Comparing Mel Kiper, ESPN and Todd McShay's Newest NFL Mock Drafts Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

With the 2026 NFL draft approaching at the end of this month, there seems to be a consensus forming around the top three picks.

ESPN's group of Mel Kiper Jr., Field Yates, Jordan Reid and Matt Miller, released a new joing mock on Thursday, with Fernando Mendoza, Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa as the first three selections.

Those picks match what The Ringer's Todd McShay had listed in his most recent mock draft that was released on March 23.

Here are the projected top 10 picks in the ESPN mock with each analysts name listed who made the selection:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (Kiper)
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (Miller)
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Reid)
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech (Yates)
5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (Kiper)
6. Cleveland Browns: Makai Lemon, WR, USC (Miller)
7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (Reid)
8. New Orleans Saints: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (Yates)
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (Kiper)
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (Miller)

Here is how McShay had the top 10 playing out in his mock:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (Kiper)
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (Miller)
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Reid)
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
8. New Orleans Saints: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Four of the top five picks in both mocks line up because they also have the New York Giants taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

The first big pivot point between the two drafts comes at No. 4 with the Tennessee Titans, even though both are in agreement that it will be an EDGE.

ESPN has Texas Tech's David Bailey going in that spot, while McShay projected Miami's Rueben Bain Jr to the Titans. Bain stayed on the board until pick No. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys in ESPN's projection.

While there is reportedly some interest in Love by the Titans and they need more playmakers around Cam Ward, it would be surprising to see a team with all of their roster needs and a defensive-minded head coach in Robert Saleh pass up on a potential star pass-rusher.

B/R's NFL scouting department falls in the Love-to-Tennessee camp, pairing the two together in its most recent mock draft.

The biggest difference from ESPN and McShay is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. ESPN's mock has him going ninth overall to the Kansas City Chiefs as the heir apparent for Travis Kelce.

McShay has Sadiq lasting until No. 27 when the San Francisco 49ers take him as both a long-term building block and short-term insurance with George Kittle rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered in the playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was pointed out by McShay that there are several landing spots between the Chiefs and 49ers that would also fit for Sadiq, including the Los Angeles Rams (No. 13), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 15) and Eagles (No. 23).

One notable player not in the first round of either mock is Ty Simpson, though he did come off the board with the first pick of the second round to the New York Jets in ESPN's draft.