2026 NFL Mock Draft Projections for 1st-Round Prospects Before Pro Bowl

Super Bowl week has arrived, and the first major event will unfold with Tuesday's Pro Bowl Games. While many fans are eagerly anticipating the Super Bowl LX matchup between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, though, others are firmly absorbed in the pre-draft process.

Prospect evaluation is well underway, with both the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl taking place last week. Draft boards are far from settled, of course, but we have a better idea of which players should earn first-round consideration.

Based on the latest buzz, team needs, and the B/R Scouting Department's draft board, here's an updated first-round mock draft and a look at some rising prospects.

First-Round Mock Draft

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Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

2. New York Jets: Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

3. Arizona Cardinals: OT Spencer Fano, Utah

4. Tennessee Titans: OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami

5. New York Giants: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

7. Washington Commanders: LB Arvell Reese, Ohio State

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

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

10. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

11. Miami Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

12. Dallas Cowboys: Edge David Bailey, Texas Tech

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta): WR Makai Lemon, USC

14. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Edge Cashius Howell, Texas A&M

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

17. Detroit Lions: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

18. Minnesota Vikings: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

19. Carolina Panthers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

22. Los Angeles Chargers: OL Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Keldric Faulk, Auburn

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville): IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

25. Chicago Bears: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

26. Buffalo Bills: LB CJ Allen, Georgia

27. San Francisco 49ers: Edge T.J. Parker, Clemson

28. Houston Texans: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

29. Los Angeles Rams: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

30. Denver Broncos: DL Caleb Banks, Florida

31. New England Patriots: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina

*Draft order from Tankathon

Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

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Ranked 107th overall on the B/R Scouting Department's post-regular-season draft board, Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks appears to be rocketing into the first-round conversation.

Banks' draft stock was impacted by a foot injury that limited him this past season. However, the physically imposing 22-year-old looked healthy during Senior Bowl Week, which has him on the rise.

"Some sources had him as a potential top-15 prospect and understandably so considering his rare combination of size and movement skills," B/R's Brent Sobleski wrote. "...Both the head-turning explosiveness and raw technique showed up during the all-star practices. When Banks fires off the ball low and hard, he's nearly impossible to block."

While Banks was limited to just three games in 2025, he had a stellar 2024 campaign that included 12 appearances, seven tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. If Banks can alleviate the injury concerns, he'll have a chance to hear his name called on opening night.

Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

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LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier isn't currently trending as a first-round pick. However, there's a non-zero chance that he ends up earning some consideration on opening night.

Indiana's Fernando Mendoza is the only first-round lock among QB prospects, and he's expected to land with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1. With Dante Moore returning to Oregon, there is no clear-cut QB2.

Nussmeier will likely compete with Alabama's Ty Simpson, Miami's Carson Beck, and Clemson's Cade Klubnik for that designation. And it's worth noting that Nussmeier was widely considered a first-round prospect before a disappointing 2025 campaign that was heavily affected by an oblique injury.

"I couldn't use my core," Nussmeier said during an interview on ESPN's Off The Bench.

Nussmeier appeared healthy during Senior Bowl Week and was the best QB in the game itself, earning Senior Bowl MVP honors.

"How Nussmeier handled everything this season, stepped into an unfamiliar situation and became a stabilizing force during the event really showed his maturity and capabilities as a quarterback," Sobleski wrote.

Expect Nussmeier to be a hot prospect in the coming weeks.