2026 NFL mock draft: Wild-card losers make their picks in Round 1

Less than a day after losing to the Houston Texans 30-6, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is stepping down from his position. That makes it eight teams with coaching vacancies heading into 2026: Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and the New York Giants.

The most reliable way for those teams to improve is to build through the NFL Draft.

This year's class features a lot of prospects to like, especially on defense. It's another year of solid defensive line and edge rushing players for teams to choose from as well as a trio of standout cornerbacks. This linebacker class is one of the best in the last decade.

But it's not all defense, as wide receiver and offensive line - both outside but especially on the interior - have a lot of depth for teams to choose from.

Four of the six eliminated playoff teams have first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's our latest prediction ahead of the divisional round of the playoffs:

2026 NFL mock draft

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Hard to imagine this changing much from now until April. Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, offers the highest floor of any passer in the class with his processing, accuracy, timing and NFL-level arm talent in a prototypical frame.

2. New York Jets: QB Dante Moore, Oregon

Moore has yet to declare for the draft. Assuming he does, he's in play to be the top pick thanks to his tools at his young age. 

He's in the mold of C.J. Stroud with his accuracy, layering and mobility with plenty of room for development. That loss to Indiana stings but it's not the full picture of his talents.

3. Arizona Cardinals: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Instead of reaching for another quarterback, Arizona gets the best player in the class in Reese. He is an elite athlete with impressive size (6-foot-4, 243 pounds) who can rush the passer off the edge while also fulfilling traditional off-ball linebacker duties. He's the top prize in an outstanding linebacker class.

4. Tennessee Titans: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

The Titans need a complement to Jeffrey Simmons in the middle. Instead of Rueben Bain Jr., Tennessee opts for the toolsy Faulk with inside-out versatility at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds. He's one of the youngest prospects in the draft with plenty of room to develop.

5. New York Giants: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

New York needs a complement to dynamic wideout Malik Nabers, and this is a bit early for the offensive linemen in the class. 

Tate has some of the best hands in the class and excels at the catch point. He'd be a vertical threat defenses would have to respect, opening up more space for Nabers.

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Cleveland's offense has a lot of needs to fill but it'd be hard to find a much better value here than Tyson. He separates at will with good size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and impressive route running. He'd be WR1 immediately for a team needing it.

7. Washington Commanders: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (FL)

If given the opportunity, this one feels almost inevitable. Bain is the type of powerful rusher Dan Quinn covets at a position of need. Washington has relied on aging veterans on defense for too long.

8. New Orleans Saints: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

With the top two wideouts off the board, New Orleans waits to address that position later and instead opts to get the most dynamic player on the board. 

Love is a home-run hitter with the pass-catching skills to be a difference-maker as both a runner and receiver. Kellen Moore could have fun scheming him up touches in the Big Easy.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Chiefs have maximized plenty of talent on defense but Downs would be a different story. 

The Ohio State safety is a force multiplier who can do anything you'd want from the position thanks to his impressive football IQ. It's not a big-name position but could make this Chiefs secondary frightening.