Fan-Voted 2026 NFL Mock Draft Reveals B/R Community's Picks for Every 1st-Rounder

With less than a week to go before the 2026 NFL draft kicks off in Pittsburgh, mock drafts are raining from the heavens like meteors in a disaster flick. Pundits all across the internet (including the Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department) are taking shots at determining how Round 1 will play out on April 23.

This time, however, we are going to try something a little different—letting fans of the NFL's 32 teams have their say with a Community Mock Draft. Polls were conducted on the Bleacher Report App for all 32 teams—and the people…have…spoken.

Now, there were some complications, just as there are every year in the real thing (at least no one forgot to pick like the 2003 Vikings. Oops). Some players were selected by multiple teams, which is, um, problematic. "Other" was also an option—one that won the day with a few teams.

This analyst doesn't have a crystal ball, so I'm not sure which "other" player voters wanted. So rather than inserting my own biases and beliefs into the equation, I simply moved down the list to the first available player.

This is an exercise in democracy, after all. I'm no despot.

So, here's how you—the fans—think Round 1 should pan out. And let me tell you, the first pick is going to blow your mind.

Or maybe not.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

AP Photo/AJ Mast

Voting Results

Fernando Mendoza 86%

Trade pick for massive haul 12%

Other 0%

If there's one pick in this draft that is a foregone conclusion, it's the first one. It would be the biggest draft-day shocker since Sonny Weaver selected Vontae Mack in 2014 if the Las Vegas Raiders select anyone but Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall.

At 6'5" and 236 pounds, Mendoza has the size NFL teams covet under center. He was wildly successful at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.

This isn't to say that Mendoza is an absolute slam-dunk pick. He played in an RPO-heavy, shotgun offense in Bloomington. The team around Mendoza (at least as things stand today) isn't great.

That's being kind. The Raiders need work.

But Vegas needs a long-term answer at quarterback, and Mendoza is easily the top prospect at the position in his class.

2. New York Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Voting Results

EDGE Arvell Reese 72%

EDGE David Bailey 18%

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 4%

Other 4%

The New York Jets would love it if this was 2024 and there were multiple viable quarterbacks to choose from with the second overall pick—the team has been on a quest for a true franchise signal-caller for approximately forever.

But in true Jets fashion the team has Pick No. 2 in a draft with one first-rounder under center, so the Bleacher Report community turned its collective attention to the defense and a trio of edge-rushers.

Ohio State's Arvell Reese isn't the safest bet of that threesome—he has limited experience playing on the edge after beginning his career at Ohio State as an off-ball linebacker. But the 6'4" 241-pounder has a sky-high ceiling and has drawn comparisons to a pair of linebackers turned edge-rushers in Abdul Carter and Micah Parsons.

3. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

AP Photo/Michael Wyke

Voting Results

EDGE David Bailey 43%

Other 24%

IOL Francis Mauigoa 16%

LB Arvell Reese 15%

The Arizona Cardinals are another team in need of a long-term solution under center after releasing Kyler Murray in the offseason. But like the Jets before them, the Redbirds aren't getting that quarterback this year—at least not in Round 1.

Texas Tech edge-rusher David Bailey isn't a bad consolation prize, though.

At 6'4" and 251 pounds, Bailey looks the part of a stand-up edge-rusher at the professional level. He's likely the most NFL-ready of the "Big 3" pass-rushers this year. And Bailey was wildly productive last year with the Red Raiders—52 total tackles, 14.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.

Pairing Bailey with veteran Josh Sweat would give the Cardinals a formidable pair of pass-rushers—something the team badly needs after posting just 30 sacks in 2025 (third-fewest in the NFL).

4. Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

AP Photo/Michael Caterina

Voting Results

RB Jeremiyah Love 82%

LB Sonny Styles 7%

Other 7%

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 3%

The running back position has become devalued in the NFL Draft. But last year we saw the Las Vegas Raiders select Ashton Jeanty sixth overall, and this year the Bleacher Report community expects a running back to come off the board even earlier.

Of course, as B/R's Dame Parson wrote, Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame isn't just any running back.

"Love is the "new age" bell cow running back who does not have to leave the field," he said. "Love is a dynamic and explosive running back who possesses the skill set to be a complete weapon in an NFL offense. He combines home-run top-end speed with route-running and pass-catching ability to impact the offense in multiple ways."

