Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft Trends to Watch After Early Free Agency

The last few weeks before the NFL draft can be a fascinating case study of what's being fed into the public sector by teams and what's reported that eventually sticks once the event begins and decisions are made.

Make no mistake, every organization tries to manipulate the public sentiment to one extent or another in hopes of building an advantage by keeping everyone, including other franchises, guessing. Some are far more successful than others.

As the 2026 event nears, with the majority of roster acquisitions or departures out of the way, multiple trends have emerged, as represented throughout numerous projections.

Significant changes have occurred based on the general consensus, which possibly signals which direction some teams may be leaning, as seen on NFL Mock Draft Database from two months ago to this past week. Multiple major shifts have taken place based on the evolving status of rosters throughout the league.

The top of the incoming class may lack drama, with Fernando Mendoza the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, but things should pick up quickly over the next five to 10 selections as teams jockey for a possible landing spot for QB2.

RB Jeremiyah Love Becomes Favored Tennessee Titans Target

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A pair of factors drastically shifted the Tennessee Titans' focus with this year's fourth overall pick, with Jeremiyah Love turning into the consensus favorite.

From an internal perspective, the organization did a fantastic job with its financial flexibility to beef up the defense for new head coach Robert Saleh.

Tennessee brought in defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers, Jordan Elliott and Solomon Thomas, edge-rushers Jermaine Johnson II and Jacob Martin and cornerbacks Alontae Taylor, Cor'Dale Flott and Joshua Williams.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs each made major investments in the running back position. They select eighth and ninth overall, respectively. Clearly, neither thought Love would be available to them in the back half of this year's Top 10.

Tennessee is the logical landing spot for Love, who should be viewed as a top-three prospect regardless of position. While Tony Pollard remains on the Titans' roster, Love is a more complete option to take pressure off second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Saleh's experience seeing Christian McCaffrey every day as part of the San Francisco 49ers staff also lends some credibility to this specific projection.

Obviously, the Titans could continue to build their defense, with Saleh possibly wanting Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles to be his next Fred Warner. While possible, Love can give Tennessee an offensive focal point and identity on that side of the ball.

Sonny Styles Settles at Fifth Overall Slotting

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Ohio State's Sonny Styles should be in play for every NFL team picking between the second and fifth overall spots. He doesn't have a definitive home in that range, though.

The New York Jets should consider Styles, but former collegiate teammate Arvell Reese is the best fit for their situation. The Arizona Cardinals could use a defensive centerpiece, yet the team's offense still has a significant hole at right tackle. As discussed, the Tennessee Titans could be a strong contender if running back Jeremiyah Love isn't their preferred target.

Depending on how the board falls, the New York Giants could easily add Styles even after signing Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year, $36 million free-agent contract. Micah McFadden also returns to the lineup after suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 1 of the 2025 campaign.

However, a potential Styles selection fits the definition of best player available for a franchise trying to reestablish itself under new head coach John Harbaugh.

Another possibility does exist. Styles may be the favored target at No. 5 for a team willing to trade up for the dynamic linebacker. The Giants are positioned in a way to make them the most likely team to trade down or even out of the Top 10. The Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers should all be very interested in bringing Styles' elite athleticism to the middle of their defense.

Cleveland Browns Turn to Georgia OT Monroe Freeling

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Monroe Freeling wasn't considered the incoming class' OT1 at any point prior to the NFL combine. Technically, he still isn't, according to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

In fact, B/R doesn't even grade him as a first-round talent. However, he has grown into the consensus favorite for the Cleveland Browns with this year's sixth overall pick.

Cleveland entered this offseason with the unenviable task of replacing all five of its starting offensive linemen. So far, the team has acquired four new projected starters. Left tackle remains a glaring hole, though.

Earlier in the process, offensive tackle was always seen as a strong possibility with this pick, but the individual options have changed.

Originally, Utah's Spencer Fano or Miami's Francis Mauigoa were favored targets, as arguably the top two blockers in the class. But they're both natural right tackles who may find themselves playing along the interior depending on where they land.

By contrast, Freeling is a natural left tackle. Furthermore, he has the type of profile that the Browns tend to prefer. First, he's a younger prospect at 21 years old. Also, he has the size, length and athleticism that lend toward massive growth potential. The 6'7", 315-pound prospect has nearly 35-inch arms and a near-perfect relative athletic score, per Kent Lee Platte.

Freeling may have only started one year in college and needs to refine his technique, but his upside is so immense that he may be selected far sooner than his tape this past season suggests. The Browns certainly aren't afraid to draft high-potential prospects.

Caleb Downs Climbs, Cincinnati Bengals Pass and Select Another DB with 10th Pick

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The Cincinnati Bengals may not need to do anything other than be patient to still land the best overall player in this year's draft class.

Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is the B/R Scouting Department's No. 1-ranked prospect regardless of position. But if he slides, Cincinnati may no longer be in position to select the 21-year-old or could choose to pass on him outright.

A combination of positional value and possible concerns over a knee seemingly knocked Downs out of consideration for most teams in the Top 10. The Bengals should leap at an opportunity to add him once they are on the clock with the No. 10 selection. It's not a foregone conclusion, though.

A season ago, Cincinnati finished 31st in total defense. Every single level needs to be revamped. Safety is no longer a priority after signing Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger, with Jordan Battle still on the roster as well.

Instead, the Bengals can pivot to cornerback Mansoor Delane, who would immediately step into the lineup as the team's best pure cover corner. The need at corner is greater right now, and Downs may not even be available by the time they are on the clock.

As for the rumors over a degenerative knee issue, Downs told reporters: "That's not what my medical said... I'm going to continue to do me. I can't control that or what people say."

A clean bill of health should easily place him among the initial nine picks, with the Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints being strong possibilities.

The Bengals can't miss like they did a year ago when Shemar Stewart, who was viewed as a massive project even at the time, gave the defense basically nothing in his first season.

Downs is a potential home run selection if available. The same can be said of Delane, who emerged as CB1 in this year's class after one season at LSU.

Pittsburgh Steelers Select Next Starting QB

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Ty Simpson to the Pittsburgh Steelers isn't a new pairing, but it has picked up steam in recent weeks.

"I think they're trying to keep their cards close to the vest in hopes that Simpson slips to them," Mike Florio said on his Pro Football Talk podcast. "All that Will Howard stuff is just smoke. I think they'd like to get Simpson and Aaron Rodgers based on some stuff I heard instead yesterday. Rodgers plays for one more year, then Simpson takes over."

Interestingly, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo doesn't think Simpson is "in play" for the Steelers with the 21st overall pick.

Keep in mind the difference in time between the two comments. Florio's came shortly after the NFL combine, while Fittipaldo's occurred earlier this week.

Here's a good rule of thumb: The further away from the draft a nugget of information drops, the more likely it is to be true. Lying season gets turned up a few notches over the final couple of weeks, until the event is a day or so away and a few slivers of truth finally start to surface.

Maybe the Steelers aren't targeting Simpson. They should be. Rodgers may have one season left in him (if even that much). Pittsburgh can't pass on an opportunity to address the game's most important position beyond the 2026 campaign. Simpson is not going to be available later in the process.

The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals are possible landing spots over the subsequent 13 selections, with a potential trade-up being in the works for the latter two.

If the Steelers really do like Simpson, they should go get him. The previous organizational misfire with Kenny Pickett shouldn't deter them, because the Alabama product is a clearly superior prospect by comparison.