Laredo Morning Times 2026 NFL mock draft
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off April 23-25 at Point State Park near Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
This year, members of the LMT staff took a swing at predicting how the first round might play out. Sports reporters Billy Woods and Cam Wilhorn, reporting editor Jason Mack and managing editor Zach Davis teamed up for a full 32-pick mock draft, factoring in one heavily-rumored Cowboys trade and a late move for a quarterback.
Selections were made with team needs, prospect rankings and the latest pre-draft buzz in mind. While it's impossible to say exactly how things will unfold, we tried to strike a balance between what teams should do and what they might do.
Here's how we see Round 1 shaping up.
Round 1, Pick 1 - Las Vegas Raiders
Woods: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza is the clear-cut No. 1 pick, especially for a Raiders team that's in desperate need of a franchise QB.
Round 1, Pick 2 - New York Jets
Davis: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
The Jets avoid forcing a quarterback in a weak class and instead focus on rebuilding the roster. After trading Quinnen Williams midseason, the defensive front desperately needs a new centerpiece. New York lands one in David Bailey, a plug-and-play edge rusher from Texas Tech. While Arvell Reese offers more versatility, Bailey is a traditional prospect who is a safer pick to quickly translate to the NFL game for a coaching staff that's on the hot seat after a disastrous 2025.
Round 1, Pick 3 - Arizona Cardinals
Wilhorn: Arvell Reese, OLB, Ohio State
The Cardinals have the luxury of allowing the Jets to make their decision for them. Arizona is in dire need of pass-rushers after ranking 28th in sacks last season, and they should be happy with either one of David Bailey or Arvell Reese. Despite playing off-ball linebacker for a significant chunk of his college career, Reese is likely to come off the edge as a pro. Regardless of where he lines up, his freakish athleticism gives him a huge ceiling.
Round 1, Pick 4 - Tennessee Titans
Mack: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
The deep 2027 class of quarterbacks looms large, so this year has to be about deciding if Cam Ward is the answer. Adding Love gives the offense a new identity and strips away any excuses for Ward. He will take pressure off as an elite runner who will force teams to stack the box, and he is a dynamic receiving threat who will be a reliable safety valve with explosive playmaking ability.
Round 1, Pick 5 - New York Giants
Woods: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
A safe pick for the Giants, who already have a stingy defense and former top picks in their skill position spots.
Round 1, Pick 6 - Dallas Cowboys
Proposed trade (Cleveland 1-6 and 2-39 for Dallas 1-12, 1-20 and 5-177)
Davis: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
The Cowboys move up in the draft, sending picks 12, 20 and 177 to Cleveland for Nos. 6 and 39. The move puts them in position to secure one of the few blue-chip prospects in the class while still getting another high pick in return to draft another defensive starter. After one of the best combine performances in recent memory, Sonny Styles shot up boards and Dallas knew he wouldn't last to 12. While passing on his teammate Caleb Downs is a tough call, the Cowboys are desperate for linebacker help after having two of the three lowest-graded starters in the NFL last season. Styles is a physical freak with the instincts to match, and he has the ability to wear the green dot and run the defense right away. For a win-now team, that's exactly what Dallas needs.
Round 1, Pick 7 - Washington Commanders
Wilhorn: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Mansoor Delane was in serious consideration here, but after a slew of defensive free agent signings, it looks like the Commanders are teeing up an offensive pick here at No. 7. Carnell Tate is one of three "elite" wideouts in a deep class, but his size and polish makes him the best fit for a Washington offense looking to rebound from a letdown 2025 season.
Round 1, Pick 8 - New Orleans Saints
Mack: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Adding another receiver for second-year quarterback Tyler Shough is tempting, but getting the top cornerback in the draft and keeping Delane close to home is a better value. Delane would pair with Kool-Aid McKinstry to form an elite cornerback tandem, and a deep class of receivers allows the Saints to wait on addressing the position.
Round 1, Pick 9 - Kansas City Chiefs
Woods: Reuben Bain, DE, Miami
Bain brings NFL-ready play to a Chiefs defensive line that struggled last year.