Using a top-five pick on a running back is a bold move. But if Titans quarterback Cam Ward is going to take a step forward in his second season, the team needs to get better around him.

5. New York Giants: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Voting Results

LB Sonny Styles 57%

S Caleb Downs 22%

Other 10%

WR Carnell Tate 8%

It's a time of great change in New York. There's a new head coach in John Harbaugh. The Giants hope to have the foundation for their offense in quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers and an improved offensive line.

But the team also needs to work on a defense that ranked 28th in the league a year ago.

Sonny Styles is what a linebacker would look like if he was grown in a laboratory—a 6'5", 244-pounder with 4.46-second speed who absolutely blew the roof off this year's scouting combine.

Off-ball linebacker was an area of weakness for Big Blue last season. But pairing the wildly athletic Styles with veteran free-agent addition Tremaine Edmunds would turn that weakness into a strength in short order.

6. Cleveland Browns: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Voting Results

WR Carnell Tate 72%

Other 10%

OT Monroe Freeling 8%

OT Spencer Fano 8%

The Cleveland Browns are a team with multiple needs on both sides of the ball. But in the eyes of most draftniks, two needs loom large above all the others—wide receiver and left tackle. Last year, Cleveland's leading receiver was rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. The Browns retooled the offensive line in free agency, but the most important position on that line remains a question mark.

The Bleacher Report community went the former route in this mock draft, by turning to the star factory at wide receiver in recent years that is The Ohio State University and wide receiver Carnell Tate.

Tate didn't post huge numbers in Columbus, and he spent most of his collegiate career playing second-fiddle to the likes of Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith. But the 6'2", 192-pounder has all the tools required to be a No. 1 wide receiver for an NFL team.

7. Washington Commanders: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Voting Results

RB Jeremiyah Love 45%

LB Sonny Styles 31%

CB Mansoor Delane 12%

Other 10%

Fans of the Washington Commanders were the first in this exercise to learn a harsh truth about the NFL Draft.

You don't always get who you want.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles were the leading vote-getters to be the seventh overall pick. But both of those players are off the board here, so it's on to Plan C—and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.

Given that the Commanders were dead last in total defense last season and 28th against the pass in 2025, that's not such a bad thing.

Delane is the top cornerback prospect in his class—a 6'0", 187-pounder with the physicality and speed to play man and the instincts and technique to thrive in zone coverage.

He'd be Washington's best cornerback the moment he stepped off the plane in D.C.

8. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Voting Results

Other 35%

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 27%

EDGE David Bailey 25%

WR Makai Lemon 11%

Well, this is…something.

Fans of the New Orleans Saints apparently aren't exactly brimming with confidence about the prospects who will be available to the team at No. 8 overall. Because when presented with three players, the leading vote-getter was, "None of the Above."

I hear None has some real quicks, but he's a raw prospect.

An offensive lineman like Miami's Francis Mauigoa or Alabama's Kadyn Proctor could be in play here. So could a trade down—especially with no offensive linemen off the board yet.

But rather than speculate, we'll just go with the runner-up—Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

Much has been made of Bain's teeny-tiny T-Rex arms since the scouting combine, and a 2024 car accident that resulted in a woman's death has raised some off-field concerns. But turn on tape of the 6'2", 263-pounder and it's clear why Bleacher Report's Scouting Department ranks Bain as a top-five prospect overall in his class.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Voting Results

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 67%

Other 15%

WR Jordyn Tyson 10%

OT Spencer Fano 6%

OK, things are starting to get muddy.

For the third straight selection, the No. 1 choice of the Bleacher Report Community is either off the board or "Other"—Miami edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was selected one pick earlier by the New Orleans Saints.

With "Other" checking in at No. 2 in the voting, it's on to player No. 3 for a Kansas City Chiefs team that hasn't picked inside the top 10 in a long time—and arguably the most polarizing prospect in the first round this year.

Were Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson 100 percent healthy, he may well be the first wide receiver selected in 2026. The 6'2", 203-pounder has everything NFL teams covet at wide receiver. Speed. Agility. Soft hands. Route-running.

But a hamstring injury dating back months wiped out most of Tyson's pre-draft process and cast a cloud over his draft stock.

