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The 2026 NFL Draft is finally upon us, putting an end to all of the rumors, speculation, and mock drafts as what is expected to be a busy first round is just hours away.
For the Chicago Bears, they sit at the No. 25 overall pick in the first round after winning the NFC North division for the first time since 2018, seeing their season end with a divisional round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will have their hands full, looking to make the most of their extra draft capital to reinvent their defense that saw several veterans depart in free agency.
Outside of the Bears, it is widely expected that the Las Vegas Raiders will find their new franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, who won a National Championship and Heisman Trophy this past year.
For one last time, here is our final mock draft for all 32 picks in the first round of Thursday's festivities, which includes surprises from beginning to end.
Las Vegas not only needs a quarterback, they need a winner, they need an identity of their franchise, and in today's NFL, they should go all in on Mendoza. Coming from a winning culture at Indiana that ended in a National Championship and Heisman Trophy winning season, Mendoza will also have veteran Kirk Cousins in the quarterbacks room to not only learn from, but to compete with as Vegas starts a new era.
The Jets cancelled their last visit with Bailey, maybe bringing some hesitation to the possibility of him being an option for him, but it could all be a smokescreen. Ohio State's Arvell Reese is the widely expected to be the pick here, but the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn can not go wrong with either of these premier linebacker/edge rusher prospects.
Even after signing Tyler Allgeier in free agency and having James Conner on the roster, the Arizona Cardinals should give real consideration to adding Love to their backfield. Skill for skill, Love may be the most talented player in this year's draft and with a franchise that is in a complete rebuild and in need of a new face of the franchise. If Reese is still there it would be quite the shock to see Arizona pass him up, but there should be serious thought to adding this dynamic playmaker.
New Titans head coach Robert Saleh would be beyond ecstatic if Reese fell into his lap at the fourth overall pick, but he's going to be in a good spot no matter which names fall to him at this spot. Here, Tennessee gets a dynamic pass rusher in Reese who can really set the tone for the Titans defense behind All-Pro Jeffery Simmons in a new-look Titans defense under Saleh.
The Giants have plenty of pieces across their roster, and after Sonny Styles had a massive performance at the Combine in February, his draft stock shot up the boards. The Giants released Bobby Okereke at linebacker this offseason and replaced him with another veteran in Tremaine Edmunds, but the addition of Styles to the position group would be a massive boost. New York has a great mix of pass rushers available to them, and would really solidify the back end of their defense with Styles.
No matter who the starting quarterback is for Cleveland this upcoming season, they have to have better protection up front. The Browns are rolling out a new-look offensive line under new head coach Todd Munken and they're going to have to keep their quarterback upright. Mauigoa is the best tackle in this year's class, and should be the first one off the board.
During the early stages of the offseason, it was easy to think that the Commanders would look to go defense in the first round, and they still could, but passing on Tate would be a head-scratcher. Last year the Commanders had Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, but the latter is gone after one season in Washington, so Jayden Daniels needs more weapons. Tate is the best wide receiver in this class and he'd be part of a wide receiver room headlined by former Buckeyes with he and McLaurin as the top weapons.
New Orleans has several areas in which they can go here, including a wide receiver, but after parting ways with veteran Cam Jordan, if Rueben Bain is available to them, they should add the powerful edge rusher very quickly. The Saints best pass rushers last year were Cam Jordan (gone), and Chase Young who was re-signed in the offseason. Bain would be an incredible pickup to help reinvent that defense.
The rich would get ridiculously richer with this selection as the Chiefs need to address their secondary, as their offense has plenty of weapons. Caleb Downs is one of the top talents in this draft, no matter the position, and although they signed Alohi Gilman this offseason, Downs is a talent that Kansas City can't afford to pass on.
After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for this pick, the Giants have been repeatedly been linked to Tyson, one of the most explosive wide receivers in this class. New York let Wan'Dale Robinson walk away in free agency and Malik Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL, but they also have veterans Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton on the roster. Pairing Nabers and Tyson together would give the Giants one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL.
Miami will have plenty of options with this pick, bringing in quarterback Malik Willis and head coach Jeff Hafley this offseason while trading away Jaylen Waddle to add another first round pick in this year's draft. Fano would help establish protection for Willis and if they're looking for a cornerstone piece, his ability to be a franchise left tackle is right there for the taking as his competition would be Patrick Paul, who allowed 4 sacks last year.