Round 1, Pick 10 - New York Giants
Davis: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
I'll be honest: the Bengals' Saturday night blockbuster trade of pick No. 10 for All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence threw a wrench into this draft as we were wrapping things up. Our original selection here for Cincinnati was Caleb Downs, who arguably is the best overall player in the class and was falling due to positional value. With the pick now belonging to the Giants, Downs still makes plenty of sense. New head coach Jim Harbaugh has already expressed his admiration for him, and he could serve as a defensive anchor in the mold of players Harbaugh has leaned on in the past, like Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton. We didn't want to blow up the draft this late, so Downs remains the pick, but don't rule out receivers like Jordyn Tyson or Makai Lemon as options to boost the passing game.
Round 1, Pick 11 - Miami Dolphins
Wilhorn: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona
The Dolphins have plenty of holes to fill on the roster, but with the premier defenders off the board, they can take a swing on a wideout with star potential. Jordyn Tyson will become the immediate alpha in a weak WR group catching passes from Malik Willis in 2026-27.
Round 1, Pick 12 - Cleveland Browns
Mack: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Freeling could easily be the pick at No. 6 if the Browns stay put, so he makes perfect sense after the trade down. He is the best pure left tackle in the draft with the highest ceiling and helps cement Cleveland's offensive line overhaul this offseason. New head coach Todd Monken knows Freeling well after recruiting him to Georgia and gives his vote of confidence.
Round 1, Pick 13 - Los Angeles Rams
Woods: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
The Rams are obviously in win-now mode, and bolstering their already high-powered offense takes pressure off of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Round 1, Pick 14 - Baltimore Ravens
Davis: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
The Ravens do what they so often do - sit back and let a strong, lunchpail-type player fall into their laps. Olaivavega Ioane is one of the safest prospects in this draft, but the positional value of guards pushes him into the middle of the first round. As it happens, Baltimore has a clear need on the interior offensive line, especially after losing Tyler Linderbaum to Las Vegas this offseason.
Round 1, Pick 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wilhorn: Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
Yaya Diaby needs a running mate. Tampa Bay thought they found one last season in Hassan Reddick, but that was a flop. They signed OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency earlier this offseason and will give the new addition some competition in Akheem Mesidor. Mesidor is already 25 years old, but he's got more than enough skill and athleticism to get after the quarterback at the NFL level.
Round 1, Pick 16 - New York Jets
Mack: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
With Lemon and Tyson off the board, the Jets can wait until Round 2 to find a receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson. The first team in NFL history to go an entire season without an interception obviously needs to upgrade its secondary, and McCoy could be the best cornerback in this draft if he is fully recovered from the torn ACL that cost him the 2025 season.
Round 1, Pick 17 - Detroit Lions
Woods: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
The Lions took a step back last year, but still boast big names all over the roster. They could use some help on the offensive line and Miller is slated as a plug-and-play prospect.
Round 1, Pick 18 - Minnesota Vikings
Davis: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
If Dillon Thieneman is there at 18, it's hard to see the Vikings going in any other direction. Minnesota lost cornerstone safety Harrison Smith this offseason, and that Cover-0 defense needs a rangy ballhawk. That fits Thieneman perfectly as the Vikings would be thrilled if this is how the board falls.
Round 1, Pick 19 - Carolina Panthers
Wilhorn: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
The Panthers have focused on adding to their front seven this offseason, signing Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd. They also shored up the offensive line, giving the front office several options in the first round. Kenyon Sadiq, the clear top TE in the class, is a perfect addition to Carolina's young offense, joining Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker as Bryce Young's top options.
Round 1, Pick 20 - Cleveland Browns
Mack: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Browns prioritize analytics, making McNeil-Warren from nearby Toledo an ideal target. McNeil-Warren is nearly 6-4 and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. His size, speed and nose for the ball will elevate an already talented defense, and his versatility will help recreate what was lost with the likely career-ending injury in 2024 to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Round 1, Pick 21 - Pittsburgh Steelers
Woods: Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
There's been a real lack of excitement from Pittsburgh's offense over the past couple of seasons. Cooper is a speedster that can bring a little life into the Steelers' offense.
Round 1, Pick 22 - Los Angeles Chargers
Davis: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
The Chargers' offensive line was putrid last season. At one point, a clip went viral during a primetime game showing four of their five starters ranked either last or second-to-last at their positions by PFF. Somehow, this team still made the playoffs, which says a lot about the talent elsewhere on the roster. LA addresses its deficiency in a big way here, landing the best remaining lineman on the board in Utah's Spencer Fano.
