2026 NFL Mock Draft From Brendan Donahue: All 32 First-Round Picks

With the NFL Free Agency behind us, we are squarely in NFL Draft season.

Brendan Donahue, the #2 most accurate mock drafter over the past five NFL seasons according to The Huddle Report, gives you his 2026 NFL Mock Draft, making predictions for every team and every pick in the first round.

Editor's Note: Brendan finished 9th out of 175 entrants for 2026 first-round mock accuracy.

Last Updated: April 23

2026 NFL First-Round Mock Draft: All 32 Picks

Previous Mock Drafts

• Mock Draft 4.0: April 13 Update
• Mock Draft 3.0: March 30 Update
• Mock Draft 2.0: March 17 Update
• Mock Draft 1.0: March 5 Update

Explore more of our NFL Draft coverage:

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-10

1. Las Vegas Raiders, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Best Bet: There is not one. This has been a foregone conclusion for months.

Who Calls the Shots in Raiders Draft Room? 

GM John Spytek (second year) probably controls the roster, though it’s unclear. Last year, when Pete Carroll was head coach, the team declined to clarify who had final say (though it was probably Carroll, who had final say in Seattle). Spytek climbed through the scouting ranks, so he’s well-qualified to run the draft room. 

2. New York Jets, Top Draft Pick Prediction: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

Best Bet: David Bailey to be second-overall pick (-135)

Who Calls the Shots in Jets Draft Room? 

Darren Mougey (second year) probably has final say over the roster. Mougey came up in the college scouting department with the Broncos, so he will likely control most draft-day decisions. However, both Mougey and Aaron Glenn report directly to owner Woody Johnson 一 a messy arrangement which often leads to a power struggle. 

3. Arizona Cardinals, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

Best Bet: Arvell Reese to be third-overall pick (+165)

Who Calls the Shots in Cardinals Draft Room? 

GM Monti Ossenfort (fourth year) has final say over the Cardinals' roster. Ossenfort is a former director of college scouting (Patriots) and director of player personnel (Titans), and his assistant GM is former Lions director of college scouting Dave Sears. 

4. Tennessee Titans, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Best Bet: Sonny Styles to be fourth-overall pick (+185)

Who Calls the Shots in Titans Draft Room? 

Mike Borgonzi (second year) joined the Titans after 15 years in the Chiefs organization and has final say over the roster. Borgonzi previously spent three seasons as Kansas City’s assistant GM, but he does not have a background in college scouting, so director of college scouting Jon Salge likely plays a critical role in the selection process. 

5. New York Giants, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Best Bet: Jeremiyah Love to be fifth-overall pick (+350)

Who Calls the Shots in Giants Draft Room? 

GM Joe Schoen (fifth year) has final say over roster decisions. He spent the previous five seasons as the assistant general manager to Brandon Beane in Buffalo. Schoen’s background is in college scouting with the Panthers and Dolphins. 

6. Cleveland Browns, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Best Bet: Spencer Fano to be first offensive lineman selected (-110)

Who Calls the Shots in Browns Draft Room?

GM Andrew Berry (seventh year) has final say on the roster. Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta previously played a significant role, but left the NFL to return to baseball this year. Director of college scouting Max Paulus (fifth year) likely has significant input on the draft.

7. Washington Commanders, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Best Bet: Carnell Tate to be first wide receiver selected (-115)

Who Calls the Shots in Commanders Draft Room? 

GM Adam Peters (third year) has final say over the personnel decisions. He previously spent seven years with the 49ers, most recently as John Lynch’s assistant GM. He also previously served as the Broncos’ director of college scouting under John Elway. Head coach Dan Quinn likely has significant input in selecting defensive players, as he’s always had strong preferences on who fits his scheme. 

8. New Orleans Saints, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Best Bet: Jordyn Tyson to be selected in the top 10 (-350)

Who Calls the Shots in Saints Draft Room?

GM Mickey Loomis likely has final say, though the power dynamic has been unclear since the departure of Sean Payton (who previously had final say). Since Loomis does not have a background in scouting, assistant GM and director of college personnel Jeff Ireland likely has substantial input in the draft.

