2026 NFL Mock Draft

Wow, I haven’t Korner’d a mock draft since 2021! I must’ve been fired up for Trevor Lawrence who went #1 that year 🙂 I’m gonna get a little freaky this year and add some trades. This draft might lack top end talent but there’s a plethora of offensive lineman and teams hungry to get big bodies. Let’s hope the rumors are ture and we get a lot of movement on this uncertain draft.

Here’s the 2021 mock, let’s see if I’m plugged in this year. https://kowalskorner.com/2021/04/21/2021-nfl-mock-draft/

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza Quarterback Indiana
The Raiders lock in their franchise quarterback and bring in his hopeful clone, Kirk Cousins, to mentor him for a season.

2. New York Jets: David Bailey Edge Texas Tech
I’m not liking how Arvell Reese played linebacker and edge. Feel like he didn’t develop enough at edge. I’d go with the more polished rusher in Bailey.

TRADE!!
The Chiefs send picks 9 and 29 to the Cardinals for pick 3

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Arvell Reese Linebacker Ohio State
The Chiefs coaching staff is top tier which makes me more comfortable with the project of Arvell Reese.

4. Tennessee Titans: Sonny Styles Linebacker Ohio State
Styles as a leader belongs in the top-five. As a player there is room to grow but who better than Robert Saleh coaching him up. Jeremiyah Love is extremely dynamic and if Daboll was the HC with Saleh DC I’d mock him to Tennessee.

5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love Running Back Notre Dame
Cam Skattebo is a nice prospect but this would give the Giants a Gibbs/Montgomery pairing. I’ll admit, I’m more into a strong run game than most NFL fans, I believe the NFL is tilting to where you need to run well.

6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano Offensive Line Utah
The Browns have many holes, and OLine is never sexy but it’s the wheel that gets the engine spinning.

7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate Wide Receiver Ohio State
I’m sure they’d rather Styles or Love, but getting Jayden Daniels a weapon will help him bounce back to rookie form.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson Wide Receiver Arizona State
Top-ten Tyson is a little rich for me with the injury history, but the Saints aren’t afraid to be bold. Hence taking a 25 year old rookie QB last year (who to Shough’s credit played well).

9. Arizona Cardinals: Sisi Mauigoa Offensive Lineman University of Miami
I think Mauigoa will be the pick at pick #3 if the Cardinals cannot trade down. This would be a good way for the new regime to start, build through the trenches.

10. New York Giants: Caleb Downs Safety Ohio State
I. Need. Downs. On. The. Giants. I’m not even a fan! It would just be perfect under Harbaugh watching the future Hall of Famer develop. All the betting sites and most of the experts say this is Downs range, I’d pick him at #5 though. He’s just always in the right place at the right time.

TRADE!!
Baltimore Ravens trade picks 11 and 115, to the Miami Dolphins for pick 14

11. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane Offensive Line Penn State
“This feels like a Ravens pick” is something thats been floated. So it’s a Giants pick? Because Harbaugh is there now. Vega is live for pick #10 but I think the Ravens ultimately wind up with the mauling guard. Let’s get Lamar and King Henry right back to running all over teams.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane Cornerback LSU
Jerruh would be thrilled to not have to move up and snag one of Delane or Bain. The Cowboys need defensive help and need to limit home run plays by opposing wideouts.

TRADE!!
The Lions trade picks 17, 128, and a 2027 5th, to the Los Angeles Rams for pick 13

13. Detroit Lions: Kadyn Proctor Offensive Line Alabama
The Goat Peter Schrager floated this one on draft week and it makes perfect sense. The Lions NEED a Tackle so go secure one before it’s too late.

14. Miami Dolphins: Rueben Bain Jr. Defensive Line University of Miami
I could see the local college product staying home. Sure he has small arms but you really can’t teach his bend. He could be a building block for Jeff Hafley.

