2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

My second attempt at a mock draft factors in free agency.

By: Dante Collinelli

NFL Free Agency represents a shakeup in mock drafts. Teams address needs throughout the first window, giving us a glimpse into their plans for the future.

As always, I’ll do my best to be predictive, but I don’t have sources for this kind of stuff. So, it’s our best guess of what the team will do, mixed with my own thoughts about the franchise’s direction.

Let’s get into it.

2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

There isn’t much to say about this pick. It’s a complete formality at this point in the process, but it should be noted that this is the right decision for the Raiders. Mendoza is worth the top overall pick in this class.

He led Indiana to one of the most improbable seasons in college football history and proved he could elevate a roster.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

The Jets added some veterans at edge rusher and linebacker, but none of them project as long-term, dynamic options like Reese. I like Reese playing off the ball, but Aaron Glenn is certainly creative enough to move Reese around the formation.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT/IOL, Miami

Francis Mauigoa isn’t what a typical top-three tackle looks like, but the Cardinals need help at guard or tackle. While I think Mauigoa can operate at tackle, if the team wants to put him at guard, he’ll be more than solid there.

Releasing Kyler Murray officially puts this team in the long-term QB market, so building a wall in front of whoever ends up being the QB is smart.

4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., IDL, Miami

If there’s a team that can look past Bain’s underwhelming length, it might be the one with Robert Saleh as the head coach. Bain is a powerful, technically sound player. An outlier? Sure, but his tape is phenomenal.

Pairing him with Jeffery Simmons would be so much fun. The Titans added some defensive line depth in free agency, but again, this just feels like a perfect fit.

5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

John Harbaugh strikes us as the type of coach who won’t care much for positional value. Love blew up the NFL Combine and has a long track record of success. Cam Skattebo is coming off a major injury, and Tyrone Tracy has had consistent success. This would be a luxury pick, but the Giants pairing Jaxson Dart with Love would be incredibly fun.

6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Freeling’s stock has skyrocketed since the NFL Combine. I’m not sure if Freeling’s stock gets quite this high, but Cleveland needs a true, long-term left tackle.

The Browns invested quite a bit in the interior of their offensive line, but tackle is still a question mark. Freeling has every tool imaginable to be that player at the NFL level.

7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Commanders hit the free agent edge rusher market hard and added Leo Chenal at linebacker. Washington could use some defensive depth for sure, but their receiver room is pretty lacking besides Terry McLaurin.

So, they go back to the Ohio State well and add Carnell Tate. He’s a reliable, three-level threat that should allow Jayden Daniels to push the ball downfield how he wants.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

As of writing, the Saints haven’t signed a single receiver in free agency, and they need one badly. Tyson’s injury history might cast some doubt, but if teams are comfortable with his medicals, there’s no doubt he’s worth a top-10 pick in this draft.

If the Tyler Shough experiment is going to work, he’ll need a lot more firepower around him.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

The Chiefs made the massive move of trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams, opening up a pretty big hole at cornerback. Delane is a perfect fit to come in and play well in his rookie season.

He’s got the chops to play in man coverage and is excellent at staying in phases at all three levels of the field. Kansas City needs as many young starters as possible.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Caleb Downs is our No. 1 overall player in this class, so this is a pretty good outcome for the Bengals. Basically, our strategy with Cincinnati is to draft whoever the BPA defender would be.

The team has made a few nice additions on defense in free agency, but Downs is a game-changer on the backend who makes everyone’s life a lot easier.

11. Miami Dolphins: Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

Despite Miami’s lack of depth on defense, this is the direction the Dolphins should go. Miami’s guard play for the past three-ish years has been truly rough. Ioane is one of the cleanest evaluations in this class.

He’s stout and quick as a pass blocker, and he’s got enough strength to generate movement in the running game.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

This seems like a dream scenario for the Cowboys, even if it’s somewhat unlikely. Styles is certainly talented enough to go higher than this, but the positional value of linebackers makes this a reasonable fall.

For Dallas, Styles can serve as the anchor in the middle of the defense that it has been missing for much of the past few seasons.

13. Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Picking for the Rams is a little difficult because of the work they’ve done to remodel their secondary already. However, wide receiver remains a need, and Makai Lemon is worthy of this selection.

Davante Adams isn’t getting any younger, and the Rams don’t have many proven playmakers behind Puka Nacua. Lemon feels like the type of receiver Sean McVay could get the most out of.

14. Baltimore Ravens: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Funny story, the original draft of this mock had the Raiders picking in this spot after the Maxx Crosby trade. That fell through, the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson, and David Bailey fell down the board a bit.

It’s pretty much the most ideal outcome the Ravens could hope for at this point in the process. Bailey has the talent to go higher, but there is a surprise fall every year.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Faulk won’t be every team’s cup of tea, but the Buccaneers tend to like tall, long edge rushers with plenty of upside. Tampa Bay has some solid edge players, but nobody with the upside to become a true dominant presence — Faulk has that. He just needs to develop a bit more as a pass rusher.

16. New York Jets: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The Jets would’ve loved to see one of the top receivers fall to this spot, but it just didn’t work out for them. However, McCoy’s strange draft process makes him an absolute steal at this spot.