9. Kansas City Chiefs, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Rueben Bain Jr, EDGE, Miami

Best Bet: Kansas City first position to be selected defensive line/EDGE (-120)

Who Calls the Shots in Chiefs Draft Room? 

GM Brett Veach (ninth year) officially has final say over the roster, but Andy Reid’s opinion carries significant weight. The two have worked together since Reid hired Veach as a coaching intern in 2004, and Veach followed Reid to Kansas City in 2013. 

10. New York Giants, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Best Bet: Caleb Downs draft position over 9.5 (-105)

See the 5th pick for more on the Giants' draft plans.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 11-20

11. Miami Dolphins, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Best Bet: Miami first position to be selected offensive lineman (+150)

Who Calls the Shots in Dolphins Draft Room?

First-year GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has final say over the roster. Sullivan has spent his entire 22-year career in Green Bay, with over a decade of that time spent in the college scouting department. Assistant GM Kyle Smith also has a background in college scouting. 

12. Dallas Cowboys, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Best Bet: Mansoor Delane to be 12th-overall pick (+750)

Who Calls the Shots in Cowboys Draft Room? 

Director of player personnel Stephen Jones effectively acts as the general manager with significant input from VP of player personnel Will McClay. Obviously, owner Jerry Jones has been known to step in and make decisions as well.

13. Los Angeles Rams, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Best Bet: Makai Lemon draft position under 14.5 (-115)

Who Calls the Shots in Rams Draft Room? 

GM Les Snead (15th year) has final say over personnel decisions.

14. Baltimore Ravens, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Best Bet: Baltimore first position to be selected offensive lineman (+130)

Who Calls the Shots in Ravens Draft Room? 

GM Eric DeCosta (eighth year as GM, 28th year in organization) controls roster construction and has maintained a similar approach to his former boss, Ozzie Newsome.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami

Best Bet: Akheem Mesidor draft position under 22.5 (-110)

Who Calls the Shots in Buccaneers Draft Room?

GM Jason Licht (13th year) has final say over the roster. 

16. New York Jets, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Omar Cooper Jr, WR, Indiana

Best Bet: Omar Cooper draft position under 23.5 (-170)

See the 2nd pick for more on the Jets' draft plans.

17. Detroit Lions, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Best Bet: Monroe Freeling draft position under 17.5 (+105)

Who Calls the Shots in Lions Draft Room? 

GM Brad Holmes (sixth year) has final say over personnel decisions. Holmes was a longtime director of college scouting with the Rams before joining Detroit, and managing the draft is his strength. 

18. Minnesota Vikings, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Best Bet: Dillon Thieneman draft position under 18.5 (-140)

Who Calls the Shots in Vikings Draft Room?

Before being fired, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had final say over the roster, but since his background was not in scouting, director of college scouting Mike Sholiton likely played a significant role in the draft. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski also has no background in scouting, so while he might have final say, it’s safe to assume this late change at GM gives Sholiton significant influence over this year’s draft process. 

19. Carolina Panthers, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Best Bet: Carolina to select Kenyon Sadiq (+380)

Who Calls the Shots in Panthers Draft Room?

GM Dan Morgan (third year) previously served as assistant GM in Carolina under Scott Fitterer. Morgan has final say but likely leans heavily on others in the draft. Director of college scouting Jared Kirksey likely plays a key role in the draft due to Morgan’s limited scouting experience. 

20. Dallas Cowboys, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

Best Bet: Malachi Lawrence to be selected in the first round (-250)

See the 12th pick for more on the Cowboys' draft plans.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 21-32

21. Pittsburgh Steelers, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Best Bet: Pittsburgh first position selected offensive lineman (-140)

Who Calls the Shots in Steelers Draft Room?

GM Omar Khan (fourth year) took over from Kevin Colbert, who ran the team for 23 years. Khan likely has final say over the roster, though it is a collaborative effort with assistant GM Andy Weidl (fourth year). Mike Tomlin previously had a strong voice, and Mike McCarthy will certainly be included, but he likely holds less influence due to his lack of familiarity with the Steelers’ process, which has remained largely unchanged for years.

