2026 Nfl Mock Draft: Expert Projections, Top Picks After Super Bowl 60

The 2025 NFL season came to an end when the Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in a dominant Super Bowl 60 showing.

Now, the NFL's 32 teams will begin looking to improve their rosters ahead of next season, and the 2026 NFL Draft will be one of the best opportunities to do so.

With the draft order now solidified, a consensus is beginning to take shape across the first few picks. It is widely expected Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall selection, which belongs to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Behind him, more mocks are penciling in Ohio State star Arvell Reese to the New York Jets as an upgrade for Aaron Glenn's defense. Meanwhile, Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa is becoming an increasingly popular option for the Arizona Cardinals among the latest mock drafts.

Of course, the consensus will shift dramatically during the offseason. It will start when the 2026 NFL Combine shakes up big boards across the league and will continue as free agency and trades alter the primary needs for organizations with early picks.

How will the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft go? Here's a look at the latest expert mock draft projections with Super Bowl 60 now officially in the books.

2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Round 1

Here's a look at expert projections for the first 32 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, according to mock drafts from NFL Media, Pro Football Focus, The McShay Report and USA TODAY Sports with the full draft order set after Super Bowl 60.

1. Las Vegas Raiders

• NFL Media (Chad Reuter): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
• Pro Football Focus (Max Chadwick): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
• The McShay Report (Todd McShay): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
• USA TODAY Sports (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

NFL Media: "Mendoza would be the third quarterback (following Cam Newton and Joe Burrow) to win the Heisman Trophy and college football national championship and then hear his name called as the NFL draft's No. 1 overall pick within a 12-month span. I give Mendoza above-average grades on his physical attributes, but his intelligence and mental toughness are what make him the top prospect at his position.

2. New York Jets

• NFL Media: Arvel Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State
• Pro Football Focus: Arvel Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State
• The McShay Report: Arvel Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State
• USA TODAY Sports: Arvel Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State

Pro Football Focus: "The draft starts in earnest at No. 2, and the Jets have plenty of options. New York sides with Reese, a player whom head coach Aaron Glenn will enjoy deploying as a chess piece in his defense. His eight sacks this year were tied for the fourth most among all college linebackers, and he logged an 86.5 PFF run-defense grade to boot."

3. Arizona Cardinals

• NFL Media: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
• Pro Football Focus: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
• The McShay Report: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
• USA TODAY Sports: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)

The McShay Report: "Arizona took 59 sacks this past season, fifth most in the NFL. New head coach Mike LaFleur comes from a Rams organization that succeeded with massive OTs in Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein. Mauigoa fits that bill as a 6-foot-6, 320-pound mauler who is plenty capable of enveloping edge rushers at right tackle in LaFleur’s scheme."

4. Tennessee Titans

• NFL Media: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
• Pro Football Focus: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)
• The McShay Report: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
• USA TODAY Sports: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)

USA TODAY Sports: "Bain's atypical physical makeup for a defensive end might not be the same sticking point for [coach Robert] Saleh and general manager Mike Borgonzi as it is for others, with the Hurricanes standout more than living up to the 'fast and violent' identity the coach said he is seeking for his new team."

5. New York Giants

• NFL Media: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• Pro Football Focus: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
• The McShay Report: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
• USA TODAY Sports: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The McShay Report: "Downs would provide much-needed stability to the back end, as well as leadership and playmaking ability. He would be the new standard for preparedness and attention to detail for New York on that side of the ball. Yes, the team brought in Jevon Holland in 2025 and drafted Tyler Nubin in Round 2 in 2024, but neither played well enough last season to secure their spot in 2026."

6. Cleveland Browns

• NFL Media: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
• Pro Football Focus: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
• The McShay Report: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
• USA TODAY Sports: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

USA TODAY Sports: "After his hiring as Browns coach, Todd Monken was lauded by many for his adaptability in adjusting his scheme to the available personnel. But there's no successful adapting to what Cleveland can conjure up along the offensive line, with a nearly total reset possibly in store. Though he's not the bulldozer one might expect to find plowing holes in the AFC North, Fano can make things happen on the move and stay in front of speed rushers thanks to his fleet feet."

