2026 NFL Mock Draft: Luke Easterling and Doug Farrar Project the First Round
The 2026 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday, April 23, at 8:00 p.m. ET, which means that there's precious little time for NFL teams to have it all put together. Top 30 visits are done. Evaluations are done. Now, team evaluators and coaches are putting the final bows on their processes with the information they have, and making their final arguments in the buildings for the prospects they prefer.
It's crunch time for Athlon draft expert Luke Easterling and NFL analyst Doug Farrar, as well. The guys have done all their tape work, reached out to those in the know regarding as many prospects as possible, and compiled their own rankings. Now, the pressure is on, as Luke and Doug are tasked to project the entire first round with alternating picks in this first-round mock draft.
Luke has the even-numbered picks, starting with the first overall selection, and Doug has the odds. How did this particular exercise turn out? Read on for the results!
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Luke: The need for a franchise quarterback is obvious for the Raiders, and while I wouldn't put Mendoza in the same category as the trio that went 1-2-3 in 2024, he's easily the top prospect in this year's QB class, and would be a massive upgrade for Las Vegas.
aLl ferNaNDo mENdoZA eVer dID wAS tHRoW oUt oF RPoS
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 31, 2026
Fernando Mendoza: *Reads the field and rips explosive, accurate passes without an RPO in sight* pic.twitter.com/lhUQ8e4vkk
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge/LB, Ohio State
Doug: To be clear, Reese is still developing as an edge-rusher – he played 58% of his snaps on the edge last season for the Buckeyes, with the rest as an off-ball linebacker or pass-rushing spinner from multiple gaps. Four of his eight sacks, and 17 of his 27 pressures, came from the edge. But you don't want Reese as just an edge guy – you (and the Jets) want him for the Micah Parsons-ish positional profile, and for the utterly ridiculous speed off the snap he shows no matter where he's aligned.
Arvell Reese from linebacker depth. Total chaos for an offense. pic.twitter.com/gN9XPKaOD6
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
3. Arizona Cardinals: Caleb Downs, DB, Ohio State
Luke: The Cards are still trying to rebuild, and if they can't trade down from this spot, taking the best player in the entire draft is the way to go. Downs went wire-to-wire at the No. 1 spot on my board from last summer to now, and he's a cornerstone player who can define the next generation for Arizona's defense.
Caleb Downs' scouting report is pretty simple. He does everything, and everything he does is at a ridiculously high level.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 12, 2025
Next. pic.twitter.com/DmwFWzEaVL
4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Doug: Can a running back really define an offense these days? Ask Bijan Robinson or Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry. The answer is an emphatic "yes" under the right conditions, and the right conditions include a back who brings a complete skill set to the table. Love, who is basically a bigger Jahmyr Gibbs with Le'Veon Bell's running back route tree, is exactly that kind of back. Throw "positional value" out the window here.
Luke: John Harbaugh needs to set the tone for his defense, and Styles is the kind of guy you build a culture around on that side of the ball. He's got a rare combination of size and athleticism, and can be the type of difference-maker that Fred Warner has been for the 49ers.
Sonny Styles told me this week that he wasn't really used as an edge-rusher in 2025, but if you go back to the 2024 tape... well, this is a skill I would weaponize were I in charge of his NFL defense. pic.twitter.com/tKaNTPqa1g
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 27, 2026
6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
Doug: The Browns need receiver help - like, a lot - but they can take care of that later. They also need a better left tackle to help protect whoever's playing quarterback for Todd Monken, and Monroe Freeling has All-Pro tape at his best. Freeling was a starter at Georgia for less than two seasons, so there are still some fundamental things to refine, but the tools are off the charts here, and Cleveland hasn't had a tackle you could say that about since the legendary Joe Thomas.
Georgia LT Monroe Freeling on the move.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 25, 2026
Yeah, I'll deal with the technical fixes. Gimme this guy. pic.twitter.com/V2qteynY0t
7. Washington Commanders: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami (FL)
Luke: I'm tempted by the corners who are still on the board here, but Bain is the No. 4 overall player in my rankings, so I lean in that direction. Yes, Washington signed multiple edge rushers in free agency, but neither of them bring the kind of power and three-down ability that Bain does.
The thing about Rueben Bain Jr. having short arms is that it doesn't matter unless you set your reach advantage to stop him. And you'd better do it with leverage. If he gets inside/under your reach, he will kill your face. He's Joe Frazier on the football field. pic.twitter.com/8b8HR8ruBD
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 14, 2026
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Doug: Now that the Saints appear to have their quarterback of the future in Tyler Shough, they need a receiver corps that's more than Chris Olave and the Pips. Tate is not seen by everyone as a No. 1 receiver, but I think he's undervalued in that department because he was doing his thing next to Jeremiah Smith last season. Last season, Kellen Moore's Saints ran the NFL's highest rate of 11 personnel (one back, one tight end, three receivers) at 74%, and they did without the kind of receiver that Tate can be. They need a guy like this.
