Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen's First 2026 NFL Mock Draft

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/14/2026

On Friday, March 13th Matt Hylen and myself did our first Mock Draft together of the 2026 season. Follow us on X for in podcast form if you want to listen in live as we'll do several more of these before the actual draft.

This Mock Draft was an exercise we wanted to do because of Free Agency. While the period only technically started 2 days ago, "legal tampering" started Monday and we've seen the majority of the bigger moves take place already. With a better feeling of how every team's roster looks with Free Agents, this is the best time to assume team needs ahead of the draft.

For this mock, we alternated picks. Matt started with the #1 overall pick and I drafted #2 and so on. To check out our podcast click here, for better descriptions and a deeper look into why we made each pick.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1. Fernando Mendoza

Las Vegas Raiders

Indiana

Quarterback

The easiest pick of the draft and the only pick the Raiders have.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. Arvell Reese

New York Jets

Ohio State

Linebacker

Reese is one of the best athletes in the class and is Aaron Glenn's best chance of growing a leader and Captain of this defense.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3. Francis Mauigoa

Arizona Cardinals

Miami

Tackle

The Cardinals have a solid roster for most of the most crucial positions but could definitely use another Tackle. Mauigoa is the best pure Tackle in this draft with Fano's size concerns.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4. Sonny Styles

Tennessee Titans

Ohio State

Linebacker

Robert Saleh would fall in love and optimize Sonny Styles better than anyone as a freak Linebacker/ Safety hybrid.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5. Monroe Freeling

New York Giants

Georgia

Tackle

One of the biggest risers in the draft over the last 2 months, Freeling's size and pass blocking give him such an amazing potential on the perimeter especially under Harbaugh.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6. David Bailey

Cleveland Browns

Texas Tech

Edge Rusher

The Browns don't NEED another Edge Rusher but with Bailey slipping to #6, complimenting Myles Garrett and Mason Graham with Bailey could be too tempting to pass up.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7. Jeremiyah Love

Washington Commanders

Notre Dame

Running Back

Love is too good of a prospect to fall to #7 and the Commanders are running this pick to the podium to pair him with Jayden Daniels.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

8. Makai Lemon

New Orleans Saints

USC

Wide Receiver

The Saints could've gone with multiple prospects here but I went with Lemon because I think Kellen Moore will prioritize the development of Tyler Shough and Lemon will give him an elite Slot WR option

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9. Mansoor Delane

Kansas City Chiefs

LSU

Cornerback

The Chiefs just lost 3 of their top DBs to Free Agency including their Top-2 corners. Go out and get the best Corner who would've been McCoy if not for injury concerns.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

10. Caleb Downs

Cincinnati Bengals

Ohio State

Safety

How the best player in this class fell to #1, I'm not sure. After signing Bryan Cook in Free Agency, adding Caleb Downs will REALLY continue the Bengals' defensive rebuild.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

11. Rueben Bain Jr.

Miami Dolphins

Miami

Edge Rusher

Staying in house, Rueben Bain will find a perfect home in Miami as a 3-4 OLB rusher and is a perfect Rashan Gary-replacement in Hafley's defense in Miami.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

12. Spencer Fano

Dallas Cowboys

Utah

Tackle

The Cowboys don't NEED an O-lineman but the Cowboys always WANT another O-lineman. Fano may not be a Tackle in the NFL because of his arm length but if any team will know how to use him and make him a Pro Bowler, it's the Cowboys.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

13. Jordyn Tyson

Los Angeles Rams

(via ATL)

Arizona State

Wide Receiver

Davante Adams isn't getting any younger and neither is Matt Stafford. While they have both why not add to their passing attack and give them a best shot to get another ring.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

14. Kenyon Sadiq

Baltimore Ravens

Oregon

Tight End

This pick made a lot of sense to me especially with Sadiq dropping this far. Sadiq will be a great compliment for Mark Andrews for a year or two until he takes over the role.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

15. Akheem Mesidor

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Miami

Edge Rusher

Mesidor really seems like a Todd Bowles-guy and will immediately help fix the Buccaneers-pass rush that desperately needs new blood.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

16. Carnell Tate

New York Jets

(via IND)

Ohio State

Wide Receiver

I don't think Tate drops this far in the actual draft but if he does... BOY will the Jets be rushing to make this pick.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

17. Jermod McCoy

Detroit Lions

Tennessee

Cornerback

The Lions don't really need a corner but Dan Campbell isn't someone to let a player of his talent fall past him based on what other people think. Sit him until he's healthy and have McCoy, Arnold, Branch and Joseph for the next few years.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

