LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 04: Las Vegas Raiders fan Ezra Kheel (L) of Nevada holds up a sign referencing Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy recipient, as his brother Alexandros Kheel looks on in the second quarter of the Raiders' game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders earlier clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 14-12. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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The 2026 NFL Draft is almost here. Free agency is in the rear-view mirror, and teams are now focusing on which collegiate athlete will best fit their run to the Super Bowl. The first round of the draft is always the most exciting, but it appears this year the first selection is set in stone (how fun will it be if the Las Vegas Raiders throw a wrench into all expectations!).

This year, six teams will not have a pick in the first round (barring a trade). Those teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The New York Jets, the Cleveland Browns, and the Miami Dolphins all have two picks in the first round.

So while we are hoping for trades and chaos, here are the teams and their hypothetical picks if everything remains status quo.

Round 1, Pick 1: Las Vegas Raiders: QB, Fernando Mendoza, IU

The Raiders jettisoned quarterback Geno Smith and added veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency. The veteran looks to provide a bridge for the Raiders' number one pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 2: New York Jets: LB, Arvell Reese, Ohio State

The Jets went all-in on defense during free agency. But there is a very real expiration date on most of their acquisitions. Reese will set the foundation for a dominant Jets defense for a long time.

Round 1, Pick 3: Arizona Cardinals: Safety, Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Cardinals seem to be ready to roll with quarterback Jacoby Brissett and back that up with Gardner Minshew for the 2026 NFL season.

Downs immediately raises the floor of the secondary in a division that has 2025’s top two scoring teams in the number one, Los Angeles Rams, averaging 30 points per game, and the second most points per game went to the Super Bowl Champions, Seattle Seahawks, with 29.2. Their last divisional opponent, the San Francisco Niners, scored the 11th most points per game, 24.5.

Round 1, Pick 4: Tennessee Titans, LB, Sonny Styles, Ohio State

While there are plenty of mock drafts that have the Titans picking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love in this spot, this is a pivot. New head coach and defensive guru, Robert Saleh, realizes that Styles is too good to pass up.

Round 1, Pick 5: New York Giants, OT, Spencer Fano, Utah

New head coach John Harbaugh puts pieces in place to protect his quarterback Jaxon Dart.

Round 1, Pick 6: Cleveland Browns, OT, Francis Mauigoa, Miami

There is little hope that the Browns will go the “traditional approach” and work from the trenches out. But if they do, Mauigoa is the man. They do have two picks in the first round, so they can go inside and out and pick up a wide receiver later in a deep wide receiver class.

Round 1, Pick 7: Washington Commanders: RB, Jeremiah Love, Notre Dame

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is gone. The Commanders are still in the Brandon Aiyuk watch party. And while they added Rachaad White to the roster, it still feels like more is needed on the offensive side. Sure, the talk is adding to their defense, but both Styles and Downs are off the board. Give quarterback Jayden Daniels some help!

Round 1, Pick 8: New Orleans Saints: WR, Carnell Tate, Ohio State

So, Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough are a good thing? The Saints were fourth in pass plays per game last season (37.7) with Shough rocking a 67.6% completion percentage.

The receiving corps consisted of Chris Olave, who led the team with 156 targets. The next best was tight end Juwan Johnson with 102 targets.

Round 1, Pick 9: Kansas City Chiefs: CB, Monsoor Delane, Louisiana State University

After the fire sale the Chiefs had in their secondary during free agency, getting good secondary talent is a must.

Round 1, Pick 10: Cincinnati Bengals: OG, Olaivavega Ioane, Pennsylvania State University

This has to be a pivotal year for the only tenured head coach in the AFC North, right? Keeping quarterback Joe Burrow should be a priority. ( I know the defense is troubling, but when you have Burrow healthy, how much trouble is it?)

Round 1, Pick 11: Miami Dolphins: WR, Makai Lemon, University of Southern California

Speaking of fire sales, the Dolphins dumped Tyreek Hill and then traded Jayden Waddle. Welcome to Miami, Malik Willis.

Round 1, Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys: CB, Chris Johnson, San Diego State

In an effort to recover from the Micah Parsons trade, owner Jerry Jones looks to make the defense better… You know, since you traded away the best part of the defense.

Round 1, Pick 13: Los Angeles Rams: TE, Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

This year, the Rams are on a Super Bowl now or bust push. The Rams used 13 personnel 30.5% last season, twice as much as any other team.

Round 1, Pick 14: Baltimore Ravens: C, Jake Slaughter, Florida

Slaughter may be a reach this early, but losing Tyler Linderbaum is a code red situation.

Round 1, Pick 15: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge, Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

The slide stops here with defensive-minded coach Todd Bowles, game appreciates game.

Round 1, Pick 16: New York Jets: WR, Denzel Boston, Washington

Last season, Garrett Wilson doubled the number of receiving touchdowns for Jets wide receivers (4) while only playing in eight games.

Round 1, Pick 17: Detroit Lions: OT, Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Is there any question that Dan Campbell and friends will go to the trenches?

Round 1, Pick 18: Minnesota Vikings: Safety, Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Harrison Smith may or may not be gone. Either way, a replacement is necessary for defensive guru Todd Bowles.

Round 1, Pick 19: Carolina Panthers: WR, K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M

The Panthers are giving Tetairoa McMillan and quarterback Bryce Young some much-needed help in the receiving game.

Round 1, Pick 20: Dallas Cowboys: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

With their second pick in the first round, the Cowboys keep it defense (Parsons is missed).

Round 1, Pick 21: Pittsburgh Steelers: QB, Ty Simpson, Alabama

The Steelers have not had a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger. Desperation makes men do crazy things (even after the Kenny Pickett debacle).

Round 1, Pick 22: Los Angeles Chargers: OL Blake Miller, Clemson

For the love of all that is holy, protect Justin Herbert!

Round 1, Pick 23: Philadelphia Eagles: Edge, T.J. Parker, Clemson

While the waiting game with A.J. Brown is ongoing, the Eagles concentrate on the other side of the ball…for now.

Round 1, Pick 24: Cleveland Browns: WR, Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

With their second pick in the first round, the Browns select a receiving weapon to complement their excess of quarterbacks.

Round 1, Pick 25: Chicago Bears: Edge, Zion Young, Missouri

The Bears only collected 35 total sacks last season.

Round 1, Pick 26: Buffalo Bills: Edge, Cashius Howell, Texas A &M

Who is picking here? Well…they did get a wide receiver in free agency.

Round 1, Pick 27: San Francisco Niners: OT, Caleb Lomu, Utah

This flies in the face of most mocks, which have them picking another wide receiver or depth on the defensive line. But the Niners’ quarterbacks were hurried 42 times and pressured 122 times with 27 sacks.

Round 1, Pick 28: Houston Texans: OT, J.C. Davis, Illinois

This is absolutely a reach as Lance Zierlein has him going in the last rounds. But Davis treats pass protection as if everyone coming for his quarterback must be destroyed. And if we learned anything last season, it is that C.J. Stroud needs to feel protected back there.

Round 1, Pick 29: Kansas City Chiefs: WR, Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

With their second pick in the first round, acquired from the Los Angeles Rams, the Chiefs stop the slide of Tyson.

Round 1, Pick 30: Miami Dolphins: CB, Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The Dolphins have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. After acquiring a wide receiver, they go defense.

Round 1, Pick 31: New England Patriots: OT, Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

Yep, they are going to go offensive tackle two years straight. You don’t argue with Mike Vrable and success.

Round 1, Pick 32: Seattle Seahawks: RB, Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

It’s hard getting hype playing behind Love. But this could be the steal of the draft.