50/50 balls?
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
Carnell Tate is here to change the math. pic.twitter.com/i0yPUZ5tpx
9. Kansas City Chiefs: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech
Luke: LSU CB Mansoor Delane is one spot higher on my board, but the Chiefs have proven that they can find and develop talent at corner in the later rounds. Instead, they land an explosive and productive edge rusher in Bailey, who racked up 14.5 sacks for the Red Raiders last season.
David Bailey last season on quarterback drops of 0-3 steps: Three solo sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and nine quarterback hurries.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
He's pretty fast, really. pic.twitter.com/eWQI1eSDRR
10. New York Giants (from Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Doug: Yes, the Giants need interior defensive line help now that there's a Dexter Lawrence-sized crater there, but the 10th overall pick is a bit too rich for anybody in this DI class. Instead, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh give defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson the best cornerback in the 2026 group in Mansoor Delane. It's a big upgrade for an outside CB rotation that currently has Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II up top. Delane can do pretty much anything you want a pass defender to do, and he'll be pro-ready from Day 1.
Mansoor Delane is the best press coverage enforcer in this class, and especially when in man coverage, he'll stick to you all the way through the rep to the point where you can't breathe, much less get free. CB1. pic.twitter.com/YUilzRPnAo
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
11. Miami Dolphins: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Luke: Few teams have a bigger rebuild ahead of them than the Dolphins, but they're loaded with picks in the first four rounds this year, so they can add a ton of young talent quickly. They should focus on the trenches first, and Ioane is a top-10 talent with immediate All-Pro potential at guard.
Olaivavega Ioane is probably the best puller in this class, regardless of position, and he just makes everything look easy. Another plug-and-play guy from the start. pic.twitter.com/drLSTxZwQU
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
12. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Doug: As it stands now, new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has Shavon Revel Jr. and Cobie Durant as his starting outside cornerbacks, with DaRon Bland in the slot. With all due respect to those gentlemen, more is needed. Jermod McCoy lost his entire 2025 season to a torn ACL, but his 2024 tape was the best in the NCAA, and he showed at Tennessee's recent pro day that he's all the way back. The need for a real CB1 here is graphic, and McCoy fills it right away.
Jermod McCoy missed the 2025 season with a torn ACL, but when you go back to the 2024 season and watch this guy trail receivers all over the field with legit "match feet" -- I go where you go, and my feet lead the way -- it's easy to see why he's still a top-10 prospect. pic.twitter.com/TooSTtfwJx
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)
Luke: Helping Matthew Stafford needs to be the Rams' top priority as long as he's under center, and while that could mean a pass-catcher here, a powerful blocker like Mauigoa would also make sense. He could stay at right tackle, or slide inside and start immediately at guard.
Ideally, Francis Mauigoa will find himself in the kind of NFL offense where every snap is a street fight. Because that's how he plays the game. pic.twitter.com/KZNgRm9ZC0
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
14. Baltimore Ravens: Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
Doug: Fano is perhaps the cleanest offensive tackle prospect in this class, but he also has the ability to play all five positions along the line, and one reason I'm mocking him to the Ravens is the number of people in and around the league who believe that he could be a top-tier center over time. This is obviously valuable to the franchise after losing Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency.
Utah RT Spencer Fano is a real technician. I love how he just Velcroes himself to defenders when aiming at the second level, and in extended pass pro reps. He's more NFL-ready than most college tackles you'll see. pic.twitter.com/H3kAzQ0cLc
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) May 14, 2025
15. Los Angeles Chargers (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Doug: When the Ravens didn't select Sadiq (which could easily happen), head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz made the call to trade up with the Buccaneers for the Oregon star, who probably won't be there at 22. The Chargers do have Oronde Gadsden and Charlie Kolar as decent TE options now, but with Sadiq on board, Mike McDaniel's offense could easily run through Sadiq.
The interesting thing about Kenyon Sadiq's ridiculous 10/40 times is that you didn't see them on tape as much as you might expect. He was more of a ball-tracker and intermediate guy getting things done. Makes me think that his NFL team will have vertical plans for him. pic.twitter.com/IkqdCzqRkS
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 1, 2026
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Doug: It's not a great year to need a quarterback in the draft, which is one reason the Jets signed Geno Smith to a one-year deal to try and get them through. Smith will need more from his receiver corps than just Garrett Wilson and a bunch of guys, and with Lemon on board, that would certainly be the case. Lemon can scald a defense from all levels of the field, and putting him and Wilson on the same side of the formation in route combinations could be lethal.
