Matt Miller
Multiple Authors
This is the coronary heart of mock draft season, with the 2026 NFL draft set to start April 23 in Pittsburgh. My personal closing set of projections drops Wednesday. But do you know NFL groups conduct their very own mocks in preparation, assigning staffers to rival groups in Round 1 to attempt to challenge what may occur at every choose? For the third yr in a row, I’m doing the similar.
I requested 10 nameless scouts from round the league to every function the decision-maker for a staff selecting in the top 10. I’m letting them make the choose primarily based on the roster wants of the staff they had been assigned and their very own private analysis of the 2026 class. (Here are my earlier scouts mocks for 2024 and 2025.)
A few guidelines:
The scouts are unaffiliated with the groups they had been assigned. In truth, none even work for a franchise in the similar division as the groups they had been assigned, and most often, we gave them a staff from the different convention. They had been requested to make alternatives primarily based on how they’d method that choose and who was already off the board on this state of affairs.
Because the scouts are nameless and didn’t collaborate on the train, we did not permit any trades.
Here are how issues performed out in the top 10, beginning with an evaluator from the AFC East making the (simple) name for the Raiders at first general.
Jump to a staff:
LV | NYJ | ARI | TEN | NYG
CLE | WSH | NO | KC | CIN
AFC East space scout’s choose: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
There was no shock at the top of this mock draft, as the AFC East space scout assigned to select for the Raiders made the chalk choose of Mendoza.
“The Raiders really don’t have a choice but to draft the quarterback with how the roster is structured now … and the fact they didn’t make any moves for a young quarterback in free agency points to this being the selection,” the evaluator stated.
When requested to sum up Mendoza, the scout had excessive reward for him. “He’s a lot like Matt Ryan was coming out of Boston College. Super accurate, super poised, doesn’t get rattled. Got better every week it seemed like.”
Mendoza was unstoppable in 2025, main the Hoosiers to an undefeated document on the technique to successful the national championship and taking house the Heisman Trophy. He paced the nation with 41 landing passes and a QBR of 90.3 whereas throwing simply six interceptions.
AFC South space scout’s choose: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State
With Mendoza off the board, the Jets should determine the best way to greatest construct a roster that wants a franchise quarterback with out one being on the board. Our AFC South space scout took one have a look at Aaron Glenn’s protection and chosen Reese, a high-upside cross rusher.
“The Jets need a quarterback, but we’ll wait until 2027 for that,” the scout stated. “I’m going Reese. In the 3-4 defense the Jets are employing, Reese’s first-step quickness and ability to live in space make him the better prospect. It’s an added bonus that he has experience as an off-ball linebacker since he’ll be asked to drop into space and make plays in coverage in that base defense.”
With 2026 being a rebuilding yr for the Jets, the alternative of Reese over Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is prone to be widespread, regardless of Bailey being seen as a extra pro-ready prospect. Reese had 6.5 sacks final season in solely 97 pass-rush reps and wowed along with his violent hand use and his pace to chase down quarterbacks.
NFC common supervisor’s choose: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
“Can I trade this pick?” was the query posed by the NFC common supervisor when taking a look at the board, however offers aren’t allowed on this mock draft. The Cardinals will discover themselves with a choice on Day 1, with a number of proficient gamers accessible and a staff like the Dallas Cowboys probably prepared to make a splash transfer up the board.
When pressured to stay and choose, our evaluator went with Bailey, a sophisticated cross rusher.
“You know exactly what you’re getting with Bailey, and they have a need for an outside rusher that can consistently force the edge,” they stated. “Pairing Bailey with [defensive tackle] Walter Nolen [III] and [cornerback] Will Johnson would give Arizona a basis of youth to construct the protection round. But man, you’d love a quarterback right here.”
Bailey’s lone season at Texas Tech after transferring from Stanford was fruitful, as he led the nation with 14.5 sacks in 2025. He additionally had 10 pressured fumbles in his faculty profession. Bailey has a fast first step and is relentless in pursuing the ball service.
NFC West space scout’s choose: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
No. 4 might be one other prime trade-out spot in the first spherical, however the Titans may additionally have a look at the board and choose the greatest accessible offensive playmaker in an effort to construct round second-year quarterback Cam Ward.
In choosing for the Titans, our NFC West space scout made his choose sooner than each different scout of their respective spots.
“Love. Done deal. Happily. We’ll take the best offensive weapon in the class to take pressure off Ward,” he added. “You have to consider receiver right here, and I thought-about even taking a look at [Ohio State safety] Caleb Downs as a result of he is a blue-chip participant, however do not overthink it. Love is the man to take this offense to new ranges.”
The Notre Dame working again is universally beloved after back-to-back seasons with greater than 1,100 speeding yards; he compiled 40 whole touchdowns in that point span. Love tasks as a again who may achieve greater than 2,000 yards of whole offense in any given season. He’s just like Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley when it comes to predraft grade and what he could be at the subsequent stage, and he’s the No. 1 prospect on my own final board.
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Jeremiyah Love’s NFL draft profile
Check out a few of the top highlights from Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love.
AFC faculty scouting director’s choose: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Love is off the board, however the Giants have each large receiver and offensive lineman accessible to them. Those are two positions of want for a staff that likes the place it is at defensively. Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles can also be going to get matched with New York quite a bit, however the Giants added free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to an already stout group.
