Predicting the Top 10 Picks of the 2026 NFL Draft

In less than two weeks, the NFL draft will commence in Pittsburgh. The Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Jets, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Tennessee Titans, teams that finished with just three wins in 2025, will pick the first four players. Of course, the order can easily change if a team decides to trade up or down in the order.

Every year, everyone watches the quarterbacks because they are probably the hardest position to draft. The 2026 draft contains some excellent young quarterbacks, including reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

It is entirely possible to witness multiple quarterbacks being taken in the first round, similar to the 2024 draft, when as many as six QBs were taken in the first 12 draft picks, including two former Heisman winners, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Then again, it was an anomaly.

In 2025, the Titans selected Miami alum Cam Ward first overall, and fans had to wait until the 24th pick for the next quarterback to be drafted. The New York Giants selected Ole Miss graduate Jaxson Dart. However, the Giants pulled off this move after trading a second and a third-round pick to the Houston Texans.

Let’s not forget about Shedeur Sanders. Despite reputed and veteran draft analysts like Mel Kiper Jr. and Matt Miller projecting Sanders as a first-round selection, the University of Colorado graduate slipped to the fifth round. He currently plays for the Cleveland Browns.

Then again, the draft is not just about the quarterbacks. Players in skill positions, linemen (offense and defense), pass rushers, and defensive backs, and special team players collectively form the crux of an NFL draft.

Key details about the 2026 NFL Draft:

• Date: April 23-25, 2026
• Round 1: Thursday, April 23, 8 p.m.
• Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 24, 7 p.m.
• Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 25, Noon
• Venue: Acrisure Stadium, North Shore, Pittsburgh.

For fans who want to experience the draft live – Visit Pittsburgh.

With the First Overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Quarterback Fernando Mendoza

Let’s get this started, and right off the bat, the Las Vegas Raiders are most likely to select the 22-year-old quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick.

• Colleges played for: California Golden Bears and Indiana Hoosiers
• Years Active: 2022-2025
• Career numbers: 691/1008 completions, 8247 passing yards, 68.6% completion rate, 71 passing touchdowns, 22 interceptions, 225 carries, 473 yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns in 36 college football games.

Even though the Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins and have Aidan O’Connell, they have plans to make Mendoza their franchise quarterback.

According to draft expert Daniel Jeremiah, Mendoza’s measurements are:

• Height: 6’4½”
• Weight: 236 pounds
• Hand Size: 9½”
• Arm Length: 31⅞”
• Wingspan: 76¾”

With the Second Overall Pick, the New York Jets select Defensive End, David Bailey

The New York Jets pick right after the Raiders. According to FOX Sports metrics, the Jets had the 25th-best defense in the league and struggled to land sacks. This is why Texas Tech DE David Bailey is the ideal fit for them.

• Colleges played for: Stanford Cardinals and Texas Tech Red Raiders
• Years Active: 2022-2025
• Career numbers: 172 QB pressures, 163 combined tackles, 42.0 TFLs, 29.0 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and one forced return in 46 games.

Bailey transferred to Texas Tech ahead of his senior year. With 14.5 sacks, Bailey was the NCAA FBS Division 1’s top sack maker. David Bailey’s measurements and dash times are according to Pro Football Focus:

• Height: 6’4”
• Weight: 251 lbs
• Class: Senior
• Hands: 10 ¼”
• Arm length: 33 ¾”
• 40-yard-dash: 4.50s
• 10-yard-split: 1.62s
• Vertical Jump: 35”
• Broad Jump: 10’9”

With the Third Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Linebacker Arvell Reese

The Cardinals are among the hardest teams to assign a draft pick. Arizona desperately needs a quarterback after moving on from Kyler Murray, but seeing as Mendoza will be gone by then, the next best option is to address the defensive side of the ball. So, the Cardinals must draft arguably the best linebacker/edge rusher in the draft, Arvell Reese of Ohio State.

• Colleges played for: Ohio State Buckeyes
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: 112 combined tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, and two pass deflections in 36 games for the Buckeyes

Reese is one of those rare talents who can play both outside linebacker and edge rusher effectively. The 20-year-old Reese’s combine measurements and dash times are:

• Height: 6’4”
• Weight: 241 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hands: 9 ¼”
• Arm length: 32 ¾”
• 40-yard-dash: 4.46 s
• 10-yard-split: 1.58 s
• Vertical Jump: 38.5”
• Broad Jump: 10’9”

With the Fourth Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select running back Jeremiyah Love

Jeremiyah Love has often been regarded as the best player in the draft. According to draft expert Lance Zierlein, the 20-year-old Love reminds him of Detroit Lions speedster Jahmyr Gibbs.

• Colleges played for: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: Rushed 433 times, 2882 yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 63 receptions, 594 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 41 games.

The Titans require a solid run game to pair with Cam Ward’s distribution. Unlike his peer Jalen Milroe, Ward is not exactly a mobile quarterback. So, Tennessee taking Love at four makes sense. Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love’s NFL Combine measurements and dash times are:

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 212 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hand Size: 9⅛”
• Arm Length: 32”
• Wingspan: 78⅝”
• 40-yard Dash: 4:36 s
• 10 yard Split: 1.55 s

With the Fifth Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select Linebacker Sonny Styles

The Giants’ new coaching regime, headed by Super Bowl winner John Harbaugh, is looking to make some statement draft picks in 2026. General manager Joe Schoen gets a lot of heat for taking the wrong players, but last year, he got it right with Dart, RB Cam Skattebo, and pass rusher Abdul Carter.

