Matt MillerFeb 2, 2026, 06:30 AM ETCloseMatt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.Follow on XMultiple Authors
play0:46Jeremiyah Love hits a nasty spin on his way to a 56-yard TDJeremiyah Love spins past a defender, then breaks free for a 56-yard touchdown for Notre Dame.
play0:18Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
play0:33Jacob Rodriguez comes up with the INT for Texas TechBear Bachmeier is picked off by Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders the ball back.
Mel Kiper Jr.: Fernando Mendoza a lock for me at No. 1 overall (1:07)Mel Kiper Jr. joins “Get Up” and breaks down why the Raiders would benefit from drafting Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 pick. (1:07)
Jeremiyah Love hits a nasty spin on his way to a 56-yard TDJeremiyah Love spins past a defender, then breaks free for a 56-yard touchdown for Notre Dame.
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon SadiqDante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Mel Kiper Jr. examines whether Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a first-round pick after he declared for the draft.
Jacob Rodriguez comes up with the INT for Texas TechBear Bachmeier is picked off by Jacob Rodriguez to give the Red Raiders the ball back.
I just returned from last week’s Senior Bowl, where I was able to get an up-close-and-personal look at more than 100 prospects who are vying to be picked in the 2026 NFL draft, which starts April 23 in Pittsburgh. After getting to see these players in person and getting face time with NFL scouts and personnel people, I wanted to put together a new mock draft. And this one is two rounds, giving me a chance to really dive in and assess players I saw in Mobile, Alabama.
Let’s get to it. Here are my first- and second-round projections for April’s draft, including landing spots for two quarterbacks and the Senior Bowl’s top risers.
This is a very easy decision for the Raiders — draft the quarterback. The Geno Smith trade did not work out, and the 2026 class features only one passer with a first-round grade. My No. 4 overall player, Mendoza gives the Raiders a franchise-caliber quarterback with excellent poise, decision-making, accuracy and toughness both in and out of the pocket, which he showed in winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to the national championship.
He can start from day one, and the Raiders have the offensive infrastructure around him in tackle Kolton Miller, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. Mendoza’s experience and proven ability to elevate those around him should make him a lock here.
Reese split time at linebacker and edge rusher. He is built in the Micah Parsons/Abdul Carter mold, with elite speed and powerful hands off the edge and high potential once he settles in as a full-time edge rusher.
The Titans could go several directions: build up a supporting cast around second-year QB Cam Ward, address the offensive line or add to a defense that lacks threats outside of All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons. Defense is the smartest bet in this draft. After finishing in the middle of the pack with 42 sacks this season, the Titans hired defensive-minded Robert Saleh as coach and will likely use a base 4-3 defense where three-down defensive ends are needed.
Bain has the power at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds to stay on the field regardless of down or distance. With 9.5 sacks and an incredible 71 pressures last season, Bain showed the necessary determination to complement his athletic traits and be great on the edge. His shorter arm length might worry some teams, but Bain’s motor and speed-to-power skills make him worthy of being one of the top picks in this draft.
So although the Giants could consider a right tackle or defensive back here, pairing Tate with Nabers to give Dart more playmakers is the move.
The rebuild is ongoing in Cleveland, as the Browns have holes throughout the roster with no clear-cut answer at quarterback or left tackle. That leads to yet another “best player available” approach.
Fano has experience at both left and right tackle as a three-year starter who allowed only three sacks in his past 24 starts. He could be the replacement for free agent Jack Conklin at right tackle, but he offers the flexibility to start on the left side if Dawand Jones doesn’t return to form after suffering a torn hamstring and a torn lateral collateral ligament this season.
There might be criticism of a team using a top-10 pick on a safety, but this draft class lacks a ton of elite top-end talent at the premium positions. And Commanders coach Dan Quinn needs to tighten up a defense that allowed a league-worst 384.0 yards per game. Downs is a difference-maker in the mold of Derwin James Jr. or Kyle Hamilton who can dictate what an offense is able to do but also be a matchup problem in multiple alignments.
