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2026 NFL Draft: ESPN unveils new 2-round mock draft following NFL Combine rocked by trades

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Nick Kosko | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 2:00 PM ET

The 2026 NFL Draft is a little more than a month away and ESPN’s Jordan Reid unveiled his latest mock draft following the NFL Scouting Combine. Some trades highlighted some intriguing movement in the latest projections.

This draft isn’t as quarterback-heavy as the last couple of years, but there is talent all over the place! Just take a look at these first two rounds in this mock from Reid!

We will dive in, starting with the first overall pick. It should come as no surprise to folks these days.

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB – Indiana

The Raiders get their man in Mendoza to open the NFL Draft. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion likely has black and silver gear for April!

He threw an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns this year and thrived in Curt Cignetti’s system. Yes, he had a loaded roster and won’t have that in Las Vegas right away. But Klink Kubiak should be able to cook something up for Mendoza.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB/EDGE – Ohio State

The Jets go defense here, naturally, with Aaron Glenn at the helm. There’s a joke about Glenn falling asleep and not seeing Reese in the NFL Draft in here somewhere. All kidding aside, Glenn can’t miss with Reese!

This past season, Reese logged 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections. He was also named an All-American.

3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, EDGE – Texas Tech

The Cardinals need a lot in their rebuild under Mike LaFleur. That could include a new QB, but the NFL Draft has more than just one position!

Bailey led the FBS in sacks last year with 14.5 after transferring in from Stanford. He’ll be plugged in right away.

4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE – Miami

Robert Saleh gets a second crack at head coach and will have a chance to mold Bain into a premier pass rusher. He was at the college level and he could be a star with the Titans, as long as they pick him in the NFL Draft!

Bain has a strength that can’t be taught and very quick hands. He won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award this past season.

5. New York Giants Sonny Styles, LB – Ohio State

The Giants have numerous options here, such as offensive tackle Spencer Fano. But Reid has them selecting Styles in the NFL Draft to add to a young and emerging defense.

This past year, Styles finished with 82 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, three pass deflections and one forced fumble. He had 244 career tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

6. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT – Georgia

Freeling shot up NFL Draft boards following the NFL Scouting Combine. Reid noted his immense size of 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. He excels in space and on the move, and could start right away.

The Browns need protection up front for Shedeur Sanders or whoever else at quarterback. We know the defense has elite pieces, so you might as well add to the offense!

7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S – Ohio State

The Commanders go with Downs in the NFL Draft, per Reid. He’s a can’t-miss prospect and for a defense that needs to get younger, this is definitely the pick.

He can cover, he can tackle and he can nab the football out of the air. A freshman All-American at Alabama, Downs got even better over the last two years and won a title with the Buckeyes.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB – Notre Dame

The Saints could go WR here, such as USC’s Makai Lemon. But Reid keeps it in the backfield with New Orleans’ first NFL Draft selection.

Love was a star at Notre Dame and one of the best running backs in college football over the last few years. Last year, he ran for 1,372 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6.9 yards per carry. Love has 40 total touchdowns the last two seasons.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Carnell Tate, WR – Ohio State

Since Love is off the board, the Chiefs might as well give Patrick Mahomes a new weapon for 2026. A young and exciting one like Tate, arguably the best WR in the NFL Draft this year.

In 2025, Tate put up 51 catches, 875 yards, nine touchdowns and 17.2 yards per catch. He had 121 catches, 1,872 yards, 14 touchdowns and 15.5 yards per catch in his college career.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB – LSU

Deland is the top cornerback in the NFL Draft for Reid this year. The Bengals pretty much need everything on defense, so they can’t go wrong here.

Delane spent three years at Virginia Tech before his transfer to LSU. He has eight career interceptions and 191 total tackles.

2026 NFL Draft: ESPN mock from Jordan Reid

11. Miami Dolphins: Francis Mauigoa, OT – Miami
12. New York Jets: Makai Lemon, WR – USC (Proposed trade with Dallas)
“New York sends Dallas the first-rounder it acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade (No. 16), a fourth-rounder and a seventh-round selection to move up to the No. 12 pick.”

13. Los Angeles Rams: Kenyon Sadiq, TE – Oregon
14. Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane, G – Penn State
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, EDGE – Auburn
16. Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S – Oregon
17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE – Miami
18. Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks, DT – Florida
19. Carolina Panthers: Spencer Fano, OT – Utah
20. Dallas Cowboys: Avieon Terrell, CB – Clemson
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordyn Tyson, WR – Arizona State
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kadyn Proctor, OT – Alabama
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Caleb Lomu, OT – Utah
24. Cleveland Browns: Omar Cooper Jr., WR – Indiana
25. Chicago Bears: Peter Woods, DT – Clemson
26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB – Georgia
27. San Francisco 49ers: KC Concepcion, WR – Texas A&M
28. Arizona Cardinals: Ty Simpson, QB – Alabama (Proposed trade with Houston)
“The Texans would trade out of the back end of the first round, receiving the Cardinals’ second- (No. 34) and fourth-round picks while sending Arizona their first-round pick (No. 28).”

29. Los Angeles Rams: Jermod McCoy, CB – Tennessee
30. Denver Broncos: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S – Toledo
31. New England Patriots: Cashius Howell, EDGE – Texas A&M
32. Seattle Seahawks: Colton Hood, CB – Tennessee

2026 NFL Draft: ESPN’s Round 2 mock from Jordan Reid

33. New York Jets: Brandon Cisse, CB – South Carolina
34. Houston Texans: Blake Miller, OT – Clemson
35. Tennessee Titans: Denzel Boston, WR – Washington
36. Las Vegas Raiders: Lee Hunter, DT – Texas Tech
37. New York Giants: Max Iheanachor, OT – Arizona State
38. Houston Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, G – Oregon
39. Cleveland Browns: Chase Bisontis, G – Texas A&M
40. Kansas City Chiefs: TJ Parker, EDGE – Clemson
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Christen Miller, DT – Georgia
42. New Orleans Saints: Germie Bernard, WR – Alabama
43. Miami Dolphins: Chris Johnson, CB – San Diego State
44. New York Jets: AJ Haulcy, S – LSU
45. Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young, EDGE – Missouri
46. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Anthony Hill Jr., LB – Texas
47. Indianapolis Colts: Gabe Jacas, EDGE – Illinois
48. Atlanta Falcons: Kayden McDonald, DT – Ohio State
49. Minnesota Vikings: Jacob Rodriguez, LB – Texas Tech
50. Detroit Lions: Jadarian Price, RB – Notre Dame
51. Carolina Panthers: R Mason Thomas, EDGE – Oklahoma
52. Green Bay Packers: Davison Igbinosun, CB – Ohio State
53. Pittsburgh Steelers: Keionte Scott, CB – Miami
54. Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers, TE – Vanderbilt
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Moore, EDGE – Michigan
56. Jacksonville Jaguars: Julian Neal, CB – Arkansas
57. Chicago Bears: Zakee Wheatley, S – Penn State
58. San Francisco 49ers: Caleb Tiernan, OT – Northwestern
59. Houston Texans: Gracen Halton, DT – Oklahoma
60. Buffalo Bills: Chris Brazzell II, WR – Tennessee
61. Los Angeles Rams: D’Angelo Ponds, CB – Indiana
62. Denver Broncos: Malachi Fields, WR – Notre Dame
63. New England Patriots: Skyler Bell, WR – UConn
64. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Washington Jr., RB – Arkansas