NFL mock drafts 2026: Compare Mel Kiper Jr., Dane Brugler, Daniel Jeremiah and other expert picks

NFL mock drafts 2026: Compare Mel Kiper Jr., Dane Brugler, Daniel Jeremiah and other expert picks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NFL draft is approaching. Now is the time of year when football analysts do their best to compile reports, look at team needs and try to predict where each prospect will be selected. 

Visit newsbetsport.bond for more information.

This year's class has at least one selection that is all but assured, as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely anticipated to be selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. The fun part will come after that. Starting with the second pick, there's a lot of variability in what industry experts think will happen. 

Some think that this year's draft will be extremely trade-heavy, others think that this class will have talented players fall into the laps of powerhouse teams that happened to have down years and ended up with higher draft picks than they are used to. 

While the exact order of selections and landing spots in the NFL Draft isn't ever perfectly anticipated, that is what adds to the fun of the event. 

Here is more on how the NFL experts think the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will unfold. 

MORE: Everything to know about the 2026 NFL Draft

NFL mock drafts 2026

Vinnie Iyer's mock draft (The Sporting News)

Iyer's latest mock was three rounds and was released on Wednesday, April 15. 

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozaQBIndiana2JetsDavid BaileyEDGETexas Tech3CardinalsArvell ReeseLB/EDGEOhio State4TitansJeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame5GiantsSonny StylesLBOhio State6BrownsCarnell TateWROhio State7CommandersCaleb DownsSOhio State8SaintsRueben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami9ChiefsMansoor DelaneCBLSU10BengalsPeter WoodsDTClemson11DolphinsFrancis MauigoaOTMiami12CowboysJermod McCoyCBTennessee13RamsSpencer FanoOTUtah14RavensMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia15BuccaneersKenyon SadiqTEOregon16JetsMakai LemonWRUSC17LionsOlaivavega IoaneGPenn State18VikingsDillon ThienmanSOregon19PanthersJordyn TysonWRArizona State20CowboysAkheem MesidorEDGEMiami21SteelersBlake MillerOTClemson22ChargersAvieon TerrellCBClemson23EaglesEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo24BrownsCaleb LomuOTUtah25BearsKeldric FaulkEDGEAuburn26BillsCashius HowellEDGETexas A&M2749ersKadyn ProctorOTAlabama28TexansKayden McDonaldDTOhio State29ChiefsOmar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana30DolphinsKC ConcepcionWRTexas A&M31PatriotsC.J. AllenLBGeorgia32SeahawksT.J. ParkerEDGEClemson

MORE: Ranking the 10 best EDGE rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. (ESPN)

Kiper's most recent mock draft was released on Wednesday, April 15.

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozaQBIndiana2JetsDavid BaileyEDGETexas Tech3CardinalsArvell ReeseEDGEOhio State4TitansJeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame5GiantsCaleb DownsSOhio State6Cowboys (via Browns)Sonny StylesLBOhio State7CommandersCarnell TateWROhio State8SaintsRueben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami9ChiefsJordyn TysonWRArizona State10BengalsMansoor DelaneCBLSU11DolphinsFrancis MauigoaOTMiami12Browns (via Cowboys)Kadyn ProctorOTAlabama13RamsMakai LemonWRUSC14RavensSpence FanoOLUtah15BuccaneersKenyon SadiqTEOregon16JetsOmar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana17LionsMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia18VikingsDillon ThienemanSOregon19PanthersEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo20Browns (via Cowboys)Denzel BostonWRWashington21SteelersOlavavega IoaneGPenn State22ChargersPeter WoodsDTClemson23EaglesBlake MillerOTClemson24BrownsJermod McCoyCBTennessee25BearsZion YoungDEMissouri26BillsKeldric FaulkDEAuburn2749ersMax IheanachorOTArizona State28TexansChristen MillerDTGeorgia29ChiefsColton HoodCBTennessee30Cardinals (via Dolphins)Ty SimpsonQBAlabama31PatriotsAkheem MesidorDEMiami32SeahawksJadarian PriceRBNotre Dame

Notes: 

- Kiper Jr. has the trade between the Cowboys and the Browns being for both of Dallas' first-round picks (Nos. 12 and 20) for Cleveland's No. 6 and 39 picks. 

- Kiper Jr. has the Cardinals sending the Dolphins Nos. 34 and 65 with Miami sending back Nos. 30 and 94. 

MORE: Full 2026 NFL Draft order

Dane Brugler (The Athletic)

Brugler's most recent mock draft was released on Wednesday, April 15. 