TRADE!!
The Eagles trade picks 23, 68, and 137, for pick 15

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Monroe Freeling Offensive Line Georgia
The Eagles will get 2027 picks for AJ Brown *insert eyes emoji* so they can be aggressive this draft. The Eagles OLine got old quickly and we saw Saquon’s production dip. To get the most out of their duo of running backs I think they go up and get a potential stud OLineman who they can slide to either tackle position in future years while keeping them at guard this year.

16. New York Jets: Makai Lemon Wide Receiver USC
Aaron Glenn saw the importance of a great slot receiver when on the Lions with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Now the Jets get their own slot demon.

17. Los Angeles Rams: Kenyon Sadiq Tight End Oregon
I think the Rams want to add one more pass catcher, and with Davante Adams getting older I could see them going with a bigger body. The Rams also love the 3 tight end set and Sadiq is a mismatch.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman Safety Oregon
Seems like KOC will be married to DC Brian Flores who isn’t getting HC interviews. Add in a good safety prospect to his system and let that defense turn back to dynamic.

19. Carolina Panthers KC Concepcion Wide Receiver Texas A&M
The duo of Tet and Coker is nice, but adding a burner in Concepcion would really complete the trio and give Bryce Young all the tools in a pivital year before he gets his contract.

TRADE!!
The Texans trade picks 28 and 69 #nice to the Cowboys for picks 20 and 112

20. Houston Texans: Blake Miller Offensive Line Clemson
The Texans tend to neglect OLine so I’m skeptical they even take one early, but they NEED to protect Stroud.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr. Wide Receiver Indiana
A WR when last year they traded for DK and this year Pittman? With a bleek QB room I’d get a third WR to make whoever the QB’s life easier.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Peter Woods Defensive Line Clemson
The Chargers continue to build in the trenches the Harbaugh way and get what was one time a projected top 10 pick in the middle late r1. They can be patient with Woods with all the talent on that team.

23. Tampa Bay Bucs: Ahkeem Mesidor Defensive End University of Miami
The Bucs trade back and land who I’d take at 15 for them. Tampa is in transition and it’s time to rebuild their DLine.

24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston Wide Receiver Washington
Cleveland passes on WR at pick 6 to secure the OLine but Watson and/or Shedeur need another weapon. Boston will immediately be in 2-set lineups adding speed to space things out.

25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren Safety Toledo
The Bears lost both safeties in free agency, so time to load back up. We saw the impact Nick Emmanwori provides the Seahawks last year, the Bears will hope for the same making their defense dynamic

TRADE!!
The Cardinals send picks 29 and 104 to the Bills for picks 26 and 168

26. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson Quarterback Alabama
On one end, the Cardinals probably do not have to trade up. But, there has to be some anxiety on that room waiting for their guy so they go lock him up before the Jets have a chance.

27. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Lomu Offensive Line Utah
It was big for the Niners to lock in Trent Williams but they need more bodies. That’s part of the reason CMC struggled this year with a low yards per carry.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk Defensive End Auburn
Faulk is no Micah Parsons but the defense as a whole is filling out nicely after going corner Delane pick 12.

29. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald Defensive Line Ohio State
Recently the Bills made a big effort in running the ball. Now it’s time to stop getting ran on. Their defense has been paper lately.

30. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy Cornerback Tennessee
With many holes, I see the regime building their defense this year. The draft doesn’t stop at round 1, and there will be more oppertunities to get the wide receiver.

31. New England Patriots: Max Iheanachor Offensive Line Arizona State
To complete Vrabel’s vision the Patriots have to get more physical up front on offense. This will help their run game so they can keep things off the plate for Drake Maye.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood Cornerback Tennessee
The Seahawks lost Riq Woolen and replace him with Colton Hood. Mike McDonald is a defensive wizard and I see them staying strong on that side of the ball.

Enjoy the NFL draft everyone! Let me know what you think of the pick from your favorite team

Thank you,
Goose