No team will be more enjoyable to watch than the Dallas Cowboys who could have their next young star at the cornerback position. His length and quickness make him a playmaking threat, and with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker in town, he'll need to find the players that fit his defense best to get the most out of him. Delane is very much the top corner on the board and will help Dallas move on from the memories of Trevon Diggs.
Not including the offseason situation surrounding Puka Nacua, the Rams need more help at wide receiver for Nacua and veteran Davante Adams. Los Angeles had been mentioned in trade rumors for veteran AJ Brown, which could've seen them move on from Adams in the process, clearly showing they're looking for change at the position. Lemon doesn't have the best size but with big threats on the outside, that wouldn't be a necessity and the rookie could work plenty out of the slot.
Baltimore allowed Isaiah Likely to depart in free agency, but they also brought in Declan Doyle to be their offensive coordinator, and he had plenty of success with Colston Loveland in Chicago last season. Sadiq is the top talent at tight end and with Mark Andrews only getting older, his athleticism and skillset are exactly what can help the Ravens passing game.
Mesidor is a great fit for the Buccaneers because as one of the older prospects in the class, he is a plug-and-play option from the very beginning. A veteran defensive coach like Todd Bowles will be able to build Mesidor's pass-rushing talents to another level, making him one of the more impactful pass rushers in this year's class, a spot that Tampa desperately needs to upgrade.
For all the conversation around his draft stock, Simpson is one of the most polarizing figures in the draft this year and the Jets would be quite foolish to pass on him. They've come out and said Geno Smith was their QB1, but Simpson's a gamer and brings a different persona and ability at the quarterback spot. He can make big-time throws, but is lacking in starting experience.
This would be quite the steal for Detroit if Freeling fell to them, considering the turnover they had on the offensive line this offseason. While he doesn't have the ideal experience, he'll have a great veteran to learn from in Penei Sewell on the right side, and Dan Campbell is the right coach to get the most out of a rookie thrown into the fire in such an important position.
There will never be a true immediate replacement for longtime Vikings captain and safety Harrison Smith, but Thieneman comes with plenty of collegiate experience between Purdue and Oregon. Talented enough to fit in any scheme, he'd be a great fit to help upgrade the Vikings defense under coordinator Brian Flores, especially in the run defense.
The top interior offensive lineman in this class, the Panthers have to focus on protecting their top asset in quarterback Bryce Young. Ioane is coming off the best year of his college career last season for Penn State, and really excels in pass protection, which is where Carolina needs to focus the most.
After addressing their secondary with their first pick in the round, Dallas comes back and gets a player to help fill the void left by the trade of Micah Parsons last season. Keldrick Faulk is a very powerful prospect who doesn't classify as just a pure pass rusher, but his strength and ability to get off blocks will help elevate him on the Dallas defense.
There are conflicting reports on veteran offensive tackle Broderick Jones suffering a setback in his recovery from a neck injury that required surgery this offseason. Even with questions at the quarterback position, Pittsburgh should grab Miller for offensive line insurance, as the collegiate veteran was a model of consistency during his time at Clemson.
Would Los Angeles make another run at a wide receiver early in the draft once again? Recently they've spent picks on Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, and Ladd McConkey, but none of them have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, especially on the outside. Cooper has great hands and would fit in well with the rebuilding of Los Angeles' offense under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Philadelphia needs to start preparing for a time without Lane Johnson in the near future, and Kadyn Proctor is a massive powerful unit that would get quite the mentorship on the Eagles roster. He's not super quick and lacks ideal arm size, so he could be moved to the inside and play guard, but either way, Philadelphia would get a big time talent for their notorious offensive line.
Cleveland uses their first pick on offensive line and their second on a playmaker on offense, taking the big-body Denzel Boston. While he's not one of the most elite receivers in this year's class, Boston has sure hands, good size, and the play style to make him a good outside threat for the Browns offense.
