New Todd McShay NFL Mock Draft Drops, What Changed After 2026 Free Agency?

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love moved up into the top five of Todd McShay's newest 2026 NFL mock draft.

In February, the draft expert had Love going eighth overall to the New Orleans Saints. The Ringer released McShay's newest mock Monday, which saw the Fighting Irish star land with the New York Giants at No. 5

Having traded away wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, the Miami Dolphins zeroed in on USC's Makai Lemon in another notable change. Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was the pick in McShay's mock 2.0.

McShay also had Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. leapfrogging Texas Tech's David Bailey as the second edge defender off the board.

Todd McShay Mock Draft 3.0 — Top 10

1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State

3. Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

4. Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

5. Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6. Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

7. Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

8. Saints: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

9. Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

10. Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

In general, this is a year in which free agency may not impact the draft that much.

Jaelan Phillips has signed the biggest deal so far, securing $30 million annually from the Carolina Panthers. Carolina's first pick is at No. 19, so whatever the Panthers do there won't dramatically alter the trajectory of the draft.

The same goes for the Baltimore Ravens, who gave Trey Hendrickson a four-year, $112 million deal. By the time they're on the clock at No. 14, the best pass-rushers are likely to be gone.

The Las Vegas Raiders made an aggressive play for center Tyler Linderbaum (three years, $81 million), and that only reinforces the likelihood they take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall.

The Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9) might be the first team whose Day 1 plans are influenced by what unfolded in free agency.

Having traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams, the Chiefs watched another corner, Jaylen Watson, join McDuffie in L.A.

McShay had Kansas City addressing the secondary with LSU star Mansoor Delane.

"He's the clear-cut CB1 in this class, displaying an excellent blend of man and zone coverage skills," he wrote of the unanimous All-American. "He's one of the smartest cornerbacks that I've studied in the past few years and should be a plug-and-play impact starter for KC after the departures of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson."

Fans in Kansas City would probably be thrilled if Delane was ultimately the choice on April 23.