Jeremiyah Love hits a nasty spin on his way to a 56-yard TD
Jeremiyah Love spins past a defender, then breaks free for a 56-yard touchdown for Notre Dame.
The Chiefs find themselves in unfamiliar top-10 territory, but picking this high could give them the opportunity to quickly reload and get back to their usual place atop the AFC. Kansas City has needs at several positions, namely right tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. And it could go with the highest-ranked player at those positions — which would be Bailey, who tied for the FBS lead with 14.5 sacks last season.
Although he isn’t the big-bodied defensive end Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo prefers, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bailey has speed off the snap and the ability to chase down quarterbacks. The Chiefs had only 35 sacks as a team in 2025 (tied for 22nd in the NFL), so Bailey would give their pass rush a jolt with his agility and power.
A lot of mock drafts will have the Bengals drafting the best edge rusher available here with Trey Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati likely over. But the top three are off the board in this mock, which presents an interesting decision. The Bengals could try to bolster the interior of the defensive line, but drafting a cornerback with the skills to excel on the outside or in the slot might be more beneficial in the AFC North.
Delane was the best cornerback I studied in 2025, with feisty play at the line of scrimmage and excellent instincts in coverage. He doesn’t have elite measurables (6-foot, 190 pounds), but Delane’s timing and quickness on click-and-close plays stands out above the rest of the cornerback class.
Players who sit out a season due to a torn ACL don’t typically get picked this high, but McCoy is worthy of being an exception. He produced elite tape in 2024 and would have been my top-ranked cornerback in the 2025 draft had he been eligible. McCoy’s injury happened last January during training, so he should be ready this spring. The 6-foot, 193-pound press corner did enough in his four-interception 2024 campaign to convince teams he’s the real deal.
Several positions could be in play for the Dolphins at No. 11, including quarterback. But given the QB draft landscape, Miami’s new brass of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley could tempt Malik Willis to follow them from Green Bay instead. This pick could then be used to select a cornerback who is ideal for Hafley’s press scheme.
Frequent readers of mock drafts know that the Lions are often projected to use high picks on pass-rushing defensive linemen to draw attention away from Aidan Hutchinson. They’ve resisted that urge in recent drafts, picking run-stopping defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round last year. But this could be the time for the Lions to finally add a defensive end with the talent to draw attention from both interior linemen and offensive tackles.
Faulk has the versatility to play inside or outside at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds, and the power he generates would keep offensive lines honest. His two sacks last season were a disappointment after a seven-sack campaign in 2024, but Faulk has fans around the league who see him as an ideal hybrid defensive lineman.
Dallas needs an immediate-impact edge rusher, and Parker has the necessary traits and production. His elite run defense helps make him a fit in Dallas, especially with owner Jerry Jones’ stated desire for stout run defenders.
Yes, quarterback will absolutely be a discussion point here, but Pittsburgh has to learn from the Kenny Pickett selection in 2022 and not force a pick based on need.
Dante Moore throws 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
Dante Moore throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Sadiq
This could be the spot where the Browns consider a quarterback such as Ty Simpson or Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss (if his NCAA appeal is denied again), but the word we heard most often in Mobile was that the Browns will not force a quarterback pick in 2026.
Boston is a massive wide receiver prospect at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with an excellent ability to win at the catch point. If the Browns decide to roll with Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, they’d be comforted by the fact that Boston’s size and great play speed — plus his 20 touchdowns the past two seasons — help him win on the outside of the formation. He projects as a true WR1.
Marvin Harrison Jr.’s first two seasons haven’t quite gone to plan, and the Cardinals don’t have much at receiver behind him and Michael Wilson. Bernard has elite ability to make plays after the catch and is a dynamic player who is capable of lining up all over the alignment — including in the backfield, in the slot and at X receiver.
The Titans have one supersized offensive tackle from Alabama in JC Latham, so let’s give them another. Proctor’s tape at the end of the season was much better than at the beginning, and he has immense potential as a starting left tackle.