7. Washington Commanders

• NFL Media: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
• Pro Football Focus: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech
• The McShay Report: Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)
• USA TODAY Sports: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech

Pro Football Focus: "The Commanders have fielded one of the NFL's six lowest-graded defenses in each of the past three seasons. Washington addresses that by drafting Bailey, college football's highest-graded defender this past season (93.3). He led college football in PFF pass-rush grade in each of the past two seasons at Texas Tech and Stanford."

8. New Orleans Saints

• NFL Media: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
• Pro Football Focus: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
• The McShay Report: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
• USA TODAY Sports: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

NFL Media: "Alvin Kamara will turn 31 this summer, and former third-round pick Kendre Miller has struggled to stay on the field (21 games in three seasons). Love is a true dual threat (2,497 rushing yards, 55 catches and 40 total TDs over the past two seasons) out of the backfield."

9. Kansas City Chiefs

• NFL Media: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
• Pro Football Focus: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
• The McShay Report: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
• USA TODAY Sports: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

USA TODAY Sports: "Think that Kansas City is getting cute here by taking a 5-foot-11, 195-pound slot receiver in the top 10? Don't focus on Lemon's measurables, and instead look to what the Biletnikoff Award winner can do for a withering offense. The Chiefs surely would be able to make quick use of Lemon's deftness at shaking man coverage, allowing the passing attack to progress without turning to the more drastic steps the organization has largely been disinterested in."

10. Cincinnati Bengals

• NFL Media: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• Pro Football Focus: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
• The McShay Report: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Pro Football Focus: "The Bengals haven’t had a true star at safety since they let Jessie Bates III walk in the 2023 offseason. In fact, Cincinnati’s safeties have combined for the lowest PFF grade as a unit over the past three years (53.7). Downs would change the team's trajectory at the position after garnering an elite 93.6 PFF overall grade for his college career."

11. Miami Dolphins

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Carolina Panthers
  • Panthers select Rueben Bain Jr., edge, Miami (FL)
• Pro Football Focus: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• The McShay Report: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• USA TODAY Sports: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

The McShay Report: "With an obvious need at CB (Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones are both eligible to become free agents in March), I think McCoy – who’s the most physically gifted man-to-man cornerback in the class – makes sense here. He has smooth hips, sudden feet, and really good top-end speed."

12. Dallas Cowboys

• NFL Media: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
• Pro Football Focus: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
• The McShay Report: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (FL)
• USA TODAY Sports: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

NFL Media: "Picking at the same slot where they drafted Micah Parsons five years ago, the Cowboys fill the void left by Parsons' trade to Green Bay with Styles. Like Parsons when he was coming out of Penn State, Styles profiles as a very good second-level defender who is quite capable of chasing quarterbacks when given the chance."

13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)

• NFL Media: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
• Pro Football Focus: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• The McShay Report: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• USA TODAY Sports: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

USA TODAY Sports: "Cisse likely is in for a more extended acclimation period than either McCoy or Delane, but his superlative physical tools could allow the Rams to better match up against the bulkier receivers who have bothered them in recent years."

14. Baltimore Ravens

• NFL Media: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
• Pro Football Focus: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
• The McShay Report: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
• USA TODAY Sports: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

The McShay Report: "Upgrading the pass rush is a top priority, but a strong run game and protection for Lamar are crucial for the Ravens to get back on track. With Baltimore’s interior offensive line in flux – it needs help at guard, and center Tyler Linderbaum is entering free agency – Ioane could make a lot of sense. Ioane is a powerful, thickly built (6-foot-4, 323 pounds) human-mover with really solid technique and awareness. While he’s not an elite athlete, he makes up for it with smarts, length, and anchor strength."

