Mock Draft 2026 NFL: Consensus Picks & Predictions

Every year, NFL fans spend weeks obsessing over mock drafts, and 2026 is no different. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick, and nearly every major analyst agrees on who goes first. Here’s what the experts are predicting, where they diverge, and what to watch for on draft night.

Top Projected Pick: Las Vegas Raiders (ESPN) · Second Pick: New York Jets (ESPN) · Trades Forecasted: Four (NFL.com) · Mock Aggregator: 300+ analysts (NFL Mock Draft Database) · Recent Update: 5 days ago (ESPN, NFL.com)

NFL mock draft 2026 all 7 rounds

Most articles focus on the first round, but a handful of analysts publish full projections across all seven rounds. ESPN’s Jordan Reid and Matt Miller each released 7-round mocks covering all 257 picks, with detailed intel on team needs, prospect fits, and trade scenarios. The first-round picks are fairly consistent across analysts—Reid, Miller, Peter Schrager, and the NFL Nation reporters all land on the same top four teams. After Round 1, predictions diverge sharply, which is normal given the limited scouting intel available beyond early selections.

Round 1 consensus

The FantasyPros consensus board aggregates picks from 300+ analysts, and the first-round picture is remarkably stable. The Las Vegas Raiders are unanimous at No. 1, with the New York Jets at No. 2 split between an edge rusher from Texas Tech and a linebacker from Ohio State at roughly 50/50. The Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 lean toward an Ohio State linebacker at 41%, followed by a Notre Dame running back at 38%. At No. 4, the Tennessee Titans show 66% consensus on a Notre Dame running back. Moving down the board, the New York Giants at No. 5 favor an Ohio State linebacker at 40%, while the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9 have 67% consensus on a Miami edge rusher.

Matt Miller’s final mock projects Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback from Indiana, to the Raiders at No. 1 and David Bailey, an edge rusher from Texas Tech, to the Jets at No. 2. Miller predicts the Giants will select Jordyn Tyson, a wide receiver from Arizona State, at No. 5, with the Los Angeles Rams taking Makai Lemon, a wide receiver from USC, at No. 13 via Atlanta’s pick. At No. 26, Miller has the Buffalo Bills selecting K.C. Concepcion, a wide receiver from Texas A&M.

Key picks in later rounds

Matt Miller’s 7-round mock includes mid-round projections like Romello Height, an edge rusher from Texas Tech, going to the Raiders at pick 117 via Minnesota and Jacksonville. In Rounds 4–7, detailed predictions include Detroit Lions selecting Jimmy Rolder, a linebacker from Michigan, at pick 118. FantasyPros tracks consensus percentages for early-round picks, but after Round 3, analyst agreement drops significantly because fewer sources publish full mocks that deep.

What this means: The consensus view is reliable for the first 15–20 picks but becomes essentially a popularity contest beyond that. If you want to know what happens in Round 4 and beyond, look for analysts who publish complete 7-round mocks rather than relying on consensus aggregators.

Full mock examples

Jordan Reid’s 7-round mock on ESPN projects all 257 picks based on league intel and scouting. Miller’s version follows a similar structure, starting with the Raiders at No. 1 and ending with the Denver Broncos at No. 257. Both include team-by-team analysis explaining why each prospect fits the roster. Ben Solak also published a pick-by-pick breakdown on ESPN’s YouTube channel with detailed reasoning for each selection.

NFL Draft 2026 time

The 2026 NFL Draft runs across three days starting Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN, ABC, and the ESPN App. The event returns to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the first round on Thursday evening, Rounds 2–3 on Friday, and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday. The NFL expects to distribute all 257 picks across those three days.

Expected dates

Thursday, April 23 marks Round 1 beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Friday, April 24 covers Rounds 2 and 3, starting at 7 p.m. ET. Saturday, April 25 completes the draft with Rounds 4 through 7, beginning at noon ET. The final pick, No. 257, traditionally known as “Mr. Irrelevant,” goes to the Denver Broncos.

Location details

The draft takes place in Pittsburgh, with the main stage at a central venue. The city previously hosted the draft in 2022, and the league returned based on fan engagement and venue capabilities. Attendees can access rounds 1–3 in person, with lottery-based ticket distribution for the main stage.

Broadcast info

ESPN serves as the primary broadcast partner, with ABC carrying simulcast coverage. The ESPN App streams the draft for authenticated subscribers. Analysts from ESPN, NFL Network, and partner networks provide live analysis throughout each day, with pick-by-pick breakdowns and trade reaction coverage.

NFL mock draft 2026 round 2

Round 2 projections are harder to pin down than Round 1 because fewer analysts publish beyond the first round, and team needs shift as trades occur. FantasyPros consensus data shows more variation in Round 2 compared to Round 1, with most picks hovering between 30–50% agreement across analysts. The biggest swings come from teams that traded up or down, as each mock handles those scenarios differently.

