Omar Kelly’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
The 2026 NFL Draft doesn’t have a ton of blue-chip prospects, players who will immediately become impact players, and eventually transform a franchise.
However, it does possess a solid middle class of football plaers, with depth at receiver, cornerback, inside linebacker and safety.
.Expect position runs on all those groups in the early rounds, and don’t be surprised if most of the upper echelon edge rushers, and offensive tackles are taken before the third round begins because both those positions will be in demand this draft.
Take a look at how Miami Herald columnist Omar Kelly envisions the first-round playing out in his annual Mock Draft 1.0.
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, DT
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza: Unless the Raiders get a ridiculous offers they can’t refuse Las Vegas will select the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback who checks every box teams are looking for.
2. New York Jets
Needs: QB, Edge, LB, WR, OL
Ohio State Edge Arvell Reese: The Jets need a quarterback, but take the most versatile player in the 2026 NFL Draft hoping he can threaten the edge.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Needs: QB, OL, S, Edge, CB
Texas Tech Edge David Bailey: The Cardinals need a ton of help, but select an edge rusher who is tough and explosive. This is the first of many possible trade partners in the top 10.
4. Tennessee Titans
Needs: WR, Edge, RB, OL, S
Ohio State S Caleb Downs: While the offense could use more playmakers, Robert Saleh is a defensive coach and needs someone to build his side of the ball around.
5. New York Giants
Needs: WR, OL, CB, LB, S
LSU CB Mansoor Delane: While the Giants would benefit from offensive line reinforcements, Delane provides a shutdown presence at cornerback. Teams who want him would need to get ahead of the Giants.
6. Cleveland Browns
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, LB
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate: The Browns need to restock the receiver room, so taking the most well-rounded receiver, who played college football for the Buckeyes, makes too much sense.
7. Washington Commanders
Needs: S, Edge, WR, LB, RB
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love: Love has the speed and burst to run away from would-be tacklers and showcases elite vision and sensational patience.
8. New Orleans Saints
Needs: Edge, WR, CB, OG, TE
USC WR Makai Lemon: The Saints need to get Tyler Shough some weapons and Lemon has phenomenal body control and elite suddenness.
9. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: WR, CB, S, OL, Edge
Miami OT Francis Mauigoa: The Chiefs have a glaring hole at right tackle, and Mauigoa has the toughness intellect to become an immediate starter.
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: Edge, OL, CB, S, RB
Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.: Trey Hendrickson signed with Baltimore as a free agent, making pass rushing a glaring need. The Bengals waited for the draft to address it, taking one of the most physical players in this class.
11. Miami Dolphins
Needs: WR, CB, Edge, S, O-line
Ohio State ILB Sonny Styles: Styles, a versatile inside linebacker, surprisingly sides down the draft board and the Dolphins, which needs just about everything but tailback, seize on the opportunity sticking the team’s best player available approach.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: Edge, CB, LB, S, OL
Utah OT Spencer Fano: Dak Prescott already has the weaponry needed to win big, but the Cowboys need to beef up the offensive line, and take Fano to do so.
13. Los Angeles Rams
Needs: CB, OL, S, WR, QB
Georgia OT Monroe Freeling: Matt Stafford likely has one, maybe two more seasons left in him, and the best way to ensure he’s available to the Rams is to beef up his protection, and Freeling can help do that.
14. Baltimore Ravens
Needs: Edge, DL, OL, S, WR
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson: Tyson is a polished, but injury prone receiver, who can help Lamar Jackson beef up his game playing with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Needs: Edge, LB, TE, CB, OL
Penn State OG Olaivavega Ioane: This prototypical power guard is the closest thing to a sure-fire pick in the 2026 draft because he’s a mauler who effectively overwhelms his blockers.
16. New York Jets
Needs: QB, Edge, LB, WR, OL
Texas A&M WR K.C. Concepcion: The Jets add a talented receiver to put on the opposite side of Garrett Wilson. Concepcion has a toughness NFL players must possess to succeed in New York.
