NFL mock draft season is well underway with the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, but there's still plenty of time for draft prospect rankings and projections to change.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine approaches as February winds down, providing one of the last opportunities for NFL draft prospects to boost their stock ahead of April's NFL draft. Before the combine gets underway on Feb. 26, NFL draft experts around the web gave their predictions for how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft might shake out.
USA TODAY Sports compiled the latest projections for the first round before the NFL combine. See what Ayrton Ostly from USA TODAY Sports, Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Media and CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli have said:
2026 NFL mock draft roundup: Predictions before NFL combine
The 2026 NFL draft order has been finalized with the result of the Super Bowl. Here's how NFL draft experts project the first round will go before the combine gets underway:
1. Las Vegas Raiders
USA TODAY Sports: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
NFL Media: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
CBS Sports: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
USA TODAY Sports:"This will continue to be the projected pick all the way until Las Vegas is on the clock to open the draft. Mendoza is by far the top quarterback in the group who plays with shades of Joe Burrow."
CBS Sports: "I have no doubt that Fernando Mendoza is the best available QB in this class, and until there are signals otherwise, there's no reason not to have him going No. 1 to a Raiders team desperate for a QB."
2. New York Jets
USA TODAY Sports: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
NFL Media: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
CBS Sports: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports:"If you can't get a quarterback, get the best player in the class. Reese can do everything and would immediately be a key contributor for the Jets' defense."
NFL Media:"The Jets have their pick of the draft’s finest edge rushers here. Bailey’s combination of explosiveness and production is the best of the bunch."
3. Arizona Cardinals
USA TODAY Sports: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
NFL Media: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
CBS Sports: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
USA TODAY Sports:"Arizona is one of the toughest teams to predict. After going almost all-in on defense in their last draft class, the Cardinals bolster the offense with Fano, our top offensive lineman prospect."
CBS Sports:"There is depth at the tackle spot in this class, even if there isn't a no-doubt franchise left tackle prospect. Spencer Fano currently sits at the top of my board among tackle prospects."
4. Tennessee Titans
USA TODAY Sports: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
NFL Media: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
CBS Sports: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports:"Tennessee has one of the best interior duos on the defensive line with Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat. They need help off the edge and get just that with Bailey, the most productive edge rusher in college football in 2025."
NFL Media:"Bain’s temperament and playing style will perfectly complement Jeffery Simmons. They’re cut from the same cloth in how they play the game."
5. New York Giants
USA TODAY Sports: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
NFL Media: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
CBS Sports: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
USA TODAY Sports:"We're sticking with prior thinking and putting Tate with the Giants once again. He's a contested catch merchant with the route-running chops to be a solid fit opposite Malik Nabers."
CBS Sports:"I have Fano as my top tackle, but the gap between him and Miami's Francis Mauigoa isn't significant."
6. Cleveland Browns
USA TODAY Sports: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
NFL Media: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
CBS Sports: WR Makai Lemon, Southern California
USA TODAY Sports:"With Tate off the board, Cleveland chooses the next-best wideout in Tyson (some would argue the No. 1 WR in the class). He consistently separates against coverage and is a touchdown machine."
NFL Media:"The Browns should be hoping one of the top offensive tackles is available to them at No. 6."
7. Washington Commanders
USA TODAY Sports: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)
NFL Media: LB/Edge Arvell Reese, Ohio State
CBS Sports: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech
USA TODAY Sports:"The Commanders' defense needs youth on every level and Bain feels like the powerful presence on the defensive line Dan Quinn would like."
CBS Sports:"His first step overwhelmed a lot of his competition at the college level, and while life will be more difficult at the next level – meaning he'll need to develop more technique – Bailey will improve your pass rush."
8. New Orleans Saints
USA TODAY Sports: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
NFL Media: WR Makai Lemon, Southern California
CBS Sports: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
USA TODAY Sports:"New Orleans needs more offensive playmakers around second-year quarterback Tyler Shough and Love is the best offensive prospect in the class."
NFL Media:"The Saints inject a major boost to Tyler Shough’s receiving corps. Kellen Moore will know exactly how to utilize Lemon’s skills."
9. Kansas City Chiefs
USA TODAY Sports: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
NFL Media: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
CBS Sports: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports:"The Chiefs have more pressing needs than safety but Kansas City can't pass up a chance at one of the best players in the class."
CBS Sports:"Tate is smooth in everything he does. He's not a burner and isn't overly special after the catch, but he gets open routinely."
10. Cincinnati Bengals
USA TODAY Sports: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
NFL Media: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
CBS Sports: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports:The top edge rushers are off the board and it feels like a stretch to reach for another. Instead, Cincinnati opts for the best cornerback on the board."
NFL Media:"Cincinnati stays in-state with this pick. The Bengals’ defense could use consistency and structure. Downs provides both."
