2026 NFL Mock Draft: Who lands Micah Parsons 2.0? Giants and Chiefs grab top WRs

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 NFL Draft has several upsides, with first-round depth at offensive tackle and edge rusher. There’s a top-tier quarterback at the top — Fernando Mendoza — who gets a lot of love. There are, however, some superficial positions. It’s not a good year to need a cornerback, for example. But there should be real stars. There is a potential Micah Parsons 2.0 among the Edge Rushers and a potential Derwin James 2.0 at safety. If you squint just enough, there’s also potential Jimmy Graham at tight end. The first day of NFL Scouting Combine practices is here, which means the mock draft season is upon us. So, before players look to increase their draft stock this weekend, let’s project what happens in the first round, which seems far from settled after the No. 1 pick. 1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana The Raiders love the idea of ​​Mendoza, a guy whose intelligence and diligence are pro-ready. 2. New York Jets (3-14): Rueben Bain Jr., Edge Rusher, Miami coach Aaron Glenn will love the way Bain will destroy games for opposing offenses — and the Jets are in dire need of a defensive stud after shipping away cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. 3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Whether the Cardinals work with Jacoby Brissett or a new quarterback, they desperately need help on the offensive line. And it doesn’t matter that Mauigoa is probably a good tackle. He is the best offensive lineman in this draft. 4. Tennessee Titans (3-14): David Bailey, Edge Rusher, Texas Tech Let’s build strength on the defensive line with Bailey and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. It’s a foundation that defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh can work from. 5. New York Giants (4-13): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State This is a very important developmental year for quarterback Jaxson Dart, and receiver could be a need, with wideouts Malik Nabers injured (ACL) and Wan’Dale Robinson expected to enter free agency. 6. Cleveland Browns (5-12): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Shedeur Sanders could actually have a real chance to show what he can do if the Browns land a left tackle like Fano. 7. Washington Commanders (5-12): Arvell Reese, (O)LB, Ohio State Dan Quinn was in Dallas when the Cowboys had the inspired idea of ​​converting Micah Parsons to a passer. Will Quinn be able to start over with Reese? 8. New Orleans Saints (6-11): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State defensive coordinator Brandon Staley paired with Downs? Yes please. It will once again be Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr.. 9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State The Chiefs are once again investing in their passing game to support quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU The Bengals have a consistent, high-end playmaker on a defense largely devoid of that. 11. Miami Dolphins (7-10): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee McCoy was probably the best corner in college football before he tore his ACL in January 2025. But after missing the entire season, he should be ready to go in 2026. 12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1): Sonny Styles, OLB, Ohio State Here’s the Parsons replacement the Cowboys have been waiting for. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons, 8-9): Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State The Rams right guard and right tackle are both slated for free agency. They can bolster their unit with an elite guard prospect. 14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9): Makai Lemon, WR, USC The Seahawks showed us this season that there’s nothing wrong with having too many slot receivers. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle comes from the Ben Johnson coaching tree. And Johnson may still be looking for his new version of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown – but Doyle could get his in Lemon. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): Keldric Faulk, Edge Rusher, Mississippi State The Bucs have two pending free agents on the edge, so Faulk should solve that potential problem. And even if they can keep both linebacker Haason Reddick and defensive end Logan Hall, it might be a good move to put Faulk in a rotation while he irons out the imperfections in his game. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts, 8-9): Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana Whoever plays quarterback for the Jets will like to start receivers Garrett Wilson, Cooper and Adonai Mitchell. 17. Detroit Lions (9-8): Peter Woods, DL, Clemson What happened to the version of the Lions that tore their kneecaps off? Woods – a guy who plays like a bar fighter on the inside – should bring toughness to the middle of Detroit’s defense. 18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia Allen, at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, isn’t the biggest linebacker, but he plays bigger than he lets on. He will immediately be a game changer and become a leader in the middle of Minnesota’s defense. 19. Carolina Panthers (8-9): Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame Carolina coach Dave Canales told me this week that the best way to help quarterback Bryce Young succeed is to build a strong running game. Well, by drafting Love – one of the top three prospects in this class – the Panthers can do that immediately. 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers, 9-7-1): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, safety, Toledo The 6-foot-2, 202-pound McNeil-Warren is a big, fiercely physical guy who helps in both run defense and coverage. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington I think Pittsburgh will have Aaron Rodgers or Malik Willis at quarterback next season. Rodgers isn’t as accurate as he thinks he is, and Willis has a particularly strong arm to stretch the field. Regardless, Boston — a longtime athlete in the vein of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins — can help either QB. 22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama The Chargers could put Proctor on guard and watch with glee as the 6-foot-7, 366-pounder manhandles the AFC West. 23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Akheem Mesidor, Edge Rusher, Miami Here is a pragmatic choice from Howie Roseman. The Eagles have a productive, high-motor player at a prime position – and at the end of the first round. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars, 13-4): Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech This is a meat-and-potatoes draft for the Browns, who are becoming more impressive in the trenches. 25. Chicago Bears (11-6): Cashius Howell, Edge Rusher, Texas A&M Who is the best defensive player still available? How so ? Well, it’s true. He’s an explosive passer, albeit undersized (6-foot-2, 248), whose production alleviates any concerns. 26. Buffalo Bills (12-5): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon You’d think Bills general manager Brandon Beane would want to give new head coach Joe Brady an offensive weapon, but Beane is disciplined and won’t reach. Thieneman should be the playmaker the Bills need since the departures and declines of safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. 27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson As Trent Williams battles with the 49ers in another contract dispute, San Francisco could use some help at left tackle. 28. Houston Texans (12-5): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida Banks showed what he could be in 2024. It’s just that a foot injury in 2025 kept the prospect from peaking at the right time. But that may be to Houston’s advantage, as the Texans could land a top-notch interior passer. 29. Los Angeles Rams (12-5): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama From a timing standpoint, this is a great year for the Rams to take a quarterback. They have two first-round picks and they have another year with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was the NFL MVP at 37 years old. Simpson appears to be just the project of offensive guru Sean McVay. 30. Denver Broncos (14-3): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Sadiq may only be 6-foot-3, but he can be a special pass catcher, especially after the catch. You’d have to really squint to see five-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, but Sadiq could be a good match for quarterback Bo Nix and this offense. 31. New England Patriots (14-3): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State The Patriots will need help at tackle when Morgan Moses retires. Iheanachor will need time to develop, but he could one day become an elite tackle — whether he lands at right or left tackle will depend on how Will Campbell plays in 2026. 32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson The Seahawks appear to be on the verge of losing their cornerbacks in free agency, so general manager John Schneider is working to get younger at this post.