The 2026 Draft Thread

2026 NFL mock draft: Yates' first-round pick predictions​


3. Tennessee Titans (2-11)​

Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State*

The Titans and Giants are the only teams with a better than 5% chance at the No. 1 pick that are not in the QB market (per ESPN's Football Power Index). But Tennessee is missing the young edge rusher talent that New York likely got in 2025 with Abdul Carter. It can find that here -- Reese has a case to be the best overall prospect in this entire draft class.

After just 0.5 sacks as mostly a linebacker last season, he posted 6.5 sacks as a primary edge rusher this year. Reese has exceptional burst and power, plus the frame to be a standout NFL edge rusher. As an every-down player, he would form a perfect pairing next to defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.


4. Cleveland Browns (3-10)​

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State*

The Browns will likely have conversations about the quarterback position, but Shedeur Sanders' growth in three games as the starter has been encouraging. And in this scenario, the two clear-cut best signal-callers in my rankings are off the board. But the Browns also have work to do within the offensive supporting cast, including at offensive tackle and wide receiver.

Tate is the next first-round lock from the Ohio State receiver room, and he would be awesome in the Cleveland pass game. He has very good size, runs terrific routes and can make contested catches. He would bring a vertical ability, as he averaged 17.5 yards per catch this season. Also of note: Tate has zero drops on 58 targets this season. No Browns wide receiver has reached 40 catches or 500 receiving yards this season. Time for an upgrade.

6. Washington Commanders (3-10)​

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

The Commanders have relied on an extremely veteran group of edge rushers this season, lacking a true difference-maker at the position. Von Miller leads Washington with six sacks at 36 years old. But there's no better pure rusher in this class than Bailey, who had the second-most sacks (13.5) and pressures (62) in the FBS during his only season at Texas Tech. That makes for a good fit. Bailey's first step puts offensive tackles on their heels in a hurry, and he has eight forced fumbles over the past two seasons.


7. New York Giants (via projected trade with 3-10 NYJ)​

Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State*

After trading down from No. 1 in this mock draft, the Giants can hammer away at their needs -- and one of them is more playmakers for Dart. The Giants struggled to piece things together on offense without Malik Nabers for much of this season (torn ACL), and top fill-in receiver Wan'Dale Robinson will be a free agent in March. Tyson brings a package of size, versatility and explosiveness that would pair great next to Nabers. When the ball is in Tyson's hands, he is tenacious and flexes excellent acceleration. His production dipped this season (711 receiving yards, down from 1,101 in 2024), but he missed three games with a hamstring injury and was without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt for all of November.

9. Los Angeles Rams (via 4-9 ATL)​

Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State*

The Rams are in rare territory as a strong Super Bowl contender with a potential top-10 pick in April -- thanks to the Falcons. While they have the option to make another move with the pick, they could use it here on one of the best safety prospects in recent memory. Downs is a versatile, tone-setting defender who has the chance to be the first safety picked in the top 10 since Jamal Adams went No. 6 to the Jets in 2017. Downs has played in an NFL scheme at Ohio State for much of his college career; he can handle coverage deep in the middle of the field and be a menacing force in the box. Los Angeles has a ton of young talent up front on its defense, but it might lose players on the back end this offseason. Safety Kam Curl is a free agent in March.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)​

Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami*

Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai (who leads the teams in sacks) are scheduled to be free agents in Cincinnati. The Bengals tried to prepare for this future by taking Shemar Stewart in the first round this year, but he has been a nonfactor. Cincinnati really needs to look at the defense again. The Bengals are allowing 6.3 yards per play, worst in the NFL. While some scouts think Bain's lack of length could make him a late first-round pick, all of them agree he's one of the best prospects at his position. I like him in Cincinnati. His relentless, powerful and explosive traits helped him to ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this season. Expect much more debate around Bain and his ceiling in the coming months, but no offense had a real answer for him at the collegiate level.

12. Miami Dolphins (6-7)​

Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn*

The Dolphins need pass-rush help with Bradley Chubb turning 30 this offseason and Jaelan Phillips now on the Eagles (traded on Nov. 3). They're also currently 21st in pass rush win rate (36.5%). Faulk had seven sacks and a forced fumble last season, with all the measurables of a prototypical NFL edge rusher. He is a fluid mover at 6-6, 285 pounds, and his pass rush arsenal is developed enough to where scouts believe he should be high draft pick despite a modest 2025 campaign (2.0 sacks). He can set the edge against the run, too.

www.espn.com

Yates' new NFL mock draft: 32 first-round pick predictions for 2026 -- including one big trade

Which teams need a quarterback? Could Ohio State dominate the first round? Field Yates projects the opening 32 picks of next year's draft.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
Look I expect/hope the Giants continue to suck because they are only 13 years into their 48 years of karmic backlash, BUT if I have to watch them take yet ANOTHER exciting WR while we take a pass rusher I am going to scream.
 
www.nytimes.com

College football Freaks List 2025: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith tops a list of 101

The 2025 Freaks List is here. College football is close!
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

College football Freaks List 2025:​

David Bailey, Texas Tech, outside linebacker​

One of the many big gets by the Red Raiders in the portal this offseason, Bailey had a combined 22.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his three seasons at Stanford. He is PFF’s highest-rated returning edge player after grading out at 90.9 as a junior in 2024. Bailey bench pressed 405 pounds and squatted 550. He has rare speed for a guy at 6-3, 250, having hit 22.16 mph. His new teammate Romello Height is almost as Freaky, having clocked 21.82 mph at 240 pounds.
 
