The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and in the lead-up to draft day, we’ve already seen a slew of trades, two of which included first-round picks. The Los Angeles Rams acquired Trent McDuffie in exchange for the 29th pick plus other draft capital. The Baltimore Ravens sent over the 14th pick plus a 2027 first-rounder for Maxx Crosby.

Those two trades will have a massive impact on the 2026 NFL Draft, so it’s time to do an updated mock to see who the Chiefs and Raiders select with their extra picks.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders’ QB1 has been a question for a long time. Even though they brought in Geno Smith, things didn’t change for them. Now, after they got the first draft pick, many considered that they may trade him as an asset. However, I think they will still target him. This hasn’t, and will not, change before the start of the draft. Fernando Mendoza will be a Raider.

The team could potentially look for a veteran signal caller, as The Athletics’ Diana Russini revealed that they do not plan on starting him in his rookie year. However, it does not mean they will not bring him in and develop him to be their franchise quarterback someday.

2. New York Jets: LB Arvell Reese

The New York Jets were watching the edge rushers and linebackers at the 2026 NFL Combine with a great deal of interest, and Ohio State’s Arvell Reese did not disappoint them. He dropped into coverage and was spying on the quarterback as an off-ball linebacker throughout last season as a Buckeye. He is projected to go at No. 2, which is with the Jets.

The Jets need a lot of defensive help, and Arvell Reese can provide it. He can come off the edge and play off-ball linebacker, so he kills two birds with one stone.

3. Arizona Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa

Cardinals fans are probably tired of seeing this, but it’s the right pick. Kelvin Beachum filled in at right tackle for an injured Jonah Williams, and both are unrestricted free agents this offseason. Mike LaFleur’s system won’t work without a good offensive line, so they have to get better up front.

4. Tennessee Titans: DE David Bailey

There are a ton of different directions the Titans could go here, but I have them taking David Bailey. He’s the best edge rusher in this class, and his arms are actually the right length! Meanwhile, Bailey, who happens to be a former Stanford teammate of Tennessee receiver Elic Ayomanor, has kept his stance neutral after talking to the team at the Combine:

“I have talked to the Tennessee Titans. I haven’t reached out to Elic,” Bailey said. “I know he did a great job last year at the combine. He had a phenomenal year. Super hard worker. Great work ethic.”

5. New York Giants: LB Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles just feels like a John Harbaugh player. He’s a freak athlete and will make a massive impact the moment he steps on the field. He can be the Giants’ Roquan Smith. General manager Joe Schoen has already spoken about how the new head coach is prioritizing fixing the run defense.

So, even though an off-ball linebacker isn’t a pick many teams make this early in the draft at projected No. 5, Styles might be the one the Giants put their pin on.

6. TRADE: New Orleans Saints: RB Jeremiyah Love

Trade Details: Saints trade picks 8 and 73 to Browns for 6 and 107

If Jeremiyah Love makes it past New York at five, it’s going to be a bidding war. Cleveland doesn’t need him, and the three teams behind them – the Commanders, Saints, and Chiefs – all want him. In this mock, I have the Saints moving up two spots to select the electric running back. He can transform their run game, which was one of the worst in the league last year.

The Saints already won in the 2025 NFL Draft with Kelvin Banks Jr. and Tyler Shough, who were both considered a reach last season. Moreover, with Shough needing an explosive RB on his side, Love could be the perfect fit.

7. Washington Commanders: DE Rueben Bain

After missing out on Love, the Commanders select Rueben Bain, which is probably the right pick even if Love is there. The Commanders need to get younger defensively, so adding an elite edge that’s 21 years old makes a ton of sense. Their GM has already mentioned how they like to draft players who are “true Commanders,” and Bain’s responses at the Combine were no short of impressive to the scouts.

“I eat, sleep and breathe football,” Bain told the media. “That’s all I do. I don’t have any other hobbies.”

8. Cleveland Browns: OT Monroe Freeling

Wide receiver would be the fun pick here, but the reality is that Cleveland needs to revamp their entire offensive line, and nobody did themselves more favors at the combine than Monroe Freeling.

