NFL Draft 2026 Notable Picks from Mel Kiper and Latest Expert Mocks

The 2026 NFL draft is only days away, but the Las Vegas Raiders have essentially been on the clock since January. By now, everyone knows that Las Vegas is going to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with that No. 1 overall pick.

There will be a little more drama after Las Vegas' selection comes and goes, though. The New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals have the next two selections, and each has needs almost across the board. We could see trades in the top five, and there's still no telling where QB2, Ty Simpson, is likely to be drafted.

Here, we'll dive into recent mock drafts from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., The Ringer's Todd McShay, The Athletic's Dane Brugler, and the Bleacher Report Scouting Department to highlight some of the most notable picks and trends.

It's worth noting that these mocks were made before the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to trade the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

Opinions Split on Jets' Pick

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Ohio State edge prospect Arvell Reese

The draft will really begin at No. 2. The Jets are widely expected to take a pass-rusher, but which one? The B/R Scouting Department and Brugler both paired New York with Ohio State's Arvell Reese.

"While the Jets have Will McDonald IV and signed Ossai to rush off the edge, they could use someone to set the edge against the run," B/R scout Matt Holder said. "Reese can immediately bring that skill set, while developing his pass-rush arsenal. He may even stick at off-ball linebacker and be the long-term solution behind Davis."

However, McShay and Kiper both paired the Jets with Texas Tech's David Bailey.

I get the sense the Jets will take production over potential here in the great Bailey vs. Arvell Reese debate," Kiper wrote.

It appears that it'll either be Reese or Bailey at No. 2, but could the Jets have a third option? New York has two first-round picks this year and three in 2027, but the prospect of trading down and acquiring even more draft capital should be on the table.

Cardinals, Browns Candidates to Trade Down

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Ohio State LB prospect Sonny Styles

While the Jets may be willing to stay put and take the best non-QB on the board, we may not have to wait long to see the draft's first trade. In fact, McShay's first trade came at No. 3 with the Arizona Cardinals moving down to give Reese to the New Orleans Saints.

In McShay's mock, Arizona grabbed a pair of second-round picks and still got Utah tackle Spencer Fano at No. 8:

"This would be a home-run move for GM Monti Ossenfort. He lands the right tackle in Fano to help finish off the offensive line rebuild while also picking up additional draft capital this year (no. 42) and next year (Saints' second-rounder), giving Arizona real flexibility to get aggressive in its pursuit of a franchise quarterback in 2026 and/or 2027."

The Cleveland Browns also appear to be strong trade candidates at No. 6. General manager Andrey Berry has been willing to move down in the past, and Cleveland has needs at tackle and receiver that don't exactly line up with the No. 6 selection.

Kiper and McShay both had the Browns trading back so that the Dallas Cowboys could move up and grab Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.

Jordyn Tyson Could be on the Rise

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Arizona State WR prospect Jordyn Tyson

Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson is the top-ranked receiver on the B/R Scouting Department's draft board. Yet his draft stock has been a little unclear due to injuries.

Tyson battled injuries throughout his college career, and he didn't work out at the combine or Arizona State's pro day because of a lingering hamstring injury. However, he did have a private workout for teams on Friday, which seems to have boosted his stock.

"[He] seems to be rising right now. Had a workout yesterday for execs and scouts showing that twitchiness, that explosiveness that he put on tape at Arizona State," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells).

Tyson's draft floor might be in the middle of Round 1. The B/R Scouting Department paired him with the Jets at No. 16, while Brugler paired him with the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13.

"Plenty of evaluators around the league believe a fully healthy Tyson would be in the mix for WR1 in this class," Brugler explained. "That he was limited during the draft process might not matter as much to the Rams as it might for others."

However, Tyson might also be trending toward the top 10. Kiper and McShay both paired him with the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9.