Field YatesMar 24, 2026, 06:15 AM ETCloseField Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs.Follow on XMultiple Authors
play0:17Jordyn Tyson gives Arizona State a two-score leadArizona State goes up 16-7 on Jordyn Tyson’s short-touchdown reception.
play0:58R Mason Thomas goes 71 yards on pick-six for OUR Mason Thomas picks up Joey Aguilar’s fumble and goes 71 yards to the end zone for an Oklahoma pick-six vs. Tennessee.
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.
Jordyn Tyson gives Arizona State a two-score leadArizona State goes up 16-7 on Jordyn Tyson’s short-touchdown reception.
R Mason Thomas goes 71 yards on pick-six for OUR Mason Thomas picks up Joey Aguilar’s fumble and goes 71 yards to the end zone for an Oklahoma pick-six vs. Tennessee.
R Mason Thomas picks up Joey Aguilar’s fumble and goes 71 yards to the end zone for an Oklahoma pick-six vs. Tennessee.
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.
26. Arizona Cardinals (via proposed trade with BUF)
In the past month since I did my last mock draft, we’ve had the NFL combine, opening of free agency and a couple of blockbuster trades. Most recently, the Broncos traded their first-round pick in a package to the Dolphins for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
We still have a long road ahead, with pro days just starting up around the country. But for now, it’s safe to make some predictions for the first two rounds based on team needs, my personal rankings and what I’m hearing from people around the league. That even allows us to get into what the Broncos, Colts, Falcons, Jaguars and Packers might do early — all five teams traded away their first-round selections but will pick in Round 2.
Let’s begin with the Raiders at No. 1. And for more on these predictions, check out our new show “NFL Draft Daily” at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The draft starts at No. 2, as this pick has been etched in stone basically since the order was decided. Mendoza’s Heisman-winning season displayed superior accuracy, arm strength, ability to scan the field, clutch production and good in-pocket mobility.
The Raiders worked hard in free agency to beef up the roster around Mendoza, specifically landing the best available offensive lineman in center Tyler Linderbaum. One area Mendoza will need to work on is being under center. He did that just 3% of the time in 2025; NFL teams played under center on 34.9% of snaps in 2025.
A busy free agency period has the Jets’ defense in an improved place compared to the end of last season, with the team adding linebacker Demario Davis and two edge rushers (Kingsley Enagbare and Joseph Ossai). But it should still draft for value at this spot.
Bailey happens to thread the needle of taking a player with a grade commensurate with the No. 2 pick and at an area the team must continue to invest in. His 14.5 sacks in 2025 were tied for the most in the FBS, as he plays with a lightning quick first step and aggressive approach to pass rushing. No Jets player had over eight sacks last season.
After releasing Kyler Murray, Arizona’s offseason has signaled that drafting a quarterback is a logical outcome. But the Cardinals are not going to reach for one here. Like the Jets, the Cardinals can add to their recent front-seven investments, which include edge rusher Josh Sweat from last free agency.
Reese is the most unique defensive player in this class, playing a hybrid position at Ohio State as an off-ball linebacker and pass rusher. He has massive length at 6-foot-4, explosive athletic traits and major upside if the Cardinals keep him at edge rusher. Reese said at the combine that he hasn’t “scratched the surface” as a pass rusher. He generated 19 pressures on a mere 97 pass-rush reps in 2025.
The Titans don’t have a glaring need at pass rush after trading for Jermaine Johnson and signing John Franklin-Myers. But new coach Robert Saleh shouldn’t mind more help at linebacker behind Johnson, Franklin-Myers and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Downs has been a dominant force longer than any other defender in this class. The former Alabama and Ohio State All-American is a shapeshifter, deploying down in the box against the run or patrolling the back end with excellent coverage range.
The Giants made strides in their safety room over free agency, adding Jason Pinnock and Ar’Darius Washington as help alongside Jevon Holland. But in a league where successful defenses deploy three safeties with greater frequency, what doesn’t appear as a major need for the Giants should not be dismissed. This would make Downs the highest safety drafted since Eric Berry in 2010.