With that said, Patrick Mahomes needs more passing-game weapons, and Tyson catching passes from Mahomes could be abjectly terrifying.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File

Voting Results

LB Sonny Styles 62%

EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. 20%

CB Mansoor Delane 8%

Other 8%

Oh, come on!

It's a very Cincinnati Bengals thing that fans of the team have watched all three of their top choices for the 10th overall pick get sniped. Sonny Styles? Off the board at 1.05. Rueben Bain? Bye-bye at 1.08. Mansoor Delane? Headed to Washington at 1.07.

So, rather than insert my own biases, the Bengals will simply receive the highest-ranked player on Bleacher Report's latest Big Board—and they should be clicking their heels to do so.

Ohio State's Caleb Downs may not play a premium position. But the 6'0", 206-pound safety may well be the best football player in this class. There is nothing that Downs doesn't do at a high level. He can play both safety spots and in the slot and be a defensive leader for the Bengals from Day 1.

A Cincinnati defense that ranked dead last in the AFC last year can use all the help it can get.

11. Miami Dolphins: OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Voting Results

IOL Francis Mauigoa 54%

Other 16%

OT Monroe Freeling 14%

WR Makai Lemon 14%

Thank you! Order has been restored to the universe!

After an offseason fire sale, the Miami Dolphins need, well, just about everything. But for the B/R Community, upgrading an offensive line that ranked 29th in the NFL last year per Pro Football Focus, is the priority. The top-two vote-getters were both offensive linemen, with Miami's Francis Mauigoa earning over half the vote.

There are some questions regarding Mauigoa's best position at the next level—the 6'5" 329-pounder played left tackle for the Hurricanes, but some draftniks believe that right tackle or even guard could be a better fit.

Regardless, Mauigoa has spent most of the pre-draft process as a top-two offensive lineman on most draft boards. At this point the Dolphins need to hit on picks more than address specific needs.

And Mauigoa's high floor makes him an appealing choice here.

12. Dallas Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

AP Photo/Wade Payne

Voting Results

LB Sonny Styles 72%

CB Mansoor Delane 13%

Other 8%

CB Jermod McCoy 5%

Sorry, Cowboys Nation, but we have some bad news. You can wish upon a falling star, throw a penny in the wishing well and find a bottle with an honest-to-goodness Djinn in it. And Sonny Styles still isn't making it to No. 12.

A year ago at this time, most would have said the same thing about Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who B/R's Daniel Harms said, "has the best tape of any cornerback in the 2026 class."

"McCoy is explosive, twitchy, physical and can do anything asked of him in the secondary," Harms wrote. "His combination of suffocating man coverage and instinctual zone ability is impressive."

The 6'1", 188-pounder missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL tear, but McCoy ran a 4.37-second 40 at Tennessee's Pro Day. A Dallas defense that was positively putrid a year ago needs talent at all three levels.

It's not like Jerry Jones is exactly risk-averse.

13. Los Angeles Rams (from ATL): OT Spencer Fano, Utah

AP Photo/George Frey

Voting Results

Other 66%

OT Spencer Fano 15%

IOL Francis Mauigoa 14%

OT Monroe Freeling 4%

The Los Angeles Rams are in a highly advantageous position entering the 2026 NFL draft—the team has a top-15 pick thanks to a trade with the Atlanta Falcons last year, but the team doesn't have any glaring needs on the roster.

Given that, there are any number of directions the team could go at No. 13, and it's reflected in the vote here—"Other" was the runaway top pick.

Maybe "Other" is a trade for Cleveland Browns edge-rusher Myles Garrett. Just saying.

With that said, NFL teams can never have too many quality offensive linemen, and Utah tackle Spencer Fano qualifies as one of those. The 6'5", 311-pounder is Bleacher Report's highest-ranked tackle in 2026, with Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn writing that he is a "Loose, fluid mover with very good athletic ability, balance and recovery skills."

14. Baltimore Ravens: IOL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Voting Results

IOL Olaivavega Ioane 45%

TE Kenyon Sadiq 25%

OT Spencer Fano 17%

There is no shortage of variance in mock drafts each and every year. But there are also players who become consensus selections—who are mocked to certain teams time and time again.

