New NFL Mock Draft with Scouts & Execs Top 10 Picks Revealed by ESPN, Mendoza Compared to NFL Legend

In the final days leading up to the 2026 NFL draft, scouts and executives have shared their thoughts on how they expect the top of this year's first round will play out.

ESPN's Matt Miller released a new top-10 mock on Friday that includes picks made by 10 different scouts serving as the decision-maker for teams, starting with an AFC East area scouting projecting Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall.

Team	Pick
1. Raiders	Fernando Mendoza, QB
2. Jets	Arvell Reese, EDGE
3. Cardinals	David Bailey, EDGE
4. Titans	Jeremiyah Love, RB
5. Giants	Carnell Tate, WR
6. Browns	Francis Mauigoa, OT
7. Commanders	Sonny Styles, LB
8. Saints	Jermod McCoy, CB
9. Chiefs	Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE
10. Bengals	Caleb Downs, S

Using B/R's latest three-round mock as a comparison, only five of the 10 picks overlap with what the scouts think. Each of the top four match, with Rueben Bain Jr. to the Kansas City Chiefs at nine being the other one that lines up.

In projecting Mendoza to be the top overall pick, the scout cited Matt Ryan as a comparison for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

"He's a lot like Matt Ryan was coming out of Boston College," the scout told Miller. "Super accurate, super poised, doesn't get rattled. Got better every week it seemed like."

Ryan has been a popular comparison for Mendoza leading up to the draft. B/R's NFL scouting department described the Indiana standout as "Matt Ryan with mobility" in its scouting report.

The No. 3 pick in the 2008 draft, Ryan had a 15-year playing career and won the NFL MVP award in 2016. If you take that and add the ability to move around outside the pocket, the Raiders would be thrilled if that ends up being the totality of Mendoza's career.

Ryan had a run of 10 consecutive seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns from 2011 to '20. The Raiders haven't had a quarterback hit those marks in the same season since Derek Carr in 2021.

Mendoza may not get the chance to show off those skills right away after the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins in free agency to give them a potential bridge quarterback, but they will be banking on him to lead their franchise into the future assuming he does end up being the first pick when the draft begins on April 23.