{"id":1209,"date":"2026-04-23T10:25:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/?p=1209"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:51:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T14:51:49","slug":"nfl-mock-draft-2026-1st-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/?p=1209","title":{"rendered":"NFL Mock Draft 2026 – 1st Round"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft arrives with a slightly different kind of buzz\u2014less about can\u2019t-miss quarterbacks and more about a deep, versatile class that could reshape how teams build their rosters. Set against the backdrop of Pittsburgh<\/strong>, the draft will take place along the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium, giving the event a gritty, football-first atmosphere that feels fitting for a class loaded with defensive stars and do-it-all playmakers . As always, Round 1 will be where franchises define their futures\u2014and possibly overthink them in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the top of the board, all eyes are on quarterback\u00a0Fernando Mendoza<\/strong>, who is widely projected to go No. 1 overall, even in a class that isn\u2019t particularly QB-heavy\u00a0. But the real intrigue might come from the non-quarterbacks: Ohio State\u2019s hybrid defensive force\u00a0Arvell Reese<\/strong>\u00a0is being talked about as the most talented player in the draft, while Notre Dame running back\u00a0Jeremiyah Love<\/strong>\u00a0has surged into the top-five conversation thanks to his explosiveness and three-down skill set\u00a0. Add in names like offensive tackle\u00a0Francis Mauigoa<\/strong>, linebacker\u00a0Sonny Styles<\/strong>, and wide receiver\u00a0Carnell Tate<\/strong>, and you\u2019ve got a first round that could lean heavily toward premium athletes at non-traditional top-pick positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest storylines heading into the night is exactly that shift in positional value. This class could challenge the league\u2019s recent obsession with quarterbacks, as teams weigh elite defensive prospects and even a potential top-five running back in Love\u2014something that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago. There\u2019s also a sense that teams picking in the top 10\u2014especially those in need of a quick turnaround\u2014might prioritize \u201cbest player available\u201d over positional need more aggressively than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of course, no draft would be complete without a little off-field chatter. Somewhere between picks, trades, and dramatic war room shots, don\u2019t be surprised if NFL Twitter finds a way to resurrect the ongoing joke about Diana Russini and Mike Vrabel\u2014because nothing says \u201cserious football analysis\u201d like a completely unserious rumor making the rounds while a franchise decides its next decade. If nothing else, it\u2019s a reminder that the draft isn\u2019t just about football\u2014it\u2019s about the spectacle, the chaos, and the narratives we invent along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the first round wraps in Pittsburgh, we\u2019ll have clarity on which teams got it right\u2014and which ones will spend the next year insisting they\u00a0almost<\/em>\u00a0took the guy everyone else knew was the better pick. Here’s is the Dollaboys 1st round mock draft:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

1. Las Vegas Raiders (3\u201314)<\/strong> – QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> QB, WR, OL, CB, S, DL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

2. New York Jets (4\u201313)<\/strong> – EDGE David Bailey (Texas Tech) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> QB, CB, S, LB, EDGE, OL, DL, WR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

3. Arizona Cardinals (4\u201313)<\/strong> – LB Arvell Reese (Ohio St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> QB, OL, DL, RB, LB, S<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

4. Tennessee Titans (5\u201312)<\/strong> – OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs: <\/strong>WR, OL, LB, EDGE, CB, S, RB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

5. New York Giants (5\u201312)<\/strong> – LB Sonny Styles (Ohio St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> DL, OL, CB, WR, S, RB, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

6. Cleveland Browns (6\u201311)<\/strong> – S Caleb Downs (Ohio St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs: <\/strong>QB, WR, OT, CB, TE, RB, S, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

7. Washington Commanders (6\u201311) – RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> RB, WR, OL, EDGE, CB, TE, S, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

8. New Orleans Saints (7\u201310) – WR Carnell Tate (Ohio St.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> WR, EDGE, LB, DL, CB, S, TE, RB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

9<\/strong>. Kansas City Chiefs (7\u201310)<\/strong> – CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> CB, OT, DT, S, WR, EDGE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

10. New York Giants (via trade CIN Bengals 6-11)<\/strong> – WR Jordan Tyson (Arizona State)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> DL, CB, OL, WR, S, RB, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

11. Miami Dolphins (8\u20139)<\/strong> – WR Makai Lemon (USC) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> WR, CB, OL, DL, S, EDGE, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

12. Dallas Cowboys (8\u20139)<\/strong> – EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> CB, S, LB, RB, EDGE, WR, DL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

13. Los Angeles Rams (via ATL Falcons 8\u20139)<\/strong> – OT Kayden Proctor (Alabama)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> OT, WR, DL, LB, CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

14. Baltimore Ravens (9\u20138)<\/strong> – OT Spencer Fano (Utah)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> DL, OL, WR, CB, EDGE, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9\u20138)<\/strong> – OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> OL, EDGE, LB, DL, WR, CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

1<\/strong>6. New York Jets (via IND Colts 8-9)<\/strong> – CB Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> QB, CB, S, LB, OL, WR, DL, EDGE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

17. Detroit Lions (10\u20137)<\/strong> – EDGE Akheem Mesidor (Miami)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> IOL, EDGE, CB, OT, DL, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

18. Minnesota Vikings (10\u20137)<\/strong> – S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> LB, CB, S, QB, DL, WR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

19. Carolina Panthers (8-9)<\/strong> – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> LB, S, DL, CB, WR, RB, TE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)<\/strong> – CB Avieon Terrell (Clemson)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> CB, S, LB, EDGE, OL, WR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) – WR Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> QB, S, LB, CB, WR, RB, OT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) – OG Olaivavega Ioane (Penn St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> OL, LB, DL, EDGE, CB, S, WR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) – OT Caleb Lomu (Utah)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> S, EDGE, TE, CB, WR, IOL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)<\/strong> – WR Denzel Boston (Washington)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> OT, WR, CB, DL, OL, QB, RB, S, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

25. Chicago Bears (11-6)<\/strong> – DT Kayden McDonald (Ohio St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> DL, S, OT, WR, EDGE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

26. Buffalo Bills (12-5)<\/strong> – WR KC Concepcion (Texas A&M)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> IOL, EDGE, WR, S, DL, CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) – <\/strong>DT Peter Woods (Clemson)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> EDGE, OL, CB, DL, LB, CB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

28. Houston Texans (12-5)<\/strong> – TE Kenyon Saddiq (Oregon)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> DL, OL, OT, RB, TE, LB<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

29. Kansas City Chiefs (via LA Rams 12-5)<\/strong> – OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona St.)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> CB, OT, S, DL, EDGE, WR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

30. Miami Dolphins (via Denver Broncos 14-3)<\/strong> CB Colton Hood (Tennessee)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> WR, S, EDGE, CB, OT, TE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

31. New England Patriots (14-3)<\/strong> – G Chase Bisontis (Texas A&M)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> IOL, OT, TE, EDGE, DL
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) – EDGE Keldric Faulk (Auburn) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team Needs:<\/strong> CB, IOL, RB, EDGE, S<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft arrives with a slightly different kind of buzz\u2014less about can\u2019t-miss quarterbacks and more about a deep, versatile class that could reshape how teams build their rosters. Set against the backdrop of Pittsburgh, the draft will take place along the North Shore near Acrisure Stadium, giving the event a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nfl-draft"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1209"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1219,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1209\/revisions\/1219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dollaboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}