“It’s hard to pass on Styles and Downs here,” the AFC faculty scouting director stated, “but I have to build up the talent on this offense. Tate is, at minimum, a really good WR2 but has the route-running ability and sure hands to emerge as a go-to X while freeing up Malik Nabers to move around and find matchups.”
Tate was by no means the WR1 at Ohio State, however the 6-foot-2, 195-pound cross catcher scored 9 touchdowns on 51 catches final season. He runs the kind of smooth-moving routes which have groups seeing him as a lock to be chosen in the first 10 picks.
NFC East space scout’s choose: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The No. 6 choose is one among the scorching spots in Round 1, as the Browns may go any variety of instructions, together with buying and selling out to a staff angling for one among the remaining top defensive gamers in the class.
Where do the Browns go? Our NFC East space scout went forwards and backwards a number of occasions earlier than selecting Mauigoa.
“This was a troublesome choice. The staff has wants at quarterback, large receiver, deal with, edge rusher reverse Myles Garrett and will use a 3rd cornerback,” the scout stated. “You’re tempted to go ‘best player available’ when a roster needs that much help, but Mauigoa is the top tackle in the draft and immediately solves the right tackle spot.”
When requested about the Browns taking a receiver right here, the scout added that it might be addressed with Cleveland’s second first-round choose, which it acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars throughout Day 1 of final yr’s draft:
“At No. 24 overall, you’re going to like one of the receivers available while probably not finding a plug-and-play starting tackle,” he stated.
Mauigoa was a rock-solid, three-year starter at proper deal with for the Hurricanes, permitting solely three sacks mixed the previous two seasons regardless of taking part in in 29 video games. Mauigoa may not have the motion upside of different tackles on this class, however he is skilled (42 begins over the previous three seasons) and can be an impression blocker from Day 1.
AFC East space scout’s choose: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Another choose, one other scout preferring to commerce out. That was the want of the second AFC East space scout we enlisted for this train when given the Commanders.
“The Commanders don’t have one glaring need, and in a draft light on blue-chip talent, it’s tempting to trade back and get more capital instead of debating between a non-premium position or maybe drafting a third cornerback. But I have an idea,” he despatched again after some pushback on the no-trade guidelines.
“Dan Quinn is aware of the worth of a linebacker with vary and playmaking capacity — it is why he signed Bobby Wagner. Styles has that athletic capacity, however he is 6-foot-5, eliminates passing home windows, and he is a succesful blitzer, too.”
Styles was in every single place in his three seasons as a starter, notching 235 tackles with 9 sacks, 9 passes defensed and an interception. He was the Buckeyes’ staff captain final season and earned first-team All-America honors whereas main OSU in tackles with 82. Styles’ upside is exceptional, with comparisons to Fred Warner typically made when discussing him with NFL groups.
AFC South space scout’s choose: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
The Saints’ remaining top three wants are edge rusher, large receiver and cornerback, and New Orleans comes on the clock with proficient gamers accessible at every place. The job of constructing this choose fell to a second AFC South space scout, who did not hesitate to take McCoy.
“Rarely do you find true blue-chip cornerbacks, and when one falls to you, it’s an easy decision to take them off the board,” the scout stated. “So I’ll take McCoy with the belief that his knee is good long term and that he’ll be back to the player we saw in 2024, when he was the best cornerback in the nation.”
McCoy tore his ACL throughout a coaching exercise in January 2025 and missed his total junior season whereas rehabbing. McCoy didn’t participate at the combine however labored out at his pro day, the place he impressed with a 4.39-second time in the 40-yard sprint. The 20-year-old cornerback has lockdown qualities and drew a comparability to Christian Gonzalez in my closing report.
AFC North space scout’s choose: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami
The Chiefs will choose in the top 10 for the first time since 2017, after they traded as much as choose Patrick Mahomes with the tenth general choice. They’re hoping this choose works like that one did.
Our stand-in GM for Kansas City is an space scout in the AFC North, and he beloved how the board fell for the Chiefs, who even have the No. 29 pick after buying and selling cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
“I can’t believe the other scouts let the board fall this way, but we will gladly select Bain and look to grab a defensive back with pick No. 29,” he stated.
When requested why Bain over the different prospects on the board, the scout added: “Bain is a powerful edge with great leverage, a great motor, and he was unstoppable in the College Football Playoffs when you’re seeing the best versus the best.”
Bain posted 20.5 sacks in his three-year profession with 33.5 tackles for loss. He was a freshman All-American in 2023 and a consensus All-American in 2025 whereas main the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff national title game towards Indiana.
NFC South space scout’s choose: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The closing choose on this mini mock belongs to the Bengals, with their mock-draft GM coming from the NFC South. This was the second-fastest choose made in the mock, with the space scout making the choice two minutes after I put Cincinnati on the clock.
“We’ll take Caleb Downs. This might not be the biggest need, and safety isn’t a premium position, but Downs is a premium player who is a culture-setting winner with the football IQ, work ethic, playmaking mentality and drive to be great,” the scout stated. “The Bengals need homegrown talent on defense that can set the standard, and that’s Downs.”
Downs was a Freshman All-American beneath Nick Saban at Alabama in 2023 and received a national championship with Ohio State in 2024 after transferring. His three seasons of faculty ball resulted in three straight All-America honors due to his versatility as a defensive again and punt returner. He’s my No. 3 general participant in the class due to his vary, physicality and protection traits.
