Omar Kelly’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
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 ridiculous offers, they can’t refuse Las Vegas will select the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, who checks every box teams are looking for. Kirk Cousins allows the Raiders to slow cook Mendoza properly.
2. New York Jets
Needs: QB, Edge, LB, WR, OL
Texas Tech Edge David Bailey: The Jets need a ton of help, but select an edge rusher who is tough and explosive. The Jets pick Bailey over Reese because he’s more polished as a pass rusher and was more productive in college.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Needs: QB, OL, S, Edge, CB
Ohio State Edge Arvell Reese: The Cardinals need a quarterback, but take the most versatile player in the 2026 NFL Draft hoping he can threaten the edge.
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
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson: The Saints need to get Tyler Shough some weapons, and Tyson has phenomenal body control and a massive catch radius.
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. New York Giants
Needs: Edge, OL, CB, S, RB
Ohio State ILB Sonny Styles: Styles, a versatile inside linebacker, surprisingly sides down the draft board and even though the Giants have Abdul Carter and Tremaine Edmonds, Styles is put in position to become a coverage specialist.
11. Miami Dolphins
Needs: WR, CB, Edge, S, O-line
Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr.: The Dolphins desperately need an edge player who can defend the run. Bain’s slide benefits Miami tremendously, keeping the former Hurricanes and South Florida native home, where he will become an immediate starter.
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. 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
USC receiver Makai Lemon: Tyson is a polished, clinical route runner who can help Lamar Jackson beef up his game playing alongisde 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
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 replace Harrison Smith, if he officially retires.
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 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 end zone 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
Arizona S Treydan Stukes: His size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and big-play ability (seven interceptions in 52 games) make him a disruptive defensive back, who can play cornerback or safety. Age and durability issues could push him into Day 2.
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.
