- Ohio State dominates the first round: Six Buckeyes hear their names called on Day 1 of this 2026 NFL mock draft, headlined by Arvell Reese and Caleb Downs.
- The Jets are in business for 2026 and beyond: Now with two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, New York picks a quarterback and an interior defender.
- Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool.
Estimated Reading Time: 12minutes
Now that the 2025 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, team needs have changed — and that means a new mock draft is in order. Here’s how our post-trade deadline 2026 NFL mock draft looks right now.
1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: QB TY SIMPSON, ALABAMA
Simpson could be the first quarterback drafted, after a very impressive first season as a full-time starter. He owns a 92.3 intermediate PFF passing grade as one of the best intermediate and middle-of-the-field passers in all of college football. He has made 14 big-time throws and just seven turnover-worthy plays this year.
2. TENNESSEE TITANS: EDGE RUEBEN BAIN JR., MIAMI (FL)
Bain has cooled down a bit after a red-hot start to the season, but the 6-foot-3, 270-pound edge rusher still boasts PFF run-defense and pass-rush grades above 90.0 for the year. He’s the total package for any defensive front.
3. NEW YORK JETS: QB DANTE MOORE, OREGON
Moore, just a redshirt sophomore in his first season as a full-time starter, is not certain to be in this quarterback class. But there are signs of a top-five player if he declares. He has a 96.0 PFF passing grade on throws of 20 or more yards this year, with a 7.5% big-time throw rate to just a 1.7% turnover-worthy play rate.
4. MIAMI DOLPHINS: QB FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA
Indiana is eying a Big Ten title and a top spot in the College Football Playoff, and Mendoza is a big reason why. His 3.7% big-time throw rate this season and 2.9% clip last season are on the lower side, but he has starting NFL tools, specifically his complete arm talent.
5. NEW YORK GIANTS: WR JORDYN TYSON, ARIZONA STATE
Tyson is carrying an 83.0 PFF receiving grade for the second season in a row. His tape oozes WR1 potential. He can run any route, give you yards after the catch and even provide spectacular toe-tapping, diving and one-handed grabs. He and Malik Nabers would be a top-tier combo.
6. CLEVELAND BROWNS: T SPENCER FANO, UTAH
The 2026 offensive line class feels like a down group, although there will still be plenty of offensive linemen in this mock due to team needs. Fano remains the best of the bunch. The Utah right tackle owns PFF run-blocking and pass-blocking grades above 80.0, with strong performances in every game this season outside of Texas Tech.
7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: EDGE ARVELL REESE, OHIO STATE
Reese is likely the biggest draft riser of any prospect outside of the quarterbacks — and maybe even including the quarterbacks. The hybrid off-ball linebacker/edge defender has been turning heads with his explosiveness and pound-for-pound strength. His best work is as a pass rusher, where he has logged a 77.2 PFF pass-rush grade and a 19.2% pass-rush win rate.
8. CINCINNATI BENGALS: DI PETER WOODS, CLEMSON
Clemson has struggled this year, but Woods still looks the part of a potential top-10 pick. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound former five-star recruit is carrying 76.5-plus PFF grades as a run defender and a pass rusher against true pass sets. He can do it all, from nose tackle to a 3-technique on the interior.
9. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: S CALEB DOWNS, OHIO STATE
Downs doesn’t get the appreciation his talent deserves because of his traditionally less valued position. But the fact of the matter is that no coverage assignment — whether man or zone — is too great for him. He has earned 80.0-plus PFF run-defense and coverage grades this season, and it will likely be the third straight season where he’ll record a PFF overall grade above 80.0.
10. BALTIMORE RAVENS: EDGE DAVID BAILEY, TEXAS TECH
Bailey might just be the best pure pass rusher in the class. As a stand-up outside linebacker type, he has recorded a 94.6 PFF pass-rush grade and a 21.8% pass-rush win rate this season. His explosiveness and bend could both be the best of the class.
11. LOS ANGELES RAMS (VIA FALCONS): CB MANSOOR DELANE, LSU
Delane has been the best pure cover cornerback in the country this season. He boasts 79.0 PFF coverage grades in man and zone, with an overall 89.6 PFF coverage grade thanks to a low completion percentage allowed (32.0%). Add in his 81.0 PFF run-defense grade, and you’ve got yourself a CB1 candidate.