22. Los Angeles Chargers, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

Best Bet: Keldric Faulk draft position under 22.5 (-136)

Who Calls the Shots in Chargers Draft Room?

It’s unclear who has the final say over the roster, though it is assumed that power belongs to Jim Harbaugh (third year). However, the draft is likely run primarily by GM Joe Hortiz (third year), who was previously the Ravens' longtime director of college scouting.

23. Philadelphia Eagles, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

Best Bet: Kadyn Proctor draft position over 16.5 (+165)

Who Calls the Shots in Eagles Draft Room? 

GM Howie Roseman (17th year) has final say over the roster. Roseman has held the title of general manager and/or executive vice president of football operations since 2010, but he did not control the roster during Andy Reid‘s and Chip Kelly’s tenures. Roseman gained full control of personnel decisions in 2016.

24. Cleveland Browns, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

Best Bet: Denzel Boston draft position under 26.5 (-105)

See the 6th pick for more on the Browns' draft plans.

25. Chicago Bears, Top Draft Pick Prediction: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

Best Bet: T.J. Parker to be selected in the first round (-130)

Who Calls the Shots in Bears Draft Room? 

GM Ryan Poles (fourth year) has final say over roster construction. Poles was previously with the Chiefs since 2009, working under GM Brett Veach as director of player personnel.

26. Buffalo Bills, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

Best Bet: Buffalo first position selected defensive line/EDGE (+175)

Who Calls the Shots in Bills Draft Room? 

GM Brandon Beane (ninth year) officially has final say over the roster. Former head coach Sean McDermott’s opinion carried significant weight 一 McDermott and Beane were hired together in 2017 and also worked together for six seasons in Carolina 一 but Joe Brady likely does not have as much say given his inexperience and more limited relationship with Beane. 

27. San Francisco 49ers, Top Draft Pick Prediction: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Best Bet: San Francisco first position selected wide receiver (+375)

Who Calls the Shots in 49ers Draft Room? 

GM John Lynch (ninth year) has final say over personnel decisions, but he works closely with Kyle Shanahan.

28. Houston Texans, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Best Bet: Blake Miller draft position under 28.5 (-200)

Who Calls the Shots in Texans Draft Room? 

GM Nick Caserio has final say over the roster. This is Caserio’s sixth year with Houston, but likely only his fourth with full control 一 former executive VP Jack Easterby (who played a confusing role in the organization) previously held significant power as well. Assistant GM James Liipfert is the team’s former director of college scouting, and likely plays a significant role in the draft process as well. 

29. Kansas City Chiefs, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Best Bet: Colton Hood draft position under 35.5 (-320)

See the 9th pick for more on the Chiefs' draft plans.

30. Miami Dolphins, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Best Bet: Chris Johnson draft position under 33.5 (-250)

See the 11th pick for more on the Dolphins' draft plans.

31. New England Patriots, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

Best Bet: New England position to be first selected offensive lineman (+220)

Who Calls the Shots in Patriots Draft Room?

Head coach Mike Vrabel (second year) has final say over personnel decisions. The team never hired a GM after Bill Belichick left, leaving Eliot Wolf in charge. Wolf remains the Executive VP of Player Personnel. Ryan Cowden, a former scout who now serves under Wolf as the VP of Player Personnel, is also likely involved. Director of College Scouting Tony Kinkela is in his first year on the job after getting promoted from a scouting role.

32. Arizona Cardinals, Top Draft Pick Prediction: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Projected Trade: Arizona acquires pick 32 from Seattle for picks 34 and 143

Best Bet: Ty Simpson Draft Position Over 24.5 (-270)

See the 3rd Pick for more of the Cardinals’ draft plans.

Previous Mock Drafts

Mock Draft 4.0: April 13 Update

Mock Draft 3.0: March 30 Update

Mock Draft 2.0: March 17 Update

Mock Draft 1.0: March 5 Update