2026 NFL mock draft ... with a twist! What every team SHOULD do in Round 1

Look, I’m not going to get all hot takey right off the bat. Dude already made a trip to Las Vegas, and instead of hitting the Legacy Club at Circa, he’s watching film (or Lord of the Rings?) with Kirk Cousins. This is clearly not the Raiders of old, which feels like a good thing. 

The fantasy guy has already lost his mind! I get it. But listen here, Jets: You need more playmakers. Having Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall is a great start, but giving Geno Smith something else to work with puts him in a position to succeed this fall. I wouldn't draft a safety with this top-10 pick, either, because, well, that didn't work out so well last time for Gang Green. If the Jets aren't going to contend this season, they should at least be interesting. Go score some points.

I’m trying to figure out what the Cardinals are going to do with this pick. They need a lot of things. Sonny Styles could be amazing here, but Arizona ventured down the off-ball linebacker road in back-to-back first rounds just a few years ago, and neither selection worked out as planned. What the Cards need is an edge rusher. David Bailey would be a viable choice here, but I’ll take the guy from the blue blood program, because I’m a snob that way. Reese is going to be a monster at the next level.

Since allowing Derrick Henry to walk in free agency, Tennessee has gone 3-14 in consecutive seasons. This might feel like dating someone who looks like your ex, but the pick makes way too much sense. You need some weapons to help second-year QB Cam Ward develop, Titans. If you don’t want to do this for me, do it for him. 

Should the Giants draft Jeremiyah Love if he's available here? Absolutely! Do that if the Titans don’t take my advice. If they do, however, it'll be time to make a smart pick. I know, that's not as fun. It’s like getting the chicken bowl at Islands instead of a burger: You might not want to do it, but you should.

Arvell Reese falling to this spot would be huge, but that's not the case in this simulation. I'd also like Francis Mauigoa here, but he's gone, too. And actually, Fano might be a better option for you, Brownies. He could play just about any spot on the offensive line, including left tackle, which is a huge need for you. You could select a receiver here and hope a viable O-lineman's available at No. 24 overall. That's on the table, but it's risky. I’m taking the safest pick here because, well, you’re the Browns and you should play it safe. Be more Rory and less Bryson.

Look, Commanders: I’ve seen a lot of mock drafts where you don't take a receiver in Round 1, and that’s just wrong. The TOP priority should be making sure Jayden Daniels has as much offensive firepower around him as possible. You can't roll into next season with Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks as Terry McLaurin's top companions at receiver. I personally love Makai, who has drawn comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown -- perhaps it's because they both played at USC -- but you need to come out of this first round with a new wide receiver of some sort. In my mind, Lemon is going to be an NFL stud. 

If Carnell Tate or Makai Lemon is still available here on draft night, hit the receiver position. Tyler Shough deserves it. That being said, you also have a huge need at edge rusher. Cameron Jordan is a free agent. Let’s bring in Bailey, who would be an instant-impact starter.

I don’t expect Kansas City to draft this high again any time soon. I know you could play it safe, Chiefs, but let’s get a little dumb and dangerous. Because you’re the Chiefs and you can do it. Tight end might seem weird to some at first blush because Travis Kelce just signed a new three-year contract, but let’s be serious: He’s not playing out that deal. Let’s get creative here. You can line up Sadiq in the slot. He blocks. He’s tough. And Patrick Mahomes could use another big-bodied target.

You NEED defense, and you have to replace Trey Hendrickson, so scoop up Bain. If you don’t, he might go join Hendrickson in Baltimore four picks from now, in which case you lose twice.

I told this to the Commanders, and now I’m telling you, Dolphins: Leaving the first round without a new receiver is not allowed. There are a number of WR prospects you could select here, and every draft expert online will likely come after me for this choice. That’s cool. I like Boston. Bigger guy. Strong. He could be a Courtland Sutton-type for the Fins.

This is one of those selections that good teams make. So maybe not you, Cowboys. I’m kidding! If you let Styles' slide continue, he ends up in Baltimore, where he becomes an All-Pro. I really like Styles going to Dallas -- he could be the Cowboys' Fred Warner. The former safety is exceptional in coverage. This would be a tremendous pick. 

I know receiver is going to be a huge temptation for you, Rams, but look at the success you’ve had over the years with Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and other non-first-rounders at the position. You traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson, which is great. But put the top corner on the board opposite McDuffie on a rookie contract, and you’ve completely fortified your secondary for years to come.

In the wake of Tyler Linderbaum's departure, Baltimore looks needy on the offensive interior. You find a spot for Ioane inside -- he played left guard at Penn State -- and lock him in for the next decade. It's one of the easiest calls in this entire exercise.

You have a group of fine receivers already, including Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, the latter of whom enjoyed that great opening stretch to his rookie season last year. However, you need a true "X" to replace Mike Evans. If you want Emeka to develop this season, add Tyson to the lineup and allow Baker Mayfield to really cook. 

