Post-trade deadline 2026 NFL mock draft
The NFL regular season is halfway over and the trade deadline is behind us.
Big names were moved in the final hours of deadline day. New York Jets stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were dealt to Indianapolis and Dallas, respectively, as the team goes for an overhaul. Smaller deals saw wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Jakobi Meyers sent to Seattle and Jacksonville, respectively.
Those were the last moves teams could make for the regular season. The biggest moves from here on out have to wait until the offseason – including the NFL Draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft features a mix of talent at positions, namely linebacker, wide receiver and defensive line. The quarterback class isn’t as good as hoped but still offers multiple first-round talents, including at the top of Round 1.
As the dust settles from the trade deadline, how have things changed in our latest mock draft? Here’s a new prediction for the first round with the order from Tankathon:
2026 NFL mock draft
1. New Orleans Saints: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
The Saints drafted a quarterback in 2024 and 2025 but when you have the No. 1 overall pick, you take a shot on the best passer available. Mendoza’s surprisingly fast release for his size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) maximizes his processing abilities. He’s also a solid scrambler who can extend plays with an understanding of pocket pressure.
2. Tennessee Titans: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
With a No. 1 overall quarterback already on the roster, Tennessee opts for one of the best players in the class at a valuable position. Bain has improved his play in 2025 with physicality at the point of attack, which should fit right in at the NFL level. His bull rush and bend provide a solid foundation to being a consistent edge rusher and his strength means he can set the edge in run defense as well.
3. New York Jets: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
Simpson may be in the conversation for QB1 in the class by the time the 2025 college football season is over. He waited behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe for his opportunity and he’s made the most of it. Simpson offers an impressive combination of mobility and accuracy; he can quickly feel pressure in the pocket, identify his man, adjust and reset before making a quick throw. If not for his lack of starting experience, Simpson would be well in the conversation for the No. 1 pick.
4. Miami Dolphins: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Miami needs impact starters on both sides of the ball and it may be hard to find a more impactful player on defense than Downs. The Buckeyes defensive back can play all over the formation with the athleticism, size, and football IQ to cover wide receivers, tight ends or running backs. He’s our top prospect in the class and only falls this far because of positional value.
5. New York Giants: WR Jordan Tyson, Arizona State
The Giants could go either skill position or offensive line at No. 5 here. Looking at the board, we went with the former and gave New York the top wideout in the class. Tyson has an NFL-ready skillset that should provide instant impact across from Malik Nabers. He’s a stellar route runner for his age with the suddenness to create separation at will. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds with impressive verticality, he can high-point deeper passes to win in contested catch situations.
6. Cleveland Browns: QB Dante Moore, Oregon
From one Oregon passer to another. Moore took over the reins in Eugene in 2025 and has made plays with his strong arm and legs this season. His layering, as well as short and intermediate accuracy, have taken a step this year, which boosts his stock ahead of the draft. His mobility will be an asset as well at the next level and can provide Cleveland with an option for the future at quarterback.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Reese is one of the biggest risers in the draft class this season. The Buckeyes’ linebacker has outlier size (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) with elite athleticism. What makes him different is his versatility and football IQ. He can effectively rush the passer, read and react correctly in run defense to force a tackle for loss and cover a tight end, sometimes all within the same drive. Las Vegas needs someone to help Maxx Crosby on defense and Reese’s versatility fits the bill.
8. Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
The Bengals defense needs all the help it can get. They’re last in yards and points allowed league-wide. Between help in the secondary and help up front, we went with the latter. Faulk’s movement skills and elite size for an edge (6-foot-6, 285 pounds) should make him an impact starter as a rookie. He’s a high-motor rusher who’s played at multiple spots on the defensive line. He’s also one of the youngest players in the class, which gives Cincinnati a player to build around going forward.