He would replace Brandon Stephens, who has had a less-than-consistent career. Combine this with Reese and the team’s free agent additions, and the Jets’ defense looks pretty solid.

17. Detroit Lions: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Fano could still go top 10 when it’s all said and done, but it seems like his stock is falling a bit. This is easily the best fit for him, as Detroit could use some help on the interior and at tackle.

Fano’s athletic ability and physicality also seem like a perfect scheme fit for the Lions. He would do a nice job bookending the line with Penei Sewell for the foreseeable future.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

With the Harrison Smith era likely ending, the Vikings could use another versatile and highly productive safety on the backend. Thieneman dominated the NFL Combine and has multiple years of excellent tape between Oregon and Purdue.

Brian Flores could also get quite a bit out of using him near the line of scrimmage if he wanted to.

19. Carolina Panthers: Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson

Woods’ stock has fallen quite a bit in the media, but the NFL doesn’t always follow suit with players like Woods. He had a down 2025 season, but he’s still got a lot of starting-caliber skills, especially considering his run defense.

Pairing him with Derrick Brown long-term could give Carolina one of the better one-two interior punches in the league.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

The Cowboys’ cornerback room looks a lot better than it has in recent years, but continuing to invest in long-term options feels like a smart place to go with this pick. Terrell has a knack for making plays on the ball, and he’s capable of playing inside and outside, depending on how a team views his size.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The Steelers have Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson in the middle of the defense, but Wilson has struggled to be a consistent contributor. Allen can come in right away and raise the Steelers’ floor on that side of the ball quite a bit.

Pittsburgh’s top need is quarterback, but it seems content to wait out Aaron Rodgers. As of this writing, he’s yet to make his decision for the 2026 season.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kaydn Proctor, OL, Alabama

The Chargers need to add young, talented offensive linemen anyway they can. With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt holding down the tackle spots, I’m predicting a position switch for Proctor on the interior.

He’s got a mean streak to him, and he’s plenty athletic enough relative to his size. This feels like a good compromise between Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel’s preferences.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: T.J. Parker, Clemson, Edge

Philadelphia’s edge rusher rotation needs a little more juice, and Parker is a nice complement to many of the players already in the building. Nolan Smith, Jaylx Hunt, and Arnold Ebiketie are all speed rushers who can struggle to set the edge.

Parker showed he could do that at a high level at Clemson, and he’s got a nice power rushing profile to push passers toward Philly’s speed rushers.

24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

After adding another offensive lineman, the Browns would be smart to consider adding some more playmakers. Regardless of who starts at QB this coming season, Boston’s ability to win at all three levels of the field would be a help. His massive catch radius and contested catch prowess also make him a good option on the outside.

25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Safety

The Bears added Coby Bryant in free agency, but could use someone to play next to him after Jaquan Brisker went to the Steelers. McNeil-Warren is a fast, physical playmaker on the backend who hits like some throwback safeties from previous eras.

He’s also got plenty of size and the experience to play in deep zones, near the box, or in the slot. He’d be an excellent fit for this Bears’ defense.

26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State

The Bills have struggled to stop the run for a few years now, and it’s been one of the bigger reasons they’ve lost some big games. McDonald could come in and raise their floor as a rookie, while complementing last year’s picks at IDL in Deone Walker and T.J. Sanders.

McDonald is arguably the most consistent and polished run defender in this class. It’s just a matter of whether he can develop as a pass rusher.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

It seems like the 49ers have hit a standstill with Trent Williams, but they still need to start planning for his retirement anyway. Miller is an excellent plug-and-play option with plenty of athleticism to execute the 49ers’ favorite outside concepts.

This team hasn’t made high-profile investments in the offensive line, but it might be time to break that trend this year.

28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Houston has invested in its offensive line this offseason, but those investments include bringing back two players who were on the unit in 2025 and adding Braden Smith on a two-year deal. Iheanachor is a play for the future. He needs some time to develop, but he’s got all the traits of a long-term option at tackle.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Kansas City needs to figure out the skill positions. Xavier Worthy seems a bit limited, and Travis Kelce isn’t getting any younger. Cooper could come in and be a high-volume target as a rookie.

Most importantly, his YAC ability would hopefully take some pressure off of Patrick Mahomes to constantly create big plays on his own. The Indiana product is tough and reliable in the middle of the field, something the Chiefs need.

30. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq falling this far seems a little wild, but tight end is not a highly valued position. Plus, the Oregon product doesn’t have quite the tape that players like Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren had last season.

For the Broncos, this is as good as it gets. Tight end is their biggest need, and Sadiq has the athletic ability and blocking prowess to make an immediate impact.

31. New England Patriots: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

The Patriots could use a little more juice in their pass rush, and since they’re in win-now mode, Mesidor’s age shouldn’t bother them as much. He can be a nice pass-rush winner and an option on run downs thanks to his good size.

Pairing him with Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones would give New England a nice little rotation of diverse skill sets.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Chase Bisontis, IOL, Texas A&M

Picking for the defending champs is no easy task. Their roster is well-rounded and quite deep. However, there was an opportunity to upgrade on Anthony Bradford at right guard, so I took it.

Bisontis is an athletic pass blocker with a good run-game demeanor to open up some holes for whoever takes most of the snaps at running back next season.