I know. It's ridiculous to think that a talent like Downs, whom I've seen go as high as No. 2 overall in some mocks, is going to last until the middle of the first round. It feels highly improbable, like something that would happen in a rejected script for Draft Day 2. But based on need and where I have players going, it happens here -- and the Jets rejoice. 

Plenty of factors brought the Lions back to relevance (Dan Campbell's great!), but what really sparked the rebirth was the strength of Detroit's offensive line. With Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker gone, that unit needs refurbishing. Miller would be a fantastic addition. 

I'm going to give it to you straight, Vikes: You need to find a long-term answer at safety, with Harrison Smith likely at the end of the line. McNeil-Warren is the solution. Like Smith, he's the kind of guy you grow to appreciate -- or, if he's not on your side, you grow to hate seeing.

You're in a really interesting spot, Panthers. If tight end Kenyon Sadiq were to fall down this far (it could happen), that would be an automatic pick for me. Adding another receiver is a wild-card option, too. What I'm looking at, however, is the best player and fit available. And with the Vikings having just taken Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, that means Thieneman is the choice. Of course, if Minnesota goes with Thieneman, then it's McNeil-Warren. Regardless, I wouldn't pass on one of these two safeties. 

You guys again? If you leave this draft with Sonny Styles and McCoy, people might start to forgive you for trading away Micah Parsons at his peak. McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury, making this a roll of the dice -- to a point. It's not like we're in 1986 or something; doctors are pretty good at repairing ACLs these days. McCoy reportedly ran a nice 40 at his pro day, so as long as he checks out medically, you should be all set.

Imagine rostering Aaron Rodgers and drafting his replacement. Hmm, there's something familiar about that scenario ... In all seriousness, giving Simpson a year to develop behind Rodgers would be a great strategy. 

You guys would have been positioned to make a real run in last season's playoffs ... were it not for injuries on the offensive line. The way to make that Jim Harbaugh-fueled leap in 2026 is to bring in as much talent up front as possible. You have great weapons already; protect them. 

I know you might be tempted to move up for a receiver. You probably don’t need to. Whether or not you keep A.J. Brown, Cooper is the kind of player Philly fans would fall in love with: a master at contested catches who is fearless over the middle.

You filled a major need at tackle with your first first-rounder. Frankly, I wouldn't be opposed to hitting that position once again, because you can never have too many good OTs. But it's worth seizing this chance to nab a playmaker whom Lance Zierlein compared to Doug Baldwin. That would be a pretty big get for you, given the difficulty you've had finding receivers like that lately.

I have a strong feeling you're drafting offense here, so let's not even look at the edge rushers still available. I also know you'll take KC Concepcion if he's still there (he won't be). The bottom line: Ozzy Trapilo's going to be out of the picture for some time while recovering from a ruptured patellar tendon, and Chicago cannot go into next season with Braxton Jones and Jedrick Wills as the only options at left tackle. Kadyn is the sensible pick right here. 

Remember when I told you to take Luther Burden III in Round 1 last year? What could have been ... This time around, all the first-round-worthy receivers are off the board, so let's meet your need at nose tackle in new DC Jim Leonhard's 3-4 front. I love Hunter in this spot; he absolutely demolishes the run and could develop into a force as a pass rusher. 

Edge rusher looms as a major need in San Francisco, and I love the fit of Mesidor in this defense. He's a strong, powerful rusher who can get into the backfield, which is ideal for handling quarterbacks like the Rams' Matthew Stafford. Adding him to a healthy 49ers D really would be something. 

You guys are pretty set, as I see it -- in a position where you can seek depth pieces and/or take the best player available. I'd leap at Kadyn Proctor if available. But in this world, Hood is the pick, giving DeMeco Ryans yet another talented cover man. Honestly, though, I wouldn't mind trading down for some additional Day 2 currency, if that's possible. 

There are still a number of good pass rushers available here for you to look at, and I wouldn't be mad at that idea. But you have a chance to potentially lock in a solid offensive tackle for years to come by taking Lomu.

With how the board has fallen, I see two viable pass rushers available for the edge-needy Dolphins: speedball Cashius Howell and power player T.J. Parker. I'd lean towards Howell because he has more upside and brings an energy to the field that Miami could most certainly use.

I am a little concerned by T.J.'s drop in sacks last season (five, after posting 11 in 2024). But this is the kind of thinking that causes him to fall in the draft ... and ultimately end up in the perfect spot. And if you don't draft him here, Patriots, he'll be snatched up by the Seahawks (at my behest) and you're going to be mad at Seattle again.

George Holani is solid as a depth piece, but with Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, Seattle needs more juice in the backfield. The Seahawks could look to address the position later in the draft, but to me, getting Jadarian at No. 32 would be a reasonable -- wait for it -- Price to pay.