It may be a little rich for him at eight, but if he’s a solid offensive tackle, who cares where you took him?

9. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Mansoor Delane

With Love gone, the Chiefs fill the next-biggest need on their roster at cornerback. They shipped off All-Pro Trent McDuffie because they didn’t want to pay him, so they got a younger, cheaper option that has just as much upside.

Delane may be lacking the top-end speed that some teams look for, but he makes up for it with phenomenal route awareness. He is capable of handling various coverages effectively and can be a good fit with the Chiefs.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: S Caleb Downs

Caleb Downs’ “degenerative ACL” issue has made it really hard to pinpoint where he’ll land. If it’s a real concern, he could slide out of the top-10, but he’s so good, I think someone’s still going to take him top-10. Cincinnati needs help in its secondary, so this pairing makes sense.

11. Miami Dolphins: CB Jermod McCoy

With Downs coming off the board earlier than many expected a week ago, the Dolphins have to pivot and select Jermod McCoy. The Tennessee product didn’t play all of last year, but he’s still viewed as a top prospect. That’s how good he can be. In fact, he is projected to start for the Dolphins from Day 1.

He was cleared to practice at the end of the last season, but chose not to perform at the Combine. Why? Because “I just wanna make sure I’m putting the best thing out, give me some more training time, do it all at Pro Day,” McCoy said.

12. Dallas Cowboys: DE Keldric Faulk

Despite an electric offense in 2025, the Cowboys failed to make it to the playoffs for the second straight time. One of the reasons could be the obvious Micah Parsons trade. The absence of an edge rusher limited them in many ways. And with Downs, Delane, and McCoy all gone, the Cowboys are forced to shift their focus to defensive end.

I’m not a big Keldric Faulk fan, but there’s no denying he has the athletic traits teams look for at edge rusher.

13. Los Angeles Rams: WR Carnell Tate

I’m getting the feeling that the receivers are going to fall a bit in this draft, and nobody would be happier to see that happen than Sean McVay. Carnell Tate is an explosive receiver who plays much faster than his 40 time and would be great next to Puka Nacua. From a broader lens, the Rams are not just trying to reload their 2025 run again but also finding a potential replacement once Davante Adams calls it a day. Tate has already promised what he brings to the table:

“If you want a game changer, you got one right here,” Tate told potential NFL teams at the Combine.

14. Las Vegas Raiders: WR Jordyn Tyson

The Raiders now own the 14th pick in the draft, and after selecting Fernando Mendoza first overall, they get him a weapon with their second pick. Don’t forget, if it weren’t for some health concerns, Jordyn Tyson would be WR1 by a wide margin.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq

Kenyon Sadiq put on a clinic at the NFL Combine. He’s an electric receiver at the tight end position, but he does need to improve as a blocker. With Cade Otton and Mike Evans leaving, the Bucs need to add some receiving help.

16. New York Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane

The Jets already got their defensive superstar, so they go offense and shore up their line. Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are future stars at tackle, so adding someone like Ioane to the mix will give them one of the best young OL cores in the league.

17. Detroit Lions: OT Spencer Fano

Spencer Fano might not play tackle at the NFL level, but his versatility will make him very desirable to some teams. Detroit needs some help pretty much everywhere on its offensive line, so it can stick Fano wherever he feels most comfortable.

18. Minnesota Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman

Harrison Smith isn’t getting any younger, so it’s time to invest in his replacement, and Dillon Thieneman has been flying up draft boards lately. With Emmanuel McNeil-Warren’s speed concerns, I think the Vikings make Thieneman the first safety off the board.

19. Carolina Panthers: CB Avieon Terrell

Jaycee Horn is great, but the Panthers need someone to pair with him, and Avieon Terrell is one of my favorite corners in this draft class. He’s young, athletic, and has the production to match, and with Sadiq gone, I think it’s a straightforward pick.

