Sportsnaut
Who will be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft? The NFL Draft this year feels a bit unique because the teams picking at the top already have their quarterbacks of the future. That opens the door to surprises or trades, but we’ll keep the latter out for now in our NFL mock draft.
Let’s dive into our latest 2026 NFL mock draft ahead of Week 14. Of note, the 2026 NFL Draft order used for this mock was reflective of the standings heading into Sunday.
Trading down will absolutely be an option for the Tennessee Titans in the 2026 NFL Draft as this roster needs a lot of work and more draft picks will help. For now, we have Tennessee standing pat. Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese has emerged as one of the best players in college football this season, showing impressive flashes as a pass rusher while also playing like an All-American linebacker. With Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat on the interior, Reese would have opportunities to be deployed as a blitzer up the middle or be sent around the edge with a one-on-one matchup against a tackle. He can be a Pro Bowl player.
This is simply about taking the best player available for the New York Giants, though, trading down is a very real possibility. Caleb Downs is the best defensive back in college football right now, offering a skill set that could make him an All-Pro by his third season in the NFL. He’s adept at playing in the box, which could help shore up New York’s run defense, but his calling card would be as a centerfielder who can make plays when the Giants’ pass rush forces quarterbacks into risky throws.
Read More: NFL Coaching Candidates 2026
Based on what Tyler Shough has shown at this point, we tend to believe the New Orleans Saints will give him the full 2026 season to prove himself as the starting quarterback. With investments already made in the offensive line, the focus shifts to taking the best defensive player available in the 2026 NFL Draft. Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr has the length and strength to become a double-digit sack player on the Saints defensive line. He also offers some alignment versatility and would give Saints’ defensive coordinator Brandon Staley his first real building block in the front seven.
In a perfect world, the Las Vegas Raiders would use their top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on an offensive lineman and focus on rebuilding the trenches until they take a stab at a rookie quarterback. However, that’s not a luxury Mark Davis and Tom Brady have. This wouldn’t be an ideal situation for Fernando Mendoza to walk into, but he would have an...