In the middle of Round 1 this year, no one personifies that more than Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, who is the pick of the Baltimore Ravens in far more mock drafts than not—including the most recent one here at Bleacher Report.

"Baltimore has been regularly mocked with this particular selection and for good reason," Brandon Thorn said. "The former Nittany Lion is the draft class' cleanest offensive line prospect and plays a position of need. The Ravens typically draft the best player available regardless of position. Ioane fits the bill."

All this agreement is a little unsettling.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Voting Results

EDGE Akheem Mesidor 40%

TE Kenyon Sadiq 29%

Other 17%

EDGE Keldric Faulk 12%

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell apart over the second half of the 2025 season—the Bucs entered their bye week a 6-2 Super Bowl contender only to lose seven of their last nine games.

There were multiple reasons for that late-season collapse, but a big part of it was an inability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. For the season, Tampa managed just 37 sacks, and only one player on the team had more than five.

Miami edge-rusher Akheem Mesidor isn't a flawless prospect—the 6'3", 265-pounder has a history of foot injuries and will already be 25 years old when the 2026 season begins.

But Mesidor has NFL size and length and was highly productive for the Hurricanes a year ago—63 total tackles, 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.

He'd be a welcome addition to the Tampa defense.

16. New York Jets (from IND): WR Makai Lemon, USC

AP Photo/Lydia Ely

Voting Results

WR Makai Lemon 60%

WR Omar Cooper Jr. 23%

Other 9%

QB Ty Simpson 7%

As has already been mentioned, the New York Jets need a long-term answer under center—Geno Smith is a temporary fix at best. But regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Jets, the team badly needs pass-catchers as well—the team's passing game weapons currently consist of Garrett Wilson and, um, yeah.

Makai Lemon of USC was the Biletnikoff Award winner last year as the top receiver in college football after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Trojans.

At 5'11" and 192 pounds, Lemon projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level. But he more than makes up for a lack of size with excellent play strength, soft hands and the ability to rack up yardage after the catch. Paired with Wilson, he would offer the Jets a solid inside-outside duo and give New York's sputtering offense a sizable boost.

17. Detroit Lions: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Voting Results

OT Monroe Freeling 40%

OT Kadyn Proctor 31%

Other 15%

EDGE T.J. Parker 12%

The Detroit Lions are trying to wash off the stink of a massively disappointing 2025 season. And missing the playoffs last year wasn't the only unpleasant surprise the team is trying to overcome—after veteran tackle Taylor Decker requested his release, the Lions need a new blindside protector for Jared Goff.

Given that need, the B/R community settled Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the 17th overall pick—the 6'7", 315-pounder has been rising up draft boards, and James Reber of NFL.com believes he's a perfect fit in the Motor City.

"Freeling offers the same 6-foot-7 stature as Decker and is one of 21 prospects who earned an athleticism score of 90 or higher in this year's class," he said. "Freeling should be the type of mobile piece Dan Campbell desires to pull and get out in space for Jahmyr Gibbs. Keeping Jared Goff protected is paramount, too, as the QB's passer rating was 43.8 points higher in clean pockets (118.4) than when under pressure (74.6) in 2025, the fourth-largest difference of any qualified QB."

18. Minnesota Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

AP Photo/Lydia Ely

Voting Results

S Dillon Thieneman 53%

CB Jermod McCoy 19%

Other 16%

OT Spencer Fano 10%

It has been a long time since the Minnesota Vikings had a true need at safety. But after 14 years spent entirely in the Twin Cities, the Vikings parted ways with Harrison Smith in the offseason.

Given that need, it's not surprising that many mock drafts (including the most recent from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.) have the Vikings selecting Oregon's Dillon Thieneman with the 18th overall pick.

"There's still uncertainty around Harrison Smith's status," Kiper said, "but it's sort of irrelevant because the Vikings have to start planning for the future at safety whether or not Smith is back there in 2026. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores would have Thieneman lined up all over the place to create havoc. He can create turnovers (eight career interceptions), too."

The 6'0", 201-pounder is a versatile safety capable of playing all over the formation, and that versatility would be highly appealing to an aggressive defensive coordinator like Flores.

19. Carolina Panthers: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Voting Results

TE Kenyon Sadiq 56%

Other 22%

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 12%

EDGE Akheem Mesidor 8%

Duck run!