20. TRADE: Cleveland Browns: QB Ty Simpson

Trade Details: Browns trade picks 24 and 73 to the Cowboys for 20 and 112

I have Cleveland dealing picks 20 and 73 (which they acquired from the Saints) to move up to 20 to draft Ty Simpson. With neither Shedeur Sanders nor Dillon Gabriel working out as last year’s rookies, it’s no secret that the Browns need a new quarterback, and with a team like Pittsburgh picking at 21, there’s no guarantee Simpson would make it to them at 24.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Makai Lemon

This feels late for Makai Lemon, but if all three of the receivers fall out of the top ten, I don’t see another landing spot for him until Pittsburgh at 21. The Steelers have their receiver in DK Metcalf, so Lemon will slide in perfectly in the slot.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Peter Woods

There were no guards worthy of this pick, so the Chargers shift focus to defensive tackle, which is probably their next-biggest hole on the roster. Peter Woods is a gifted athlete, but his college production wasn’t where you wanted it to be. He’ll still be a first-rounder, though.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Caleb Lomu

Lane Johnson is returning this year, but it’s time to prepare for life without him. There were a few offensive tackles they could’ve taken here, but Caleb Lomu is probably the most NFL-ready, so if he can sit for a year behind Johnson, I have no doubt he could be really solid when he takes over.

24. Dallas Cowboys: CB Colton Hood

After the Cowboys went defensive end at No. 12, I have them taking Colton Hood at 24. He took over as Tennessee’s CB1 while McCoy was out, and played extremely well, and tested well at the combine. I think he’s worthy of a first-round pick, especially for a team that really needs CB help.

25. Chicago Bears: DT Caleb Banks

The Bears need a lot of defensive help, but if they can shore up the defensive tackle spot, it will solve a lot of their problems. Caleb Banks is massive, but he played fewer than 1,000 snaps in his career. He’ll be a work in progress, but his potential is through the roof.

26. Buffalo Bills: WR Omar Cooper

The Bills just traded for D.J. Moore, but I don’t expect them to be done adding receivers. They could add one in free agency, but then they’d be paying two guys big money, so I’d rather them pick one in round one.

Omar Cooper put on a show at the combine and launched himself into first-round conversations.

27. San Francisco 49ers: OT Kadyn Proctor

Trent Williams might not play for the 49ers this year, but even if he does, San Francisco needs to find his heir. Kadyn Proctor is even bigger than Williams is, but he’s a bit of a work in progress. It would be ideal for them to keep Williams for one more season and let him coach Proctor up, but they may not have that luxury.

28. Houston Texans: DT Kayden McDonald

The Texans have some holes on offense to address, but I don’t love any of the options there, so I have them taking a high-upside DT in Kayden McDonald. DT is probably the only weak link on this defense, so he could step in and start right away.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jadarian Price

The Chiefs still need running back help after drafting Delane at No. 9, so they take Jadarian Price at the end of the first. He’s probably a second-round talent, but this is a shallow running back class, and there’s no guarantee he’d be there when they pick next round. Reaching isn’t bad, as long as you don’t miss.

30. Denver Broncos: OT Max Iheanachor

The Broncos have two really solid tackles, but they’re both 32 or older. Eventually, they’re going to have to find replacements for those two, and with someone like Max Iheanachor sitting there at No. 30, it’s hard not to take him and secure Bo Nix’s blindside for the long-term.

31. New England Patriots: DE Akheem Mesidor

With K’Lavon Chaisson likely leaving, the Patriots need to add another edge rusher in free agency or the draft. I could see them going receiver here, but Akheem Mesidor is a better player than any of the receivers still available. He may be 26, but if you can get seven years of production out of him, his age doesn’t really matter.

32. Seattle Seahawks: WR KC Concepcion

Rashid Shaheed is leaving town, and Cooper Kupp is only getting older. It’s time for the Super Bowl champions to invest in another receiver outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Concepcion can do a lot of the same things Shaheed did in the return game, and he’s probably a more well-rounded receiver.

With Pro Days up, free agency around the corner, and the 2026 NFL Draft next on the calendar, these players will hope to land in the first round and with teams they can build their NFL future with.