Projected round 2 selections

Most Round 2 mocks focus on value picks—players who slipped from Round 1 due to positional depth, medical concerns, or team fit issues. The Indianapolis Colts at No. 35 (their original pick) and the New York Jets at No. 33 (via trade) generate significant interest because both teams have multiple needs. Analysts like Jordan Reid and Matt Miller include Round 2 rationale in their 7-round mocks, explaining which prospects represent best value versus best fit for each roster.

Value picks

A “value pick” in Round 2 typically means a player graded as a late first-rounder who falls due to positional scarcity or team-specific fit issues. For example, if several edge rushers come off the board early, a highly-ranked edge might slide to Round 2 where a team with a different need can grab him. Analysts track these dynamics in their full mocks, noting which prospects represent “steals” relative to their consensus big board.

Positional trends

The 2026 class shows depth at wide receiver, offensive line, and edge rusher, meaning teams with early picks at those positions might find better value in Round 2. Quarterback and cornerback depth appears thinner, so teams needing those positions may reach earlier or trade up. The FantasyPros consensus percentages for Round 2 picks reflect these positional trends, though individual mocks handle team needs differently.

Mock draft 2026 simulator

Several tools let fans create their own mock drafts by selecting prospects for each team. The NFL Mock Draft Database on NFL.com tracks 300+ analysts and lets users filter by round, position, and team, generating custom simulations based on aggregated data. Other simulators pull from different analyst pools or allow custom trade scenarios.

Best simulator tools

The NFL Mock Draft Database on NFL.com offers the most comprehensive analyst aggregation, with customizable filters for rounds, positions, and teams. FantasyPros provides consensus rankings alongside their mock draft builder, showing which picks have strong agreement versus high variation. The Ringer’s draft guide combines scouting reports with their mock simulator, giving context for each selection. ESPN’s draft page includes embedded mock tools tied to their analyst predictions.

How to use them

Most simulators work by having users select a team, then presenting available prospects in order. Users can accept the projected pick or override it with their own choice. After each selection, the simulator advances to the next team and shows updated team need indicators. Trade features let users simulate picks being exchanged between teams, adjusting the board accordingly.

Custom mock features

Advanced simulators allow users to set parameters like “best player available” versus “team fit priority,” which changes which prospects appear first for each pick. Some tools let users follow a specific team’s big board rather than the consensus board, reflecting how that team’s scouts might rank prospects differently. Trade simulators can model up to three-team deals, showing which picks and players change hands.

NFL draft 2026 picks

The 2026 NFL Draft includes 257 total picks distributed across 32 teams, with each franchise receiving a base allocation plus compensatory picks. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick, with the New York Jets at No. 2, Arizona Cardinals at No. 3, and Tennessee Titans at No. 4. The Denver Broncos hold the final pick, No. 257.

Top team predictions

ESPN analysts Jordan Reid, Matt Miller, and Peter Schrager all agree on the top four picks: Raiders at No. 1, Jets at No. 2, Cardinals at No. 3, and Titans at No. 4. The consistency at the top reflects strong consensus on team needs and prospect rankings. Beyond the top four, analyst agreement drops—NFL Nation reporters show significant variation on picks 5–15, reflecting different insider sources and team priorities.

Prospect-team fits

“Fit” in draft analysis considers roster gaps, coaching schemes, and organizational philosophy. The Raiders at No. 1 need a franchise quarterback, and Fernando Mendoza from Indiana is the consensus top option. The Jets at No. 2 could go several directions—defensive end, offensive line, or receiver—but Miller’s intel points to David Bailey, an edge rusher from Texas Tech. The Cardinals at No. 3 show split opinion between linebacker and running back depending on how their front office values position scarcity versus talent level.

Trade scenarios

Daniel Jeremiah’s final mock on NFL.com includes four projected trades: Cleveland moving up, Philadelphia trading for the No. 5 pick, New Orleans acquiring the No. 11 selection, and San Francisco securing an additional first-round pick. The Bengals reportedly traded the No. 10 pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II over the weekend pre-draft, per ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters. Trade predictions are inherently speculative—final deals often fall through or involve different partners than expected.

The 2026 NFL Draft arrives Thursday, April 23 in Pittsburgh, and the consensus is nearly complete at the top. The Las Vegas Raiders will almost certainly select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, and the New York Jets at No. 2 are leaning toward David Bailey. Beyond the top four selections, analyst agreement drops significantly, and trade scenarios introduce additional uncertainty. For fans following along, the key is understanding that mock drafts are informed guesses, not certainties—actual picks will differ from every projection released today.

Related reading: Jordan Reid’s 2026 NFL 7-Round Mock Draft · Matt Miller’s 2026 NFL 7-Round Mock Draft

Consensus projections increasingly favor the Raiders grabbing Mendoza at No. 1 overall in Raiders consensus mock draft, amid their long quarterback woes.

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