The Carolina Panthers made a surprise run to the playoffs last season and spent big money on improving the defense in free agency. But while the Panthers have an excellent young wide receiver in Tetairoa McMillan, the team needs to add more passing-game weapons for Bryce Young.

The Bleacher Report community expects the Panthers to fill that need with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, a 6'3", 241-pounder with sub-4.4 speed that Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network said has all the tools to be the next big thing at his position.

 "He's going to run like crazy, he's going to jump out of the gym," Jeremiah said. "Super dynamic, super explosive, really good. Someone who can take quick screens from the tight end position and do things with it with the explosiveness and the ability to just run away from everybody."

20. Dallas Cowboys (from GB): LB C.J. Allen, Georgia

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Voting Results

S Dillon Thieneman 49%

LB C.J. Allen 23%

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 13%

Other 12%

Ohio State's Sonny Styles is the top dog among off-ball-linebackers in the Class of 2026. But Georgia's C.J. Allen isn't that far off—a 6'1," 230-pounder with the athleticism and range to be an every-down linebacker at the professional level.

Per SI's Mike Moraitis, Allen would fill a major need for a Cowboys defense that needs talent at all three levels after a miserable 2025 campaign.

"Linebacker is one of many concerns on defense for the Cowboys, who don't have a sure starter next to DeMarvion Overshown," he said. "Dallas doesn't have someone to wear the green dot, either. Allen can check both of those boxes in Year 1, as he has starting experience and played against top competition in the SEC. Allen also wore the green dot and was one of the Bulldogs' leaders."

The Bleacher Report community agrees, even if Allen wasn't their first choice.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

AP Photo/John Amis, File

Voting Results

G Olajivavega Ioane 60%

Other 21%

OT Kadyn Proctor 10%

LB CJ Allen 6%

The Pittsburgh Steelers remain a franchise in flux as they await Aaron Rodgers' decision on playing in 2026, but whether it's Rodgers, Mason Rudolph or youngster Will Howard out there in Week 1, the Steelers need to continue addressing an offensive line that has seemingly been a work in progress for years.

At 6'7" and 352 pounds, Alabama's Kadyn Proctor is a mountain of a man. But as Anthony Licciardi wrote for 247 Sports, there's more to Proctor than just his size.

"Proctor is unsurprisingly a strong finisher, but there's more to his game than mass," he said. "He has flashed well-timed baits to win with his hands and receives defenders well when working in tandem with guards. His punches are violent, yet controlled, and he repositions himself adequately to counter bend."

Proctor's game admittedly needs some refinement. But his physical traits portend a player who can be a difference-maker in the pros.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: IOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon

AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Voting Results

G Emmanuel Pregnon 44%

Other 24%

EDGE Cashius Howell 18%

DT Peter Woods 11%

The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs last year, but given the beating he took behind a banged-up offensive line, quarterback Justin Herbert may not remember it. The return of tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater will help in that regard, but the interior of the line needs work—especially after former first-round pick Zion Johnson bolted in free agency.

Enter Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon, a 6'4" 314-pounder who SB Nation's Bernd Buchmasser called a "road grader."

"Pregnon marries his impressive physique and strength with an attacking mindset," he said. "He is a mauler that plays through the whistle and makes his presence felt on every play. He also comes with immense experience, having started those aforementioned 51 games and only twice — both in 2022 — having to sit out games due to injury."

A durable offensive lineman would be a nice change of pace in Los Angeles—and a pick Herbert could certainly get behind.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Voting Results

OT Max Iheanachor 33%

Other 29%

EDGE Malachi Lawrence 24%

OT Blake Miller 13%

Offensive linemen fly off the board with regularity every year in the NFL draft—and this mock is no different. Philadelphia's selection of Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor is the third straight O-Lineman off the board.

The 6'6" 321-pounder lacks experience, but he has the size, length and athleticism to be a plus starter in the NFL. The Eagles have an established starter at right tackle in Lane Johnson, but Johnson will be 36 when the season starts and missed seven games last year.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler is on board with the Bleacher Report community that Iheanachor would be a good fit in Philly with Pick No. 23.

"Iheanachor would give the Eagles short-term insurance behind Lane Johnson, and a long-term answer at right tackle," Brugler said. "He's still relatively new to football, so a year spent sitting behind a future Hall of Famer would be a master class for Iheanachor's development."

