2026 NFL mock draft: 27 reporters make their

One quarterback will go in the first round of the NFL draft, but he won’t have to wait long to hear his name.

And five Ohio State players will go in the opening round, including three in the first seven picks.

That’s how this year’s beat-writer draft unfolds, at least. For more than two decades, the Los Angeles Times has turned to reporters who cover NFL teams on a daily basis to make their selections.

This year’s version is heavy on edge rushers, light on quarterbacks, and has two running backs as bookends at the beginning and end of Thursday night’s first round, which for the first time is taking place in Pittsburgh.

🚨 The live reporters’ mock draft is complete. Here’s how reporters from across the country see the first round of the 2026 NFL draft unfolding:

1. Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza, QB (Indiana)

“No surprises here. There are still legitimate questions about whether he is a truly elite quarterback prospect at the next level, but the organization’s thirst for a face of the franchise at the position makes this a relatively easy call. General manager John Spytek has done a good job of starting to build a decent foundation around Mendoza, and the signing of Kirk Cousins will further ease his transition.”

— Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal

2. New York Jets | Arvell Reese, LB/Edge (Ohio State)

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese performs against Penn State on Nov. 1.

(Jay LaPrete / Associated Press)

“This is a decision between Reese and David Bailey. There is an argument that Bailey can have a more immediate impact, but the Jets need to worry about who the best player will be in the long-term and that is Reese, who can play both off-ball linebacker and edge rusher in the Micah Parsons mold.”

— Brian Costello, New York Post

3. Arizona Cardinals | David Bailey, Edge (Texas Tech)

Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey performs against Arizona State on Oct. 18.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

“Drafting a player who led the FBS in pressure rate and tied for the lead in sacks (14.5) and pairing him with last year’s prized free-agent addition, Josh Sweat, would give the Cardinals some much-needed punch and help them navigate a brutally tough division that is the NFC West.”

— Bob McManaman, Arizona Republic

4. Tennessee Titans | Jeremiyah Love, RB (Notre Dame)

Notre Dame working back Jeremiyah Love carries the ball against Pittsburgh on Nov. 15.

(Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

“The Titans’ offense gets a jolt from Love, who recorded 49 plays of 10-plus yards in 2025, which ranked as the third-most in the FBS. It’s all about making things more Cam Ward friendly. What better way to do so than adding Love, who’s not just a running back, he’s a game-changing offensive weapon.”

— Turron Davenport, ESPN

5. New York Giants | Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)

Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs performs against Penn State on Nov. 1.

(Jay LaPrete / Associated Press)

“Boy is it hard to pass on Sonny Styles here, especially when doing so could put him right into the arms of a division rival in Dallas or Washington. But the Giants answered an inside linebacker question in free agency when they signed Tremaine Edmunds and haven’t really addressed the secondary yet. Downs gives them a smart, versatile piece on the back end, the kind of player John Harbaugh had in Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore.”

— Tom Rock, Newsday

6. Cleveland Browns | Carnell Tate, WR (Ohio State)

Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate performs against Ohio on Sept. 13.

(Jay LaPrete / Associated Press)

“The Browns will try to trade down here and they also need an offensive tackle. But what they need more than anything is to score points, and Tate is a formidable weapon. Ohio State receivers have been a great bet in the first round, and he carries on the tradition.”

— Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer

7. Washington Commanders | Sonny Styles, LB (Ohio State)

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles performs against Rutgers on Nov. 22.

(Jay LaPrete / Associated Press)

“Washington’s focus this offseason has been primarily on the defense, and it’ll remain so in the draft. Styles checks every box in the type of player the Commanders covet — tough, versatile, athletic, smart — and gives them a young player to build around for years to come. With his safety background, he can cover both tight ends and slot receivers, he blitzes with power and he missed only two tackles last season.”

— Nicki Jhabvala, the Athletic

8. New Orleans Saints | Jordyn Tyson, WR (Arizona State)

Arizona State broad receiver Jordyn Tyson warms up before a recreation against Texas Christian on Sept. 26.

(Darryl Webb / Associated Press)

“With the Saints looking to build around young franchise quarterback Tyler Shough, adding Tyson gives them a dynamic weapon and insurance for lead receiver Chris Olave, who had a breakout season in 2025 but has a concerning concussion history. New Orleans rolled the dice on Shough despite his injury history last year and it paid off. They feel the same way about Tyson, who they believe has even higher upside than some of the receivers who went ahead of him.”

— Jeff Duncan, Times-Picayune/NOLA.com

9. Kansas City Chiefs | Rueben Bain Jr., Edge (Miami)

Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., proper, tries to rush past Ohio State offensive lineman Phillip Daniels during the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

“The Chiefs should be shopping for pass rusher or receiver here, so they’d likely be happy if Bain makes it this far with no trade-up needed. Bain doesn’t fit the normal size profile for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s edge rushers, but that should be easier to overlook given Bain’s high football IQ and inside-outside versatility.”

— Jesse Newell, the Athletic

10. New York Giants | Mansoor Delane, CB (Louisiana State)

Louisiana State cornerback Mansoor Delane against South Carolina on Oct. 11.