11. Miami Dolphins
USA TODAY Sports: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
NFL Media: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
CBS Sports: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
USA TODAY Sports:"New head coach Jeff Hafley's background is in the secondary and the Dolphins need talent everywhere in the back end. McCoy has the skillset to fit multiple schemes with prototypical size."
CBS Sports:"Mansoor Delane is a corner who has shown the ability to play well in both man and zone, and he isn't afraid to mix it up in the run game, either."
12. Dallas Cowboys
USA TODAY Sports: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
NFL Media: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
CBS Sports: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
USA TODAY Sports:"Styles is one of the best athletes in the class which the Cowboys need in the second level of their defense."
NFL Media:"The Cowboys must fix their pass rush and secondary. I believe there’s a drop-off at cornerback after McCoy, so they address the position here."
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta)
USA TODAY Sports: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami (FL)
NFL Media: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
CBS Sports: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
USA TODAY Sports:"As soon as Rob Havenstein announced his retirement, this pick feels more likely. Mauigoa started the last three years at right tackle for the Hurricanes and missed just one snap in that time."
CBS Sports:"Jermod McCoy missed the 2025 season due to a torn ACL, which could ultimately lead to him going much later than this, but he was fantastic for Tennessee in 2024."
14. Baltimore Ravens
USA TODAY Sports: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
NFL Media: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
CBS Sports: DL Caleb Banks, Florida
USA TODAY Sports:"Two of Baltimore's five offensive line starters from last year are hitting free agency, including left guard Daniel Faalele. Ioane is the best pure-interior offensive line prospect in the class."
NFL Media:Baltimore is still in search of a complement to Zay Flowers. Tyson gives the new coaching staff more firepower on offense."
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
USA TODAY Sports: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
NFL Media: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
CBS Sports: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports: "Tampa Bay needs more from its edge rushers and Howell has the track record."
CBS Sports:"I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if Kenyon Sadiq works his way into the top 10 by the time the draft rolls around."
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis)
USA TODAY Sports: WR Makai Lemon, Southern California
NFL Media: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
CBS Sports: Mock trade from Jets – Minnesota Vikings draft IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
USA TODAY Sports:"Who will play quarterback for the Jets next year is far from settled. Whoever it is would love to see Lemon lining up in the slot."
CBS Sports:"The Vikings need help on the interior of their offensive line, and Olaivavega Ioane is the lone guard in this class I view as a first-round player. So Minnesota moves up to get him and makes sure Detroit can't."
17. Detroit Lions
USA TODAY Sports: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
NFL Media: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
CBS Sports: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
USA TODAY Sports:"Proctor is an elite athlete for his size and may be best starting out at guard before moving outside with time to develop his immense raw talent."
NFL Media:"Parker had an underwhelming 2025 season, but he bounced back in a big way at the Senior Bowl."
18. Minnesota Vikings
USA TODAY Sports: DL Caleb Banks, Florida
NFL Media: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
CBS Sports: Mock trade from Vikings – New York Jets draft WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
USA TODAY Sports:"Cornerback is a popular pick for the Vikings here at No. 18 but we're trying something a bit different. Banks looks to be fully healed from a foot injury and showed off his talents at the Senior Bowl."
CBS Sports:"It's possible the Jets could go for a QB with their second first-round pick, but I have them targeting another WR for whoever their quarterback ends up being in 2026 and beyond."
19. Carolina Panthers
USA TODAY Sports: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
NFL Media: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
CBS Sports: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
USA TODAY Sports:"Carolina has several options here. Considering the board, we're opting for the top edge rusher left in the group."
CBS Sports:"Tetairoa McMillan was a hit for the Panthers last year, but they could use a complement for him in the offense, and KC Concepcion feels like a good fit alongside him."
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay)
USA TODAY Sports: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
NFL Media: Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
CBS Sports: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn
USA TODAY Sports:"If Dallas stays put at No. 20, it has to address the secondary, specifically at cornerback. Hood shined with teammate McCoy sidelined for all of 2025 and offers ideal size for the outside (6-foot, 195 pounds)."
NFL Media:"After taking a CB at No. 12, the Cowboys nab an edge rusher. Teams might have to get comfortable with Mesidor’s age – he will be a 25-year-old rookie – but he was dominant during Miami’s run in the College Football Playoff."
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
USA TODAY Sports: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
NFL Media: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
CBS Sports: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports:"Pittsburgh has many needs, but improving the secondary's speed and athleticism has to be high on the priority list. Terrell plays bigger and more aggressively than his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame."
CBS Sports:"For the first half of the 2025 season, Simpson was the best QB in college football. Then things quickly eroded over the second half of the season. The talent is still there, and I can't help but feel like the hiring of Mike McCarthy was done with QB development in mind."
