Comparing Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Peter Schrager, Dane Brugler's New NFL Mock Drafts and Trends

The 2026 NFL draft is nearly a week away, and multiple experts updated their predictions for how things will play out.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., The Ringer's Todd McShay and The Athletic's Dane Brugler all released new mock drafts on Wednesday. While they all agreed that the Las Vegas Raiders will use the No. 1 pick to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, there were dissenting opinions immediately after that.

Kiper and McShay predicted that the New York Jets would use the No. 2 pick to select Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, which falls in line with last week's mock draft from ESPN's Peter Schrager, who uses intel from league sources to make his predictions. Brugler was the only one to project Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese to land with the Jets.

Kiper and McShay remained in lockstep in predicting that Reese would be selected third overall, but McShay threw a curveball by predicting that the Arizona Cardinals would trade the pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for their No. 8 selection and two more draft picks. Brugler's mock draft already had Reese off the board, so he projected Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa to be the Cardinals' selection.

Kiper and McShay once again agreed that the No. 4 pick by the Tennessee Titans would be Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, while Brugler pegged Bailey into that spot. At No. 5, both Kiper and Brugler predicted that the New York Giants would select Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, while McShay put Mauigoa in that slot.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department had similar predictions in its latest mock draft, though it projected the Jets to use the No. 2 pick on Reese instead of Bailey.

Fans will find out which predictions could come true when the 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23.