NFL Mock Draft 2026: Jets opt for Oregon's Dante Moore, Chiefs replace Travis Kelce and Ohio State owns Round 1

Vinnie Iyer

NFL Mock Draft 2026: Jets opt for Oregon's Dante Moore, Chiefs replace Travis Kelce and Ohio State owns Round 1 image

The College Football Playoff will feature plenty of great future NFL talent with the 12 teams making the field. While it might not be surprising Ohio State's loaded team dominates the pro prospects, 18 of AllSportsPeople' 32 first-round projections in all are tied to CFP action.

The Buckeyes lead with five such picks, with Georgia, Oregon, Texas A&M, Alabama and Miami also in line to have multiple selections on Day 1. Indiana, Oklahoma and Texas Tech get on the board, too. That's incredible representation from three-fourths of the CFP teams, which also account for all three QBs and four of the first five overall picks. 

Here is the AllSportsPeople' latest NFL Mock Draft ahead of the 2025 College Football playoff. 

MORE: Bills, 49ers rise as Packers fade in latest SN Power Rankings

NFL Mock Draft 2026 4.0

(No. 1-18 order courtesy of Tankathon; No. 19-32 from Week 16 playoff picture)

1. New York Giants

  • Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 243 pounds)

The Giants, if they stay at No. 1 overall and don't trade out of this pick for a team wanting a quarterback, should consider taking Reese as an all-around force to fix a lot of their defensive issues away from a rather productive pass rush.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 225 pounds)

The Raiders can't be happy with their quarterback situation post-Derek Carr, with Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett screaming that they need to go after a true, strong, accurate franchise passer solution. Mendoza looks the part with his arm and intangibles, two things that should appeal to the influence of Tom Brady.

MORE: How Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman over Diego Pavia, Jeremiyah Love, Julian Sayin

3. Tennessee Titans

  • Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami (6-3, 275 pounds)

The Titans also don't need a QB after taking Cam Ward No. 1 overall last year, but they can go back to the Hurricanes program to get the game-changing pass-rusher they desperately need for their latest defensive reboot.

4. Cleveland Browns

  • Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State (6-2, 200 pounds)

The Browns need to stop messing around at wide receiver and give either Shedeur Sanders or a different starting quarterback a true go-to all over the field, both in the slot and outside, in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba vein, only lacking the hyphen.

5. New York Jets

  • Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (6-3, 206 pounds)

Moore has the leadership and intangibles to handle being the next shot at a franchise QB in New York as well as the savvy and strong arm. They also need to get a real long-term option after the Justin Fields flop.

Dante Moore

Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Network

6. Arizona Cardinals

  • Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (6-0, 214 pounds)

The Cardinals saw the breakdown early of pending free agent James Conner and have had an unhealthy mess of a committee trying to replace him. This may seem like a luxury pick for a team that has a lot of needs, but they can get some tackle help later and Love can be a game-changer for restoring balance and expanding the explosiveness.

7. New Orleans Saints

  • Makai Lemon, WR, USC (5-11, 195 pounds)

The Saints, should they stick with Tyler Shough at QB, need to give him more weapons after depleting the receiving crops beyond Chris Olave. Kellen Moore can have some visions of Lemon being the DeVonta Smith to Olave's A.J. Brown should Shough show big improvement.

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    8. Washington Commanders

    • Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (6-0, 205 pounds)

    The Commanders need to get younger and more impactful in their defense after things fell apart in their secondary and around Bobby Wagner at linebacker. Downs is a terrific do-everything hybrid who would be set up to make a lot of big plays in Dan Quinn's scheme.

    9. Cincinnati Bengals

    • Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-3, 315 pounds)

    The Bengals need to keep beefing up their defensive line to pull out of being atrocious against the run and it doesn't hurt to have some of Woods' inside pass-rush juice to support their end rotation.

    10. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons)

    • Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-0, 193 pounds)

    The Rams know that cornerback coverage is their biggest weakness on an otherwise loaded roster, with some retooling needed. They keep up the strong defensive pick momentum with the nice-sized, tough McCoy.

    11. Miami Dolphins

    • Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (6-6, 315 pounds)

    The Dolphins need to get more offensive line help for wherever they go at QB and they can stay in town to get a long-term all-around rock in Mauigoa.

    12. Kansas City Chiefs

    • Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon (6-3, 245 pounds)

    The Chiefs need to be feeling the imminence of Travis Kelce's retirement and can step right into drafting his dynamic go-to receiver replacement to boost Patrick Mahomes again once he returns from his torn ACL.

    MORE: Why it's not time to announce the Chiefs dynasty over yet

    Oregon Ducks TE Kenyon Sadiq

    13. Minnesota Vikings

    • Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (6-0, 190 pounds)

    The Vikings will need to keep working on their secondary with some contract issues ahead and Delane is not that far off in battling McCoy for the status as the best corner in this class.