9. Washington Commanders: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Washington needs impact players at skill positions on offense. With Tyson off the board, they take the No. 1 running back in the class. Love is the ideal archetype of the modern running back. At 6-foot and 214 pounds, he has NFL size with sprinter speed to be a game-breaking back whenever he touches the ball. The former track star boasts route-running abilities and solid hands to be a three-down back immediately.
10. Baltimore Ravens: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
Baltimore’s slowly working its way farther down the order but still sits in a position to get a high-potential player. Woods was the No. 1 prospect for many analysts entering the 2025 college football season but he’s yet to fully maximize his impressive toolkit of traits. At his best, he shows shades of Jalen Carter. But can he get there consistently? The Ravens would be the right staff to find out.
11. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons): CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
The Rams have one of the best young fronts in the NFL but could use more star power on the back end to complete the unit. Unfortunately, McCoy hasn’t played in the 2025 college football season due to an ACL injury, but when he’s on the field, he’s one of the best in the country. He has prototypical size and athleticism with the ability to fit in multiple schemes.
12. Arizona Cardinals: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
Parker is one of the better run defenders at the position in the class with a 6-foot-3, 265-pound frame. He’d be another young piece for the future of the defensive line alongside Walter Nolen and Darius Robinson. Running back and safety were also in consideration but the positional value gives Parker the nod.
13. Houston Texans: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
Houston’s offensive line desperately needs help. They get it here with one of the best tackle prospects in the class. There are some concerns about Fano’s lean build at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds but you can’t argue with his movement skills, balance and hand usage. He’s a sure-handed pass protector already and would be a welcome sight for C.J. Stroud.
14. Dallas Cowboys: CB Aveion Terrell, Clemson
Dallas has paid DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs handsomely, yet still has one of the worst pass defenses per play in the league. Terrell may be slightly undersized at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds but excels in zone coverage. He’s the younger brother of Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell and brings athleticism and a tenacious attitude to the position.
15. Minnesota Vikings: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Minnesota’s offense has sputtered with injuries along the offensive line. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in his first full season as a starter and could use more help in front of him. Mauigoa plays right tackle and may end up as the long-term heir to Brian O’Neill at that spot or he could kick inside to guard earlier than later. It may seem like a frivolous pick but considering how things have looked for the Vikings, insurance could go a long way.
16. Carolina Panthers: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
Carolina’s properly in playoff contention thanks to one of the top rushing attacks in the league. With this pick, Carolina looks to improve its passing offense as well. Tate has taken on a larger role in 2025 in Columbus and thrived as a big-play wide receiver. His reliable hands and route-running would complement 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan on the outside.
17. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Like Baltimore, Kansas City continues falling down the order as it stacks up wins. They still get a contributor on offense with this pick as Sadiq could be a tight end of the future. He’s the top player at the position in the class as a proper mismatch at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds. He’s a willing blocker and vertical threat at the position who could be a versatile player for this offense.
18. Chicago Bears: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
This may be recency bias, considering the Bears just let Joe Flacco drop 470 passing yards on them in Week 9. Delane would be a welcome addition for the pass defense. He’s not an outlier athlete and there are concerns about his leaner frame at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds. But he’s a shutdown cornerback in college who opposing quarterbacks avoid entirely. He’s sticky in man coverage with ideal technique and has the football I.Q. to thrive in zone as well.
19. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars): OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Cleveland’s offensive line is years removed from its dominant heights under Kevin Stefanski. Now, the unit could use some help. It’s hard to find a more outlier athlete at the position in this class than Proctor. He needs some work with his consistency but when he’s on, there are few tackles more terrifying than him.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
At this point, the top cornerbacks are off the board. It’s between wide receiver or edge rusher at this spot. We went with Bailey, one of the most productive edge rushers in college football. Like Derrick Harmon in 2025, Bailey is a safe bet to continue his production in the NFL. He’s a bit undersized (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) to set the edge in run defense but offers you so much as a designated pass rusher immediately.