12. ARIZONA CARDINALS: G VEGA IOANE, PENN STATE
I don’t love the term “plug and play” when it comes to prospect talk because transitioning from the college game to the NFL is difficult, no matter who you are. But if there is such a thing as an easy transition, Vega Ioane should have it. He has earned a 91.6 PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets and a 74.3 PFF run-blocking grade. His hand work is some of the best of any offensive lineman, not just guards.
13. HOUSTON TEXANS: T FRANCIS MAUIGOA, MIAMI (FL)
Mauigoa is a solid offensive lineman who gets a bump in this mock draft due to his position and the Texans’ desperation for an offensive line upgrade. Mauigoa does his job well, with an 80.9 PFF run-blocking grade and an 83.1 PFF pass-blocking grade on true sets, but I wouldn’t say he’s the most explosive in pass protection or the strongest in run blocking. He’s just really solid in both facets.
14. DALLAS COWBOYS: CB JERMOD McCOY, TENNESSEE
The Cowboys made quite the splash by trading for interior defender Quinnen Williams before the deadline. Defensive line was a major issue for them, but now the secondary might be even bigger. McCoy has yet to play for the Volunteers this season due to his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered in the offseason. But his 2024 tape showed the talent of a first-rounder and a potential CB1 in the NFL at 6-feet and 195 pounds. He earned a strong 87.0 PFF overall grade in 2024.
15. MINNESOTA VIKINGS: RB JEREMIYAH LOVE, NOTRE DAME
Love feels like a top-10 talent in this class, so he could go much higher than this, but you never know with the running back position. What we do know is that Love is the kind of athlete you want in your backfield. He has engineered back-to-back seasons of 90.0-plus PFF overall grades with good receiving ability and home-run speed.
16. CAROLINA PANTHERS: WR CARNELL TATE, OHIO STATE
The Panthers are competitive in a handful of areas on their roster, but they could still use upgrades. Depending on what they think about Xavier Legette, Tate could be an option. He has been excellent this season with crisp route running (78.3 PFF receiving grade versus man coverage), an 89.5 PFF receiving grade and zero drops.
17. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: EDGE T.J. PARKER, CLEMSON
Like his teammate, Peter Woods, Parker should not be overlooked just because Clemson isn’t having the season many predicted. He is still a strong, fast edge defender with good size at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds and an all-around game, evidenced by his 81.1 PFF run-defense grade and 73.8 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets.
18. CHICAGO BEARS: LB CASHIUS HOWELL, TEXAS A&M
Howell has been one of the best pass rushers in the country this season. Though his arm length is reported to come in well short of NFL standards, that hasn’t stopped him from producing. He owns an 89.4 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets and a 24.7% pass-rush win rate, one of the highest marks in the FBS. His explosiveness and bend make him a coveted pass rusher.
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19. CLEVELAND BROWNS (VIA JAGUARS): WR DENZEL BOSTON, WASHINGTON
Cleveland owns two first-round picks, and with one already used to help the offensive line, we now look to the skill positions, especially wide receiver. The Browns’ receiver room has a very low ceiling right now. Boston, at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, brings great size for an NFL receiver, as well as some savvy and smooth movement skills as a route runner to make him more than just a contested-catch player. He owns an 86.9 PFF receiving grade against single coverage this season.
20. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: WR MAKAI LEMON, USC
Lemon is one of the best separators in the wide receiver class, which is exactly what the Steelers need to complement D.K. Metcalf. He’s a slot-only type of receiver but has an 89.8 PFF receiving grade and is averaging a very impressive 3.29 yards per route run this season, showcasing how often USC wants the ball in his hands.
21. DETROIT LIONS: EDGE KELDRIC FAULK, AUBURN
Faulk is a sure-fire future NFL contributor; the question is just how valuable his skill set will be. The conversation with him will be similar to that of Mykel Williams last season: great in run defense (85.2 PFF run-defense grade) but leaves a lot to be desired as a pass rusher (9.8% pass-rush win rate). Some teams will value his frame, strength and high floor. Others might see only the limited pass-rush ceiling. I could see the Lions targeting him, given his play strength.
22. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: DI KAYDEN McDONALD, OHIO STATE
The 6-foot-3, 325-pound nose tackle might be a bit one-dimensional, but that one dimension is elite. He is sporting an elite 91.1 PFF run-defense grade this season. His 6.4% pass-rush win rate points to him being a run stuffer in the NFL, but that is the kind of player the Chargers need in the middle of their defensive line.
23. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers: EDGE JOSHUA JOSEPHS, TENNESSEE
Josephs is following up a very nice 2024 campaign with an equally impressive 2025 season. He owns a 91.0 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets thanks to good explosiveness and very long arms. He also has a 72.4 PFF run-defense grade, powered by good play strength and leverage ability. The 49ers need that pass-rush juice.
24. DALLAS COWBOYS: EDGE R MASON THOMAS, OKLAHOMA
R Mason Thomas won’t be for everyone. He’s listed at just 6-foot-2 and could likely measure in under that at the NFL Scouting Combine. But he’s still 250 pounds and packs a punch when he can convert speed to power. He might just have the most explosive first step of any pass rusher. That has yielded a 20.0% pass-rush win rate, even though he loses the length battle to every tackle he faces. The Cowboys made a big splash on their defensive line by trading for Quinnen Williams, but they still need more help at edge rusher.
25. BUFFALO BILLS: CB COLTON HOOD, TENNESSEE
Maxwell Hairston has looked great since getting healthy and into the Bills’ lineup, but that shouldn’t take future investments at cornerback off the table. In his first year as a full-time starter with the Volunteers, Hood is boasting a 77.8 PFF coverage grade in man, with seven forced incompletions and an interception. He has good length at 6 feet and 195 pounds, as well as the skills to play in press-man coverage.
26. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: G GENNINGS DUNKER, IOWA
Dunker is still rough around the edges when it comes to containing rushers in pass protection and maintaining some of his run blocks, but when he gets his opponent between his shoulders and those legs get moving, he’s a true mauler and a people-mover. I believe he’ll be a guard in the NFL, but one with high potential (82.8 PFF run-blocking grade in zone).
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27. LOS ANGELES RAMS: T CALEB LOMU, UTAH
Lomu is still more potential than production right now, but the 6-foot-6, 310-pound left tackle for Utah has improved his PFF pass-blocking grade this season to 80.0. He does need to get stronger, and we see that in his 61.5 PFF run-blocking grade. He is just a redshirt sophomore, so there is plenty of reason to believe he’ll put on strength over the next few years.
28. DENVER BRONCOS: TE KENYON SADIQ, OREGON
For as gifted an athlete as Sadiq is, he hasn’t been used as much as we had hoped in Oregon’s offense (just 1.81 yards per route run). His PFF run-blocking and receiving grades of 57.3 and 67.6, respectively, are lower than expected, but there is a ton of talent there, and he’s just a true junior. If he were in this class, he would be labeled a “better pro than college player” type of prospect.
29. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: LB SONNY STYLES, OHIO STATE
The Buccaneers need help at linebacker. Lavonte David is showing signs of his age, and SirVocea Dennis has struggled in coverage. Styles has been one of the best off-ball linebackers in the country this year. The former safety boasts an 80.0 PFF run-defense grade and an 81.2 PFF coverage grade, with a very impressive 0.0% missed tackle rate.
30. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: T AUSTIN SIEREVELD, OHIO STATE
Siereveld might be in the conversation to move to guard due to his lack of arm length, but right now, his work at tackle is so impressive that I’d like to see him fail there before I move him inside. His movement skills are very smooth. He has a 74.3 PFF pass-blocking grade and an 80.3 PFF run-blocking grade in zone blocking schemes this season.
31. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: OL KADYN PROCTOR, ALABAMA
The Alabama-Philadelphia pipeline could continue this upcoming season with Proctor. He likely would start at guard for the Eagles, rather than at tackle, but he is the type of player they had (and found success with) in Mekhi Becton last season. Proctor is that kind of super-sized player, but a better athlete and a likely much more reliable presence.
32. NEW YORK JETS (VIA COLTS): DI CHRISTEN MILLER, GEORGIA
The Jets now have two first-round picks in 2026 due to the Sauce Gardner trade. Here at the back end of Round 1, they secure one of the best players available in defensive tackle Christen Miller. There is an obvious reason for the pick, with the team having shipped off Quinnen Williams, but Miller is just a really good player, even independent of that reason. He owns an 85.0 PFF run-defense grade and a 6.5% run-stop rate this season.
