ESPN Fantasy staff and Eric KarabellMultiple AuthorsMay 1, 2026, 07:33 AM ET
This mock featured (in order of first-round selection) Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell, Matt Bowen, Tyler Fulghum, Field Yates, Daniel Dopp, Mike Clay, Jim McCormick, Eric Moody and Liz Loza. Commentary and insight provided by Karabell.
1. Bijan Robinson, ATL (RB1) — Cockcroft 2. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET (RB2) — Karabell 3. Christian McCaffrey, SF (RB3) — Bowen 4. Puka Nacua, LAR (WR1) — Fulghum 5. Ja’Marr Chase, CIN (WR2) — Yates 6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (WR3) — Dopp 7. Jonathan Taylor, IND (RB4) — Clay 8. De’Von Achane, MIA (RB5) — McCormick 9. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET (WR4) — Moody 10. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (WR5) — Loza
Running backs with the first three picks was surprising. Bowen going with Christian McCaffrey over Puka Nacua raised eyebrows. It ended up being an even split of five running backs and wide receivers, but it sure didn’t begin that way.
11. James Cook III, BUF (RB6) — Loza 12. Ashton Jeanty, LV (RB7) — Moody 13. Saquon Barkley, PHI (RB8) — McCormick 14. Jeremiyah Love, ARI (RB9) — Clay 15. Omarion Hampton, LAC (RB10) — Dopp 16. Derrick Henry, BAL (RB11) — Yates 17. Brock Bowers, LV (TE1) — Fulghum 18. Drake London, ATL (WR6) — Bowen 19. Justin Jefferson, MIN (WR7) — Karabell 20. Rashee Rice, KC (WR8) — Cockcroft
The running back frenzy continues, with a run of six starting the round. Rookie Jeremiyah Love is among them, nestled between Saquon Barkley and Omarion Hampton. In last year’s final ADP, RB11 didn’t go until pick 24. Brock Bowers is the first tight end.
21. Trey McBride, ARI (TE2) — Cockcroft 22. Malik Nabers, NYG (WR9) — Karabell 23. Nico Collins, HOU (WR10) — Bowen 24. Chase Brown, CIN (RB12) — Fulghum 25. Josh Jacobs, GB (RB13) — Yates 26. Kenneth Walker III, KC (RB14) — Dopp 27. Garrett Wilson, NYJ (WR11) — Clay 28. A.J. Brown, PHI (WR12) — McCormick 29. Chris Olave, NO (WR13) — Moody 30. Breece Hall, NYJ (RB15) — Loza
The top New York wide receivers highlight the round, and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is the pick directly after Chase Brown and Josh Jacobs. Running backs still outpace wide receivers through 30 picks, 15-13.
31. Josh Allen, BUF (QB1) — Loza 32. Javonte Williams, DAL (RB16) — Moody 33. DeVonta Smith, PHI (WR14) — McCormick 34. George Pickens, DAL (WR15) — Clay 35. Kyren Williams, LAR (RB17) — Dopp 36. Lamar Jackson, BAL (QB2) — Yates 37. Travis Etienne Jr., NO (RB18) — Fulghum 38. Bucky Irving, TB (RB19) — Bowen 39. Davante Adams, LAR (WR16) — Karabell 40. Cam Skattebo, NYG (RB20) — Cockcroft
The first two quarterbacks come off the board, the second being Lamar Jackson. The two-time league MVP wasn’t great or healthy last season. Running backs continue to go off the board this round, while wide receivers are slipping.
41. Tetairoa McMillan, CAR (WR17) — Cockcroft 42. Quinshon Judkins, CLE (RB21) — Karabell 43. Tee Higgins, CIN (WR18) — Bowen 44. Luther Burden III, CHI (WR19) — Fulghum 45. Emeka Egbuka, TB (WR20) — Yates 46. Jayden Daniels, WSH (QB3) — Dopp 47. Colston Loveland, CHI (TE3) — Clay 48. Jaylen Waddle, DEN (WR21) — McCormick 49. TreVeyon Henderson, NE (RB22) — Moody 50. Terry McLaurin, WSH (WR22) — Loza
Only two running backs go in this round, each a second-year player with promise in Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. The third quarterback (Jayden Daniels) and tight end (Colston Loveland) come off the board, each perhaps a bit early.
