New NFL Mock Draft Trends for Prospects Rising and Sliding With 2 Days to Go

NFL draft week has arrived, and the first round will kick off in only two days. While we can pretty much assume that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be going to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall, there remains some mystery about how things will unfold after that.

The Cincinnati Bengals already shook up the early first round when they traded the 10th overall pick for New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.

With a new draft order in place, let's dive into a few fresh mocks, specifically those of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN's Jordan Reid, and NFL Media's Eric Edholm. We'll see how each top-10 list compares and search for any new trends involving late risers and fallers on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's final 2026 big board.

Top 10 Comparisons

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Indiana QB prospect Fernando Mendoza

Kiper's Top 10

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. New York Giants (from Cincinnati): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Reid's Top 10

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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

3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

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

6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

7. Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

8. New Orleans Saints: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

10. New York Giants (from Cincinnati): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Edholm's Top 10

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

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

3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

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

6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami

10. New York Giants (from Cincinnati): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Sliding: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

It must be noted that prospects who are generally accepted as legitimate first-round talents haven't moved much on draft boards. However, Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano appears to be sliding just a bit.

Fano was the 10th-ranked prospect on the B/R Scouting Department's previous big board, and he now clocks in at No. 15. While that's not a massive drop—and Fano may not actually fall to the middle of Round 1—it helps drive home one notable trend.

Fano was once considered a candidate to be the first offensive lineman off the board, and now that feels extremely unlikely.

Back in February, for example, Kiper mocked Fano to the New York Giants at No. 5. He now has Fano going to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 15, with Miami's Frances Mauigoa being the first lineman off the board. Edholm also mocked Fano to the Ravens at No. 15 with Mauigoa going ahead of him.

Reid, however, doesn't believe Fano will fall too far, mocking him to the Miami Dolphins at No. 11.

"A new regime typically likes to go QB with its first draft pick, but there isn't one who makes sense for the Dolphins here," Reid wrote. "So, offensive tackle is the play, and Fano makes way too much sense as Miami looks to bolster its trenches."

Fano is still an upper-tier prospect who should go relatively early on opening night. However, he's no longer the top-10 lock he once appeared to be.

Rising: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File

Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love has been viewed as a blue-chip prospect since very early in the predraft process. He was the No. 2 prospect on B/R's previous board, and he remains in that slot on the final board.

However, the buzz is growing about Love being a potential top-three selection, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

"Love is considered by many to be the best player in this class and could become the first running back drafted in the top five picks since the Giants selected Saquon Barkley No. 2 in 2018. There are some who believe he could go as high as No. 3 to Arizona and no lower than No. 7 to Washington."

According to Schefter, Love is "truly in play" at No. 3, either to the Arizona Cardinals or following a trade.

Love was mocked to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9 in Kiper's February mock—before Kansas City signed Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, of course. Kiper now has him landing with the Tennessee Titans at No. 4.

Edholm also has Love landing with the Titans at No. 4, while Reid has him hitting his draft floor by landing with the Washington Commanders at No. 7. If Love does make it past Washington, it will truly be surprising.

Sliding: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson may still be a first-round pick, if solely due to supply and demand at the position. There aren't 32 viable starters in the NFL, and Simpson is viewed as the second-best quarterback in the 2026 class behind Mendoza.

However, Simpson going in Round 1 may be viewed as a significant reach. He was the 28th-ranked prospect on B/R's previous board, but the Scouting Department now has him ranked as the 44th overall prospect. Simpson's grade has also taken a hit, going from 7.9 to 7.7.

In February, Kiper mocked Simpson to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. While he still has Simpson going in Round 1, its at No. 30 to the Cardinals following a trade.

Neither Edholm nor Reid have Simpson going in the first round, though Reid has him going to Arizona at No. 34. According to NFL Media's Bucky Brooks, it's Simpson's inexperience that could have him sliding on draft day:

"With the recent struggles of inexperienced quarterbacks looming large in draft meeting rooms—Anthony Richardson, Trey Lance, Dwayne Haskins, Mitchell Trubisky and Mark Sanchez each had fewer than 17 college starts before becoming first-round picks—Simpson could fall out of the top 32 selections as a developmental quarterback prospect."

We'll have to wait until Thursday to see if teams draft Simpson where he probably should be valued, or if they're willing to reach in Round 1 to get the fifth-year option.

Rising: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

After Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson showed himself to be healthy at Friday's private workout, it appears that either he or Ohio State's Carnell Tate are likely to be the first receiver off the board.

"Teams I've talked to believe that Carnell Tate is the safest wide receiver prospect," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells). "...Then you've got Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, who seems to be rising right now."

Texas A&M's KC Concepcion may not have to wait too long after those two to hear his name called.

While Kiper still isn't predicting Concepcion to go in Round 1—he has him landing with the New Orleans Saints at No. 42—Reid and Edholm both do. Edholm paired him with the Buffalo Bills at No. 26, while Reid paired him with Pittsburgh at No. 21.

"DK Metcalf is entrenched as their WR1 and Michael Pittman Jr. was acquired in an offseason trade, but Concepcion is a player who can take advantage of space in the short-to-intermediate areas," Reid wrote.

The B/R Scouting Department, meanwhile, has moved Concepcion ahead of USC's Makai Lemon as WR3 on its big board. It has also bumped him from the 16th-ranked prospect to the 12th.