By: Nate Peters
Staff Writer
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, teams and fans prepare for a night full of uncertainty, especially since this year’s draft is lining up to be one of the most unpredictable in a long time. It all begins with Round 1 Pick 1, where things are pretty clear on who the Las Vegas Raiders will pick first overall.
Round 1 Pick 1, Las Vegas Raiders- QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
This has been clear around the league that Mendoza will be the next quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Even though the Raiders just signed QB Kirk Cousins earlier this month, it would be hard to see them pass up on the Heisman trophy winner.
Round 1 Pick 2, New York Jets- DE Arvell Reese (Ohio State)
Unlike the first overall pick, the second pick is a lot more up in the air in terms of who the New York Jets will take here. With the many holes on their roster, they could take honestly anyone. With that being said, it would be hard seeing them pass up on one of (if not the best) defensive player in this draft in Arvell Reese out of The Ohio State University.
Round 1 Pick 3, Arizona Cardinals- DE David Bailey (Texas Tech)
Just like the previous pick, this pick is one of the biggest questions out of the entire draft. Out of all their needs, an offensive lineman is one of the biggest needs on this team. It would not be surprising seeing the Cardinals take a lineman here, but it’s hard to envision them passing on one of the most explosive players of this draft in David Bailey.
Round 1 Pick 4, Tennessee Titans- RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
There has been a lot of talk recently on what the Titans will do at pick number 4. Recent rumors suggest that the Titans may be potentially interested in trading down in the first round with teams like the Dallas Cowboys. Throughout the offseason, the Titans have reportedly been interested in a wide variety of players like DE David Bailey, DE Rueben Bain Jr., WR Carnell Tate, and last but not least, RB Jeremiyah Love. While defensive end is very much in the realm of possibility for the Titans here, Love is just too good of a talent to pass up if he is available at pick 4 overall.
Round 1 Pick 5, New York Giants- LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State)
This past offseason, the Giants hired John Harbaugh to be the team’s new head coach after firing Brian Daboll. Based on Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore,you can see that he is a really good coach. Another thing to note about Harbaugh is that he likes having a really good defense. With Sonny Styles being the best linebacker in this year’s draft class, he will be a good fit in Harbaugh’s scheme for the Giants’ defense.
Round 1 Pick 6, Cleveland Browns- OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)
If Francis Mauigoa is available at this pick, it would be hard to see the Browns pass up on him based on how terrible their offensive line was last year.Especially if they want to protect a young quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Dillion Gabriel.
Round 1 Pick 7, Washington Commanders- WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State)
The Commanders had a bad fall off after last year’s NFC Championship appearance. One of their biggest needs going into next season is a wide receiver. Especially after losing Deebo Samuel in free agency. The Commanders could very well address that need here selecting WR Carnell Tate.
Round 1 Pick 8, New Orleans Saints- DE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami)
Last season, the Saints struggled defensively throughout the majority of the season. Vol State student Andrew Nolfo, a Saints fan, thinks Bain would be a really good addition to the New Orleans defense, saying, “He is really quick off the edge, and I really think he could help this defense going forward.”
Round 1 Pick 9, Kansas City Chiefs- CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)
This draft will be the first draft in nearly a decade where the Kansas City Chiefs will be picking inside the top 10 picks of a draft. Just a couple of weeks ago they traded their starting cornerback to the Los Angeles Rams. With that being said, taking the top cornerback off the board at 9 could very well happen, although it would not be surprising if they decided to take S Caleb Downs here.
Round 1 Pick 10, New York Giants- S Caleb Downs (Ohio State)
The Giants just traded DT Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for this 1-th overall pick in the draft, and with Caleb Downs being available here for the Giants, it seems like a no brainer to pick him up here.
Round 1 Pick 11, Miami Dolphins- WR Makai Lemon (USC)
The Miami Dolphins have been in a decline ever since last season ended. While they did sign a new starting quarterback in free agency in Malik Willis, they did not address the need in wide receiver at all. So, taking either Makai Lemon or Jordan Tyson will most likely be the pick here.
Round 1 Pick 12, Dallas Cowboys- CB Avieon Terrell (Clemson)
Ever since the Cowboys released one of their top corners in Trevon Diggs, cornerback has been a need for the Cowboys and seeing them take a goodcorner in Avieon Terrell would be a good fit for him.
Round 1 Pick 13, Los Angeles Rams- OT Spencer Fano (Utah)
With the Rams falling just short of the Super Bowl last year and having the reigning MVP going into next season, seeing them taking one of the best offensive tackles in the class to protect Stafford would be a good choice for them.
Round 1 Pick 14, Baltimore Ravens- OG Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State)
This is kind of the same situation as the Rams; they have a really good offense but really struggled on the offensive line. Getting Lamar Jackson, the best guard in the draft, is probably their best option.
