodies in the run game. He is a cornerstone piece for the Cardinals’ offense for the next decade.​

2. Arvell Reese

Edge, Ohio State (To New York Jets)
With their first selection, the Jets grab the most explosive athlete in the draft class. Reese is a versatile linebacker-edge hybrid who terrorized the Big Ten with his speed and violence. He gives New York a dynamic playmaker to build their defense around.​

1. Fernando Mendoza

Quarterback, Indiana (To Las Vegas Raiders)
The Raiders shock the world by taking the orchestrator of Indiana’s national title run at number one. Mendoza’s rapid ascent is built on pocket precision, leadership, and clutch performance on the biggest stage. Vegas pushes all its chips to the center of the table, betting that he is the franchise’s savior they’ve been searching for.​

The Takeaway

The 2026 class is defined by a massive influx of Big Ten talent and a defensive resurgence, but the story of the night is Indiana. The Hoosiers’ championship run has culminated in the number one overall pick, signaling a new era in college football where talent can rise from anywhere. Defense rules the middle of the round, but the Raiders have ensured that a quarterback once again wears the crown.

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