The Bears need to bring in a safety as quickly as possible in this year's draft, as they lost starters Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in the offseason, and brought in Coby Bryant to fill one of those voids. McNeil-Warren knows how to find the football and his ability to make big plays coming downhill shows the style of play that would make him an immediate fan favorite, as well as a great fit for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Buffalo needs to add an impactful player on their defense, especially at linebacker with Terrel Bernard having battled injuries over the past two seasons. Allen can play in the middle at linebacker and is great in run defense, which will be big for the Bills and the opponents they'll face in the AFC East division.
After the 49ers locked up Trent Williams, they solidified their left tackle issues and now they need to bring in more reinforcements at pass rusher. Howell has great hands and a big burst in his play that will make him a disruptor on passing downs.
Houston needs to build more talent in the middle of the defensive line to create even more opportunities for Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, and McDonald would create several problems for opponents going up against the Texans. McDonald is a premier run-stopper and while his pass-rush talents are limited, he wouldn't need to be with the talent they have on the ends of him.
Trading away Trent McDuffie for an additional first round pick gives Kansas City the opportunity to rebuild their secondary immediately. McCoy slides a bit in this mock due to questions around his health, but if he can prove to have fully recovered from a torn ACL, the Chiefs would get a steal at this selection. He's got ability to be a pure shutdown corner when playing at full strength.
Another team using their second first-round pick on a player that has some injury questions, Chris Bell would be a surprise pick here for Miami over other prospects such as KC Concepcion at the position. While for many teams he could be a WR2, the Dolphins could easily roll out the 6'2" receiver as their top option as a rookie, if he is back to full strength from his torn ACL.
New England needs to improve their talent in the trenches, on both sides of the football. Woods stands 6'3" and weighs 310 pounds, giving him ideal size at defensive tackle, and has a quick trigger to go from speed to power right off the line of scrimmage.
One more surprise pick in the first round, but the Seahawks may have one of the most questionable running back rooms in the NFL after losing Kenneth Walker III in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs. Coleman is a powerful dual-threat running back who also does well in pass protection, which could give the Seahawks an interest in making the surprising pick of the first round.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Final first round projections feature surprises
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For the Chicago Bears, they sit at the No. 25 overall pick in the first round after winning the NFC North division for the first time since 2018, seeing their season end with a divisional round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will have their hands full, looking to make the most of their extra draft capital to reinvent their defense that saw several veterans depart in free agency.
Outside of the Bears, it is widely expected that the Las Vegas Raiders will find their new franchise quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, who won a National Championship and Heisman Trophy this past year.
For one last time, here is our final mock draft for all 32 picks in the first round of Thursday's festivities, which includes surprises from beginning to end.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Las Vegas not only needs a quarterback, they need a winner, they need an identity of their franchise, and in today's NFL, they should go all in on Mendoza. Coming from a winning culture at Indiana that ended in a National Championship and Heisman Trophy winning season, Mendoza will also have veteran Kirk Cousins in the quarterbacks room to not only learn from, but to compete with as Vegas starts a new era.
2. New York Jets: David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
The Jets cancelled their last visit with Bailey, maybe bringing some hesitation to the possibility of him being an option for him, but it could all be a smokescreen. Ohio State's Arvell Reese is the widely expected to be the pick here, but the Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn can not go wrong with either of these premier linebacker/edge rusher prospects.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Even after signing Tyler Allgeier in free agency and having James Conner on the roster, the Arizona Cardinals should give real consideration to adding Love to their backfield. Skill for skill, Love may be the most talented player in this year's draft and with a franchise that is in a complete rebuild and in need of a new face of the franchise. If Reese is still there it would be quite the shock to see Arizona pass him up, but there should be serious thought to adding this dynamic playmaker.
4. Tennessee Titans: Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio St.
New Titans head coach Robert Saleh would be beyond ecstatic if Reese fell into his lap at the fourth overall pick, but he's going to be in a good spot no matter which names fall to him at this spot. Here, Tennessee gets a dynamic pass rusher in Reese who can really set the tone for the Titans defense behind All-Pro Jeffery Simmons in a new-look Titans defense under Saleh.
5. New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio St.
The Giants have plenty of pieces across their roster, and after Sonny Styles had a massive performance at the Combine in February, his draft stock shot up the boards. The Giants released Bobby Okereke at linebacker this offseason and replaced him with another veteran in Tremaine Edmunds, but the addition of Styles to the position group would be a massive boost. New York has a great mix of pass rushers available to them, and would really solidify the back end of their defense with Styles.
