With the NFL's spring meetings underway, team executives are providing updates, shifting the landscape for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Yahoo Sports analysts Charles McDonald and Nate Tice have collaborated on a new mock draft, projecting all 32 first-round selections by matching premier college talent with specific team needs.
The mock draft kicks off with the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, following their trade of Geno Smith. The New York Jets, picking second, are projected to take Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese to bolster their defensive reinvention.
Notable selections include the Arizona Cardinals taking linebacker Sonny Styles third overall, citing his transformative potential, and the Cleveland Browns addressing their offensive line with Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling at number six. The first wide receiver off the board is predicted to be Ohio State's Carnell Tate, selected by the Baltimore Ravens at pick 14.
The projections continue through the end of the round, with the Seattle Seahawks rounding out the first round by selecting versatile Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman. This comprehensive mock draft highlights the depth and unpredictability expected in the 2026 selection process.