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• NFL Media: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
• Pro Football Focus: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
• The McShay Report: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
• USA TODAY Sports: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Pro Football Focus: "The Buccaneers ranked seventh in team PFF pass-rush grade this season – but only 23rd in PFF run-defense grade. While Faulk has work to do as a pass rusher, he produced an outstanding 89.2 PFF run-defense grade over the past two years. He can play at edge defender or on the interior in Todd Bowles' 3-4 defense."

16. New York Jets (via Colts)

• NFL Media: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• Pro Football Focus: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• The McShay Report: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
• USA TODAY Sports: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

NFL Media: "Simpson might not be a top-10 pick, but the son of a longtime college head coach clearly knows the game and possesses the arm strength, pocket poise and mobility to excel."

17. Detroit Lions

• NFL Media: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
• Pro Football Focus: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
• The McShay Report: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
• USA TODAY Sports: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn

Pro Football Focus: "Taylor Decker has served as Detroit’s left tackle for the past decade, but he’s currently mulling retirement and is a cut candidate even if he does return. Proctor could be quarterback Jared Goff’s next blindside protector after ranking fourth among FBS tackles in PFF overall grade (86.1) this past season."

18. Minnesota Vikings

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Philadelphia Eagles
  • Eagles select Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
• Pro Football Focus: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
• The McShay Report: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• USA TODAY Sports: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

USA TODAY Sports: "Bully ball comes easily to Hood, who makes for an exceedingly challenging matchup off the line of scrimmage and at the catch point. That physicality could make him a fast favorite of Brian Flores, who no doubt would love to have a well-built cover man capable of disrupting the timing of opposing aerial attacks."

19. Carolina Panthers

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Miami Dolphins
  • Dolphins select Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
• Pro Football Focus: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
• The McShay Report: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
• USA TODAY Sports: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

The McShay Report: "The best value-need match in this scenario is Sadiq. He’s a legitimate seam-stretching threat who also has a real nasty streak as a blocker – and Carolina’s tight end room has long been lacking high-end talent. Sadiq could become a more explosive version of what Cade Otton was for Dave Canales in Tampa Bay."

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Buffalo Bills
  • Bills select Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
• Pro Football Focus: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M
• The McShay Report: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
• USA TODAY Sports: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

Pro Football Focus: "Four Cowboys edge defenders are set to hit free agency, leaving the team in search of a long-term running mate for Donovan Ezeiruaku. In this mock, Dallas goes with Howell, whose 12 sacks this year were tied for the fifth most in the FBS."

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

• NFL Media: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• Pro Football Focus: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
• The McShay Report: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
• USA TODAY Sports: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

NFL Media: "Pittsburgh typically waits until Day 2 to find receivers, but Concepcion's playmaking ability after the catch is quite tempting. If Aaron Rodgers returns to reunite with head coach Mike McCarthy, the veteran QB will likely want a reliable companion receiver to DK Metcalf."

22. Los Angeles Chargers

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Houston Texans.
  • Texans select Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
• Pro Football Focus: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
• The McShay Report: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
• USA TODAY Sports: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

The McShay Report: "Woods was on an underachieving Clemson defense last season, and he hasn’t developed as I’d hoped, but he’s a top-10 talent who has flashes of brilliance. With the right setting, coaching, and defensive line room to help him develop, Woods has the physical tools to become an elite interior defensive lineman in the NFL."

23. Philadelphia Eagles

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Minnesota Vikings.
  • Vikings select Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
• Pro Football Focus: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
• The McShay Report: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
• USA TODAY Sports: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

USA TODAY Sports: "The rapidly crumbling infrastructure of Philadelphia's once-formidable offensive front warrants addressing early on in the draft. Howie Roseman could return to the Bulldog pipeline for a possible Lane Johnson successor − in either the short or long term − in Freeling, an ascendant blocker with an impressive frame and solid functional athleticism."