22. Los Angeles Chargers
USA TODAY Sports: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
NFL Media: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
CBS Sports: DL Peter Woods, Clemson
USA TODAY Sports:"Los Angeles' troubles on the interior offensive line are well-documented. Lomu played left tackle for the Utes but should start his career at guard to develop his impressive raw tools."
NFL Media:"Sadiq is the perfect weapon for a creative offensive mind like Mike McDaniel."
23. Philadelphia Eagles
USA TODAY Sports: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
NFL Media: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
CBS Sports: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
USA TODAY Sports:"Philadelphia usually reserves its top picks for the trenches, wide receiver or secondary. We're making an exception for the top pass-catcher on the board."
CBS Sports:"If Avieon Terrell – the younger brother of former first-round pick A.J. Terrell – were two inches taller, he'd probably be my top CB in this class."
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville)
USA TODAY Sports: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
NFL Media: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
CBS Sports: OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
USA TODAY Sports:"All five starters from the Browns' offensive line in 2025 are free agents. They need help everywhere and Freeling may be the best option at this point."
NFL Media:"This draft would be a big success for the Browns if they landed two starting offensive linemen, as they do in this scenario with Freeling joining Spencer Fano."
25. Chicago Bears
USA TODAY Sports: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson
NFL Media: DT Peter Woods, Clemson
CBS Sports: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
USA TODAY Sports:"Chicago's defense can't rely on turnovers again in 2026. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defenses in New Orleans were at their best with long, powerful edge rushers like Parker."
CBS Sports:"The Bears need to address their defensive line, but there's also a chance they'll be without both of their starting 2025 safeties next year."
26. Buffalo Bills
USA TODAY Sports: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
NFL Media: WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
CBS Sports: LB CJ Allen, Georgia
USA TODAY Sports:"Buffalo promoted Joe Brady to head coach to continue being a top-five offense in the league. The Bills desperately need more dynamic weapons in the wide receiver room and Concepcion is one of the most explosive in the class."
NFL Media:"The Bills add a player with a wide catch radius to complement Khalil Shakir at receiver. Fields was excellent all week long at the Senior Bowl."
27. San Francisco 49ers
USA TODAY Sports: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
NFL Media: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
CBS Sports: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
USA TODAY Sports:"The 49ers need more help at the wide receiver position with Brandon Aiyuk all but certain to play elsewhere in 2026. Boston is a big body (6-foot-4, 209 pounds) who has just five drops on 204 career targets."
NFL Media:"Hunter can hold the point against the run and he showed flashes of his upside as a pass rusher at the Senior Bowl. Recent Super Bowl winners have featured waves of defensive linemen they can rotate."
28. Houston Texans
USA TODAY Sports: DL Peter Woods, Clemson
NFL Media: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
CBS Sports: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
USA TODAY Sports:"Houston's defense was one of the best in the NFL in 2025 but could use more help along the interior defensive line. Woods looked like a top-five pick coming into the 2025 college football season but underperformed."
CBS Sports:"Spencer Fano is the Utah OT who gets the most attention, but he may not be the only one off the board by the end of the first round."
29. Los Angeles Rams
USA TODAY Sports: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
NFL Media: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
CBS Sports: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
USA TODAY Sports:"The Rams relied on their defensive front to overcome deficiencies in the secondary. Not anymore. Johnson is a small-school riser with the ideal size and impressive production."
NFL Media:"The Rams double down on the secondary in Round 1 with free agency threatening to eat into their DB depth."
30. Denver Broncos
USA TODAY Sports: LB CJ Allen, Georgia
NFL Media: LB CJ Allen, Georgia
CBS Sports: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
USA TODAY Sports:"Denver's dominant defense will have some holes to fill in 2026, specifically at linebacker and defensive tackle. We're opting for the former here."
CBS Sports:"I don't know where the Broncos would go here based on what I had available to them, but I'm a Lee Hunter fan, so I'd approve of this pick."
31. New England Patriots
USA TODAY Sports: OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
NFL Media: Edge Zion Young, Missouri
CBS Sports: LB Gabe Jacas, Ilinois
USA TODAY Sports:"New England's offensive line took a beating in the Super Bowl, so the team bolsters the position here with Tiernan."
NFL Media:"Young feels like an excellent fit for Mike Vrabel’s defense. He’s a big, rugged edge rusher who capped off a strong Senior Bowl week by winning Defensive MVP honors in the game."
32. Seattle Seahawks
USA TODAY Sports: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
NFL Media: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
CBS Sports: OL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
USA TODAY Sports:"Seattle will likely lose their long, athletic cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency so they draft his potential successor here."
NFL Media:"Seattle finds insurance for Rashid Shaheed, who could depart in free agency. Concepcion brings speed on offense and is a dynamic returner who took two punts back for touchdowns in 2025."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: New predictions before NFL combine