21. Detroit Lions: Edge LT Overton, Alabama
Detroit’s done well to avoid injuries on the defensive line this season compared to last and get another long, tall edge rusher to deploy opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Overton can set the edge in run defense with a physical style of play. At 6-foot-5 and 278 pounds, he could line up at multiple spots on the defensive line as well.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Howell is another undersized edge rusher at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds with the speed to get after the quarterback regularly. He’s already deploying speed to power, spin and cross-chop moves in college that should stick at the NFL level. The Chargers could use more help off the edge and Howell could be a versatile piece to use in coverage as well.
23. San Francisco 49ers: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
San Francisco’s barrage of injuries makes it hard to get a proper picture of the starters but the 49ers could use help on the offensive line. Lomu is still raw in his development but has impressive athletic traits. He’s played left tackle at Utah and could end up there for the 49ers or at right tackle.
24. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Linebacker’s been a weak spot for the Cowboys this season and DeMarvion Overshown can only do so much to paper over that. Styles was initially viewed as the top linebacker in Columbus before Arvell Reese’s rise. He’s similarly sized (6-foot-4, 238 pounds) with impressive movement skills. He’d be a welcome fit in the middle as an athletic, reliable tackler.
25. Buffalo Bills: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee
Buffalo’s rushing attack is one of the best in the league once again this year. They opt to get Josh Allen another weapon in the passing game here with the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Brazzell. The Volunteers wideout offers elite burst off the line with verticality to win contested catches. He’s operated well underneath in 2025 to show some development in his game.
26. Seattle Seahawks: OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
Seattle addressed wide receiver at the trade deadline by acquiring Rashid Shaheed, moving that need down the priorities. Instead, they’ll continue to upgrade the offensive line with one of the safest picks in the round. Ioane is the top pure-guard prospect with a mix of size, strength and mobility. He’ll need some development technically but the foundation is there for a long-term starter.
27. Los Angeles Rams: QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
In a curveball late in the round, Los Angeles plans for the future with one of the most physically impressive quarterbacks in recent draft history. Sellers’ background as a soccer player comes through in his scrambling ability at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds. He has plenty of elite tools but needs time to refine his game. He could sit behind Matthew Stafford for a year and get up to speed before eventually taking over.
28. Denver Broncos: QB John Mateer, Oklahoma
Mateer had first-round potential to start the season before suffering a hand injury. He’s been spotty since returning from that injury in a matter of weeks and should improve as the season wears on. At his best, Mateer has solid mobility, good processing and a strong arm that operates out of multiple angles. Quarterback, Denver has one of the best rosters in the NFL. They need an upgrade at the position to maximize it.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Zion Young, Missouri
Young’s been one of the most productive edge rushers in the country with 30 pressures and five sacks through eight games. At 6-foot-5 and 262 pounds, he has the kind of size that the Buccaneers like at the position with an attitude that’ll endear him to the coaching staff. His hand usage and size will help him stick at the next level.
30. New England Patriots: WR Chris Bell, Louisville
Drake Maye’s taken a step forward in year two, and the offense needs to take a step up in personnel around him. It’s between offensive line and wide receiver at this spot. We go with the latter and pick Bell, the linebacker-sized wideout with speed. His physicality against press coverage will offer something different to the Patriots’ wide receiver room.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: CB AJ Harris, Penn State
Philadelphia’s trade for Jaire Alexander to potentially play outside cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell shows they need help at the position. If Alexander or the other options at the position don’t work out, Harris could be the right call here. The Penn State cornerback has NFL size at 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds with an aggressive mentality and athleticism to stick at the position.
32. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Edge Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
New York dealt cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis for two first-round picks and wideout Adonai Mitchell at the trade deadline. Now the Jets are looking for building blocks for the future. Coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey both come from teams that built up the trenches to some of the most dominant units in the league. Uiagalelei has NFL size at 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds with the right mix of strength and athleticism to line up in multiple spots on the defensive line.