6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
No matter who the starting quarterback is for Cleveland this upcoming season, they have to have better protection up front. The Browns are rolling out a new-look offensive line under new head coach Todd Munken and they're going to have to keep their quarterback upright. Mauigoa is the best tackle in this year's class, and should be the first one off the board.
7. Washington Commanders: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio St.
During the early stages of the offseason, it was easy to think that the Commanders would look to go defense in the first round, and they still could, but passing on Tate would be a head-scratcher. Last year the Commanders had Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, but the latter is gone after one season in Washington, so Jayden Daniels needs more weapons. Tate is the best wide receiver in this class and he'd be part of a wide receiver room headlined by former Buckeyes with he and McLaurin as the top weapons.
8. New Orleans Saints: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (FL)
New Orleans has several areas in which they can go here, including a wide receiver, but after parting ways with veteran Cam Jordan, if Rueben Bain is available to them, they should add the powerful edge rusher very quickly. The Saints best pass rushers last year were Cam Jordan (gone), and Chase Young who was re-signed in the offseason. Bain would be an incredible pickup to help reinvent that defense.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio St.
The rich would get ridiculously richer with this selection as the Chiefs need to address their secondary, as their offense has plenty of weapons. Caleb Downs is one of the top talents in this draft, no matter the position, and although they signed Alohi Gilman this offseason, Downs is a talent that Kansas City can't afford to pass on.
10. New York Giants (via CIN): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona St.
After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for this pick, the Giants have been repeatedly been linked to Tyson, one of the most explosive wide receivers in this class. New York let Wan'Dale Robinson walk away in free agency and Malik Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL, but they also have veterans Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton on the roster. Pairing Nabers and Tyson together would give the Giants one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL.
11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
Miami will have plenty of options with this pick, bringing in quarterback Malik Willis and head coach Jeff Hafley this offseason while trading away Jaylen Waddle to add another first round pick in this year's draft. Fano would help establish protection for Willis and if they're looking for a cornerstone piece, his ability to be a franchise left tackle is right there for the taking as his competition would be Patrick Paul, who allowed 4 sacks last year.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
No team will be more enjoyable to watch than the Dallas Cowboys who could have their next young star at the cornerback position. His length and quickness make him a playmaking threat, and with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker in town, he'll need to find the players that fit his defense best to get the most out of him. Delane is very much the top corner on the board and will help Dallas move on from the memories of Trevon Diggs.
13. Los Angeles Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Not including the offseason situation surrounding Puka Nacua, the Rams need more help at wide receiver for Nacua and veteran Davante Adams. Los Angeles had been mentioned in trade rumors for veteran AJ Brown, which could've seen them move on from Adams in the process, clearly showing they're looking for change at the position. Lemon doesn't have the best size but with big threats on the outside, that wouldn't be a necessity and the rookie could work plenty out of the slot.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Baltimore allowed Isaiah Likely to depart in free agency, but they also brought in Declan Doyle to be their offensive coordinator, and he had plenty of success with Colston Loveland in Chicago last season. Sadiq is the top talent at tight end and with Mark Andrews only getting older, his athleticism and skillset are exactly what can help the Ravens passing game.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Mesidor is a great fit for the Buccaneers because as one of the older prospects in the class, he is a plug-and-play option from the very beginning. A veteran defensive coach like Todd Bowles will be able to build Mesidor's pass-rushing talents to another level, making him one of the more impactful pass rushers in this year's class, a spot that Tampa desperately needs to upgrade.
16. New York Jets: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
For all the conversation around his draft stock, Simpson is one of the most polarizing figures in the draft this year and the Jets would be quite foolish to pass on him. They've come out and said Geno Smith was their QB1, but Simpson's a gamer and brings a different persona and ability at the quarterback spot. He can make big-time throws, but is lacking in starting experience.
17. Detroit Lions: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
This would be quite the steal for Detroit if Freeling fell to them, considering the turnover they had on the offensive line this offseason. While he doesn't have the ideal experience, he'll have a great veteran to learn from in Penei Sewell on the right side, and Dan Campbell is the right coach to get the most out of a rookie thrown into the fire in such an important position.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
There will never be a true immediate replacement for longtime Vikings captain and safety Harrison Smith, but Thieneman comes with plenty of collegiate experience between Purdue and Oregon. Talented enough to fit in any scheme, he'd be a great fit to help upgrade the Vikings defense under coordinator Brian Flores, especially in the run defense.
