Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads off Mel Kiper's updated 2026 mock draft on ESPN. See who else lands in the top picks and where your favorite teams might find their future stars.
The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching, with the first round getting underway on Thursday, April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pa. It's seven rounds, spread out over three days. But the big priority is always on the first round, and this year is no different.
Long-time NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper released his mock draft 2.0 on ESPN on Wednesday, and it had a handful of changes from his first mock in January.
There seems to be very little doubt that Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza of Indiana will be the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, there's still plenty of conjecture on what might happens next.
Here is Kiper's mock draft 2.0:
No. 1 Las Vegas Raiders — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana quarterback.
No. 2 New York Jets — Caleb Downs, Ohio State safety
No. 3 Arizona Cardinals — David Bailey, Texas Tech outside linebacker
No. 4 Tennessee Titans — Arvell Reese, Ohio State linebacker
No. 5 New York Giants — Spencer Fano, Utah offensive tackle
No. 6 Cleveland Browns — Carnell Tate, Ohio State wide receiver
No. 7 Washington Commanders — Sonny Styles, Ohio State linebacker
No. 8 New Orleans Saints — Makai Lemon, USC wide receiver
No. 9 Kansas City Chiefs — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame running back
No. 10 Cincinnati Bengals— Reuben Bane, Jr., Miami defensive end
No. 11 Miami Dolphions — Francis Mauigoa, Miami offensive lineman
No. 12 Dallas Cowboys — Mansoor Delane, LSU cornerback
No. 13 Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta) — Jermod McCoy, Tennessee cornerback
No. 14 Baltimore Ravens — Jordan Tyson, Arizona State wide receiver
No. 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — C.J. Allen, Georgia linebacker
No. 16 New York Jets (via Indianapolis) — Peter Woods, Clemson defensive tackle
No. 17 Detroit Lions — Zion Young, Missouri defensive end
No. 18 Minnesota Vikings — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon safety
No. 19 Carolina Panthers — Keldric Faulk, Auburn defensive end
No. 20 Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay) — Akheem Mesidor, Miami defensive end
No. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers — Ty Simpson, Alabama quarterback
No. 22 Los Angeles Chargers — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State guard
No. 23 Philadelphia Eagles — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon tight end
No. 24 Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville) — Morgan Freeling, Georgia offensive tackle
No. 25 Chicago Bears — Kayden McDonald, Ohio state defensive tackle
No. 26 Buffalo Bills — Denzel Boston, Washington wide receiver
No. 27 San Francisco 49ers — Kaydn Proctor, Alabama offensive lineman
No. 28 Houston Texans — Jadarian Pride, Notre Dame running back
No. 29 Los Angeles Rams — Blake Miller, Clemson offensive tackle
No. 30 Denver Broncos — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo safety
No. 31 New England Patriots — R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma outside linebacker
No. 32 Seattle Seahawks — Avieon Terrell, Clemson cornerback