New Field Yates 2026 Mock Draft and Notable Picks from ESPN Expert's Final Predictions

Prior to the start of the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday, ESPN's Field Yates released his final 2026 NFL mock draft.

Unsurprisingly led by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall, Yates' projected top 10 looks like this:

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: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

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

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

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

10. New York Giants: Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

Other picks of significance include Miami pass-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 and the Arizona Cardinals trading up from No. 34 to No. 30 with the Miami Dolphins to take Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Perhaps the biggest surprise among Yates' top 10 picks is Ohio State pass-rusher Arvell Reese dropping to No. 5 overall and the New York Giants taking him despite already having Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and 2025 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter on the roster.

In order for that to happen, Yates had Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love leap up to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3, while the Tennessee Titans went with the player who is widely regarded as the best off-ball linebacker in the draft in Ohio State's Sonny Styles at No. 4.

If Reese does fall to No. 5, the Giants would perhaps be prime candidates to trade back and accumulate more picks even though they already own the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.

Bain's status figures to be among the most intriguing stories throughout Round 1 of the draft due to the wide range of potential outcomes.

Rueben Bain Jr. highlights

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While Bain was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the top defensive end in the nation last season after recording 9.5 sacks, he could possibly fall due to concerns about his arm length.

However, the Baltimore Ravens are a franchise always willing to bet on talent, and it is easy to envision them taking Bain at No. 14 if he is available.

One pick later, Yates has Sadiq as the first and only tight end to come off the board in the first round.

Sadiq is coming off a strong final season at Oregon, recording 51 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, plus he dominated the NFL Scouting Combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at 6'3" and 241 pounds.

Kenyon Sadiq highlights

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have a massive need at tight end after signing Cade Otton to a three-year, $30 million contract extension, but Sadiq would be a far more explosive option at the position given that Otton averages only 9.7 yards per catch for his career.

Perhaps the biggest question weighing on the minds of NFL draft observers is whether more than one quarterback will be taken in the first round.

In order for that to happen, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson will almost certainly have to be the one to work his way into the top 32 picks.

Ty Simpson highlights

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The Cardinals have a clear and obvious need for a quarterback of the future after parting ways with Kyler Murray, and Simpson could be that guy after he threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in his only season as the starter at Bama.

Given that Arizona picks early in the second round, it shouldn't be too difficult to move up slightly into the latter portion of the first round to nab a potential franchise quarterback in Simpson.