Comparing Peter Schrager, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay's Newest NFL Mock Drafts Ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager dropped his final mock draft Wednesday before the first round of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday, and it featured some unique selections not seen in many other mocks.

The top 10 picks in Schrager's last 2026 mock are as follows:

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

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

4. Tennessee Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

6. Cleveland Browns: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

8. New Orleans Saints: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

9. Dallas Cowboys (projected trade w/ KC): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

10. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

By comparison, ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s newest mock looks like this:

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 w/ CLE): 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: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Meanwhile, the most recent mock by The Ringer NFL draft expert Todd McShay played out like this:

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: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

5. New York Giants: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

6. Cleveland Browns: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

7. Washington Commanders: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

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

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

10. New York Giants: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

While Kiper and McShay had six of the same picks in the top 10, Schrager went a bit more off the beaten path.

Although Schrager agreed with Kiper and McShay by having Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza go first overall to the Las Vegas Raiders and Texas Tech pass-rusher David Bailey go second overall to the New York Jets, the rest of his top 10 looks quite different.

Schrager has Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love going higher than anyone, as he mocked Love to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 despite the Cards signing Tyler Allgeier to go along with the returning James Conner and Trey Benson.

Jeremiyah Love highlights

00:59

Also, Schrager has Ohio State pass-rusher Arvell Reese going fifth to the New York Giants, which is two spots lower than Kiper and McShay, and he is the only one among the three mock drafters who has Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano as a top-10 pick.

Another notable difference is the fact that both Kiper and McShay mocked Miami pass-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8, whereas Schrager has him falling to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 12 as part of a projected trade down.

One final area in which Schrager is aligned with Kiper and McShay is on the subject of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

While Mendoza is the only quarterback certain to go in the first round, all three draft experts have Simpson going among the top 32 picks as well.

Ty Simpson highlights

00:57

Schrager projected the Cardinals to trade up from No. 34 to No. 32 with the Seattle Seahawks in order to take him, which was similar to Kiper's projected trade up from No. 34 to No. 30 for Arizona.

McShay believed Simpson will go much higher than most expect, though, mocking him 13th overall to the Los Angeles Rams.

The first round of the 2026 NFL draft will take place Thursday night at 8 p.m. in Pittsburgh, followed by Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night and Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday.