We are still waiting for the deadline to pass for all Underclassmen to officially declare their intentions to go to the NFL or return to school. We also need to see the final Draft status for all teams as the playoff schedule whittles down the pick numbers for all 32 teams. However, with a bit of help from our friends at Tankathon and the NFL Mock Draft Database, we will settle on the picks for each of the 32 teams in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.
As usual, I am not projecting first-round trades and am making presumptions about some players whose status for 2026 is unknown.
2026 NFL MOCK DRAFT – Pigskin Paul 3.0
Pick 1 RAIDERS FERNANDO MENDOZA/QB Indiana
Sorry, Fernando, but to the lowly Raiders you go because they need a young QB to groom as their Franchise QB for the next 10-12 seasons.
Pick 2 JETS DANTE MOORE/QB Oregon
Clearly, they, too, need a new QB to work with. And I just don’t see MOORE heading back to Oregon if RAIOLA is joining the Ducks.
Pick 3 CARDINALS RUEBEN BAIN/DE Miami (F)
They need a lot, but BAIN has been outstanding as a pass rusher and run stopper since MARIO took over the Hurricanes.
Pick 4 TITANS CARNELL TATE/WR Ohio St
They need more quality targets for young QB Cam Ward. Tate has size, speed, and good hands.
Pick 5 GIANTS ARVELL REESE/LB Ohio St
An outstanding athlete and productive player who will help pressure the passer.
Pick 6 BROWNS SPENCER FANO/OT Utah
Athletic young man who would look good taking aging CONKLIN’s OT starting spot.
Pick 7 COMMANDERS CALEB DOWNS/S Ohio St
The 2025 season showed this team how many spots they needed to upgrade. This takes care of the back 7 as a tackling & coverage guy.
Pick 8 SAINTS JORDYN TYSON/WR Arizona St
They got their QB in SHOUGH last Draft and now for some serious receiver help.
Pick 9 CHIEFS JEREMIYAH LOVE/RB Notre Dame
Not accustomed to seeing this team picking this early in the Draft since MAHOMES arrived in town. Retool time in K.C.
Pick 10 BENGALS MANSOOR DELANE/CB LSU
Most college teams chose not to target him last season. It could be an instant starter for them to team with Turner.
Pick 11 DOLPHINS KELDRIC FAULK/DE Auburn
A large, athletic man who could be an upgrade over traded Jaelen Phillips.
Pick 12 COWBOYS DAVID BAILEY/ER Texas Tech
Not sure exactly where he plays, but I know he will rush the passer.
13 RAMS SONNY STYLES/LB Ohio St
14 RAVENS R MASON THOMAS/ER Oklahoma
15 BUCCANEERS KAYDEN McDONALD/DT Ohio St
16 JETS KEVIN CONCEPCION/WR/RS Texas A&M
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17 LIONS FRANCIS MAUIGOA/OT/OG Miami (F)
18 VIKINGS PETER WOODS/DT Clemson
19 PANTHERS CASHIUS HOWELL/DE/ER Texas A&M
20 COWBOYS BRANDON CISSE/CB South Carolina
21 STEELERS MAKAI LEMON/WR Southern Cal
22 CHARGERS VEGA IOANE/IOL Penn St
23 EAGLES AKHEEM MESIDOR/DE/ER Miami(F)
24 BROWNS DENZEL BOSTON/WR Washington
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25 BEARS CALEB BANKS/DT Florida
26 BILLS JERMOD McCOY/CB Tennessee
27 49’ers CALEB LOMU/OT Utah
28 TEXANS KAYDEN PROCTOR/OT Alabama
29 RAMS TRINIDAD CHAMBLISS/QB Ole Miss
30 PATRIOTS T.J. PARKER/ER/OB Clemson
31 BRONCOS CHRIS JOHNSON/CB San Diego St
32 SEAHAWKS CHRIS BELL/WR Louisville
That’s all for now, folks. My next article will focus on an end-of-season All-Rookie team.