51. Jadarian Price, SEA (RB23) — Loza 52. Jalen Hurts, PHI (QB4) — Moody 53. Kyle Pitts Sr., ATL (TE4) — McCormick 54. Zay Flowers, BAL (WR23) — Clay 55. Jameson Williams, DET (WR24) — Dopp 56. Rome Odunze, CHI (WR25) — Yates 57. Drake Maye, NE (QB5) — Fulghum 58. Joe Burrow, CIN (QB6) — Bowen 59. Carnell Tate, TEN (WR26) — Karabell 60. Ladd McConkey, LAC (WR27) — Cockcroft
61. Bhayshul Tuten, JAX (RB24) — Cockcroft 62. Tyler Warren, IND (TE5) — Karabell 63. DJ Moore, BUF (WR28) — Bowen 64. D’Andre Swift, CHI (RB25) — Fulghum 65. Harold Fannin Jr., CLE (TE6) — Yates 66. Michael Pittman Jr., PIT (WR29) — Dopp 67. Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI (WR30) — Clay 68. DK Metcalf, PIT (WR31) — McCormick 69. Chuba Hubbard, CAR (RB26) — Moody 70. Mike Evans, SF (WR32) — Loza
This round features the top Steelers receiving options, and three at the position who have switched teams (DJ Moore, Michael Pittman Jr., Mike Evans). Two more young tight ends go. So far, six tight ends and six quarterbacks are rostered. Hmmm.
71. David Montgomery, HOU (RB27) — Loza 72. Jordyn Tyson, NO (WR33) — Moody 73. Brian Thomas Jr., JAX (WR34) — McCormick 74. Jaxson Dart, NYG (QB7) — Clay 75. Sam LaPorta, DET (TE7) — Dopp 76. Tony Pollard, TEN (RB28) — Yates 77. Alec Pierce, IND (WR35) — Fulghum 78. Jakobi Meyers, JAX (WR36) — Bowen 79. Aaron Jones Sr., MIN (RB29) — Karabell 80. Courtland Sutton, DEN (WR37) — Cockcroft
The 15-pick quarterback drought ends with Jaxson Dart. Three older running backs that few seem to covet finally come off the board in David Montgomery, Tony Pollard and Aaron Jones Sr., as do a pair of Jaguars wide receivers. But are they the right Jaguars wide receivers?
81. RJ Harvey, DEN (RB30) — Cockcroft 82. Jaylen Warren, PIT (RB31) — Karabell 83. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (RB32) — Bowen 84. Christian Watson, GB (WR38) — Fulghum 85. Rachaad White, WSH (RB33) — Yates 86. Rico Dowdle, PIT (RB34) — Dopp 87. Parker Washington, JAX (WR39) — Clay 88. Kenneth Gainwell, TB (RB35) — McCormick 89. Chris Godwin Jr., TB (WR40) — Moody 90. Wan’Dale Robinson, TEN (WR41) — Loza
It’s a rebound round for running backs, including a pair of Steelers and three running backs joining new teams (Rachaad White, Rico Dowdle, Kenneth Gainwell), where they might or might not find volume. Another Jaguars receiver goes.
91. Matthew Golden, GB (WR42) — Loza 92. Makai Lemon, PHI (WR43) — Moody 93. Jordan Addison, MIN (WR44) — McCormick 94. KC Concepcion, CLE (WR45) — Clay 95. Jayden Reed, GB (WR46) — Dopp 96. Michael Wilson, ARI (WR47) — Yates 97. Blake Corum, LAR (RB36) — Fulghum 98. Kyle Monangai, CHI (RB37) — Bowen 99. Brock Purdy, SF (QB8) — Karabell 100. J.K. Dobbins, DEN (RB38) — Cockcroft
This quarterback drought goes 24 picks before Brock Purdy comes off the board, leaving only Cockcroft sans a passer. He doesn’t act. Two more rookie wide receivers go, and a pair of Packers receivers as well.