19. Carolina Panthers: Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn St
The top interior offensive lineman in this class, the Panthers have to focus on protecting their top asset in quarterback Bryce Young. Ioane is coming off the best year of his college career last season for Penn State, and really excels in pass protection, which is where Carolina needs to focus the most.
20. Dallas Cowboys: Keldrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
After addressing their secondary with their first pick in the round, Dallas comes back and gets a player to help fill the void left by the trade of Micah Parsons last season. Keldrick Faulk is a very powerful prospect who doesn't classify as just a pure pass rusher, but his strength and ability to get off blocks will help elevate him on the Dallas defense.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
There are conflicting reports on veteran offensive tackle Broderick Jones suffering a setback in his recovery from a neck injury that required surgery this offseason. Even with questions at the quarterback position, Pittsburgh should grab Miller for offensive line insurance, as the collegiate veteran was a model of consistency during his time at Clemson.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana
Would Los Angeles make another run at a wide receiver early in the draft once again? Recently they've spent picks on Quentin Johnston, Tre Harris, and Ladd McConkey, but none of them have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, especially on the outside. Cooper has great hands and would fit in well with the rebuilding of Los Angeles' offense under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Philadelphia needs to start preparing for a time without Lane Johnson in the near future, and Kadyn Proctor is a massive powerful unit that would get quite the mentorship on the Eagles roster. He's not super quick and lacks ideal arm size, so he could be moved to the inside and play guard, but either way, Philadelphia would get a big time talent for their notorious offensive line.
24. Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Cleveland uses their first pick on offensive line and their second on a playmaker on offense, taking the big-body Denzel Boston. While he's not one of the most elite receivers in this year's class, Boston has sure hands, good size, and the play style to make him a good outside threat for the Browns offense.
25. Chicago Bears: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
The Bears need to bring in a safety as quickly as possible in this year's draft, as they lost starters Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard in the offseason, and brought in Coby Bryant to fill one of those voids. McNeil-Warren knows how to find the football and his ability to make big plays coming downhill shows the style of play that would make him an immediate fan favorite, as well as a great fit for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
Buffalo needs to add an impactful player on their defense, especially at linebacker with Terrel Bernard having battled injuries over the past two seasons. Allen can play in the middle at linebacker and is great in run defense, which will be big for the Bills and the opponents they'll face in the AFC East division.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
After the 49ers locked up Trent Williams, they solidified their left tackle issues and now they need to bring in more reinforcements at pass rusher. Howell has great hands and a big burst in his play that will make him a disruptor on passing downs.
28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio St.
Houston needs to build more talent in the middle of the defensive line to create even more opportunities for Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, and McDonald would create several problems for opponents going up against the Texans. McDonald is a premier run-stopper and while his pass-rush talents are limited, he wouldn't need to be with the talent they have on the ends of him.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Trading away Trent McDuffie for an additional first round pick gives Kansas City the opportunity to rebuild their secondary immediately. McCoy slides a bit in this mock due to questions around his health, but if he can prove to have fully recovered from a torn ACL, the Chiefs would get a steal at this selection. He's got ability to be a pure shutdown corner when playing at full strength.
30. Miami Dolphins: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Another team using their second first-round pick on a player that has some injury questions, Chris Bell would be a surprise pick here for Miami over other prospects such as KC Concepcion at the position. While for many teams he could be a WR2, the Dolphins could easily roll out the 6'2" receiver as their top option as a rookie, if he is back to full strength from his torn ACL.
31. New England Patriots: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
New England needs to improve their talent in the trenches, on both sides of the football. Woods stands 6'3" and weighs 310 pounds, giving him ideal size at defensive tackle, and has a quick trigger to go from speed to power right off the line of scrimmage.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
One more surprise pick in the first round, but the Seahawks may have one of the most questionable running back rooms in the NFL after losing Kenneth Walker III in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the playoffs. Coleman is a powerful dual-threat running back who also does well in pass protection, which could give the Seahawks an interest in making the surprising pick of the first round.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft: Final first round projections feature surprises
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