The Browns’ most obvious needs are at wide receiver and offensive tackle — despite plenty of new additions — and I’ve been an advocate for considering Georgia’s Monroe Freeling here to fill the left tackle need. But Tate is rated four spots higher than Freeling in my individual rankings, so let’s go with the sure-handed wideout.
Tate averaged 17.2 yards per reception in 2025 and had just one drop. He’s versatile and can stretch the field for new coach Todd Monken, posting 875 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. No Browns receiver had over 650 receiving yards or two touchdowns last season.
Love is the most dynamic offensive player in this class, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine and averaging 10.4 yards per catch in 2025. He would immediately alleviate pressure on quarterback Jayden Daniels, also adding value as a pass protector.
Defensive end Cameron Jordan could be out of New Orleans for the first time in his 15-year career, as he’s still a free agent despite 10.5 sacks in 2025. Regardless of whether Jordan returns, the Saints need to be mindful of adding youth to their pass-rush group.
Bain has hands of destruction that allow him to be a forceful rusher and tenacious run defender. Some evaluators are questioning whether he has the length (30⅞-inch arms) to win as frequently at the NFL level, but he’s a well-rounded player who had 18.5 tackles for loss and 71 pressures in 2025. Per ESPN Research, no edge rusher over the past two decades has been drafted in the first round with sub-31-inch arms.
The Chiefs are in desperate need of more big-play receivers, as Xavier Worthy hasn’t been a consistent sparkplug for them the past two seasons. Tyson is the most explosive wide receiver in the draft and neck and neck with Carnell Tate for WR1 in my rankings. He has very good size, acceleration, unique run-after-catch skills and field-stretching ability.
Tyson dealt with a hamstring injury in 2025 and previously suffered a broken collarbone and ACL tear, but he changes an offense when healthy. He had 50 catches, 732 yards and six touchdowns in the final six games of the 2024 season.
Arizona State goes up 16-7 on Jordyn Tyson’s short-touchdown reception.
Cincinnati has addressed the defense in free agency, but a hole at cornerback opposite of DJ Turner remains unanswered. Delane has strong man coverage technique and ball skills to go along with good size at 6-foot, 187 pounds. He finished up his college career with a season at LSU after three years at Virginia Tech.
Delane’s season in Baton Rouge solidified his first-round status, as opposing QBs completed only 27.7% of their passes when he was the targeted defender (the third-lowest rate in the FBS). Cincinnati allowed a completion percentage of 65.2% last season (19th in the league).
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has referenced building his roster from the inside out, and Mauigoa would be a big boost to an offensive line that needs it. Miami ranked 24th in pass block win rate and 29th in run block win rate last season.
Mauigoa is a steady, well-built pass protector with raw power and the ability to get to the second level. Right tackle Austin Jackson recently agreed to a reduced and restructured contract that’s over after next season, so Mauigoa could slide in there.
One of the true wild cards in this draft is McCoy, as he’s a top-10 talent but has not played or worked out for scouts since an ACL tear in January 2025. He is expected to participate in Tennessee’s pro day on March 31, which will help solidify this ceiling if he’s healthy.
At his best, McCoy is the top coverage cornerback in this class with exceptional length (77-inch wingspan), ball skills, patience and timing to disrupt wideouts. In a full 2024 season, he had four interceptions and seven passes defensed. The Cowboys need all the cornerback help they can get after finishing last in yards per dropback allowed (7.3) and total pass breakups (30).
The Rams don’t have many glaring needs, so there’s an argument for them to draft a player who can boost their Super Bowl odds immediately. However, Freeling is too good of a prospect to pass up if the board fell this way. He has the most upside of any offensive lineman in this draft, with excellent size (6-7, 315 pounds) and athleticism (4.93-second 40-yard dash).
With only 18 starts under his belt, Freeling would need time to develop into a left tackle at the next level. In Los Angeles, he would have the chance to be a sixth offensive lineman for a season, as Alaric Jackson is the current starting left tackle.
The Ravens lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders in free agency, while their starting guards (Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees) ranked 32nd in pass block win rate last season. Baltimore signed guard John Simpson to a three-year deal, but it could continue to beef up its interior offensive line with this pick.