The Giants’ offense was great on the field, but the defense stopped them. So, why not take 21-year-old former CFP champion LB Sonny Styles at fifth overall?

• Colleges played for: Ohio State Buckeyes
• Years Active: 2022-2025
• Career numbers: 239 combined tackles, 9 sacks, and 1 interception in 53 games

Styles is considered a disruptor. With him and Carter on the team, the Giants will have an overwhelming advantage on defense.

• Height: 6’5”
• Weight: 244 lbs
• Class: Senior
• Hand Size: 10”
• Arm Length: 327⁄8”
• Wingspan: 687⁄8”
• 40-yard Dash: 4.47 s
• 10-yard Split: 1.56 s
• Vertical Jump: 43.5”
• Broad Jump: 11’2”

With the Sixth Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select wide receiver Carnell Tate

The Browns are in a similar position to the Cardinals. They, too, require a quarterback despite boasting Sanders, Deshaun Watson, and Dillon Gabriel. However, it does not appear that the Browns will take a quarterback in the first round. So, the next best option is to bolster the offense. Ohio State WR Carnell Tate is among the best and has been compared with Super Bowl winner Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

• Colleges played for: Ohio State Buckeyes
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: 118 receptions, 1835 yards, 15.6 yards per catch, and 14 touchdowns in 38 games.

Tate played 15 games in 2024 but broke out as a star receiver in 2025. In just 10 games, he caught 48 passes for 838 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and 9 touchdowns.

• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 192 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hands: 10 ¼”
• Arm length: 31 ¾”
• 40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
• 10-yard split: 1.61 seconds

With the Seventh Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders select Safety Caleb Downs

Jayden Daniels’ injury aside, the Commanders struggled to contain receivers. According to FOX Sports metrics, the Commanders had the second-worst red zone defense and the sixth-worst scoring defense last year. Adding Caleb Downs to the secondary may help improve the overall defense.

• Colleges played for: Alabama and the Ohio State Buckeyes
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: 256 combined tackles, 15 TFLs, 6 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks in 44 games

Downs spent his first year in college at the Alabama Crimson Tide and earned the SEC Freshman of the Year award. In 2024, he became a college champion, and in his junior year, he bagged both the Loft Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. Caleb Downs’ measurements and dash time:

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 206 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hand Size: 9½”
• Arm Length: 30”
• Wingspan: 611⁄4 ”

With the Eighth Overall Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints select cornerback Mansoor Delane

The New Orleans Saints finished with 6 wins, but four of them came in the final five games of the season. Head coach Kellen Moore has found his quarterback in Tyler Shough. Then again, the Saints need reinforcements in the defense. LSU corner Mansoor Delane could prove to be the ideal addition to the secondary.

• Colleges played for: Virginia Tech Yellow Jackets and Louisiana State University Tigers
• Years Active: 2022-2025
• Career numbers: 171 combined tackles, 8 pass deflections, 8 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 7 TFLs in 44 games.

Delane played three seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU ahead of his senior year. He was selected Unanimous All American in 2025. Mansoor Delane’s measurements and dash times are:

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 187 lbs
• Class: Senior
• Hands: 87⁄8”
• Arm length: 30”
• 40-yard dash: 4.38 s
• 10-yard split: 1.50 s

With the Ninth Overall Pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select defensive end Rueben Bain Jr.

The Kansas City Chiefs are in the market for an elite corner after they traded away Trent McDuffie and let Jaylen Watson leave. However, they also need a long-term successor to linebacker Drue Tranquill, who could also fill in as a defensive tackle after Chris Jones‘ tenure ends. The best player capable of doing both is Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr.

• Colleges played for: Miami Hurricanes
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: 121 combined tackles, 33.5 TFLs, 20.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 pass deflections in 36 games

Bain won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year twice (2023 and 2025). He also won the Ted Hendricks award in 2025. Rueben Bain’s measurements are:

• Height: 6’2½”
• Weight: 263 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hands: 97⁄8”
• Wingspan: 65½”
• Arm length: 307⁄8”

It is worth noting that there’s a chance that Bain might slip out of the Top 10.

With the tenth pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select cornerback Jermod McCoy

The Bengals have had the most uneven roster for the past few years. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins all had great offensive numbers, but the defense let them down almost every game. The Bengals’ defense ranked second from the bottom, allowing an average of 380.9 yards per game and conceding 60 total touchdowns (most). Jermod McCoy can lock down the right side of the secondary.

• Colleges played for: Oregon State Beavers and Tennessee Volunteers
• Years Active: 2023-2025
• Career numbers: 75 combined tackles, 2 TFLs, 6 INTs, 16 pass deflections, and 1 forced return.

McCoy has only played two seasons of college football. He missed 2025 due to an ACL tear but still declared for the draft. And despite the absence, McCoy is considered a top corner.

• Height: 6’03⁄4”
• Weight: 188 lbs
• Class: Junior
• Hand Size: 9”
• Arm Length: 311⁄4″
• Wingspan: 687⁄8”
• 40-yard Dash: 4.40 s
• 10-yard Split: 1.52 s
• Vertical Jump: 38.0”
• Broad Jump: 10’7”

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