24. Cleveland Browns (from JAX): OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

AP Photo/George Frey

Voting Results

OT Caleb Lomu 61%

WR Makai Lemon 25%

Other 9%

CB Brandon Cisse 2%

Frankly, if the draft plays out like the B/R community predicts, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry should do cartwheels, because after adding Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 6, the Browns are able to address their other most pressing need at No. 24 with the addition of Utah tackle Caleb Lomu.

Like many young tackles, Lomu is a work in progress. But per Tim Bielik of Cleveland.com, he is also one of the best pass protectors in the class.

"Lomu has been a very good pass protector for the Utes," he said, "allowing just 15 pressures and two sacks in nearly 1,600 snaps his last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus. He moves well in space and is good at processing information on the fly. Lomu will have to get stronger to be better in the run game."

Pairing Lomu and Tate is just about a best-case scenario for the Browns.

25. Chicago Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Voting Results

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 36%

EDGE Zion Young 31%

DT Peter Woods 16%

Other 15%

Sometimes, a prospect and a team just fit—and that's the case with Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and the Chicago Bears at No. 25.

The Bears are coming off their most successful season in years, but after watching both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III depart in free agency, safety is a major need in the Windy City. The team filled one spot with the addition of free agent Coby Bryant, but the Bears still have a need at box safety.

A hard-hitting 6'3", 201-pounder, Jeremiah wrote that McNeil-Warren could offset the loss of Brisker—and then some.

"McNeil-Warren has the size, length and playmaking ability to fill the void left by Jaquan Brisker -- in fact, I believe EMW would be an upgrade at the position," he said.

He even comes with a built-in nickname.

26. Buffalo Bills: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

AP Photo/Doug McSchooler

Voting Results

Other 42%

WR Omar Cooper Jr. 27%

EDGE Akheem Mesidor 25%

CB Avieon Terrell 4%

Chalk up another win for "Other." Man, that guy is popular.

It's a pressure-packed year in Buffalo. After Sean McDermott was fired as head coach following another playoff loss, the message sent by Bills management was clear. This team needs to make a deep postseason run—or else.

Buffalo already took steps to improve Josh Allen's passing-game weapons this offseason, swinging a trade with the Chicago Bears for wide receiver D.J. Moore. But the Bills could still use some help at wideout, and Troy Finnegan of ClutchPoints wrote that Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper's ability to do damage after the catch would make him an interesting fit in Western New York.

"Cooper's ability to make plays comes down to more than just speed," he said. "Despite his size limitations, Cooper is a very strong runner who can run through arm tackles and shed defenders at the second and third levels."

The B/R community is down with that assessment.

27. San Francisco 49ers: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

AP Photo/Michael Woods,

Voting Results

WR KC Concepcion 28%

Other 27%

WR Omar Cooper Jr. 22%

S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren 21%

That the San Francisco 49ers won 12 games and made the postseason last year was no small feat—the team was savaged by injuries on both sides of the ball. And entering the 2026 offseason, the passing-game weapons for the team were a major question mark.

The team addressed a barren wideout corps with the signing of Mike Evans, but secondary weapons are still needed—especially with tight end George Kittle's status for Week 1 murky at best.

Enter Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion, a 6'0", 196-pounder Bleacher Report's Damian Parson called a "dynamic, open-field weapon who can go beyond manufactured touches and easy completions. He's developing into a well-rounded, high-impact receiver with a high ceiling as an NFL option."

Concepcion has some inside-out versatility, and with defenses focusing on Evans he has the explosiveness to take advantage of single coverage from the jump.

28. Houston Texans: DL Peter Woods, Clemson

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Voting Results

DL Peter Woods 29%

IOL Emmanuel Pregnon 28%

OT Blake Miller 21%

Other 20%

The Houston Texans fielded one of the NFL's most formidable defenses in 2025. But rather than adding offensive weaponry or trying to upgrade an offensive line that is perpetually in flux, the Bleacher Report community decided to use Pick No. 28 to make that defense an even bigger strength.

To be clear, Clemson's Peter Woods is an excellent talent—the 6'3" 300-pounder is Bleacher Report's No. 2 defensive line prospect and drew a comparison from B/R's Scouting Department to Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans.