17. Detroit Lions
Needs: Edge, DL, OL, CB, S
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy: Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s a risk-taker, which explains why he’s taking McCoy despite the knee injury that cost him all of 2025. McCoy might need some time to heal, but the talent is there.
18. Minnesota Vikings
Needs: S, CB, OL, WR, LB
Oregon S Dillon Thieneman: With Harrison Smith’s impending June 1 release, and his possible retirement, the Vikings need to find a new free safety to build the defense around. Thieneman’s intelligence and athleticism fits Brian Flores’ profile.
19. Carolina Panthers
Needs: OL, LB, S, WR, TE
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq: The Panthers organization was at its best when Greg Olsen served as the safety valve for the quarterback, and Sadiq can help them get back to threatening the seams.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: Edge, CB, LB, S, OL
Auburn Edge Keldric Faulk: Faulk has size, athleticism and versatility, but his physical gifts haven’t exactly translated on the football field (10 career sacks in 37 games). But edge defenders with this type of athletic profile don’t stay on the board long.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: QB, WR, OT, S, LB
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor: Assuming Aaron Rodgers returns for a final season, the Steelers would benefit from getting him better protection. Proctor is a gigantic (6-foot-7, 366 pounds), raw talent.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Needs: O-line, Edge, DL, S, CB
Utah OT Caleb Lomu: Lomu is an athletic pass protector who is effective at climbing to the second level. But he needs to polish up his technique and get stronger at the point of attack.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
Needs: Edge, CB, TE, OL, S
Tennessee CB Colton Hood: In recent years the Eagles have been one of the luckiest teams in the draft because they typically seize on a sliding player. Hood is a smooth athlete with impressive technique.
24. Cleveland Browns
Needs: QB, OL, WR, CB, LB
Missouri Edge Zion Young: Edges will likely come off the board fast this year, so the teams that need them will likely overdraft them to make sure they don’t leave empty handed. Young has length and strength, but needs good coaching.
25. Chicago Bears
Needs: S, DL, CB, Edge, OL
Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald: McDonald is a dominant space-eater in the middle, a 6-foot-3, 326 pounder who plays with brute strength and good hand use.
26. Buffalo Bills
Needs: WR, Edge, CB, LB, S
Washington WR Denzel Boston: Boston, who is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, is a matchup nightmare for smaller defensive backs. He’s a reliable chain-mover and an endzone weapon that will immediately help Josh Allen.
27. San Francisco 49ers
Needs: WR, OL, Edge, S, CB
South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse: Cisse, who pulled down two interceptions in the 34 games he played collegiately, plays with impressive awareness and has a solid foundation that will make him an eventual starter.
28. Houston Texans
Needs: OL, DL, TE, S, Edge, LB
Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez: If there’s a head coach who’s supposed to know what a good linebacker looks and plays like it’s DeMeco Ryans. Rodriquez doesn’t fit the athletic profile of a first-round talent, but he’s a natural playmaker.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: WR, CB, S, OL, Edge
Clemson Edge T.J. Parker: While Parker lacks the high-end athleticism most first-round picks have, his elite first step and ability to stop the run should make him a worthy project for the Chiefs.
30. Miami Dolphins
Needs: WR, CB, Edge, S, O-line
Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren: McNeil-Warren is a twitchy playmaker with elite range, and top-shelf instincts. He possesses all the physical and mental traits needed to become the leader of Jeff Hafley’s secondary.
31. New England Patriots
Needs: Edge, OL, DL, WR, S
Clemson DT Peter Woods: Woods is explosive off the snap and can be a dangerous weapon on stunts and twists, which means he would complement Milton Williams well.
32. Seattle Seahawks
Needs: CB, OL, RB, WR, Edge
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter: Hunter is a dominant anchor in the middle. Don’t be surprised if the Seahawks trade this pick to a team that covets Alabama QB Ty Simpson since taking a quarterback in the first round is favored since it provides a fifth-year option to the contract.