Round 1, Pick 23 - Philadelphia Eagles
Wilhorn: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Eagles' general manager Howie Roseman was proactive in finding a Jason Kelce replacement before Kelce retired. He'll do the same for aging right tackle Lane Johnson by selecting Kadyn Proctor. The 6-foot-7, 352-pound tackle needs some refinement, but his size and strength are off the charts. There's also a path for Proctor to kick inside as a rookie, depending on the availability of Landon Dickerson, just like how the Eagles bumped similarly-sized Mekhi Becton to guard in 2024.
Round 1, Pick 24 - Cleveland Browns
Mack: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Cleveland receivers ranked last in receiving yards (1,467) and touchdowns (4) last season along with 20th in yards per reception (12.5). The Browns already have a speedster in Isaiah Bond, a playmaker in Jerry Jeudy and a safety valve in tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Boston is the missing piece as a dependable 6-4 target who has strong hands and makes contested catches. He reminds me a lot of Mike Evans, and he is similarly flying under the radar in the draft.
Round 1, Pick 25 - Chicago Bears
Woods: Zion Young, DE, Missouri
The Bears' offense made some noise last year, so that side of the ball seems taken care of. What Chicago really needs is defensive depth, specifically on the defensive line. Young has all the physical makings of a plug-and-play star.
Round 1, Pick 26 - Buffalo Bills
Davis: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
The Bills squandered a major opportunity to take the next step in last year's postseason. While adding more weapons remains an option, the defense took a noticeable decline. A true nose tackle stands out as one of the roster's biggest holes, and Buffalo addresses it here with the top 1-technique prospect in the draft in Ohio State's Kayden McDonald. A key piece of the Buckeyes' goal-line dominance, McDonald is an immovable presence inside.
Round 1, Pick 27 - San Francisco 49ers
Wilhorn: Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
Offensive line is a glaring need for the 49ers, but with the top options already off the board, they'll grab Keldric Faulk to aid their edge-rushing unit, which ranked dead last in sacks in 2025. Faulk's lack of college production is somewhat concerning, but the tools are there to be successful at the next level. With the loss of Bryce Huff, Nick Bosa coming back from injury, and some uncertainty surrounding how much impact Mykel Williams will provide, going with an edge rusher at 27 makes a ton of sense.
Round 1, Pick 28 - Houston Texans
Mack: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
The Texans are in the enviable position of limited needs. They could use some extra depth on the defensive line, and they could use upgrades at guard with a pair of stopgap starters in place. But the value of getting the No. 3 cornerback this deep in the round is too good to pass up. Terrell will make an immediate impact as the nickel back.
Round 1, Pick 29 - Kansas City Chiefs
Woods: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
The Chiefs have struggled with drafting offensive talent in recent years, especially at the receiver position. At some point, the Chiefs need to start hitting on picks and give Patrick Mahomes more downfield options.
Round 1, Pick 30 - Miami Dolphins
Davis: TJ Parker, DE, Clemson
The Dolphins are in a rebuild and already landed playmaker Jordyn Tyson earlier in the draft. Now it's time to start reloading the defense, and the team just so happens to need help at both premium positions on that side of the ball in edge rusher and cornerback. They go with Clemson edge T.J. Parker here, one of the top players remaining on the board, giving Miami a much-needed presence up front as they begin to reshape the defense.
Round 1, Pick 31 - New England Patriots
Wilhorn: R Mason Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
This pick could be considered a reach by some, but Thomas is the type of player Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel could fall in love with. Thomas has an elite motor and is an explosive athlete who is adept at getting to the quarterback and chasing down ballcarriers. New England struggled to pressure Sam Darnold in the Super Bowl, and the addition of Thomas should help improve their pass-rushing corps.
Round 1, Pick 32 - Pittsburgh Steelers
Proposed trade (Seattle 1-32 for Pittsburgh 2-53, 3-76, 4-121 and 4-135)
Mack: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
The Seahawks have too few draft picks with four, while the Steelers have too many with 12. This is a perfect pairing for a move up, and the Steelers need a quarterback regardless of what Aaron Rodgers decides. Mike McCarthy was hired to develop the next franchise quarterback. Simpson is raw but talented, and he can learn for most or all of this year before taking over the job.
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