The 2025 NFL season came to an end with the Seattle Seahawks' 29-13 win over the New England Patriots inSuper Bowl 60.
The football world has nowshifted to offseason mode. That will leave NFL fans grappling with their first Sundays without football and looking forward to any and all NFL events throughout the 2026 offseason.
NFL OFFSEASON SCHEDULE:Important dates, free agency, draft, more
The 2026 NFL Draftwill, of course, be the marquee event. The league's annual labor allocation serves as a beacon of hope for NFL teams looking to land top-end talents and orchestrate quick turnarounds, as the New England Patriots andWashington Commandershave done in recent seasons.
How willthe 2026 NFL Draftshake out? It's still too early to say definitively, as the 2026 NFL Combine will affect draft boards, while free agency will influence which positions teams target with their picks.
But here's USA TODAY Sports' latest projections about how the first round will go with those important events looming.
2026 Senior Bowl week: NFL draft prospects in action
2026 NFL mock draft
1.Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
We can probably write this pick in pen. Mendoza led Indiana to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy while showing off elite accuracy, anticipation and ball-placement skills. He has all the tools needed to be a reliable pocket passer in the NFL, andworking with Klint Kubiakcould quickly unlock his potential.
2.New York Jets: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
The Jets aren't likely to take a quarterback here withDante Moore going back to school. Instead, they'll look to add a blue-chip talent to their barren roster. Reese enjoyed a breakout season for Ohio State, racking up 6.5 sacks while showing off great versatility playing on the edge and as an off-the-ball linebacker. He's a great athlete and will be a valuable Swiss Army knife for Aaron Glenn's defense.
3.Arizona Cardinals: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
Mike LaFleur may like to add a top-tier tackle with this selection, but finding a pass-rushing partner for Josh Sweat should also be high on the first-year coach's wish list. Bailey posted an FBS-high 14.5 sacks last season while showing great burst off the edge. The All-American is as pro-ready as they come.
4.Tennessee Titans: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
The Titans don't have much pass-rushing talent outside of Jeffery Simmons. Bain has an unorthodox build for an edge rusher at 6-3, 275 pounds with short arms, but he was terrific during Miami's national championship run. Robert Saleh will love his pro-ready physicality and power, which should help improve Tennessee's run defense.
5.New York Giants: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
The Giants could look at a right tackle here if Jermaine Eluemunor leaves in free agency. If not, adding a receiver to pair with Malik Nabers and give Jaxson Dart two high-end receiving targets could be in order. Tate has great size at 6-3, 190 pounds and – like many Ohio State wide receivers under Brian Hartline – is a great route-runner.
6.Cleveland Browns: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
TheBrowns' entire starting offensive line is set to hit free agency. That will leave Todd Monken's team rebuilding the unit, and Mauigoa is a great starting point. The 6-6, 335-pound tackle is a powerfully built, plug-and-play right tackle who figures to be a road-grade run blocker.
7.Washington Commanders: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
The Commanders would probably like to land one of the top-three edge rushers here, but all are off the board. Instead, they will settle for Downs, who fills a need at safety and is arguably the best player in the draft. The Ohio State product has great football IQ and was excellent in coverage for the Buckeyes. He should quickly emerge as a difference-maker in the NFL.
8.New Orleans Saints: WR Makai Lemon, USC
Tyler Shough enjoyed a better-than-expected rookie season in New Orleans. Kellen Moore will want to surround him with more talent in 2026, and adding a receiver to pair with Chris Olave should be high on his wish list. Lemon isn't big (5-11, 196 pounds) or overly athletic, but he has great separation skills and strong hands, making him an ideal slot weapon at the pro level.
9.Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
It almost seems unfair to give Love to the Chiefs. He's a well-built back (6-0, 214 pounds) who has breakaway speed and the receiving skills needed to be a three-down workhorse. Love would be a major upgrade over the Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt duo, and Kansas City could lean on the rookie to carry its offense as Patrick Mahomesworks his way back from a torn ACLearly in the season.