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozaQBIndiana2JetsArvell ReeseEDGEOhio State3CardinalsFrancis MauigoaOTMiami4TitansDavid BaileyEDGETexas Tech5GiantsCaleb DownsSOhio State6Cowboys (via Browns)Sonny StylesLBOhio State7CommandersJeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame8SaintsCarnell TateWROhio State9ChiefsRueben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami10BengalsMansoor DelaneCBLSU11DolphinsKeldric FaulkEDGEAuburn12Browns (via Cowboys)Spencer FanoOTUtah13RamsJordyn TysonWRArizona State14RavensKenyon SadiqTEOregon15BuccaneersVega IoaneGPenn State16JetsMakai LemonWRUSC17LionsMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia18VikingsJermod McCoyCBTennessee19PanthersDillon ThienemanSOregon20Browns (via Cowboys)KC ConcepcionWRTexas A&M21SteelersOmar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana22ChargersAkheem MesidorEDGEMiami23EaglesKadyn ProctorOTAlabama24BrownsEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo25BearsT.J. ParkerEDGEClemson26BillsMalachi LawrenceEDGEUCF2749ersCaleb LomuOTUtah28TexansChase BisontisGTexas A&M29ChiefsDenzel BostonWRWashington30DolphinsChris JohnsonCBSan Diego State31PatriotsBlake MillerOTClemson32SeahawksColton HoodCBTennessee

Notes: 

- Brugler has the Cowboys sending No. 12, No. 20 and a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange for No. 6 and No. 39. 

MORE: Ranking the 10 best TEs in the 2026 NFL Draft

Todd McShay (The Ringer)

McShay's most recent mock draft was released on Wednesday, April 15.

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozaQBIndiana2JetsDavid BaileyEDGETexas Tech3Saints (via Cardinals)Arvell ReeseEDGEOhio State4TitansJeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame5GiantsFrancis MauigoaOTMiami6Cowboys (via Browns)Sonny StylesLBOhio State7Jets (via Commanders)Carnell TateWROhio State8Cardinals (via Saints)Spencer FanoOTUtah9ChiefsJordyn TysonWRArizona State10BengalsCaleb DownsSOhio State11DolphinsMansoor DelaneCBLSU12Browns (via Cowboys)Kadyn ProctorOTAlabama13RamsMakai LemonWRUSC14RavensRueben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami15BuccaneersAkheem MesidorEDGEMiami16Commanders (via Jets)Omar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana17LionsBlake MillerOTClemson18VikingsDenzel BostonWRWashington19PanthersKenyon SadiqTEOregon20CowboysJermod McCoyCBTennessee21SteelersVega IoaneGPenn State22Bears (via Chargers)Dillon ThienemanSOregon23EaglesMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia24BrownsKC ConcepcionWRTexas A&M25Chargers (via Bears)Chris JohnsonCBSan Diego State26BillsKeldric FaulkEDGEAuburn2749ersCaleb LomuOTUtah28TexansMax IheanachorOTArizona State29ChiefsColton HoodCBTennessee30Cardinals (via Dolphins)Ty SimpsonQBAlabama31PatriotsEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo32SeahawksT.J. ParkerEDGEClemson

Notes: 

- McShay has the Saints trading Nos. 8, 42 and a 2027 second-round pick for the No. 3 pick. 

- McShay has the Cowboys trading Nos. 12, 92 and a 2027 second-rounder for No. 6. It is worth pointing out this deal would allow Dallas to keep its second round pick. 

- McShay has the Jets trading Nos. 14, 44, and 140 to the Commanders for the No. 7 pick. 

- McShay has the Chargers moving up three spots using the No. 25 and 129 picks to get No. 22 from the Bears

- In McShay's final trade in the first round, the Cardinals trade the No. 34, 143 and 183 picks to the Dolphins for No. 30. 

MORE: Ranking the 10 best WRs in the 2026 NFL Draft

Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network)

Jeremiah's most recent mock draft was released on March 17. 

PickTeamPlayerPositionSchool1RaidersFernando MendozQBIndiana2JetsArvell ReeseEDGEOhio State3CardinalsFrancis MauigoaOTMiami4TitansJeremiyah LoveRBNotre Dame5GiantsSonny StylesLBOhio State6BrownsCarnell TateWROhio State7CommandersRueben Bain Jr.EDGEMiami8SaintsDavid BaileyEDGETexas Tech9ChiefsSpencer FanoOLUtah10BengalsCaleb DownsSOhio State11DolphinsMansoor DelaneCBLSU12CowboysJermod McCoyCBTennessee13RamsMakai LemonWRUSC14RavensJordyn TysonWRArizona State15BuccaneersAkheem MesidorEDGEMiami16JetsOmar Cooper Jr.WRIndiana17LionsMonroe FreelingOTGeorgia18VikingsDillon ThienemanSOregon19PanthersKC ConcepcionWRTexas A&M20CowboysT.J. ParkerEDGEClemson21SteelersBlake MillerOTClemson22ChargersOlaivavega IoaneGPenn State23EaglesKadyn ProctorOTAlabama24BrownsCaleb LomuOTUtah25BearsEmmanuel McNeil-WarrenSToledo26BillsCashius HowellEDGETexas A&M2749ersKenyon SadiqTEOregon28TexansChase BisontisGTexas A&M29ChiefsColton HoodCBTennessee30DolphinsKeldric FaulkEDGEAuburn31PatriotsKayden McDonaldDTOhio State32SeahawksJadarian PriceRBNotre Dame

MORE: What we know about Rueben Bain's involvement in fatal 2024 car accident

Read full story at source