New NFL Mock Draft Trends for Risers and Fallers from Field Yates' Latest Picks

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love overtook Ohio State defensive standout Arvell Reese to be the No. 3 pick in the final 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN's Field Yates.

Love landed with the Arizona Cardinals, four spots higher than in Yates' two-round mock from March. Reese went fifth overall to the New York Giants:

Field Yates Final Mock Draft — Top 10

1. Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana
2. Jets: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
3. Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
4. Titans: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
5. Giants: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State
6. Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
7. Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8. Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
9. Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10. Giants: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

"Arizona has far greater needs on both sides of the ball, but Love is No. 2 on my board and late momentum has suggested the Cardinals will take him here if they don't trade back," Yates wrote. "Love can supercharge an offense with his elite ability as both a rusher and a receiver."

Jeremiyah Love highlights

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Love is also the second-ranked overall player on Bleacher Report's final big board. The uncertainty about how high he goes is less about his talent and more a reflection of how teams view the running back position more broadly.

Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling was a bigger riser in Thursday's mock. He went from 13th to sixth and was the first offensive lineman off the board.

Yates called the second-team All-SEC honoree "a personal favorite of mine."

"He checks all the boxes in terms of his physical tools: 6-foot-7, 315 pounds and 34¾-inch arms," the ESPN expert said. "I firmly believe he can develop into the best pass protector in this class."

Staying with the offensive line, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane leapfrogged Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa and went 10th to the New York Giants. That's 11 places higher than in Yates' March mock.

At the other end of the spectrum, Hurricanes edge-rusher Rueben Bain Jr. continued to slide. He wound up with the Baltimore Ravens at No. 14 after Yates projected him to go eighth a month ago.

The concerns about Bain's arm length are very real.

Yates remains confident the Cardinals will trade back into the first round in order to get Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The only change in Thursday's mock is that Arizona moved up to 30th rather than 26th.

"Arizona continues to be the most logical landing spot for Simpson, who is clearly the second-best QB prospect and — in my estimation — a worthy first-round pick," Yates said.

Taking Simpson in Round 1 would also mean having a fifth-year club option in his rookie contract. With quarterback salaries continuing to climb, having an extra season of team control would be a nice luxury.