(Michael DeMocker / Getty Images)

“The Giants haven’t hit on a cornerback in the draft since Corey Webster in 2005. Not only that, but some of the first-round misses have been epic flameouts: Eli Apple, DeAndre Baker and Deonte Banks. Cordale Flott was developing into a good player there, but he left in free agency this offseason. So it’s time for them to finally secure the position long-term with someone who has the athleticism to match up with the dynamo receivers in the league but also help in the run game.”

— Tom Rock, Newsday

11. Miami Dolphins | Francis Mauigoa, OL (Miami)

Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa blocks (61) blocks against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.

(Peter Joneleit / Associated Press)

“The Dolphins’ roster resembles Swiss cheese and they need to leave the 2026 draft with four to five starters. Mauigoa is a sure thing as a Day 1 starter at right tackle and the Dolphins can move Austin Jackson to right guard for a season.”

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald

12. Dallas Cowboys | Keldric Faulk, Edge (Auburn)

Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk plays against Ball State on Sept. 6.

(Stew Milne / Associated Press)

“Faulk fills a glaring need at edge rusher and brings a massive frame with surprising athleticism for his size. At just 21 years old, his upside is enormous, the kind of prospect who figures to be even better in the NFL than he was in college.”

— Clarence Hill Jr., AllDlls.com

13. Los Angeles Rams | Makai Lemon, WR (USC)

USC broad receiver Makai Lemon scores a landing against Georgia Southern on Sept. 6.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

“With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, the Rams have two star receivers. But Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford need a third talented target for this season’s expected Super Bowl run, and beyond.”

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times

14. Baltimore Ravens | Olaivavega Ioane, OG (Penn State)

Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane performs against Rutgers on Nov. 29.

(Adam Hunger / Associated Press)

“With the top three receivers off the board, this really comes down to whether the Ravens prefer the natural guard, which they need, or a natural tackle in Spencer Fano, who could start inside and ultimately move outside when there’s a need. Ioane is the much safer pick. He fits the Ravens well with his athleticism and physicality. The signing of John Simpson and the drafting of Ioane should significantly upgrade the team’s guard play, which wasn’t good last year.”

— Jeff Zrebiec, the Athletic

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Akheem Mesidor, Edge (Miami)

Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor performs against Mississippi in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Jan. 8.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

“The Bucs can’t afford to ignore their highest need for a pass rusher. Sure, Mesidor will be 25, but the mistake they’ve made in the past at this position with picks like Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Chris Braswell is choosing potential over production. The Bucs are back in win-now mode and Mesidor had 12.5 sacks and a 21.3% win rate while forcing four fumbles. They haven’t had anyone with 10 sacks since Shaquil Barrett in 2021.”

— Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times

16. New York Jets | Denzel Boston, WR (Washington)

Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston tries to catch a pass against Boise State in the LA Bowl on Dec. 13.

(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

“The Jets did not have a receiver get 400 yards last season. They need to add a complement to Garrett Wilson badly. Boston gives Geno Smith a big target who can be a red zone weapon.”

— Brian Costello, New York Post

17. Detroit Lions | Spencer Fano, OL (Utah)

Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano blocks against Texas Tech on Sept. 20.

(Jeffrey D. Allred / Associated Press)

“The Lions need help at offensive tackle after cutting Taylor Decker this offseason. They capitalize on Fano‘s unexpected fall and can plug him in at either tackle position, depending on where they want to play Penei Sewell.”

— Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

18. Minnesota Vikings | Dillon Thieneman, S (Oregon)

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman plays against Rutgers on Oct. 18.

(Adam Hunger / Associated Press)

“The Vikings could lose Harrison Smith to retirement, and they’ll have to make a determination on Josh Metellus’ future after this 12 months. Thieneman could give them the type of lieutenant that can run Brian Flores’ system of on-field checks while using his versatility and instincts to make plays on the ball. Flores loves to use safeties, and Thieneman is an obvious fit for a key spot in the Vikings’ defense.”

— Ben Goessling, Minnesota Star Tribune

19. Carolina Panthers | Kenyon Sadiq, TE (Oregon)

“Thieneman, Sadiq‘s Oregon teammate, went off the board one spot ahead of the Panthers. Otherwise, that would’ve been Dan Morgan’s pick. Instead, Morgan opts to give Bryce Young a first-round target for the third year in a row with the hopes the freakishly athletic Sadiq can develop into the Panthers’ best pass-catching tight end since Greg Olsen.”

— Joe Person, the Athletic

20. Dallas Cowboys | Jacob Rodriguez, LB (Texas Tech)

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez plays against Brigham Young on Dec. 6.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

”Rodriguez fills an immediate need at off-ball linebacker to play next to [DeMarvion] Overshown. The Cowboys didn’t get a green dot in free agency, which remains a major hole, and Rodriguez does it all and stuffs the stat sheet.”