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)

• NFL Media: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
• Pro Football Focus: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
• The McShay Report: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
• USA TODAY Sports: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

NFL Media: "Injuries have hampered Cleveland's offensive line the past few seasons, and free agent Jack Conklin might have played his last snap for the Browns. In this scenario, Lomu steps into the left tackle spot as a rookie, with the Browns hoping veteran Dawand Jones, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in September and has yet to play more than 11 games in any given year, can man the right side."

25. Chicago Bears

• NFL Media: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
• Pro Football Focus: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
• The McShay Report: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
• USA TODAY Sports: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson

NFL Media: "The Bears are looking for a defensive tackle to control the line of scrimmage, so they are thrilled to see McDonald available here."

26. Buffalo Bills

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Dallas Cowboys.
  • Cowboys select Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledoa
• Pro Football Focus: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• The McShay Report: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
• USA TODAY Sports: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (FL)

USA TODAY Sports: "Mesidor's advanced age − he'll be 25 on draft day − might deter some teams from taking him on Day 1, but his dogged approach and instinctive pass-rushing style could allow him to become a force opposite Greg Rousseau."

27. San Francisco 49ers

• NFL Media: Keldric Faulk, edge, Auburn
• Pro Football Focus: T.J. Parker, edge, Clemson
• The McShay Report: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
• USA TODAY Sports: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Pro Football Focus: "The 49ers have Nick Bosa and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams, but both are coming off season-ending torn ACLs and Williams struggled as a rookie. San Francisco still needs to upgrade its defensive line and does so here with Parker. He notched 85.0-plus career PFF grades as a pass rusher and a run defender."

28. Houston Texans

• NFL Media: Pick traded to Los Angeles Chargers.
  • Chargers select Chase Bisontis, G, Texas A&M.
• Pro Football Focus: Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
• The McShay Report: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
• USA TODAY Sports: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech

The McShay Report: "I could see Miller, who’s big and long and has plus mobility for a right tackle, being the pick. He’s a highly intelligent offensive lineman with great experience (54 starts), he’s known as Mr. Reliable at Clemson, and he’s a force multiplier in the OL room. It’s exactly the makeup that Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans are looking for."

29. Los Angeles Rams

• NFL Media: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• Pro Football Focus: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
• The McShay Report: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
• USA TODAY Sports: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

USA TODAY Sports: "The Rams passing attack's overreliance on Puka Nacua and Davante Adams was on full display in the postseason, where the duo combined for 35 catches while the team's other wide receivers totaled five. Bernard's versatility and run-after-catch skills would be put to immediate use in Los Angeles and give the offense more easy solutions."

30. Denver Broncos

• NFL Media: Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
• Pro Football Focus: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
• The McShay Report: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
• USA TODAY Sports: C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia

Pro Football Focus: "While the Broncos showcased one of the NFL's most fearsome defenses in 2025, they could still improve at linebacker. Allen’s 88.6 PFF run-defense grade in 2025 ranked ninth among Power Four linebackers."

31. New England Patriots

• NFL Media: Christen Miller, DT, Georgia
• Pro Football Focus: Akheem Mesidor, edge, Miami (FL)
• The McShay Report: R Mason Thomas, edge, Oklahoma
• USA TODAY Sports: Cashius Howell, edge, Texas A&M

The McShay Report: "[Thomas is] an undersized edge – not dissimilar to [Harold] Landry – but he is one of my favorite players in the class. Thomas blasts out of his stance, shows excellent snap in his hands, bends a tight edge, and his motor is legendary. He’s a Mike Vrabel kind of guy."

32. Seattle Seahawks

• NFL Media: Joshua Josephs, edge, Tennessee
• Pro Football Focus: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• The McShay Report: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• USA TODAY Sports: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

NFL Media: "Josephs' length and tenacity on the edge should allow him to be a factor as a rookie, especially if either Boye Mafe (headed for free agency) or Uchenna Nwosu (currently set to count for $20 million against the cap in 2026) end up elsewhere this offseason."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Post-Super Bowl picks, predictions