    14. Dallas Cowboys

    • David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech (6-3, 250 pounds)

    The Cowboys will go to work on replacing Micah Parsons' pass rush production with this Lubbock chess piece who has all the moves to get to the quarterback as well as unique dropback coverage ability for the position.

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    15. Baltimore Ravens

    • Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-6, 285 pounds)

    The Ravens should love this complete outside linebacker option who can provide power vs. The run as well as needed pass-rush juice.

    16. Carolina Panthers

    • Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State (6-4, 243 pounds)

    The Panthers have been feeling the void at linebacker for a while after it was once a strength and GM Dan Morgan should have intrigue to go for his former position with Styles, a versatile talent who makes a lot of plays everywhere along with Reese.

    17. Detroit Lions

    • Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-2, 248 pounds)

    Howell can give the Lions the needed strong complementary pass rusher for Aidan Hutchinson to relieve their secondary coverage a lot more next season.

    18. New York Jets (from Colts)

    • Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson (5-11, 180 pounds)

    The Jets, after going QB with Moore earlier in this mock, can get their Sauce Gardner replacement with the pick acquired in that trade with Terrell, brother of Falcons star A.J.

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    19. Houston Texans

    • Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6-6, 302 pounds)

    The Texans have gotten surprising returns from rookie Aireontay Ersery and the rest of their rebuilt line but should be in the market to boost pass protection and run blocking at either right tackle or guard with Fano.

    20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)

    • T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-3, 265 pounds)

    The Cowboys shouldn't mind doubling up on pass-rush help here with Parker and Bailey, as Parker can provide more traditional burst and finishing moves from defensive end to help Quinnen Williams in Matt Eberflus' front four.

    21. San Francisco 49ers

    • Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State (6-3, 195 pounds)

    The 49ers seem ready to cut ties with injured Brandon Aiyuk, which means they will need to find a dynamic speedy big target for Brock Purdy to better take advantage of his ace deep passing. Tate would be a natural fit with George Kittle and Jauan Jennings downfield.

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    Carnell Tate

    22. Buffalo Bills

    • Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (6-3, 326 pounds)

    The Bills have been terrible against the run and McDonald is a natural and physically overwhelming run-stopper for the Buckeyes, shooting up boards with his dominant play fron the regular season.

    23. Los Angeles Chargers

    • Caleb Banks, DT, Florida (6-6, 330 pounds)

    The Chargers also could bolster their interior to help their front seven in multiple ways and Banks has the right kind of power and pop for Jesse Minter.

    24. Seattle Seahawks

    • Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina (6-0, 190 pounds)

    The Seahawks didn't trade pending free agent Riq Woolen and will need to find their strong replacement outside to support Devon Witherpoon. Cissee can be seamless in the schme of Mike Macdonald.

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    25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

    • R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma (6-2, 249 pounds)

    The Buccaneers should covet this explosive pass-rusher built to thrive in Todd Bowles' scheme and help restore their old strength on the second level.

    26. Pittsburgh Steelers

    • Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (6-2, 208 pounds)s

    The Steelers should be in the market for a starting QB early if Aaron Rodgers retires and Simpson's brand of pocket passing would provide plenty of promise.

    Ty Simpson

    27. Philadelphia Eagles

    • Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State (6-4, 330 pounds)

    The Eagles have had issues at right guard this season and Ioane would be the easy upgrade coming from State College to Philly. Sliding over from his left side position in college to start right away and upgrade over Tyler Steen.

    28. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)

    • Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah (6-6, 304 pounds)

    The Browns need to rebuild their offensive line right up there with getting more reliable receivers and Lomu would be a good initial building block, going not long after teammate Fano.

    29. Chicago Bears

    • Christen Miller, DT, Georgia (6-3, 305 pounds)

    The Bears need to work on their interior for Dennis Allen's front and Miller would be ideal to help them with their own run-stopping problems.

    30. New England Patriots

    • KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (5-11, 190 pounds)

    The Patriots should love what this dynamic slot can do as the ideal fit in Josh McDaniels' offense to make big plays in the open field after the catch and upgrade over Pop Douglas and other complements to Stefon Diggs.

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    31. Los Angeles Rams

    • Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (6-7, 366 pounds)

    The Rams can again think more about the near future with this second first-rounder with Proctor looking solid as their future long-term tackle on either the right or left side.

    32. Denver Broncos

    • C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia (6-1, 235 pounds)

    The Broncos need to cover more ground defensively on the second level and Allen would provide that typical Bulldogs athlete who can get around well vs. Run and in coverage.

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