Makai Lemon on posts and overs.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
This is not going to go well for your defense. pic.twitter.com/DALGj0MmZq
17. Detroit Lions: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Luke: The Lions need a new starter at left tackle after moving on from Taylor Decker, and Lomu seems to be flying under the radar a bit. He's got all the physical traits to develop into a quality starter, even if it might take a little time and patience to smooth out his technique.
Spencer Fano is the Utah OT you take if you want certainty. Caleb Lomu is the Utah OT if you're willing to bet on serious athletic potential when there's already a lot of fundamentals to like. pic.twitter.com/DYRHfcZY0Q
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 1, 2026
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, DB, Oregon
Doug: The Harrison Smith era is over in Minnesota, and with the possible future Hall of Famer moving on after 14 seasons, defensive coordinator Brian Flores needs a new defender who can not only patrol the deep third, but can also play multiple roles in Flores' crazy-quilt post-snap safety switches. Of the do-it-all safeties in this class, Thieneman may well be the best in deep-third coverage, but he can also hold up against the run, and he provides extra value as a blitzer.
Oregon's Dillon Thieneman: Smooth backpedal, click and close, covers a lot of ground in a big hurry. He can nearly get to plays he has no business almost breaking up. pic.twitter.com/pt4YEbGbbv
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 19, 2026
19. Carolina Panthers: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, DB, Toledo
Luke: A right tackle or wide receiver would make sense here, but McNeil-Warren is the highest-ranked player left on my board (No. 14 overall), and this defense could use the hard-hitting presence and big-play ability he brings to the table. He can line up all over the defense, and he's just scratching the surface of his potential.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren does everything you want a safety to do, and he does it all at an insanely high level. If you want the next do-it-all DB, the line starts here. Forget the small-school qualifiers. pic.twitter.com/pTFq9Hfffb
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 24, 2026
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Doug: It's entirely possible that Sonny Styles won't be the only linebacker taken in the first round of this draft. Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez was the green dot guy and the epicenter of Texas Tech's alarmingly good 2025 defense, which ranked third in the country in points allowed. At 6-foot-1 and 231 pounds, Rodriguez is athletic enough to take care of anything in front of him, and having watched tape with him recently, I can tell you that few defenders in this class see things as well as he does. He and Jermod McCoy would be quite the first-round twofer for Dallas' ailing defense.
Luke: Concerns about durability and his injury history could leave Tyson on the board longer than expected, but if he gets to the Steelers here, they could bank on his lofty potential as a three-level target with smooth route-running skills and big-play ability after the catch.
Jordyn Tyson has the size and playing personality to win all contested situations, but what really stands out is the understanding of nuance. He has the technique together to sink into zones, and to get free from tight coverage. pic.twitter.com/rM03AYv1va
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) December 12, 2025
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Los Angeles Chargers): Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
Luke: I'm a big fan of Jacob Rodriguez and Malachi Lawrence here, but if I stay true to my board, Johnson is the highest-ranked player available (No. 16 overall). Jamel Dean is gone, and outside of rookie Jacob Parrish in the slot, they have more questions than answers at corner. Johnson could quickly leapfrog Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison to the top of the depth chart.
San Diego State CB Chris Johnson was one of the NCAA's cheat code guys in off coverage last season. Seven catches on 19 targets for 4.6 yards per attempt, and nearly more picks than catches. pic.twitter.com/LEOYhUPEj3
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 20, 2026
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
Luke: This is one of my favorite fits in the entire draft. The Eagles need to find a long-term successor for Lane Johnson at right tackle, and Iheanachor has sky-high potential. He didn't play football until college, but all the building blocks are there for him to develop into a dominant player, and learning behind a future Hall of Famer wouldn't hurt.
Yes, recent Mike Vrabel blocking sled Max Iheanachor is still raw, but the movement skills give him answers that more "static" blockers simply don't have. You bet on the upside here. pic.twitter.com/eAcLXnWWQP
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 1, 2026
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Doug: When Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Isaiah Bond are your top three receivers, your passing game isn't going to set any records. That's the issue new head coach and offensive shot-caller Todd Monken has, and the issue could be solved quite easily with the addition of KC Concepcion. The Texas A&M alum is seen by some as a gadget receiver, but that viewpoint ignores what a complete receiver he really is. and he would bring the Browns an explosive play potential they simply don't have right now.
