I'm getting excited for the 2026 NFL draft. Round 1 begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, just over two weeks away. And while I was in Phoenix at the annual league meeting last week, I spent a lot of time talking to sources and trying to get the latest intel on what teams might do with their first-round picks.
What follows is my first mock draft for the 2026 class. These 32 projections are based on what I'm hearing, rather than what I would personally do at each slot. Nothing is set in stone quite yet, which is why I'll have a second mock draft in two weeks. But for now, this is my best guess for how things could play out.
Here are my predictions for Round 1. And for more, check out "NFL Draft Daily" at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2 all week long.
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1. Las Vegas Raiders
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Barring any major -- and completely shocking -- news, this is all but a done deal. Mendoza has franchise QB traits, and having Kirk Cousins in the building will help him acclimate to the pro game. The real question now: What can the Raiders do with their other nine picks to build this roster up around Mendoza?
2. New York Jets
David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
This will likely be either Bailey or Ohio State's Arvell Reese -- New York was 31st in sacks last season with 26 -- but I have to think Bailey is the guy for the Jets. He is a polished pass rusher with proven production, tying for the FBS lead in sacks (14.5) in 2025. He can be a Day 1 disrupter off the edge.