Round 1 Pick 15, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)
The Buccaneers have had the same issue as the Ravens, the offensive line. So, there is a good chance that they will take one of the best offensive linemen available in Monroe Freeling.
Round 1 Pick 16, New York Jets- WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
As mentioned earlier, the New York Jets have a lot of holes in their team. Seeing them take one of the top receivers in the draft would not be surprising.Both Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon are very similar in terms of play style. Tyson has had some injury issues recently, which is why Lemon is favored over him.
Round 1 Pick 17, Detroit Lions- OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama)
Kadyn Proctor is arguably the best offensive tackle in this draft class. Proctor’s play style will be a really good fit with Dan Campbell’s culture he brings tothe Lions; this would be a really good fit.
Round 1 Pick 18, Minnesota Vikings- S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)
The Vikings already have had a good defense over the past couple of seasons with Brian Flores as their defensive coordinator. Adding the best safety in this draft class will most definitely help out this Minnesota defense.
Round 1 Pick 19, Carolina Panthers- DT Peter Woods (Clemson)
The Panthers had a bad rushing defense this past season. They ranked 20th in the league, allowing 123.3 yards per game on the ground. Peter Woods would be an amazing fit for the Panthers.
Round 1 Pick 20, Dallas Cowboys- DE Keldrick Faulk (Auburn)
Last season, the Cowboys traded arguably the best edge rusher in the league in Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. In return, the Cowboys got this pick, and taking the next best edge rusher with that pick here would be filling the need that started in the same trade.
Round 1 Pick 21, Pittsburgh Steelers- OT Caleb Lomu (Utah)
During free agency, the Steelers lost their starting left tackle this offseason. Issac Seumalo signed a 3-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. With that being their biggest need on their team, taking yet another lineman off the board is very likely.
Round 1 Pick 22, Los Angeles Chargers- TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)
The Chargers have been in need of a tight end for the past couple of seasons. Seeing them take the best tight end off the board in Kenyon Sadiq here at pick 22 would very much fit that need. Although they could draft an offensive lineman because of how bad the line was during the playoffs, tight end is the more logical option at pick 22.
Round 1 Pick 23, Philadelphia Eagles- DE Cashius Howell (Texas A&M)
The Eagles are kind of in a weird spot going into this season. In free agency, they lost one of their best edge rushers in Jalen Phillips. So, taking the next best available edge rusher in Cashius Howell here seems to be the best option for the Eagles in the first round.
Round 1 Pick 24, Cleveland Browns- WR Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
As mentioned earlier, the Browns are looking to help out their young quarterbacks headed forward into next season. There are 3 receivers available at this pick they could go with including Kevin Concepcion, Denzel Boston, and Omar Cooper Jr. Out of the available options, Concepcion fits the Browns the best.
Round 1 Pick 25, Chicago Bears- DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
The Bears surprisingly had an outstanding season with their first time head coach in Ben Johnson. The offense for the Bears significantly improved with the development of their quarterback Caleb Williams. Seeing them try to build up their defensive line would not be surprising.
Round 1 Pick 26, Buffalo Bills- WR Denzel Boston (Washington)
The Bills always seem like they are in the same situation every season. They always come up 1-2 games short of the Super Bowl in the past 5 seasons. The one thing they have been lacking is a reliable wide receiver 1. Therefore, Denzel Boston seems to be the next pick off the board.
Round 1 Pick 27, San Francisco 49ers- OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)
The 49ers have had a lot of injury issues as of late, so seeing them try to boost the depth on their offensive line would probably be one of their best options.
Round 1 Pick 28, Houston Texans- OT Blake Miller (Clemson)
The offensive line has been a need for the Texans for the past couple of seasons. Some could argue that is the reason that they fell short in the playoffs last season. Offensive line is more than likely the move for the Texans here at pick 28.
Round 1 Pick 29, Kansas City Chiefs- DE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)
After the Chiefs went with a cornerback at pick 9, seeing them take a good edge rusher in Akheem Mesidor at pick 29 would be a really good choice for them at this point in the draft.
Round 1 Pick 30, Miami Dolphins- CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)
There has been a lot of speculation recently on Jermod McCoy’s injury and how far he will fall in this first round, or if he will at all. With the Dolphins needing pretty much anything on their roster, seeing them take a chance on him and taking him at pick 30 wouldn’t be that surprising.
Round 1 Pick 31, New England Patriots- WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
After the Patriots chose to not re-sign their number 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, they really need a big target for their superstar QB Drake Maye. Omar Cooper Jr. showed off a lot of talent throughout the college playoffs.
Round 1 Pick 32, Seattle Seahawks- CB Colton Hood (Tennessee)
Just after their Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks chose to not re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker and their star cornerback Riq Woolen. After all the craziness of free agency, the Seahawks will more than likely want to fill that hole in the defense quickly with their first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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