KC Concepcion has an innate understanding of how to get open in space... and then, it's party time. pic.twitter.com/iaNY7e4Xvy
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
25. Chicago Bears: Malachi Lawrence, Edge, UCF
Luke: One of the most underrated players in the entire draft, Lawrence has a ton of juice as a pass rusher off the edge, and that's exactly what the Bears need across from Montez Sweat. He's not a complete player just yet in terms of his run defense, but Lawrence knows how to get to the quarterback.
UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence's 10-40 times show up when he's chasing down quarterbacks to accentuate his pass-rush moves, Escaping Lawrence in the pocket is only a temporary safety point. pic.twitter.com/ILrALWgvxh
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 1, 2026
26. Buffalo Bills: Kayden McDonald, DI, Ohio State
Doug: Bills fans would probably be happy if their team took a defensive player at any of about five different positions in the first round, but I'm going with an unsexy one - the run-stopping interior defensive lineman who frees everybody else up to do their thing. The 6-foot-2. 325-pound McDonald is the best pure run defender in this class, and he has untapped pass-rush potential. Buffalo's defense has been light up front for years, and it's time for that to change.
Ohio State DI Kayden McDonald is rightly regarded as a great run defender, but I think we're sleeping on his pass-rush potential. If he's attacking as opposed to two-gapping, there's some stuff there. pic.twitter.com/W11P0EgPIc
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 1, 2026
27. San Francisco 49ers: Kadyn Proctor, OT. Alabama
Luke: Another ideal fit for a team looking for a replacement for a future Hall of Famer at offensive tackle, Proctor's rare physical traits and limitless upside would be the perfect succession plan behind Trent Williams on the left side.
Kadyn Proctor isn't technique-perfect (probably never will be), but he's improved enough tp nearly double his pass-blocking reps in 2025 with minimal trouble. And you always love a dude who can vaporize defenders by being 12 feet tall and weighing 600 pounds. pic.twitter.com/OdRdgZUW8L
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
28. Houston Texans: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Doug: The Texans have a Super Bowl-ready defense, and an offense they're still trying to put together. One thing that would really help C.J. Stroud is to have another reliable receiver to pair with Nico Collins, and to take over if Collins' recent injury history flares up again. Omar Cooper Jr. proved with several clutch catches in 2025 (hello, Penn State) that he is a set-it-and-forget it guy in any NFL passing game.
Is Omar Cooper Jr. a first-round prospect despite the fact that he's mostly a slot receiver? Go review the way NFL passing games work these days, and the answer is a definitive "Yes." pic.twitter.com/CSjW29PhJD
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Luke: I'm tempted to take a right tackle here (Clemson's Blake Miller), but with Boston still on the board, I can't resist the opportunity to hand Patrick Mahomes a big, physical target with impressive athleticism and after-the-catch ability for his size. He's a dominant red-zone threat who wins above the rim.
Denzel Boston doing things. pic.twitter.com/RHLkYPDD83
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 29, 2026
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Doug: The Dolphins need just about everything as they stumble through their cap-correction (let's not call it a tank) season, and cornerback is certainly near the top of the list, unless you have irrational amounts of belief in Darrell Baker Jr. and the delightfully named Storm Duck. Hood would be a major upgrade, and he proved that after he transferred from Colorado and became Tennessee's unexpected CB1 following Jermod McCoy's injury. The Dolphins need this kind of aggressive tone-setter.
Colton Hood plays every snap like the ball is his, and he would like to know where on Earth the receiver gets the temerity to think that it's his. Also, maybe don't run a screen to his side -- he is actively interested in tackling. pic.twitter.com/IwUk0JRbE9
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
31. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
Luke: Mike Vrabel's defense needs an explosive edge rusher who can get to the quarterback often, and that's exactly what Howell did for the Aggies. Forget the short arms; this dude can win consistently in any way he wants, with speed, power, and a deep bag of initial moves and counters.
Cashius Howell's ripping combination of Gumby-like bend around the arc, and speed into his inside counters, makes him absolute hell for tackles to deal with. I would expect similar results in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/3dFjHHgxA9
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 17, 2026
32. Seattle Seahawks: Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech
Doug: The reigning champs need help at running back and edge-rusher based on their free-agency losses, and they took North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round last year, so what's the thought process here? Well, while Zabel locked things down on the left side in 2025, right guard is still a rather large issue, and this is a team that wants to run it back. Rutledge, who showed first-round talent in 2025 as a move guard, would solidify Seattle's line, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who comes from the 49ers, knows what right guard Dominick Puni has done for Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Georgia Tech RG Keylan Rutledge wrecking dudes at the second level. This is the range with edge you want. pic.twitter.com/KKnzsCiSln
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 2, 2026
Related: 2026 NFL Draft Rankings: Athlon Sports' Top 300 Big Board
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 6:55 AM.