DogofWar1 said:
Look I expect/hope the Giants continue to suck because they are only 13 years into their 48 years of karmic backlash, BUT if I have to watch them take yet ANOTHER exciting WR while we take a pass rusher I am going to scream.
Click to expand...

Why? EDGE and WR have close to equal positional value. I don’t think this team has had an elite edge rusher since Dexter Manley

Aiyuk + Bailey would be 2 awesome offseason pillar moves
 
skinsinparadise said:
www.nytimes.com

College football Freaks List 2025: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith tops a list of 101

The 2025 Freaks List is here. College football is close!
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

College football Freaks List 2025:​

David Bailey, Texas Tech, outside linebacker​

One of the many big gets by the Red Raiders in the portal this offseason, Bailey had a combined 22.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his three seasons at Stanford. He is PFF’s highest-rated returning edge player after grading out at 90.9 as a junior in 2024. Bailey bench pressed 405 pounds and squatted 550. He has rare speed for a guy at 6-3, 250, having hit 22.16 mph. His new teammate Romello Height is almost as Freaky, having clocked 21.82 mph at 240 pounds.
Click to expand...
Question though: would we play him at a rush linebacker type since he isn't very big? I'd be inclined to do the same with Cashius Howell due to size and stubby arms.

But this might be the type of monster this defense needs.
 
Riggo44 said:
Question though: would we play him at a rush linebacker type since he isn't very big? I'd be inclined to do the same with Cashius Howell due to size and stubby arms.

But this might be the type of monster this defense needs.
Click to expand...

Not sure. He has been decent against the run in college in spite of his size. Worst case, he's mostly a third down pass rusher. But my key thing is a dude who can terroize the QB.
 
method man said:
Why? EDGE and WR have close to equal positional value. I don’t think this team has had an elite edge rusher since Dexter Manley

Aiyuk + Bailey would be 2 awesome offseason pillar moves
Click to expand...
Because I don't trust Aiyuk to be available and good, and have a real fear we're going to Patrick Ramsey Jayden by underinvesting in our offensive weapons.

Aiyuk playing like he did in '23 plus Bailey being a stud would be awesome, but we've been burned too many times.
 
If the 49ers gave up on Deebo and they were mostly right then why would we think they would be wrong about Aiyuk especially when I think they have to swallow a pretty big cap hit to cut him.
 
Riggo44 said:
Question though: would we play him at a rush linebacker type since he isn't very big? I'd be inclined to do the same with Cashius Howell due to size and stubby arms.

But this might be the type of monster this defense needs.
Click to expand...
I can see that. Baileys speed is estimated to be much quicker than Howells. which one has short arms, I was under the impression they both had long arms? Seems like these guys would be 20 picks a part of each other.

Bailey is a stud!
 
burgold said:
If the 49ers gave up on Deebo and they were mostly right then why would we think they would be wrong about Aiyuk especially when I think they have to swallow a pretty big cap hit to cut him.
Click to expand...

It’s not like they have a choice. He doesn’t want to play there
 
DWinzit said:
I can see that. Baileys speed is estimated to be much quicker than Howells. which one has short arms, I was under the impression they both had long arms? Seems like these guys would be 20 picks a part of each other.

Bailey is a stud!
Click to expand...

I know Bailey’s run defense has been a question mark but skinsinparadise says it looks better this year. Feels like a high floor prospect to me
 
Found this on Bailey--he makes me feel kinda funny, like when we used to have to climb the rope in gym class. Romelio Height also was in the backfield a lot with Bailey, albeit 15 lbs lighter, would definitely be a linebacker
 
method man said:
I know Bailey’s run defense has been a question mark but skinsinparadise says it looks better this year. Feels like a high floor prospect to me
Click to expand...

His PFF run stopping grade is good, not great but good. Reese, ditto, but better against the run rep wise than Bailey.

I want some serious heat at the QB -- a Parsons, Brian Burns, etc types. Those guys are hard to find. Build a lead and let them terrorize the QB.
 
philibusters said:
Just looked up David Bailey's stats--74 pressures and a 21.6% pass rush win rate. He is having a monster year
Click to expand...

Sacks weren’t what they were this year but he had a similar pressure rate at Stanford last year too
 
method man said:
Sacks weren’t what they were this year but he had a similar pressure rate at Stanford last year too
Click to expand...

He was good the season before that one too, in terms of sack to the number of pass rushes he made. They sent him after the QB more as his career progressed.
 
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