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Brad Menendez
Guest
We made it! Draft day is upon us again, and this one may be one of the most active in recent memory. I predict we will see more trades throughout the 2026 NFL draft than we have before. It feels like there’s really not a true consensus, especially if you look at my last article from the weekend, where the community doesn’t seem strongly one way or the other AFTER pick #1. I’m not making trades (as per my usual), BUT I do expect 3-4 trades in round 1 this year.
My mock is always run over on our friends’ NFLMockDraftDatabase.com.
The draft really starts at pick 2, and New York probably goes edge in some form or fashion, is it Bailey? Reese? Bain? Someone else? I go to Reese for its versatility.
They aren’t taking Love; the position doesn’t make sense given what they have and what they need. No QB here, so you go best player on the board, though I’d argue Ioane is the best offensive lineman in the entire draft.
This could be love, but I think none of the next 4 teams need RB enough to take him, so they take the best wideout and believe they can scoop Love up at 10.
Best lineman in the draft, at a position of need. I don’t see why they don’t.
I think they target a player on each side of the ball. They could double down on defense and take a DB, but think they need a true #2 to pair with Wilson.
Mesidor is a big risk, big reward, but I think he’s the best edge on the board for Dallas currently. It was between him and Malachi Lawrence for me. Both have concerns to some degree, but are both first-round players for me.
If Rodgers comes back, wideout makes sense. I like Will Howard a lot as a guy to develop for another year. Now, if Rodgers doesn’t, this could be a QB. If you think Simpson is QB2, fine, I would wait if I were them, and target a Cole Payton/Drew Allar/Nussmeier later in the draft.
Edge or wideout makes sense here, could see them go Lawrence or Zion Young, but Boston is a guy I’d love to see in this offense.
If they think they’re an edge away from getting back to the big game, Lawrence is the most ready to step in on day 1, IMO.
Running back makes no sense here; grab an edge or safety. I love Warren, so I took him for them as he would make a ton of sense in that secondary.
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My mock is always run over on our friends’ NFLMockDraftDatabase.com.
2026 NFL Mock Draft – My Predictions for Round 1
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
The draft really starts at pick 2, and New York probably goes edge in some form or fashion, is it Bailey? Reese? Bain? Someone else? I go to Reese for its versatility.
3. Arizona Cardinals – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
They aren’t taking Love; the position doesn’t make sense given what they have and what they need. No QB here, so you go best player on the board, though I’d argue Ioane is the best offensive lineman in the entire draft.
4. Tennessee Titans – David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
5. New York Giants – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
This could be love, but I think none of the next 4 teams need RB enough to take him, so they take the best wideout and believe they can scoop Love up at 10.
6. Cleveland Browns – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
7. Washington Commanders – Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State
Best lineman in the draft, at a position of need. I don’t see why they don’t.
8. New Orleans Saints – Rueben Bain, EDGE, Miami (FL)
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
10. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
11. Miami Dolphins – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
13. Los Angeles Rams – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
14. Baltimore Ravens – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
16. New York Jets – Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
I think they target a player on each side of the ball. They could double down on defense and take a DB, but think they need a true #2 to pair with Wilson.
17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
18. Minnesota Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19. Carolina Panthers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20. Dallas Cowboys – Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Mesidor is a big risk, big reward, but I think he’s the best edge on the board for Dallas currently. It was between him and Malachi Lawrence for me. Both have concerns to some degree, but are both first-round players for me.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
If Rodgers comes back, wideout makes sense. I like Will Howard a lot as a guy to develop for another year. Now, if Rodgers doesn’t, this could be a QB. If you think Simpson is QB2, fine, I would wait if I were them, and target a Cole Payton/Drew Allar/Nussmeier later in the draft.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
23. Philadelphia Eagles – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
24. Cleveland Browns – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
25. Chicago Bears – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Edge or wideout makes sense here, could see them go Lawrence or Zion Young, but Boston is a guy I’d love to see in this offense.
26. Buffalo Bills – Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
28. Houston Texans – Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
29. Kansas City Chiefs – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
30. Miami Dolphins – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
31. New England Patriots – Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF
If they think they’re an edge away from getting back to the big game, Lawrence is the most ready to step in on day 1, IMO.
32. Seattle Seahawks – Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Running back makes no sense here; grab an edge or safety. I love Warren, so I took him for them as he would make a ton of sense in that secondary.
As always, Thanks for Stopping By!
If you want to keep the conversation going, make sure to jump into our free Discord community. As well as follow Draft Countdown on YouTube for NFL Draft and fantasy football videos. Including mock drafts, with college football analysis every season, and more!
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