The Texans are already loaded up front, with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter on the edge and veteran Sheldon Rankins and promising youngster Tommy Togiai at the tackle spots.

Adding Woods to that defensive line could easily give the Texans the best front four in the NFL—if they don't already have it.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from LAR): CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Voting Results

CB Avieon Terrell 53%

EDGE T.J. Parker 22%

Other 17%

EDGE Cashius Howell 7%

News flash—the Kansas City Chiefs need cornerbacks…badly.

The Chiefs got this pick from the Rams for cornerback Trent McDuffie. But Rams general manager Les Snead was done pillaging the Kansas City secondary—the team also signed Jaylen Watson in free agency.

Given that glaring need, both the Bleacher Report community and Bradley Locker of PFF predicted that the Chiefs would target Clemson corner Avieon Terrell.

"Terrell's tape and analytical profile (76.9-plus PFF coverage and run-defense grades) could make him a first-round pick," Locker said, "but anguish about a hamstring injury may see a slide. Kansas City would be a ready benefactor after trading away Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson, with Terrell's 74.9 zone coverage mark fitting in nicely with Steve Spagnuolo's scheme."

The injury concerns are genuine, but Terrell's versatility and penchant for being around the ball would be awfully tempting for the Chiefs given the massive hole at the back end of their defense.

30. Miami Dolphins (from DEN): CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Voting Results

WR KC Concepcion 31%

CB Colton Hood 30%

CB Avieon Terrell 26%

Other 11%

We had a nice little run of first choices going. But sadly, all good things must end—and fans of the Miami Dolphins will be forced to settle for their second choice here.

The Dolphins already bolstered the offensive line in this mock draft with the addition of Francis Mauigoa at No. 11. With the selection they obtained from the Denver Broncos in the Jaylen Waddle deal, the Dolphins hit the defense with Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood.

Hood to Miami was another pick that made the NFL Next Gen Stats Team's list of ideal Round 1 selections.

"The Dolphins allowed the highest passing success rate in the NFL last season (50.5%) and are thin on experience at cornerback, having not currently re-signed incumbent starters Jack Jones or Rasul Douglas," they said. "They can address one of those vacancies with their second pick of the opening round, where Hood may well be available. Hood's assertiveness makes him the type of disruptor near the line of scrimmage that Jeff Hafley was sorely missing in Green Bay, while his impressive speed allows him to recover on deep routes."

31. New England Patriots: DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

AP Photo/Doug McSchooler

Voting Results

WR KC Concepcion 42%

Other 30%

DL Kayden McDonald 17%

DT Caleb Banks 9%

Teams picking at the very back of Round 1 face a couple of dilemmas. The first is that their preferred selection may well be long gone by the time the team goes on the clock. The other is choosing between drafting for need vs. taking the best player available.

The Bleacher Report community wanted Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion in this slot, but he's gone. The next most popular option was "other," which we'll posit is the real chance that New England trades down a few spots if a team picking early on Day 2 wants a fifth-year option on say a certain quarterback from Alabama.

That leaves Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald as the pick—a 6'2" 326-pounder who possesses rare athleticism for a player his size. McDonald and Milton Williams could form quite the duo inside for the defending AFC champions.

32. Seattle Seahawks: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Voting Results

CB Chris Johnson 32%

Other 32%

EDGE Keldric Faulk 17%

CB Colton Hood 17%

The Seattle Seahawks are in the spot that every team wants to be—picking last in Round 1. But while the Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, they also aren't without needs—particularly at cornerback after some personnel losses at the position.

Chris Johnson didn't play at a big-time program, but the 6'0" 193-pounder has been surging up boards of late—in part due to his 4.4 speed. While making a radio appearance, The Athletic's Dane Brugler singled out Johnson as a good fit in the Emerald City.

"We don't normally see Group of Five guys in the first round anymore because they transfer, but some of the guys that stay loyal to the coaching staff that recruited and developed them, NFL teams still have their eyes on them," Brugler said. "And Chris Johnson is one of them. He's a fit for all 32 teams because he can play man, he can play zone. There's a lot to like about his football intelligence and his cover ability."

The B/R community agrees—so much so that they took Johnson ahead of Colton Hood.