Comparing Field Yates, Daniel Jeremiah and Mel Kiper's Newest NFL Mock Drafts Ahead of Round 1

The 2026 NFL draft has arrived, along with it the final projections for what will happen in the first round on Thursday night.

ESPN's Field Yates dropped his new mock that starts with some chalk before getting to a few surprises later in the draft.

Here are the top 10 projected picks in Yates' mock, as well as how it compares to recent mocks from Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah.

Team	Pick
1. Raiders	Fernando Mendoza, QB
2. Jets	David Bailey, EDGE
3. Cardinals	Jeremiyah Love, RB
4. Titans	Sonny Styles, LB
5. Giants	Arvell Reese, EDGE
6. Browns	Monroe Freeling, OT
7. Commanders	Carnell Tate, WR
8. Saints	Jordyn Tyson, WR
9. Chiefs	Caleb Downs, S
10. Giants	Olaivavega Ioane, OT

Just looking at the top for the three respective analysts, there are seven players who overlap: Fernando Mendoza, David Bailey, Jeremiyah Love, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese, Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson.

All three agree that Mendoza and Bailey will be selected first and second. Kiper and Jeremiah went with Reese at No. 3, though Jeremiah projected a trade up by the New Orleans Saints to get the Ohio State star.

There is also unanimous agreement from this group that the Washington Commanders will take a receiver at No. 7. Yates and Kiper gave them Jordyn Tyson, while Jeremiah went with Tate.

Bailey has become the consensus pick among analysts for the New York Jets at No. 2. ESPN's Adam Schefter said on Wednesday the Jets plan to take a pass-rusher, but it's unclear if they prefer Bailey or Reese at this point.

One thing Schefter did note is the feeling among scouts is that Bailey is the "most effective" pass-rusher in this year's class and there is a sense the Jets prefer him, but "they have been very intentional about not advertising their pick to anybody."

B/R's NFL scouting department broke from the consensus by projecting Reese to the Jets in its final mock, with Bailey going to the Cardinals at No. 3.

Looking outside the top 10, Yates broke from his fellow analysts in projecting the Los Angeles Rams to go with Spencer Fano to boost the offensive line at No. 13. Kiper and Jeremiah both projected the Rams to give Matthew Stafford another pass-catching weapon in USC wide receiver Makai Lemon.

One spot after the Rams is the Baltimore Ravens, who would hit a home run in their quest to upgrade the pass-rush in Yates' scenario with Rueben Bain Jr. falling into their laps.

Considering the Ravens were willing to give up two first-round picks for Maxx Crosby before that deal fell apart, coming away with Trey Hendrickson in free agency and Bain in the draft would be a solid rebound for the front office.