10.Cincinnati Bengals: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
Failing to land a top-three pass rusher or Downs is probably Cincinnati's nightmare scenario. Even so, the Bengals are desperate for defensive help at all levels, and McCoy could turn their cornerback room into a strength. He's a bit of a mystery after missing the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL, but his play in 2024 could help him become the top cornerback off the board if his medicals check out.
11.Miami Dolphins: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Miami's top two cornerbacks from last season, Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones, are set to be free agents.New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafleywill want to add talent to the cornerback room anyway, and Delane – an All-American who allowed just a 31.3 passer rating last season, perPro Football Focus– would give the team a true, No. 1 option at the position.
12.Dallas Cowboys: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
The Cowboys will likely address defense early and often in the draft as they look to rebuild the unit for the post-Micah Parsons era. Styles is well-built at 6-4, 240 pounds and has athleticism that allowed him to be a sideline-to-sideline, three-down playmaker for Ohio State. He would be a stabilizing force in the middle of Dallas' defense.
13.Los Angeles Rams(fromAtlanta): OT Spencer Fano, Utah
TheRamsare well-positioned to take the best player available with the 13th pick. Fano – an experienced tackle with great footwork and room to add to his 6-6, 308-pound frame – qualifies as such here, and also fills a potential need for the team afterRob Havenstein's retirement. Fano would battle Warren McClendon Jr. for the starting right tackle job and significantly improve the team's tackle depth.
14.Baltimore Ravens: G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Guard was one of theRavens' biggest weaknesses last season, and their interior offensive line could take an even bigger blow if center Tyler Linderbaum leaves in free agency. Ioane is the clear-cut best interior blocker in this year's draft, and Jesse Minter may have an interest in adding him after seeing how the Chargers' poor interior blocking was the team's undoing in 2025.
15.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has typically preferred to add players who were high-end producers in college. Howell fits the bill after logging 11.5 sacks during his final collegiate season and would provide an upgrade to Tampa Bay's lackluster edge rush.
16. New York Jets (fromIndianapolis): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Could the Jets target a quarterback like Ty Simpson here? Sure, it's possible. But with Aaron Glenn needing to win early to cool his hot seat, it seems more likely New York will trust a veteran while continuing to build up the rest of its roster. Tyson is an elite separator with 6-2, 200-pound size. He has great ball skills and would pair well with Garrett Wilson.
17.Detroit Lions: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Someone is going to take a chance on Proctor in the first round. The Alabama product was a three-year starter and has great movement skills considering his 6-7, 360-pound frame.Dan Skipper retiredduring the offseason, and 32-year-old Taylor Decker may not be far behind him, so the Lions could use a high-upside successor like Proctor to pair with Penei Sewell long-term.
18.Minnesota Vikings: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
TheVikingscould stand to add more talent to their secondary for 2026. Targeting a safety like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren here could be in play, but adding Terrell – a disruptive cornerback with NFL bloodlines – feels like a more prudent play for a Minnesota squad that could use more upside at corner.
19.Carolina Panthers: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
The Panthers invested two Day 2 picks in edge rushers last season, but could still stand to add talent at the position. Faulk has a massive 6-6, 285-pound frame that could give him inside-outside versatility in Ejiro Evero's defense. He's also one of the draft's youngest players and won't turn 21 until September, giving him plenty of room for growth at the NFL level.
20. Dallas Cowboys (viaGreen Bay): Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
The Cowboys would probably love to land the Styles and Faulk combination with their two top-20 picks, but they'll happily settle for Parker in this scenario. Parker didn't quite build upon his 11-sack 2024 season as many had hoped, but he still has the physical talent needed to blossom into a quality NFL starter. Dallas will be happy to add him as a potential long-term partner for Donovan Ezeiruaku.
21.Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
The Steelers desperately need to add a true No. 2 receiver to pair with DK Metcalf. Boston boasts a 6-4, 209-pound frame, has great contested-catch abilities and would give Pittsburgh a big-bodied receiver combination that would give opposing defensive coordinators headaches.
22.Los Angeles Chargers: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
The Chargers figure to address the trenches with their first-round pick. They would probably prefer to add a plug-and-play guard or center, but Woods could also be on their radar. Once considered a top-10 talent, Woods figures to slip after an inconsistent season at Clemson. He still shows flashes of explosive, pass-rushing ability, so pairing him with Teair Tart would be an intriguing combination in Los Angeles.
23.Philadelphia Eagles: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
The Eagles' top-three tight ends from 2025 are all set to be free agents, including Dallas Goedert. If Sadiq lasts this long, he would be a perfect replacement. The Oregon product profiles as a big-time vertical threat and recorded 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns while working with Dante Moore last season. It's easy to imagine him developing into a solid safety valve for Jalen Hurts and eventually improving as a blocker.
24. Cleveland Browns (fromJacksonville): WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
At some point, the Browns need to add a down-the-field receiver to Monken's offense. Concepcion has great deep speed, averaging a career-best 15.1 yards per reception in his lone season with the Aggies, and is also an elite returner. He's on the smaller side at 5-11, 190 pounds, but it's worth noting Monken's top receiver with the Ravens was Zay Flowers (5-9, 183 pounds).
25.Chicago Bears: DT Caleb Banks, Florida
Banks could end up being a quick riser after starring at the Senior Bowl. He played just three games in 2025 due to injury, but many believed he had top-15 potential entering the season. The Bears can take a swing on the 6-6, 331-pounder to fill the team's need for an upgraded pass rush in addition to Montez Sweat.
26.Buffalo Bills: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
The Bills are desperate to add receiver talent around Josh Allen. This might be slightly early for Brazzell, but his combination of size (6-5, 200), burst off the line and production – he had 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns at Tennessee last season – could help him sneak into the end of the first round.
27.San Francisco 49ers: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
The 49ers need a short-term upgrade at left guard and a long-term successor for Trent Williams at left tackle. Lomu would be an ideal fit, as he could begin his career as an athletic guard while working to fill out his lean 6-6, 305-pound frame before moving to tackle.
28.Houston Texans: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
Freeling figures to rise during the draft process, as the 6-7, 315-pound tackle has tantalizing traits that simply can't be taught. The Texans took an upside swing on a similarly huge tackle, Aireontay Ersery, last season and could envision Freeling becoming a long-term bookend for him.
29. Los Angeles Rams: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Matthew Stafford confirmed he would return in 2026after winning the NFL MVP, but the 38-year-old is undoubtedly in the twilight of his career. The Rams would be wise to soon invest in a successor and Simpson's accuracy, ability to navigate the pocket and field-reading capabilities would make him a natural fit in Sean McVay's offense.
30.Denver Broncos: LB CJ Allen, Georgia
TheBroncosdon't have many needs, so they could be positioned to take the best player available here. Allen was a productive, do-it-all linebacker for the Bulldogs and generated 88 tackles, 8 TFL and 3.5 sacks last season while allowing just an 87.8 passer rating. It's fun to imagine him taking on a significant role in Denver's already tenacious defense.
31.New England Patriots: Edge Zion Young, Missouri
The Patriots have a few clear-cut needs, including a high-end receiver and a long-term successor for Morgan Moses at right tackle. However, their most pressing need is on the edge, where their top sack artist – K'Lavon Chaisson – is set to be a free agent. Young posted career-best marks in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (16.5) at Missouri last season and has the motor and tenacity that will appeal to Mike Vrabel.
32.Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
Two of Seattle's top-three cornerbacks – Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe – are set to be free agents in 2026. If either leaves, Seattle will need to replenish its depth. Cisse is athletic, physical and allowed just 18 receptions and a 78.9 passer rating last season. He and Devon Witherspoon would combine to create an imposing cornerback tandem.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NFL mock draft: Top 10 features Makai Lemon, run on pass rushers