111. Mark Andrews, BAL (TE9) — Loza 112. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, WSH (RB40) — Moody 113. Kyler Murray, MIN (QB11) — McCormick 114. Woody Marks, HOU (RB41) — Clay 115. Romeo Doubs, NE (WR53) — Dopp 116. Rashid Shaheed, SEA (WR54) — Yates 117. Josh Downs, IND (WR55) — Fulghum 118. Isiah Pacheco, DET (RB42) — Bowen 119. Alvin Kamara, NO (RB43) — Karabell 120. Jayden Higgins, HOU (WR56) — Cockcroft
Former backfield stars Isiah Pacheco and Alvin Kamara, presumably backups now, finally go. McCormick secures his first (and ultimately only) quarterback in Kyler Murray.
121. Caleb Williams, CHI (QB12) — Cockcroft 122. Jalen McMillan, TB (WR57) — Karabell 123. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (QB13) — Bowen 124. Chris Rodriguez Jr., JAX (RB44) — Fulghum 125. Brandon Aubrey, DAL (K1) — Yates 126. Tyjae Spears, TEN (RB45) — Dopp 127. George Kittle, SF (TE10) — Clay 128. Tank Bigsby, PHI (RB46) — McCormick 129. Jonathon Brooks, CAR (RB47) — Moody 130. Tyler Shough, NO (QB14) — Loza
Cockcroft finally picks a quarterback, and Caleb Williams seems a wise choice. Yates, chooser of the first D/ST, stays consistent with the first kicker. George Kittle (Achilles) is a swell, late-round dart.
131. Tyler Allgeier, ARI (RB48) — Loza 132. Jalen Coker, CAR (WR58) — Moody 133. Houston Texans DST (D/ST2) — McCormick 134. Germie Bernard, PIT (WR59) — Clay 135. Isaiah Likely, NYG (TE11) — Dopp 136. Stefon Diggs, FA (WR60) — Yates 137. Tucker Kraft, GB (TE12) — Fulghum 138. Jake Ferguson, DAL (TE13) — Bowen 139. Jordan Mason, MIN (RB49) — Karabell 140. Justin Herbert, LAC (QB15) — Cockcroft
Stefon Diggs finds a team in this mock before finding an NFL team. Two teams with tight ends choose backups, and Bowen finally selects his first one in Jake Ferguson.
141. Seattle Seahawks DST (D/ST3) — Cockcroft 142. New England Patriots DST (D/ST4) — Karabell 143. Pittsburgh Steelers DST (D/ST5) — Bowen 144. Cameron Dicker, LAC (K2) — Fulghum 145. Brandon Aiyuk, SF (WR61) — Yates 146. Baltimore Ravens DST (D/ST6) — Dopp 147. Los Angeles Rams DST (D/ST7) — Clay 148. Braelon Allen, NYJ (RB50) — McCormick 149. Philadelphia Eagles DST (D/ST8) — Moody 150. Jacksonville Jaguars DST (D/ST9) — Loza
151. Jason Myers, SEA (K3) — Loza 152. Harrison Mevis, LAR (K4) — Moody 153. Ka’imi Fairbairn, HOU (K5) — McCormick 154. Eddy Pineiro, SF (K6) — Clay 155. Cam Little, JAX (K7) — Dopp 156. Keaton Mitchell, LAC (RB51) — Yates 157. Cleveland Browns DST (D/ST10) — Fulghum 158. Jake Bates, DET (K8) — Bowen 159. Trey Smack, GB (K9) — Karabell 160. Tyler Loop, BAL (K10) — Cockcroft
Team rosters are presented in first-round pick order. Pick data is indicated in parentheses in this manner: (Round.Pick)
The last to choose a quarterback, but Williams and Justin provide the positional depth. Robinson and McBride are reliable stars. Will Rice join them?
This is the best team in the league, obviously, by far. Went against his own rankings to take Gibbs over Nacua, then he went with three wide receivers. Perennial Purdy lover got his man. Took kicker Smack because the name surely will intimidate opponents.
It all depends on McCaffrey, especially with the other RBs on the team in potential timeshares. Bowen should enjoy relying on Burrow and Higgins of the Bengals.
The beneficiary of Nacua falling outside the top three, this team lacks a proven No. 2 WR, though several enticing options boast upside. Taking Bowers at No. 17 is noticeable.
Secured experienced running backs and young wide receivers on the rise, along with a quarterback who could be the best player in fantasy or sit out four games. Yates chose the first D/ST, first kicker and only NFL free agent.