2026 NFL mock draft: Mel Kiper's pick predictions for Round 1 - ESPN
Where will national title game standouts Fernando Mendoza and Akheem Mesidor land in Round 1? And could we really see six WRs in the opening 32 picks?
www.espn.comMel Kiper Jr., ESPN's longtime NFL draft analyst, recently released updated mock drafts for the 2026 NFL Draft, reflecting changes from free agency and the scouting combine. His latest projections, from mid-March 2026, keep Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders while reshuffling the top 10 due to team needs.[1][2][4]
Key Top-10 Picks
Kiper's post-free agency mock includes these Round 1 selections:[2]
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana | |
| 2 | New York Jets | Bailey (Texas) | Unknown | Texas | |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Ar Reese | Unknown | Ohio | |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame | |
| 5 | New York Giants | Downs | Unknown | Ohio | |
| 6 | Cleveland Browns | Monroeeling | Unknown | Georgia | |
| 7 | Washington | ny Styles | LB | State | |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | ell Tate | WR | State | |
| 9 | Kansas City Chiefs | uben Bain | EDGE | Miami | |
| 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU | [2] |
Recent Developments
In early April 2026, Kiper participated in an ESPN "Mega Mock" where he built a dream team, prioritizing Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love early and selecting Miami QB Carson Beck last. Comparisons with other analysts like Charles Davis show alignment on top picks like Mendoza and Reese. The 2026 NFL Draft is set for late April in Pittsburgh.[3][6][2]