18. Chris Johnson

Minnesota Vikings

San Diego State

Cornerback

The Vikings NEED a corner here and since McCoy is gone, it's either Johnson or Hood. I took Johnson here as a better athlete who's had a better offseason and I think that will be the difference to Brian Flores and co.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

19. CJ Allen

Carolina Panthers

Georgia

Linebacker

The Panthers went out and got 2 new Linebackers to transform this defense so they mine as well finish the job. CJ Allen could become a leader and the smartest member of this group in a few short years and is one heck of an athlete with untapped potential.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

20. Dillon Thieneman

Dallas Cowboys

(via GB)

Oregon

Safety

Believe it or not, the Cowboys don't really have a lot of needs as they've filled out their roster well. Grabbing a guy like Thieneman is one of their best needs filled and will give them a downhill Safety to allow the rest of their DBs the to roam the back end like they want to.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

21. Olaiavavega Ioane

Pittsburgh Steelers

Penn State

Guard

This pick was almost a Quarterback but I think they address that next round. Vega Ioane has dropped too far in this mock and a team like Steeles would be all over capitalizing on other teams' mistake.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

22. Emmanuel Pregnon

Los Angeles Chargers

Oregon

Guard

The Chargers are pissed that Ioane didn't get to them as they obviously need a Guard but Pregnon is no slouch and will easily start for them as well.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

23. Cashius Howell

Philadelphia Eagles

Texas A&M

Edge Rusher

Another faller in this class who will fit right where Jaelen Phillips left off in the Eagles 3-4. He may be a one-dimensional rusher but he could flourish in Philly.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

24. KC Concepcion

Cleveland Browns

(via JAX)

Texas A&M

Wide Receiver

The Browns NEED to do something here to help Shedeur Sanders if they really plan to go through 2026 with him. Concepcion is the best receiver on the board and should give Sanders a reliable slot receiver-safety net.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

25. Peter Woods

Chicago Bears

Clemson

Defensive Tackle

So Woods may not still be DT1 in the class but for a team like the Bears, he would be the best fit. A terrific athlete and able to play the 1,3 or 5-tech will be exactly what the Bears need on their D-line.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

26. Caleb Banks

Buffalo Bills

Florida

Defensive Tackle

The Bills often go for BPA when picking in the back end of the draft and Caleb Banks is easily BPA all the way back at 26. He would take over for Deone Walker and really complete their D-line next to Ed Oliver and TJ Sanders.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

27. Keldric Faulk

San Francisco 49ers

Auburn

Edge Rusher

The 49ers need pass rush and you can never have to many edge rushers. Combining an Edge like Faulk who is more of a run container and athlete with the pass rushers of Bosa and Williams give the 49ers so many options moving forward.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

28. Colton Hood

Houston Texans

Tennessee

Cornerback

Matt told me this is a luxury pick and I completely agree. Hood would complete the 5-wide DB group in Houston and horrify opposing offenses who now, not only have to deal with their pass rush but also have to find a hole in this ridiculous secondary.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

29. Omar Cooper Jr.

Kansas City Chiefs

(via LAR)

Indiana

Wide Receiver

The Chiefs really need to give Mahomes a #1 receiver and with Rashee Rice in hot water again, just go and get your guy. Cooper is a legit boundary receiver with good athleticism and hands and should be a consistent option for the next few years.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

30. Denzel Boston

Denver Broncos

Washington

Wide Receiver

The Broncos could go with other options here to again bolster their defense but in the end I went with Boston. He might not be as versatile as other receivers, but as a big-bodied and red zone threat, he will give the Broncos something they don't have now.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

31. TJ Parker

New England Patriots

Clemson

Edge Rusher

Parker fell too far and the Patriots need a pass rusher too much. A terrific athlete who would've been Top-15 if he had a better Junior season, Parker could easily become the Pats' best rusher in little to no time.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

32. Brandon Cisse

Seattle Seahawks

South Carolina

Cornerback

The Seahawks proved this year that they're at their best with a dominant secondary. After losing Woolen and Bryant to Free Agency, adding Cisse will give them a solid boundary Corner who will allow the Seahawks' secondary to pick up right where they left off as 2026 Champions.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Check out fansonlysportz.com/news for more sports media content posted daily.

Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the NFL Draft Daily.

-Z.D. (@DrapeauZak)

-Matt Hylen (@matthylen_)