New Mel Kiper, ESPN NFL Mock Draft Drops for Rounds 1-2, Top Trades, Surprises, Risers, Fallers

Eight days out from the 2026 NFL draft, the new two-round mock from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. includes a significant shakeup in the top 10.

Kiper projected the Dallas Cowboys to make a trade up with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the No. 6 pick and select Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Mel Kiper Jr. Projected Top 10 Picks

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

The deal costs Dallas its two first-round picks this year (No. 12 and 20), with the Browns sending back picks No. 6 and 39.

That's one of two projected trades Kiper has. The other one is at the back of round one, with the Arizona Cardinals moving into the No. 30 slot in a deal with the Miami Dolphins and selecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Miami would receive picks 34 and 65 in exchange for Nos. 30 and 94. The Cardinals get Simpson to develop as their quarterback of the future, while the Dolphins add more draft capital as they rebuild their roster.

The Styles' pick is the first notable change from Kiper's previous mock draft released on March 17. The top 10 features nine of the same players, but Styles moved up a spot, Monroe Freeling dropped from No. 6 to the Detroit Lions at 17 and Jordyn Tyson moved into that top group by going to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9.

If the Cowboys were to make this trade, they will have given up three first-round picks in the last five months for Styles and Quinnen Williams. They would still have a first-round selection in 2027 from the Green Bay Packers as the final piece of their return from the Micah Parsons trade.

While that would be a lot of draft capital to give up to correct a mistake of their own making by trading Parsons in the first place, the upside for this defense with Styles in the fold would be huge.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Styles ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the 2026 class. He is the highest-graded linebacker prospect since 1987 by relative athletic score.

If the Cowboys were to land Styles, he would join a revamped front seven that includes Williams, Rashan Gary, DeMarvion Overshown and Kenny Clark.

There would still be more work required to improve the pass-rush, but the overall talent level on defense would be significantly improved for a Cowboys team that ranked last in the NFL in points and passing yards allowed.

With their picks from the Cowboys, Kiper projects the Browns to select Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 and Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston at 20.

Cleveland also ends up with Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy at No. 24 with the first-round pick it acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That's a strong nucleus for a Browns team that desperately needs talent and seems focused on waiting to address the quarterback position in 2027 when Deshaun Watson's contract comes off the books.