— Clarence Hill Jr., AllDlls.com

21. Pittsburgh Steelers | Omar Cooper Jr., WR (Indiana)

Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during a win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“After years of trying to fill out their receiver room, the Steelers add a young pass-catcher to go along with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. Cooper‘s ability to move inside and outside, combined with a toughness that belies his 6-foot, 200-pound frame, makes him hard to pass up. The Steelers have more inside information on him than most. Offensive assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. is the younger brother of Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, and new receiver coach Adam Henry was the co-offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2022 and helped recruit Cooper.”

— Mark Kaboly, the Athletic

22. Los Angeles Chargers | T.J. Parker, Edge (Clemson)

Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker jogs on the field before a game against Furman on Nov. 22.

(Jacob Kupferman / Associated Press)

With Odafe Oweh gone in free agency, the Chargers are looking for a bookend to Tuli Tuipulotu, who is entering the final year of his contract.

— Sam Farmer

23. Philadelphia Eagles | Kadyn Proctor, OL (Alabama)

Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor blocks against Oklahoma on Nov. 15.

(Vasha Hunt / Associated Press)

“With multiple first-round caliber tackles on the board, the Eagles take a developmental one with the greatest upside, the freakishly large and athletic Proctor, and prepare for Lane Johnson’s nearing retirement.”

— Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer

24. Cleveland Browns | Monroe Freeling, OT (Georgia)

Georgia offensive lineman Monroe Freeling blocks against Florida on Nov. 2, 2024.

(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

“With the Browns selecting Carnell Tate at No. 6, they come back and select the mammoth left tackle with the pick they got from their blockbuster trade down last year with the Jaguars. Freeling completes their O-line overhaul and potentially gives them their starting left tackle for the next decade.”

— Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland Plain Dealer

25. Chicago Bears | Zion Young, Edge (Missouri)

Missouri defensive end Zion Young plays against Massachusetts on Sept. 27.

(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

“The Bears were mediocre at pretty much everything last season other than getting takeaways. They made some moves to shore up the interior of the defensive line in free agency but need a boost on the edge. Young has the size and frame that matches what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen likes and should be able to help boost an inconsistent pass rush while also setting the edge.”

— Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune

26. Buffalo Bills | Cashius Howell, Edge (Texas A&M)

Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell (9) prepares to take the field against South Carolina on Nov. 15.

(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)

“The Bills signed Bradley Chubb in free agency, but still need speed off the edge. Howell, the SEC defensive player of the year, should have a role right away as a designated pass rusher.”

— Jay Skurski, the Buffalo News

27. San Francisco 49ers | KC Concepcion, WR (Texas A&M)

Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion runs with the ball against Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 20.

(Karen Warren / Associated Press)

“Kyle Shanahan covets receivers who can separate, and that’s Concepcion’s specialty. It doesn’t hurt that he also returns punts. San Francisco’s 2025 return man, Skyy Moore, is now with the Packers.”

— Matt Barrows, the Athletic

28. Houston Texans | Kayden McDonald, DT (Ohio State)

Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald celebrates after recovering a fumble against Illinois on Oct. 11.

(Melissa Tamez / Associated Press)

“Guard and defensive tackle are the two biggest holes on the Houston Texans’ roster this offseason. And if they don’t trade back here, they could go one of two ways at No. 28: McDonald or guard Chase Bisontis. But McDonald is the correct pick here because he’s the highest rated player at a position of need and can make an immediate impact for Houston’s defense.”

— Jonathan Alexander, Houston Chronicle

29. Kansas City Chiefs | Jermod McCoy, CB (Tennessee)

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy intercepts a pass in the end zone against Alabama in October 2024.

(Wade Payne / Associated Press)

“Maybe this is a higher-risk pick because of his anterior cruciate ligament injury, but McCoy is way too good of a talent to let pass here while considered by many as the draft’s second-best cornerback. Fun fact: McCoy also went to Whitehouse High School in Texas, the same school as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. If this pick happens, all the draft shows will have fun showing old photos of McCoy posing with Mahomes when McCoy was still a grade-schooler.”

— Jesse Newell, the Athletic

30. Miami Dolphins | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S (Toledo)

Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren plays against Akron on Sept. 27.

(Rick Osentoski / Associated Press)

“He’s a physical safety with size and speed who in time will bolster Miami’s secondary, which will eventually become the unit Jeff Hafley builds his defense around.”

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald

31. New England Patriots | Malachi Lawrence, Edge (Central Florida)

Central Florida defensive end Malachi Lawrence plays against Colorado in September 2024.

(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

“The Patriots have been transparent about wanting to add more to the pass rush, and specifically want to find some more speed. Lawrence has a red-hot motor that helped him collect 12 sacks and three forced fumbles the last two years.”

— Ben Volin, Boston Globe

32. Seattle Seahawks | Jadarian Price, RB (Notre Dame)

Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price returns a kickoff for a touchdown against USC on Oct. 18.

(Justin Casterline / Getty Images)

“After not re-signing Kenneth Walker III in free agency, the Seahawks have a hole in their backfield without the Super Bowl MVP. Price will help fill that out.”

— Bob Condotta, Seattle Times